Chapter 8
Quidditch tryouts
Harry found the next day came before he knew it...but then again, tomorrow was the Quidditch tryouts and that was something he looked forward to. They breezed through all classes, with only minor difficulties, with the exception of Potions, where Professor Snape continued his campaign to humble Harry and the Gryffindors.
In their Transfigurations class that day, Professor McGonnagal continued her lessons about Animagus. "Now, Mr. Weasley, kindly describe your partner, Ms. Granger, in just four words," McGonnagal said.
Ron had to think. "Happy, truthful, serious, and marvelous," Ron managed, though his brow was furrowed the whole time he most hesitantly spoke.
Hermione beamed at him, and when McGonnagal wasn't looking their way, kissed him on the cheek, making the boys grin at Ron in approval and just a bit of envy, perhaps.
That night, Professor McGonnagal instructed them that they had to continue to focus on their animagi animal forms. She advised them to find books and the like that would provide them each with insights into their appropriate forms.
"Whew," Ron groused after they had been let go that evening. "I've never read so much in my life!"
"Well," Hermioned reminded him with a smile, "Professor McGonnagal did tell uss this would be hard work, Ron."
"I'll say! Hard and well-earned, I think," Harry added a moment later.
"Hey, look on the bright side...tomorrow's the Quidditch team tryout down at the Quidditch pitch," Ron reminded them.
"Oh, yes...about that," Hermione said, a bit hestitant.
Harry looked over at her quizzically. "What is it, Hermione?" Harry asked.
"Well," Hermione began, looking timidly over at Harry. "I can't really believe I'm thinking of doing this...but here goes," she continued. "I was actually going to try out as a Chaser...if that's okay, Harry?"
"Really?" both the boys exclaimed at once, surprise and respect on their faces.
Hermione nodded, grinning.
"Hey, Hermione...that's fantastic!" Harry told her.
"Well, it did look like great fun, you know," Hermione admitted. "Well then...we'll just see you down at the pitch tomorrow, Hermione. Good luck!" Harry said.
After lessons the next day, Harry, Ron and Ginny headed directly down to the Quidditch pitch, where they were meet by a large group of waiting Gryffindors.
"All right, then," Harry announced. "Chaser candidates are to follow Ginny, all who want to try out as Beaters are to go with Ron, and last, but not least, all potential Keepers will follow me!"
Harry walked, with four Keeper candidates in tow, to the nearest set of goals, and finally stopped, turning to them. "Listen up now. Each of you will take the Keeper's position before these goals, one at a time. I'll try to get the quaffle by you, and you try to stop me. Easy enough?" There were nods from the four candidates.
"All right. You there! Yes, you with the pigtails, you're up," Harry instructed, as he kicked his Firebolt into the sky and off to face the trio of goals, quaffle in hand.
The girl, a second year, was of average size, blond and sported a pair of pigtails. Harry tossed a lazy shot her way and he closed his eyes wearily as she missed it by a mile. Two more shots---quite easy ones to block, in Harry's opinion---yielded two more goals. This girl was easily the worst keeper he had ever seen. Harry perservered, giving her ten shots on goal...of which she only stopped two. "Next!" Harry ordered a bit brusquely, which he immediately regretted as the poor girl burst into tears, dashing away from the pitch.
Harry's next candidate was fifth year, tall and skinny with long arms and legs. Harry shrugged, then watched the boy get into position.
Much to Harry's delight, the young man stopped each and every goal Harry put his way. By his tenth try, Harry was trying his very best to score, but the boy stopped him stone cold.
On it went with the two last candidates, one sixth year boy, and one fourth year girl, until all had been given their audition.
"All right, listen up," Harry said, gliding down to where his three remaining candidates waited. He looked over each of the grinning Gryffindors before speaking up. "I've decided."
Harry pointed at the fifth year fellow that had so adroitly stopped all ten of his attempts to score. "You. Yes, you...you're our Keeper," Harry informed him, looking at the boy with interest. "What's your name, anyway? You're very good, by the way."
"I'm Erek King," the dark-haired boy told Harry. "It's so great to be playing on your team, Harry."
Harry grinned. "Congratulations, Erek...welcome to the team." The other candidates swarmed around young Erek, congratulating him on his sterling performance.
"Nicely done, Erek!"
"You were awesome, mate!"
"Can´t wait to see you at our first match, Erek!"
Harry led Erek---as well as the others---back toward where the Beater tryouts were going on. Ron wasn't using real Bludgers---he didn't want anyone to get hurt---but round wooden croquet balls instead. He tested his candidates by seeing who pound the balls he tossed to them the longest distance, as well as giving points to those that could hit the targets he'd provided the most accurately. Harry arrived just as Ron said, "Congratulations, Dean! You're our other Beater, mate!"
"Yes!" Dean Thomas crowed, pumping his fist victoriously in the air. Harry couldn't help but grin, as Dean was one of his friends.
Harry then ambled over towards them and introduced Erek to Dean and Ron. They all then made their way over to see how Hermione had done in her tryout for Chaser. Much to Harry's delight, Ginny informed him that Hermione had gotten one of the open spots.
