Chapter 16: Quidditch Tryouts & DA meetings

Quidditch tryouts for the Gryffindor team were held the next week. Harry had also scheduled the first DA club meeting of the year for the following night, feeling it was important to try to carry on as normal. He couldn't let his house down. He was the captain of the Quidditch team, and head of the DA.

So it was that Harry found himself and Ron, walking down to the Quidditch pitch in the pouring rain the following Tuesday evening.

"This is horrible weather for Quidditch," Ron moaned. "I won't be able to see the bloody Quaffle coming at me..."

"We've played in worse, Ron. And this is the tryouts... we'll be able to see who can better deal with the conditions if we're trying them out in it."

"I just hope I'll be able to keep enough out to qualify as Keeper," Ron grumbled.

"Ron, you're a shoe in, so relax."

"I don't want you bloody giving it to me, Harry! I'll earn it!" Ron said angrily.

"Trust me, you will," Harry smiled. Then, catching a glimpse of a bright head already flying above the pitch, "Ginny's trying out for Chaser again?"

"Yeah," Ron nodded, glancing over in the direction that Harry was staring. "She's determined to be on the team."

"I can't see a problem. No one else has her experience."

Ron looked at Harry with raised eyebrows, a teasing gleam there. Harry flushed.

"I didn't mean it that way," Harry said quietly.

"Bloody hell, Harry, would you just ask the girl out?"

"I can't do that, Ron."

"Why not?" Ron said. "It's easy. You walk up to her and say, 'Ginny...'"

"What?"

They spun around to find the witch in question standing there, having flown around and landed behind them.

"Uhhh... Ginny..." Harry began, desperately trying to think of something to tell her.

"Team business, Gin," Ron said casually. "You really shouldn't have heard that."

"Oh," Ginny flushed. "Does that mean that I can't be on the team?"

"I haven't seen..." Harry began, then realized that he'd seen her fly dozens of times. "I don't see any reason why you won't make the team, Ginny. You're a fabulous Quidditch player."

"Then why were you discussing how to tell me..."

"Ginny," Ron looked directly into her eyes. "Leave it alone."

Ginny's eyes narrowed, and she nodded quickly. "Fine! But be prepared to write my name down on that list, Harry Potter, because no one is going to beat me out of a spot as Chaser!"

The tryouts that followed were... well, the only way Harry could describe them was competitive. Violently competitive. Sixteen people showed up, and Harry placed them on opposing teams, switching them around from position to position, and trading players in and out as they went. After an hour, he found he had a pretty good idea of who was going to make the cut, and who wasn't. He also had two people who were decent players in any position he stuck them in, and he had thoughts of keeping them as reserves.

He had to discuss it all with Ron, but he was almost certain of what the team was going to look like.

"Okay, all of you! Come on in!" Harry said after casting a quick Sonorus Charm. "I've got what I need. Team lineup will be posted in the Common Room by Friday night. Thanks for coming out, you're all great. Unfortunately, there are only so many positions on the team."

A bedraggled and soaking wet bunch made their way back to the castle, Ron and Harry lagging behind.

"So?" Ron said. "Have you decided what to do?"

"I've got a pretty good idea," Harry admitted, shivering and silently thanking Hermione for the warming charm she'd taught him. At least his feet were warm. "I think for Beaters..."

"No, you prat!" Ron said. "About Ginny!"

"Ron..." Harry flushed. "I've already told you..."

"Don't make me embarrass you, Harry."

"What?"

"Look, I know how you feel, and everyone knows how she feels, except maybe you... and I am still Fred and George's brother, right?"

"Don't..." Harry looked horrified at the possibilities.

"Just figure it out," Ron said. "Because you need her, and you know it."

"Ron..."

"Look, you're not the only one able to interpret a prophecy, you know. And I distinctly remember reading something about the love of a mate. And if you think I'm letting you have Hermione, you can forget it... and Luna... well, I don't think she's really your type. And if you think Neville or I are going to fill the gap, as it were, I'm afraid you're way off base, mate. You know I don't swing that way. So Ginny is it. Get on with it."

"Ron," Harry said quietly. "She lied to me. Repeatedly. And I don't know if I can get past that."

"Well, look at it this way, mate," Ron said. "You're lying to her."

"What?"

