In Every Darkness
Chapter Forty Two: Quidditch
16.9.1996
"Ron! Come look!" Harry called again, insistent.
His friends, both of them, came over to see what Harry was excited about.
To all students, second year and above. Quidditch training will resume in the next week. Teams are to organise replacing players, setting up training schedules and any other necessary things with Madame Hooch over the next few days. Thank you.
"Training starts again," Harry was excited.
"I wonder who the captain is," Ron said, confused. "It wasn't me or Ginny, or you either, Harry. Who does that leave?"
"No one, as far as I can work out," Harry remarked in confusion. "Oh well, I'm sure we'll discover things soon enough…"
The three of them walked into breakfast. For some reason, Harry's mind replayed the words that Hagrid had said to him, just over a year ago, "what will come will come, and we will meet it when it does."
"Smart words," commented Grypis, settled still, on Harry's shoulder, watching the world through calm, golden eyes. "It would do will for you humans to live by them, you are too impatient by half."
"Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence," Harry teased.
"You're welcome," Grypis replied, as if he had completely missed the sarcasm of Harry's words.
Harry just rolled his eyes slightly, but anyone who was watching would have dismissed this gesture as being aimed at Ron and Hermione, who were now 'debating' the uselessness of Quidditch, and it's captains.
Harry took a seat at the Gryffindor table, Ron and Hermione sitting down either side of him, refusing to look at each other. "Harry, tell Hermione that I am not going to speak to her until she admits that Quidditch is worthwhile."
"Harry, tell Ron that shouldn't expect any help with me in Arithmancy if he doesn't admit that I am right, and Quidditch is a waste of time."
"You can tell it to each other, I'm not going to take part in your fights, or encourage them," Harry informed them both, a little waspishly, and settled down to eat.
Once everyone was finished, but had not yet started to leave, Dumbledore stood up, waving everyone to silence.
"Most of you will have noticed the notice referring to Quidditch," the headmasters calm voice cut through any conversations that were still going, and all attention turned to him.
"You will be wondering what happened to the captains, why were they not notified over the summer?
"The answer to this is simple, though you were not to know this. We have decided on a new method this year. The team will appoint it's own captain, and that captain will change after each game, giving another person the post.
"This has been done," Dumbledore had to cut through the conversations that had sprung up again, "because we believe that it is important that each member of the team learns a little bit of tactics, strategy and command. Teams will be free to choose their captains for the first game over the next week, and inform Madame Hooch, as a team, of their decision. You may go to your classes."
The school left in a ripple of sound, everyone, bar the first years, discussing this change in school procedures. Ron seemed more than a little ecstatic – he would have his chance to shine, it seemed.
Harry kept quiet. He was thinking. Who would the team, that is, him, Ron and Ginny, chose to take over the training before the first match? There would only be three matches this year, this meant that each of the remaining members of the team could be captain for one of them, presuming they all wanted to. New comers would have to wait until the next year to test their own skills.
Oh well, Harry gave a mental shrug, all this would be decided on later. Now it was time to go to the first Potions lesson with Michael McGonagall.
When they arrived at the classroom, the Slytherins seemed restless. They didn't seem to like the idea of having a different teacher for potions. Harry didn't blame them. While Snape would let them get away with anything short of murder, who knew what this new teacher would be like?
Harry did, and he knew that Michael would not put up with the Slytherins usual tricks. The sole two Gryffindor students would not have to dread Snape's cold insults, or the Slytherins attempts to stuff everything up.
"Wonder what this Michael McGonagall will be like," Hermione mused. For a moment, Harry was tempted to tell her all that he knew of Minerva's nephew, but then he would have had to explain where he got the information from, and he wasn't sure that he wanted to do that.
"I don't think we'll have to wonder much longer," he muttered instead, as Michael strode around the corner, heading to his new classroom.
"So few Gryffindors?" the man asked, as if surprised, though he'd almost certainly looked at the role and figured this out by now. "Well, I'm sure that if there are so few of you, you'll be the best of the best, right?"
He winked at Harry, discreetly, who winked back, a slight smile twitching at his lips. These classes were going to be fun.
"Well, come in then! We may as well get acquainted and begin the work. The NEWTs are only just under two years away, and trust me, you are going to spend every moment of those two years working your butts off to make sure you don't fail. A lot of you will anyway … The tests are hard, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
The Slytherins looked among themselves. Snape always praised them, said that there was no way they would fail the NEWT potions exam.
"Well come on, inside!" Michael walked inside, and the students followed, all bar one wondering what this new teacher would be like.
The class sat down, the Slytherins near the back of the room, wanting to be far away from the centre stage, should the new teacher prove not to like them.
Harry dragged Hermione to the front of the classroom, and sat down right in front the teachers desk. He knew Michael would be fine, even if the Slytherins probably wouldn't think so.
"Well," said Michael, standing front of his desk and watching with faint amusement as the class found their places. "My name's Michael McGonagall, yes, I'm related to the Transfiguration teacher. I'm her nephew.
"I'll be taking over from Professor Snape for a while, until he comes back from leave, that is. I'm not sure when that will happen. Your teacher didn't leave me any notes, so I'll have to exercise my own judgement. What were you doing before?"
Hermione's hand jumped to the air, which was unsurprising. "Yes, Miss …?"
"Granger, Sir, Hermione Granger. We've been working on Truth potions, Sir."
"Truth potions, eh? Well, show me your notes, and I'll judge whether or not you need to learn more, and what it is you need to learn."
"Sir, we've only had one lesson," Harry said. "That was making the … uh .. Verax Onis truth potion."
