Author's Note!
I am sadly almost in tears today... okay not really... but my favorite story on fanfiction.net BEING FOR
THE BENEFIT FOR MR. WOOD has ended!! Nooo! At least there will be epilogues. God, I even found
out I'm the first guy to read it. Woohoo. Thank you to the new reviewers btw.
Coming soon–
This story should be done by– around the third week this month. I am writing two to three chapters A
DAY so it is going fast. Look forward to a story I will most likely be writing called Little Shop Around
the Corner about Hermione Granger owning a shop in Diagon Alley and the many men who hit on her.
Deciding that she will never find a decent person to date, she makes a pact with herself and her
girlfriends that she will not date ever again.
I would like to write a comedy/romance... I would put it in the romance category because more people
read that than humourous stuff. So yes... I think that's what I will do.
OH, and look beyond, people who want a R rated chapter... It is coming– yes, it is coming.
.~,~
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The Best and Worst of Gryffindor
Friday came quickly– Ron had stayed with his brothers the previous day... and Harry had
never gotten around to patching up his relationship with Ginny, IF in fact it was at all suffering, or if
she was going through a "I want sex now" period. Harry unfortunately, did not want sex because he
had just become sixteen a month ago and Ginny was only fifteen.
He would think about her in the common room, as she talked to her friends. Then he found
himself thinking something else. Pondering the time if they broke up. She was sex-craved and
turbulent. He had landed himself a feisty woman. She was sweet and attractive, sure... but– no... she
wasn't a keeper. He couldn't see himself with her. They were moving too fast. He didn't want a
girlfriend anymore.
He jumped up. What was he doing!? His feet were dragging him to Ginny.
"BREAK UP WITH HER!" his head pounded.
"FUCK OFF!" Harry muttered, irritated.
"SHE'LL WANT TO FUCK YOU SOON!" his head yelled at him.
Harry hit himself in the stomach as people began looking at him. Ginny was approaching
him... he was dangerous.
"Harry?" Ginny said and forced him to stay put with her hands on his shoulders.
"What?" Harry asked dizzily.
"We need to– talk."
He feared it... the word 'talk'. Oh no! She was breaking up with him! But it was his job to do
that. She sat him down in a bean bag chair.
"I'm sorry if I freaked you out this morning. I am just... well-- I dunno, charged and I want to
say–"
"Break up with me!" Harry said brilliantly. "Break up with me, damnit!"
"Excuse me?" Ginny said, her voice rising.
"I can't take it! TOO young! Just break up... if you don't do it then I will! BREAK UP WITH
ME..........
Harry shot up, snoozing in the Gryffindor common room while people talked around him.
Hermione was slapping him in face.
"Wake up... hello? Anyone there? You have Quidditch Class!"
"Ginny?" he asked and fell atop Hermione. She screamed for help and started flaring her arms
up and down. "Ginny? I loooovvee you!" Harry said as he began kissing Hermione all over her neck.
"Harry! Get off!" Hermione said and pushed him off of her by kneeing him in the crotch. Harry
moaned in agony.
"Listen bud. I am Hermione Granger, not Ginny Weasley!" Harry began to sniff and cry. "Oh
for God's sakes. What is wrong?"
"I don't know if I should dump Ginny!" he cried.
Hermione lifted him up and began to choke him. "IF YOU DUMP HER, I'LL MURDER YOU!"
"WHAT!?" Harry yelled, scared.
"I didn't say anything," Hermione said, her hands not on Harry's throat but down on your
side.
"Look at this! I am a schizo!" Harry slapped himself. "There are voices in my head!"
"Have you been drinking Harry?" Hermione asked.
"Just a margarita... or two... maybe three okay, four–" Harry said convincingly.
"Is that the truth?" Hermione asked.
"Okay! Fine, around six– no seven, wait, I had an eighth one. Yeah... eight."
"Why are you drinking?" Hermione demanded.
"Ginny scares me! I don't know if I want her to be with me or not! Were too– too sexual and
were young!" Harry explained as became a bit more aware of everything around him. Margarita was
wearing off.
