Chapter 7: Mixed troubles
Ron woke up in the Hospital Wing the next afternoon. He looked around and saw that someone was staring at him. He couldn't quite make out who it was, because something was wrong with his vision. Then everything suddenly came into focus and he saw that Harry was in the bed next to him, and he had been staring at Ron.
"Harry, are you okay?" Ron asked him quietly. His head hurt a lot.
"Yeah, Ron, I'm okay." Harry said. "Thanks for helping me out there. If you had listened to Dumbledore, I'd probably be dead."
"It's okay. But, Harry, I did listen to Dumbledore." Ron laughed as Harry stared at him confused. "I ran into Si - er - Snuffles and he looked at me with such such a face that I immediatly knew what was wrong. So I ran out to the lake to keep you from doing something stupid."
"I told Dumbledore to tell you that I'd keep to my side of the deal."
"Oh he told me, alright. But it sure didn't look like you cared about the deal much when Goyle was beatin' you up, mate."
"I guess. I'm sorry, Ron."
"It's okay."
"No, it's not."
"Harry! It is!"
"Why?"
"Because after I saved you, I was half - hoping that I'd just black out and die."
"Well, half of that came true."
They both started laughing, but stopped when Ginny and Hannah ran into the room, followed by Snuffles, Lupin, Angel, Jennifer, Crystal, the rest of the Weasleys, Dumbledore, and Hermione.
"Ron! Harry!" Ginny and Hermione cried, hugging them both. Angel, Jennifer, and Crystal just stayed back while everyone fussed over Harry and Ron. Madam Pomfrey came running into the room.
"Everyone! These two boys need rest. Only one visitor per boy at once. So only two of you can be in here!"
Everyone looked at Hannah and Snuffles, silently agreeing that they could stay. Well, lets just say that Harry wasn't too happy when Snuffles walked over to Harry and Hannah walked over to Ron. He would have much pefered it the other way aroud.
"Harry?" Siruis said, turning into a man and sitting in the chair next to Harry.
"Go away." Harry said, turning away and giving Siruis the cold shoulder.
"What's wrong, Harry?" Ron asked him. "Siruis is your godfather."
"Well," Harry said, his next words flying out of his mouth before he could stop them. "I wouldn't mind if he wasn't." Ron and Hannah gasped, and Siruis looked heartbroken.
"Well, Harry, I can tell that you're angry with me." Siruis said, getting up. "So I'll go." And at that, he left the Hospital Wing.
"Harry? What's wrong with you?" Ron asked, a suprised look on his face.
"I know what's wrong. Siruis told me." Hannah said, looking at Harry in disbeleif.
"What is it, Hannah." Ron asked her.
"Well, he's just mad at Siruis because. . . . " Harry was silently hoping that Hannah wouldn't finish her sentence. Harry wanted to tell Ron when the time was right. "Nevermind. Harry doesn't want me to tell you. He wants to tell you when he thinks the time is right."
"How did you know that?" Harry asked her, amazed.
"I don't know. Maybe it's a twin thing." Hannah guessed, shrugging.
"I guess."
"So, Harry. " Ron went on. "When do you think the time will be right to tell me?"
"I don't know, Ron."
"Can you tell me now?"
"No."
"Can Hannah tell me?"
"No."
"Can Siruis tell me?"
"No."
"Can -"
"No."
"Okay then. Hey! Wait! We can have two people in at a time and we only have one! Where's our other guest?"
As if god had heard him and was answering his prayers, Mr. Weasley walked into the room, smiling at Harry, Ron, and Hannah.
"Uh oh." Ron whispered to Harry. "This is the day that I was supposed to visit with my family. Oh well, it's only 8:30."
"I don't care if it's not time to visit yet, Ron. We still have to talk about this." Mr. Weasley said sternly.
"Oh dad . . . . . .I'm better now. Me and Harry have a deal." Ron said, pouting.
"What's your deal, then?" Arthur asked.
"Well you see, Mr. Weasley, I have actually done what Ron was only thinking about. So I came up with a way so both of us relys on the other for support. As long as neither of us does it, the other can't, either."
"But what if one of you tries it?"
Harry looked over at Ron, and they silently afreed that he'd take this one. "Well, dad, that's where the support comes in. We both don't want eachother to die, so if we let ourselves down, we're letting our friend down. Because then, they have the right to try it."
"I see. Very clever. But later, Ron, we still need to talk about this."
"Okay, dad."
"Now, what exactly happened down by the lake last night?"
"Well, Mr. Weasley, I was sitting by the lake, thinking about stuff, and then Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle came up behind me. Malfoy kept insulting me and then Crabbe held me while Goyle hit me."
"Then I came and jumped on Malfoy, because he wouldn't send his goons off Harry."
Harry grinned at Ron. "Yeah. His exsact words were, 'Malfoy! Send your goons off Harry or I will be forced to hurt all three of you!' It was real funny."
"Yeah. But then, Goyle hit Harry so hard that it knocked him out. Then they threw him in the lake!"
"Yeah, and that cost you a punch in the face." Fred said as he, George and Bill walked in. "He was too busy yelling, 'Harry!' that he forgot he was fighting Malfoy!"
"Then Fred and George lept on Crabbe and Goyle, and Bill lept on Malfoy."
"Yeah." George smiled. "He was yelling 'Never touch my brother ever again!' while punching him in the face like a gazillion times."
"Then I went after Harry while I still had the chance. I couldn't find him anywhere -"
"But you never gave up." Bill said, smiling at Harry.
"- after about two minutes I found his glasses. Then I decided to go up for air and lite my wand, so I could see better, and then I found Harry and brought him up."
"And know what that reminds me of, Ron? When Harry saved you from the Merpeople!" George laughed at Fred's joke.
"But when the came up," Bill comtinued, because that's as far as Ron was awake to remember. "Ron blackedd out after a few seconds. He was probably too tired. So me Fred waited and fixed up Harry, so he wouldn't die, while George went and informed Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey. When they came back, Madam Pomfrey and Dumbledore levitated Harry and Ron to the Hospital Wing. The settled them in bed and Dumbledore and us stayed there while Madam Pomfrey. She finally told us to go away at about two in the morning.
"But don't be suprised if Ron can't walk properly for a while." Fred said, grinning.
"Why?" Ron asked, confused.
"Well," Explained Bill. "Madam Pomfrey said you broke your lag in a weird angle anf wasn't ablr to mend it properly. So she said we'd have to let it heal the rest of the way in muggle fashion."
Harry looked at Ron with a 'I'm sorry.' kind of look.
"It's okay, Harry. Don't give me that look."
"We all are going to go now." Fred said, gesturing to himself and George and Bill."
"And dad," George said before walking out the door. "Percy wants to talk to Ron so he doesn't want you to take too long."
"Okay, George. Tell him I'll only be a couple of minutes." George nodded and left the room. "So, Ron, Harry, that's the tale, is it?" Harry and Ron nodded. "Has Dumbledore heard it?"
"I think he's going to very soon." Hannah said, looking at them all slyly. "Excuse me, I need to get three Slytherin's expelled. Good - bye."
Ron and Harry started laughing. "That's my sister." Harry said before Hannah has opened the door.
"What? Nobody messes with my brother and gets away with it." Hannah said, smilling at Harry, and then left.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Harry walked into the Gryffindor common room a week later only to be stopped by Fred and George Weasley.
"Harry! The Quidditch try-outs are in five minutes!" Fred yelled, pulling Harry out of the common room.
"We need a new Keeper." George said as he started naming off players the needed. "And two new Chasers. Angelina's the only Chaser we've got. We're still the Beaters. And your still the Seeker. You're the captain, too. You would have been last year, too, but because of the Triwizard Tournament . . . ." George said, not finishing his sentence. Everyone knew that Harry hated talking about the Triwizard Tournament. The last time someone did, Harry ended up not talking to Ron for a week.
They arrived on the Quidditch feild and already people were flying around. There was Michael Frankfurt, Andrew McLean, and . . . . Ron? Harry ran over to the part of the feild that Ron was flying over, and he heard Fred and George right behind him.
"Ron?" Harry shouted. Ron looked down, smiling, and waved. "What are you doing?"
"Trying out, of course." Ron shouted back. "What else would I be doing?"
"I bet he's just trying to impress Hannah." Fred muttered to George. "Look, there she is." Fred said, pointing to a girl in the air. Harry looked over, and there was Hannah, her eyes fixed on Ron. Hannah was trying out? He looked over the feild, and saw Hermione, also.
"Yeah. Probably." George muttered back. "Let's go sit down and judge them, Fred. Harry, as captain, you have to tell the what to do."
"Okay." Harry nodded to George. He walked over to the middle over the feild and gestured for them all to come down. There was at least nine people that were trying out. He wasn't counting Ron. Ron didn't exactly qualify as a person. "For now, I want you all to just do your best and work things out between yourselves about what position you want to play. Remember, we only need two Chasers and one Keeper." Everyone started to fly into the air, but Harry held Ron back for a second. "I'm not supposed to play favorite's, but good luck, Ron."
"Thanks, Harry." He said before flying off to join the rest off the Gryffindors. Harry smiled at Ron's fying figure and thanked gos that they were best friends again, and then headed off to go sit with Fred and George.
"Got everything under control there, Harry." George asked as Harry sat next to him.
