No matter how hard he tried Harry couldn't shake the feeling that he
was missing something important as far as the morning's events were
concerned. Still troubled by this when he put on his pajamas, Harry went to
bed.
In the morning Harry woke up, still feeling uneasy. The troubled feeling from the day before had settled in a tight knot in Harry's stomach and it refused to go away. Harry tried to explain it to his friends.
"Something's wrong. I can feel it. I don't know what it is but we missed something yesterday."
"What could we have possibly missed?"
"That's just it, I don't know. But it's got to be something important."
"Well, let's review. We don't know where Dumbledore is or what he's doing. We don't know where Dobby is other than the fact that he's with Dumbledore. We don't know why the exchange student candidates were chosen, only that they don't all meet the criteria. We don't know who attacked Parvati or why they attacked her, only that she was attacked. That about sums up our situation, doesn't it?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah," Harry sighed.
Renata spoke. "Well, all that's left then is to tie up the less ends. Am I right?" She didn't wait for a response. "We don't know where Dumbledore is, so we can't question him. We don't know where Dobby is, so we can't question him. We don't know anything the exchange students candidates had in common so there's no point in starting there. That leaves us one last thing to search: we know exactly where Parvati is and she won't be going anywhere."
"We ask her!" Harry exclaimed.
Renata and Hermione nodded.
Unfortunately for their high hopes, Ron found the flaw in their logic. "Madam Pomfrey won't want us all up there disturbing her patient's rest."
"Oh." Harry furrowed his brow in thought. "Hermione, you should go. Find out what you can from Parvati and see if you can get Madam Pomfrey to say anything."
"All right, I will."
Renata turned and punched Harry lightly in the arm, "See? Now you're thinking."
Harry and the others waited in the library for Hermione to come back. Harry started pacing and muttering, "Where is she?"
"Consider it this way, Harry: the longer she's there, the more she's finding out."
"Or the harder it is to find out anything."
When Hermione came in her face was flushed as if she'd run all the way from the hospital. In an excited whisper, Hermione began to tell them what she learned.
"Parvati wasn't up for too much talking, getting rid of the poison hadn't been pleasant, anyway-"
"I thought Madam Pomfrey cleared out the poison when she cleaned out the cut."
Hermione gave Harry an annoyed look for interrupting her story. "She cleaned out the poison that was still in the cut then. Some of it had already gotten into Parvati's system so she had to take an elixir to help her regurgitate the poison."
"Oh."
"As I was saying Parvati was willing to answer a few questions for me. She didn't see who the attacker was."
"That helps," muttered Ron sarcastically.
Hermione flashed him an angry glare. "Ron, it was helpful. She was looking at him and couldn't see him."
"What was she doing out at that hour?" asked Renata.
"Will you people stop interrupting me?" Hermione covered her mouth as Madam Pince, the librarian, gave her a warning glance. Hermione lowered her voice. "She didn't know why she was there. One minute she's fast asleep and the next she's compelled to go outside the common room."
"Imperious Curse, you think?"
"No, she still had her own thoughts."
Renata contemplated her answer for a moment, "Maybe.yes, I think.it was a Calling Charm. It had to have been." She looked worried as she said this.
"What's the matter?" asked Harry.
"Well," Renata's eyebrows knitted together and she spoke slowly. "A Calling Charm isn't that hard to begin with. You'd think it'd be even easier to do a Calling when someone is asleep because there are less thoughts to override; but it's not. I guess it takes more power because the mind isn't alert."
"But you can do it," Harry said, confused and not seeing any point. Renata had used Calling Charms on them in their sleep more than once.
"I know, but I'm always pretty drained and pretty tired afterward. I know, I never really look tired but that's because I can grin and laugh through just about anything. What worries me is that whoever attacked Parvati was able to wake her up and bring her out with the Calling Charm, he managed to hit her over the head, shave her hair, and get away, staying invisible the entire time. That tells you something."
She seemed to have a point after all.
The uneasy feeling stayed with Harry and seemed to have sunken to the very bottom of his stomach and it settled there through the week until Friday. At last, on Friday, Harry's mind was able to ignore it for something momentarily more pressing: Quiditch tryouts. He woke in a gloomy mood and barely poked at his breakfast.
"What's wrong, Harry?" asked a cheerful voice.
Harry looked up and stared across the table at Renata, who had just seated herself. "Quiditch tryouts today," he was mumbling, but Renata caught the mumbled words.
"Harry, it will be a fine year. So we've got a lot of new recruits, big deal. There was a year when it was your first year on the time, don't forget that. You better be sure to cut these kids some slack. I'm warning you now."
Harry looked at Renata and he could tell she meant every word she said.
Renata gave him an easy-going smile and said with confidence, "The team will be great this year, you'll see. With a first-class Seeker-"
"And a top-notch Keeper-"
"As well as the rest of the team, it will be a great season. You'll need to make sure the Beaters aren't afraid to be hit-"
"And we'll need to keep the Chasers working well together as a unit and we'll have the best team at the school," Harry said.
"I know." She smiled again and soon Harry found himself not only smiling, but laughing and in better spirits than he'd been in for nearly two weeks.
His spirits weren't dampened when he messed up in Transfiguration, or when he was chosen again as a test dummy again in Sirius's class or when they had to discuss the founding of the Ministry of Magic with Professor Binns. Throughout the day, Harry's mind was focused on Quiditch.
Finally it was time for tryouts, Harry swung his Firebolt over his shoulder and reached the field a little early, though by no means was he the first there. Renata was already flying around the field doing laps. Ginny and her friend Claire were chatting and carrying brooms. Renata landed to talk with Harry as other various Gryffindors came onto the field.
"What do you think of the group?" Renata asked.
"We'll just have to wait and see how they do."
Madam Hooch came on to the field then as well and began to bark curt instructions at them. Harry observed the others as they flew. Renata was as great as she had been the year before. Claire flew as well as she had when they had flown over the summer. Ginny was a better flyer than Harry had assumed she'd be. The Creevy brothers were out there as well. Colin and Dennis Creevy always got a thrill from shouting "Hiya, Harry!" and hearing him respond. They didn't miss the opportunity to greet Harry again and hear his response.
"Hullo, Colin, Dennis."
Although Colin and Dennis were enthusiastic as they tried out, they were little else. Colin's broom was at all times unsteady and he couldn't move very well on it. Dennis seemed to be getting along only slightly better than his brother. Harry looked to the others. There were a few Gryffindors that Harry didn't recognize. Harry was exhausted by the time the tryouts were done and he gratefully went back to Gryffindor Tower with the others.
"Harry, do you know when they'll post the results?"
"Sorry, Renata. I was hoping you could tell me."
"That's okay. When it's posted, it's posted."
Harry was too tired to take care of homework that night and decided to leave it for Saturday. He went up to the dormitory and dropped into a dreamless and untroubled sleep.
