Chapter thirteen

Chapter thirteen

Trick or Treat

Halloween was but a week away, but that wasn't what was stirring everyone's conversations. Tryouts for Quidditch were being held this afternoon and all the Gryffindors were either going for a spot on the team or talking about who they hoped would get it.

There were two openings on the team this year: one chaser and the keeper. Angelina Johnson, who had graduated last year, had been one of three girls on the team serving as chasers. It was their job to put the Quaffle through the hoops and score. The girls had been able to work up smooth strategies that had helped Gryffindor win the Quidditch cup two years ago. Oliver Wood, who had served marvelously as Gryffindor's Keeper for five years, had graduated two years ago. The Keeper was a difficult position, for it was his responsibility to block the goal posts and keep the opponent from scoring.

There actually was one other opening on the team, but that position had to be filled by one of the already existing members of the team. It was the team captain. Harry, who had turned down the offer, had been approached several times over the past few weeks by not only his fellow teammates, but by other students in his house as well. They all seemed to think that he was the obvious choice, just as McGonagall had. But, in the end, the position fell into the capable hands of Katie Bell, just as Harry had suggested.

Harry was relieved when Katie's appointment had been announced because he didn't want to have to do the judging. Ron was trying out of course, and Harry certainly didn't want to be the one to judge his best friends' abilities on a broomstick. But, to Harry's dismay, he wasn't entirely off the spot. Katie had asked the other members of the team to come to the tryouts and help her decide. The final decision would be hers, but she wanted their input as well.

A fairly large group of Gryffindor students gathered on the Quidditch pitch Saturday morning. Ron glanced nervously from face to face, wondering how skilled some of his unknown competitors were. Hermione had come to lend him moral support, but nothing she was saying could calm his nerves. Daphne, who really wasn't all that interested in Quidditch, had stayed behind to work on a rather large Aritmancy paper Professor Vector had assigned.

There was a general hub among the students as the members of the team gathered around them, but they fell into silence when Katie began with the instructions. "Glad to see you all here this morning. I'm Katie Bell, the new captain, and I'll be running the tryouts." She introduced the other players, giving their names and positions. "First, we'd like to see what your technique is like. So, one by one, we'll watch as you demonstrate whatever fancy tricks you'd like to show off. We're especially looking for speed and fast reflexes."

One at a time, the students took off on their brooms and sped around the stadium, some making loop-the-loop and zigzag patterns as they went. Harry and Hermione cheered as Ron showed some very fine maneuvers when it was his turn. However, they didn't really know how to respond when a very unsteady Colin Creevy perched on his broom and began fumbling around in the air. After his recent treatment of Ginny, they couldn't bring themselves to feel sorry for him.

There were a few second and third year students that showed promise, and one seventh year that obviously didn't know when to quit. One girl in particular was very fast on the broom; her name was Dawn Nightingale and she was a second year. There was a third year boy named Zach Zorin who showed off more spectacular moves than the whole lot of them. Tarrance Partway, the only seventh year, would have been the worst of the bunch if it hadn't been for Colin.

But the one that most startled Harry was the one he had never expected to try out let alone perform so well - Ginny Weasley. She was almost as good as Ron, except that she flew with more grace. It was as if she were moving to music, and Harry couldn't take his eyes off her when she was up there. Hermione elbowed Harry as Katie began to speak again.

"Excellent. Now, we'd like to see how you do handling the Quaffle. I'll need one person to serve as a Chaser and another to serve as the Keeper." She matched up some pairs and sent them up. Ginny had been matched up with Dawn Nightingale, who managed to block every shot Ginny sent at her. Ron was matched up with Zach Zorin, but he had had better luck than Ginny. Ron was able to get the Quaffle past him twice. Colin, who had been asked to try the position of Keeper, wasn't able to block a single swat from Dean Thomas. Harry scowled. Dean wasn't that good of a player, but then, anyone would look good next to Colin.

Katie waited until everyone had landed. "Now then, our last round will involve your defenses. We want to see how well you can dodge the Bludgers." She nodded to Fred and George who mounted their brooms and took to the air. Each hopeful player had their go in the air while the twins swatted the Bludger back and forth. The twins were especially hard on Ron, Harry thought. But, after all, Ron was probably used to playing with them at home, so it was good that they didn't go to easy on him. And Ron had performed very well, but not as well, Harry thought, as Zach Zorin. He was amazing. Ginny had a hard time, too, and even screamed once when a Bludger came too close, causing Fred and George to stifle their laughs.

Ginny landed and took a seat next to Harry, Ron, and Hermione in the stands. Everyone held their breath when Colin took to the air. "This isn't going to be pretty." Ron said to Harry. He was right. Colin managed to swerve out of the way a few times, but each one left him more unbalanced than before.

Then, almost as if he suddenly gained control over the broomstick, Colin began chasing after the Bludger. As he flew past Fred, Colin swiped the bat from his hand, leaving Fred stunned. Colin swung at the Bludger and sent it hurtling right at Ginny, Harry, Ron and Hermione.

"Look out!" cried Ron and the four students jumped out of the way, Harry and Ginny to the left and Ron and Hermione to the right. "Are you ok?" Harry asked, but a squeal from Ginny made him turn around just in time to see another Bludger heading right for them. They jumped out of the way again and ran down to the field.

"If I didn't know ant better, I'd say he was trying to hit me!" Ginny said, more shocked than frightened.

"Hang on." Harry took her broomstick from her and mounted it himself. But before he could get off the ground, Colin dove for him and almost knocked Harry to the ground. Colin shot back up in the air and headed for the Bludger.

Harry reached inside his robes and grabbed his wand. Ginny stared as he pulled out the amulet, touched his wand to the ruby, and pointed it at Colin. He sent the Hurling hex right at him, but Colin dodged out of the way upon hearing Harry's cry. Colin dove again for Harry, who had hopped on Ginny's broom and was now rising fast to meet him.

