Harry Potter and the Test
Chapter Two
"How's it going?"
I looked up from my book. I had been studying for nearly three hours and wasn't even halfway through my homework for that night. Accustomed to a descent workload, I had taken college classes in high school, starting in my sophomore year, but this was ridiculous. If this is what 'catching up' entailed, I was questioning whether I was up to the task.
"Hi," I said, nervously.
"I'm Ron Weasly." He offered a hand and I accepted it, giving his a firm shake. My hand was sweaty from holding the book for so long and I hope he didn't take it as a sign of how scared out of my wits I was.
"Adam Barrowton."
"You're the new student, aren't you?"
"I see news spreads just as fast here as it does in my school," I admitted, closing the book and setting it on the table next to me. Seeing this, Ron took a seat in the chair opposite the table.
"Isn't this your school?" he said, laughing.
"I mean my real school. My high school."
"Ahhhh, new to this whole wizardry thing, huh?"
"Yes, very," I admitted.
"How new?" he inquired, venturing further.
"This is my first day."
"FIRST DAY???" He bolted up from his slouching position.
"Who's first day is it?" said another boy who had just walked up to us.
"Um..Adam, this is."
"Harry," I said, offering my hand.
"You know him?" Ron asked. Harry looked at me with a puzzled look.
"Have we met?" he asked me.
"No, I don't know you, never met. You just.I guess you just look like a Harry."
A moment of silence followed the introduction.
"How did that happen? Why were you placed with in the sixth year?" Harry asked, starting up the conversation once more.
I proceeded to walk them through what my last twenty-four hours had been like, how I had gone from getting out of a taxi in London to studying the bone structure of magical creatures. Explaining all this was actually very therapeutic to my nerves. It made me feel as if I still had some grip on reality.
"Wow. That's amazing," Ron said, holding his forehead in awe.
"They stuck you in the sixth year, though?" Harry asked, making sure he had heard correctly.
"Yeah; I'm paying the price for it too." I gestured with my eyes towards my stack of books which needed to be read as soon as possible. It included six books on spells, two in anatomy, three on the history of wizardry, two on potions and one on how to play some sport called Quidditch. All of the material was very foreign to me, but I was retaining most of it.
"If you ever need help, we'll back you up." Ron nodded, concurring with Harry's statement.
"Thanks." I smiled to him. In the process of doing so, I noticed something appeared to be drawn on his forehead.
"Um, Harry, I think there is something on your forehead," I said, slightly motioning to the area on the brow it occupied, using my own as an example.
The two looked at each other and then at me, and then each other once more.
"So, you've never heard of Harry Potter before?!?" Ron asked, nearly in a state of frenzy.
"No. Should I have?" I asked, genuinely dumbfounded.
"Ron, it's okay. I'm just a--"
"Harry Potter is." Ron began. From there he went onto give what must have been the entire story of the young wizard's life, from conception to the present. The whole time, I was on the edge of my seat. For some reason, unknown even to myself, I related to the story. I didn't know any of the details or the names or the places described in the tale, but I felt as if I did, as if I had heard it before.
"Wow. So, have you seen Vol--, sorry, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named yet this year?" I asked.
"No, but the year has just started," Ron said, almost eager for the creature's appearance.
"I hope he doesn't show up," Harry said, standing up. "I must be off; I have Quidditch practice."
"A night practice?" Ron asked.
"Yeah. Hey, Adam, you even seen it played before?"
"No. I have a book on it; I haven't gotten into it yet."
"Well, you should come watch. Nothing beats the real thing," Ron implored.
"I guess I could use a break. God knows that," I said, muttering the last part to myself.
"Neat game," I said. I was sitting in the bleachers, watching over the practice. The Gryffindor team had been working on their plays for an hour and I was still fascinated. In fact, with each play, I became more enthralled.
"Harry is the seeker, then?" I asked making sure I had all the positions down.
"Yeah, the best there is," Ron replied. He was pretty wrapped up in the practice as well, and was noting every move mentally.
"I thought you said your brothers were the beaters."
