Author's Notes: This is the fourth chapter in my new HP/BtVS crossover.
The series is called 'Over The Rainbow' and the chapter is entitled 'Out
With the Old, In With the New'. The rating for this chapter is PG. As far
as 'spoilers' go, this story takes place after Goblet of Fire and after
Season 5 of BtVS. In my world they correspond at the same time. So, Buffy
is dead, Tara is alive and with Willow, Spike is NOT souled. Giles is
still around.
If you're interested in receiving a copy of this story with a header for posting on a website, email me at jesca10@attbi.com. Enjoy!
*~*~*
This was the part that Dawn was dreading. She looked out at Madam Hooch. Her grey hair was short and sticking up all over. It was a strange hairdo for someone her age, but Dawn kind of liked it. Her cat-like eyes peered at Dawn.
"On the left side of the broom," she directed as Dawn moved over. She looked around, noticing they were in a wide field. She hoped she wouldn't make a fool of herself. "Now hold your hand above the broom and say 'Up'."
"Up?" Dawn said, unsure.
"Don't ask it to go up, Miss Summers, tell it to come up!"
"Up," Dawn said, taking the question out of her tone. But still the broom didn't move. "Up!" she said a little louder, and finally the broom came up to her hand and she gripped it reflexively as she started in astonishment.
"Now mount your broom and hold tight." Dawn mimicked Madam Hooch as she got on her own broom. "Now I'm going to count to three and I want you to kick up off the ground. Hover a moment and then lean forward and point your broom downward to come down. Don't go taking off into the air, ok?"
Dawn nodded, nervously. At the count of three Dawn kicked off of the ground, and half expected to come back down. But slowly the ground pulled away from her and she gripped the broom tightly. She smiled to herself as she found herself hovering in the air. She tried to adjust herself slightly until she found a position that was comfortable to sit in. Then, slowly, she leaned forward, again unsure of what would happen. When she felt her feet touch the ground, she breathed a sigh of relief.
"Very good. Now, I want you to kick off again and lean backwards. This will give you elevation. Then, when you're ready lean forward, but don't point the broom downward. Go slowly. Don't lean too far down. The farther down you lean, the faster you will go. Alright?" Dawn nodded and moved to do as she said.
Kicking off the ground, Dawn flew upwards, leaning back to get more height. When she was a good four feet off the ground, she stopped, straightening up. She sat there for a moment, getting her bearings. Then she slowly leaned forward and the broom moved forward. She went slowly at first, the rush of flying making her smile a goofy smile. She turned her body and the broom turned on command. She was really starting to enjoy herself and she decided to take it up a bit. She leaned forward, making herself more streamlined, and the broom zoomed forward faster. She moved her legs back making herself even more flat on the broom and it went faster! She could hear Madam Hooch in far behind her, but the exhilaration was taking over and she didn't stop. The scenery flew by her and she turned to the left, circling around to head back. She stayed low to the broom, trying to go very fast. Finally when she was over the open area again, she pulled up quickly and held on tight, stopping the broom very effectively. She grinned and turned around to face Madam Hooch who looked a little pale.
"Uh.very good Miss Summers. Now come down."
Dawn smiled as she leaned forward with body and broom causing it to descend. When her feet touched the ground, she felt slightly depressed that the ride was over.
*~*~*
Dawn flinched a little as Professor McGonagall sighed again. Dawn had just managed to make her rat a white color with flowers on it instead of the teacup she was supposed to transfigure him into.
"Sorry," she mumbled.
"Perhaps if you were concentrating, Miss Summers, your rat would be a teacup by now." Professor McGonagall said sternly.
"I'm sorry Professor. I am trying." But she knew the professor was right. Her mind wasn't on her work. Tonight, after her transfigure lesson, she was being aloud to take her broom out for a spin, alone. She had gotten a loaner broom from the school and was aloud to keep it in her room. Whenever she could, she practiced flying. It was her favorite part about school. But usually she was supposed to have a teacher with her. This time, though, she was going to practice on the Quidditch field, alone.
"Miss Summers?"
Dawn snapped back to now and her face reddened.
"It's obvious you aren't here and transfiguration is something that should be taken most seriously. You might go transfigure someone into a pile of ooze if you aren't careful!" She looked disapproving.
