Hey thanks again for the ole reviews people! Much appreciate it. To those of you who like the story your support means a lot! To those who don't like it for whatever reason I am sorry that it is not up to your "standard" but if it really doesn't appeal to you in the slightest you know you don't have to read it! So instead of knocking it either read on because the chapters are more substantial further on or else quit reading it! Anyway here is chapter 31 so hope ya like! Talk 2 ya!
As Harry and the others walked onto the training grounds, they were met by a few Slytherins talking amongst themselves quietly. Malfoy of course was within the crowd and sneered at Sirius, James and Remus as they walked off to the side of the pitch. Between them they conjured a bench at the far left of the grounds. Malfoy and his cronies approached Harry and his friends in a vindictive manner. Crabbe and Goyle stood on either side of Malfoy as he stopped five inches from Harry saying……
"Well potter the rumour around the school is that your excuse of a father managed to talk Professor Snape out of giving you detention for the remainder of this month. Its amazing what a little whining can do isn't it Potter?"
"I don't have to justify myself to you Malfoy!" Harry replied firmly.
"Oh no of course you don't Potter its just that….well if you cant handle a little bit of torture how exactly do you intend to cope when you are a hundred feet high in the sky? I doubt that your father will be able to get your message in time to save you from falling to your bitter sweet death!" Crabbe and Goyle chuckled with Malfoy whilst Harry and his friends stared at them maliciously.
"Why don't you crawl back under the rock you came from Malfoy! Nobody wants you here." Rob said as he stepped forward, in front of Harry and Ron. Malfoys face changed immediately from sweet to sour as he said…."Well at least I come from a pure blood family. Unlike you and Potter who are half casts!"
"Oh just shove off Malfoy will ya!" Ron ordered defiantly.
"Don't tell me what to do Weasley….."
"Alright everybody settle down please. Malfoy please take your place in the line." Madam Hooch ordered. Malfoy looked at her and nodded. "Wait for my signal Potter." Malfoy whispered as he went and stood next to Crabbe who was at the top of the line.
"Alright everybody welcome to your first flying lesson. As you can see there are brooms standing on your left so please hold your hand above your broom and say "up" sharply."
"Up." Harry said and immediately the broom leapt into his hand. Harry smiled triumphantly to himself as he said "Wow. Cool." He smirked at Ron and Hermione on either side of him who just glared at him since they had not yet succeeded. Rob was loosing his patience along with the other students who were envious of Harry's premature achievement. Sirius who had conjured omnioculars saw that Harry solely had mastered the command of the broom and related this information to James and Remus who were equally elated and took turns looking through the omnioculars.
"Excellent work Mr. Potter. You will be an asset to the Gryffindor quiddtich team if you decide to try out next year." Madam Hooch said smiling at him.
"Thank you" Harry replied gratefully as he shoved his glasses up on his nose.
Within ten minutes all the students had succeeded so Madam Hooch ordered them to attempt to mount their brooms with their left hand at the top of the handle whilst their right hand should rest in the middle. Of course there must always be somebody to get it wrong and in this case it was Neville Longbottom. He was a nervous eleven year old who had absolutely no faith in himself what so ever. Unfortunately for him he was standing next to Malfoy who thought it would be hilarious to see him flying so he cast a spell which would enable the broom to go wildly out of control for a whole five minutes and Neville being completely vulnerable to its antics. The broom suddenly took off in the air and soared one hundred feet at least with Neville screaming for it to stop and Madam Hooch roaring at Neville to come down. Neville flew over the dark tower, flew past Snapes classroom quickly and on a few occasions he did summersaults. James, Sirius and Remus wanted to do something but were afraid to act in case they harmed Neville himself. Just then the broom began taking a nose dive to the ground and Neville screaming for his life, covered his eyes with his hands and fell off the broom mid air. He landed on his side resulting in a sprained wrist, or so he thought. Madam Hooch rushed over to him and helped him up after catching the broom and discarding it to the side. As Neville stood up tears were brewing in his eyes from the pain he was enduring so Madam Hooch offered to take him to the hospital wing.
"All of you are to stay here. The class is not over so be practising mounting your broom while I take Mr. Longbottom to the hospital wing." With that she left with one arm around Neville. Sirius, James and Remus ran over to Harry to find out whether or not Neville was okay, though they suspected not.
"Stupid git clearly cannot ride a broom. How thick can you get?" Malfoy asked universally. His clan burst out laughing while Harry glared at him suspiciously.
"Did you do it Malfoy? Did you make Neville take flight and injure himself?"
"So what if I did Potter? It's not like you can prove it."
