10 September 1993
Harry and Hermione approached the headmaster a few days later about the idea of finding people to donate memories of Harry's parents. The headmaster nodded his head in approval and said he would arrange a close friend of his parents to meet with Harry. Unfortunately, his parents close friend may not be able to provide any memories but the headmaster promised to compile something from the staff. Dumbledores eyes twinkled as he abruptly changed the subject and asked Hermione if she would be trying out for the team.
With the encouragement of her friends she signed up to try out for a chaser position, knowing that Gryffindor already had 3 amazing chasers. Hermione didn't think she would making a starting position but hoped to be on the reserve team. Unfortunately, Hermione did not have her own broom. Sure, there were plenty of extras that former players left behind for the team but they were all out of date and not well maintenanced. There was even a supposedly cursed Oakshaft79 left by the crazed Sirius Black who played beater when he was in school.
"Here, you can use mine and when you get on the team, I'll help you pick a broom." Harry offered up his beloved Nimbus 200 that no one else touched. While Harry was an incredibly generous boy, Ron convinced Harry that it was very bad luck to let anyone but his best mate to touch your broom. Unfortunately, after that Harry refused to let Ron ride his broom. With a reassuring smile he forced the broom into Hermione's hand.
"What about you?" Hermione sputtered as she held the nicest broom she'd ever seen in her hand.
"Oliver has seeker tryouts last and there's only 2 blokes trying out." Harry shrugged sheepishly.
"Are you sure?" Hermione asked hesitantly.
"Well, I know it's not a chasers broom but it's pretty fast and I've seen what you can do on a keepers broom." Harry grinned. Hermione threw her arms around Harry's neck, smiling.
"Thank you! I was so scared I would have to use the Oakshaft!" Hermione giggled.
"Alright, chasers! Line up over here, we're going to have a little race to warm you up." Oliver yelled from above them. Harry scoffed and pushed her forward.
"Another Weasley?" Katie Bell, a brunette 4th year, smirked. "Good luck!"
"Thanks!" Hermione flashed a grateful smile as they kicked off together. While the Nimbus was definitely the fastest broom on the field, it was not the smoothest when changing directions or even turning a corner. Hermione tried to use what she knew of the broom to her advantage by flying in a downward angle towards the ground, instead of along the sky with the other hopefuls. As most of the girls made smooth turns in sync with each other, Hermione used the momentum of her dive to push off the ground and flip herself backwards. Flying upside down for a moment she was a blur in the sky until she could turn the broom and slowly bring herself right side up. The speed of Harry's Nimbus brought her in second, right behind Alicia Spinnet who had been on the team for 2 years.
"That was interesting..." Oliver eyed the smallest Weasley speculatively. "You would make a fair seeker."
"Err, well...it's just the broom. I knew I couldn't make the turn at such a speed." Hermione shrugged sheepishly. Katie's smile encouraged her while Angelina Johnson eyed her critically.
"Alright, I'll split you up into groups of 3 and see how you work together." Wood shouted as he roughly pushed them together. Oliver Wood was thorough as he weeded out the chasers, what started out as a group of 15 soon became only 6. In the beginning of tryouts, he had no intention of messing with his starting line of chasers but the youngest Weasley made him rethink his course. She made a resounding 18 out of 20 goals on the reserve keeper, as well as knocked one of her fellow chasers out of the way from a bludger.
"Oi! Ollie! C'mere!" Angelina Johnson called Oliver over. After a short whispered conversation, Angelina nodded firmly.
"Alright, I've made my decision. Katie, Alicia, and Hermione will be our new starting chasers! Angelina and Malcom will be on the reserves! Thank you for coming out!" Oliver shouted. Fred and George immediately lifted their sister in celebration, cockily telling the other girls that they taught her everything she knows. Ron clapped his twin on the back and loudly exclaimed he would be joining them next year. Harry pulled her into a hug Hermione.
"Told you so!" Harry grinned happily.
"Thanks for letting me use your broom!" Hermione cried happily. She saw Angelina standing on the outside of the group, watching her. "Excuse me."
"Hi!" Angelina said with a friendly smile. "Congratulations!"
"Thanks! I really didn't think I would making the starting team...I definitely thought you were better." Hermione said nervously.
"Nah, that was just me broom. You better get a different broom before the first game. I told Ollie I wanted more time for me studies, OWL year and all that." Angelina shrugged. "Best not make me regret it, yeah? Ollie will be round the twist if he loses the bleeding cup this year."
"Harry promised he would help me pick out a new broom. I'll do my best." Hermione grinned sheepishly.
"Harry, eh? Noticed he let you use his broom." Angelina grinned wolfishly down at the girl.
"Ah, well...he didn't want me to have to use the cursed Oakshaft." Hermione blushed.
"Sure, whateva you say. I tried out using that broom, wicked fast for being an older model." Angelina nudged the younger girl. "Just don't drop the quaffle, yeah?"