"I'm sorry, Professor. Its just." she hesitated to tell her what was on her mind. Professor McGonagall might be the head of Gryffindor, but she was very stern.
"Yes?" she asked, waiting.
"I'm going flying later, alone, for the first time." She said, hoping the older professor would understand.
"Ah. I see. Well then." She stood up, looking stern. Dawn slouched down in her chair. "Since your head is already in the clouds, you best go join it." She smiled down at Dawn, whose face registered shock.
"Really?" Dawn asked, already packing her stuff.
"Yes, but I expect you to practice your transfiguration, Miss Summers. I expect you to read the chapters I've indicated in the book I've lent you. I expect you're mind and body to be here after classes tomorrow and I expect this rat to be a teacup," she said as Dawn was ready to go.
"Yes, Professor! It will be!" she said as she bounded out of the room. She didn't catch McGonagall's smile.
Dawn hurried to her room, grabbed the broomstick and looked at her watch. She had an hour before supper to fly. She hurried to the Quidditch field. She could spot the six hoped poles before she got there. But once she was nearer, her eyes weren't on the poles, but on the boy flying around. She lost her smile. She was hoping for seclusion. But her smile reappeared when she realized it was Harry.
She watched him dart around the field on his broom. He looked like he was concentrating hard on something and almost looked to be chasing it, but Dawn couldn't see what it was he was chasing. She strained her eyes a moment and then she suddenly thought she saw something small and golden. She guessed from the talk that she'd heard around that this was called the stitch or cinch or something like that. She couldn't remember. She didn't wonder on it long. Instead she watched some of Harry's brilliant flying. The tight turns, the sudden drops, the ascensions, and the way he flew like he was being chased by the devil himself captivated her.
Finally, after one deep dive to the ground that was so steep he had to do a somersault off of the broom to keep from falling, he stood there, holding the golden ball. She clapped and Harry turned to her, smiling.
"Hey there, I didn't see you," he trotted over to her, carrying his broomstick. She could tell by comparison to her broom that it was a good one.
"Nice broom," Dawn said, smiling.
"Thanks. So what are you up to?"
"Oh, I was coming here to do some flying before supper, but that's ok. You go ahead." She smiled at him.
"Nonsense. We can both practice here. Usually ten people fly here at the same time and only usually bump into each other on purpose," he grinned. She smiled. It was getting dark and she was anxious to fly so she agreed. Dawn mounted her broom and kicked off easily. She rose into the air and took a cursory fly around the field before she started to zip around practicing stopping quickly in mid-air. She used the poles as a marker and flew from one side of the field to another, rounding and stopping in front of it.
Harry just watched for a moment and then finally he walked over to the box that held the Quidditch balls. He put the Golden Snitch away and pulled out the Quaffle. He took to the air and pulled up beside where Dawn was going to stop. Dawn pulled up behind him, seeing him at last minute and swerving to turn the other way to do so.
"Hey," she smiled.
"I've got a question for you."
"Ok, shoot." She was panting a little bit from the thrill of the flying.
"Can you catch a ball while flying?"
Dawn frowned in thought. "I don't guess I've ever tried."
"Well can you fly without your hands?"
"Sure." She took off a little bit, controlling the broom with her knees and folding her arms in front of her to keep from using them. Harry smiled and threw the Quaffle at her. Dawn's eyes widened and she nearly lost balance as she struggled to get her arms out in time to catch the ball but she managed to pull back a little as she was getting into position and caught the ball. She narrowed her eyes at Harry and threw the ball at him, making him laugh as he caught it. He took to the air and they started to toss the ball back and forth. When she would have problems catching it, he would instruct her on maneuvers she could use to give herself time and room to catch the ball. After a while, he instructed her to keep the ball from going through the hoops, at any cost. She nodded and in no time she was successfully guarding the polls at least more times than not. She wasn't the greatest but Harry started to see potential.
He looked down at his watch and his eyes widened.
"Dawn! Supper started a half hour ago!"
Dawn looked worried. She looked like she didn't want to stop, but she knew she had to. After Harry put the Quaffle away, he stored the box in the locker room. Together, they zoomed towards the schools, taking their brooms to supper with them.
*~*~*
"The key to a good Quidditch group is a good Seeker," Angelina Johnson smiled over to Harry, who smiled back, "and a good Keeper."
"See if I every take a Bludger for you," Fred grumbled and Angelina smiled at him.
