Chapter 13: Quidditch Tryouts
Note: Chapter done, yes. And I know that the darkness of the relationships is a little weird, but it will get better, I promise.
Harry groaned and rolled over to his side. Since when was his bed this hard? And he was cold, very cold. The blankets must have fallen from the bed…Wait. Why was he so close to the floor? His eyes opened slowly, and the sight of Ginny laying there next to him almost made him jump. He suddenly remembered that he was in the Great Hall…He sat up slowly, moving his arm away from Ginny without waking her. It was still dark and empty in there, and the ceiling was still storming up above. Man, his head really hurt. His watch said it was almost ten in the morning. Ten in the morning? But what about classes! And where did everyone eat breakfast? In their Common Rooms? And why was it still so dark and cold in the Great Hall? Harry looked around for the answers, but nothing came to him.
"Ginny?" Harry whispered to the beautiful girl that was sleeping peacefully next to him on her stomach. She only sighed in reply and pulled the blanket farther over herself. No wonder he was so cold, Ginny had stolen the blankets! But he knew that he didn't really mind it. He leaned in and kissed her head, then got to his feet slowly. His legs ached, but he ignored it. His head was throbbing, but he ignored that as well. And his stomach was telling him to eat something, but he pushed it away. He spotted Hermione laying in a small bundle and wrapped in a blanket a few yards away and everything that had just happened earlier that morning came rushing back.
"Whoa," he whispered, grabbing the table to keep from stumbling over. There was a bandage wrapped around his arm and he stared at it. Had Madam Pomfrey been in to see them while they slept? And Harry couldn't remember having any dreams…Someone must have used the Dreamless Drought on them…
Moving closer to Hermione, Harry could see her face was stained with tears and there was a small bandage on her chin. Her hair was wild all over the place and a bit tangled in certain areas. Harry looked down at himself and saw his pajamas and robe were clean and free of dirt, just like Ginny's and Hermione's. Who was in here and did all that while they slept? And why hadn't they been awaken so they could go back to their own rooms to sleep? And Ron…Harry got a sick feeling in his stomach and actually thought he may pass out, but he steadied himself as he walked over to the doors and pulled on them. They didn't budge. He tried to use his wand to open them, but again they just stayed still.
"Shit," he said a bit louder then he intended and he heard Ginny stir over on the floor. She sat up quickly and her copper hair flew all around her face, her eyes wide and frightened.
"Harry?" Her voice was still slick with sleep.
"Hey there," he sat back down next to her and she scooted over closer.
"Ron? What's happened to Ron?" She asked hurriedly, darting her eyes around the Great Hall.
"What time is it? Why are we still down here?"
"Shh," Harry calmed her by putting his finger against her lips.
"I just woke up myself, it's almost 10. The doors are still locked, and I don't know where Ron is right now…Someone must have been in here, though. We are clean, treated medically, and I think I had the Dreamless Drought used on me because I can't remember anything I dreamed about," Harry informed her.
"Me neither," she looked down at a small bandage on her freckled hand.
"Last night was horrible!" She declared, running a hand through her messy hair. "I was so scared in that forest…"
"So was I," Harry kissed her cheek.
"If I had only seen it earlier…Maybe I could have gotten to Ron faster and he wouldn't be…Dea- I mean, hurt right now…"
"Harry, do not start blaming yourself again," Ginny hugged her boyfriend tightly.
"It's not your responsibility to see these things all the time, there is nothing you could have done about it. Hermione saw it at just about the same time you did anyway, so…" Her thoughts trailed off.
"And Ron has to be fine, we would have been notified if he wasn't…Right?" She sniffled.
"We need to find a way to get out of here," Harry decided, standing back up and helping Ginny to her feet. He went over and just started banging on the heavy wood doors, hoping that someone out there would hear him.
"Hello?" He yelled loudly, pounding again. Ginny had gone over to Hermione, who had just woke up, and helped her to her feet, hugging her tightly. Hermione looked a bit confused about the whole thing and she was still hugging the pillow tightly to her chest.
"Did you try Alohomora?" She asked, wiping away the sleep and leftover tears from her eyes.
"Yes," Harry replied, kicking the door and wincing as his toe crunched in pain. He thought he heard someone knock back.
"Hello?" Harry, Ginny, and Hermione all asked hopefully. A moment later, the doors swung open and McGonagall and Dumbledore appeared, both looking calm and collected. Hermione was already en route to the hospital wing when Dumbledore reached his long arm out and stopped her.
"Hold on now," he said.
"We are going to go see Ron, is he still in the hospital?" Ginny asked anxiously.
"Yes," Dumbledore replied simply.
"And he's alive?"
"Yes."
"Then let's go!"
"One moment please," Dumbledore started inside the Great Hall.
"Please take a seat." They reluctantly sat down at the nearest table, and all looked impatient for information. When no one spoke, Harry slammed his fist on the table.
"Well? Are we just going to sit here all day?"
"Watch your tone, Mr. Potter," McGonagall warned.
"How am I supposed to watch my tone when my best mate is laying is the hospital and you idio-" Harry was interrupted by a kick on the foot from Hermione.
"Sorry," he muttered. "Go on with what you have to say then."
"First off I should mention that you three have been excused of classes today," there was a twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes.
"It was very brave of all of you, and Bill, to go out into the Dark Forest like that."
"Well, he is my brother," Ginny snipped, obviously now just wanting to push past all this conversation and get to Ron.
"Of course he is," Dumbledore replied.
