Chapter 16

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry, 13th September 2011

Harry dipped his quill into the ink bottle and looked at his best friend, his face scrunched up in frustration. Harry had to admit, he wasn't in the best mood either. His wrist was aching. Only 13 days into the term, and he had already gotten detention, after an unfortunate encounter with Snape. True, he'd kind of been asking for it. Telling Snape there was 'no need to call him sir' probably wasn't the best idea he'd ever had. Snape was being his usual bullying self, as they struggled in Defence Against the Dark Arts, with non-verbal spells.

He spent the evening in Snape's office, writing lines. The pain in his wrist was better than the memory of the scar on his right hand. I must not tell lies. It only tingled now when he thought of last term's Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. He had a feeling this year wouldn't be any better, with Snape in charge of DADA. Although, he couldn't possibly be worse than Umbridge. Though Snape was starting to think it was a challenge.

He was abruptly pulled from his thoughts by Ron's angry tone.

"Oi!" he barked, glaring at the sofa by the fire. Harry glanced over to where his friend was looking and saw Ginny and Dean Thomas leaning toward one another, as if about to kiss. Like an arrow from a bow, Ginny's head shot to the side to look at her brother.

"What?" she quizzed, brown eyes narrowing; suspicious.

"What do you think you're playing at?" Ron fumed.

"Ron!" Hermione warned, but it went ignored. Ron's gaze was firmly fixed on his sister.

"I was just kissing my boyfriend!" Ginny seethed back, instantly defensive. Her face was beginning to turn as bright red as her hair. It occurred to Harry that maybe this hadn't been the first time this argument happened. Dean, to his credit, looked a little embarrassed.

"I don't want my sister snogging boys in public!"

"It's none of your business who I go out with or what I do with them, Ronald," said Ginny, reminding Harry of a smaller version of her mother. "Just because the only woman you've kissed was Auntie Muriel!"

"Shut up!" Ron snapped back.

Ginny rose with a huff. "I will not! Get over yourself, Ron! I'm not a child!" She picked up her books and retreated up the stairs to the girls' dormitory, stomping all the while. Dean rubbed the back of his neck before blowing out a puff of air. "Sorry mate…." And he walked up the stairs to the boys' dormitories.

There was a long silence in which no one spoke. Only the awkward clearing of throats, and the scratching of quills against parchment. Hermione looked desperately like she wanted to say something, but the angry look in Ron's expression held the words at bay.

"What's with all this bloody partner stuff anyway?" Ron eventually mumbled after a while as he worked on his History of Magic homework. "This is worse than the Yule ball."

"It's clearly about teamwork, Ronald," Hermione said, barely looking up from her parchment, trying to avoid his eyes as she dipped her quill again.

"Me and Harry are alright, but what about you?" Ron grumbled as he looked over at her with a frown. "Who are you going to partner with?" Hermione put down her quill and glared at Ron.

"For your information, Parvati and I are teaming up. So, you don't have to worry about me Ronald, I can take care of myself." She fumed before she picked up her books and stomped off up to the girls' dormitories. She'd been angry, wishing she said something in Ginny's defence earlier but was it her place?

"What's her problem?" Ron frowned off after her, then he caught Lavender's eye as he went back to his homework. She sighed and waved at him. He gazed around the room and his frown deepened as he looked to his right.

"What is the matter with you, mate?" Harry asked quietly. "That was uncalled-for."

"She's my sister!" Ron complained.

"What's the problem? She's just dating, and Dean is a nice bloke," As he said the words, there was an uneasy feeling in his stomach. He wasn't really sure why.

"He's too old for her… he's in our year," he scowled. "She's only fifteen."

"Which is one year younger than us?" Harry frowned, still not understanding what the big deal was. Ron threw up his hands in frustration. "You look just like Percy." Harry snorted.

"You really had to mention Percy?" Ron groused.

"Sorry, mate." Harry patted his friend's shoulder. "Just calm down, I know she's your sister, but she's her own person. Can you imagine what it's like? Being an only girl in a house full of seven brothers? I'm sure that she got with Dean because you two get on so well."

Ron huffed, then grumbled. "I bet Dean wishes he could be Ginny's partner for this ruddy class…."

"Don't worry, he's teaming up with Seamus. If you're lucky he'll end up in the Hospital Wing after this week's training class," Harry offered to try to cheer Ron up. It seemed to work, as he smiled slightly. "Come on, Quidditch tryouts are tomorrow."

"And just because you're the captain, you can't just fast track me onto the team?" Ron clarified.

"Sorry mate, no can do, everyone has to pull their own weight," Harry said sympathetically. "But you'll do great. You're a great Keeper."

Lavender Brown walked over to Ron, biting her lip as she shifted back and forth. "Hello, Ron." She spoke quietly.

