A/N Thanks yet again to anyone who left a review. I really Really do appreciate it. Here's chapter 7. Enjoy!

Chapter 7

September zipped by and it seemed as though Harry had just blinked and suddenly woke up on the morning of Quidditch tryouts. He blinked sleepily at the sun shining through the emerald crystal and after a moment, realized that it hadn't been the sun that had waken him up. There was a faint tapping coming from somewhere in the room. He groaned something about stupid seagulls and pulled his pillow over his head. Then the thought occurred to him that it might just be Hedwig with Ron and Hermione's reply. At this he swung his feet over the bed and stalked across the soft green carpet to the window, located between Tim and Mo's bed. He had been correct and found a tired and irritated looking Hedwig tapping on the window with her beak. He lifted the window open letting in Hedwig and a swift breeze. Hedwig promptly collapsed on Harry's bed. Only after giving her some water and sending her off to the owlry, Harry opened the letter. It read:

Dear Harry,
How are you? We're fine, bored, but fine. We miss you too. It's so boring here without you. They did replace you as seeker with a sixth year girl named Lucy Langston. Don't worry; she's not half as good as you are. Gryffindor lost to Hufflepuff in the last match. Hufflepuff! Can you believe that? Also Fred and George were made captains of the team. Hogwarts is almost exactly the same. Actually it is exactly the same. Nothing new whatsoever has happened since term started. The only unusual thing we've noticed is that Snape seems unusually (very very unusually) cheerful. He's only taken 25 points from Gryffindor so far this year and he's actually given us 1 point! We suppose it has to do with you being gone. Your new friends sound really nice. (Not better than me though right?) (Ron!) Anyway, you should definitely tell them about your plan (have you come up with one yet???) to defeat You-Know-Who. Maybe they can help you. Oh! Almost forgot. We have really great news! Dumbledore said we could come visit you over Christmas vacation. Isn't that splendid! Our parents already agreed so we're arriving on December 24th and leaving January 2nd. We have to go now. We wrote this letter during Lunch but we have to leave for Transfiguration now.
Bye!
We miss you.
See you at Christmas.

