More Than What Meets the Eye – Chapter 7 (Quidditch)
It wasn't hard for Harry to get back into the flow of going to classes. Given that he did have a three-month break for the summer. And he had been balancing Quidditch on top of that. And now that it was October, he had been waiting for them to call for tryouts.
Harry hadn't expected that he would be given his old position of Seeker back. He was only a second year, so it was likely that someone may be better than him. He knew if he ever got the position of Quidditch Captain he would want to do the same thing. Despite that Wood could be a bit obsessive over Quidditch, he wasn't a bad captain. And he was the one that call for tryouts for all the players. A notice had even been posted on the Gryffindor notice board in the Common Room. He had shared a grin with Dean.
The actual tryouts had been held on a Saturday. Harry may not have classes on Friday, but that didn't mean other students didn't. And he knew come next year that would change, but he best take advantage of it while he could. Though he couldn't imagine the crowd that had shown up for the tryouts. Some of them were there just to watch, which included his friends. Even Hermione, and she really wasn't a big fan of the sport. But he knew that she came to support him and Dean.
His tryout was pretty simple, the person who caught the Snitch two times out of three became the Gryffindor Seeker. And the second person would be the reserve Seeker just in case Harry couldn't make the match. It hadn't happened yet, but that didn't mean it wouldn't.
So, Harry had gripped his Nimbus 2000 with a death grip before kicking off. His grip slightly loosened, he had always enjoyed the feeling of being in the air. It was a bit freeing as the wind whipped around him. It hadn't been hard to catch sight of the snitch and urged his broom forward. And before the other boy knew it, he had caught the Snitch and landed.
"I'm not too surprised, Harry. Congratulations on making Gryffindor Seeker," Wood clapped him on the back.
Harry was grinning ear to ear before watching the rest of tryouts. Though he found out later from Dean that he didn't make Chaser, but he was a reserve Chaser. But that didn't seem to bother him.
So, besides making Quidditch tryouts and staying on the team. Harry had gotten to experience a lot of Ignatius' classes. He was a bit surprised to be correct that as a second year, they wouldn't learn anything much about dueling. That was still a bit too advance for them, but that didn't stop him from lecturing about it. There was just no practical portion for it. Even though Harry knew this was going to happen, he couldn't help the slight disappointment. And that definitely didn't stop the wizard from going more over about the Disarming Charm that he had previously learned in Charms.
There would be maybe one or two spells that could be used in a duel. But he had made it clear that more practical duels wouldn't be until maybe their third year. If he felt the class wasn't ready, it wouldn't be until fourth year. But somehow Harry doubted that whatever professor they had then would teach them dueling. He had heard stories about the poor professors they had for Defense from older students. It didn't make him all that hopeful for when his third or fourth year finally came around. But he figured that maybe he could get something during the summer if need be. It wouldn't be as good as doing it year around, though maybe the Room of Requirement could come up with something. It would be an interesting theory to test out later.
That room just continued to impress him and like requested, Harry had been using the room in his spare moments to train. He noticed that his throwing was getting better and he couldn't wait to show Lucretia when he saw her next. He just knew that she would be impressed with him on how far he had come. Ignatius definitely seemed to be a bit impressed, but sometimes it was hard to tell. But he did compliment him, so that had to mean something.
He still did his best to push himself on his parkour, but not too much where he couldn't move for days. He had learned not to do that and wound up getting a lecture from both Grams Rea and Charlus and countless others. That definitely had not been a fun time for him. So, he tried to avoid doing that so much. But the running for practice did help, he even noticed he didn't tire out as fast. Which he considered a huge improvement. He had always liked running, had always been good at it. Had to be when you had to run from Dudley, so you didn't get pummeled by him and his group of friends. But now he actually enjoyed the running, rather it being necessary when he lived at the Dursleys.
He just hoped that he would be able to pull himself up on a rooftop by the summer. Least the climbing aspect of it. He could sort of do it, but it was hard and half the time he could only manage halfway. The other Assassins his age could do it with ease and not even tire themselves out. And it was really hard not to be envious about it, to take what Grams Rea said to heart. But the emotions did catch him off guard sometimes. But he tried to keep in mind that he would be at that level, it would just take some time to get there.
And he still needed to work on the actual pivoting over obstacles that were in his path. It was actually a bit of fun when he got into it. He figured he probably would love it more the better he got at it. But for now, he tried as best as he could to lose himself in the movements.
But besides Quidditch and his Assassin responsibilities, Harry found himself piled under homework once more. Though Snape still seemed to hate him, so no change there. Though he didn't want to think if he hadn't asked Nott for help. Especially since Snape definitely didn't want to be any help, he was positive sometimes that he just wanted him to fail.
At least with his other classes, the professors actually seemed to like him. Even if Ignatius could be a bit cold at times. He still found opportunities to approach him and ask questions. They weren't always related to being an Assassin, but school work as well. The man seemed to be an abundant source of knowledge, least to a second year he was. He had even asked him about dueling, though the only answer he got was he would learn more about dueling soon. For all he knew that could be a few years from now. But he knew better not to press Ignatius for answers.
Despite that Harry did involve himself between classes, training, friends, and Quidditch, he still felt oddly distracted. His thoughts strayed to the first meeting he had with Terence. He started to notice when Slytherin were having their practices, since he would be wearing his green Quidditch robes. And the few times they had bumped into each other, he had always made a snide comment towards him. So, it was typical Slytherin behavior.
