The night was cool and silent, and the sun had just begun to set as Harry
made his way to the pitch. The group of try outers watched the Gryffindor team
flying around nervously. Fred and George had brought out the quaffle and
bludgers. A few of the try outers screamed in shock as Angelina took a bludgers
to the stomach.
"That's what it's like, but much quicker in the game." Harry said. The try
outers turned and looked at him. "Hello everyone. Glad you all wanted to come
and try out to be on our great team." Harry greeted with a smile. "I assume
your all here, so let's just get started. How many of you know how to play
Quidditch?" Harry asked gazing into the crowd.
All the hands shot up, which pleased Harry. Now he could save time explaining
the game and get right on to the tryouts.
"All right, the team is going to play a game with each of you. You must play
your best in order to make the team. I'll be watching closely from down here."
Harry explained as he took a seat on the ground. "Begin. Alleyo Thompson."
Harry called.
Alleyo mounted his broom and took off. Harry watched as Alleyo flew up to the
posts and kept watch over were the quaffle was. Angelina, who was still hurting
from the bludgers incident, threw the quaffle towards the goal posts. A look of
fear came over Alleyo's face, and he ducked out of the way. Harry sighed and
blew his whistle.
"Sorry Alleyo but times up. If you make the team you'll know soon." Harry said,
giving Alleyo a smile.
And so it went like that, with the entire try outers either too scared to stop
the quaffle, too "zoned out" to see it until it was too late, or just plainly
missed it. The night air had become cold, and Harry was getting stiff from
sitting on the ground. There were still three try outs left to go, and one
still in the air who kept crashing into the goal posts every time she attempted
to catch the quaffle. Things were looking bleak now. If the last three were
like the rest, the team was screwed. Harry could tell by every ones faces as
they got back into position for the next tryout, that they knew it as well.
Harry didn't even bother to watch anymore. His neck was aching from looking up
all that time, and the cold chilled even his bones.
Harry heard a noise behind him. He turned and saw Hermione walking up with a
thermos.
"Hey." Harry greeted. He was glad that she had come down from the stands to
join him.
"You looked like you were cold from the stands, so I went and got you some hot
chocolate." Hermione said, handing the thermos to Harry.
"Where did you get the thermos?" Harry asked. A thermos wasn't something you
saw in the wizarding world.
"My mom told me to bring it with me in case I ever wanted to bring something
hot outside." Hermione explained, sitting down next to Harry.
"Oh well thanks." Harry said. He opened the thermos and took a drink from it.
The hot chocolate quickly began to warm him up. He rubbed his neck, trying to
ease the pain away.
"What's wrong Harry?" Hermione asked with concern.
"My neck, it's just sore from looking up all night." Harry answered.
"Can I make it feel better?" Hermione asked, getting to her knees.
"That would help a lot." Harry said. Harry looked at Hermione, but she didn't
haul out her wand to do some sort of healing spell, but crawled on her knees
behind Harry and placed her hands on his neck. Her hands were freezing cold,
but slowly began to warm as she carefully began to massage Harry's neck. A
smile broke out on Harry's face. Her hands felt so soft, and her technique was
careful as she worked.
"Is that starting to feel better?" Hermione asked, still massaging his neck.
"Much. Your parent's friend sure taught you well. This feels amazing." Harry
commented. He closed his eyes and could feel his whole body relaxing.
"Thanks." Hermione said. "Oh, no." Hermione thought. "It's happening now. I'm
in love with Harry madly."
"Hey Harry." Hermione started.
"What?" Harry asked, returning back to reality from his relaxing trip into a
light sleep.
"Look at that guy." Hermione said. She had unfortunately stopped massaging his
neck, and was now pointing towards the sky.
Harry looked up and saw what he had been waiting for all night. A Gryffindor
who looked like a fourth year was trying out now, and wasn't missing at all.
The harder the quaffle was thrown at him, the harder he tried. He wasn't really
muscular, but it was apparent that he had some strength behind him. Harry
didn't know his name, and couldn't remember seeing him before.