"We have a great team. But with Oliver gone, we need to find a new Keeper." She looked out onto the faces of her teammates. Being the newly appointed Team Captain, she was hoping that finding a new Keeper now would provide them chances to practice before the big Ravenclaw game. "Any suggestions?"
"Well what about Lee Jordan?" George asked, giving his twin brother, Fred, a smile. Fred smiled and his eyes lit up. The trouble the three could get into was nearly legendary.
"Can he fly?" Angelina asked.
"Of course he can fly. What kind of question is that?" George said, sounding offended.
"Can he catch a Quaffle?" Angelina asked, not seeming to care about offending George.
Fred and George looked at each other and frowned. They had never really seen Lee do much of anything on a broomstick except for prove he could fly. As much as they wanted their friend to join the team, winning was important. They didn't want Oliver to come back and beat them over the heads with his broomstick for losing.
Fred and George shrugged to Angelina. She rolled her eyes. "Any other suggestions?"
Harry raised his hand. Angelina turned to him. "Harry?"
"Well, I know she's knew to pretty much off of this, but I was thinking Dawn Summers."
Snickers from George and Fred made Harry look over. When they saw Harry looking their way they stopped, looking like perfect angels but with a mischievous smile mirrored on their faces.
"What can she do? Does she fly yet?"
"Oh yeah. She flies really well, as a matter of fact. I mean, she's a little green but she and I were practicing at the field the other night-" More snickers from George and Fred made Harry stop to look at them. They didn't stop this time.
"Does ickle Harry have a girlfriend?" George teased.
"No! She's not my girlfriend. We're just friends. Like me and Hermione."
"Uh huh. It's common knowledge that you and Hermione were dating. We've got the Witches Weekly article to prove it." They laughed when Harry's ears turned red. "Harry's got a girlfriend. Harry's got a girlfriend," they chanted in unison. They turned to look at Angelina they stopped in mid chant and calmed down. She was wearing an expression that they were all too familiar with. It was an expression Oliver wore many times. It meant that one more word would have them training in the rain. They pressed their lips together and folded their hands angelically.
Harry glared at the twins. "She's not my girlfriend. We're just friends, ok? Besides, we're talking about Quidditch now and it isn't like we have a whole lot of time before the first match. We only have about a month until Quidditch season starts." He looked at Angelina. "We were playing toss with the Quaffle and she was protecting the hoops. She's no Oliver, but with practice, I really think she has it."
Angelina watched him for a moment before answering. "Let's see what she can do."
*~*~*
Dawn looked nervous as they all circled on the Quidditch field. She could almost kill Harry for getting her into this. She didn't know very much about Quidditch and she knew she was about to make a fool of herself. Harry had explained to her the basics of the game. Throw the Quaffle through the other team's hoop and score ten points. Keep the other team from doing the same. Whichever team's Seeker catches the Golden Snitch gets one hundred and fifty points for their team and ends the game. Harry told her that the team had only lost once since he was Seeker and she started to worry they'd lose again if they counted on her.
She was fidgeting with her broom when the team huddled together.
"Ok, we're going to release the Bludgers so that there is a real feel to the game. Fred, George, you keep them away from the team."
"Don't we always?" The team members who had been hit by a Bludger before glared at Fred.
"Harry, we won't be releasing the Snitch this time, so you just help the Chasers. Katie, Alicia, Harry, you three will be taking turns trying to get the Quaffle past Dawn. Dawn, you'll be trying to guard the hoops. Everyone know what they're doing?"
"And what are you doing?" Fred asked Angelina. Angelina smiled at him.
"Watching."
"Uh-huh. This is so unfair. Who ever heard of a Watcher?"
Dawn smiled and almost giggled at that.
"Ok, everyone, take your places."
Everyone kicked off into the air. Dawn flew over to the hoops she'd be guarding, Fred and George flew to opposite sides of the field, and Harry, Alicia, and Katie waited towards the center for the Quaffle.
Angelina blew a whistle and released the Bludgers. Dawn's eyes followed them for a moment as they nearly knocked Harry off of his broom. She saw one of the twins bat it away in time and gulped. The Quaffle was up and it was Katie who was flying towards her. Watching both Katie and the Bludgers to make sure she could dodge them, Dawn tried to get ready for Katie's advance. Katie tossed the ball and it looked like it would go through the left hoop and Dawn shot over to it but she saw a Bludger out of the corner of her eye and dived, letting the Quaffle go through the hoop. She looked up and noticed that there were no Bludgers near and everyone was shaking their heads. Dawn, her face a little red now, took her position and waited.