"They're going to crash!" Hermione shouted.

"Oh no they're not." The voice was that of Remus Lupin. "Stupefy." He pointed his wand at Colin who came to a sudden stop in mid air. Harry swerved out of the way and circled down to the ground where Lupin stood, listening to Ron, Hermione, and Ginny explain to him what happened. He was only able to get bits and pieces an all three of hem were talking at once.

Slowly Colin joined then on the ground, with a puzzled look on his face. "Calmly, please. What happened?" Lupin turned to Harry.

Harry nodded towards Colin. "He hit the Bludger at me…what…three times? And he tried to knock me off my broom twice!"

Lupin furrowed his brow and said quietly to Harry, "Do you really think this called for the use of the amulet?"

"Yes! He's been acting oddly a lot lately. And this…well, he could have killed me!"

"I wouldn't!" Colin said with a squeak. "You know I wouldn't! Professor, it was just a mistake. I'm no good at this sort of thing, but I promised my dad I'd try for it. I didn't know what I was doing up there."

"He aimed it right at my head," Harry explained.

"I didn't aim it at all. It just went that way. I'm no good at this…it was just an accident." Colin looked as if he were ready to cry.

There was quiet for a moment before Lupin asked, "Harry, is it possible that what he is saying is true?"

Harry looked at the frowning Colin and then back to Lupin. Unenthusiastically he said, "I suppose so." Then with great energy he added, "But he has been acting strange lately. Just ask Ginny."

Lupin looked to Ginny who said, "He pushed me down a while ago and tore my robes."

"That was an accident, too. I meant to just…give her a playful sort of a push, but it was too hard. When I saw she was falling backwards, I went to grab her, but all I caught was her robe. It ripped as she fell." His voice was very high pitched, even for Colin.

Lupin looked at Ginny. Reluctantly she said, "That isn't how it came across, but I guess it could have been that way."

"I'm sorry! Really I am. I didn't mean any of it." Colin sulked away, obviously giving up and heading back to the castle.

Harry had to explain. "Professor Lupin…"

But he was cut off. "Harry, I know Colin isn't…well…popular. Could all this strange behavior be a result of that?"

Harry looked down. "Maybe. It's just not like him."

"I know, but we all do things that are out of character when we're lonely. Now, I have to get back. My class will wonder where I went off to."

"How did you get here?" Hermione asked suddenly. "It looked like you apparated, but you can't do that on Hogwarts grounds."

"That's not entirely true." Lupin pointed out. "You can't apparate from outside of the grounds to the inner area. But, if you are already within the grounds, then there is no problem." He smiled down at her and apparated back to his class.

Ron was giving Hermione a very odd look. "Don't you dare say 'I told you so," she huffed.

* * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * *

The results of the tryouts would be posted before the Halloween feast. Ron kept bugging Harry to tell him how everyone had voted. All Harry would say was that he, naturally, had voted for Ron, but that he didn't know how it would turn out.

The buzz of who would make the team grew as the holiday approached. Harry had wanted many times to talk to Ginny about her performance, but had always thought of something else he should do instead.

Then it happened. He saw her talking, rather closely, with Dean Thomas. Hermione and Harry were coming back from lunch the afternoon of Halloween, leaving Ron behind because he was still babbling on about the Quidditch tryouts. Harry had seen them as soon as he and Hermione came into the common room. "What's that all about?" He asked.

Hermione looked over at Ginny and Dean and said cautiously, "Oh that...well…you know…Dean and Ginny…well…they…"

"They what?" Harry glared.

Hermione gave out a sigh. "Dean came up to Ginny the other day and told her how impressed he was with her try out. I think he fancies her now. They've been…talking every night since."

"Does Ron know?" Harry seemed a bit put out.

"I think so. Why does it matter?"

"Well…I mean, wouldn't he think it's weird of a friend of his going after his own sister?"

Hermione couldn't resist. "Are you talking about Dean, or yourself?"

Harry spun around to face her. "Dean! Dean's the one talking to her."

"And you're the one upset about it!" There was a moments pause before she added, "No, I don't think Ron would get upset." She excused herself and went up to bed. Harry decided he'd better rest, too, for it might turn out to be a long night.

But it wasn't as bad as he had thought. The new members of the team had been posted and Harry had heaved a sigh of relief. Ron had been made a Chaser, and Zach Zorin had been made the new Keeper. Harry was excited for his friend, but knew that Ginny must have been disappointed.

The feast was incredible, as were the usual fantastic decorations. Everyone, including the seventh year fellow who didn't make it, congratulated Ron on his new position. Hermione hung on Ron's arm with a very proud look on her face. Harry was glad that Ron was getting all the attention for once, but he still wondered how Ginny was doing.

He looked down the long table for her and found her sitting next to Dean, smiling broadly and laughing. Harry got up and went down to where they were seated. "Er…Ginny?"

She turned around and smiled up at him. "Hi Harry! Enjoying the feast?"

"Yeah. I was just…well…I wanted to say that you were really great up there and ... I'm sorry you didn't make it."

"It's all right. It means more to Ron anyway." She looked at Dean and laughed. "Besides, I made a new friend from it."

Dean looked up at Harry and Harry frowned at him. "Well, I better go. Ron has earned bragging rights and as the appointed best friend, I have to listen." He turned and went back to his seat between Ron and Daphne.

"Aren't those two sweet together?" Daphne said, referring to Ginny and Dean.

"Oh yes, quite," Harry lied.

****Thanks to Lin-z for the beta read!!

****Daphne Affigo is an Alphie creation. Harry Potter and all other characters are property of J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers.