HP & The Knight of The Light
Disclaimer: Okay you know the drill Harry Potter's not mine, glad to, I'm getting sick of writing on a timely schedule and I don't want to imagine doing this on a timely schedule for writing a 300 pg. book.
P.S. Sorry about the Ron bashing I don't hate Ron just don't like him too much.
Quidditch Tryouts Ch. VIII
Harry Potter woke up early in the morning at Sunday (If I mention at any point that "today is Monday" it is really Sunday I screwed up sorry) at 5:30 AM and got dressed in light cloths. He brushed his teeth and washed his face. He jogged to a spot by the lake that was discreet and assured a bit of privacy. It has been close to 3 weeks since school started and Harry was used to this hectic waking schedule, but still clearly not liking it.
He made it outside the castle and found it to be much more colder then he expected. The sun wasn't out yet but light could be seen from the east. It wasn't much but enough to Harry. He jogged the way to the lake and saw Draco was already there, stretching. Harry followed his lead and stretched for 10 minutes. It was now very close to 5:40 AM and by then they were put fully awake by the cold air and ready from their stretching.
They started the exercise with an easy lap around the lake. Harry and Draco used to start this as a jog, but ever since the term started and they only had an hour to do this exercise, both were running at a fast pace. By 6 minutes, they both made the lap in decent time. They then started their hand-to-hand duel against each other. Harry won obviously because of his extra two months with the training, but he was extremely sweaty after the fight. They had 30 minutes left and they immediately went for the sword fight. This was where Draco and Harry had equal ground. Even thought Harry had two months of brutal training course from four trainers, Draco had fencing course since he was 5. Still fencing was not sword fighting so neither teenagers the edge. The sword they were using was of course blunt, but it was charmed to leave a coloring where it hit. By the end Harry and Draco had numerous red marks on their body. They finished this off, charmed the markings off, and started to head back to the castle.
Because the exercise was only an hour long Harry and Draco agreed that on certain days they would do certain training. Monday until Wednesday was hand-to-hand combat and sword fighting. From Thursday and Friday they practiced the use of bow & arrow and the ax. And on the weekends in the morning they would just do warm up laps around the lake and practice a dueling. Then in the afternoon when they have to go indoors they did the full hour on wand dueling. Sometimes they would just make an out of the blue training session. They both didn't know why they had it but just thought that they needed it. Whenever that happened it was an all out free style duel. Wands and hand to hand combat was used in this battle. They both even discovered that they had a knack for wand less magic.
Wand less magic wasn't anything special just required a lot of concentration to achieve. It was a very pure form of magic that didn't need focusing to use but because of the non-use of the focusing ability of the wand it was much more harder to use and gave a much weaker form of wand's magic. Because of this Harry and Draco was only able to get simple disarming charms and such. The only charm they tried really hard to accomplish when wand-less was the accio charm. At least with that they could accio their wands so that they wouldn't need to use wandless magic. They still haven't mastered it, but they could make the object they're trying to get twitch a little, Draco even making it move a foot closer to him. Though it was done with extreme concentration that even left him a bit of a headache from overexerting his brain too much.
By now it was time to go back in get ready for breakfast. For Harry it was soon the start of Quidditch tryouts for Gryffindor keepers and the reserves. The reserves being a new idea thought up by Harry after watching a muggle game and seeing their reserve lineup. Harry went back into the castle and entered the Gryffindor common room. He entered, took a shower, grabbed his broom and left with clean cloths on. Soon he was heading for the Great Hall for breakfast. He ate a quick breakfast of a light helping of pancake, omellete, and sausage with O.J. After he left for the Quidditch Field.
Soon he was at the middle of the Quidditch stadium taking in the surroundings with awe. He still after 4 years of being used to it was taken breathless by the view from standing on the field. He took off from the field on his broom feeling at piece from all his responsibilities. Even though he didn't want to have to take up helping the magical world against Voldemort he knew that it was a responsibility he had to take just like Malfoy, Snape, Dumbledore, and many others that had their roles in this war. He was pretty sure Dumbledore didn't want most of the wizarding worlds troubles all on his shoulders. He even confessed to Harry, though he didn't need to for it was obvious, that he would rather just be a headmaster watching over children and watching them over their 7 year period at this school grow up in a Voldemort-free world. Watching them from their innocence to learn life's lesson without such fear of a cruel wizard being found in the corners of their hearts. Maybe even see them when they are adults in the world having a family of their own. He said that was the reason he was at this school as a headmaster.
Harry thought that was a good hope to live for. Right now though Harry just wanted to fly. Fly from his troubles leaving them behind for just the tiniest moment. That was the reason he loved flying. That and next to the fact flying was the only thing he could still be carefree and careless while doing something thrilling. Soon with his ever so alert senses he saw the gryffindor team along with come to the field. He could make out Alicia next to her friend Katie and Angelina in the front of the group. All three holding their broom in their hand talking to each other. He remembered his talk with Alicia just last week. He finally managed to get talk to her without her walking away.
Flashback
"Hey Alicia wait up!" Harry yelled as he was running to catch up with her when he saw her as he was walking down an empty hall.
She turned around and as she saw it was him, she took another 180 and went a light jog to get away from him.
'Why can't he get the hint and leave me alone! That thickheaded imprudent jerk!' thought Alicia.
He caught up with him gently grabbed her wrist and tugged at it stopping her from going away.
"What do you want Harold Potter!" she spoke in a cold voice.
Harry on the inside flinched but kept his outer emotion calm and cool. Then he still continued what he wanted to say "Look I wanted to say sorry about last week, you know the first day of school, when I said those a.. (sorry the triple periods indicating pause doesn't work on fanfiction not to my knowledge anyways) ..rude words at you and asked of ..ungentlemanly like things. Look I was stressed from the day's events and I just wanted to have some alone time to sort out my problems. I found out on that day that I had to do all sorts of crap."
"What could possibly make you change so much from last year to your rude arrogant self now? You hang around Malfoy, start to act like him, and you don't even hang out with your best friends from last year." Implied Alicia.
"That's my business!" Harry snapped, but quickly apologized "Look I'm sorry about that I guess I get kind of annoyed when people try to ask me questions involving my personal life. I guess I owe you an explanation at least on the why I don't hang with Ron and Hermione. That's because they aren't my friends. One was just a pathetic bastard that got over easily jealous. He just tried to sought fame and attention by being my friend. He was hoping to get out of his brother's shadow by clinging onto mine hoping that he could earn himself a name. And the other one was more close to the other one and took his case. What I'm saying is that, they aren't truly my friends, at least not close ones. Please I'm asking for forgiveness for my rude and arrogant attitude a week ago, I'm trying to change." Begged Harry, now going on his knees and over exaggerating by putting his hands into a by putting his hands into a prayer like position and making puppy eyes. However it was true. Harry did keep a more closer observation on what he said nowadays, and tried not to let words just fly out of his mouth. So far it was working fine except when he muttered a long list of profanity a bit to loud in the Potion classroom causing a him to get a detention.
Alicia cracked up at his antics and her eyes once so cold softened up. "Alright get up already, you didn't answer me my question though, I know for a fact that you couldn't have change so much just because of your friends. Could you tell me why your so different, emotionally AND physically" she made her last point by looking up and down his body with a approving look in her eyes.
"Like what you see." He added cheekily.
"Ha-ha, now your not answering me, AGAIN. Now answer me or I'll avoid you again. This is your doing remember, if you weren't such a cocky jerk I wouldn't be asking you these questions." She added smugly seeing his defeated look.
"Alright I see you won't be giving up on your questions. Draco and me were at Hogwarts over the summer. We trained like crazy over the summer, and since he and I were the only ones at Hogwarts we kind of made a pact, truce, and even some type of friendship. I wasn't the only one who changed, Draco isn't his usual sneering self either and he has changed physically too." Answered Harry while thinking 'Not the whole truth nor is it a lie.'
"All.. right I believe you." Said Alicia with reluctance showing some mistrust. "Okay Harry I'll see you later then, I'm already late to meeting Katie and Angelina."
"Want me to come?" Harry asked, "please, I won't be a bother I promise, I'll even bring cards and maybe we could play strip poker." "..Hehe just kidding and I'm guessing your answer would have to be a no." Harry added weakly after her glare. With that he jogged away from her.
End of Flashback
They had become a bit closer after that and Alicia learned to accept that Harry's new mischievous more confident sometimes perverted attitude was just the new him. She even seemed to flirt and joke back at Harry, which Harry gladly returned the blow. He now, with Draco, played jokes on the school goings by the names "The Joking Knights" he knew it was cheesy but it was the only thing they had in common them being both "knights" for Dumblesdores group. Meaning that they were one of Dumbledore's followers in a way. Harry and Draco had an easy time at playing pranks because of Harry's new agreement with the Weasley twins.
Flashback
"Harry old boy, thanks to your generous-"
"-well put-"
"-noble-"
"-honorable-"
"-offer you gave to us-"
"-at the end of last year of school-"
"-we are doing fantastic-"
"-wonderful-"
"-positively enchanting-"
"-job on making our new invention-"
"-because of this we have decided-"
"-to make you our sponser for-"
"-Weasley-"
"-Wizards-"
"-Weezes."
"This only consists of-"
"-trying out our new products at victims-"
"-gerbils-"
"-test subject-"
"-to advertise our products, also-"
"-you'll have 20% of the share of income for your-"
"-support by funding-"
"-and advertising-"
"-of our product-"
"-now all we need-"
"-is your signature right here-"
"-and right here don't worry you'll be a-"
"-silent partner so that nobody-"
"-shall know that you helped fund our company." Said one of the twins
"Okay.. , yeah sure whatever" and with that he signed the paper that was pushed under his nose by the twins.
End of Flashback
They used the Weasley's new product whenever suitable, but they mostly used their own creativity to cause havoc around Hogwarts.
Soon the team was already at the pitch and looked to see who he was, thinking him to be one of the thinking he was one of the participants for the tryout. Harry took a speedy dive at them going towards them at incredible speed. As Harry got close enough he could see brief fear in their eyes thinking he wouldn't be able to stop. Well they were wrong and he leaned back and made a sharp stop in front Alicia 4 to 5 inches away from her face.
"What's with the fear in your face? Got no trust in my flying?" Harry taunted with a smirk.
"You bloody moron you almost made me piss in my pants thanks to your dumb antics!" yelled one of the twins.
"Too bad it was an almost" Harry said lightly implying that he was joking. "Well are we going to at least get warmed up on being in the air? I know I sure am confortable on a broom."
"Yeah, yeah Harry no need to rush, we were gonna mount when we saw you on the field." Answered the captain, Angelina.
"Okay then don't let me stop." Harry said at last flying back high in the air.
"Okay you heard the co-cap lets go." Remark one of the twins, and telling everyone in the group.
With that the Gryffindor team were back in the air getting comfortable in the air for the tryout they were going to lead today. 5 minutes later Katie spotted a large group of students, who she guessed was Gryffindor, heading towards the pitch.
"Hey ya guys their coming!" shouted Katie.
With that the team descended, un-mounted their broom, and stood in the middle of the field waiting for the Gryffindor. When the large group of hopeful Gryffindors came closer they could see that almost 60 people from Gryffindor coming over. Soon the whole lot made it inside the field and they stopped awaiting instructions. With that Angelina took her time to shine in her role of captainship.
"Good morning fellow Gryffindors and thank you for so many coming to try out. I hope that you all try your very best and now I shall explain how this tryout shall work. My co-captain Harry here," she indicated by waving her hand to where Harry was standing, "shall help me organize you lot by what position you are hoping for, AFTER we get the tryout for keeper done. For the keeper tryout, my fellow chasers, Katie and Alicia," she pointed to the only other female in the Gryffindor team," shall both try to shoot 10 goals past you. They will start out by taking it easy then one by one they will take it up a notch and from 7-10 ball Fred and George," she pointed to the twins who were grinning and waving like maniacs to the group that was looking very intimidated by the number of competition they will have to face, "shall hit bludgers at you, and don't worry we won't use both bludgers just one." She added but that did not help quence the fear those hoping to try out for the keeper now felt. "The best from you lot shall be the new keeper the runner up shall take the reserve position. I shall explain all about the rest of the tryout after the keeper is chosen."
Harry now took up his role and asked, "All those trying out for the keeper position please step over by me please, now I'm going to have to ask your name, year, and that's about it. Then from their on we shall call your name so that you could have your chance at spotlight," he added mischievously, "or your chance to make yourself look like bloody prats. Good luck to you all!" With that he put the parchment on a table he transfigured from a twig he found so that he could write their name on it. He also transfigured a chair from another twig on the ground. And he transfigured a quill from a leaf he pulled out of the ground, and an inkpot from a rock and the ink from a collection of dew found in the grass. He didn't want to admit it but he forgot the quill and the inkpot when he was in a rush to get to training with Malfoy. When that was all done he put in on the table and sat on the chair prepared to write down the names of those trying out.
4 minutes later after writing down 25 names he asked if there were anymore and when none said anything about it they went to the actual tryouts part of the day. By now Harry flew up to the stands where Angelina sat with Mcgonnagol both was talking about something Harry couldn't hear because of his distance. He gracefully landed a meter away from them who were both in a deep conversation about something concerning Quidditch from the little he overheard. He sat a seat by Angelina and made his entrance.
"Hey what's so interesting that you'll leave me out of it?" added a mock- pouting Harry.
"Oh we were just talking about the importance of Binn's leason Harry." Answered a sarcastic and joking Angelina.
"No seriously what are you two talking about. I know there can't be much a beautiful, talented, athletic, intelligent teenager" Harry over exaggerated, " and a old senior citi- I mean an respectful and well mannered lady as yourself Prof. Mcgonnagol, could have in common." Harry quickly added, although without a hint of shame or embarrassment in his voice, after seeing Mcgonnagol's glare at almost calling her an old senior citizen.
"Well were talking about how we hope the tryouts are going to be very promising. We would want a very qualified person to fill in for Wood's open spot. I mean that is very hard considering he left a very large shoe to fill after he left." Remarked Mcgonnagol a bit snappy.
"Well here is the list of those trying out, I hope one of these will be promising." With that Harry handed Angelina the list. Angelina grabbed the list and then stood up. She said "Sonorus" to her wand and spoke.
"Okay I have now the list for Keeper tryouts. First up is Francis Ackmore."
The 3rd year that stepped up wasn't very good and handling his broom, and he had a lot of fright at trying to catch very speedy ball. In the end he only got 3 out of 10 balls.
"Next is Allison Mcbeth."
Allison was okay for a 4th year but her future would have been better sought for something on the ground as she seemed afraid of height. Her fear let her only catch 6 out of ten.
This went on for 20 minutes until a name came up that interested Harry greatly.
"Ron Weasley is next."
Ron flew up in the air seeming confident but showing his fear by his very green face. It was actually very funny seeing a Christmas colored head like his. Angelina and Mcgonnagol paid great attention towards him seeing as how they thought because of his family history ahead of him that he would be spectacular. Ron was very good on a broom and his tall and lanky form would suggest him a great beater but Ron just didn't seem to be doing very good compared what was expected of him. It might have been because the chaser felt intimidated that a Weasley would be good so that they would try harder, and maybe the fact that their brother (you know the usual I'm the older sibling so I could bother you or make your life a living hell) was trying out that the Weasley twins tried extra hard to make the bludger affect his keeper duty, but Ron just wasn't up to the requirement level. He managed to catch 5 out of 10. Ron bore his head down in shame as he descended.
"Next up is Virginia Weasley." Angelina spoke with a bit of hope in her voice as another Weasely went up to try out.
Ginny Weasley was different to Harry then how Harry remembered. She seemed to have a growth spurt and now reached 5' 6" from her 5' 2" feet before. She was a bit into the lanky form like Ron had but still had a feminine grace to her figure. She now was up into the air with the school broom that was required for all participants to use as to not let anyone else have an unfair advantage from being on a good broom. Ginny was quick in her flying and had good reflexes. She did very good until it came to the bludger one hit her in the stomach at the 9th ball killing her perfect streak, but Harry could tell that the chasers weren't doing their best as if embarrassed on how they made the last Weasley look like a fluke. Because of her injury she missed the last ball too. From the looks of how the twins were yelling at each other they didn't look like they intentionally did it either.
What surprised Harry the most was Neville Longbottom. Neville wasn't the best on anything magic except for Herbolodgy but Neville was unbelievable in the air. He didn't have the confidence or natural grace in the air like others, but Neville had caught all of the balls without even having to struggle to reach for a ball. All the players except Harry who hid his emotion flawlessly except his large-as-plate eyes dropped their jaws in shock. Immediately Angelina and Mcgonnagol started talking.
"He only needs to get his confidence up something we, the whole of Gryffinder, could do by encouraging him and all that, also his flying could improve by us teaching him to ins and outs of flying but other then that he's perfect!" Exclaimed Angelina with the Prof. only whole-heartily agreeing with her.
The rest of those trying about 10 more Gryffindors, seemed so dull compared to Neville's performance.
"We have made a decision, the reserve keeper shall be Virginia Weasley, and the keeper shall be NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM!!!" shouted the captain.
Many people cheered up for Neville and Ginny, but there were some like most of those that tried out that half-heartedly cheered for them and some that didn't cheer at all, like Ron who was sulking but wasn't not cheering because because he was jealous just to caught up in self-pity to notice that the keepers were chosen.
"This is how the reserve position tryouts will take place all of you shall be separated into group depending on what position you will play. The chasers shall go to where the chasers are standing; the beaters where the twins are standing, and the seekers shall go to where our seeker is standing. They will tell you to display what you are capable of by asking you to meet their qualifications. What they will ask you to do is up to them, but that is how the tryouts will take place."
With that Harry flew over the field and waited for the seekers to come up to him. There were only 10 people trying out for seeker position, which greatly relieved him because of him being the only one to test those trying out. He held out a sheet of parchment and quill waiting for them to write their names out and their year. All of those trying out got the picture and wrote their names on the paper. After it was finished he started his lecture.
"I want you to fly up in the air with me. Stay a couple of meter away from me but don't stray away. You shall not say or do anything until I tell you to. Do you understand? Whining or showing off without my acknowledgement shall have consequences. Now follow me." Harry pushed off of the ground going the 300 feet off of the ground being well higher then the rest of the team.
He waited patiently for a minute until the rest of those trying out got here. He noted who got here the earliest and the latest. He was also noting for confidence at this height in the air, and grace in their flying. He let himself and those trying out sit on their brooms 300 feet in the air doing nothing for 5 minutes seeing who would be the first to crack. The first was a 3rd year boy who went by the name of Alex Sterling who got bored and decided to do loop the loops. Harry thought him to be a bit more daring then the rest. He would test that courage of his and see what it's breaking point was. He finally started the second part of his tryouts. He called out their names.
"Brian Lomar, I want you to fly around the stadium once." Once that was done, "Now I want you to try to catch ten of these golf ball which I will give 9 to the others, and make them in order throw the balls whichever direction they wish. The order shall go from whoever is closest to me to the farthest. Now every one spread out in a straight line with a meter distance between each of us. The only limitation is that you have to throw it 5 seconds after the previous is thrown or if Lomar here catches it before the 5 seconds is over. Also Brian, whichever one you do not catch, that means after the 5 seconds is up you have to find it off of the ground after all the balls are thrown so that I can have all ten back so I could use it for the rest of these participants. Now lets see what you can do, I'll be the first to throw the ball." And Harry chucked it as fast as he can straight down, then counting five seconds, and told the one closest to him to throw it.
It continued like that. Lomar ended up catching 7. He wasn't too bad for a 3rd year. For the last person to be tested he chose Alex Sterling to show what he got. He caught all 10 of the balls even Harry's which he through the group of those trying of for chasers to hopefully cause a bit of delay having to fly through a good number of people, but all he did was fly at full speed through the lot turning just slightly when there was a person in the way. That proved a good laugh or two though when Alicia Spinnet got scared out of her mind when she was flying getting cutoff of by Alex. She even flew up to yell at Harry and make him apologize but all he did was laugh more, and say that she should be the one that is at fault for not being constantly alert in the quidditch field, and that it was a good scare to keep her on her toes.
Harry ended up choosing Alex as the reserve seeker. He told his decision to Angelina as sat down next to her when his part of the tryouts were over. She told him that she saw what he did during the tryouts and how Alicia reacted to when his chosen Reserve Seeker scared the hell out of her. She was all laughs about it, but Mcgonnagol didn't think it was that funny.
In the end, the reserve beaters were Colin Creevey and Dennis Creevey. It surprised the hell out of Harry when they were announced as the reserve beaters, but after seeing that they were brothers, which would help the co- operation needed to function as good beaters, and the fact they had a growth spurt giving them around the height of 5' 8" and them getting good amount of muscles, Harry could see why they were chosen.
"Good job Colin and Dennis, I hope that with you on our team next year that we will have a promising chance of getting the quidditch cup." Congratulated Harry.
"Gee thanks Harry. "Said Colin, who seemed to have gotten most of his "Harry Potter fan" spirit out of system but still thought getting a praise from him was an amazing thing.
"Yeah Harry, we'll try our best. After all you were the reason we even took up quidditch, ever since you told Colin about quidditch in his first year he thought about being on the team. I mean he wanted to be seeker like you but he thought being a beater was better. After all we are on the baseball team over summer." Remarked Dennis proudly.
"That's great guys, can't wait to see what your like at practice." Spoke Harry cheerfully.
The reserve Chasers were three third years, two girls and one boy. The girls were Casey Lenington and Jenny Pranchen, and the lone boy was Christopher Robern. He gave them congrats too and wished them luck on being on the team. With that the tryouts were over, none too soon for Harry as he was ready get a bit of rest and finish the homework assigned over the weekend.
Disclaimer: Okay you know the drill Harry Potter's not mine, glad to, I'm getting sick of writing on a timely schedule and I don't want to imagine doing this on a timely schedule for writing a 300 pg. book.
P.S. Sorry about the Ron bashing I don't hate Ron just don't like him too much.
Quidditch Tryouts Ch. VIII
Harry Potter woke up early in the morning at Sunday (If I mention at any point that "today is Monday" it is really Sunday I screwed up sorry) at 5:30 AM and got dressed in light cloths. He brushed his teeth and washed his face. He jogged to a spot by the lake that was discreet and assured a bit of privacy. It has been close to 3 weeks since school started and Harry was used to this hectic waking schedule, but still clearly not liking it.
He made it outside the castle and found it to be much more colder then he expected. The sun wasn't out yet but light could be seen from the east. It wasn't much but enough to Harry. He jogged the way to the lake and saw Draco was already there, stretching. Harry followed his lead and stretched for 10 minutes. It was now very close to 5:40 AM and by then they were put fully awake by the cold air and ready from their stretching.
They started the exercise with an easy lap around the lake. Harry and Draco used to start this as a jog, but ever since the term started and they only had an hour to do this exercise, both were running at a fast pace. By 6 minutes, they both made the lap in decent time. They then started their hand-to-hand duel against each other. Harry won obviously because of his extra two months with the training, but he was extremely sweaty after the fight. They had 30 minutes left and they immediately went for the sword fight. This was where Draco and Harry had equal ground. Even thought Harry had two months of brutal training course from four trainers, Draco had fencing course since he was 5. Still fencing was not sword fighting so neither teenagers the edge. The sword they were using was of course blunt, but it was charmed to leave a coloring where it hit. By the end Harry and Draco had numerous red marks on their body. They finished this off, charmed the markings off, and started to head back to the castle.
Because the exercise was only an hour long Harry and Draco agreed that on certain days they would do certain training. Monday until Wednesday was hand-to-hand combat and sword fighting. From Thursday and Friday they practiced the use of bow & arrow and the ax. And on the weekends in the morning they would just do warm up laps around the lake and practice a dueling. Then in the afternoon when they have to go indoors they did the full hour on wand dueling. Sometimes they would just make an out of the blue training session. They both didn't know why they had it but just thought that they needed it. Whenever that happened it was an all out free style duel. Wands and hand to hand combat was used in this battle. They both even discovered that they had a knack for wand less magic.
Wand less magic wasn't anything special just required a lot of concentration to achieve. It was a very pure form of magic that didn't need focusing to use but because of the non-use of the focusing ability of the wand it was much more harder to use and gave a much weaker form of wand's magic. Because of this Harry and Draco was only able to get simple disarming charms and such. The only charm they tried really hard to accomplish when wand-less was the accio charm. At least with that they could accio their wands so that they wouldn't need to use wandless magic. They still haven't mastered it, but they could make the object they're trying to get twitch a little, Draco even making it move a foot closer to him. Though it was done with extreme concentration that even left him a bit of a headache from overexerting his brain too much.
By now it was time to go back in get ready for breakfast. For Harry it was soon the start of Quidditch tryouts for Gryffindor keepers and the reserves. The reserves being a new idea thought up by Harry after watching a muggle game and seeing their reserve lineup. Harry went back into the castle and entered the Gryffindor common room. He entered, took a shower, grabbed his broom and left with clean cloths on. Soon he was heading for the Great Hall for breakfast. He ate a quick breakfast of a light helping of pancake, omellete, and sausage with O.J. After he left for the Quidditch Field.
Soon he was at the middle of the Quidditch stadium taking in the surroundings with awe. He still after 4 years of being used to it was taken breathless by the view from standing on the field. He took off from the field on his broom feeling at piece from all his responsibilities. Even though he didn't want to have to take up helping the magical world against Voldemort he knew that it was a responsibility he had to take just like Malfoy, Snape, Dumbledore, and many others that had their roles in this war. He was pretty sure Dumbledore didn't want most of the wizarding worlds troubles all on his shoulders. He even confessed to Harry, though he didn't need to for it was obvious, that he would rather just be a headmaster watching over children and watching them over their 7 year period at this school grow up in a Voldemort-free world. Watching them from their innocence to learn life's lesson without such fear of a cruel wizard being found in the corners of their hearts. Maybe even see them when they are adults in the world having a family of their own. He said that was the reason he was at this school as a headmaster.
Harry thought that was a good hope to live for. Right now though Harry just wanted to fly. Fly from his troubles leaving them behind for just the tiniest moment. That was the reason he loved flying. That and next to the fact flying was the only thing he could still be carefree and careless while doing something thrilling. Soon with his ever so alert senses he saw the gryffindor team along with come to the field. He could make out Alicia next to her friend Katie and Angelina in the front of the group. All three holding their broom in their hand talking to each other. He remembered his talk with Alicia just last week. He finally managed to get talk to her without her walking away.
Flashback
"Hey Alicia wait up!" Harry yelled as he was running to catch up with her when he saw her as he was walking down an empty hall.
She turned around and as she saw it was him, she took another 180 and went a light jog to get away from him.
'Why can't he get the hint and leave me alone! That thickheaded imprudent jerk!' thought Alicia.
He caught up with him gently grabbed her wrist and tugged at it stopping her from going away.
"What do you want Harold Potter!" she spoke in a cold voice.
Harry on the inside flinched but kept his outer emotion calm and cool. Then he still continued what he wanted to say "Look I wanted to say sorry about last week, you know the first day of school, when I said those a.. (sorry the triple periods indicating pause doesn't work on fanfiction not to my knowledge anyways) ..rude words at you and asked of ..ungentlemanly like things. Look I was stressed from the day's events and I just wanted to have some alone time to sort out my problems. I found out on that day that I had to do all sorts of crap."
"What could possibly make you change so much from last year to your rude arrogant self now? You hang around Malfoy, start to act like him, and you don't even hang out with your best friends from last year." Implied Alicia.
"That's my business!" Harry snapped, but quickly apologized "Look I'm sorry about that I guess I get kind of annoyed when people try to ask me questions involving my personal life. I guess I owe you an explanation at least on the why I don't hang with Ron and Hermione. That's because they aren't my friends. One was just a pathetic bastard that got over easily jealous. He just tried to sought fame and attention by being my friend. He was hoping to get out of his brother's shadow by clinging onto mine hoping that he could earn himself a name. And the other one was more close to the other one and took his case. What I'm saying is that, they aren't truly my friends, at least not close ones. Please I'm asking for forgiveness for my rude and arrogant attitude a week ago, I'm trying to change." Begged Harry, now going on his knees and over exaggerating by putting his hands into a by putting his hands into a prayer like position and making puppy eyes. However it was true. Harry did keep a more closer observation on what he said nowadays, and tried not to let words just fly out of his mouth. So far it was working fine except when he muttered a long list of profanity a bit to loud in the Potion classroom causing a him to get a detention.
Alicia cracked up at his antics and her eyes once so cold softened up. "Alright get up already, you didn't answer me my question though, I know for a fact that you couldn't have change so much just because of your friends. Could you tell me why your so different, emotionally AND physically" she made her last point by looking up and down his body with a approving look in her eyes.
"Like what you see." He added cheekily.
"Ha-ha, now your not answering me, AGAIN. Now answer me or I'll avoid you again. This is your doing remember, if you weren't such a cocky jerk I wouldn't be asking you these questions." She added smugly seeing his defeated look.
"Alright I see you won't be giving up on your questions. Draco and me were at Hogwarts over the summer. We trained like crazy over the summer, and since he and I were the only ones at Hogwarts we kind of made a pact, truce, and even some type of friendship. I wasn't the only one who changed, Draco isn't his usual sneering self either and he has changed physically too." Answered Harry while thinking 'Not the whole truth nor is it a lie.'
"All.. right I believe you." Said Alicia with reluctance showing some mistrust. "Okay Harry I'll see you later then, I'm already late to meeting Katie and Angelina."
"Want me to come?" Harry asked, "please, I won't be a bother I promise, I'll even bring cards and maybe we could play strip poker." "..Hehe just kidding and I'm guessing your answer would have to be a no." Harry added weakly after her glare. With that he jogged away from her.
End of Flashback
They had become a bit closer after that and Alicia learned to accept that Harry's new mischievous more confident sometimes perverted attitude was just the new him. She even seemed to flirt and joke back at Harry, which Harry gladly returned the blow. He now, with Draco, played jokes on the school goings by the names "The Joking Knights" he knew it was cheesy but it was the only thing they had in common them being both "knights" for Dumblesdores group. Meaning that they were one of Dumbledore's followers in a way. Harry and Draco had an easy time at playing pranks because of Harry's new agreement with the Weasley twins.
Flashback
"Harry old boy, thanks to your generous-"
"-well put-"
"-noble-"
"-honorable-"
"-offer you gave to us-"
"-at the end of last year of school-"
"-we are doing fantastic-"
"-wonderful-"
"-positively enchanting-"
"-job on making our new invention-"
"-because of this we have decided-"
"-to make you our sponser for-"
"-Weasley-"
"-Wizards-"
"-Weezes."
"This only consists of-"
"-trying out our new products at victims-"
"-gerbils-"
"-test subject-"
"-to advertise our products, also-"
"-you'll have 20% of the share of income for your-"
"-support by funding-"
"-and advertising-"
"-of our product-"
"-now all we need-"
"-is your signature right here-"
"-and right here don't worry you'll be a-"
"-silent partner so that nobody-"
"-shall know that you helped fund our company." Said one of the twins
"Okay.. , yeah sure whatever" and with that he signed the paper that was pushed under his nose by the twins.
End of Flashback
They used the Weasley's new product whenever suitable, but they mostly used their own creativity to cause havoc around Hogwarts.
Soon the team was already at the pitch and looked to see who he was, thinking him to be one of the thinking he was one of the participants for the tryout. Harry took a speedy dive at them going towards them at incredible speed. As Harry got close enough he could see brief fear in their eyes thinking he wouldn't be able to stop. Well they were wrong and he leaned back and made a sharp stop in front Alicia 4 to 5 inches away from her face.
"What's with the fear in your face? Got no trust in my flying?" Harry taunted with a smirk.
"You bloody moron you almost made me piss in my pants thanks to your dumb antics!" yelled one of the twins.
"Too bad it was an almost" Harry said lightly implying that he was joking. "Well are we going to at least get warmed up on being in the air? I know I sure am confortable on a broom."
"Yeah, yeah Harry no need to rush, we were gonna mount when we saw you on the field." Answered the captain, Angelina.
"Okay then don't let me stop." Harry said at last flying back high in the air.
"Okay you heard the co-cap lets go." Remark one of the twins, and telling everyone in the group.
With that the Gryffindor team were back in the air getting comfortable in the air for the tryout they were going to lead today. 5 minutes later Katie spotted a large group of students, who she guessed was Gryffindor, heading towards the pitch.
"Hey ya guys their coming!" shouted Katie.
With that the team descended, un-mounted their broom, and stood in the middle of the field waiting for the Gryffindor. When the large group of hopeful Gryffindors came closer they could see that almost 60 people from Gryffindor coming over. Soon the whole lot made it inside the field and they stopped awaiting instructions. With that Angelina took her time to shine in her role of captainship.
"Good morning fellow Gryffindors and thank you for so many coming to try out. I hope that you all try your very best and now I shall explain how this tryout shall work. My co-captain Harry here," she indicated by waving her hand to where Harry was standing, "shall help me organize you lot by what position you are hoping for, AFTER we get the tryout for keeper done. For the keeper tryout, my fellow chasers, Katie and Alicia," she pointed to the only other female in the Gryffindor team," shall both try to shoot 10 goals past you. They will start out by taking it easy then one by one they will take it up a notch and from 7-10 ball Fred and George," she pointed to the twins who were grinning and waving like maniacs to the group that was looking very intimidated by the number of competition they will have to face, "shall hit bludgers at you, and don't worry we won't use both bludgers just one." She added but that did not help quence the fear those hoping to try out for the keeper now felt. "The best from you lot shall be the new keeper the runner up shall take the reserve position. I shall explain all about the rest of the tryout after the keeper is chosen."
Harry now took up his role and asked, "All those trying out for the keeper position please step over by me please, now I'm going to have to ask your name, year, and that's about it. Then from their on we shall call your name so that you could have your chance at spotlight," he added mischievously, "or your chance to make yourself look like bloody prats. Good luck to you all!" With that he put the parchment on a table he transfigured from a twig he found so that he could write their name on it. He also transfigured a chair from another twig on the ground. And he transfigured a quill from a leaf he pulled out of the ground, and an inkpot from a rock and the ink from a collection of dew found in the grass. He didn't want to admit it but he forgot the quill and the inkpot when he was in a rush to get to training with Malfoy. When that was all done he put in on the table and sat on the chair prepared to write down the names of those trying out.
4 minutes later after writing down 25 names he asked if there were anymore and when none said anything about it they went to the actual tryouts part of the day. By now Harry flew up to the stands where Angelina sat with Mcgonnagol both was talking about something Harry couldn't hear because of his distance. He gracefully landed a meter away from them who were both in a deep conversation about something concerning Quidditch from the little he overheard. He sat a seat by Angelina and made his entrance.
"Hey what's so interesting that you'll leave me out of it?" added a mock- pouting Harry.
"Oh we were just talking about the importance of Binn's leason Harry." Answered a sarcastic and joking Angelina.
"No seriously what are you two talking about. I know there can't be much a beautiful, talented, athletic, intelligent teenager" Harry over exaggerated, " and a old senior citi- I mean an respectful and well mannered lady as yourself Prof. Mcgonnagol, could have in common." Harry quickly added, although without a hint of shame or embarrassment in his voice, after seeing Mcgonnagol's glare at almost calling her an old senior citizen.
"Well were talking about how we hope the tryouts are going to be very promising. We would want a very qualified person to fill in for Wood's open spot. I mean that is very hard considering he left a very large shoe to fill after he left." Remarked Mcgonnagol a bit snappy.
"Well here is the list of those trying out, I hope one of these will be promising." With that Harry handed Angelina the list. Angelina grabbed the list and then stood up. She said "Sonorus" to her wand and spoke.
"Okay I have now the list for Keeper tryouts. First up is Francis Ackmore."
The 3rd year that stepped up wasn't very good and handling his broom, and he had a lot of fright at trying to catch very speedy ball. In the end he only got 3 out of 10 balls.
"Next is Allison Mcbeth."
Allison was okay for a 4th year but her future would have been better sought for something on the ground as she seemed afraid of height. Her fear let her only catch 6 out of ten.
This went on for 20 minutes until a name came up that interested Harry greatly.
"Ron Weasley is next."
Ron flew up in the air seeming confident but showing his fear by his very green face. It was actually very funny seeing a Christmas colored head like his. Angelina and Mcgonnagol paid great attention towards him seeing as how they thought because of his family history ahead of him that he would be spectacular. Ron was very good on a broom and his tall and lanky form would suggest him a great beater but Ron just didn't seem to be doing very good compared what was expected of him. It might have been because the chaser felt intimidated that a Weasley would be good so that they would try harder, and maybe the fact that their brother (you know the usual I'm the older sibling so I could bother you or make your life a living hell) was trying out that the Weasley twins tried extra hard to make the bludger affect his keeper duty, but Ron just wasn't up to the requirement level. He managed to catch 5 out of 10. Ron bore his head down in shame as he descended.
"Next up is Virginia Weasley." Angelina spoke with a bit of hope in her voice as another Weasely went up to try out.
Ginny Weasley was different to Harry then how Harry remembered. She seemed to have a growth spurt and now reached 5' 6" from her 5' 2" feet before. She was a bit into the lanky form like Ron had but still had a feminine grace to her figure. She now was up into the air with the school broom that was required for all participants to use as to not let anyone else have an unfair advantage from being on a good broom. Ginny was quick in her flying and had good reflexes. She did very good until it came to the bludger one hit her in the stomach at the 9th ball killing her perfect streak, but Harry could tell that the chasers weren't doing their best as if embarrassed on how they made the last Weasley look like a fluke. Because of her injury she missed the last ball too. From the looks of how the twins were yelling at each other they didn't look like they intentionally did it either.
What surprised Harry the most was Neville Longbottom. Neville wasn't the best on anything magic except for Herbolodgy but Neville was unbelievable in the air. He didn't have the confidence or natural grace in the air like others, but Neville had caught all of the balls without even having to struggle to reach for a ball. All the players except Harry who hid his emotion flawlessly except his large-as-plate eyes dropped their jaws in shock. Immediately Angelina and Mcgonnagol started talking.
"He only needs to get his confidence up something we, the whole of Gryffinder, could do by encouraging him and all that, also his flying could improve by us teaching him to ins and outs of flying but other then that he's perfect!" Exclaimed Angelina with the Prof. only whole-heartily agreeing with her.
The rest of those trying about 10 more Gryffindors, seemed so dull compared to Neville's performance.
"We have made a decision, the reserve keeper shall be Virginia Weasley, and the keeper shall be NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM!!!" shouted the captain.
Many people cheered up for Neville and Ginny, but there were some like most of those that tried out that half-heartedly cheered for them and some that didn't cheer at all, like Ron who was sulking but wasn't not cheering because because he was jealous just to caught up in self-pity to notice that the keepers were chosen.
"This is how the reserve position tryouts will take place all of you shall be separated into group depending on what position you will play. The chasers shall go to where the chasers are standing; the beaters where the twins are standing, and the seekers shall go to where our seeker is standing. They will tell you to display what you are capable of by asking you to meet their qualifications. What they will ask you to do is up to them, but that is how the tryouts will take place."
With that Harry flew over the field and waited for the seekers to come up to him. There were only 10 people trying out for seeker position, which greatly relieved him because of him being the only one to test those trying out. He held out a sheet of parchment and quill waiting for them to write their names out and their year. All of those trying out got the picture and wrote their names on the paper. After it was finished he started his lecture.
"I want you to fly up in the air with me. Stay a couple of meter away from me but don't stray away. You shall not say or do anything until I tell you to. Do you understand? Whining or showing off without my acknowledgement shall have consequences. Now follow me." Harry pushed off of the ground going the 300 feet off of the ground being well higher then the rest of the team.
He waited patiently for a minute until the rest of those trying out got here. He noted who got here the earliest and the latest. He was also noting for confidence at this height in the air, and grace in their flying. He let himself and those trying out sit on their brooms 300 feet in the air doing nothing for 5 minutes seeing who would be the first to crack. The first was a 3rd year boy who went by the name of Alex Sterling who got bored and decided to do loop the loops. Harry thought him to be a bit more daring then the rest. He would test that courage of his and see what it's breaking point was. He finally started the second part of his tryouts. He called out their names.
"Brian Lomar, I want you to fly around the stadium once." Once that was done, "Now I want you to try to catch ten of these golf ball which I will give 9 to the others, and make them in order throw the balls whichever direction they wish. The order shall go from whoever is closest to me to the farthest. Now every one spread out in a straight line with a meter distance between each of us. The only limitation is that you have to throw it 5 seconds after the previous is thrown or if Lomar here catches it before the 5 seconds is over. Also Brian, whichever one you do not catch, that means after the 5 seconds is up you have to find it off of the ground after all the balls are thrown so that I can have all ten back so I could use it for the rest of these participants. Now lets see what you can do, I'll be the first to throw the ball." And Harry chucked it as fast as he can straight down, then counting five seconds, and told the one closest to him to throw it.
It continued like that. Lomar ended up catching 7. He wasn't too bad for a 3rd year. For the last person to be tested he chose Alex Sterling to show what he got. He caught all 10 of the balls even Harry's which he through the group of those trying of for chasers to hopefully cause a bit of delay having to fly through a good number of people, but all he did was fly at full speed through the lot turning just slightly when there was a person in the way. That proved a good laugh or two though when Alicia Spinnet got scared out of her mind when she was flying getting cutoff of by Alex. She even flew up to yell at Harry and make him apologize but all he did was laugh more, and say that she should be the one that is at fault for not being constantly alert in the quidditch field, and that it was a good scare to keep her on her toes.
Harry ended up choosing Alex as the reserve seeker. He told his decision to Angelina as sat down next to her when his part of the tryouts were over. She told him that she saw what he did during the tryouts and how Alicia reacted to when his chosen Reserve Seeker scared the hell out of her. She was all laughs about it, but Mcgonnagol didn't think it was that funny.
In the end, the reserve beaters were Colin Creevey and Dennis Creevey. It surprised the hell out of Harry when they were announced as the reserve beaters, but after seeing that they were brothers, which would help the co- operation needed to function as good beaters, and the fact they had a growth spurt giving them around the height of 5' 8" and them getting good amount of muscles, Harry could see why they were chosen.
"Good job Colin and Dennis, I hope that with you on our team next year that we will have a promising chance of getting the quidditch cup." Congratulated Harry.
"Gee thanks Harry. "Said Colin, who seemed to have gotten most of his "Harry Potter fan" spirit out of system but still thought getting a praise from him was an amazing thing.
"Yeah Harry, we'll try our best. After all you were the reason we even took up quidditch, ever since you told Colin about quidditch in his first year he thought about being on the team. I mean he wanted to be seeker like you but he thought being a beater was better. After all we are on the baseball team over summer." Remarked Dennis proudly.
"That's great guys, can't wait to see what your like at practice." Spoke Harry cheerfully.
The reserve Chasers were three third years, two girls and one boy. The girls were Casey Lenington and Jenny Pranchen, and the lone boy was Christopher Robern. He gave them congrats too and wished them luck on being on the team. With that the tryouts were over, none too soon for Harry as he was ready get a bit of rest and finish the homework assigned over the weekend.