Regina: Here's the next chapter of Casket of Souls. And for those of you
that were wondering, the rumour was that Snape falls in love.
Harry Potter
and the Casket of Souls
Chapter Four: Tryouts
Harry looked glumly into his cauldron, and at the Paralysing Potion he was supposed to be making. Looking over Hermione's shoulder, and into her cauldron, his heart plummeted.
His potion was a bright pink, while Hermione's was perfectly clear.
Why did he have to learn Potions?
"Well, Mr Potter? What have we here?"
"My Potion, sir," Harry replied glumly.
"Really?" Snape smiled. That was not a good sign. "How much snake venom did you use?"
Harry blinked. "Snake venom?"
"I'll take that as a no," replied Snape. "Your Potion making ability leaves much to be desired. Even the dullest of Aurors know how to make a Paralysing Potion in their sleep."
Harry had not heard a word of this. He was too busy thinking about the snake venom, and why something about it was gnawing at him.
Then he remembered that he had not added it, having been distracted by Ron.
Quickly, he added the specified amount of venom, and stirred it a few times, the pink colour of his potion faded, leaving it as clear as Hermione's.
Snape frowned, and wandered off without saying a word. Across from him, Dean gave Harry a big thumbs up. Harry grinned back, pleased with himself.
"Malfoy's not happy, is he?" remarked Hermione, as she, along with Harry and Ron, left the dungeons where Snape's Potions class was held.
"No," replied Ron, grinning. "Harry managed to show up Snape today! And then there's the fact that he'd doing terribly in our Defence Against the Dark Arts class. . ."
"And how do you know that, Ron?" asked Harry.
Still grinning, Ron replied, "Heard Professor Derild talking to Flitwick the other day. Said he 'did not have the aptitude' for Defence Against the Dark Arts."
"Snape's going to be furious when he hears that."
"Well, not with Professor Derild, at least." Ron was grinning so wide, Harry swore his face was about to split in two.
"You know what we haven't done for a while?" Harry said suddenly, realising something.
"Saved the world from You-Know-Who?"
"That's not funny, Ron."
"You're right. Harry is the one who does it. I wonder how he's gonna do it this year. . ." Ron trailed off, thinking.
"What were you saying, Harry?" asked Hermione, when she realised that Ron was too far gone to say anything reasonable.
"We haven't seen Hagrid in a while," replied Harry. "Maybe we should go and visit him. What do you think, Ron?"
"Maybe Harry and I will dive-bomb him with our broomsticks. . ."
"Ron!"
"What?!"
"Do you want to go see Hagrid?!"
"All right."
"C'mon in," said Hagrid cheerfully, when he saw the three standing on his doorstep. "Bin a while since I saw yeh last. How've yeh bin?"
"Good, Hagrid," said Harry, stepping inside. "How about you?"
"Better, since Umbridge left. How 'bout a cuppa?" he asked. "Was jus' 'bout to make a pot o' tea." When the three nodded, he began bustling around in the small space of his hut.
"Speaking of Umbridge," said Hermione. "Have you met the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher?"
"Aubry? Had 'er in 'ere yesterday, helpin' me feed the Thestrals. Firs' decen' teacher since Lupin, if yeh ask me."
"That's what we were thinking."
"Met 'er las' year, when Dumbledore had taken off. And I was hidin' out in a cave," said Hagrid.
"Really?" asked Hermione. "How did she find you?"
"Dumbledore 'ad sent 'er, apparently," explained Hagrid, setting three steaming mugs in front of Harry, Ron and Hermione. "Sending messages between people, tha' was 'er job."
"Wow," said Hermione. "She said she was in the Order, but never how deep."
"She's in't deep all righ'," said Hagrid. "Was in a righ' state too, when she 'eard abou' what happened to Dumbledore. Wanted ter go and give Fudge a piece o' 'er mind. Mind yeh," Hagrid added. "I wanted ter do the same m'self. More'n anything, some days."