"No, that was last year. They've graduated. Fred hurt his arm last year and hasn't been the same since. Poor guy; whined about it all summer. George is still out there, though, helping the team get ready. They're still trying to find someone to take their places. Very few people want to be beaters. It's dangerous. Plus, the whole team is pretty much new. In fact, two of the new players, assigned to be the beaters, didn't show up today, as you can see. That's why George had to come by."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Harry and Alicia Spinnet are the only ones still there form last year. She's the captain and a chaser. Then, there are a bunch of newer players. They're good, but just not the same as last year."
I paused for a second, thinking about what I was about to say.
"I want to give it a try."
"What?!?" he said. Now distracted, he looked at me hard. "You have never even flown a broom!"
"No time like the present, right?" I got up and began to head down the bleacher steps, towards the field. Not wanting to be left behind, Ron got up and followed closely behind me. The team took a break just as I reached the grass.
"Adam!" Harry shouted at me.
As if I was programmed to, I reached at the table before me. Grabbing the most solid object I could, I brought my arm back and struck the thing that was coming at me. I hit it with a decent amount of power and I could feel it smash into the wooden club held within the palm of my hand. Overcoming its force, I pegged it squarely and drove it beyond where the team was congregated. I watched it hit the grass further down the field and roll to a stop.
"Adam, that was.wow."
"Adam? That's his name? Let me shake your hand." A tall, youthful girl gripped my hand and shook it feverishly.
"And you are?" I asked, wanting to know the name of the person who was nearly tearing my arm off.
"Alicia Spinnet, captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team," she said proudly, holding up her head when she said it.
"Nice to meet you."
"That was an amazing hit. I have never met someone with such good reflexes."
"Was that good?"
"Amazing. You played before?"
"Um."
"He just started here," Ron broke in.
"You've never even played before?"
"Um.no," I admitted.
"Well, then, get this man a broom. George, can he borrow y--"
"Actually, Adam, why don't you use mine?" Harry said, offering me his. I was about to ask why using George's was a bad choice. Then, I looked and compared the two. I saw why.
"Thank you, George," I said, politely. With Harry's broom in hand, I tried to get a feel for it. I held it in my hand. It was like I possessed something of great value. I could feel the power surging through it, seeming like an old friend, something I had held before.
'Way too much of this stuff seems familiar,' I thought.
"The first key to flying is." Alicia began.
"No, no; I think I can get this," I stopped her.
"Oh.ok."
The whole team was hushed. All eyes on me, I stood over the broom, straddling it, keeping hold with one hand. I brought my second hand to the shaft, and crouched. My knees bent, I thought over what I was about to do.
'Don't get yourself killed.'
That was about all that was running through my mind.
Deep breath.
Kick.
Leaping from the ground, I felt the broom's power kick in and lift me up into the sky. My feet still remained in their crouched position, ready for action. With determination, I tried to see what I could do. I managed a left turn and then a right. Increasing or decreasing my elevation took little effort and I tried a few dives. Dipping the tip of my broom, I careened towards the ground. Then, with feet to spare, I pulled up and flew back up into the sky. Everything came easily, a feeling which both comforted and worried me.
Ready to try my skills on the bludger, I came back down next to the team. They all applauded, Harry and Ron the loudest of them.
"You sure you've never flown?" George asked.
"Yeah, I'm sure," I said, trying to catch myself. I was even quite shocked at what I managed to do.
"You fly like Harry," he went on to explain. "You managed to fly your first time, too, didn't you, without prior instruction?" To this, Harry nodded.
Everyone let this sink in and I gripped the broom again. I needed more.
"Can I try a bludger?" I asked, looking at the second one already locked in the box.
"Yeah. I warn you though, Adam, they are dangerous. Fred, got."
"I told 'em," Ron interjected.
"Right."
"So, can I?" I raised my eyebrows pleadingly.
"Why not?" Alicia said. "We need a beater after all."
"Okay," George said, kneeling beside the box. With his hand on the strap which held the bludger in, he looked up at me. "Ready?"
"Let me have it," I said, taking off to allow myself some time until the bludger came up along with me. Down below, I could see Harry and George talking. Moments later, Harry borrowed one of the new chasers brooms and took off as well, heading towards me.