Love, From,
Hermione

And

From,
Ron

Harry reread the letter at least five times before folding it and placing it neatly in the drawer in his night table.
He then changed into jeans, an old T-shirt of Dudley's and some dark blue practice Quidditch robes he bought at Diagon Alley last summer. By the time he was done dressing, Ryan, Mo, and Tim were awake too. All of them were trying out for the team also. Tryouts were held right after breakfast so at 9:30 he grabbed his Firebolt and met Lizzie, Ryan, and Megan in the common room and they headed down to breakfast together. Lizzie was wearing baby blue Quidditch robes, Ryan was wearing orange ones, and Megan was wearing plain muggle clothing. Megan had decided rather than staying alone in the Emerald tower, she would come watch Quidditch tryouts. Harry could tell everyone trying out was nervous. Ryan would pick up his toast then put it down without taking a bite and then pick it up only to put it down again. Lizzie was bouncing up and down in her chair eating her fifth pancake while talking to Megan a million miles a minute. Apparently getting very hyper was her way of dealing with nervousness. She's really cute when she's hyper. Harry thought and then mentally slapped himself. Harry was gripping the arms of his chair so hard his knuckles were turning white. Finally, at 10:00 some teacher came over the PA announcing that all those trying out for the Emerald Quidditch team should report to the Quidditch pitch immediately. Harry, Megan, Lizzie, and Ryan started out for the pitch. They left through the large front doors and walked down the mountain turning left at the bottom onto the Quidditch pitch. It was almost exactly the same as the one at Hogwarts except, instead of grass there was sand on the ground and you could see the ocean perfectly from the stands.
"Good luck guys!" Megan told them departing for the stands. They then headed out to the middle of the pitch where about 30 other Emeralds were waiting.
Suddenly, a whistle blew and a rather chubby woman with black hair and black eyes entered the pitch.
"Hello everyone. As some of you may know, I'm Ms. Patricia Carvinglow, the flying teacher and new Quidditch ref."
Harry remembered Megan had told them everyone called her Fatty Patty. He decided for now he'd just call her Ms. Carvinglow.
"Some of you may not know what you're up against. Quidditch is one of the roughest, toughest sports there are. Only the fittest will make this team..."
Ms. Carvinglow went into a long speech about the art of Quidditch ect ect. Harry thought she sounded like a drill sergeant. Finally she finished.
"Now, I will split you into five groups with seven people in each group. Then I will have you do some drills with each different ball. At the end of the tryout the five teams will play each other in a fake match once." She then split them into groups Ryan and Lizzie were together. Harry was with a third year boy, two seventh year girls, Mo, and a few first and second years. Ms. Carvinglow made them fly from one end of the pitch to the other four times on their broomsticks. Those who didn't have broomstick borrowed some from the school's supply. Harry was in the lead most of the time but ended up finishing second to Lizzie. Lizzie smiled a dazzling smile at him and flew off back to the ground. Then they had to fly with and pass the Quaffle, and then take turns at defending the goal posts. Next, they were each given a stick and were made to chase the buldgers around, hitting them at certain targets set up all over the pitch. Harry thought he did pretty poorly at most of these although Lizzie and Ryan seemed to be handling themselves very well. Ryan was very good at defending the goal posts. Finally, she let the snitch out. Now's was his chance Harry remarked to himself. Each group went one at a time. Lizzie caught the snitch for her group Harry noticed. Harry's group went last. Harry caught the snitch in easily two minutes time, the shortest yet, after a spectacular dive. Wiping his hair out of his eyes he noticed Lizzie and Ryan both applauding and Ms. Carvinglow even looked a tiny teensy bit impressed. Harry was surprised at how un-jealous Lizzie seemed. He knew he would have been jealous if she had beaten his time at catching the snitch. His team also won the scrimmages 4-1. Losing to Lizzie's team. Harry was extremely nervous about Lizzie. She was definitely as good as if not better than him and he really wanted to make this team.
"Good Job everyone." Ms. Carvinglow told them, "The team will be posted most likely tonight. The first match will be posted on your common room bulletin board October 9th."
Everyone departed. Megan came running down the stands.
"Wow! Harry you and Lizzie were sooooo good. You're almost exactly the same at seeker. Ryan," she looked at him dreamily, "You were the best keeper I've ever seen."
"Thanks, except, you've never seen Quidditch before." Ryan replied blushing.
"Oh yeah. Well, you were still better than everyone else."
They all walked back to the castle together and then to the Emerald common room to shower. Harry and Ryan were sitting on their beds waiting for Mo and Tim to get out of their showers, as there were only two.
"You know," Harry told Ryan, "You like Megan."
"What!" Ryan asked shocked.
"Come on. You blush all the time whenever you're around her especially when she comments you."
"Well what about you and Lizzie." Ryan countered.
"You always try to unsuccessfully flatten your hair whenever she walks into the room and you get really quiet."
"Well, maybe I do like Lizzie ok."
"Well, maybe I do like Megan ok."
"Ok." They both said together.
"So, you asking her to the Halloween dance?" Ryan questioned.
"What are you crazy?" Harry replied.
"I'll ask her for you if you like."
"No! I'll do it myself." Harry answered, "But only if you ask Megan."
"Fine."
"Fine."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The Exact Same Time in the Girls Dorm~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"How long does it take for Lily to shower?" Megan asked Lizzie.
"A long time obviously." Lizzie answered.
"So," Megan started, "Do you have any siblings? I have a sister named Mary."
"What about me and Harry? What do you mean? There's nothing between Harry and me. Really. There isn't I swear." Lizzie answered talking so fast it took Megan a minute to work out what she had just said.
"Lizzie, I didn't say anything about Harry. I said I have a sister named Mary."
"Oh well then pretend I never said that then."
"Wait. You like Harry don't you. I knew it! Admit it, you like Harry." Megan accused.
"What! No I- Fine I like Harry. He's so hot isn't he? Those green eyes, and messy black hair combo really do something to me." Lizzie sighed.
"Spare me the details. Anyway, he's not my type. I prefer a taller guy, with maybe brown-ish hair and blue-ish eyes."
"You like RYAN!" Lizzie began chanting. "No Way! Ryan."
"What's wrong with him?" Megan asked.
"Nothing it's just, nevermind."
After a minute of listening to the water rain down from the shower Lizzie spoke again.
"Ask him to the Halloween dance."
"What! No way."
"I'll ask Harry if you ask Ryan."
"Fine."
"Fine."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~That Night*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

