Chapter Two: Quidditch Try-Outs
Wednesday, 1:23 AM, Gryffindor Common Room
Dear Diary,
Ah, it's been so long! I have no good news for you, I'm afraid. The past few days have been horrible. Ron keeps on smiling now, as if he'd already won the bet. Harry is clearly confused. Luna is in her usual dreamy state and I… am going to vomit.
Oh Merlin, why did I take the bet? Why? But then again, I can't keep spending my days regretting or I'll look like I have Wrackspurts in my head or something, I don't know. Luna's quite an influence on me. No wonder Ron likes her so much. Despite her beliefs in inane things, she's a charming girl.
Anyway, yesterday were Quidditch try-outs. Saturday, Luna and I bought Quidditch gear and a broom. Luna has a lot of money… She bought me a very nice broom. I haven't gotten a chance to really ride on it though except for yesterday.
Oh God, that was so embarrassing. I wonder if Harry thinks I'm strange. Well, not me exactly. Algernon Specter. Not to mention he called me short! I'm going to punch him tomorrow. Rather, today then.
Reminders:
1.) Give Harry a hard punch on the shoulder.
2.) Give Ron another punch in the gut.
3.) Look for the list of those who made it onto the team.
Ack! I almost forgot! I'm not supposed to stay up too late tonight because we have a Transfiguration test tomorrow. Ah! Stupid, stupid, stupid!
Well, I think I still have a little time to tell you. :)
*~*~*~*
It was Saturday. The day was nice, not too cloudy and not too sunny. Luna and I separated from the boys so we could buy my Quidditch gear.
When we entered the shop, it wasn't that filled with people, just a few. Luna immediately pulled me by my wrist into an aisle. There were pads and goggles everywhere. There were snitches kept in a glass case, quaffles over there and bludgers over here. Quite intriguing actually.
After we chose out which pads and goggles to buy, Luna led me to the part of the store where they sold brooms. Luna told me to choose one of my liking. So I went to the display and looked around at the broom. I found a nice mahogany colored one and took it off its stand.
"This one looks good." I said, handing it to Luna.
She examined it first and looked at me, smiling brightly. I gave her a confused look.
"You have very good taste in brooms, Hermione. I hadn't expected you'd choose a Firebolt." She said, happily.
My eyes nearly popped out of my skull. A Firebolt! I had no idea! I knew Harry had one and it was fast. Not to mention expensive. I felt like I was going to faint. Was she going to pay for it? No, I told myself. I was going to pay for what I needed.
I snapped out of my thoughts and Luna had disappeared from in front of me. I looked around and spotted her at the counter.
"Luna!" I called, making my way to her. "Luna, I'll change the broom."
"Whatever for?" She asked, her usual dreamy voice marred with confusion.
"That's a Firebolt, Luna. Too fast and too expensive for my tastes." I explained.
She smiled. "Nonsense, Hermione. I'm willing to pay for it. I agreed to help you, didn't I?"
"Yes, you did. But you didn't agree to spend money for what is my fault."
"I'd be happy to pay for you, Hermione. So no more arguing."
I kept silent and watched as she paid. She gave me the bag and we left the shop.
On our way out, Harry and Ron were just about to enter. "Hermione? What on earth are you doing in a Quidditch shop? You too, Luna?" Harry asked, shocked and confused.
I had no excuse ready, so…
"Well, what's wrong if girls go into a Quidditch shop? It's not just for boys, is it?" I asked, faking my annoyance.
"Well, no. But you actually bought something. What did you buy?"
"That's for me to know and for you to never find out." I huffed then left with Luna, our heads held high.
Behind us, I heard Ron laughing his head off and Harry telling him to shut up.
Beside me, Luna giggled. "That was brilliant, Hermione!"
"Thanks." I replied, smiling.
But something in my head was telling me that I wasn't going to be so brilliant on Tuesday.
*~*~*~*
After we arrived from Hogsmeade, Luna and I kept our bags and left for the library.
Perhaps you're wondering why we needed to go to the library. It's because Luna remembered last minute about the do-it-as-a-boy detail. We panicked a bit but immediately calmed down when all Madame Pince did was look at us strangely then lead us to a secluded aisle near the back.
"Just look around, girls. I'm sure you'll fine something." She said. Then she left us alone.
It took about two hours to find a spell to lower my voice a bit. It was simply done and when we tried it out, it worked perfectly. As for my hair, Luna suggested that I should keep it in a wig. Then we agreed to buy a wig later that day, if we were allowed.
Harry was getting suspicious though. At first, I thought that he wouldn't have really care and just think that I had my own personal affairs. But how was I supposed to know he was trying to pry?
"Ow." I said, rubbing the part of my head where our heads clashed. I had just left the library. Luna left ahead of me. On my way out, I had bumped into Harry. Literally.
"Sorry, 'Mione. I wasn't watching where I was going." Harry apologized, helping me up.
I dusted my skirt once I was standing. "It's okay. I wasn't looking either." I looked around and noticed all my things were scattered around.
"Crap." I mumbled to myself. Then I got on my knees and began crawling and scrambling around for my things. I looked up to look for Harry, only to find him crawling on the ground with me.
After we finished, we stood up. I received my things from Harry.
"Not to pry or anything," Harry began. "But why do you need a spell on lowering your voice?"
Shite! How did he find out? Did I mumble something while picking my stuff up?
Then I realized, I wrote the spell on a piece of paper and Harry was the one who picked it up.
"Oh, er, um, i-it's none of your business!" I exclaimed, proudly. I swirled around and began walking away.
"Hermione?" He asked. I stopped walking.
"Yes?"
"Are you okay? There seems to be something up. Did something happen in that argument you had with Ron?"