Alicia was next and she swiveled around from one side of the field to the other keeping Dawn guessing to which hoop she'd be attacking. Then Dawn saw another Bludger coming straight for her, but before it could get close enough one of the twins knocked it away, but by then Alicia had scored and Dawn had done nothing.
"Time out!" Harry yelled and flew over to Dawn, pulling up beside her.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm just.I just keep seeing Bludgers coming for me and I can't help but try to get out of their way."
"Look. Fred and George are the best Beaters in the school. They aren't going to let a Bludger hit you. You have to trust them. Sometimes, in a real game, you might get hit with the Bludgers, but you just have to shake it off and keep going, for the team. That's how this game works. It's dangerous, but it's fun. Now the other night you were doing really well. Show them what you showed me. Keep your eye on the Quaffle and don't worry about the Bludgers. Ok?" Harry looked very serious at the moment. He knew that she was scared, but fear only fouled up a player. Dawn nodded. Harry smiled and went to retrieve the Quaffle.
"Ok, let's go!" Angelina yelled and the action began again. Dawn watched Harry, blocking out the Bludgers. She knew she'd have to trust the twins, so she didn't flinch when she thought she saw a Bludger. Instead she did a shallow dive to the right hoop and caught the Quaffle that Harry threw, tossing it to Katie and smiling. The rush she felt when she caught the Quaffle was unlike what she had experienced before. The group all whooped happily and the game continued. Katie swerved to dodge a Bludger and then faked to the right. She threw to the left after Dawn had inched to the right. Dawn threw her body backwards and caught the Quaffle, nearly unseating herself before she threw the ball to Alicia. Katie smiled to her and nodded appreciatively before going back to hover by Harry. Dawn turned around and waited for Alicia. She flew high, then low, high again, low again. Dawn was having trouble picturing what hoop she would throw to. Alicia turned so that she was under her broom and tossed, the Quaffle nearly going into the center hoop before Dawn managed to put her body in front of it. She didn't catch it, but it bounced off of her, not going in. The team cheered and she smiled as she dipped down and caught the Quaffle, throwing it to Harry. Harry smiled a wicked smile at her and his eyebrows wiggled. She frowned, starting to wonder what he was about to do. Harry shot straight up in the air. He ascended so quickly that Dawn had trouble following him. Then, just like that he shot downwards. He tossed the Quaffle in the air towards the left and she flew to catch it. Harry was faster as he caught the ball himself and threw it to the right. Dawn's eyes widened as she realized what he was doing and she pulled her broomstick sharply back and leaned as back as she could to do a back flip in the air and knock the ball out of the way of the hoop with the back of her broom. The group cheered wildly and Dawn beamed.
Most of the group swarmed Dawn, congratulating her. The twins still kept a watch for the Bludgers that were around and Dawn thanked the team. Angelina smiled. "Well, kid, if you want it, the position is yours." Dawn smiled a huge smile and nodded. Katie and Alicia cheered and Harry just smiled, watching her.
Harry and Dawn practiced a little more while the Bludgers were being wrangled back into the box. When Dawn failed to catch the Quaffle before it went in the hoop she heard malicious laughter from the ground. The team all turned to see Malfoy and his two bodyguards.
"You have got to be kidding me!" Malfoy laughed as he advanced a little. Dawn narrowed her eyes. "Her? I guess it's true what my father says. You guys really do let ANYONE on your team, don't you?" Crabbe and Goyle snickered behind him and Malfoy leered up at Dawn. "I feel almost like thanking you." When Dawn just glared in answer, Malfoy continued. "You just gave the Slytherins the House Cup." Dawn narrowed her eyes more.
"Well, Malfoy, you better hope that's not true." Harry yelled down to him.
"And why's that Potter?"
"Because then she'll have done something you never will." Harry smirked and the whole team burst out into laughter. Malfoy looked like he was going to spit fire. He turned on his heal and pushed Crabbe and Goyle before trudging off.
"Don't worry about him," one of the twins said. "He's just mad that Harry is a better Seeker than him."
Dawn paled a little. "He's the Slytherin Seeker?" She looked worried.
