(Sunday, September 5)

The next morning, Cho got up, dressed, and went to breakfast. She was so hungry. She didn't wait for Harry. She figured that she would see him in the great hall anyway. Meanwhile, Harry was just waking up and getting dressed. Once he was done, he could hear Ron stirring, so he sat on his bed to wait. A few minutes later, Ron opened his curtains.

"Morning," said Ron.

"Morning."

"Want to get some breakfast? I'm so hungry I could eat a...a..."

"A what?" Harry asked.

"I don't know, something big."

"A hippogriff?"

"No, I already said that the other day."

"A threstral?"

"Can't see 'em. Don't know how big they are and don't care to have it explained."

"Okay, how about a...blast-ended skrewt?"

"Brilliant! I'm so hungry I could eat blast-ended skrewt. Not that I'd want to..."

"Well then, shouldn't we be getting to the great hall?" Harry said.

"Ya, let's go." They left the dormitory, and headed for the great hall.

"Ron!"

They could see Erica at the bottom of the marble staircase waiting.

"Hi."

"I wanted to talk to you. Should we say, after breakfast?"

Ron turned to Harry, "You wouldn't mind, would you?"

"Nope. I wasn't planning on doing much anyway," Harry said.

"Okay. After breakfast it is!" Ron said, turning back to Erica.

"Okay. See you then!" Erica said.

"Uh-huh. Isn't she beautiful?" Ron asked Harry.

"I guess so. I like Cho more though."

"Well I hope so! You're only going out with her! Plus, Erica's taken."

"Speaking of Cho, where is she? She's usually right here waiting for me," Harry said.

"How am I supposed to know? What, do I have psychic powers that only you know about? Besides, she's probably sleeping, or already eating."

"Let's just eat. I'm hungry."

"Now you're talkin'!"

As Harry looked over at Ravenclaw table, he saw Cho talking to Erica and Courtney. She waved when she saw him staring. He waved back, and then stopped staring."

"You were right," Harry said.

"Huh?"

"You were right. Cho's eating; she's right across from Erica."

"Oh, okay. Whatever," said Ron. They both ate their breakfast, then Ron gad to leave.

"See ya Harry," he said.

"Bye. See ya in the common room later?" Harry asked.

"Yup. Bye." Ron left with Erica.

"Hey." Harry turned around to see Hermione behind him. It looked like she had been crying.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Can we go to the common room? Or your dormitory?"

"Sure. Let's go." They both went to Gryffindor tower, then up to Harry's dormitory.

"So, what happened?" Harry asked.

"Draco broke up with me," said Hermione through a burst of tears.

"What?"

"Draco broke up with me," she repeated.

"He's a scumbag anyway." She started crying even more now.

"I loved him so much! He just...just kicked me to the curb! Just like that! He told me on Friday! He said that he didn't like me anymore, and we were over!"

"I bet you I know why," Harry said.

"Why?" Hermione asked looking up.

"Because he knew you were too good for him."

Hermione laughed, "I just feel so crappy."

"Well look at you! You look awful. You're a mess! You need to get over him, and go back to your usual self. Pick on him a bit, It'll make you feel better, I promise."

She laughed again, "Harry? If you break up with Cho, would you go out with me?"

"What?"

"I know this isn't a good time, and I know that you and Cho have just started going out, but would you?"

"I don't know. That was a really unexpected question Hermione," said Harry.

"I know. It was stupid, Forget it," she said.

"Why don't you go get some breakfast, and then go to bed? Or switch them and have lunch. You need it."

"Okay. Tell Ron I said hi. I saw him leave with Erica."

"How do you-"

"Old friend," she said.

"Oookay."

"We still talk to each other once in a while."

"Cool," said Harry.

"Anyway, I'm going to go to bed. See you around lunch time," Hermione said.

"Bye."

Harry decided that he should do the little homework that he had. He grabbed his books and went down to the common room. He had just finished when he heard someone yell to him.

"Potter!"

"What!" he yelled back.

"I've just gotten a letter from Angelina! She says that she's decided who's going to be quidditch captain!" It was Ginny.

"Why'd she send it to you?" Harry thought this sounded sort of rude so he quickly added, "Unless it's you she's chosen."

"No way! She chose you! I've only played last year, and that was to fill in for you. After all, you and Ron are the oldest, but you're the most ambitious when it come to winning! She even wrote that. Here, read."

Dear Ginny,

I have finally chosen who is going to be the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain. I have chosen Harry Potter because he is the most ambitious when it comes to winning. No offense to your brother. Harry has also played on the team longer so I feel more comfortable having placed this responsibility on his shoulders. Please tell him the good news for me!