"Ah, then you haven't gone that far at all … Well, truth potions aren't really my area of expertise, so we'll leave them alone for the moment, and I'll let Professor Snape teach you that later," Michael looked slightly relieved.
"I'll get you started on poisons and their remedies, I think," Michael decided. "I work in the Ministry of Magic, but there isn't all that much for me to do. But I am their poison expert."
Harry was interested in that. Why was Michael a poison expert? Oh well, the guy was a nice one, he was sure. Harry got to work – this was a lot better than Snape's classes. The Slytherins got yelled at as often as Harry and Hermione did … more, actually.
All too soon the lesson was over. Michael gave the entire class a stern look. "I hope to see better behaviour from the Slytherins next time I have this class," he told them. "You may go."
Harry left, still thinking about the Potions lesson, and the homework – a report on three different poisons and their effects on the body.
The rest of the day passed quickly, Harry did homework after lunch, then went to see Dumbledore immediately after dinner for his lesson on Occlumency.
"You've been practicing over the summer," Dumbledore remarked. "Severus told me what you were like when he was teaching you. You don't need as much help as I thought you might. I think we can safely say that you don't need to come for lessons as often – once a week should be fine. Perhaps on Mondays. That will also leave you free for Quidditch."
"Thank you Sir," Harry replied. "That would be great." They'd finished an hours work on Occlumency, and Harry was just waiting for Dumbledore to dismiss him, so that he could go and meet Ron and Ginny, to see Madame Hooch about Quidditch.
"Off you go then, Harry. I'll see you in a week," Dumbledore smiled.
Harry smiled back and left the office, fast. Grypis gave a soft hiss, and dug his claws into the leather pad that Harry now wore on his shoulder.
Downstairs, Ron and Ginny were waiting impatiently for him. "Finally!" Ron said, when the gargoyle opened and Harry emerged. "We've been waiting forever."
"It's only been three minutes Ron," his someone more level headed sister informed him, then smiled at Harry. "You shouldn't listen to him," she informed him, pointing at Ron.
"I've known him for a little over five years, Ginny," Harry told her, smiling back, more comfortable with her now that he knew that she no longer had a crush on him. "I had worked that out by now."
Ron huffed, realising that no help in getting Ginny back for that comment would be forthcoming from Harry. "Come on," Harry added. "Madame Hooch will be waiting for us."
They'd organised at lunch time to meet the flying instructor at some point after Harry's lesson with Dumbledore. The majority of the students had been told that Dumbledore was something of an expert on Ancient Runes, and would be helping Harry keep up with his class.
Ron glared at both Harry and Ginny, but led the way the down the hall, towards the entrance hall.
Harry looked at the new doors with regret. They were not as nice as the old ones had been – nothing could replace those relics. "Come on, this way," Harry said, voice rough. He didn't want to keep looking at those new doors …
Soon they arrived outside of Madame Hooch's office. Harry knocked on the door. "Come in!" Madame Hooch called out to them.
Harry pushed the door open, and he and the two Weasleys' entered the office. "Ah, Potter," Hooch smiled at them. "And the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Close the door girl, it's cold out there," she said.
Ginny hurried to comply. "Well, you three have some recruiting to do," remarked Hooch, looking at them.
Harry nodded in agreement.
"As you know, your first game is against Slytherin, and will be taking place in November, the date hasn't been set yet," Hooch said, when no one said anything.
"We know," Harry agreed with her.
"Do you know who's going to captain the first match?" she asked after a moment.
"Harry," said Ron, just as Harry said "Ron," and Ginny remained silent.
"Well, you have to decide on someone," Hooch said with a faint smile.
"Harry," Ginny added her vote.
"There you go Potter. The majority of your team mates want you as Captain for the first match. Do you accept?" Hooch smiled at him.
Harry wondered – was it best that he captained the first match, that way, if something happened later in the year, he would be free of his obligations to the team. Ginny could take over as Seeker, if he needed it.
"Yes, fine," Harry said, after the silence lengthened.
"Good. When do you want to book the pitch for try-outs?" Hooch asked.
A look passed between the three, and both Ron and Ginny nodded to Harry to answer the question. "Um, how about next Tuesday?" Harry asked.
Hooch looked in the book on her desk, then nodded. "Yes, that will be fine," she said. "I'll have to ask you to bring your team to me, before you go out to the pitch. I'll accompany you there," she said.
Harry nodded, and his friends and he left.
On the way back to the Gryffindor common room, Harry managed to 'lose' his two companions. He felt like just – wandering. Alone.
While he was wandering, he heard something running through the portraits, and a moment later Sir Cadogan appeared in a portrait just beside Harry, quite out of breath. "Sir Harry!" the knight panted at him. "The Good Sir Dumbledore wishes to speak with you."
Harry stared at the little knight. Why did Dumbledore want him? "Well what are you doing, still standing around here? Can't be tardy! Bad form!" the knight told him, just as Harry opened his mouth.
Harry sighed. "Thank you, Sir Cadogan," he said wearily. "I'll be on my way then," he turned and jogged off, heading for Dumbledore's office. He'd only just been there!
When he reached the gargoyle statue, he found Dumbledore waiting for him. "Ah, Harry! Good news … Well, I think it's good news. It's somewhat difficult to tell," Dumbledore told him, heading for the stairs, and Harry, with a faint sigh, followed.
"Wonder what this 'possibly good news' is," he remarked to Grypis.
"I'm sure Dumbledore will tell you soon enough," came the response.
***
That looks like as good a place as any to end the chapter! Now, don't kill me – how will you get the next chapter otherwise?
~WolfMoon~