"Did you see me and Mark? Now, that was sexual! He wants sex all the time for some dumb
reason– 'Have sex with me Hermione! I can't do my homework!' or 'My hand itches, wanna have sex?'
SO don't go complaining Harry Potter. Just put your relationship on hold."
This was a good idea. Maybe they should... at least until after January or so. Harry was very
psychotic at the moment.
"You need to go, Harry! Quidditch starts in ten minutes. Ron and Ginny all ready left!"
"Wait, Hermione!" Harry said. The margarita aftershock was gone. "Find out from Ginny if
she's mad at me, okay?" Hermione nodded.
"Oh, screw this. I'm breaking up with Mark!" Hermione decided abruptly. She jumped up and
walked over to him. She shouted his name and told him to follow her to the wall.
Harry could not lip read, but Hermione was definitely not breaking bad news to him, because
all of a sudden, she started kissing him. Mark picked her up and started running of the stairs to the
boys dormitory. He entered the room, Harry could see, and kicked out two guys who were playing
wizard chess. The door slammed and locked.
"Wow, amazing Hermione. Perfect break-up!" Hermione shook his head in disappointment as
he ran out of the common room in a hurry to get to Quidditch.
He made it to class just in time. The last person had just walked in. Harry took a seat next to
Ron, which was two seats from Ginny. She did not say hello or notice Harry at all.
"We will be going out to the new Quidditch Field today!" Madam Hooch said. "A captain will be
arranged on the Gryffindor team so that both teams can have Quidditch try-outs properly which will
be held at the beginning of September... Quidditch season will start in October. Now, without further
ado, please follow us down to the field."
Madam Hooch and Professor McGonagall walked out of the room, everyone getting up to
follow them. They went down many staircases to the bottom floor which was off limits to everyone. It
was being transformed into a sort of meeting area... with the house colors decorating the area.
"This room will be used in case of emergencies, or for Quidditch meetings, and more teacher
conferences or to mingle with the other houses," Professor McGonagall said. "It is not quite done yet.
This way please."
Everyone walked to the back of the room which had a large door, at least fifteen feet tall and
ten feet across. Professor McGonagall opened it to reveal an amazing place. There was a Forbidden
Forest, Hagrid's Hut right next to it. A lake was to the right with enough room for acres and anything
you wanted to do. And straight ahead was an amazing Quidditch Field with changing quarters to the
east.
"One hundred acres..." McGonagall said proudly.
"But how?" a boy asked from Ravenclaw. "The Ministry doesn't even have a backyard!"
"This was very complicated to build... but how? In case you haven't noticed, the sky isn't
real."
Everyone looked up, this was true! It blended in with a very huge ceiling. The sky was
enchanted to look like the weather outside!
"We are built underground," Madam Hooch reminded. "So therefore, THIS is build
underground."
"Wouldn't pipes be destroyed and stuff like that?" Ginny asked. "There are tons of shops
around us!"
"We are built six stories underground... that is over 90 feet underground... plus– some stories
are larger! The Great Hall is over forty feet in height which makes us 130 feet underground right
now."
It was truly amazing. One hundred acres, one hundred thirty feet underground.
"Try-outs to replace missing positions on your team will start in September. The new
Gryffindor captain is of course, Harry Potter, since he has been on the team longest," Professor
McGonagall said and winked at him. Harry's heart leapt. He was the new captain! Just like the brilliant
Oliver Wood!
"The class today was only this, so you all can make your way back to your dormitories. Next
Monday and Friday, we DO have classes," Madam Hooch reminded and with that, the doors to the
outside of Affotts were closed.
September came slowly. Classes were boring and treacherous. Harry, Ron, and Hermione
found themselves under piles of homework of which even Hermione could get done. She had broken
up with Mark after a long make-out session. He was fairly unhappy looking after that.
Harry had asked Ginny if they could go on hold for a while. She agreed and hugged him. They
were just friends at the moment. At least Harry was not having dreams or thoughts about Katherine.
She told him she would be trying for Chaser though. Harry was now captain of the Quidditch team
and had kicked off the two beaters to McGonagall's support.
There was no news of Umbridge at all OR of Voldemort's return which was odd. It was
probably only a matter of time before an unexpected attack happened.
