Chapter 25 - Quidditch try-outs
Harry jumped and looked around. He felt a blanket fall from his shoulders and realised that he was still sitting at the desk in the common room where he had been studying the night before. He realised he must have fallen asleep while he was studying and looked around the room to see what had woken him. He noticed that he was still in the common room, sitting at the desk where he had been doing his work the night before. The fire had burned down to embers. He jumped when he felt someone grab his shoulder and turned to see Ron standing behind him.
"What's the matter?" Harry asked groggily, rubbing his eyes to get rid of the sleep that had accumulated there.
"The quidditch try-outs start in about half an hour" Ron replied. "You've got to hurry up and get ready."
Harry looked at the time and swore under his breath, shaking his head to try and lift the fog that had settled over his brain.
"Were you doing this all night?" Ron asked, looking down at the notes in front of Harry with a bemused expression.
Harry nodded as he got up. As he walked past, he heard Ron mutter something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like "absolutely nutters", but decided to ignore it. He quickly changed, grabbed his broom and then headed back down to the common room where Ron was waiting for him.
When they got down to the quidditch pitch, they realised that they weren't the first to arrive. Ginny and Megan were standing and talking to Andrew Kirke and Jack Sloper. Both girls looked extremely flushed and out of breath. Harry raised his eyebrows at them as he and Ron approached. They both grinned back at him.
"I didn't know you were trying out today Megan" Harry commented.
"I'm not" Megan replied. "I'm just here for moral support"
She winked at Ginny who grinned in return. Before Harry could say anything else, a number of other Gryffindors came onto the pitch. Katie Bell was walking with Hermione. A little way behind them were three 3rd year students that Harry didn't know by name.
Ron called them all to order and declared that the try-outs were to begin. Megan and Hermione wished everyone luck and then went to sit out on the stands together while the rest of the group got their brooms ready. They only needed 2 chasers for the team and there were 4 students trying out, so Ron decided that he, Harry and Katie would all act as keepers while Jack and Andrew continued in their roles as beaters, and that they would try out two perspective chasers at a time.
That decided, Ron ordered them all to mount their brooms. Once everyone else was in the air, Ron quickly let out the bludgers and then threw the quaffle into the air before racing towards the goal posts. Hermione and Megan cheered from the stands as the try-outs began in earnest.
After two hours, Ron finally called out to everyone to land. He quickly dismissed the 4 people, promising that he would let them know by that evening and turned back to the other team members. After a lengthy discussion, they finally agreed on Ginny and a third year by the name of Millie Jenkins.
Harry went to have a shower, and when he made his way across the pitch towards the castle with Ron, he found Hermione, Megan and Ginny waiting for them. They all walked back together, chatting about the try-outs and the talent of the people who had tried out.
"So why didn't you try out Megan? You're great on a broom!" Ginny said, jumping from foot to foot with excitement, as Ron had just informed her that she was to be one of the new chasers.
Megan's smile fell and her expression became blank.
"I don't play quidditch. I'm much better off sticking to my studies" Megan replied in a strained voice, before excusing herself to go to the library. Ginny stared after her for a moment..
"What did I do?" Ginny asked, looking over at the others.
"You left your brain in your common room" a drawled voice called from a few feet away. They turned and saw Draco Malfoy sitting by himself with a book not too far from where they were standing. He stood and approached them.
"Might want to let her cool off a bit before you go looking for her little Weasel" he said mockingly to Ginny. "But let me know if you do go. I'll enjoy watching you hexed into oblivion"
With a smirk, he walked away, leaving all four of them confused.
"Don't listen to him" Hermione said after a moment. "He's just trying to upset you Ginny"
Harry had a sneaking suspicion that this wasn't the case. He had watched Malfoy walk in the same direction that Megan had taken.
Harry didn't see Megan again until after dinner that night. He had spent the afternoon in the common room with Ron and Hermione going over their homework and had gone down to the library to research for the DADA test. Megan was sitting at a table by herself, totally immersed in a book and scribbling frantically on some spare parchment at irregular intervals.
Harry quickly gathered the books he needed, then took the seat opposite her and waited for her to realise he was there. He had been sitting there for a good two minutes before she looked up and gave a start.
