Hermione and Kelly came out of the Hospital Wing two days later, for Madam Pomfrey had insisted on making them stay a little overtime just to make sure it was safe. Hermione had been fretting—Harry and Ron hadn't managed to get her Arithmancy homework for her.

"We'll be so behind!" Kelly said.

"We've been bringing you all your work," said Ron.

"Will Professor Vector forgive me?" Hermione asked.

"She won't even notice you were gone," Ron muttered.

"Can I catch up on Potions?" Kelly wondered.

"We haven't had any more Potions," Ron pointed out.

"I haven't been to the library in weeks!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Madam Pince won't mind." Ron grinned.

"Ron," Hermione and Kelly said simultaneously, "SHUT UP!"

"Here that Harry?" Ron whispered, purposely loud enough that the girls could hear. "They said they wanted quiet!"

That was the last thing he said before the boils started appearing.

"Well, look at the bright side," Harry said as they left Professor Vector's room late Friday because Hermione wanted to get her homework. "At least you have the weekend to make it up."

"I guess." Kelly sighed. "Has Ron come out of the Hospital Wing yet?"

Harry grinned in spite of himself. "No. Madam Pomfrey can't figure out what combination of spells you two used. Whatever it was, it's doing a rather nasty job." Harry had just been to his friend that morning, and the once-red boils had now turned a sickening blue-green.

Hermione and Kelly grinned.

"Good," Hermione said, still grinning. "Maybe it'll teach him something."

"Like what?" Harry asked, though knowing the answer.

"Like not making sarcastic remarks about what I say," Kelly informed him.

"Ah," Harry said, grinning again.

"Harry, did Ron mention tryouts to you?" Kelly asked.

"Yeah, why?" Harry asked.

"What'd he say?" Kelly pushed.

"That they were in two days, whether he's out or not," Harry said. "Why?"

"Well, I was just thinking of trying out," Kelly said casually.

Harry raised his eyebrows.

"I can play!" Kelly said, as though offended.

"I've never seen you," Harry mentioned.

"Well, you'll see in two days, won't you?" Kelly said with a superior look on her face.

"I s'pose so," Harry said, inwardly smiling. She was trying to keep it a secret, but he'd find out how well she flew before the night was over. She would undoubtedly go out to practice later that day.

Harry was furious with himself when Sunday arrived, two days after he'd made his vow to find out well she flew, and he still hadn't seen her fly once. Whenever she practiced, if she practiced at all in the last two days, he had not been present. Ron was still not out of the Hospital Wing, leaving Harry, Kirke, and Sloper to decide on the new Chasers. Harry was personally feeling like it was a one-man task as he walked out to the field at noon.

Several people were already present, and anxiously waiting. Kirke and Sloper were in the stands, watching Harry as he arrived. Kelly, Ginny, Neville, Parvati, the Creevey brothers, Lavender, and three second years Harry vaguely recalled as Samuel, Jason, and Cheryl.

Harry flew up to Kirke and Sloper and said a quick hello. He looked quickly toward the Hospital Wing, where Ron was supposed to be watching. Harry looked back down, and then took a list from Sloper.

"All right, Jason Carter? You're up."

Harry didn't know what he liked better: Umbridge's detention the last time there had been tryouts or being out here alone. Harry was deeply opposed to being out here without suitable conversation, though decided that all he need was a simple sentence with Umbridge's quill before he'd be rushing out to the Quidditch Pitch to do tryouts himself. It was rather boring, with no one to argue with over who was better. Kirke and Sloper never spoke a word until Harry had said what he thought. They immediately agreed; whether they truly did or not, Harry never knew.

Harry had quickly eliminated the people that were not Chaser material. The three second years could hardly throw the Quaffle more than two feet in front of them, and the Creevey brothers had come close to falling off their brooms. The others who showed up could do it, with a little more training, Harry decided.

"Colin and Dennis Creevey, Jason Carter, Samuel Newsome, and Cheryl Porter, we're sorry, but you didn't make it. You can go make a better use of your time," Harry said dully.

"But that's too many Chasers!" Samuel contradicted.

