Chapter 14

The Crazed Fan

Harry looked around the corner of the corridor before walking quickly into a door, and shutting it behind him with a sigh. Ginny and Heather looked up at him.

"Did she catch you?"

He shook his head, relaxing. Heather let out a giggle, and Harry gave her a look. "It's not funny. You wouldn't be laughing if a cupid-stricken girl was chasing you around." Sally giggled, and Harry's look silenced her. Ginny held back her laugh.

"Get used to it, Harry. As long as you're single, there will be more," came a voice behind him.

Harry jerked around. "Sirius, what are you doing here? Why are you in the school?"

"Heather thought it was too cold for me to stay out there, so she has a pet dog now."

Harry grinned. "So you'll be in the school?" The question sounded innocent enough, but there was a marauding meaning behind it.

"You know I will," he said with a wink.

Harry plopped into a chair at Heather's table. He and Ginny had decided that this was a really big decision, that required the aid of an adult. Numerous papers of research were spread across the surface of the table.

"Sorry I'm late. She was waiting in the hall, and I had to go all the way down to the charms corridor to get around her.

Ginny's giggle escaped. She covered her mouth to hide it. Harry looked at her.

"I suppose you all think it's funny, don't you?" Ginny tried to shake her head 'no', but just ended up nodding anyway.

"Sorry, Harry," she said through her laughter.

Harry shook his head and looked up at Sirius. "Have they filled you in on it all then."

"Yes, they have. So have you decided on your team yet?"

Harry shook his head, looking blankly at the papers in front of him. Sirius put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Relax, Little Man. Everything will work out."

"I guess so. It's just, this decision will effect my whole life, and I don't want to make it."

"Fine, I'll make it for you," Ginny said handing him a piece of paper.

He read it out loud.

The Catapults win another game, this one lasting four days long.

The Catapults are feeling their lack of a real seeker. Sue Litrel is not coming through as they had hoped. She states "I have a contract for the rest of the year. I'm doing all I can, but this isn't my position. I'm a Chaser. At the end of this year I am going to retire." This news was very much expected. We talked to Beater Tiffany Casit about who will fill Sue's place. "We have our eye on someone. We are going to see him play. That's all I'm saying."

Even without a real seeker, the Catapults are quickly making their way to the top. Their strategy being to score as many times as possible, until even if their opponent does capture the snitch it is useless. The other team usually just captures it anyway, after a few days when the players have become utterly exhausted.

This match was won 4020 to 2860. After the match, Beater Tony Suring, nearly fell asleep during our interview. "We're going to miss Sue, but it'll be good to get some real sleep after this. We do seem to outlast our opponents, but that's cause we're all young. All 'cept Chuck, but that man could sit awake for a month if fancied doing it. He's will is strong." Tony speaks of course, of Chuck Fring, the team's Keeper, who is at least ten years older then every other member of the team except Sue.

Harry stopped reading. "See Harry? This team is really good, and they need a new Seeker. That's all they need to push then over the top, and they are counting on you."

"I think she's right Little Man, this one looks good. And they are all young, so you know they all won't go retire on you real fast."

"It's your choice, love, but I'm with them."

Harry sighed. "Well alright, but they have to like me first." His eyes traveled over the paper on the Cannons. "I hope Ron understands."

There was a knock as the door that made them all jump. Sirius quickly turned back into a dog, and Ginny grabbed all the papers off the table and shoved them into her bag.

Heather opened the door a crack. "Yes?"

"Excuse me Professor, but is Harry Potter here?"

Harry's eyes went wide at the voice. Heather looked over her shoulder at him. He shook his head violently. Ginny covered her mouth, and shook with silent laughter. The dog in the corner did what could only be described as snicker.

"Why yes," Heather said with a smirk, making Harry's eyes go even wider. "He is." She opened the door the rest of the way."

"Harry! Did you know that dinner has started? Did you know? Your friend Ron said you might be here. We should go down and thank him, don't you think? Don't you?" She didn't wait for him to reply, but grabbed him by the arm and presided to drag him away, chattering happily.

As Harry was being drug down the halls, he swore to himself to make Ron pay. Come to think of it, he didn't even know this girl's name. When they reached the hall, he sent her away to the Huffelpuff table, and to sanctuary at his. Ron and Hermione gave him a look, and he rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"She asked me where you were, I told her to try Heather's. What did she want?"

"She's just a little..." he faded off.

"Starstruck?" Ginny supplied, sitting down with them.

Hermione giggled and Ron snorted. "I don't even know what her name is! I don't want to hurt her feelings."

"Her name's Elizabeth. All her friends call her Liz." Ginny popped in with information again. "She's in my year."

Harry pushed his food around his plate, letting his mind drift to Quidditch. Try-outs would be before too long, and he had a large say in who made the team. He didn't even notice when Ginny got up, and bolted out of the room.