"Who is that guy?" Harry asked in awe.
"I don't know, I haven't seen him before." Hermione answered.
Both of them were watching the boy carefully. They could see how determined he
was, and the look of happiness and pleasure on the team's face, made Harry jump
to his feet and blow his whistle. Both the team and the boy were looking at
Harry, eager to hear his comment.
"Welcome to the team." Was all Harry said. He smiled broadly at the boy who
flew down in front of him, the team was patting him on the back and
congratulating him as they made their way to the changing rooms.
"Thank you for letting me on the team, Harry." The boy said, wiping dust from
the quaffle off his shirt.
"You deserved it. But who are you, if you don't mind my asking." Harry asked as
he shook the boy's hand.
"Jonathon Johnson. I just transferred here this year, because my family moved
to London from Boston. I'm a fourth year." Jonathon answered with a smile. His
American accent really stood out next to Harry and the team's British ones.
'That's cool. I'll tell Professor McGonagall in the morning, and you should
have your Quidditch robes by Wednesday. We're going to practice right up till
Wednesday, is that your own broom?"
Harry asked, looking at the Comet Two Sixty that Jonathon had in his hand.
"Ummm yeah, it's not anywhere as good as a Firebolt, I don't even know anyone
who owns one." Jonathon said blushing.
"It's a good broom for a keeper, so don't worry or be ashamed. You played
perfectly on that broom. And you do know someone who has a Firebolt." Harry
said.
"I do?" Jonathon asked trying to think.
"Yeah, me." Harry said with a sly smile.
"You own a Firebolt? That's like the best broom ever!" Jonathon gasped with
astonishment.
"Yep. Now, you should get some sleep now. You need to be prepared for Slytherin
on Saturday, 'cause they are known to cheat." Harry replied, looking at his
watch. It was almost ten.
"Yes you're right. Thanks again Harry!" Jonathon yelled over his shoulder as he
headed up towards the castle.
Harry sighed with relief. It was over for tonight. "Hey Hermione, do you think
that you could massage my neck some more? It's still really sore." Harry lied
with a boyish look. Hermione laughed, he looked like a little puppy with that
look on his face.
"Yeah sure it is." Hermione replied with a laugh, folding her arms in front of
her.
"No really." Harry laughed.
"Up in the common room. It's way too cold down here." Hermione said, giving in
to Harry's request.
"Alright! Just let me put the Quidditch balls away, and we can walk up
together." Harry said with a smile. He picked up the large wooden box, and put
it in Madame Hooch's office, which was right next to the changing rooms.
Hermione was waiting for him when he emerged from the office. "Ready?"
Hermione asked.
"Yep." Harry answered.
"Hey where did Ron go during tryouts?" Harry asked. He had just realized that
Ron hadn't been there in the end.
"He went up to the common room, because he was complaining that it was too
cold." Hermione answered with a laugh.
"Well at least he's warm." Harry grinned.
"Yeah but I know who the new keeper is." Hermione said with a look of mock.
Harry laughed.
Hermione and Harry walked briskly up to the castle, it was warm and deserted
when they got inside. They had decided to take the quick way to the Gryffindor
tower by going past Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, but when they reached the short
set of stairs going up to the hallway where her bathroom was, they discovered
that she had flooded it again.
The steps were some what slippery as Harry and Hermione made their way up them.
Neither one of them noticed the clump of soaked toilet paper on the next step.
Hermione stepped up onto the step, but instead of continuing up the stairs like
the way they were, Hermione slipped. She turned around to grab hold of
something, but all she caught hold of was Harry's cloak. Both Hermione and
Harry fell onto the hard steps, Harry on top of Hermione, their lips coming
into contact with the other. They didn't pull away, they just stayed there.
Harry placed his hand on the back of Hermione's neck, as the two of them kissed
passionately. Finally they pulled away. Harry stood up quickly, helping
Hermione up.
