Fourth Chapter! ENJOY! ENJOY! ENJOY!

And a disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any Harry Potter related material! (Do you think J.K. Rowling would sell it? What if I asked really, really nicely?)

HARRY

POTTER

AND THE STAFF OF VIGOR

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CHAPTER 4: QUIDDITCH AND YOUNG AFFECTION

The next four weeks went by steadily for Harry. His classes consisted of fairly the same thing as his first day. They had the same old teachers and the same old jam-packed workload. Harry sighed at the tedium as he walked into his Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom. Everyone had been paired off again, with the exception that this time they were allowed to decide.

"I don't want you all getting into a pair with someone that you completely clash with. So I'll let you choose your partner, taking in mind that it has to be someone from a different House." Professor Treen had told them smiling. She always smiled.

"You can go over to that Hufflepuff girl." Harry had offered. His Potion's partner was sitting at a table alone, staring at the wall in the same fashion she did in every class. Ron had blushed.

"No! You can go over there." He looked down at the ground. Harry shrugged and made his over to her.

"Hey." He said. She ignored him as usual.

"Do you, have a partner?" He asked nervously. Choosing a partner was a little bit more embarrassing. Especially, in Harry's case, when it concerned asking a girl. Even if he didn't like her at all.

"Does it look like I have a partner?" She gestured to the empty seat beside her.

"Okay. What is your problem?" Harry slammed his books down on the desk and sat next to her.

"For the moment it seems to be you." She sighed and rested her head back in her hand.

"Me? Why me?" He demanded. He was sick of this. In Potions it had been the same thing. She was either completely rude to him or pretended he didn't exist.

"You are annoying." She said simply.

"Annoying? But I didn't even do anything to you! How am I annoying?" He asked angrily.

"Nevermind." The girl turned her attention back to the wall.

"I am not annoying." Harry mumbled. The girl had shrugged. Now it was four weeks later and he still didn't know her name and Professor Treen still always smiled.

"Morning class!" Professor Treen entered the room beaming at them, "I hope you are all ready for a fun lesson."

Some students grunted in reply.

"Wonderful, wonderful!" She made her way over to her desk and began shuffling through some papers, "Now let me just find...I've never used this spell before you see, so I'm not too sure...I had it just here...where on earth is it?"

She continued to look on her desk for a few more minutes before gazing up at them and smiling.

"Not a problem. I will simply find Professor Snape. He is the one that suggested the Spell anyway. I'll be right back class." And with that she left the room again.

"Dingbat." Draco muttered. Though his heart didn't seem to be in the snide remark.

Even while the Professor was gone the class was quiet. No one talked in their pairs and Harry noted that it seemed like he was not the only one that had problems with his partner. Hermione was paired with Geraldine and was sitting in front of him while Ron was paired with Draco again, simply because of the fact they had been the only two left without a pair, and was on the other side of the room. Neither were talking to each other.

"So," Harry leant forward after a bit and whispered to Hermione, "Does Professor Treen always find a reason to see Snape?"

Hermione, along with Geraldine, giggled.

"I think there might be something going on there." Hermione whispered back.

"Are you kidding?" Geraldine received a frown from Hermione for intruding in the conversation but ignored her, "Snape and a woman? I don't think that's even possible."

"I suppose not." Harry laughed. Geraldine smiled at him and suddenly his stomach felt funny.

"So...er...what...um..." He fought to say something understandable, he always got nervous when he talked to her. Hermione rolled her eyes and turned back around. He and Geraldine stared at each other for a moment.

"Harry," Geraldine was looking at him in all seriousness, "Can I talk to you after class please?"

"Sh...sure." He stammered. Professor Treen re-entered the classroom, followed by Snape, and everyone's attention went back to the teacher.

"Professor Snape will instruct you on today's lesson class," She smiled at him, a little more fondly than usual, "It might also assist me a bit. I am still getting used to this teaching thing."

"If you are so under-experienced Professor, its seems rather disturbing that you have this job. You are evidently incapable of handling such an important position." Snape sneered at her. Professor Treen's smile never faltered.

