Chapter Five

A week had gone by as the students of Hogwarts raced to finish their work in time for the Quidditch tryouts. It was Sunday, the Gryffindor day at the pitch.

Harry Potter yawned as he headed down to the Common Room from the dormitories. He paused as he reached the landing, the common room was colder than usual, and emptier…there was only one person there. Mia was sitting on the couch, robes pulled tightly around her with a scarf and gloves on, reading a book

"Hey Mia," Harry found himself saying as he moved to stand across from her.

She looked up, "Oh, hello Harry. What are you doing up this early?"

"Don't know really, couldn't sleep I guess…Why is it so cold in here? Hermione's SPEW got the house elves to boycott this room?"

"I'm not really sure," She answered, "I tried to start a fire, but I guess, I'm a little rusty, it wouldn't start."

Harry nodded, spying her book, "Is that Extinct Magical Creatures?"

Mia looked at the cover before looking up at him, " No it's Quidditch through the Ages." She shut her book, standing up, "I wanted to brush up on it…"

They both headed out of the Common Room, into the hallway, though neither seemed to notice.

"Oh yeah, tryouts are today." Harry said suddenly remembering.

Mia laughed, "Well, that's not good if the captain forgets," she joked, making Harry smile, "Maybe I should reconsider my attempts to join the team…"

"Don't even think about it," Harry warned, laughing for the first time in months. "So…what position are you going to try out for?"

"Well…" Mia trailed, "Madame Hooch says that I'm a good chaser…maybe I'll try out for that…"

"That's good," Harry said.

"Well, I can't very well try out for seeker, obviously, or keeper…so that leaves only chaser or …"

"Beater," Harry finished, he looked thoughtful for a moment, "I can't imagine you as a Beater."

Mia pushed open the door to the great hall, it was mostly empty save for a few students and teachers, "Oh really, and why's that?"

"Well, look at you," He said, separating himself from her to walk on the other side of the table. "A small, little thing like you?"

Mia laughed, taking a seat across from Harry, "Looks can be deceiving," She said, " I may surprise you Harry. I have a lot of pent up anger, I could probably hit a bludger farther than you could even if you were aiming it at Voldemort."

"Wanna bet," Harry muttered.

"What was that?" she asked, challenge in her eyes.

Harry noticed, a smirk making it's way onto his face. He leaned forward slightly, elbows resting on the table. "I bet, that I can beat you at bludger batting."

Mia leaned forward also, "You're on, when and where?"

"The Quidditch Pitch, after tryouts."

"I'll be there."

"Good," Harry said, leaning back.

"Good," She repeated, leaning back also.

They stayed like that for a moment longer before bursting out with laughter.

Harry sighed, looking at Mia, thinking to himself, "What am I doing? Flirting with Mia? Making bets? I don't even know…"

"But seriously Harry," she said, cutting his thoughts, "Do you think I should try out? I men, I'm not he best Chaser and I'm already the laughing stock of muggle schools for just believing in Magic…I don't want to be laughed at here too…Half the school probably already doesn't like me and…"

"Hey," Harry said, "No one, except the Gryffindors, are allowed at the pitch today, and no one really makes fun of anyone, and even if they do, they move on to the next person almost immediately."

Mia sighed, "I wish Keeper was open. Madam Hooch said that I'd be an excellent keeper…"

"Ron didn't put it open?" Harry asked.

"What do you mean?" Mia asked.

"Well…Ron usually leaves Keeper open. He doesn't…um…think that he's very good, so he leaves it open for someone to try for it…no one really does…they…um…don't have the heart to take his spot."

Mia considered this for a moment…she had seen the replays that her uncle had sent her of the Hogwarts games. It was on pure luck that Gryffindor didn't loose horribly with all the attempts Ron made for the Quaffle. She'd guess on average, Ron made one save a game on top of many unsuccessful attempts and about three penalties during the attempts. She decided to check if the position was open, and then maybe try out for the position.

"But are you sure no one will have a problem if I did try out?" She asked apprehensively.

"Yes, I'm positive," He reached forward, taking her gloved hand in his, "Besides, I'll be there. And I promise not to laugh."

He said this with such conviction that Mia smiled, "Thanks."

"No problem," He replied smiling.

The doors to the great hall opened as more students entered. Both Harry and Mia pulled their hands back, smiling embarrassedly, blushing.

Mia sat back, taking off her gloves and scarf, "So Mr. Potter, may I ask what your favorite Quidditch team is?"

"Yes, you may, Miss Matthews, "Harry laughed, "A personal favorite of mine is the Wimbourne Wasps."

Mia looked at him oddly for a moment, "Really?" He nodded, "I would have thought you'd pick the Kenmare Kestrels."

"Well…I don't really know all that many teams. I really only know the ones that Ron's told me about. And I've really, only gone to one game, at the World Cup in my 4th year…"

"Only one?" she asked, "Well, that's more than I've been to."

"Really?" Harry asked.

She nodded, "I've watched the rest on my replay."

"Your what?"

"Replay, it's a small stone about the size of a walnut. You rest it on your forehead after you've seen an event and it will replay it later. It's really a wonderful device. It can hold any amount of things. I have one reserved for Quidditch. I'll bring it to try outs for you."

"Wicked!" Harry exclaimed.

Just then the food started to appear. Mounds of waffles popped up right in front of Harry and Mia.

"Oh, Waffles!" They both shouted, piling waffles on their plates. They looked at each other smiling and blushing before settling into a nice discussion about the different types of waffles they had had along with toppings.

This was how Ron and Hermione found them, sitting at the table, staling pieces of each other's waffle, red in the face with laughter.

"…no, not that!" Mia laughed.

"And you know what? The big lug ate it too!" Harry said in between breaths, "Dudley actually believed that it was a new form of granulated chocolate!"

"Oh, god," Mia said, taking a final bite from her waffles, "What happened when he got to the worm?"

"He…he ate it…and…said, 'Make sure it's fully cooked next time'!" Harry and Mia were now laughing so hard that they were holding their stomachs, tears in their eyes.

Ron and Hermione were in shock, never, in the months of trying were the able to get Harry to laugh that hard. They looked at each other before casting a quick glance at the head table in time to see Dumbledore look away. They returned their gaze to the two people regaining their breath.

"Hello Ron, Hermione," Mia said, being the first to notice them.

"Took you lot long enough" Harry added after taking a large breath. It was true, breakfast was nearly over and it would soon be time for the Gryffindors to head to the Pitch.

Mia stood and Harry made to stand also, but Mia shook her head, "It's alright Harry, I just have to put my stuff back. I'll meet you at the pitch." She started to walk off.

Harry nodded as he turned to face his friends, "We were just talking."

"Yes, but Harry…" Ron started.

"No, look guys. That was the best conversation I've had in the longest time. No talk of Voldemort, or the prophecy, or magic, or the war…just a nonsense conversation about waffles." Harry stood, "Now, I'm going to head down to the Pitch to set up for try outs, alright?"

Without waiting for a reply, Harry walked out of the room.

Hermione turned to Ron, "At least he was laughing…"