"Ummm... are you okay?" Harry asked, looking to see if she was hurt.
"No I think I'm fine." Hermione replied, brushing herself off, although it was
completely hopeless, seeing as she was all wet.
Harry and Hermione kept on walking back to the common room, not speaking a
word.
----The rest of the week had gone by uneventful. Jonathon now had his Quidditch
robes, and had practiced hard all week. "Slytherin have still the same players,
so we don't have to worry about any new ones." Harry thought.
It was still very early in the morning, six am to be exact. Harry had woken up
early after the same dream that he had had all week. He kept dreaming about
what had happen on Monday night between Hermione and himself. In mostly all of
his classes he wasn't able to concentrate. All he could think about was
Hermione and their kiss. The only class that he was able to concentrate in
however, was Professor Levington's. That man had become the most hated
Professor in all of the school. Even the Slytherins hated him, and he gladly
returned the feelings. Professor Levington has now become even worse than
Snape, and it seemed that Snape had been taking it easy on all the students,
especially Harry, Hermione, and Ron, whom Professor Levington took away house
points for the littlest things like breathing too loudly.
But for now, it was the weekend, and fortunately for everyone, Professor
Levington did not believe in homework. Harry rubbed his lips again for what
must have been the thousandth time since Monday night. He still found it hard
to believe that he and Hermione had kissed.
"She was so good at it. It couldn't have been her first time. But I know it
was, as it was mine." Harry thought in wonder. Ever since the kiss, his dreams
and thoughts were entirely of her, not anything else. The kiss had told him
something that he had been unsure of ever since the first day back. "I love
her." Harry thought. "I love Hermione." Harry felt as giddy as a little boy
who had just opened up his birthday present to find a puppy. "I'll have to
tell her how I feel before tonight. I have to or I'll go crazy." Harry thought
as he gathered up his Quidditch things and went down to the great hall.
No one was down there, except for Hagrid who was eating before he went about
his daily tasks.
"Hello Hagrid." Harry said as he walked over to the Gryffindor table and sat
down.
"Hello Harry. Been real busy I see. You made a great choice for your new
keeper. I can't wait to se him play today." Hagrid said, bits of toast falling
onto his beard.
"Yeah I have. Jonathon is a really great player. He won't let us down, I know
it." Harry replied, buttering a piece of toast.
"What are you doing up this early anyway?" Hagrid asked.
"Couldn't sleep. Nervous about the math today I guess." Harry lied. He couldn't
tell Hagrid that his dreams of Hermione were the reason he was up early. He
couldn't even tell Ron about how he really felt about her.
"Don't worry Harry, you'll do fine. And you're going to shock the grease out of
those Slytherins hair when they find out your team captain. I suppose that
Malfoy there will cry to his nitwit father that he wants to be captain for
Slytherin." Hagrid suggested.
"Yeah, but fortunately the teachers and Professor Dumbledore decide that."
Harry remarked.
"Yes, well, I need to be off Harry, I have ter go refence the chicken coop. See
you at the match." Hagrid said, getting up from the table with a grunt.
"Alright. See you Hagrid." Harry said, giving a small wave to Hagrid.
Harry sat in silence for a while. He couldn't think of a way to tell Hermione.
Ever since Monday night, the two of them acted in an awkward manner around each
other. "She'll be at the match, I'll tell her there." Harry thought nervously
to himself.
After a while the great hall had filled up, and talk of the outcome of the
match filled the air. At ten thirty, Harry and the team went out to get ready
for the match. On his way out of the door, he saw Hermione. She smiled at him
cheerfully.
"Wish you luck Harry." Hermione said.
"Thanks, see you after." Harry replied.
At ten to eleven, the team stood on the sidelines waiting for the game to
begin. Professor McGonagall, Professor Dumbledore, Hagrid, and Ron were
standing with them.
"You all will do great, I can tell that now." Dumbledore said, his cheeks rosy
red.
"Yeah and you'll beat the pants off Slytherin." Ron added.