"Yeah. Everything's great." Harry said as he kept smiling at Ron, who kept smiling back.
The afternoon went by very slowly. Harry kept checking his watch to find out that he kept checking it every five minutes. Ron was actually doing a really good job at being a Keeper, but horrible at being a Chaser. Fred and George agreed. He kept on handing the Quaffle off to the other team. Harry knew he wasn't meaning to, but it was still very funny every time he did this. Fred and George kept on laughing at Ron for a least two minutes after he handed it off. Ron caught them once and threw the Quaffle at them. Harry thought this was funnier than Ron handing it the ball off to the wrong people.
Harry thought he couldn't of been happier when try outs had ended. He has already had three near hits with the Quaffle and was actually hit with it once.
"Ron, how's your leg?" Harry asked him as they headed towards Hogwarts.
"It's better. Thanks for helping me with stuff this past week." Ron said, limping his way next to Harry.
"No problem, Ron. It was kind of my fault that your leg got hurt."
"It's not your fault, Harry. How many times do I have to keep on telling you that?" Ron hit Harry in the head with his broomstick, which made Harry lose his balance and fall to the ground, Ron falling right after him, who lost his balance, also. They both started laughing, and George and Fred helped them up.
"You two are really something." Fred said, trying to pull Ron up off the ground, who was purposly trying to make the job harder on him. "Ron, stop it or I'll just let you fall!" Fred said, tugging at Ron with all his might. Ron finally gave up and made the job easier on him.
"Well, thanks, Ron. But no matter what you day, I will still think it's my fault." Harry said, dodging a hit from Ron.
"Stop saying that! Wait a minute! You never told me why you're mad at Siruis, and you've been mad at him for a whole week!" Ron complained.
"Fine, I'll tell you!" Harry said, annoyed. Harry mummbled his next words, thinking he shouldn't have asked Siruis what he did. "I asked him if I could call him dad."
"What, mate?" Ron asked.
"I asked him if I could call him . . . . . call him . . . . ." Harry trailed off, thinking Ron would think he was stupid if he finished his sentence.
"Harry, I won't think you're stupid if you just tell me!" Ron yelled."
"I asked him if I could call him . . . . call him . . . . . " Harry trailed off once again and looked over at Ron. Ron gave him look that said 'I know what you're thinking.'
"You asked him if you could call him dad, didn't you?" Ron said softly. Harry nodded and looked down at his feet, tears stinging his eyes. "It's okay, Harry, I understand. Don't cry, Harry, it will be alright."
"No it won't! He said no! Don't you understand? He's the closest thing I had to a father, and when he said it, he had such a mixture of disgust and pity in his eyes, I just couldn't take it!" Harry screamed. He ran off toward the giant castle and ran into Snuffles. Harry looked at him for a moment and felt a single tear trickle down his cheek. Harry ran off, not looking back, but he knew Snuffles was running after him. Harry ran in his room and locked the door. He could hear Snuffles wining outside, but just ignored him. He finally let lose and cried on his pillow. He heard a click and then the door open. The only other person who had a key to this room was Dumbledore. Harry looked up and saw Dumbledore, Snuffles, and Ron staring at him. Harry laid back in his bed and began to cry again. He felt someone sit next to him and start rubbing his back.
"Go away." Harry said, shrugging off the person next to him.
"Harry, it's me." Ron said, rubbing Harry's back again.
Harry looked up at Snuffles and glared at him. Dumbledore shut the door and Siruis turned back into a man.
"You have no right to be in my room." Harry growled.
"Calm down, Harry! It's going to be okay. I promise." Ron said soothingly. Siruis walked over toward Harry and sat next to him. Harry scooted over, not wanting to be too close to Siruis.
"Harry, I'm sorry."
"No you're not!"
"Yes, I am."
"No! You just pity me!"
"Harry, calm down!"
"See! You don't even deny it!"
"Harry -"
"Get out of my room!"
"Harry -"
"NOW!"
Siruis just stared at Harry, then got up and left, Dumbledore following.
"Harry, don't you think you eing just a smidge too hard on Siruis?" Ron asked him.
"No." Harry cried. "Ron, I don't know if I can keep to my side of the deal or not." Harry started crying in Ron's shirt, unable to stop himself.
Ron rubbed Harry's back. "You will, Harry. I know you will."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The next day Harry posted the people who made the cut. Harry picked the people he tought were the best, Angelina pickeed people that she thought had good heart, and Fred and George picked people who they thought would help the beat Slytherin. The final postings were:
"Hermione Granger - Chaser, Angel MacCartney - back up Keeper, Andrew McLean - Chaser, Hannah Potter - back up Chaser, Ronald Weasley - Keeper. " Ron read as soon as Harry had posted it. "Wow! Thanks, Harry!"
"No problem, Ron. You were the best as a Keeper." Harry said as they walked out of the common room. "Angel was the second best, and since she's my sisters best friend, she a back up Keeper, incase you get sick and can't go to a game. And I couldn't say no to Hannah. She really did try. So if a Chaser can't come to the game for any reason, she's the back up."
"That way the people you care about don't get left out."
"Exactly."
"Hey, Harry, do you think Hermione has checked it, yet?"
"I don't know, Ron. Do you think she'll be happy that you two made it on the team?" Harry asked, excitment in his voice.
"I think she'll be happy she made it on the team, but not happy that she has less time to get her studies done. You know she already complains about that."
"Yeah. But if she doesn't want to be on the team, Hannah can always take her spot.
"She will not!" Came the voice of a very happy Hermine from behind them. "I'll just have to make time for practice and my studies. You do. And so does George. And he's going to have more on his plate to deal with this year. Him being Head Boy and all."
"Whatever you say, Hermione." Ron said, rolling his eyes.
"Okay. So have you figured out when we're going to practice, Harry?" Hermione said, ignoring Ron.
"Yes, but I can't tell you yet."
"Why not?" Ron said, sonding offended.
"Because. I'll tell you when I tell the rest of the team tonight. At our meeting?" Harry added as he saw the confused looks on their faces. "Even back ups have to come. It was on the sheet of the people who made the cut, and I already told everyone else when we were trying to figure who would be on the team. You know, Hermione, you barely made it on the team."
"Why?"
"Fred and George thought that Michael Frankfurt might be a better choice. They didn't think you'd be aggrestive enough."
"What? Just because he's a boy."
"No because you're . . . . . . .Well, Hermione . . . . . you're . . . .you're Hermione. You're not aggresive." Ron laughed.
"Humph!" Hermione said. She walked off backwards, glaring at Ron. She wasn't watching where she was going and tripped over a something lying on the floor.
"Hermione!" Harry yelled as him and Ron ran over to her. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Hey! What's this?" Hermione asked as she pickeed up the book she tripped over. "I wonder what a book is doing, lying on the floor like that."
"Does it have a name?" Ron asked.
"I don't know." Hermione flipped it over. "Yes. It's called, " She said in a confused voice, " 'The Big Book of Prophesy's'. Interesting."
"There's a bookmark in it." Harry said as Hermione handed the book to him. "And there's a prophesy underlined." Harry read : " 'The boy - who - lived shall defeat all evil with the help of his sister by his side.' "
Ron and Hermione just stared at Harry while he just stared at the book. Harry dropped the book and fainted.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Ron walked into the Hospital Wing the next day to visit Harry. He didn't know if he was awake yet, because when Ron came to visit Harry an hour ago, he was still passed out. Ron just hoped he didn't go into another coma again.
"Harry! You're awake!" Ron yelled as he ran to Harry's side. "How long have you been awake?"
"Since you left an hour ago. I saw your red hair leave the room." Harry and Ron laughed.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. I was just really shocked."
"Yeah. That was weird."
"Tell me about it."
"Do you really want me to?"
"No, you hollowhead."
"Hey! Only George can call me that!"
"Okay, okay. I'm sorry, Ron."
"It's okay, Harry. It doesn't bug me much."
"Then why'd you say only George can call you that."
"Because only George can."
"Whatever."
"When is Madam Pomfrey letting you go?"
"She says that Dumbledore wants to talk to me at 10:00, and that she's not letting me go a second before."
"That sounds like Madam Pomfrey."
"Yeah. But you know what's even more funny?"
"No. What?"
"Hannah was just telling me that, wait. You remember that dream I had at your house?"
"Yeah, so?"
"It came true."
"My poor Hannah!"
"Yeah, whatever. But anyway, Dumbledore took her here, and before Madam Pomfrey let her go, she had to make sure that Hannah was okay, and guess what she muttered?"
"What." Ron said, really sowing interest now.
" She said 'Just like your brother' , and then let her go. I mean, jezz, thanks! That makes me feel so special!" Ron laughed at him and Harry hit him. "Ron, our first Quidditch match is in a few weeks."
"I know! Isn't it exciting? I'm so nervous!"
"Why? It's only a Quidditch game."
"Maybe it's only a Quidditch game to you, but it's so much more to me! I'm actually on the House Team this year!"
"Yeah, thanks to me."
"Why thanks to you?"
"Nevermind. It's not important." Ron started to open his mouth but Harry cut him off. "Oh, no. The meeting was last night. I got to go ask Madam Pomfrey if she can let me go soon, so I can arrange another meeting for the team." Harry got out of bed and headed toward Madam Pomfrey's office. Ron just stared after him, confused.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Gryffindor House Quidditch Team practiced for hours on end until they could practice nomore. They got up at six in the morning until classes, and from after classes until it was too dark to see. Finally, the day came for first Quidditch match of the season: Gryffindor vs. Slytherin. The team was very nervous, but Harry had full convidence in them.
