A/N: And more 'even more' story!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, to David M. Potter; Alex; Jeff; and
LoonyLoopyLisa!!!!!! And to Lisa, you are still my favorite reviewer, not
just because you're my only (you aren't this time), but because you
are....um.....consistent!

Oh, and part of this chapter comes from a popular TV show. 5 points if
you can tell me where!

CH9: Try-Outs and Troubles

~They spent the rest of the period reviewing the basics of dark creatures, such as Kappas and Hinkypunks, cumulating in a small quiz Remus was going to have Harry correct later. After the day was over, when he was getting into bed that night, he reflected on the lesson. 'That wasn't too bad for a punishment,' he thought as he drifted off to sleep.~

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With classes, teaching duties, and even his detentions (if he ever disemboweled something again, it would be too soon), Harry's first week flew by. And now, it was Saturday and time for the Quidditch try-outs.

But first..........

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The night before, September 6th, 1995

"Wormtail!" a familiar high cold voice called. Voldemort was standing, Harry recognized, in the room from which he escaped.

Wormtail walked in. "Yes, Master?"

"How are the preparations for the attack coming?"

"Very well, my lord. Lucius has managed to strike a deal with them."

"Perfect. I'll wanting to talk to him soon."

"Of course, my lord."

"That's all, Wormtail. Go." He left and Voldemort turned to the fire.

"You'll hear me soon, Harry Potter. The whole world will."

And Harry woke up with a gasp.

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By the time he had gotten back to sleep, it was already time to wake-up.

"Come on, Harry. Get a move on," urged Ron.

"I going. How come you're not trying out?"

"I'm no good at Keeper. I'll try out next year - Chaser. See ya!" He called as Harry bolted out the door.

And now he was running late. Harry scrambled down to the Quidditch pitch, throwing a robe on over some Muggle clothes, clutching his Firebolt in one hand and a piece of toast in the other.

He managed to get down to the field with three minutes to spare, skidding to a halt in front of the already assembled team.

"About time," said Katie, holding onto a clipboard.

"Sorry," Harry panted. "Overslept."

Fred leaned over to George and whispered, "He's definitely not Wood incarnated. Looks like we won't have to be up at the crack of dawn this year."

"I heard that," Harry mock-glared.

"Alright, alright," Angelina grinned. "Anyway, we have already taken down the names of the hopefuls." Katie handed over the clipboard.

"So what next, coach?" asked George.

"I guess we'll start each one off by having the girls take some shots against them. Then, the people who make it through the first round will do the same again, only this time with Bludgers. Sound good?" There was a general mummer of assent.

The first round went pretty well. Both Colin and Dennis did well. A fourth year girl named Natalie McDonald, a sixth named Tracy Goldbloom, a third year boy, Ken Fenner, all made it through as well. And, surprisingly, Neville Longbottom.

The next was met with startling results. Again, the Creevy brothers were good, but most faltered under the presence of great, globs of metal flying near them. But, the best by far, was Neville. They didn't even need to wait a whole day to decide, he was the one they picked.

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While the rest were giving a grand celebration in the common room for their new Keeper, Harry was heading to Dumbledore's office to tell him about last nights vision.

As Harry wound his way up the moving staircase, he heard voices coming from within the office, the door slightly ajar. He slowly got off, but paused when his name was said. Hesitantly, he peered through the crack.

Albus was sitting at his desk, talking to dark-haired man. He looked distraught.

"Some prophecies are a bit dodgy. They're mutable. But this is The Book of Merlin. There is nothing in it that does not come to pass."

"Then you're reading it wrong." Harry recognized the man as Sirius. But, he sounded concerned about something. This didn't bode well.

"I wish to God I were," Albus went on. "But it's very plain. During the final battle between good and evil, between Harry and Voldemort, Voldemort will be defeated. But Harry will fall as well."

Harry's eyes widened in surprise and he felt himself walk into the room. "So that's it then." Both men jumped up. "My time is up. I remember the drill, it's my destiny, right? The fine print of being the Boy Who Lived. Kind of an ironic name, isn't it?"

Albus spoke again. "Harry, I...."

"Does it say how he's going to kill me?" he went on, voice trembling. "Do you think it'll hurt?" Sirius reached out a comforting hand, but Harry pushed him away. "Don't touch me!" He looked from face to face of his mentors. "Were you even going to tell me?"

"I was hoping I wouldn't have to. That there was some way around it."

"Oh, I've got away around it. I quit."

Sirius shook his head. "It's not that simple."