The morning light shone in Harry's eyes; he tried to ignore it and go back to sleep but something wasn't right. Then he realized what it was: the sun shouldn't be in his eyes. He had closed the curtains around his bed before he fell asleep. Who had opened them? Harry sat up and put on his glasses.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, wide-eyed.
"Come on."
"What if somebody sees you?" Harry looked around the room.
"Harry, none of the other boys are in here," Renata laughed.
"What are you doing here?" he asked incredulously.
"Hermione sent me."
"Why?"
"Because I can be invisible if I need to, she can't."
"Why didn't you send Ron?"
She shuffled her feet slightly, "We don't know where he is."
"What?"
"I'm not going to repeat myself."
"Where is he?"
"That's better. If we knew that, do you think I'd be up here?"
"I guess not."
"Hurry up so I can leave. A door shouldn't look like it's opening by itself. I have to wait and leave when you do."
Harry thought about it. It made sense then- "Wait a second. You can't leave when I do."
"Why not?"
"Because I have to get dressed," he said blushing slightly.
"Oh, I forgot."
"So turn invisible and get out already!"
Harry watched as Renata put something in her mouth and could no longer be seen and he carefully made sure she was out of the room before he changed. Out on the landing outside the door he ran into Renata. "Watch it!"
"I thought you were gone?"
"No, I was waiting out here for you. See you in a few minutes." Renata walked down the stairs in front of Harry and from the best that Harry could tell she went over to the girls' staircase to turn herself visible. Harry, meanwhile found Hermione waiting.
"Where's Renata?" she asked.
"She went back to the girls' stairs."
A moment later, fully visible, Renata joined them.
Harry inquired, "So what's this business about Ron missing?"
"It's exactly what you just said. Ron's missing."
"Huh?"
"We'll clarify for you then. You went upstairs. Five minutes later, Ron went upstairs. This morning when Seamus came down he asked if we knew where Ron was because he wasn't upstairs. That's it."
"What time was this?"
"Eight-ish."
Renata asked, "Isn't it just possible he got up before us and is downstairs?"
"Not likely," Harry told her. "He likes sleeping in late most of the time."
"Don't you sleep-in a lot too?" asked Renata.
"Only if I'm real tired or if I have nightmares," the words were out of Harry's mouth before he realized he was saying them. Harry saw Renata trying very hard to stifle laughter and Hermione try to suppress a smile.
Finally it was too much for the girls and they dissolved into peals of laughter.
Harry's face went as red as it could get and then he buried his face in his hands until the girls had regained control of themselves.
Renata was having a harder time of it than Hermione. Hermione had just regained her composure and Renata was nearing it. Renata tugged weakly on Harry's sleeve, still laughing, asked, "What do you get nightmares about?"
Harry took his head out of his hands and said in a quiet voice, "Voldemort, and my parents' murder."
Instantly the laughing stopped. Hermione and Renata became sober.
Renata said in a subdued voice, "I'm sorry. I didn't know."
Hermione could only nod.
After a few minutes Harry asked, "So what do you think happened to Ron?"
As Hermione spoke there was fear in her voice, "We haven't got a clue."
By lunch there was still no sign of him. They were just heading back upstairs to look for him again when Professor McGonagall caught up with them.
"Here you are. I would like the three of you to follow me, please." They followed her up the stairs and through the corridors.
Harry realized his fear was about to come true when he and the others reached the door of the hospital and Professor McGonagall brought them inside.
Madam Pomfrey was standing inside.
Harry had supposed she would object to their presence but instead she said, "Come this way." The three students and the professor followed the nurse to a bed with a curtain around it.
Ron was there, lying and moaning softly. His head had a lump where he'd been hit in the head and there was a cut, though only half the size of Parvati's it was there. His head had been shaved in the same manner as Parvati's as well.
Harry could hear Hermione choking back tears as he was doing. Harry glanced at Renata. She was silent but there was a tear running down her cheek.
Madam Pomfrey closed the curtain again.
Harry looked at the nurse but the words wouldn't come.
Madam Pomfrey seemed to understand and replied gently to the unasked question, "I'm sorry, but no. I'll send someone to get the three of you as soon as he's well enough for visitors."
Professor McGonagall led the students out and explained quietly, "I thought the three of you would want to know."
Hermione seemed to have found her voice first. "Thank you," she whispered.
Harry and Renata could only nod.
Professor McGonagall left them near the entrance to Gryffindor Tower. They'd been seated together in the common room for ten silent minutes when a voice asked, "What's the matter?"
Harry looked up and so did Hermione and Renata. Harry saw that the girls' eyes were red with tears; Harry suspected his own were at least a little pink, but he didn't care.
Ginny repeated, "What's the matter?"
Hermione muttered one word, "Ron."
Ginny paled. "What?"
"Attacked."
Ginny rushed out, then, Harry supposed she was going to the hospital wing. He sighed and put his head in his hands. It was a while before any of them spoke.
"He'll be okay, you know."
Harry looked up.
Parvati sat down between Hermione and Harry. "He'll be okay."
"What? How do you know?"
"I ran into Ginny in the hall. Ron will be okay. Madam Pomfrey will get rid of the poison, clear up the cut on his head, make the swelling go down, and he'll be right as rain before you know it. And the hair on his head will grow back too."
Harry looked at her and only then realized that her hair was longer than it should have been in the time it had to grow since she'd been shaved. Harry hadn't noticed in class. He looked at her questioningly.
"Mine? I used a potion to make it grow back faster. Don't worry; Ron will be back before you know it." Parvati smiled encouragingly at the three of them before leaving to look for Lavender.
"She's right, you know." Renata stood up and put a determined look on her face. "Ron will get better, we'll just be without him for a few days. That's all."
"You're right. In the mean time what can we do?"
"I think we should work on the potion."
"Do we have to start over? It's been more than a week."
"No, I've been keeping an eye on it and I checked with Lupin. The potion had to brew for a week at soonest before it could be used, it could be longer. And I already added the hens' teeth from Lupin."
"Then what are we waiting for?"
Hermione went upstairs to get the paper with the instructions. Harry went for his cloak. Harry crept downstairs quietly. Hermione wasn't over by Renata yet so Harry whispered to Hermione, "Don't tell her I'm here yet."
Hermione led Renata outside the portrait hole. Harry followed silently. As soon as they were around the corner Harry went right behind Renata. He suddenly put his hands on Renata's back to push her and he shouted, "BOO!"
To his delight, Renata jumped and all but fell on her face.
Her face turned red. "I'll get you for that, Harry!"
"But you'll have to catch me first!" he started laughing. "And to catch me you'd have to find me!" He was laughing harder now and running. He gave one last shout, "And you'd have to see me to find me!" Harry was still laughing.
As Harry was running, he heard Renata shout, "We know where he's going! Let's head him off!"
Renata was right of course, but Harry didn't care. He went to Myrtle's bathroom. He'd managed to stop laughing, something laughing and invisible running through the halls isn't very inconspicuous.