Sincerely,

Angelina

"I just knew you'd be the one she chose!" Harry was stunned. He didn't believe what he had just read.

"Wow, thanks for the news. I'll post a message for when I'm going to have tryouts."

"That's it! You're not going to scream? Jump up and down? Swear? Nothing!"

"Nope."

"You suck," said Ginny.

Harry put his books away and went to the entrance hall. He went outside after he didn't see Cho In the entrance hall. He saw her with Courtney under the trees that they usually sat under.

"What's up?" Cho asked.

"Nothing. Do you know who your team captain for Ravenclaw is yet?" Harry asked.

"Yaaaa. It's the same person it was last year. Roger Davies."

"Oh. Right. Forgot."

"Why?" Cho asked.

"We just got a letter from our old captain. It told us who our new captain is."

"And? Who is it?"

"Me," Harry said.

"Really? Oh my gosh Harry that's great! You must be really excited!" Cho said.

"Well, you know."

"Have you got it all planned yet?" Courtney asked.

"No, I just found out like five minutes ago."

"I could ask Roger to give you some advice if you want.'

"No thanks. Nothing against Roger, but if I do that he'll know everything about Gryffindor."

"Good point."

"I've just got to set a date for tryouts."

"I can tell you when Roger's holding them for Ravenclaw," said Courtney.

"Okay."

"So, is that all? Not to sound rude or anything, but we were having a private conversation, and I don't really think you want to hear it because it's private," said Cho.

"Okay. Ya that was it. See you after lunch?" Harry asked.

"Sure."

"Bye."

"Bye," said Cho.

Harry went back into the castle, and up to where the Hufflepuffs usually left the Gryffindors after a meal. He saw Ernie McMallion come out of a portrait and turned around to make it seem like he hadn't noticed.

"Hi Harry," he said.

"Oh, hi Ernie. You wouldn't happen to know who the Hufflepuff quidditch captain is, would you?"

"Ya, it's Abigail McDowell. Why?"

"You wouldn't happen to know where she is, would you?"

"She's in the common room, why?" Ernie asked again.

"I need to speak with her," Harry answered.

"Why?"

"I'm the new Gryffindor captain and I need to know if and when she's having tryouts."

"Okay then, I'll go get her. By the way, congratulations."

"Thank You," Harry said and then he turned around. He heard a portrait shut and then reopen, so he turned around. Abigail McDowell was not only the ugliest girl he had ever seen, but she looked oddly familiar. Then it hit him. No really, she hit him! She literally slapped him across the face!

"What in bloody hell was that for!" Harry asked at a yell.

"You know bloody well what for!" She yelled back. The he remembered. She was the one who asked him to the ball. The one who was at least four feet taller than him in his fourth year. Either she had shrunk, or Harry had grown-which was most probable. But she was still at least close to seven feet tall.

"Whatever."

"What do you want anyway?" She asked.

"You're the Hufflepuff quidditch captain, correct?"

"Ya," she answered.

"Well, I'm the Gryffindor quidditch captain and I wanted to know if, and when you're having team tryouts."

"We're not having any. I was captain last year, and everyone will be leaving this year except for one person."

"Thanks." He didn't get an answer, so he left. Oooowww...that hurt, he thought to himself, touching the spot where she had hit him. He went on towards the dungeons. No matter how much he didn't want to, he had to go see the Slytherin quidditch captain. He got to the entrance to the dungeons and could see a Slytherin coming up. Oh joy, he thought to himself. It was Pansy.

"Why, hello Potter, what are you doing down here without any company?" She asked.

"Looking for your quidditch captain."

"Really know," Pansy moved closer to Harry. He tried to move away, but hadn't realized how close to the wall he was, and had pinned himself to the wall.

"Wanna be my captain?" she asked.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me, ride me captain. I'll be your broomstick. I know you want to Potter. Shag me Potter, do it. Let's make your fantasy come true."

"No thanks," Harry said,"I'd rather vomit."

Pansy backed off, looking extremely offended. So Harry smiled. She took that much better by running away, to go into her common room Harry hoped, and screaming along the way. A few moments later, Malfoy came out.

"What do you want?" They both said.

"I'm quidditch captain," they both said again.

"Well, well, well. More fame for Potter," said Malfoy.

"And a little bit for Malfoy. That will be gone after Slytherin loses the quidditch cup again."

"We'll see Potter, we'll see. What exactly is it you wanted that you had to make Pansy scream for?"

"When and if you're having tryouts, and she only screamed because she wants me and I refuse to have her."

"I'm having them tomorrow, why? Remind me why she wants you when she's got me also."

"I need to know when I can have Gryffindors tryouts, and why don't you ask her. She's the one cheating on you with your worst enemy who always manages to triumph over you at everything he wants to."