"I'm making it that simple! I quit! I resign! I'm fired! You can find someone else to stop the Dark Lord from taking over."

Albus held the Book out to Harry. "I'm not sure anyone else can. The signs all indicate - "

"The signs? Read me the signs! Tell me my fortune!" He took the Book and threw it at the wall. "You are so useful, sitting up here with your Book. You're really a lot of help!"

"I don't suppose I am," Albus said quietly.

Sirius moved forward again. "I know this is hard...."

"What do you know," Harry snapped. "You're not the one who's destined to die."

Sirius put both his hands on his godson's shoulders and looked him straight in the eye. "You think I want anything to happen to you? Do you think I can stand it? I already lost your parents, I'm not going to lose you, too. We just have to figure out a way - "

Harry shrugged him off. "I already did. I quit, remember? Pay attention."

"Harry," Albus said, " if Voldemort wins...."

"I don't care! I don't care." He looked at his feet and said whispered, "I'm fifteen years old. I don't want to die." He made a bolt from the room.

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Ten minutes later found Harry sitting on top of one of the many towers of the castle, deep in thought.

He looked up to the stars and said to himself, "Why me? Why is it always me? I could live with being famous. Hell, I was getting use to it. And I could survive being the Heir of Gryffindor. But why this? This is my life. It's the one thing I can't gamble away.

"I've faced things every year that could kill me. And I never thought about what I'd be losing before. What will happen to my friends, my family? Sirius, Hermione, the Weasley's, Lisa, Dumbledore, everyone? I don't want to hurt them. I remember how they reacted when they thought I had died this summer. I can't put them through that again.

"And when will this happen? Will I last through the year? Or will I be old and have a family? I know what it's like to grow up without a father - I promise I'll never leave my child like that. And I can't fall in love - what will happen to her when I'm gone? I'm never going to have a normal life.

"But, if I don't die, Voldemort won't be defeated. And how many others will die in my place?

"Ugggg, I guess I don't have much time. I won't - no, can't - let this rule my life. Voldemort won't control my life. What's that Muggle saying - Carpe Diem? I've got to seize the day, live my life to the fullest."

And when Harry climbed down from the tower that day, he took one step closer to fulfilling his destiny.

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Harry pushed his way back into Dumbledore's office. Sirius stood up as soon as he entered.

"Thank God, Harry. I was worried about you." He gave his godson a big hug.

"I'm fine, Padfoot. Really," he added at Sirius's disbelieving expression. "I thought things through. If we can't find away around this, then I'm prepared to do what I have to."

"We're going to fight this," Dumbledore said. "We won't let you go without a fight."

"I know, Professor. I know." He sat down. "What prophecy is this anyway?"

Dumbledore went over to where the Book was laying on the ground and flipped open to a page near the middle. He handed it to Harry.

During a time of deep night,

Before the break of day,

A friend will hold a secret,

But to the Snake betray

Of a Flower and the Stag

Came the Child of the Storm,

A Curse of Death cast

Makes Evil turn to primal form

For the Child shall live,

Alone in this world,

Until the Giant doth come

And his past is unfurled

The Child clashes with the Man,

Every year, Every hour,

Till the Day of Rebirth

When He recovers power

Then the Darkness will march

To the Castle of Light

On the Day of the Duel

The End of the Fight

The Battle is fierce,

And the Hero shall fall,

But he will still conquer,

With the pain of them all.

"Well, that sounds pleasant," Harry joked.

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Harry arrived at the Gryffindor Common room and everyone gave a big cheer. It looked like the party was still going strong.

"And here's the Captain who will lead us to the Cup this year!" Fred yelled, riling up the crowd. A few people started chanting 'Speech, speech!" Harry held up his hand for silence.

"Okay, I'm terrible at this so I won't make you listen for long." A few people laughed. "This team is the best Hogwarts has seen for many years." Cheers. "And with our new Keeper I'm sure we'll be even better. But, it's not just about flying abilities and strategy. It's about heart." There was total silence now. Many realized he wasn't just talking about Quidditch anymore. "If you want something bad enough - if you wish so hard you can almost taste it - then it will come to you. It will let you live on." He picked up a Butterbeer from a nearby table and lifted it to the sky. "So Carpe Diem everybody, and let us win."

The corrugation broke into cheers once more and Harry went to sit next to Hermione and Ron.

"Everything alright, Harry?" Hermione asked him.

"Yeah, it's fine," Harry replied as he looked over his happy friends. "I'll make sure everything turns out fine."