Chapter 17

When they reached the pitch, Madam Hooch greeted them.

"Good morning. Perfect day for tryouts. I'll be in the stands if you need me."

She walked to the stands and took a seat. Harry caught sight of something moving out of the corner of his eye. When he looked at the opposite side of the pitch, he saw a bear size black dog sitting in the stands. He smiled, he knew Dumbledore had sent Sirius to watch over them. Harry turned to the group.

"Ok everyone. This is how we are going to judge. Each keeper will face Katie, Alicia and all from the chaser list. Fred, George and myself will watch and make a decision once we are finished. Everyone understand?" They all nodded. "Good. Kagato and Ron, you two are first."

Kagato took his position in front of the hoops. Harry and the twins took to the air and hovered along the sides of the hoops. Ron grinned as he kicked off from the ground. Katie and Alicia were already in the air. They passed the quaffle back and forth, then to Ron who charged at Kagato and tossed it. Kagato barely caught it and threw it to Katie. She circled, tossed it to Ron again and this time he got it past Kagato. They repeated this two more times and Ron made both of them. He smiled and Harry called him back down. Next up was Dean. They gave him three tries against Kagato. He missed them all but one. Neville didn't fair any better. The second year couldn't stay on his broom once he actually caught the quaffle. Harry and the twins shook their head.

"Thank you Kagato. Seamus, you're next."

Ron was first, and made every pass into the hoops. Dean got two through, Neville one and the second year boy just gave up after his third attempt to stay on his broom. The twins tried not to laugh. Harry just snickered.

"Ok, come on Colin."

Colin, smiling wildly, kicked off so hard he flew up about fifty feet. Fred almost fell off his broom from laughing so hard. Colin finally managed to get in front of the hoops. Ron made every shot into the hoops, as did Dean and Neville. Colin's face fell as he landed. Harry circled the pitch and yelled to Alex.

"Get up here, it's your turn now."

She smiled as she hopped on her firebolt and kicked off the ground. She was a blur as she raced for the hoops. Ron laughed a bit and looked at Harry.

"Looks like she's showing off."

Harry smiled as she took her position. She closed her eyes for a moment and whispered to herself.

"I know I can do this."

Katie and Alicia decided that they wanted first shot at her, so they passed the quaffle quickly to each other. Katie circled around and tossed it to Alicia who launched it at Alex. Alex spun her broom and blocked the shot.

"She is good." Alicia smiled to Katie.

Katie nodded and tossed the quaffle to Ron, who sped down the pitch. He threw it and Alex caught it. Ron tried two more times to get it passed her and failed. Dean and Neville missed as well. Fred and George smiled to each other as Harry motioned for everyone to land. Alex headed downwards when she suddenly gripped her broom tightly. She stopped and hovered, holding the side of her head. Everything was spinning. Harry started to talk to everyone when he noticed Alex still in the air. She suddenly let go of the broom and slid off.

"Alex!"

Harry, Ron and Kagato kicked back into the air and caught her just before she hit the ground. She was unconscious and very pale. Kagato carried her across the pitch and started running for the castle, everyone else not far behind.

Kagato didn't stop running until he reached the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey rushed over.

"What happened?"

"She passed out and fell off her broom. We caught her before she hit the ground." Kagato said to her with a lot of worry in his voice. The rest of them came in, including the black dog and Madam Hooch as Kagato put Alex into a bed. Madam Pomfrey glared at all of them.

"Out. OUT! And you will stay out until I have had a chance to look at her. Now, all of you," she looked at Kagato who had started to sit next to her bed, "out of here now. Go!" She pushed them all out and locked the door.