The day of the Quidditch trials dawned fine, much to Harry's relief. Isobelle had arrived with Anya's Firebolt2 the day before, and Anya had been practicing in her free time. Harry carried the crate of balls down to the pitch and watched as the stands filled with Gryffindors, eager to see their new chaser. Much to Harry's surprise, there were ten people trying for the one position. He decided to try them one on one with Ron first, to see if they could beat him. A second year girl managed to get a goal past Ron, to his annoyance, but it was the last goal that got past him for a while. He managed to catch the Quaffle before it went through the hoops in some spectacular saves. Ron got the surprise of his life when his own sister tried out for chaser. She managed to score three goals, but Ron managed to save many more. At last Anya mounted her Firebolt2 and grabbed the Quaffle. She darted around the pitch before firing the Quaffle at the left goal post. It soared through for an easy goal. Anya easily scored five more goals before Ron saved one. Harry held his breath watching her, she was an incredible chaser. He called all the hopefuls together and singled out Ginny, Anya and the second year girl, the only three to get a goal past Ron.
'We're going to have a quick game now, tryout chasers against team chasers. No beaters, no seeker. Just go and try to score as many goals as possible.' He told them, passing Ginny the Quaffle.
The three hopefuls faired well against the Gryffindor chasers. They managed to get the Quaffle quite a few times to score. Harry let them continue for about ten minutes and then called a halt to the game. He gathered his team around him.
'What do you think?' he asked Ron.
'Anya's definitely the best. She's right on target every time. The only times she hasn't scored is when I've managed to save.' Ron replied.
'I agree.' Spoke up Colin Creevy, one of the chasers 'She'd make an excellent addition to the team. But I think we should make Ginny and Mary reserves. We're probably going to need reserves this year. I hear Slytherin's out to play dirty.' Harry nodded. He called the three girls over.
'Okay, we've decided that Anya will be the new chaser, but Ginny and Mary will be reserves, if they still want to play.' He announced, smiling at all three.
Anya grinned broadly and was hugged by Ginny.
'Well done! I knew you'd be chaser as soon as I saw you flying. You're spectacular.' Squealed Ginny.
'Thanks.' Anya replied 'I just hope I can live up to Harry's expectations. You guys haven't lost a game for years.'
A loud party followed in the Gryffindor common room that night, celebrating the appointment of a new chaser. Professor McGonagall showed up after one o'clock and gave Hermione and Harry a talking to for allowing their house to be so loud.
'Really!' she exclaimed 'You're Head Boy and Girl. You should know better.' Hermione's face flushed, and she immediately sent the Gryffindors up to bed.
'Don't worry Hermione,' Anya told her 'McGonagall's only upset because she wasn't invited.' Hermione laughed at this and then went to bed herself.
The next day, Harry sat in History of Magic, trying not to fall asleep. He noticed that Ron had already given up the fight, and was had his face resting on his textbook. Hermione was taking notes, the only student to do so. Beside him, Anya was scrawling on her book, her eyelids on the verge of closing. Binns droned on and Harry tried to listen. He sat up though, when Binns mentioned the House of Phoenix. He directed the class to open their books at page 449. Harry obediently flipped open his book and looked down to see the portrait of Anya's family. Panic spread through him as he saw her portrait blinking up at him from all the other students' books. He nudged Anya.
'Everyone's going to recognise you from your portrait.' He whispered urgently. Anya merely yawned.
'No they won't. The charm that hides my identity is on the portraits as well. I'm told that in my portrait I look like a orange haired, horsy, overbred kind of girl. Not unlike many princesses you see these days.' Harry gave a sigh and listened to Binns lecture on the history of the family. The rest of the class passed rather slowly, until the bell finally rang. The class handed in their summer essays and filed to Defense Against the Dark Arts. Professor Lupin smiled at them as they all took their places and took the roll. When he came to Anya's name, he paused and looked up.
'Welcome Miss Royal, I see you are sitting with Mr Potter, Mr Weasley and Miss Granger, you're in the best of hands there.' Anya smiled politely and thanked him.
'Today we will be learning protective charms. These can protect against most hexes, as well as protecting the identity and location of the protected person.' Lupin continued to lecture on the charms they would be learning. After teaching them how to perform the charm to protect against hexes, he split them into pairs and set them to work.
Harry easily set up his protective charm, and waited for Anya to hex him. She aimed a jelly-legs curse at him which deflected easily. Harry's charm deflected several other hexes, but nearly broke when Anya tried to hit him with a hex he'd never heard of.
'What on earth was that?' he asked, breaking his protective charm.
'The wedgie hex.' She giggled 'Sorry, I couldn't help myself.' She set up her own charm. Harry tested a few hexes on her, and she managed to deflect every one. Across the room, Harry could see Ron wobbling madly; no doubt Hermione had managed to get the jelly-legs curse past Ron's charm. Lupin walked around the room assisting students. When everyone had managed to deflect at least one hex, he called for their attention.
'Okay, I'm going to tell you about the Patronus charm now, which is a highly advanced charm.' He smiled at Harry, who'd managed to learn the charm in his third year. 'This charm is especially useful against Dementors.' Lupin continued. Most members of the class shivered slightly at the mention of Dementors. Lupin motioned to Harry.