He couldn't understand why they had said Slytherins would be more closely aligned to him. Because apparently, they couldn't get the idea that he was a Gryffindor. Though Nott seemed to forget that fact, which was nice. He didn't even make fun of that he didn't really know much. Even in his first year, where he knew next to nothing about the magical world that he lived in. Though the Assassins had been working on fixing that, especially Charlus and Grams Rea. They were doing their best to catch him up to speed, something he would have had if his mum and dad were still alive. But the fact was… they weren't. Nothing could change that, but that didn't mean they couldn't rectify past mistakes. Though the number of books were a bit ridiculous at times, but they did explain them later.
Harry did notice that Higgs didn't try to curse him, but that didn't mean his words couldn't be cruel and hurtful. Just like most Slytherins, they made fun of his house. Though most of them weren't as bad as Malfoy, who would make fun of him not having parents. As if he found it funny that his parents were dead while the blonde's were still alive. If there was one Slytherin he couldn't stand, it was Malfoy. He didn't care if one day he may have to be allies, it wouldn't be to Malfoy. Though he couldn't say the same for his parents, perhaps they were better than their son. But again, he didn't think he had ever met them yet, so his judgement was a bit reserved for the moment. But he did at least know that he was related to Narcissa, due to her being a Black before marrying Lucius.
He still didn't know on who knocked him into Terence that first day at Hogwarts. He wondered if that was why Terence didn't like him. Though it could be because he was a Gryffindor or a Potter. He didn't know. He didn't think it was because he was knocked into him, but you never knew with Slytherins. Before, he would just assume that all Slytherins hated Gryffindors. But that would make no sense with the tentative relationship he had with Nott, even if that was just tutoring in Potions.
Higgs had even knocked his books out of his hands and not even turning back. It just made Harry sigh as he bent down to get his books. It just seemed that Higgs had a personal vendetta against him. Or did he do that to all Gryffindors, especially the younger ones?
"What is his deal?" Hermione had asked as she helped Harry.
Harry just shrugged as he placed his books into his bag, "I'm not sure. Figured it was because I'm a Gryffindor. It's no hidden secret that Slytherins don't like Gryffindors on principal. But at least he doesn't say anything about my parents…"
Hermione frowned; it hadn't been the first time that Slytherins didn't like Gryffindors. But it just seemed like this Slytherin had something against her best friend. But she couldn't deny her friend's words about Slytherins. She knew that Slytherins didn't like Gryffindor and it was the same way around. But she still believed that not all Slytherins were actually like that. Especially after being told that Nott was helping Harry in one of their classes. Surely there was more than just one Slytherin that didn't mind Gryffindors? But the matter was dropped for the moment.
It wouldn't be until Harry came across Terence one day that he figured out why. But he would have to find him for the answers to that.
It had been a while since he found out that Malfoy had been put on the Slytherin team. He was positive that it was because he had been jealous since Harry had made Gryffindor team last year. So, he probably felt that he had to be better than him. Though he instantly noticed the new brooms that they were holding. They were the new Nimbus 2001s, apparently a gift from Lucius Malfoy. He had one of his own, but he had left that back in his room at the Brotherhood. It had been a gift from his grandfather, Charlus. The man had recalled the love that James had for Quidditch, though he had been a Chaser, not a Seeker. Though he had filled in for the position in the past. He knew that if Harry was anything like James, he loved Quidditch as well. Harry could still remember being touched by the gift. He used the broom while at the Brotherhood but decided to use the Nimbus 2000 he had been gifted last year. He didn't want it to seem like he was ungrateful for the gift last year.
Course, he only knew about this turn of events because the Slytherin Quidditch Team had basically kicked Gryffindor off the Quidditch Pitch to practice. But at least Flint had been nice about it. Obviously, the Slytherin had been awaiting for a fight to happen since Wood instantly went on the defensive.
So, maybe it was the same on both sides. Slytherins probably attacked Gryffindors as much as they did Slytherins. But how much of that was actually on the defensive? Or were both houses the instigators for attacking the other. It was hard to say…
Harry had been prepared to walk back to the castle at that point. There wasn't much a point to practice if Slytherin had been given the pitch because of Snape. But his name had been called by the Slytherin Captain.
"Potter!"
Harry turned around; surprise written on his face. Why would a Slytherin want to talk to him?
"What do you need, Flint?" he asked calmly.
It was hard to get a good read on the taller Slytherin, though he felt he surprised him. Did he really expect him to draw his wand on him? He may not like certain Slytherins, but that didn't mean he was going to curse him.
"I want to talk to you later," was all he said.
Harry frowned at that, what could Flint possibly want to talk to him about? So, he shrugged.
"Okay," that was when Harry turned and left. Though he could still hear the outcry from a certain blonde on why the Slytherin Captain would want to talk to Potter for. Though nobody could see it, Harry had a smirk on his face when Flint snapped it wasn't any of his business.
Though Harry didn't voice it, he found it strange that Higgs wasn't there. Wasn't he the Seeker for Slytherin? But… that note did say that they needed to train a new Seeker and Malfoy was there. Did they replace Terence with Malfoy? It didn't make any sense. Though maybe that was why Higgs was purposely bumping into him and knocking his books out of his hands. Did he think that Harry was the reason for this?
There was honestly no telling what the reason could be until Harry talked to him. And that was bit of a scary thought. The only upper years that Harry talked to were Gryffindors and were on the Quidditch Team with him. That and Percy Weasley, but he was Fred and George's older brother. And Harry realized, Percy may know where Higgs may be. They were in the same year after all. Considering that Harry had no idea where to even start looking, it was the best thing to start with.