This is a work of fan fiction using characters from the Harry Potter universe, which are trademarked by J.K. Rowling. I do not claim ownership of these characters nor the locations such as Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, etc. that are Rowling's creations. This work also includes Pokemon, which belong to the Pokemon Company, and I again claim no ownership of these characters.

I thank both Rowling and the Pokemon Company for the universes they have created that allows me to do something like this for my own entertainment and, hopefully, the entertainment of the readers.

If there was any doubt that Umbridge was attempting to do everything but teach them it was removed by the time the next class came around, where they were instructed to read 'Chapter 2: Preparing a Defence'. Skimming through the chapters Harry wondered what Umbridge's plan was when they finished the book. So far with Hermione she had simply ignored her protestations that she'd already read it. In fact she took another ten points and Hermione wound up in detention for the second time in a week, Umbridge rather sickeningly declaring that this time she would be writing 'I will do as my professor instructs' until she was satisfied.

As the week wore on both Harry and Ron had a lot weighing down on them too. For Harry it was the usual, his concerns about the Ministry not believing him, his worry about what Voldemort was up to, and his still, as of yet, unexplainable jealousy of Ron. For Ron it was simpler. Quidditch tryouts were approaching.

"When are you guys heading out?" Hermione asked that Friday at dinner. She, unfortunately, had detention instead.

"Soon," Harry replied. He'd been keeping an eye on Angelina and as soon as she got up he'd know it was time to head off.

Hermione sighed. "Well, I'm off to deal with Umbridge," she told them crisply, standing up. "Good luck, Ron, and relax. You'll do great."

"Thanks, Hermione," Ron responded. "Good luck to you too." Hermione nodded briskly and strode from the hall.

"Amazing, isn't she," Ron muttered, watching Hermione go. "She must have spent at least six hours writing lines last time but she hasn't complained at all. She really is brilliant." Harry agreed, though he did have his doubts. While it was entirely possible Hermione was putting on a brave face to spare them from worrying about her when they had more than enough on their plates to worry about themselves Harry had to think there was another reason.

His thinking, which had grown over the complete lack of discipline Hermione had shown throughout the week with respect to Umbridge, was that Hermione was taking this personally. She didn't want to talk about it or complain, not because she didn't want them to worry, but because she wanted them to stay out of what she saw as her fight. Harry worried that this may only be the beginning. Hermione was surely not going to back down and from what he'd seen of Umbridge neither would she. This could end in catastrophe.

"Come on," he said, breaking himself from his worried thoughts. Angelina had slipped past in his inattention and around the hall many other Gryffindors, some on the team, others not, were rising to their feet and making their way out onto the grounds.

Ron looked surprised by his pronouncement, his eyes went wide, and Harry immediately knew that he was looking desperately to find a way out.

"Come on," Harry said, this time with some annoyance, taking a fistful of Ron's shirt and dragging the much larger boy to his feet, sending him stumbling up the aisle ahead of him.

Despite Harry's obvious attempts to force him onwards Ron was still searching for some sort of escape.

"You know what, maybe this year is too soon," he hedged, glancing over his shoulder anxiously to Harry. "I'll wait to next year. You know, then I can practice this year and be ready. And Fred and George will be leaving too, I reckon I'll make a better Beater than Keeper."

"Excellent plan," Harry told him evenly. "And you can put it in motion tomorrow. Right now we're going to tryouts and if you try and use one more excuse…"

"Hello Harry." Harry was brought short mid-lecture.

Cho Chang stood before him, looking just as pretty as she always did, which wouldn't be particularly unusual normally. Unfortunately this was the first time he'd come face to face with the Ravenclaw girl since her boyfriend, Cedric, had died. He found he didn't know what to say.

"Um, hi, Cho," he replied awkwardly. Beside him Ron looked rather taken aback too. At least he seemed to have forgotten about wimping out on Quidditch tryouts. "Um, how are you?" It was a terrible question.

"Oh, I'm fine," Cho answered quietly. "All things considering." An awkward silence fell between them.

"Well," Ron stepped in, his voice loud and forced normal as he took a hold of Harry's shoulder. "This was lovely and all but Harry and I have tryouts to get to." This took Cho by surprise.

"Oh," she said. "Are you trying out for the team then?"

"Don't be daft," Ron told her with a self-conscious laugh. Harry elbowed him in the ribs.

"So, yeah, we've got to go," Harry said awkwardly.

"Maybe I could go with you?" Cho suggested. "It might be nice to… talk."

"Um," Harry repeated. "I'm not sure Angelina would like that, I'm afraid." Cho's face fell.

"Oh." she looked disappointed. "Oh well, I understand. Another time then?"

"Yeah, sure," Harry agreed. A tug on his arm jerked him away and soon he found himself out on the grounds, Ron marching along beside him.

"Blimey, that was weird, wasn't it," Ron said. Harry shrugged. He couldn't really deny it, it was weird. "You should keep a watch out for that one, mate, I promise you."

