Quaffles, Anyone?

Chapter Eight

The Third Chaser

“…the ingredients should be three once - Ouch! Hermione!” said Harry as a quaffle hit his head

“C'mon! You promised you and Ron will help me for the tryouts!” Hermione said happily as she picked the quaffle up. A week has passed since Harry and Ron found out Hermione wanted to be in the Quidditch Team, her reason: She wanted to be closer to her best friends. They were in the common room Wednesday night and Harry was just doing his Potions essay when Hermione wanted to toss the quaffle, which they borrowed from Rapticon Sr., around the room.

“That essay was announced ages ago” Hermione said throwing the quaffle in the air and catching it “You should have done it by then”

“Not now then”

“Are you scared that I might hurt you?”

Harry stayed silent. It was true. Though for a small person, Hermione's throws are abnormally fast and hard. One time in the grounds, Hermione tossed a quaffle to Ron but it was so fast it broke his nose.

“N-No I'm not” said Harry “Pass it”

Hermione passed the quaffle to Harry but Harry ducked before it could even hit him. The quaffle smashed a lamp which made some third years jump.

“You're doing it again!” Hermione said irritably as she cast Reparo on the broken lamp

“I'm sorry!” Harry said picking up the quaffle “I just saw a - er… a Galleon on the floor”

“Really?” Hermione said disdainfully “Or are you afraid I might break your nose?”

“I'm not afraid” Harry said

“Then let's do it again!” Hermione said tossing the quaffle at Harry who caught it but almost stumbled due to the force of the throw.

- - -

The October atmosphere was flying around Hogwarts and Hermione was getting anxious to practice some more. She was bouncing on the balls of her feet in the common room making Harry a bit annoyed but impressed with her great amount of energy. He tried to change the subject by asking her if she had any homework to do but she would say that she has done all of them.

“Please!” Hermione said “I really want to aim high!”

Harry looked into her face and she was looking very energetic

“Get your broom” Harry said finally as Hermione started running up the staircase.

“I don't know how I got into this mess” Harry said as he looked at Ron

“We promised her though” Ron said looking out the window “She'll be disappointed if we said we are not interested”

“It is a wonder why you are not helping” Harry said

“I am helping it's just that she might - you know” Ron said rubbing his nose

“She may have a very deadly throw but we need that type of material in the team” Harry said as Hermione came down with his (technically her) Nimbus on her shoulder

“I'm ready!” Hermione beamed at them

“C'mon Ron, lets get our Quidditch gear” Harry said

“I'll write my will on the way” Ron said dreadfully

- - -

“Ron! Stop running away!” Hermione called after him chasing him around the pitch

“I'm just creating a perimeter!” Ron lied as he rode his Cleansweep and zoomed up in the air and disappeared when he left the pitch

Hermione shrugged and turned to Harry “Here Harry catch!” she tossed the Quaffle at Harry who was riding on his broom. Harry caught the quaffle and told Hermione to fly and stay in front of the ring post in the east side of the pitch. She did that with her Nimbus without any difficulty.

“Okay” Harry said as he passed the Quaffle “I'll try to cast a moving object to block the rings, you try to shoot it through the hoop”

“Why won't Ron keep?” Hermione asked as she held the quaffle

“Er - he tried to create a perimeter right?” Harry said

“Oh” Hermione said “How `bout you?”

“I'm a Seeker” Harry said quickly and fearful

“Are you scared?” teased Hermione “Why are you two so hesitant to catch my throws?”

“Just shoot it Hermione” Harry said trying to change the subject. He flew beside her. Harry then cast magic on benches to float in mid-air, it started circling around the ring post as if it was a real goalie

“At least I'll be safe here” Harry said as he saw Hermione aiming the quaffle

Harry's jaw drop at Hermione's performance, she was brilliant. Fred and George taught Harry that charm to make an object move like a professional Keeper during his second year and Hermione was able to overcome the odds. She was amazing…

“Well?” said Hermione when she shot her fortieth goal thirty minutes later

“Wow” Harry said clapping “How did you get so good?”

