Chapter 7 A new Chaser

It was the second Saturday of the school year, traditional the tryouts for the Quidditch teams were held. Gryffindor needed a new Chaser. McGonagall had also decided that they needed a reserve team, because the biggest part of the team would leave after this year. They had a whole new team last year, only he and Ron had some experience and it had taken a little time for the team to became as good as it was now. They did win the cup last year, mainly because Harry and Ron were very good. They wanted to prevent this from happening again, because only Ginny would stay. The rest of the team were all 7th years. So this year they extended the tryouts to everybody who wanted try out. Harry looked at the group of students, before him there was a big group who wanted to try out, the current team was standing beside him. Harry put his want to his throat

"Soneras," his voice became magnified.

"Welcome to the Gryffindor tryouts. If you all listen I'll explain what we do this morning, first we'll do some flying exercise to see how good you can handle your brooms and than we'll put you in different groups. We are looking for a new Chaser, but we'll also make a reserve team. Those on that team have a big change they will play next year. Ok that's enough said lets go." He made them fly in a straight line from one end of the stadium to the other in groups of five, the fastest of each group would go through to the next round. Harry knew this wasn't fair because of the different kinds of brooms, but speed also depended on the flyer. There were two boys and three girls who ended in the final. Harry was very impressed by a second year girl, he looked at the sheet to read her name. Kim Vandermeer.

"Hey Ron, look at her flying, she is very good." Harry said to Ron. Kim flew a Nimbus 2002, one of the fastest brooms around. But she was completely at ease and made flying seem easy. She lost the speed game, but only because somebody had a better broom. But that girl sat to stiff on her broom and would probably not survive the obstacle course that was next.

"Ok, you all have showed how fast you are. But to play Quidditch you also have to react fast. So we made an obstacle course. You have to dodge balls and players.  I'll show you how it's done and than you all get a change to try it." Harry took off, circling the goal post, dodging balls and members of the team. Lavender and Ginny were throwing balls at him the others were trying to block him. After he finished the course, he touched down.

"As you all saw, I didn't know when they would throw the ball or would block me, but by watching them and anticipating their moves I completed the run. I want you to touch all three pylons and circle all six goal posts. Are there any more questions?" Nobody reacted.

"Ok, let's go." Harry said. The most of the flyers did reasonable, Ginny and Lavender had hit all of them at least once. Until Kim came, she couched one of the balls and she swerved out of the way of the other one, only Ron had been able to block her. Harry was very impressed by her. Kim would be a great player, but he didn't know what position she wanted to try out for. After all the students had their try, Harry called the team together.

"Do we have a favourite already for each of the positions?" He asked, they all nodded. "Ok Ginny, Lavender I want you to make sure Kim Vandermeer tries out for Chaser, she is the best out there at this moment, and we need the best."

"I agree," Ron replied "but I think that she also needs to train as a Seeker. But that will be up to Ginny." Ginny nodded

"First a new Chaser, the rest we'll see when that is over." She said and walked to the waiting crowed, she was followed by the rest of the team.

"People listen up, if you are trying out for Keeper go to Ron, if you are trying out for Beater go to Dean and Seamus, if you trying out for Chaser go with Ginny and Lavender and the rest follow me."

Harry saw Kim walk to Ginny. ok she will be our new Chaser, he thought. There were two boys and two girls who wanted to try out for Seeker.

"First I want to know your names and the year you're in." Harry said to the four waiting students.

"I'm Kayla and I'm a second year." A girl with short blond hair said. Harry had liked her flying.

"I'm Alexander, fourth year," a short, lean boy said. Harry had not been impressed with his speed, but he could react and was one of the best out on the obstacle course.

"My name is Richard and I'm a third year." The next boy said. He was a good flyer, but he was already tall and bulky, next year he would be too big to be a good Seeker.