Unfortunately for him, Harry didn't get there first. Renata and Hermione did and though the bathroom appeared empty when Harry got there someone came up behind him and someone else came up in front of him. They gave a shout and pushed him. Harry nearly jumped out of his skin.
Then they were all laughing.
"Alright!" he laughed. "You got your revenge. Now can we get back to finding Hagrid?" asked Harry breathlessly.
"Sure thing," Renata said. She was still red in the face from laughing too hard.
Hermione took out the paper. "We take the potion and somebody's got to drink it and think about Hagrid and say his name five times after reading the spell. Any volunteers?"
"I'll do it," Harry said.
Hermione brought out a glass and she filled it to the rim. She passed it to Harry, "Here you go."
Harry looked at the liquid. "It looks kinda chunky, he said frowning."
"That's how it's supposed to look. Drink up. Here's the spell."
Harry read the spell. He took a deep breath and he drank the liquid, it tasted gross. "Rubeus Hagrid. Rubeus Hagrid. Rubeus Hagrid. Rubeus Hagrid. Rubeus Hagrid." Harry couldn't see anything. It was like a bright light surrounding him. Then he saw a stone fortress. It appeared to be on an island of some sort. There were shrouded figures walking around with dark cloaks drawn over there heads. His mind zoomed into the building and through the halls there. Then he reached a cell there, apparently one of many.
Hagrid lie sprawled on the floor. One of the figures was coming to the cell he opened the door. Harry felt a searing pain on his scar. He was sucked out of the vision and found himself back in the bathroom with Hermione and Renata. His scar hurt so bad that he sunk to his knees, clutching his forehead.
Harry felt Hermione and Renata each grab one of his arms and pull him back to his feet. The pain passed.
"I saw Hagrid!"
"Where is he?"
"I don't know.it had rocks. It was an island and the building was made out of rocks or something. Hagrid was in a cell. And the people.they were walking around in black cloaks."
"I don't really know where that is."
"We've got to see Lupin and Sirius. Let's go to Lupin first since he knew about the spell."
"Good. Both of you get under the cloak." Harry held it out for them and the three of them became invisible. They went down to Hagrid's hut to see Lupin, but he wasn't the one who answered the door.
"Sirius!"
"Harry, where are you? I can't see you."
"Here. We're under the cloak."
Sirius herded them into the hut. Harry flipped off the cloak. "Hi."
"What are the three of you doing sneaking out like this?" Sirius frowned.
"We had to come see Professor Lupin."
"He's here."
Lupin asked, "Speaking of here, where's Ron?"
"You didn't hear?" asked Harry.
Sirius and Lupin shook their heads.
The students sat the table with their Professors and briefed them on the day's events.
"But we have good news, too," Hermione said. "Tell them, Harry."
Harry told them about how the spell had worked.
Sirius frowned deeply. "It sounds like Azkaban." Sirius had spent twelve years at the horrible wizarding prison for a crime he didn't commit. "But that can't be.Azkaban is missing."
"What do you mean it's missing?"
"How can it be missing?"
"We don't know. It's just not there. We, the Order as well as the Ministry, know right where we left Azkaban and we can't find it." He saw the puzzled look on the students' faces. "Let me explain. Azkaban was built so that if necessary it could be moved. It takes a lot of wizards working together to move it and it's difficult. It hasn't been moved in fifteen or sixteen years. Now we can't find it."
"This isn't good, is it?"
"No, it's not. This is bad, this is very bad."
"I've got to talk to Dumbledore. C'mon I'll bring the three of you back to Gryffindor Tower."
"Sirius, we can go by ourselves. The professors won't see us."
"Are you sure, Harry?"
"Yes, besides, going to the tower is really out of your way." Harry, Hermione, and Renata got out of the hut and under the cloak before Sirius or Lupin could protest again.
They whipped the cloak off just when they were around the corner from the portrait of the Fat Lady. They weren't alone in the corridor. Nick and Artemis were floating back and forward down the corridor, talking.
There was no way to get past without their seeing (the students had to be visible in order to get the Fat Lady to let them in) so Harry and the girls took off the cloak and went forward anyway.
"Harry? What are you doing out at this hour?"
"Hi, Nick. We were talking to Si- I mean Professor Black and Professor Lupin."
"Well, the three of you should get inside before a teacher comes. I wouldn't want you getting in trouble."
"Thanks, Nick. What are you doing out here anyway?"
"Professor Dumbledore asked us to keep an eye on the corridor tonight. Wouldn't want any more problems, right?"
The students waved goodbye and went to the common room then up to their dorms.
There was one more complication before Harry could go to sleep, or rather, there were three complications: his roommates.
"Harry, what are you doing getting in so late?"
"Er-"
"We had to cover for you. McGonagall wanted to know where you were. And where Hermione and Renata were, Lavender and Parvati didn't know," Neville told him.
"What did you tell her?" Harry asked uneasily.
"We said you wanted to go to talk to Sirius. Where were you?"
"Talking to Sirius."
"Come off it, Harry. Just because we aren't Ron doesn't mean you can't tell us the truth. Where were you?"
"Talking to Sirius!"
They looked at him doubtfully.
"If I wasn't with Sirius, why don't you tell me where I was?" Harry demanded.
They didn't answer.
"Well, come on! Where do you think I was; the girls' bathroom?"
The other boys were looking uncomfortable and Seamus said, "You told us yourself you went in there."
"I can't believe this! I went in that time because I thought Hermione was crying! I told you that. How I supposed to know it was just Moaning Myrtle?"
"You like her?"
"What?" Harry asked. "Myrtle? Oh, you mean Hermione?" He started blushing. "Hermione's my friend!"
They still looked doubtful.
"Guys, this is Hermione we're talking about. Miss Know-It-All, brainy Hermione. Hermione who-"
"Who happens to trust you completely and who you trust. Hermione who you and Ron tell everything and always hang out with."
"We're friends. That's all. Ron and Hermione are both my best friends."
"What about Renata?"
"What about her?"
"You hang out with her all the time."
"I'm not getting into this with the three of you."
Dean muttered, "Yeah, you'll just talk to Hermione in the morning."
Harry's face turned a little redder; he was planning to talk to Hermione in the morning. He pulled himself together. "Look," he said impatiently, "Hermione is just Hermione and as for Renata, she's just Renata. Did you know she pushed me today? She punches my arm, she teases me- "
Seamus shrugged, "You're friends with her anyway."
"Exactly! Friends." Harry put on his pajamas and climbed into bed ignoring the protests and muttering from his roommates.
Harry woke up in a foul mood. He left his room as soon as he was dressed and met Renata and Hermione at the breakfast table. "Hey, did Parvati and Lavender start yelling at the two of you last night?"
"Not really. When they asked where we were Hermione said we were talking to some professors." Renata splattered ketchup all over her eggs.
"It was true enough," Hermione said defensively.
"Why, what happened?" asked Renata.