"No need to worry Severus, really. Thank you very much for your concern though." She patted his arm. Snape did not seem to appreciate this however as he took a step away from her looking slightly repulsed.

"All of you, take out Curses for the Advanced Wizard and Witch and turn to page twenty four. What is it about?" He snapped. Hermione's hand shot in the air before she had even opened her book.

"Is your book open Granger?" Snape asked. Hermione, whose hand was still in the air, shook her head.

"Then I suggest you put your annoying hand down and open it instead of assuming you know everything. Must we go through this tedious procedure every year." He jeered at her. Hermione's hand shot down quickly. Harry and Ron both glared at Snape.

"Yes Mr Malfoy?" Snape nodded at Draco who now had his hand up.

"Its a stunning spell, Sir. Called the Diminutive Daze Curse. It's not a very powerful stunning spell but it can be used on any creature, or person." Draco answered obediently.

"Very good. I want you all to read the page and then practice it on your partner. It may be a simple stunning spell but it takes a little while to master." Snape turned to look at Professor Treen who grinned at him from her desk, "Will that be sufficient enough for you today Professor Treen?"

"Oh yes! You have been so helpful to me since I came here Severus," She walked over and hugged him briefly, "Thank you. And call me Tracery."

Snape looked shocked and pushed her away. Many of the girls in the class giggled at this show of appreciation.

"Some behaviour Professor," Snarled Snape, "Is not acceptable in front of the students. Also, it is not appreciated!" He turned and strode angrily out of the classroom.

"Well!" Professor Treen laughed to herself, she seemed to find his behaviour amusing, "Begin class."

The rest of the lesson was spent trying to knock out each others accomplice. Harry and his partner stared daggers at each other every time it was one of their go. His partner appeared to overly enjoy making him unconscious. When it was over and Harry was leaving he felt someone pull on his arm. Turning around he saw Geraldine and remembered that she had wanted to talk to him. He thought she looked especially pretty today.

"I want to ask you something." She said, hauling him back into the now empty classroom.

"Yea...okay. Um, sure." He smiled at her in a fashion that he hoped didn't make him look like a dork.

"Well," She had no problem talking to him, "I wanted to talk to you about the Hogsmeade weekend. You know, this weekend."

"I...I didn't know. Is there one?" He asked, still nervous but a little surprised.

"Yes. But it's only for Fifth Years and over and most of the Professor's will be there which will completely ruin it all." She shook her head irritably.

"Well. Okay." He knew that the Professor's would just be a safety pre-caution and he personally didn't mind their presence, as long as it wasn't Snape.

"Yes. So," She smiled at him the way she usually did, "What I want to know is will you go with me to the Hogsmeade weekend?"

"Me?" He was surprised.

"Yeah. I'd love it if you took me. Like a date sort of thing." She kept smiling.

"You're asking me out?" He hoped he would laugh about this later.

"Yes. I like you Harry and I think you like me. So if you take me on this date, who knows? One thing might lead to another." She was flirting with him wasn't she?

"Huh?" He didn't know what she meant.

"You know. Boyfriend and girlfriend," She explained, he just looked dumbfounded so she sighed and continued, "We won't get to that yet. Firstly, will you take me to this Hogsmeade weekend?"

"Okay. Yeah. That...that would be cool." Harry finally managed to reply. Geraldine squealed.

"Oh this is so great! I cannot believe I have a date with Harry Potter." She cried. Harry wasn't sure if he should be happy she had said that.

"So, er. What will...will happen?" He asked.

"I'll meet you in the Great Hall after breakfast tomorrow morning. Is that fine by you?" She was grinning and his stomach felt funny again.

"Sure." He managed to say.

She bent forward and kissed him on the cheek, "Okay, I'll see you later then."

He watched her leave the room feeling somewhat like he had when Cho Chang had kissed him last year. Completely and utterly bewildered.

