"Guess what?" she asked Harry and Ron, ask they took a seat next to Ginny
at lunch. "I just got us ten points!"
"How?" asked Ron.
"Professor Harkinian lost her wand, and I helped her find it!"
"Wow, that's great!" Harry said (though half wishing he'd been the one to find the wand instead). "Oh yeah, Ginny?"
"What?"
"What're we--"
When Ginny turned around, Harry, Ron and Hermione saw a large cut over her left eyebrow. "What happened to you?!" Ron asked desperately.
Ginny sighed. "Care Of Magical Creatures. We're studying Erklings."
"What's an Erkling?" Harry and Ron asked in unison.
"Erklings," Hermione answered, "are elf-like creatures that originated in Germany around the Black Forest. It's larger than a gnome, which is--"
"We didn't ask for a life story," Ron interrupted. "Just tell us what they're like, Ginny. What'd it do?"
"I don't know how much crazier Hagrid can get," Ginny told them. "Erklings are infamous for eating children! Cornelius Fudge would blow his top if he knew we were studying them! I reckon that Hagrid's excuse is that he wants us to learn how to not get entranced by them."
"They lure kids away from their homes," Hermione explained to the dumb-struck Harry and Ron. "Please continue, Ginny."
"The Erkling got so close to me, it tried to take a bite out of my head. Then I realized what was happening, fell out of the trance, and ran off as fast as I could. I guess it's fortunate that I'm not too hurt."
"Just think what Mum'd do if she found out!" Ron gasped.
"I know," Ginny went. "That's why the afternoon classes are studying Jobberknolls. Those ought to be interesting."
"Don't ruin the surprise for me," Ron said to the open-mouthed Hermione. "I'll find out what they are once we get to the class."
A few minutes later, Ginny stood up. "Well, I'm off to Potions. I'll just have to hope that Snape doesn't bite my head off this year. Bye, guys!" She walked off.
"Wait, Ginny!" Harry called after her.
"Yeah?" Turning around in her haste, Ginny accidentally tripped over the leg of Ravenclaw table. Books went flying in the air as she crashed to the ground.
"Are you all right?" asked Cho Chang, helping Ginny up. The Weasley girl, red as a brick, quickly picked up her things and ran out of the Hall.
"What were you going to say to her?" Ron asked Harry, grinning boldly.
"That she forgot her Transfiguration book."
Zelda clicked her tongue ruefully as Ginny fled from the room. "That poor girl. I just hate it whenever I'm in a room of crowded people and then I do something stupid, like trip."
"Yeah, that happens a lot to you, doesn't it?" Link joked. Zelda smiled, hitting Link's forehead lightly.
"You won't be wanting to mess with me before your duel tonight. I may end up having to replace you."
Link laughed. "Oh, you don't scare me. Neither does Snape."
Zelda frowned. "You know, I got a warning from one of my students today. She said that Snape was very prone to start arguments, and that none of the students like him. Well, except for the Slytherins."
"Oh, don't be so nervous. Besides, what would you care if I got hurt? It's not like you really LIKE me or anything." He smiled at her, laughing.
"How can you laugh at something so utterly tragic?" Zelda asked, pretending to be annoyed. "And for the record, I don't 'like' you. You're just my friend."
"That's what they all say!"
Meanwhile, at the other side of the table, McGonagall was deep in conversation with Professor Sprout.
"I think they'll be brilliant teachers," said Sprout. She glanced over at the chattering Link and Zelda. "Look at the dears! Bet they're bearly out of school themselves --don't look any older than twenty."
"I agree," McGonagall stated, smiling. "Because of their youth, they may be able to reach the students in a way that we could not. I do believe the Headmaster said they were two of the youngest Professor ever to work at Hogwarts!"
"How exciting!" Sprout breathed. "And I don't know a soul who's going to miss that Trelawny fraud, do you?"
"Well," said McGonagall, rolling her eyes. "That may be how it is in Hufflepuff, Professor Sprout, but I know some students who are quite devastated, unfortunately." She glanced at Lavender Brown and Padmil Patil. "Oh well."
"Well, thank the High Almighty that we have that Umbridge woman off our backs," Spout sighed. "As High Inquisitor, she probably would've scared the wits out of those poor new Professors."
"I think we're ALL happy that Umbridge is gone," McGonagall agreed. "But come now, I do believe we should heading off to teach."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Look, there are the Slytherins," Ron grunted, as several of the students walked down to Hagrid's hut.