"Hello…." He replied in a confused tone.

"I'll be cheering for you in the stands tomorrow…." She smiled back, curling her hair around her finger.

"Thanks?" Ron replied, going back to his work. Harry pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. Lavender giggled a little before going back to her seat.

"What?" Ron looked between Lavender and Harry. He decided to smack Harry on the shoulder and grabbed his homework before stomping up the stairs.

⸸

The next morning, Ron and Harry waited for Hermione to come out of the girls' dormitories. Ron thought, at least, that he was partially forgiven after he muttered an apology. They shuffled tiredly to the Great Hall. One of the Hufflepuff students was talking quietly beside them about having Demonology that afternoon.

"Ugh, I'm starving," Ron complained as he sat down. "I still haven't finished the assignment."

"Ronald, you need to finish it. You won't just fail but Harry's grade depends on you too." Hermione tried not to sound too obnoxious.

"Blimey, I know 'Mione," he grumbled. "I'll do it. You sound like my mum."

Hermione sighed, putting her hand on his shoulder. "I know you're worried about Dean and Ginny. But I'm keeping an eye on her in the dormitories."

"You are?" Ron asked.

"Of course, Ron, she's my friend," Hermione replied with a smile. Ron nodded and smiled back.

"I'll help you with your homework tonight okay, mate?" Harry offered as he passed the jam to a fourth year who asked him for it.

"Are you talking about the Demonology class?" A musical voice came from the table behind them. They turned to see Luna looking at them expectantly.

"Hey Luna, yeah we are. What do you think so far?" Hermione asked.

"It's rather interesting," Luna replied thoughtfully. "I never knew there were so many creatures out there. Though, I'm sure these accounts are one-sided. I think most of them are misunderstood."

"I'm sure that Wraith was misunderstood." Though Neville meant his words to be sarcastic, his shiver negated the intended effect.

"One-sided?" Harry laughed a little. "Luna, they're killing people."

"I suppose you're right Harry," she nodded. "I've been reading Supernatural Beasts and Defence, and there's so much more out there that we didn't know about. Has anyone else gotten to the ghoul section?"

Neville, Harry, Ron, and Luna looked at Hermione, the boys looking incredulous, and Luna looking in a dream-like state.

"These classes will be the death of me, I know it…. Neville frowned.

"You'll be okay Neville," said Hermione encouragingly. "You did fantastic in Dumbledore's Army."

Neville blushed shyly.

"Anyway, some of these creatures look so interesting," Hermione continued. "Even what the professors do. Hunters have been around for hundreds of years. I found a few books that were new in the library. There are so many creatures out there. Anything you could think of. Although, some of the creatures we know of are a little different. Vampires are very different from the ones in the Wizarding World. For example, the book says they don't burn in the sun, just get irritation, and are not repelled by garlic-"

"Okay, okay Hermione, we get it," Harry interrupted with a smirk. "Don't spoil the fun."
Hermione frowned a little before going back to her food.

"I think it's exciting," Neville spoke up. "Even though I can tell it's going to get scarier."

Ron nodded with a hum of acknowledgement.

Soon, Harry Ron and Hermione started walking toward the Quidditch Pitch, bags in hand.

"I am dreading this," Ron grimaced. "Anyway, did anyone notice Dumbledore wasn't at breakfast? That's the third day in a row."

"Probably Hogwarts business," Hermione replied.

"I bet that it's something to do with your classes, Harry," Ron pointed out.

"How so?" Hermione asked.

"It's a bit obvious, isn't it?" replied Ron. "Maybe he's going to get more memories."

"I don't know," Harry replied. "I guess it's possible."

The classes with Dumbledore had Harry's mind spinning. He'd had one already, four nights before, the night of the first training lesson with the Winchesters. His curiosity was answered. He had several questions. What could Dumbledore want to teach him? Was it something to do with the prophecy?

It turned out that Dumbledore wanted to pull back the curtain on why Voldemort wanted to kill Harry in the first place. Harry was taken aback, under the impression that he had been told everything. Dumbledore informed Harry that he told him the facts, and they were to 'journey together into the murky marshes of memory into thickets of wildest guesswork', in his words.