"I didn't notice you come in" she said, turning back to her book.
"Must be interesting reading" Harry commented, raising his eyebrows.
She looked up at him and gave a small smile.
"What's the title?" Harry asked. She frowned for a moment before reluctantly lifting the book so that he could read the title. He gasped when he saw what it was.
The History and Use of Unforgivable Curses and their Impacts on Society - by Gathilda Saelthar
"Private Study Assignment" Megan said, before Harry could comment, then turned back to the book. "For Defence. Professor Helsing gave me a pass for it"
They spent the next 2 hours studying silently before Madame Pince informed them that it would be lights out soon. Reluctantly, Megan packed the book into her bag and she and Harry made their way back to the common room. Harry was thinking back to Megan's reaction earlier that day.
"About this morning..." Harry started, but Megan cut him off.
"Don't worry about it" She said with a smile. "It's nothing really"
"I don't understand..." Harry tried again, but she cut in.
"I had an accident playing quidditch when I was little" she said, still smiling. "I'm fine now, the conversation just brought back some bad memories"
Harry frowned, but nodded his acceptance, and Megan took his hand in hers and smiled as him as they rounded the corner and came face to face with the portrait of the fat lady.
Harry found that Ron and Hermione had gone to bed, and after saying goodnight to Megan, he too went upstairs. He didn't notice Megan creeping out of the portrait hole again after he had gone up the stairs.
Monday morning came quickly and found Harry and Ron discussing quidditch game plans, while Hermione stared blankly at the head table, strangely distant.
"What's with you today Hermione?" Ron asked suddenly, noticing suddenly how quiet she had been that morning.
"Have you ever noticed that Professor Helsing always wears her hood up when she comes to meals?" Hermione asked thoughtfully.
Harry and Ron shared confused looks.
"Can't say I have" Ron muttered, piling more eggs onto his plate. "Why do you ask?"
"Nothing" Hermione said after a moment, suddenly snapping out of her trance- like state and smiling at them. "No reason"
As she began eating her own breakfast with enthusiasm, Ron and Harry exchanged looks once again. They both knew that it was more than nothing.
Harry jumped and looked around. He felt a blanket fall from his shoulders and realised that he was still sitting at the desk in the common room where he had been studying the night before. He realised he must have fallen asleep while he was studying and looked around the room to see what had woken him. He noticed that he was still in the common room, sitting at the desk where he had been doing his work the night before. The fire had burned down to embers. He jumped when he felt someone grab his shoulder and turned to see Ron standing behind him.
"What's the matter?" Harry asked groggily, rubbing his eyes to get rid of the sleep that had accumulated there.
"The quidditch try-outs start in about half an hour" Ron replied. "You've got to hurry up and get ready."
Harry looked at the time and swore under his breath, shaking his head to try and lift the fog that had settled over his brain.
"Were you doing this all night?" Ron asked, looking down at the notes in front of Harry with a bemused expression.
Harry nodded as he got up. As he walked past, he heard Ron mutter something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like "absolutely nutters", but decided to ignore it. He quickly changed, grabbed his broom and then headed back down to the common room where Ron was waiting for him.
When they got down to the quidditch pitch, they realised that they weren't the first to arrive. Ginny and Megan were standing and talking to Andrew Kirke and Jack Sloper. Both girls looked extremely flushed and out of breath. Harry raised his eyebrows at them as he and Ron approached. They both grinned back at him.
"I didn't know you were trying out today Megan" Harry commented.
"I'm not" Megan replied. "I'm just here for moral support"
She winked at Ginny who grinned in return. Before Harry could say anything else, a number of other Gryffindors came onto the pitch. Katie Bell was walking with Hermione. A little way behind them were three 3rd year students that Harry didn't know by name.
Ron called them all to order and declared that the try-outs were to begin. Megan and Hermione wished everyone luck and then went to sit out on the stands together while the rest of the group got their brooms ready. They only needed 2 chasers for the team and there were 4 students trying out, so Ron decided that he, Harry and Katie would all act as keepers while Jack and Andrew continued in their roles as beaters, and that they would try out two perspective chasers at a time.
