*A/N: Sorry it took so long to update things have been crazy with me
lately. But I hope that you enjoy. Again... please review / give feedback. I
love to hear from you.*
Harry had decided to have trials for all positions on the team, as he really didn't want to be the only member left. He wondered why they hadn't started training others earlier.
Those Gryffindors that weren't trying out for the team came to watch. Some even tried to prevent members of other houses from seeing what was going on. However, they soon gave up.
As there were so many, the Chasers Alicia, Angela, and Katie, took those trying to be Chasers and Keepers to one end of the field, while Fred, George, and Harry worked with those who were trying for Beaters.
Since Bludgers would not behave and stay on their half of the field, Harry suggested they practice with croquet balls. Although smaller, they weren't as hard, nor were they enchanted to fly freely.
Harry then took the Seeker hopefuls and got them to chase after golf balls in pairs. This whole process took much longer than any of them expected. Truth was, they were having so much fun that dinner time had come without anyone noticing.
That is, until Hagrid and Professor McGonagall showed up at the side of the field. To get everyone's attention she set up a bright flash.
"Are you all aware that you are late for supper?" she said with a quiet fury that seemed to carry over the entire pitch. "While I'm thrilled that you all get along so very well, imagine my surprise when I arrived at dinner and found that the entire Gryffindor table was empty. Further, I am informed that my entire house is on the pitch by a member of Slytherin." she paused, the entire populous of Gryffindor swallowed, knowing that they were all in trouble. "Now, who organized this? And why wasn't I told?"
"Sorry, Professor." Harry said, working his way to the front of the group. "I - er - that is - er-"
"We were holding tryouts for subs and replacement Quidditch team-mates, Professor McGonagall." Fred said, emerging from behind Harry. "Sorry we lost track of time..."
"And did you also forget that you were supposed to get permission to use the pitch?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"Sorry, Professor McGonagall, I-" Harry began, but Alicia jumped in.
"I'm afraid that we had a mis-communication." she said, moving in beside Fred, "It won't happen again."
"Oh you're right about that Miss Spint." McGonagall replied. "If it does, I assure you all there will be no house team. I expect a request for pitch practice hours scheduled on my desk in the morning. I expect better from all of you." she looked around. Harry noticed that the existing team had all closed in around him. "As I cannot give the entire house detention, I will take the first hundred points off Gryffindor. And you six will have detention. You should all know better." McGonagall turned to leave. "Return to the tower, all of you. Since your team organized this event they are responsible to feed the house. I'd suggest that you lot get to the kitchen." As they headed up to the castle Professor McGonagall trailed the team. "Out of curiosity, who's our new team Captain?" she asked.
"I am Professor." Harry said. "This is my fault. I take responsibility. Please - er - please don't punish them, it wasn't their fault."
"Noble sentiment Mr. Potter, but my decision stands." McGonagall stated. "You'd best hurry off to get food. You'll have a hungry lot to feed upstairs." she said, opening the door to the kitchen. "Congratulations Potter."
Despite all the trouble they were in, it was as if it were a hero's feast. Everyone in the house was in high spirits.
"I think that it was because of Slytherin that McGonagall was so cheesed." Dean said to Neville, as Harry entered, loaded down with food. "Who do you think the head of Slytherin is while Snape's away? Hello Harry, need a hand?" Harry smiled.
"We're only allowed to go down once more." Fred announced.
"So if you place your orders for the next round, we'll try to accommodate." George informed the room, laying his burden down on a central table.
"And only the team is allowed to be out of the tower tonight, or Professor McGonagall will give the entire house detentions." Angela announced.
"Let's eat!" Fred yelled. And the party began.
Many congratulations went to Harry from the house. The team also joined Harry in his corner of the room. "Harry, since only the team is allowed down, let's pick the new people to help us with the next trip." George suggested.
"Alright, well, er...lets hear who you think would be good." Harry suggested. In the end they decided on seven new people. They had a sub for everyone but their new Keeper, Ginny Weasley. The Weasley twins found this surprising as she had hardly ever joined them in practice at home.
As they were preparing for their second and last food run, Angela paused at the door. "Harry, you should stay and work out the schedule."