The three looked at each other.
"So whadda yeh bin up ter lately?" asked Hagrid, seeming to change the subject.
"Harry's the new captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team," replied Hermione.
"'Spected yeh might've bin, Harry. Yeh've got the righ' stuff."
"Thanks, Hagrid," said Harry. "Only problem is, we pretty much need a new team."
"When are tryouts?" asked Hagrid, interested. "Migh' come an' watch."
"Tomorrow afternoon," Harry said glumly. "Don't know if we can find anyone good enough to replace Angelina, Katie and Alicia. We might even need new Beaters - Andrew Kirk and Jack Sloper aren't the greatest Beaters there are."
"Sorry 'bout that, Harry. Good luck with the tryouts, then."
"We'll need it."
Harry and Ron pulled on their robes, before grabbing their broomsticks, and heading out towards the Quidditch pitch.
"Do you think Professor Derild meant it when she said she'd help us with the tryouts?" asked Ron.
Whoops and yells of applause coming from the pitch itself caused Harry to say, "That answer your question?" as he pointed high into the air above the Quidditch pitch, where a green blur was doing a variety of acrobatic manoeuvres.
Looking at the waiting crowd, Harry knew that he would have his work cut out for him.
Practically everyone who owned a broom had shown up for the tryouts. Harry's move improved when he saw that Ron's sister, Ginny, was trying out - probably for Chaser. She had made quite a good Seeker, while Harry had been banned from playing by the previous year's Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher.
This year's Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, on the other hand, was a different story.
"Hi, Harry, Ron!" she called, swooping down with an almost frightening degree of speed, before stopping right in front of them, at a height where she could easily dismount from her broom. Like Harry, she rode a Firebolt, the fastest broom around, and which was international standard. In their fourth year, Harry and Ron, as well as Hermione and the Weasleys, had seen the Irish team in the Quidditch World Cup final - and they had all rode Firebolts, an amazing thing, as Firebolts were expensive.
"Thanks for offering to help us," said Harry.
Aubretia, her eyes bright and her face flushed, smiled. "No problem. Any excuse to get back on the broom. And back in the old uniform," she added, looking down at her robes. She was wearing her Harpies uniform, dark green robes, with the same golden talon on the front that had been on her T-shirt the first time they saw her. "Anything you'd like me to do?"
"Well, I was thinking that we might try out the Beaters first," began Harry, "and if you wouldn't mind, it would be useful if you were to take a spare Beaters bat, and keep an eye out for the Bludgers, if the people trying out don't do so well or get distracted."
"Sure," replied Aubretia. "Do with me as you will. I'm working for you right now." She caught the bat that Ron tossed at her, and mounted her broomstick. Rising a few feet off the ground, she said, "See you in the air," before flying away.
"So," said Harry, "who's trying out for Beaters?"
A few hands went into the air, including Andrew Kirk and Jack Sloper. "All right, then. Pair up, and you'll try out together. Who wants to go first?"
"We will."
"Dean? Seamus?" asked Harry, surprised. "You're trying out for Beaters? Why?" Then he saw Aubretia swoop by. "Ah. Never mind. Just get on your brooms, and follow Ron and me."
Quidditch tryouts had turned out better than Harry had expected. Dean and Seamus had turned out to be pretty decent Beaters (even better than Andrew Kirk and Jack Sloper, to their annoyance and embarrassment). And in amongst those trying out to be Chasers, there had been a few good ones as well. Ginny Wesley had easily made it into the team, and had taken over the role of 'head Chaser'. The second Chaser was another girl in Ginny's year named Lisa Grey. But the real hidden gem was a second year who had almost not tried out due to nerves. Her name was Jessica Brampton, and, with her short brown curls and big brown doe eyes, she looked a lot younger than she actually was.
"Well," said Harry, surveying his new team, Ron at his side. "Welcome to the Gryffindor Quidditch team. First game's against Slytherin in two weeks. And you know what? We're going to beat them."
