The previous week had flown by, and it was finally time for Harry and Hermione to see the campus of the Wyoming Academy of Advanced Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry had decided to buy the trailer in the ads. What seemed rather queer to Harry was the guy almost seem almost relieved to get it off his hands, mainly because he promptly had settled for a cash payment of $2000.
After the deal had been sealed, and the trailer paid for, they went to the rodeo, and had a rather good time. Harry thought at one point during the bareback event, I would like to try that someday, just for fun. Hermione, on the other hand almost acted as if she had read his mind and said, "don't even think about it."
Monday had at last arrived, and the day of the Quidditch tryouts had arrived. Harry needed to wake up early and get to the Quidditch pitch for tryouts, which would last all week. Hermione wanted to go with him, however since practices were closed to the public, she had decided to explore what the campus had to offer, and check out the large five story library, that was in existence.
Because this was an advanced educational institution, witches and wizards were responsible for getting to and from the campus on their own. Those who couldn't apparate needed to go out of town to an abandon school house in that was located in the Medicine Bow National Forest, where they needed to run though the chalk board that was in classroom two. On the other side, was a huge outside campus, with lush green grass, and in the background was a gigantic mountain, where the snowcaps seemed to touch the sky. Just seeing this beautiful mountain was worth the trip to the campus. What made this campus even more interesting to Hermione was every single building that had been built had been in existence since the 1880's during the Witch's Homestead Act.
Harry and Hermione could apparate, however, since their agreement not to use magic, they had decided to travel through the abandoned schoolhouse. Harry had bought a car for the travel to the abandoned schoolhouse.
After they arrived to the campus, Harry quickly kissed Hermione and said, " I'll see you after practice. I love you." He grabbed his Firebolt, and went running to the locker room. Hermione quickly decided to go towards the library.
Harry arrived in the locker room, where a locker had his name taped on it, 'Harry Potter, Walk-on.' He got dressed into his Quidditch uniform, which was a brown robe, with gold trim. Standing next to him was a tall, beefy man, with fiery red hair, green eyes, and a large amount of freckles spread across his face. Next to him was his twin. Harry took one look at them and thought Merlin's beard, it's Fred and George's clone, and he chuckled to himself.
A few moments had passed, when the first one said with a deep slow southern drawl. "How you doin' names Darryl Edward Lee. What's yer's?" Harry couldn't have been exactly for sure, but he thought he heard the beginning notes of the song Dueling Banjos somewhere in the background.
"Harry
Potter," he said, "nice to meet you Darryl."
"You ain't
from round here are ya? The name's Ernie Robert Lee by the way,"
replied the second one, with the same deep southern accent.
"Just where ya from anyhow? Cause' you defiantly got the accent of a Yankee," asked Darryl looking at him rather suspiciously.
With a bewildered look, Harry said, "I'm not a Yankee, I come from Britain if you must know."
"Ah that explains it, what we got here is a red coat," laughed Ernie, giving Harry a toothy grin, which was stained with chewing tobacco, and patted him on the shoulder.
"You see, we come from Alabam' an' grew up on a farm. Both our parents is muggle born, and bible thumping Christian. So it comes as quite a shock to us when we got accepted into Salem School of Witchcraft and Wizardry . . . " explained Darryl.
"It took quite a bit of persuading before Ma, and Pa to let us go." Ernie butted in.
Suddenly, the door to the locker burst open, and a short thin guy, with blonde hair, and hard looking face, came barging in through the doors. The coach had arrived. "Everyone, get out to the training field… NOW! Leave your broomsticks here. Come-on! Move it, quickly now!" He bellowed.
After seeing the hard look the coach had, Harry knew he did not want to cross this guy, and he ran out to the field as quickly as he could. Upon arriving to the practice pitch, Harry noticed one thing right away. He was by far the smallest guy trying out for the team. He quickly ran too where everyone was standing, and waited for the worst to come.
