The Adventure Continued
Chapter 11: Quidditch through the Weekend
A/N: Not as many reviews as last time, but I'm not complaining! Thank you gldnsunsprite21, Honey P, IamSiriusgrl, petroleumjellydotone, bigkid-IV, and IAMSOAP for the positive reviews! I don't have any negative…probably because it hasn't been found by any critics…Anyways! Hope you enjoy! Don't do anything I would do.
"Potter," McGonagall was standing idly inside his classroom, waiting eagerly for Harry to get back. "I have a list of students who are interested in Quidditch for Hufflepuff. I will assume you will get right on it?"
"Err…yeah," Harry answered, taking the list. For a second, he thought the list didn't end. "Sixty-eight people?"
McGonagall nodded. "I dare say, Potter, you are very popular among the students," and the headmistress left Harry to gaze in shock at the list. With his troubles with Ginny, teaching, and the memos from the Auror Office, Harry almost completely forgot about Quidditch. He hadn't even taken a list of Gryffindor students! He could just imagine the look at McGonagall's face when she found out…and so he set out immediately to post a list in the Gryffindor room.
"I'm sorry, Professor, but the Quidditch field is booked this weekend by Professor Weasley. How about next weekend?" a polite gray-haired witch offered. Madam Hunt was the new teacher, in charge of sports and recreation, including teaching first years to fly and refereeing Quidditch games. To Harry, she resembled a female version of Crabbe or Goyle.
"Yeah, that will work," Harry accepted. It was like Ginny to get right on these things before Harry. "Both Saturday and Sunday?"
"Certainly," the witch posted Harry's name on the calendar.
Harry made his way back up to the castle, but something made him stop in his tracks. He looked around, but there was nothing there. Still, something made him cautious. It must be the smell…
"Ginny," Harry called out, "this hide-and-seek game can't go on much longer. I may not be a fox, but I can still smell dog fur from here."
Peeking out from behind the nearest tree, Harry saw the fox, but in a few seconds, a beautiful red-haired girl took its place. Her glare made it quite clear that she did not enjoy his remark. "If you think dogs smell bad, try taking a shower once in a while, Potter."
Harry laughed. "Good to see your sense of humor again."
Ginny grimaced in reply. "I don't see any humor in it and if you will excuse me, I didn't come down here just for you to bug me. I intended to enjoy the fresh air and that is exactly what I'm going to do."
"Sure, go ahead. Don't let me disturb you," Harry answered casually, before leaving her, now transformed back into a fox, and following the path back up to the castle. He didn't look back at the fox, but if he had, he would have seen the longing eyes following him. However, if there was one thing Harry had learned, it was to never look back.
"Alright, we're going to start with Chasers," Harry called out to the humongous group of Hufflepuffs. Half the group left to sit in the stands, waiting their own trials, but Harry still faced twenty or so students. In the first fifteen minutes of warming-up, he had managed to get rid of all the first years, a good majority of second years, and half of the third years. Finally, he was left with the difficult chore of picking out the best.
"MICHAEL SCOTT!" he yelled at a short fourth year as the latter lost control of his broom and ran into a group of sixth years. The boy nearly crashed into the ground as he stopped short of Harry, looking a bit frightened. His nose was bleeding and there were some cuts and bruises on his face from crashing into the other students. "Go see…the school nurse."
"Madam Wilmer?" the boy asked nervously.
"Err…yeah-"
"It's ok, Harry, I've got it!" a girl with brown hair came running up. She hardly resembled another student, and as she got closer, Harry recognized the brown hair very well.
"Hermione? What are you doing here?" Harry asked incredulously.
"Madam Granger, to you," Hermione laughed. "I'm a temporary intern. Oh Merlin, it's great to be back!" She dropped her bag of medical supplies and took out her wand. It only took a minute to heal the frightened boy's scratches and give him a potion to stop the bleeding nose.
Harry looked back at the group of Chasers that were still flying around the stadium. He grabbed his broom, the Lightning Bolt (the latest broom on the market named after him), flew into the middle of the field, and called for the group to halt.
"Alright, we're going to go over some basic Chaser techniques for those who have never played Quidditch before…"
When Harry finally chose a team, the sun had nearly set and the group was ready for a nice warm dinner inside the castle. Harry was last to leave the Quidditch pitch, with Hermione trudging next to him.
"So, really, why are you here?" Harry asked, holding his bruised arm that must have been the aim of all the Bludgers.
Hermione shrugged. "I'm just taking an opportunity to intern, come back to see the school, and be with a few of my friends. It's only until Christmas," she added sadly. "Well, I must get back to the Hospital Wing. I'll see you tomorrow!"
Harry sighed, remembering that Gryffindor trials were the next day. He didn't think he could take much more of this, but dinner took his mind off his pain…well, that and all the glares from the Hufflepuff table who didn't get picked for the team. One taste of the lasagna with pesto sauce told him someone had tampered with his food. Excusing himself rather early, he made his way to the kitchens where he was served by a highly helpful group of house-elves and Dobby, excited as ever to see Harry Potter back.
"Harry! You look awful," Sirius greeted from his portrait frame back in his office after dinner.
"Thanks," Harry mumbled, falling into his chair behind his desk.
"You have a few notes," Sirius continued, "from the Ministry and what-not. Oh, and a young woman with fiery red hair decided to visit. Seems I've met her before, but I can't remember."
"Ginny?" Harry interrupted in astonishment.
Sirius beamed, feeling a little more enlightened. "Yeah, that sounds familiar. She didn't say much, but seemed to be looking for something. I don't think she found it, though. She went storming out of the room a few minutes later. Perhaps, you should start thinking about locking your office when you are gone-"
However, Harry was out of the room before Sirius could finish, pulling his invisibility cloak over him.