Disclaimer:I do NOT own Harry Potter or Eyeshield 21 or any of the affiliated characters. What I do own is a kick ass Ash Ketchum hat, a freezer full of fudge pops, and a collection of gold medal winning maple syrup. None of which will appear in this story.

Warnings:OC's, some OOC, Het, Slash, AU, fluff, language

The Sixteenth Tackle

McGonagall sat down at the staff table, her notes ready and her tea freshly made. It was time for their monthly meeting and she had quite a lot to talk about this month. She started working in review with her fifth year curriculum and it really started to show who needed help and who didn't. The seventh years had finally been struck with the fear of NEWTS and overall everything else was smooth sailing in her class. She was glad that only two years only had these standardized tests, because if she at her age she didn't think she had the ability to handle seven years of stressed out students.

Flitwick sat beside her with a greeting. "Minerva, how is your house doing?"

"Well. I haven't received as many complaints lately, not even against the twins which reassures and concerns me at the same time." She would need to look into that. She wanted to trust them and believe that they were channeling their energy into more productive activities, but… you could never truly let your guard down with them. "How are your ravens?"

Flitwick chuckled with a clap. "Wonderful! They're the same as always. The quidditch team is training harder since they saw your lions at the first match. I don't know what Mr. Wood is doing but there has been a remarkable improvement in their performance."

She knew exactly what Wood was doing, and his little helper too. She was asked to check everything over before he started implementing it, and while she didn't have anything to say as the science behind the new sports was beyond her, she still liked knowing that the boys wanted her to be included and look over everything. "Mr. Wood has been the best team Captain I've ever had the pleasure of working with. I'm quite proud." Charlie Weasley had been competent, he was a caring and compassionate captain, but she knew that his heart was never fully in it.

"And you should be. Have you heard about him getting an offer yet?"

One of her favourite parts of teaching was watching her students achieve their dreams. "No, but of the five scouts watching him, he's most interested in the Scottish National Team and Puddlemore United. I believe they are waiting to see if we win the cup first before finalizing their offers."

"How much do you think they are willing to offer him if you win?"

"It could be the difference between second and third string for him." She was proud of her boy. He a very talented keeper and she knew that if he spent as much time improving himself as he did his team, he would be unmatched by the other up and coming recruits in the Quidditch League. It wasn't very often that you got a student who was more passionate and dedicated to helping the people around them, than improving themselves. It was one of the many reasons he was a great captain. "I have heard, from a former student, Puddlemore is prepared to sign him to being the starting Keeper in two years. Hodes is getting ready to retire and they think Oliver could become a real asset."

Flitwick got really excited. "They must see all his potential if they are thinking a couple years down the line. He could be the youngest starting keeper in the professional league."

"Without studies and his days dedicated to pure quidditch, it could very well happen. Last week, I saw him have the girls pelt him with quaffles and he didn't let a single one through the hoops. He's really improved this year and if he keeps on this incline, well… I don't know how I could feel any prouder but I'm sure I will find out."

"I think it would be fun if we got tickets to his first game. I would love to see his play in a few years." The Charms professor was already writing himself a note to remind himself later.

Minerva was about to respond –She would be sure to buy tickets for her whole quidditch team and herself when that happens- when Dumbledore entered the room with his usual flamboyance. He was always arriving right on the dot to get things rolling.

"Shall we get things started?" Everyone murmured their agreements. Not that they really had a choice in the matter, he was the Headmaster after all, and the meeting began. "Let's start with our seventh years. Who would like to go first?" Vector held up her hand and started the debate.

From there they all took turns comparing their notes and talking about all the students until they hit the third years. That's when all the teachers prepared for Severus monthly rant about Potter. That man had a grudge against a boy for no other reason than being born.

"I think a student we need to focus on is Mr. Potter. I believe him to be cheating and copying his work from another student. There is no reason for a boy like him to suddenly improve his written assignments like he has. I plan to punish him severely when I catch him the next time and I hope that you will support me this time, Minerva."

Minerva rolled her eyes and sighed as she heard her fellow colleague speak. "I can't believe you would accuse him like that," she defended her lion. "I know for a fact that Mr. Potter has been putting in more effort this year to improve his grades. He has never cheated and I don't like the accusations that you are throwing his way." It was one thing to complain about his classroom performance as she couldn't argue that, but accuse him of cheating was going too far. She knew how hard that boy was working to up his grades and she wouldn't stand for it.

"Of course you would defend him. You haven't seen the essays he's been handing in. You just blindly believe that all your precious Gryffindor's are saints," The man spat back.

