A/N: Here's that chapter I promised! Next week is exams then summer! I'll be posting a day earlier, I think. I'm busy the next day. Hope you enjoy this! :)

Chapter Three: A Loose Uniform And A Rogue Bludger

Friday, 5:44 PM, Infirmary

Dear Diary,

The past few days were better. I made it onto the team. Plus, I already had a few practices. They weren't so bad. Except for the one I just had a while ago. Urgh, who would've expected a bludger to get out of control so fast?

I bet you're wondering what I'm doing in the infirmary. Well, let's start with the beginning.

I have a little time before Harry gets back to me.

*~*~*~*

I was leaving my Arithmancy classroom when Luna ran to me, screaming, "Hermione! Hermione! You've got in! You're in!"

I was a bit appalled at her behavior at first, but it is Luna, after all.

When she finally reached me, I interrogated her. "What? I did? Am I? Are you sure?" I asked out, in a rush.

I could never be sure; I mean, Luna didn't even know whom I signed in as! Or maybe she can tell because my name was a bit ridiculous…

"Yes! Come with me, I'll show you!" She exclaimed, pulling my wrist and dragging me to wherever.

We arrived at the Quidditch awards display and beside it was a piece of parchment taped to the wall. It precisely said,

"QUIDDITCHTRY-OUTSRESULTS:

Jameson John

Phineas Westbridge

Gary Goodman

Gerard Ridges

Arthur Way

Algernon Specter

PLEASE REPORT TO PRACTICE TODAY AT 4:30 UNTIL 6:30.

Harry James Potter
Quidditch Team Captain"

There was his signature over his name. Just as we were about to move away, we heard a few groans behind us. I stiffened. Since when was there anyone behind us? And for how long?

I turned around and some of them had left. I sighed a breath of relief then sucked in a nervous one as Harry approached Luna and I.

"Hey 'Mione, are you interested in the Quidditch results?" He asked, casually.

"Huh? Oh, no. Luna was the one who wanted to check." I lied. "Right, Luna?" I turned to face her. She was already leaving for her next class. "Bye Hermione! I'll see you later!" She shouted, waving.

I swore under my breath and turned to leave. Harry put his hand on my shoulder and I abruptly stopped.

"'Mione? You okay?" He asked. Worry was clearly in his voice.

I nodded and tried to pull out of his tight (and I mean, very tight.) grasp but he held on even tighter.

"Hermione, I'm worried about you. Are you okay?"

I swallowed. "I'm fine. Perfectly fine."

"How come you always sound so nervous? Is something going on?"

"No, I'm fine."

"Really? Well, if you're sure. Can I ask you something?"

I twirled around and faced him. "Ask me what? All you've been doing is asking me questions! God, Harry! I can take care of myself!"

He looked shocked. My face turned into one of shock. I probably looked so flustered.

"S-Sorry. I mean, I didn't want to anger you. I'll leave you alone." He said. Then he turned away to leave.

"Wait. I'm sorry too. It's just that… I was a bit nervous for my friend, Algernon. He really wanted to get into the team. I'm just relieved he is." I blurted without thinking.

He turned around. "You know Algernon?"

"Um, yes. He's a good friend from my neighborhood. I-I just call him 'Al' for short. You have to know him well though."

"Ah."

"What did you want to ask?"

"Um, would you like dinner at the Three Broomsticks on Saturday?"

"You mean the three of us? Did you ask Ron yet?"

"No, I mean the two of us. Would you?"

"Of course, Harry. I would love too."

He smiled.

"Why just the two of us though?" I asked.

He simply shrugged. "Ron is, well, a mood-spoiler. Not to mention I don't exactly like his behavior around food."

I laughed lightly. "Of course, Harry."

"Let's go to class?" He asked, extending his hand. I gladly took it and he laced our fingers together.

"Of course." I replied, smiling.

He grinned at me once more then leaned forward and kissed my forehead.