"By omission," Ron shrugged. "She's doing things based on what she believes of you, that you scarper from a room every time she enters it because you're uncomfortable with the thought of her actually having feelings for you, when we both know it's because you're scared spitless that maybe she doesn't. And you're letting her continue to believe that. Seems to me that both of you need to sit down and have a long conversation about honesty."

Harry thought about that as they walked to the castle and inside, out of the rain. Perhaps Ron wasn't as thick as everyone thought he was.

Harry tried to find Ginny that night, but it appeared that the sixth year witch had decided to not be found. Frustrated, Harry headed for the boys' dorm and went to bed. Tomorrow, he and Ginny were going to have a conversation.

But the next morning, Harry and Ron arrived in the Great Hall for breakfast to find Neville and Hermione sitting with Dean, Seamus and Lavender, but no Ginny.

"Where's Gin?" Ron asked as he sat down next to Hermione, and across from Harry.

"She's not feeling well. She went down to Madam Pomfrey this morning, and she was ordered back to bed," said Hermione.

"She's ill?" Ron looked startled. "Ginny's never been ill a day in her life. Well, if you don't count that Chamber thing..."

"She's fine, Ron. Or will be," Hermione said, shooting him a look.

"What do you mean, she will be? How do you know?"

"I just do, okay?"

"Hermione?" Harry said. "She's not very sick, is she? I mean, Mrs Weasley would be here if..."

"Harry, really, she'll be fine by this afternoon, I'm sure," Hermione insisted.

"What kind of illness only lasts half a day?" Ron asked, his brow furrowed. "I think I'd better talk to Madam Pomfrey..."

"Ron! Sit down!" Hermione tugged on his arm as he went to stand, pulling him back into his seat.

"Hermione..."

"For Merlin's sake, Ron," Lavender turned to him, hissing. "She's got cramps, okay? Now, would you please shut up?"

Ron looked at Lavender, completely flummoxed for a minute, then blushed to the roots of his hair. Harry looked between the three of them, Ron, Hermione and Lavender, still confused.

"Cramps?" Harry said. "What kind of cramps?"

Hermione took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and sighed. "Thanks, Lavender. Ginny is just going to love us for letting that out."

"Well, if Ron would shut the hell up!" Lavender whispered back.

"Mione...?" Harry looked across the table at her.

"Harry, when girls... once a month, girls sometimes get cramps when they... you know."

Harry looked at her for a moment with confusion, then, as it registered what she was saying, shock. And finally, deep, deep, embarrassment.

"Ah... I... Okay, I... Sorry," he finally mumbled into his porridge.

"Nothing to be sorry about, just please don't mention it to Ginny. She'd die of embarrassment."

"Mention it...?" Harry's eyes widened with disbelief. "Are you joking?"

"No, I think I can pretty much guarantee you we won't be mentioning it to Ginny, Mione," Ron said as he occupied himself with his toast. "As a matter of fact, I'm going to do my best to forget this conversation ever happened. Neville?"

Neville looked up, his cheeks bright pink, and looked at Ron with mild alarm.

"Pass the marmalade, would you, mate?"

That evening, the DA was meeting for the first time that year. Harry arrived at the Room of Requirement early, and paced in front of the door, imagining what he would need. At the third pass, a door appeared, and Harry entered. Everything was exactly as they had left it last year, right down to the bright silver whistle laying on the table by the door.

A few minutes later, having put his notes down on the table and arranged the chairs the way he wanted them, he glanced at the clock. Ten minutes.

And it was then that he looked over to find Ginny gazing at him from the doorway. When he met her eyes, she smiled and entered. Harry wondered how long she'd been standing there.

"Hello, Harry,"

"Ginny," he nodded. "how are you feeling?"

"I... ummm... fine. How did you...?"

"Well, you weren't at breakfast, and Hermione told us..."

"Told you what?" Ginny looked alarmed.

"Told us you weren't feeling well," Harry flushed, breaking eye contact. "We were just concerned, Ginny."

"Oh..." Ginny sighed. "I'm sorry, Harry... I'm still not one hundred percent, I guess."

"Then what are you doing here?"

"I couldn't miss the first meeting," she grinned. "You need me."

You have no idea... he thought, then quickly squashed the thought.

"Ginny, I really need to..." Harry began, only to look up as half a dozen Ravenclaws entered the room. Damn. "We need to talk."

Ginny looked at him, surprise in her eyes, then she nodded, and turned to the door as others began to arrive. Harry watched her as she walked away.