"I don't like that tone Severus," Minerva retorted.

"Now, Severus, no need to get riled up. Do you have any proof that Mr. Potter is cheating?" Dumbledore interjected.

"No, but Minerva has no proof he isn't."

Her eyes narrowed as she stared at the potions master. "I do in fact." Honestly she couldn't believe that Severus was so petty. "Mr. Potter has dropped his two elective courses in order to focus on his core classes. He came to me with concerns over his performance and admitted that he wasn't able to keep up in them. I agreed to let him drop the classes so that he may improve in the core classes. Just recently he took up a language elective, and is getting potions help from Percy Weasley. Any improvements in your class may be accredited to the Head Boy, and Mr. Potters resolve to achieve higher grades."

"I personally spoke to Mr. Potter recently about his new class and I haven't seen the boy so interested in something since quidditch. He has really motivated himself this year," Filius chipped in. "I have an acquaintance in Japan, an old buddy from the duelling scene, and Mr. Potter asked me if I could ask him to send the newspaper for him to read. The last two weeks he's been stopping by my classroom every Sunday afternoon to get them."

A happy smile crossed her face at those words. "I believe he is only interested in the sports sections." If she was honest with herself, Harry Potter wasn't interested in much outside of quidditch, sports, and Defense. They boy was naturally a physical person who didn't like sitting in class. He was the type to grow up and enter a field that allowed him to constantly move. Leave him idle and he gets into all sorts of trouble. Look at the past two years, and it was proof enough.

"This is ridiculous and just another example how everyone panders to Mr. Potter's whims. The boy is failing so what do you do? You reward him by letting him drop classes," Severus argued.

"Oh don't go and climb atop your high horse!" Minerva had enough. "We have all done what we can to help our children succeed. Do you think we all believe that Mr. Flint decided on his own to break his NEWTS into two years? You need to stop harassing a 13 year old boy for no reason. He is not cheating, he is not a cheater or a thief, or whatever else you have been accusing him of." There she said her piece.

"You know, I think I could ask my friend to just collect the sports sections. No point in giving Mr. Potter something he isn't interested in," Filius said as he broke the silence that descended upon the group.

Bless his wonderful heart. "That would be appreciated."

o.O.o

"I'm telling ya, I heard it meself!" Seamus whispered to them at dinner.

"Girls don't fart and they don't poop. That's like stuff everyone knows," Neville argued. "Lavender says that when girls go to the bathroom, all they do is fix their hair and make-up. They don't need to do their business like boys do."

"I really don't think that's right…" Dean threw in. He was searching through his bag and only giving half his attention to them.

"Yeah… I think everyone needs to pee and poo. That's just the body at work." Harry wasn't an expert, he didn't even know what his body was doing half the time and this puberty thing was really throwing him for a loop, but he did know that everyone needs to use the toilet. They wouldn't make one for girls if they didn't need it. It would just be a mirror closet, and not a washing closet.

"See. If they shit and piss like us, then they fart like us too. I'm telling the truth. I heard Hermione fart!"

Neville didn't look like he was convinced. "Even if they do… then why wouldn't she hide it? Hermione is the type to find an empty room."

"She wasn't expecting it, that's why. I saw her leaving the library and she dropped a book. When she bent down, she let out a loud one."

"She really farted?" Harry asked. The entire time they were best friends, she never heard her fart. "Did it smell?"

"Nah, didn't get much time to sniff. She tried blaming me and I had to get out of there right quick before she started a lecture" Seamus stated with a grin. "Can you imagine her teaching me about the manners involved with passing wind? The do's and don'ts of flatulence?"

"I don't think that's what she would talk about. Maybe about how to be a gentleman, but she's too proper to get too in depth about such a subject," Harry defended the girl. Yes, her lectures were long and boring but they were never vulgar.

"It still stands though. Hermione Granger farted." Seamus was quite proud of his discovery.

"Okay, we won't fight you on that anymore, but what were you doing at the library? You rarely go there by yourself?" Dean asked. He was still looking for something and Harry was tempted to tell his friend to forget about it.

"Well, I was there for research of course."

"Researching what?" Harry asked.

"What else? Girls! Look, classes have kept Leanne away mostly but she's still creeping around the corners and eyeing up our plant whisperer, so we need to finally get him a girl. He's had his training with Lavender and Parvarti, he's received my words of wisdom, and all the exercise we've put him through has slimmed him down. Puberty has especially been kind to him so far, so now is the time to strike. I think I found the girl."