'I'm going to ask Harry to demonstrate this charm, as he learnt it a few years ago in order to combat the Dementors that guarded the school.'
'What can I set it against Professor?' Harry asked, pushing the arms of his robes back. Lupin pulled a suitcase up onto his desk.
'I've got a boggart here for you to use.' He asked the rest of the class to move their desks towards the back of the class to give Harry more room. He then opened the suitcase and a hooded Dementor stepped out. Harry shivered at the drop in temperature, but raised his wand and bellowed 'Expecto Patronum!' The silvery stag that Harry's Patronum took form as appeared from his wand and raced towards the Dementor. The boggart stumbled slightly and was finished off by Lupin 'Riddikulus!'
The class applauded Harry's Patronum, which disappeared in a wisp of smoke.
'I'm impressed.' Anya told Harry as he sat down. 'You'll have to teach me that one.'
Back in the Gryffindor common room, Ron challenged Anya to another game of chess. She readily accepted and their battle scarred chessmen took the board. Harry watched with interest. Ron had been annoyed at losing and was eager to beat Anya. Hermione sat off to one side, looking through practice NEWT papers. Ron's face was the picture of concentration as he and Anya played. Both were extraordinary players, and Harry suspected it would take many games to determine who was the better player.
The game continued for quite some time, and at last Harry decided to go over some new Quidditch tactics he'd thought up. His intricate plans began to take shape as the chess game was finally decided. Ron had managed to beat Anya, and Harry could tell he was extremely relieved. Chess was Ron's thing, and although he didn't mind losing the odd game, he'd never lost two in a row. Anya congratulated Ron on his victory and looked over Harry's Quidditch tactics.
'Are you sure this would work?' she asked, pointing to a more complex plan.
'Positive.' He replied, tapping his wand on the parchment. The miniature players he'd drawn came alive and began acting Harry's play.
'See, this chaser would go here, send the Quaffle there, chaser two would intercept here and chaser three would score.' Anya tapped her chin and looked over the diagram.
'I'm not sure. Wouldn't it be better this way?' she waved her wand over the parchment and the chasers followed her idea.' Harry watched carefully and considered.
'I'm not sure. I suppose it would all depend on the other team's chasers and keeper. We'll try both out next practice.' Harry made a copy of Anya's ploy and restored his own. He handed Ron a few keeper tactics to look over and then turned to Hermione.
'I thought you'd done every practice NEWT paper ever written, Hermione.' He teased.
'Ha ha. For your information, these are the NEWTs from Beauxbatons. I had to translate them, but I think I missed a few words.' She read out a passage ' listen to this "Explain of the intricate proceeding that animagus must be doing to in order" Isn't that a hoot?' Harry looked over Hermione's translations.
'They say everything loses a little on translation. I'm sure you can make it out.' Anya peered over his shoulder.
'You can translate French?' she asked Hermione.
'That's nothing.' Ron spoke up 'She's pretty good at Bulgarian too.' Harry snickered, and Hermione blushed.
'Am I missing something?' Anya inquired.
'Hermione's boyfriend's Viktor Krum, the Bulgarian seeker.' Harry explained.
'Oh.' Anya grinned at Hermione.
'Speaking of Viktor, I have to write him a letter.' Hermione searched through her pile of papers for a clean sheet of parchment. Ron scowled a little, but buried himself in his keeper tactics. Anya couldn't help but notice this and raised her eyebrow at Harry. He nodded, and then announced he was going for a walk. Anya immediately agreed to go with him.
'Harry, you know we shouldn't be wandering the halls. What if McGonagall finds out?' Hermione looked rather stern.
'Don't worry Hermione, we'll take my cloak.' He hurried up to his dorm and emerged with the silvery Invisibility cloak in his pocket. He also carried the Marauder's Map. Anya looked at him curiously, but followed him out the portrait hall. After they walked away from the Fat Lady's portrait, Harry quickly checked the map and then pulled out his cloak.
'An Invisibility Cloak!' Anya breathed, touching the material softly. Harry threw it over them both and together they walked down to the grounds.
'So Ron's jealous then?' Anya said, after Harry had told her a bit of history.
'You can say that again. It's him that should have green eyes, not us.' Anya laughed.
They walked towards the lake, but stopped when they suddenly heard a sound.
'What was that?' Anya gasped.
They whirled around to see another student walking towards them. Harry quickly pulled Anya to one side and tried not to gasp as he recognised the student.
'That's Ginny!' he hissed to Anya after Ginny had passed.
'Where's she going?' Anya replied in a hushed voice. They followed Ginny to the small clearing at the edge of the forest. Ginny sat down at looked at her watch.
'She's waiting for someone.' Anya said, looking up towards the castle for a sign of someone.
'I wonder who?' Harry pondered, but was dragged away by Anya.
'She obviously doesn't want anyone to know. We should hurry back to the common room.' Harry voiced his protest, but to no avail. He took one look back at Ginny and followed Anya inside the castle.