Harry Potter & the other characters and places in this story belong to JK Rowling.
Chapter Four - Quidditch TryoutsHarry stepped out onto the Quidditch Pitch for the first of Gryffindor's team practices. Madam Hooch was there as usual, but for this practice, Professor McGonagall had joined them, since they needed to select new players. Angelina Johnson, a Chaser, was nominated to be the new team Captain. Katie Bell, also a Chaser, was the other seventh year on the team. Harry was the Seeker. There were four new positions to be filled, and about twenty nervous students stood on the Quidditch pitch clutching their broomsticks.
Madam Hooch stood in front of them. "Thank-you all for your interest in playing Quidditch for the Gryffindor team. Unfortunately, we cannot accept all of you. We'll be doing a series of exercises and games here today to decide who will join the team. Professor McGonagall and I will make the decisions, and our decisions are final. But remember, just concentrate on having fun today, and you'll do fine." She and Professor McGonagall headed for the stands and started making notes.
"Alright everyone, on your brooms," said Angelina. She led all the hopefuls through a series of flying maneuvers to get them warmed up. Harry and Katie joined in as well. It was great to be flying again, after having his Firebolt carefully locked in its case all summer, Harry thought. After the flying exercises, they practised passing the Quaffle back and forth. Next, they released the Bludgers. Harry and Alicia became the temporary Beaters, and everyone else had to avoid the Bludgers while still passing the Quaffle to and fro. Finally came the individual tryouts. They started with those who wanted to be Keeper. Ron looked nervous, but determined. Harry could see that Hermione had arrived, and was sitting next to Professor McGonagall in the stands.
Katie, Angelina, and Harry acted as the Chasers, and passed the Quaffle back and forth and took shots on each of the prospective Keepers. Ron's main competition was a sixth year boy named Joseph Carey. They each let in only one goal. Ron made some spectacular saves, and Harry could see Hermione cheering in the stands. Professor McGonagall and Madame Hooch were taking notes furiously.
After the Keepers came the Beaters. All of the candidates flew around the pitch trying to avoid the Bludgers, while the hopeful Beaters took turns. Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnegan were clearly superior to the other candidates; Dean almost knocked Katie off her broom. Neville Longbottom made a valiant effort, but he had the dubious distinction of being the only Hogwarts student in recent memory to be hit by his own Bludger.
Finally came the prospective Chasers. Ginny Weasley was very fast, and had excellent aim and strategy. She had a competitive side to her which Harry had only seen once before – when she was playing chess with Ron on the train. Colin Creevey also tried out for Chaser. He was actually quite good, but frequently stopped playing altogether to snap pictures of Harry.
Finally the practice was over. The twenty candidates were exhausted. The veterans were tired too, since there had been no Quidditch last year, so they weren't in perfect shape yet. After half an hour, just as the sun was about to set, Madame Hooch and Professor McGonagall finished their discussions and came back down to the Quidditch field.
Professor McGonagall addressed the group of students. "Once again, thank-you all for expressing an interest in playing Quidditch for Gryffindor House. I hope you have enjoyed yourselves today, and you are all very talented players. However, we must choose only four people, which has been extremely difficult. I am pleased to announce that Mr. Dean Thomas and Mr. Seamus Finnegan will be our new Beaters." Dean and Seamus cheered, and everyone else clapped enthusiastically. "Miss Virginia Weasley will be our third Chaser." Ginny smiled and blushed. Ron, Harry, and Hermione cheered. "Now, the decision for Keeper was the most difficult. We have two excellent candidates, Mr. Joseph Carey and Mr. Ronald Weasley. We could not decide between you, based on what we have seen so far, so this will be decided by a shoot-out." The students began murmuring. Ron looked positively ill. "You will each face five shots, and whichever of you stops the most will be our new Keeper. If there is a tie, you will each face another five shots, and so on, until we determine a winner."
Ron got back on his broom and flew over to the goal posts. Angelina and Katie got on their brooms and picked up the Quaffle. "Come on, Ginny, we need three Chasers if we're going to beat these hot-shots," shouted Angelina cheerfully from high above them. Ginny looked embarrassed at first, but then got that competitive look in her eye again, and shouted, "Watch out, Ron," as she took off.
The remaining students retreated to the stands. Even those who had not been selected wanted to stay and watch. Ginny, Angelina, and Katie seemed to be holding a convention in mid-air. Madame Hooch magically magnified her voice and shouted up to them, "Hurry up, it's getting dark!"
Ron was the first to face the eager Chasers. Angelina flew in with the ball. At the very last moment, she passed it to Ginny, who made an amazing shot and got the Quaffle past Ron. He zoomed away in frustration and Joseph got into position. He saved a shot from Katie. Both Ron and Joseph saved their next two shots. Ron saved his fourth shot – a vicious one from Angelina. Katie got a shot by Joseph. It was now tied at three saves each. The Chasers made a rush towards Ron for the final shot. Angelina got Ron flying to the left, then at the last minute she swerved to the right and shot the ball hard. Ron nearly fell off his broom, but he managed to divert the ball just enough that it bounced off the rim of the goal hoop. Harry and Hermione cheered wildly as Ron soared high above the goal posts. Now Joseph had to save his last shot. The Chasers lined up again at the centre of the field. Ginny carried the Quaffle in at an astounding pace. She faked a throw to Katie on her left. Joseph realized too late that Ginny still had the Quaffle, and she threw it by him and through the goal posts. Harry and Hermione cheered again. Ron had made the team! Madame Hooch's magically magnified voice announced to the entire stadium, "The new Keeper for the Gryffindor Quidditch team is Mr. Ronald Weasley!" The students in the stands cheered again. Ron and Joseph shook hands in mid-air. Both of them were smiling, although Ron looked a little dazed.
When Ron finally returned to the ground, Hermione practically tackled him with the force of her hug. Ron looked a little shaken. They walked back up to the castle in the gathering darkness, and Hermione couldn't stop talking.
"Ron, you were amazing! That last save was incredible. I was so scared you would fall off your broom. I knew you could do it! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. You were really amazing, Ron, you really were!" Although it was dark, and Harry couldn't tell for sure, he thought that Ron must be a violent shade of red at this moment. Ron wasn't used to people singing his praises.
Then Hermione turned to Ginny. "Ginny, you were absolutely incredible! That last shot that beat Joseph, I mean... it was amazing. You had him totally fooled."
"Thanks Hermione," Ginny replied. "I was just so happy and surprised that I made the team. I mean, there were so many sixth years trying out. I guess it pays having so many older brothers to play against," she smiled at Ron. "I can't wait until our first game. I hope it's against the Slytherins!"
Angelina and Katie caught up with them, and Angelina said, "Welcome to the team, Ron and Ginny! We're really happy to have you. Our first practice is on Friday right after class."
"Great!" said Ron enthusiastically, "I can't wait!"
The group of students laughed and talked about their team's prospects for winning the championship as they made their way back towards the flickering lights of Hogwart's castle.
To be continued…