Dean finally found whatever he was looking for as he pulled a piece of parchment from his bag with a sound of triumphant. "God, these bottomless bags are ridiculous. If it's not the size of a textbook, it's impossible to grab."

"What is that?" Harry asked.

"It's a love note." Harry and co just stared at Dean.

"You got a love note?" Harry couldn't believe people actually did that.

"I get a few, they really started pouring in this year as we started hanging around you, but this note is for Neville," Dean answered.

"When do you get these notes?" He's never seen his friends getting buried under love notes. When was all this happening? Was there a secret mailbox that he didn't know about?

"Well we don't get them. Your fan club gathers all love notes and gifts from your admirers and sorts them. If they feel that anything should be passed on they sneak it into our room."

"I've never seen anything like that," Harry admitted. So there was a secret mailbox!

"Well, they've never thought anything should be passed on. They have very high standards for you," Dean informed him.

"Who are these fan club members?" Harry was honestly surprised that something like that existed.

"Admirers who prefer to remain nameless." Dean answered.

"And you all knew about this?"

"Well… we didn't until notes started appearing and Seamus went to investigate. There was a dark room, candles, and some well-placed shadows, he refuses to talk about it but that's how we learnt of your fan club."

You know what? He didn't want to know. He was already baffled and slightly intimidated. He didn't want to know. "What's the note say then?" He was just going to avoid the whole thing. The fan club hadn't bothered him before and he didn't think knowing about them would bother him now. In fact, they were quite helpful by taking all the notes and whatever else he got. It was blissful not to know.

"Right, Neville, a Fanny Blythe would like to know if you care to go to Hogsmeade with her next weekend. She says she will wait for you in the courtyard with a yellow flower on her cap, and if you wish to attend with her that you should wear a yellow flower on your lapel."

"F-fanny B-Blythe?" Poor Neville, he was blushing and seemed entirely out of his depth. He couldn't help but stutter and it didn't help that his voice had started to crack.

"Oi! She's a fifth year Hufflepuff," Seamus explained.

"How do you know her?" Harry asked. He would admit that they really didn't interact with students from other years and in other houses.

"She was the bird I wanted Neville to date. I saw her in the herbology section of the library. I asked about her and she's the president of the herbology club."

"There's a herbology club?" Harry asked. He really didn't think there were clubs outside of quidditch. He didn't think he saw adverts for any clubs before. Even the Gryffindor board only really talked about quidditch, the new sports program, and people looking for tutors or lost items.

"Professor Sprout asked me to join in first year… but I didn't think that anyone would want me there… so I said no…"

"Why not? You're absolutely brilliant at herbology," Harry said. Neville is as good at herbology as Harry is at quidditch. Considering how much people praised him on a broom, Neville should be proud of his talent. He didn't get why people thought Neville was an idiot. Sure he was a little shy and he sometimes forgot things, but put a plant in front of him and it would flourish in seconds. He just has this special touch when it came to plants and flowers. "If they don't want you then they're idiots and they don't deserve your time."

Neville blushed again while smiling. "I'm not that good…"

"Nonsense. You are the only one in our class not to get attacked by the vicious plants. They actually seem to purr when you enter the greenhouse," Harry reassured his friend. Neville had a talent and he could see why the president of a herbology club would be interested in him. In terms of plants, Neville is a stud.

"Neville, admit you're brilliant or else Harry will keep singing your praises," Seamus joked.

"I-I'm brilliant," he stuttered out.

"That's a good chap. Now back to Fanny Blythe," Seamus started. "I think you should go for it mate, but… you need practice."

"Practice dating Blythe? Are we supposed to clone her?" Dean asked.

"Nah not like that. He needs to practice dating period. Look, I already talked to Lavender and Parvarti and they agreed to do a test run with us. It will be a group date where Neville can practice his conversation skills. Pavarti already talked to her sister and the four of us, will go on a group date."

Harry wasn't sure how he felt about this. In all the talk of getting Neville a girlfriend, he never thought about himself dating. He wasn't interested in any of the girls, and he didn't see the point in going to the pub to spend money on food and talk. He could do that at school and save his galleons for something worthwhile. But now, Seamus was making them all go on a date.

"When are we going to do this? Next weekend is when Blythe wants to meet with Neville," Dean pointed out.

"Ah, but we won't be going to Hogsmeade. Harry has quidditch practice this Sunday, so I figured, since we're all going to be at the pitch anyways watching him, why not just have the girls meet us there? We can do one of those picnic things that girls like, and a meal under the stars is romantic. They'll love it."

