CHAPTER TEN: REFLECTIONS
Salazar Slytherin's Secret Library
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Scotland
12 September 1994
Ron gave one more half hearted scribble of numbers before sliding his chin down his arm to rest on the cool desk wood. If he was going to be honest with himself, he needed to admit it. Not necessarily out loud, but he had to acknowledge that within the recesses of his mind, he was deeply jealous of Hermione. He'd wanted to be the Triwizard Champion for their age division - wanted it so badly it hurt. He'd wanted a way to prove that he wasn't just another younger brother, and that the Weasley family name still meant something. He'd wanted to uphold whatever was left of the family honor and stick it to all those who sneered down upon him. And now, he didn't have that chance anymore.
Hermione had been named Champion, and she would have the opportunity to prove herself to Wizarding Britain.
The worst part about it was that Ron knew Hermione deserved it. Deserved it more than anyone else in their year, if he was honest. She'd endured bullying and the challenge of transitioning into the Wizarding World, and had done it all with good grace. She'd worked hard, and was consistently top in their year.
Ron sighed, and lay his cheek fully against the desk. The petulant child inside him wanted to stand up and proclaim that it wasn't fair, and that he, Ron, deserved to have an opportunity. After all, he'd suffered as well, and he'd worked bloody well hard to get where he was now.
The small voice in the back of his mind sneered at the thought. He had worked hard, of course, but Hermione had worked far harder at school. She studied more, participated more in class, and if it hadn't been for a chance event, she would have also been taking more electives. Ron, on the other hand, had stagnated. Sure, he was taking challenging classes, he'd improved his Quidditch game, and he'd made plenty of friends in his year and at chess club, but it all felt so terribly childish. Especially given the letter he'd gotten from Bill.
Ron took the crumpled parchment out of his pocket and flattened it on the desk, sitting up straight to read the words he'd nearly memorized.
Dear Ron,
I thought I would inform you by owl rather than have you find out in the Prophet. Next Wizengamot session, Charlie is planning on officially giving up his right to take the Gryffindor seat. I know we've discussed this several times, but given that Charlie will swear the proper vows over it, it's likely to blow up unpleasantly. In light of this, George, then Fred are next in line. Both of us know they are not interested in politics, but they have yet to present an official decision on the Gryffindor seat. I have presented them with a deadline - they must make a decision by their seventeenth birthday.
Assuming they will officially give up their right to the seat, you will be named as the next in line. While you won't have any official duties until you come of age, I will expect you to attend networking events as well as observe some of the Wizengamot sessions. Percy and I have had some serious discussions lately regarding our family, and should you become the next Lord Gryffindor, you will be included in these conversations.
Best of luck at school,
Your brother,
Bill
Ron laid his head back on the desk as the weight of his responsibilities fully settled over him. He would have to change, whether he liked it or not. He needed to study more, form better connections with his peers, and somehow keep persevering through it all so he didn't lose his bloody mind.
Ron shifted his attention back to his homework, attacking the Arithmancy set with more vigor. Perhaps, if he worked hard enough, he could beat Hermione for the top spot in the class. That, at least, was something tangible he could work towards to stifle his constant feelings of inadequacy. After the champion selection, Ron had holed himself up in the secret library just to be away from everyone. Hermione's moods alternated between beyond excited and beyond stressed. Harry had been quite disappointed at first, but had quickly moved on and submitted his name to captain one of the Quidditch teams.
Ron hadn't even bothered. He'd been too busy moping, and besides, he knew he had no chance of being chosen. There were only eight teams total, and at least one captain would be pulled from each House. Beauxbatons and Durmstrang were also allotted one captain, which left just two spots up for grabs. He'd been shocked when Harry had been named a captain, along with Terence Higgs, who'd been slated as Slytherin captain prior to the Triwizard Tournament announcement. Roger Davies and Aoife Moran were tapped from Ravenclaw, and had a major advantage given that both had played in the International Scholastic Quidditch Tournament.
Surprisingly, Angelina Johnson was the only Gryffindor named, and Jonathan Abbott was the rather lackluster choice from Hufflepuff given that Diggory was ineligible due to the Triwizard Tournament. Ron wasn't familiar with either the Beauxbatons or Durmstrang captains, Louise du Feu and Katarzyna Mieczkowska, although he was fairly certain Mieczkowska had played in the International Scholastic Quidditch Tournament as well.
The tournament would certainly be interesting, especially given that each team was required to have at least two different Hogwarts Houses and at least one foreign student. Shockingly, Dumbledore had decreed that first years would be allowed to try out for the teams, which Ron thought was a stupendously stupid idea given that most of them didn't seem to know how to hold a broom.
