Saturday was set up to be a very interesting day. Friday night Harry had entered the eighth year common room to find everyone already there. He took a deep breath before speaking aloud.
"Can I have your attention please?" Everyone looked up expectantly, "Tomorrow at nine in the morning I will hold tryouts. I would like all of you to show up. I don't care if you've never played in a game and I don't care what house you used to be in. I want to form the best team in school, one that can work together and show everyone that with hard work and dedication there isn't anything that will stop us from succeeding. You may not be the best in a position but if you can work with others better than someone else you may get chosen."
"Why not the best in each position?" Terry Boot asked.
"Cormac McLeggan." Harry answered. Everyone knew what he was talking about, "He wasn't a bad player he just didn't play well with others and it cost us. I refuse to be embarrassed again so we will have the team that works the best together."
Harry turned on his heel and left. The room he left behind was silent and thoughtful. Saturday dawned bright and clear and Harry was on the pitch as soon as he had finished breakfast. He took to the air intending on warming up before everyone else arrived. He was still flying when he noticed the last of them reach the pitch. He had no idea how long the rest had been there.
"Morning." he called when he landed in front of them, "I want everyone up in the air to warm up."
Most of the people took off however Neville, Hermione and Lavender were still on the ground. None of them even had brooms. Harry knew that Hermione and Neville wouldn't fly but he wasn't sure about Lavender. He shot her a questioning look and watched her turn red before answering.
"I don't fly."
"Can't or won't." he asked.
"Won't." she squirmed under his gaze.
"Good enough." he waved them off, "Have a seat in the stands, you can support your team."
"I need to go to the library." Hermione insisted.
"It can't wait a few hours?" he asked, "Whatever it is holds more importance that house spirit?"
"We aren't a house." her eyes narrowed at him.
"Not with that attitude." Neville rolled his eyes at Harry, "You might as well let her go. It's not like she cares about anyone but herself anyway. I'll have more fun if she's gone."
"Ok." Harry wondered what had gotten into Neville, "Go do your thing Herms."
"Don't call me that." she growled but turned and left.
Harry stopped Neville from following Lavender into the stands, "What was that about?"
"She's been trying to turn the rest of us against you." he said, "Maybe not against you. More like she wants to catch you being dark so she can be proven right or something."
"What does Ron say?" he asked.
"Not a lot." Neville grinned, "He keeps to himself and studies. If Hermione starts getting too overbearing he asks her for help to distract her."
"On the train he told her he wants to play quidditch so she needs to quit making me mad at them." Harry shook his head, "If he doesn't make it I assume the harassment will return."
As tryouts began Harry was glad Hermione had left. She wouldn't be cheating to help Ron get on the team this time. He had been grateful last time because it was between Ron and Cormac. This time though he wanted to see who would be the best. He watched as they flew and immediately knew a few more wouldn't make it but he appreciated their work.
"Come down." Harry yelled.
"Please tell me I can join Neville and Lavender." Susan asked as soon as her feet touched the ground.
"Go ahead." He smiled kindly, "Anyone else who doesn't want to continue?"
"Me." Daphne Greengrass held up her hand, "Why didn't you make those two fly?"
"They don't have brooms." He replied.
"Where's Hermione?" Ron asked looking around.
"She had to go to the library." Harry rolled his eyes and shook his head in exasperation, "Now let's separate into positions and start finding who works." Tryouts went well and when it was over Harry sent everyone into the stands so he could talk to them together, "Ok I'll start with beaters. Theo and Millicent you are first string. You work well together but I want you two to get out every day and practice your aim. Hitting it as hard as you can every time is not necessarily the best idea. Sometimes a lighter hand can knock the quaffle into the right person's hands."
"Ok." the two of them agreed together.
"Back up beaters are Seamus and Draco." Harry grinned at their shocked looks, "I was shocked to see how you two could read and play off each other. I also want you to work with the other two. You help them lighten their touch and they'll teach you how to beat the bludger senseless."
"Cool." Seamus grinned and Draco nodded.
"Chasers let'start with Dean, Blaise and Tracy." Harry looked at his paper, "You work best together but you also worked well with the seconds. They are Draco, Lisa and Michael. In practices we'll mix and match to make sure you all get experience."
"Wait wasn't I second beater?" Draco asked.
"Yes, you are an all-around good athlete and you have a variety of skills that are good with both positions. You should have chosen chaser instead of seeker back in second year." Harry complemented him
"Thanks." Draco blinked once, shock written on his face.
"I'm starting seeker but Pavarti you are my back up. We'll be spending some time together to hone your skills for when you need to take over." he added, "You know I can't make it a whole season without being knocked out at least once."
The group laughed and Harry thought the team was coming together nicely and everyone was happy with where they were headed. The last position was keeper and Harry had kept it last for a reason.
