Later that evening Harry told Hermione, Ginny, and Ron everything Wood had told him about Malfoy and Pansy. "It doesn't make any sense," Ron said. "If Malfoy can't be lying, then how can Pansy remeber him attacking her."
"And if whoever did it didn't use a polyjuice potion to do it..." Hermione said thoughtfully. "There aren't any other spells to change into someone else."
"Wood said that they were going to look into it. But the thing tha concerns me is the Veritaserum. What if it was tampered with?"
"Harry," Ginny said, "we know how you feel about Snape and we all dislike him, but I really don't think..."
"No," Harry said. "Not Professor Snape. Someone else." They all looked at him incredulously.
"Harry, you can't think that Professor Dashall would have tampered with the Veritaserum," Hermione said.
"I'm just saying that there's something strange about her." His three friends looked at each other.
'ATTENTION PLEASE,' a voice over the loud speaker interupted thier conversation. 'ALL STUDENTS TRYING OUT FOR THEIR HOUSE QUIDDITCH TEAMS PLEASE REPORT TO THE FIELD AT THIS TIME!'
"Oh my goodness," Ginny said jumping up. "I've got to get to the library, my paper on Hinkypunks is due tomorrow." Harry managed not to grin. He knew where Ginny was really going.
"I've got a pile of homework to do," Hermione said. "Ron why don't you join me you know you need all the help you can get." Ron blushed.
"Oh, right, yeah of course." Harry was slightly baffled at his friends behavior, but he shook it off and told them he'd see them both later. He hurried out of the common room and caught up with Ginny as she tried to sneak away.
"Ginny," he said catching up to her.
"Harry," she said guiltily. "Um, I really can't talk I've got to get that paper on Red Caps done or Snape will read me the riot act."
"I thought the paper was on Hinkypunks," Harry said slyly.
"Right," Ginny said flustered, her face turning red, "I have so much to do, I just have trouble keeping it all straight." Harry grinned. He didn't know why but he did so enjoy making this girl blush.
"It's okay Ginny, I know you're trying out for Keeper." Ginny's eyes widened.
"Wood promised he wouldn't tell," she said a flash of anger in her green eyes.
"Don't be mad at Wood, please Ginny. He didnt' mean to tell me. We were talking about other things and it just slipped out"
"YOu won't tell Ron, Fred or George will you. Please Harry they'd only make fun of me, tell me I'm daft for thinking I could make the team"
"I won't tell. And I don't think you're daft for trying out Ginny. I think you've got just as good a chance as anybody." He meant what he said. Several times that summer he'd played Quidditch with the Weasley boys, so they could be in prime shape when the year started. Ginny had been their keeper, and she was good.
"Thank you Harry," Ginny said shyly, "that means a lot." For a moment neither of them said anything.
"Well, uh, I better get to the field,"Ginny said after a moment.
"Yeah," Harry said quickly, "Good luck."
The next day
The Great Hall was buzzing with rumors on who the new Quidditch players would be. Wood and all the team captains had been very quiet about the whole thing.
"Your attention please," Dumbledore said standing. "I know you are all anxious to hear the results of the Quidditch tryouts. So we will keep you in suspense no longer. For Hufflepuff, replacing Dorthea Diggle as Chaser, Lavinia Thripp." The Hufflepuff table cheered as a thin sixth year girl with two black braids cried into a hankerchief.
"For Ravenclaw, replacing Robert Flan as Beater, Evan Dogerty." Harry glance over at the burly seventh year who was being embraced by his friends. He looked tough. Harry was not looking forward to playing him in their next match.
"Temporarily replacing Draco Malfoy, for Slytherin, as seeker, Fredrick Lumley." Harry looked at Malfoy's replacement. He didn't look like much. He was a scrawny fourth year with bad skin.
"And finally, taking over Oliver Wood's position as Gryffindor keeper...Ginny Weasly." Harry immediately was on his feet clapping. He looked at Ginny who looked stunned. Hermione rushed over and hugged Ginny.
"It's so wonderful Ginny. I didn't even know you were trying out"
"Why didn't you tell us?" Fred, George and Ron said coming up to them.
"I didn't want you to make fun of me," Ginny said.
"It's wonderful Ginny," Ron said hugging his sister. "Mum will be so proud"
"Just imagine our baby sister, making the team. Just hope you don't let the Quaffle past you"
"Oh don't worry about that, I've lots of practise against you lot." They all laughed. Harry temporarily forgot his concerns over Pansy, Malfoy, and Professor Dashall as Gryffindor celebrated their new keeper.