AN: Yay! Early update! Starting next week I am planning on making weekly updates probably Wednesday. This chapter is a bit more like what happens in the book, but I tried to add my own twist to be sure it's not too much like it! Hope you like it.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter
Char POV
"Do you think we will get his letter at breakfast?" Zany asks me for the millionth time on our way down to the Great Hall. We had written a letter to our father last night asking about Snape. It hadn't even been a day since we sent the letter, but he was already anxious to get a response.
"It hasn't even been a day." I remind him, not bothering to hide my annoyance. "Give him some time to get it before you want a response!"
We meet up with the rest of the boys and find Hermione is already sitting with them. "Did you see the message in the common room?" She asks us as we join them. We both shake our heads no and wait for her to elaborate.
"We have flying lessons today! I can't wait to try! I've read all about it, of course, and it seems amazing!" She begins to gush.
"It really is great. I don't see why we all need to go though, I already know how to fly!" Zany complains.
Like us, Ron already knows how to fly. Flying lessons are mostly for the muggle borns, but I heard that Madam Hooch taught some tricks that would be good. While we have all flown before none of us were very good at it. It has only been a hobby. Harry, however, is really good at seeker. I'm sure that if he tried he could make it onto the quiditch team.
We enjoy the toast and jam for breakfast while talking about flying and quiditch. I am excited for the flying lessons, but I had planned on going to the library with Hermione to get ahead on some of the homework we got this week. I was hoping to convince the boys to at least start on theirs. Zany really needs to do well on that potions essay. I suppose there will be time later for it though. It would be nice to fly though. Being first years we aren't allowed to have our brooms here making this one of the few chances to fly.
Ron was the last to finish eating and as soon as he was we all eagerly head to the quiditch pitch. Once we arrive, however, we find not only our year Gryffindors but also the Slytherins. Just like anyone else I have heard all of the bad things about the Slytherin house, but personally I had never believed all of them. Looking at them now I am beginning to reconsider that. Of course there are some exceptions, but many of them looked mean.
The boy we met on the train, Malfoy I believe, is of course here. He is surrounding by a bunch who look the meanest. His two cronies he had on the train are still with him and looking as stupid as ever, but now he is also surrounded by more people.
We are only gathered around here for a few minutes before Madame Hooch joins us, instructing us to form two lines; one for Gryffindor and the other for Slytherin. I stand between Harry and Neville and wait for the chance to get on the broom.
"Now, put your wand arm out and say up." Madame Hooch instructs us. We all try and little by little everyone's brooms go up. Harry immediately gets his as does Zany. Teddy and Ron get theirs soon after. It takes me a few more tries and then I watch the rest of the group trying to get theirs. Poor Neville seems to be having the most trouble.
Finally he got his broom to fly up to his awaiting hand and Madame Hooch began her next set of instructions. "On my whistle you will raise up on your brooms-only a few feet-and then lower yourself back to the ground." Before she could even blow the whistle Neville had already started to rise into the air.
"Get down here!" She shouts at him. "Get back down here this instant!"
It was clear her screaming would be useless though. The look on Neville's face showed that he had not done this on purpose. His face showed a look that could only be described as a mixture of confusion and horror. He tried to get his broom to go back down, but almost as if it had a mind of its own it raised higher and higher.
As he got higher he showed more terror on his face. That could be caused by the fact that the higher the broom got the less he seemed to be able to control the broom, which wasn't much to start with. Madame Hooch gets on her own broom to help him at the same moment that he fell off his broom.
He fell against the ground with a loud thump and everybody raced over to check on him. "Back up everyone! Give him some room." Everyone is in a semicircle as close to Neville as Madame Hooch will allow us to get.
"Looks like it's broken." She says finally after examining his wrist. "Now, I am going to escort Neville to the Hospital Wing. If I see any of you on your brooms you will be out of here faster than you can say quiditch."
She just barely gets out of sight before Malfoy grabs a small ball that is laying right where Neville fell. After a moment I recognize it as the rememberall his gran had sent him.
"What do you think I leave this somewhere for him to find it?" Malfoy asks his friends mockingly. "I was thinking on the roof."
"Give it here Malfoy! He's already hurt, you don't need to embarrass him anymore!" I yell at him.
"Why don't you come and get it then?" He taunts getting on his broomstick.
I am about to get on mine when Harry shakes his head and mounts his instead. He doesn't listen to any of our complaints before kicking off the ground and chasing after him.