Ron sighed. With any luck, he'd get to be on Harry's team, but his hopes were low given that there were plenty of people who were better Keepers than him. With another sigh and a small shake of his head, Ron pushed thoughts of Quidditch out of his mind and thoroughly focused on Arithmancy.
Sybill Trelawney's Private Quarters
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Scotland
14 September 1994
Aurora's nose wrinkled as she entered Sybill's quarters. In the past, the other witch had dealt with the aftermath of her visions by consuming copious amounts of sherry, but it seemed that she'd found a new method. It wasn't enough for her to question her friendship with Sybill - they'd been casual friends since Aurora had joined the staff almost ten years prior - but it was enough for her to question how much time she really wanted to spend in Sybill's quarters.
She winced at the smell. "Really, Sybill? Cannabis?"
Sybill didn't respond, busy as she was laying out a set of delicate threads suspended between deeply colored crystals. She took another puff, and the pungent odor wafted through the room.
"I'll take overpowering incense any day," Aurora muttered quietly, seriously considering casting a Bubblehead Charm. It would be rude, of course, but it would mean she could breathe properly.
Sybill finished setting up her crystals, and blinked at Aurora as if she'd just registered her presence. She nodded once, then continued wandering around the room, occasionally stopping to caress the curtains or drag her fingers slowing across a tabletop. It was odd behavior, even for her, and Aurora couldn't tell if that was because the future had gotten worse or if Sybill simply wasn't coping well.
Quite honestly, it could have been either. With Sybill, it was difficult to truly tell.
The woman knelt tossed a handful of herbs into the air, and knelt before the ebony table with surprising grace before wordlessly summonly a bottle of sherry and taking a deep drink. Then, and only then, did she lean forward, eyes glazing over as she stared deep within the depths of the crystal ball.
She sat there, frozen, for nearly three minutes before the keening started. It was a high, ululating sound that made the hairs on the back of Aurora's neck stand on end and her toes curl in her shoes. Sybill rocked forward and back, continuing to keen as Aurora's sense of unease grew. There was something deeply wrong inside the crystal ball. Aurora's heart felt too big in her chest, and the air suddenly felt too thick to breathe and she didn't think she could bear another second of unnatural keening when suddenly it stopped. And Sybill spoke.
"Pluto has risen." Sybill's voice was rough and broken. "Pluto has risen. Pluto has risen and the insidious Rahu continues to aid him in his perversions of Magic. The prodigal son has fallen from grace, and Neptune has returned to the shadows. The fates of Mars and Mercury continue to be intertwined and the storm grows stronger with each passing day. It grows and it grows and it grows and it GROWS BUT IT MAY NEVER BE STRONG ENOUGH." The sound tore out of her throat. Sybill gasped for air, hands clenched around the edge of the table. "SHIVA'S GREED WILL NEVER BE QUENCHED AND HE WILL STRIKE DOWN JUPITER JUST AS HELIOS STRUCK ICARUS. THERE WILL BE BLOOD, ONLY BLOOD IF THE CHILDREN OF THE TUATHA DÉ DANANN SUCCUMB TO SHIVA'S WILL, AND NOT EVEN THE POWER OF BEIRA'S SONS WILL SAVE US."
The room was quiet, save for the harsh sounds of Sybill's breathing. "You will warn Jupiter," she said suddenly, panic still on the edge of her voice. "You will warn him that Pluto has returned to the physical realm. Venus will not protect him."
Aurora rose shakily to her feet. "Y-yes, of course -"
Sybill's hands reached out, pinning her wrists together and stopping her from moving. The grip was tight enough that she could feel the small bones crunching.
"Do not breathe a word of this," Sybill whispered, breath reeking of alcohol. "Swear on your life and on your magic that you will not reveal what has just transpired, beyond what I have given permission for you to do." The witch's eyes were wild and staring.
Aurora quickly swore, and Sybill released her. Aurora slumped on the wall, legs giving out.
Sybill eyed her. "Leave my chambers, Aurora," she said, voice softer. "You don't need me to tell you that you have the Grim in your cup."
Aurora all but fled, feet darting down the stairs of the North Tower without consulting her mind. It wasn't until she was halfway to the dungeons that her legs began to give out once again as she leaned against a window, trying - and failing - to ward off a panic attack.