"Harry." Harry heard his name. He turned to look at who said it. It was
Hermione.
"Hermione." Harry said shocked. He walked over to Hermione, his stomach
flipping constantly.
"About Monday night." Hermione started.
"I liked it." Harry said quietly.
"I just wanted to let you know the feeling is mutual." Hermione said, her eyes
meeting with Harry's.
"Hermione, I love you." Harry said, taking Hermione's hands with his own.
Hermione's tiny hands dissapearing in Harry's massive ones.
"I love you too Harry. I love you so much." Hermione replied, tears of joy
falling down her soft cheeks.
"Kiss me Harry." Hermione said. Harry didn't wait a second longer. He hauled
Hermione into him for a strong embrace, gently carressing her cheek. He stared
longingly into her beautiful green eyes, and he kissed her. Harry kissed
Hermione with all the passion he could muster up, and she returned the
passion.
"What the? Omigawd I don't believe it. Harry and Hermione kissing?" Ron gasped
with shocked surprise.
"Aww they look so cute there." Hagrid commented, dabbing at his eyes with a
handkerchief.
"Now now you two. Give them some privacy." Proffessor McGonagall said, ushering
Ron and Hagrid away.
Harry and Hermione pulled their lips apart. Harry was thrilled all over. "She
loves me too. I can't believe it." Harry thought.
"That was beautiful." Hermione said, her arms wrapped around Harry's neck.
Their eyes meeting."
Not as beautiful as you though." Harry whispered.
"Mr. Potter, I don't want to interrupt, but the game is about is about to
start." Proffessor McGonagall said, her face blushing.
"Er-right Proffesser, be right there." Harry replied, embarrassed that she had
been watching.
Harry turned and kissed Hermione once more before saying: "I got to go. But I'd
love it if you waited right here for me, or well up in the stands."
"I'll wait for you forever." Hermione whispered into Harry's ear as she hugged
him once again.
Harry smiled and joined the team. The Slytherin team had shown up, and Malfoy
had a cocky smile that Harry planned to wipe off his face. Both teams mounted
their brooms and took off into the air, Harry ahead of all the rest. He had
forgotten how much he missed flying, and the feeling he had got from it.
Madam Hooch had flown up in the air to the middle of the field. "Captains!" she
yelled, blowing her whistle.
Marcus Flint, the Slytherin captain, flew to where Madam Hooch was. There was a
hushed silence as the crowd watched the Gryffindor team, trying to see who the
captain was. Excited whispers came about as Harry flew to center field. A look
of jealousy came to Malfoy's face when he saw Harry. The Gryffindors began
cheering for Harry, which was joined by other Gryffindor supporters.
"Captains shake hands." Madam Hooch commanded.
Harry and Flint shook each others hands, but Flint was surprised over how
strong Harry was. Madam Hooch blew the whistle and the game began.
Harry took off into the sky, rising above the action of the game. He watched
Jonathon, his eyes full of determination and energy. Harry smiled, Jonathon was
doing just fine, but he had better keep an eye out for the snitch.
"I bet you're happy now, Potter." Malfoy spat bitterly. Harry looked beside and
saw Malfoy flying angrily towards him.
"What are you going on about Malfoy?" Harry asked lazily, not bothering to look
at Malfoy.
"You know what I mean. How long did you have to suck up to Dumbledore and
McGonagall to be made captain?" Malfoy asked jealously.
"I didn't suck up, they get enough of that from you. No, they just let me be
the new captain because they said I deserved and earned it." Harry mocked
calmly, looking at Malfoy with a grin.
"And I wouldn't bother asking your father to bribe you in as captain if I were
you. Cause the only way you get to be Captain is the same way I got to be, and
Dumbledore doesn't take bribes." Harry continued.
"We'll see about that Potter. Besides, Gryffindor will need a new captain soon
enough." Malfoy said.
"What do you mean by that Malfoy? Harry asked, he was getting annoyed by Malfoy
sitting there acting as if he knew it all.