"But it was still a brave thing that took a lot of courage. And you are lucky you did, I don't know how much longer Ron might have lasted out there."
"What's happened to him?" Hermione asked slowly. Dumbledore gave a great sigh.
"To be completely honest with you all, I don't know all the facts. Ron was suffering from hypothermia. You could say this was lucky, really." Harry, Hermione, and Ginny all stared at him questionably.
"Because that is what kept him alive from the Phantoms," he went on. They do not like the cold, you see. It sort of yields them off. Mr. Weasley was already unconscious when they came across him, and they tried to take him, just like they had done to Mr. Longbottom, but his body was too chilled. Do you three understand what I am saying?"
"Yeah," they all replied as one, Hermione covering her mouth with her hand and Ginny was gripping Harry's arm tightly.
"But sir, why can't anyone who comes across a Phantom just suddenly put a curse on themselves to make them cold? Wouldn't they back off then?" Hermione managed to speak.
"These Phantoms are much too powerful, they would be able to sense the curse coming their way," Dumbledore replied calmly.
"Are you saying that they can almost…Sense what somewhat is going to do next?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow.
"This occurred to me," Dumbledore folded his hands tightly. "It seems that Mr. Weasley was able to…"
"What, Professor?" Ginny asked worriedly.
"I cannot say for sure, but it is quite peculiar how quickly Ron's body seemed to sense that it needed to fall unconscious."
"I don't understand," Ginny was scrunching her face at Dumbledore, but Hermione and Harry both stared at each other. Could Ron…Possibly sense these things as well? And some how tell himself to get in a certain state of mind? It was almost silly, really. Ron had never experienced something like this before, it could just be a simple coincidence. It was always Harry having all these visions, but that quite simply was from his never-ending connection with the Dark Lord.
"C-Can we just go see him now?" She asked hopefully.
"You may. But please give him his space. His mind is still a bit clouded over from all the medications Madam Pomfrey tended him with, but he should be able to communicate with you."
Hermione and Ginny darted up and ran right out the Great Hall, not caring about their appearance or lack of proper school clothing.
"Sir?" Harry asked attentively.
"Yes, Harry?"
"Is there more to Ron's condition then you are not letting on about?" Harry looked right into the old man's eyes, and he thought he saw a shadow pass across briefly.
"In due time I will know, Harry," he sighed and stood himself up slowly. Harry suddenly thought he looked incredibly old and frail, and McGonagall held his arm to help him remain steady.
"Run along now, Harry. Spend as much time as you can with Ron before Madam Pomfrey kicks you out," the twinkle returned in his eyes, and it stayed in Harry's brain as he hurried to the hospital wing.
"Professor Dumbledore said we could see him!" Came Hermione's impatient voice as Harry entered the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey did not seem to want to let them view her patient quite that easily.
"Mr. Weasley needs his rest right now," Madam Pomfrey snapped back, glancing up at Harry.
"Hermione?" Came a weak voice from behind one of the curtains wrapped around the bed. Hermione ran over before Pomfrey could stop her, and pulled herself in through the curtains. Harry could hear her crying, and they were whispering back and forth about something inaudible. Pomfrey just raised her hands in the air in disgust and sauntered off.
"Teenagers these days, no respect for anyone!" She was muttering as she left through the doors. Ginny came over and rested her chin on his shoulder in a hug.
"Let's give them a moment before we pull the curtain," she said tiredly into his ear. He wrapped his arms around her and nodded in agreement.
Hermione was still clinging to his neck tightly, and Ron felt it a little harder to breathe. His head felt as if it weighed a ton, and he just wanted to close his eyelids a bit to help with the throbbing…
No distinct memories were left in Ron's head, he just knew the basics. He had gone out to serve detention, fell down a hill, huddled against the tree after seeing the Phantoms, and then suddenly everything became unclear.
"Oh, Ron," Hermione finally loosened her arms around his neck and looked into his eyes. He saw they were over flowing with pain
"Hermione, please don't look at me like that," Ron gulped, wishing she would stop looking at him like he had died. He took her hand in his and she gasped at how cold he still was.
"I told you I'd never leave you," he continued quietly. With that she fell back onto him again, her arms back around his neck.
"You must have been so scared, Ron," Hermione was saying into his neck.
"I was," Ron admitted.
"It was brave of you to come in there for me."
"I was with Bill, Harry and Ginny," Hermione blushed, trying not to look like it was a big deal.
"It was still brave."
"I didn't like the thought of you…Out there by yourself. And after I heard Hagrid say you were still out there, there was no stopping me from getting to you. Then I saw you…Sitting there. Cold. Unresponsive. You looked…"she trailed off.
"Don't say it," Ron said quickly, holding Hermione closer.
They both stopped speaking and just at there together in the silence. The curtain slowly opened, and Harry and Ginny peeked in, looking worriedly at Ron. A grin spread across Harry's face when he saw Hermione sitting on top of Ron.
"Hey mate," Harry sat down in the chair next to the bed.
"Hey Harry," Ron replied, smiling back at him.
"Ginny," Ron waved his sister closer, and she leaned in and hugged him over Hermione.
"I'm glad you are okay, Ron," she said, kissing him on the cheek.
"I should be out of here soon," Ron took a deep breath as Hermione got off his chest. "This is a place I have been to way too much since we got to Hogwarts!"
"They should give you your own permanent bed," Harry joked, looking at the box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans perched on the table next to the bed.
"Those are from Bill, if you want some," Ron gestured his hand to the box and grinned.
"Thanks, I am starving," Harry took the box graciously and shoved a few in his mouth.
