I own nothing. J K Rowling IS Harry Potter. All my 'ideas' are basically ripped from stuff I enjoy; Harry Potter (duh!), Lord Of The Rings, Star Wars, Star Trek, Dragonball saga, The Matrix, The Lion King, 24, and anything else that even remotely looks far to creative for me to just make up! Please don't say I didn't warn you! Yes I'm lazy and can't be bothered writing another 'warning' thingy, so it's the same as my previous story!

Ah, the nemesis that was chapter 10. Boy did I have heaps of trouble trying to write this. I nearly felt like throwing a party once I'd finished it! I HATE writing Quidditch stuff! That was one of the main reasons why I decided to cancel the Hogwarts games for this story! It's much harder to write than I thought it would be! I now have the UTMOST respect for those who can write it, and write it darn well!

Welcome back, project! I still am yet to figure out why I can not put the 99 back on my name…annoying really!

Point taken about the background, Cori. I, myself, am one of those people who tend to like a fair bit of background in the opening chapter or so. I have not read any of the HP books since last year…after I saw PoA on big screen (went back and read the whole book again). Not sure if I will even try going through them all again before HBP is released.

Chapter 10 – Against The Best

Harry got up early and walked into an empty kitchen. After quickly grabbing a bite to eat, he went back upstairs to his room to make sure he had everything packed for the week long Quidditch camp. Harry hadn't slept much the previous night, as he had been too excited despite apparating from Marauder's Mansion to Australia and back.

While he was away in Sydney, he received a letter from the Magical Games Department that the camp was scheduled to take place in the same location as the last World Cup final. After saying goodbye to everyone and getting the usual calls of 'good luck', Harry apparated away from Marauder's Mansion.

Harry had expected to be early, but some players seemed to have been warming up for quite some time. He watched them flying this way and that, dodging and diving. Harry thought he spotted a Wronski Feint and couldn't help a flash of satisfaction crossing his face. He feinted better than that.

Harry quickly dropped his trunk to the ground, and pulled out his Firebolt. He was about to mount it when a familiar voice came from behind him.

"Back for some more are you, Potter?"

"You didn't think that my former captain could possibly put me off Quidditch did you?"

Harry turned around, smiled and stuck out his hand.

"Oliver 'Slavedriver' Wood"

"Harry 'Madman' Potter"

Oliver grasped his hand, pumped it up and down once, and grinned. "You're better than that guy at feinting, Potter."

Harry grinned back "yeah, I know. How come you aren't up there yet?"

"Just got here, same as you. Let's head to the dorms to drop our stuff off. The first practice isn't scheduled to start for another hour yet. We might be able to get a few warm-ups in though."

Oliver then set off towards the dormitories with Harry following along just behind him.

"So how do these Professional teams work, Oliver? I guess there'll be reserves and everything."

Oliver nodded, "you'd be right. Basically a first-string team is chosen, then a full reserve one. Fortunately for you, it looks like you won't have much competition. There's only a couple seekers I've seen, and as good as they are, only one might be able to mix it with you, and I'm not just saying that, Potter."

"Thanks Oliver. You're still remembered as the best keeper at Hogwarts. Actually, we were having a bit a joke around last year, saying how our old Gryffindor team should be our National one."

Oliver laughed. "Not a bad idea, Potter. As nice as that would be, it'll never happen. See that guy over there, the one with the shaved head?"

Harry looked at where Oliver was pointing and nodded.

"His name's Ryan Mitchell. He's one of the best beaters I've ever seen, even better than the twins put together."

"No way! He's really that good?" Harry asked. He doubted anyone worked as well as the twins, let alone be better than both of them.

Oliver nodded. "He is. Strange thing is he started out his career as a chaser. He copped a bludger to the head in his first season with the Cannons. After that, it seems he decided to give as good as he got. I don't envy you if you're on the opposite team, Potter. He targets seekers first."

Harry gulped, and Oliver smirked "don't worry, Potter. You've had worse than being hit with a bludger."

"Yeah, I just fell off my broom at about a hundred feet in the air!"

"Not only that, you missed the snitch!"

Harry rolled his eyes while Oliver laughed.

"What about your competition then? Who do you have to go up against?"

"I don't have any competition, Potter…"

"Even you aren't that good, Oliver" Harry interrupted while smirking.

Oliver just glared at Harry before responding "I meant that they've only invited two keepers here. Therefore we're both guaranteed spots on the team. It's just a matter of seeing who will start and who'll be the reserve."

Harry nodded in understanding and quickly mounted his broom to do a couple of laps, just to get used to the feeling of flying again. As he took off, Harry couldn't help but smile. Flying came so easily for him, he felt he was untouchable and that nothing could harm him. He did a couple of dives, and he spotted Oliver below watching him.

Harry grinned. He was going to frighten the living daylights out of Oliver. Harry went into an incredibly steep dive and could see Oliver's eyes widening as the gap between them rapidly diminished. At the very last moment, Harry pulled up and could hear Oliver yelling at him.

"POTTER YOU PRAT! WHAT'D YOU DO THAT FOR!"

Harry laughed before touching down gently beside Oliver who turned to him and gave him his best death stare.

"Sorry Oliver, but I thought I saw the snitch beside your head, that's all."

"Yeah sure you did, Potter" Oliver snarled before continuing "mind you, that was an impressive dive."

A female voice broke into their conversation,

"It certainly was. I take it that you're Harry Potter then. Glad to meet you, I'm Sarah McKinnon. I play seeker for the Falcons."