"You really are sick do you know that? Torturing people for amusement……"
"Ya well maybe if he had this with him…." Malfoy said unclenching his fist to show Neville's remembral…."he might have managed to fall a little more gracefully!" The Slytherins once again up roared in laughter. Harry marched over to Malfoy and shouted…
"Give it here Malfoy right now!" Malfoy stared at him for a few seconds before saying….
"Oh look Potter here come your super heroes! Why don't you ask them for support?" Harry turned around to find his three guardians talking to Rob, Ron and Hermione. Malfoy sniggered at Harry. He then turned back to Malfoy and made a vein attempt to grab the ball from his hand. Malfoy clenched his fist as he said…."If you really want to retrieve it for your good friend Longbottom, then you are going to have to find it first. So let's see how well you can fly shall we?" Malfoy sneered at Harry as he mounted his broom and flew up thirty feet. Harry stared up at him for a few seconds before parading back and grabbing his broom. "Harry what are you doing?" Remus asked anxiously as Harry mounted his broom.
"Malfoy has Neville's remembral Remus so I am going to get it back off him."
"WHAT? Harry no you can't! Madam Hooch told us to practice mounting not flying! You could get detention for this…"
"Hermione I don't care! And Sirius…dad don't look at me like that."
"How do you know he has it Harry mate?"
"Because he showed me Sirius okay?"
"Harry no don't you….." Harry flew off after Malfoy…"dare." James said as he watched Harry fly. James, Remus and Sirius watched as Harry glided gracefully up into the sky along with the rest of the students. Sirius patted James shoulder as he said…
"Good job James mate. Good job."
"Oh do shut up Sirius. It is not funny. Anything could happen to him for god sake!"
"James he will be fine." Sirius said reassuringly walking over to where James was standing.
"How do you know?" James asked looking at his son talking to Malfoy in the sky.
"Because he is your son. A decent flier. Like father like son." James smiled a little at Sirius whilst Remus who was standing with Ron and company looked anxiously over his shoulder at his friends.
"Give it to me Malfoy and nothing needs to happen!" Harry shouted.
"Nothing needs to happen? Exactly what do you mean Potter?"
"You think that because you come from a pure blood family that you are magically talented well so am I!"
"Oh my Potter I had no idea how boastful you really were!"
"We both know how vulnerable you are without Crabbe and Goyle around Malfoy so do us all a favour and give me Neville's remembral or I swear I will paralyze you!"
"No need to be so hasty Potter. If you really want it…." He threw it into the air as he said…"go fetch!" Harry sped past Malfoy on his broom as he tore after the ball. As he passed Malfoy he nearly knocked him off his broom but unfortunately Malfoy held a firm grip on the handle.
"He's going mighty fast." Remus muttered to himself but he was heard.
"If he falls I will never forgive myself." Hermione interjected quietly. Remus smiled to himself as he said to Hermione who was standing in between Ron and Rob….
"Don't worry Hermione. Harry has had plenty of practice of flying with his father and Sirius. I am certain that he can manage."
Harry who was flying past Dumbledore's office reached out his left hand and grabbed the remembral at eighty degree angle which meant he had to do a slight summersault. What Harry didn't realise was that he was being watched. Dumbledore and McGonagall saw his obvious talent for flying and discussed the prospect of him becoming the new Gryffindor seeker. After Harry caught the ball he held it up for his house mates to see as he dived back down to the ground. Everybody cheered loudly as they all ran up to congratulate him once he leapt off the broom. James breathed a sigh of relief whilst Sirius and Remus sniggered at him. "So now you will live to see another day James mate." Sirius said smirking at his friend who turned to face him and smiled. Just then they saw McGonagall come marching on to the lawn as she called…"Harry Potter come with me please now!" Harry who was laughing with his friends turned around and looked at McGonagall nervously as he followed her.
"Oh no. She must have seen him…"
"Don't worry James…."
"Don't worry? Remus are you nuts? He could get expelled for the love of the saints!"
"I am sure it won't come to that…."
"What did she want with Harry Sirius?" Rob asked as he ran across the lawn with Ron and Hermione in tow.
"I don't know Rob mate…."
"Its obvious Sirius! She is going to expel him for underage flying! Oh god…"
"She wouldn't do that surely. I mean she seems reasonable to me. She will hear Harry out."
"I wish I had your faith Hermione. Come on you two lets go."
"Go where?" Sirius and Remus asked in unison looking after James who was running towards the hall.
"To Dumbledore of course! Now come on will you!" James shouted as he kept on running. Sirius stared at Remus who quirked an eyebrow.