"And you say I am always hungry!"
"You are always hungry!" Harry made a face as he chewed a red bean slowly. His eyes started to water and his face reddened.
"Red pepper?" Ron chuckled. "I had one of those before."
"How can you guys just sit here and joke around like this?" Hermione asked, sounding annoyed.
"Ron, you almost died! And worse yet, these Phantoms are still hanging close to the castle! They aren't gone. They aren't going away until they get what they want, and what they want is as much life from Hogwarts students and staff as possible so they can deliver it to The Dark Lord and he can grow in power and come after Harry and all of us and-"
"Hermione!" Ginny interrupted harshly, her knuckles white from clutching Ron's shoulder.
"Where did you find all this out?" Harry demanded, his green eyes dark. "How did you know that these Phantoms work with Voldemort?"
"Umm," Hermione's face flushed, and she sank back into a chair next to Ron's bed.
"Well?" Harry tried to keep his voice steady.
"I read about it in a book, all right? Creatures You Never Want to Run Into by Wyatt Yellowstone!"
"And what exactly did Wyatt Yellowwanker or whatever his name is have to say about this?" Ron asked slowly, not wanting to set Hermione back on another rave.
"Yellowstone, and…" She looked at the three eager pairs of eyes.
"Look, I don't know much. But these Phantoms are creatures that have been secretly working with the Dark Lord for many years, but there have never been any actual sightings of them. They want the souls from the strong and healthy so they can give it to The Dark Lord. Once the Dark Lord has this, his strength grows and he will have the power to control everything his victim goes through."
"Like Neville for instance, he's never been really wise, you know? So the Dark Lord has no use for him now. Snape, was someone He could use. And Harry…"
"What?" Asked Harry timidly.
"You are very powerful and you are one of very few that can guard yourself from Him. That's why your mood was always changing from normal to…Well, not so normal. You were able to over come it because you are strong. All those Occlumency lessons really do come in handy."
"But Dumbledore was able to help Snape get out of it, how come he can't help Neville?" Ginny wondered.
"The things The Dark Lord did to him were a bit too much I'm afraid," Hermione shook her said sadly.
"So he's never going to come out of this?"
"Never say never, but it would really take a miracle…"
"This is horrible," Harry slapped himself on the forehead.
"I mean, if this fucker really wants me, why can't He just fucking come get me?! Why does He have to mess around with everyone I care about when I'm right here, waiting for Him?"
"Harry-"
"No, don't tell me it's okay, Ginny! It's not! One of us is going to die. And I know there will be many other people who die in this battle, and I can't stand the thought of any of it! Do you know how I would feel if I lost any one of you? I know you don't want to hear it Ron, but if you had been taken by the Phantoms, I don't know what I would do! Hermione, you say I am so powerful and things like that, but you know what I have to say about it? Bullshit. If I am so powerful, how come I can't stop any of this? How come I can't just finally BEAT Him?! There have been people that have died trying to save me. Fucking Harry Potter. Sirius was someone that…" Harry stopped pacing abruptly and stared at the floor. Hermione, Ginny, and Ron had no idea what to say, and they all opened their mouths to speak, but thought against it and shut them again. There was a long silence where no one spoke, until Harry turned to Ron.
"I hope you feel better mate," he set the Bertie Box that he had been squeezing to it was just a crumbled mess down and ran off out of the hospital doors. The three of them just gawked after him.
"Should I go after him?" Ginny asked cautiously.
"I think you should," Hermione pursed her lips. "He talks to you, at least more than…"
"What?"
"Just go Gin, I'll see you later," Ron suddenly spoke up.
"Okay," she gave them one last look before slipping through the curtain and pulling it around the bed again. Then it was quiet. Ron stared at his foot. While Hermione kept her eyes on the spot Ginny had disappeared from.
"'Hermione, what were you going to say to Ginny?" Ron asked after an awkward five minute silence.
"Just that Harry seems to talk to her more then he talks to us anymore," She stood up and rejoined Ron on the bed.
"It's hard from him to talk about it," Ron said. "He always stops when Sirius gets brought up."
"But why can't he just talk to us? It's not good for him to keep all these things bottled inside, especially not when it comes to death."
"He talks to Ginny about it," Ron pointed out. "At least he is talking to someone."
"I know, it just makes me feel a little bad that he can't talk to us about this."
"He will when he's ready," Ron reached for her hand, which she took.
"Because you are the best listener I know," he murmured as she laid herself next to him on the bed. She nuzzled her face in his neck, and let out a warm breath of air that made his skin tingle.
"Thanks Ron," she said, sounding ready to doze off.
"Don't….Let me….Fall asleep," she whispered as she closed her eyes.
"I won't," Ron whispered back, but he was already falling into the dream world…
"What in heavens name is going on here?" The tight voice of Madam Pomfrey drilled into Ron's ears. He opened his eyes slowly, and saw her glaring at him disapprovingly.
"What now?" He asked defensively. Then he remember Hermione there, half laying on top of him as she slept. She looked peaceful, and he hoped she would keep sleeping.
"This is completely inappropriate!" She said shrilly. Ron groaned as Hermione stirred with a start.
"Oh!" She pulled herself up off of Ron, and wiped her eyes.
"I should inform Dumbledore of this matter at once!"
"Take it easy already, we weren't doing anything!" Hermione snapped, staring evilly at Madam Pomfrey. Ron looked at her in awe. Was this really Hermione Granger talking back to an authority figure? Pomfrey looked a little startled at this as well.
"You are free to leave now, Mr. Weasley," she slammed two bottles down on the counter.
