In this story, consider Ollivander's to date back to 832 A.D. rather than 382 B.C. Ollivander's is still the oldest still running wand shop but not the original Wandmaker.
One of the effects of the Triwizard Tournament being canceled was that there would be a 1994-1995 Quidditch season at Hogwarts after all.
On the evening of Thursday, September 15th, 1994, Harry was sitting with Colin, Dennis, Hermione, Ginny, Luna, Susan, and Lily having just finished an excellent dinner of a grilled chicken breast, mashed potatoes, corn, and a biscuit with Sprite to wash it down with when Alicia Spinnet approached the table.
"Harry, " said Alicia in a soft and kindly voice, "I've been made Gryffindor Quidditch Captain."
"You are talented and accomplished, Alicia Spinnet, " said Lily warmly.
"Congratulations, Alicia, " said Harry happily, "When is our first practice session?"
"I'm holding Keeper tryouts tonight and I'd like to have the whole team there, " said Alicia cheerfully, "Fred, George, Angelina, and Katie are already on the James Potter Quidditch Pitch. Would you kindly go join them?"
"Yes, Alicia, I mean, yes captain! " grinned Harry.
"Good boy, " smiled Alicia, "Just follow me. You don't need you broom tonight. I just want the rest of the team there to introduce the new Keeper to the team when he or she wins the tryout."
"That makes sense," said Harry simply.
Harry followed Alicia and saw Fred, George, Angelina, and Katie lined up in a row on the perimeter of the pitch while four people carrying broomsticks were on the pitch. There was also a Quaffle Shooting Machine in the center circle.
"Harry, " instructed Alicia, "Please stand on the perimeter to Fred's left."
"Yes, captain, " said Harry brightly and he went to stand on Fred's left.
Alicia walked out onto the pitch and addressed her hopefuls.
"Okay, " Alicia, trying to sound both friendly and serious at the same nanosecond, "So, I'm going to hold these trials in a manner consistent with my strongly held core value of fairness. Each Keeper hopeful will take a turn guarding the hoops while my Quaffle Shooting Machine aims ten Quaffles at him or her. Whoever saves the most Quaffles without letting them go through hoops shall be the winner of the trial and the new Gryffindor Keeper. In the event of a tie, a tiebreaker between the tied parties shall be held consisting of a round of ten more Quaffles."
None of Harry's friends or classmates from Gryffindor were amongst the Keeper hopefuls and this didn't surprise Harry in the slightest.
Of course, there were those like Neville and Hermione who were terrified of anything to do with flying.
But a major reason for the sparse number of Keeper hopefuls was simply the fact that Keeper was the least popular position to play in Quidditch.
From the perspective of most people who were interested in Quidditch, Keeper was less fun to play than Chaser and less glamourous to play than Seeker. Additionally, many boys and men considered playing Keeper to be less manly than playing Beater.
And then there were those who had prioritized other activities such as Charms Club.
One such example of this was Ginny, who loved Quidditch but was going to try out for Hogwarts choir. As one of the assignments of being in Hogwarts choir was to perform at the school's Quidditch matches, being a Quidditch player and a choir member were mutually exclusive pursuits.
Ginny had told her entire circle of family and friends that in addition to really wanting to be in the choir, she also preferred not to play Quidditch for Gryffindor because three of her brothers had already done so and she would rather pursue a path that made her more unique in her family, especially since none of her brothers could sing very well.
In fact, choir trials were to be held the very next night.
For now, Harry looked over and watched the hopefuls curiously.
The first person to try out for Keeper was an overweight black haired black eyed seventh year boy named Brian Block.
"Okay, Brian, " instructed Alicia calmly, "Please station yourself at the south hoops. "
Brian went and stood in front of the south hoops while Alicia went to the center circle and pulled the trigger on the Quaffle Shooting Machine.
Brian's hand eye coordination was alright, but Alicia saw right away that Brian was not destined to be her team's Keeper.
Watching from the sidelines, Harry, Fred, George, Angelina, and Katie could observe this clearly for themselves.
Brian ended up only saving two out of ten goals. His vision, hands, and understanding of how to play the position were decent, but he simply just couldn't move very well, often leading to tardiness that allowed goals.
For a fleeting moment, Harry wondered wildly if Brian Block was really Dudley in disguise.
"I'm sorry, Brian, " said Alicia gently, "But I think it is highly unlikely that your total stands up."
"You gave me a fair chance to try out, that's all I can ask for, " said Brian sadly but graciously, "You've set up the trial the right way. Your job as captain is to pick the best team for Gryffindor and your method is the best way of determining who the best Keeper candidate is."
"You might have done better if you weren't so fat that your bathtub has stretch marks," said Angelina scornfully.
"Angelina!" said Alicia sharply, "Don't insult people like that. How would you like it if you had a weight problem and people mocked you about it and make a spectacle of you?"
That shut Angelina up.
The next competitor was a tall but skinny second year boy named Gerald Guard who had brown hair and green eyes.
Alicia retrieved the ten Quaffles and went to reload the Quaffle Shooting Machine.
"Gerald, " called out Angelina, "Position yourself where Brian just did, and I'll give you your tryout."
