Reviews: (only two last time? can we try to make it to 50? that would make me soooo happy!)

ILUVRONWEASLEY: (aka Dude) I updated, and yea, so Katie's captain no more! I bet we can all guess who will be captain! ;)

Caroline: thanks for reading my story! I love it when my friends do that, and even review!

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER!

Chapter 8- Teachers and Talk of Tryouts

"What do you mean Katie's resigned?" asked Harry in disbelief.

"Exactly what I said," muttered Ron. "McGonagall said that tryouts for the new captain would be tomorrow. Do you think I should-"

"Ron! You should tryout!" exclaimed Hermione. "I mean, you and Harry are always talking about Quidditch and plays and things, so why not? It'd be perfect!"

"I was just gonna say-" started Ron, but was cut off by Harry this time.

"Yeah Ron, you should! I would but I've got Prefect duties and my 'lessons.' Plus, you're so much better at thinking up plays and maneuvers than I am!" He glanced at Hermione. "And Hermione, since when have you cared about Quidditch?"

She blushed. "Since you two never stop talking about it. It gets annoying really," she admitted. Ron stifled a laugh.

"When are tryouts?" asked Harry curiously.

"I already told you mate." Ron rolled his eyes, a habit he picked up from Hermione, even though it was a bit girly. "They're tomorrow afternoon. Everyone who wants to try out has to bring in sample plays. Katie will be judging. Then she'll pick somebody. She also said that she still wanted to be on the team, if possible"

"What do you mean, 'if possible'?" Hermione wondered, the red on her cheeks gone now.

"I think it means that if someone who doesn't play on the team gets it, she won't be on the team. But if someone on the team becomes captain, she'll stay." explained Ron. He looked at the mildly confused face of Hermione. "Could you understand that?"

Hermione chuckled, "Yes, but only because it came from you Ron."

The next morning Harry awoke to Seamus, Ron, Dean, and Neville talking. He heard Dean's voice, "We should wake him up. We've got her class first and I want to get a good seat."

"You know he doesn't care about that. He got to help her in the Tournament, remember?" came Seamus's voice. Harry understood that by "her" they were referring to Fleur. He attempted to roll to the side of the bed and get up, but went too far and fell off with an "oof."

"Good! You're up! Get dressed quickly so we can get to Defense Against the Dark Arts!" Ron said quickly, practically pulling him off of the floor and to his trunk. Harry sleepily got dressed while the other boys waited downstairs for him. He stumbled down the stairs and got to the portrait.

"C'mon Harry! Dean went to get us some toast so we could get to class early! Let's go!" Ron said, dragging him for the second time that morning.

A few seconds later Dean came running up behind them, holding some toast. "Here," he panted.

"Thanks," Ron said, shoving the toast into his mouth. "C'mon, let's go now! Class starts in twenty-five minutes!"

Harry stopped in his tracks. "Twenty-five minutes? You dragged me out of bed for that? I could be still sleeping now!"

"Told you he wouldn't care," Seamus muttered.

"Well, you're up now, so let's go!" Ron said. Grumbling, Harry allowed himself to be dragged to the Defense Against the Dark Arts room. The other boys ran to the front of the room, not surprised to see some Hufflepuffs sitting in the front. Ron sighed and took a seat behind Ernie MacMillan (A/N: what's Ernie's last name?). Harry sat next to Ron, who was looking dreamily at the front of the classroom. Harry glanced around the room to see all of the other boys had the same dazed look on their faces. Harry didn't always like going to DADA because Fleur constantly asked for his help. He wondered what they would be doing today, and what help she would want. He hated getting the evil glares from Ron and his fellow Gryffindors, but he couldn't really do anything about it. Harry sighed.

"Thinking of women out of your league, Potter?" Harry heard a voice say behind him. He turned around to see Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle walking into the room.

"What?" Harry replied, his anger growing.

"You heard me, Potter." Malfoy retorted, the smirk on his face becoming wider. "No wonder Professor Delacour calls on you all the time, she must be getting something 'special' from you."

"You little-" Ron started, coming out of his daze.

"Watch yourself Ronald!" Hermione exclaimed, coming into the room. "We don't need a fight today guys. Sod off Malfoy."

"Feisty today, aren't we, Mudblood?" Malfoy sniggered. He left and sat down across the room, next to Crabbe and Goyle. Hermione rolled her eyes and sat down next to Harry and Ron.

"Nice going Hermione," Ron said happily. "I never thought I'd hear you say anything like that to Malfoy."

"It's always a good thing to hear you insult Malfoy first thing in the morning," Harry laughed, then yawned.