"Alright well we shall see you guys later." Sirius said as he smiled and then he and Remus tore after James.
McGonagall was walking silently and quickly down the ground floor corridor and Harry who was a few yards behind her had to run to keep up. As she came to a set of marble white stairs she galloped up them so Harry naturally followed her still unaware of the consequences for his actions. As she reached the top of the stairs she turned left and stopped outside the second door. She instructed Harry to wait outside as she knocked and entered the classroom. Harry who by now was severely perplexed knew for sure that neither McGonagall's nor Dumbledore's office was on this floor. So why had she brought him here? Inside was the fifth year defence against the dark arts being taught by Professor Quirell.
McGonagall requested that one of his students, Oliver Wood, step outside for a moment. Quirell who was a nervous type of man and stuttered repeatedly over his dialogue naturally didn't object. As Wood stepped out behind McGonagall was greeted by a rare smiling professor who was standing beside Harry.
"What is going on Professor?" Wood asked politely as he crossed his arms across his chest.
"Well Wood I do believe that I have found you a seeker." McGonagall exclaimed jovially. Wood unfolded his arms as he stared at her in disbelief. He gazed quickly at Harry as he said…
"What…are you serious Professor?"
"Yes Wood. Harry Potter is the best seeker I have seen since….well I cant even remember! So what do you say Potter? Are you prepared to become the new seeker?" She asked smiling down at him.
"Well…yes Professor I would love to but its just that I was under the impression that first years are forbidden to try out for their house teams." Harry said looking between Wood and McGonagall.
"Harry, Professor Dumbledore and I saw how skilful you were on that broom when you caught that remembral. He has agreed to allow you to become the new seeker if you consent that is."
For a few minutes Harry pondered the notion of living the dream his father lived for six years at Hogwarts. He knew he wanted to accept because it was all his father and Sirius and Remus expected from him regarding quiddtich. He could visualise their faces and reactions at this second. After everything he was told about quiddtich from his guardians he knew it was the best sport in the world and he really did want to step into his father's shadow because next to Sirius, his father was his hero. After brief consideration and receiving anxious glances from his professor and future team mate, Harry agreed to become Gryffindors seeker. He smiled up at them both as he said….
"When do we start training?" McGonagall smiled broadly at him and gave him a one armed hug.
"This is brilliant Potter! You won't regret this. I suppose your father has taught you plenty of quiddtich techniques seeing as who he is." Oliver said smiling at Harry. Harry nodded as he said…
"He did yeah along with Sirius….."
"SIRIUS BLACK!" Oliver shouted astounded that Harry knew him and making he and McGonagall jump with fright.
"Sirius Black is Harry s godfather Wood so he naturally would teach him plenty techniques considering the fact that both he and Remus Lupin live next door to Harry."
"Wow! I cant believe Sirius is your godfather Harry. He and your father were like….quiddtich gods when they were here at Hogwarts….."
"Yes yes now that is quite enough Wood. Go on back to class. You can talk to Harry a little later on." Wood nodded as he smiled at Harry and went back to class. McGonagall smiled at Harry as she said…
"Well you had better get back to class Potter and don't worry, I will explain your absence to Madam Hooch although I seriously doubt she will object once she hears!" Harry smiled at her as he followed her back to the flying grounds. As they approached the grounds they saw Sirius, James and Remus approaching them after returning from Dumbledore's office. When they saw Harry they immediately began running towards him and shouting "WELL DONE HARRY!"
James and Sirius took their turns in spinning Harry around while Remus just hugged him lightly.
"The youngest seeker of the century. My son….wait until your mother hears!" James said beaming at his son. "Are you excited Harry?" Remus asked smiling gently at him.
"Yes Remus. It should be really cool you know…up there in the sky…aiding Gryffindor in their hour of glory."
"Well he has the right attitude. I trust you helped to formulate that Sirius?" McGonagall said smirking.
"Oh well….maybe a little…."They half laughed…"Anyway Prongslet we best be off coz I have to be in work for 1:30….so let us know when the first game of the season is and….we will be there." Sirius winked at his grinning godson.
"Yes well I had better go and explain the situation to Madam Hooch so…see you boys later I'm sure. Harry congratulations once again."
"Thank you Professor." Harry smiled as McGonagall stormed off across the lawn.
"Tell Rob, Ron and Hermione that were sorry we couldn't hang around too long but…we will see them soon." James said looking at his son. "Yep sure dad." Harry smiled at his guardians who each gave him a hug and were off within a few minutes. Harry stared after them and smiled to himself as he said…
"The youngest seeker of the century…..now that is well awesome!"