Hermione blushed and said “There is a spot near my home. I usually go there to fly since it is secluded from Muggles. I practiced there with my brother's basketball”

“You have a brother?” Harry said as he saw Professor Raptor talking to Hagrid just outside Hagrid's hut from afar

“Er - he's not really my brother. He's a good friend of mine when I was nine. He was like a brother to me”

Before he could stop himself

“D-Did he have a crush on you once?”

“One time” Hermione said “But he thought I was someone else” she looked at Harry “Why'd you ask?”

“Nothing. By the way, I thought you wouldn't use my broom due to muggles?”

“I Lied” Hermione smiled mischievously

Harry picked up the quaffle from the ground and flew back to Hermione “Here, have one last goal and we're out”

Hermione nodded and tried to aim the ring. She tossed the quaffle in a very hard way but instead of the quaffle shooting through the hoop it hit the post beneath the hoop making the quaffle deflect back at Hermione. It was going to ram her.

“Hermione!” Harry said as he pushed her away from the quaffle's range

But as he pushed her the quaffle rammed straight into his nose making him fall twelve feet down the grassy soil

“Harry! Harry!” Hermione screamed as Harry sat up and started holding his broken nose which was bleeding. He looked up and saw Hermione's guilty face

“I'm sorry Harry!” Hermione said “I was just -”

“It's okay Hermione” Harry said wiping his watering eyes with his sleeve “I just need to go to Madam Pomfrey”

Hermione just got down and knelt beside him getting a handkerchief and trying to wipe his bloody cheek

“No Hermione, I don't need-”

“Harry, Madam Pomfrey is far away from you. The broken bones can wait but the blood must go” Hermione said trying to hold Harry still

“Hermione! I think a professional Healer can do this”

“But I just want to wipe it!” Hermione said trying to wipe the blood which was in Harry's lip

“Fine!” Harry said staying still allowing Hermione to wipe his nose. Harry could hear Hermione mutter “I had to hit my friend” and “I wish he's not angry” and the like. Harry just stood still looking at Hermione's face. He realized that she had bluish eyes

“You have blue eyes”

“Oh, I was trying some colored lenses”

“Do you wear glasses?”

“No, they are just for design, the lenses I mean”

Hermione was wiping his nose already which she did very carefully trying not to hurt him

“I love your eyes” Hermione said smiling

“Really?” Harry said smiling back

“Yeah. To tell you the truth, I realized that you have green eyes” Hermione said

“One question” Harry asked

“Fire away” Hermione said as she wiped his cheeks

“How did you receive your letter?”

“Letter?”

“From Hogwarts”

“Oh that” Hermione said “It was kind of weird though”

“I won't mind” Harry said

“Well” Hermione said wiping his forehead even though he had no blood there. Harry had the impression that Hermione wanted to do what she's doing “It was nearly the end of July and I was just reading my -”

“Ahem!” Ron coughed who returned from running away from Hermione

Harry and Hermione looked at Ron and saw him smirking. Harry wondered why and realized he and Hermione were very close. Hermione cocked her head backwards looking a bit red in the cheeks.

“I realized that you two didn't come back to the common room. And here I find you trying to -”

“Shut up Ron! I was only helping Harry” Hermione said standing up

“Is that so” Ron said nodding and looking as if he wasn't convinced with Hermione's explanation.

- - -

Determined to make Hermione beat all the other hopefuls in the Chaser tryouts which is in two weeks time, Harry and Ron gave Hermione training sessions every Wednesday night

“I see” she said frowning at the schedules that were written in parchment “I hope it doesn't interrupt my homework”

It didn't. Harry and Ron were amazed by her abilities as a Chaser, they invited Ginny and Katie to check out Hermione. It started during Friday when Harry and Ron asked Katie and Ginny to check the pitch with them later that night.