"Yeah, but don't worry. They're no good." The twins laughed and everyone started packing up. Dawn flew a little higher and watched Malfoy and his friends walking back to the castle. She would not let him beat her, she vowed.
If you're interested in receiving a copy of this story with a header for posting on a website, email me at jesca10@attbi.com. Enjoy!
*~*~*
This was the part that Dawn was dreading. She looked out at Madam Hooch. Her grey hair was short and sticking up all over. It was a strange hairdo for someone her age, but Dawn kind of liked it. Her cat-like eyes peered at Dawn.
"On the left side of the broom," she directed as Dawn moved over. She looked around, noticing they were in a wide field. She hoped she wouldn't make a fool of herself. "Now hold your hand above the broom and say 'Up'."
"Up?" Dawn said, unsure.
"Don't ask it to go up, Miss Summers, tell it to come up!"
"Up," Dawn said, taking the question out of her tone. But still the broom didn't move. "Up!" she said a little louder, and finally the broom came up to her hand and she gripped it reflexively as she started in astonishment.
"Now mount your broom and hold tight." Dawn mimicked Madam Hooch as she got on her own broom. "Now I'm going to count to three and I want you to kick up off the ground. Hover a moment and then lean forward and point your broom downward to come down. Don't go taking off into the air, ok?"
Dawn nodded, nervously. At the count of three Dawn kicked off of the ground, and half expected to come back down. But slowly the ground pulled away from her and she gripped the broom tightly. She smiled to herself as she found herself hovering in the air. She tried to adjust herself slightly until she found a position that was comfortable to sit in. Then, slowly, she leaned forward, again unsure of what would happen. When she felt her feet touch the ground, she breathed a sigh of relief.
"Very good. Now, I want you to kick off again and lean backwards. This will give you elevation. Then, when you're ready lean forward, but don't point the broom downward. Go slowly. Don't lean too far down. The farther down you lean, the faster you will go. Alright?" Dawn nodded and moved to do as she said.
Kicking off the ground, Dawn flew upwards, leaning back to get more height. When she was a good four feet off the ground, she stopped, straightening up. She sat there for a moment, getting her bearings. Then she slowly leaned forward and the broom moved forward. She went slowly at first, the rush of flying making her smile a goofy smile. She turned her body and the broom turned on command. She was really starting to enjoy herself and she decided to take it up a bit. She leaned forward, making herself more streamlined, and the broom zoomed forward faster. She moved her legs back making herself even more flat on the broom and it went faster! She could hear Madam Hooch in far behind her, but the exhilaration was taking over and she didn't stop. The scenery flew by her and she turned to the left, circling around to head back. She stayed low to the broom, trying to go very fast. Finally when she was over the open area again, she pulled up quickly and held on tight, stopping the broom very effectively. She grinned and turned around to face Madam Hooch who looked a little pale.
"Uh.very good Miss Summers. Now come down."
Dawn smiled as she leaned forward with body and broom causing it to descend. When her feet touched the ground, she felt slightly depressed that the ride was over.
*~*~*
Dawn flinched a little as Professor McGonagall sighed again. Dawn had just managed to make her rat a white color with flowers on it instead of the teacup she was supposed to transfigure him into.
"Sorry," she mumbled.
"Perhaps if you were concentrating, Miss Summers, your rat would be a teacup by now." Professor McGonagall said sternly.
"I'm sorry Professor. I am trying." But she knew the professor was right. Her mind wasn't on her work. Tonight, after her transfigure lesson, she was being aloud to take her broom out for a spin, alone. She had gotten a loaner broom from the school and was aloud to keep it in her room. Whenever she could, she practiced flying. It was her favorite part about school. But usually she was supposed to have a teacher with her. This time, though, she was going to practice on the Quidditch field, alone.
"Miss Summers?"
Dawn snapped back to now and her face reddened.
"It's obvious you aren't here and transfiguration is something that should be taken most seriously. You might go transfigure someone into a pile of ooze if you aren't careful!" She looked disapproving.
"I'm sorry, Professor. Its just." she hesitated to tell her what was on her mind. Professor McGonagall might be the head of Gryffindor, but she was very stern.
"Yes?" she asked, waiting.
"I'm going flying later, alone, for the first time." She said, hoping the older professor would understand.
