Sorry for not updating for so long! Work has really been piling up lately and I've been a bit overwhelmed and coupled with being ill, my laptop hasn't been touched in the last week so very little writing has been going on. I also just want to say we've nearly hit 43,000 views! I never thought we'd get this far, honestly thought barely anyone would read this story so can I just say a big THANK YOU to everyone who's stuck with me through this.

decadenceofmysoul – I'm so happy you think so! Honestly, I can't believe my little story has grown so much and I'm honoured you're reading this.

BratGirl1983 – I'm so happy you're enjoying my story! Apologies this update is so late, work has really been piling up in the last few weeks.

James Birdsong – thank you so much!

happylady – well I didn't feel like I could just leave them all happy now Harry was gone lol. Anyway, I believe that if Sirius knew what they had done to Harry in the books, he wouldn't stand for it.

AN – just wanted to say I couldn't find out who was the Captain of Puddlemere united so just picked one of the few names I could find from google.

Chapter 20

Harry shifted from foot to foot nervously as he waited outside the changing rooms for one of the players to get him. His attempts to distract himself by focusing on the three separate pep talks from Ron, Sirius and most amusingly Hermione. After all, her knowledge of quidditch left a lot to be desired considering it wasn't something that could be absorbed through books. It remained one of the few areas that himself or Ron could trump Hermione in, apart from chess. Though of course, now she was his girlfriend he found kissing her was one very good way of getting her to shut up.

"Potter?"

"Wood!" Harry immediately relaxes at the sight of a familiar face. "I forgot you got into Puddlemere United."

"Yeah well, once our seeker was injured and we needed a reserve I suggested you, after all I've seen you play. Far better than Charlie Weasley and he could've gone on to play for England."

Harry felt his face flush as a mixture of embarrassment and pride flooded him at the compliments. He managed not to deflect Wood's praise though, something Sirius would be proud of as he had been working religiously on ever since gaining his guardianship.

"Anyway, come on. They're dying to see you play," Wood finished, giving him a clap on the shoulder before leading him out onto the pitch.

Harry clutched his firebolt close to him, savouring the present from his godfather and grinning at the slightly envious looks at his broom. It was third year all over again. The Captain, Joscelind Wadcock, strode up to him. "So, from what I hear from Wood, your previous captain and Benjy Williams, who is our current seeker and scouted you at your last match, you have very impressive skills. While we cannot offer you a full place, especially since you're at school still, the earlier we get you the better. Means you're off limits to other teams."

At the cough from Wilda Griffiths Wadcock smirked. "Well, depends how much money they have but my point stands."

The relaxed atmosphere between the teammates has wiped away the rest of Harry's anxiety, only impatience to begin remaining. Thankfully they were soon up in the air, with the team playing a match against their reserve team which Harry was currently playing for, though Wood seemed to believe he had the capabilities to get into the professional team when he was out of school. He'd yet to admit to Wood he wanted to become an Auror, not a profession Quidditch player. A conversation he'd happily leave till the time he graduated. Even Sirius hadn't asked about what he wanted and again, he was keen to leave that for another time. It felt hypocritical to tell his godfather that he didn't want him to return to his job as an Auror yet was planning to enter the same field himself. Hermione said it was because he was fearing losing the last of his family and one way to prevent that was to make sure any remaining Death Eaters were locked away and he'd always cared less about his own life, he supposed. A leftover from the Dursley's disparaging comments about his worth most likely.

He flew leisurely over the rest of the players, keeping an eye on Benji while searching for the snitch. He noted the techniques Benji used and how he seemed to balance himself, something Wood had drilled into him from first year. Keep track of how they fly as once you learn how they fly, it makes them predictable and gives you power. If you can predict their actions you can pre-empt them and outfly them. That is the least I would expect from a seeker. He'd never been more grateful for Wood's fanaticism with the sport, meaning he kept the Gryffindor team to a professional training schedule, borrowing tips that the Irish team used. It's probably how he ended up here today.

A flicker of gold in the corner of his eye had him shooting forward. He could afford no hesitation in this game, Benji could outfly him any day most likely so it was down to speed. Out of his peripheral he could see Benji tailing him, gaining easily as they wove around other players. Harry noted how close he seemed to cut to the players which shaved off precious seconds. While most likely that came with time there was other things Harry was desperate to interrogate the other seeker about as soon as they were finished, not bothered if he'd get the place or not but rather some invaluable knowledge that he could use to thrash Slytherin in their next game. And the other houses too of course.

The snitch suddenly veered downwards, only feet away from Harry and Benji who were neck and neck. Brooms angled down Harry flattened himself to the broom, plunging down almost vertically and far more dangerously than Benji, who he could see gave him a slightly concerned look. Very few players would do this he knew, the dangers of being unable to right yourself in time to high to pay to win but this wasn't the first time Harry had pulled such a stunt, his first time on a broom being one.

Raising the snitch above his head, fingers closed tightly around the smooth ball while the reserves cheered in delight, having beaten the main team 180 – 90. Upon landing Wood even hugged Harry, though he wasn't sure why he was so surprised, it was hardly the first time he had done so in celebration.

Once Wood had released him he turned to Wadcock who grinned at him, Benji muttering something to her. "So Potter, looks like Williams has something he needs to learn from you, whether that's skill or sheer recklessness to perform the stunt you just pulled. Especially considering you were barely three metres away from going splat."

Harry was unsure whether that last sentence was a compliment about his skills or not. However the proud grin he's wearing when he walks out – he does not skip out thank you very much – tells Sirius everything he needs to know about how the try-outs went.

"Well done!" Sirius exclaimed, throwing his arms around Harry and ruffling his hair fondly as they pulled apart. "Told you you'd get in! Like, I mean was I right or was I right?"