A sudden crack filled air, the coach apparated, and was standing in front of them. In a calm but stern voice he said, "My name is Coach George Buckland, and I am the head coach for this team. If you're going to play with us, there are some things you need to know. We have twenty-seven scholarship players here, all selected to play for the finest Quidditch team in the land. Because of MWWC Regulations, we are allowed to dress just sixteen for home games. Which means that at least eleven scholarship players will be watching the game from the stands. So if any of you have any dreams of walking out of that tunnel into our stadium with your broomstick shined brightly, you best leave them right here." He said, looking at the apprehensive faces around him, "now my job is to basically beat the shit out of you for the next five days. Of you fifty dreamers out their maybe well keep one or two of you. We will use you for our scout teams. You'll be running opposition play's week in, and week out. Welcome to Wyoming, and the Mountain West Witches Conference. Any of you want to leave now, and save us the delight of having to throw you off? Any of you want to run home to momma? Now is your chance." Nobody moved. "No? Ok, Coach Windall, they're all yours."
"Let, not stand there trying to think, let's hit those ropes, come on… move it! Move it I said!" Exclaimed Coach Windall.
The team ran towards the rope's course. "Come on, Pick em up… Pick em up… Pick em up . . . High knees" Coach Windall yelled.
Harry found this particularly difficult; he had never done this before in his life. He ran as hard and as fast as he could. He hit the first rope and his foot got tangled up in it, he tripped and fell hard on his face. He quickly got up, not willing to let anything overcome him. He didn't even notice the minor cut he had received just above his lip.
After Harry completed the rope's course, he ran to another part of the field. Where he heard coach Windall yell, "All right, Grass drills! Now when I say up, you will run in place! Down, I want you to hit the ground and start doing push- ups! Back means I want you to flop over on your back and start doing sit-ups! YOU GOT ME?"
"YES, COACH!" Exclaimed the team in unison.
"LET'S DO IT!" Yelled, Coach Windall. It must have been the change in the altitude, because Harry was already starting to feel winded, as sweat poured down his face after running the rope's course.
"UP!" Harry found himself running in place…almost immediately it was followed by "DOWN", he quickly dropped to his face and started doing push-ups. Almost at once, it was followed by the command of; "BACK" and he flopped over onto his back and started doing sit-ups. Every repetition of this exercise got more intense and quicker.
Finally after what seemed like hours, he heard, "all right, this is where we separate the men from the boys!" Coach Windall bellowed. "It's called the Ring of Fire. I'm going to pick one of you at random you are going into the center, I'm going to pass you a Quaffle, and your job is to run in place, when I say 'go,' you're going to run and try to make it through the ring without getting the shit knocked out of you! You, Potter you're first."
Harry grabbed the Quaffle, and ran in place, when he heard his cue, "GO!" He ran forward, and was almost immediately taken out by Darryl and Ernie. Coach Windall yelled, "Come on, now who wants to make this team, Damn it."
Harry was even surprised at what happened next, as he yelled, "I can do it Coach!" He immediately ran back to the center and started running in place once again.
"Alright, GO!" Harry ran once again, and was thrown to the ground once more by half the team. Coach Windall grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and scoffed, "Come on get out of here!"
Even though Harry was bleeding slightly from a fresh wound on his forehead, he didn't budge. He was going to get through this if it was the last thing he did. "I can do it Coach!" He simply yelled.
"Yeah? Well see," Coach Windall replied, doubtfully. Harry for the third time found himself in the center of the ring. He started running in place once again with the Quaffle in hand. When he heard the loud yell of "GO!" He studied the guys around him; all of the men gave him an image of over sized Mountain Trolls to this point. He had found his target after studying the group of men around him.
Quickly, he decided to run straight at Ernie and hit him with all his force he could conjure to get through the ring. Running as hard and fast as he could, he lowered his shoulder, and hit Ernie square, in the Solar Plexus, and doubled him over. Without, looking back, he continued to run even faster. Suddenly he felt someone grab the collar of his robes and jerk him backwards. Without thinking, he twisted his body around and broke free of the grip. Now all he had to beat were two other gorilla looking guys standing in front of him. He moved to his left, then right, and he made an accelerated charge up the center, with all the strength he could summon hit the larger of the two apes square in the center, and sending him flying with a bone crunching crash to the ground. He made it out of the ring alive. He tossed the Quaffle back to Coach Windall, with a triumphant grin, and walked to the out skirts of the ring.