They fell into peaceful silence as they crossed the grounds, heading towards the oval shaped stands that housed the Quidditch pitch. Up ahead Harry could make out some figures milling about the entrance, their encounter with Cho having delayed them quite severely.

"Oh no," Ron muttered and Harry glanced at him. His face was pale. "I can't do this."

"Of course you can," Harry told him tiredly. "It's just us. And what's the worst that can happen, you don't get in? That just means you can practice for next year."

Ron did not seem to be convinced at all but Harry wasn't in the mood to ply him with more encouragement. Now that his encounter with Cho was fading into the past he could feel himself start to relax. With every breath of fresh air he felt the burden of the week lift slightly and with every step he felt his anticipation grow. He could not wait to be out on the field with Talonflame once more.

Soon enough Harry and Ron made it to the stadium and, leaving Ron behind with the small group of other applicants, Harry ventured out to the centre of the field to where the rest of the team were huddled.

"Potter, what kept you?" Angelina barked out. Harry took her brusqueness in his stride.

"I bumped into Cho Chang in the Entrance Hall," he told her. "She took a bit of shaking." Angelina's eyes narrowed.

"What sort of questions was she asking, Potter?" she said briskly. "She's Seeker on the Ravenclaw team unless you've forgotten and it would be a damn reckless thing to do to give up valuable information so early in the season." Harry felt annoyed.

"Jesus, Angelina, her boyfriend just died," he couldn't help himself from blurting out. "Have some sympathy at least." Angelina flinched, but otherwise her expression didn't change. Then she turned away.

"Blimey, Harry, that was brave of you," Fred muttered as Angelina distracted herself talking to Alicia and Katie.

"Yeah, I though Angelina was going to eat you whole there," joked George. Harry just shrugged. Honestly he should have known better than to get Angelina mad at him so early in the year.

Fred shifted. His head was raised slightly and he seemed to be trying to discretely glance towards the new Keeper applicants. "So, you brought Ron then," he said warily.

"Yes," Harry replied simply.

"Do you know if he's any good?" Fred asked. He sounded doubtful.

"No," Harry answered simply. He had no idea how Ron would fare.

"Is that Machop he's using," George wondered, rising onto his tiptoes to get a good look. "A bit small, isn't he."

Harry frowned. "If he's not good enough he won't get in the team," he said shortly. "In the meantime the least you could do is give him some encouragement. He's already got enough doubt himself without you two adding to them." Fred and George looked a bit guilty.

Harry himself felt somewhat bad for chewing the twins out like that. For one thing he'd not wanted Ron to tryout, which made him a tad hypocritical, though in his case he'd worried that Ron would be too good and steal his limelight. Still, jealous or not Harry wasn't about to betray his friend on something that was obviously important to him.

"I feel bad now," George muttered dispiritedly. "I smeared his boots with Darumaka droppings." Noticeably the other applicants were giving Ron a bit of a wide berth. His face was bright red.

"Alright, lets start!" Angelina shouted, pulling everyone to attention. "Applicants form a line. You'll be trying out one at a time."

As the Gryffindor trialists started to cue up, battling for position near the front, Harry hurried forward and pulled Ron to the side, ignoring the now overwhelming smell of Darumaka droppings.

"Help me," Ron whispered desperately. He looked close to tears.

"Relax," Harry told him, his voice as firm and comforting as he could make it. "Just relax. Don't worry about anything else but the Quaffle. You've got Machop here, look," he gestured to where the fighting type was standing, steadfast and ready. "He's up for this and he's got your back. You've got his back, right?" Ron nodded. "Then good. I'll see you once it's over."

Harry couldn't guess as to how effective his spur of the moment pep talk had been but he did watch as Ron shuffled into place at the back of the cue, the boy in front making a face and holding his nose at the smell, much to the redhead's embarrassment.

"Not great conditions, is it," Katie commented, looking up at the darkening sky dispiritedly. It wasn't that late but already night was threatening to fall. Harry wondered if they'd even get to Ron in time to see him play.

"Good," Angelina said. "It'll be a proper test. We won't learn anything from perfect conditions." She raised her voice. "First applicant ready!"

The first student to try their luck was, surprisingly, Colin Creevey, looking absolutely tiny as he stood next to the goal posts. His Magneton, however, hovered up to a good height and waited patiently for the Chasers to attack.

The Quaffle was through the hoops before he could even blink. It seemed Angelina, Alicia and Katie, along with their Lopunny, Hitmonlee and Hitmontop, had lost none of their edge over the summer. The Keeper applicants were in for a long night.

Poor Colin Creevey was eventually asked to step aside after conceding another ten goals, only one shot being saved by the overpowered Magneton, before the next trialist stepped forward. He didn't fare any better.

Watching as student after student came before the goal posts and were defeated Harry turned his attention up to the castle. The Pokémon Battling Professor's office was visible to Harry, though only as a tiny pinprick of light against the great stone walls of Hogwarts, and Harry wondered how Hermione was doing. She would have wanted to be down here, cheering Ron on, and a bitter part of Harry wondered if Umbridge had known that when she'd scheduled the detention. The mere thought made Harry's insides burn.

