Disclaimer: I don't, and never will, own any characters in Harry Potter.
"Harry, I'm absolutely sorry, but I'm afraid that what you're asking is impossible," Professor McGonagall said to Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley, who were all standing in the Headmistress' office-the same round room as what Professor Dumbledore used to occupy. It was the day after the Final Battle. "You had already planned on dropping out of Hogwarts even before the Ministry was taken over by Voldemort. You weren't forced into leaving because of what happened later."
"But, Professor, you've let Dean Thomas back in…." Ron said. "Why not Harry and Hermione at the very least? There's no way they would've been allowed back to school, unlike me."
"I really am sorry, Ronald, but you know the rules as well as I do. Once a student drops out of Hogwarts, unless due to illness, they can't be allowed back in. If I had it my way, you would be allowed back. Trust me, I tried to get the Governors to bend the rules for you, but they wouldn't. It was all I could do to get the Muggle-born students back in. It was either them or you."
"I see," Harry replied. He was very disappointed in not being allowed to go back to Hogwarts, but it didn't show. "Unfortunately, I'm not going to be able to become an Auror without my N.W.T.S, am I?"
"You might be able to talk to Kingsley about it. He might, just might, make an exception for you. After all, not only are you the Boy Who Lived, but also the person who brought the end to Voldemort."
Harry wasn't convinced about this. Yes, Kingsley would be very sympathetic towards Harry, Hermione, and Ron, but Harry still didn't think that he would be able to talk to Kingsley into this. "All right, I'll give it a try, but I don't expect anything to come out of this…"
"Harry, you still have other options for career," Hermione said all of a sudden. "I know that you still have other interests."
"What are you talking about, Hermione? If I can't be an Auror, then what can I do? I haven't anything else to be interested in."
"I'm sorry, Harry, but you're being dense," Ron joined in. "What about Quidditch? I know that you loved playing for Gryffindor."
"Q-Quidditch? What, you think I want to play it as a career? Are you nuts?"
"Harry, I think your friends disagree with you," Professor McGonagall put in. "And I absolutely agree with them. I remember a young first year boy catch a falling ball the first time on a broom. In that moment, I knew that he could become a great Quidditch player. Do you remember that?"
"Yea, but…" Harry left off, knowing that they were right deep down. He knew that, in his heart, he would love to fly in Quidditch more than being an Auror.
"Quiet, Harry. I want you to talk to Wood about this before you go to Kingsley. It's a good thing that he's still here. Said something about going to go get his broom and play Quidditch with a few old friends of his, against Ravenclaw. However, he says that he needs a Seeker. Charlie had to leave and Ginny's a spare Chaser."
Harry knew he was defeated, so he gave up. "I guess I'll play a game of Quidditch. Unfortunately I can't seem to remember where my broom is. I think that it might be at the Weasley's."
"You're lucky," Ron said. "Mum just sent me an owl saying that she found your broom in my room. Meant to tell you about it, but I guess it slipped my mind with meeting with Professor McGonagall. She says that she's going to be coming back in a little bit and is going to be bringing it."
"Thanks, Ron. Professor, please ask her to bring it to the Quidditch field. I'll borrow someone's until she gets here."
"No need," a voice said behind them. It was Mrs. Weasley with the broom in her hand. "Professor, I guess you've told them the Governors' decision and you, along with Ron and Hermione, talked Harry about his future. Ron was very worried about what might happen to him."
"It's all right now, Mrs. Weasley," Harry said. "Can I have my broom now? I have an appointment on the Quidditch field against Ravenclaw."
A few minutes later, Harry was in the locker room waiting for a spare set of robes to be brought to him. It didn't take to long, but in the mean time, Harry was listening to Wood explain the game strategy to the rest of the assembled team. Playing Chaser were Alicia Spinnet and two older wizards who introduced themselves as Richard Marshall and Joseph Rennalds. They were the same age as Charlie. George was playing Beater along with another wizard Harry didn't recognize, who introduced himself as Seam Abbot, some cousin of a friend of Harry's.
"Listen," began Wood, who was playing the position of Keeper and Captain, "This is just a friendly match up between two teams that are made up of players who are from many different years and haven't played as a whole. I haven't a clue as to who's all playing, but I do know that Cho Chang's playing as Seeker. Madam Hooch is going to be referee and has plenty of Snitch's, so we might do some swapping of team members and we just might do some competitions between Seekers and other positions, if you're interested."
"Sounds great, Oliver," Harry responded just as Ron entered with a set of Quidditch robes for Harry. "Thanks Ron."
As soon as Harry pulled on his robes, the team left the locker room to find the Ravenclaw team waiting for them next to Madam Hooch. As Harry looked around, he saw that the stands were filled with spectators. He could see the Weasley's were sitting next to Professor McGonagall and Hagrid. There was someone in the announcer's booth, but Harry couldn't tell who it was. Probably Lee Jordan, he thought.
"Captains, shake hands," Madam Hooch said. Wood and a witch Harry didn't recognize shook hands. "Mount your brooms."
As soon as everyone was mounted, Madam Hooch released the balls and blew a whistle.
Fourteen players and Madam Hooch lifted off to the sky, the Keepers to the goal hoops, the Chasers to the Quaffle, the Beaters to protect everyone against the two jet black Bludgers, and Harry and Cho to start going around the stadium to search for the elusive Snitch.