* * * *

That afternoon after Dinner, he and Ron excitedly made their way down to the Quidditch pitch. Professor McGonagall had requested that all remaining Gryffindor Quidditch team members meet her at the pitch.

"I can't wait to start playing again." Harry burst out, he had really missed Quidditch while he had been at the Dursley's. Then again, he had missed a lot of things being locked up the way he was.

"Me either. Playing at home is fun and all but actual games! Nothing beats them." Ron grinned. They reached the Pitch and found that there was only Ginny there, along with McGonagall.

"What on earth? Where is everyone?" Ron asked looking around. Harry thought he might be trying to find some graduated team member from last year who had come back to school just to play on the team.

"Exactly Mr Weasley. You see my problem. You three are the only remaining members of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. I've called you here so that we can sort this out." Professor McGonagall said professionally.

"I know some people who might be good for the team." Offered Ginny.

"We will need to make sure they are very suitable Miss Weasley." McGonagall clarified.

"How?" Ron's brow furrowed, "Oh! You mean hold try-outs?"

"Yes Mr Wealsey." Harry was sure McGonagall would liked to have rolled her eyes, "On top of that I would like to inform you of the chosen Quidditch Captain..."

"Wait a go Harry." Ron and Ginny said together, before Professor McGonagall had even said anything.

"Oh," She looked a little flustered now, "Actually its you Mr Weasley."

"I knew you'd get it Harry. You're so brilliant at Quidditch, Angelina wouldn't have forgotten how talented you when she was assigning..." He stopped, "Me?"

"Ron?" Ginny asked in the same manner. Both Weasley's frowned. Harry didn't know whether to feel happy for Ron because he really deserved it or completely and utterly disappointed because he was now not a Prefect and not the Quidditch Captain. He settled for both.

"Good on you mate." He patted Ron on the back half-heartedly.

"Me?" Ron asked again.

"Yes Mr Weasley, congratulations," Professor McGonagall smiled a little, "I will leave it up to you to recruit new Beaters and Chasers. That is all. Goodnight."

"I cannot believe this." Ron watched McGonagall as she walked off the field.

"Me either," Ginny shook her head as Ron glared at her, "That we have only three members I mean. It's a bloody disgrace."

Harry grinned at her cover up.

"So what are you going to do, Captain?" He asked Ron. They began heading back to the castle.

"Well, I suppose I'll put up a few notices up in the Gryffindor common room about the try-outs and let things go from there." Ron proposed thoughtfully.

"Sounds good," Ginny smiled, "Anyway, I have to go."

"Where?" Ron turned around and asked her in a protective brotherly fashion.

"Prefect duties." She shrugged. Harry stopped walking.

"You're a Prefect? Ginny, I didn't know that." He looked sheepish.

"You never asked Harry. Luna is one too you know. And Colin got the other Fifth Year Gryffindor prefect." Ginny half-smiled at him.

"Oh, well. Congratulations. Sorry I didn't know. You never went to the meeting on the train." He felt a little flustered.

"The meeting wasn't for us Fifth Years. Hermione didn't know I was one either and Ron wouldn't have noticed if Mum hadn't made such a big deal out of it," She leant in closely out of Ron's earshot, "Your a good friend Harry. But the thing is, you, Ron and Hermione don't really pay any attention to anyone but yourselves."

"What? That's not true." Harry argued.

"Ok. Well you don't really pay any attention to me." She waited for him to disagree and when he didn't she nodded and began walking away.

"Who do you have Prefect Duties with Gin?" Ron shouted after her.

"Malfoy." Ginny shouted back. Despite the fact what she had said was still whirling around in his mind making him feel guilty, Harry noticed that she didn't seem to mind that she had to work with Malfoy.

* * * *

"Congratulations Harry!" Hermione yelled as soon as Ron and Harry entered the common room.

"What for?" Harry asked, hoping she wasn't applauding him for getting Quidditch Captain, he was disappointed enough and he doubted Ron would have appreciated the same reaction Hermione had given him when she found out he got Prefect last year. No such luck.