Darryl was the next person in the center. You could have almost heard a pin drop, when Coach Windall commanded, "Go!" Darryl charged right at Harry, hit him with thunderous force, and sent him flying for was seemed like fifty feet backwards. Harry heard a loud crunch emit from his back as he crashed tensely on the ground. He was in excruciating pain, but he got up quickly, and went back to his position.
After what seemed like hours, the ring of fire was over, and Coach Windall yelled, "Ropes Course! Come on, Move it!" Harry's heart sank to the pit of his stomach; he had never worked this hard in his entire life. He was, winded, his back hurt grievously and he was bleeding profoundly at this point, but he was not going to admit too, being defeated. He found a hidden desire buried deep within him. He wanted to become a part of this team more than anything in this world. With this tense feeling, burning deep within his stomach, he found it out-weighted his desire for him to quit. After 8 hours of total physical exhaustion Coach Buckland yelled, "Shower up, be back here tomorrow!"
Harry slowly went back to the locker room, his bones were already starting to stiffen up and ache. He thought, I'm going home and taking a long bath, then Hermione is going to give me a back rub. He sat down on the bench and got dressed, Darryl and Ernie were next to him. Darryl exclaimed, "You dun a damn good job!"
Harry grinned, "Thank you. You did pretty well also, want to join me for something to eat?"
Darryl and Ernie nodded together. "Hell yeah, I'm hungry as all shit!" Exclaimed Ernie as he put on a straw cowboy.
"Well, lets go," Harry, responded with a definite tone of exhaustion. He heaved himself onto his feet, his whole body felt as if he had been run over by whole herd of stampeding Hippogriffs. He walked painfully slow out of the locker room.
Harry, Ernie, and Darryl all started to walk towards the campus. Harry noticed right away, a nice change, neither of the two seemed to know who exactly he was. It was a nice change, and he felt as if he could act like himself. For the first time, he wasn't the notorious Harry Potter, the boy who repealed the Dark Lord Voldemort when he was just a baby. He was just another wizard, which he rather enjoyed.
On the way to the cafeteria they passed the library, and Harry remembered Hermione, and said, "I need to stop in here real quickly."
Darryl said in a tone of astonishment, "The year ain't even started yet, why you want to stop here for?"
"I just want to see if my fiancé is here just to see if she wants to eat lunch with us." Harry responded.
"Sure what the hell," replied Ernie.
Ernie gave Darryl, a quick glance and he shrugged in agreement "Why not," he stated, "never know what might be lurking, in them neck of the woods."
By the noise Darryl and Ernie were making, Harry wondered if they had ever been in a library, but none-the-less, he was starting to like being around them. They definitely made campus life a bit more interesting. He started looking for Hermione.
Darryl and Ernie, both spotted a very pretty looking female sitting alone. "Look at that tasty looking morsel over there," Darryl said.
"I know it, I'd sure love to have a shot at her," Ernie said, "take a look Potter, she is something else." Harry glanced over at the girl the two were gawping at, and to his surprise they were looking at Hermione.
Laughing, Harry said, "Sorry to be the one to break your hope's boys, but she already has a boyfriend."
Ernie asked, in a tone of bewilderment, "How do you know her?"
"Oh we went to school together," Harry said, and clearly stated, "you know, and she's the one I'm looking for. She's my fiancé."
The sullen look spread across Ernie and Darryl's face was enough to make Harry laugh to himself.
"Yer a lucky man Potter," Darryl Replied.
"I'll be back in a few minutes," Harry said, as he slowly and painfully walked towards Hermione. She was indulged into a book: The History of Witchcraft in the Old West. With a mischievous smirk spread across his face he snuck up behind her, and with both hands poked her in the ribs.