It took several attempts before any of the potential trialists proved themselves capable of handling a match day Chaser combo and that was Cormac McLaggen, a sixth year boy who Harry vaguely remembered having battled, and defeated him, all the way back in second year. His Pokémon of choice then, Rhydon, was the one manning the goalposts and, much like Wood's Snorlax, it was proving itself to be faster than it looked. Faced with fifteen shots Rhydon saved eight of them and McLaggen walked off with a pleased expression on his face. As well he should be, no one matched that all the way through to the end, when Ron was finally called forward.

"Here we go," George murmured nervously as the three Chasers bared down on goal, passing the Quaffle with speed and accuracy betraying no tiredness. The Quaffle popped from Lopunny to Hitmonlee to Hitmontop before finally it found itself back with Lopunny who smacked it towards goal. Machop dived, and missed.

"Hey, that was close," Fred said, sounding impressed.

"Closer than expected," agreed George.

"Come on, Machop, you almost had it!" Ron shouted encouragingly as his Pokémon climbed back to his feet. The Quaffle came right back at him and he dived left, and again he very nearly got his finger tips to the ball. "You can do it!"

Seeing Ron shouting encouragements put Harry's mind at ease. Maybe Ron wouldn't get chosen, a third shot flew past Machop, but as long as he had the right mindset then it would be alright.

Then, in the sixth shot, Machop turned the tables.

"Yes! Great work, Machop!" Ron shouted enthusiastically as Machop clutched hold of the Quaffle, rolling along the ground with the ball firmly in his grip. Fred and George whooped. Well, no one could have reasonably expected them to be unbiased.

It was incredible, bringing a smile to Harry's face as he watched Machop climb back to his feet and toss the Quaffle back to the Chasers. Maybe the shot hadn't been hit as hard, Harry couldn't tell, but Machop had made up the distance and held on. That was something to be proud of.

"Keep going!" Ron encouraged.

And incredibly he did. A seventh shot was clutched tightly to his chest while an eighth was punched clear. A ninth was well place by Hitmonlee, faking Machop out and sending him the wrong way, but Machop responded with a tremendous flying save to get his fingertips to the tenth Quaffle and flick it onto the goalpost.

Four shots later and Ron was tied with McLaggen, each having saved eight of the Chasers' attempts. With one last shot remaining Ron had the chance to win it all.

Lopunny advanced forward, eyes focused and alert. Machop's ability to deny them had lit a fire in each of the three Chasers and they were determined not to be denied. Lopunny stopped on a sixpence, shaping as if to shoot and watching Machop for a flinch, before flicking the Quaffle up into the air. Hitmonlee leapt forward, foot at the ready, and extended it forward to smash the Quaffle towards the left hand goalpost. Machop dived, having avoided the feint, and flew to intercept it.

Machop and the Quaffle hung suspended in midair for a moment, before the Quaffle soared past his outstretched hand, ricocheting off the inside of the hoop as it passed through. Machop hit the ground with a thud and pushed himself onto his knees, looking incredibly disappointed.

"Alright, that's enough!" Angelina called, the three Chaser Pokémon hurrying back to where the team were standing waiting. "Huddle up."

The team closed ranks, forming a circle as they looked inwards, Fred and George casting furtive glances to make sure no one was listening in.

Angelina took charge.

"We obviously have two choices," she said with a no-nonsense attitude. "McLaggen and Weasley saved eight each, which is about as good as we could have hoped for. What's everyone thinking?"

"Ron's the obvious choice," Fred said immediately, George nodding along. "It's easy to see." Angelina rolled her eyes.

"I suppose there's no point asking you, Potter?" she challenged. Harry shook his head. "Very well. Alicia? Katie?"

"I'm torn," Alicia said quietly. "They are both really quite good. McLaggen is more consistent, I think, which is perhaps what we're looking for in a Keeper."

"But Weasley improved a lot over the course of the drill," Katie added. "McLaggen didn't really get any better or worse but Weasley managed to save nearly all of them by the end."

"Besides," she said, lowering her voice slightly and sending a nervous glance out the huddle. "I know Cormac personally and I don't think he's right for the team. He's very sure of himself, full of himself, even. I just think his ego might be too big. Ron…" Katie shrugged.

"You don't have to worry about Ron's ego," Harry told her. "He's got five older brothers who are all ridiculously successfully in their own ways." Fred and George shared a grin. "And if he did get too in love with himself you can count on me to put him right."

"Us too," Fred added.

"Alright then," Angelina said. "I believe we've reached a consensus but lets have a quick show of hands. Those in favour of Weasley?" Harry, Fred and George raised their hands immediately, Katie's not far behind them while Alicia raised hers with slightly more caution.

"Then it's unanimous," Angelina announced. "Good work team, I'll see you at practice."