Harry laughed in response as they moved out of sight of the road to apparate.

"Your friends are back home waiting to celebrate –"

"Professor McGonagall let them leave?" Harry was surprised. He'd already have so many allowances this term and celebrating a quidditch try-out seemed a bit trivial.

"Well, she does love a bit of quidditch," Sirius said before swiftly moving on and Harry concluded he probably didn't want to know how Sirius bribed her. "But they're not the only ones there."

Harry gaped at the banner strung across the living room before he was engulfed by his girlfriend in a hug. Eventually released he then received a hug from Emma and Daniel, blushing at Emma's praise of his skills. Ron gave him a quick slap on the back and a 'bloody heck mate' before the rest of the Weasley siblings converged on him. However a child's shriek caused them to part and he then had an armful of veela clinging to him.

He felt his cheeks burn at the stream of praise flooding from the kids mouth and steadfastly ignored Fleur's smirk. While he didn't mind Gabrielle her… appreciation of him did rather put him off slightly, especially with all that had happened with Ginny recently. Eventually, with some help, he managed to extricate himself from her and soon everyone had split into smaller groups and were chatting or singing along to the music. Ron especially seemed to be enjoying the food offered.

Hermione watched Harry entertain Gabrielle while also talking to Fleur and Apolline, mouth dry at watching him interact with her. At barely ten years old, it wasn't hard to imagine Harry a bit older and the silver hair replaced with black just like his, maybe curly like hers. Admittedly Hermione wasn't that bothered about that so much as her wish that their daughter – or son, she wasn't picky – had Harry's eyes.

"Seeing your future there?"

Her mum's voice caused her to jump.

"Mum," Hermione hissed, face burning as she looked back at Harry to make sure he hadn't heard. Not that she was opposed to him knowing she was serious about them being together, if she had it her way he'd be her last boyfriend but he'd had enough expectations placed on him in life and she certainly didn't want to start adding marriage to them.

She frowned though at her mum's look at her when her mum said hesitantly. "The letter you got earlier, before Harry arrived. It – it seemed to upset you and I was wondering if you were okay?"

Hermione's heart squeezed at the concern her mum showed for her, something she had missed being away from home so often, even though she'd never regret staying at school for Harry in the holidays.

Digging around in her pockets for the letter, she nervously handed it to her mum. She was silent as she read it, expression carefully blank. Hermione fidgeted as she did so and when she put the letter down, still no expression she began to talk. "I swear I barely encouraged this, especially not after I got with Harry! And considering how the prophet likes to go on about us I can't imagine that he wouldn't know! I just don't know what to say, especially considering I met him when I was arguing with them." She waved her hand loosely in Harry and Ron's direction.

Her mum sighed. "Just write back, say the invite to Bulgaria was very nice but you're spending Christmas with you boyfriend and just ask if there's another time you two could see each other. Or even invite him to England where Harry is if that makes your more comfortable but I'm sure he trusts you. Nothing you two have done together could be done without trust."

Hermione smiled softly at her mum's endorsement of her relationship. Though she'd never have any doubt that they wouldn't love Harry (after all, who didn't?) it had still made her nervous, especially as she didn't know if they'd approve of Sirius, which would've been a dealbreaker for Harry if they didn't.

"I'll do that, thank you mum," Hermione said gratefully, eyes remaining on Harry who had moved onto talking with her dad and Sirius, explaining how quidditch worked to him. Nervous by the interested look on his face she decided her might need rescuing lest she end up having another quidditch fanatic in her family.

"And then you have the keeper which is pretty self-explanatory but they guard the –"

"Hey guys," Hermione said, kissing Harry silent. "Can I talk to you?"

Ignoring Sirius cough of 'talk?' and amused smirk she dragged Harry off, tempted to flip Sirius off when he yelled "The broom cupboard is the other way!" but her sense of manners prevailed. That and Harry looked adorable when flustered.

"Um, er, Hermione, why –"

"My father, under no circumstances, can learn about quidditch," Hermione interrupted. "I have had years of being made to play football because of his love of the sport, I will not have you converting him into a quidditch fanatic and him making me play the sport!"

Harry burst into laughter at that. "Seriously? That's why you dragged me out here? Could you not have told this to me in sight of everyone?"

"Does everyone need to know?"

Harry shrugged, but his grin put her off. "Well, now when we go back in everyone will be joking about the private celebration you gave me and doing this in there would've spared us both the humiliation."

"Humiliation? Humiliation of – oh, oh!" Hermione's mouth dropped open as she finally realised what Sirius meant with his comments and why Harry had looked so flushed. "Oh my god Harry, they – they think that we're?"

"Probably, so, um –"

"Oh god," Hermione groaned. "I'll never be able to look them in the eyes again."

Harry laughed, bumping her shoulder. "At least you don't live with Sirius. Not that the twins will let you down any easier."

Hermione let out a wail, burying her head in his shoulder only for the two in question to wander around the corner.

"Hermione and Harry! Slipping off from a party! And just what are you two doing here? Alone?"

"Oh go away," Hermione groaned. "I can never look anyone in the eyes again."

"We'll say you did nothing but talk out here, get you out of Sirius's teasing and trouble with your dad," Fred offered but Hermione narrowed her eyes.

"With what conditions?"

Fred smirked and George pretended to wipe a tear from his face, sniffing "We're so proud, taught you so well."

"You help us with a little plan we've got," Fred said, looking evil. Hermione gulped, glancing with Harry. Was it worth it to escape Sirius's teasing? Looking at the twins she noticed the sincerity behind their grins and sighed, knowing Harry wouldn't put up a fight. "What do you need our help for?"