Chapter 17: Withersball

Harry was nearly swept off his feet by the amount of work he needed to do at Andros. The teachers all had very high expectations of their pupils, and it was even worse for him – he was famous as the one who defeated Voldemort. They only had to do three of the four lessons every day, but Harry liked to attend all of them in case he missed something vital. Professor Gabriel's 'very few succeed' talk had made him anxious not to drop out.

As well as Spell Creation, Professor Gabriel also taught Transfiguration. Harry was not bad at this, but he lagged behind most of the other subjects – aside from Herbology, it was definitely one of his weak points. Professor Gabriel was not quite as strict as Professor McGonagall, Harry's teacher at Hogwarts, but this didn't make things any easier. They were performing spells Harry had never dreamed possible, such as Transfiguring a small needle into a large wooden desk or changing light and fire into other things.

Professor Potts was a smiling witch with long, brown hair who taught Herbology and Potions. She couldn't have been less like Severus Snape and for an Auror she seemed very silly. She liked to perform little practical jokes on the students and seemed to be laughing loudly all the time. Harry wasn't laughing when he nearly had his hand bitten off by both a Venomous Tentacula and a Mandrake in one lesson – they were supposed to be crossbreeding them. He was pleased, however, with his concoction of a weak Truth Potion, and Professor Potts said she wouldn't be surprised if he turned out be a master of the art of potion making.

Professor Confessus taught the students Concealment and Disguise, and also Stealth and Tracking. Harry learnt a lot of things about Invisibility Cloaks he had never dreamed of, and wished he had known them when he was at Hogwarts, sneaking around after hours. He also found out how to track down wizards magically.

Harry had known Kingsley Shacklebolt since the older wizard had helped rescue him from Privet Drive four years before. Kingsley had been the chief of the search for Sirius Black, but when Harry's godfather had died and his name had been cleared, he had decided instead to teach at Andros. He was the Professor of Curses, and taught the students how to attack and defend in extremely forceful ways. It was easy work for Harry – he hadn't received 'Outstanding' in Defence Against the Dark Arts and been leader of Hogwarts' Defence Association for nothing.

Madam Masters was like a cross between Professors McGonagall and Snape. Very, very strict, she was generally fair, but if a student were silly or careless, she would become very angry with them. She taught Charms and looked after the college animals, teaching the students to do the same, although Harry thought the beasts were probably too scared of her not to obey.

The teachers all set a lot of homework, and Harry and the others had little time to do as they wished. When Harry was not working, however, he often used to play on Melkius Karrelus, and soon was doing better than anyone else in the college.

On Friday morning, Harry awoke to the sound of howling winds and beating rain. Ron was still asleep and Rudolf was sitting at the typewriter, doing his homework.

"You really shouldn't do that the morning it's due in," yawned Harry.

"I verk best in der mornings," replied Rudolf. "Anyvay, it alvays verked at Durmstrang."

"What results did you get in your exams?" asked Harry, climbing out of bed.

"I don't know vot the grades are at Hogvorts, but I got two of der top grade and tree of the zecond," said Rudolf, continuing to type. "Anyvay, I'd tink I should verk."

Harry got dressed, washed and had breakfast, then played on the Tri-X in the common room. Rudolf and Ron appeared at five to nine.

"I think I'll skip first lesson," said Ron. "What is it, anyway?"

"Sport, dat's vot Gabriel said," replied Rudolf. "You don't vunt to miss it."

"'Spose," replied Ron. "We'd better get going. Is it on the pitches?"

"I tink so," said Rudolf. "Let's go."

The three of them left, and arrived at the pitches just as the bell rang. Madam Hooch and Lizzy were already there, but it looked like Hannah wasn't turning up.

"Are we all ready, then?" asked Madam Hooch, and eagle-eyed witch with short, grey hair. "Then we'll begin. As I'm sure you know, being physically fit is very important to the Auror. I will lead you in fitness lessons once a week, and on Saturdays I will split any of you who wish into teams, which will then play each other in various sports. Your lessons will either be out here, or in the gym – I will tell your Year Tutor where you need to go."

The four students nodded. Madam Hooch continued.

"Now today I'm going to introduce you to a sport that you probably haven't played before. Any of you who wish can participate in the match tomorrow. Please follow me over to the stables."

She walked off at a brisk pace and the students followed. "Look at the goalpost," Lizzy whispered.

Harry, Rudolf and Ron looked up. Instead of three golden hoops, at each end of the Quidditch pitch was a rectangular goal, about the size of a soccer one, was balanced on two fifty-foot high poles. "I wonder what we're playing?" asked Ron. "Are the supplies in the stables?"

"I would think they'd be in the pavilion," replied Harry.

Why they were going to the stables soon became apparent. Five of the winged horses were saddled up and ready to be ridden. Beside them on the floor were several long rods with small baskets on the end: similar to lacrosse sticks. A small crate lay next to them.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" asked Madam Hooch. "Mount your horses."

Harry leapt up onto the nearest horse – the smallest, a black-and-white pony – and the other three students did the same. Madam Hooch stood beside her horse, a handsome black, but did not mount. She picked up one of the sticks. "Withersball," she said as if that explained everything. "Invented by Lord Stoddard Withers a few hundred years ago as a horseback alternative to Quidditch. Very good for improving your riding skills. Let's play! " She went round, giving each of them a stick, then got onto her own horse and rode it, still on the ground and carrying the small chest, to the small circle in the centre of the Quidditch pitch. The students followed.

When they had all reached the middle of the pitch, Madam Hooch started to talk to them again. "Withersball is played five-a-side in full games: two Defence, two Attack and one Catcher. The Defence and the Attack pass the Kaffle as the Chasers and Keeper pass the Quaffle in Quidditch, to try and score and defend. A goal is worth one point. The Catcher works as a link between Defence and Attack but with one more responsibility – that of catching the Snicker. Catching the Snicker ends the chukka and gains your team fifteen points – the team with the most points after three chukkas wins the game. The Snicker is not quite as fast as the Golden Snitch and you should be able to catch it in about twenty minutes. There is nothing similar to Bludgers in Withersball, but the Kaffle moves around of its own accord if left for too long. I think we'll just play one chukka, then we'll work on your skills. Let's have Potter and Weasley against O'Hare and Pullman. Harry, Lizzy – you have the smaller horses, so you can be Attack and Catchers. Let's go!"