Harry sighed and told them, "As soon as I got in the three of them started asking questions. They said they had to cover for me when McGonagall was looking for me."
"What did they tell her?"
Harry smiled weakly, "They said I was talking to Sirius."
Hermione and Renata started laughing.
"I know. Then they asked where I was and they didn't believe me when I said I was talking to Sirius. They were sure I was in the girls' bathroom."
"But, Harry, you were!"
Harry realized with a shock that she was right and started laughing. When he stopped laughing he started talking again, "And then they stopped asking about where I was and started asking why I hang out with the two of you."
Renata punched him teasingly. "So what did you say?"
"I said you two were my friends and I wasn't about to get into it with them. They got mad and said that just because they weren't Ron didn't mean I couldn't tell them the truth. The three of them didn't believe a word I said all night." He poked at the bacon on his plate. "I bet Ron's okay now! That must have been why McGonagall was looking for us." The three of them abandoned their plates and went as fast as they could to the hospital wing.
"Can we see, Ron?"
"It's about time. He's been asking for you since last night."
The three of them went over and crowded around Ron's bed. "Where were you? McGonagall said she was getting you last night."
"Sorry, Ron, but you'll never guess who we found."
"If I'll never guess it you might as well tell me."
"Hagrid!"
"He's back?"
"No, but we sort of know where he is. We think he's at Azkaban but no one knows where Azkaban is right now."
Hermione explained how Azkaban could be moved to a new location.
Ron sat back to let the information sink in.
"When do you get out of here?"
"Maybe tomorrow. Madam Pomfrey said she'd give me something today to help make my hair grow back faster." He ran his hand along his bare head. "It's weird not having hair, you know? Cold too. I was wearing a hat last night when I got chilly."
Madam Pomfrey came over, "It's time for the three of you to leave."
"Five more minutes?" the four them begged.
At last Madam Pomfrey gave in. "Five minutes."
"Ron, did you see who attacked you? What happened?"
"Trust me, you've heard this one. I was asleep and then something was saying, get up and come, come, and I didn't really have a choice in the matter. I got up and went just past the portrait. Then something I couldn't see got me. I got hit on the head with something and I was knocked out."
The same as Parvati.
"We're going to have a harder time sneaking out and sneaking in at night," Harry told him. "Ghosts guarding outside."
"That's no good."
"Yeah. Dumbledore must-"
"Your five minutes are up. Out. Ron needs rest."
Once outside the hospital, Hermione asked, "Dumbledore must what?"
"Be worried. I'm sure of it." Harry chewed on his lip, thinking hard as they went back to the tower. "Hermione, I wish you hadn't backed out of the exchange student program."
She looked startled, "But I don't want to go. Not when things are getting this bad at Hogwarts. Why do you say that?"
"Because, then we'd know more about the exchange student business so we could figure out what it's all about. There's some sort of connection between all the people that were in that room and I want to know what it is."
* * *
Ron was let out of the hospital the next day and a week later the Quiditch teams were posted. Harry looked at the names for Gryffindor. The top of the page read: CAPTAIN, Harry Potter. Then were the positions, CHASER, Ginny Weasly, Dennis Creevy, Jeffery Brown; BEATER, Claire Orwell, Daphne Blankley; KEEPER, Renata Delano; SEEKER, Harry Potter.
Harry didn't recognize all the names on the list. He'd never heard of Jeffery Brown but he supposed that he must be Lavender's brother; though Harry hadn't been aware she had a brother. Harry didn't even have a clue who Daphne Blankley was. Harry took out a quill and wrote on the bottom of the paper: FIRST PRACTICE THIS WEDNESDAY.
Renata came up behind him. He turned around. "Hi. Did you look at the team?"
"Yeah. Some of them are pretty young this year."
"I know. Unless there's little league Quiditch or something, these kids haven't played on a team before this year." Harry shook his head.
* * *
Wednesday night, Harry got to the field early. Renata arrived just a few minutes after he did and they waited for the others to come.
"How are we supposed to win if they can't even get to practice on time?"
"Harry, relax. It's still ten minutes early."
The rest of the players arrived before the ten minutes were over. Harry, pacing back and forward, began to talk. "I realized most of you haven't played on the team before but that's okay. If we work hard and do our best we'll have a great season. Go take a few warm up laps around the field."
The players took off while Harry got out the crate of Quiditch balls. The team landed. "Okay, we're going to break up into two groups. Where are our Chasers and Keeper?"
Renata smiled and Ginny, Dennis and Jeffery stepped forward.
Harry spoke to the Chasers first. "It's really important that the three of you are able to work together. You've got to be able to communicate with each other and cooperate." Harry picked up the Quaffle. "The three of you are going to try and score as if this is a game. Renata will pretend to be the other team's Keeper and guard the hoop. Renata, you know what to do." Harry threw the Quaffle to Renata and turned to talk to Claire and Daphne. "The two of you are going to work with me." He gave them each a short bat. "You know what to do, just don't let the Bludgers hit anyone and try to keep them on that end of the field so we don't disturb the others."
Claire and Daphne went into the air and Harry released the Bludgers. The Bludgers were black balls a little smaller than soccer balls and they whizzed through the air trying to knock players off their brooms. Harry released them from the crate and they shot into the air. Harry sped off on his broom, as the first Bludger rocketed toward him, Daphne smacked it out of the way. The second one came up from behind and Claire knocked it out of the way.
Practice continued to progress with some problems. Ginny, Dennis, and Jeffery didn't communicate that well with each other. They didn't say when they were going to pass or anticipate well enough where the person receiving the Quaffle would be. They also quarreled with each other. Some of the shots were good, but none of them were able to get to the hoops behind Renata.
Things weren't going so well for Harry and the Beaters either. Though Harry was saved from being hit several times there was also more than once by Bludgers. He called practice done early and when the balls were put in the crate and all the teammates except Renata were gone, he sat on the crate looking disappointed.
"Scoot over."
Harry moved over a few inches so Renata could sit down.
"It's not that bad, Harry."
"Yes it is," he said miserably.
"No, not really. All they need is a little practice."
Harry looked at her skeptically.
"Alright, they need a lot of practice but give them a while and they'll be great. Really, I do see potential in them. Someone must have seen some potential in you at some point." She made as if to hit Harry teasingly in the arm.
"No, Renata. I got hit by a Bludger there."
"Okay." She patted him on the head. "Let's go inside. Hermione said she wanted to find out how practice went when we got back."
"I'm staying here."
"Harry, you can't stay out here all night. Get up. Here, help me with the crate." They locked it up in the broom shed.
When they got to the common room Hermione asked, "How was practice?"
"Dismal." Harry sank into a chair.
Renata sat between him and Hermione. "Honestly, he's exaggerating by a long shot.
"You didn't get pelted by Bludgers," muttered Harry.
"Yeah, poor Harry," Renata teased. "Poor wittle Harry-warry got hit by Bludgers. Yes he did," she pinched his cheek in a way that matched the annoying baby voice she was using.