That decided, Ron ordered them all to mount their brooms. Once everyone else was in the air, Ron quickly let out the bludgers and then threw the quaffle into the air before racing towards the goal posts. Hermione and Megan cheered from the stands as the try-outs began in earnest.
After two hours, Ron finally called out to everyone to land. He quickly dismissed the 4 people, promising that he would let them know by that evening and turned back to the other team members. After a lengthy discussion, they finally agreed on Ginny and a third year by the name of Millie Jenkins.
Harry went to have a shower, and when he made his way across the pitch towards the castle with Ron, he found Hermione, Megan and Ginny waiting for them. They all walked back together, chatting about the try-outs and the talent of the people who had tried out.
"So why didn't you try out Megan? You're great on a broom!" Ginny said, jumping from foot to foot with excitement, as Ron had just informed her that she was to be one of the new chasers.
Megan's smile fell and her expression became blank.
"I don't play quidditch. I'm much better off sticking to my studies" Megan replied in a strained voice, before excusing herself to go to the library. Ginny stared after her for a moment..
"What did I do?" Ginny asked, looking over at the others.
"You left your brain in your common room" a drawled voice called from a few feet away. They turned and saw Draco Malfoy sitting by himself with a book not too far from where they were standing. He stood and approached them.
"Might want to let her cool off a bit before you go looking for her little Weasel" he said mockingly to Ginny. "But let me know if you do go. I'll enjoy watching you hexed into oblivion"
With a smirk, he walked away, leaving all four of them confused.
"Don't listen to him" Hermione said after a moment. "He's just trying to upset you Ginny"
Harry had a sneaking suspicion that this wasn't the case. He had watched Malfoy walk in the same direction that Megan had taken.
Harry didn't see Megan again until after dinner that night. He had spent the afternoon in the common room with Ron and Hermione going over their homework and had gone down to the library to research for the DADA test. Megan was sitting at a table by herself, totally immersed in a book and scribbling frantically on some spare parchment at irregular intervals.
Harry quickly gathered the books he needed, then took the seat opposite her and waited for her to realise he was there. He had been sitting there for a good two minutes before she looked up and gave a start.
"I didn't notice you come in" she said, turning back to her book.
"Must be interesting reading" Harry commented, raising his eyebrows.
She looked up at him and gave a small smile.
"What's the title?" Harry asked. She frowned for a moment before reluctantly lifting the book so that he could read the title. He gasped when he saw what it was.
The History and Use of Unforgivable Curses and their Impacts on Society - by Gathilda Saelthar
"Private Study Assignment" Megan said, before Harry could comment, then turned back to the book. "For Defence. Professor Helsing gave me a pass for it"
They spent the next 2 hours studying silently before Madame Pince informed them that it would be lights out soon. Reluctantly, Megan packed the book into her bag and she and Harry made their way back to the common room. Harry was thinking back to Megan's reaction earlier that day.
"About this morning..." Harry started, but Megan cut him off.
"Don't worry about it" She said with a smile. "It's nothing really"
"I don't understand..." Harry tried again, but she cut in.
"I had an accident playing quidditch when I was little" she said, still smiling. "I'm fine now, the conversation just brought back some bad memories"
Harry frowned, but nodded his acceptance, and Megan took his hand in hers and smiled as him as they rounded the corner and came face to face with the portrait of the fat lady.
Harry found that Ron and Hermione had gone to bed, and after saying goodnight to Megan, he too went upstairs. He didn't notice Megan creeping out of the portrait hole again after he had gone up the stairs.
Monday morning came quickly and found Harry and Ron discussing quidditch game plans, while Hermione stared blankly at the head table, strangely distant.
"What's with you today Hermione?" Ron asked suddenly, noticing suddenly how quiet she had been that morning.
"Have you ever noticed that Professor Helsing always wears her hood up when she comes to meals?" Hermione asked thoughtfully.
Harry and Ron shared confused looks.
"Can't say I have" Ron muttered, piling more eggs onto his plate. "Why do you ask?"
"Nothing" Hermione said after a moment, suddenly snapping out of her trance- like state and smiling at them. "No reason"
As she began eating her own breakfast with enthusiasm, Ron and Harry exchanged looks once again. They both knew that it was more than nothing.