Soon enough, the try-outs came. Harry made his way down to the Quidditch field to set things
up. He had clipboards for Ron, Ginny and himself set up in front of their seats. By noon, people were
lining up outside the field, trying to be the first to audition and hopefully make the team. The
atmosphere was not tense but very joyful as more and more kids showed up. It seemed that by 1:00,
the whole Gryffindor house had shown up.
Ginny arrived with Ron and Ginny. Hermione was just there to watch. They each took their
seats. Harry took out his wand from his jean's pocket.
"Sonorous!" he said and his voice boomed over the stadium. "First person please!" A scared
looking boy walked out onto the field. "Name?"
"FIDELUS MONKERS!" the boy yelled uncertainly. "I'M TRYING OUT FOR BEATER!"
Harry nodded to Ron who whipped his wand. A box, floating in mid air, opened up but nothing
flew out.
"Get ready to hit the Bludgers. Use the bat that you got when you first got out here," Harry
instructed. "3...2...1–!"
"Go!" Ron whispered an a Bludger zoomed out of the box, but stayed put. Ron had his wand
raised and moved it to the left. The Bludger followed. Ron flung it up and down as the little boy
mounted his broom and took off into the air. Ginny marked down some points on her sheet attached
to the clipboard for 'Taking off very well.'
Ron flung his wand straight at the boy and the Bludget whizzed demonically towards him.
"AHHHHHHHHHHH!!" the boy screamed and flung the bat in the air, but it circled around and
he hit himself in the face instead. If this wasn't enough, the Bludger was still moving... courtesy of
Ron talking to Hermione and not paying attention... and he accidentally slammed the ball right into
the boy's broom, snapping it in half and flinging the boy into the air without anything to hold onto and
right onto the grass.
Madam Promfrey ran onto the field screaming at Harry, Ron, and Ginny. "BE LUCKY I'M HERE!
I KNEW THIS WILL BE A DISASTER!" she felt the boy's leg. "A BROKEN BONE!"
"He's out," Ginny said and all three of them marked on their tryout sheets, ignoring the school
nurse.
Many more kids followed in catastrophes after that. Some crashed into the field goal posts,
looking for the Snitch. Others slammed into each other when auditioning for Chasers in trios.
"You know how to play Chaser, right Ginny?" Ron asked once again for the fifth time that day.
"Yes, Ron! God, I practice it all the time!" she guaranteed him with a disgruntled look on her
face.
The players got worse and worse... but then– there was a pick-up in talent. It was Katherine.
She walked onto the field with two other people that Harry did not know. Ginny squealed though.
"That's my friend! She didn't tell me she was going out for the team!"
Ginny's friend, Monica, was the black girl Harry had seen in the hall before. She rose into the
air with Katherine and another girl who no one recognized.
"Here's the Quaffle!" Harry yelled and Ron flung his wand into the air (the Quaffle following his
wand's movements) and right into Katherine's outstretched hands. "Just toss the ball around a bit...
your on the same team. Pass to each other, score... and so forth... ready? Go!"
Katherine dove down and threw it up to Monica who sped to the goal post and flung it into the
top hoop. The Quaffle fell once it had reached through and the anonymous girl accelerated to it and
caught it as it almost had reached the ground.
She flung it in the air almost twenty feet to Katherine who threw it over her head to Monica.
She spiraled downwards and heaved the ball at the other girl who shot up to the hoops and merely
tapped it in.
As if this wasn't impressive enough, Katherine performed an extraordinary feat. Monica shot
right at her with the Quaffle. Katherine STOOD on her broom as it flew.
Monica had the Quaffle in her hand.
They were speeding right at each other. Harry leaned on the edge of his seat. Ron gaped.
Hermione screamed.
Katherine jumped off her broom forward, performing a flip, and grabbed the Quaffle out of
Monica's hand. Katherine caught her broom handle with her free hand as she landed. She was
hanging on as her broom sped forward towards the goal post.
She propped a leg over the side of the broom and hoisted herself into flying position just in
time to pull upwards as her broom end crashed into the pole.
"Umm... that's enough," Harry said in amazement.
