Chapter Ten: The Tryouts
On the ninth of November during breakfast Neville got a big parcel. As he opened it a letter fell out.
Dear Neville, We are cured!!! The doctors at St. Mungos did a marvelous job. What's more is that our memories were not damaged during the process. We remember everything about our family including the painstaking years in the hospital. We've enclosed a picture of Granny and ourselves. It was taken yesterday night during a celebratory party. Hope you like it. We will start work immediately. We are sending you some candies from Honeydukes and two hundred galleons for spending during Hogsmede visits. Take care, Love Mum and Dad
Neville was overjoyed. Though he had been expecting it from a long time the actual happening made him very happy. All the students from his house were also happy for him. Ron especially acted very friendly.
'You must be looking forward to Christmas Neville. It will be like getting back your parents after sixteen years', he said.
'Yes defiantly. I can't wait for Christmas' Neville replied.
Neville decided that it was a time for celebration. That evening he went down to the kitchens and summoned Dobby and Winky.
'What can Dobby do for young sir' asked Dobby.
'Just cook some wonderful food and bring it to the Gryffindor common room. Here's five galleons each for you and Winky', said Nevile handing them the money.
'Sir is kind. Dobby will make a smashing meal for sir. Winky will help, won't she?' said Dobby. Winky nodded her head vigorously.
So that night the party went on till late. At the end Harry made an announcement.
'All those interested in trying out for the Gryffindor quidditch team will have to give in their names to me. You will have to mention whether you want to try out for the beaters position or the chasers or both. A very high quality panel of judges will be judging your performances. The tryouts will be held in the quidditch stadium on the twelfth of November at 4:30 pm'
Many people gave in their names immediately. Harry put down Hermione's name himself. By next evening Harry had the list ready. It was a long one.
The day finally arrived. The panel of judges included Oliver Wood, Fred Weasley and Katie Bell. Oliver would judge the general flying qualities; Fred would judge the beater skills while Katie would judge the chaser skills. Harry and Ron would be in the air throwing balls at the players whenever required.
'Welcome everybody', said Harry, 'You all will be required to take the general flying test. If you pass this test you'll be allowed to give the other tests depending upon the choice of your positions. The judge for the first test Oliver Wood will tell you more about it'
Oliver stood up and spoke. 'Hi everyone, It's great to be back at Hogwarts. I hope Gryffindor can produce a great quidditch team once again. The instructions for the flying test are very simple. All you have to do is to fly around in your broomstick for five minutes. I will judge you on your speed, turns, height changes and agility. To test your agility bludgers will be thrown at you by Ron and Harry. You have to avoid them'
Almost everyone did very well in this. Only Dennis Creevey failed to pass it, which was surprising as his brother was so good. People were astonished to see Hermione trying out and even more astonished to see her pass with flying colors. After the test Oliver took leave saying that he had some important work. The people now split into two groups. At one end the tryouts for chasers were being held while on the other end it was the tryouts for the beaters. Ron was assisting Fred with the beaters and Harry was assisting Katie with the chasers.
Fred spoke, 'Five people will be flying around you. Ron will be throwing bludgers at those five and you will have to prevent the bludger from hitting them. For the second part it will be the reverse. You will be trying to hit the five people with bludgers while Ron will stop them. A special charm has been placed in the bludger so that no one is injured. Each of the two parts will go on for three minutes'
So it started. Fred carefully took notes in his diary. Ron seemed to be having a bad time, as he was not used to play a beater. He looked mightily relieved when it was over.
On the other side of the field Katie gave instructions. 'You all will be tested on your passing, catching, shooting and intercepting ability. Harry will be playing the second chaser while another person in the middle will act as the interceptor. You have to pass the ball to Harry, catch Harry's passes and shoot the ball past the keeper. The interceptor will have to stop the passes from being completed. So you will have two turns on the broom, once as the interceptor and the other as the goal scorer', she said.
The tryout went on peacefully. Harry was happy at Hermione's performance especially her shooting. He thought that she had a pretty good chance of making the team. Ginny of course was the best of the lot. When all was over Fred and Katie handed their notes to Harry. They said goodbye to everyone and told the participants that Harry would announce the results later in the night.
Harry carefully added up marks given by the judges under various categories. He skipped supper to total them again so that there would be no mistakes. When he was finished he was greeted in the Gryffindor common room with many anxious faces.
'I'm pleased to announce the Gryffindor quidditch team. I, Harry Potter will be the captain and seeker. The keeper of course will be the hero of last year Ronald Weasley', he said. There was a lukewarm applause before he continued. 'As the new beaters we have Colin Creevey and Seamus Finnigan!!!' There was a deafening sound of clapping. Everyone shook hands with Seamus and Colin. It was quite a while before things quietened down. Harry spoke on, 'As our new chasers we have Ginny Weasley, Dean Thomas and Hermione Granger!!!' he finished.
There was even louder clapping at this. Students hugged the three chasers. Tears appeared on Hermione's eyes but she quickly blinked them away. Soon people started going to their respective dormitories. Now only Harry and Hermione remained. Harry pulled Hermione into a bear hug.
'Congrats!' he said, 'I'm expecting great things from you. You'd better give in your best or you've had it. My being your friend will not make me neglect my duty as the captain' he added good-humouredly.
'I'm so scared Harry', laughed Hermione. 'Anyway thanks for being with me and helping me out whenever I'm in need'
They sat next to each other looking deeply into each other's eyes. Actually they hadn't been this close before not even under the invisibility cloak. But none of them showed any signs of awkwardness. Slowly the distance between them reduced and their lips met.
