Chapter 14

A Task Completed

Adrian Berkley became the new favorite conversation topic at Hogwarts. During meals he would sit up at the head table on Dumbledore's left side, so he was in full view of all the students. Harry caught Parvati and Lavender more than once sitting as close as they could to the front of the room and craning their necks in a very noticeable manner trying to get a full view of Berkley. Hermione huffed every time she overheard girls talking giddily about him. "Just because he's famous," she'd say as a rather large posse followed him out of the Great Hall after supper that night.

"I've heard that before," Ron said, grinning ear to ear.

"When might that have been?" Hermione shot back angrily.

"Oh, I don't know…three years ago when a certain international superstar of a Quidditch player was here for the Triwizard Tournament… Look how that ended up."

Narrowing her eyes, Hermione glared at Ron as he looked back at her innocently. "I wouldn't mess with Hermione if I were you," Harry whispered in Ron's ear.

"I've got to go finish up some homework," Hermione almost hissed back at the two. "So excuse me."

"Well, I think I'm going to head out to practice early tonight," Harry said as he stood up from his seat.

"Yeah, I'll follow you in a few minutes," Ron replied, still seething at Hermione.

"See you then."

Harry traipsed up the stairs to the Gryffindor common room. He ran up the steps to his room two at a time, grabbed his Firebolt, and ran back downstairs. The team hadn't practiced since last week, so he was anxious to fly again. Finding his way down to the Quidditch pitch, he found that he was not alone. It appeared that the secret had leaked that Berkley was going to be watching Gryffindor's practice because approximately half of the girls in the school were already seated in the stands, buzzing with excitement. They all glanced at Harry as he entered the field, but quickly returned to their conversations when they saw it wasn't Berkley. Rolling his eyes, Harry jumped onto his broomstick and kicked off the ground. He flew high and low, diving and doing loop-the-loops, racing himself to the end of the field and back again. He saw a tall figure leaning up against the entrance to the pitch as he turned around to race back towards the opposite goalposts. Immediately he recognized Berkley's figure.

"Nice, very nice," Adrian said, impressed. "I remember playing against you so many years ago. You were good, but you've definitely improved since."

"Thanks, Adrian." Harry grinned. Finally something was going his way. Once Voldemort was out of the way he would play Quidditch professionally. He had never really wanted to become an Auror that much anyway.

"I see I've dragged my posse along with me," Berkley said, slightly annoyed and slightly amused as he glanced up at the stands. Every single eye appeared to be glued on him. "My apologies if it interrupts your practice."

"Oh, don't worry about them. They're too fixed on you to see anything that happens around them anyway."

"Thanks, Potter," Adrian said, grinning ear to ear. Harry could tell that he would get along splendidly with England's team at this rate. "Fame's a curse, I tell you."

"Don't I know it." Harry recalled when he first arrived at Hogwarts seven years ago: the entire school had looked at him as some kind of hero. His celebrity had been the talk of Hogwarts for months before it all settled down and they got used to him being at school. How things have changed, Harry thought, smiling to himself.

"Well, it appears that the rest of your team has arrived," Berkley said upon seeing a small mass of six people walking towards the field. "Let's see what you can do."

Adrian was almost jumping up and down with excitement as the practice came to a close and he walked onto the field to meet Harry. "That was absolutely spectacular, Harry, absolutely marvelous! I've never seen anything like it…you just fit into your leadership role on the team so seamlessly…" Harry listened to him blabber on five minutes straight. "…after this performance today you're almost guaranteed a spot on the team…wait until I tell the other guys, they'll so excited! Harry Potter playing Quidditch for England!"

"I've got to go and hit the showers," Harry said, not sure if Berkley had heard him or not. Evidently he did, because as Harry walked in the direction of the locker rooms Berkley headed off towards the castle, still chanting, "Absolutely remarkable…can't wait until the match on Saturday…" His posse followed close behind.

Grinning, Harry walked off towards the locker rooms. His heart was soaring. It had been just a simple practice, but he was probably going to have a spot on England's Quidditch team! Letting his mind wander to the summer before fourth year in the luxurious Top Box at the World Cup, he envisioned Ludo Bagman saying, "And I give you, Potter!" The entire stadium erupted in cheers as he sped onto the field, an array of lights in front of him…

"Harry! Harry!" Ron was standing right in front of him, his hands waving in front of Harry's face. Evidently he had reached the locker room, but it was already deserted except for him and Ron. "Dozing a bit are we?"

"Yeah, I guess," Harry said as he ran his hand through his hair so it stood on end.

"Well, you'd better clean up then. It's already getting pretty late and we still have that Charms homework yet."