"Keep taking that medicine, and there's some Dreamless Drought there if you want it." She was gone before Ron could reply.
"We weren't doing anything," Hermione repeated to Ron.
"I know love, but you know how she is!" He pulled himself to his feet and Hermione stood in front of him, her dark eyes fixed in his.
"Are you sure you are ready to leave?" She asked as that line of concern crossed her forehead.
"I'm fine," He touched her chin and pulled her face to his, kissing her lips softly. Then he did a quick change into his sweater and jeans, and gathered up the rest of the beans from Bill.
"Have you seen Bill?" Ron asked as they headed up to Gryffindor Tower.
"No, we were locked in the Great Hall before we came to see you," Hermione replied, taking his arm in hers.
"They locked you in there?" Ron half laughed half gasped.
"Yeah, guess they didn't want us coming after you." They continued on their way along the empty castle. Everyone else was still at their last class for the day, whispering about what had happened.
When they entered the Common Room, Harry and Ginny were kissing furiously on the couch near the fire, and Ron tried not to laugh.
"See, now we really do know how it feels!"
The days flew by after that without any trouble. The Hogwarts students were all anxious to hear news about Ron and the Phantoms, but Dumbledore only gave them a brief bit of information and advised Ron, Harry, Ginny, and Hermione to not speak much of what they knew. Harry never mentioned his burst of anger with Ron and Hermione, but they both had the feeling he had discussed the whole thing with Ginny.
Lessons were already getting grueling, and the homework was piling up in each class. But at last, it was the Friday that both Harry and Ron had been waiting for.
"We are going to be late, Ron," Harry groaned, standing in the doorway of the Boys Dormitory.
"I know the bloody things are somewhere," Ron was half under his bed, in search of his Quidditch gloves.
"You don't really need them right now, we are just holding tryouts!"
"Aha!" Ron moved so fast he smacked his head on the bottom on the bed.
"Shit," he shoved them on, grabbed his broom, and ran off after Harry who had hurried away as soon as Ron found the gloves. But he had stopped in the Common Room and he was staring at Ginny.
"Ginny?" Ron gaped, staring as his sister, who was wearing her own Quidditch gloves and carrying her small broom.
"What are you doing?" Asked Harry, looking stunned. "I thought you said you didn't want to play anymore after you were Seeker last year? That it was too intense?"
"I…Um…Thought I would try out for a Chaser…" She bit her lip and stared right at Harry. "Now that you are back as Seeker I don't have to worry about that."
"Are you kidding me?" Ron laughed. "Since when are you into being a Chaser?"
"I've always liked any Quidditch position, I was pretty good last year! And I have been practicing this summer, you were too busy to notice," Ginny shot a pointed look at Hermione, who was watching them from where she was doing her homework on the floor.
"You don't have to go off on Hermione and me now, this summer-"
"You really want to do this?" Harry broke in, looking somewhat pleased.
"I do, Harry." They both grinned and Harry wrapped her in a hug.
"It would be amazing to have you in the game with me for a change," he murmured into her copper hair. Ron scoffed and sat next to Hermione.
"Are you trying out, too?"
"No, Ron," she smiled. She looked back down to her essay she was writing.
"Not going to come and cheer me on?" He lifted her head from his finger on her chin and looked into her dark eyes.
"I have so much homework," she whispered, getting lost in the deep blueness of his eyes. "And you don't…need my luck…you are a….brilliant Keeper…" she was breathing harder as Ron kissed her on the neck. Her arms came around his neck and she pulled him on top of her, kissing him frantically. All of Ron's thoughts about Quidditch fell out the window as he rested his hand just above her stomach.
"You guys!" Ron heard Ginny and Harry both groan.
"Quidditch! Going to be late! Ron!" Harry complained. Ron stopped kissing Hermione, then looked from her to Harry and Ginny. Hermione or Quidditch? Quidditch now, and Hermione later, he decided as he kissed her once more before joining Harry and Ginny to jog down to the field.
It was a bit cold and windy out, but the rain had finally cleaned up and the sun was reflecting pinks and purples all over the sky. The Quidditch Field was an amazing site that Ron could never get enough of. Harry looked about ready to pass out from happiness as he climbed on his broom and flew straight up into the air.
"I can't wait any longer either," Ginny grinned, getting on her own broom and hovering lightly over the ground. Ron got on his broom slowly, and breathed in the fresh air as he rose higher and higher. Yes, this was where he belonged. Why was he doubting it? He flew over to the group that had formed in the center of the field. Dean and Seamus were there. The Creevey brothers, Parvati, Lavender, and a few younger years were gathered around Angelina, looking at her excitedly.
"Ron, Harry, now that you are here, we can start the tryouts! We need all of our Chasers, as you all know. Due to a choice made by their mother, Fred and George are with us again as Beaters this year. You know Harry returning as our Seeker, although Ginny Weasley was very impressive last year, and Ron as our Keeper."
"The twins are both going to be doing their usual Beater routine against you all as you try out, and I want both Harry and Ron to be guarding the goals," she started lecturing.
"Now, I only want you to try out for Gryffindor if you are really committed to this team! We don't need any slackers. We are here to work hard, have fun, and win!" Ron tried not to snicker at how serious she sounded.
"Potter, Weasley, get in front of the goals. There's no need to go easy on anyone now, remember!"
The two of them flew off, laughing together at how serious Angelina was taking the whole thing. Ron focused on the right side, while Harry floated around the left.
"Ginny looks determined," Harry said, looking down below him at Ginny's faint shape.
