Dudley goes to Hogwarts
Chapter 11
Dudley's First Flying Lesson And Quidditch Tryouts.
Disclaimer: I keep forgetting to write this. Well, from now on, I'm not writing it anymore so remember, HARRY AND CO. AIN'T MINE!!!
A/N: I'm not very good in English so please, bear with me, k? More A/N at the bottom.
Harry sighed to himself as he lay on his side. After waking in the middle of the night, he just couldn't get back to sleep. He tried sleeping on his back, his stomach and even with his head and legs dangling off the side of the bed but he couldn't find the right sleeping position.
'Maybe I'm too worried about the tryouts this afternoon to sleep,' he thought to himself after thinking it over.
Harry pushed himself up into a sitting position and looked around the room. He was looking for any sign that might hint to him that he wasn't the only one awake… but he found none. He sighed to himself again as he threw back the comforter and slid off his bed, leaving both his feet dangling at the sides while his hand automatically reached for his glasses on the side table. Beside him, Ron was snoring loudly with his arms wide spread, both comforter and bed sheet on the floor at the side of his bed. Harry chuckled to himself at the sight of his friend.
It was too early to be 7.30, he realized as he looked at the window. Wanting to know if his guess was right or not, he got out of bed and walked towards the window, opening it as soon as he reached it. The cool morning air felt wonderfully refreshing on his bare chest. The sun was just beginning to rise and a thin layer of mist covered the Quidditch field, making the view breathtaking.
A loud groan snapped Harry back into reality and he turned towards the sound. Ron was stirring in his bed, hand searching around for his comforter. Unable to find it, he finally sat up and looked around the room. Then his attention turned to Harry, standing at the open window.
"Close the window, Harry. It's freezing," he mumbled sleepily.
Harry smiled but made no attempt to close it. Instead, he walked towards his wardrobe and took out his towel.
"Wake up, Ron. I really don't know how you can sleep at a time like this," Harry said, turning around only to find Ron already sitting up and stretching his body.
"It's easy. All you have to do it shut your eyes and begin a dream by yourself until the real dream takes over and you sleep," Ron said, standing up and walked towards the window that Harry was standing at earlier.
After a few minutes of staring out the window, he let out a long sigh.
"I don't think we'll find him, Harry," Ron said softly, referring to the replacement keeper.
"We'll find him, Ron. Don't worry about it so much. We'll know when the time comes," he replied with the same tone as Ron's.
"I hope so. We have to win that Cup, Harry. We just gotta."
"I know Ron. Don't worry about it," Harry said again as he exited the room, shutting the door quietly behind him.
He himself was worried but he couldn't let Ron know about that. They both knew how hard it was going to be to win the Quidditch cup because Dudley will lose more points faster than Harry could catch the snitch. But he had to keep his head. They couldn't both be uncontrollably worried and Ron's not exactly the type who kept calm and didn't go frantic when he got too worried about something. So, it was up to Harry to be the calm one. Just like every other time.
He headed for the boys' bathroom, not bothering to go to the prefect's bathroom. After all, it was just a quick shower and then back to the dorm. After showering and shaving, he realized that he'd forgotten his clothes. Mumbling to himself, he wrapped the towel around himself and stuck his head outside the door, looking for any sign of anyone. After finding no one, he quickly darted out of the bathroom and made his way quickly towards his dorm. At a corner, he bumped into someone and his towel nearly slipped but he managed to adjust it before something 'unnecessary' happened.
"I'm sorry. I was in a hurry that I wasn't really paying attention. Are you okay?" he asked on impulse before he actually saw the person who he bumped into.
"I'm okay, I guess. What's the rush about?" a female voice answered.
Harry looked down, staring into a pair of aqua blue eyes.
"Nothing much. Here," he said, offering his hand to her which she took gratefully. Harry pulled her up to her feet.
