Hello, again. It is Saturday. Quidditch try-outs are about to begin. Some of the people trying out are: Ron and Ginny, Colin and Dennis, Seamus, Natalie McDonald (a girl that I only know about from the sorting. She's in Dennis's class), and some people I made up.
Please R&R!
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor do I own anything associated with it.
Pseudomortis
Part 2- Quidditch Trials
By KZerina
***
A few minutes later, just before ten o'clock, the trio headed out the Entrance Hall doors, after finding a bruise on Ron's shin. They walked over Hogwarts's grounds to check in for tryouts.
For a while, the three students walked in silence. Harry was thinking about how to test the Gryffindors on their flying and Keeper skills. He decided distractions would be good, maybe Seeker fly-bys….
Harry's thoughts moved to Ron. How would he react if he didn't make the team? That could be interesting, thought Harry.
Then, his thoughts still on Ron, Harry remembered Ron's detention. "Hey, Ron. Snape told you he'd give you word on your detention this morning. You didn't get any did, you?"
Ron shook his head. "We rushed out of there so fast, I didn't get a note from the owls, but I didn't see Snape in the Great Hall either."
"That's strange," Hermione piped in. "Snape's usually in the Great Hall glaring at us. You'd think he'd have gotten into the routine by now." The boys nodded their agreement. "Hey, there's Professor McGonagall!"
"What's she got to do with it, Hermione?" Ron asked confused.
"It was just a comment," she retorted.
As the group moved closer to their teacher, a white spot became larger and more detailed as it zoomed closer. It zipped around Harry's head and gripped his shoulder. "Hey, Hedwig. Why are you here?" Hedwig hooted and turned her head to Ron. Harry smiled and stroked her feathers gently.
As they approached the Transfigurations professor, she held out a rolled piece of parchment out to Ron. "This came for you with Hedwig."
Ron unrolled the parchment and looked at it. "'You will serve your detention with Mr. Filch, cleaning up the first floor bathroom,'" Ron read, "'and you will have detention for a week plus two days, because I couldn't catch your stupid owl. You are lucky that this snowy volunteered to take it.'" Ron scowled. "I'm going to get that owl if it's the last thing I do!"
"Good girl, Hedwig. You saved Ron from getting killed by Snape," Harry told his owl while continuing to stroke her feathers. Hedwig puffed up in pride. "I'd give you something, but I wasn't expecting to need owl treats at Quidditch tryouts. I'll give you one later. 'Kay?" Hedwig hooted a response. "Good."
"Shall we enter the pitch and choose what to do?" Professor McGonagall asked, ushering the students through the players' doors and onto the field.
The rest of the team rushed in, panting, as Harry was about to close the doors. "Sorry, we almost forgot about being here early."
"Sorry, Ron, but I'm going to have to ask you to go practice or something," Harry said. "I can't give you an advantage over the others by knowing what we're doing and then being able to practice it." Ron nodded and grabbed a broom to practice some speed exercises and tricks.
Harry turned back to the team, housemistress, and tryouts technical manager. "So how do we want to test flying and Keeper skills?" he asked.
"For flying," Fred began, "we could test how they dodge by hitting the Bludgers at them."
"And then see how they work with Bludgers while in the goal," George added.
"To test Keeper skills, we could start off easy with our simple tricks," said Angelina.
"Then gradually make our way up to using our best Chaser tricks," Alicia finished.
"Harry, you could be a distraction," Katie stated.
"Seeker fly-bys should do the trick, don't you think?" Harry asked with a smirk that made the team burst out laughing at his goofy expression.
"Weaving in and out would be a good idea, too, Harry," Hermione mentioned. "You're good enough to get out of the way before they hit you if they don't move."
Harry nodded and looked to McGonagall for approval, which she readily gave.
"Alright then, let's get warmed up. Chasers, practice goals and passes. Beaters, hit a Bludger back and forth practicing precise targeting. We'll go about ten, then we'll do a few flying exercises!" Harry instructed.
During the ten minutes of position practice, Ron tried to keep up with Harry and attempted some of Harry's complicated twists, turns, climbs, and dives, almost falling off a few times. Once Harry even had to grab Ron's collar to help Ron back on his broom. "Ron, be careful. These are more advanced tricks than they look, and I don't want you getting hurt. 'Kay?" Harry told Ron while hanging upside down with only his legs holding on to the broom.