"Now, team, we've practiced and trained out newcomers roughly! We had given all we've got into practice!" Harry yelled right in the locker room before their Quidditch match. "We can't let Slytherin defeat us!"
"Yeah!" Yelled the team, Ron and Hermione the loudest. Harry smiled at them and they smiled back.
"We are too good to be defeated by Slytherins! And I'm not just talking about Quidditch, either!"
"Yeah!"
"Okay, team! Let's go!" The team cheered and they headed out to the feild.
"Great speech, Harry!" Ron said as the walked to the center together.
"Yeah. It was awsome." Hermine agreed, smiling at Harry.
"Thanks, guys. I just made it off the top of my head just now." They all started laughing until they saw Malfoy. He didn't look to good. He was bruised and limping.
"I wonder what happened to Malfoy?" Harry asked.
"Bill did say something about hurting Malfoy again, but I didn't think he would actually do it." Ron laughed.
"Well, he deserved it for trying to harm you too. He almost killed Harry and almost paralized you."
"True."
"By the way, how is your leg?" Harry asked Ron. His leg should have healed by now, but he was still limping.
"It's not healed yet. I'm supposed to go down to see Madam Pomfrey today about it. And guess what? Snape suggested it. He actually seemed worried when he askeed what was wrong with my leg, and I told him it was strangely broken and Madam Pomfrey wanted to heal it the rest of the way like muggles do. Then he asked me how long it's been broke, and I said about a month. Then he said to go straight to Madam Pomfrey after the match."
"Snape? Actually caring about a Gryffindor?" Harry asked, amazed.
"Wow. That's really something, Ron." Hermione agreed.
"I know. Then he saw the suprised look on my face, and he said 'Don't llok so amazed, Mr. Weasley. I do care some about my students. Even if they are in Gryffindor.' It was really scarey. I didn't know that Snape cared for anyone exsept for Slytherins!"
"Well, he did try to save Harry in a Quidditch match in our first year." Hermione stated very matter - of - factly.
"Yeah, just because he was repaying my father." Harry said grumply.
"Yes, but that's not the point." Hermione stated again. "Let's go, or they'll start without us."
"They wouldn't. I'm they captain! And the Seeker!"
"And I'm the Keeper! Though they don't really need you, Hermione. They've got alread two others in your position. And if we need three, they can just bring in Hannah!"
"Oh, yeah? Well they can just bring in Angel for your postion!"
"Lets just go!" Harry said, flying in the air with the others, looking for the snitch. Ron and Hermione rose, too. Ron flew off to the goal posts, and Hermione around, looking to see who had the Quaffle.
Lee Jordan was announcing for the last year in his life at Hogwarts. It was so sad. "And Slytherin in possesion. They make the throw and - Oh! Nice save by Gryffindor Keeper, Ronald Weasley! Gryffindor in possesion, Granger makes the throw - Oh! Nice save by Slytherin Keeper, Crystal Glass!" 'What did she say?' Harry thought. He was so mad. And one look at Hannah and Angel in the stands said they weren't too happy, either. Suddenly, Harry saw Draco dive and dived right after him. "Slytherin Seeker, Draco Malfoy, along with Gryffindor Seeker, Harry Potter, are racing for the Snitch! It's going to be a close one, folks." Everything and everyone stopped. Hermione and Ron were staring at Harry, catching his every move. "Draco Malfoy caught - no. He missed the snitch. Ow! That had to hurt!" Malfoy had pushed Harry, which made him slam into a house post. It did hurt. He saw someone racing towards him. He squinted through his broken glasses and saw that it was Hermione.
"Harry! Are you okay?" She called from the air. Harry hurt to much to speak. Hermione must've noticed this because she raced down to the patch of dirt that Harry was now laying on.
"You . . .have . . .to . . .go . . .finish-"
"No, Harry, it will be alright. Angelina is a great Chaser. It will be okay."
"No." Harry tried to get up but Hermione pushed him back down.
"Someone's coming. Lay still."
"No!" Harry said, getting up a getting back on his broom. He flew off into the air but could still hear Hermione yelling after him.
"Potter! Get back here! Now!" Harry ignored her and looked over at Ron. He was doing really well. At least that's what Harry thought.
"Oh no! Another Slytherin score! The score now reads: Gryffindor: 90, Slytherin: 160." Harry was feeling lightheaded. He flew around, trying to find the Snitch, but couldn't see it anywhere, for his vision was blury. The next thing he knew everything went dark.
"Harry!" Hermione and Ron yelled. Hermione rushed over to Harry's falling figure, but Ron knew better than to leave the posts. Hermione missed catching Harry, but Ron was relieved when he saw that George had caught him and was bringing him down to safety. The game ended as Malfoy caught the Snitch, and Ron rushed down to Harry's side. Hermione was still there, tears in her eyes.
"I told him not to get back on his broom! He could have serioulsy hurt himself!"
"Good thing that George was there then, eh?" Ron said softly as he approched Hermione, Harry and George. "Thanks George." Ron said, never taking his eyes of Harry.
"Ron, he'll be okay." George said, hugging his little brother. "I promise that everything will be fine."
"I know." Ron said. "But it was like he wanted that to happen. It was like he was breaking the deal." Ron said, now crying into George's shoulder. George held him tighter to himself. He hated it when Ron was sad. And whenever he was sad, it was mostly because of something Harry did. Harry had a bad influence on his brother. At least he did in George's opinion. Do get him wrong, he thinks Harry's a great kid, but he's made Ron more upset than anyone in his 15 year old life. And in George's opinion, that wasn't a good friend. He had to do something about these two being best friends.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Harry awoke two hours later. What had happened? Where was he? He looked around at the very familiar surroundings. He was in the Hospital Wing. He looked t his side and saw Ron and Hermione staring at him. What had happened? Why do they look so sad?
"Ron? Hermione?" Harry said, getting up.
"No, Harry, you need to lay down." Hermione commanded, pushing him back down on his bed.
"But -"
"No, Harry. Hermione's right." Ron said, pushing him down. Harry finally gave up and laid back down. Why were his friends treating him this way? What was going on?
"What happened?"
"Quidditch game. Malfoy pushed you into a house post, but you wanted to get back on your broom. Then less than two minutes, you had fainted up in the air and George caught you before you hit the ground."
"Oh. Wonderful. It's all coming back now."
"You asked, so I told." Ron said, shrugging.
"I know. Did we win?"
"No."
"Oh." Harry fell back into his bed.
"Harry, you're starting to look kind of pail." Ron said, feeling Harry's forehead.
"Yeah." Hermione agreed, feeling his cheeks and neck.
"Get off!" Harry said, swatting their hands away.
"Sorry." Hermione said, laughing. Ron started to laugh, too.
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing." Hermione said, laughing still.
"Tell me!"
"Okay, Harry. Calm down." Ron said, also still laughing. "It's just the way that a got annoyed. I don't know. Now it seems fairly stupid."
"I agree!" Harry shouted. This just made Hermione and Ron laugh even more. "Oh my god." Harry sighed.
"We're sorry, Harry." Ron said, controling his laughter. Hermione did the same. "We'll stop laughing."
"Okay, good."
"Good?"
"Yes, good." Harry said, staring at Ron. Ron stared back. "You two are really weird."
"Thanks." Ron said, smiling at Harry. By the way he was acting, you'd think that Harry had told him that he liked his outfit. Siruis walked in suddenly. Harry's heart sank as he saw the pained look on his face.
"Harry -"
"Siruis, let me talk first. Sit." Harry said, pushing Ron off his chair. Ron hit Harry over the head. Siruis luaghed.
"I think I'm good." Siruis said, still laughing at the look on Ron's face.
"Anyway, I'm sorry for getting mad you over such a stupid thing."
"Harry -"
"No. Let me finish. It wasn't mature, and I shouldn't've asked you such a horrible question."
"Harry, I was about to say that I've changed my mind. You never really knew James, and I love you like a son. I'm sure James wouldn't mind."
"And I love you like a father, Siruis. That's why I asked you. But you mean it?"
"Of course I mean it." Siruis smiled at Harry and then hugged him.
"Awwwww. How cute!" Ron said. Harry smacked him on the head. Sirius just stared at Ron. "What?" Harry rolled his eyes at Ron.
"What's going on?" Hermione asked, totally and completely comfused. Harry forgot that no one had told her about Siruis and Harry's argument.
"Well, a few weeks ago, well more like a month ago, Harry asked me if I could call him dad." Hermione looked at Harry in amazement. "At first I said no because of James -"
"Well I should think so." Hermione interrupted.
"- But I changed my mind. He can."
Hermione looked like she had been Petrified at the news. "What? You're joking, right?"
"No." Hermione fainted and Ron caught her.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The next day Harry was allowed to leave, but the day still wasn't going great. Ron had been pulled away by the rest of the Weasleys, Hermione, Hannah, Angel, and Crystal were off doing something, and Harry was all alone.
So he walked through the school, hoping to run into someone he knew. Maybe he would go visit Hagrid? He walked up to Hagrid's Hut and knocked on the door.
