CHAPTER IX

Author's note: "Will Ginny join him in animagus training? I think harry and she should get permission from Dumbledore to let her train as well."

Update soon

HermioneGreen"

Patience HermioneGreen patience! In time all will be revealed.

~ Miss Zonko

Before Harry knew it, it was mid-September. Quidditch tryouts were set for the afternoon, after classes, and the first Hogsmead trip was the coming weekend. Harry sat in Defense Against the Dark Arts, trailing his quill across the desk and not really listening to what Professor Mackintock was saying, because he already knew all of it.

"What about you Harry?"

Harry look up blinking.

"Sorry?" he asked.

Professor Mackintock pursed her lips.

"I have just finished asking the class," she said " If anyone knew any advanced patronus charms?" She looked at him pointedly.

Harry cleared his throat.

"Oh," he said, pausing. "Well there's the multi-patronus" he offered, "And the durabilipatronus, and also there's the caligo-patronus but that's a dark arts spell, not many people know that one anymore."

Everyone looked at him. He blushed.

The professor looked quite impressed.

"I would not have expected a young person your age to know about those so many." She said looking at him in surprise. "Tell me, Mr. Potter, I have never heard of this caligo-patronus' what is it?"

Harry looked at her gravely.

"It s an ancient dark arts spell. I doubt there are more than five people in this world that know about it. It's essentially a dark patronus, instead of scaring away the darkness; it scares away the light. Caligo, in Latin, literally means to be or to spread dark mist around, to make dizzy, mental darkness, dullness and gloom. It's generally used to fight away patroni and to weaken the enemy greatly. It requires a lot of magical power and will power to cast it."

Everyone looked slightly horrified. Professor Mackintock swallowed and took a breath.

"It sounds like a dementor," she said quietly.

Harry nodded,

"Except about ten times worse," he added.

"It is certainly something to look into, I will have to do research." Said Professor Mackintock. She shook her head and looked around the class.

"Now, Mr. Potter mentioned the durabilispatronus. This one also takes a good deal of will-power, and it essentially creates a normal patronus, but with a stronger force, so it last's much longer, anywhere from an hour to ten days."

There were murmurs of interest all around the room. Professor Mackintock smiled.

"Yes it is quite a useful extension charm. Now the other one is the multi-patronus. Can anyone guess what the multi-patronus might be?"

Hermione, as usual, raised her hand.

When Professor Mackintock called on her she said, "Well, multi means many, so many patroni'?"

"Excellent, 10 points to Gryffindor Miss Granger," replied the professor. Hermione beamed.

"Now Harry, you were the one who named it, can you also demonstrate?"

Harry nodded, he was not particularly in the mood to give everyone another reason to be impressed or scared of him, but he got up anyway. He strolled casually to the front of the class, scuffing his boots and the floor, and pulled his wand from his belt.

"Expecto Patronum!" he declared clearly and confidently.

A huge stag erupted from his wand and cantered around the room before coming to stand by him. Harry pointed his wand at the huge animal and said quietly,

"Patroni multiplico."

Prongs bucked and shook his antlers, and as he did so, many more stags leapt from him, until there was about an entire herd of misty silver stags, trotting and head butting around the room. They lingered there and all turned their heads when Professor Mackintock said

"Excellent job Harry, you can clear them all now."

Harry nodded.

"Finite incantem" he said, making a motion with the arm that did not have the wand, as if to clear something off a surface."

The stags disappeared in a puff of mist. Harry made his way through the rows of students, back to his desk, avoiding the eyes of the class. Luckily the bell rang for the end of the day. Harry grabbed his bag and hastily left the room, Ron and Hermione hurrying to keep up with him. They both had that look on their faces, the one that meant they understood why he was unhappy and weren't going to bother him about it.

"Gryffindor's hold tryouts first, we should probably get out to the field in a few minutes," Ron said to Harry.

Harry nodded. Ron waved to Hermione and the two boys headed to the locker rooms to meet the team before tryouts. They entered to find the rest of the team already there. Harry tried to put aside his bad mood.

"Alright guys, we'll be doing the usual routine. Beaters fly interference for the people trying out, try and unnerve them, don't knock them off their brooms please."