"But if this is after quidditch, won't I be smelly?" Harry wondered. He didn't flatter himself and think he smelled like daisies when he sweats, he knows he could get quite stinky, especially after the sweat cooled and had time to mature. Which is what would happen if he doesn't shower after practice…

Seamus scoffed. "Just shower first."

"So I'm supposed to play quidditch for two hours, land, shower, and then go on a date?" That sounded like a lot. When he got in the air, Oliver put them all through a rigorous session, squeezing out every last second for training. He was always exhausted after air practice and he usually managed to slog back to the dorm room, shower, and then pass out within five minutes. He didn't know if he would have the energy to keep up a conversation or entertain his date. But then again, in this situation he was just there to support Neville. He probably didn't have to do much… but it would be rude to fall asleep.

"I'm sure you'll manage.

He didn't know why he was arguing. Maybe it was because he didn't like being forced on a date. He wanted to support Neville and make sure his friend had a good time and hopefully not have to deal with Leanna anymore –he saw the toll the girl was taking on Neville- but he really didn't want to go on this date. Between quidditch and classes he wasn't left with much free time. The free time he did have was spent going back over all his assignments to make sure they were the best he could possibly do, and looking through old records in the library to find any mention of Dean's dad. Now when he could be sleeping, he had to entertain girls, who he had nothing in common with. He knew he was being selfish and whiney, even in his own mind, but he didn't want to go.

"I can try. I won't promise anything though." He didn't want to go but he would.

"Great! Now, does anyone know where the kitchens are? We need to nick some food and a basket."

Harry wanted to sigh but he knew it would do no good. The only thing he could do was direct Seamus towards the twins. They were probably the ones to ask. They always did manage to make food and snacks appear whenever they wanted. Since he didn't think they could go to Hogsmeade and bring back meat pies still warm, they had to get them from within the castle. The only logical place to get them was the kitchens. "The twins know."

"You might have to ask them then," Seamus said with a grimace.

"Why?" Harry thought that Seamus was on good terms with the twins.

"Well… we had a difference of opinion earlier."

"What happened?"

Seamus looked like he was about to answer but then just completely ignored him. "Did you guys see what Davies did earlier? He had his team on the pitch wearing blindfolds. I saw three near crashes. The only reason they didn't hit was because everyone was screaming."

"Seamus, what happened?" Dean persisted.

"Well, after a couple of minutes, Davies clearly realized he was being an idiot and had everyone take the blindfolds off."

"That's not what I'm talking about," Dean stated calmly.

"Well what do you think happened? They kept practicing of course."

"Seamus…" Harry trailed off. "Why can't you talk to the twins?"

"I may have been chatting up one of the birds they like, and I may have been caught… nothing too serious, but they didn't like that," Seamus admitted.

"I thought you were dating that Minister's daughter?" Dean asked.

"Yeah… not really. We made a deal to wait for the other but… it's more like an agreement that come summer, we'll just get back together. I'm entering the prime of me life, I can't be tied down. I need to spread my wings and soar through the dating scene. Do you think she's going to really not see other people while I'm here?"

"That just seems dishonest," Harry admitted.

"I'm not dating anyone… just seeing a few girls now and then. That's different. Seeing someone is just a few dates, but dating is committing and labelling each other as boyfriend and girlfriend. I never actually agreed to that with her. There's nothing to say I need to be a one woman kind of guy."

"I think she'll see it differently," Neville spoke up. "From my experience, girls think long term from the very start."

Seamus laughed. "We weren't meant to go far anyways. If I'm actually to shackle meself to a girl, I want it to be honest. She doesn't even know me real age or where I go to school. I can't talk to her about me friends or me classes. I can't talk about me day because it's full of magic and things I legally can't talk about. Why should I be in a relationship where I can't be me real self? If I'm going to make that commitment, I'm going to do it right."

Harry had to admit he had a point. He was lying to the girl and it was better to bail out now before either got in too deep and only ended up hurt later. It sucked that there might be this girl in Birmingham or wherever she was, probably thinking her 15 year old boyfriend Seamus was being faithful at boarding school, who would only get hurt come summer. But in a way, Seamus was a very serious person when it came to relationships, as seen from the thought he put in to his choices.

"Let's try this again, this Sunday, the four of us will be going on a group date," Seamus said with confidence. "It will be a picnic at the pitch and Harry will shower. All good then chaps?"

The three of them mumbled their responses, not all that excited but by now they knew to not go against Seamus. Neville seemed just a tad bit more enthusiastic then Harry, but then again, Neville didn't have to do this after quidditch.

"Right, moving on," Dean started. "Ron and Hermione got in a fight."