"Four Weasley's at Hogwarts, four Weasley's on the Quidditch team again, that would be two years in a row," Ron replied, half amazed and half sarcastic.
"If she makes it, that is." Ron tried to ignore the dizziness he felt, and the light throbbing in his body. Maybe he wasn't completely feeling better after what happened in detention, but there was no way in bloody hell he would pass up the Quidditch tryouts, especially now that Ginny was trying out for a new position.
"You okay, Ron?" Harry asked, flying a little closer to Ron and staring intently at him. He had the same look Hermione always had in her eyes, and again it played with Ron's annoyance level.
"Fine," he replied a bit sharper than he intended.
"If there is something, you know I'm someone you can tell. Anything at all…"
"You never tell me anything about how you are feeling about this whole war, so why should I spill myself to you?" Ron shrugged, running his hand over his broom and trying to keep his eyes from Harry.
"Fair enough, I guess," Harry said, an edge of hurt in his voice. "Sorry."
"No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gone back to that again. And I really am fine, just a little sore I guess…" Ron stated quickly. Then they were both quiet as they hovered high above the ground, and Ron felt it. He felt that their friendship was perhaps changing. But was it getting stronger, or….Starting to deteriorate? When they were younger they never had to deal with things like this before, and the mood was always joking-around and playful, but as times were changing things got deeper, emotions were everywhere. Harry was dealing with things no one his age should ever have to go through, and Ron was so confused about all the new feelings he was feeling.
"It's fine, let's just concentrate on getting some good Chasers," Harry interrupted Ron's thoughts and smiled at him. But Ron saw a bit of sadness in his smile. He went farther over to the left, and Ron scooted a bit more to the right. Fred and George flew over and Fred attempted to do a flip on his broom. He almost slipped off, and was left dangling with only his right hand hanging on.
"Nice one," Ron smirked.
"He's just trying to impress Angelina," George teased, whistling. "Emphasis on the word trying."
"Shut up," Fred pulled himself back on the broom and fixed his hair.
"He bought her a new necklace you know, and-"
"George!"
"-he's going to take her out next Hogsmeade visit-"
"Shut up already, this is not-"
"-so I guess they are back together!" George finished as Fred ran his broom into his leg.
"I didn't know that you guys broke up," Ron replied, surprised.
"I told you that we did," Fred grumbled. "She wasn't very fond of the brilliant stunt George and I pulled last term, and she called it off."
"I don't think I believed you when you told me that."
"You need to learn to start believing the things we say little brother, they are very wise words of wisdom and hold the truth to all your questions," George said.
"I'm supposed to believe what you told me that one time when I was eight about broccoli growing out of my ears if I ate more than two pieces in one sitting?" Ron sniggered.
"Very, very important information that you doubt!" George feigned shock.
"When we become famous and idols to millions all over the world, you will regret not-" Fred was cut off as a bludger buzzed passed his head and into Ron's arms.
"Bloody hell!"
"I believe it's your job to handle these," Ron teased, throwing it at his brother.
"Fred! George! Do not hang around the goals all night, you have a job to do!" Angelina yelled from where she was hovering on a broom a few yards down. Fred's face reddened, and he immediately flew off with the bludger in his arm.
"Love, I tell you," George winked and followed his brother a moment later.
"Bloody mad," Ron said half to himself and half to Harry, who had scooted a little closer to hear the conversation.
"Okay, Colin Creevey, you are first!" Angelina declared, holding a clipboard tightly in her hands and floating smoothly on her broom.
"W-What do you want me to do?" Colin asked in a small voice.
"Just show us what you can do!"
"O-Okay," Colin still looked lost as she tossed him a red quaffle. Ron could see the twins both already had a bludger and their batting sticks ready to knock the poor bloke off his broom.
"You can do it Colin!" Ginny was cheering.
"Thanks Gin," Colin grinned. His grin got wiped from his face as George smacked his bludger in his direction. Colin darted foreword quickly, trying to get away from the bludger, but it followed him for a few yards as he zoomed left and right. Ron had to give him credit, he could sure nip around fast enough. When he got to the goals, he shot the quaffle half-heartedly, and it landed right in Harry's arms.
"I'm not even a Keeper and I blocked that, Colin," Harry threw it back to him. "Try it again."
"Sorry," he blushed from his neck on up. He backed up a bit as Fred sent his bludger his way, and started to fly foreword.
"Colin, if you were really in a game, you would not be able to fly so clear and straight like that, try to act as if you are dodging other team members!" Angelina instructed, not looking at all impressed. In what seemed to be an attempt at some cool move called the Woollongong Shimmyperfected by the Australian Woollongong Warriors, Colin ended up sliding off his broom and hanging on just by one hand, dropping the quaffle. Angelina slapped herself in the head as Ron and Harry grinned at each other.
"Okay, thank you Colin. Ginny Weasley, you're next!"
"Can't I try this again?" Colin whined, getting his bum back on the broom.
"Maybe if we have some time left at the end," Angelina snapped, waving him off.
Ginny flew up to Colin and patted him on the back gently. Fred had retrieved the quaffle for her, and whispered good luck as he tossed it in her arms.
"Go ahead, Ginny," Angelina looked a bit apprehensive. Ron thought that George didn't hit the bludger all that hard as Ginny gracefully dodged it. Ginny moved easily in the air, as if she didn't have a care in the world. She was quick and could simply move away from the bludger, and she was acting as if other team members were there, like Angelina had said. When she got to the goals, she did a trick move and acted as if she was going to throw it in the goal post nearest Ron, but she did a quick reverse and shot it at Harry, who wasn't expecting it. He tried to block it, but it flew passed him too quickly and sailed right into the hoop. The look left Angelina's face and she perked up a bit.