After dinner Harry, Megan, Lizzie and Ryan went up to the common room. They didn't have any homework tonight so Harry thought it would be a good night to tell them about You-Know-Who.
"Guys." Harry said.
Lizzie looked up from her book and Megan and Ryan from their game of Wizard Chess.
"Um. Ok I have to tell you all something. The real reason I was sent here was because Voldemort, (Ryan gasped at the name.) Is after me. I need to find a way to defeat him so I can get back to my old school. It's not that I don't like it here. You guys are great. It's just that I miss my old school and friends. I wanted to know if you guys would help me try to figure out a way to kill him. I'll understand if you don't want to of course." Harry finished quickly.
They stared at him for a minute.
Then Ryan said something "That's the same reason I was sent here."
"And me." Said Lizzie.
"Me too." Added Megan.
"This is really weird." Harry said scratching is head.
"Of course we'll help you!" Lizzie suddenly said.
"What can we do." Added Ryan.
"Why don't we start with the library's Defense Against the Dark Arts books?"
Megan suggested.
"We can look on the weekends and after school hours during the week."
"Thanks guys." Harry told them.
"Hey," Lizzie said looking down at her book, "As long as we're all still talking together I have to tell you all something too."
"Ok shoot." Harry said.
"Well, I'm not a normal witch. One in every 12,900,000,000 witches and wizards is born as an animagus, they're called Predotransformi and um well, guess whose one of em."
They stared at her for a good five minutes.
"I knew I shouldn't have told you. You probably think I'm a freak now. That's another reason why I came here. Everyone at my old school thought I was a freak."
"We don't think you're a freak, Lizzie." Megan said gently.
"Yeah. That's so cool that you're an animagus." Harry added.
Lizzie's who was close to tears suddenly looked up.
"Really? You don't think I'm weird?"
"Of course not. What do you turn into?" Ryan asked.
"An owl."
"Wow!" They all exclaimed.
Suddenly, from across the room someone shouted, "The Quidditch Team's Up. I'll read it."
"Good luck, Harry." Lizzie whispered.
"You too." Harry told her.
"The Chasers are:
Katie Laughlen (third year)
James Polbin (sixth year)
And Bob Martell (fourth year)"
Everyone clapped while Katie, Molly and Bob bowed.
"The Beaters are:
Kara and Julie Denver"
Everyone clapped for the pair of identical twin seventh year girls. How ironic Harry thought that the beaters on their Emerald team were twins as well as on his Gryffindor team.
"The Keeper is
Ryan Relleh."
"Yeah Ryan!" they said patting him on the back as he stood up and bowed.
"And finally, the Seeker is"
Harry held his breath.
"Harry Potter."
Harry stood up while everyone clapped.
"Congratulations Harry!" Lizzie exclaimed hugging him. Harry was extremely embarrassed as Ryan elbowed and winked at him.
Lizzie had made reserve seeker so if something were to happen to Harry, she would play in his place. Harry congratulated her at this. She seemed very happy about making reserve seeker even though it was only reserve.
Since it was a Saturday night, no one left the common room until at least eleven. At last, Harry, Lizzie, Ryan and Megan were the only ones left in the room. Ryan and Megan were in deep thought in the middle of their game of wizard chess. Now would be a good time to ask her Harry thought. He almost did when she looked up from her book but then she sneezed and all he managed to say was "Bless you." He spent the next half hour debating whether to ask her or not. What if she said No? But she had hugged him two hours ago when they found out he made seeker. Did that mean she liked him or were they only friends by her standards? He had now almost asked her seventeen times and counting when suddenly she stood up and closed her book. She marched over to where Harry was sitting and the next words out of her mouth surprised Harry more than if the Dursley's had given him more Christmas presents than Dudley (maybe not that much but) Anyway, she said,
"Harry, Do you want to go to the Halloween Dance with me? You know, as friends?"
"What...Um uh um...uhhhhhhhhh."
Ryan looked up from his chess game and yelled across the room at Harry,
"Yes you nimrod!" he looked at Lizzie, "Of course he wants to go with you. Right Harry? RIGHT HARRY?" Harry looked as though he had fainted except he was still conscious.
"Oh um yeah of course I do. Sure I'll go with you Lizzie - just as friends right."
"Right." Lizzie said.
"Good answer." Ryan added.
"Great!" she responded then turned on her heel and marched up to the girls dorm. Megan had won the chess game and was about to follow Lizzie out of the room when Harry shouted after her, "Megan wait, Ryan has something he wants to ask you." She spun around; her red hair creating the illusion of a fire surrounding her.
"Whatever do you mean Harry?" Ryan asked looking innocently around.
"Ask her." Harry mumbled pushing him toward her.
"Ok,ok. Will you go to the dance with me, also as friends?"
"Ok." She said simply and the retreated up to the girls dorm.

"I'll kill you." Ryan told Harry later in the dorm that night.
"Hey, she said yes didn't she?"
"Oh Yeah, I guess I won't kill you then."
"Good idea."

A/N Hope you liked that chapter. The next one will be soon. Very soon. In fact, it's already done. I don't own any of JK's characters, but I do own mine and if you can't figure out who belongs to whom then um oh bugger, you should know who goes with who by now. Professor Allaw (chapter 6) belongs to my friend Rachel. Please Please Please Review. I live for reviews. If you review than I'll worship you forever.