The time for another chapter had come a long time ago. I have two… no, make that three good reasons for my absence. Last week was a hell week at work. I swear waking up that early should be banned. My second reason is I have taken ill with the flu and am trying my hardest to get to full health again. On to my third and final reason, I had to make sure what I was putting up wasn't crap. I felt that it was imperative that I get it right. Thank you for being so patient with me and not coming after me with pitchforks and torches.

I would like to send out my thanks to all readers of this story, even the ones who don't or can't review. Your questions and comments keep me in line and point out what you want to know.

Disclaimer: The copyright to Harry Potter is too big of a price for me to pay. And I am sure it is not up for sale anyway.

Chapter 13: Quidditch Crash Course

By tojot

"Oi, wake up sleepy head, I don't want my seeker to be late for the first match of the year." Ron's voice startled Harry from his rest. He sat up and looked around wildly. He was on the couch, alone.

"I guess I fell asleep down here last night." Harry said as Hermione came down the Girls Dormitory stairs with Ginny.

The morning had revealed itself to be very stormy. But Harry knew it wasn't as bad as the storm that they had third year. The Gryffindor team was worried about Hermione's performance on a broom in this weather.

"Hermione," Ron said as he was watching the heavy raindrops hit the windows in the common room. "If you don't want to play today you don't have to, we won't hold it against you."

But Hermione was never more in better spirits than she was now. "I'm playing today." She said stubbornly before she opened the portrait hole and climbed out. She didn't look ill or nervous whatsoever.

"I wonder what's got into her. She was literally biting her nails last night." Ron said.

"She must be happy about something." Ginny mentioned.

"Happy about what?" Ron interrogated.

"How should I know, I can just recognize her happy face." Ginny snapped. "Last time she wore that face is when Victor Krum asked her to go with him to the Yule Ball."

All the way down to the Great Hall for breakfast, Harry could hear Ron grinding his teeth and saying nasty things about Victor under his breath.

"Ron could you please stop it." Harry said as they entered the Entrance Hall. "It's Hermione's choice on who she fancies. If she likes Victor then so be it. She doesn't want you to choose for her. So just quit nettling her about it."

"I'm not nettling… well okay I am, but I don't trust him." Ron admitted.

"Just promise me that you'll quit nettling Hermione about her private affairs." Harry said. "It's one of the reasons why you argue so much. And you both know how much your arguing get on my nerves."

"Okay, I promise to stop nettling Hermione about those things." Ron said as they entered the Great Hall. There was a buzz inside. Students were asking each other who the last new Chaser was going to be. Everyone had found out that the twins were the Beaters and Ginny was one of the Chasers. But no one knew about Hermione. Somehow, Ron had been very careful about practices, since the first. He announced the night that they had been chosen: "Everyone in Gryffindor is to keep their big bazoos shut about the new additions. If I hear someone blabbed they will have to suffer the consequences!" He also said not to even mention anything about the team and not to draw any attention about the fact. It hadn't remained this quiet even when Harry had been placed on the team his first year.

They sat down across from Hermione who was reading her morning paper while munching on a bit of toast.

"I wish I had her tenacity last year." Ron whispered to Harry. Last year just before their first match, Ron had been too scared to eat anything. Harry remembered with amusement at the sight of Ron wanting to drown himself in the dregs of milk left at the bottom of the cereal bowl.

Hermione folded up her Daily Prophet neatly, stood while saying, "I'll be in the library if you need me." And before Ron and Harry could quietly protest she added a quick wink before she left. Harry understood that she was still at work trying throwing people off her trail of thinking she was one of the new Chasers. Harry guessed that she too wanted to see the reaction of the school when they found out that afternoon.

Right now, the quidditch match wasn't on his mind. The conversation with Hermione last night was. Harry needed to speak with someone about what happened that night when Voldemort attacked him. The only person he could think of was sitting in the headmaster's chair at the teachers' table.

"I'll see you down at the pitch." Harry said to Ron as he stood.