All three girls flew to the ground. Ron shakily used his wand to put the Quaffle back in the
box. When they had left the field, Harry took the echo off his voice.
"Woah," he said simply. "Katherine is on the team, no question about it."
"What about Monica?" Ginny asked. "She was great. Then again, so was the other girl."
"Were putting all three of them on the team," Harry said. "But one of them has to be a
Beater."
Quidditch try-outs ended at 5:00, just in time for everyone to make dinner. Harry wanted to
take a quick shower, so he hurried quickly to the Gryffindor changing room. There were seven lockers
side by side on one wall and a bulletin board hung up on the brick red painted wall. There were
individual showers in the back. He walked towards them speedily, because he still had to get some
dinner before discussing with everyone who would be on the team.
He stripped down and got inside. Hot water poured atop him. Suddenly, he heard a door slam
shut. He locked the latch on his shower door.
"Harry?" a voice rang out from the other room.
"In the shower!" Harry shouted back. "Who is it?"
"It's Ginny!"
Harry's eyes widened. Please don't barge into the shower, he thought. "Okay, well, do you
need to talk now?"
"Yes... remember how I told you that my birthday was at the end of the month?"
Harry had forgotten completely. It was in August and it was now September. Harry shut the
water off and wrapped a towel around his waist. He stepped out of the shower and walked into the
other room.
"I'm so sorry, Ginny!" Harry said. "It's just no one talked about it."
"I know. I was just going to tell you that everyone is throwing a party for me tomorrow night.
Be there all right?"
She stared at his chest and then gradually turned away. Harry wouldn't let this happen
though. He called her name.
"Yeah?" she asked.
"Do you want something special?" he asked her. "For your birthday that is..."
Ginny grinned. "Whatever you do is fine, Harry." They did not kiss or hug each other, but
Ginny simply left the room. He was going to do something very nice for her, even if they were on
break.
Harry hurried into dinner and grabbed a potato to put some butter and salt and pepper on.
"So, who's on the team?" Harry asked Ron. "I want Katherine, Monica, and that other girl, I
believe it was Sandra right?"
Ron nodded as he drank some juice.
"There were very talented," Hermione agreed. "But aren't there only two spots for Chaser?"
Harry shook his head. "Yeah... so I'm going to put Sandra as Beater. She has enough pizzaz."
"And what about Beater?" Ron questioned. "There was that one guy who hit off every freaking
Bludger. How about him? His name was Kyler. He's on there for sure."
"That's what I was thinking," Harry replied. "Let's go find Ginny and ask her if the people we
picked is fine."
They found her in the common room. Ginny agreed with every pick. A party had started in the
area. It was a glorious Friday night. No homework... just a party! Dean and Seamus had kidnaped the
Snitch and released it around the room. It flew swiftly and occasionally collided with the wall.
Hermione was creating a huge banner with her wand that said GRYFFINDOR QUIDDITCH TEAM
RESULTS.
A podium had been created for Harry, Ron, and Ginny. People had generously donated many
snacks to have a feast. The fires were warm. The couches were occupied. Ginny stepped up on the
podium to speak.
"Okay, okay!" she said excitedly. "This is the moment you've all been waiting for. Almost all of
you auditioned and now it's time for the results. All of you are winners!"
Everyone cheered. Harry stood up.
"The two new Chasers are..." Harry began and the room dimmed. A spotlight, conducted by
Colin and his brother Dennis searched the anxious audience.
"Katherine Kelriot!" The spotlight found her and everyone patted her on the back. She smiled
gleefully and shook some people's hands. "And Monica Reminski!" Monica screamed in delight as Ginny
applauded extra hard. The spotlight moved to her.
Ron stood up. "Our two new Beaters are– Sandra Yeminty and Kyler Meenks!" Both of them
were applauded ferociously as they cheered for themselves.
"Good job everyone," Harry said. "We have our new Quidditch team! Now let's party!"
Everyone jumped up and started congratulating the team. Others had attacked the food
table. The Weird Sister's music played in the background. It was an interesting night and everyone
was having a great time. Ginny was talking to Monica when he had an idea on what to do for her the
next night.
"Perfect," he muttered and smiled. The party was not over yet... and it was only just
beginning to get good.
