Chapter 6

Zachary Lyons

The morning came all too fast for most students of Hogwarts. Sleepily, everyone somehow managed to drag themselves out of the comfortable beds to the cold and crisp morning. Harry couldn't seem to get himself out of a sleepy haze. He walked down the stairs into the common room half awake and still half asleep. The room was bustling with excitement and Harry could see that many were talking about his prominent sign on the bulletin board.

"Think I could make it?" an excited first year asked another.

"But first years aren't allowed to join the Quidditch House teams."

"Harry Potter did," the boy who was first talking defended himself. Harry stifled a laugh, for this boy had an uncanny resemblance to Neville Longbottom.

Harry found Ron and Hermione sitting on their favorite armchairs, waiting for him. Ron looked like he was about to burst out laughing. "Hey, guys. What's up?" Harry asked, coming up to them. Ron gestured for Harry to stop talking. They listened to another group of unlikely candidates for the Gryffindor team.

"I was the star of my Muggle school basketball team, so Mum says I'm guaranteed a position on the team," an incredibly good-looking, but egocentric boy was telling a giddy group of girls who were looking up at him in awe. "It should be a cinch. Basketball fifty feet in the air."

"Have you even played Quidditch?" Ron couldn't resist asking in an overly loud voice. The boy searched unsuccessfully for the source of the taunting.

"No, but it looks easy enough," he said, figuring it was just one of his many admirers. He then walked out of the portrait hole, his groupies following behind him.

* * *

"Who does that kid think he is?" Ron asked after the Quidditch star wannabe left the common room, taking his enthusiasts with him. "'It should be a cinch.' I hope when he tries out his broom kicks him off and he breaks both his legs."

"Ron!" Hermione screeched, disapprovingly. "He's a fellow Gryffindor!"

"I have a bad feeling about him," Harry said, agreeing with Ron. "It almost seems like he's plotting something. Who is he anyway?"

"Zachary Lyons. He's in his third year."

"How come you know all about him? Are you one of those groupies now, Hermione?"

"No! Just unlike some people, I have taken my prefect duties seriously and have taken the time to get to know the younger students in Gryffindor."

"You have to admit that he seems like he would be the kind to cause trouble," Harry told Hermione.

"I know he has been trouble ever since he arrived here two years ago, but it was just for petty stuff; things that we've done."

"You make us sound like common criminals, Hermione," Ron replied.

"I'm just saying that we don't exactly have clean records."

"Oh, cut it out, you two," Harry said, yawning. He wasn't about to listen to them bicker for the next few hours. "Let's go and get some breakfast."

They walked down the Great Hall along with many other Gryffindor students. Zachary Lyons was strutting around the Entrance Hall, his clique still grouping around him. "Why does he have to be here?" Ron asked in a loud, boisterous voice.

Hermione just rolled her eyes.

"Let's go eat," Harry said, hurriedly, before another brawl took place between his best friends.

* * *

"Schedules," Hermione said, magically producing their three schedules, looking intently at hers before even sitting down. "Yes, we have Defense Against the Dark Arts first, then Charms, then Care of Magical Creatures, and then Arithmancy, well, for me anyway. I don't think we've ever had Defense Against the Dark Arts the first day back, do you?"

"Not that I can remember," Harry said, taking a bite out of a strip of bacon while still looking at his schedule.

Ron wasn't paying attention to his classes; he was too busy looking up at the staff table. "Where's Snape?" he asked in a hopeful, yet quiet voice. "He was here last night. D'you reckon an irreversible potion backfired on him?"

"Not very likely," Harry said immediately, fully knowing that Snape tended to have his reasons for any absences he may have. Sure enough, Professor Snape limped in from the unseen door in back of the staff table. Harry knew it had to be something to do with the Order, as Snape looked exhausted, as if he hadn't gotten any sleep the night before. Harry couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy for his professor.

"Let's get going," Hermione said, ushering them out of the Great Hall. "I want to get a good seat for Tonks' first lesson.

* * *

Hermione wasn't the only one who wanted to reserve a good seat for their first Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson. Seated in the front rows sat over half the class, eagerly talking amongst themselves. Harry led them to a table closer to the back of the room. Ten minutes later, Draco Malfoy swaggered into the classroom, closely followed by his fellow Slytherins. Tonks bounded in soon after them.

"Good morning! As Professor McGonagall has already told you, my name is Professor Tonks and I'll be your Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher these next two years," she started cheerily. "As last year you apparently took a hiatus from rigorous Defense Against the Dark Arts classes, we'll have to learn a lot this year."

"What is the point of learning from a Metamorphmagus? Doesn't everyone know they're messed up in the head?" Malfoys' drawling voice came from the back of the room. Tonks' cheery smile faded as she turned towards Malfoy.

"Mr. Malfoy?" she asked, before she had turned her head completely towards him. "Ah, yes, I've had the pleasure to meet your father in quite—tricky situations. I don't care if you don't like my class. You'll respect me and the rest of your classmates in and out of this classroom. Ten points from Slytherin. Do you understand me?" Harry glanced over at Tonks, whose hair had turned a bright red—not from embarrassment, but from a sudden hatred. She did not stand much taller than Malfoy's sitting form, but at that moment, anyone would have been scared of her. Ron snickered as Malfoy cowered in his chair. "Now, where was I?" she asked, continuing on as if nothing happened.