"Here's to another year with Malfoy," Hermione said sarcastically. "He'd better not try anything to get Hagrid sacked this year!"
"Morning, Mudblood," Malfoy greeted Hermione, as he walked up to them. As usual, Crabbe and Goyle were by his side.
"I'm suprised you're so willing to insult me, Malfoy," Hermione sneered through clenched teeth. "What with your father under questioning and such."
Malfoy's ears turned a faintish pink color. "Shut up about my father, Granger."
"All righ' class, time ter get started," said Hagrid. Malfoy and Hermione glared at each other briefly before turning to look at their teacher. "Today we're gonna be studyin' Jobberknolls. Can anyone here tell me what a Jobberknoll is? Yeah, Hermione?"
"A Jobberknoll is a type of bird," Hermione answered, lowering her previously raised hand. "They feed on insects, and are silent until death. At that point, they release every sound they ever heard."
"'At's right, Hermione," Hagrid beamed, setting down three large cages. "Now, right 'ere I've got some cages o' Jobberknolls: Baby ones, adult ones, and those which are fated to die soon."
"Hope you're fated to die soon," Malfoy muttered to Crabbed and Goyle, though talking about Hagrid. They guffawed loudly.
"Righ', here're the babies," mumbled Hagrid, opening the first cage. Inside lay a nest filled with baby Jobberknolls.
"They're adorable," Lavender Brown gushed, leaning in for a closer look. "I've never seen such a cute wittle baby bird!"
"They are rather cute," said Hermione, smiling.
"Now, here we go," said Hagrid, placing a box in front of the students. "I've got a collection o' bugs for you lot to feed 'em."
"You mean we've got to FEED those birds these bugs?!" Pansy Parkinson asked in horror. "That's disgusting!"
"It's what they eat," Hagrid said. "And if you'll be wantin' ter pass this class, Ms. Parkinson, you'll be feedin' the Jobberknolls chicks their food. Go on, class."
"This is sick!" exclaimed Seamus Finnigan, picking up a giant slug. However, there was a large grin on his face. "Awesome!" He carried the slug to one of the chicks.
"Don't give it that," Harry cried. "It'll choke!"
But the Jobberknoll, waiting impatiently for Seamus to give it the gigantic slug, was getting steadily annoyed. It craned its neck up and clamped its beak around the middle of the slug's neck. It swalled its food in about two seconds.
Ron stared at it. "Wicked!"
Pansy Parkinson daintily reached into the box o' bugs. She quickly scooped up a red ladybug. "Here you go, Jobberknoll." She threw the bug at one of the birds, whose side collided.
"YOU HORRID MONSTER!! HOW DARE YOU SET MY CAMP ON FIRE!! I'LL HAVE YOU ARRESTED FOR THIS!!!!
"I didn't do nothin', I swear, it--
"BARRUUUMPP!!!"
The class whipped around, alongside Hagrid. The noises were coming from the third cage. Sighing, Hagrid stuck his hand in and pulled out a Jobberknoll.
"Poor lad," the teacher sympathized. "Dyin' all ready."
The Jobberknoll started making noises like a constipated elephant. It imitated a person gargling, screeched about insurance, made a sound similar to waves on the ocean, and then its head flopped down on Hagrid's hand.
"Poor little bloke," Hagrid sighed. "Don't live too long, Jobberknolls. Yup, e's dead for sure."
"OH, THAT'S SO SAD!!" Lavender Brown cried. "HE USED TO BE SO CUTE, I'M SURE OF IT!!"
Malfoy rolled his eyes.
Once the class was over, Harry and Ron walked up the steps to Divination.
"I hope Koke hasn't gotten the perfumes in there that Trelawny had," Ron laughed heartily. "Otherwise, I might pass out."
"I don't think we should be worried," Harry said. "Trelawny was a weirdo. That's the only right thing Umbridge ever did--fire her."
"I know."
Ron and Harry waited patiently as Ravenclaw students poured out of the door. Cho stopped for a moment before Harry (who felt his heart fly up into his neck).
"This guy really knows his stuff," Cho said. "At last, we have a Divination teacher who actually understands it!" She quickly walked away.
"That was interesting," Ron sighed, trying not to laugh. He and Harry walked up the ladder into Divination. "Wow, it's amazing! I can breathe!"