Quidditch Pitch
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Scotland
17 September 1994
It was a perfect day for Quidditch, Ron reflected happily, gazing up at the cloudless sky. The air had a touch of bite to it, promising colder months to come, but it was chased off by the heat of the early afternoon sun. It looked as if three-quarters of the school had come out to watch tryouts, and a significant chunk of them looked prepared to fly, including a bunch of the first years. Ginny was there too, with several of her annoying friends. Ron fervently hoped they weren't on the same team.
Hefting the Nimbus 2001 he'd borrowed from the Slytherin locker room, Ron surveyed the competition. Ginny was clutching an old Moonflight, which she'd beggared off Bill. It wasn't a good broom by any standards, but it was far better than Charlie's Shooting Star. Harry was in the middle of a captain's meeting with Madam Hooch, and was holding his Firebolt. Both Krum brothers also had Firebolts, and everyone within a ten meter radius was trying not to stare. Oddly enough, Malfoy - Draco, not one of his cousins - had a Nimbus 2001. He'd been bragging in the common room last year about how his father was certain to buy him a Nimbus 2003, at a minimum, if the Firebolts were still backordered. It was patently obvious that Draco hadn't gotten his wish.
A loud whistle blew, jolting Ron out of his thoughts. Madam Hooch stood on a small elevated platform alongside the captains. "Attention! Tryouts for the Quidditch tournament will begin shortly. If you are not planning on trying out, please return to the stands."
Several of the Krum ooglers left, but most of the crowd remained in place. Madam Hooch seemed slightly annoyed.
"Before we begin, I will introduce the captains and explain how tryouts will work. Each team has been named whimsically-" her mouth twisted oddly around the word "- and each captain is well-qualified to do their job. The captains have been given lots which represent the order in which they will choose players for each position. The captains have agreed to a standard tryout for each position, and before those tryouts begin, all of you will need to pass a basic flying skills test administered by me."
Most of the first years and some of the second years looked terrified.
"Now, to introduce your captains...leading the Skipping Cerberi will be Katarzyna Mieczkowska."
A tall blonde girl wearing a Durmstrang jumper stepped forward on the platform, and gave a perfunctory wave.
"Harry Potter will lead the Galumphing Hippogriffs...Angelina Johnson is the captain of the Whistling Nifflers...Roger Davies will lead the Bouncing Unicorns, Aoife Moran is the captain of the Flipping Flobberworms…"
Ron struggled not to laugh at the absurdity of some of the names.
"The Chortling Phoenixes will be led by Jonathan Abbott, Terence Higgs will captain the Dancing Manticores, and lastly, Louise du Feu will lead the Charging Grindylows."
There was a polite round of applause.
"Let's begin," Madam Hooch said brusquely. "The flying skills test will consist of a lap around the Quidditch Pitch followed by weaving through the agility poles in the center. Does anyone have questions? No? Very well. Line up by year...first years, you may go now…"
The majority of the first years were terrible at flying, but several made it through, including two of the Slytherin first years - Nigel Thompson, who was tall and lanky, and Carla Del Valle, who was short and had hair curlier than Hermione's.
Ron breezed through the flying test, as did most of the other upperclassmen, then settled in for a long wait. Tryouts progressed slowly, starting with Beaters. Fred and George were unhappy about being chosen for different teams, and everyone who had played against Fred and George were relieved.
Harry had done fairly well for himself so far. He'd gotten Stefan Krum for his first pick for Beater, and Leila Warrington as his second. While Leila wasn't as good as Millie, she'd grown by leaps and bounds playing in the Slytherin reserves, and always had a positive attitude. Ron had been pleased to note that Millie had been one of the top picks for Beater. Mieczkowska had chosen her, along with another Durmstrang girl who rivaled Millie in height. Millie had grinned the entire time, clearly glad to have realized her dream of having an all-girl Beater team.
The Chasers and Keeper tryouts would be held simultaneously. There were seventeen people waiting to tryout for Keeper, and at least forty waiting to try out for Chaser. Ginny was among them, chatting idly with her friends, Abigaile Johnson and Alexa Spinnet. The three girls had been trying to make their way onto the Gryffindor Quidditch team since second year, but had been unable to beat their older siblings and Katie Bell.
Nigel Thompson was standing around looking nervous as Draco stood nearby with his cousins, Baptiste and Raphaёl. Raphaёl was saying something to Draco, and gesturing towards Thompson. Draco walked over, and much to Ron's surprise, instead of crumpling in sadness, Thompson seemed to perk up. Draco said something, clapped Thompson on the shoulder, and returned to his cousins. Thompson still looked nervous, but had more of an excited energy about him. Ron couldn't help but wonder what Draco had said, and why he was acting so un-Malfoy like.
