Chapter 7- News from Wood

Fang lay snoring in the corner of the room in Hagrids hut. Harry noticed Ron staring in disgust at the drool dripping down from the boarhound's mouth.

"So how cums Hermione aint 'ere yet?" Hagrid asked.

"Homework" Ron and Harry said in unison.

"I see." Then Hagrid suddenly burst out, waking up Fang and startling both of them "So hows that Quidditch cuming on then, Harry?"

"Oh, fine, I guess. I'm captain now."

"Of course you ar'!" He chuckled

"And I have to find a new goalkeeper as well,"

Ron stared down into his mug of Butterbeer as if he wished the subject of Quidditch had never come up.

"Tha's a lot of work cut out for ya then!" He leaned over "Are ya sure ya can manage it?" He sat back in his chair as if not expecting an answer. "Well, it's getting' late, s'ppose ya should be getting' back to the castle."

Ron and Harry both ran out of the hut, so as not to be asked any more questions.

Harry held his breath before saying to Ron "Um, can you play Quidditch?"

"What?" Ron paused in shock

"I mean, will you be the new Gryffindor Goalkeeper?"

"Really! Do you mean it?"

"Err, yeah, would you?"

"Of course I would you idiot! Thanks"

Harry laughed at him.

"Sorry," Ron coughed, looking a little embarrassed at his own excitement.

          Harry noticed Ron and Hermione sitting at the other end of the Gryffindor Table in the Great Hall. Ron was enjoying something that looked a lot like the Muggles 'Ready Brek', while Hermione was nearly finished reading 'Hogwarts a History' for the one hundredth time since Harry had first met her.

"Hi," Harry said, sitting down next to Ron. But he was too busy slurping down as much food as possible to respond.

Harry was about to attempt making conversation when the mail came flying in through the window. Harry received a letter with very scruffy handwriting on the envelope, and Ron got a letter from home sent by Pig, which he then shoved into a pocket of his robes so he could carry on eating. Harry tore his open, it was a letter from Oliver Wood, the former Gryffindor captain. It read;

Harry,

Congratulations!

I knew you would do it some day!

I'm in France working for the E.Q.A. (European Quidditch Association)

I'm hoping to get a place in the England Reserve team,

Hey, you have to start somewhere!

I hope the team take it easy on you.

Just send me an Owl if they don't.

I'll sort them out for you!

Hope to see you soon,

Good luck for your first match.

Wood.

Harry showed them the letter before going up to get ready for his first lesson, Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall. Harry sighed at the thought. Ron ran up behind Harry as they walked up the Staircase. Ron had Porridge smeared across his chin, which Harry soon pointed out to him.

"Hey, Potter," Draco Malfoy called up to him from the bottom of the staircase. Crabbe and Goyle next to him, of course."

"What do you want Malfoy!" Harry shouted down at him.

"I just wanted to know who you had chosen for your Goalkeeper this year." Crabbe and Goyle laughed "Oh, wait, let me guess, it has to be poor pathetic old Weasley, doesn't it!"

Ron turned around "Yeah, so. What are you going to do about it, Malfoy?"

"What am I going to do about it?" He snarled "I'm simply going to sit back and watch you lose at the first match of the season, Slytherin against Gryffindor." he turned on his heel and walked back to the Great Hall, with his sidekicks, Crabbe and Goyle following him. Ron ran up the stairs and Harry hurried along to try and cheer him up a bit.

          "Ron, Harry!" Hermione called up the boys' staircase "We're going to be late for Professor McGonagall's lesson!"

"Relax, we've got ten minutes!" Ron called down

Harry grabbed his books and started to go down to the Common Room. Ron reluctantly followed.

"Finally!" Hermione climbed out of the Picture of the Fat Lady, and walked down the stairs.

Harry and Ron ran after her, but by the time they got down the stairs she was at the other end of the corridor.

She turned to face them and said "Aren't you even in the slightest bit worried about your O.W.L.s this year?"

"Hermione, just because there are tests at the end of the year, doesn't mean we have to get to every lesson five minutes early." Ron snapped.

"Boys!" She said and ran off.

"Hey, wait!" Harry said, and they both ran after her.

          "Miss Granger, please come in," she stopped Harry and Ron "Mr Potter, Mr Weasley," I'm surprised to see you two here so early." McGonagall said, gesturing for them to take a seat.

They waited and watched everyone else fill the room, until finally McGonagall said; "Open your books at page 100, and take notes."

Harry could see that 'taking notes' and 'revising' would be all he was going to do this year, well at least in McGonagall's lessons. He sighed, silently so no one could hear, and open his book; the page was called 'Animagus' he suddenly brightened up, and started reading, remembering Sirius, his father and Lupin.