"Hey there," I said, taking a deep breath of air.
"Let's see how well you can protect me," Harry said, watching the ground, waiting.
"I'll do my best."
"You better. Re-growing bones it a bitch!" he said.
'Re-growing?'
With that, I heard a whistle. The bludger tore upwards through the air, targeting me.
"Let's go!" I shouted. I zoomed towards it, meeting it before it got much further. Harry was staying close behind me.
I smacked the ball, knocking it back. However, soon, it regained the will to continued and curved back and tried again. Once more, I beat it back. A second, third and fourth time, I managed the feat. Each time, it tried to come in at a different angle and speed.
Harry began to distance himself further from me, making my task a tad more difficult, since the sphere wanted to smash up Harry as well.
Reaching this time, I managed to head off the bludger before it collided with Harry. Contrary to my expectations, in catching a glimpse of Harry's face, I saw how calm and collected he was; to be honest, I would be far from 'calm and collected' if a rock-like, speed-loving ball had a beat on me.
The ball made another pass at Harry and I hit it back again. However, even this wasn't enough of a challenge, clearly. Harry took off faster than before, and I had to step on it and catch up to him, while watching for the bludger at the same time. It approached on my right and I managed to hit it backhanded before it passed me.
Zigzagging in all directions, I had to use all of my mental and physical strength to keep up to Potter. The bludger was back with a vengeance. Behind Harry, I saw it coming in on his left side. Harry was clipping along, but I managed to catch up just enough to smack it back, narrowly missing Harry's ribs.
"One more, Adam," he shouted back to me. Harry zipped off in an upwards direction, hitting the 'afterburners'. I did so the best I could, although I could feel myself falling behind ever so slightly. What's worse is that I couldn't see the bludger.
"Damn it! Where are you?" I said to myself.
Harry then decided to fly close to the ground, which I did likewise. Surging along, all I could see were the blades of grass rushing under me, all blending together to form a solid mat of green. Looking back up, I saw it. Clearly, it understood that this was the last go, too, and it wanted a victim. The ball was heading straight on and would hit Harry in the head for sure. He knew also.
"Adam, you gonna get this?"
"Um." was my only response.
With little time to chat, I tried to speed up, but all to no avail. The broom is only as good as the rider and even though I was managing better than average for my first time, I still couldn't do what Harry did on it.
'Come on, come on.'
I saw it coming towards him, faster and faster.
"Adam.." Harry's voice grew more desperate.
That moment, something clicked and a great need inside me grew.
'I have to get it. I must.'
A new kind of power, coming deep from within, took control of the broom. It was a feeling, an emotion that was the driving force behind this extra energy, but as to what that emotion was, I couldn't tell. With no time to think about it, I simply accepted it. Luckily, it had the desired effect.
Boosting my speed, I managed I catch up to Harry. Flying over him, with feet before the bludger would make contact, I dove into Harry path and reached with my club.
Success. The ball gave up and retreated. Before it could make another pass, Harry signaled that we should land. Agreeing, we touched down onto the field.
"Nice going," Ron said.
"I think you're beater material, Adam.er.sorry, what's your last name?"
"Barrowton."
"Well, Barrowton, welcome to the team." I shook her hand and as the team filed off the field, they did the same.
"Nice flying," Harry said, coming up to me.
"Yeah, yeah." I said in an unsure tone of voice.
"You okay?" Ron asked, picking up on it.
"Um.this maybe insane, but, Harry, did you.um.feel anything when we were up there?"
"What do you mean?" He looked at me, pondering the meaning behind my words.
"Um.when that last bludger was coming at you, I.I wasn't catching up to you, but then, all of a sudden, I got this extra surge, and I don't know where the hell it came from."
"Hmmmm.." Ron said, thoughtfully.
"Eh.probably the Nimbus 2001 Turbo kicking in," Harry explained.
"Thankfully. That was close," I said, leaving the matter at that.
"Too close if you ask me," Ron added.
"Oh, and Adam?" Harry asked.
"Yeah?"
"Can I have my broom back?"