Everyone nodded. Harry headed out the door. Everyone followed wondering why he was being so abrupt. Ron shook his head when people shot him questioning looks, and mouthed "Leave it" to them as he followed Harry out the door that led straight to the pitch. Harry conjured a pad and self-inking quill to take notes on, and sat down in the bleachers as students came out of the school to try out or watch for fun. When everyone who was planning on trying out had arrived, Harry noted Ginny was among them, he stood up and cleared his throat.

"All right. Anyone here who's looking to fill the chaser spot please go sit on that side of the bleachers," he motioned to the right. "People who want to be reserves, please arrange yourselves into separate groups according to what position you want to play. If you're trying out for more than one position that's fine, just pick a group."

Everyone responded accordingly. Harry leaned against the banister and continued talking.

"Ok so we'll start with all the chasers because they're the ones we need the most. Please all chaser hopefuls come up and write your name and year down on the sheet," he held up a clipboard with a sheet of paper with columns on it, "and if you've had any previous quidditch experience. You are required to know how to fly." He joked. Several people chuckled.

"If you don't have a broom there's a stack over there, when you're done signing in get yourselves in the air."

There were lots of people in the chaser group, but Harry figured he could already pick out a handful of them that wouldn't last. He watched and let the team handle them once they were in the air. They arranged groups of non-team members only, and groups with some of both, and they switched off like this, each group trying to work together to score the most goals on Ron. Harry picked three people that he didn't recognize that flew quite well and handle the quaffle well. One particular flyer had the balance of a natural, and was the only on to consistently score on Ron. Harry noticed that Ron got consistently more red in the face. How odd, he thought, Ron doesn't usually get offended during tryouts. Harry peered more closely at the talented flyer, it was then that he realized that the flyer was a she, and that she had red hair. Ginny? He wondered. He'd completely forgotten she was in the stands. He grinned and watched as she scored another spectacular goal on Ron. It would be a lot of fun to have Ginny on the team, unfortunately she had some competition. There was another sixth year boy trying out who didn't have the natural ease, but he had perfect technique, as though he'd had lessons since he was a little kid. There was no ignoring the fact that he would give Ginny a run for her money. Harry watched as they flew side by side, passing to each other. As Ginny caught his pass, she moved to score but the boy, not wanting her to be the one to score, intercepted her throw and tossed it towards the goal posts himself. Ron caught it. The kid kicked a goal post in anger and turned to Ginny. Harry couldn't heat what was happening, but the kid was gesticulating furiously, and Harry guessed he was blaming Ginny. He frowned. It wasn't Ginny that was in the wrong, that kid was the one that had intercepted the ball. He was the one that had ruined it. Harry shook his head and grabbed his broom, putting down his papers and swinging on leg over the handle, he pushed off the ground and flew quickly to where the two were still fighting, and pulled up abruptly. The kid turned to him, looking very red in the face. He sized Harry up and cocked an eyebrow.

"Who are you? Stay out of this." He told Harry insolently.

Sounds more like a Slytherin than a Gryffindor Harry thought in surprise. Harry took a deep breath to calm his anger and sat up straighter, emphasizing his broad shoulders. This kid obviously hadn't even bothered to find out who was on the team before he tried out. Harry leaned forward menacingly and said very quietly to the boy,

"I'm team captain, and you are out of line. I don't like people who play against their own team to snatch the glory. You are no longer part of these tryouts, get off the pitch before I chuck you into the bleachers."

Ginny moved to pat his shoulders.

"Relax Harry we were just having a little scuffle."

The kid meanwhile had been starring, slightly dumfounded. When he saw that Ginny was on friendly terms with Harry he frowned.

"What so just because she knows you means I'm the one that gets in trouble?" he asked angrily.

Harry merely looked at him.

"If you truly are stupid enough to not understand why I'm kicking you out of tryouts then you're not smart enough to play quidditch anyway. Now clear off."

The boy shot Harry a furious look, and made his way off the pitch.

Ginny looked at him slightly disapprovingly.

"He was only being immature," she reproached him.

"He was being a bad sport, this team doesn't accept bad sports." Harry told her, "but I'm glad you're not bothered by it."

He put a sonorous charm on his throat and said to everyone.

