WIZARDS DUEL
Fanfic by Patrick Drazen
a/k/a Monkeymouse
1.7: Teamwork
[If you found your way this far, you don't need me to tell you that JK Rowling created the Potterverse, and is still creating it…]
Harry left dinner early the next night, sprinting back to Gryffindor and the Quidditch team meeting. He knew that this was going to be a critical meeting.
"Doing a bit of jogging, eh? That's what they call it, is that right—jogging?" Harry found that the Gryffindor ghost Sir Nicholas de Mimsey Porpington, was running alongside him. Except that "running" wasn't a precise description. "Nearly Headless Nick" was moving his legs right enough, but they weren't touching the stone floor. Instead, he floated six inches above it.
Harry tried to take no notice of the ghost. When they turned one corner, though, Harry ran right past a first-year, and Nearly Headless Nick ran right through him. The first-year stared at the ghost, then fainted.
"They're growing 'em delicate these days," the ghost muttered. "Just not like it used to be."
They had arrived at the painting of the fat lady. Harry stopped, but Nick's momentum kept him going through the wall. He just had time for a quick wave of his handkerchief before he was gone.
"Steamed eels."
"Wrong," the fat lady said, preening herself. "That was last week."
"Oh, right. Er, "Lord Randall"."
The picture swung open, a bit reluctantly, and Harry went into the Common Room and threw himself into an easy chair.
The others were already there. In this case, the others were three seventh- year girls: Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet and Katie Bell. They were the three Chasers, responsible for handling the Quaffle. They were also the only all-girl set of Chasers at Hogwarts. None of the other Chasers showed them any consideration because they were girls, and they didn't show any in return. At more than one game, Harry found himself glad that he was the Seeker, because being a Chaser could be so physically demanding—risky as being a Beater, in fact.
Angelina stood up, her caramel-colored skin set off by the sky-blue robes of her favorite professional Quidditch team, the Tutshill Tornados. "Harry, before we get started, there's something we have to clear up. Our first game this year is against Ravenclaw. Frankly, we've been wondering how you're going to feel about that."
Harry felt a headache coming on. He'd expected a question like this from the team, but it bothered him just the same. He had an answer ready. "I seem to recall the three of you played your usual game against Hufflepuff, in spite of whether you thought Cedric was cute."
"That's a low blow, Harry," Katie protested. "He's dead and all. Besides, he wasn't a Chaser."
"That's not what he meant, I'm sure," Alicia Spinnet interrupted. Oddly enough for such an aggressive Chaser, off the field she was always the peacemaker in any argument. "It's just that we all get a little, er, blinded occasionally."
"Oh, he can see Cho Chang right enough," Angelina countered. "I just want to know if it'll make a difference."
"No, it won't, and I'm not blind," Harry replied testily. "She's already told me that she won't go easy on me in the match, so I don't intend to go easy on her."
Angelina looked dissatisfied, but apparently decided not to make an issue of it. "Right. Now, since the last games, we've lost our Keeper to graduation and our two Beaters to, well, whatever the Weasley twins are up to. I've already interviewed some replacements and sent their names along to Madam Hooch."
This caught the others by surprise. "When did you do that?" Katie asked.
"Last year, during the Tournament. We didn't have anything else to do, and I knew this day was coming. I didn't want to just stand around and watch the grass grow."
The others nodded. Harry stood up. "When Oliver graduated, we also lost our team captain. I think maybe Angelina should take that spot."
"Why not yourself?" Alicia asked.
"Because the first I ever heard of Quidditch was when I arrived at Hogwarts. I don't know the history or the strategy—not enough to be team captain, at any rate. That should go to someone who can think like a captain."
The others nodded in agreement. "How about it?" Katie asked.
"Right," Angelina said, a little nervously. She obviously hadn't expected this. "Well, I mean, it's an honour, and I'll do my best. Anyway, we'll meet back here next Monday night; we should have our new players approved by then."
Harry got up to go to his room. As he passed by Angelina, she said softly, "It was good of you to make that speech, Harry, but it doesn't change anything. I'm still keeping my eye on you."
Harry started to get angry, but held it in check. "If you feel you must," he replied, then went up to his room. As he threw himself on his bed, he recalled that Angelina was one of those students who paid close attention to the words of Madam Hawksaw.
