Chapter 35
The Teams
Harry dashed down the next morning to the Great Hall for breakfast, full of enthusiasm and not a little excitement of the upcoming Quidditch match with the teaching staff. There he met up with Hermione, Ron, Amelia and Mariah, who had already begun eating.
"I can´t wait to see this match against the teachers," Amelia said bracingly. "I mean, can you really see Snape on a broom?"
The friends all laughed at the very thought of the idea. "Yeah, I can see it," Mariah exclaimed with a broad grin, and then declared in a most impressive imitation of the Potions Master, "Foul! It was Potter's fault! One thousand point´s from Gryffin---BANG!" Mariah ended her statement by pretending to slam up against a wall. The friends all laughed uproariously.
Any further exchange of humor were stilled when Dumbledore rose to his feet, holding up his hands to ask for quiet. "First, I should like to say that everyone at the tryouts yesterday did absolutely fabulous jobs. Well done, all!" he said. "However, much as I might like to have every single one of you able to play...it's just not possible. So, in lieu of that, and as a result of yesterday's tryouts, here are the members of the Student Quidditch Team. From Gryffindor House, Ronald Weasley as a Beater, and Harry Potter as Seeker. From Ravenclaw, Mr. Didrick Diddly as the other Beater, and Mr. Patrick Heech Chaser. From Slytherin House, Lazarus Lazibee as Chaser, and Rupert Bangor as Keeper. And, last but certainly not least, Miss Hannah Abbot from Hufflepuff House as the third and last Chaser. The Student Team's Captain will be Harry Potter."
Dumbledore allowed the hubbub of conversation to grow and ebb, finally raising his hand again so he could continue.
"Now, for our Faculty Team---" the last bit of whispering ceased---"will consist of the following members: Professor Minerva McGonnagal as Seeker, Professor Severus Snape as Keeper, Professor Batilda Bat as Beater, Madam Xiomara Hooch as the other Beater, Madam Poppy Pomfrey as Chaser, Professor Sylvia Sprout as a other Chaser, and finally, our Arithmancy Professor Victor Vector as the last chaser. The Faculty Team's Captain shall be Professor McGonnagal," Dumbledor revealed, which set the hall abuzz once more. He allowed it to go on for awhile, but eventually raised his hand once more.
"The match is scheduled to commence in two weeks time. I'm sure it will all be great fun, and may the best Team win," he finished, taking his seat. Noticing that Minerva had laid her head down upon her arms on the table, he patted her back encouragingly. In reply, she tramped on Dumbledore's foot with her own high heeled ankle boots.
"I shall do my best, Headmaster. However, you have not heard the last from me on this matter. Oh no, you have not, my good sir," she informed him with a steely glare. She then got to her feet, and with her head held high, made her way out of the hall straight down the central aisle and out the huge double doors.
Harry suddenly didn´t feel all that hungry, either for some reason. Excusing himself from his friends, he stood up and made his way out of the Great Hall as well.
Once free from all the prying eyes, he tranformed himself into his lion form, and bolted off down down to the Quiddtich pitch, where he had seen his great Grandmother headed in that direction. Once there, he stopped and transformed back into his human form, as he spotted McGonnagal in the stands. She was sitting with her back to him, playing quietly on a keyboard- like instrument. As he closed on her, he heard her start to sing...
There's a girl in the mirror,
I wonder who she is?
Sometimes I think I know her,
Sometimes I really wish I did.
There's a story in her eyes,
Lullabies and goodbyes.
When she's looking back at me,
I can tell her heart is broken easily.
'Cause the girl in my mirror,
Is crying in tonight.
And there's nothing I can tell her,
To make her feel all right.
Oh, the girl in my mirror,
Is crying cause of you.
And I wish there was something,
Something I could do.
Harry was still as stone, totally enthralled with her talent. She sang the song perfectly, in a voice that nearly broke his heart. Just as she had done on her group's CD so long ago. He watched quietly as she began the next verse...
If I could,
I would tell her,
Not to be afraid.
The pain that she's feeling,
The sense of loneliness will fade.
So dry your tears and rest assured,
Love will find you like before.
When she's looking back at me
I know nothing really works that easily...
By this time, apparently, Hermione, Ron, Mariah, Amelia and Neville had become worried about him, and had somehow followed him. They approached him cautiously, just getting ready to ask him what was going on, when Harry put his finger to his lips to keep them quiet. It was then that they saw McGonnagal sitting and playing, and not understanding really what was going on, held their piece, listening to her begin to sing once more...