*~*~*~*

I ran down from my dormitory and out the Common Room. It was four twenty-three. I couldn't afford to be late on my first practice! I was already dressed in my Muggle boy clothing and my voice was already lowered. I just needed to put my wig on in the girls' lavatory on my way so people wouldn't suspect a boy coming down from the girls' dormitory.

I spotted a bathroom and ran inside. There were so many girls in there! I rushed out of that one and scanned the hallways on my way to the Quidditch pitch for at least one bathroom. I finally found an empty one and quickly put my wig on. I checked my voice and my appearance. Once I was satisfied, I left for the Quidditch pitch.

I ran as fast as I could and I could already hear my heavy breathing puffing out of my weak lungs. I arrived at the Quidditch tents at exactly four thirty.

There were only three boys there, excluding me. Gerard was there. So were Arthur and Phineas. I arrived and they all looked at me as I approached.

"What?" I asked, demandingly.

Phineas smiled. "Nothing. It's just that you're kind of short."

Argh! Why is it so hard to believe that boys can be a height of five feet and four inches?!

"Excuse me?" I asked, shrilly.

Gerard and Arthur laughed. "Your height is fine. Don't take it personally." They said.

Don't take it personally? What the hell?! I'm going to kill them.

I soothingly counted to ten in my head. After, I finally calmed down.

"Whatever." I said, giving them a dismissing wave of my hand.

"You look like a girl too." Phineas said.

"That's it!" I said, readying myself to punch him.

"Guys! Quit fighting. Haven't you guys just met?" Harry interrupted behind us.

I froze and slowly brought my fist down. I turned to face him. He was in his Muggle clothing as well and he had an amused smile on his face.

"First, we're going to have to take measurements for your uniforms. Line up!" He instructed.

All four of us formed as line with me as the last. Harry pulled out a measuring tape. A magical one, that is.

He began measuring Arthur. I watched. Harry had no idea what he was doing! He was fumbling with the tape and Arthur was sniggering quietly.

After ten minutes of nothing happening, I finally spoke up.

"Oh for Merlin's sake! Do you need any help?" I asked, annoyed. All boys looked at me, startled.

"Er, yes. I'd like that. You know how to measure?" He asked as I approached him.

I nodded. "I'm part Muggle. My mother always relied on me to help with the housework. And since I was an only child, this included sewing and handiwork."

They were all quiet as I scribbled things on the parchment Harry had brought.

"Okay, stand still, Arthur." I demanded. I began measuring Arthur and then finished by five o'clock and yet I hadn't even gotten to measure myself.

"Alright, head out to the pitch, guys. We'll start training in a while."

With a few nods, they left, leaving Harry and I alone. "Um, I don't think you got to measure yourself." Harry mumbled.

I nodded. "I'll get on it by myself." I began measuring my sizes and Harry had left to get ready.

After I finished, I looked at the measurements. I was so much smaller than all of them!

I suddenly felt uneasy and nervous then made my measurements a bit bigger by five more centimeters. Contented, I quickly kept the paper, grabbed my broom and left to look for Harry.

I found him in the pitch, watching the other members fly around the pitch. I gingerly made my way to him and tapped his shoulder.

"Here. Um, I finished." I said as he turned around to face me. I held the folded piece of paper out to him.

"Oh, thanks." He said, taking it. Then he stuffed it into his pocket. He looked at me then. "Um, you ready to go flying?"

I nodded then readied myself on the broom. Suddenly, Harry cleared his throat. I looked at him and shot him a confused look.

"Your stance is a bit wrong." He said, coming over to me. "Let me help."

He placed his hands over mine and positioned them for me. His hands were so soft but they felt so rough.

"That's better. And bend your knees a bit and spread them open a bit more. That should fix your position." He instructed.

I nodded and did as I was told. I looked back at him and after I received the approving nod from him, I uneasily kicked off the ground.

Taking control of the broom, I steadied myself in the air and headed towards the score hoops.