Hermione, who wasn't expecting anything screamed loudly. She jumped almost ten feet into the air. Every head in the library turned around to see the source of the distraction. Looking as if her heart had been pounding a hundred miles per second, and with a furious look spread across her face.
She got up and gave him a quick hug, and then she slapped him hard on the shoulders. "Never do that again or I'll hit you harder next time," She laughed, looking into Harry's eyes.
Harry let out a small groin in pain. "Oww! That hurts," he howled, painfully. Then their lip's quickly met half way.
"Oh I'm sorry," Hermione said, unsympathetically, "But you deserved it."
"Would you like to go to dinner? I also want to introduce you to Darryl and Ernie. For some reason, they remind me of Fred and George," he said, laughing slightly.
"Sure." Hermione responded happily, and grabbed his hand, and they walked back to where Darryl and Ernie were standing.
"Darryl ... Ernie, I would like to introduce you to my fiancé, Hermione Granger."
Darryl, tipped his hat, reached his hand out and took Hermione's, and gently kissed the back of it. " Good to meet ya Ma'am," he stated, showing his gallant southern heritage.
Blushing slightly "The pleasure is all mine," Hermione said.
Ernie took his hat off, and did a gentleman's bow before taking her hand and gently kissing the back of it. "Such a pleasure to meet such a perty lady," He responded, courteously.
Harry smiled and said, "all right you two prat's, you've been drooling long enough let's go eat." He took Hermione's hand and all four of them left the library to go to the student union, which was located in the next building.
"So how was practice?" Hermione asked. Taking a guess that it was rather rough, from seeing how sore he was.
"Exhausting. We didn't even fly, just workout for 8 hours. With only a couple half- hour breaks." Harry slightly moaned.
Hermione looked at Harry and suddenly noticed the small cut above his forehead, and said, "It must have been rough, judging by that cut."
Harry smiled ever so slightly when gently twisted his neck to one side which let out a loud popping noise. "I can't wait to get home. I am exhausted," he moaned.
Hermione smiled encouragingly, "when we get home love, I'm going to give you a back rub, I promise."
"Only after I soak in the bathtub for a couple hours." Harry pointed out.
Hermione gently kissed his cheek and said, "Of course," and slowly they made their way in to see Darryl and Ernie sitting at table waiting for them.
"Hey, ol' man can't you hurry up? We're starving," Ernie called out, from the table.
"Come on now, it can't be that bad," stated Darryl.
"You ain't, gonna die on us are ya?" Asked Ernie, sarcastically.
Hermione shook her head, but couldn't help to laugh as she said, "I don't know about those two, and they seem almost obnoxious if you ask me."
Harry nodded in agreement, and said, "but you know, they may prove to make life on campus interesting. Perhaps we should invite them to tea some day."
Hermione shook her head in disapproval, "No way, not yet Harry, I want to get to know them first."
Wanting to avoid an argument Harry said, "yeah I can understand that, for some reason though they seemed to accept me right away," and they, sat down next to the twins.
"So Potter what do you want to eat?" Asked Darryl, " We'll pay for your meal, and your lady friend's as well."
"I don't really care at the moment. Anything sounds good," Harry said, fighting to stay awake, as his whole body throbbed in pain.
"How about a pizza?" Asked Darryl.
"Oh, That sound wonderful," Hermione replied, She got up and fetched two knifes, two forks, along with two cups of Earl-grey.
Ernie and Darryl got up, and went to the pizza parlor and ordered an extra large with pepperoni, ham, mushrooms, pineapple and green peppers, and two beers for themselves.
Harry started sinking deeper into his chair, and did not want to move, and almost fell asleep when Hermione returned back with the cups of tea. She whispered into his ear, "are you ok Harry? You look simply exhausted."
"I'm ready to go to bed," he replied, half awake.
"Let's eat, then we can go home,"
"That sounds grand," Harry replied, simply.
