Chapter 6- The Quidditch Captain

The next day, Tuesday, dawned bright and clear. From the moment Harry got up that morning, he felt butterflies in his stomach. This was stupid, he insisted to himself, Katie was bound to be the team captain, so why was he excited? But maybe, just maybe, he could be team captain. No, surely not, Katie was there longer than him- she was more experienced, and a better player-was she?

These thoughts kept nagging him at the back of his head, but he tried to push them away as he went down to breakfast. Ron and Alison were still seated at the Gryffindor table. Alison had finished her breakfast, and Ron was bolting down a bowl of 'Wizard Weetabix' cereal, while trying to converse with her. "Morning Harry," he said thickly, through a cup of coffee.

"Morning Ron, Alison," Harry said, reaching for a plate of toast on the other side of the table. "Where's Hermione?"

"I don't think she's up yet. Here, I'll help you with that," said Alison, handing Harry two slices of toast.

"It's not usual of Hermione to get up late," observed Harry, buttering a slice of toast and taking a bite out of it.

"She stayed up late reading. I'll go and see if she's up soon."

"Yeah, good idea. Pass the jam please, Ron."

"Here." At that moment, Hermione walked into the Great Hall, looking furious. She strode over to the Gryffindor table.

"Can you believe it, I overslept!" she said.

"Good-morning to you too, Hermione!"

"Shut up Ron, I'm in a bad mood," the girl flashed back, fuming.

"Oh shut up yourself, Hermione… I don't feel like you whining when I'm half-asleep!" said Ron lazily.

"Oh, it's all about you, is it? Why don't you try to consider being selfless for a while?" she said, quite unaware that she was being as selfish as Ron was.

"I like that! Who stomps in, and bites at any person who happens to comment on her bad mood?" And so on they raged. Alison got up without a word, gathered her books, and left. Harry didn't want to be left with two furious people, so he followed her. Ron and Hermione didn't even notice that Harry and Alison weren't there.

"How I hate it when those two fight like that!" Alison said hotly, when Harry caught up with her as she left the Great Hall. "It's like they aren't anything less than two little children."

"Even though they argue so much, they're really good friends."

"And that's what makes me so angry at the both of them! You'd think they hated each other!" cried Alison, as Hermione stalked up to them in a huff.

"I hate him!"

"Come off it Hermione, you like him as much as we do, now go and make up," Alison scolded good-naturedly.

"He should apologise to me! I didn't start it!"

"That's your problem both of you! You're so obstinate, you just don't get it, do you?"

"Well, he's being a beast."

"And you're being just as beastly as he is," Harry put in helpfully.

"Not you too, Harry!"

"Yeah, him too Hermione. I'm not trying to pick on you… in my opinion, you're both wrong, but someone's got to give in, and it might as well be you!"

"But that's not fair, he started it!" Hermione's voice became shriller and shriller and people were starting to look at the three of them standing in the second-floor corridor curiously.

"Yeah, and wouldn't it be more of a blow to him if you went up and said sorry? He wouldn't expect it, Hermione."

"He'll gloat."

"No, he won't. Ron's not that type," said Harry.

"Well, I'm going to try, but if you two are wrong…" her voice trailed off as she walked away from them to the Gryffindor common room.

"Should we follow her?" Harry asked Alison.

"Nah, they'll be allright. And we'd better get going- we're going to be late for Transfiguration if we don't get a move on soon!" And they traipsed upstairs to Transfiguration.

Hermione and Ron were on speaking terms by teatime, but the butterflies in Harry's stomach had returned. Ron, Hermione and Alison would be going to the quidditch pitch with him in half an hour's time, because Alison and Ron needed to practise for the trials in two days' time. Half an hour later, they were plodding silently over the lawns to the quidditch pitch. The four of them were very excited. Ron tried to hum a tune, but Hermione stepped on his foot and pretended it was an accident. When they finally arrived at the pitch, Harry waved goodbye, gave them all a very watery smile, and went into the changing rooms, where the rest of the team was already gathered, chatting excitedly. Madam Hooch hadn't arrived yet.

"Oi, Harry!" It was Fred. "I kept you a place next to me- George hogged it though… Budge up, George, you pig!"

"Mind your language, Fred!" said George with mischievous grin. At that moment, Madam Hooch barged in the changing room.

"Good evening, boys and girls!" There was some scattered muttering of "Good evening," and silence. Madam Hooch cleared her throat, and continued.

"The notice on your notice board said I was electing the team Captain, but I guess I've already made my decision!" She looked around the room. All the Gryffindor team were on the edge of their seats. Harry could feel the anticipation pounding around the room. He wished Madam Hooch would just get on with it and tell them that Katie Bell was to be the Gryffindor Captain. "The new Gryffindor team captain will be…"

"…Harry Potter!" Harry came down to earth in a quick jolt. He felt like someone had slapped him.

"W-w-what?" He didn't have time to wait for the answer- Fred and George had lifted him up on their shoulders and everyone was laughing and congratulating Harry.

It was like a dream. Fred and George burst out of the changing room singing an Irish drinking song, Harry still on their shoulders. Ron and Alison were on their brooms, practising diving, and Hermione was in the stands, biting her nails. As the jovial party went out into the field, Ron stared, gave a large whoop of delight, landed on the smooth turf and ran as fast as he could towards the singing group. Alison nearly fell off her broom in amazement and then she burst into peals of laughter that rang out to all the pitch. She joined the group, still trembling with unstoppable laughter. Hermione was already there, in shock, hardly knowing what to do or say.

It seemed like a few seconds till they were in the Common Room. Everyone was shouting, celebrating, laughing… and Harry had finally come to realise the fact that he was actually the team Captain. His dazed look melted away, and soon he was laughing like the others. Fred and George had snuck down to the kitchen and brought great flagons of Butterbeer, and soon every one was tucking in. Harry felt out of breath, so he tried to fight his way out of the crowd. As he managed to get into a corner, he came face-to-face with Alison, who was sipping on a glass of Butterbeer. "Congratulations, Harry," she said, and, much to Harry's surprise, she gave him the tiniest of hugs. She drew away suddenly. "Here, let me go refill your glass. Mine's empty anyway." And she went away, both of their glasses in hand.