That evening's meeting actually went quite well, considering that Harry couldn't concentrate on much beyond the blushing redheaded witch, and Ron and Hermione spent the entire time bickering. Tonks observed with a small grin on her face, and happily spoke to the group about concealment charms for a good half hour at Harry's request after he had finished showing them a few defense spells he'd found.

Harry stewed. He knew he had to talk to Ginny. He needed to talk to Ginny. But the last thing he wanted to do was to actually talk to Ginny.

Ron was right, though. He'd read and interpreted that prophecy, just as Ron had. Just as the others had. He knew what two and two and two meant. Or, at least, he thought he did. Ron and Hermione were open about their relationship, and Harry figured anyone who had lived in the Gryffindor Tower with them for this many years and didn't know how they felt about each other must be blind and deaf. Definitely deaf.

Neville turned scarlet every time Luna was within a dozen feet of him. And for Luna, well, she was particularly gentle in all her dealings with Neville. A few times, it had been very clear to Harry, and really, to anyone with two eyes, where that was going.

Two and two and two. And one of them to be his mate.

Harry looked over to where Ginny was standing, serving as a kind of mannequin for Tonks to display her talents on. She now had short black spiky hair and bright blue eyes, but she was still Ginny. It was something that shone from inside her.

Startled, Harry looked again. He could see her. Not the picture that Tonks was presenting, but almost like a shadow behind, the real Ginny.

Was that even possible?

Harry turned confused eyes to Tonks, who was sporting bright pink hair again tonight. It seemed to be a favored look for her. But if he looked very carefully, almost beyond the facade...

Chin length blonde hair, and a more heart-shaped face...

Harry shook his head, and looked again. Still there, but he had to really look...

"Harry?" Hermione's soft voice beside him. "You okay?"

"Hermione..." Harry turned to her. "Do you know if it's possible to see through the illusion of a Metamorphmagus? Or concealment charms, for that matter?"

"Yes, of course," Hermione said, spieling off as though reading from a book. "The ability to see through the illusion is well documented, but very rare. The first documented ability seems to go in hand with the first documented record of a meta..."

Harry sucked in a breath.

"Harry?" Hermione turned to look directly at him. Her eyes widened. "Harry? Are you telling me you can see Tonks?"

"Yes," Harry nodded. "And Ginny too, under it all."

"Harry!" Hermione put a hand over her mouth. "Do you know how rare that is?"

"Do you know how often I've heard that in the last six years?" Harry commented. "I need to talk to Tonks. It's possible she's not putting herself all out... just using a weak charm on Ginny..."

"No, it's not, Harry Potter, and you know it," Hermione hissed.

"Class is almost over, anyhow, Hermione, and you should be practicing that illusion charm, yourself."

Hermione's face darkened. "Are you saying that you think I can't do it?"

"No," Harry replied. "I know you can do it, you just haven't done it yet. Even Ron can do it. Come on, go practice. I'll talk to Tonks."

"You'd better, Harry, or I will!" Hermione stomped off to find Ron, and Harry sighed with relief. He'd learned, over the years, that the only way to distract Hermione when she got her teeth into something was by getting her angry. He didn't like her to be angry, but he liked her being nosey even less.

Sighing, he turned to look at Tonks and Ginny – the underlaid images were still there. Damn.

As class ended, Harry assigned the studying of the Death Hold spell as homework, and approached Tonks.

"Um... Tonks, can we talk about something?"

Tonks glanced between him and Ginny, who was beating a hasty retreat.

"Of course, Harry," she smiled, her hair suddenly sparkling with silver.

Harry glanced up at her head. "How do you do that?"

"Metamorphmagus stuff..." Tonks grinned. "So, what's up?"

"Tonks, tonight, when you were doing your concealment charms on Ginny..."

"Yeah?"

"Well... were you ..."

"What, Harry?" Tonks looked at him closely, her concern showing. Harry was obviously upset about something.

"I could see you," Harry mumbled.

"What?"

Harry looked up, directly into her eyes, and said, "I could see you... the real you. And the real Ginny. Kind of... behind the illusions."

Tonks' eyes widened. She swallowed and stared at him.

"Tonks, you're freaking me out," Harry said. "You were just using weak charms, right? That's why I could see... through... them?"

"No, Harry," she shook her head. "Look, it's not a... weak or powerful thing. Either you can Metamorph, or you can't. There's no seeing through it."

"Hermione told me that it's documented..."