I am sadly almost in tears today... okay not really... but my favorite story on fanfiction.net BEING FOR
THE BENEFIT FOR MR. WOOD has ended!! Nooo! At least there will be epilogues. God, I even found
out I'm the first guy to read it. Woohoo. Thank you to the new reviewers btw.
Coming soon–
This story should be done by– around the third week this month. I am writing two to three chapters A
DAY so it is going fast. Look forward to a story I will most likely be writing called Little Shop Around
the Corner about Hermione Granger owning a shop in Diagon Alley and the many men who hit on her.
Deciding that she will never find a decent person to date, she makes a pact with herself and her
girlfriends that she will not date ever again.
I would like to write a comedy/romance... I would put it in the romance category because more people
read that than humourous stuff. So yes... I think that's what I will do.
OH, and look beyond, people who want a R rated chapter... It is coming– yes, it is coming.
.~,~
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The Best and Worst of Gryffindor
Friday came quickly– Ron had stayed with his brothers the previous day... and Harry had
never gotten around to patching up his relationship with Ginny, IF in fact it was at all suffering, or if
she was going through a "I want sex now" period. Harry unfortunately, did not want sex because he
had just become sixteen a month ago and Ginny was only fifteen.
He would think about her in the common room, as she talked to her friends. Then he found
himself thinking something else. Pondering the time if they broke up. She was sex-craved and
turbulent. He had landed himself a feisty woman. She was sweet and attractive, sure... but– no... she
wasn't a keeper. He couldn't see himself with her. They were moving too fast. He didn't want a
girlfriend anymore.
He jumped up. What was he doing!? His feet were dragging him to Ginny.
"BREAK UP WITH HER!" his head pounded.
"FUCK OFF!" Harry muttered, irritated.
"SHE'LL WANT TO FUCK YOU SOON!" his head yelled at him.
Harry hit himself in the stomach as people began looking at him. Ginny was approaching
him... he was dangerous.
"Harry?" Ginny said and forced him to stay put with her hands on his shoulders.
"What?" Harry asked dizzily.
"We need to– talk."
He feared it... the word 'talk'. Oh no! She was breaking up with him! But it was his job to do
that. She sat him down in a bean bag chair.
"I'm sorry if I freaked you out this morning. I am just... well-- I dunno, charged and I want to
say–"
"Break up with me!" Harry said brilliantly. "Break up with me, damnit!"
"Excuse me?" Ginny said, her voice rising.
"I can't take it! TOO young! Just break up... if you don't do it then I will! BREAK UP WITH
ME..........
Harry shot up, snoozing in the Gryffindor common room while people talked around him.
Hermione was slapping him in face.
"Wake up... hello? Anyone there? You have Quidditch Class!"
"Ginny?" he asked and fell atop Hermione. She screamed for help and started flaring her arms
up and down. "Ginny? I loooovvee you!" Harry said as he began kissing Hermione all over her neck.
"Harry! Get off!" Hermione said and pushed him off of her by kneeing him in the crotch. Harry
moaned in agony.
"Listen bud. I am Hermione Granger, not Ginny Weasley!" Harry began to sniff and cry. "Oh
for God's sakes. What is wrong?"
"I don't know if I should dump Ginny!" he cried.
Hermione lifted him up and began to choke him. "IF YOU DUMP HER, I'LL MURDER YOU!"
"WHAT!?" Harry yelled, scared.
"I didn't say anything," Hermione said, her hands not on Harry's throat but down on your
side.
"Look at this! I am a schizo!" Harry slapped himself. "There are voices in my head!"
"Have you been drinking Harry?" Hermione asked.
"Just a margarita... or two... maybe three okay, four–" Harry said convincingly.
"Is that the truth?" Hermione asked.
"Okay! Fine, around six– no seven, wait, I had an eighth one. Yeah... eight."
"Why are you drinking?" Hermione demanded.
"Ginny scares me! I don't know if I want her to be with me or not! Were too– too sexual and
were young!" Harry explained as became a bit more aware of everything around him. Margarita was
wearing off.