Chapter Two
"How's it going?"
I looked up from my book. I had been studying for nearly three hours and wasn't even halfway through my homework for that night. Accustomed to a descent workload, I had taken college classes in high school, starting in my sophomore year, but this was ridiculous. If this is what 'catching up' entailed, I was questioning whether I was up to the task.
"Hi," I said, nervously.
"I'm Ron Weasly." He offered a hand and I accepted it, giving his a firm shake. My hand was sweaty from holding the book for so long and I hope he didn't take it as a sign of how scared out of my wits I was.
"Adam Barrowton."
"You're the new student, aren't you?"
"I see news spreads just as fast here as it does in my school," I admitted, closing the book and setting it on the table next to me. Seeing this, Ron took a seat in the chair opposite the table.
"Isn't this your school?" he said, laughing.
"I mean my real school. My high school."
"Ahhhh, new to this whole wizardry thing, huh?"
"Yes, very," I admitted.
"How new?" he inquired, venturing further.
"This is my first day."
"FIRST DAY???" He bolted up from his slouching position.
"Who's first day is it?" said another boy who had just walked up to us.
"Um..Adam, this is."
"Harry," I said, offering my hand.
"You know him?" Ron asked. Harry looked at me with a puzzled look.
"Have we met?" he asked me.
"No, I don't know you, never met. You just.I guess you just look like a Harry."
A moment of silence followed the introduction.
"How did that happen? Why were you placed with in the sixth year?" Harry asked, starting up the conversation once more.
I proceeded to walk them through what my last twenty-four hours had been like, how I had gone from getting out of a taxi in London to studying the bone structure of magical creatures. Explaining all this was actually very therapeutic to my nerves. It made me feel as if I still had some grip on reality.
"Wow. That's amazing," Ron said, holding his forehead in awe.
"They stuck you in the sixth year, though?" Harry asked, making sure he had heard correctly.
"Yeah; I'm paying the price for it too." I gestured with my eyes towards my stack of books which needed to be read as soon as possible. It included six books on spells, two in anatomy, three on the history of wizardry, two on potions and one on how to play some sport called Quidditch. All of the material was very foreign to me, but I was retaining most of it.
"If you ever need help, we'll back you up." Ron nodded, concurring with Harry's statement.
"Thanks." I smiled to him. In the process of doing so, I noticed something appeared to be drawn on his forehead.
"Um, Harry, I think there is something on your forehead," I said, slightly motioning to the area on the brow it occupied, using my own as an example.
The two looked at each other and then at me, and then each other once more.
"So, you've never heard of Harry Potter before?!?" Ron asked, nearly in a state of frenzy.
"No. Should I have?" I asked, genuinely dumbfounded.
"Ron, it's okay. I'm just a--"
"Harry Potter is." Ron began. From there he went onto give what must have been the entire story of the young wizard's life, from conception to the present. The whole time, I was on the edge of my seat. For some reason, unknown even to myself, I related to the story. I didn't know any of the details or the names or the places described in the tale, but I felt as if I did, as if I had heard it before.
"Wow. So, have you seen Vol--, sorry, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named yet this year?" I asked.
"No, but the year has just started," Ron said, almost eager for the creature's appearance.
"I hope he doesn't show up," Harry said, standing up. "I must be off; I have Quidditch practice."
"A night practice?" Ron asked.
"Yeah. Hey, Adam, you even seen it played before?"
"No. I have a book on it; I haven't gotten into it yet."
"Well, you should come watch. Nothing beats the real thing," Ron implored.
"I guess I could use a break. God knows that," I said, muttering the last part to myself.
"Neat game," I said. I was sitting in the bleachers, watching over the practice. The Gryffindor team had been working on their plays for an hour and I was still fascinated. In fact, with each play, I became more enthralled.
"Harry is the seeker, then?" I asked making sure I had all the positions down.
"Yeah, the best there is," Ron replied. He was pretty wrapped up in the practice as well, and was noting every move mentally.
"I thought you said your brothers were the beaters."
