Chapter 8: Quidditch
On the second day of school, McGonagall called Harry into her office after class. "Potter," she said, "I need to talk to you about the Quidditch team."
"What about it?" asked Harry.
"Well, we need a new captain. I was wondering if you thought you could handle the job," she said, "if you can not I will give it to Ron."
"I think with the DA you better give it to Ron and I could just be his assistant," said Harry, "I know he would love the job."
"Ok, you can tell him that he is the new Quidditch captain," said McGonagall, "Have a nice day."
"Yes, you too," said Harry.
Ron was simply ecstatic when Harry told him that he was the captain. "This is just what I wanted," said Ron, "Maybe that mirror of Erised does tell the future!"
"Ron," Harry said, "I told you when I first found it that it does not. That is, unless my parents can be brought to life."
"Oh, sorry Harry," said Ron, "I guess you're right. If I get head boy next year, I'll be the happiest guy alive."
"Now that is what the mirror said," said Harry.
"Hmm," said Ron, "I guess beings I am the Quidditch captain, I will need to fill the empty places."
"I promised McGonagall that I would help you if you needed it," said Harry.
"Thanks," said Ron, "Let's see. What places need to be filled?"
"Well," said Harry, "You're the keeper. I'm the seeker. They filled the two beater places last year. What were their names?"
"Sloper and Kirke," said Ron, "I hope they practiced over the summer."
"Yeah, me too," agreed Harry, "Well then we just need three chasers. Ginny wants to be one of them, and I think we should let her beings she has been on the team already."
"Right, which narrows it down to two. I think we should post it now that try outs will be tonight," said Ron, "We need to pick the members quickly so we will have time to practice."
Harry agreed.
When they arrived at the field though, only Neville was there. "Are you the only person who showed up?" asked Ron.
"I guess," said Neville.
"Well, you have to admit at the end of last year you weren't too good," said Hermione.
"Thanks a lot," said Ron, "but I guess I know what you mean. Nobody wants to be on a losing team."
"Hermione," said Harry starting to grin, "I don't suppose you would like to be on the team."
"Absolutely not," said Hermione.
"Hermione," whined Ron, "If we can't find another chaser, we would be forced to forfeit. You wouldn't want to make us do that? We have to at least try."
"But I hate flying," said Hermione.
"Ron, just give up," said Harry, "with this team we wouldn't win anyway. We're just going to have to forfeit."
"Don't talk like that," said Hermione, "I guess I can put up with flying."
"You are the best friend ever," said Ron.
"Yes," Harry said, "You're the greatest."
"I will only do it until you find a new chaser," said Hermione.
"Great," said Ron.
"Well, I guess we better get busy practicing. We have a lot of work," said Harry.
At first, Hermione and Neville just practiced flying. Sloper and Kirke practiced hitting a bulger back and forth. Harry and Ginny threw the quaffle at Ron who tried to block it. Harry could see a definite improvement in their skills after two hours of practice. "Ok, beings we have a lot of work we will have practice every other night. Try not to get a detention on those nights," said Ron, "I will also work out a code so that we can confuse the other team, but still help others team members out."
They practiced for two hours every other night and studied the code in all of their free time. By the first game, which was against Hufflepuff, they were pretty good. Gryffindor had 200 points and Hufflepuff ended up with 10. The code helped a lot since Harry was able to warn Ron when a bulger was coming at him. Ginny also spotted the snitch before Harry and told him that it was behind his head. It was a great game. Everyone wanted to know how Harry knew to turn around and catch the snitch. He just told them, "I guess, I have eyes in the back of my head."
Neville was surprised that they actually won the game. Hermione told him that they were a great team. After all it isn't every group of six students that could keep a prophecy away from a huge group of Death Eaters for that long. After that quidditch is a piece of cake. Thank you for reviewing. If this is getting a little boring just wait till the next chapter. Please review.
On the second day of school, McGonagall called Harry into her office after class. "Potter," she said, "I need to talk to you about the Quidditch team."
"What about it?" asked Harry.
"Well, we need a new captain. I was wondering if you thought you could handle the job," she said, "if you can not I will give it to Ron."
"I think with the DA you better give it to Ron and I could just be his assistant," said Harry, "I know he would love the job."
"Ok, you can tell him that he is the new Quidditch captain," said McGonagall, "Have a nice day."
"Yes, you too," said Harry.
Ron was simply ecstatic when Harry told him that he was the captain. "This is just what I wanted," said Ron, "Maybe that mirror of Erised does tell the future!"
"Ron," Harry said, "I told you when I first found it that it does not. That is, unless my parents can be brought to life."
"Oh, sorry Harry," said Ron, "I guess you're right. If I get head boy next year, I'll be the happiest guy alive."
"Now that is what the mirror said," said Harry.
"Hmm," said Ron, "I guess beings I am the Quidditch captain, I will need to fill the empty places."
"I promised McGonagall that I would help you if you needed it," said Harry.
"Thanks," said Ron, "Let's see. What places need to be filled?"
"Well," said Harry, "You're the keeper. I'm the seeker. They filled the two beater places last year. What were their names?"
"Sloper and Kirke," said Ron, "I hope they practiced over the summer."
"Yeah, me too," agreed Harry, "Well then we just need three chasers. Ginny wants to be one of them, and I think we should let her beings she has been on the team already."
"Right, which narrows it down to two. I think we should post it now that try outs will be tonight," said Ron, "We need to pick the members quickly so we will have time to practice."
Harry agreed.
When they arrived at the field though, only Neville was there. "Are you the only person who showed up?" asked Ron.
"I guess," said Neville.
"Well, you have to admit at the end of last year you weren't too good," said Hermione.
"Thanks a lot," said Ron, "but I guess I know what you mean. Nobody wants to be on a losing team."
"Hermione," said Harry starting to grin, "I don't suppose you would like to be on the team."
"Absolutely not," said Hermione.
"Hermione," whined Ron, "If we can't find another chaser, we would be forced to forfeit. You wouldn't want to make us do that? We have to at least try."
"But I hate flying," said Hermione.
"Ron, just give up," said Harry, "with this team we wouldn't win anyway. We're just going to have to forfeit."
"Don't talk like that," said Hermione, "I guess I can put up with flying."
"You are the best friend ever," said Ron.
"Yes," Harry said, "You're the greatest."
"I will only do it until you find a new chaser," said Hermione.
"Great," said Ron.
"Well, I guess we better get busy practicing. We have a lot of work," said Harry.
At first, Hermione and Neville just practiced flying. Sloper and Kirke practiced hitting a bulger back and forth. Harry and Ginny threw the quaffle at Ron who tried to block it. Harry could see a definite improvement in their skills after two hours of practice. "Ok, beings we have a lot of work we will have practice every other night. Try not to get a detention on those nights," said Ron, "I will also work out a code so that we can confuse the other team, but still help others team members out."
They practiced for two hours every other night and studied the code in all of their free time. By the first game, which was against Hufflepuff, they were pretty good. Gryffindor had 200 points and Hufflepuff ended up with 10. The code helped a lot since Harry was able to warn Ron when a bulger was coming at him. Ginny also spotted the snitch before Harry and told him that it was behind his head. It was a great game. Everyone wanted to know how Harry knew to turn around and catch the snitch. He just told them, "I guess, I have eyes in the back of my head."
Neville was surprised that they actually won the game. Hermione told him that they were a great team. After all it isn't every group of six students that could keep a prophecy away from a huge group of Death Eaters for that long. After that quidditch is a piece of cake. Thank you for reviewing. If this is getting a little boring just wait till the next chapter. Please review.