"Thanks. Well… I guess you better get back to your dormitory then. Wouldn't wanna catch a cold now, would you?" Jade said after a few minutes of staring at each other. Harry blushed a little at her comment.
"Yeah, I guess so. Well then, see you around," he mumbled before walking away quickly.
He then took one last glance at her before making a corner. He saw that she was actually smiling at him.
Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity of running towards his room, Harry finally opened the door and entered the room, slamming the door loudly behind him. That caused most of the Gryffindors in his room to stir and some to wake up.
"What's wrong with you?" Ron asked, sitting up on the bed, looking puzzled.
"Nothing much. Just forgot to bring my clothes," Harry mumbled, walking towards his wardrobe and picking out the clothes he had managed to buy during the holidays after he was finally able to persuade Ron and Hermione to go along with him. After putting on his black jeans, he threw the towel and as he reached for his navy blue 'No Fear' t-shirt. Harry looked around the room again and this time, he noticed that Dean wasn't in his bed.
"Hey Harry. Hang on for a sec. This shouldn't take long," Ron said while he exited the room with his clothes and towel.
Harry nodded his head and pulled the t-shirt over his head.
"Hey Harry. Who'd you think our new keeper would be?" Neville asked after yawning a few times.
"Well, it could be you. Why? Are you planning to at least try out for that position?" Harry asked as he flopped back down on the bed.
"No way! I hate flying. You know what happened the first time I tried to ride a broom. I ended up with a broken arm!" Neville pointed out, getting out of bed.
"Oh yeah! That was funny," Dean laughed while drying his hair and entering the room. Apparently, he had taken a very quick swim in the ever so huge prefect pool while Harry was taking his shower.
"It was not! I could've been killed!" Neville wailed as the rest of them laughed.
"Well then, who's this little round kid that I'm talking to?" Dean asked, pinching Neville's cheek.
"Quit it!" Neville said, smacking Dean's hand away.
Dean pretended to be hurt, whining about Neville hitting his hand. Neville laughed at Dean's acting skills, as he knew that Dean was only being a friend by pointing this out to Neville. Then Neville threw his pillow at Dean to make him stop. Dean got the idea and stopped teasing Neville and even helped him out of bed. Harry chuckled at the sight of his two roommates. It was the same thing every morning and they always managed to start his day off with a laugh. Just a few seconds later, Ron came into the room, water dripping from his hair.
"That was way too fast, Ron. Even for you," Harry said, looking over at his friend.
"I know. I think it's a new record or something," Ron panted.
"Whatever. You better dry up your hair, Ron or you might catch a cold or something," Harry said while pulling his robes over his head.
Ron snorted but he took his advice anyway. While Ron was doing that, Harry grabbed a brush and ran it along his hair but no matter how hard he tried, it still looked messy.
"You're never gonna tame that hair of yours, Harry," Ron said while snatching the brush away from him and running it through his own hair.
"I know but at least I tried, right? C'mon, let's go down to the Great Hall. I'm starving!" Harry said, walking towards the door with Ron behind him.
On their way to the Great Hall, the both of them talked about the latest model broomstick that was in the market.
"I'm telling you, Harry, none of the brooms that are out there could compete with the Firebolt. It's still the best broomstick money could buy!" Ron said.
"I don't know. That Lazer brand looks as if it could match the Firebolt," Harry replied.
"Are you kidding me? Didn't you read the review in the Witch Weekly last week? It says that-"
"You actually read Witch Weekly, Ron?" Harry laughed as he watched Ron turn bright red.
"No! Ginny did and she told me about it! Anyway, it says that even Clean Sweep's better than Lazer!" Ron said.
As they were busy debating whether Firebolt was still the best broomstick around, Ron accidentally bumped into someone.
"Oops. Sorry," he said.
"Watch where you're going, boy!" the voice roared.
Harry and Ron looked up only to find Vernon, Petunia and Dudley walking towards them.