There were cheers from the team, and Harry grinned at Ron.
This was a promising start.
Harry Potter
and the Casket of Souls
Chapter Four: Tryouts
Harry looked glumly into his cauldron, and at the Paralysing Potion he was supposed to be making. Looking over Hermione's shoulder, and into her cauldron, his heart plummeted.
His potion was a bright pink, while Hermione's was perfectly clear.
Why did he have to learn Potions?
"Well, Mr Potter? What have we here?"
"My Potion, sir," Harry replied glumly.
"Really?" Snape smiled. That was not a good sign. "How much snake venom did you use?"
Harry blinked. "Snake venom?"
"I'll take that as a no," replied Snape. "Your Potion making ability leaves much to be desired. Even the dullest of Aurors know how to make a Paralysing Potion in their sleep."
Harry had not heard a word of this. He was too busy thinking about the snake venom, and why something about it was gnawing at him.
Then he remembered that he had not added it, having been distracted by Ron.
Quickly, he added the specified amount of venom, and stirred it a few times, the pink colour of his potion faded, leaving it as clear as Hermione's.
Snape frowned, and wandered off without saying a word. Across from him, Dean gave Harry a big thumbs up. Harry grinned back, pleased with himself.
"Malfoy's not happy, is he?" remarked Hermione, as she, along with Harry and Ron, left the dungeons where Snape's Potions class was held.
"No," replied Ron, grinning. "Harry managed to show up Snape today! And then there's the fact that he'd doing terribly in our Defence Against the Dark Arts class. . ."
"And how do you know that, Ron?" asked Harry.
Still grinning, Ron replied, "Heard Professor Derild talking to Flitwick the other day. Said he 'did not have the aptitude' for Defence Against the Dark Arts."
"Snape's going to be furious when he hears that."
"Well, not with Professor Derild, at least." Ron was grinning so wide, Harry swore his face was about to split in two.
"You know what we haven't done for a while?" Harry said suddenly, realising something.
"Saved the world from You-Know-Who?"
"That's not funny, Ron."
"You're right. Harry is the one who does it. I wonder how he's gonna do it this year. . ." Ron trailed off, thinking.
"What were you saying, Harry?" asked Hermione, when she realised that Ron was too far gone to say anything reasonable.
"We haven't seen Hagrid in a while," replied Harry. "Maybe we should go and visit him. What do you think, Ron?"
"Maybe Harry and I will dive-bomb him with our broomsticks. . ."
"Ron!"
"What?!"
"Do you want to go see Hagrid?!"
"All right."
"C'mon in," said Hagrid cheerfully, when he saw the three standing on his doorstep. "Bin a while since I saw yeh last. How've yeh bin?"
"Good, Hagrid," said Harry, stepping inside. "How about you?"
"Better, since Umbridge left. How 'bout a cuppa?" he asked. "Was jus' 'bout to make a pot o' tea." When the three nodded, he began bustling around in the small space of his hut.
"Speaking of Umbridge," said Hermione. "Have you met the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher?"
"Aubry? Had 'er in 'ere yesterday, helpin' me feed the Thestrals. Firs' decen' teacher since Lupin, if yeh ask me."
"That's what we were thinking."
"Met 'er las' year, when Dumbledore had taken off. And I was hidin' out in a cave," said Hagrid.
"Really?" asked Hermione. "How did she find you?"
"Dumbledore 'ad sent 'er, apparently," explained Hagrid, setting three steaming mugs in front of Harry, Ron and Hermione. "Sending messages between people, tha' was 'er job."
"Wow," said Hermione. "She said she was in the Order, but never how deep."
"She's in't deep all righ'," said Hagrid. "Was in a righ' state too, when she 'eard abou' what happened to Dumbledore. Wanted ter go and give Fudge a piece o' 'er mind. Mind yeh," Hagrid added. "I wanted ter do the same m'self. More'n anything, some days."
The three looked at each other.
"So whadda yeh bin up ter lately?" asked Hagrid, seeming to change the subject.