"Good luck Potter. You'll need it with the lot you're gonna have to choose from. At least, Slytherins are good at Quidditch."

"Or at least they only say that to try and boost their already abnormally large egos. We Gryffindors have no need for these things because we know what we're good at and what we're not, so we are smart enough to only boast about the things we're good at it."

"You keep thinking that Potter. I'll prove you wrong one of these days."

"Why not today?"

"Hello gentlemen." Harry heard behind him. It was Dumbledore. Harry took his chance to say something Draco would get infuriated over and wouldn't be able to do anything about.

"By the way, that whole thing in breakfast the other day was the first time she asked me to shag her because she had a good feeling that I was better now than you ever would be." Harry walked away with that statement. He went up to Gryffindor tower to post the date and times of tryouts. Then he remembered he needed to talk to Roger Davies first.

"Harry Potter!"

"What?" It was Courtney.

"Roger's having tryouts tomorrow."

"Thank you. Tell him he had better talk to the Slytherin quidditch captain. He's having his tomorrow too. Then tell him I'm having Gryffindors on Tuesday," Harry said.

"Okay. Bye Harry," said Courtney.

"Bye." Harry went up to Gryffindor tower to post the date and time of tryouts.

"So, what's up?" Ginny asked as Harry got into the common room.

"You'll see in a few minutes. I'll be right back."

"Okay." Harry went up to his dormitory, grabbed a piece of parchment, a quill, and an ink bottle. Then he wrote:

Gryffindor Quidditch Team Tryouts are scheduled for the following date and time:

Tuesday, September 7th

6:30-8:30pm

bring your broomstick

dress warmly

Then Harry went downstairs, and posted it on the bulletin board. Ginny walked over and read it.

"Cool," she said.

Harry watched people go past it and read it. Harry had no idea who the person was, but they had given him the thumbs up. By the time eleven O'clock came, Harry had gotten completely bored. Then he saw Ron come into the common room.

"How'd it go?" Harry asked.

"Great. She taught me how to french!" Ron whispered excitedly.

"Cool. Now you won't have to bother me about it. By the way, you might want to take a look at the bulletin board."

"Why?" Ron asked.

"Just look."

"Okay, okay." Ron stood there, looking completely stupid, and read it.

"What does this have to do with me? I'm already a member, remember? That's for tryouts. Anyway, wonder who our new team captain is. Do you know yet?"

"Yup," Ginny said,"And he's sitting right In front of you."

"What! Harry, you're the quidditch captain?"

Harry nodded,"So is Malfoy. That ought to be fun when we play them, huh?"

"Ya..."

"Harry got up, with his quill and ink bottle in hand, and added to his notice:

All existing house quidditch players must come as well

"All right then," Ron said,"I have to go. Is there anyone else on the team?"

"No. Katie, Alicia and Angelina were all in their seventh year," answered Harry, "And Fred and George left."

"Okay, that sucks a little, but hey, what can you do."

"Get new team members."

"Wasn't really expecting an answer, but oh well."

Positions open:

Two beaters

Three chasers

"That way no one comes to try out for seeker or keeper," Harry said after seeing the odd look on Ron's face.

"Oh..."

"You want to go get lunch? I'm wicked hungry," said Harry.

"Ya!"

"Let's go then."

They both went to lunch. Hermione came to lunch right after they sat down.

"Have a nice sleep?" Harry asked, "Err...rest?"

"Ya. How was your day? Both of you."

"I had a date with Erica," Ron said. Then he leaned forward and said, "She taught me how to french!"

"Cool. How about you Harry?"

"He's quidditch captain!" Ron yelled.

"Thanks Ron," Harry said.

"Really? That's great Harry! Have you set a date for tryouts, or set up a strategy or anything?" she asked.

"I've set a date for tryouts. They're on Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:30pm."

"Cool. I hope both of you planned on doing all of our existing homework today?" Hermione asked.

"Yes..." Ron said.

"Already done. We didn't really have that much this week. That's really different, don't you think?" Harry asked.

"Ya, but I imagine we'll get more this week," Hermione answered, "After all, we have our N.E.W.T.'s next year."

"Just curious, but, whatever happened to Victor?" Ron asked.

"Victor who?" asked Hermione.

"Krum."

"Oh, I and he dated during the summer of our fourth year. Then I told him it was going to be hard to keep up our relationship, since we're so far apart. He got a little upset, but he said it was probably for the best."

"Suck up," Ron and Harry said in unison.

"He is not a suck up!"

"Ya, he is," Ron said.

"He is Hermione. Two against one. We win!" said Harry.

"Whatever."