"Okay." Ron replied with mouthful of porridge.

Harry walked up to the head table. But it didn't draw anyone's attention, since other's were talking to the professors about subject related criteria. Dumbledore was munching on a piece of marmalade covered toast. The crumbs were getting into his long gray beard.

"Headmaster?" Harry said as he approached.

"It seems as though you are bursting with questions Mr. Potter." Dumbledore said formally.

"Yes. It's about the night Voldemort attacked me, sir." Harry said quietly.

"I see." The Headmaster said. "After seeing the events of the night in question, it doesn't surprise me that you are asking about it. But unfortunately I am unable to give you a decent enough explanation about it."

Harry felt his shoulders sag under the weight of failure.

"But…" Dumbledore interrupted. "I can direct you to someone who has been studying things of this nature and can give the appropriate answer to your questions."

Harry couldn't help but start smiling. He also had a feeling that Dumbledore had been reading his mind just a minute ago.

"Who is it?" Harry asked.

"I didn't bring Professor Gryphon back to Hogwarts just to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts." Dumbledore said as he pointed to the woman in question as she sat down and pulled an empty cereal bowl towards her and starting to tear up pieces of bread into it. Her pointed ears twitched slightly and her head turned toward them indicating that she had heard. Harry thought it weird that her hair was braided tightly into one long neat braid today. Her tail was still wrapped around her waist. It was usually wild and free. It made her less catlike.

Harry uttered a quick 'thanks' to Dumbledore and turned his attention to Professor Gryphon.

"Our meeting will have to wait, I am afraid, till next morn." Gryphon replied as she poured milk and sugar into her bowl. before Harry could open his mouth. "The quidditch match will take up most of our time today. Especially since Madam Hooch has taken ill. And ye might have a celebration party to attend. Now, off ye go. Thy companions are waiting for thee."

Harry turned to go just in time to see Luna Lovegood, in her roaring Lion hat, kiss Ron on the cheek before scampering away and out the Great Hall doors. Ron, who was totally bewildered, just stared after her, his feet not budging from where he stood when it happened. In, fact he hadn't moved at all since she'd done it.

"What d'you reckon?" Harry asked Ron. But Ron said nothing, he had the look on his face that reminded Harry of the instance that happened last year with Hermione.

Ron put his hand on the kissed cheek and said vaguely, "She said it was for good luck."

"Come on you." Harry said as he pushed Ron out of the great hall. "We can't have our captain not show up to the game because he's gone all wonky on us." He didn't know why, but seeing Ron act like this, Harry couldn't help but feel happy for his best friend. Luna seemed to be very fond of Ron and Ron didn't seem to fight the fact. It was drizzling outside, but there was no wind and no thunder and lightning.

"What's wrong with him?" Hermione asked Harry as they entered into the changing rooms shaking as much water off themselves as they could. Or was it just Harry shaking off the water. Ron just stood there, still in his little reverie. Hermione had already changed into her Quidditch robes and was adjusting the protective gear on her arm. The twins were busy talking to their friend, Euan Abercrombie, of which had consented to announce the game after Lee Jordan left Hogwarts last year.

"Luna kissed him on the cheek." Harry whispered back.

Hermione beamed "Oh, sunny day. Bright beautiful sunny day."

"But Hermione it's cloudly and raining." Harry said stupidly.

"I know that, you dolt." Hermione's mood came crashing back down with the insult thrown at Harry. "You really just don't get it.

"I just hope he can keep his attention on the game." Harry said as he pointed at Ron, who was still spacing out.

Hermione then took matters into her own hands and slapped Ron around the head. He seemed to come out his reverie like he had been swimming for a long time and had just come up for air.

"What did you do that for?" Ron spluttered.

"We need our captain focused on the upcoming match." Hermione said simply.

"Oh, right." Ron said and he disappeared into the Boy's changing room.