They travelled into the mind of Bob Ogden, a Ministry Official. He visited the Gaunt home, a descendant of Salazar Slytherin. He came to the house to summon Morfin Gaunt to a hearing for a minor attack on a Muggle. The Muggle was Tom Riddle, who went on to become Voldemort's father. Harry witnessed the dirt and abuse in the home that was nothing but a shack. The Gaunts spoke only in Parseltongue, much to Ogden's confusion. He tried to read the charges, but Marvolo, the father, was having none of it. He ignored the owls, as he perceived those who read as 'wimps'. Marvolo beat his daughter, Merope, in front of Ogden, calling her obscene names and a disgrace to the family of Gaunt. Merope was revealed to be in love with the Muggle Tom Riddle, although the love was unrequited. This was the justification Morfin needed for the attack. Marvolo was disgusted by Merope. After he tried to choke Merope, Ogden sent reinforcements that returned to arrest Morfin and Marvolo. Dumbledore explained after the memory concluded that Merope slipped Tom Riddle a love potion, or perhaps put him under the Imperius Curse, he wasn't sure. She eventually lifted the magic, and he left her, revolted by what she was. Harry noticed they were an odd family. Of course, they were Pureblood supremacists, directly descended from Salazar Slytherin. Neither of the three could read, and both Morfin and Merope's eyes stared in opposite directions.

The second memory involved a visit Dumbledore made to Wool's Orphanage, where a young Tom Marvolo Riddle was growing up. It was revealed Merope died in childbirth and begged for her son to be named after his Muggle father who abandoned them, still clearly deeply in love. Albus went to speak with Tom, and told him of his magical abilities, and where he was to go to school. Harry saw how powerful Tom was at eleven, and very independent. He refused Dumbledore's help in getting to Diagon Alley. He didn't seem surprised by the news he was a wizard, in fact, he looked like he was scheming. Perhaps his first taste of power? Harry wondered.

"Harry? Harry!" Ron's voice drifted into his awareness.

"Huh?" Harry blurted.

"You okay there, mate?" Ron asked.

"Yeah, sorry, got distracted," Harry mumbled. They were approaching the Quidditch Pitch now. Both the Gryffindors and Slytherins looked around. The Pitch looked different from the previous week. There were floating targets hovering a few inches from the grass, unlike the crude ones from a week before that were embedded in the soil. There were various obstacles scattered around. The most surprising thing, however, was Professor Flitwick standing with the two Professors Winchester. Seamus laughed as he looked at the little wizard standing between the two men barely coming up to their knees.

"Hey guys, welcome to training week two," Professor Dean spoke first.

"As you can see, we have some help with us today. Professor Flitwick has kindly offered to help by infusing some magic in this class. When you're ready, go get changed," Professor Sam instructed.

The students moved into the changing area, donning their training clothes quickly. Harry pulled his red Gryffindor shirt over his head. The students walked back out into the pitch area and waited for the Professors to speak.

"No need to look so worried guys," Professor Dean laughed a little. "This week is similar to last week, but you're going to be hitting some targets that Professor Flitwick is going to help you with."

"Good afternoon students." Professor Flitwick beamed. "I am happy to offer assistance to Professor Winchester's on how to improve your charm skills. This will also help you in charms class as well. Today we will be practising 'Confringo'."

He spent the first few minutes of the class helping Harry and the other students with pronunciation and wand-waving techniques. Harry saw Professor Dean mouthing the spell and his hand twitched like he was practising the wand movement. "Do you want to join them?" Harry heard Professor Sam mutter.

"No…" Professor Dean shook it off and cleared his throat. "No, I wouldn't want to show the kids up." Harry rolled his eyes, the scene reminding him of Dudley when he was trying to be boastful about something.

"Dean, we probably need to learn how to use these things. All we can do right now is make a book levitate."

"True," Professor Dean nodded and shrugged. He spoke up and addressed the students.

"Okay so, let's try hitting some targets." He stepped up to one of the floating targets and pointed his wand at it. "Confringo!"The end of his wand erupted with a fiery orange blast that shot straight towards his target, causing it to explode on impact.

"Cool…." He muttered.

"Brilliant Professor!" Ron grinned.

"Who's next?" Professor Dean asked, looking around at the students. Daphne Greengrass raised her hand and took a try. As she did this, Harry noticed Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle glaring daggers into her back. Pansy Parkinson and Millicent Bulstrode were gossiping nastily by the look of it. Her spell missed the target completely, blowing up a nearby obstacle.

"It's okay," Professor Sam assured. "Just take your time. We're not going to leave until everyone hits the target once, so everyone will get a chance."
Daphne nodded and tried again. This time her aim was perfect, causing the target to explode.

"Well done…" Professor Dean began.

"Daphne Greengrass," she replied with a smile.

"Well done. Five-point thingies to Slytherin," Dean told her. "I can do that right?" Professor Dean looked to Professor Flitwick. The small wizard nodded in confirmation.

The other students' interest was piqued at the mention of House points. They lined up one by one and cast Confringo at the targets. Harry noticed that they didn't give points to everyone, mainly those who produced a very powerful spell, like Hermione, or those who struggled at first, like Neville and Daphne.

