Chapter Eleven
A Friendship Shattered
It took a few days for the shock to wear off of Emily from what the students called the "Grand Staircase Incident." The rumor of the incident spread very rapidly and the story seemed to have changed repeatedly. One story had Harry jumping over the banister from several stories up and others had Harry using a Hovering Charm on himself in order to save Emily. Never less, the story always ended the same with Harry saving Emily from certain death. Despite these rumors, Harry didn't mind at all since he had been used to rumors circulating around him.
However, for those who love to spread rumors; there are those who despise them. The Slytherins just see Harry as trying to earn himself more fame to what he already has. Harry was pleased to see that Malfoy had lost his position as prefect and, as the rumor goes, he had been suspended and possibly removed from his position. Harry had seen Malfoy bully other students, but soon stops when he had seen Harry around or another prefect coming towards him.
Professor McGonagall had asked Harry to stay behind after his Transfiguration class on a cold, raining Thursday afternoon to tell him that he had made team captain for Gryffindor.
"Professor," Harry began but was lost at what she had said.
"I hope that you will bring us the Quidditch Cup again this year, Mr. Potter, and I also hope that your new team of players can do as well as they did the previous year."
Harry hurried over to the library to meet with Hermione and Ron, who were doing their homework and studying. Harry was surprised to see Emily among them as she was also doing her homework. Harry joined them and pulled out to start his Transfiguration essay across from Hermione.
"What did Professor McGonagall need?" Hermione asked in a whisper to as not to attract the school librarian, Madam Pince.
"She told me that I made Gryffindor Team Captain," Harry replied as he dipped his quill into his ink bottle.
"That's great Harry," Hermione replied while Ron was too busy with his own homework which he had neglected since the first day back.
Emily left the library after she had finished her essay. Ron left a few minutes later muttering that he needed a break while he ignored Hermione's scowl. Although Harry might agree with Ron; however, a voice inside of Harry's head told him to continue to work. It was not Hermione's voice as he would hear when he was on the verge of doing something reckless or wrong; it was a vaguely familiar voice that Harry could not recall when he had heard it before.
Harry and Hermione returned to the common room after they had both finished their essays and approved by Hermione to find it packed with students since Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures were cancelled due to the weather. Harry spotted Ron talking to Dean and Seamus near the roaring fireplace. Harry just finished the notice for Quidditch tryouts and there was a rush of students signing up after they had saw it.
"Hey," Harry shouted above the clatter of students signing up, "no first years trying out!"
There was an outbreak of outrage as the first years heard this but Harry didn't argue back as he climbed up the boys' dormitory staircase to return his books. Harry returned to see Hermione sitting near Ron as Ron was trying to avoid Harry and Hermione's gaze.
"So," Ron grudgingly began after Harry sat down and Harry didn't like the way Ron sounded. "So you made team captain."
"Yes, is there a problem?" Harry asked as Ron stood up and he caught a look at Hermione that looked like something bad was about to happen.
"Oh, it's nothing except… except that… YOU GET EVERYTHING YOU WANT!"
At Ron's explosion of anger, everyone present in the common room froze where they stood or sat. Hermione abandoned her chair and took a few steps back away from Ron after he had said this and a few students came down from their dormitories to see what had happened.
"Excuse me?" Harry asked adding a short laugh thinking Ron was joking.
"IT'S ALWAYS YOU WHO GETS THE FAME, YOU WHO GETS THE FORTUNE, YOU WHO IS MADE HEAD BOY, AND ALSO TEAM CAPTAIN!"
No one dared to speak; not even Hermione as Ron continued to breath hard and let loose his anger upon Harry.
"WHAT DO I HAVE? SECONDHAND ROBES, SECONDHAND BOOKS, AND EVEN A SECONDHAND PET!"
Ron continued to breath hard as his face turned a deep shade of red with each of his outbursts and Harry had never seen Ron like this before.
"YOU CAN HAVE ANY GIRL YOU WANT SINCE YOU'RE THE BLOODY 'BOY WHO LIVED!' WHAT DO I HAVE TO SHOW FOR MYSELF?" he pulls off his prefect badge ripping a few threads on his robes. "THIS RUBBY BADGE!" he throws it into the fireplace scattering ashes outside the fireplace. "CONSIDER OUR FRIENDSHIP OVER AND YOU BETTER FIND A NEW KEEPER FOR THE TEAM; I QUIT!" With that; he stormed out of the common room before Harry could argue with Ron.