"Nice one!" She shouted approval, marking something on her clipboard. Ginny tried a few more moves, mastering each one of them, and by the time she was done, Ron wondered how he never noticed how good she was. Angelina caught his eye and gave him a thumbs up.
"She nailed that brilliantly," Harry gushed, beaming at Ginny as she returned to the ground and sat next to Colin. "I think she will be better at this than she was as Seeker."
"Yes she did. Must be something with Weasley's!"
"Your mum's home cooking," Harry joked.
"Ah yes, that's it," Ron grinned.
Dennis Creevey attempted to follow in his brother's shadow, and that he did, only making the same mistakes. He was nearly knocked off the broom as he tried the same movie Colin had. Angelina nearly had a fit and yelled at them to stop trying to do professional Quidditch team moves. Ron thought Dean did well, but he seemed more like he was just there to have a good time. Seamus, on the other hand, ran into both of the twins and Ron as he tried to zoom around quickly on his broom, not to mention the eleven times he dropped the quaffle. A third year named Natalie McDonald was the best after Ginny, and he saw Angelina give her an appraising look when she finished her tryout.
Ron's mouth fell open when he saw Parvati Patil flying up into the air, and he exchanged a bemused look with Harry. He expected to not have to worry about defending the goal, and prepared for Angelina to have a fit again. But Parvati dodged both of the twins' bludgers and was flying at him quickly. She did a fake move like Ginny had, and Ron almost fell off his broom as he blocked it. He had blocked it, but just barely. She tried again on Harry's side, and got it in. Each time it went Harry's way it went in, and when it came to Ron he nearly missed it every time.
"Excellent!" Angelina praised, making another note. Parvati tossed her dark braid behind her shoulder and flashed her white teeth at Ron, who was in a mild case of shock. Harry watched her fly off, and finally spoke up.
"Holy shit, Parvati??" He choked.
"Who knew that there was that hidden Quidditch talent in there!" Ron replied in awe.
"Not me," Harry shook his head.
Lavender was not as lucky as her friend. She took a hit to the head from the bludger, and was more pissed off at the fact that her hair became undone then the fact that she had dropped the quaffle, and quit in the middle of her tryout. She sat down to fume next to Parvati without another word to Angelina. The younger years weren't bad, but they all seemed to be trying too hard. A first year girl just seemed to want to get a good look at Harry as she casually tossed the quaffle at him. A second year boy burst into tears and said it just felt to good to be out there with them.
At last, a few hours later, the tryouts were over. Angelina was sitting on the broom looking over the notes she took, when suddenly the crying second year from earlier flew right at her. He couldn't main control of his broom and crashed right into hers. Not expecting the blow, Angelina slid from her broom and fell off, falling to the ground. Ron only caught the end of her fall, but the twins were flying to her side at an instant.
"Angelina?!" Fred yelled, jumping off his broom before it was even on the ground and running over to his friend. Or ex girlfriend. Or girlfriend, or whatever she was then. The way she was laying on the ground made Ron's stomach turn. Tears where running out of her eyes, but she didn't seem to know she was even crying.
"My…Leg, I can't feel it," she breathed out, trying to move her long legs out from how they were bent behind her. Ron thought it was similar to what had happened to him that summer, only one hundred times worse.
"Don't move Angie," Fred instructed, taking her hand and trying to keep her still. Ginny had took off to get Madam Hooch, who had only just left from checking on them minutes ago.
"I am so sorry! My broom wouldn't stop! I-I tried to stop, but it wouldn't stop! It kept moving! Wouldn't stop!" The second year babbled as he repeated himself. No one even acknowledged what he was saying. Lavender and Parvati had turned around from the bloody mess, looking green in the face. George and Fred were both trying to keep Angelina calm, and Ron and Harry were both kneeling next to her.
Madam Hooch and Ginny arrived, running wildly in the wind.
"What has happened?" Asked Madam Hooch, kneeling down near Angelina's leg.
"Oh dear…"
"I'm sorry….T-The job, I-I really wanted this job!" Angelina sobbed, clutching Fred's hand tighter.
"You have to go?" Ron burst out before he could stop himself.
"Ms. Johnson, I warned you not to bring anymore harm to yourself," Madam Hooch said, but she sounded more worried than angry. "I told you what would happen with your emotions if you went through any of this pain again." Ron, Harry, Ginny, and the twins all stared back and forth from Angelina to Madam Hooch, wondering what they were on about. One of the five of them knew the truth…
"It wasn't her fault! It was mine," the second year boy brought up.
"That's not the point," Madam Hooch studied Angelina's face, as if looking into her brain.
"Do you feel okay?"
"I-I don't know yet," Angelina said quietly.
"Will someone please explain this to me!" Fred shot his hands up in the air and spoke for what everyone was thinking. "Angie fell off the broom, that's all…Shouldn't we get her inside to Madam Pomfrey?"
"You didn't tell him?"
"No," Angelina looked at her hand that Fred was holding. Ron wondered how all the attention had gone from the bloody mess of Angelina's legs, which seemed extremely painful, to some sort of emotional mind game.
"Tell me what?" Fred asked, looking from George to Madam Hooch until finally landing on Angelina.
"Angie?" More tears ran down her cheeks.
"Let's just get you inside, shall we?" Madam Hooch raised Angelina up so she wouldn't have to walk.