"He said he was sorry! Sheesh. C'mon Ron. I heard that Charlie's buying another broom for you guys. Is it true?" Harry asked but before they could walk away, Vernon and Dudley burst into laughter.
"Broom? You're excited that he's buying a new broom?" Dudley laughed.
"As a matter of fact, yes I am. But it isn't just any broom. It's a flying broom. I do believe that you're actually having your first flying lesson today, Dudley? And if I'm not mistaken, it's before our tryouts today. We'll see if you fly as well as you eat," Harry smirked.
"Why I oughtta-" Dudley said, raising his fist up in the air in attempt to punch Harry.
"Careful Mister Dursley. I'm your senior and a prefect so I suggest that you be careful. Now, I believe that it's almost time for breakfast. See you in the Great Hall," Harry said again, his arms folded in front of his chest.
Dudley lowered his fist but still growled at both Harry and Ron. Vernon was growling too. Harry and Ron gave each other a high-five and walked towards the Great Hall, smiling all the way.
~*~
"Harry! Ron!" Hermione called from their usual seat.
Harry caught her eyes and waved back at her. As both of them make their way towards Hermione, Harry noticed that Hermione reading a letter.
"Hmm. A love letter. From who, I wonder?" Harry asked, taking a seat across from Hermione.
"Actually, I have no idea. A House-Elf gave it to me when I was finding a place for us to sit as it's not signed, I have not the slightest clue from whom it is from," Hermione sighed, placing the letter into her bag.
"A secret admirer, Hermione? Looks like the game begins again for our Head Girl," Ron laughed, trying hard to sound serious and sad about it but his laughter gave him away.
"And before you ask, no. It's not from me." Ron actually had a crush on Hermione and started sending love letters to her, saying that it was her secret admirer. When she actually found out that it was from him, they decided to date for a while but when the spark wasn't there, they broke off. They decided that it was best if they'd remained friends.
"I wonder who it is this time," Harry wondered out loud.
"Actually, I don't really care. I'm not playing this game again this year especially with us taking NEWTs this year," Hermione said while spreading marmalade onto her bread and taking a bite out of it.
Harry laughed as he watched the students slowly filling up the Great hall for breakfast. His eyes suddenly caught a pair of aqua blue ones and he quickly turned to look at Ron, hoping that he wasn't blushing.
"Harry, are you okay? You looked a bit flushed," Hermione asked in a worried tone.
"Yeah Harry. You've been red all morning. Are you sick or something?" Ron asked. So much for hoping.
"I'm fine. I'm a bit hot, that's all," Harry laughed weakly as he fanned himself with his hand.
"Okay…" Ron replied.
All three of them continued their breakfast in silence after that.
~*~
Dudley mumbled to himself as he made his way down to the Quidditch field alone. He was in his parents' room, whining to his parents about what happened to him last night before he remembered about the flying lesson that afternoon. It seemed as if the teacher that was suppose to be teaching them was needed at a very important meeting.
He watched as the rest of his classmates talked among each other and totally ignored him. He cursed Harry under his breath again for making him look bad. There were brooms laid side by side on the ground.
"What's so great about these brooms? They look exactly like normal brooms," he thought to himself.
Just then, the teacher turned up and walked towards them.
"Good afternoon class. Well, what are you waiting for? Step up to the right side of the broom. Then, stick out your right hand over the broom and say 'Up'," Madam Hooch instructed as she faced the class.
Gryffindor was on one side and Slytherin the other. Slowly, each of them walked up to the right side of the broom and attempted to make the broom come to their hands.
Dudley was one of the last one to choose a broom. When he finally did, he stared at the lifeless broom at the ground by his side. Taking a deep breath, he shouted timidly.
"Up!" he said. The broom didn't even budge an inch. It just stayed there, like an ordinary broom.
"Up!" he said again, louder this time. Nothing. Taking another deep breath, Dudley shouted 'Up!' again.