"Ah. I see. Well then." She stood up, looking stern. Dawn slouched down in her chair. "Since your head is already in the clouds, you best go join it." She smiled down at Dawn, whose face registered shock.
"Really?" Dawn asked, already packing her stuff.
"Yes, but I expect you to practice your transfiguration, Miss Summers. I expect you to read the chapters I've indicated in the book I've lent you. I expect you're mind and body to be here after classes tomorrow and I expect this rat to be a teacup," she said as Dawn was ready to go.
"Yes, Professor! It will be!" she said as she bounded out of the room. She didn't catch McGonagall's smile.
Dawn hurried to her room, grabbed the broomstick and looked at her watch. She had an hour before supper to fly. She hurried to the Quidditch field. She could spot the six hoped poles before she got there. But once she was nearer, her eyes weren't on the poles, but on the boy flying around. She lost her smile. She was hoping for seclusion. But her smile reappeared when she realized it was Harry.
She watched him dart around the field on his broom. He looked like he was concentrating hard on something and almost looked to be chasing it, but Dawn couldn't see what it was he was chasing. She strained her eyes a moment and then she suddenly thought she saw something small and golden. She guessed from the talk that she'd heard around that this was called the stitch or cinch or something like that. She couldn't remember. She didn't wonder on it long. Instead she watched some of Harry's brilliant flying. The tight turns, the sudden drops, the ascensions, and the way he flew like he was being chased by the devil himself captivated her.
Finally, after one deep dive to the ground that was so steep he had to do a somersault off of the broom to keep from falling, he stood there, holding the golden ball. She clapped and Harry turned to her, smiling.
"Hey there, I didn't see you," he trotted over to her, carrying his broomstick. She could tell by comparison to her broom that it was a good one.
"Nice broom," Dawn said, smiling.
"Thanks. So what are you up to?"
"Oh, I was coming here to do some flying before supper, but that's ok. You go ahead." She smiled at him.
"Nonsense. We can both practice here. Usually ten people fly here at the same time and only usually bump into each other on purpose," he grinned. She smiled. It was getting dark and she was anxious to fly so she agreed. Dawn mounted her broom and kicked off easily. She rose into the air and took a cursory fly around the field before she started to zip around practicing stopping quickly in mid-air. She used the poles as a marker and flew from one side of the field to another, rounding and stopping in front of it.
Harry just watched for a moment and then finally he walked over to the box that held the Quidditch balls. He put the Golden Snitch away and pulled out the Quaffle. He took to the air and pulled up beside where Dawn was going to stop. Dawn pulled up behind him, seeing him at last minute and swerving to turn the other way to do so.
"Hey," she smiled.
"I've got a question for you."
"Ok, shoot." She was panting a little bit from the thrill of the flying.
"Can you catch a ball while flying?"
Dawn frowned in thought. "I don't guess I've ever tried."
"Well can you fly without your hands?"
"Sure." She took off a little bit, controlling the broom with her knees and folding her arms in front of her to keep from using them. Harry smiled and threw the Quaffle at her. Dawn's eyes widened and she nearly lost balance as she struggled to get her arms out in time to catch the ball but she managed to pull back a little as she was getting into position and caught the ball. She narrowed her eyes at Harry and threw the ball at him, making him laugh as he caught it. He took to the air and they started to toss the ball back and forth. When she would have problems catching it, he would instruct her on maneuvers she could use to give herself time and room to catch the ball. After a while, he instructed her to keep the ball from going through the hoops, at any cost. She nodded and in no time she was successfully guarding the polls at least more times than not. She wasn't the greatest but Harry started to see potential.
He looked down at his watch and his eyes widened.
"Dawn! Supper started a half hour ago!"
Dawn looked worried. She looked like she didn't want to stop, but she knew she had to. After Harry put the Quaffle away, he stored the box in the locker room. Together, they zoomed towards the schools, taking their brooms to supper with them.
*~*~*
"The key to a good Quidditch group is a good Seeker," Angelina Johnson smiled over to Harry, who smiled back, "and a good Keeper."
"See if I every take a Bludger for you," Fred grumbled and Angelina smiled at him.
"We have a great team. But with Oliver gone, we need to find a new Keeper." She looked out onto the faces of her teammates. Being the newly appointed Team Captain, she was hoping that finding a new Keeper now would provide them chances to practice before the big Ravenclaw game. "Any suggestions?"