Harry was beneath one of them with a huge trunk. At the sound of his whistle, all of them stopped flying. I didn't exactly stop. I, more of, tried to; as a result, I banged into Phineas. We then looked back at Harry, who was beckoning us to come to him.

We flied down towards him and I took my time flying down. By the time I was firmly on the ground, the trunk was unlatched and Harry was opening it.

Inside were the different balls for Quidditch and other stuff I had never seen in my life. Then, he continued on, introducing and discussing the games, its rules and so on and so forth.

After, I looked at him as he opened up our school emblem. Inside was the famous golden snitch Harry had caught so many times.

"Okay, you guys, I need you to catch this snitch. Let's see which one of you is Seeker material." He said, smirking. Then he let the snitch go. In a rush, all the boys flew after it. I merely got on my broom and readied myself for flight… that is, until Harry called my attention.

"Algernon?" He asked, behind me. I hesitantly got off my broom and looked at him. "Come here for a sec." He said, motioning to me.

I lifted my broom and walked over to him.

"I've got something to talk to you about." He started.

I pleaded over and over in my head that it wasn't about my height. I mean, how many times does a person have to tell me I'm short?!

"I think you need flying lessons."

I was so relieved; I just gaped at him in shock. When I finally chose to reply, all the came out was a strangled, "What?"

He raised his hands in defense. "No offense! I just think you need practice in broom management and maybe in speed."

"None taken. I'd enjoy having flying lessons." I replied, smiling brightly.

"It's not to offend you or anything but I understand that you'd say—wait, what?" He rambled.

"I'd like to have flying lessons with you." I repeated.

"Oh, that's good." He was rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

"Harry, are—"

"Captain! I caught the snitch!" We both turned to look at who spoke. It was Phineas.

"Ah, that's good. Now, let's see who are beaters." He said, smiling playfully at the boys.

I watched him leave me to unlatch the bludgers. When he was finally in the air, I fell onto the grass and willed my heart to stop beating so fast.

*~*~*~*

Yesterday's practice was okay. Jameson John and Gary Goodman finally showed up and got their measurements. They promised Harry to show up for all the practices or run around the Quidditch pitch thrice.

Today's practice was the worst. Put a rogue bludger, a bloody nose, a fast beating heart and a suspicious teammate all together and that's my day.

Gah, I'm going to die! My nose is so bloody! It keeps pouring out blood like a ruddy faucet! Urgh, seriously, now I feel like vomiting.

Today was the day when we got our uniforms. When a house elf appeared (much to my dismay and disappointment in Harry) with a bag filled with our uniforms, Harry began distributing them.

As usual, I was last. "Algernon Specter!" He yelled. "Over here!" I yelled back in reply. He threw the uniform at me and hit me square in the face.

"Okay, head into the locker rooms and change into your uniforms. We'll be practicing in them from now on since Muggle clothing isn't exactly suitable for Quidditch practice." He instructed.

All of us trooped to the locker room and immediately began changing. Unlike the rest of the boys, (who enjoy stripping in front of each other), I chose to go into one of the bathroom cubicles.

I finally got changed into my uniform and when I tried to check how I looked in the mirror, I panicked. The uniform was way too big! I looked like I was wearing drapes over my body. I pulled out my wand and readied to resize it until…

"Okay, time for practice!" He just had to call. I immediately kept my wand and left the small cubicle.

In the pitch, Harry busied us by assigning us our roles. "Ridges and John, chasers. Ginny Weasley will be your other partner. Specter and Westbridge, you two will be the beaters. Goodman, you will be keeper. And I, I will be seeker."

We all nodded fervently. "Good," He began. "Now, Ginny will be coming soon. As you can see, she will be the only girl here, so I don't want you guys picking on her or teasing her."

"Don't worry, Capt'n! The only one who will be chasing her is you, I'm sure." Phineas said, smirking.