"Hermione," Harry whispered as he pulled her aside into a corner of the room. "Even though Ron doesn't seem to be fighting Luna's advances, it doesn't mean that he has totally given up on you. It may be best if you not mention anything. It may still be a tender subject. "

" Oh, right." Hermione replied. As soon as they were all suited up in their quidditch robes, Ron gathered them together to have a meeting.

"Okay," Ron called. "We are about to play the most ruthless, heavy cheating scumbags that call themselves a team and no doubt that their playing will be dirtier now that Ferret Boy is their captain. Yeah, what is it Williams."

Davvy, or was it Jerry, had raised his hand to ask a question. "I am wondering why everyone calls him the ferret."

Ginny turned around to face the twins. "I'll tell you what, if we win today I'll tell you the whole Malfoy embarrassment story that earned him the nickname." She said with an evil grin.

The two second-years gaped at Ginny but soon agreed; their curiosity was still too strong to resist.

"Is everyone ready?" Ron interrupted. Everyone nodded in excitement. "Okay, let's go!"

They filed out of the changing rooms and hid in the darkness of the tunnel until they were announced.

"Welcome to the first Quidditch game of the season! Slytherin verses Gryffindor!" Euan called over the noise as students filling up the benches of the pitch. "Both of our teams have new blood and new Captains, so this sure going to be an exciting match. Lets introduce them shall we? From the Slytherin team: their Captain Draco Malfoy! Crabbe! Goyle! Osley! Mashaw! Darrins! And Parvin! It looks as though the Slytherins are going for size again this year."

As their names were called they flew out. Everyone on the Slytherin team was much bigger than their Captain. Out of the noise coming from the stands only one fourth of it was cheering for the Slytherins.

"On the Gryffindor team:…" The whole pitch went silent in anticipation. "Wow! I have never heard it this quiet!" Euan commented. But it didn't go without protest as the crowd roared for him to get on with it. "Okay were was I? Oh, yes right."

"The Gryffindor Captain, Ron Weasley! Back by popular demand after his ban: Harry Potter! My best friends and the two greatest guy's in the world…"

"Euan. Will you please announce them already." McGonagall scolded.

"Oh, alright." Euan said sluggishly, "Williams! Williams! Bell! Weasley! And…"

Everyone was waiting on baited breath. Harry could feel the tension in the air as they waited. The rain had let up for the time being but the clouds didn't seem finished yet.

"…Last, but not least! The Gryffindor secret you've all been waiting for!"

"Euan!"

"Sorry Professor! I couldn't help myself!"

"Just get on with it will you!"

"The last Gryffindor Chaser is Hermione Granger!" Euan announced. Three-quarters of the student body went silent in shock as Hermione flew out onto the pitch. Harry could distinctly hear Malfoy say: "You must be joking, who would dare put the bushy-haired rodent on a broomstick."

"Watch it, Ferret boy!" Ron yelled.

"Watch it boys, I can send thee off the field for unsportsmanlike behavior." A voice roared. Harry look down to see whom it was who roared.

"Due to sudden illness, Madam Hooch couldn't referee this match. Her place will be taken by Professor Gryphon, for today." Euan announced. Gryphon was standing in the middle of pitch, crate with the four Quidditch balls and her broomstick at her feet. She wore white referee robes. She kicked the crate open and the Bludgers and Golden Snitch were released. Gryphon picked up the red Quaffle and threw it into the air as she blew the whistle starting the game. Hermione was the first to snatch the quaffle as she threw it to Ginny before she flew around the advancing oafs. Ginny threw the Quaffle to Katie then ducked a bludger sent at her head by Goyle. Katie then threw it back to Hermione, who sent it harrowing through the Center ring of the Slytherin side. Harry could even hear the whistling the quaffle made as it sailed through the hoop.

"…Granger gets it easily past Keeper Darrins!" Euan shouted. "Ten points to Gryffindor! Parvin now has the quaffle… wow what a steal."

Ginny had quickly swooped down and stolen the Quaffle out of the underarm of Parvin and swooped away before the big ugly brute had time to react. But Mashaw got quickly on her tail. It wasn't for long though. One of the twins had hit a bludger toward Mashaw, who dodged it but had let Ginny go in the process.