"Did you see me and Mark? Now, that was sexual! He wants sex all the time for some dumb
reason– 'Have sex with me Hermione! I can't do my homework!' or 'My hand itches, wanna have sex?'
SO don't go complaining Harry Potter. Just put your relationship on hold."
This was a good idea. Maybe they should... at least until after January or so. Harry was very
psychotic at the moment.
"You need to go, Harry! Quidditch starts in ten minutes. Ron and Ginny all ready left!"
"Wait, Hermione!" Harry said. The margarita aftershock was gone. "Find out from Ginny if
she's mad at me, okay?" Hermione nodded.
"Oh, screw this. I'm breaking up with Mark!" Hermione decided abruptly. She jumped up and
walked over to him. She shouted his name and told him to follow her to the wall.
Harry could not lip read, but Hermione was definitely not breaking bad news to him, because
all of a sudden, she started kissing him. Mark picked her up and started running of the stairs to the
boys dormitory. He entered the room, Harry could see, and kicked out two guys who were playing
wizard chess. The door slammed and locked.
"Wow, amazing Hermione. Perfect break-up!" Hermione shook his head in disappointment as
he ran out of the common room in a hurry to get to Quidditch.
He made it to class just in time. The last person had just walked in. Harry took a seat next to
Ron, which was two seats from Ginny. She did not say hello or notice Harry at all.
"We will be going out to the new Quidditch Field today!" Madam Hooch said. "A captain will be
arranged on the Gryffindor team so that both teams can have Quidditch try-outs properly which will
be held at the beginning of September... Quidditch season will start in October. Now, without further
ado, please follow us down to the field."
Madam Hooch and Professor McGonagall walked out of the room, everyone getting up to
follow them. They went down many staircases to the bottom floor which was off limits to everyone. It
was being transformed into a sort of meeting area... with the house colors decorating the area.
"This room will be used in case of emergencies, or for Quidditch meetings, and more teacher
conferences or to mingle with the other houses," Professor McGonagall said. "It is not quite done yet.
This way please."
Everyone walked to the back of the room which had a large door, at least fifteen feet tall and
ten feet across. Professor McGonagall opened it to reveal an amazing place. There was a Forbidden
Forest, Hagrid's Hut right next to it. A lake was to the right with enough room for acres and anything
you wanted to do. And straight ahead was an amazing Quidditch Field with changing quarters to the
east.
"One hundred acres..." McGonagall said proudly.
"But how?" a boy asked from Ravenclaw. "The Ministry doesn't even have a backyard!"
"This was very complicated to build... but how? In case you haven't noticed, the sky isn't
real."
Everyone looked up, this was true! It blended in with a very huge ceiling. The sky was
enchanted to look like the weather outside!
"We are built underground," Madam Hooch reminded. "So therefore, THIS is build
underground."
"Wouldn't pipes be destroyed and stuff like that?" Ginny asked. "There are tons of shops
around us!"
"We are built six stories underground... that is over 90 feet underground... plus– some stories
are larger! The Great Hall is over forty feet in height which makes us 130 feet underground right
now."
It was truly amazing. One hundred acres, one hundred thirty feet underground.
"Try-outs to replace missing positions on your team will start in September. The new
Gryffindor captain is of course, Harry Potter, since he has been on the team longest," Professor
McGonagall said and winked at him. Harry's heart leapt. He was the new captain! Just like the brilliant
Oliver Wood!
"The class today was only this, so you all can make your way back to your dormitories. Next
Monday and Friday, we DO have classes," Madam Hooch reminded and with that, the doors to the
outside of Affotts were closed.
September came slowly. Classes were boring and treacherous. Harry, Ron, and Hermione
found themselves under piles of homework of which even Hermione could get done. She had broken
up with Mark after a long make-out session. He was fairly unhappy looking after that.
Harry had asked Ginny if they could go on hold for a while. She agreed and hugged him. They
were just friends at the moment. At least Harry was not having dreams or thoughts about Katherine.
She told him she would be trying for Chaser though. Harry was now captain of the Quidditch team
and had kicked off the two beaters to McGonagall's support.
There was no news of Umbridge at all OR of Voldemort's return which was odd. It was
probably only a matter of time before an unexpected attack happened.