"Who's there?" Hagrid said, walking up to the door. He opened it and smiled. "Harry! Lond time no see!"
"Sorry about that." Harry said, hugging Hagrid and walking into the hut. He was suprised when he saw Oliver Wood sitting at Hagrid's table.
"Don't want no one to find him." Hagrid said, sitting next to Wood.
"Why not?" Harry askeed, confused.
"Because. I was banned from Hogwarts." Wood said, smiling.
"Why?"
"Let's just say I did something I shouldn't have in the last week of my Seventh Year and I got caught by Snape." He smiled at Harry and Harry smiled back. "So, I here your the captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team thid year."
"Yeah."
Wood stopped smiling. "I also heard you lost your first game. Gryffindor vs. Slytherin."
"Yeah. Look, Wood, we trained the new players really good, I don't -"
"Calm down, Harry." Wood smiled and shook his head. "I think I know what the problem is."
"What?"
"Your tean is really good, no doubt about that, the new players are trained well, and the new practices a lot."
"How did you know that."
"First of all, they got you for a captain, don't they? Second, I saw. I've been here since the beginning of the year. Don't worry, Dumbledore knows."
"Oh."
"I think your team just doesn't have the heart to win."
"Really? Me too. So what should I do about that."
"Put them through an all - Quidditch related course. If they can't hack up enough heart to get through that course, they won't hack up enough heart to win."
"I see."
"Also, if they can't make it through the course, kick them off the team. I'll help out."
"I'll go tell Dumbledore so no one else shows up on the feild." Hagrid said, getting up to leave.
"Thanks, Hagrid."
"Don't metion it, Oliver. My pleasure." Then Hagrid left.
"Wood? What kind of course?"
"I'm thinking that while one person is doing one thing, another is doing another thing. We'll have four parts to the course, one for every position. While one person is working Keeper, two will be working Chaser, one will be working Seeker, and two Beater."
"What will they have to do, exactly?"
"Leave it all up to me, Harry."
"Okay."
"I'll work on a game plan. Go tell the team to meet me here at two o'clock. Okay?"
"Alright."
Harry left to go find everyone. He found George first. He was sitting near the fire in the common room.
"Um, George?"
"Yes, Harry?"
"Meet Wood in Hagrid's Hut at two."
"Wood?"
"Yeah. But keep it quiet. Wood's not suposed to be here. Go find Fred, Andrew, and Angelina to inform them. I'll inform Angel, Hermione, Hannah, and Ron. Okay?"
"Okay."
They left to find everyone. Harry walked dwon the corridors, searching for anyone he could find. Where was everyone? Finally, he found Hannah and Angel, but Hermione was no where in sight.
"Where's Hermione?" Harry asked as he approached Angel, Hannah, and Crystal.
"She walked off with this really cute guy." Crystal answered.
"Why?" Angel asked. Her and Crystal started looking at Harry in disgust.
"Because." Harry said, confused. "Hannah, can I talk to you for a second?"
"Sure." As soon as they were in a place far enough away from Angel and Crystal, Harry asked her something that's been on his chest for a while.
"Are you friends off their rocker?"
"Excuse me? I don't understand what you're asking."
"Sorry. I forgot you're from America. Are your friends, I don't know, crazy?"
"No! Why would you say that?" Hannah laughed. "Though they might be . . . . "
"Because they always stare at me like I just came from a swim in the trash dump."
"Oh! That!" Hannah laughed. "It's no big deal!"
"Well, why do they stare at me like that?"
"Well, they just think that you're cheating on Ginny with Hermione. That's all." Then she walked off.
"Shesh. She talks about it like it's no big deal. He watched the three of them start to walk of and remembered why he was there. "Wait! Hannah, Angel!" They turned around and stared at him. He felt really stupid. "Meet the rest of the Quidditch team out on the feild today st two!" Then they walked off and he followed suit in the opposite direction.
Harry and Hermione? He couldn't even imagine. The thought was to sick to think of. Where was everyone? He walked down the halls and turned a corner only to find Ron in the middle of a big crowed called the Weasleys.
"Ron! I need to talk to you!" Harry said, running over to him. Ron looked happy to be pullen away from his family, who looked mad to have him pullen away from them.
"Thank god you're here, Harry! They were sufocating me! What is it?" Ron smiled at Harry, confusion in his face. Harry slid down the wall and put his head in his arms, and Ron sat dwon next to him. "Harry?" Ron sounded concerned.
"My sister's friends hate me."
"Why do you say that?"
"They think I'm cheating on Ginny with Hermione. Do you think that?"
"Harry, if I thought that, you and Hermione wouldn't be my friends anymore." Harry looked up and smiled at Ron. "That seems like kind of a stupid thing to be upset about."
"Wood's back, too."
"Wood? What's he doing back?"
"I don't know. All I know is that you have to meet him on the Quidditch feild at two today."
"Why?"
"You'll see when you get there."
"Okay." Ron said, confused.
"Do you know where Hermione is?" Harry asked, exsausted.
"No, Harry, I don't." Harry put his head back in his arms. Ron tapped him on the head. "But we can go look for her together."
"Really?" Harry mumbled into his arms.
"Yeah. Plus, I'll do anything to get away from them." Harry looked up and saw Ron pointing to the Weasleys, whom all were looking at Harry with concerned looks on their faces.
"Okay, let's go." Harry said, getting up, and helping Ron up, too. They started to walk away and looked back at the Weasleys. They haven't moved toward them at all. In fact, they had started walking off in different directions, hopefully going home.
Harry and Ron walked down the corridors, looking for Hermione. It was like she had just disappeared. They started to check the classrooms, hoping Hermione might be in one of them, but no luck so far.
"Where could she have gotten off to?" Ron asked, as they headed back toward Gryffindor common room.
"Don't know. She couldn't have gotten far. When I ran into my sister and her stupid friends, they had said that Hermione had run off with some guy."
"I wonder who?"
"Me too. You don't think the same thing that happened to Hannah happened to Hermione, do you?"
"No."
"How do you know?"
"Look." Harry looked in the direction that Ron was looking, only because of the terrified look on his face. Hermione was in one of the classrooms they overlooked because it was old and aways smelt horrible. Perfect place to hide if you wanted to make - out with someone. She was sitting on a desk, her lips locked with Fred Weasley.
"Wasn't he with you and the rest of your family?"
"No. We didn't know where he trailed off to, so we started talking wthout him."
"Oh." Harry walked in the room and Hermione looked up and gasped.
"Um, Harry, hi. N - n - nice to see you." Hermione stuttered, talking unuasually fast. Ron stepped in the room and Fred nearly fainted. "Has George found either of you yet?"
Fred spoke up first. "I ran into him right before I found Hermione. He already told me about Wood and two o'clock."
"What about Wood and two o'clock?" Hermione asked, confused. Harry rolled his eyes and was amazed that Fred hadn't already told her. On the other hand, they were probably too busy kissing to say much.
"Wood's back. And the whole team needs to meet him out on the Quidditch feild at two o'clock."
"What time is it now?" Hermione said, eying Ron's watch. Ron sighed and checked it.
"One fifty."
"One fifty?" Harry asked, panicking. Everyone rushed out of the classroom and up to their rooms to get their Quidditch robes and broomsticks. They meet in the Quiddtich feild and Harry was happy to see that everyone else was there. Wood stepped out onto the feild in his old Quidditch robes and holding his old broomstick.
"Everyone listen up! We are going to do a course today! Anyone who cannot complete the whole course is going to going to get kicked off the team and replaced by someone else. Don't worry, Potter has agreed. Actually, before we start i would like to have a talk with you, Potter. The rest of you talk amongst yourselves." Harry started to walk up to Wood but Ron help with back. Hannah and Hermione walked up, too, and Hannah hit Harry on the head.
"How could you agree to something like that?" Ron asked.
"Anything for the team, right?" Harry asked followed by a nervous laugh. The three of the glared at him. Obviously they didn't get it. Harry ignored them and walked up to Wood.
"Now, Harry, about the course, I've got it all planned out."
"Okay. What's the plan?"
"There will be four parts of the course that everyone must accomplish, one part for each position on the team."
"Okay."
"People will be playing on each course all at the same time. Three Beaters will have to beat off more than just two Bludgers -"
"Don't you think that's a little dangerous?"
"No. Not at all. Anyway, One Seeker will be having to catch eight out of ten differnetly sized balls that you will be throwing into the air."
"Me? Why me?"
"You're the captain and the curent Seekeer."
"Oh."
"Then one Keeper with have to gaurd the goal posts, while three Chasers try to get past the Seeker. There will be twenty chances for the Chasers to score. They must score at least ten times all together, but at least three times each, and the Keeper must save at least six balls. Do you agree with everything?"
"Um . . . . . "
"Great. Also, we're going to rotate, so courses like Chaser and Beater, you have to do three times. You can't miss any of the times."
"That's kind of mean, isn't it?"
"Not at all. Listen, I'm going to go tell the team. You station yourself at the far end of the feild with these balls." Wood handed him a sack filled with differently sized balls, just like he said, and an empty sack.
"What's the extra sack for?"