"Ten more points to Gryffindor!" Euan called after Ginny just scored another goal. "It looks like Captain Weasley put together a great line up this year…"

The whole time he had been listening to this Harry had kept his eyes peeled for the snitch. Malfoy was too. As the game progressed, the Slytherins' plays tactics were getting dirtier and dirtier as they started to get desperate. Harry was grateful that they didn't go unnoticed by Gryphon and Gryffindor was awarded three penalty shots throughout the game. The score was 50 to 30. Slytherin had gotten a couple of lucky shots whenever a roar sounded over the crowd and once when the Slytherins started to sing 'Weasley is my King.' It only distracted Ron once, but he had been closely compared to a brick wall for most of the game, and didn't let the score phase him. He had blocked about Fifteen tries at a score.

Hermione had come into possession of the Quaffle once again and was now face to face with Darrins. She tried to swerve to go around him but quickly moved in her way. The look on Hermione's face said 'fine if that's how you want it, so be it.' She backed up a little and threw the Quaffle as hard as she could. It hit Darrins in the gut, knocking all the wind out of him and sending him through one of the goal hoops with it.

"Now that's an interesting way to get a goal." Euan announced with amusement as he looked at Gryphon to make sure it was legal. "And the ref says it's good, another ten points to Gryffindor." The Slytherins all booed in protest. At the very moment Harry spotted the snitch. It was fluttering over Ron's head at the Gryffindor goal posts and was mimicking every move he made on his broom. Harry looked for Malfoy and seeing that the git was busy yelling at his team on the Slytherin side of the field, Harry grinned to himself and took off after it.

"Potter has sighted the Snitch!"

Ron's eyes widened in shock as he saw Harry harrowing straight for him. Ron did some quick thinking and ducked just in time for Harry to curl his fingers around the tiny ball. But Ron didn't duck low enough and Harry's toes clipped Ron's shoulders.

"Potter has the snitch! Gryffindor wins! 210 to 30."

They heard a whack coming from the other end of the field. Both Ron and Harry turned around just in time to see a bludger knock Hermione off her broom.

"That was bad form!" Euan shouted in anger.

"No!" Harry yelled and flew his broom to the other side to try and catch her before she hit the ground.

Within an instant he had caught her; but the sheer momentum and the fact that Harry's hands were occupied with holding onto both Hermione and the snitch, making it impossible to steer the Firebolt. "Hold on." Harry whispered in her ear. She curled into a ball and Harry curled around her. The Firebolt hit the sand in the sand trap at the end of the field like an arrow and both took a skidding tumble. There was an audible crack and a pain shot up Harry's right leg. They had stopped moving soon enough with Hermione on top of Harry. Drip… Drip. It had started raining again. The freezing rain splashing in Harry's face.

Hermione had known that Harry had broken his leg. She had felt it crack and go limp. She immediately got off him and knelt beside him "Harry, you really didn't need to do that for me." She sobbed.

"I felt I needed to." Harry grimaced in pain as he placed his hand on hers that rested on her knee. An emotion Harry couldn't place was running through his veins and pounding at his chest. He had never felt this way around Cho and all of a sudden a teary-eyed Hermione in scarlet quidditch robes had struck him as the prettiest thing he had ever seen as he lay there getting soaked from the rain and pain throbbing in his leg.

"But you broke your leg." She continued to sob.

"Legs can be mended easily." Harry replied soothingly as his hand continued to rest on Hermione's. The other clutched the snitch "I just couldn't let you fall. I am just too kind."

"Harry, no one said that was a bad thing." She whispered in his ear. "But I am afraid it may get you hurt one day."

"Are you to all right?" Ron called as he approached them. He was carrying Hermione's Nimbus and Harry's Firebolt that he had plucked out of the wet sand. He went oddly silent when he seemed to see what was going on. A defiant look appeared on his face.

"We're… we're." Harry stumbled.