Ron nodded. "Do you think I could try some of the easier maneuvers? I know I'm never going to be a Seeker, especially with you around, but it'd be fun to try."
Harry grinned. "Up to something a little scary?" Ron nodded vigorously. "I'll go at your speed," Harry smirked. Ron poked his tongue out at his best friend.
"It's a simple downward dive," Harry explained, "pulling out as late as possible. Make sure you pull out when you have to. Don't wait for me to pull up if you think you're going to plow into the ground, because it would be bad if you did. Got it?"
"Just straight down, pull up when necessary, even if you don't," Ron echoed the instructions given him. "Got it."
Harry and Ron gripped the ends of their brooms tightly. Harry flew a little higher, and Ron tailed him. Harry pushed down on the nose of his Firebolt, and Ron followed suit. They sped to the ground, Harry only a few centimeters in front of Ron.
About four meters (about thirteen feet) from the ground, Ron broke off and pulled out of the dive. Harry noticed and dove faster, pulling out to be perpendicular to his previous path only centimeters from the grass. He stood up and balanced his weight to "broom-surf" across the width of the pitch. Then he jumped up and re-straddled his broom. He shot past Ron almost making him lose his balance.
"Harry! Ten minutes!" Hermione called.
Harry waved in acknowledgement and dived straight toward Hermione who obviously trusted him not to hit her, because she didn't move a muscle, and Harry stopped millimeters away from Hermione and didn't touch her with so much as a bristle of the tail of his broom.
"Thanks, Hermione. You did exactly what you were supposed to do," Harry said while dismounting to give more instructions to the team.
Hermione smiled. "You should know by now that I trust you not to hurt me on purpose like that," she said and playfully smacked Harry on the shoulder.
Harry smiled back and slowly shook his head before turning to the team. "Alright, team," announced Harry. "We're going to do some weaving. We'll all line up with the middle goal posts. The person who ends up closest to the far posts will go first. Weave through each of the posts, come back, weave between each of team members, through the other set of goal posts, and to the end of the line. The next person in line go when the one ahead of you is about half way through the course. Any questions?" There was a shake of heads. "Good. Let's go."
Harry mounted his Firebolt and kicked off. The team spaced themselves out enough for another team member to pass between. They finished the exercise just in time to start the tryouts.
The team landed, and Professor McGonagall addressed the group of possible Keepers. "Keeper is an important job. This is why we need to…"
McGonagall's voice trailed off as Harry zoned in on what Hermione was suggesting. "We should make them dive and do fly-bys or shoot Bludgers at them," she said. "See how well they can recover if their brooms are knocked off course or something. The Keepers are targets, like Seekers, to get out of a game. Then the other team can score goals more easily."
Harry nodded a little. He put his fingers under Hermione's chin and put his face close to hers. "You are so smart," he said. "That's one of the reasons I invited you." He tapped the end of Hermione's nose and spun around to talk to Professor McGonagall. He almost didn't hear the snort Hermione gave as he was walking away.
Harry waited until Professor McGonagall had finished speaking before whispering his intentions to her. She nodded her agreement and instructed him to begin the tryouts.
"Fred! George! You two are up!" Harry called to his Beaters as he released one of the Bludgers from its restraints. It shot into the air and the Weasley twins automatically took control of it, so that it wouldn't randomly hit someone in the head, sending them to the Hospital Wing.
"Now," Harry announced, "one at a time we are going to test how you avoid being hit by a Bludger. We will do what we can to avoid you getting hurt, but we can't guarantee that you won't get a few scrapes and/or bruises, and unfortunately, worse can happen in games." Harry rubbed his left hand over his right elbow, remembering Lockhart's reaction to his broken arm. "We'll call you alphabetically. Julie Brookes, you're first."
Julie, a third year, swallowed hard and stepped forward. She mounted her broom and shot up in the air and hovered between the Weasley twins.
Harry mounted and shot up as well. He hovered above Fred Weasley and signaled George to begin. The girl dodged every Bludger hit at her. Harry pointed to the goal to indicate where she needed to be. Again, the girl dodged every Bludger.