"We're going to narrow it down some more," Harry said, as the others left in an angry huff. "All right, we're going to judge more fiercely. We'll be cutting two of you, so play your hardest."

Half an hour later, Harry was facing a tough decision. Ginny had already been inducted for certain, and they—or rather, he—were thinking Kelly would be inducted, too. He was having much difficulty deciding between the other three. Lavender had excellent aim, Neville was good at dodging, and Parvati was great at catching anything that was thrown near her.

"What d'you guys think between Lavender, Neville, and Parvati?" Harry asked Kirke and Sloper.

"I think those are excellent choices for our three Chasers!" Kirke said.

"Yes, great choices!" Sloper agreed.

Harry tried not to look at them as though they were only slightly smarter Crabbe and Goyle's. "If you had to pick one, who would you pick?"

Kirke and Sloper exchanged glances. "Who would you pick?"

"I want to know who YOU think."

Kirke and Sloper exchanged another glance.

"Lavender," Kirke said suddenly.

"Neville," Sloper said immediately afterwards.

Harry stood. "Congratulations to Ginny, Kelly, and Parvati!"

Kirke and Sloper looked stunned, as did the Gryffindors below at his sudden announcement.

"But I said Lavender!"

"And I said Neville!"

Harry pretended as though he couldn't hear them. Their answers were the reasons why he'd chosen Parvati.

Ginny, Kelly, and Parvati smiled and silently celebrated as Neville and Lavender trudged away. Harry, Kirke, and Sloper flew down to meet them.

"So, when's the first practice?" Kelly asked.

"Right now," Harry said. "Hop back on those broomsticks and grab that Quaffle while I run and get the Snitch and Bludgers. Go on ahead and start practicing, but we're going to try something different. Ginny, Kelly, Parvati, you're all your own team. You have to score in the opposite goal that was most recently scored on. This is to work on dodging opponents. Get started."

Harry left quickly while the others were still trying to comprehend this information. Harry grabbed the trunk from the changing room and headed back out, where the Chasers were just starting to get the hang of their assignment.

"Kirke, Sloper… if any Slytherins come, I want you to get some practice on aim. In the meantime, work on getting the Bludgers through the hoop. Make sure you don't hit any of the girls."

Harry released the Bludgers, Kirke and Sloper zooming after them to take control. Harry let the Snitch out and gave it a minute's head start before hopping on his broom and racing around to find it.

A/N:

It's not very suspenseful, but I needed a stopping place. I originally do all my work on Microsoft Works, as I told you before. Approximately every three pages on Works I try to find a new chapter point. Should I make the chapters longer, shorter, or keep them the same? Actually, well, you can tell me what you think, but I'm not sure I'll change the length. I already designed this entire Fic, chapter changes included. If it gets to be an issue, though, I can go back and modify it to fit the reader's preferences.

Next chapter! Fun fun! … Meh. Next chapter's shorter than usual, but that's okay. The end of practice, the passage of time, Diane Umbridge, and a visit to Ron. Sounds fun! … Yeah.

So I'm watching Teen Titans right now… oh, wait, now it's Jackie Chan. Erm… -pause- Right. So I just saw the "Rising Titan" episode, where Terra becomes a Teen Titan. TRAITOR GIT!!! I read on a site that whenever Terra's hair falls on the one side of her face she's doing something evil for Slade. Guess what happened at the end of that episode as she said, "I don't believe it. They actually trust me."? Take a wild guess. And I'm still waiting for Betrothed. –cries- ROBIN, YOU IDIOT, STOP THE WEDDING!!! DO SOMETHING!!! I have a Softball game Saturday, though, so I dunno if I'll get to see it. –pause- I'd better. But if I CAN'T, I'll see on Sunday. Assuming hurricane Ivan doesn't come before then. –pause- Better not. And what's bad, I don't know anything about my Softball game. I dunno the time, the place, how I'm getting there (parents going on a marriage retreat for the weekend), etc. I'm in a crapload of trouble, wouldn't you say?

Review! Make me smile! Get ticked at Robin unless he does something to stop the wedding, ks?

Thankx,

Riles