"For getting Captain!" Hermione smiled at him happily, "When you guys told me you had the meeting I knew McGonagall would inform you of the new Captain!"

"Yes, isn't it wonderful for him?" Ron remarked, Harry looked at him confused from his position on the couch.

"Absolutely." Hermione agreed.

"He deserves it too, doesn't he?" Ron questioned again.

"Of course Harry!" Hermione nodded her head at both of them.

"And you couldn't imagine anyone else that would make a better Captain that good old Harry here right?" Ron was smiling at her, but Harry could tell it was fake. He inwardly groaned, silently begging Hermione not to answer. Nothing good could come out of this.

"No. He will make a great Captain." Hermione's smile faltered a little at the angry look on Ron's face.

"Stupid!" He snarled, stamping off to his room. Hermione looked baffled.

"What in the world is the matter with him?" She sat down next to Harry, "I understand he might be a bit jealous. But really! Never you mind Harry, he'll get over it."

"Hermione..." Harry groaned.

"Yes?" She looked a little inquisitive.

"I didn't get Captain." Harry shrugged.

"What do you mean you didn't?" She frowned and then realization dawned on her, "Oh no. You don't mean? Ron got it didn't he?"

"Yeah. And he's really glad about it." He sighed.

"Oh no! Oh god! Why didn't you say something Harry?" She fumed.

"What? Me?" He was confounded at how it was his fault.

"You should have told me he didn't get it! Now he will be furious with me." Hermione explained angrily.

"This is not my fault. You're the one that jumped to the wrong conclusion." He didn't feel like fighting with her but he wasn't about to let her blame anything on him that he didn't do.

"Only because you didn't say anything!" She yelled.

"Hermione," Harry stood up and faced her, "How was I supposed to tell you? You congratulated me as soon as we walked in the room." He wasn't yelling but his voice was strained.

"You still could have said something." She sulked, slumping down in the chair.

"No I couldn't." He opposed.

"Yes you could." She said crossly. Hermione was not going to be getting over this for the moment.

"I don't want to do this. I'm going up to bed. Night." He left her and walked up the passageway to his room. In the room he found Ron sitting on the end of his bed.

"I heard her." He said, looking up at Harry as he entered.

"Heard her what?" Asked Harry sitting on his own bed.

"Yelling at you. It's not your fault." Ron mumbled. At least didn't look angry anymore.

"I know. I'm not going to let her blame it on me. Why don't you go down and talk to her?" Harry suggested pulling off his shoes.

"Because I don't want to. She always does this. I'm not good enough for her Harry, as far as she's concerned." Ron sighed.

"What?" Was Ron confessing something, "What do you mean you're not good enough for her?"

"As...as...a friend. As a person." Ron went a little pink.

"Oh." Maybe not today.

"She did the same thing when I got Prefect didn't she? Started going all gooey over you about it thinking it was you that got it and then didn't believe me when I told her it was me. She thinks I'm stupid." Ron sighed.

"No she doesn't!" Harry couldn't believe this. Ron was anything but stupid.

"Yes she does. She thinks I'll never amount to anything."

"That's not true. You know its not." He argued.

"Yes it is. I'm sick of it. If I'm not good enough for her...her...friendship then that's fine." He lifted his head adamantly.

"Ron-" He began. How was he going to convince his friend otherwise?

"Hogsmeade tomorrow." Ron interrupted, changing the subject. Harry decided to let it go for now.

"Does everyone know about that but me?" He mused, moving to his chest and changing out of his school robes.

"Probably. You never listen." Ron began changing out of his school robes as well.

"Either do you." Harry snapped jokingly.

"Yeah, Ginny told me about it," Ron shrugged his shoulders, "You want to go and hang out at the Three Broomsticks?"

"Actually, I'm er, going with someone. Someone else." Harry directed his gaze anywhere but at Ron.

"Really? Is it Cho?" Ron asked. Harry stared at him.

"Are you kidding? No!" He grimaced. Cho Chang was something he didn't want to go back to, ever.

"Who? Is it...Hufflepuff?" Ron's teasing grin disappeared.