Cause the girl in my mirror,
Is crying in tonight.
And there's nothing I can tell her,
To make her feel all right.
Oh, the girl in my mirror,
Is crying cause of you.
And I wish there was something,
I wish there was something,
Oh, I wish there was something,
I could do.
I can't believe it's what I see,
That the girl in the mirror.
The girl in the mirror,
Is me.
Tabby sang that last refrain twice more, finally ending her song by softly trailing off, when she was startled by clapping and cheering behind her.
"Oh, well done, Professor!" Neville said.
"Totally wicked," Ron said, agreeing.
"You still are so talented, Professor!" Hermione stated.
"I think you should sing a bit more often, personally," Amelia observed, subtley trying to persuade the talented Professor to see her point of view.
"I agree, Amelia. But probably not when you're angry with someone," Harry commented. "Funny, but I don't remember asking for an audience, children," McGonnagal said, but kindly. "Though, you are most kind to humor an old woman so."
"Ugh! I can´t wait for this match!" Ron said, allowing his anticipation to get the better of him. "Imagine it, would you? Beating the teachers...that'd be soo cool!"
"And, Mr. Weasley...what makes you think you will be able to defeat us?" McGonnagal asked primly, arching one slender eyebrow.
"Well," Ron managed after blinking in surprise. "We're younger than you all, and well, we've flown more than you too," Ron observed.
"You're a betting sort of fellow, aren't you, Mr. Weasley? Would you care to place a wager, then? McGonnagal said rather mysteriously.
"Not Ron. I will, Professor," Harry stated. "Tell you what...if we students win the upcoming match, each of team will be able to pick one teacher on the teacher team, who will do what they're told for three months time."
"Hmm, interesting, Mr. Potter," McGonnagal replied, thinking. "And...should we teachers emerge victorious then? Would you be amenable to performing such a task for us then?"
"Done!" Harry responded, gaving her his hand to shake on it, and seal the deal.
"Accepted," McGonnagal answered, shaking her great grandson's hand, accepting his challenge.
The Teams
Harry dashed down the next morning to the Great Hall for breakfast, full of enthusiasm and not a little excitement of the upcoming Quidditch match with the teaching staff. There he met up with Hermione, Ron, Amelia and Mariah, who had already begun eating.
"I can´t wait to see this match against the teachers," Amelia said bracingly. "I mean, can you really see Snape on a broom?"
The friends all laughed at the very thought of the idea. "Yeah, I can see it," Mariah exclaimed with a broad grin, and then declared in a most impressive imitation of the Potions Master, "Foul! It was Potter's fault! One thousand point´s from Gryffin---BANG!" Mariah ended her statement by pretending to slam up against a wall. The friends all laughed uproariously.
Any further exchange of humor were stilled when Dumbledore rose to his feet, holding up his hands to ask for quiet. "First, I should like to say that everyone at the tryouts yesterday did absolutely fabulous jobs. Well done, all!" he said. "However, much as I might like to have every single one of you able to play...it's just not possible. So, in lieu of that, and as a result of yesterday's tryouts, here are the members of the Student Quidditch Team. From Gryffindor House, Ronald Weasley as a Beater, and Harry Potter as Seeker. From Ravenclaw, Mr. Didrick Diddly as the other Beater, and Mr. Patrick Heech Chaser. From Slytherin House, Lazarus Lazibee as Chaser, and Rupert Bangor as Keeper. And, last but certainly not least, Miss Hannah Abbot from Hufflepuff House as the third and last Chaser. The Student Team's Captain will be Harry Potter."
Dumbledore allowed the hubbub of conversation to grow and ebb, finally raising his hand again so he could continue.
"Now, for our Faculty Team---" the last bit of whispering ceased---"will consist of the following members: Professor Minerva McGonnagal as Seeker, Professor Severus Snape as Keeper, Professor Batilda Bat as Beater, Madam Xiomara Hooch as the other Beater, Madam Poppy Pomfrey as Chaser, Professor Sylvia Sprout as a other Chaser, and finally, our Arithmancy Professor Victor Vector as the last chaser. The Faculty Team's Captain shall be Professor McGonnagal," Dumbledor revealed, which set the hall abuzz once more. He allowed it to go on for awhile, but eventually raised his hand once more.