Alicia fired the Quaffle Shooting Machine at Gerald and found that he had better luck.
Gerald was nimbler than Brian but had a tendency to drift too far right or too far left. He did save five of the ten Quaffles, but his lack of concentration was a trait Alicia found concerning.
"Gerald, " assessed Alicia, "I would be surprised if your score holds up. but if it does, you need to work on your concentration. Your form is good at your best but not being focused is as bad in Quidditch as it is in Charms. "
"Alicia, " said Gerald sincerely, "Thank you for pointing my flaw out to me. Even if my score doesn't stand, and I admit it's most likely it won't, I'm going to work on my weakness to try to become a better player so that I might have a better chance if a position becomes open again."
"I respect that, " said Alicia approvingly, "Open to fair criticism and determined to get better. Your attitude may well land you a spot on the team in the future."
"You have to respect Gerald's humility, " said Harry respectfully, "How many people in Gerald's position would just blame the trial not going their way on luck?' Humility can get you a long way in life."
'Truer words have never been spoken, " agreed Alicia as she went to reload the Quaffle Shooting Machine for the third potential Keeper, a tall black girl named Paula Prevent who was in fifth year.
"Paula, your turn," called Alicia, pointing at the south hoops.
Once Paula was in position, Alicia fired the Quaffle Shooting Machine.
Paula was easily the best so far.
She had catlike vision and quick reflexes and her serious looking eyes showed an intense focus, the exact focus that Gerald had lacked.
Paula saved an impressive nine out of ten Quaffles, which had included a couple of spectacular saves.
On her first save, she'd managed to knock the Quaffle out of the way just in the nick of time with only a deflection by her left pinkie.
Paula also had long arms, which helped. On her very last save, the Quaffle came in further to the right than she had anticipated but she kept it out of the hoop by stretching out her right arm as far right as it would go without leaving her position to make the save.
"THAT'S OUR NEW KEEPER!" yelled Harry from the sideline in a very eager and excited voice.
"Not yet, Harry, " said Alicia, "She was splendid, no doubt about it, but we still have to let the last person take her turn."
"It's a formality," said Harry confidently, "She isn't beating Paula, plain and simple."
The very last contestant in the Gryffindor Keeper tryouts was a short and petit first year brunette girl with hazel eyes named Ronda Reject.
Alicia prepared the Quaffle Shooting Machine once more and said, "Ronda, to the south hoops."
As soon as Ronda was ready, Alicia fired off the Quaffle Shooting Machine one last time.
Ronda had some skill in terms of attention and anticipation, but her build didn't do her any favors.
Ronda saved six of ten goals, but three of the four she missed, she simply missed because there wasn't enough of her. Keepers needed to be bigger and taller, albeit not overweight.
"So," declared Alicia happily, "The winner of the Gryffindor Keeper Trials is Paula Prevent, who saved nine out of ten Quaffles."
At that, Brian and Ronda left the pitch without uttering a syllable while Harry, Fred, George, Angelina, and Katie, to Alicia's delight were enthusiastically applauding their new teammate.
Gerald, meanwhile, approached Paula.
"Paula?" said Gerald.
"Yes, Gerald, " replied Paula.
"I just wanted to congratulate you on becoming the new Gryffindor Keeper. You were sensational out there today and you deserved to win this trial. Congratulations, Paula!"
"Thanks, Gerald, " smiled Paula, "Though, I've got a lot to live up to, following Oliver Wood and all."
""Paula, " said Alicia encouragingly, "Don't try to follow Oliver Wood, just be Paula Prevent and that's good enough."
Paula smiled at Alicia.
"Gerald, " asked Alicia, "Could you please leave now so that I can introduce Paula to the rest of her teammates?"
"Yes," said Gerald briskly, "Good luck Paula!"
Gerald left and Alicia went over and introduced Paula to her teammates.
"Harry Potter, Fred Weasley, George Weasley, Angelina Johnson, and Katie Bell," said Alicia to Paula as she pointed them out one by one.
"It's nice to meet you all and I'm looking to winning a Quidditch Cup with this team," said Paula with anticipation in her voice.
Paula exchanged handshakes with all of her teammates, who explained what positions they played and how long they'd been on the team.
"Paula's in my year, " explained Katie, "But is mostly a loner."
"I don't mind the company of other people, " clarified Paula, "Being a loner is more just the way my life has naturally gone, which I don't mind. I can be happy as a people person or as a loner. I'm a bit of a fish out of water here though. I'm only at Hogwarts because there are no magical schools in my homeland of Florida."
"We're happy to have you on our team because we knew you're going to help us win a Quidditch Cup, " Harry told Paula.
"Exactly, " agreed Alicia, "You all may go now. My plan as of now is for our next practice to be Monday night."
Harry, Fred, George, Angelina, Katie, Paula, and Alicia herself left the pitch and went their separate ways for the night but they all felt good about Paula being the new Gryffindor Keeper.
A shout out to the following members who have added A Different Path to their favorites and/or follows lists since the update.
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As this is like to be the last update to A Different Path before Thanksgiving, I'd like to take this moment to wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving. Much love from Arizona for all the support. Love you all -Michael.