The twins returned quickly with the pizza, four beers and four plates. Harry quickly grabbed three slices, and started to eat with his fork and knife. He was too tired to even care, nor take notice at the barbaric nature that Darryl and Ernie were eating, and chugging, down their beer. Hermione, who was fully conscious, made a disgusted look as she tried to eat her food.
After they finished eating, Harry got up from the table, and said, "Well I'll see you guys tomorrow. Have a great evening," and shook their hands.
Hermione didn't say anything as she left the Union hand- in- hand with Harry. She decided to be nice, and let Harry disapparate back home. She knew he was too tired for the long drive back to the trailer. She went back alone through the chalkboard that lead to classroom two, and drove home alone.
When she arrived, she found Harry sound asleep in their bed, and she gently shook him awake "I got your bath water ready for you," she said, in an affectionate tone of voice.
Harry looked at her with half-open eyes, and went to the bathroom and soaked for about a half hour, and he got out only after he nearly falling asleep and drowned. His comfortable bed was screaming his name as he promptly headed towards the bedroom.
Hermione was sitting on the couch, in the family room when he passed by going to bed she asked, "do you still want me to give you a back rub?"
"Yes… Please." Harry groaned very slowly and kissed her.
"Ok, I'll be there in a minute." She finished drinking her tea, and started back to the bedroom.
It was too late, still dressed in his clothes, Harry had passed out the minute his head had hit the pillow. Fortunately, he was lying on his stomach, and even though he was completely unconscious, she gently straddled him and compassionately gave him a back rub. Afterwards she climbed under the covers and turned the lights off. She caressingly cuddled up next to him and before she went to sleep, whispered in his ear "I love you, Harry James Potter."
The next week would go by so quickly; Harry had hardly noticed that it was Friday, the last day of the tryouts. Harry found himself in the locker room once again, getting dressed in his blood stained brown, and gold robes. He felt sorer than he had ever felt in his entire life. Every day seemed a lot like the first. However it got steadily worse as the week progressed. He didn't know what coach Buckland was trying to get at by working them so physically hard, and not even allowing them the chance to fly. His spirits were getting rather low, and he was almost certain that he wouldn't make the team, even though he had given more effort than any two guys trying out. He had seen a lot of guys get cut from the team already, and he was honestly surprised that he wasn't one of them.
His relationship with Hermione was starting to suffer slightly. After a long day of practice, he always found himself too stiff, and tired at the end of the day that he didn't want to do anything else except sleep. She understood, that he was bound and determined to make the team, and she gave him one hundred and fifty percent of her total support. However, she wanted to spend just a little more time with him. She wanted more than a quick kiss in the morning, while handing him a sack lunch that she lovingly made for him.
After practice, he came home from a long training session, give her a quick kiss after he ate dinner then he took a shower and went to bed. She was beginning to go slightly stir-crazy, at being stuck in the trailer all day. Fortunately, she had enough money to buy her textbooks and she had taken to reading them while he was away at practice.
Harry was back out on the practice field once again, doing his warm-ups with the rest of the hopeful team. Starting with jumping jacks. "1...2...3" yelled Coach Windall.
"258" yelled the team.
Finally after a stringent warm up Harry heard a whistle blow and Coach Buckland say, "all right, go get your brooms." For the first time in a week, Harry's heart gave a giant leap; he was going to be able to fly again. He quickly went to the locker and grabbed his Firebolt, which was by far one of the worlds fastest broom's in the world. Darryl and Ernie were carrying Ugly Sticks.
After returning back to the practice field, he felt triumphant, knowing he would do well. As a seeker, for the Gryffindor team, he only lost one game, and that was by default. So the odds were in his favor, at least that's what he thought, until he saw how talented over ninety percent of the remaining people who were trying out for the team. Ernie and Darryl for instances were incredible flyers, and made, the great Vicktor Crum, seem like a beginner. Harry's heart once again sank, as doubt flooded over him. He figured, that there was just no way he could compete at this level, but he wasn't going to give up, he was going to give it his all.