"Where'd Gin go?" Hermoine asked.

"Don't know,"

"You shouldn't call her Gin, 'Mione. It sounds like you're talking about alcohol. You know, Jin."

"Well stop calling me 'Mione'! I hate that."

"But your name is such a mouthful."

"Well it's-"

"Guys," Harry said forcefully, he wasn't in the mood to hear them fight. "Tonight, we'll all pick real nicknames, if you shut up."

"Oh Harry-Beary!"

The color drained out of Harry's face. Ron hid his head to hide his snorts, and Hermione was using all control to stop laughing. Liz ran to his side. "Harry-Beary, came study with me. I need help in Herboligy. Will you? You don't have too. I s'pose Professor Sprout would help me if I asked, but I really would like you much more. There are a bunch of books in the Library we could use..."

Harry let her ramble for a few more minutes, ignoring as the Slytherins laughed at "Harry-Beary". "I'm very sorry Liz, but it seems I'm very busy this evening. Neville is going to study potions tonight, and I'm sure he'd be willing to help you with Herboligy if you helped him with potions.'

Liz frowned for a moment, then perked right back up. "Of course, I'd love to help a friend of yours Harry. Anything for you Beary!" She rushed off to find Neville, whom Harry was sure would never forgive Harry for this.

Ron couldn't hold it in anymore, he broke out in laughter.

"Shut up Ron, you prat. If it were you, you wouldn't think it was so funny."

Ron stifled his laughter. "Very sorry Beary."

Harry aimed a throw at Ron, giving him time to duck it. Hermione proceeded to drag them both off.

Harry wasn't lying, he did have something planned for tonight. He told Ron and Hermione he was going for a walk. Ginny still hadn't come back from where ever she went. Now that he thought about it, Fred and George were gone too. As he stepped outside, he pulled the invisibility cloak tighter, clutching his sword to his side.

The mystery of the missing Weasleys was solved quickly. All three were on the field, and flying. Harry was slightly surprised. He had never seen Ginny fly. She was good. She played Keeper, as Fred and George tried to score at her. They weren't able to get anything past her. True, Fred and George weren't the best Chasers in the world, but still.

Harry went to the broom shed and collected his broom. He laid his sword and cloak hidden in the stands. He then climbed the stands to watch a while.

Harry realized with a start what they were doing. Ginny was practicing for the Keeper position on the team, and Fred and George were helping her. Ginny made a spectacular save, flipping upside-down to catch the ball, and Harry couldn't help but clap. Fred, George, and Ginny all looked over at the same time.

Upon seeing Harry, Ginny turned beat red, while Fred and George grinned.

"Yo, Captain!"

"Hello Sir!"

Harry gave them a look. "Found our team a new Keeper have you?"

"We think so, but she doesn't. So she drags us out here in the half dark to help her because she doesn't want anybody to see her play."

Harry noticed she was flying a school broom. "Well, you were doing very well Ginny. Keep that up, and I'll beg you to be on the team. I was going to join you, but I have something to do. You can use my broom if you want, if you promise to put it away for me. Just leave it on my bed."

Ginny's eyes widened. "You mean I can use your broom to practice?"

"Sure." He held it out to her. She flew over and took it slowly from him.

Harry chuckled. "It may be a good broom, Ginny. But it's not a sacred thing. You can touch it."

"You're sure you don't mind?"

"'Course not. I owe you a lot anyway. Tell Ron and Hermione I'll be back around ten." With that her turned and headed back to where he had left his cloak and sword.

Ginny mounted the broom and watched Harry walk off. She saw him pick up his cloak. 'Wonder where he's going in secret,' she thought. She then say him pick up the sword, and disappear. 'Now that's interesting.'

Harry walked towards the woods. This is what he had been doing before meeting with Heather. He had found a clearing in the woods, and then gone to the Library. Now that he had a sword that wouldn't leave him, he might as well learn to use it. He checked some books out, and left them in the clearing. Now he could come out at night and teach himself.

The clearing wasn't very far into the woods. He didn't dare go too far back. Removing the cloak, he unsheathed the sword. He opened the book Simple Swords for Sorcerers to the first page and began.

The sword was lighter then it looked, and the first few things he tried were easy. There seemed to be some sort of bond between him and the sword when he started to use it, as though the sword was teaching him more then the book. On an impulse, he flipped to the back of the book to one of the harder moves. He performed it flawlessly, and stared at the sword.

He hadn't really considered that this was a magical sword. But it seemed as long as whatever he wanted to do was humanly possible, and he knew what he wanted to do, the sword gave him the ability to do it.

He opened some of the more complicated books and began to try and learn moves by name. He practiced hard, and had worked up quite a sweat by the time he collapsed in a chair by Ron, Hermione, and now Ginny.