"Yeah, if Professor McGonagall doesn't have that schedule she won't let us practice at all." Alicia agreed. "And since you're Captain, it's your job."
"But I've never worked out a schedule before." Harry said.
"Good time to start." Fred smiled, "We'd better go."
Harry flopped down, he had no idea what was expected. He thought about the years when Oliver had worked them. At least they could have interim matches with their subs. Hermione offered to help, she had developed a talent for time management.
"Well, how does that look until Christmas?" Harry asked, passing a sheet to Hermione to check. "Do you think it'll work?"
"It looks pretty good." Hermione said, then looked amused, "But Harry, you forgot to account for the games."
"And Harry," Ron added jokingly, "-don't forget to account for that inevitable battle that you always have."
"Right. Do you think I could get Voldemort to agree on a date for the battle, sometime before finals?" Harry returned.
"Don't joke about that. Either of you." Hermione snapped, "-here, I've fixed it."
"Relax, You-Know-Who wouldn't try to get Harry here." Ron said, "Dumbledore wouldn't let him." Ron turned to Harry, "You think Hufflepuff have a new Seeker yet?"
Harry shrugged. He remembered Cedric Diggory, the way he'd looked lying dead in the shadows, his request to have his body returned to his family... "Cedric will be a tough act to follow. He was a good man." Harry said sorrowfully. He should his head, then returned to the present. "Do you think Professor Araya was right about-"
"Maybe, I don't know." Hermione said, "Were you aware that the night of the first full moon, you don't have any practice?"
"Yeah, er..." Harry looked down at the schedule. "I thought, you know, just in case..."
"Well, with this schedule, you should be in good shape. We might even have a chance at the cup." Ron said. "Problem is, what is Ginny going to do for a broom? Mom and dad can't afford one, and the school brooms suck."
"Maybe I-" Harry started, but the look on Ron's face told him he'd best stop. "-as a big birthday or Christmas present for all the ones that I've missed?"
"Harry, no!" Ron's fury caused him to shake, "I've told you before..."
"Alright." Harry conceded, "Maybe-"
"I overheard Madame Hooch say something about the school getting some new brooms." Hermione broke in, "Perhaps she'd let Ginny use one."
Harry had decided to have trials for all positions on the team, as he really didn't want to be the only member left. He wondered why they hadn't started training others earlier.
Those Gryffindors that weren't trying out for the team came to watch. Some even tried to prevent members of other houses from seeing what was going on. However, they soon gave up.
As there were so many, the Chasers Alicia, Angela, and Katie, took those trying to be Chasers and Keepers to one end of the field, while Fred, George, and Harry worked with those who were trying for Beaters.
Since Bludgers would not behave and stay on their half of the field, Harry suggested they practice with croquet balls. Although smaller, they weren't as hard, nor were they enchanted to fly freely.
Harry then took the Seeker hopefuls and got them to chase after golf balls in pairs. This whole process took much longer than any of them expected. Truth was, they were having so much fun that dinner time had come without anyone noticing.
That is, until Hagrid and Professor McGonagall showed up at the side of the field. To get everyone's attention she set up a bright flash.
"Are you all aware that you are late for supper?" she said with a quiet fury that seemed to carry over the entire pitch. "While I'm thrilled that you all get along so very well, imagine my surprise when I arrived at dinner and found that the entire Gryffindor table was empty. Further, I am informed that my entire house is on the pitch by a member of Slytherin." she paused, the entire populous of Gryffindor swallowed, knowing that they were all in trouble. "Now, who organized this? And why wasn't I told?"
"Sorry, Professor." Harry said, working his way to the front of the group. "I - er - that is - er-"
"We were holding tryouts for subs and replacement Quidditch team-mates, Professor McGonagall." Fred said, emerging from behind Harry. "Sorry we lost track of time..."
"And did you also forget that you were supposed to get permission to use the pitch?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"Sorry, Professor McGonagall, I-" Harry began, but Alicia jumped in.
"I'm afraid that we had a mis-communication." she said, moving in beside Fred, "It won't happen again."
