Since the four had (thankfully) missed Potions, they made their way to the Great Hall to eat lunch. Ron was particularly antsy as he had wanted to talk to Harry privately since before breakfast. He ate quickly and gestured toward Harry to do the same. Hermione rolled her eyes, looking at the two scarf down chicken from across the table. They looked like animals that had been deprived of food due to a weather condition. Either way, she didn't stop them from leaving when they were through. After all, she knew exactly what Ron was going to tell Harry.

            Aidan had been sitting quietly next to Hermione the whole time. Though his secret was revealed, he still did not feel exactly comfortable yet. In any case, he had only met anyone at Hogwarts a week ago. After Ron and Harry left though, Hermione began to speak to him.

            "So, Aidan, how do you like school so far? You're a wonderful wizard, you know."

            Aidan blushed an Irish red and then answered. "Thanks, Hermione. You're a great witch, too. I love Hogwarts!"

            "That's great. Your story's just amazing. I mean, I'm Muggle-born, but I've never heard of anything like this. You deserved this, you really did. And it couldn't have been a more perfect fit. Magic just seems to come naturally to you."

            "Thanks, again, Hermione."

            "Oh, please, call me 'Mione! I can't get those two idiots to stop so why don't you just call me that too!"

            "Are you sure?"

            "Of course," she answered cheerfully. "Do you want to study with me for Flitwick's Charms exam next week?"

            "Sure, I'm not sure I'll do too well though."

            "Of course you will. It's just a review exam anyway, and since you aced the Transfiguration review, you'll do fine!"

            "Thanks… 'Mione."

~*~*~*~*~*~

            "You and… you and her… You and 'Mione!?" Harry gasped.

            "Yep," said Ron with a satisfied grin. "Remember this morning when she wanted to talk to me?"

            "Yeah, I guess that's why you two couldn't stop blushing at breakfast, right?"

            "I guess. But she asked me. Didn't she always seem to hate me though? I mean, I've liked her since first year, why do you think I made fun of her? I just didn't think she liked me back."

            "Since first year!?" exclaimed Harry. "You never told me!"

            "Sorry, it's just one of those things, you know?"

            "Yeah, I know. But you know what else? I think she started liking you in second year. I had this feeling, I just don't know."

            "Well, I'm happy. At least she's not hitting me with full force when I say something stupid!"

            "Lucky for me, I don't say anything stupid, so I don't have to endure the wrath of 'Mione, even if it is a little tap on the arm."

            "Anything? Are you sure about that? I could think of a thousand things that you've said under the influence of Stupid."           

            "Name one."

            "Well there was the time, no wait that was George… Well then, wait, um…"

            "That's what I thought," Harry grinned. "Are you going to tell Aidan? We promised to stick together."

            "Later, when I get to know him better. I need to give myself a chance to be nice to him before I can divulge my innermost thoughts and feelings."

            "Did you hear that one from your dad, too?"

            "What'd you expect?"

~*~*~*~*~*~

            The next few weeks were easy to get through. The classes weren't demanding that much since exams were ages away, yet Aidan and Hermione could be found studying at a table close to where Ron and Harry whiled away the hours playing chess. Ron had softened up to Aidan (finally!) and told him about himself and Hermione ("Well, of course I knew she liked you!"). Harry found it completely disgusting the way Ron and Hermione had warmed up to each other and would usually escape to the dormitory when they decided it was time for a snog.

            Harry and Aidan started talking and hanging out a lot more since Ron and Hermione got together but Harry would also spend a fair amount of time with Ginny. Whenever he would sit and talk to her, Ron's words would ring in is head: You like her don't you, Harry? You like my little sister. How true, how true that was. Harry could spend hours staring into Ginny's huge brown eyes or admiring her gorgeous red hair, but he couldn't because he was usually pulled away by someone. This time it was Aidan.

            "Hey, Harry, do you want to play chess?"

