A/N: JKR owns all of these characters, I own the plot only.

Chapter 8 Quality Quidditch

"I --- have --- to --- become --- an --- ANIMAGUS???"

Harry was beginning to get used to his jaw hanging wide open. This moment was no exception.

Visions exploded in his mind. Would he be the stag that his dad was? A dog like Sirius? A --- whatever the heck Dumbledore was? A snake? After all, he could already speak the language. Maybe he'd be an owl so he could keep Hedwig company. McGonagall was a cat, would he be too? Maybe he could be a lion or tiger or something massive like that that could just eat Voldemort in one big bite. Of course if he was a dog like serious he could chase Mrs Norris --- or better yet ---

This last thought was too much. He burst out laughing.

Sirius walked over and put on one hand on Harry's forehead. "You don't seem to feel feverish. Is anything wrong?"

Harry was taking deep breaths trying to calm down. He looked up at his godfather and asked, "Sirius, did you --- did you ever --- " He couldn't help it. He burst out laughing again unable to finish the question. Sirius made to feel his forehead again but Harry ducked out of the way. He settled himself slightly and tried again.

"Sirius, did you ever chase Mrs Norris or Professor McGonagall around the castle when you went to school here?"

To Harry's delight, Sirius got a twinkle in his eyes and didn't answer the question.

"That was you!" Dumbledore suddenly exclaimed.

Sirius hung his head trying to look properly chastised. He snuck Harry a quick wink though when he didn't think Dumbledore was looking.

"Headmaster," Harry asked very tentatively and in his most polite voice. He really wanted to get an answer for this question. "Headmaster, what was him exactly? What did you mean by that?"

Dumbledore continued to watch Sirius as he considered Harry's question. "When your father and his friends were in their last few years of school here, there was a rumor about a stray dog running around the corridors of Hogwarts."

"Professor McGonagall burst in here one night with her heart practically in her throat. She was panting like she'd just run the British Marathon. She said that a large black dog had chased her from the Charms corridor to the Great Hall. She was trying to lure him up to my office so I could "dispose" of him."

Harry turned around in time to see Sirius' eyes go wide. "Dispose of me --- er --- I mean him. That seems harsh."

"Perhaps."

Sirius blanched. Harry chuckled.

Dumbledore continued, "Anyway she said it was really strange. She said somehow that the dog seemed to know better than to follow her through the passage behind the stone gargoyle. She had a few other such encounters. I believe one time she even transformed into her human form and followed the dog."

Harry knew his jaw had dropped open again. He was amazed at his Transfigurations professor. He asked, "How did she manage to keep up with you while she was in her human form?"

Sirius muttered under his breath, "She summoned a broomstick. Can you believe it? She really pulled out all the stops. It was impressive."

Dumbledore glared at Sirius.

"Er --- I mean that's how I imagine she must have done it. It must have been impressive. I wish I had been there."

Harry laughed and looked back to Dumbledore to finish his story. "I believe she followed the mysterious dog into an empty classroom with no other exits than the main one she used. She was extremely surprised to find it empty except for one Sirius Black if I recall correctly. I believe she mentioned that she had asked him if he had seen a black dog go into the room. Now you wouldn't have lied to the head of your house would you have Sirius?"

"Of course not. Of course even if I had been there that day, and I'm not saying I was, but even if I had been without a mirror in the classroom there's no way that I could have seen myself enter the room."

"Hmmmm. Anyway Harry, one day the mysterious dog sightings just stopped. I believe that day was the day that your father and his class graduated."

Harry started thinking about how much fun it would be to pull a Sirius and wondered if perhaps he wouldn't like to become a dog and create some of his own adventures. Of course with Dumbledore knowing about Harry being an animagus he wasn't sure how much he would be able to get away with.

Sirius seemed to be reading his thoughts. "Harry, you can't choose the animal just like you can't choose your wand. Your animal will choose you. Most animagi approve of their animal form but some do not. Do you think anyone would really want to be a rat? No one has any say in the matter."

That seemed ok with Harry. After all, when he thought about every challenge that faced him this year, he was almost relieved that he wouldn't have to expend any brainpower deciding what animal to become. Now he could concentrate on the other one hundred and thirty eight decisions facing him.

The three of them talked a little more about the Order but nothing very specific. Harry's head was swirling with all this new info and when Dumbledore told Harry that was enough for one day and he could go to lunch, he declined.

"Come on now Harry," the professor with the half-moon spectacles began "I know a growing boy like you must be hungry."

"Sir, I'd really rather not face everyone else quite yet."

"Alright Harry. You may remain here with your godfather and have lunch while I go down to the Great Hall. Perhaps he will share some more interesting stories with you from his days at school. Although I do hope that they don't all have to do with terrorizing my staff." With a raise of his brow and a tap of his wand, sandwiches and chips appeared as well as two goblets filled with iced pumpkin juice. The Headmaster excused himself and left the two of them alone.

Except for during feasts, the Great Hall was never this loud. All the fifth years were talking about what they'd just experienced in their various lessons. All of the other students were trying to figure out what the fifth years had learned. Ron and Hermione were discussing the morning they just spent together (trying to transform each other's wand into something useless) when they realized that although Harry was missing, Dumbledore was not.

They were sure that he was all right but they couldn't help wondering why the Headmaster would come down to lunch without him. Ron finally decided that he was getting ready for the Quidditch try-outs.