"Angie, tell me!" Fred insisted, following after them.
"Wait, Potter!" Angelina called, and Harry looked to her. She gave a sad smile.
"You're captain now, Harry. Ensemble a good team. For me, will you?"
"Me?" Harry squeaked. "I-I….Will, yeah." He looked lost in some other universe as he watched Fred try to get answers out of Angelina as they disappeared around the corner. The attention all shifted to Harry.
"Congrats!" Ron slapped him on the back.
"Me?" Harry asked again.
"You!" Ginny said proudly.
"No, I don't want it," Harry waved his arms. "Ron, I want you to be captain."
"Harry! It's yours," Ron argued.
"I don't want it!"
"Yes you do! Just admit it."
"I have too much stuff going on right now to worry about being the Quidditch captain, and I'm serious, take it Ron-"
"Bullshit Harry. You have wanted this since you first started playing Quidditch, I know you have!" Ron crossed his arms. "You do not have too much stuff going on right now for Quidditch."
"Come on Harry, it will be great," Ginny encouraged. "Right everyone?" Everyone that had been paying attention all nodded their agreement.
"Brilliant Harry," Parvati flashed him another wide grin, which Ginny scoffed at.
"You told Angelina you would," Dean brought up.
"Fine," Harry said reluctantly, not sounding at all as thrilled as Ron would be if he was him. He was tempted to say okay when Harry offered him the captain job, but he knew it was Harry's right to have it. Harry bent down at picked up the notes Angelina had been taking.
"I guess the team needs to…Have a meeting to chose our Chasers then," he stated.
"What about Fred?" George asked.
"Uh, right. We'll meet in the Common Room then…Later, when he is back."
"Is Angelina going to be okay?" Ginny asked George. George's eyes clouded over, and he looked nervous.
"George, what do you know about her that Fred and the rest of us don't know?" Ron asked his brother. Nearly fifteen eager pairs of ears all opened as George looked ready to speak.
"Not here," he hissed. "Come with me." Ron, Ginny, and Harry all followed Fred away and everyone else groaned in annoyance as they started to gather their stuff and return to the castle. Ron had never seen his brother look so serious in his life as they all gathered around a tree, which was swaying in the darkening air.
"Okay, listen. I'll just say it. At the beginning of the summer, Angelina was…Well, her family was attacked by Death Eaters." A collective gasp left all of their mouths.
"Her legs…Were severely severed, and they tried to keep them on and functioning, but they aren't. She still has her legs, but they aren't like ours. There aren't any nerves in there or anything. She had to learn how to walk all over again. I don't know if you noticed, but she does walk with a bit of a limp. See why Angelina didn't really feel anything there when she fell? It was still bleeding of course, but there are no feeling sensors in there," George finished quietly. They all stared at him with wide eyes, and Ginny looked about ready to cry.
"How did you find this out? And you never told Fred about it?!"
"When we were in Diagon Alley getting our supplies and all that, Angelina's older brother told me, I guess thinking I was Fred," George admitted.
"I could never tell him about this, are you barmy? He took the break up with her hard enough as it was, he didn't need to know that the woman that had broke his heart was attacked by Death Eaters! He still loves her, you know."
Ron somehow couldn't process the thought that his brother actually felt that. He never once showed any hint of emotion in the area of love. A twinge of guilt pulled at Ron, and his heart went out to his brother.
"Poor Fred," Ron mumbled.
"Poor Fred and Angelina," Ginny wiped her eyes. "They were always really happy together."
"Don't tell Fred that I knew about this already, please?" George begged, looking at them with sincere nervousness in his eyes.
"Yeah," said Harry.
"I won't," Ron sighed.
"It's okay George," Ginny hugged her brother.
It was Harry that made the first move to leave the awkward silence, muttering something about getting his Quidditch things packed up. Ron followed him, and Ginny and Fred were talking not far behind.
"Anything the matter, Harry?"
"Why couldn't you have been captain, Ron?" Harry asked, sounding angry. "I don't want it!"
"Yes you do," Ron said exaggeratedly. "I can't handle Quidditch captain and Prefect duties, and you know that you are more capable of multi-tasking then I am."
"You had to bring that up?" Harry said bitterly.
"What?"
"Prefect."
"What? I thought you said you weren't angry about not getting one again this year," Ron felt his own anger boiling at Harry.
"And I didn't fucking choose to be one. Who's to say I even wanted it last year?"
"You sure didn't go bitching to Dumbledore about it," Harry shot back angrily. "You know you love all the alone time you and Hermione are going to get."
"Grow up already, Harry!" Ron shouted. He suddenly couldn't take anymore of Harry's wallowing.
"What's happened to you? You can just be happy for me? For yourself? Stop acting like all the good things that happened to you, like Quidditch captain, are the worst things that could ever happen. And I know you are feeling horrible about things that are happening, but they are not your fault. If you are thinking you could have helped Angelina this summer, you are mad. I don't know what else I can say to get my words to go through your head. I wouldn't be surprised if they are bouncing right out, considering how you never listen to anything Hermione and I tell you. But then again, you never talk to us about any of it anyway, so how could we know what to say to you?!" Ron felt as if he could go on even longer, spilling out his feelings to Harry, but he felt it hard to breathe as he got himself worked up. Instead he just grabbed his broom and gloves and jogged off, not even looking at Harry's face for any sign of what he was thinking. George and Ginny had obviously heard every word he just said, but they didn't call out to him as he sped off.