“What are you going to show us?” asked Katie when they entered the pitch

“Just wait and see” said Harry excitedly. When they stopped at the middle, Harry whistled and in came Hermione holding a quaffle in her hand and her broomstick in the other.

“Er - Harry?” Ginny said “What are trying to show us?”

“Say anything you want” said Ron “Just wait till you see her natural talent”

Ginny and Katie were awestruck when they saw Hermione's Chaser ability. She was able to shoot all of her shots with Ron as Keeper.

“How did you get so good Hermione?” said Katie when they were walking up the stone steps to the entrance hall

“It's a long story” Harry and Hermione said at the same time

Ever since Hermione's hidden talent of being Chaser, Harry told Ron, Ginny and Katie to be tight lipped about their chaser. Harry was very confident that she will be the best.

“But what if the other hopefuls think you accepted Hermione since she is your friend?” Ron asked during the last training session Wednesday night

“Since when do people become interested who my friends are?” Harry said as Hermione zoomed above them and was able to make her twelfth goal

“Well” said Ginny who joined them “don't take it the wrong way Harry but the Gryffindors who are not in your inner circle thinks that Hermione is your girlfriend”

Harry snorted

“Who says this rubbish?”

“The Colin twins” said Katie looking at Hermione who landed a few meters away

“They kept on saying to their friends that you and Hermione kept on holding hands every time you go to classes and would snog at the broom cupboards on weekends” Ginny said making Katie and Ron laugh

Harry's face grew red. Where did they get this rubbish?

“I think they started saying it ever since that Skeeter woman wrote about you two, two terms ago” said Ron looking at Harry's face “don't worry, mate. They probably said this since they can't get anything out of you and if they want to impress their posse, they said some out-of-this-world info about you”

“But I don't -”

“We know Harry” said Ginny “You know who you are and we know that you are not like that”

“But is it true you two would make-out inside broom cupboards?” Ron asked awkwardly “Because I thought I heard noises the other day -”

“Ron I don't do that!” said Harry looking irritated and was already turning red as a tomato “and don't you ever say a word to Hermione about this”

“Why not?” Ginny said teasingly “Don't want Hermione to hear your secrets been blown?”

“Don't say a -”

“Say what?” Hermione said as she looked at all of them. Harry just stood there blushing so much Ron, Ginny and Katie were trying to hold their laughing till they reached the entrance hall.

- - -

Harry would shoot glares at the Colin twins when they would beam at him. He would feel no remorse when they would look disappointed at his glares ever since they've been spreading fake news about him and Hermione.

“Why don't you tell the truth?” said Ron as they made their way to Defense Against the Dark Arts

“They probably won't believe me after what Rita Skeeter wrote about me” Harry said as they entered the classroom. Rapticon Sr. was sitting behind his desk and his face was covered because he was reading a green book with a picture of a hippogriff that had two people riding on it, Harry noticed that the hippogriff was flying in front of a tall lit window and a shadow of a man with long hair could be seen behind the window. Harry could catch the word “Azkaban” in the cover. When everyone settled, Professor Raptor closed the book and said to it

“I wish I had a time-turner” he muttered loudly and began the class with out hesitation

With the Chaser Tryouts coming this Friday, Hermione's determination turned into nervousness and dread. She kept on saying if something might happen to her during the actual tryouts over dinner, two nights before the tryouts.

To add to Hermione's dread, Harry got something bad from Potions. Something so bad he just earned -

“Detention, Potter” Snape said during Potions class “For making a fool of yourself”

“But I didn't do it -”

“We don't want to have any pin-pointing do we, Mr. Potter?”

“No, sir” Harry said glaring at him

“That was so uncalled for” Hermione said as they left the dungeons for Care of Magical Creatures outside of the castle “He knew very well that it was Goyle not you. And what if your detention hits tryouts?” Hermione added looking at Harry with nervousness

“I hope it doesn't” Harry said as they stopped at Hagrid's Hut

“Come `ere ev'ryone, I got yah an interestin' topic for today. Follow me!” Hagrid said as they marched into the Forbidden Forest

- - -

Harry, Ron and Hermione went down the Grand Staircase Friday night. The night was the night for the tryouts.