"Didn't you get enough sleep Harry?" Hermione asked. She lowered her voice, "Did you have any 'special' dreams about you-know-what?"

"No, nothing of the sort. Ron here just dragged me out of bed to get a good seat in class," Harry yawned again.

At that moment, Fleur walked into the room. "Good morning clazz. I 'ope all of you had a nice breakfast, or in France as we say, le petit déjeuner." As she spoke the French, Harry looked around and saw just about every boy in the room zoning off and drooling on their books and parchment. He tried not to laugh. He was used to this already, the boys in the class drooling and the girls giving evil glares to Fleur, jealous as they were. "Today ve vill be learning about ze Patronus Charm. Can anzyone tell me vhat ze charm does?"

Hermione's hand shot up. "The Patronus Charm is very complicated, beyond Ordinary Wizarding Levels. The Charm will turn into a sort of animal, depending on who cast the spell. In order to cast this spell, one must think of a happy memory so the Patronus can protect them. The Patronus is used against dark creatures, such as dementors."

"Très bien, Miss Granger." Fleur looked down at something on her desk. "It zayz 'ere that Miss Granger and Mr. Potter can both produce a Patronus Charm. Vould ze two of vous like to de… deme… Oh, vhat's the word?"

"Demonstrate?" a Ravenclaw boy yelled from near the back of the classroom.

"Oui, demonztrate. Could you, merci?" She pleaded.

Slowly Harry and Hermione got up from their seats. They walked to the front of the classroom. "Miss Granger, you first," Fleur instructed. Harry watched Hermione close her eyes, trying to think of a good memory. Suddenly she shouted "Expecto Patronum!" and a rather large otter slowly came out of her wand. The class ooh'd and aaaw'd, watching Hermione's otter "swim" across the room. Finding no present danger, it seemed to melt away into the air.

"Felicitacions! Très bein Miss Granger! Ten points to Gryffindor!" Fleur exclaimed, excited to see a well-done Patronus. "Monsieur Potter, s'il vous plaît." She narrowed her eyes, waiting to see Harry's power.

Harry also closed his eyes, trying to think of a happy thought. 'Something happy, something happy.' He thought to himself. He kept thinking of Sirius's death, and that would not help him create a good Patronus. He suddenly remembered a semi-happy thought, of when he got to go to Grimmauld Place earlier that year. The charm came to Harry's lips before he realized it, it was such routine to him. To his happiness, a shining silver stag came out of his wand. It charged around the room, stopping in front of Malfoy, who was looking absolutely terrified. The stag, finding no danger, disappeared into thin air, just as Hermione's otter had.

"Très, TRÈS, bien, 'arry. Twelve points pour Gryffindor. Ze two of you may take your zeats." Hermione and Harry sat down, obviously embarrassed. "Clazz, zat is 'ow you conjure a Patronus Charm. Obviously eet is much 'arder ven zhere is real danger around, but now you zee vhat one may look like. Moi, I cannot produce a Patronus unless I am een a very bright room. I zink zis room will be efficient, so let me give it a try." She pointed her wand at the ceiling, and the class waited for her Patronus. "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" Fleur screamed. Harry realized she must have had to try harder than he or Hermione did, seeing as she probably wasn't as powerful. But she knew a lot. Fleur's Patronus was in the shape of a cat, feeble but strong. The boys in the room applauded as Fleur's cat slowly disappeared. "I realize my Patronus is not as interesting as 'ermione's or 'arry's, but yet eet is my personal one. Homework pour next time is to vrite an essay on ze Patronus charm. 'arry and 'ermione are excused from the assignment, as long as zey offer to 'elp any other student that wishes it. You may all practice zee charm on your ovn time, but I must varn you zat zings don't always 'appen ze first time you try it. Zee you next time!"

As Harry, Ron, and Hermione got up to leave the classroom, Malfoy came in front of them. "Oh look at me, I'm the great-and-powerful Potter. I can produce a Patronus whenever I want," he said mockingly.

"Don't you make fun of Harry you evil little slime ball," Ron said, through gritted teeth. "I swear Malfoy, make another crack like that and you'll wish you never were born." Ron started to walk briskly to Malfoy, his hands clenched into tight fists.

"Ron, just leave it. Besides, you have to save your energy for later," Hermione said impatiently.

I FINALLY UPDATED! I'm sooooo sorry, everyone. I hadn't realized how long it had been since I updated until the other day, so I figured I should update. School's been really stressful, and finals are coming up sometime next month, so don't expect another update until I start summer vacation! I CAN'T WAIT FOR JULY 16th! Please REVIEW!

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