AN: Written for round 11 of the Quidditch League Competition.

Team: Pride

Position: Beater 1

Prompts: suprise (emotion) and unnecessary (word).

Harry Potter came into the wizarding world confused.

Overnight he went from being hated and ignored to being famous. Everyone wanted something to do with him. Something from him.

Before Hogwarts Harry had had no idea where he was going with his life. His family had told him that he was never going to amount to anything for as long as he could remember. Once at Hogwarts, it had been the opposite, everyone thought he needed to be everything.

Except the professor. She always expected his best, but never more. When he sat down for his careers meeting in his 5th year he had been shocked by her candid comments as to what he could do should his grades continue the trajectory they were on. But he left with a question still circling in his head.

Where was he going?

Neville Longbottom grew up in the wizarding world.

His grandmother had never let him truly develop anything that was his own. He was constantly compared to his parents. Constantly expected to measure up. Constantly failing. He arrived at Hogwarts knowing he was going to upset his grandmother even more. He would never be in Gryffindor like his parents. He would never live up to her sky high expectations.

Fifth year brought its own challenges. The DA made him feel like he may actually belong in Gryffindor. Yet, as he walked into his meeting with his head of house, he still felt that it was unnecessary. He told her as much when he sat down. When she suggested that Professor Sprout might take him on as an apprentice should he maintain his passion for her subject.

He left the meeting with newfound hope and one question on his mind.

Is that where he wanted to go?

Hermione Granger came into the wizarding world excited.

A new chance to make friends, a chance to learn magic. Real magic! She wanted to learn everything she possibly could about this exciting new world. She soon realized that it was not as magical as it seemed to be. Just like the muggle world, there were many dangers that came along with it.

In fifth year she walked into Professor McGonagall's office with a million ideas running through her head. There were so many things she could do, so many she wanted to try. She went over every single possibility she had thought of and was still surprised by the professor's suggestion that she consider politics. It hadn't been something she had ever thought about before but what a great way to see the changes that needed to happen.

Hermione left the office with all her ideas still running around, where did she want to go?

Ron Weasley came into the wizarding world in the shadow of his siblings.

There were so many of his siblings in front of him, nothing he could do was ever new. It had all been done before. Going to Hogwarts? Done. Quidditch Captain? Done. Prefect? Head boy? Both done. He got on the train knowing that nothing he did would really impress his family. The last son, he was nothing special. He was never meant to go anywhere new and exciting.

He walked into his meeting with McGonagall downtrodden and already wishing it was over. She went over his options, which were much less bleak than he expected them to be. She also added, rather sternly, that the only reason he wouldn't get where he wanted was if he was constantly comparing it to his brother's paths and that he should stop that train of thought immediately. Easier said than done.

Leaving the office, he realized many doors were still open to him, he just needed to decide where he wanted to go.

Ginny Weasly came into the wizarding world as a shock.

The first daughter after six sons? She was certain that it had sent her parents into shock. Born just after the war ended, she enjoyed the luxury of being raised without the threat of attacks hanging in the air. Ginny entered Hogwarts thrilled at the new experience, to finally be able to see what all of her brothers had talked about. Armed with her diary, she felt ready to take on the world.

5th year saw Ginny much more in tune with the horrors of war. The diary. The tournament. She knew it wasn't over. It had never been over. She couldn't envision the future that Professor McGonagall spoke about while highlighting the different careers she could pursue. All she knew was the impending war was on their doorstep.

Hoping to get the meeting over with, she suggested that she just play quidditch and be done with school. The professor chided her for the willingness to abandon her studies, but agreed that she had a real shot at playing professionally if she wanted to.

Ginny made her way back to the tower contemplating, was that where she wanted to go?

The war over, Minerva McGonagall watched her young charges begin to heal. She had tried to coach them all the best she could. Offer the advice and support they needed. She knew that on many occasions she had failed, and that she could never truly make up for them. Still, she tried. Every student that came into her office was offered support, but never lies. Lies, false pleasantries never helped anyone reach their goals. Politician. Teacher. Auror. Quidditch player. She couldn't wait to see where they all chose to go.

The fighting was finally over, for good this time. Her lions were finally able to look towards the future with hope and curiosity instead of fear and unease.

As she watched them mend she couldn't help but mutter under her breath "oh the places you'll go"* with a fond smile.

AN: *Quote from Dr. Seuss. Thanks for reading!