After Harry and Sirius finished eating the talk turned to the other members of his class. He asked Sirius if he knew what Ron and Hermione or even anyone else for that matter had learned in the morning. He did not.

Harry asked Sirius if he could come watch the try-outs and he said he'd try. Harry left the Headmaster's office and went straight for the Quidditch pitch. Even though he had some time to spare, he knew nothing would make him feel better than flying around for a little bit thinking of the upcoming try-outs.

When he arrived at the pitch he realized he didn't have his broom. More than anything he didn't want to have to go back to the dorm room and see everyone else right now. He would have to fly on something other than his Firebolt for the first time in years. He was trying to decide which of the outdated model of school brooms he would use when he suddenly remembered that he had another option. He could do something that both he and the head of his house had done before.

"Accio Firebolt"

Unlike the last time he summoned his broom from this distance, this time he wasn't worried that it wouldn't come. It had before and it would again. He waited patiently but confidently. And it did arrive stopping right beside him at the perfect mounting height just like always.

While he was flying around the field he found himself thinking more and more about what he learned this morning and less and less about the upcoming try-outs. It was starting to worry him about how much of the Hogwarts curriculum was being tailored to meet his needs. He was being inducted in to this mysterious Order that needed him to Apparate. Amazingly, the fifth years were being taught a new class that was going to teach him how to Apparate. He didn't know exactly what this meant but it couldn't be anything good. Before he knew it people were showing up for the try-outs and he had no idea what he was going to do.

He flew around for a few more minutes waiting for the last of the stragglers to show up. When it looked like everyone had arrived, he flew to the middle of the pitch and signaled everyone to join him.

When everyone had gathered around, Harry told all the hopefuls as well as the returning members that he was looking for a Keeper (to replace Oliver Wood) and a Chaser (to serve as a back-up and start learning the position for next year when five team members would be gone).

Harry had the hopefuls divide themselves into teams of three. There were a total of four "teams" competing so Harry had them play a round robin match (every team played every other team) in a race to fifty points. During the games, all the returning team members flew in and around the participants trying to get a feel for everyone's abilities. In the end only one team had gone undefeated and that was the team of Ron as the Keeper, and Dean and Seamus as Chasers.

Harry and the rest of the returning members huddled off to one side. No one said anything until they were far enough away that they were sure that no one would be able to hear their conversation.

"So what did you all think?" Harry asked the team.

Fred was the first to offer his opinion. "Well I couldn't but help to be impressed by that red-headed Keeper that only missed one save all day."

George continued where he left off. "Did he miss one? I didn't notice that. I must have been distracted by his marvelous flying abilities."

Fred took his cue, "I know what you mean."

Katie got the hint. "I think Ron was great too Harry, I vote for him."

Harry nodded. "All right then. All those opposed to Ron being our new Keeper speak now." When no one did he voiced his own assent and quickly announced that Ron would be the new Gryffindor Keeper this year.

"Besides," Katie continued, "we can't wait to tell Ron how his two older brothers stuck up for him. I mean to say, not only were they the first to speak in his behalf but did you see the look they were giving us when Harry asked if anyone was opposed --- it was priceless. I can't wait to see his face when we tell him about his older brothers and how they took up his cause." She and the other two girls were all smiles.

"Don't you dare!" the twins said at the same time looking mortified. Everyone else laughed.

Since there was no real discernible difference between Seamus and Dean and since the whole point was to have a seasoned team next year, Harry decided to keep them both on and just alternate players throughout the season. Besides, he figured with the extra players it would be easier to have scrimmages.

With the decision made, Harry waved his wand in the air and the skywriting announced the newest team members:

Keeper – Ron Weasley Back-up Chaser – Dean Thomas Back-up Chaser – Seamus Finnigan

Harry reminded all those who didn't make it that more spots would be vacant next year and that he'd appreciate it if they would keep practicing. He also announced that they would all be welcome at some of the practices this year so that they could scrimmage some matches.

As much as Harry enjoyed flying, he felt like he had had more than enough excitement for one day. He decided to skip dinner and go straight to bed. When he got there, he found Hedwig sitting on his bed bearing a letter and hooting quietly.

He quickly retrieved the letter and unfurled it. Seeing it was from Professor Dumbledore, he was so anxious to read it that he didn't even remember to thank Hedwig for bringing it. She cuffed him around the head as she fled his bedroom. Making a mental note to go to the Owlery later to apologize to her, he started reading the letter.

It read: Harry, plan on spending most of your Sunday in my office. After breakfast come straight up. I know it's not your first choice in how to spend the rest of your weekend but as you know, we have much work still to do. If anyone at all were to ask, just tell him or her that you are spending the day with a Mister Snuffles. Best regards, Professor Dumbledore.

Harry climbed into bed but didn't fall asleep for hours. He had a lot to think about and even the joys of Quidditch practice couldn't empty his mind from his worries. He still didn't feel good at all about the fact that it looked like the entire fifth year curriculum had been changed to meet his personal needs. No matter how he looked at it, he could never make it add up to anything good. He finally drifted off to sleep still bearing the weight of the world in his mind.

Ron woke him early the next morning and after meeting Hermione in the common room the familiar trio went down to breakfast together. As was often the case lately, Harry had no idea what was in store for him later that day.

A/N – Please R/R – let's hear what you think and we'll see if it changes anything.