"Well what about Lee Jordan?" George asked, giving his twin brother, Fred, a smile. Fred smiled and his eyes lit up. The trouble the three could get into was nearly legendary.
"Can he fly?" Angelina asked.
"Of course he can fly. What kind of question is that?" George said, sounding offended.
"Can he catch a Quaffle?" Angelina asked, not seeming to care about offending George.
Fred and George looked at each other and frowned. They had never really seen Lee do much of anything on a broomstick except for prove he could fly. As much as they wanted their friend to join the team, winning was important. They didn't want Oliver to come back and beat them over the heads with his broomstick for losing.
Fred and George shrugged to Angelina. She rolled her eyes. "Any other suggestions?"
Harry raised his hand. Angelina turned to him. "Harry?"
"Well, I know she's knew to pretty much off of this, but I was thinking Dawn Summers."
Snickers from George and Fred made Harry look over. When they saw Harry looking their way they stopped, looking like perfect angels but with a mischievous smile mirrored on their faces.
"What can she do? Does she fly yet?"
"Oh yeah. She flies really well, as a matter of fact. I mean, she's a little green but she and I were practicing at the field the other night-" More snickers from George and Fred made Harry stop to look at them. They didn't stop this time.
"Does ickle Harry have a girlfriend?" George teased.
"No! She's not my girlfriend. We're just friends. Like me and Hermione."
"Uh huh. It's common knowledge that you and Hermione were dating. We've got the Witches Weekly article to prove it." They laughed when Harry's ears turned red. "Harry's got a girlfriend. Harry's got a girlfriend," they chanted in unison. They turned to look at Angelina they stopped in mid chant and calmed down. She was wearing an expression that they were all too familiar with. It was an expression Oliver wore many times. It meant that one more word would have them training in the rain. They pressed their lips together and folded their hands angelically.
Harry glared at the twins. "She's not my girlfriend. We're just friends, ok? Besides, we're talking about Quidditch now and it isn't like we have a whole lot of time before the first match. We only have about a month until Quidditch season starts." He looked at Angelina. "We were playing toss with the Quaffle and she was protecting the hoops. She's no Oliver, but with practice, I really think she has it."
Angelina watched him for a moment before answering. "Let's see what she can do."
*~*~*
Dawn looked nervous as they all circled on the Quidditch field. She could almost kill Harry for getting her into this. She didn't know very much about Quidditch and she knew she was about to make a fool of herself. Harry had explained to her the basics of the game. Throw the Quaffle through the other team's hoop and score ten points. Keep the other team from doing the same. Whichever team's Seeker catches the Golden Snitch gets one hundred and fifty points for their team and ends the game. Harry told her that the team had only lost once since he was Seeker and she started to worry they'd lose again if they counted on her.
She was fidgeting with her broom when the team huddled together.
"Ok, we're going to release the Bludgers so that there is a real feel to the game. Fred, George, you keep them away from the team."
"Don't we always?" The team members who had been hit by a Bludger before glared at Fred.
"Harry, we won't be releasing the Snitch this time, so you just help the Chasers. Katie, Alicia, Harry, you three will be taking turns trying to get the Quaffle past Dawn. Dawn, you'll be trying to guard the hoops. Everyone know what they're doing?"
"And what are you doing?" Fred asked Angelina. Angelina smiled at him.
"Watching."
"Uh-huh. This is so unfair. Who ever heard of a Watcher?"
Dawn smiled and almost giggled at that.
"Ok, everyone, take your places."
Everyone kicked off into the air. Dawn flew over to the hoops she'd be guarding, Fred and George flew to opposite sides of the field, and Harry, Alicia, and Katie waited towards the center for the Quaffle.
Angelina blew a whistle and released the Bludgers. Dawn's eyes followed them for a moment as they nearly knocked Harry off of his broom. She saw one of the twins bat it away in time and gulped. The Quaffle was up and it was Katie who was flying towards her. Watching both Katie and the Bludgers to make sure she could dodge them, Dawn tried to get ready for Katie's advance. Katie tossed the ball and it looked like it would go through the left hoop and Dawn shot over to it but she saw a Bludger out of the corner of her eye and dived, letting the Quaffle go through the hoop. She looked up and noticed that there were no Bludgers near and everyone was shaking their heads. Dawn, her face a little red now, took her position and waited.