"Well you dug your grave a little deeper when you kissed that filthy Mudblood.
The Dark Lord is going to kill you and Granger a lot quicker now." Malfoy
snickered.
That had done it. Rage flashed in Harry's eyes. Malfoy had called Hermione a
filthy Mudblood way too many times.
"I can't lay a beating on him or Slytherin will get a penalty shot." Harry
thought angrily.
Harry knew what he could do. Suddenly Harry started diving, he straightened his
broom flat so that the nose of it was directly lines up with the ground. Malfoy
began diving as well, right on Harry's tail. Malfoy thought Harry was going
after the snitch.
"He's falling for it." Harry thought with a laugh.
The ground was getting closer and closer, the crowd had gone silent. Harry
could feel their eyes on him, they too thought he had seen snitch. The ground
was just a few feet away.
"Just a bit further." Harry thought.
Harry could smell the grass on the field now, and just as he was about to
crash, he hauled the broom back to its normal flying position. There was a
sickening thud in back of him as Malfoy hit the ground. The students went wild
with excitement. Harry had just pulled off the best Wronski Feint ever
preformed, no one, not even a Pro Quidditch player had pulled one off that came
that close to the ground.
Harry turned around to see how badly Malfoy had hit. Madam Pomfrey came running
behind Madam Hooch with a stretcher. From what Harry could tell, Malfoy had at
least a badly broken leg, but as for his other injuries, Harry didn't know. He
waited until Madamn Pomfrey had taken Malfoy to the sidelines before he flew up
higher in the sky.
"Continue playing." Madamn Hooch yelled, blowing her whistle.
Harry began his search for the snitch. Gryffindor was in the lead by twenty
points, if he caught the snitch now they would win with a decent lead for the
first of the season. Harry saw it, a golden shimmer by the Slytherin goal
posts. He went for it, dodging both players and bludgers along the way.
"Almost there." Harry said out loud. Harry extended his hand out in front of
him as far as he could go. He could feel the tiny and powerful wings brushing
against the tips of his fingers. He urged his broom on, and finally he was able
to grab the snitch. The wings beat furiously against his hand, and the familiar
ringing noise filled Harry's ear.
"Harry Potter has caught the snitch! Gryffindor wins, making this Potter's fist
victory as the new Gryffindor captain!" Lee Jordan yelled with excitement over
the noise of the crowd.
Harry raised his hand and the snitch over his head and sighed, it was finally
over with. The game preparation had been nerve racking, but now it was over and
they had won. Suddenly Harry felt as if he had been just hit by a car. He
looked down just in time to see a bludger whizzing away, and a gleaming Marcus
Flint laughing with the rest of the Slytherin team. Harry felt himself falling
backward, the bludger had knocked him off his broom.
Harry felt dizzy, and his chest throbbed. He could hear the scared screams
coming from the crowd. "Hermione." Harry thought. All Harry could see was a
blue light surrounding him, and he could just faintly hear a girl's voice.
"Hermione?" Harry asked quietly. Harry could feel himself slowly floating to
the ground. It seemed like it took an hour to reach the ground, but when he did
the pain in his chest worsened some, but only for a minute.
Harry opened his eyes, he could see Madam Hooch, Madam Pomfrey, Professor
Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall and there was someone else, someone he
knew.
"Hermione?" Harry asked again, reaching his hand out towards the person. His
vision had cleared, and he could see Hermione kneeling over him.
"Harry are you okay?" Hermione asked, tears slowly rolling down her cheeks.
"I'm fine. My chest hurts, that's all." Harry answered quietly, looking at
everyone else.
"What happened? Where did all the blue light come from?" Harry asked.
"Mr. Potter we don't know that for sure yet. One minute you were falling, the
next there was all this blue light and you came floating slowly down.
"Let me have a look at you Mr. Potter." Madam Pomfrey said, lifting up Harry's
shirt to look at his chest.
"Yes, just badly bruised. Good thing you gained all that muscle over the summer
though, or else the damage would have been much worse." Madam Pomfrey
announced.