Harry rolled his eyes.
In the morning Harry woke up, still feeling uneasy. The troubled feeling from the day before had settled in a tight knot in Harry's stomach and it refused to go away. Harry tried to explain it to his friends.
"Something's wrong. I can feel it. I don't know what it is but we missed something yesterday."
"What could we have possibly missed?"
"That's just it, I don't know. But it's got to be something important."
"Well, let's review. We don't know where Dumbledore is or what he's doing. We don't know where Dobby is other than the fact that he's with Dumbledore. We don't know why the exchange student candidates were chosen, only that they don't all meet the criteria. We don't know who attacked Parvati or why they attacked her, only that she was attacked. That about sums up our situation, doesn't it?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah," Harry sighed.
Renata spoke. "Well, all that's left then is to tie up the less ends. Am I right?" She didn't wait for a response. "We don't know where Dumbledore is, so we can't question him. We don't know where Dobby is, so we can't question him. We don't know anything the exchange students candidates had in common so there's no point in starting there. That leaves us one last thing to search: we know exactly where Parvati is and she won't be going anywhere."
"We ask her!" Harry exclaimed.
Renata and Hermione nodded.
Unfortunately for their high hopes, Ron found the flaw in their logic. "Madam Pomfrey won't want us all up there disturbing her patient's rest."
"Oh." Harry furrowed his brow in thought. "Hermione, you should go. Find out what you can from Parvati and see if you can get Madam Pomfrey to say anything."
"All right, I will."
Renata turned and punched Harry lightly in the arm, "See? Now you're thinking."
Harry and the others waited in the library for Hermione to come back. Harry started pacing and muttering, "Where is she?"
"Consider it this way, Harry: the longer she's there, the more she's finding out."
"Or the harder it is to find out anything."
When Hermione came in her face was flushed as if she'd run all the way from the hospital. In an excited whisper, Hermione began to tell them what she learned.
"Parvati wasn't up for too much talking, getting rid of the poison hadn't been pleasant, anyway-"
"I thought Madam Pomfrey cleared out the poison when she cleaned out the cut."
Hermione gave Harry an annoyed look for interrupting her story. "She cleaned out the poison that was still in the cut then. Some of it had already gotten into Parvati's system so she had to take an elixir to help her regurgitate the poison."
"Oh."
"As I was saying Parvati was willing to answer a few questions for me. She didn't see who the attacker was."
"That helps," muttered Ron sarcastically.
Hermione flashed him an angry glare. "Ron, it was helpful. She was looking at him and couldn't see him."
"What was she doing out at that hour?" asked Renata.
"Will you people stop interrupting me?" Hermione covered her mouth as Madam Pince, the librarian, gave her a warning glance. Hermione lowered her voice. "She didn't know why she was there. One minute she's fast asleep and the next she's compelled to go outside the common room."
"Imperious Curse, you think?"
"No, she still had her own thoughts."
Renata contemplated her answer for a moment, "Maybe.yes, I think.it was a Calling Charm. It had to have been." She looked worried as she said this.
"What's the matter?" asked Harry.
"Well," Renata's eyebrows knitted together and she spoke slowly. "A Calling Charm isn't that hard to begin with. You'd think it'd be even easier to do a Calling when someone is asleep because there are less thoughts to override; but it's not. I guess it takes more power because the mind isn't alert."
"But you can do it," Harry said, confused and not seeing any point. Renata had used Calling Charms on them in their sleep more than once.
"I know, but I'm always pretty drained and pretty tired afterward. I know, I never really look tired but that's because I can grin and laugh through just about anything. What worries me is that whoever attacked Parvati was able to wake her up and bring her out with the Calling Charm, he managed to hit her over the head, shave her hair, and get away, staying invisible the entire time. That tells you something."
She seemed to have a point after all.
The uneasy feeling stayed with Harry and seemed to have sunken to the very bottom of his stomach and it settled there through the week until Friday. At last, on Friday, Harry's mind was able to ignore it for something momentarily more pressing: Quiditch tryouts. He woke in a gloomy mood and barely poked at his breakfast.
"What's wrong, Harry?" asked a cheerful voice.
Harry looked up and stared across the table at Renata, who had just seated herself. "Quiditch tryouts today," he was mumbling, but Renata caught the mumbled words.
"Harry, it will be a fine year. So we've got a lot of new recruits, big deal. There was a year when it was your first year on the time, don't forget that. You better be sure to cut these kids some slack. I'm warning you now."
Harry looked at Renata and he could tell she meant every word she said.
Renata gave him an easy-going smile and said with confidence, "The team will be great this year, you'll see. With a first-class Seeker-"
"And a top-notch Keeper-"
"As well as the rest of the team, it will be a great season. You'll need to make sure the Beaters aren't afraid to be hit-"
"And we'll need to keep the Chasers working well together as a unit and we'll have the best team at the school," Harry said.
"I know." She smiled again and soon Harry found himself not only smiling, but laughing and in better spirits than he'd been in for nearly two weeks.
His spirits weren't dampened when he messed up in Transfiguration, or when he was chosen again as a test dummy again in Sirius's class or when they had to discuss the founding of the Ministry of Magic with Professor Binns. Throughout the day, Harry's mind was focused on Quiditch.
Finally it was time for tryouts, Harry swung his Firebolt over his shoulder and reached the field a little early, though by no means was he the first there. Renata was already flying around the field doing laps. Ginny and her friend Claire were chatting and carrying brooms. Renata landed to talk with Harry as other various Gryffindors came onto the field.
"What do you think of the group?" Renata asked.
"We'll just have to wait and see how they do."
Madam Hooch came on to the field then as well and began to bark curt instructions at them. Harry observed the others as they flew. Renata was as great as she had been the year before. Claire flew as well as she had when they had flown over the summer. Ginny was a better flyer than Harry had assumed she'd be. The Creevy brothers were out there as well. Colin and Dennis Creevy always got a thrill from shouting "Hiya, Harry!" and hearing him respond. They didn't miss the opportunity to greet Harry again and hear his response.
"Hullo, Colin, Dennis."
Although Colin and Dennis were enthusiastic as they tried out, they were little else. Colin's broom was at all times unsteady and he couldn't move very well on it. Dennis seemed to be getting along only slightly better than his brother. Harry looked to the others. There were a few Gryffindors that Harry didn't recognize. Harry was exhausted by the time the tryouts were done and he gratefully went back to Gryffindor Tower with the others.
"Harry, do you know when they'll post the results?"
"Sorry, Renata. I was hoping you could tell me."
"That's okay. When it's posted, it's posted."
Harry was too tired to take care of homework that night and decided to leave it for Saturday. He went up to the dormitory and dropped into a dreamless and untroubled sleep.
The morning light shone in Harry's eyes; he tried to ignore it and go back to sleep but something wasn't right. Then he realized what it was: the sun shouldn't be in his eyes. He had closed the curtains around his bed before he fell asleep. Who had opened them? Harry sat up and put on his glasses.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, wide-eyed.