(A/N: I had to delete some stuff from this chapter because I typed up too much on this page. My chapter is going to be extended. Some important stuff is in this chapter, so chech back regularly for the extention. Thanx. Wuv Alwayz, ~Hannah~)
Ron woke up in the Hospital Wing the next afternoon. He looked around and saw that someone was staring at him. He couldn't quite make out who it was, because something was wrong with his vision. Then everything suddenly came into focus and he saw that Harry was in the bed next to him, and he had been staring at Ron.
"Harry, are you okay?" Ron asked him quietly. His head hurt a lot.
"Yeah, Ron, I'm okay." Harry said. "Thanks for helping me out there. If you had listened to Dumbledore, I'd probably be dead."
"It's okay. But, Harry, I did listen to Dumbledore." Ron laughed as Harry stared at him confused. "I ran into Si - er - Snuffles and he looked at me with such such a face that I immediatly knew what was wrong. So I ran out to the lake to keep you from doing something stupid."
"I told Dumbledore to tell you that I'd keep to my side of the deal."
"Oh he told me, alright. But it sure didn't look like you cared about the deal much when Goyle was beatin' you up, mate."
"I guess. I'm sorry, Ron."
"It's okay."
"No, it's not."
"Harry! It is!"
"Why?"
"Because after I saved you, I was half - hoping that I'd just black out and die."
"Well, half of that came true."
They both started laughing, but stopped when Ginny and Hannah ran into the room, followed by Snuffles, Lupin, Angel, Jennifer, Crystal, the rest of the Weasleys, Dumbledore, and Hermione.
"Ron! Harry!" Ginny and Hermione cried, hugging them both. Angel, Jennifer, and Crystal just stayed back while everyone fussed over Harry and Ron. Madam Pomfrey came running into the room.
"Everyone! These two boys need rest. Only one visitor per boy at once. So only two of you can be in here!"
Everyone looked at Hannah and Snuffles, silently agreeing that they could stay. Well, lets just say that Harry wasn't too happy when Snuffles walked over to Harry and Hannah walked over to Ron. He would have much pefered it the other way aroud.
"Harry?" Siruis said, turning into a man and sitting in the chair next to Harry.
"Go away." Harry said, turning away and giving Siruis the cold shoulder.
"What's wrong, Harry?" Ron asked him. "Siruis is your godfather."
"Well," Harry said, his next words flying out of his mouth before he could stop them. "I wouldn't mind if he wasn't." Ron and Hannah gasped, and Siruis looked heartbroken.
"Well, Harry, I can tell that you're angry with me." Siruis said, getting up. "So I'll go." And at that, he left the Hospital Wing.
"Harry? What's wrong with you?" Ron asked, a suprised look on his face.
"I know what's wrong. Siruis told me." Hannah said, looking at Harry in disbeleif.
"What is it, Hannah." Ron asked her.
"Well, he's just mad at Siruis because. . . . " Harry was silently hoping that Hannah wouldn't finish her sentence. Harry wanted to tell Ron when the time was right. "Nevermind. Harry doesn't want me to tell you. He wants to tell you when he thinks the time is right."
"How did you know that?" Harry asked her, amazed.
"I don't know. Maybe it's a twin thing." Hannah guessed, shrugging.
"I guess."
"So, Harry. " Ron went on. "When do you think the time will be right to tell me?"
"I don't know, Ron."
"Can you tell me now?"
"No."
"Can Hannah tell me?"
"No."
"Can Siruis tell me?"
"No."
"Can -"
"No."
"Okay then. Hey! Wait! We can have two people in at a time and we only have one! Where's our other guest?"
As if god had heard him and was answering his prayers, Mr. Weasley walked into the room, smiling at Harry, Ron, and Hannah.
"Uh oh." Ron whispered to Harry. "This is the day that I was supposed to visit with my family. Oh well, it's only 8:30."
"I don't care if it's not time to visit yet, Ron. We still have to talk about this." Mr. Weasley said sternly.
"Oh dad . . . . . .I'm better now. Me and Harry have a deal." Ron said, pouting.
"What's your deal, then?" Arthur asked.
"Well you see, Mr. Weasley, I have actually done what Ron was only thinking about. So I came up with a way so both of us relys on the other for support. As long as neither of us does it, the other can't, either."
"But what if one of you tries it?"
Harry looked over at Ron, and they silently afreed that he'd take this one. "Well, dad, that's where the support comes in. We both don't want eachother to die, so if we let ourselves down, we're letting our friend down. Because then, they have the right to try it."
"I see. Very clever. But later, Ron, we still need to talk about this."
"Okay, dad."
"Now, what exactly happened down by the lake last night?"
"Well, Mr. Weasley, I was sitting by the lake, thinking about stuff, and then Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle came up behind me. Malfoy kept insulting me and then Crabbe held me while Goyle hit me."
"Then I came and jumped on Malfoy, because he wouldn't send his goons off Harry."
Harry grinned at Ron. "Yeah. His exsact words were, 'Malfoy! Send your goons off Harry or I will be forced to hurt all three of you!' It was real funny."
"Yeah. But then, Goyle hit Harry so hard that it knocked him out. Then they threw him in the lake!"
"Yeah, and that cost you a punch in the face." Fred said as he, George and Bill walked in. "He was too busy yelling, 'Harry!' that he forgot he was fighting Malfoy!"
"Then Fred and George lept on Crabbe and Goyle, and Bill lept on Malfoy."
"Yeah." George smiled. "He was yelling 'Never touch my brother ever again!' while punching him in the face like a gazillion times."
"Then I went after Harry while I still had the chance. I couldn't find him anywhere -"
"But you never gave up." Bill said, smiling at Harry.
"- after about two minutes I found his glasses. Then I decided to go up for air and lite my wand, so I could see better, and then I found Harry and brought him up."
"And know what that reminds me of, Ron? When Harry saved you from the Merpeople!" George laughed at Fred's joke.
"But when the came up," Bill comtinued, because that's as far as Ron was awake to remember. "Ron blackedd out after a few seconds. He was probably too tired. So me Fred waited and fixed up Harry, so he wouldn't die, while George went and informed Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey. When they came back, Madam Pomfrey and Dumbledore levitated Harry and Ron to the Hospital Wing. The settled them in bed and Dumbledore and us stayed there while Madam Pomfrey. She finally told us to go away at about two in the morning.
"But don't be suprised if Ron can't walk properly for a while." Fred said, grinning.
"Why?" Ron asked, confused.
"Well," Explained Bill. "Madam Pomfrey said you broke your lag in a weird angle anf wasn't ablr to mend it properly. So she said we'd have to let it heal the rest of the way in muggle fashion."
Harry looked at Ron with a 'I'm sorry.' kind of look.
"It's okay, Harry. Don't give me that look."
"We all are going to go now." Fred said, gesturing to himself and George and Bill."
"And dad," George said before walking out the door. "Percy wants to talk to Ron so he doesn't want you to take too long."
"Okay, George. Tell him I'll only be a couple of minutes." George nodded and left the room. "So, Ron, Harry, that's the tale, is it?" Harry and Ron nodded. "Has Dumbledore heard it?"
"I think he's going to very soon." Hannah said, looking at them all slyly. "Excuse me, I need to get three Slytherin's expelled. Good - bye."
Ron and Harry started laughing. "That's my sister." Harry said before Hannah has opened the door.
"What? Nobody messes with my brother and gets away with it." Hannah said, smilling at Harry, and then left.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Harry walked into the Gryffindor common room a week later only to be stopped by Fred and George Weasley.
"Harry! The Quidditch try-outs are in five minutes!" Fred yelled, pulling Harry out of the common room.
"We need a new Keeper." George said as he started naming off players the needed. "And two new Chasers. Angelina's the only Chaser we've got. We're still the Beaters. And your still the Seeker. You're the captain, too. You would have been last year, too, but because of the Triwizard Tournament . . . ." George said, not finishing his sentence. Everyone knew that Harry hated talking about the Triwizard Tournament. The last time someone did, Harry ended up not talking to Ron for a week.
They arrived on the Quidditch feild and already people were flying around. There was Michael Frankfurt, Andrew McLean, and . . . . Ron? Harry ran over to the part of the feild that Ron was flying over, and he heard Fred and George right behind him.
"Ron?" Harry shouted. Ron looked down, smiling, and waved. "What are you doing?"
"Trying out, of course." Ron shouted back. "What else would I be doing?"
"I bet he's just trying to impress Hannah." Fred muttered to George. "Look, there she is." Fred said, pointing to a girl in the air. Harry looked over, and there was Hannah, her eyes fixed on Ron. Hannah was trying out? He looked over the feild, and saw Hermione, also.
"Yeah. Probably." George muttered back. "Let's go sit down and judge them, Fred. Harry, as captain, you have to tell the what to do."
"Okay." Harry nodded to George. He walked over to the middle over the feild and gestured for them all to come down. There was at least nine people that were trying out. He wasn't counting Ron. Ron didn't exactly qualify as a person. "For now, I want you all to just do your best and work things out between yourselves about what position you want to play. Remember, we only need two Chasers and one Keeper." Everyone started to fly into the air, but Harry held Ron back for a second. "I'm not supposed to play favorite's, but good luck, Ron."
"Thanks, Harry." He said before flying off to join the rest off the Gryffindors. Harry smiled at Ron's fying figure and thanked gos that they were best friends again, and then headed off to go sit with Fred and George.
"Got everything under control there, Harry." George asked as Harry sat next to him.