…to be continued…
Fanfic by Patrick Drazen
a/k/a Monkeymouse
1.7: Teamwork
[If you found your way this far, you don't need me to tell you that JK Rowling created the Potterverse, and is still creating it…]
Harry left dinner early the next night, sprinting back to Gryffindor and the Quidditch team meeting. He knew that this was going to be a critical meeting.
"Doing a bit of jogging, eh? That's what they call it, is that right—jogging?" Harry found that the Gryffindor ghost Sir Nicholas de Mimsey Porpington, was running alongside him. Except that "running" wasn't a precise description. "Nearly Headless Nick" was moving his legs right enough, but they weren't touching the stone floor. Instead, he floated six inches above it.
Harry tried to take no notice of the ghost. When they turned one corner, though, Harry ran right past a first-year, and Nearly Headless Nick ran right through him. The first-year stared at the ghost, then fainted.
"They're growing 'em delicate these days," the ghost muttered. "Just not like it used to be."
They had arrived at the painting of the fat lady. Harry stopped, but Nick's momentum kept him going through the wall. He just had time for a quick wave of his handkerchief before he was gone.
"Steamed eels."
"Wrong," the fat lady said, preening herself. "That was last week."
"Oh, right. Er, "Lord Randall"."
The picture swung open, a bit reluctantly, and Harry went into the Common Room and threw himself into an easy chair.
The others were already there. In this case, the others were three seventh- year girls: Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet and Katie Bell. They were the three Chasers, responsible for handling the Quaffle. They were also the only all-girl set of Chasers at Hogwarts. None of the other Chasers showed them any consideration because they were girls, and they didn't show any in return. At more than one game, Harry found himself glad that he was the Seeker, because being a Chaser could be so physically demanding—risky as being a Beater, in fact.
Angelina stood up, her caramel-colored skin set off by the sky-blue robes of her favorite professional Quidditch team, the Tutshill Tornados. "Harry, before we get started, there's something we have to clear up. Our first game this year is against Ravenclaw. Frankly, we've been wondering how you're going to feel about that."
Harry felt a headache coming on. He'd expected a question like this from the team, but it bothered him just the same. He had an answer ready. "I seem to recall the three of you played your usual game against Hufflepuff, in spite of whether you thought Cedric was cute."
"That's a low blow, Harry," Katie protested. "He's dead and all. Besides, he wasn't a Chaser."
"That's not what he meant, I'm sure," Alicia Spinnet interrupted. Oddly enough for such an aggressive Chaser, off the field she was always the peacemaker in any argument. "It's just that we all get a little, er, blinded occasionally."
"Oh, he can see Cho Chang right enough," Angelina countered. "I just want to know if it'll make a difference."
"No, it won't, and I'm not blind," Harry replied testily. "She's already told me that she won't go easy on me in the match, so I don't intend to go easy on her."
Angelina looked dissatisfied, but apparently decided not to make an issue of it. "Right. Now, since the last games, we've lost our Keeper to graduation and our two Beaters to, well, whatever the Weasley twins are up to. I've already interviewed some replacements and sent their names along to Madam Hooch."
This caught the others by surprise. "When did you do that?" Katie asked.
"Last year, during the Tournament. We didn't have anything else to do, and I knew this day was coming. I didn't want to just stand around and watch the grass grow."
The others nodded. Harry stood up. "When Oliver graduated, we also lost our team captain. I think maybe Angelina should take that spot."
"Why not yourself?" Alicia asked.
"Because the first I ever heard of Quidditch was when I arrived at Hogwarts. I don't know the history or the strategy—not enough to be team captain, at any rate. That should go to someone who can think like a captain."
The others nodded in agreement. "How about it?" Katie asked.
"Right," Angelina said, a little nervously. She obviously hadn't expected this. "Well, I mean, it's an honour, and I'll do my best. Anyway, we'll meet back here next Monday night; we should have our new players approved by then."
Harry got up to go to his room. As he passed by Angelina, she said softly, "It was good of you to make that speech, Harry, but it doesn't change anything. I'm still keeping my eye on you."
Harry started to get angry, but held it in check. "If you feel you must," he replied, then went up to his room. As he threw himself on his bed, he recalled that Angelina was one of those students who paid close attention to the words of Madam Hawksaw.
…to be continued…