"About what?" Harry asked. He was worried. Sure he didn't hang around his former best friends much these days, but he didn't want them to have a falling out as well. Hermione especially didn't have many friends outside Harry and Ron and he was worried that the girl would get lonely.

"Ron says that Hermione's new cat ate Scabbers. Hermione denies it, but Ron says there's blood on his sheets and his rat is missing. They got into a big row about it in the middle of the common room and then Hermione stormed out."

"Did the cat actually eat the rat?" Seamus asked.

"Not sure. Ron didn't want to talk to me. He stormed out next and no one really knows what happened," Dean explained.

"Should we talk to him or something?" Neville asked. "It's not easy losing your pet. He must be hurting."

Harry nodded. "What if two of us talk to him and the other two look for Scabbers?"

"Who will do what?" Seamus wondered.

This was the tough part. He wanted to be there for Ron, but what about Hermione? What would happen if Hermione saw him and thought he was taking Ron's side and felt even lonelier? He didn't want the girl to feel isolated even more than she already did. He didn't like feeling all alone and she shouldn't have to feel that way. He had a plan though.

"I'll look for Scabbers, and I'll talk to the twins. They could probably help. But I think someone needs to talk to Hermione too. I don't think either of them should be alone right now, not until they make up. I think Neville would be best to talk to Hermione. She needs someone on her side. Dean can talk to Ron, no offense Seamus… but I think I should talk to the twins alone. You can ask Hagrid if he's seen Scabbers."

"Right, that sounds good." Dean poked at his food as he spoke. "Should we include him in more stuff?"

"I don't know…" and he didn't. When they tried to include him before, he didn't seem interested in the muggle sports. He didn't see why anyone would think they were fun. Ron's disregard for anything muggle worried him. Unlike his father, Ron didn't care what muggles did. "I say talk to him, make sure he's okay and then play it by ear? If he doesn't want to join us then we don't beat ourselves up about it. It's his choice."

Seamus stood up suddenly. "Right troops, General Potter has given us our marching orders, it's time to get to work." All three of them turned to him and gave him a mock salute. He cracked a smile and shook his head.

"Off you lot."

o.O.o

Finding the twins was easy. They only stayed in a few places for an extended length of time; their dorm room, the pitch, and three or four secret locations that they only ever alluded to. The team wasn't due to be at the pitch until later, so he checked their room first. The pair was at their desks, parchment and random bits and bobs surrounding them. As he entered they were speaking rapidly to one another and Harry couldn't understand a thing.

"Hey guys…" he threw out. "Can we talk for a second?"

The two stopped and in an eerie silence turned to him as one. "Harry," they started talking as one. "What brings you here?"

Taking a step back, Harry made sure that he had a grip on the door handle. He felt safer knowing that he was close to an exit. "Just a chat…"

"About what?" Oh Merlin, he wished that they would face him fully or stop talking together at least. It was getting seriously creepy up here.

"I had a few questions and a favor to ask. But it can wait if you two are busy," he rushed to explain.

"We're not busy."

Why must they do this to him? They weren't even blinking! Who does that? It was creepy and probably not good for your eyes. Blinking was a necessity. They needed to be hydrated like a fish. If not they would shrivel up and stuff and that wasn't good.

"Look, I just wanted to know where the kitchens were and if you wanted to help look for Ron's rat. It seems Scabbers is missing." It was better to get to the point so he could leave as quickly as possible. These two were in some kind of twin plotting zone that he felt bad interfering with.

"We can help."

"Please talk individually," he pleaded.

"Of course, Harry." He whimpered. Why can't they take pity on him? "We have just the thing." It was like being in one of Dudley's bad horror movies.

One of the twins stood up and smiled. "Just playing mate," the red head said. Harry thought it could be Fred. He usually took the lead on things.

Maybe George stood next. "We've been thinking about it and there's something we would like to give you."

"We've been waiting for the right person, and we think we found them in you."

"You see young Harry," the twins were advancing on him now, and he was seriously considering cutting his losses and just bolting. What was the worst that could happen? They track him down? But by then he could witnesses. "We've been taking note of your adventures the last few years."

"We've watched as you snuck out at night," "your adventure in Knockturn Alley," "and the whole Aunt incident." "You're our man Harry."

"Your man for what?"

A large piece of parchment appeared in Fred's hand and suddenly he was trapped between the twins and the door.

This wasn't looking good for him.

Fun Football Fact

While football originally was popular in Midwestern industrial towns, its growth in popularity around the USA is typically traced to the 1958 NFL championship, which has been called the "Greatest Game Ever Played".