"Ron, can you pretend we're having a very serious and important discussion?"
Ron started. Euan McGonagall was standing next to him, and looked a bit harried. "Sure?"
"Thank goodness. McLaggen absolutely will not shut up, and I've only just managed to escape."
Ron winced sympathetically. "Is he still going on about how he should have been Champion?"
Euan rolled his eyes. "What do you think? It's McLaggen."
"He just doesn't get it, does he? I hope nobody picks him."
"You'd have to be a moron to pick him. Even O'Hare is better than McLaggen, and he's a second year."
Ron snickered at that, and felt the tension start to leave his body. "You've got that right."
"Merlin, he's such an idiot."
Ron was about to respond when Madam Hooch's voice boomed.
"Keepers and Chasers, your tryouts are about to begin. Since there are a lot of you, we will have two rounds - during the first round, each Chaser will have the chance to make three shots, and each Keeper will have a chance to save approximately nine shots. After that, the captains will deliberate, and bring back no more than thirty potential Chasers and twelve potential Keepers. We will repeat the process, then they will make their final decision. Any questions?"
"How will we know when to go?" somebody asked from the back.
"I will announce it. Any other questions? No? I'd like to see Bell, Viridian, and Robins for Chasers, and Davis for Keeper."
Tryouts seemed to fly by, and before Ron knew it, it was his turn. He took a deep breath, hovering between the goalposts. This was it. All his surroundings blurred as he focused in on the Quaffle, saving seven out of nine shots. It wasn't saying much, considering one of the Chasers had never played before. Euan McGonagall also saved seven out of nine, and Ron congratulated him. Cormac McLaggen only saved five out of nine, then complained that Ron and Euan had cheated. Unsurprisingly, no one listened to him.
The captains were conferring quietly now, and Higgs brought a slip of parchment over to Hooch, who nodded in approval.
"Ten Keepers will go onto the next round of tryouts...if I do not call your name, please return to the stands...Petersen, Khurana, Davis, McGonagall, O'Hare, Weasley, Dagworth, Connolly, Boucher, and Dietrich."
Ron breathed a sigh of relief, and McLaggen began to complain loudly. Several people told him to shut up. Most of them did so equally loudly, and McLaggen stomped off.
"The captains have narrowed the field to twenty-eight Chasers...once again, if I do not call your name, please return to the stands...all three Malfoys, both Johnsons, both Spinnets, both Poliakoffs, Abadjiev, Nott, Robins, Thompson -"
Thompson looked overjoyed.
"- du Feu, Bell, Viridian, Weasley -"
Ginny broke out in an enormous grin, and Ron stopped paying attention.
"- Runcorn, Vance, and Fortescue," Hooch finally finished. There was grumbling among some of the Chasers, but most of them moved to the stands with good grace. Tryouts continued in earnest, as now most of the Chasers were actually good. Ron managed to once again save seven out of the nine shots, which he was rather proud of until he watch Khurana, a tall Indian girl from Beauxbatons, save nine out of nine. Ron was impressed, a bit jealous, and slightly concerned that no team would want him. Of course, there were some people who only saved five or six shots, but it was all a toss up.
The captains had a moment to make a decision, then lined up on the platform. Harry had third pick for Keeper, and Ron could feel his own nerves mounting.
Angelina Johnson stepped up first. "I'll take Khurana." Several of the other captains looked annoyed, but it was an obvious choice. Khurana was clearly the best of the lot.
Aoife Moran was up next, and chose Ulrike Petersen, who was also tall, and had a very severe haircut.
Harry stepped forward, and Ron's heart beat faster. Intellectually, he knew he was one of the better Keepers, but Euan wasn't bad, and Davis was also half-decent.
Harry grinned easily. "Weasley, come join the team!"
Ron breathed a sigh of relief, and went to join the rest of Harry's squad. "I wasn't sure you'd pick me," Ron said.
"Why not?"
"Dunno."
"Well, I'd be an idiot not to."
Ron could feel the tips of his ears turning red. "Thanks. So, who are you thinking for Chasers?"
Harry looked thoughtful. "I have fifth, eleventh, and seventeenth pick for Chaser, so hopefully one of Malfoy's cousins or Abadjiev or Bell, then we'll see who's left."
"Did you see that Thompson got through?"
"Yeah. We need to make sure he makes it onto the reserves next year, regardless of if he makes a team. Theo's sister made it through, too. I didn't know Diana played Quidditch."