The students watched as Malfoy approached his target, "Confringo!" He shouted at the target angrily, watching in satisfaction as it exploded into tiny pieces.

They continued through the students until everyone hit the target. In total, 20 points were gained for both Houses. Harry was given five points for his casting and accuracy, Professor Sam congratulating him.

"Ah, well done! Well done! This reminds me of the Duelling Club." Professor Flitwick clapped as they finished.

"Duelling Club?" Professor Sam asked.

"There's one every year. But my second year was the most… interesting," Harry spoke up.

"Lockheart," Ron coughed, not so subtly.

Professor Sam looked thoughtful for a minute before asking. "That's the guy who lost his memory?"

"How do you know?" Professor Dean asked.

"I read," Professor Sam defended.

"Yeah, that's him. He accidentally wiped his own memory. They can't fix it. He's in St. Mungo's Hospital permanently. Although somehow, he does remember that he liked doing autographs," Hermione told them. Harry recalled the visit to the Hospital the previous year, after Mr Weasley's attack.

"Wow…" Professor Dean frowned. "That sucks…"

⸸

It was later that evening after dinner when Harry returned to the Quidditch Pitch. His muscles were already sore from the training class, but it couldn't be helped. Quidditch tryouts couldn't be moved. He was Captain, after all, it was a weird feeling. He was the only remaining member of the team that had been there since Harry's first year at Hogwarts, the last two were Fred and George who hadn't finished their seventh year. Thankfully Ginny joined last year so that he wouldn't feel so awkward. Half of the students just wanted to be in the same room as the famous Harry Potter. Ron walked beside him, seeming very excited. Ginny and Hermione trailed along behind them. When they got there, they realized that most of Gryffindor House must have turned up. Harry walked into the pitch. One confident looking seventh year strode forward and shook Harry's hand. He saw Hermione wince out of the corner of his eye.

"Cormac McLaggen," He introduced. "I'll be trying for Keeper."

"I don't remember you," Harry said in a confused tone.

"I missed last year's. I was in the Hospital Wing," Cormac explained as if it were common knowledge. "I ate a pound of doxy eggs for a bet." He smirked at Hermione.

"Okay, well, if you'll just wait with the others," Harry said, gesturing to the line. McLaggen frowned a little but retreated back to the line.

Harry began by asking all the students to divide into groups of ten and fly around the pitch. The first group were only first years, barely past their Flying Lessons with Madam Hooch. They flew clumsily, and Harry sent them away. No first years were allowed on the team, after all. He had been an exception in his first year, mainly due to Professor McGonagall's competitiveness when it came to Quidditch.

The second group was a number of girls that seemed like they were just there to ogle at boys. They went to the stands gladly to watch when Harry asked them to leave, starting to lose his patience.

"Airheads…" Ginny rolled her eyes as they left.

"If anyone here isn't from Gryffindor, leave now. Please!" Harry commanded, irritated, as he discovered a group of Hufflepuffs, trying their luck. The students left giggling. Harry sighed and continued on.

It took two hours to accomplish, but by the end, he found three Chasers, Ginny, Demelza Robins, and Katie Bell. Jimmy Peakes and Ritchie Coote were appointed the new Beaters, and Harry moved onto the Keepers next. Each Keeper couldn't stop more than three goals. The closest was Cormac, who saved four out of the five needed. Harry was surprised to see him shooting off in the other direction on the fifth and final penalty. He returned to the grass, muttering angrily.

Now it was Ron's turn. He flew to the posts nervously. Harry watched as he saved five penalties in a row. The watching crowd broke into a cheer. It seemed that Lavender Brown was cheering the loudest. Harry could see McLaggen stomping off the pitch angrily.

Harry rolled his eyes.

"Well done, Ron!" Hermione congratulated as she approached from the stands. It seemed the altercation from the night before was forgotten.

"That was pretty cool," said a familiar voice. Harry looked around to see Professor Sam and Dean walking toward them.

"Oh, hi Professors," Harry greeted. "What are you doing here?"

"Just came to watch. Professor McGonagall told us tryouts were happening. She seemed very… enthusiastic about it. So, we thought we'd check it out. I don't know anything about this, but your team looks good," Professor Sam told him.

"Uh, thanks, Professor." Harry blushed a little.

"Professor McGonagall mentioned you're pretty good at this?" Professor Dean asked.

"Yeah, I got onto the team in the first year. It's unusual for that to happen."

"Congratulations Harry." Professor Dean clapped him on the shoulder. Harry blushed again.

"It wasn't a big deal," he protested.

"Will you come to the first game, Professors?" Ginny asked with a hopeful gleam in her eye.

"Sure, why not," Professor Dean shrugged. "Count us in. Just don't try to get me on one of those things."