Soon enough, the try-outs came. Harry made his way down to the Quidditch field to set things
up. He had clipboards for Ron, Ginny and himself set up in front of their seats. By noon, people were
lining up outside the field, trying to be the first to audition and hopefully make the team. The
atmosphere was not tense but very joyful as more and more kids showed up. It seemed that by 1:00,
the whole Gryffindor house had shown up.
Ginny arrived with Ron and Ginny. Hermione was just there to watch. They each took their
seats. Harry took out his wand from his jean's pocket.
"Sonorous!" he said and his voice boomed over the stadium. "First person please!" A scared
looking boy walked out onto the field. "Name?"
"FIDELUS MONKERS!" the boy yelled uncertainly. "I'M TRYING OUT FOR BEATER!"
Harry nodded to Ron who whipped his wand. A box, floating in mid air, opened up but nothing
flew out.
"Get ready to hit the Bludgers. Use the bat that you got when you first got out here," Harry
instructed. "3...2...1–!"
"Go!" Ron whispered an a Bludger zoomed out of the box, but stayed put. Ron had his wand
raised and moved it to the left. The Bludger followed. Ron flung it up and down as the little boy
mounted his broom and took off into the air. Ginny marked down some points on her sheet attached
to the clipboard for 'Taking off very well.'
Ron flung his wand straight at the boy and the Bludget whizzed demonically towards him.
"AHHHHHHHHHHH!!" the boy screamed and flung the bat in the air, but it circled around and
he hit himself in the face instead. If this wasn't enough, the Bludger was still moving... courtesy of
Ron talking to Hermione and not paying attention... and he accidentally slammed the ball right into
the boy's broom, snapping it in half and flinging the boy into the air without anything to hold onto and
right onto the grass.
Madam Promfrey ran onto the field screaming at Harry, Ron, and Ginny. "BE LUCKY I'M HERE!
I KNEW THIS WILL BE A DISASTER!" she felt the boy's leg. "A BROKEN BONE!"
"He's out," Ginny said and all three of them marked on their tryout sheets, ignoring the school
nurse.
Many more kids followed in catastrophes after that. Some crashed into the field goal posts,
looking for the Snitch. Others slammed into each other when auditioning for Chasers in trios.
"You know how to play Chaser, right Ginny?" Ron asked once again for the fifth time that day.
"Yes, Ron! God, I practice it all the time!" she guaranteed him with a disgruntled look on her
face.
The players got worse and worse... but then– there was a pick-up in talent. It was Katherine.
She walked onto the field with two other people that Harry did not know. Ginny squealed though.
"That's my friend! She didn't tell me she was going out for the team!"
Ginny's friend, Monica, was the black girl Harry had seen in the hall before. She rose into the
air with Katherine and another girl who no one recognized.
"Here's the Quaffle!" Harry yelled and Ron flung his wand into the air (the Quaffle following his
wand's movements) and right into Katherine's outstretched hands. "Just toss the ball around a bit...
your on the same team. Pass to each other, score... and so forth... ready? Go!"
Katherine dove down and threw it up to Monica who sped to the goal post and flung it into the
top hoop. The Quaffle fell once it had reached through and the anonymous girl accelerated to it and
caught it as it almost had reached the ground.
She flung it in the air almost twenty feet to Katherine who threw it over her head to Monica.
She spiraled downwards and heaved the ball at the other girl who shot up to the hoops and merely
tapped it in.
As if this wasn't impressive enough, Katherine performed an extraordinary feat. Monica shot
right at her with the Quaffle. Katherine STOOD on her broom as it flew.
Monica had the Quaffle in her hand.
They were speeding right at each other. Harry leaned on the edge of his seat. Ron gaped.
Hermione screamed.
Katherine jumped off her broom forward, performing a flip, and grabbed the Quaffle out of
Monica's hand. Katherine caught her broom handle with her free hand as she landed. She was
hanging on as her broom sped forward towards the goal post.
She propped a leg over the side of the broom and hoisted herself into flying position just in
time to pull upwards as her broom end crashed into the pole.
"Umm... that's enough," Harry said in amazement.