"Last but not least we have keeper." he smiled, "Ernie you won the keeper spot by saving seven goals. Ron you are the second having saved six. Does anyone have any questions?"
"Do you realize you put at least one person from each house on the team?" Hannah asked.
"I didn't think about it but I guess that's true." he conceded, "I picked the best team I think we could get."
"I agree." she smiled, "I just wanted to point that out."
"Ok, anything else?" No one spoke so he continued, "We can have the pitch on Sunday and Tuesday evenings for practice. I want to do it before dinner as often as we can. If we run through dinner I'll get food to the common room. If there isn't anything else I'm done. Congratulations everyone, see you at practice tomorrow."
Harry left quickly not wanting to hear any griping about the positions and people he had picked. If he had stayed he would have been pleasantly surprised to hear everyone agree that he had picked the best team and positions possible. Draco was rather excited about getting to play two new positions.
Luna caught Harry as he returned to the school, "I think the nargle infestation is waning."
"Is it?" Harry asked, "How do you know?"
"More people are becoming observant again." She shrugged, "You know nargles make their thoughts fuzzy. Clear thoughts mean less nargles."
"How clear are the thoughts?" he asked.
"Clear enough that some may actually see what and who is around them." She smiled, "Do you want to go get some pudding?"
"Sure." Harry threw his arm around his friend's shoulder as they headed off. He made sure he was seen inside that evening before going off to his room to study in peace when the girls started to bother him. He still made it outside in time to get a bit of fresh air before the astronomy lessons started and he made sure he wasn't in view of that tower. Most of the evenings he now spent invisible when he was outside, he had to make sure no one figured out who the Night Stalker was.
One particular early fall evening just as the sun was hovering on the horizon he noticed Malfoy and Zabini out by the lake. He didn't think anything of it for a moment until he noticed the shadow just inside the forest moving. He changed into his thestral and flew into the forest. He came up behind the individual and summoned a rock into the path of the killing curses that had been sent at the two boys. He then pounced on the person and rolled out from under the trees. Harry's stunning spell to the face knocked any fight left in them. The two former Slytherins were staring at him as he grabbed the wand in one hand and the man in the other and carried him over his shoulder. Minerva was already running from the school and Harry met her halfway.
"He sent two killing curses at those two." Harry sent the message as he handed the wand over and tossed the black robed person on the ground at her feet.
"Do you know who it is?" she asked as she tied the person up after searching for portkeys.
"Smells like Nott but it isn't our student." Harry replied, "You will question him though won't you?"
"We will ascertain if he had an inside accomplice." She whispered, "I've already contacted Kingsley, as soon as I saw the green spell I sent a patronus."
"I'll take my leave then. I need to be seen elsewhere." He replied and turned invisible on the spot before running to his room. He gathered his books and was in the common room studying before anyone else could arrive.
"Did you hear?" Susan was the first to address him as a group of eighth years entered the room.
"What rumors are you spreading today?" he asked his voice full of sarcasm.
"Someone tried to kill Malfoy and Zabini." She sat beside him and he looked up at her with a shocked face.
"Kill them? How?" he asked without concern, "Did someone try to take their hair products?"
"NO!" Susan smacked his arm, "Killing curse. Someone tried to really kill them. But that Night Stalker guy saved them and caught the guy."
"Really? Are you sure?" he feigned surprise, "Who all saw it?"
"Everyone." Ron answered before anyone else could, "He threw a rock in the way of the curses then tackled the death eater."
"Which one?" he wondered.
"Don't know McGonagall refused to uncover him until the aurors arrive. She sent everyone back in except a few teachers who are guarding whoever it is." Susan took the story back over.
"Where are Draco and Blaise?" Harry asked looking to see if they were in the crowd.
"When did you start calling them by their first names?" Hermione asked snidely.
"When they became members of our quidditch team." He replied with a frown, "Why do you care what I do?"
"I'm trying to keep you from going dark." She huffed.
"And calling Draco and Blaise by their first names is a sign I'm going dark." He replied sarcastically, "I sincerely hope you open your eyes someday. However if you do it while your head is still stuck up Dumbledore's backside you won't have much of a view." Harry packed up his backpack and got up, "I'm going to my room if anyone needs me for anything."
As he left he heard someone say, "Way to go Hermione. He finally feels comfortable enough to come join the rest of us and you chase him off."
Harry smiled slightly at the reprimand as he went and stowed his things in his room. He then went to find the two young men who had been attacked. He found them in the entryway talking with Kingsley and Minerva, "How are you guys? I heard you had a situation."
"We're fine thank you." Blaise nodded.
"Did you see anything Harry?" Kingsley asked.
"No I was in the eighth year common room studying. I didn't know about it until Susan told me a few minutes ago." He replied but a twitch of his head told the man a different story, "I just came to check on my teammates."