"Harry, Hermione reads books," Tonks said quietly. "I live this. No one has ever been able to... what did you see?"

"You. You had blonde hair cut at your chin, and your face was... well, rounder... and... your chin was pointier..."

"Like this?" Tonks closed her eyes and her face changed, her hair grew and changed color, and when she opened her eyes, they were ice blue.

"Yeah," Harry said softly.

"Harry, this is the real me. This is what I look like without changing myself. And I look so bloody much like a Malfoy, I hardly ever allow anyone to see me like this. Remus is about the only one who knows me who has seem me like this, aside from my family."

Harry stared at her. "So what does this mean?"

"It means that you have the ability to see through it," Tonks said softly. "And that we need to go talk to Dumbledore."

"Why haven't I been able to see this before now, then? I've known you for years!"

"I don't know. I really don't, but..." Tonks' brow furrowed. "But I've got a pretty good idea."

"Well?"

"Umm..." Tonks colored. "I think it has something to do with... well, with the fact that you saw me the other night."

"What?"

"When you came to get us..."

"So?"

"Harry," Tonks blushed. "What did you see that night?"

Harry reddened, "Remus told us to keep our eyes closed."

"So you didn't see me at all?"

"Well, not exactly," Harry said, flushing deeply. "I kind of got a glimpse of you... you only had your knickers on."

"Ah," Tonks nodded. "I think I know, then."

"What?"

"Up until now, Harry, you've accepted what I present to you as 'me', without question. I've been a friend, an Auror you know, but you know me more through... well, through the Order than anything else."

"So?"

"So, the other night, when you saw me undressed... well, I think in your mind I became some one. A person... and maybe you were..."

Harry flushed, "I'm sorry, Tonks, but... no. You're great, and I really like you, but I..."

"Harry, I'm not talking about it being because it was me, but the sight of a half-naked woman..."

"Oh..." Harry said. Dear Merlin, please strike me down before I die of humiliation.

"And maybe that's why you could see through Ginny's concealment, as well."

Harry wouldn't have thought it possible to blush harder, but... "Uh, no... I've never seen Ginny nak..."

"You're physically attracted to Ginny, so you see the real her," Tonks interrupted gently. "Harry, it's normal, Ginny is a very attractive girl... you're seventeen and..."

"It's not just physical..." he said quickly.

"No," Tonks grinned. "I think we all know that. But that is there, as well."

"Maybe," Harry agreed.

"Hmm," Tonks nodded. "'Maybe' nothing, Mr Potter."

"Tonks..." Harry glanced up at her. "Do you mind if we... well, keep this to ourselves for now? It's..."

"Dumbledore should be told, Harry."

"I know," Harry agreed. "It's just... I'm sick of all this... it's just one more thing to... well, would it be okay if we just told Remus, and I promise to talk to Dumbledore soon about it?"

Tonks considered him for a moment. "You know that it's the full moon tonight?"

"Yes," Harry confirmed, smiling.

"So I won't be able to say anything to Remus until tomorrow night, at the soonest,"

"I'm counting on it," Harry grinned.

"Beastly child," she said, wrapping her arm around him. "Very well. But tomorrow night, I'm telling Remus, and if he feels we need to go to Dumbledore, we're going. Got it?"

"Done," Harry agreed. "I need to... go."

"Go and talk to her, Harry," Tonks said gently. "You're both miserable."

Harry smiled, and hurried to the door. "I'll do my best, Tonks."

But when Harry got back to the Gryffindor Common Room, Ginny was nowhere to be seen.

Wow! I think that that is the most reviews I've ever received for a single chapter! Thanks to everyone who reviewed. I'd also like to clarify a something. Some people have questioned 'nice Snape' – I'd just like to say that Snape's conversation with Harry was not based on respect or any feeling of doing what was best for Harry. Just because he understands Harry better doesn't mean that he likes him any more than he did, necessarily. However, he has a very logical mind, and he isn't stupid. He's definitely calculating enough to consider what Harry's experiences mean and how they'll affect the power of the man Harry will become. And Snape respects power. Also, a Wizards' debt it is just that – a magically binding debt based in no small part, on pride. Perhaps he considered any debt owed to James to be no longer valid because of James' perceived treatment of him – or maybe he hasn't told Harry everything – who knows?

Now, for those of you who have a problem with the way things are going... sorry – blame the to muse – she's ticking me off, too.