Alicia was next and she swiveled around from one side of the field to the other keeping Dawn guessing to which hoop she'd be attacking. Then Dawn saw another Bludger coming straight for her, but before it could get close enough one of the twins knocked it away, but by then Alicia had scored and Dawn had done nothing.
"Time out!" Harry yelled and flew over to Dawn, pulling up beside her.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm just.I just keep seeing Bludgers coming for me and I can't help but try to get out of their way."
"Look. Fred and George are the best Beaters in the school. They aren't going to let a Bludger hit you. You have to trust them. Sometimes, in a real game, you might get hit with the Bludgers, but you just have to shake it off and keep going, for the team. That's how this game works. It's dangerous, but it's fun. Now the other night you were doing really well. Show them what you showed me. Keep your eye on the Quaffle and don't worry about the Bludgers. Ok?" Harry looked very serious at the moment. He knew that she was scared, but fear only fouled up a player. Dawn nodded. Harry smiled and went to retrieve the Quaffle.
"Ok, let's go!" Angelina yelled and the action began again. Dawn watched Harry, blocking out the Bludgers. She knew she'd have to trust the twins, so she didn't flinch when she thought she saw a Bludger. Instead she did a shallow dive to the right hoop and caught the Quaffle that Harry threw, tossing it to Katie and smiling. The rush she felt when she caught the Quaffle was unlike what she had experienced before. The group all whooped happily and the game continued. Katie swerved to dodge a Bludger and then faked to the right. She threw to the left after Dawn had inched to the right. Dawn threw her body backwards and caught the Quaffle, nearly unseating herself before she threw the ball to Alicia. Katie smiled to her and nodded appreciatively before going back to hover by Harry. Dawn turned around and waited for Alicia. She flew high, then low, high again, low again. Dawn was having trouble picturing what hoop she would throw to. Alicia turned so that she was under her broom and tossed, the Quaffle nearly going into the center hoop before Dawn managed to put her body in front of it. She didn't catch it, but it bounced off of her, not going in. The team cheered and she smiled as she dipped down and caught the Quaffle, throwing it to Harry. Harry smiled a wicked smile at her and his eyebrows wiggled. She frowned, starting to wonder what he was about to do. Harry shot straight up in the air. He ascended so quickly that Dawn had trouble following him. Then, just like that he shot downwards. He tossed the Quaffle in the air towards the left and she flew to catch it. Harry was faster as he caught the ball himself and threw it to the right. Dawn's eyes widened as she realized what he was doing and she pulled her broomstick sharply back and leaned as back as she could to do a back flip in the air and knock the ball out of the way of the hoop with the back of her broom. The group cheered wildly and Dawn beamed.
Most of the group swarmed Dawn, congratulating her. The twins still kept a watch for the Bludgers that were around and Dawn thanked the team. Angelina smiled. "Well, kid, if you want it, the position is yours." Dawn smiled a huge smile and nodded. Katie and Alicia cheered and Harry just smiled, watching her.
Harry and Dawn practiced a little more while the Bludgers were being wrangled back into the box. When Dawn failed to catch the Quaffle before it went in the hoop she heard malicious laughter from the ground. The team all turned to see Malfoy and his two bodyguards.
"You have got to be kidding me!" Malfoy laughed as he advanced a little. Dawn narrowed her eyes. "Her? I guess it's true what my father says. You guys really do let ANYONE on your team, don't you?" Crabbe and Goyle snickered behind him and Malfoy leered up at Dawn. "I feel almost like thanking you." When Dawn just glared in answer, Malfoy continued. "You just gave the Slytherins the House Cup." Dawn narrowed her eyes more.
"Well, Malfoy, you better hope that's not true." Harry yelled down to him.
"And why's that Potter?"
"Because then she'll have done something you never will." Harry smirked and the whole team burst out into laughter. Malfoy looked like he was going to spit fire. He turned on his heal and pushed Crabbe and Goyle before trudging off.
"Don't worry about him," one of the twins said. "He's just mad that Harry is a better Seeker than him."
Dawn paled a little. "He's the Slytherin Seeker?" She looked worried.
"Yeah, but don't worry. They're no good." The twins laughed and everyone started packing up. Dawn flew a little higher and watched Malfoy and his friends walking back to the castle. She would not let him beat her, she vowed.