"Ron, Harry's broken his leg. We need to get him to the hospital wing." Hermione interrupted.

"Oh." Ron said quietly. There was an awkward pause between them. Harry noticed were his hand was and removed it from Hermione's. Her face visibly fell.

"Ron, did I hurt you when I clipped your shoulders?" Harry asked turning away from Hermione.

"No. I'll be fine." Ron replied. "Come on let's get you to Madam Pomfrey so we can celebrate tonight." And Ron helped pick Harry up off the ground. "That was some catch Harry. I didn't even know the snitch was flying above my head. And that score of Hermione's, when she sent the quaffle and the Keeper through the hoop together."

"Who was it that sent the bludger at Hermione?" Harry asked. Hermione's head snapped toward him.

"It was Goyle." Ron said. "He did the same thing Crabbe did last year to you. Don't worry Professor Gryphon has given him and Malfoy a weeks worth of detention for the blatant display unsportsmanlike behavior."

"Hold on, why does Malfoy have detention too?" Harry asked.

"Malfoy was egging Goyle to do it and I am sure you know that Goyle wouldn't complain to that." Ron said bitterly.

"So what has Gryphon given them for detention?" Hermione asked.

"They have to re-varnish the wood on the Pitch's stands, without magic." Ron said evilly, "Since people have been complaining recently of splinters."

They passed a livid looking Gryphon. "Ye better get him to the infirmary, that leg is broken in two places." She growled.

"How do you know that?" Ron asked.

She pointed to her pointed ears, "My hearing is very sharp. I heard two snaps. I can't fix it for thee, I am terrible at healing." She admitted. "Now go!" And she shooed them off the field.

"What d'you reckon?" Ron asked with a quick glance back in Gryphon's direction.

"Well I don't think she's human." Harry said.

"That's because she isn't." Hermione pointed out.

" That's news to my ears. Then what is she if she isn't human?" Ron asked.

"That's exactly what I am trying to figure out for myself." Hermione said. "I thought for sure she was an Allogryph. But there has been evidence that leads off into a different direction."

"What is an Allogryph." Ron asked.

"They live in arctic regions, like mountains and the polar ice caps. They are a type of rare Griffin. They mostly appear as giant white lions with wings and a blue crystalline horn similar to a unicorn's. But they're nearly extinct."

"Professor Gryphon does not look like that." Ron blurted.

"They have magical abilities and have intelligence higher than that of a human. They can easily disguise themselves. Not to forget, they have a life span of a millenium. Which would answer why she looks younger than she is." Hermione said.

"How old is she?" Harry asked.

"Old enough to have taught your parents, Harry." Hermione answered as they approached the hospital wing.

"How do you know that?" Harry asked.

"She recognized the mirror that I used to find you and told me that she had seen it in your father's hands while he was in detention with her."

"Your dad's not that vain was he?" Ron asked Harry.

"It's a Two-way mirror he used to talk with Sirius when they were in separate detentions." Harry grimaced.

"Oh." Ron chuckled and then turned to Hermione, "So what your saying is that our Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor is a big ugly cat."

"Actually, I am not sure what Gryphon is, since she displays abilities that are not found anywhere in the Allogryph species." Hermione said. No doubt what she said had come from a book.

"Oh dear, what do we have here?" Madam Pomfrey bustled up the ward as soon as they entered. "Why doesn't this surprise me. Broken leg by the looks of it. Lay him down there. It should take only a couple of minutes." She ordered as she pointed to a nearby bed. "Miss Granger you best lay down too."

"I feel fine." Hermione objected stubbornly. They all knew she had had her fill of the hospital wing last time she was here.

"Gryphon came by a couple of minutes ago, she told me you were hit with a bludger. Now, lay down!"

"How was she able to do that when we left her at the Pitch?" Ron asked. Hermione rolled her eyes at him.

"Is that the only reason why she was here?" Hermione asked quickly changing the subject.