"No, that was last year. They've graduated. Fred hurt his arm last year and hasn't been the same since. Poor guy; whined about it all summer. George is still out there, though, helping the team get ready. They're still trying to find someone to take their places. Very few people want to be beaters. It's dangerous. Plus, the whole team is pretty much new. In fact, two of the new players, assigned to be the beaters, didn't show up today, as you can see. That's why George had to come by."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Harry and Alicia Spinnet are the only ones still there form last year. She's the captain and a chaser. Then, there are a bunch of newer players. They're good, but just not the same as last year."
I paused for a second, thinking about what I was about to say.
"I want to give it a try."
"What?!?" he said. Now distracted, he looked at me hard. "You have never even flown a broom!"
"No time like the present, right?" I got up and began to head down the bleacher steps, towards the field. Not wanting to be left behind, Ron got up and followed closely behind me. The team took a break just as I reached the grass.
"Adam!" Harry shouted at me.
As if I was programmed to, I reached at the table before me. Grabbing the most solid object I could, I brought my arm back and struck the thing that was coming at me. I hit it with a decent amount of power and I could feel it smash into the wooden club held within the palm of my hand. Overcoming its force, I pegged it squarely and drove it beyond where the team was congregated. I watched it hit the grass further down the field and roll to a stop.
"Adam, that was.wow."
"Adam? That's his name? Let me shake your hand." A tall, youthful girl gripped my hand and shook it feverishly.
"And you are?" I asked, wanting to know the name of the person who was nearly tearing my arm off.
"Alicia Spinnet, captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team," she said proudly, holding up her head when she said it.
"Nice to meet you."
"That was an amazing hit. I have never met someone with such good reflexes."
"Was that good?"
"Amazing. You played before?"
"Um."
"He just started here," Ron broke in.
"You've never even played before?"
"Um.no," I admitted.
"Well, then, get this man a broom. George, can he borrow y--"
"Actually, Adam, why don't you use mine?" Harry said, offering me his. I was about to ask why using George's was a bad choice. Then, I looked and compared the two. I saw why.
"Thank you, George," I said, politely. With Harry's broom in hand, I tried to get a feel for it. I held it in my hand. It was like I possessed something of great value. I could feel the power surging through it, seeming like an old friend, something I had held before.
'Way too much of this stuff seems familiar,' I thought.
"The first key to flying is." Alicia began.
"No, no; I think I can get this," I stopped her.
"Oh.ok."
The whole team was hushed. All eyes on me, I stood over the broom, straddling it, keeping hold with one hand. I brought my second hand to the shaft, and crouched. My knees bent, I thought over what I was about to do.
'Don't get yourself killed.'
That was about all that was running through my mind.
Deep breath.
Kick.
Leaping from the ground, I felt the broom's power kick in and lift me up into the sky. My feet still remained in their crouched position, ready for action. With determination, I tried to see what I could do. I managed a left turn and then a right. Increasing or decreasing my elevation took little effort and I tried a few dives. Dipping the tip of my broom, I careened towards the ground. Then, with feet to spare, I pulled up and flew back up into the sky. Everything came easily, a feeling which both comforted and worried me.
Ready to try my skills on the bludger, I came back down next to the team. They all applauded, Harry and Ron the loudest of them.
"You sure you've never flown?" George asked.
"Yeah, I'm sure," I said, trying to catch myself. I was even quite shocked at what I managed to do.
"You fly like Harry," he went on to explain. "You managed to fly your first time, too, didn't you, without prior instruction?" To this, Harry nodded.
Everyone let this sink in and I gripped the broom again. I needed more.
"Can I try a bludger?" I asked, looking at the second one already locked in the box.
"Yeah. I warn you though, Adam, they are dangerous. Fred, got."
"I told 'em," Ron interjected.
"Right."
"So, can I?" I raised my eyebrows pleadingly.
"Why not?" Alicia said. "We need a beater after all."
"Okay," George said, kneeling beside the box. With his hand on the strap which held the bludger in, he looked up at me. "Ready?"
"Let me have it," I said, taking off to allow myself some time until the bludger came up along with me. Down below, I could see Harry and George talking. Moments later, Harry borrowed one of the new chasers brooms and took off as well, heading towards me.
