"Great practice everyone!" Oliver Wood congratulated as the rest of his teammates landed on the freshly cut grass. "Look's like you've all been practicing this summer"
"That's an understatement" Fred whispered to Harry and George who stifled their laughter
"Our first game is against Ravenclaw" he announced "In one month, so we'll be practicing Monday and Thursday evenings and early Saturday mornings"
The team murmured their affirmations and started toward their locker rooms, when Madame Hooch called out
"Weigh in's after you've finished showering, meet me in the weight room"
Harry stopped dead in his tracks, as did much of the team. Weigh in's were by far the worst part about being on the team. Once regained his ability to walk he made his way to the bathroom, so did the rest of the guys. They knew now was the time to drop some weight quick if only a few ounces. Mostly everyone had gained some weight over the summer (Harry gained, but it was against his wishes, Mrs. Weasley was big on eating and nutrition, Besides she had for sons who had been or were on Quidditch teams, She knew what went on behind the locker room doors).
The all too familiar sound of gagging and retching echoed throughout the locker room. The smell was sickening, and burned your nose. Because of the strict weight regulations in Quidditch (Keepers had to stay at 118 lbs., Beaters at 115 lbs. and Chasers and Seekers at 110 lbs. or less . . . Less was favored in all categories), most players both male and female became bulimic or anorexic. Throwing up or "Heaving" as the players nicknamed it, was common before games and weigh ins (Which is why all weigh in's were done after the players showered and changed). It was quick, effective and every Quidditch player in the school did it.
Staggering out of the stall, smelling strongly of vomit, his hair matted to his face with sweat, Harry made his way to the sink. He had to hold onto the edges to help keep him from collapsing . . . again. He hated heaving with a passion. And prayed that the familiar feeling of dizziness and lightheadedness would pass quickly, because he could feel his knees about to give out. A pair of arms then encircled his waist, holding him up and forcing his legs not to give out.
"Take some deep breaths" Oliver instructed "You can't pass out Potter, don't fucking pass out on me"
He tried desperately not to. "I can't keep this up" He whispered
Oliver tuned on the cold tap water and with one arm still holding him up he splashed his face with it "I know . . . I can't either"
Harry bit his lip and urged his body to take control of itself again. It obeyed . . . this time.
"But we have to" Oliver whispered into his ear. "Grit your teeth and bear it . . . we all do it"
Harry nodded and managed to release the sink. "I know . . . I know"
"You ok now?"
He nodded again "Yeah"
Oliver kissed his neck "All right then, hurry up brush your teeth and get into the shower"
Another nod. He turned on the water and began brushing his teeth (which were beginning to rot due to excessive throwing up).
Fifteen minutes they assembled in the weight room. Everyone wearing that "Just thrown up" look. Madame Hooch set the magic scale down and picked up her chart.
"Bell" She called out
Katie stepped up on the scale as Harry cringed. She was weighing them in alphabetical order.
The scale called out "One hundred-thirteen pounds"
"Drop those three pounds bell" She ordered coldly "Johnson"
Angelina, who was a stick compared to her first year and known bulimic, stepped up. The scale then called out.
"One hundred-ten pounds"
Madame Hooch fastened her tight lips into a creepy smile "Perfect Johnson . . . but you could be lighter, anyway keep it up . . . Potter"
Harry wondered, as a sullen faced Angelina stepped off of the scale, if she knew how Angelina was "keeping it up" would she still want her to? His thoughts were interrupted by the scale calling out.
"One hundred-twenty pounds"
Harry nearly fell over. Madame Hooch shook her head in disappointment
"Potter" She said slowly, her voice tight "Do we need fat seekers?!"
Turning bright red with anger at himself and embarrassment "N . . . no" He stammered
"That ten pounds better be gone by our next weigh in, which I should inform you is Saturday you have a week."
He nodded and stepped down. Head lowered he didn't look up until Madame Hooch had left.
"Harry don't be so hard on yourself" Oliver said "I have five pounds to lose myself"
"Yeah" The twins said in stereo
"Fred and I have to lose 10 pounds each" George reported
Fred crossed his eyes at him "You have to lose ten pounds I have to lose nine and a half . . . fatty"
George punched him in the arm, Fred punched him back
Oliver slinked his arm around Harry's shoulders "Angelina and Alicia were the only two who made weight, so it wasn't only you who didn't" He kissed his cheek the looked over at the battling twins "Will you two cut it out"
Caught in a headlock, George elbowed Fred and they both scrambled to catch up.