"Yeah. Everything's great." Harry said as he kept smiling at Ron, who kept smiling back.
The afternoon went by very slowly. Harry kept checking his watch to find out that he kept checking it every five minutes. Ron was actually doing a really good job at being a Keeper, but horrible at being a Chaser. Fred and George agreed. He kept on handing the Quaffle off to the other team. Harry knew he wasn't meaning to, but it was still very funny every time he did this. Fred and George kept on laughing at Ron for a least two minutes after he handed it off. Ron caught them once and threw the Quaffle at them. Harry thought this was funnier than Ron handing it the ball off to the wrong people.
Harry thought he couldn't of been happier when try outs had ended. He has already had three near hits with the Quaffle and was actually hit with it once.
"Ron, how's your leg?" Harry asked him as they headed towards Hogwarts.
"It's better. Thanks for helping me with stuff this past week." Ron said, limping his way next to Harry.
"No problem, Ron. It was kind of my fault that your leg got hurt."
"It's not your fault, Harry. How many times do I have to keep on telling you that?" Ron hit Harry in the head with his broomstick, which made Harry lose his balance and fall to the ground, Ron falling right after him, who lost his balance, also. They both started laughing, and George and Fred helped them up.
"You two are really something." Fred said, trying to pull Ron up off the ground, who was purposly trying to make the job harder on him. "Ron, stop it or I'll just let you fall!" Fred said, tugging at Ron with all his might. Ron finally gave up and made the job easier on him.
"Well, thanks, Ron. But no matter what you day, I will still think it's my fault." Harry said, dodging a hit from Ron.
"Stop saying that! Wait a minute! You never told me why you're mad at Siruis, and you've been mad at him for a whole week!" Ron complained.
"Fine, I'll tell you!" Harry said, annoyed. Harry mummbled his next words, thinking he shouldn't have asked Siruis what he did. "I asked him if I could call him dad."
"What, mate?" Ron asked.
"I asked him if I could call him . . . . . call him . . . . ." Harry trailed off, thinking Ron would think he was stupid if he finished his sentence.
"Harry, I won't think you're stupid if you just tell me!" Ron yelled."
"I asked him if I could call him . . . . call him . . . . . " Harry trailed off once again and looked over at Ron. Ron gave him look that said 'I know what you're thinking.'
"You asked him if you could call him dad, didn't you?" Ron said softly. Harry nodded and looked down at his feet, tears stinging his eyes. "It's okay, Harry, I understand. Don't cry, Harry, it will be alright."
"No it won't! He said no! Don't you understand? He's the closest thing I had to a father, and when he said it, he had such a mixture of disgust and pity in his eyes, I just couldn't take it!" Harry screamed. He ran off toward the giant castle and ran into Snuffles. Harry looked at him for a moment and felt a single tear trickle down his cheek. Harry ran off, not looking back, but he knew Snuffles was running after him. Harry ran in his room and locked the door. He could hear Snuffles wining outside, but just ignored him. He finally let lose and cried on his pillow. He heard a click and then the door open. The only other person who had a key to this room was Dumbledore. Harry looked up and saw Dumbledore, Snuffles, and Ron staring at him. Harry laid back in his bed and began to cry again. He felt someone sit next to him and start rubbing his back.
"Go away." Harry said, shrugging off the person next to him.
"Harry, it's me." Ron said, rubbing Harry's back again.
Harry looked up at Snuffles and glared at him. Dumbledore shut the door and Siruis turned back into a man.
"You have no right to be in my room." Harry growled.
"Calm down, Harry! It's going to be okay. I promise." Ron said soothingly. Siruis walked over toward Harry and sat next to him. Harry scooted over, not wanting to be too close to Siruis.
"Harry, I'm sorry."
"No you're not!"
"Yes, I am."
"No! You just pity me!"
"Harry, calm down!"
"See! You don't even deny it!"
"Harry -"
"Get out of my room!"
"Harry -"
"NOW!"
Siruis just stared at Harry, then got up and left, Dumbledore following.
"Harry, don't you think you eing just a smidge too hard on Siruis?" Ron asked him.
"No." Harry cried. "Ron, I don't know if I can keep to my side of the deal or not." Harry started crying in Ron's shirt, unable to stop himself.
Ron rubbed Harry's back. "You will, Harry. I know you will."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The next day Harry posted the people who made the cut. Harry picked the people he tought were the best, Angelina pickeed people that she thought had good heart, and Fred and George picked people who they thought would help the beat Slytherin. The final postings were:
"Hermione Granger - Chaser, Angel MacCartney - back up Keeper, Andrew McLean - Chaser, Hannah Potter - back up Chaser, Ronald Weasley - Keeper. " Ron read as soon as Harry had posted it. "Wow! Thanks, Harry!"
"No problem, Ron. You were the best as a Keeper." Harry said as they walked out of the common room. "Angel was the second best, and since she's my sisters best friend, she a back up Keeper, incase you get sick and can't go to a game. And I couldn't say no to Hannah. She really did try. So if a Chaser can't come to the game for any reason, she's the back up."
"That way the people you care about don't get left out."
"Exactly."
"Hey, Harry, do you think Hermione has checked it, yet?"
"I don't know, Ron. Do you think she'll be happy that you two made it on the team?" Harry asked, excitment in his voice.
"I think she'll be happy she made it on the team, but not happy that she has less time to get her studies done. You know she already complains about that."
"Yeah. But if she doesn't want to be on the team, Hannah can always take her spot.
"She will not!" Came the voice of a very happy Hermine from behind them. "I'll just have to make time for practice and my studies. You do. And so does George. And he's going to have more on his plate to deal with this year. Him being Head Boy and all."
"Whatever you say, Hermione." Ron said, rolling his eyes.
"Okay. So have you figured out when we're going to practice, Harry?" Hermione said, ignoring Ron.
"Yes, but I can't tell you yet."
"Why not?" Ron said, sonding offended.
"Because. I'll tell you when I tell the rest of the team tonight. At our meeting?" Harry added as he saw the confused looks on their faces. "Even back ups have to come. It was on the sheet of the people who made the cut, and I already told everyone else when we were trying to figure who would be on the team. You know, Hermione, you barely made it on the team."
"Why?"
"Fred and George thought that Michael Frankfurt might be a better choice. They didn't think you'd be aggrestive enough."
"What? Just because he's a boy."
"No because you're . . . . . . .Well, Hermione . . . . . you're . . . .you're Hermione. You're not aggresive." Ron laughed.
"Humph!" Hermione said. She walked off backwards, glaring at Ron. She wasn't watching where she was going and tripped over a something lying on the floor.
"Hermione!" Harry yelled as him and Ron ran over to her. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Hey! What's this?" Hermione asked as she pickeed up the book she tripped over. "I wonder what a book is doing, lying on the floor like that."
"Does it have a name?" Ron asked.
"I don't know." Hermione flipped it over. "Yes. It's called, " She said in a confused voice, " 'The Big Book of Prophesy's'. Interesting."
"There's a bookmark in it." Harry said as Hermione handed the book to him. "And there's a prophesy underlined." Harry read : " 'The boy - who - lived shall defeat all evil with the help of his sister by his side.' "
Ron and Hermione just stared at Harry while he just stared at the book. Harry dropped the book and fainted.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Ron walked into the Hospital Wing the next day to visit Harry. He didn't know if he was awake yet, because when Ron came to visit Harry an hour ago, he was still passed out. Ron just hoped he didn't go into another coma again.
"Harry! You're awake!" Ron yelled as he ran to Harry's side. "How long have you been awake?"
"Since you left an hour ago. I saw your red hair leave the room." Harry and Ron laughed.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. I was just really shocked."
"Yeah. That was weird."
"Tell me about it."
"Do you really want me to?"
"No, you hollowhead."
"Hey! Only George can call me that!"
"Okay, okay. I'm sorry, Ron."
"It's okay, Harry. It doesn't bug me much."
"Then why'd you say only George can call you that."
"Because only George can."
"Whatever."
"When is Madam Pomfrey letting you go?"
"She says that Dumbledore wants to talk to me at 10:00, and that she's not letting me go a second before."
"That sounds like Madam Pomfrey."
"Yeah. But you know what's even more funny?"
"No. What?"
"Hannah was just telling me that, wait. You remember that dream I had at your house?"
"Yeah, so?"
"It came true."
"My poor Hannah!"
"Yeah, whatever. But anyway, Dumbledore took her here, and before Madam Pomfrey let her go, she had to make sure that Hannah was okay, and guess what she muttered?"
"What." Ron said, really sowing interest now.
" She said 'Just like your brother' , and then let her go. I mean, jezz, thanks! That makes me feel so special!" Ron laughed at him and Harry hit him. "Ron, our first Quidditch match is in a few weeks."
"I know! Isn't it exciting? I'm so nervous!"
"Why? It's only a Quidditch game."
"Maybe it's only a Quidditch game to you, but it's so much more to me! I'm actually on the House Team this year!"
"Yeah, thanks to me."
"Why thanks to you?"
"Nevermind. It's not important." Ron started to open his mouth but Harry cut him off. "Oh, no. The meeting was last night. I got to go ask Madam Pomfrey if she can let me go soon, so I can arrange another meeting for the team." Harry got out of bed and headed toward Madam Pomfrey's office. Ron just stared after him, confused.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Gryffindor House Quidditch Team practiced for hours on end until they could practice nomore. They got up at six in the morning until classes, and from after classes until it was too dark to see. Finally, the day came for first Quidditch match of the season: Gryffindor vs. Slytherin. The team was very nervous, but Harry had full convidence in them.