"Alright, time's up everyone! Let's get out of the air and make room for the others." Then he put his hand to his throat

"Quietus" he said.

He looked over at Ginny and smiled.

"You did really well out there."

"Thanks" she replied.

Harry nodded and flew back to the stands.

Harry called a team meeting at the end of tryouts. Everyone gathered around.

"Alright so I have the list of people I think we should pick here, you guys have a look at it and see what you think."

Everyone seemed to agree with what he had decided. Ron opened his mouth, but then shut it again.

"Something wrong?" asked Harry.

Ron shook his head.

"You don't really want your sister on the team is that it?"

Ron looked up.

"I guess." he said grumpily.

"Look mate, how do you think the twins felt when you joined the team? They weren't too happy either; it's natural because your all family but they realized you were the best guy for the job. And now, Ginny really is the best girl for the job. She's really good."

Ron still looked irritated.

"That other guy was really good until you kicked him off the pitch." He said.

Harry frowned.

"Um, okay." he said, "If you really want a asshole and a bad sport on the team I guess we can call him back." but as he'd predicted, the rest of the team protested vehemently.

"What's wrong with Ginny Ron?" asked Lana. "I mean, do you really want a guy like that idiot on the team?"

Ron shook his head.

"No, but she's my little sister, she's not supposed to sit around with us and have fun. Plus you guys all make such crude jokes. She shouldn't have to hear that kind of stuff."

Harry chuckled.

"Ron, Ginny makes more crude jokes than you do. Plus she's only a year younger than you, It's not a big difference."

"Fine fine I give in, choose Ginny," said Ron grumpily.

Harry shook his head in confusion. He got up and walked to the stands, placing himself in front of everyone. They all went silent.

"Ok then we have our decisions. I'd just like to thank you all for coming out today, and If you're not chosen don't let it stop you from coming back next year."

He looked down at his paper.

"Reserve keeper: Axil Peters, reserve beaters: John Rennison and Geoffrey Williams, reserve seeker: Jill Green, reserve chasers: Jacob Newby, Amanda Turner, and Tina Thorton. Third chaser: Ginny Weasley. All right everyone, I apologize for anyone who didn't get what they wanted, and everyone flew well out there today. Please come back next year!"

People began to clear out, Harry made his way over to where Ginny was picking up her stuff.

"Excellent job out there today."

Ginny looked up and grinned.

"I'm pretty thrilled." she told him.

He grinned and picked up some of her books for her.

"Here let me take some of these, yea you should be. I didn't know you were such an excellent flier."

Ginny blushed and looked at her feet. They walked slowly across the grounds in a comfortable silence.

"Harry, Ginny, wait up!"

They both turned to see Ron and Hermione making coming towards them. They stopped and waited. Ron came up and slung an arm over Ginny's shoulder.

"Nice job today," He said, smiling down at her.

Ginny looked slightly surprised. Hermione looked satisfied, Harry guessed she'd had a little talk with Ron. And maybe something more thought Harry with an internal grin. Then he cringed. I shouldn't be thinking of my best friends like that he told himself.

"Hey guys," said Harry "I had an idea, and well, now that you're all here I figured I'd run it by you all."

Everyone looked over at him in interest. Harry continued.

"We've got a Hogsmead weekend this week and I thought I'd take the opportunity to get my animagus supplies while I'm down there, but I was sort of hoping you guys might want to do the same."

They all looked perplexed.

"I was thinking maybe you guys would want to become animagus with me," then he laughed at himself, "I don't know, maybe I'm crazy, but I thought we could sort of be the second marauders."

Hermione and Ginny squealed.

"Oooh, Harry that would be so much fun! I'd love to!" said Hermione enthusiastically.

Ginny nodded in agreement, and she and Hermione began to discuss what they wanted to be. Ron grinned.

"It's a brilliant idea mate, count me in," he said. Harry grinned as well.

"Excellent," he said. "Is it alright that I asked Ginny as well? I mean I know you're sort of protective of her and all."

Ron shook his head.

"I already had a conversation with Hermione about this. Anyway she made some really good points, so I'm not going to make a fuss. I'd rather talk about what I'm going to be though," he said.

They all continued on their way to the school, discussing different animals.