"Come on."
"What if somebody sees you?" Harry looked around the room.
"Harry, none of the other boys are in here," Renata laughed.
"What are you doing here?" he asked incredulously.
"Hermione sent me."
"Why?"
"Because I can be invisible if I need to, she can't."
"Why didn't you send Ron?"
She shuffled her feet slightly, "We don't know where he is."
"What?"
"I'm not going to repeat myself."
"Where is he?"
"That's better. If we knew that, do you think I'd be up here?"
"I guess not."
"Hurry up so I can leave. A door shouldn't look like it's opening by itself. I have to wait and leave when you do."
Harry thought about it. It made sense then- "Wait a second. You can't leave when I do."
"Why not?"
"Because I have to get dressed," he said blushing slightly.
"Oh, I forgot."
"So turn invisible and get out already!"
Harry watched as Renata put something in her mouth and could no longer be seen and he carefully made sure she was out of the room before he changed. Out on the landing outside the door he ran into Renata. "Watch it!"
"I thought you were gone?"
"No, I was waiting out here for you. See you in a few minutes." Renata walked down the stairs in front of Harry and from the best that Harry could tell she went over to the girls' staircase to turn herself visible. Harry, meanwhile found Hermione waiting.
"Where's Renata?" she asked.
"She went back to the girls' stairs."
A moment later, fully visible, Renata joined them.
Harry inquired, "So what's this business about Ron missing?"
"It's exactly what you just said. Ron's missing."
"Huh?"
"We'll clarify for you then. You went upstairs. Five minutes later, Ron went upstairs. This morning when Seamus came down he asked if we knew where Ron was because he wasn't upstairs. That's it."
"What time was this?"
"Eight-ish."
Renata asked, "Isn't it just possible he got up before us and is downstairs?"
"Not likely," Harry told her. "He likes sleeping in late most of the time."
"Don't you sleep-in a lot too?" asked Renata.
"Only if I'm real tired or if I have nightmares," the words were out of Harry's mouth before he realized he was saying them. Harry saw Renata trying very hard to stifle laughter and Hermione try to suppress a smile.
Finally it was too much for the girls and they dissolved into peals of laughter.
Harry's face went as red as it could get and then he buried his face in his hands until the girls had regained control of themselves.
Renata was having a harder time of it than Hermione. Hermione had just regained her composure and Renata was nearing it. Renata tugged weakly on Harry's sleeve, still laughing, asked, "What do you get nightmares about?"
Harry took his head out of his hands and said in a quiet voice, "Voldemort, and my parents' murder."
Instantly the laughing stopped. Hermione and Renata became sober.
Renata said in a subdued voice, "I'm sorry. I didn't know."
Hermione could only nod.
After a few minutes Harry asked, "So what do you think happened to Ron?"
As Hermione spoke there was fear in her voice, "We haven't got a clue."
By lunch there was still no sign of him. They were just heading back upstairs to look for him again when Professor McGonagall caught up with them.
"Here you are. I would like the three of you to follow me, please." They followed her up the stairs and through the corridors.
Harry realized his fear was about to come true when he and the others reached the door of the hospital and Professor McGonagall brought them inside.
Madam Pomfrey was standing inside.
Harry had supposed she would object to their presence but instead she said, "Come this way." The three students and the professor followed the nurse to a bed with a curtain around it.
Ron was there, lying and moaning softly. His head had a lump where he'd been hit in the head and there was a cut, though only half the size of Parvati's it was there. His head had been shaved in the same manner as Parvati's as well.
Harry could hear Hermione choking back tears as he was doing. Harry glanced at Renata. She was silent but there was a tear running down her cheek.
Madam Pomfrey closed the curtain again.
Harry looked at the nurse but the words wouldn't come.
Madam Pomfrey seemed to understand and replied gently to the unasked question, "I'm sorry, but no. I'll send someone to get the three of you as soon as he's well enough for visitors."
Professor McGonagall led the students out and explained quietly, "I thought the three of you would want to know."
Hermione seemed to have found her voice first. "Thank you," she whispered.
Harry and Renata could only nod.
Professor McGonagall left them near the entrance to Gryffindor Tower. They'd been seated together in the common room for ten silent minutes when a voice asked, "What's the matter?"
Harry looked up and so did Hermione and Renata. Harry saw that the girls' eyes were red with tears; Harry suspected his own were at least a little pink, but he didn't care.
Ginny repeated, "What's the matter?"
Hermione muttered one word, "Ron."
Ginny paled. "What?"
"Attacked."
Ginny rushed out, then, Harry supposed she was going to the hospital wing. He sighed and put his head in his hands. It was a while before any of them spoke.
"He'll be okay, you know."
Harry looked up.
Parvati sat down between Hermione and Harry. "He'll be okay."
"What? How do you know?"
"I ran into Ginny in the hall. Ron will be okay. Madam Pomfrey will get rid of the poison, clear up the cut on his head, make the swelling go down, and he'll be right as rain before you know it. And the hair on his head will grow back too."
Harry looked at her and only then realized that her hair was longer than it should have been in the time it had to grow since she'd been shaved. Harry hadn't noticed in class. He looked at her questioningly.
"Mine? I used a potion to make it grow back faster. Don't worry; Ron will be back before you know it." Parvati smiled encouragingly at the three of them before leaving to look for Lavender.
"She's right, you know." Renata stood up and put a determined look on her face. "Ron will get better, we'll just be without him for a few days. That's all."
"You're right. In the mean time what can we do?"
"I think we should work on the potion."
"Do we have to start over? It's been more than a week."
"No, I've been keeping an eye on it and I checked with Lupin. The potion had to brew for a week at soonest before it could be used, it could be longer. And I already added the hens' teeth from Lupin."
"Then what are we waiting for?"
Hermione went upstairs to get the paper with the instructions. Harry went for his cloak. Harry crept downstairs quietly. Hermione wasn't over by Renata yet so Harry whispered to Hermione, "Don't tell her I'm here yet."
Hermione led Renata outside the portrait hole. Harry followed silently. As soon as they were around the corner Harry went right behind Renata. He suddenly put his hands on Renata's back to push her and he shouted, "BOO!"
To his delight, Renata jumped and all but fell on her face.
Her face turned red. "I'll get you for that, Harry!"
"But you'll have to catch me first!" he started laughing. "And to catch me you'd have to find me!" He was laughing harder now and running. He gave one last shout, "And you'd have to see me to find me!" Harry was still laughing.
As Harry was running, he heard Renata shout, "We know where he's going! Let's head him off!"
Renata was right of course, but Harry didn't care. He went to Myrtle's bathroom. He'd managed to stop laughing, something laughing and invisible running through the halls isn't very inconspicuous.