"Hey there," I said, taking a deep breath of air.
"Let's see how well you can protect me," Harry said, watching the ground, waiting.
"I'll do my best."
"You better. Re-growing bones it a bitch!" he said.
'Re-growing?'
With that, I heard a whistle. The bludger tore upwards through the air, targeting me.
"Let's go!" I shouted. I zoomed towards it, meeting it before it got much further. Harry was staying close behind me.
I smacked the ball, knocking it back. However, soon, it regained the will to continued and curved back and tried again. Once more, I beat it back. A second, third and fourth time, I managed the feat. Each time, it tried to come in at a different angle and speed.
Harry began to distance himself further from me, making my task a tad more difficult, since the sphere wanted to smash up Harry as well.
Reaching this time, I managed to head off the bludger before it collided with Harry. Contrary to my expectations, in catching a glimpse of Harry's face, I saw how calm and collected he was; to be honest, I would be far from 'calm and collected' if a rock-like, speed-loving ball had a beat on me.
The ball made another pass at Harry and I hit it back again. However, even this wasn't enough of a challenge, clearly. Harry took off faster than before, and I had to step on it and catch up to him, while watching for the bludger at the same time. It approached on my right and I managed to hit it backhanded before it passed me.
Zigzagging in all directions, I had to use all of my mental and physical strength to keep up to Potter. The bludger was back with a vengeance. Behind Harry, I saw it coming in on his left side. Harry was clipping along, but I managed to catch up just enough to smack it back, narrowly missing Harry's ribs.
"One more, Adam," he shouted back to me. Harry zipped off in an upwards direction, hitting the 'afterburners'. I did so the best I could, although I could feel myself falling behind ever so slightly. What's worse is that I couldn't see the bludger.
"Damn it! Where are you?" I said to myself.
Harry then decided to fly close to the ground, which I did likewise. Surging along, all I could see were the blades of grass rushing under me, all blending together to form a solid mat of green. Looking back up, I saw it. Clearly, it understood that this was the last go, too, and it wanted a victim. The ball was heading straight on and would hit Harry in the head for sure. He knew also.
"Adam, you gonna get this?"
"Um." was my only response.
With little time to chat, I tried to speed up, but all to no avail. The broom is only as good as the rider and even though I was managing better than average for my first time, I still couldn't do what Harry did on it.
'Come on, come on.'
I saw it coming towards him, faster and faster.
"Adam.." Harry's voice grew more desperate.
That moment, something clicked and a great need inside me grew.
'I have to get it. I must.'
A new kind of power, coming deep from within, took control of the broom. It was a feeling, an emotion that was the driving force behind this extra energy, but as to what that emotion was, I couldn't tell. With no time to think about it, I simply accepted it. Luckily, it had the desired effect.
Boosting my speed, I managed I catch up to Harry. Flying over him, with feet before the bludger would make contact, I dove into Harry path and reached with my club.
Success. The ball gave up and retreated. Before it could make another pass, Harry signaled that we should land. Agreeing, we touched down onto the field.
"Nice going," Ron said.
"I think you're beater material, Adam.er.sorry, what's your last name?"
"Barrowton."
"Well, Barrowton, welcome to the team." I shook her hand and as the team filed off the field, they did the same.
"Nice flying," Harry said, coming up to me.
"Yeah, yeah." I said in an unsure tone of voice.
"You okay?" Ron asked, picking up on it.
"Um.this maybe insane, but, Harry, did you.um.feel anything when we were up there?"
"What do you mean?" He looked at me, pondering the meaning behind my words.
"Um.when that last bludger was coming at you, I.I wasn't catching up to you, but then, all of a sudden, I got this extra surge, and I don't know where the hell it came from."
"Hmmmm.." Ron said, thoughtfully.
"Eh.probably the Nimbus 2001 Turbo kicking in," Harry explained.
"Thankfully. That was close," I said, leaving the matter at that.
"Too close if you ask me," Ron added.
"Oh, and Adam?" Harry asked.
"Yeah?"
"Can I have my broom back?"