Hermione and Ginny then introduced them all to a girl from the third year class, who had red hair.
"Hey there, Harry," Ginny said. "Meet your three Chasers, eh? Hermione, myself, and this girl is Kitty Petro." Ginny indicated the girl standing beside her.
"Hello," Kitty said, blushing slightly upon meeting Harry.
"Say...don't we need a motto or something?"
Erek mentioned, excited but shy. They all thought about that task a while before Kitty said, "I know. What would you all say to this:
"Lions, Lions 123 We will win, wait and see!"
Harry considered a moment, then nodded approval. "Not bad, Kitty," Harry said. "We'll use it, and see how it goes."
Kitty laughed with delight that he liked it. "That's great. Way too cool. Thanks!" she said.
"No, thank you," Harry said with a grin.
They all started walking back up to the castle. At the door they were meet by Professor McGonnagal. "Well, well...what have we here, Gryffindors?" she asked. "Potter, Granger, Weasley, Weasley, Thomas, King and Petro, if my memory serves. What brings such a group to my doorstep this day?"
"Professor," Harry said proudly, standing a bit taller. "May I introduce you to your new Gryffindor Quidditch team?"
"Ah! Please do, Mr. Potter," McGonnagal urged. "Erek King is our new Keeper. He stopped every shot on goal today," Harry began, giving Erek a confident nod. Erek blushed.
"Then I give you our three fine Chasers: Ginny Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Kitty Petro. A finer trio I've yet to meet!" Harry told the Professor, grinning madly.
"Our new Beaters are Ron and Dean Thomas, here, Professor," Harry told her, and Ron and Dean nodded to McGonnagal.
"Which leave me...I'm still the Seeker, as well as the Captain," Harry said, finishing his introductions.
"Thank you, Captain. Well go on then, be about your buisness, Gryffindors," McGonnagal told them all. As the team dispersed, she motioned to Harry, Ron and Hermione, quietly saying, "I will see you three tonight." With that, she turned, and hurried back into the castle again.
Harry, Ron and Hermione then changed their clothes, and set about finishing up their day's homework.
Later, they all could be found striding toward the Library.
"Well...what now?" Ron finally asked.
"Well, Professor McGonnagal told us all to find books about our animal forms," Hermione reminded Ron, and they went off toward the bookshelves in search of the requisite books. It took some time, but they eventually found books and took them back to the Gryffindor Common room, and starting reading up for McGonnagal's next animagi lesson that night.
Quidditch tryouts
Harry found the next day came before he knew it...but then again, tomorrow was the Quidditch tryouts and that was something he looked forward to. They breezed through all classes, with only minor difficulties, with the exception of Potions, where Professor Snape continued his campaign to humble Harry and the Gryffindors.
In their Transfigurations class that day, Professor McGonnagal continued her lessons about Animagus. "Now, Mr. Weasley, kindly describe your partner, Ms. Granger, in just four words," McGonnagal said.
Ron had to think. "Happy, truthful, serious, and marvelous," Ron managed, though his brow was furrowed the whole time he most hesitantly spoke.
Hermione beamed at him, and when McGonnagal wasn't looking their way, kissed him on the cheek, making the boys grin at Ron in approval and just a bit of envy, perhaps.
That night, Professor McGonnagal instructed them that they had to continue to focus on their animagi animal forms. She advised them to find books and the like that would provide them each with insights into their appropriate forms.
"Whew," Ron groused after they had been let go that evening. "I've never read so much in my life!"
"Well," Hermioned reminded him with a smile, "Professor McGonnagal did tell uss this would be hard work, Ron."
"I'll say! Hard and well-earned, I think," Harry added a moment later.
"Hey, look on the bright side...tomorrow's the Quidditch team tryout down at the Quidditch pitch," Ron reminded them.
"Oh, yes...about that," Hermione said, a bit hestitant.
Harry looked over at her quizzically. "What is it, Hermione?" Harry asked.
"Well," Hermione began, looking timidly over at Harry. "I can't really believe I'm thinking of doing this...but here goes," she continued. "I was actually going to try out as a Chaser...if that's okay, Harry?"
"Really?" both the boys exclaimed at once, surprise and respect on their faces.
Hermione nodded, grinning.
"Hey, Hermione...that's fantastic!" Harry told her.
"Well, it did look like great fun, you know," Hermione admitted. "Well then...we'll just see you down at the pitch tomorrow, Hermione. Good luck!" Harry said.
After lessons the next day, Harry, Ron and Ginny headed directly down to the Quidditch pitch, where they were meet by a large group of waiting Gryffindors.
"All right, then," Harry announced. "Chaser candidates are to follow Ginny, all who want to try out as Beaters are to go with Ron, and last, but not least, all potential Keepers will follow me!"
Harry walked, with four Keeper candidates in tow, to the nearest set of goals, and finally stopped, turning to them. "Listen up now. Each of you will take the Keeper's position before these goals, one at a time. I'll try to get the quaffle by you, and you try to stop me. Easy enough?" There were nods from the four candidates.