The room was not filled with the scent of thick perfumes (as it had when their former teacher Trelawny had taught there). Instead, the walls were covered with maps of the stars, and several lands that Harry didn't recognize.
"Bloody hell," said Ron, taking a seat by the window. "Maybe this guy DOES know what he's doing!"
Soon, all the other Gryffindor students had entered the room. Professor Koke smiled at them. Lavender and Padma melted.
"Good afternoon, everyone," he greeted them. "As you know, I am your new Divination teacher, Professor Koke. The Headmaster has left me a list of some things you have worked on, and what you may want to work some more on."
"I hope palm reading is something Dumbledore said we've done," Ron whispered to Harry. "I hate that stuff!"
"If I am correct, you left off with star gazing," Link continued. Several of the students nodded. "But before class starts, role call."
Again, everyone was a little surprised when Link reached Harry's name. He showed no sign of being in awe, and just dismissed him as another student. The class found this to be quite odd.
After finding everyone was there, Link put down the list of names. Using a wand, he swept off all the candles. In the front of the classroom was a glow-in-the-dark map of the universe.
"Right then," Link said, putting a hand to his chin, as if thinking. "Professor Dumbledore said I was to test your memories on the stars. So, may I ask...what would happen if Io collided with Saturn? Yes, how about you, Lavender?......"
At the beginning of class, the students thought Professor Koke was just like his predecessors: boring and stupid. But as it went on, they found that he was much more knowledgeable, and was even nice enough not to give them any homework!
"Wow!" said Ron, as he and Harry headed to dinner. "Guess Cho was right! Koke DOES really know what he's talking about, doesn't he?"
"Yeah," Harry laughed. "Who knows? Maybe I'll actually be able to understand Divination this year."
"Too bad Hermione can't join us," Ron sighed, as they sat down at the Gryffindor table. "But I'm sure she's having a ball in Ancient Runes."
Hermione came running in. She collapsed next to Ron, panting.
"What is it?" Harry asked. Hermione seemed totally out of breath.
"I had to get away from Ancient Runes as quickly as possible," she answered. "Oh, that is disgusting!!"
"What happened?" Ron asked curiously. Hermione was the type who wanted classes like Ancient Runes to last endlessly.
"Right after class, Malfoy set some Dungbombs right outside the doorway. Now it smells like a cow's butt!"
Harry laughed. "Why didn't you do something?"
"What do you mean? What COULD I have done?"
"Hermione!" Ron laughed, beside himself. "You're Head Girl, remember?! You could give Malfoy a week's worth of detention! You could even deduct points from Slytherin, you idiot!"
"OH NO!" Hermione gasped. "I've got to go back!" And she was off at the speed of light to go find Malfoy.
"She is so weird," Neville said to Harry and Ron. "I don't understand how she can fit all that information into her head! It makes me feel like I'm stupid or something.
Dean Thomas was about to say "Well you ARE stupid", but he changed his mind. Instead, he said, "I don't get it either, Neville."
Harry and Ron turned around when Alicia Spinnet walked up to them. "Hey guys! Guess what? I'm the new Quidditch captain!"
"Wow, great!" Ron laughed.
"Wonderful," Harry mumbled miserably.
"Harry, don't be so meloncholy!" Alica scolded him. "Now that Umbridge is gone, you're going to be our Seeker again!"
"I am?!"
"Of course! What'd you think, you prat? That your Firebolt was going to stay at Hogwarts forever?!"
"Wow, this is great!" Harry yelled. His whole attitude had suddenly changed when he found out he would be playing Quidditch again. "When's the first practice?!"
"Before practices start, we need to hold tryouts. With Angelina gone, we're going to need a new Chaser. And of course, now that Fred and George have left, we'll need two new Beaters."
Ginny's head lifted up. "Ooh, can I try out to take Angelina's place?!" Now that Harry was going to be the Seeker again, Ginny could finally achieve her dream of being a Gryffindor Chaser.
"Sure...anyone can," Alicia answered. "But like Angelina did, I want everyone there at the tryouts. So, in two days--don't forget!" She walked away.
"Wow, this is fabulous!" Ron said excitedly. "Harry, we can play on a team again! I can't wait! I've been practicing all summer, so I bet we'll win that Quidditch cup for another year in a row!"
"Malfoy better watch out now," Ron laughed. "And so had Crabbe and Goyle! I bet that no matter who our new beaters are going to be, they'll be way better than those two dopes could ever hope to be!"