All three girls flew to the ground. Ron shakily used his wand to put the Quaffle back in the
box. When they had left the field, Harry took the echo off his voice.
"Woah," he said simply. "Katherine is on the team, no question about it."
"What about Monica?" Ginny asked. "She was great. Then again, so was the other girl."
"Were putting all three of them on the team," Harry said. "But one of them has to be a
Beater."
Quidditch try-outs ended at 5:00, just in time for everyone to make dinner. Harry wanted to
take a quick shower, so he hurried quickly to the Gryffindor changing room. There were seven lockers
side by side on one wall and a bulletin board hung up on the brick red painted wall. There were
individual showers in the back. He walked towards them speedily, because he still had to get some
dinner before discussing with everyone who would be on the team.
He stripped down and got inside. Hot water poured atop him. Suddenly, he heard a door slam
shut. He locked the latch on his shower door.
"Harry?" a voice rang out from the other room.
"In the shower!" Harry shouted back. "Who is it?"
"It's Ginny!"
Harry's eyes widened. Please don't barge into the shower, he thought. "Okay, well, do you
need to talk now?"
"Yes... remember how I told you that my birthday was at the end of the month?"
Harry had forgotten completely. It was in August and it was now September. Harry shut the
water off and wrapped a towel around his waist. He stepped out of the shower and walked into the
other room.
"I'm so sorry, Ginny!" Harry said. "It's just no one talked about it."
"I know. I was just going to tell you that everyone is throwing a party for me tomorrow night.
Be there all right?"
She stared at his chest and then gradually turned away. Harry wouldn't let this happen
though. He called her name.
"Yeah?" she asked.
"Do you want something special?" he asked her. "For your birthday that is..."
Ginny grinned. "Whatever you do is fine, Harry." They did not kiss or hug each other, but
Ginny simply left the room. He was going to do something very nice for her, even if they were on
break.
Harry hurried into dinner and grabbed a potato to put some butter and salt and pepper on.
"So, who's on the team?" Harry asked Ron. "I want Katherine, Monica, and that other girl, I
believe it was Sandra right?"
Ron nodded as he drank some juice.
"There were very talented," Hermione agreed. "But aren't there only two spots for Chaser?"
Harry shook his head. "Yeah... so I'm going to put Sandra as Beater. She has enough pizzaz."
"And what about Beater?" Ron questioned. "There was that one guy who hit off every freaking
Bludger. How about him? His name was Kyler. He's on there for sure."
"That's what I was thinking," Harry replied. "Let's go find Ginny and ask her if the people we
picked is fine."
They found her in the common room. Ginny agreed with every pick. A party had started in the
area. It was a glorious Friday night. No homework... just a party! Dean and Seamus had kidnaped the
Snitch and released it around the room. It flew swiftly and occasionally collided with the wall.
Hermione was creating a huge banner with her wand that said GRYFFINDOR QUIDDITCH TEAM
RESULTS.
A podium had been created for Harry, Ron, and Ginny. People had generously donated many
snacks to have a feast. The fires were warm. The couches were occupied. Ginny stepped up on the
podium to speak.
"Okay, okay!" she said excitedly. "This is the moment you've all been waiting for. Almost all of
you auditioned and now it's time for the results. All of you are winners!"
Everyone cheered. Harry stood up.
"The two new Chasers are..." Harry began and the room dimmed. A spotlight, conducted by
Colin and his brother Dennis searched the anxious audience.
"Katherine Kelriot!" The spotlight found her and everyone patted her on the back. She smiled
gleefully and shook some people's hands. "And Monica Reminski!" Monica screamed in delight as Ginny
applauded extra hard. The spotlight moved to her.
Ron stood up. "Our two new Beaters are– Sandra Yeminty and Kyler Meenks!" Both of them
were applauded ferociously as they cheered for themselves.
"Good job everyone," Harry said. "We have our new Quidditch team! Now let's party!"
Everyone jumped up and started congratulating the team. Others had attacked the food
table. The Weird Sister's music played in the background. It was an interesting night and everyone
was having a great time. Ginny was talking to Monica when he had an idea on what to do for her the
next night.
"Perfect," he muttered and smiled. The party was not over yet... and it was only just
beginning to get good.