Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter!

The New Keeper

Harry, Ron and the Gryffindor Quidditch team stood outside Professor McGonagall's office where she was making her decision on who the new Keeper would be and who the new team Captain would be.

"Blimey, this is scary," said Fred leaning against the wall.

"What if she picks some 1st-year, pimple-faced, 8 foot witch who has never heard of Quidditch before?!" said George, rather alarmed.

          Harry blushed. He had had no idea what Quidditch was when he first came to Hogwarts his first year. Suddenly Professor McGonagall came out and everyone in the hallway straightened and quieted down. She smiled.

"The new Keeper is Melanie Ultruck."

Harry looked at Ron, who looked at Fred, who looked at Angelina Johnson who continued to stare at Professor McGonagall.

"Who's that?" Angelina burst out.

"Melanie is a 3rd-year and I've witnessed her excellent flying skills. I believe she also owns a Nimbus Two-Thousand-and-One." George shrugged.

"Is she tall?"

           Everyone followed Professor McGonagall down the stairs to the Great Hall.

"Wait here." she said to them.

The Great Hall was filled with the other students of Hogwarts. Prof. McGonagall went over to the Gryffindor table and tapped on the shoulder of a girl who slightly resembled Parvati Patil, another Gryffindor. She had light brown, short hair and was about Hermione's height. She was smiling brightly as she stood up from the table. Harry noticed several of the girls around her congratulating her.

"Not too fat, not too skinny." observed Fred.

George agreed.

"Melanie, meet the Gryffindor Quidditch team!" said Professor McGonagall, bouncing excitedly up and down on her feet.

Katie Bell and Alicia Spinnet, two of the chasers, nodded and weakly smiled at Melanie, who stood with her head down but eyes up. Harry nodded also when their eyes met. She seemed almost as shy as he had been on his first meeting with the team. Professor McGonagall led the way out the entrance hall and to the Quidditch field. Harry couldn't have been happier. They hadn't been to the field since the end of last year when the field was actually a maze and the hedges 8 feet high. Harry stood at the end of the field, looked up, and his smile faded as he saw several blurs of color zooming around the goal posts.

"Do you know what the Slytherins are doing here, Professor McGonagall?" asked Angelina. She had been trying to be as nice as possible to Prof. McGonagall lately. Harry assumed she was trying to win the position of team Captain.

"They're not supposed to be here. Don't worry. I'll deal with this." she said as she put her hand out to stop them from walking any further. She trotted to the center of the field and waved down the Slytherins. Harry saw Malfoy easily through the crowd as he was by far the smallest. The rest of the team was tall and bulky. They all had Nimbus-Two-Thousand-And-One brooms. This would have brought Harry down but he had a Firebolt, which was better and faster and smoother. He grinned. Prof. McGonagall's hands flung up as she spoke to the Slytherins. For a moment it looked as though she was going to hit them all.

"What in the world is she saying?" Harry said, eyebrows raised.

"She looks as though she's threatening them!" said Fred excitedly.

"Right on, McGonagall!" George shouted throwing his fist in the air.

But she wasn't threatening them. And it looked as if she had lost as she slowly made her way back to them. Malfoy was making rude expressions to her retreating back.

"I'm sorry," she began quietly. "It seems as if they have Professor Snape's permission to be here today. They got it last week."

TO BE CONTINUED!!!

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