"How?" asked Ron.
"Professor Harkinian lost her wand, and I helped her find it!"
"Wow, that's great!" Harry said (though half wishing he'd been the one to find the wand instead). "Oh yeah, Ginny?"
"What?"
"What're we--"
When Ginny turned around, Harry, Ron and Hermione saw a large cut over her left eyebrow. "What happened to you?!" Ron asked desperately.
Ginny sighed. "Care Of Magical Creatures. We're studying Erklings."
"What's an Erkling?" Harry and Ron asked in unison.
"Erklings," Hermione answered, "are elf-like creatures that originated in Germany around the Black Forest. It's larger than a gnome, which is--"
"We didn't ask for a life story," Ron interrupted. "Just tell us what they're like, Ginny. What'd it do?"
"I don't know how much crazier Hagrid can get," Ginny told them. "Erklings are infamous for eating children! Cornelius Fudge would blow his top if he knew we were studying them! I reckon that Hagrid's excuse is that he wants us to learn how to not get entranced by them."
"They lure kids away from their homes," Hermione explained to the dumb-struck Harry and Ron. "Please continue, Ginny."
"The Erkling got so close to me, it tried to take a bite out of my head. Then I realized what was happening, fell out of the trance, and ran off as fast as I could. I guess it's fortunate that I'm not too hurt."
"Just think what Mum'd do if she found out!" Ron gasped.
"I know," Ginny went. "That's why the afternoon classes are studying Jobberknolls. Those ought to be interesting."
"Don't ruin the surprise for me," Ron said to the open-mouthed Hermione. "I'll find out what they are once we get to the class."
A few minutes later, Ginny stood up. "Well, I'm off to Potions. I'll just have to hope that Snape doesn't bite my head off this year. Bye, guys!" She walked off.
"Wait, Ginny!" Harry called after her.
"Yeah?" Turning around in her haste, Ginny accidentally tripped over the leg of Ravenclaw table. Books went flying in the air as she crashed to the ground.
"Are you all right?" asked Cho Chang, helping Ginny up. The Weasley girl, red as a brick, quickly picked up her things and ran out of the Hall.
"What were you going to say to her?" Ron asked Harry, grinning boldly.
"That she forgot her Transfiguration book."
Zelda clicked her tongue ruefully as Ginny fled from the room. "That poor girl. I just hate it whenever I'm in a room of crowded people and then I do something stupid, like trip."
"Yeah, that happens a lot to you, doesn't it?" Link joked. Zelda smiled, hitting Link's forehead lightly.
"You won't be wanting to mess with me before your duel tonight. I may end up having to replace you."
Link laughed. "Oh, you don't scare me. Neither does Snape."
Zelda frowned. "You know, I got a warning from one of my students today. She said that Snape was very prone to start arguments, and that none of the students like him. Well, except for the Slytherins."
"Oh, don't be so nervous. Besides, what would you care if I got hurt? It's not like you really LIKE me or anything." He smiled at her, laughing.
"How can you laugh at something so utterly tragic?" Zelda asked, pretending to be annoyed. "And for the record, I don't 'like' you. You're just my friend."
"That's what they all say!"
Meanwhile, at the other side of the table, McGonagall was deep in conversation with Professor Sprout.
"I think they'll be brilliant teachers," said Sprout. She glanced over at the chattering Link and Zelda. "Look at the dears! Bet they're bearly out of school themselves --don't look any older than twenty."
"I agree," McGonagall stated, smiling. "Because of their youth, they may be able to reach the students in a way that we could not. I do believe the Headmaster said they were two of the youngest Professor ever to work at Hogwarts!"
"How exciting!" Sprout breathed. "And I don't know a soul who's going to miss that Trelawny fraud, do you?"
"Well," said McGonagall, rolling her eyes. "That may be how it is in Hufflepuff, Professor Sprout, but I know some students who are quite devastated, unfortunately." She glanced at Lavender Brown and Padmil Patil. "Oh well."
"Well, thank the High Almighty that we have that Umbridge woman off our backs," Spout sighed. "As High Inquisitor, she probably would've scared the wits out of those poor new Professors."
"I think we're ALL happy that Umbridge is gone," McGonagall agreed. "But come now, I do believe we should heading off to teach."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Look, there are the Slytherins," Ron grunted, as several of the students walked down to Hagrid's hut.