"And I'm Daniella, I'm also a second year. A small girl said. Harry looked at her she had been the girl with the fastest broom", but she had been one of the worse on the obstacle course. Harry knew that either Kim or Alexander would be the new Seeker. To find out which one, he threw golf balls at them. They had to catch as many as they could, first alone, than one against the other and finally all four at the same time. After the last balls had been caught, Harry called them to him.

"We're ready, I'll give some short comment on each of your flying. Daniella I start with you. May I ask why you tried out?" Harry asked trying to sound nice.

"My brother is the Ravenclaw Seeker and my other brother used to be the captain. It is a family tradition." Daniella said almost in tears. Harry knew why she had looked so familiar, she was the little sister of Rogier Davies, he was an excellent player.

"Daniella, you could be a very good flyer, but you need to get over your fear. You need to practice some more, perhaps on a slower broom and work your way up. Don't give up flying yet, as I said you could be great." Harry said feeling sorry for her.

"Ok, next is Richard. You are a decent flyer, but unfortunately not a Seeker. You are to big for it you would make a good Beater I think, so next year when they are having tryouts try out for Beater and not Seeker." Harry looked at the boy he nodded and did not look terrible disappoint.

"That leaves you two," Harry said to the other two. "You are both great flyers, Kayla is very fast and reasonable in catching the balls. Alexander, you are very good at catching the balls, but your speed is not good enough. Alexander, you need to increase your speed, it isn't your broom because there were flyers with older brooms that were faster. You just have to train that and you'll make a good change." Alexander looked somewhat disappointed.

"Kayla, you need to work on your catching skills, you fly fast and react also fast, but your catching skills are not good enough yet."  She also nodded.

"We're ready, somewhere this evening the reserve team will be announced. Go and change. Harry said and he turned around to watch the others, Ron was just finishing his evaluation with three aspiring Keepers. Ginny and Lavender were still flying. And Dean and Seamus just landed, ready to give their opinion.

"Have you made up your mind, Ron?" Harry asked Ron, while they were watching Ginny and Lavender.

"Yeah, you won't believe it, but I think that Dennis Creevey would be an excellent new Keeper. He was without doubt the best out there." Ron said very enthusiastic.

"Who would ever toughed that that small boy would be a Keeper, he looks more like a Seeker." Harry replied.

"Yeah, I know, but he is very good and I think he will be bigger next year."

"Hey, how did it go?" Ginny asked. She and Lavender came walking to the rest of the group.

"Have you all made a decision?" Harry asked the team, they all nodded

"Lets get change and have an discussion about this in the changing room." Ron said. That evening Harry walked in to the common room to post a note on the bulletin board.

The following people are invited to join the Gryffindor reserve team. They will train with the Gryffindor Quidditch team. First training Monday 16:00 Quidditch stadium.

Keeper                         Dennis Creevey

Beater                          Damian River

Beater                          Lucas River

Chaser                         Shaylee Nyoke

Chaser                         Lyendo Crockford

Chaser                         Suk Wah Li

Seeker                         Kayla Turpin

The new Gryffindor Chaser will be Kim Vandermeer.

Harry Potter, Gryffindor captain.

There were several disappointed voices, but above all the congratulations to those who made the team could be heard. Ron stood beside Harry in a corner of the common room, they watch the party that slowly formed.

"This year is going to be fun Harry trust me, our names will be on the trophy." Ron said with a smile looking at Kim who was lifted on to the shoulders of some of her classmates.

"But first we need something to drink, it is an party after all." Ron said and he dashed away to their dormitory to return with something that looked a lot like Harry's invisibility cloak.

"I will be right back he said and before either Harry or Hermione could say anything, he disappeared through the portrait hole. Thirty minutes later he returned with enough Butterbeer for the whole house.

"Here, now the party can really start." he said throwing a Butterbeer to Harry, after seeing their Headboy drink the whole house joined. The party went on until McGonagall threatened to give the whole house detention if they didn't go to bed.