Quidditch Tryouts

In the following weeks, Harry, Clark and their friends attended their classes as normal. Harry had his first lesson with Dumbledore and learned about how Voldemort's mother seduced his father with love potion. Other than that, the days went by with nothing of note happening.

Quidditch season would soon be approaching and Harry, as the Gryffindor Quidditch Captain, set the second Saturday of the year to hold trials.

Clark was excited on the day of the tryouts. He had no interest in playing the game himself, but he heard that it was as popular here as American football was back home. And he wanted to see his brother play. He felt an extreme sense of pride in the dark-haired green-eyed youth when he entered the Great Hall that morning to see him in his Quidditch uniform.

"Are you going to watch the tryouts?" asked Kara when he sat down at the table across from her and Zatanna. Harry was only a few seats down trying to reassure Ron, who was trying out today.

"Yeah, I'm looking forward to it," he took a bite of egg, "Aren't you?"

"Not today, Clark. Kara and I are going to the library to do some research, mainly about this Voldemort person," said Zatanna.

"But you go and have a good time," said Kara, standing up as she had finished her breakfast. Clark bid her and Zatanna farewell as they headed off to the library.

Meanwhile, where Harry and his friends were sitting, "Have you seen Hagrid around recently?" asked Hermione.

Both boys looked up to the staff table, but they could tell instantly that Hagrid wasn't there, as he's not easy to miss when he is there.

"Now that I think of it I haven't seen him since the first night back," said Harry.

"Since before we chose our classes," said Ron. They had all chosen not to take Hagrid's Care of Magical Creatures class this year.

"Perhaps we should go and visit him after tryouts," said Hermione. The other two anxiously agreed.

Soon enough Harry and the Quidditch team stood up to head to the pitch, along with many other students that were either going to watch or tryout.

About halfway down to the pitch, Hermione spoke up, "So, Clark, are you planning on trying out?" Clark was walking alongside her, Ron and Harry. The other two remained silent, though Ron was just too nervous to talk.

"No, not me. I'm not much of a flyer," he replied, "I don't really even know much about it, but I'm interested in seeing what it's all about."

"Oh, that's right; they have something different in America. Quodpot I think it was,"

Clark of course didn't know what the hell she was talking about so he just answered with a quick, "Yeah,"

Once they got down to the pitch, the team and the ones trying out parted from the ones that came to watch, "Good luck everyone," Clark said good-naturedly, though he felt a little silly afterward. He and Hermione found seats up in the stands and waited for the tryouts to begin.

Because of how high up the stands were, it was difficult for everyone to hear what they were saying down on the field; so Clark used his super-hearing to hear what they were saying. He chuckled when Harry had to dismiss half of the group because they weren't even in Gryffindor.

"What's funny?" asked Hermione.

"Nothing, nothing, I just remembered something funny," he said to cover for his slip.

"Oh, alright," said Hermione, giving him a curious stare before directing her attention back to the field.

Next Harry instructed the students to fly around the pitch to get a good idea of how they were on a broom, which was good because a few of them could barely get up in the air. Once that part was through, Harry had them divide up into groups based on which position they were trying for.

Eventually the Keeper tryouts came around. There were only a few people trying out for this position. One was Ron and another was Cormac McLaggen. Clark heard a few of his arrogant boasts on the way down from the castle.

"He's pretty good," Clark mentioned as they watched McLaggen block three goals.

"Confundus," Hermione whispered after he blocked a fourth.

"Did you say something?" asked Clark.

"No, not me," said Hermione quickly. Clark turned back to the field to see McLaggen miss the final goal.

They clapped and cheered as Ron flew in front of the goals and managed to block all of them.

At the end of tryouts, they left the stands and went to meet Harry and Ron.

"I want another tryout," a red-faced McLaggen was arguing with Harry, "His sister went easy on him with that last shot!"

"That was the shot that he almost missed. You had your chance; you didn't block all your shots, Ron did. He's keeper," Harry argued back.

"Is there a problem here?" asked Clark, causing both boys to look his way.

McLaggen took one look at the tall, broad-shouldered Clark and said, "No," and then walked off, sparing Harry a dark look.

"You gotta hate a sore loser," said Clark.

Harry didn't answer. He began helping his teammates return the equipment to the supply room.