"The entire Slytherin team will be given a weeks detention for this; except for
Mr. Malfoy, seeing as he has got enough problems." Professor McGonagall said
sternly.
"Just rest up tonight, Potter. Take it easy." Madam Hooch ordered calmly.
"I'll try." Harry said with a tiny grin.
"No you definitely will. I'll make sure of it." Hermione stated.
"Only if that includes a neck massage." Harry laughed, causing his chest to
hurt even more.
"Only if I get paid well for it." Hermione said.
"How about a down payment?" Harry asked innocently.
"I suppose so." Hermione answered with a smile, leaning down to give Harry a
kiss.
"Yes, the best injury medicine of them all." Dumbledore laughed.
Harry and Hermione pulled away, looking sheepish.
"Sorry." they apologized, their faces red with embarrassment.
"Quite alright. Now, why do you get Mr. Potter up to your common room, so he
can get on his way to recovery." Dumbledore said with a grin.
Harry and Hermione laughed. Hermione stood up and helped Harry up off of the
ground. Harry put an arm around Hermione's neck and they slowly began to walk
off of the field.
"Hey Harry, are you alright?" Fred asked.
"Yeah, I'm just hurt." Harry replied.
"I reckon you would after how hard they hit that bludger at you. I'll take your
broom up to the common room for you." Fred said with a bit of concern, showing
Harry his Firebolt that he had in his other hand.
"Thanks Fred." Harry said.
"No problem Harry." Fred replied.
--The rest of the team gave Harry gentle pats on the back as he walked away.
"Hey Harry!" Ron yelled as he emerged from the stands.
"You made Quidditch history again today." he exclaimed.
"What?" Harry asked.
"No Quidditch player has ever pulled off a successful Wronski Feint that close
to the ground before, not even in the pros!" Ron explained.
"Is that why everyone went all crazy?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah, that and what it did to Malfoy." Ron said with a laugh.
"Malfoy, I forgot. How bad is he messed up? Harry asked, remembering the sound
Malfoy made when he hit the ground.
"Really. His leg broke in five different places, his nose was broken, his
wrist, his jaw, and he has a ton of cuts and bruises. Of course though Madam
Pomfrey is going to fix as much as she can magically, but she said some of it
has to heal naturally. Especially his jaw, she said something about having to
wire it. I wonder what she meant by that?" Ron said in wonder.
Harry and Hermione busted out laughing when they heard that, pain searing
through Harry's body.
"What?" Ron asked.
"She's going to have to wire Malfoy's jaw shut, which means he won't be able to
talk for about three weeks, with magic anyway." Hermione stated laughing.
"It's going to be a peaceful three weeks, now if only Professor Levington would
break his jaw." Ron sighed hopefully.
"Anyway, see you up in the common room, I have to go fulfill a bet." Ron
grumbled, walking off towards Hagrid's.
"What does he mean by that?" Harry asked, dumbfounded.
"Oh he thought you were going to crash today, but I bet him you weren't. So now
he has to borrow one of the school's chickens." Hermione explained.
"Dare I ask what you dared poor Ron to do?" Harry asked sarcastically.
"He has to kiss it tonight at supper in front of everyone." Hermione answered
innocently.
"Poor Ron. With his luck the chicken will peck him in the lips." Harry replied
with a sigh. "I can't wait to see it." Harry continued anxiously.
"You won't be." Hermione snapped, looking at Harry sternly.
"What? Why?" Harry asked confused.
"Because you are not going to hurt yourself anymore than you already are."
Hermione said softly.
"I'm not going to." Harry protested.
"Of course you're not, because I am going to take good care of you all weekend
until you're all better." Hermione cooed.
"Does that include massage therapy?" Harry asked slyly.
"Only if you let me take good care of you this weekend I will." Hermione
replied.
"In that case, you can look after me forever." Harry laughed.
"I don't see a problem there. Now let's get you up to the common room." Hermione
laughed in reply.