Chapter 9: A great opportunity
A few months had past and the end of the year was swiftly approaching, Albus and Natalia were sitting down by the black lake watching the first years trying to play with the giant squid.
"Mr. Potter." A voice from behind them called, Al turned to see it was Professor Mcgonagall. He quickly hopped to his feet.
"How may I be of assistance Headmistress?" Albus politely asked while helping Natalia to her feet.
"I need you to grab your equipment and meet me down at the quidditch pitch in 30 minutes, and hurry this is very important."
"May I ask why Professor?"
"You may not Potter, sorry. Now run along and Miss Krum you may come with me to watch if you wish to."
"Thank you Professor." Albus quickly ran off back to the castle and Natalia followed Professor Mcgonagall down to the quidditch pitch.
After half an hour Albus was dressed and ready with his broom in hand standing in the middle of the almost empty quidditch pitch. Standing beside him was the quidditch Professor Madam Hooch holding a small, glittering golden ball in her gloved hand.
"Mount your broom Albus." She said looking up at the stands, sitting there were the Headmistress, Natalia and a portly looking old fellow holding a file and a quill.
"Now when I blow my whistle you'll fly up and try and catch the snitch, got it?" Albus Nodded in acknowledgement. The whistle blew and Albus took off shooting up into the sky on his new nimbus 4005, followed rather quickly by the snitch. Albus sat for a moment, his eyes shut.
"What is he doing?" The portly man asked Professor Mcgonagall.
"I'm not sure." She said turning her attention back to Albus, who was still sitting with his eyes shut. Slowly he opened his eyes and shot down to the opposite end of the pitch, he had spotted the snitch. He chased after it along the lengths of the pitch, it was faster then he had remembered maybe it had just been because he hadn't played all year because of the Triwizard tournament. Within minutes Albus had caught the small ball and was heading back down to the ground. He was soon met by Professor Mcgonagall, the portly fellow, and Natalia.
"Albus this is Mr. White a recruiter for the English team."
"It's a pleasure to meet you sir." Albus shook the man's hand.
"Oh the pleasure is all mine Mr. Potter. Now we, the English team, have been looking at you for quite a while now and would like to add you to our team. As the world cup is coming up in three years we think your skills would be a great asset to us winning this time around. A letter is being sent to your parents as we speak, we would like a response by the end of the summer so you can start training next year."
"Wow, the English team wants me. Wow." Before Albus could say anything else the man was gone with a rather loud crack.
"Now Mr. Potter you should go take some time to think about this, but I advise you not to tell anyone else about this opportunity of yours, you don't want their opinions to cloud your judgment. Now back to the school for supper."
After supper Albus and Natalia headed off to the small passageway behind the tapestry of the dancing trolls, it was their little spot.
"I don't know if I should take it, I mean next year will be my last year and I kind of need to focus on school but on the other hand it's a once in a lifetime kind of thing. And even if I wanted to do it I don't know if my parents would let me, my mum maybe because she played professional quidditch but my dad is a little less unreasonable when it comes to me being 'unsafe'."
"Al I'm sure your parents would support your decision no matter what you choose and if your dad says no but you really want to do it I'm sure your mum could change his mind."
"Yeah I know I'm just confused right now, and it's hurting my head."
"Would a little snogging help?" Natalia asked stepping a little closer to Albus, who was leaning against the wall.
"Well I mean it wouldn't hurt to try." Albus slid his arms around Natalia's waist turning her around so that she was pressed up against the wall instead of himself. She wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him down a few inches to her level and kissed him, running her fingers through his hair as she did. Suddenly the passageway was flooded with light as the tapestry was pulled back.
"Oh sorry." It was Hugo and Edwin that had interrupted them.
"It's fine Hugo we were just about to head back to Gryffindor tower."
"We were?" Natalia asked looking confused, Albus then shot her a look that said it all.
"We were, yes." She said correcting herself. Her and Albus then headed off in the direction of Gryffindor tower. When they were out of ear shot of Hugo and Edwin Natalia turned to Albus,
"Al, why are we going to Gryffindor tower instead of them?"
"Because Hugo isn't out to anyone aside from family or people he considers family, and it's easier for him to explain why him and Edwin are in a secret passageway then it is from him to explain why Edwin's in his room."
"Ah I see. I'll keep that in mind next time. So wait Hugo's gay? I mean that explains the whole Sam thing."
"Hugo's not gay he's bi, him and Sam was just a bad idea. She was just really controlling and didn't really care for or about him."
Albus and Natalia spent the rest of the night talking and working on homework in the Gryffindor common room.