Harry called the next Gryffindor, Brianna Caihille, another third year, and the routine continued throughout the other ten Gryffindors trying out for the Keeper position.
When Ron, the last of the twelve, had finished his dodging of Bludgers, Harry and the Weasley twins, with the Bludger following them, landed as the three Chasers took to the air to place themselves to shoot goals. Harry tossed the Quaffle into the air, and Angelina caught it and took it up into the air with her.
"Now we will be testing your Keeper skills," Harry said while trying not to laugh at the Weasley twins' comments about the Bludger. "You will be in the goal and trying to block the Chasers' goal attempts. Julie."
Julie, seeming to be a bit more confident, went into the air and hovered near the goal posts.
Harry walked over to Fred and George. "You two, when I nod at you, smack a Bludger at them. Sometimes, I'll do a fly-by; others, I'll get both of them, so stay sharp and on the ground." The brothers nodded.
Harry mounted his Firebolt and hovered above Julie. The Chasers watched their captain. Harry mouthed the 'go,' and Angelina tossed the Quaffle, which Julie blocked. After about ten shots and blocks, Harry dove down past Julie, and she missed blocking the next three goals. The Chasers shot seven more goals, and Julie missed blocking two of them.
Harry motioned for Julie to sit down and called up Brianna. She missed two out of the first set of ten shots, and three out of the second with one Bludger flying her way.
Harry looked down and saw Hermione recording numbers and other deciding information. Hedwig was perched on her shoulder, looking as though she was watching the tryouts.
Tyler Carson, a third year, almost received a Bludger to the head while trying to block one of his ten distraction goals. He almost hit Harry another time, but Harry swerved out of the way just in time to not get hit.
Colin Creevey, Harry's fourth year admirer, was next, and he was able to catch all of his first set of ten and caught six of his second set with a Bludger and a fly-by.
Colin's brother, Dennis, was up next. He missed four out of his first ten and six of his second with two Bludgers by his head and a Seeker by his side.
Seamus Finnigan blocked all ten of his first set. He missed one of the second set, but not because of distractions.
Dustin Matthews, a second year with Dennis, missed three of the first and three of the second, only one was the result of avoiding a distraction method.
Natalie McDonald, another second year, was unable to block five of the first set and five of the second with and early Bludger and a late Seeker fly-by.
Next was the oldest Gryffindor trying out, Lance Starrz, a sixth year. He caught every Quaffle out of twenty shots with six distractions, two Bludgers, two fly-bys, and two with both. Harry was impressed with this sixth year. He had a lot of potential to become the new Keeper, but there were still three Gryffindors left to test.
Lizzy Tenax, a girl from Ginny's class, was next. She proved to be pretty good, but there was room for improvement. She only missed two goals from the second half of shots.
Ginny was second to last only to Ron. She blocked all but one of the distractions because she was avoiding one of her brothers' Bludgers.
Ron, like Lance, blocked every single goal attempt. Harry used the same tactics with Ron as he had used with Lance. Ron also used a little style when blocking which gave him a few bonus points.
Harry landed and jogged over by Hermione. He looked over her shoulder at the marks she had down. Hedwig moved to his shoulder from Hermione's.
"You still have one more tryout obstacle, Harry," Hermione said while Harry read the parchment in her hands.
"I know. Just checking up on what's happening with each Keeper," Harry replied, continuing to peruse the markings on the paper. Harry nodded and walked back to the group of Keepers. "One last test," he said.
"Excuse me?" said Dustin Matthews. "Do you know you have an owl on your shoulder?"
"Yes, I do. Thank you. I'm sure she appreciates the attention," Harry answered the second year's question. Hedwig puffed her feathers out. Harry just rolled his eyes at her and sighed.
"We'll go reverse alphabetical this time," Harry continued shooting a mischievous look at a nervous Ron. "This will prepare you for one last thing we think a Keeper should know. All you have to do is go up and 'expect the unexpected.' Ron, you're up first."
Ron gulped and mounted his broom. He took off and hovered in about the center of the pitch. Harry mounted his Firebolt and hovered above Ron. Hedwig fluttered onto Harry's broom handle. The rest of the team formed a loose ring around Ron, making him even more nervous.