The castle was nice and warm, and smelt of pine needles, but that didn't help his mood as he banged up to the Gryffindor Common Room. It was only past nine, and the Common Room was buzzing with students. Many of the younger years that had witnessed Angelina's fall were spreading the word to their friends. They all looked up as Ron barged into the room, his face red and fixed in a scowl, and his hair all over the place. He stalked right passed Hermione up to his room and threw his broom on the bed in anger. Seamus and Dean were both down in the Common Room, so he was fuming alone in his room. He kicked his shoes off and they flew against the wall. He was ripping his sweater off over his head so he was just in a shirt and jeans. There was a knock at the door, and Ron knew immediately that it was Hermione.
"Come in," he mumbled, kicking his socks under his bed and throwing his broom off the bed and to the floor.
"Ron?" Hermione appeared moments later, shutting the door tightly behind her. Ron flopped down on the bed, and put his pillow over his face.
"What happened?" Hermione asked gently, taking the pillow off of Ron's face. He sat up as she sat down next to him, and began to spill everything. It all seemed to come out in one long sentence as he spoke about the tryouts, Angelina's fall and what happened to her this summer, and his blowout with Harry. Hermione listened to every word that he said without interruption.
"Wow," was all Hermione could reply with when Ron finished. Ron suddenly did not feel like talking anymore, and he got up and started to put away the mess he had made. Hermione seemed to take the hint, and she followed him up. She took the Quidditch gloves out of his hands and wrapped his arms around her waist, leaning her head into his chest.
"I love you," were all the words necessary for her to say.
"I love you, too," he kissed the top of her head. She leaned her face up and he took this opportunity to kiss her softly, tightening his arms around her. They didn't notice that Ginny and Harry had entered the room until Ginny cleared her throat loudly.
"Sorry for the interruption, but-" Ginny started to say.
"Come on Hermione, Harry seems to have problems with the idea of all the 'alone time' we get," Ron took Hermione's hand and pulled her across the room. No one made an attempt to stop them until they were almost to the door, when Harry stepped in front and blocked the way out.
"Get out of the way Harry," Ron said darkly.
"No, you have to listen to what I want to say," Harry said just as darkly back.
"I don't want to hear anything you have to say right now! And neither does Hermione. So move."
"Hermione?" Asked Ginny. Hermione looked a little flustered, but she didn't deny what Ron said.
"Maybe right now is not the best time."
"Are you two ganging up on him now?" Ginny demanded.
"Let him speak for himself, Ginny, he doesn't need you to come in here and bloody back up everything he says !" Ron bellowed to his sister.
"Us? Look at you two!" Ginny pointed her finger at Ron and Hermione. "You have turned Hermione into a different person!"
"What does that mean?" Hermione voice elevated to the tone everyone else's held. Ginny didn't reply, she just bit her lip.
"I am the same person I always was! Just because I fell in love with Ron does not mean-"
"WHAT ARE WE EVEN ARGUING ABOUT?!" Harry suddenly shouted, causing them all to stop.
"Ginny, you know that Hermione is just as stuck up as she always was, maybe bitchy at times, and Ron is the same klutz as before, but that's why we like each other. As mates we can look passed all these-"
"What did you call her?" Ron said, feeling Hermione's hand tense up in his. Hermione looked with wide eyes at Harry. Sure, Hermione could be a bit arrogant at times, but she certainly did not deserve to get the title of a 'bitch', and Harry nor Ron have ever called her that.
"Look, I didn't mean that, but I want to talk to you guys-"
"Just leave me alone now Harry," Hermione let Ron's hand go and shoved her small body right passed Harry.
"I don't care if you insult me, but you didn't need to go and say that about her, she didn't do anything!" Ron felt like he really wanted to punch his best mate, who suddenly looked incredibly helpless.
"What happened to all those things you said about me? Remember when Draco called me a 'good for nothing' or whatever it was, and you told me I deserved everything good that had happened to me? What happened to that, Harry? Were you just saying words without any real truth to make me feel better?" Harry said nothing, but he shook his head fiercely, and neither did Ginny.
"And you said you were happy about Hermione and me, but all I have seen lately is jealousy. Is that what it is? You've got my sister right there and you are jealous about us? That's fucking pathetic, Harry." Ron pushed himself passed Harry, knocking him into the wall, and ran after Hermione. He noticed Dean and Seamus were standing at the foot of the stairs, apparently able to hear everything that was just talked about.
"Don't go up there unless you want to get insulted," Ron said to the both of them. "Harry's gone fucking nutter!" He ran across the Common Room, passed all the curious glances, and took the stairs to the girls' dormitory two at a time. The room was dark and cold, and neater than the boys' room.
Hermione was sitting crossed-legged on her bed, her face hidden behind her hands. Ron joined her on the bed, and did an Imperturbable Charm and Silencing Charm on the curtain hangings. He didn't know what to say, there was still too much anger running throughout his veins.
"Hermione, you're not a stuck up or a bitch," he finally said, taking her hands away from her face. "You're beautiful-"
"I don't want to talk right now," Hermione jumped on Ron and knocked him to his back. Ron got the idea.
It was almost desperate love-making, both Ron and Hermione wanted to pour all their emotions away into it. Ron paid special attention to everything he did to her. He wanted to show her how beautiful she was and how much he loved her. He also listened carefully to every sound she made, every time her body shuddered against his. And that was bloody brilliant.
Of course, no one knew the true horror that was taking place…To one of their own Hogwarts students…
Note: Ahh, another cliffhanger. You know you love them. And talk about raging hormones! And note, the POV changes a few times in this chapter!