"Nothing happened, Harry. I'm perfectly fine. You're probably imagining things." I lied.
"Probably." He replied, smiling. I could practically hear, not see, the grin creeping up his face.
"Can I walk you back to the Common Room?" He asked, circling me so that he was standing in front of me.
I nodded then we left.
*~*~*~*
Ah, so let's just get to the really interesting part: the try-outs. Oh, that was horrible. I cannot get over how Harry acted.
Anyway, I dressed in Muggle boy clothing in the girls' bathroom after classes had finally ended. Luna helped me with my wig and made sure all my curly bangs were kept in. Then she gave me my broom and Quidditch gear, did the spell on me, made last minute check-ups, wished me luck and pushed me outside and in the direction of the Quidditch pitch.
I ran there as fast as my skinny, feeble legs could take me. I arrived there just in time because only a few people were lining up. First, I had to sign my name up then the try-outs could begin. I was the last person to sign then the time for sign-ups was over.
When I reached the table, Harry was seated behind it. He was captain after all. "What's your name?" He asked, politely.
"Herm—" I cut myself off only remembering then that I had to have a pseudonym. Only, I hadn't thought of one.
Crap! Think, Hermione, think!
"Herm?" He asked, an eyebrow raised.
"Um, no." I replied.
"Then what is it? What's your name?"
"Um, it's, it's…"
"Yes?"
I thought as hard as I could. Then I remembered the name of my cousin's uncle's grandfather's nephew for some reason.
"Algernon." I blurted out.
"Algernon?" He asked, skeptically.
"Yes."
"Your last name?"
Argh! I had no idea what I could use. So, I thought about the last word I read that day.
"Specter."
Shite. That meant ghost. Oh Merlin, what was Harry going to think?
"Okay, Algernon Specter?"
"Yes."
Thank God boys are so dense!
"So what year are you in?"
"Um, seventh."
"Really? You're in the same year as I am?"
I nodded and he smiled.
"Alright, step into the tent, gear up and we'll see how you are in the air."
I did as I was told and stepped into the tent. The boys were undressing. Thank goodness it was only their tops. I ignored them playing around by throwing their things at each other and geared up. A while later, a whistle rang out and all of us exited the tent.
We all had our brooms in our hands. Harry chose the first person on the list and told the rest of us to sit on the bench and wait for our names to be called.
I was obviously last, so by five thirty, I was finally called. The other boys had already left so it was just Harry and I together.
"Algernon Specter." He called.
I immediately stood up. "Ah! Yes!"
"Just do some flying exercises and we'll test your catching, hitting and throwing after."
I nodded and stood next to him. As I got on my broom, I heard him chuckle a bit.
"What's wrong? Is my stance incorrect?" I asked, worriedly.
He shook his head. "No, it's nothing."
"Come on. What am I doing wrong?"
"N-Nothing, really."
"Harry, tell me."
At that, his face looked shocked. Did I say something wrong?
"You know, you remind of someone."
"Huh? Ah, well, maybe someone—"
Then he snapped his fingers. "Ah! That nagging tone reminded me of my friend Hermione!"
I wanted to punch him. "Eh?"
"Yeah, it's true! It sounded so like her."
"Oh, well, isn't Hermione that cute girl you're always with?" I wanted to laugh at what I had said, but what the heck?
He looked thoughtful for a moment. "Yeah, she is pretty cute."
I blushed. "Um, right. So, what were you going to tell me?"
"Oh, right." He cleared his throat. "Aren't you pretty short for a boy?"
What?! Me? Short? I wanted to punch him. The prick!
"Short?" My voice was strangled.
"No offense! Just speaking my mind." He said, raising up his hands and taking a step back.
I nodded. "Why don't we just get back to flying?"
Harry cleared his throat again. "Right, of course."
Nervous (and pissed), I kicked off the ground and tried to not look down.
"Just fly around the pitch." He instructed from below me. He sounded so far away. I felt like puking.
I pushed forward and the broom followed. I flew around half of the Quidditch pitch until the speed increased. I tried to stop it and eventually, I fell down. Expecting my hard downfall, I fell on something soft and it grunted underneath me. I looked to see Harry, his face distorted in anguish.
I quickly got off, apologizing. "I'm so sorry!"
He stood up and dusted the dirt from his sweater and pants. "It's alright. You're quite light for a boy."
Ack! Was he catching on? Did I have to put on more weight?
"Maybe you need to practice flying a bit. Now, on to catching." He said, leading me back to the tent.
I had no idea how he got to me so fast but I didn't have time to think about it.
Later on, I found out I could hit pretty well, catch better than expected and suck at throwing. I didn't know if I was qualified.
After, Harry told me I could leave and that the results would be posted tomorrow in the Common Room. I only nodded and ran back to the castle.
*~*~*~*
So that's all I have for you so far, my life just keeps getting better and better, doesn't it? Results will be posted tomorrow. Actually, today. I need to see! I can't not see! I wonder if I—Algernon, then—got in.
I'm still going to punch Harry tomorrow. The nerve! Calling me short! I was an innocent boy! I probably didn't make it in because of my flying skills.
Oh sweet Merlin, I'm going to puke if I have to ride on that monstrous broom again!
Urgh… I should get to bed; it's already two. Plus, Parvati's probably going to wake up again for her nightly visit to the bathroom then go back to bed, sit up, ask for a glass of water then fall asleep. She usually does that around this time. Or was it at three? I have no idea anymore.
Argh! I need to see the results! Maybe I can bribe Harry tomorrow at breakfast…
Shite! Parvati's woken up! I'll tell you more later!
*~*~*~*
A/N: I hope you like this chapter! Anyway, you can go review while waiting for the next chapter! : D