Harry made a few hand signals, and the team followed the pattern perfectly, forcing Ron to plummet to the ground. Harry watched carefully as Ron was falling. Ron pulled out effortlessly and returned to hovering in the middle of the reformed ring of Quidditch players. Harry smiled and motioned for Ron to land.
After touching down, Ron suddenly stiffened. "Hey! Who let the Snitch out?" he shouted.
Harry searched the ground for the familiar golden glint of the Snitch. He found it in Hermione's hand while she shouted that it wasn't let out before quickly shoving it back into its container.
Harry returned his gaze to the ground searching for something that could have been mistaken for the Snitch. He spotted a small brownish blur zipping around the stadium.
"Did you find anything, Harry?" George asked. "Was it another Snitch that the Slytherins let loose maybe?"
"Yes I found it, and I guess you could call him Snitch if you really wanted. He's the right size for it."
"Well if it's not the Snitch, then what is it?" Fred asked impatiently.
"It's Ron's owl."
The twins burst out laughing. They began laughing so hard they doubled over their brooms and landed so they wouldn't fall to the ground.
"Hedwig?" The snowy owl hooted indignantly. "I suggest that you get off the broom, unless you really want to go zooming at top speed." Hedwig immediately flew up and hovered near Harry's head. "You can sit up here again when I come back." Hedwig hooted with delight and gently nipped Harry's ear. Harry smiled at his owl and then dove at top speed after the strangely fuzzy Snitch of an owl.
Pig must have noticed Harry was chasing him, because he sped up and banked hard, not realizing that Harry was already on his small, feathery tail. Everyone watched as Harry sped around after the little owl. Finally Harry caught up and encircled Pig with his fist while being careful not to hurt the hyperactive post owl.
Harry zoomed down and pushed Pig into Ron's chest. "Ron, please keep your owl in check. If he gets loose, you get to chase him down."
Ron quickly closed his hands around Pig and nodded at Harry. Ron took Pig out of the stadium, scolding him all the way to the door. Ron threw the tiny bird into the air, getting him to go back to the owlery.
Harry rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Come on, Ginny. You're up."
Ginny and the rest of the Gryffindors were all able to pull out of the plunge without too many problems. The younger Gryffindors had a little more trouble pulling up than the older students, and Harry got ready to dive down after them and catch them before they smashed into the ground, but, luckily, he didn't ever actually have to catch them.
After the last person had completed her dive, Harry landed and the team gathered up with both Hermione and Professor McGonagall who went to dismiss the dismiss the Gryffindor students that tried out.
Hermione set the parchment out on the grass. Harry crouched beside her and the team huddled around the two fifth years. "From what I observed," Hermione started, "Ron, Ginny, and Lance Starrz are the best for the position. Ginny only missed one because she remembered that she was more important than a lousy ten points and moved away from the Bludger. Ron and Lance both dodged and saved the goal."
"I say go with Lance," Angelina piped up. "Now there's absolutely nothing wrong with Ginny or Ron, but they fly a lot like Chasers. They should try out next year."
"Angelina's right. The extra style Ron put into his goal saving was Chaser material, and Ginny though she didn't use tricks in the goal, she still flew like a Chaser. The way she was flying was definite Chaser flying," Alicia confirmed. Katie nodded her agreement.
"Now that you say that, they do seem to fly like you three," Harry observed. "Anything about Lance? He seems to be a bit like Oliver, or at least the way he uses his skills. I don't know about his attitude."
"I think he's a pretty good choice," Fred commented.
"As long as he doesn't try to be an oppressive captain, even when the position is not his," George added.
Harry laughed lightly at the remark. "Trust you to think of that side of him," Harry joked. "What do you three think?"
"He's the best choice. He doesn't fly like a Chaser or a Beater, and he's not the build for a Seeker even if the position would be open before he graduates," Katie said. Angelina and Alicia approved with nods of their heads.
"I think they're right," Hermione inserted. "I've watched enough of your matches to have a pretty good impression of each position's flying and skills, and he had the right skills for a Keeper."
"So Lance Starrz for the new Gryffindor Keeper?" Harry asked the team. Everyone including Hermione, nodded. "Alright, I'll inform Professor McGonagall, and she can send out the letters."
Harry stood up and walked over to Professor McGonagall who had gone to supervise the group of Gryffindors who had tried out. "Professor," Harry called. Professor McGonagall strode over to Harry. "We have chosen Lance Starrz to be the Keeper."