A blush crept up Harry's face. "Um, right. Well, Ginny is with Dean. Not with me." He stammered.

"D'you still got feelings for her?" I blurted. I didn't know what I was thinking. It was a spur of the moment thing. I couldn't help it! The heavy feeling in my chest was pressuring me to say something and tweak his sensitivity.

"Er, no. I don't. If you really have to know, someone already caught my eye." He said, his blush reddening even more.

All the boys began making catcalls and wolf whistles at Harry; I rolled my eyes in disgust. Then Ginny approached.

"Hey boys, let's get playing." She said, smiling brightly while holding her broom oh so professionally in her hand.

All the boys grinned like silly, little idiots and followed her to the center of the pitch like love struck puppies. I stayed and, to my surprise, so did Harry.

I looked at him. "Aren't you going to go after her?" I asked.

He shook his head. "I think we have flying lessons, right?" He was smiling amusedly.

I nodded, remembering our agreement before. "So, let's go then." I said.

After half an hour, my broom management was already getting better. Harry knew how teach very well and I immediately understood the lesson. My speed still needed work but also improved.

After, Ginny called Harry's attention for a while, leaving me hovering in the air. I was watching the two of them teach the chasers handle the Quaffle. I couldn't find Gary and Phineas. Then all of a sudden, there was a loud crack. Then, "Grange—Specter! Watch out!" I turned to the familiar sound of Phineas' voice. Suddenly, a sharp, piercing pain hit my face, but my nose hurt the most. I felt dizzy and woozy and soon fell off my broom.

Everything turned black and I could feel myself falling. I didn't even care that the height of the fall would be nearly forty feet from the ground. I waited for the hard ground to hit me. The last thing I heard was Harry, "Aresto Momentum!" Then nothing. I became unconscious.

*~*~*~*

I blinked my eyes open to the familiar sight of the infirmary. There was a slight pressure on my nostrils as I woke up. There was a cloth covering it. I sat up and held the cloth to my nose, catching a familiar scent.

"Wait!" I heard Harry yell. "Your nose it's, um, sort of—"

"Bleeding." Phineas interrupted. I slowly removed the cloth to find it soaked in blood. Okay, not soaked, but, you know, there was a lot of blood.

"Blood." I whispered, scared. I know I was independent, but I hadn't had such a strong nosebleed in ages! My eyes widened at the sight of it.

"Um, I'll change that." Harry offered. He took the cloth from me and gave me a clean one. I pressed it to my nose.

"We'll have to get back to practice soon. Ginny will be leading the rest, but you stay here, Algernon. Phineas will watch over you for a while then I'll come back." He told me. I simply nodded then the rest of the boys trooped out. "Get well, Algernon." Harry said.

"Wait, um, Harry?" I said, nervous a bit. "Just c-call me 'Al'."

Harry nodded then left, closing the door. Suddenly, Phineas stood up behind me.

"I'm off to the loo for a minute. I'll be back." He said, scratching his head. Then he left. I assumed he was hiding something but I pushed the thought away.

It's been twenty minutes since he left. Some 'for a minute.' He talks bull. Plus, I think he's suspicious of me. I mean if you look back, when he hit the bludger at me, he started out as "Grange—Specter!" Does he know about my secret?

Oh God, what if he does? I'm dead! He'll tell Harry and I'll definitely lose to Ron. Crap, crap, crap.

Damn it, this wig is so warm! My hair is probably sweating along with my scalp. I think I'll just remove it for a while. I'm sure Phineas and/or Harry won't be back anytime soon.

Ah, that's better. A lot cooler than before. I can write better now. Hmm, where was I?

Oh crap! The door is opening! Put the wig on, put the wig on! Ah, must stop writing.

Ah! Who's at the door?! Argh! Stupid wig! Oh shoot, it's—

*~*~*~*

A/N: That's all we have for now! (Don't you love a good cliffhanger?) Until next time, please review! ^_^