"So relax mate" Fred said dodging a hit from George "We'll lose it together Ow!"
George ran in front of them after smacking Fred in the face. Fred tackled him and was in the process of choking him out.
"Ok! Ok!" George pleaded
"Say Snape!" Fred ordered
"No"
Fred choked harder "Say 'I love Severus Snape'!"
"Kill me" George choked out
"Suit yourself"
"Ok" He squeaked "I . . . I l love S Severus Snape"
Oliver and Harry burst out laughing. Fred was laughing so hard his tears were dripping onto his brothers face.
"I said it so get off!" George snapped, angry at being laughed at. He pushed his brother off and stormed down the hall. Calming down Fred went after him.
"Don't be so pissy man"
George smacked him again and they resumed all the way into the dungeon where the school gym was so conveniently placed. There were several Slytherins there including Malfoy. Some Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws were scattered about. Everyone knew by their expressions that the weigh in hadn't gone well. Oliver went over to lift weights with the twins. While Harry made his way over to the treadmills. He took the one near Malfoy, who'd lost so much weight he looked sick. The two had come to an understanding of one another and had become friends, (even though during the Quidditch season things got really heated).
"By the look on your face I see Hooch hit you with a surprise weigh in too?" Draco asked.
"Yeah"
"Didn't go well huh?" he observed
"No"
"How much?" he asked
Harry turned the speed up "Ten"
"Shit! Did she jump on you?"
"Duh . . . she's such a bitch"
The blonde laughed and turned his speed to match Harry's "Well my friend I just so happen to have the perfect solution"
"Can your dad have the Quidditch weights raised?"
"No. Ok second best"
"What?'
Draco produced a tiny green pill from his pocket "Pep pills'. Muggles call them Speed"
Harry had heard of speed, when staying at the Dursleys, mentioned on T.V. once in a while. But he didn't know about what they did.
"What do they do?" he asked
"Keep you up and your appetite down. So you can work out more and eat less" He explained
Harry, still skeptical looked over the pill "Is that all it does?" he asked wearily. He knew many Quidditch players professional and not used drugs, which were dangerous to keep their weight down.
"How do you think I keep my weight down . . . I'm on them right now." He admitted
Harry noted that his pupils were dilated.
"Uh"
"I made my weight with them you know I could barely keep my weight less than a hundred and thirty before . . . trust me"
"How much?" He asked knowing Malfoy wasn't just gonna give it to him, no matter how cool they were.
"Well" He huffed "It takes money to get them from the muggle world here, without getting caught by Aurors or the muggle police. But they usually run from a150 galleons for a hundred pills, 200 for a hundred and fifty and 300 for two hundred and fifty"
"What?!"
"Hey man business is business"
"How about a hundred?"
Draco turned to him sweat trickling down his long neck. "I don't give a damn if you're Harry Potter or The Queen it's a hundred and fifty or nothing"
Harry nodded, he had to respect the way the sixteen-year-old did business. He was most definitely his fathers' son.
"Cash?"
"Do you take me for a fool potter?" Drake asked
Harry sighed and calculated that he'd only brought 200 galleons with him. But if this stuff really did what he said it did why not? Right?
"How do I know it really works?"
"Don't you trust me Potty?" he asked jokingly
"Not in the least ferret boy"
The two laughed. They often called each other the names they used to when they hated one another. Draco looked at him and turned up his speed as did Harry, and gave the raven haired teen a sly smile. It was his turn to respect his haggling skills.
"Well be my guest and have a free trial" He gave him the pill that was on display and took one himself. Harry swallowed it with one gulp of water.
"How long do they take to work?"
"Fifteen minutes man" Draco informed
Harry nodded "All right"
"One rule"
"What?"
"Two actually" he corrected
"What?"
"You get busted it's on you if my name gets put in anywhere I'll deny . . . I have people you of all people should know that" Draco warned
"Oh yeah" Harry nodded "No problem" He knew that he was getting himself into this.
"Cool"
"What's the second one?" Harry asked
"Keep hydrated. I am not going to have a death on my hands"
"Death?"
"Just do what I said and you'll live"
He nodded again and continued running sucking down some water every few minutes and not understanding just what he'd gotten himself into.