Unfortunately for him, Harry didn't get there first. Renata and Hermione did and though the bathroom appeared empty when Harry got there someone came up behind him and someone else came up in front of him. They gave a shout and pushed him. Harry nearly jumped out of his skin.
Then they were all laughing.
"Alright!" he laughed. "You got your revenge. Now can we get back to finding Hagrid?" asked Harry breathlessly.
"Sure thing," Renata said. She was still red in the face from laughing too hard.
Hermione took out the paper. "We take the potion and somebody's got to drink it and think about Hagrid and say his name five times after reading the spell. Any volunteers?"
"I'll do it," Harry said.
Hermione brought out a glass and she filled it to the rim. She passed it to Harry, "Here you go."
Harry looked at the liquid. "It looks kinda chunky, he said frowning."
"That's how it's supposed to look. Drink up. Here's the spell."
Harry read the spell. He took a deep breath and he drank the liquid, it tasted gross. "Rubeus Hagrid. Rubeus Hagrid. Rubeus Hagrid. Rubeus Hagrid. Rubeus Hagrid." Harry couldn't see anything. It was like a bright light surrounding him. Then he saw a stone fortress. It appeared to be on an island of some sort. There were shrouded figures walking around with dark cloaks drawn over there heads. His mind zoomed into the building and through the halls there. Then he reached a cell there, apparently one of many.
Hagrid lie sprawled on the floor. One of the figures was coming to the cell he opened the door. Harry felt a searing pain on his scar. He was sucked out of the vision and found himself back in the bathroom with Hermione and Renata. His scar hurt so bad that he sunk to his knees, clutching his forehead.
Harry felt Hermione and Renata each grab one of his arms and pull him back to his feet. The pain passed.
"I saw Hagrid!"
"Where is he?"
"I don't know.it had rocks. It was an island and the building was made out of rocks or something. Hagrid was in a cell. And the people.they were walking around in black cloaks."
"I don't really know where that is."
"We've got to see Lupin and Sirius. Let's go to Lupin first since he knew about the spell."
"Good. Both of you get under the cloak." Harry held it out for them and the three of them became invisible. They went down to Hagrid's hut to see Lupin, but he wasn't the one who answered the door.
"Sirius!"
"Harry, where are you? I can't see you."
"Here. We're under the cloak."
Sirius herded them into the hut. Harry flipped off the cloak. "Hi."
"What are the three of you doing sneaking out like this?" Sirius frowned.
"We had to come see Professor Lupin."
"He's here."
Lupin asked, "Speaking of here, where's Ron?"
"You didn't hear?" asked Harry.
Sirius and Lupin shook their heads.
The students sat the table with their Professors and briefed them on the day's events.
"But we have good news, too," Hermione said. "Tell them, Harry."
Harry told them about how the spell had worked.
Sirius frowned deeply. "It sounds like Azkaban." Sirius had spent twelve years at the horrible wizarding prison for a crime he didn't commit. "But that can't be.Azkaban is missing."
"What do you mean it's missing?"
"How can it be missing?"
"We don't know. It's just not there. We, the Order as well as the Ministry, know right where we left Azkaban and we can't find it." He saw the puzzled look on the students' faces. "Let me explain. Azkaban was built so that if necessary it could be moved. It takes a lot of wizards working together to move it and it's difficult. It hasn't been moved in fifteen or sixteen years. Now we can't find it."
"This isn't good, is it?"
"No, it's not. This is bad, this is very bad."
"I've got to talk to Dumbledore. C'mon I'll bring the three of you back to Gryffindor Tower."
"Sirius, we can go by ourselves. The professors won't see us."
"Are you sure, Harry?"
"Yes, besides, going to the tower is really out of your way." Harry, Hermione, and Renata got out of the hut and under the cloak before Sirius or Lupin could protest again.
They whipped the cloak off just when they were around the corner from the portrait of the Fat Lady. They weren't alone in the corridor. Nick and Artemis were floating back and forward down the corridor, talking.
There was no way to get past without their seeing (the students had to be visible in order to get the Fat Lady to let them in) so Harry and the girls took off the cloak and went forward anyway.
"Harry? What are you doing out at this hour?"
"Hi, Nick. We were talking to Si- I mean Professor Black and Professor Lupin."
"Well, the three of you should get inside before a teacher comes. I wouldn't want you getting in trouble."
"Thanks, Nick. What are you doing out here anyway?"
"Professor Dumbledore asked us to keep an eye on the corridor tonight. Wouldn't want any more problems, right?"
The students waved goodbye and went to the common room then up to their dorms.
There was one more complication before Harry could go to sleep, or rather, there were three complications: his roommates.
"Harry, what are you doing getting in so late?"
"Er-"
"We had to cover for you. McGonagall wanted to know where you were. And where Hermione and Renata were, Lavender and Parvati didn't know," Neville told him.
"What did you tell her?" Harry asked uneasily.
"We said you wanted to go to talk to Sirius. Where were you?"
"Talking to Sirius."
"Come off it, Harry. Just because we aren't Ron doesn't mean you can't tell us the truth. Where were you?"
"Talking to Sirius!"
They looked at him doubtfully.
"If I wasn't with Sirius, why don't you tell me where I was?" Harry demanded.
They didn't answer.
"Well, come on! Where do you think I was; the girls' bathroom?"
The other boys were looking uncomfortable and Seamus said, "You told us yourself you went in there."
"I can't believe this! I went in that time because I thought Hermione was crying! I told you that. How I supposed to know it was just Moaning Myrtle?"
"You like her?"
"What?" Harry asked. "Myrtle? Oh, you mean Hermione?" He started blushing. "Hermione's my friend!"
They still looked doubtful.
"Guys, this is Hermione we're talking about. Miss Know-It-All, brainy Hermione. Hermione who-"
"Who happens to trust you completely and who you trust. Hermione who you and Ron tell everything and always hang out with."
"We're friends. That's all. Ron and Hermione are both my best friends."
"What about Renata?"
"What about her?"
"You hang out with her all the time."
"I'm not getting into this with the three of you."
Dean muttered, "Yeah, you'll just talk to Hermione in the morning."
Harry's face turned a little redder; he was planning to talk to Hermione in the morning. He pulled himself together. "Look," he said impatiently, "Hermione is just Hermione and as for Renata, she's just Renata. Did you know she pushed me today? She punches my arm, she teases me- "
Seamus shrugged, "You're friends with her anyway."
"Exactly! Friends." Harry put on his pajamas and climbed into bed ignoring the protests and muttering from his roommates.
Harry woke up in a foul mood. He left his room as soon as he was dressed and met Renata and Hermione at the breakfast table. "Hey, did Parvati and Lavender start yelling at the two of you last night?"
"Not really. When they asked where we were Hermione said we were talking to some professors." Renata splattered ketchup all over her eggs.
"It was true enough," Hermione said defensively.
"Why, what happened?" asked Renata.
Harry sighed and told them, "As soon as I got in the three of them started asking questions. They said they had to cover for me when McGonagall was looking for me."