"Now, team, we've practiced and trained out newcomers roughly! We had given all we've got into practice!" Harry yelled right in the locker room before their Quidditch match. "We can't let Slytherin defeat us!"
"Yeah!" Yelled the team, Ron and Hermione the loudest. Harry smiled at them and they smiled back.
"We are too good to be defeated by Slytherins! And I'm not just talking about Quidditch, either!"
"Yeah!"
"Okay, team! Let's go!" The team cheered and they headed out to the feild.
"Great speech, Harry!" Ron said as the walked to the center together.
"Yeah. It was awsome." Hermine agreed, smiling at Harry.
"Thanks, guys. I just made it off the top of my head just now." They all started laughing until they saw Malfoy. He didn't look to good. He was bruised and limping.
"I wonder what happened to Malfoy?" Harry asked.
"Bill did say something about hurting Malfoy again, but I didn't think he would actually do it." Ron laughed.
"Well, he deserved it for trying to harm you too. He almost killed Harry and almost paralized you."
"True."
"By the way, how is your leg?" Harry asked Ron. His leg should have healed by now, but he was still limping.
"It's not healed yet. I'm supposed to go down to see Madam Pomfrey today about it. And guess what? Snape suggested it. He actually seemed worried when he askeed what was wrong with my leg, and I told him it was strangely broken and Madam Pomfrey wanted to heal it the rest of the way like muggles do. Then he asked me how long it's been broke, and I said about a month. Then he said to go straight to Madam Pomfrey after the match."
"Snape? Actually caring about a Gryffindor?" Harry asked, amazed.
"Wow. That's really something, Ron." Hermione agreed.
"I know. Then he saw the suprised look on my face, and he said 'Don't llok so amazed, Mr. Weasley. I do care some about my students. Even if they are in Gryffindor.' It was really scarey. I didn't know that Snape cared for anyone exsept for Slytherins!"
"Well, he did try to save Harry in a Quidditch match in our first year." Hermione stated very matter - of - factly.
"Yeah, just because he was repaying my father." Harry said grumply.
"Yes, but that's not the point." Hermione stated again. "Let's go, or they'll start without us."
"They wouldn't. I'm they captain! And the Seeker!"
"And I'm the Keeper! Though they don't really need you, Hermione. They've got alread two others in your position. And if we need three, they can just bring in Hannah!"
"Oh, yeah? Well they can just bring in Angel for your postion!"
"Lets just go!" Harry said, flying in the air with the others, looking for the snitch. Ron and Hermione rose, too. Ron flew off to the goal posts, and Hermione around, looking to see who had the Quaffle.
Lee Jordan was announcing for the last year in his life at Hogwarts. It was so sad. "And Slytherin in possesion. They make the throw and - Oh! Nice save by Gryffindor Keeper, Ronald Weasley! Gryffindor in possesion, Granger makes the throw - Oh! Nice save by Slytherin Keeper, Crystal Glass!" 'What did she say?' Harry thought. He was so mad. And one look at Hannah and Angel in the stands said they weren't too happy, either. Suddenly, Harry saw Draco dive and dived right after him. "Slytherin Seeker, Draco Malfoy, along with Gryffindor Seeker, Harry Potter, are racing for the Snitch! It's going to be a close one, folks." Everything and everyone stopped. Hermione and Ron were staring at Harry, catching his every move. "Draco Malfoy caught - no. He missed the snitch. Ow! That had to hurt!" Malfoy had pushed Harry, which made him slam into a house post. It did hurt. He saw someone racing towards him. He squinted through his broken glasses and saw that it was Hermione.
"Harry! Are you okay?" She called from the air. Harry hurt to much to speak. Hermione must've noticed this because she raced down to the patch of dirt that Harry was now laying on.
"You . . .have . . .to . . .go . . .finish-"
"No, Harry, it will be alright. Angelina is a great Chaser. It will be okay."
"No." Harry tried to get up but Hermione pushed him back down.
"Someone's coming. Lay still."
"No!" Harry said, getting up a getting back on his broom. He flew off into the air but could still hear Hermione yelling after him.
"Potter! Get back here! Now!" Harry ignored her and looked over at Ron. He was doing really well. At least that's what Harry thought.
"Oh no! Another Slytherin score! The score now reads: Gryffindor: 90, Slytherin: 160." Harry was feeling lightheaded. He flew around, trying to find the Snitch, but couldn't see it anywhere, for his vision was blury. The next thing he knew everything went dark.
"Harry!" Hermione and Ron yelled. Hermione rushed over to Harry's falling figure, but Ron knew better than to leave the posts. Hermione missed catching Harry, but Ron was relieved when he saw that George had caught him and was bringing him down to safety. The game ended as Malfoy caught the Snitch, and Ron rushed down to Harry's side. Hermione was still there, tears in her eyes.
"I told him not to get back on his broom! He could have serioulsy hurt himself!"
"Good thing that George was there then, eh?" Ron said softly as he approched Hermione, Harry and George. "Thanks George." Ron said, never taking his eyes of Harry.
"Ron, he'll be okay." George said, hugging his little brother. "I promise that everything will be fine."
"I know." Ron said. "But it was like he wanted that to happen. It was like he was breaking the deal." Ron said, now crying into George's shoulder. George held him tighter to himself. He hated it when Ron was sad. And whenever he was sad, it was mostly because of something Harry did. Harry had a bad influence on his brother. At least he did in George's opinion. Do get him wrong, he thinks Harry's a great kid, but he's made Ron more upset than anyone in his 15 year old life. And in George's opinion, that wasn't a good friend. He had to do something about these two being best friends.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Harry awoke two hours later. What had happened? Where was he? He looked around at the very familiar surroundings. He was in the Hospital Wing. He looked t his side and saw Ron and Hermione staring at him. What had happened? Why do they look so sad?
"Ron? Hermione?" Harry said, getting up.
"No, Harry, you need to lay down." Hermione commanded, pushing him back down on his bed.
"But -"
"No, Harry. Hermione's right." Ron said, pushing him down. Harry finally gave up and laid back down. Why were his friends treating him this way? What was going on?
"What happened?"
"Quidditch game. Malfoy pushed you into a house post, but you wanted to get back on your broom. Then less than two minutes, you had fainted up in the air and George caught you before you hit the ground."
"Oh. Wonderful. It's all coming back now."
"You asked, so I told." Ron said, shrugging.
"I know. Did we win?"
"No."
"Oh." Harry fell back into his bed.
"Harry, you're starting to look kind of pail." Ron said, feeling Harry's forehead.
"Yeah." Hermione agreed, feeling his cheeks and neck.
"Get off!" Harry said, swatting their hands away.
"Sorry." Hermione said, laughing. Ron started to laugh, too.
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing." Hermione said, laughing still.
"Tell me!"
"Okay, Harry. Calm down." Ron said, also still laughing. "It's just the way that a got annoyed. I don't know. Now it seems fairly stupid."
"I agree!" Harry shouted. This just made Hermione and Ron laugh even more. "Oh my god." Harry sighed.
"We're sorry, Harry." Ron said, controling his laughter. Hermione did the same. "We'll stop laughing."
"Okay, good."
"Good?"
"Yes, good." Harry said, staring at Ron. Ron stared back. "You two are really weird."
"Thanks." Ron said, smiling at Harry. By the way he was acting, you'd think that Harry had told him that he liked his outfit. Siruis walked in suddenly. Harry's heart sank as he saw the pained look on his face.
"Harry -"
"Siruis, let me talk first. Sit." Harry said, pushing Ron off his chair. Ron hit Harry over the head. Siruis luaghed.
"I think I'm good." Siruis said, still laughing at the look on Ron's face.
"Anyway, I'm sorry for getting mad you over such a stupid thing."
"Harry -"
"No. Let me finish. It wasn't mature, and I shouldn't've asked you such a horrible question."
"Harry, I was about to say that I've changed my mind. You never really knew James, and I love you like a son. I'm sure James wouldn't mind."
"And I love you like a father, Siruis. That's why I asked you. But you mean it?"
"Of course I mean it." Siruis smiled at Harry and then hugged him.
"Awwwww. How cute!" Ron said. Harry smacked him on the head. Sirius just stared at Ron. "What?" Harry rolled his eyes at Ron.
"What's going on?" Hermione asked, totally and completely comfused. Harry forgot that no one had told her about Siruis and Harry's argument.
"Well, a few weeks ago, well more like a month ago, Harry asked me if I could call him dad." Hermione looked at Harry in amazement. "At first I said no because of James -"
"Well I should think so." Hermione interrupted.
"- But I changed my mind. He can."
Hermione looked like she had been Petrified at the news. "What? You're joking, right?"
"No." Hermione fainted and Ron caught her.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The next day Harry was allowed to leave, but the day still wasn't going great. Ron had been pulled away by the rest of the Weasleys, Hermione, Hannah, Angel, and Crystal were off doing something, and Harry was all alone.
So he walked through the school, hoping to run into someone he knew. Maybe he would go visit Hagrid? He walked up to Hagrid's Hut and knocked on the door.