"Um, Professor?" Hermione asked, raising her hand timidly.

"Just call me Tonks. Oh, that's another thing. I don't want any of this formal 'professor' junk."

"Tonks, then," Hermione corrected herself. "Will we be learning how to perform the Web of Life?"

"Yes. I was just getting to that. As a newly instated Ministry requirement—just three days ago, as a matter of fact--Hogwarts students sixth year and above will learn more complex incantations for protecting themselves against supporters of Lord Voldemort. Normally taught to Aurors alone, these will require much more training than you would find a regular spell to take. The Web of Life is a new, but exceedingly complex spell. It needs someone's full attention and all energy possible in order to work properly. At first it was going to be a spell only future Aurors would learn, but because of recent events..." Tonks' voice broke, "the Ministry has decided to make it a requirement for sixth and seventh year students to learn. The world won't be safe until someone vanquishes Voldemort.

"Now, we'll start off with the Web of Life. Some background information: a successful Web will produce a highly effective shield around you and although it looks like a spell can penetrate the thin silver strands that make up the Web, none can, not even Avada Kedavra.

"Dumbledore discovered this method of providing a shield for yourself and taught it to the Auror Department in the Ministry. Brilliant man, Dumbledore... I'll come around the classroom and check each of your Webs in turn. Practice with a partner using Stunning Spells. Let's see what we can do..."

* * *

"How you coming along, Harry?" Tonks whispered in his ear as he shot as weak of a Stunner as he could produce towards Ron's incomplete spell. Just as Harry expected, it knocked his red haired friend flat.

"Pretty well," came Harry's reply. "Only, I know how to do this already. Couldn't I be studying my own Auror materials?"

"In time, Harry, in time," Tonks replied, putting her hand on his shoulder and continuing on to check on Hermione and Neville.

* * *

Harry, Ron, and Hermione emerged from their Charms classroom even more exhausted than they had been coming from Tonks'. Every teacher appeared to be piling on the work even higher than usual, and Ron was not too happy about it. "Why do we have to learn all this junk?" he asked in a disgruntled mood.

Hermione shot him a look. "Haven't you been listening to your teachers?" she shrieked. "Voldemort is steadily gaining even more power, and we all must unite against him! Although Harry is the only one who can kill him, we all must do what we can to keep control from the Death Eaters. If they gain control, then Harry doesn't even have a chance."

"Sheez, Hermione. I wasn't questioning the Ministry's way of doing things, especially now that that foul Umbridge woman is out of there."

"Well it sure sounded like it," she snapped back and stomped ahead of them down to the Great Hall for lunch.

"What's eating her?" Ron asked Harry.

"Everyone is at their wits' ends nowadays," Harry replied.

* * *

Hermione started talking to them again, but not after a day of sulking. Before they knew it, Thursday had arrived and Harry, Ron, and Hermione made their way down to the Quidditch field. Hermione claimed that she wanted to watch, but after a closer look at her, the first week of rigorous schooling was getting even to her.

Harry glanced around at everyone who had shown up for the tryouts. Zachary Lyons was there, his fan club following close behind, and Ginny was trying out for Chaser. Besides them, Harry didn't recognize anyone else in the crowd of younger students.

"Good luck with finding someone," Hermione said, making her way to the stands. Katie Bell flew overhead.

"Hi, Katie," both Harry and Ron said to her as she dismounted.

"Hi," she replied, looking around with disgust at everyone who had come to tryout. "Nobody looks good enough to even stay on a broom, do they?"

"Well...yes. I'm sure a lot of them have hidden talent, though."

"Hidden talent?" Ron asked, snorting with laughter. "You've got to be kidding, Harry."

"Harry! Harry! We aren't late, are we?" came the all to familiar squeaky voice of Colin Creevey, his brother Dennis at his side. "We almost forgot, but lucky we remembered at the last minute, huh, Harry?"

"Yeah, lucky," came the sarcastic reply from Ron.

"Shall we get started, then?" Harry asked Katie and Ron.

"Sure."

"Let the torture begin."

"Can I please have everyone's attention?" Harry asked the group of hopefuls. Before he knew it, all was quiet. "I would like to thank you all for coming out here tonight to tryout for the four positions vacated after last year. As you know, we are looking for two Chasers and two Beaters. Would the people going for Chaser stand over here and the Beaters over here?" He gestured to his left and right side. People were hesitant at first, but after a "for goodness sakes" from Ginny, she strode out to Harry's right side. Glad not to be the first one, the others followed. "Thanks, Ginny," Harry muttered. She smiled back. "OK, now..."

"Harry! Harry, we'll try out too!" Turning to the voices, Harry spotted Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas running his way. He let out a sigh of relief. Harry knew his friends were fine Quidditch players. Maybe the Gryffindor team wouldn't be so bad after all.

"Beaters or Chasers?" Harry called out.

"Beaters!" The Captain pointed them towards the line to his left.