"What is he thinking?" Hermione asks me. "He is going to lose all of the points I earned us during Transfigurations! Worse, he will get himself expelled!"
All that is going through my mind is that it should be me. I can see why he chased him instead, he is a better flyer after all, but if he gets caught he will be the one to get expelled. What kind of friend would I be if I let him take the fall? Just as I contemplate joining him I see him fall into a dive nearly going straight down chasing after the small ball.
Of course, being the great seeker he is, he catches the rememberall and pulls out of the dive and glides easily down to the ground. As soon as he has booth feet planted firmly on the ground all of the Gryffindors and even a few of the Slytherins race over to him cheering. Our celebration is short lived however because soon we notice Professor McGonagall making her way out to the pitch looking as cross as ever.
"Potter!" She calls. "Come with me please."
Besides from a few sniggers from the Slytherins, mainly Malfoy, there is complete silence as Harry follows her back to the school. She didn't yell at him which may be a good sign, but with her, she can be scarier without yelling.
"How much trouble do you think he is in?" Zany asks me quietly.
"I don't know." I whisper back. "All we can do now is hope for the best."
"Well if all else fails I can always change and try to get him out of it." Teddy jokes.
Harry POV
Following Professor McGonagall off of the quiditch pitch was one of the scariest things I have ever done. I suppose facing expulsion does that, but it is really testing my Gryffindor courage. I am hoping for any other sort of punishment, but if I do end up expelled I am glad I did it. If I hadn't Char would have and I would rather I get in trouble than her.
McGonagall stops walking and I am surprised to find her in front of Flitwick's classroom and not Professor Dumbledore's or even her own. She knocks on the door and waits patiently for him to respond. During this she just keeps eyeing me thoughtfully.
"I'm sorry professor, but may I borrow Wood for a moment?" She asks when he opens the door.
Wood? What's going on? Wood couldn't be a stick. They can't beat students. They banned those punishments ages ago. Right?
"Ah Oliver, I have some news that will interest you." She tells a student who just left the room. "I have found you a seeker."
Seeker? She can't be serious! First years barley ever get on their houses quiditch teams, yet I am being recommended for it when I thought I was being expelled? This is unreal.
"Potter, have you ever played seeker?" Oliver asks me.
"Yes." I answer him excited. "When I play quiditch with my friends I always play seeker."
"I saw him making a dive from outside my window. He is excellent. It's no surprise though really, his father was a great player while he was on the team. This may finally be the year we beat the Slytherins for the tournament."
"Be ready for practice tomorrow at ten. We can see how you play with the rest of the team, but if you are good enough for Professor McGonagall to personally recommend you I'm sure you will be great. Be ready to learn strategies and drills. See you then Potter."
Oliver goes back to class and I am left standing in the corridor with McGonagall. I am still in shock that this happened; I can't wait to tell everyone that I am not getting expelled. That more than that I am going to be playing quiditch.
"Now Potter, be warned that this is an exception. Next time you find yourself breaking rules there will be consequences." I nod and try my best to look sorry. "Your flying lessons will be over by now. I'm sure your friends will be anxious to know that you are not expelled I am sure."
With that she walks back to her office and I race down the staircases to find my friends. "Harry!" I hear someone yell at the same moment I feel a familiar body fly into my arms. "Your not expelled!" Char cried out happily. "I was so worried for you. I wouldn't be able to stand it if you had; I should have gotten in trouble instead of you!"
"Don't worry about it, Char! I'm not expelled. I didn't even get in any trouble. In fact would you guys like to know who the new Gryffindor seeker is?"
"She made you seeker!" Zany shouts, excited for me. "No way!"
"Bloody hell mate! First years hardly ever make the team! She must think you are brilliant to have not punished you for that!" Ron cheers in awe.
"His dad was seeker too! He was a great player and so is Harry!" Teddy adds helpfully.
"She didn't punish you at all?" Hermione asks incredulously and I shake my head. "Not even a detention?"
"What, did you want him to be expelled?" Ron asks her angrily. "This is great news!"
"Of course I don't want him to be expelled!" She defends herself. "It's just all of you seem like you already have no respect for the school rules and I don't see how this is going to help anything."
"You are mad he didn't get punished? You are so uptight!" Zany tags on against her. She storms away instead of responding, but the rest of us continue on celebrating my achievement.
AN: So what did you guys think? Do you like the chapters that are closer to what happens in the book or not? There are parts where it will be necessary for them to be closer to the book, but if you guys don't like them as much I can change them as much as I can! Please review to tell me what you think-good or bad!