“Don't be nervous Hermione, just try to remember what you learned before” Ron said to a nervous Hermione who was breathing very hard and fast

They were on their way to the entrance hall when someone's voice called Harry's name.

“Hey Harry”

The three turned and saw Rapticon Sr. walking up to them “I have to tell you something”

“Can that wait professor?” Harry said “We have tryouts”

“I know that Harry but ever since a Slytherin tipped off Severus about the tryouts he marked your detention on the same time. Fortunately, I came there to settle the matter but Snape said he would still give you detention but I will be watching over you, the bloke”

Harry looked at Ron and Hermione, Ron looked disappointed and Hermione looked as if she was the unluckiest person in the world.

“But without your moral I won't do well” Hermione said to Harry

“Don't worry Hermione” Harry said holding her shoulders “Just aim your goal, both literal and non-literal. Don't flitch and don't be nervous. Just act as if it is a normal exam”

Hermione gulped and nodded

“Thanks Harry” she said and gave him a kiss on the cheek and left with Ron to the pitch

“Follow me Harry” said Rapticon Sr. as they climbed up the marble staircase that had access to the Grand Staircase.

Harry followed Rapticon Sr. to the classroom moments later, they entered it and Harry asked him

“What will I do professor?”

“Absolutely nothing” said Rapticon Sr. sitting on his desk “but unfortunately I have to keep you for one hour so Snivelly down there won't be suspicious”

Feeling great that Rapticon Sr. did to him Harry looked out the window and saw the dark grounds. Wishing he could be at the pitch, Harry sat down at one of the desks and watched Rapticon Sr. reading the same green book the other day.

“What's that book your reading Professor?” Harry asked

“Oh this?” Rapticon Sr. said gesturing the book “Um - it's just a book I borrowed from a friend. It talks about hippogriffs, a time machine with the size of a walnut, a werewolf and an escaped convict” he said looking at the book

“Sounds familiar” Harry said looking at his wristwatch and looked at the sword that was displayed on top of the fireplace since first day. Its reddish glow gave Harry the impression that the sword was alive, he could already make out the engravings on the blade: “Stalingrad”.

An hour has passed and Rapticon Sr. let Harry go giving him a Honeydukes chocolate bar as a reward for keeping him company. Knowing that the tryouts might be over, Harry went to the common room to join the others.

When Harry entered the common room, he was greeted by Ginny who looked sad.

“What's wrong Ginny?” Harry asked dreadfully

“Nothing” she said as she sat on a squashy armchair. The common room was suspiciously empty

“Where are Ron and Hermione?” Harry said sitting on the couch

“I don't know” she replied

“What do you mean you don't know -?”

Harry stopped talking when someone from behind covered his eyes. The person who did this said

“Guess who?” said a high voice which Harry knew belonged to Hermione

“Who is it?” Harry played along

“Gryffindor's new Chaser”

Harry stood up in haste and looked at Hermione who was smiling

“Is it true?” Harry said

Hermione nodded

“Ginny?”

Ginny was smiling at Harry. Ron came out from behind the chair Ginny's sitting at looking happy

“She was the best from all twenty-six candidates” Ron said

“That's brilliant!” Harry said who gave Hermione back breaking hug

“Harry, you're squeezing me” Hermione squeaked from Harry's chest

“Sorry” Harry said releasing her

“Looks like we're complete now” Ron said clapping Harry's shoulder “We have three Chasers, two Beaters, a Keeper and a Seeker”

“Good” Harry said joyfully “And the Quidditch Season is still two weeks away. We can practice till then”

“I can't wait!” Ginny said jumping up and down

“By the way,” Harry said looking at Hermione “What happened during the tryouts?”

“Sit down and I'll tell you everything” Hermione said beaming at him.

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