"You can't blame yourself, Harry," Hermione said the next morning during breakfast. "Ron is just being his immature self and I don't blame you for what has happened in your life."
Harry took Hermione's words to heart and he tried to make up with Ron; however, that proved impossible. Every time he tried to approach Ron; he turned in the opposite direction to leave. Harry had to restrain himself for not abusing his position as Head Boy so as to not to sink to Malfoy's level when he abused his position as prefect.
Harry had not spoken to Ron as the tryout date for Gryffindor came closer since their argument. According to Hermione, he won't even talk to her; let alone have her check his homework. Harry tried to keep his mind on his schoolwork but that seemed impossible at times since he and Ron had not had an argument since Harry's name came out of the Goblet of Fire three years prior.
Harry and Hermione walked along the grounds on the day of the tryouts towards the Quidditch Pitch and they parted so that Hermione could watch from the stands. Harry changed into his Quidditch gear with the rest of the team; Chasers: Ginny and Erika Simpson and Beaters: Colin and Dennis Creevy.
The team dressed silently before they set foot onto the Pitch. Harry could tell that the majority of Gryffindor was out on the Pitch. Harry had to send a few first years off the Pitch saying that it was against the rules to have first years on the Pitch. They pouted that he, Harry, was on the team since his first year, but Harry still sent them off the Pitch; however, they were welcome to watch the tryouts from the stands.
Harry called the Chasers forward since he needed to fill in one position on the team. The Chasers started to throw the Quaffle, a red soccer-balled sized orb, amongst themselves. Harry blew his whistle and ordered them to split up into groups of threes so they could act like a team. Some of the participants didn't do too well. They overshot the Quaffle, juggled the Quaffle as they tried to catch it, or held onto the Quaffle too long. Harry found his third Chaser; a girl by the name of Jackie Smith.
The Beaters had their turn and the Creevy brothers were able to beat back the Bludgers, a pair of iron orbs no bigger than the Quaffle, and keep their position. Last was the Keeper, since no one wanted to try out for Seeker, and it was a disaster. Most of the tryouts were scared as the Chasers came towards them and they made no effort to protect one of the three ringed goals. Others were not fast enough to make the saves. Harry had to pick the best one out of the participants and hope that he, Zachary Sanders, would improve his skills but he was no replacement for Ron.
Harry blew his whistle and everyone returned to the ground.
"Okay, I want to first thank everyone for trying out and for those who don't make the team. Please try again next year," Harry spoke to the anxious players. "Chasers: Ginny Weasley, Erika Simpson, and Jackie Smith, Beaters: Colin and Denis Creevy, and Keeper: Zachary Sanders. Our next practice will be tomorrow at noon."
Harry met Hermione outside the Pitch after he had changed out of his Quidditch robes.
"Did Ron show up?" Harry asked her.
"I didn't see him at all, and why don't you trying talking to him," Hermione replied.
"I tried, but he doesn't want to talk to me at all. Harry, let's visit Hagrid since it's been ages since we last talked to him."
"Sure," Harry's face lit up at the idea and Harry knew that she wanted to get his mind off his argument with Ron.
They both crossed the grounds past the greenhouses where they had their Herbology classes and towards a small hut where Hagrid stays. Harry knocked on the door and they were greeted by the sound of a booming bark while a voice cried the barking.
"Down Fang, down!"
The door opened and they saw a man that is twice the size of a normal man with long, tangled black hair.
"I thought you were bound to visit me," he said while he restrained the boarhound's collar while it continued to make booming barks. "I hear a rumor that you and Ron had a little spat, Harry," Hagrid said as he closed the door while holding onto Fang's collar.
"I think that he is jealous of me since the first day we met, but he hasn't really shown it until he exploded with anger," Harry replied while Hagrid fixed some tea while Fang was laying in his bed.
"Don't blame yourself Harry since things like this happen between friends all the time and on certain issues to; from what I hear," Hagrid said as he poured Harry some tea.
Hagrid was on the verge of tears as he asked Harry and Hermione about their future since this may be the last time they would see each. His face lit up when they told him that they will be returning to teach, but Hagrid warned them that may not be possible when they first get out to get a teaching job first thing at Hogwarts. They left Hagrid's as the sun set for dinner.