"I didn't know either."
Harry looked up at the platform. "I've got to go pick Chasers. Stay here; I want to meet with everyone afterwards."
The Chaser pickings went slower. Harry ended up with Baptiste Malfoy, who he was quite pleased with, Ginny, and a second year Gryffindor named Demelza Robins. Higgs had last pick for Chaser and chose Thompson, who was practically bouncing up and down in excitement.
Harry gathered up the team. "Alright, we technically don't need to stay for Seeker tryouts, since I'll be playing Seeker for us, but I think it'd be beneficial to watch, just to size up the other talent. We'll meet here afterwards to discuss."
Most of the team wandered off, and Ron smirked. "You just want to scout for Slytherin for next year."
Harry grinned. "And that, too. But mostly to see if Viktor picked up any new tricks. You should have seen Mieczkowska's face when she realized she had first pick for Seeker."
"Pretty much guarantees she'll make it to semi-finals, huh?"
"Yeah, as long as they don't play us."
"That confident?"
"We did beat Durmstrang in the International tournament," Harry reminded him. "I think we have better Chasers. Mieczkowska is a really good Chaser, but she's got Hector Runcorn and Katelyn Vance with her, and Vance is pretty terrible. And I've definitely gotten better since then."
"She might have better Beaters, though. Millie and Ostrowska? That's a dream team if I ever saw one."
Harry grimaced. "Yeah, that might be a problem. Stefan is really good, but Millie is definitely head and shoulders above Leila - literally. We'll see, though. She's a quick learner, and I think she and Stefan will work really well together."
Ron nodded. "I trust you."
"I hope I made the right decisions," Harry said, craning his neck to watch the Seekers. "But it's too late to change anything now, so it doesn't really matter."
The Seekers spiraled overhead. Krum was clearly in his own league, but several of the other Seekers weren't bad either.
"Chang's improved a lot over the summer," Harry observed, "and Draco's cousin is pretty good too."
Ron watched Apolline Malfoy execute a long dive. "It must run in the family."
"Mm. Also, Del Valle is really good for a first year. We need to make sure she's in the reserves next year too. Her and Thompson. Make sure I remember that."
"What do you think you'll make captain?"
"Hopefully. I mean, they might pick Higgs, but if we beat his team in this tournament, I think I have a better shot."
"What about Warrington?"
"Cassius? Nah, he's terrible at coaching."
"Fair."
The Seeker tryouts progressed relatively quickly. Predictably, Mieczkowska ended up with Krum, Diggory was on Abbott's team, which had Harry muttering, "Thank goodness, they need more than two decent players."
Del Valle was the last Seeker picked, beating out a couple of very disgruntled third years for a spot on Angelina Johnson's team. She was even more excited than Thompson had been.
Harry gathered the team by the edge of the stands. Demelza looked very overwhelmed to be standing near the famous Harry Potter.
Harry waited until everyone was seated comfortably. "Hi, everyone, as you all know I'm Harry, and I play Seeker. I'm really excited to be your captain and I think we'll go far in this tournament. Before I go into any details, I'd like everyone to introduce themselves, and say their name along with their position."
They quickly went around the circle. Harry nodded. "Great. It looks like everyone has pretty recent brooms, expect for Ginny and Demelza. If there's a chance you can find something better, that would be excellent, if not, I think I can wrangle some of the Slytherin house brooms for you to use."
Ginny and Demelza both blushed at being singled out, but looked delighted at the prospect of using a Nimbus 2001.
"We are currently scheduled for practice three days a week - Mondays and Thursdays after dinner, and Saturday mornings. Depending on how we're doing as a team, I might schedule more practices. Hooch won't be giving us the match schedule until next week, and I'll pass on that information once I get it. Does anyone have any questions?"
"Do you think we'll have a chance of beating my brother?" Stefan asked, accent slightly pronounced.
Harry grinned. "I was planning on it."
Everyone smiled.
"Alright, I'll see everyone Monday."
The team dispersed, and Ron fell in step next to Harry.
"You know," Harry began, "I have a really good feeling about this team - a good feeling about this year in general, don't you?"
Ron smiled broadly. "So do I. I've got to talk to Raphaёl Malfoy, actually, and see if he's interested in helping organize a chess tournament…"
Harry punched his arm. "You and your chess!"
"You're one to talk; you're obsessed with Quidditch!"
"Oh, shut up, Ron."
Ron chuckled. Everything seemed to be looking up for him, and he couldn't wait for the school year to fully start.
A/N: Thanks as always for reading!