"All right. You there! Yes, you with the pigtails, you're up," Harry instructed, as he kicked his Firebolt into the sky and off to face the trio of goals, quaffle in hand.
The girl, a second year, was of average size, blond and sported a pair of pigtails. Harry tossed a lazy shot her way and he closed his eyes wearily as she missed it by a mile. Two more shots---quite easy ones to block, in Harry's opinion---yielded two more goals. This girl was easily the worst keeper he had ever seen. Harry perservered, giving her ten shots on goal...of which she only stopped two. "Next!" Harry ordered a bit brusquely, which he immediately regretted as the poor girl burst into tears, dashing away from the pitch.
Harry's next candidate was fifth year, tall and skinny with long arms and legs. Harry shrugged, then watched the boy get into position.
Much to Harry's delight, the young man stopped each and every goal Harry put his way. By his tenth try, Harry was trying his very best to score, but the boy stopped him stone cold.
On it went with the two last candidates, one sixth year boy, and one fourth year girl, until all had been given their audition.
"All right, listen up," Harry said, gliding down to where his three remaining candidates waited. He looked over each of the grinning Gryffindors before speaking up. "I've decided."
Harry pointed at the fifth year fellow that had so adroitly stopped all ten of his attempts to score. "You. Yes, you...you're our Keeper," Harry informed him, looking at the boy with interest. "What's your name, anyway? You're very good, by the way."
"I'm Erek King," the dark-haired boy told Harry. "It's so great to be playing on your team, Harry."
Harry grinned. "Congratulations, Erek...welcome to the team." The other candidates swarmed around young Erek, congratulating him on his sterling performance.
"Nicely done, Erek!"
"You were awesome, mate!"
"Can´t wait to see you at our first match, Erek!"
Harry led Erek---as well as the others---back toward where the Beater tryouts were going on. Ron wasn't using real Bludgers---he didn't want anyone to get hurt---but round wooden croquet balls instead. He tested his candidates by seeing who pound the balls he tossed to them the longest distance, as well as giving points to those that could hit the targets he'd provided the most accurately. Harry arrived just as Ron said, "Congratulations, Dean! You're our other Beater, mate!"
"Yes!" Dean Thomas crowed, pumping his fist victoriously in the air. Harry couldn't help but grin, as Dean was one of his friends.
Harry then ambled over towards them and introduced Erek to Dean and Ron. They all then made their way over to see how Hermione had done in her tryout for Chaser. Much to Harry's delight, Ginny informed him that Hermione had gotten one of the open spots.
Hermione and Ginny then introduced them all to a girl from the third year class, who had red hair.
"Hey there, Harry," Ginny said. "Meet your three Chasers, eh? Hermione, myself, and this girl is Kitty Petro." Ginny indicated the girl standing beside her.
"Hello," Kitty said, blushing slightly upon meeting Harry.
"Say...don't we need a motto or something?"
Erek mentioned, excited but shy. They all thought about that task a while before Kitty said, "I know. What would you all say to this:
"Lions, Lions 123 We will win, wait and see!"
Harry considered a moment, then nodded approval. "Not bad, Kitty," Harry said. "We'll use it, and see how it goes."
Kitty laughed with delight that he liked it. "That's great. Way too cool. Thanks!" she said.
"No, thank you," Harry said with a grin.
They all started walking back up to the castle. At the door they were meet by Professor McGonnagal. "Well, well...what have we here, Gryffindors?" she asked. "Potter, Granger, Weasley, Weasley, Thomas, King and Petro, if my memory serves. What brings such a group to my doorstep this day?"
"Professor," Harry said proudly, standing a bit taller. "May I introduce you to your new Gryffindor Quidditch team?"
"Ah! Please do, Mr. Potter," McGonnagal urged. "Erek King is our new Keeper. He stopped every shot on goal today," Harry began, giving Erek a confident nod. Erek blushed.
"Then I give you our three fine Chasers: Ginny Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Kitty Petro. A finer trio I've yet to meet!" Harry told the Professor, grinning madly.
"Our new Beaters are Ron and Dean Thomas, here, Professor," Harry told her, and Ron and Dean nodded to McGonnagal.
"Which leave me...I'm still the Seeker, as well as the Captain," Harry said, finishing his introductions.
"Thank you, Captain. Well go on then, be about your buisness, Gryffindors," McGonnagal told them all. As the team dispersed, she motioned to Harry, Ron and Hermione, quietly saying, "I will see you three tonight." With that, she turned, and hurried back into the castle again.
Harry, Ron and Hermione then changed their clothes, and set about finishing up their day's homework.
Later, they all could be found striding toward the Library.
"Well...what now?" Ron finally asked.
"Well, Professor McGonnagal told us all to find books about our animal forms," Hermione reminded Ron, and they went off toward the bookshelves in search of the requisite books. It took some time, but they eventually found books and took them back to the Gryffindor Common room, and starting reading up for McGonnagal's next animagi lesson that night.