"Here's to another year with Malfoy," Hermione said sarcastically. "He'd better not try anything to get Hagrid sacked this year!"
"Morning, Mudblood," Malfoy greeted Hermione, as he walked up to them. As usual, Crabbe and Goyle were by his side.
"I'm suprised you're so willing to insult me, Malfoy," Hermione sneered through clenched teeth. "What with your father under questioning and such."
Malfoy's ears turned a faintish pink color. "Shut up about my father, Granger."
"All righ' class, time ter get started," said Hagrid. Malfoy and Hermione glared at each other briefly before turning to look at their teacher. "Today we're gonna be studyin' Jobberknolls. Can anyone here tell me what a Jobberknoll is? Yeah, Hermione?"
"A Jobberknoll is a type of bird," Hermione answered, lowering her previously raised hand. "They feed on insects, and are silent until death. At that point, they release every sound they ever heard."
"'At's right, Hermione," Hagrid beamed, setting down three large cages. "Now, right 'ere I've got some cages o' Jobberknolls: Baby ones, adult ones, and those which are fated to die soon."
"Hope you're fated to die soon," Malfoy muttered to Crabbed and Goyle, though talking about Hagrid. They guffawed loudly.
"Righ', here're the babies," mumbled Hagrid, opening the first cage. Inside lay a nest filled with baby Jobberknolls.
"They're adorable," Lavender Brown gushed, leaning in for a closer look. "I've never seen such a cute wittle baby bird!"
"They are rather cute," said Hermione, smiling.
"Now, here we go," said Hagrid, placing a box in front of the students. "I've got a collection o' bugs for you lot to feed 'em."
"You mean we've got to FEED those birds these bugs?!" Pansy Parkinson asked in horror. "That's disgusting!"
"It's what they eat," Hagrid said. "And if you'll be wantin' ter pass this class, Ms. Parkinson, you'll be feedin' the Jobberknolls chicks their food. Go on, class."
"This is sick!" exclaimed Seamus Finnigan, picking up a giant slug. However, there was a large grin on his face. "Awesome!" He carried the slug to one of the chicks.
"Don't give it that," Harry cried. "It'll choke!"
But the Jobberknoll, waiting impatiently for Seamus to give it the gigantic slug, was getting steadily annoyed. It craned its neck up and clamped its beak around the middle of the slug's neck. It swalled its food in about two seconds.
Ron stared at it. "Wicked!"
Pansy Parkinson daintily reached into the box o' bugs. She quickly scooped up a red ladybug. "Here you go, Jobberknoll." She threw the bug at one of the birds, whose side collided.
"YOU HORRID MONSTER!! HOW DARE YOU SET MY CAMP ON FIRE!! I'LL HAVE YOU ARRESTED FOR THIS!!!!
"I didn't do nothin', I swear, it--
"BARRUUUMPP!!!"
The class whipped around, alongside Hagrid. The noises were coming from the third cage. Sighing, Hagrid stuck his hand in and pulled out a Jobberknoll.
"Poor lad," the teacher sympathized. "Dyin' all ready."
The Jobberknoll started making noises like a constipated elephant. It imitated a person gargling, screeched about insurance, made a sound similar to waves on the ocean, and then its head flopped down on Hagrid's hand.
"Poor little bloke," Hagrid sighed. "Don't live too long, Jobberknolls. Yup, e's dead for sure."
"OH, THAT'S SO SAD!!" Lavender Brown cried. "HE USED TO BE SO CUTE, I'M SURE OF IT!!"
Malfoy rolled his eyes.
Once the class was over, Harry and Ron walked up the steps to Divination.
"I hope Koke hasn't gotten the perfumes in there that Trelawny had," Ron laughed heartily. "Otherwise, I might pass out."
"I don't think we should be worried," Harry said. "Trelawny was a weirdo. That's the only right thing Umbridge ever did--fire her."
"I know."
Ron and Harry waited patiently as Ravenclaw students poured out of the door. Cho stopped for a moment before Harry (who felt his heart fly up into his neck).
"This guy really knows his stuff," Cho said. "At last, we have a Divination teacher who actually understands it!" She quickly walked away.
"That was interesting," Ron sighed, trying not to laugh. He and Harry walked up the ladder into Divination. "Wow, it's amazing! I can breathe!"