Instead on the broom jumping up into his outstretched arm, the broom sprang up and began to chase him around the field. Dudley ran around Madam Hooch, screaming his head off but the broom still wouldn't leave him alone. Unknown to him, Harry, Ron and Hermione was watching the whole incident from nearby. Harry and Ron were laughing so hard that both of them had fallen onto the ground, clutching their stomachs. Hermione just looked at them with a disapproving look and went over to help Madam Hooch.
"Here, Madam Hooch. Let me," Hermione said.
Madam Hooch just nodded and watched as Hermione waved her wand and said something under her breath. Soon, the broom was on the ground again.
"Thank you, Miss Granger," Madam Hooch said as she walked over towards Dudley who was on the ground, panting very hard from the running he had done.
"Are you alright, Mister Dursley?" Madam Hooch asked, helping him up.
"I'm * pant * fine. Thank you, Hermione," Dudley huffed.
Hermione smiled warmly at him.
"It's okay," she said before turning around and walking towards Harry and Ron who were still laughing.
"Do you want to sit somewhere and watch?" Madam Hooch asked.
"No. I'm okay," Dudley said, standing straight.
He couldn't chicken out now. Both Harry and Hermione would be watching and he couldn't let Harry think he was a coward. Madam Hooch nodded as she handed him another broom. Then, she turned back to face the class.
"Okay, all of you mount your brooms. When I blow my whistle, you will all kick off from the ground, hard. Ready? Three, two," then she blew her whistle.
Dudley mounted up his broom and kicked off from the ground like Madam Hooch instructed. Luck was on his side as the broom he was on rose up a couple of feet above the ground. Dudley was beaming.
"Now, to go up, all you have to do is pull back on the handle gently and if you want to turn, gently turn your body to the sides and it will follow your movements," Madam Hooch instructed again.
Dudley tried to pull back on the handle but the broom wouldn't go up like Madam Hooch said it would. Instead, it seems to be going down. He watched as the rest of the class fly above him.
"Mister Dursley. Pull back on your handle gently," Madam Hooch said to him.
"I did," he wailed and tried again but the broom simply won't go.
It was going lower and lower until Dudley had to plant his feet back on the ground so that he wouldn't fall.
"I don't understand it. Here, try another broom," Madam Hooch said as she handed him another broom. "It should work since Professor Dumbledore said that he just bought this one before the start of the term."
Dudley mounted up the broom and once again, he kicked off from the ground hard. The same thing happened as before and it seems as if the broom couldn't carry him higher than a couple of feet.
"Maybe it's because he's too fat, Madam Hooch!" A Slytherin boy yelled from above both of them and the rest of the class laughed. Even the Gryffindors were laughing.
"It is a possibility. Well, there's nothing we can do about it. Come down, all of you. Class dismissed since the Gryffindor Quidditch team are going to use the field for their tryouts," Madam Hooch called them down.
After a few more minutes, all of them landed back on the ground and handed the brooms back to Madam Hooch.
"It's all yours, Mister Potter," Madam Hooch said as Harry and Ron walked over towards them.
"Thank you, Madam Hooch," Harry said, smiling away.
All of the Gryffindors, including Dudley, stayed back to watch how the tryouts would be like. Each of them took a seat on the field and some of them even laid down on the ground, facing the sky. Harry mounted up his Firebolt and kicked off from the ground. The first years cheered for him as he did a loop in the air.
"Hey Harry! Get back down here! I'm the one who's suppose to be flying!" Ron shouted from the ground. Harry grinned and landed on the ground beside Ron. He handed the broom to Ron.
"Here. I'm letting you use it just this once," He said and Ron beamed.
"Thanks. Well, here they come," Ron said as he pointed to a bunch of Gryffindors who were headed their way. Harry shouted to get their attention.