"Even more of a no. I don't like her at all Ron." How could his supposed best friend be so far off?

"Who then?" Ron demanded.

"Geraldine Maple." Harry replied quietly.

"Wow, cool." Ron slipped his Pajama top over his head.

"You're kidding? No 'ew'? No disapproving comment?" Harry grinned.

"No. She gorgeous. A little self-absorbed but..." Ron laughed.

"Self-absorbed? See, I knew you'd have something to say." Harry watched as Ron got out his chess board. Good, he felt like a game.

"Well, she's in my Herbology class. I guess I should have known. She talks about you a fair bit." He half-smiled, setting up the chess pieces.

"Really? You never told me!" Harry sat back down on his bed.

"I forget these things. Plus Hufflepuff is in my Herbology class too and she's interesting to talk to so sometimes I just don't listen..." Ron trailed off blushing as Harry raised an eyebrow.

"You like her don't you?" He tried not to laugh. How could anyone like that girl?

"No!" Ron's voice went soft, "Maybe a little. She's had it hard I heard. And she's pretty. I like talking to her and stuff..."

"But she doesn't talk back." Harry pointed out.

"How do you know?" Asked Ron blushing again.

"Because you obviously don't know her name. Me either." He looked at Ron thoughtfully, "What do you mean she's had it hard?"

"Her parents died last year." Ron looked sympathetic. Harry clenched his jaw, immediately remembering that he had been so mean to her.

"How?" He questioned.

"Dunno."

"Who told you?"

"Can't remember," Ron looked out the window, "But I don't know how she's dealt with it and I don't know how she's gotten over it."

"I doubt she has. You don't get over something like that." Harry said quietly. Ron didn't say anything but continued to set up the chess board. When he'd finished they sat in silence for a game.

"So what has Geraldine said about me in Herbology?" Harry broke the polite serenity.

"Try not to throw up. But it's something like; Harry is just so cute. I've seen him staring at me sometimes too. I cannot believe that Harry Potter is in some of my classes. Oh, he is just so cute." Ron put on a high-pitched voice and sent Harry into hysterics.
"What?" Ron asked, but a smile was tugging at the corner of his mouth, "She does say that. And she does sound like that."

"I'm sure she does." Harry tried to control his laughter.

"So what am I going to do tomorrow while you're off gallivanting with some Veela woman?" Ron grinned.

"We could meet up later." Harry suggested.

"Sounds good. How about two in the afternoon at The Three Broomsticks? That will give you plenty of time..." He trailed off suggestively. Harry felt his face grow hot.

"Please Ron, I hardly know her." Harry laughed quietly.

"Certainly you wouldn't think of not doing something." Ron looked a little bewildered.

"That's not what I meant. I might be nervous and stuff. Cho is the only girl I've ever really been with. And that wasn't even anything big." Harry realised he sounded like a moron. He was sixteen and had only been with one girl, which didn't really count because they hadn't officially gone out. Ron looked embarrassed.

"At least you've done something." He moped.

"Ron, about Hermione..." He didn't know how to convince Ron of otherwise thinking Hermione considered him stupid. Ron's face darkened a little.

"I don't want to talk about." He began packing up the unfinished game. It didn't matter, its not like Harry would have won a game anyway.

"But Ron..."

"No, I don't want to talk about it." He picked up the final piece and put his chess game away before going over to his bed and hopping in it. Talk about brooding.

"Okay. Well I'm going to go for a walk then." He ventured out of the room quietly when Ron didn't reply. Hermione would had gone up to the girls dormitories because she was no where to be seen. He was about to step outside when a voice stopped him.

"It's past curfew you know." The voice said.

"Ginny, what are you doing up?" Harry walked over to her with a puzzled expression, she was sitting on the large couch in front of the fireplace.

"I could ask you the same." She looked up at him.

"I was going for a walk." He explained sitting down next to her. She shuffled on the spot a bit.

"Oh. Well don't let me stop you." She retorted. His face became even more puzzled.