On the ninth of November during breakfast Neville got a big parcel. As he opened it a letter fell out.
Dear Neville, We are cured!!! The doctors at St. Mungos did a marvelous job. What's more is that our memories were not damaged during the process. We remember everything about our family including the painstaking years in the hospital. We've enclosed a picture of Granny and ourselves. It was taken yesterday night during a celebratory party. Hope you like it. We will start work immediately. We are sending you some candies from Honeydukes and two hundred galleons for spending during Hogsmede visits. Take care, Love Mum and Dad
Neville was overjoyed. Though he had been expecting it from a long time the actual happening made him very happy. All the students from his house were also happy for him. Ron especially acted very friendly.
'You must be looking forward to Christmas Neville. It will be like getting back your parents after sixteen years', he said.
'Yes defiantly. I can't wait for Christmas' Neville replied.
Neville decided that it was a time for celebration. That evening he went down to the kitchens and summoned Dobby and Winky.
'What can Dobby do for young sir' asked Dobby.
'Just cook some wonderful food and bring it to the Gryffindor common room. Here's five galleons each for you and Winky', said Nevile handing them the money.
'Sir is kind. Dobby will make a smashing meal for sir. Winky will help, won't she?' said Dobby. Winky nodded her head vigorously.
So that night the party went on till late. At the end Harry made an announcement.
'All those interested in trying out for the Gryffindor quidditch team will have to give in their names to me. You will have to mention whether you want to try out for the beaters position or the chasers or both. A very high quality panel of judges will be judging your performances. The tryouts will be held in the quidditch stadium on the twelfth of November at 4:30 pm'
Many people gave in their names immediately. Harry put down Hermione's name himself. By next evening Harry had the list ready. It was a long one.
The day finally arrived. The panel of judges included Oliver Wood, Fred Weasley and Katie Bell. Oliver would judge the general flying qualities; Fred would judge the beater skills while Katie would judge the chaser skills. Harry and Ron would be in the air throwing balls at the players whenever required.
'Welcome everybody', said Harry, 'You all will be required to take the general flying test. If you pass this test you'll be allowed to give the other tests depending upon the choice of your positions. The judge for the first test Oliver Wood will tell you more about it'
Oliver stood up and spoke. 'Hi everyone, It's great to be back at Hogwarts. I hope Gryffindor can produce a great quidditch team once again. The instructions for the flying test are very simple. All you have to do is to fly around in your broomstick for five minutes. I will judge you on your speed, turns, height changes and agility. To test your agility bludgers will be thrown at you by Ron and Harry. You have to avoid them'
Almost everyone did very well in this. Only Dennis Creevey failed to pass it, which was surprising as his brother was so good. People were astonished to see Hermione trying out and even more astonished to see her pass with flying colors. After the test Oliver took leave saying that he had some important work. The people now split into two groups. At one end the tryouts for chasers were being held while on the other end it was the tryouts for the beaters. Ron was assisting Fred with the beaters and Harry was assisting Katie with the chasers.
Fred spoke, 'Five people will be flying around you. Ron will be throwing bludgers at those five and you will have to prevent the bludger from hitting them. For the second part it will be the reverse. You will be trying to hit the five people with bludgers while Ron will stop them. A special charm has been placed in the bludger so that no one is injured. Each of the two parts will go on for three minutes'
So it started. Fred carefully took notes in his diary. Ron seemed to be having a bad time, as he was not used to play a beater. He looked mightily relieved when it was over.
On the other side of the field Katie gave instructions. 'You all will be tested on your passing, catching, shooting and intercepting ability. Harry will be playing the second chaser while another person in the middle will act as the interceptor. You have to pass the ball to Harry, catch Harry's passes and shoot the ball past the keeper. The interceptor will have to stop the passes from being completed. So you will have two turns on the broom, once as the interceptor and the other as the goal scorer', she said.
The tryout went on peacefully. Harry was happy at Hermione's performance especially her shooting. He thought that she had a pretty good chance of making the team. Ginny of course was the best of the lot. When all was over Fred and Katie handed their notes to Harry. They said goodbye to everyone and told the participants that Harry would announce the results later in the night.
Harry carefully added up marks given by the judges under various categories. He skipped supper to total them again so that there would be no mistakes. When he was finished he was greeted in the Gryffindor common room with many anxious faces.
'I'm pleased to announce the Gryffindor quidditch team. I, Harry Potter will be the captain and seeker. The keeper of course will be the hero of last year Ronald Weasley', he said. There was a lukewarm applause before he continued. 'As the new beaters we have Colin Creevey and Seamus Finnigan!!!' There was a deafening sound of clapping. Everyone shook hands with Seamus and Colin. It was quite a while before things quietened down. Harry spoke on, 'As our new chasers we have Ginny Weasley, Dean Thomas and Hermione Granger!!!' he finished.
There was even louder clapping at this. Students hugged the three chasers. Tears appeared on Hermione's eyes but she quickly blinked them away. Soon people started going to their respective dormitories. Now only Harry and Hermione remained. Harry pulled Hermione into a bear hug.
'Congrats!' he said, 'I'm expecting great things from you. You'd better give in your best or you've had it. My being your friend will not make me neglect my duty as the captain' he added good-humouredly.
'I'm so scared Harry', laughed Hermione. 'Anyway thanks for being with me and helping me out whenever I'm in need'
They sat next to each other looking deeply into each other's eyes. Actually they hadn't been this close before not even under the invisibility cloak. But none of them showed any signs of awkwardness. Slowly the distance between them reduced and their lips met.