"Oh you're right about that Miss Spint." McGonagall replied. "If it does, I assure you all there will be no house team. I expect a request for pitch practice hours scheduled on my desk in the morning. I expect better from all of you." she looked around. Harry noticed that the existing team had all closed in around him. "As I cannot give the entire house detention, I will take the first hundred points off Gryffindor. And you six will have detention. You should all know better." McGonagall turned to leave. "Return to the tower, all of you. Since your team organized this event they are responsible to feed the house. I'd suggest that you lot get to the kitchen." As they headed up to the castle Professor McGonagall trailed the team. "Out of curiosity, who's our new team Captain?" she asked.
"I am Professor." Harry said. "This is my fault. I take responsibility. Please - er - please don't punish them, it wasn't their fault."
"Noble sentiment Mr. Potter, but my decision stands." McGonagall stated. "You'd best hurry off to get food. You'll have a hungry lot to feed upstairs." she said, opening the door to the kitchen. "Congratulations Potter."
Despite all the trouble they were in, it was as if it were a hero's feast. Everyone in the house was in high spirits.
"I think that it was because of Slytherin that McGonagall was so cheesed." Dean said to Neville, as Harry entered, loaded down with food. "Who do you think the head of Slytherin is while Snape's away? Hello Harry, need a hand?" Harry smiled.
"We're only allowed to go down once more." Fred announced.
"So if you place your orders for the next round, we'll try to accommodate." George informed the room, laying his burden down on a central table.
"And only the team is allowed to be out of the tower tonight, or Professor McGonagall will give the entire house detentions." Angela announced.
"Let's eat!" Fred yelled. And the party began.
Many congratulations went to Harry from the house. The team also joined Harry in his corner of the room. "Harry, since only the team is allowed down, let's pick the new people to help us with the next trip." George suggested.
"Alright, well, er...lets hear who you think would be good." Harry suggested. In the end they decided on seven new people. They had a sub for everyone but their new Keeper, Ginny Weasley. The Weasley twins found this surprising as she had hardly ever joined them in practice at home.
As they were preparing for their second and last food run, Angela paused at the door. "Harry, you should stay and work out the schedule."
"Yeah, if Professor McGonagall doesn't have that schedule she won't let us practice at all." Alicia agreed. "And since you're Captain, it's your job."
"But I've never worked out a schedule before." Harry said.
"Good time to start." Fred smiled, "We'd better go."
Harry flopped down, he had no idea what was expected. He thought about the years when Oliver had worked them. At least they could have interim matches with their subs. Hermione offered to help, she had developed a talent for time management.
"Well, how does that look until Christmas?" Harry asked, passing a sheet to Hermione to check. "Do you think it'll work?"
"It looks pretty good." Hermione said, then looked amused, "But Harry, you forgot to account for the games."
"And Harry," Ron added jokingly, "-don't forget to account for that inevitable battle that you always have."
"Right. Do you think I could get Voldemort to agree on a date for the battle, sometime before finals?" Harry returned.
"Don't joke about that. Either of you." Hermione snapped, "-here, I've fixed it."
"Relax, You-Know-Who wouldn't try to get Harry here." Ron said, "Dumbledore wouldn't let him." Ron turned to Harry, "You think Hufflepuff have a new Seeker yet?"
Harry shrugged. He remembered Cedric Diggory, the way he'd looked lying dead in the shadows, his request to have his body returned to his family... "Cedric will be a tough act to follow. He was a good man." Harry said sorrowfully. He should his head, then returned to the present. "Do you think Professor Araya was right about-"
"Maybe, I don't know." Hermione said, "Were you aware that the night of the first full moon, you don't have any practice?"
"Yeah, er..." Harry looked down at the schedule. "I thought, you know, just in case..."
"Well, with this schedule, you should be in good shape. We might even have a chance at the cup." Ron said. "Problem is, what is Ginny going to do for a broom? Mom and dad can't afford one, and the school brooms suck."
"Maybe I-" Harry started, but the look on Ron's face told him he'd best stop. "-as a big birthday or Christmas present for all the ones that I've missed?"
"Harry, no!" Ron's fury caused him to shake, "I've told you before..."
"Alright." Harry conceded, "Maybe-"
"I overheard Madame Hooch say something about the school getting some new brooms." Hermione broke in, "Perhaps she'd let Ginny use one."