"Harry's the new captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team," replied Hermione.
"'Spected yeh might've bin, Harry. Yeh've got the righ' stuff."
"Thanks, Hagrid," said Harry. "Only problem is, we pretty much need a new team."
"When are tryouts?" asked Hagrid, interested. "Migh' come an' watch."
"Tomorrow afternoon," Harry said glumly. "Don't know if we can find anyone good enough to replace Angelina, Katie and Alicia. We might even need new Beaters - Andrew Kirk and Jack Sloper aren't the greatest Beaters there are."
"Sorry 'bout that, Harry. Good luck with the tryouts, then."
"We'll need it."
Harry and Ron pulled on their robes, before grabbing their broomsticks, and heading out towards the Quidditch pitch.
"Do you think Professor Derild meant it when she said she'd help us with the tryouts?" asked Ron.
Whoops and yells of applause coming from the pitch itself caused Harry to say, "That answer your question?" as he pointed high into the air above the Quidditch pitch, where a green blur was doing a variety of acrobatic manoeuvres.
Looking at the waiting crowd, Harry knew that he would have his work cut out for him.
Practically everyone who owned a broom had shown up for the tryouts. Harry's move improved when he saw that Ron's sister, Ginny, was trying out - probably for Chaser. She had made quite a good Seeker, while Harry had been banned from playing by the previous year's Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher.
This year's Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, on the other hand, was a different story.
"Hi, Harry, Ron!" she called, swooping down with an almost frightening degree of speed, before stopping right in front of them, at a height where she could easily dismount from her broom. Like Harry, she rode a Firebolt, the fastest broom around, and which was international standard. In their fourth year, Harry and Ron, as well as Hermione and the Weasleys, had seen the Irish team in the Quidditch World Cup final - and they had all rode Firebolts, an amazing thing, as Firebolts were expensive.
"Thanks for offering to help us," said Harry.
Aubretia, her eyes bright and her face flushed, smiled. "No problem. Any excuse to get back on the broom. And back in the old uniform," she added, looking down at her robes. She was wearing her Harpies uniform, dark green robes, with the same golden talon on the front that had been on her T-shirt the first time they saw her. "Anything you'd like me to do?"
"Well, I was thinking that we might try out the Beaters first," began Harry, "and if you wouldn't mind, it would be useful if you were to take a spare Beaters bat, and keep an eye out for the Bludgers, if the people trying out don't do so well or get distracted."
"Sure," replied Aubretia. "Do with me as you will. I'm working for you right now." She caught the bat that Ron tossed at her, and mounted her broomstick. Rising a few feet off the ground, she said, "See you in the air," before flying away.
"So," said Harry, "who's trying out for Beaters?"
A few hands went into the air, including Andrew Kirk and Jack Sloper. "All right, then. Pair up, and you'll try out together. Who wants to go first?"
"We will."
"Dean? Seamus?" asked Harry, surprised. "You're trying out for Beaters? Why?" Then he saw Aubretia swoop by. "Ah. Never mind. Just get on your brooms, and follow Ron and me."
Quidditch tryouts had turned out better than Harry had expected. Dean and Seamus had turned out to be pretty decent Beaters (even better than Andrew Kirk and Jack Sloper, to their annoyance and embarrassment). And in amongst those trying out to be Chasers, there had been a few good ones as well. Ginny Wesley had easily made it into the team, and had taken over the role of 'head Chaser'. The second Chaser was another girl in Ginny's year named Lisa Grey. But the real hidden gem was a second year who had almost not tried out due to nerves. Her name was Jessica Brampton, and, with her short brown curls and big brown doe eyes, she looked a lot younger than she actually was.
"Well," said Harry, surveying his new team, Ron at his side. "Welcome to the Gryffindor Quidditch team. First game's against Slytherin in two weeks. And you know what? We're going to beat them."
There were cheers from the team, and Harry grinned at Ron.
This was a promising start.