"Of course that isn't the only reason she was here." Pomfrey said shrilly. "She has enough getting on with her life at the moment without you three trying to meddle with it. Poor dear. I think the Headmaster is asking too much of her, but for some reason I will never know she is greatly devoted to him. Then there is the disagreement with her half brother…" the last two sentences the nurse uttered under her breath as she gently examined the leg.

"Looks like two fractures." She swept into her office and then just as quickly swept back out with two bottles in hand. She placed one on the table beside the bed Hermione was defiantly sitting on.

"Not that again!" Hermione whined. "Anything but that potion!" Hermione seemed to recognize the thick teal colored potion.

The other bottle was made of metal and was definitely not transparent, she poured white liquid into a goblet and handed it to Harry. "Drink this! Just so you know it tastes like chalk."

Madam Pomfrey was right about the taste, but Harry knew it could be worse.

"Hold tight." Pomfrey told him.

"What." Harry said dully.

"Hold tight. I'm going to reset your leg." She repeated as she grabbed his foot and yanked. If it hurt before it wasn't anything to what it did now. Harry only let out a small yelp. The bones refitted into place, but the pain wasn't gone. The nurse pulled out her wand and did some complicated wand movements. Harry could feel the potion in his stomach move into his blood stream on direct root to the bone. In an instant the pain stopped and the Harry could feel that the bone was whole again. Madam Pomfrey didn't waste time on moving over to the next patient.

"Has your scar on your chest gone away?" the nurse said briskly. Ron snapped to attention.

"No." Hermione said in a squeaky voice. "but the pain went away when you said it would."

"Well there is nothing we can do about the scaring now." Madam Pomfrey said as she poured the hissing teal liquid into another goblet and handed it to Hermione. "But I do suggest you drink that or you will be regretting it in the morning. And you must come back in the morning for another dose. Both of you!"

Hermione groaned but drank the potion while holding her nose. When she finished she shuddered and her face was screwed up in disgust.

"Now don't over exert your selves for the next two days, things are still quite fresh and pain could easily return if you do. Now shoo." The nurse hustled them out of the hospital wing, shutting the door briskly behind them. Harry could walk again.

"That was the shortest trip I have ever taken to the hospital wing." A stunned Harry said.

"Do you think that Seamus, Dean, Jerry and Davvy are back from the kitchens yet?" Ron asked as they walked along the corridor on their way back to the Gryffindor commonroom.

"Don't tell me we're having another party." Hermione groaned.

"Of course, the game has been the greatest upset for the Slytherin team, especially when they lost their thirty points they got from the game for the intentional bludger incident."

"So the score was basically 210 to 0. Ouch." Harry said while grinning evilly.

"Yes. Quite the upset, indeed." Hermione said sardonically as they stepped in front of the Fat Lady's portrait. "Twinkletoes." The password to Gryffindor tower had been changed only a week before. By the looks of it the party still hadn't started yet. People, whom of which were wet and cold from the match, were still filing in.

"I suggest we change out of these muddy robes." Hermione said as she went up the Girls' stair. Harry and Ron followed suit up the Boys'.

"Harry?" Ron spoke as soon as they got into the empty dormitory and shut the door behind them.

"Yeah?" Harry said. Ron looked uncomfortable.

"T-Thanks for saving Hermione." Ron said finally. But Harry had a feeling that that wasn't what Ron wanted to say. "Did you know before now that she had that scar?" Ron continued.

"I did, I found out when I was inhabiting Crookshanks. But he made me promise not to tell until Hermione was ready to say something about it."

"Oh." Ron said quietly, but a grin spread across his face. "You can tell me about the other inhabitants of Hermione's dorm you know like bad habits and such."

"Maybe some other time Ron." Harry said as he left the room as soon as he changed.

Author's Note: Have any of you realized how much I like playing with your heads. As I said before, some of the details of my story may not coincide with that Ms. Rowling's version. I write what I find is right in my eyes but for others it may not be so. I do what I must to accommodate new characters and creatures.

Now the time has come for me to leave to finish another chapter. In meantime, please review with your questions and comments for they benefit this story greatly.

-tojot