"I suppose we should wait for them outside of the pitch," said Hermione. As they were walking, they heard the sound of laughter. Standing near the entrance to the pitch was Malfoy and his group of Slytherine friends. Malfoy was telling jokes and making motions that seemed to resemble falling off of a broom, which made the rest laugh.

"What's the rush, mudblood? Are you off to shave your head? I imagine that's the only way to correct that frizzy mess you call hair," Malfoy drawled when he saw them, "You might actually look better, too. At least it can't possibly make you look any worse."

"Just ignore them, "Hermione whispered, keeping her eyes forward while they waited for Harry and Ron.

"We were just down watching the tryouts. There were pretty slim pickings this year, weren't there? Potter might as well hand us the trophy right now," he and his friends laughed, "Tell me, Kent, who do you think is more likely to get knocked off their broom by a bludger this year: Scarhead or the Weasel? Personally I hope it's Potter."

Clark turned to the group, "Listen, Malfoy, we don't want any trouble. Why don't you and your little group of thugs go bother someone else?" He turned his back on them.

"Why don't you make us?" Clark ignored him, "Hey, Kent, I'm talking to you!"

Next thing he knew, Clark was thrown forward, "Clark!" Hermione screamed as the Slytherines began laughing.

Clark jumped up and in a flash had Malfoy by the front of his robes, a look of fear on his face. The Slytherines and Hermione were too stunned to do anything.

"Kent, Malfoy," they heard someone shout. Looking in the direction of the castle, Clark saw Professor McGonagall hurrying toward them, a look of rage of her face, "Get to my office at once!"

"But Professor, he attacked me," Malfoy pleaded.

"Do not tell me such lies, Malfoy. I saw everything. The both of you will wait for me in my office and I will deal with you shortly."

Clark let go of Malfoy and spared him an angry glare before doing as they were told.

"What have we missed?" Hermione turned to see Harry, Ron and the rest of the team emerging from the pitch.

"Malfoy jinxed Clark and Clark retaliated," she said, looking worriedly after Clark.

"I wish I'd have seen that," said Ron.

The other Gryffindors and the Slytherines began walking back to the castle, "Are you ready to go see Hagrid?" asked Harry.

Hermione looked at him as he and Ron began walking, "Aren't you the least bit worried about him?"

"I don't see anything we can do about it," said Harry.

"Really, Harry, you're being childish. You don't have to be so angry at them. They're here to protect you, but that doesn't mean that Dumbledore doesn't think you can take care of yourself."

"It's not that, Hermione…"

"Well, not only that," Ron added, receiving a glare from Harry.

"I just don't trust them. They're hiding something,"

"And why do you think that? Did they visit the wrong shop, like Malfoy did?"

Harry stopped in his tracks and stared at her, "Don't you remember Kara's bracelet? Remember the symbol on it?"

"Yes, Harry, I remember. But don't you think the fact that you had a dream about it means that you should stay close to them and find out what it means?"

"Or the dream could be a warning of danger," Harry started walking again.

"Well even if that were true, and I highly doubt that it is, we still need to figure out what it means so that we can be ready for it."

Harry didn't answer.

"Boys are so stubborn," said Hermione, more to herself.

Soon enough, they were nearing Hagrid's hut, but there was no sign of Hagrid.

"Maybe he's off in the forest," said Hermione.

Harry was about to answer when they heard a rustling sound. Walking around the hut, they came across the great half bird, half horse creature, also called a hippogriff, known as Buckbeak.

Harry bowed to the creature and, when he bowed back, approached him, "Hey, Beaky. Are you happy to be back with Hagrid?" Buckbeak nudged Harry affectionately with his beak.

"Get away from 'im! He's dangerous if you don't know how ter handle 'im!" they heard a booming voice coming from the forest. Turning around, they saw that it was Hagrid; his dog fang was trailing along behind him.

"Hi Hagrid," said Harry.

"Oh, it's you three," he said, before walking into his hut and slamming the door behind him.

"Oh, dear," said Hermione.

"Come on," Harry ran up to the door and knocked, "Hagrid, come on let us in!"

"Harry, maybe we should come back when he's in a better mood," Hermione suggested.

Harry knocked again, slightly harder than before, "Hagrid, if you don't let us in right now, we're gonna blast it open!" His frustration growing, Harry banged on the door as hard as he could. That's when, with a loud creaking noise, the door broke off its hinges and collapsed inside the hut.

Hagrid looked at him, stunned, "Harry?"