            "Wha… oh, right, sure."

            Aidan was a fairly good chess player, but Harry's thoughts were far off and he usually let him win. After six games, Aidan pulled Harry out of his stupor. He wasn't stupid; he knew what Harry was thinking. "What's wrong Harry? You seem a bit out of it?"

            "What? Oh, nothing, I'm just thinking about… something."

            "Harry, I see you looking at her."

            "At who? Aidan, what are you talking about?"

            "Ginny, you can't hide it, you like her."

            "So what if I do? She only thinks of me as a friend. Besides, she's younger than me, it's better this way."

            "You should talk to her, and she's only a year younger than you, a lot of relationships are like that. If you leave it like this, you could go into mental meltdown."

            "I'll just mess up; I'm not good with this."

            "Harry, you're the boy-who-lived. You won't mess up."

            "Are you sure?"

            "Of course I'm sure. Just go over there and talk to her, tell her how you feel. I'm sure Ron won't be angry. He's too busy with 'Mione."

            "Okay, here I go." Harry then walked over to the couch where Ginny was sitting. When she saw him come over she looked up and smiled.

            "Hey, Harry."

            "Hey, Gin. Listen, I've got to talk to you. Do you have a minute?"

            Ginny's expression changed to confusion. "Sure, Harry. Sit down."

            Harry sat down next to Ginny. He was quiet for a moment and he just stared into the fire. "Is something wrong, Harry?" Ginny asked.

            "Oh, no, nothing's wrong, I'm just thinking about what to say."

            "Oh, well, go on then."

            "Well, Ginny, we've known each other for a while, right?"

            "Yeah…"

            "And I know that you were pretty nervous around me when we first met at the Burrow. Well, I'm the nervous one now. Ginny, I like you."

            "Oh! Harry, I like you too. I've liked you since Ron came home talking about you after his first year. You're brave and smart and athletic, and you were so nice to me."

            "Really? You really like me back?"

            "Sure, Harry. I've been feeling sort of left out right now. You came and hung out with me though. I was just hoping you were going to talk to me about something like this for a long time. I was really nervous on the first day of school when you came to talk to me, but you know what? Ron was actually right, talking is comfortable." Harry laughed

            "Yeah, I guess it is. Ginny, will you be my girlfriend?"

            "Yes, Harry, I will." Harry hugged Ginny for a long time in front of the fire. Ron and Hermione actually stopped what they were doing to watch the two of them.

            "Oh, Ron, how cute, look at Ginny and Harry."

            "Yeah, cute. The bugger lied to me."

            "Really?"

            "Yeah, but I knew it. You know, I reckon one day that we'll all be one big happy family, don't you?"

            "Ron, we're only fifteen."

            "Hey, when you've found love, it doesn't matter how old you are." Hermione smiled at her boyfriend.

            "You know, I reckon Ginny was wrong about you. You just choose to be stupid."

            "Why thank—hey!"

            "I love you."

~*~*~*~*~*~

            So the two couples were secure. Ginny and Harry, Ron and Hermione. Aidan was still alone, but Harry pointed out that he was new and that he would find someone eventually.

            Quidditch practice started in early October. Katie Bell was the captain and she worked the team hard. What there was of the team, that is. Oliver Wood had graduated two years ago and since there was no Quidditch the previous year, they had failed to find a replacement keeper. Tryouts for the Gryffindor House team were held in the middle of October.

            Many people from all years made their way to the Quidditch pitch for the tryout. Aidan was among them. He had never played Quidditch, but he figured he would give it a shot, just as he had done in classes. Ron mumbled that he only wished a Chaser position was open and stayed behind in the common room to study.

            Harry was already at the pitch, flying around on his Firebolt. He was to be one of the judges along with Fred, George and Angelina. Alicia Spinnet was in the hospital wing due to a nasty potions accident. When the throng of Keeper wannabes were visible on the ground, Harry and the rest took their seats high in the stands. Katie touched down to greet the rest.