CQ

Locathah: Yes, you're probably right. But it sounded weird to me when I wrote it "legilimancy". Bear with me my little foibles...

Larna Mandrea: Dumbledore is just... Dumbledore. He's easy to write because he's very two-dimensional (at least to me). I don't try to make him into the prankster that some do, because he's not (although that twinkle might call me a liar), and I don't give him the depth of feeling that a lot do... he cares, but not in the way someone like, say Molly, does.

Merlindamage: Don't count Snape out yet, they're hardly friends. However, you're right – Harry needs allies... as does Snape, I think. Snape knows full well he's only involved with the Order on Dumbledore's word, and he's probably aware that his job hangs by that same fine thread at times. What would happen if something were to happen to Dumbledore?

Kordolin: Ginny will come around... probably.

Sabine Strohem-Moss: Ron is nothing if not good at making assumptions.

Whimsical Firefly: Not so much set on Snape/Lily as I am on Snape being a proud git...

SiriusBlack08: Now, I doubt that! JKR is still queen of my little world. Dumbledore is probably one of the few people who really understand Snape's pride... and knows how powerful it is. He may not trust the motives of a Death Eater, former or otherwise, but he is fully aware that Snape's debt to Lily is something that his pride would never allow him to turn his back on.

Gee-Unit: Who said anything about a "nice" Snape? Don't you think that he's as capable of manipulation as Dumbledore?

Madoleine Tolkien: Thanks – feeling much better this week. Now if Christmas weren't just three weeks away... As for Snape – read the previous review to Gee-Unit. As for Harry – who knows? He's seventeen. He could be talking about Quidditch... although I doubt it!

Shotgunn: Just for you, Scott,my love, I'll try and control that in future. As for the X Box Live.. got one of those things in my house, and I hate it. I'm what is commonly referred to as an "X Box Widow" -- my darling husband loves it, and unlike soccer, I'm simply not willing to learn to love it.

Sumer's Girl: Awww... that's sweet! Thanks!

Weselan: Don't credit Snape with any softie-type feelings he's not capable of. Snape isn't stupid, though, you know? And he does respect power. Perhaps the only thing that has changed is that he now recognizes Harry's power.

Tabasco: Lies of omission can be just as damaging, if not more. An outright lie can have a good motive behind it, but a lie of omission tends to give the suggestion that the person being lied to isn't capable, to some degree, of dealing with the truth. Or that they aren't to be trusted with the truth. There's also the power struggle issue... Ah, don't get me started...

UnRealityCheck: Precisely. Harry doesn't see the difference. Perhaps others just need to learn that not saying something that should be said, or covering up fact with fiction, is just as damning as telling an untruth to someone's face, especially when that person has pre-existing issues with trusting others.

Unwritten Law: He jumped into his head without permission.

LaGau: Don't worry, I'm a faithful Harry/Ginny shipper – I just tend to string out the tension a bit first!

Lozzie: Harry is seventeen. Seventeen, as I remember it, was a particularly nasty age to be, especially when one has responsibility, but little authority. In short, it sucks.

DkandMax: Don't fool yourself – Snape isn't likeable. He's very calculating, but he's not likeable. As for the debt – perhaps Snape feels stronger about his debt to Lily because James and co. were such a pain in his backside... maybe he doesn't feel as indebted because of this.

Heather: Fast enough, my dear? Hope so!

Rdprice29: Glad you think so!

XiaoXiao: We have a saying here -- "he knows which side his bread is buttered on"...

Kitties-Rule878: Thanks – I tend to update pretty quickly, except when I'm sick or my muse abandons me... both of which have happened in the last few weeks.

Not Your Average: Sorry about the cold. It's a killer. Drink plenty, and try the warm tea towel around the throat... that one worked nicely for the raspy feeling. As to why Dumbledore feels Snape can be trusted... he knows that Snape's biggest strength, and biggest weakness, is his pride. The existence of a Wizard's Debt to Lily would be powerful motivation for someone like Snape.

HermioneJaneGranger: I can assure you that H/G is, indeed, coming. Trust me!

MrsSakuraPotter: Yep. Isn't it amazing the way the teenage mind works?

Talix: Harry's not stupid, but Snape has caused him enough pain over the years for Harry to be well on his way to believing that he can't be trusted anyhow – it would probably take very little to "prove" it to him. Don't worry – it'll probably be done soon.

Dementorchic: Draco IS an evil bastard... I may make him bounce yet...

CQ