"I do believe he is a good choice. He seems to have skills to rival those of a certain Oliver Wood. I will go write up the letters. They should be received on Monday morning." Professor McGonagall smiled at him and walked back to the Gryffindors, and Harry returned to the team.
"That's it. You guys can go," he informed them. The twins and the Chasers grabbed their brooms and put them away before leaving.
Harry looked at his watch. It read eleven thirty. "Hermione, we have to get moving, we have half and hour to be at Hagrid's."
"Let's grab Ron and go!" Hermione exclaimed, grabbing Harry's wrist and pulling him down the field towards Ron. Harry was barely able to grab his Firebolt on the way.
When they reached Ron, Hermione grabbed Ron's wrist and began dragging both of them over to the Hagrid's hut to meet their half-giant friend.
"Hermione, we can walk by ourselves!" Ron complained. "Let go!"
"We are not going to be late to visit Hagrid!" Hermione retorted.
"Well I think he would rather us be a few minutes late than show up as sweaty as a couple of over-worked pack horses," Harry commented, pulling his shirt away from his body to which it was sticking. "That, and it is definitely more pleasurable to not be around someone sweating like a pack horse. Sometimes it was hard to stand myself after an Oliver Wood practice."
"I guess you're right," Hermione conceded and began dragging them to the castle. "You and the rest of the team never were fun to hang around right after you came back after a practice."
"Hence showers. Now if you don't mind, Ron and I both need one. I'll use the Boys' Prefects' bathroom, Ron can use the dorm bathroom, and you can use either the dorm or the Girls' Prefects' bathroom if you want to shower," Harry told her. "We shouldn't be more than twenty minutes."
In a few minutes, they reached the portrait. Hermione gave the password, and they entered. Harry ran up to his dorm, grabbed a set of clean clothes, and dashed to the Prefects' bathroom. He took a quick shower and got dressed. He brushed through his messy hair that was only temporarily tamed, for it would soon return to its normal shaggy self. He went back to Gryffindor Tower and dropped off his sweat-soaked clothes and met up with Ron and Hermione, both had wet hair and clean clothes.
Harry again checked his watch. It read eleven fifty-five. "We've got five minutes. Come on," Harry said exiting the portrait. The trio rushed out across the grounds towards Hagrid's hut.
They met at the entrance to the hut where Hagrid and Fang were waiting for them. Fang barked his familiar greeting, and Hagrid clapped them each on the back.
"Sorry, we're a little late, Hagrid. Tryouts ran about a half an hour over," Harry apologized.
"No need ter apologize. Yer only a couple minutes late if tha' much," Hagrid replied, "Le's go 'ave lunch." Soon, they were off on their trek across the grounds.
After about half an hour of walking and talking, they stopped at the lake and sat on the shore, watching the giant squid bob up to get a better look at them. Fang busied himself with digging in the wet, sandy soil while Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Hagrid ate lunch, which consisted of ham and cheese sandwiches, some fruit, and pumpkin juice as a beverage.
After eating, the four sat and talked about how the Quidditch team was going. Then somehow the subject went onto Krum and Hermione's letter. Hagrid agreed with both boys at how much of a jerk Krum was and that he didn't know what he was going to miss because he broke up with Hermione. Hermione blushed when those comments were made.
They continued talking and after a while Harry looked at his watch and realized it was three o'clock in the afternoon. The trio helped Hagrid clean up the picnic and got ready to go back to the dormitory when Harry, Ron, and Hermione were magically shoved into the lake.
Harry struggled to reach the surface, but when he did, he couldn't break the water to breathe. He sank lower as his lungs began to burn with the lack of oxygen. He tried to reach the surface once more, but he was unable to reach it. He felt slight tug on his arm, before his eyes shut, turning everything pitch black, as consciousness left him….
******
It's a cliffhanger, sorry for those who hate them. I hope to get the next part up soon so I'll try not to leave you hanging in midair for long. I'll take you down eventually.
It may be a little while to post part three. I have to figure out where to end the thing. Sorry, you might be hanging for a while.
Anyway, thanks for reading and please review. If you have any questions, send them in a review or e-mail, and I'll get back to you as soon as I have a chance.
Thanks, KZerina