"Now, we'll start with the open Chaser positions." Harry turned to his right where there was a long line of students eagerly awaiting his instructions. "Ron will guard the hoops, Katie will be a fellow Chaser with you, and I will pretend to be a player on the opposing team. You will attempt ten shots, and the best out of ten will continue on. If there is a tie for either of the positions, we'll have a face off. Does everyone understand?" Some nodded, but most couldn't move their heads at all, as their faces looked rather green. "Then let's go. Who's the first in line?" Ginny stepped confidently forward from the first position. "Ginny? Come on and let's see what you can do."

* * *

Ginny's performance was spectacular. She worked well with Katie, and all of her shots but one went in. Ron had practiced during the summer months, but apparently with his sister as she scoped out his every move. After her, though, it all went downhill. Some students couldn't even catch Katie's passes. One fell off her broom and Harry had to take a break in order to help her to the hospital wing. Meanwhile, Zachary Lyons stood calmly on the side, watching with amusement. He walked over to Harry when it was his turn to try out. "If that's all you can come up with, Potter, this team is in trouble."

"Let's see you, then," Harry said menacingly. His lip was bleeding freely because Ron accidentally punched him in the face while making a spectacular save. Harry really was not in a good mood.

"OK." Zachary Lyons hopped onto his broom and kicked off the ground expertly. He took control of the Quaffle immediately and before they knew it had a goal in his favor. Harry sat in midair, awestruck. He threw the red ball back to Lyons. Again, he threw it straight through the middle hoop, ignoring Katie completely. Pretty soon, Zachary Lyons had made every one of his ten attempts, but did not acknowledge the presence of his fellow Chaser.

"We'll discuss this, and then will continue on with the shootout," Harry told the contestants. He gestured to Ron and Katie to fly over for them to converse.

"Not Lyons," Ron and Katie said immediately.

"He's the only one who completed all ten of his shots," Harry said.

"He still gives me the creeps," Ron said. "There's just something about him that reminds me subtly of Malfoy."

"And he hogs the Quaffle."

"I know, but you have to admit that he's good," Harry said.

"He's good all right, but need a lesson that there's no 'I' in team," Katie said rudely.

"What's got you two all in a huffy about this kid?"

"It's just as Ron said, Harry. There's something dark about him. He just seems to conceded to be on the team and also just seems too much like that jerk Draco Malfoy."

"We decided that this is how we would choose our players, seeing who can make the most shots." Harry didn't know why he was defending this kid, since he couldn't ignore his own feeling that he was up to something.

"Please, mate, not Lyons."

"All he needs is a chance," Harry decided. "He's on the team, and if he doesn't improve his attitude, he's off, OK?"

Ron and Katie sighed. "Works for me if that's your final offer," Katie said.

"And a shootout between Ginny and that one fifth-year Vince somebody or another to decide who's on the team?"

"Sounds good."

Harry turned to address the crowd of Gryffindors. "Zachary Lyons, could you come here?" He came flying towards them from a corner of the field. "Congratulations, you're on the team." The third year smiled, exposing perfectly white teeth. His groupies cheered and screamed from the stands as he gave them the thumbs up sign.

"Ginny and Vince, could you please come forward? I thank the rest of you for coming to tryouts. Keep in mind that next year we'll have a vacated position as well..." Katie glared at him, "...but that's still a ways off, right Katie?" He winked at her and she smiled. Ginny and Vince flew up to the veterans. "OK, you both only missed one out of the ten attempts, which is a great accomplishment. Vince, what is your last name?" Harry asked, turning to the tall, skinny fifth year in front of him.

"Larson, sir."

"Call me Harry, if you would. Now, you two will be involved in the shootout. It will happen in the same fashion as before, but only five shots to each of you. Good luck."

* * *

Ginny was to be a Gryffindor Chaser. She didn't miss one of her shots, and Vince missed one, by millimeters. They all touched down, Ginny all smiles and Vince looking rather disappointed with himself. Harry approached him. "Don't get down on yourself, Vince," he said, patting the fifth year's shoulder. "There's always next year." Vince stood about three inches taller than Ron, reaching well over six feet.

"Thanks, Harry," Vince replied, smiling.

"Now, on to the Beaters..."

* * *

Luckily, there weren't as many trying out for the Beater positions as there were Chasers. They tried out in pairs, and the Creevey brothers were first up. Bludgers pelted the mousy boys, and their ratings from the veterans on the team were rather poor. Seamus and Dean came up next, expertly pounding away at the Bludgers with their short bats. Harry knew they would be the new Beaters for the team, but respectfully sat through the remaining participants.

"Again, thank you all for willing yourselves to try out tonight. Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas, you're in." The pair clapped their bats together in jubilation while the others disappointedly filtered out of the stadium. Hermione was still in the stands, but from what Harry could tell, had fallen asleep. "First official team meeting!" he called to his teammates who gathered around him. "I have reserved the field for a practice tomorrow evening. Since we have an inexperienced team this year, it would be best to start practicing as soon as possible. We'll have practice on Saturday and Sunday afternoons too, so be prepared for that. Otherwise, congratulations on making it to the team again, and get a good night's sleep for tomorrow. You're free to go."