A few hours had passed, since they had taken to their booms, when Coach Buckland, blew his whistle, he yelled . . . " Ok relax for a while, shower up well let you know."
With high doubts, knowing that at any minute, he would be cut from the team, Harry slowly walked, back to the locker room. He was bleeding slightly from the nose, his robes were, blood stained and dirty. He was getting dressed, when coach Windall walked up to him and said, " Hey Potter, a word please."
This is it, I'm done for, I'm getting cut from the team. Harry thought, and he walked off with Coach Windall, barefoot and let out a stressful sigh. Darryl and Ernie, stayed behind and said, "Good luck man, you did damn good."
"You wanted on the team pretty bad didn't you?" Coach Windall asked, as soon as they left the locker room.
"You have no idea," replied, Harry.
"You did sure bust yourself out there. Now do you think you can give the same effort day in, and day out for the next year?" Coach Windall asked, studying Harry over closely.
"Sir, I have no doubts," as comprehension started to dawn on Harry, that he actually might have made the team.
"Ok, here's the deal, if you do lighten up, just one hair, I'll throw your butt off this team so quickly, you won't know what hit you!" Exclaimed, the coach.
"So I'm on the team then?" Harry asked, in disbelief, making sure that he hadn't misheard something.
"Yes! You're on the team." Coach Windall said, "You're the reserve Seeker."
"Thank you sir, I promise I won't let you down," Harry said, in a polite tone and shook the Coaches hand.
"Be here on Monday at four in the afternoon ready to work hard." With that, Coach Windall walked off.
Harry's head was swimming, as he walked back into the locker room, and sat down on the bench next to Darryl and Ernie. "So didja, make it?" Darryl asked.
Harry was pale in the face and he couldn't speak, he just nodded his head. Finally he found what little voice he had left and said, "Reserve Seeker"
"Holy sheep-shit! Congratulations," Ernie said, patting him on the shoulder.
"I knew you would do it." Darryl said, in an excited tone. "This calls for a celebration."
"Later…perhaps you lot can come over for a cup of tea after practice on Monday," Harry said, knowing that Hermione won't approve.
"To hell with the tea its Miller time, bud!" Wailed Darryl, and Ernie nodded in agreement.
"I can't, I need to tell Hermione she will be ecstatic. Plus we're going to Britain for the weekend." He explained.
Darryl and Ernie nodded, "Yeah take care of that lady of yours she is something else."
"I will see you guys later. Cheers." Harry said.
"Have a good un," Darryl and Ernie said conjointly, before he disapparated home.
Upon arriving home he saw Hermione, sitting in the recliner, reading one of her textbooks, and listening to some soft orchestra music.
She looked up and said, "Your home early, how did it go."
Harry had a serious look on his face. "Well…" he started to say.
"Is everything all right?" Hermione asked, seeing the look on his face.
Harry shook his head. "I just don't believe it."
"What? What is it?" She asked, looking like she was coming close to panic.
"I made the team," he said, in a soft undertone.
"What?" Hermione asked, because she didn't quite hear Harry clear enough.
Harry, looked into her eyes and said, with a much clearer tone to his voice, "I made the team."
Hermione dropped her book and covered her mouth with her hands and flew out of her chair, wrapping her arms around him into a bone-crushing hug. "Oh my god!" She exclaimed, "That's wonderful, I knew you could do it."
Holding Hermione in his arms was all it took. Harry broke down into tears, he had done the impossible, and it was all because he had a strong desire not to give up, and the support of a girl he loved more than anything in the world. He felt a strong sense of relief come over him, because like so many times before, he had beaten all odds.
Hermione looked at him in surprise, not ever expecting him to break down and cry, she asked, "Are you ok Harry?"
Harry simply nodded and before he kissed her gently, said, "I love you Hermione. Thank you for always being by my side." Once again Harry thought, I'm on top of the world, I have the girl I've always wanted, and I'm living a great life. Things simply can't get any better.
To be Continued