            "Welcome to tryouts. This year, we need a Keeper and that is what you are trying out for. Keeper is one of the most important jobs in the game of Quidditch. The Keeper stops the Chasers from scoring. Oliver was an outstanding Keeper and he will be hard to replace. I will take nothing less than one-hundred-ten percent effort from the Keeper I will choose at the end of this session. Is that clear?"

            High up in the stands, the judging panel overheard and Fred leaned to Harry and whispered, "More like Oliver everyday, eh?"

            "You said it," Harry answered. Katie continued.

            "Now you will be putting on these red robes to show that you are trying out. My team mates and I will be testing you on your Keeper abilities and your stamina. Fred and George will be playing with the Bludgers and you will have to swerve and dart to make sure that they don't knock you off your broom. I want nothing short of perfection. Angelina and I will be running our Chaser plays and you will have to read us to stop the Quaffle from being scored. Ready? Let's go. Sharon Anderson, you're up."

            A tall seventh year girl with lots of thick black hair strode forward and took off toward the golden hoops on her Cleansweep. The team worked her hard. Angelina and Katie scored on her twice out of ten times and she was knocked with a Bludger only once. She then touched down and was told to go wait in the locker room. "Genni Blake, let's go."

            The same thing went on and on for each person. Aidan was called about halfway through. He did pretty well though he was hit with a Bludger twice. His Nimbus Two-Thousand-One was nice to fly but he couldn't seem to get out of his Bludger's way. He then went to the locker room. About an hour later, Katie Bell came into the locker room with the rest of the team.

            "Great job from all of you. You all did excellent but I can only pick one. This year's new Keeper is… Jeremy Walsh."

            Aidan hung his head. He really wanted to make the team. Just as everyone had gotten up to leave, he heard Katie's voice again. "Aidan O'Reilly, I want to see you please." Aidan walked forward to where the rest of the team stood. "Come with me, bring your broom." Aidan followed Katie back out onto the Quidditch pitch totally befuddled. What could she want him for? All the spots were taken on the team. "Aidan, you look light and speedy, and I was thinking. Alicia won't be out of the hospital wing for a while and I'm not sure that she'll be ready for our first match against Slytherin. I want you to try out for Chaser. Jeremy, fly up and guard the posts. Come on, get up there Aidan, I only have a couple weeks to teach you our plays."

            Aidan's heart was pounding. What did people see in him that made him so special? He mounted his broom and took the Quaffle. Katie and Angelina followed on their brooms and flew alongside him. He passed the Quaffle off to Angelina near the middle of the pitch who passed it to Katie who passed it off again to Aidan. He held it tightly in his arms and soared toward the posts were Jeremy was trying to read him. Aidan took advantage of knowing Muggle basketball to pump-fake and once Jeremy dived the other way, he put it through. Harry and the twins cheered. Angelina clapped him on the back and Katie smiled. "Welcome to the team."

~*~*~*~*~*~

            Ron was dreadful to Aidan upon hearing he was made the newest Chaser of the team. "If I'd've known that there was that spot open, I would have kicked your ass!" he yelled crossly.

            "Ron, I didn't know there was that position, either. Katie Bell called me after Keeper tryouts. I wanted to be Keeper! Remember?"

            "Well you should have declined. You know that I wanted that position."

            "How could I have? Everyone was so happy, I couldn't say no."

            "Yeah, because your to big-headed to know when to step aside and let your friends have some fun. Has everything always been this easy for you?"

            "No! You heard Dumbledore a couple weeks ago! MY LIFE SUCKED UNTIL I WAS ADOPTED! Just leave me alone, you're just jealous!" With that, Aidan stomped out of the dormitory and through the common room. He picked up a piece of parchment from the nearest table, a quill and an ink well and stormed out of Gryffindor Tower toward the Owlery.  He was going to write to his parents.