"Excuse me! Could you please settle down? Thank you. As you all know, I'm Harry Potter, the Quidditch captain this year and this is Ron Weasley. He'll be shooting the Quaffle and all of you will attempt to block it. Please sign your name here and I will be calling you one by one to try your skills against Ron," Harry explained and handed the form to the nearest guy in front of him.
All of them crowded around him so that they too could sign up their names.
"Well Ron, good luck," he said and Ron snorted.
"It's them you need to wish good luck too. Ron Weasley never misses a goal," he said.
Harry rolled his eyes and after a couple of minutes, the form was with him and Ron was up in the air, waiting for his opponent.
"Okay. First up, Rogers Johansson," Harry called out and a fifth year guy with brunette hair mounted up his broom and took his place.
Ron smirked as he made as if he was shooting at the tallest hoop but shot it to the second highest when Rogers fell for his trap. Ron grinned to himself as he watched the Quaffle go through the hoop. After another try and still couldn't stop the Quaffle from going through the hoop, Rogers landed back on the ground.
"Nice try, Rogers. Helen, you're up!" Harry cried. This continued for another 2 hours and none of them managed to stop Ron's Quaffle. Finally, Harry called up the last person on the list.
"Okay, nice try Yvonne. And the last person to tryout today. Jade Iris G-… Jade?" Harry said again.
He turned around to see the girl smiling back at him.
"Is it okay if I have a go?" she asked, broom on her shoulder.
"S-Sure. Go ahead," Harry stuttered.
Jade gave him one last smile and she was up in the air. Ron grinned again as he got ready to shoot. Another fake. Ron thought that she had fallen for it because she dived for the lowest hoop, so he shot the Quaffle at the highest hoop. But before he knew it, the Quaffle was in Jade's hand. Ron's mouth hung open. Wow, was she fast or what?! It was Jade who was grinning this time as she threw back the Quaffle at Ron.
Ron smirked as he mumbled 'beginner's luck' under his breath as he positioned himself for another attack. This time he tried for the lowest hoop but actually shot for the middle hoop. Again, Jade caught it in an instant. Finally, Ron admitted his defeat. Both of them landed on the ground and Harry ran towards them.
"Congratulations, Jade. Well guys-," he said to the rest of the Gryffindor Quidditch team who came out to watch the tryouts. "Let me introduce to you our new Keeper. Meet Jade Iris Goyle."
"WHAT?!?!" all the members of the Quidditch team, including Hermione, yelled.
A/N: Dum Dum Dummm… Hehehe. So now you know whom Jade really is. I was surprised no one could guess her last name. Some of you guessed Granger but how is that possible? I mean, wouldn't Hermione know her own sister? And the keeper position thingy. Think back. It couldn't be Ron 'cos he's already the Chaser. Naturally, it couldn't be Harry 'cos he's the Seeker. It couldn't be Dean or Seamus since they're already the beaters and it couldn't be Neville 'cos he's to chicken to be even flying. Well, I'm glad that no one guessed that the new keeper to be Ginny or even Hermione. Then I wouldn't be just laughing, I'd be falling off my chair! Anyway, thanks to all of you who reviewed and actually took the time to guess. One of you actually got it partly correct. If I'm not mistaken, it was Ron_2 but you guessed twice so that doesn't count.
A/N 2- Might as well warned you guys that this story would be a LONG story. Actually, I just finished up making the schedule for this story and it's taking place through out Harry's 7th year so I hope you'll stay with me on this one. And to think that it's only September! Anyway, I'm sorry if I'm taking my time on posting this story. I promise I'll try and post the 12th chapter as soon as possible. With 10 subjects to revise and memorize as well as tuition work and folios, I'll be glad if I have some time for myself. And to top it all off, EXAM THIS WEEK! My two Beta reader and me are all busy so please, bear with us. With Add Math and Chemistry and Physics and Biology and History and- why am I telling you guys this? Somebody help me! I'm really losing it… Well, till the next chapter… See ya! Don't have time. My thanks to all those review. I'll mention you guys in the next Chapter, K?