"The match is scheduled to commence in two weeks time. I'm sure it will all be great fun, and may the best Team win," he finished, taking his seat. Noticing that Minerva had laid her head down upon her arms on the table, he patted her back encouragingly. In reply, she tramped on Dumbledore's foot with her own high heeled ankle boots.
"I shall do my best, Headmaster. However, you have not heard the last from me on this matter. Oh no, you have not, my good sir," she informed him with a steely glare. She then got to her feet, and with her head held high, made her way out of the hall straight down the central aisle and out the huge double doors.
Harry suddenly didn´t feel all that hungry, either for some reason. Excusing himself from his friends, he stood up and made his way out of the Great Hall as well.
Once free from all the prying eyes, he tranformed himself into his lion form, and bolted off down down to the Quiddtich pitch, where he had seen his great Grandmother headed in that direction. Once there, he stopped and transformed back into his human form, as he spotted McGonnagal in the stands. She was sitting with her back to him, playing quietly on a keyboard- like instrument. As he closed on her, he heard her start to sing...
There's a girl in the mirror,
I wonder who she is?
Sometimes I think I know her,
Sometimes I really wish I did.
There's a story in her eyes,
Lullabies and goodbyes.
When she's looking back at me,
I can tell her heart is broken easily.
'Cause the girl in my mirror,
Is crying in tonight.
And there's nothing I can tell her,
To make her feel all right.
Oh, the girl in my mirror,
Is crying cause of you.
And I wish there was something,
Something I could do.
Harry was still as stone, totally enthralled with her talent. She sang the song perfectly, in a voice that nearly broke his heart. Just as she had done on her group's CD so long ago. He watched quietly as she began the next verse...
If I could,
I would tell her,
Not to be afraid.
The pain that she's feeling,
The sense of loneliness will fade.
So dry your tears and rest assured,
Love will find you like before.
When she's looking back at me
I know nothing really works that easily...
By this time, apparently, Hermione, Ron, Mariah, Amelia and Neville had become worried about him, and had somehow followed him. They approached him cautiously, just getting ready to ask him what was going on, when Harry put his finger to his lips to keep them quiet. It was then that they saw McGonnagal sitting and playing, and not understanding really what was going on, held their piece, listening to her begin to sing once more...
Cause the girl in my mirror,
Is crying in tonight.
And there's nothing I can tell her,
To make her feel all right.
Oh, the girl in my mirror,
Is crying cause of you.
And I wish there was something,
I wish there was something,
Oh, I wish there was something,
I could do.
I can't believe it's what I see,
That the girl in the mirror.
The girl in the mirror,
Is me.
Tabby sang that last refrain twice more, finally ending her song by softly trailing off, when she was startled by clapping and cheering behind her.
"Oh, well done, Professor!" Neville said.
"Totally wicked," Ron said, agreeing.
"You still are so talented, Professor!" Hermione stated.
"I think you should sing a bit more often, personally," Amelia observed, subtley trying to persuade the talented Professor to see her point of view.
"I agree, Amelia. But probably not when you're angry with someone," Harry commented. "Funny, but I don't remember asking for an audience, children," McGonnagal said, but kindly. "Though, you are most kind to humor an old woman so."
"Ugh! I can´t wait for this match!" Ron said, allowing his anticipation to get the better of him. "Imagine it, would you? Beating the teachers...that'd be soo cool!"
"And, Mr. Weasley...what makes you think you will be able to defeat us?" McGonnagal asked primly, arching one slender eyebrow.
"Well," Ron managed after blinking in surprise. "We're younger than you all, and well, we've flown more than you too," Ron observed.
"You're a betting sort of fellow, aren't you, Mr. Weasley? Would you care to place a wager, then? McGonnagal said rather mysteriously.
"Not Ron. I will, Professor," Harry stated. "Tell you what...if we students win the upcoming match, each of team will be able to pick one teacher on the teacher team, who will do what they're told for three months time."
"Hmm, interesting, Mr. Potter," McGonnagal replied, thinking. "And...should we teachers emerge victorious then? Would you be amenable to performing such a task for us then?"
"Done!" Harry responded, gaving her his hand to shake on it, and seal the deal.
"Accepted," McGonnagal answered, shaking her great grandson's hand, accepting his challenge.