"Do you mind looking over the guy to see if you ever fought him as a death eater or not?" Kingsley asked.
"Sure." Harry followed him out while the other two stayed with the Headmistress.
Once they were well out of earshot Kingsley asked, "What really happened?"
"Saw a shadow in the forest moving towards the two of them and came down to investigate. I came from the back and heard the spell being whispered so I had time to react. I then took him down with a tackle and stun directly to the face." Harry answered when they reached the man Harry looked at him carefully, "Can't say I've ever seen him before. Is he marked?"
"No we don't think he's a death eater. Draco has had several threats against his life for being either a death eater or a Malfoy, maybe both." Kingsley sighed, "Vigilantes are getting vicious. If they murder a death eater they'll be treated just as if they had murdered anyone else."
"What are you going to do about it?" Harry asked looking up at the Minister for Magic.
"I thought I'd give an interview saying just the same thing. Would you mind attending and adding your two knuts worth?" he asked.
Harry stood and brushed off his hands, "Is there an official stance on the Night Stalker yet?"
"Yes that will be in this evening's paper. Based on what we have found about the creature it only goes after those who are trying to murder someone else." Kingsley smiled slightly, "Our experience is that he will hurt them to stop them but he won't kill anyone. He has also turned over every fugitive he has caught to the ministry. We are thanking him since we know it is just part of his instincts and is not a danger to law abiding citizens."
"Then I will help with your interview. However it will not end up being an interview for Harry Potter alone correct?" he asked.
"No just your view on vigilantes." The two of them returned to the castle and Kingsley bid them farewell, "I'll be by tomorrow afternoon with a reporter Harry."
"Yes Sir." Harry nodded and watched him leave.
"What's going on?" Minerva asked as the man was taken away by Aurors.
"Kingsley asked me to add my name to his plea for the vigilantes to stop harassing people." Harry sighed, "They think this guy was just one of those and not a death eater. He didn't have a mark and I didn't recognize him. Draco if you get anymore threats would you let me know?"
"Harry, I receive at least three threats each day." Draco drawled, "I hand them all off to Professor McGonagall who turns them over to the Aurors."
"I'm sorry, I didn't know." He apologized, "Kingsley is hoping with my name behind the ministry they'll stop hunting you and all the other innocents. For the sake of the quidditch team will you please not walk around alone?"
"I'm already restricted to be accompanied by two people at all times, except in our dorm." He grinned, "Shall I make if four?"
"Maybe six." Harry chuckled, "We need to make sure your ego is completely covered."
Draco chuckled along but to their surprise Blaise busted out laughing. Draco lifted an eyebrow and said, "I've never seen him lose it like that."
That caused Harry to start laughing harder and before they knew it the three of them were roaring with laughter to the absolute amazement of those who were nearby. Minerva stood and let them laugh for a few moments before she interrupted.
"I'm glad you all find this funny." She smirked, "But you're scaring the rest of the school, I think you should take this elsewhere."
"Sorry Professor." Harry stood still trying to control his laughter. He pulled Blaise to his feet who in turn helped Draco up, "We'll just take this to the common room and see if we can scare the rest of the eighth years. They've not had a dose yet."
That brought on a new wave of laughter as the three of them stumbled through the halls trying to hold each other up. They calmed down by the time they reached the common room but when asked what happened the three of them busted up laughing again.
Hermione growled as the laughter began to die down, "I'm glad you all think a few people nearly dying is so funny."
"Well Mione, since it was Draco and Blaise who nearly died I believe it is their prerogative to laugh over it or not." Harry sneered at her, "You really need to stop and think things through before you go spouting off and making yourself look like an idiot."
She immediately began to build up steam but she was cut off by Hannah, "Hermione we just had a conversation about you trying to control Harry."
"But this is serious and he is just laughing at others expense. Can't you see how dark that is, he's enjoying other peoples pain and suffering." She tried.
"Like Harry said, it's our pain and suffering and if we want to laugh to burn off the stress then so be it. And if we want to include a teammate then it is also our prerogative." Blaise glared at the pushy young woman, "I would appreciate it if you and your self-righteous attitude would just go jump in the lake."
"Well I…" she started but was interrupted by Ron.
"Hermione, I need some help with this transfiguration stuff." Ron called.
"This isn't over." She stomped away to help Ron.
"Yes it is." Harry turned his back on her and walked to the other side of the room and found a seat.
"I honestly don't know how you ever put up with her for seven years." Draco took a seat nearby.
"She was acting a part back then so it wasn't so bad." Harry shook his head, "I think it's about time I had George send me a few things. He was developing a couple things that would come in handy right about now."
"What are you going to do?" Lavender leaned in.
"You'll know when it happens." Harry glared darkly at the girl who was whispering furiously to Ron.