The room was not filled with the scent of thick perfumes (as it had when their former teacher Trelawny had taught there). Instead, the walls were covered with maps of the stars, and several lands that Harry didn't recognize.
"Bloody hell," said Ron, taking a seat by the window. "Maybe this guy DOES know what he's doing!"
Soon, all the other Gryffindor students had entered the room. Professor Koke smiled at them. Lavender and Padma melted.
"Good afternoon, everyone," he greeted them. "As you know, I am your new Divination teacher, Professor Koke. The Headmaster has left me a list of some things you have worked on, and what you may want to work some more on."
"I hope palm reading is something Dumbledore said we've done," Ron whispered to Harry. "I hate that stuff!"
"If I am correct, you left off with star gazing," Link continued. Several of the students nodded. "But before class starts, role call."
Again, everyone was a little surprised when Link reached Harry's name. He showed no sign of being in awe, and just dismissed him as another student. The class found this to be quite odd.
After finding everyone was there, Link put down the list of names. Using a wand, he swept off all the candles. In the front of the classroom was a glow-in-the-dark map of the universe.
"Right then," Link said, putting a hand to his chin, as if thinking. "Professor Dumbledore said I was to test your memories on the stars. So, may I ask...what would happen if Io collided with Saturn? Yes, how about you, Lavender?......"
At the beginning of class, the students thought Professor Koke was just like his predecessors: boring and stupid. But as it went on, they found that he was much more knowledgeable, and was even nice enough not to give them any homework!
"Wow!" said Ron, as he and Harry headed to dinner. "Guess Cho was right! Koke DOES really know what he's talking about, doesn't he?"
"Yeah," Harry laughed. "Who knows? Maybe I'll actually be able to understand Divination this year."
"Too bad Hermione can't join us," Ron sighed, as they sat down at the Gryffindor table. "But I'm sure she's having a ball in Ancient Runes."
Hermione came running in. She collapsed next to Ron, panting.
"What is it?" Harry asked. Hermione seemed totally out of breath.
"I had to get away from Ancient Runes as quickly as possible," she answered. "Oh, that is disgusting!!"
"What happened?" Ron asked curiously. Hermione was the type who wanted classes like Ancient Runes to last endlessly.
"Right after class, Malfoy set some Dungbombs right outside the doorway. Now it smells like a cow's butt!"
Harry laughed. "Why didn't you do something?"
"What do you mean? What COULD I have done?"
"Hermione!" Ron laughed, beside himself. "You're Head Girl, remember?! You could give Malfoy a week's worth of detention! You could even deduct points from Slytherin, you idiot!"
"OH NO!" Hermione gasped. "I've got to go back!" And she was off at the speed of light to go find Malfoy.
"She is so weird," Neville said to Harry and Ron. "I don't understand how she can fit all that information into her head! It makes me feel like I'm stupid or something.
Dean Thomas was about to say "Well you ARE stupid", but he changed his mind. Instead, he said, "I don't get it either, Neville."
Harry and Ron turned around when Alicia Spinnet walked up to them. "Hey guys! Guess what? I'm the new Quidditch captain!"
"Wow, great!" Ron laughed.
"Wonderful," Harry mumbled miserably.
"Harry, don't be so meloncholy!" Alica scolded him. "Now that Umbridge is gone, you're going to be our Seeker again!"
"I am?!"
"Of course! What'd you think, you prat? That your Firebolt was going to stay at Hogwarts forever?!"
"Wow, this is great!" Harry yelled. His whole attitude had suddenly changed when he found out he would be playing Quidditch again. "When's the first practice?!"
"Before practices start, we need to hold tryouts. With Angelina gone, we're going to need a new Chaser. And of course, now that Fred and George have left, we'll need two new Beaters."
Ginny's head lifted up. "Ooh, can I try out to take Angelina's place?!" Now that Harry was going to be the Seeker again, Ginny could finally achieve her dream of being a Gryffindor Chaser.
"Sure...anyone can," Alicia answered. "But like Angelina did, I want everyone there at the tryouts. So, in two days--don't forget!" She walked away.
"Wow, this is fabulous!" Ron said excitedly. "Harry, we can play on a team again! I can't wait! I've been practicing all summer, so I bet we'll win that Quidditch cup for another year in a row!"
"Malfoy better watch out now," Ron laughed. "And so had Crabbe and Goyle! I bet that no matter who our new beaters are going to be, they'll be way better than those two dopes could ever hope to be!"