Harry turned as he heard the voice and came face-to-face with a woman who looked about twenty-four. She was of similar build to Tonks and about the same height as Harry. Unlike Tonks though, Sarah had long black hair that came down to her waist.

"Pleased to meet you, Sarah" Harry replied.

Sarah smiled "it looks like we'll be fighting for the starting spot, Harry. I can't see David beating either of us."

"Who's David?" Harry asked.

"David Carter" Oliver said, with a slight shake of his head. "He's the guy we saw earlier on Potter. He's the pretty boy of Puddlemere. Not bad on his day, but more interested in making sure he looks good for the cameras."

"And that's the problem. On his day he's alright, but you guys normally only win because you get more than 150 in front!" Sarah said.

Oliver glared, but then smiled "true. But as I said before, Potter, you feint much better than him. Must be down to my brilliant coaching skills."

"Which bit Oliver? The whole 'catch the snitch or die trying' bit, or you constantly drumming into me how I'm only supposed to catch the snitch after we're more than fifty points up?" Harry asked casually and Oliver scowled.

"You didn't really tell your seeker that did you, Wood?" Sarah asked, but Harry answered instead

"Of course he did! This is Oliver 'I live and breathe Quidditch' Wood…."

"Shut up Harry 'I fell off my broom at a hundred feet' Potter…"

"That was only because of those Dementors that showed up! If I remember rightly Oliver, I was the one who won us the cup that year!"

"Dementors showed up in the middle of a game! That's never happened before" Sarah exclaimed.

"They were there to catch Sirius Black. It was just that they seemed to take a liking to me at the time instead" Harry grumbled.

Sarah opened her mouth to say something, but just then a loud voice was heard,

"WOULD ALL PLAYERS PLEASE REPORT TO THE CENTRE OF THE PITCH, THANK YOU. Quietus."

Harry had been at the camp for four days, and had met all of the players attending the camp. Most had been a little apprehensive about exactly why Harry was here, and thought it was only because of his name. That was until they saw him in action in a practice game.

After that first game, their attitude towards Harry changed totally. Oliver of course knew what Harry could do, and took great pleasure in watching David Carter's eyes widen when he saw Harry execute several flawless Wronski Feints, and that was before the trial game had started.

Harry decided to saviour these moments, as he knew the upcoming year would most likely be the hardest. Voldemort had shown his hand by twice attacking, firstly at the Burrow, then at Diagon Alley. But for now, Harry pushed the threat of Voldemort to the back of his mind.

Harry saw firsthand exactly how good a beater Ryan Mitchell really was. He felt Oliver had been lying when he said he was better than the Weasley twins. That was doing Ryan a discredit. If most people were in shock at how well Harry could play, Harry had been flabbergasted with Ryan. He never once missed a bludger, and was deadly accurate with aiming it at opposing players.

Harry thought he had been fortunate that he hadn't yet been on the other team as Ryan, but knew it was only a matter of time. And his time was up as he saw the schedule for the day's proceedings. Harry secretly hoped that he would be able to find the snitch before Ryan had a chance to smash any bludgers in his direction. His only saving grace was that, contrary to what Oliver had told him, Ryan preferred to aim at the keeper first, before going after the seeker. Harry was a little relieved as he noted that Oliver would be in the firing line first.

"Great! Looks like we're on the same team, Potter. I guess we'll be seeing each other in the infirmary before the day is out."

"Don't worry Oliver, I have a plan" Harry smirked.

Oliver raised one of his eyebrows, "really, Potter? And what exactly is this plan of yours hmm?"

"Remind me what the record for the fastest capture of a snitch is again?"

Oliver smirked before replying, "well, I'd be happy if you could find it within the first three seconds of play, let me tell you! How are you planning on juggling your final year with the group games?"

"I've already talked to Daniel Anderson about that. If I make the team…"

"Which you will because David is nowhere near your level" Oliver interrupted.

"The only game I'll be able to play will be the one against Albania at Christmas. And I won't get the chance to practice as they've cancelled Quidditch this year" Harry answered.

"WHAT? Are you serious, Potter? No Quidditch. Well at least you went out in a blaze of glory last year. Perfect record as captain, not a bad effort."

"It was only three games though, Oliver. I'd hardly call that an imposing record. Anyway, we probably should go and get some practice in before Ryan tries to beat us to a pulp."

Oliver agreed and the two of them headed off to the field with their broomsticks in hand.

Harry had been totally wrong about catching the snitch within three seconds, it had taken him sixteen instead. Oliver breathed a huge sigh of relief as he saw Harry speeding off to catch the tiny golden ball. Not even Ryan was able to belt a bludger in Harry's direction in time to distract him.

As the final day of the camp drew to a close, the players all huddled into the centre of the pitch awaiting their final debrief. Daniel Anderson came over and addressed the players.

"Alright. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for attending this training camp. You are the finest players this country has at present, and I am excited about our prospects for the upcoming World Cup. I won't be finalising the squad for another week yet, and the letters will be sent out shortly afterwards.

"I know a few of you will be disappointed that you didn't make the final fourteen but you shouldn't be. All of you are young and talented enough to press your cases for the 2002 World Cup. Thank you once again for your time, and I wish you all the best for the upcoming season."

The group then dismissed and were free to head back home. Harry felt the week had been a lot of fun, and he hoped he had done enough to squeeze David out of the team. He bade Oliver and Sarah farewell before grabbing his trunk and apparating back to Marauder's Mansion.