"Are you okay?" He noticed it looked like she had been crying and she wasn't acting like herself.

"No." Ginny replied. She didn't feel like covering up anything or pretending she was fine.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked.

"Would you care if I told you Harry?" She didn't look at him but he could hear the bitterness in her voice.

"You know I would." He was worried about her now.

"Don't get mad then." She warned.

"Get mad? Why, what did you do?" He stopped himself, "I won't get mad Ginny."

"I had a fight with Malfoy." She hung her head.

"So? He's a Prat. Just ignore whatever he says or does. Everyone always fights with him." Harry patted her on the shoulder but Ginny shook him off.

"He's not that bad." Ginny frowned at Harry as he looked like he might say otherwise.

"Oh I'm sure he's a regular darling." Harry drawled sarcastically. Ginny smiled a little.

"I'll admit he's not the nicest person. But he does things in his own way." She said slightly defensive.

"I don't know how you got that impression Ginny, but he has somewhat stopped the constant torment of late." Harry remembered Malfoy picking up his glasses and giving them to him, though he didn't feel like telling Ginny that. She already seemed in the wrong about Draco Malfoy and he didn't want her thinking he was the next Dumbledore when he wasn't.

"His father being in Azkaban gets to him I suppose." Ginny hung her head again.

"Lucius Malfoy doesn't deserve anything less than a life time sentence in Azkaban." Harry snapped spitefully. The Deatheater had ruined many lives.

"I know Harry. But Malfoy...it must be hard dealing with the guilt of his father and what not." She subconsciously began to play with her robes.

"I still hate him. But I suppose it is. What's wrong though?" Harry pleaded, she still hadn't gotten to the point.

"Well we had a fight and I said some horrible things about his father and how he was just like him and how it was no surprise that everyone hated him and was talking about him behind his back." Ginny sniffed. Don't cry, thought Harry. Why did girls cry around him?

"But everyone does hate him." Harry pointed out.

"I don't." Ginny whispered.

"I thought that was what you were saying." Harry leant back into the couch.

"Yes. It is, isn't it?" She shook her head, "Who would have thought that a Wealsey would get along with a Malfoy?"

"There must be something there amoung all the hatred and death threats." Harry smiled when she broke into a grin.

"Aren't you mad?" She asked.

"Mad you don't hate Malfoy? Nah, I'm a bit confused at how you could even tolerate him for a minute. But I don't think I should get mad because you don't hate someone I do." Harry paused, "Now why have you been crying?"

"Oh Harry," Ginny groaned, "I feel awful about the things I said. You wont believe what he did."

"He didn't hurt you?" Harry would strangle Malfoy if he ever hurt one of his friends.

"No! Of course not. I think he's a little scared because of those curses we put on his last year." Ginny pointed out seriously.

"I suppose. But what did he do?"

"I don't want to say. He just did something that made me feel really bad," Ginny looked at him, "What should I do?"

"I cannot believe I'm going to say this about Malfoy but I suppose you could apologize." He suggested.

"Yeah, I think I will." Ginny got up and yawned.

"Not that you have to. Remember it is Malfoy." Harry noted for her. Ginny smiled at him warmly.

"Night Harry." She said turning and heading off to bed.

"Night Gin." He watched her go. It was nice to be able to talk to her as a person. When she had liked him it had been so awkward, not because she was Ron's little sister but also because she was like his little sister. If Malfoy upset her again, he'd have Harry, Ron and Hermione to answer too. No questions asked.

~ ~ !!! ~ ~

Thanks to the people that reviewed! I loved them, even if it wasn't many. I wasn't going to post this chapter for about a week but because you guys were so nice (zealousgirl and Kagome19) I decided to put it up extra early.

Okay, so what is this then?

Ginny and Malfoy are getting along?

Hermione and Ron are fighting and Ron has a crush on someone else?

Who is Hufflepuff girl and just what is the purpose of Geraldine Maple?

TUNE IN NEXT WEEK FOR HARRY POTTER AND THE STAFF OF VIGOR!