"Right." The box of Quidditch balls was under Harry's arm. He walked into Madam Hooch's office and set it down. Ron looked like he was going to head out, but then he turned around.

"And Harry?"

"Mmm?"

"I really hope you get that Quidditch position. If anyone deserves it, it's you."

"Thanks, Ron." Harry smiled again, a genuine smile. He hadn't been this happy since…well, a long time ago. Not even the massive pile of homework awaiting him in the common room could drag him down.

Harry was willing to bet the entire school would show up to their Quidditch match against Ravenclaw on Saturday. Granted, half of them would be gawking at Berkley, but everyone was just so excited about it that Harry couldn't help but get caught up in the hype—mainly because he was the hype.

McGonagall pulled him aside after his Transfiguration lesson on Friday. "Not nervous or anything, Potter? Any jitters?"

"Nervous?"

"Tomorrow's match." She looked twice as uneasy as Harry felt. When she felt his forehead to feel if he was feverish, he pulled away a bit.

"Listen, I appreciate your concern, Professor, but it's just a Quidditch match. There's nothing really special about it."

"Potter, we haven't had a recruiter from England since Charlie Weasley. They only want the best. It'll be tough trying to win them over."

"Well…Wednesday's practice seemed to go pretty well. Berkley was practically jumping up and down with excitement."

"Good, good…but that still doesn't prove anything. You can never really tell with those recruiters! Just don't expect anything, Potter."

"I won't, Professor."

"Good luck, Harry. I really hope you get this position." She took the time to flash him a rare smile.

"Thank you, Professor McGonagall." With that he left the room.

"…And again, Harry Potter is being observed during this game by none other than Adrian Berkley, star of England's Quidditch team!" Colin Creevey burst out excitedly. Harry silently groaned inside. Whose idea was it to hire Colin as Quidditch announcer anyway?

"Creevey, keep to the match!" McGonagall bellowed.

"Right you are, Professor, right you are…Ravenclaw in possession now…almost there…Ron Weasley makes yet another fantastic save!" The crowds burst out in exultation as Ron threw the ball back to his sister halfway down the field.

"Great save, Ron!" Harry yelled from above.

"Thanks, mate!"

"Gryffindor in possession…Ginny Weasley to Longbottom…back to Weasley…down to Amber Isaacson…back to Longbottom…GRYFFINDOR SCORES! Gryffindor in the lead, forty to ten." Harry grinned as his Chasers congratulated each other on their almost flawless Three Chaser Weave. Out of the forty points in favor of Gryffindor, Neville had scored thirty. Looking down at the Chasers again, Harry couldn't have been more proud.

The rest of the game passed quite smoothly. Harry made sure to show off some of his best flying moves, as he felt Berkley watching him. He wove between the goalposts, soared high up in the air and just let himself go. Filled with elation, he swerved to avoid a Bludger that had followed him up. He climbed a bit longer and then dove back to the ground. He heard Colin shouting, "Gryffindor leads, seventy to ten!" A sinking feeling hit Harry as he saw a tiny glint of gold just within arm's reach of the Ravenclaw Seeker. Seconds later and she would notice it, ending the match. Quickly, Harry launched himself forward on his Firebolt towards the opposite end of the field. The other Seeker quickly caught on, and followed him at top speed. Harry flew so close to the ground that the tips of his shoes skimmed over the dewy grass.

"Just a bit farther…" he muttered to himself under his breath. The crowd was going nuts as he leaned forward on his broomstick and quickly turned around to head top speed in the other direction. He showed off the versatility of his Firebolt as he swerved another Bludger, a goalpost, and Neville as he felt his hand close over the cold Snitch. Grinning widely, he soared up into the air and did a victory lap as the crowd went wild.

"Harry Potter catches the Snitch as Gryffindor Keeper Ron Weasley only allows ten points! Gryffindor wins, two hundred sixty to ten!" Harry felt the team closing in on him as they all thudded into him for a team hug.

As they floated towards the ground, Harry heard a distinct voice in his ear. "Well done, Harry. Your father would have been proud." None other than headmaster Albus Dumbledore stood next to Harry, grinning ear to ear.

"Thank you, sir."

"Spectacular, positively spectacular, Potter," Berkley told him, slapping him on the back as the entire crowd poured onto the field as if he had won the Quidditch Cup. "I've been told that there's a possible recruit at Beauxbatons, but I doubt anything could beat that…" Berkley carried on in a manner not unlike Oliver Wood, the Quidditch captain for Gryffindor for Harry's first through third years.

Harry couldn't have been happier as he looked over towards the Forbidden Forest. He could have sworn he saw the back legs of a gigantic black dog diving into the trees.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hmm…should probably update this more. Again, reviews would be appreciated. I need some new flare in here, but I'm not sure how to do that just yet…