Centaur Astrology

"Puffskeins are so cute. I want one too!"

"What? They eat spiders? Now I want one even more!"

"..."

"How could you move the knight there? You should've crushed it with the rook!"

"Ha... It's too late to crush it now. Look, you're in check, aren't you?"

"I'm not playing, I'm not playing. I'm just watching—why are you hitting me?!"

"Prefect, help! Prefect!"

"..."

When Loren returned to the boisterous Common Room, he drew no attention. After all, Gryffindor never lacked excitement, and the spirits of George and Fred lived on forever.

At their usual spot by the window, Hermione, Harry, and Ron sat around a small round table. Hermione had her head lowered, lips pressed tightly together as she meticulously examined the Half-Blood Prince's old textbook, while the other two discussed the weekend Quidditch tryouts.

"I'm planning to gather everyone on the pitch this weekend and assess their skills to confirm the starting lineup. Twenty students have signed up for the Quidditch tryouts so far. These are Chasers, these are Beaters, and there are four Seekers."

"Wait, what do you mean? I have to try out too?"

"This might be a little hard for you to accept, Harry—"

"Don't be ridiculous, Ron. I've been the Seeker since first year. You've watched me play for five years..."

"Listen, Harry, I'm the team captain now. I have to make sure things are fair and impartial. You should know that some pretty good teams in the past were ruined because their captains always let familiar faces play and brought their friends onto the team."

"Then why aren't you holding new tryouts for keeper?"

"Well..."

"And this is your fairness and impartiality?"

"Listen, Harry, a captain is the backbone of a team..."

Loren sat down beside them with a grin, casually picked up