"What did they tell her?"
Harry smiled weakly, "They said I was talking to Sirius."
Hermione and Renata started laughing.
"I know. Then they asked where I was and they didn't believe me when I said I was talking to Sirius. They were sure I was in the girls' bathroom."
"But, Harry, you were!"
Harry realized with a shock that she was right and started laughing. When he stopped laughing he started talking again, "And then they stopped asking about where I was and started asking why I hang out with the two of you."
Renata punched him teasingly. "So what did you say?"
"I said you two were my friends and I wasn't about to get into it with them. They got mad and said that just because they weren't Ron didn't mean I couldn't tell them the truth. The three of them didn't believe a word I said all night." He poked at the bacon on his plate. "I bet Ron's okay now! That must have been why McGonagall was looking for us." The three of them abandoned their plates and went as fast as they could to the hospital wing.
"Can we see, Ron?"
"It's about time. He's been asking for you since last night."
The three of them went over and crowded around Ron's bed. "Where were you? McGonagall said she was getting you last night."
"Sorry, Ron, but you'll never guess who we found."
"If I'll never guess it you might as well tell me."
"Hagrid!"
"He's back?"
"No, but we sort of know where he is. We think he's at Azkaban but no one knows where Azkaban is right now."
Hermione explained how Azkaban could be moved to a new location.
Ron sat back to let the information sink in.
"When do you get out of here?"
"Maybe tomorrow. Madam Pomfrey said she'd give me something today to help make my hair grow back faster." He ran his hand along his bare head. "It's weird not having hair, you know? Cold too. I was wearing a hat last night when I got chilly."
Madam Pomfrey came over, "It's time for the three of you to leave."
"Five more minutes?" the four them begged.
At last Madam Pomfrey gave in. "Five minutes."
"Ron, did you see who attacked you? What happened?"
"Trust me, you've heard this one. I was asleep and then something was saying, get up and come, come, and I didn't really have a choice in the matter. I got up and went just past the portrait. Then something I couldn't see got me. I got hit on the head with something and I was knocked out."
The same as Parvati.
"We're going to have a harder time sneaking out and sneaking in at night," Harry told him. "Ghosts guarding outside."
"That's no good."
"Yeah. Dumbledore must-"
"Your five minutes are up. Out. Ron needs rest."
Once outside the hospital, Hermione asked, "Dumbledore must what?"
"Be worried. I'm sure of it." Harry chewed on his lip, thinking hard as they went back to the tower. "Hermione, I wish you hadn't backed out of the exchange student program."
She looked startled, "But I don't want to go. Not when things are getting this bad at Hogwarts. Why do you say that?"
"Because, then we'd know more about the exchange student business so we could figure out what it's all about. There's some sort of connection between all the people that were in that room and I want to know what it is."
* * *
Ron was let out of the hospital the next day and a week later the Quiditch teams were posted. Harry looked at the names for Gryffindor. The top of the page read: CAPTAIN, Harry Potter. Then were the positions, CHASER, Ginny Weasly, Dennis Creevy, Jeffery Brown; BEATER, Claire Orwell, Daphne Blankley; KEEPER, Renata Delano; SEEKER, Harry Potter.
Harry didn't recognize all the names on the list. He'd never heard of Jeffery Brown but he supposed that he must be Lavender's brother; though Harry hadn't been aware she had a brother. Harry didn't even have a clue who Daphne Blankley was. Harry took out a quill and wrote on the bottom of the paper: FIRST PRACTICE THIS WEDNESDAY.
Renata came up behind him. He turned around. "Hi. Did you look at the team?"
"Yeah. Some of them are pretty young this year."
"I know. Unless there's little league Quiditch or something, these kids haven't played on a team before this year." Harry shook his head.
* * *
Wednesday night, Harry got to the field early. Renata arrived just a few minutes after he did and they waited for the others to come.
"How are we supposed to win if they can't even get to practice on time?"
"Harry, relax. It's still ten minutes early."
The rest of the players arrived before the ten minutes were over. Harry, pacing back and forward, began to talk. "I realized most of you haven't played on the team before but that's okay. If we work hard and do our best we'll have a great season. Go take a few warm up laps around the field."
The players took off while Harry got out the crate of Quiditch balls. The team landed. "Okay, we're going to break up into two groups. Where are our Chasers and Keeper?"
Renata smiled and Ginny, Dennis and Jeffery stepped forward.
Harry spoke to the Chasers first. "It's really important that the three of you are able to work together. You've got to be able to communicate with each other and cooperate." Harry picked up the Quaffle. "The three of you are going to try and score as if this is a game. Renata will pretend to be the other team's Keeper and guard the hoop. Renata, you know what to do." Harry threw the Quaffle to Renata and turned to talk to Claire and Daphne. "The two of you are going to work with me." He gave them each a short bat. "You know what to do, just don't let the Bludgers hit anyone and try to keep them on that end of the field so we don't disturb the others."
Claire and Daphne went into the air and Harry released the Bludgers. The Bludgers were black balls a little smaller than soccer balls and they whizzed through the air trying to knock players off their brooms. Harry released them from the crate and they shot into the air. Harry sped off on his broom, as the first Bludger rocketed toward him, Daphne smacked it out of the way. The second one came up from behind and Claire knocked it out of the way.
Practice continued to progress with some problems. Ginny, Dennis, and Jeffery didn't communicate that well with each other. They didn't say when they were going to pass or anticipate well enough where the person receiving the Quaffle would be. They also quarreled with each other. Some of the shots were good, but none of them were able to get to the hoops behind Renata.
Things weren't going so well for Harry and the Beaters either. Though Harry was saved from being hit several times there was also more than once by Bludgers. He called practice done early and when the balls were put in the crate and all the teammates except Renata were gone, he sat on the crate looking disappointed.
"Scoot over."
Harry moved over a few inches so Renata could sit down.
"It's not that bad, Harry."
"Yes it is," he said miserably.
"No, not really. All they need is a little practice."
Harry looked at her skeptically.
"Alright, they need a lot of practice but give them a while and they'll be great. Really, I do see potential in them. Someone must have seen some potential in you at some point." She made as if to hit Harry teasingly in the arm.
"No, Renata. I got hit by a Bludger there."
"Okay." She patted him on the head. "Let's go inside. Hermione said she wanted to find out how practice went when we got back."
"I'm staying here."
"Harry, you can't stay out here all night. Get up. Here, help me with the crate." They locked it up in the broom shed.
When they got to the common room Hermione asked, "How was practice?"
"Dismal." Harry sank into a chair.
Renata sat between him and Hermione. "Honestly, he's exaggerating by a long shot.
"You didn't get pelted by Bludgers," muttered Harry.
"Yeah, poor Harry," Renata teased. "Poor wittle Harry-warry got hit by Bludgers. Yes he did," she pinched his cheek in a way that matched the annoying baby voice she was using.
Harry rolled his eyes.