"Who's there?" Hagrid said, walking up to the door. He opened it and smiled. "Harry! Lond time no see!"
"Sorry about that." Harry said, hugging Hagrid and walking into the hut. He was suprised when he saw Oliver Wood sitting at Hagrid's table.
"Don't want no one to find him." Hagrid said, sitting next to Wood.
"Why not?" Harry askeed, confused.
"Because. I was banned from Hogwarts." Wood said, smiling.
"Why?"
"Let's just say I did something I shouldn't have in the last week of my Seventh Year and I got caught by Snape." He smiled at Harry and Harry smiled back. "So, I here your the captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team thid year."
"Yeah."
Wood stopped smiling. "I also heard you lost your first game. Gryffindor vs. Slytherin."
"Yeah. Look, Wood, we trained the new players really good, I don't -"
"Calm down, Harry." Wood smiled and shook his head. "I think I know what the problem is."
"What?"
"Your tean is really good, no doubt about that, the new players are trained well, and the new practices a lot."
"How did you know that."
"First of all, they got you for a captain, don't they? Second, I saw. I've been here since the beginning of the year. Don't worry, Dumbledore knows."
"Oh."
"I think your team just doesn't have the heart to win."
"Really? Me too. So what should I do about that."
"Put them through an all - Quidditch related course. If they can't hack up enough heart to get through that course, they won't hack up enough heart to win."
"I see."
"Also, if they can't make it through the course, kick them off the team. I'll help out."
"I'll go tell Dumbledore so no one else shows up on the feild." Hagrid said, getting up to leave.
"Thanks, Hagrid."
"Don't metion it, Oliver. My pleasure." Then Hagrid left.
"Wood? What kind of course?"
"I'm thinking that while one person is doing one thing, another is doing another thing. We'll have four parts to the course, one for every position. While one person is working Keeper, two will be working Chaser, one will be working Seeker, and two Beater."
"What will they have to do, exactly?"
"Leave it all up to me, Harry."
"Okay."
"I'll work on a game plan. Go tell the team to meet me here at two o'clock. Okay?"
"Alright."
Harry left to go find everyone. He found George first. He was sitting near the fire in the common room.
"Um, George?"
"Yes, Harry?"
"Meet Wood in Hagrid's Hut at two."
"Wood?"
"Yeah. But keep it quiet. Wood's not suposed to be here. Go find Fred, Andrew, and Angelina to inform them. I'll inform Angel, Hermione, Hannah, and Ron. Okay?"
"Okay."
They left to find everyone. Harry walked dwon the corridors, searching for anyone he could find. Where was everyone? Finally, he found Hannah and Angel, but Hermione was no where in sight.
"Where's Hermione?" Harry asked as he approached Angel, Hannah, and Crystal.
"She walked off with this really cute guy." Crystal answered.
"Why?" Angel asked. Her and Crystal started looking at Harry in disgust.
"Because." Harry said, confused. "Hannah, can I talk to you for a second?"
"Sure." As soon as they were in a place far enough away from Angel and Crystal, Harry asked her something that's been on his chest for a while.
"Are you friends off their rocker?"
"Excuse me? I don't understand what you're asking."
"Sorry. I forgot you're from America. Are your friends, I don't know, crazy?"
"No! Why would you say that?" Hannah laughed. "Though they might be . . . . "
"Because they always stare at me like I just came from a swim in the trash dump."
"Oh! That!" Hannah laughed. "It's no big deal!"
"Well, why do they stare at me like that?"
"Well, they just think that you're cheating on Ginny with Hermione. That's all." Then she walked off.
"Shesh. She talks about it like it's no big deal. He watched the three of them start to walk of and remembered why he was there. "Wait! Hannah, Angel!" They turned around and stared at him. He felt really stupid. "Meet the rest of the Quidditch team out on the feild today st two!" Then they walked off and he followed suit in the opposite direction.
Harry and Hermione? He couldn't even imagine. The thought was to sick to think of. Where was everyone? He walked down the halls and turned a corner only to find Ron in the middle of a big crowed called the Weasleys.
"Ron! I need to talk to you!" Harry said, running over to him. Ron looked happy to be pullen away from his family, who looked mad to have him pullen away from them.
"Thank god you're here, Harry! They were sufocating me! What is it?" Ron smiled at Harry, confusion in his face. Harry slid down the wall and put his head in his arms, and Ron sat dwon next to him. "Harry?" Ron sounded concerned.
"My sister's friends hate me."
"Why do you say that?"
"They think I'm cheating on Ginny with Hermione. Do you think that?"
"Harry, if I thought that, you and Hermione wouldn't be my friends anymore." Harry looked up and smiled at Ron. "That seems like kind of a stupid thing to be upset about."
"Wood's back, too."
"Wood? What's he doing back?"
"I don't know. All I know is that you have to meet him on the Quidditch feild at two today."
"Why?"
"You'll see when you get there."
"Okay." Ron said, confused.
"Do you know where Hermione is?" Harry asked, exsausted.
"No, Harry, I don't." Harry put his head back in his arms. Ron tapped him on the head. "But we can go look for her together."
"Really?" Harry mumbled into his arms.
"Yeah. Plus, I'll do anything to get away from them." Harry looked up and saw Ron pointing to the Weasleys, whom all were looking at Harry with concerned looks on their faces.
"Okay, let's go." Harry said, getting up, and helping Ron up, too. They started to walk away and looked back at the Weasleys. They haven't moved toward them at all. In fact, they had started walking off in different directions, hopefully going home.
Harry and Ron walked down the corridors, looking for Hermione. It was like she had just disappeared. They started to check the classrooms, hoping Hermione might be in one of them, but no luck so far.
"Where could she have gotten off to?" Ron asked, as they headed back toward Gryffindor common room.
"Don't know. She couldn't have gotten far. When I ran into my sister and her stupid friends, they had said that Hermione had run off with some guy."
"I wonder who?"
"Me too. You don't think the same thing that happened to Hannah happened to Hermione, do you?"
"No."
"How do you know?"
"Look." Harry looked in the direction that Ron was looking, only because of the terrified look on his face. Hermione was in one of the classrooms they overlooked because it was old and aways smelt horrible. Perfect place to hide if you wanted to make - out with someone. She was sitting on a desk, her lips locked with Fred Weasley.
"Wasn't he with you and the rest of your family?"
"No. We didn't know where he trailed off to, so we started talking wthout him."
"Oh." Harry walked in the room and Hermione looked up and gasped.
"Um, Harry, hi. N - n - nice to see you." Hermione stuttered, talking unuasually fast. Ron stepped in the room and Fred nearly fainted. "Has George found either of you yet?"
Fred spoke up first. "I ran into him right before I found Hermione. He already told me about Wood and two o'clock."
"What about Wood and two o'clock?" Hermione asked, confused. Harry rolled his eyes and was amazed that Fred hadn't already told her. On the other hand, they were probably too busy kissing to say much.
"Wood's back. And the whole team needs to meet him out on the Quidditch feild at two o'clock."
"What time is it now?" Hermione said, eying Ron's watch. Ron sighed and checked it.
"One fifty."
"One fifty?" Harry asked, panicking. Everyone rushed out of the classroom and up to their rooms to get their Quidditch robes and broomsticks. They meet in the Quiddtich feild and Harry was happy to see that everyone else was there. Wood stepped out onto the feild in his old Quidditch robes and holding his old broomstick.
"Everyone listen up! We are going to do a course today! Anyone who cannot complete the whole course is going to going to get kicked off the team and replaced by someone else. Don't worry, Potter has agreed. Actually, before we start i would like to have a talk with you, Potter. The rest of you talk amongst yourselves." Harry started to walk up to Wood but Ron help with back. Hannah and Hermione walked up, too, and Hannah hit Harry on the head.
"How could you agree to something like that?" Ron asked.
"Anything for the team, right?" Harry asked followed by a nervous laugh. The three of the glared at him. Obviously they didn't get it. Harry ignored them and walked up to Wood.
"Now, Harry, about the course, I've got it all planned out."
"Okay. What's the plan?"
"There will be four parts of the course that everyone must accomplish, one part for each position on the team."
"Okay."
"People will be playing on each course all at the same time. Three Beaters will have to beat off more than just two Bludgers -"
"Don't you think that's a little dangerous?"
"No. Not at all. Anyway, One Seeker will be having to catch eight out of ten differnetly sized balls that you will be throwing into the air."
"Me? Why me?"
"You're the captain and the curent Seekeer."
"Oh."
"Then one Keeper with have to gaurd the goal posts, while three Chasers try to get past the Seeker. There will be twenty chances for the Chasers to score. They must score at least ten times all together, but at least three times each, and the Keeper must save at least six balls. Do you agree with everything?"
"Um . . . . . "
"Great. Also, we're going to rotate, so courses like Chaser and Beater, you have to do three times. You can't miss any of the times."
"That's kind of mean, isn't it?"
"Not at all. Listen, I'm going to go tell the team. You station yourself at the far end of the feild with these balls." Wood handed him a sack filled with differently sized balls, just like he said, and an empty sack.
"What's the extra sack for?"
(A/N: I had to delete some stuff from this chapter because I typed up too much on this page. My chapter is going to be extended. Some important stuff is in this chapter, so chech back regularly for the extention. Thanx. Wuv Alwayz, ~Hannah~)
