Chapter 48 -
After the tryouts Harry was sitting at the Gryffindor table for lunch with the other members. Katie was sat on Harry's right with Ginny on his left, and Demelza on her left, Bruce was sat opposite Harry and in-between the two new beaters of the team, the new beaters were two fourth year twins called Chris and Adam Silver, both had brown hair and freckles. Harry was tempted to mention the recurring theme of Gryffindor having twins for beaters but decided not to. Everyone else on the table had sat away from them, almost like they could sense that this was between the the team. And those who tried to eavesdrop found that they couldn't due to Harry's privacy charms.
"Alright guys," Harry spoke, the team were eating and discussing who would be on their reserve team. "we have all settled on who we want for back up beaters and chasers, we have the problem of there not being anybody who can be a back up seeker."
"Oh I can," Ginny offered. "my brother Charlie used to play seeker for Gryffindor, he taught me a few things."
"Are you any good?" Katie asked.
"Well...not as good in the position as Harry," Ginny admitted, knowing that Harry was a natural seeker and it was pretty much a given that he would always count the snitch unless something really bad happens, even then it was still very possible. "but I'm alright in the position."
"Well that's our bet bet unless anyone else wants to try it?" Harry asked.
"I don't know how good I would be as a seeker," Bruce said. "I've never tried that position before."
"Hmm, how about we wait until we've got all of the reserve team then ask everyone about it then?" Demelza suggested.
"Agreed," Harry nodded. "now on to the hard question, who is going to be our reserve keeper?" Harry asked.
"Quick question," Chris spoke up. "I was just wondering why you're asking us about this, I mean you're the Captain, shouldn't this just be your decision?" When he finished speaking Katie, Harry and Ginny all looked towards Adam.
"What?" Adam asked, wondering if he had something on his face.
"Sorry," Katie said apologetically. "the last set of twins we knew had a habit of finishing each other's sentences. Now when we see twins together we just kind of expect it."
"Well we don't do that." Chris replied.
"Not yet at least." Adam added with a small grin.
"And it's started," Harry sighed. "anyway to answer your question, it's simply because this is the important kind of decision that affects the team as well. I won't ask you guys for your opinions on every little thing but important things like this are something that I should talk with you all about. Now back to the important question, who are we choosing between McLaggen..."
"The arse." Katie commented.
"...and Ron." Harry finished.
"The idiot." Ginny commented.
"Indeed," Harry nodded. "the problem with them both is that while they are fair keepers, they're not really good team material. Cormac is as Katie had said earlier, an arse, I reckon if he joins the team then one of us will end up killing him or sending him straight to the medical wing."
"More than likely." The twins said at the same time.
"Oh god." Ginny shuddered.
"Continuing on," Harry said. "our other option is Ron. Ginny, he's your brother, what's your opinion on him joining the team?"
"Well...this stays between us all, right?" She asked, after hearing everyone agree she began speaking. "Ron is a good keeper, but like Harry said, he's not really team material. When we played at home he could get distracted by the twins and frustrated and end up missing more than he could catch."
"If he can't handle the twins then I doubt he'd be able to handle actual crowds." Katie frowned.
"Yeah," Harry agreed. "I know that if Malfoy and his lot discover that Ron's on the the team then they're going to go out of their way to bother him, Ron's a bit of an easy target."
"You mean he can't fight back?" Bruce asked.
"Not quite," Ginny said. "he just wears his emotions on his sleeve. The Slytherin's will easily be able to bother him, if he gets nervous then they could make it worse to the point where he's all but having panic attacks."
"Plus fighting back is another problem of his," Harry commented. "he has no control over his temper. A few comments and he'll start swinging then end up in a detention before a match."
"True," Ginny agreed. "he was always easy to anger."
"So we're stuck in-between a rock and a hard place?" Bruce asked.
"Pretty much," Harry nodded. "I mean unless we have anyone else who can be a reserve keeper?"
"How about me?" Katie suggested. "I've seen Oliver play enough times and I'm not half bad in the position."
"Hmm," Harry looked at her with a thoughtful look. "what we'll do is test you out first thing tomorrow and see how good you are, then we can decide and post the reserve list on the notice board."
"So we have to come with you guys tomorrow?" Adam asked.
"No, unless you want to try out for reserve keeper or known somebody who does." Harry replied. "It'll just be me and the chasers, Bruce can come if he wants."
"I'll be there," Bruce replied. "I could use some more practice." He added in the form of an explanation. The twins exchanged looks before nodding.
"We'll be there." They said at the same time.
"Thank god they're not redheads." Katie shivered.
"Yep," Harry nodded in agreement before cancelling his privacy spell. "that's enough quidditch for the day, let's just sit and eat."
"Agreed." Demelza said before happily continuing to eat. The team sat together, eating and talking, when five minutes later Professor McGonagall walked up to them.
"Mr Potter," She said in a slightly cold voice, she had not really been happy with him since his fourth year but tried to maintain her professionalism. "I apologies for interrupting your dinner but I need to talk to you about the quidditch team."
"Oh?" Harry raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, please meet me in my office after you have finished eating." She said before walking off.
"What's that about?" Ginny asked.
"My guess is someone has something to say," Harry said as he gestured with his head to a smug looking McLaggen, the team looked past him and saw a smirking Ron Weasley who was sat next to a nervous looking Hermione Granger.
"Alright that's it, I am definitely getting the reserve spot just so those two prats don't." Katie vowed.
"Enter," Professor McGonagall said, Harry Potter entered like she had expected but he was also accompanied by six other students, specifically the other members of the quidditch team. "Mr Potter," She frowned. "I believe I had simply asked for you."
"Yes, you did," Harry nodded. "but you wanted to ask about the team and the rest of the team wanted to come too." He shrugged in a 'what can you do about it?' sort of way.
"Very well," McGonagall said through thin lips. "I wanted to let you know that I have had complaints about your selection process."
"Let me guess, Ron Weasley and Cormac McLaggen?" Katie asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes," McGonagall nodded, feeling like she had missed something. "they have both said that Mr Potter has shown biasedness during the selection." Harry snorted at that, so did all the others, all unintentionally doing at the same time, they looked at each other with a little bit of surprise at the unintentional synchronized act. "I...sense that you all disagree with that."
"Yes." The team except Harry said at the same time.
"What they said." Harry added as he gestured to the team.
"First of all Harry was not biased at all to Cormac," Katie said. "Harry had even given him another shot when Granger messed up his try out."
"What do you mean" McGonagall frowned.
"During Cormac's try out his broom had suddenly shifted to the side and looked like it was done against Cormac's will," Harry began explaining. "which was odd since he was flying fairly decently before. Now after my first year I have little tolerance for sabotaging another person's broom," Harry said, McGonagall nodded at that, remembering how Quirrell had tried to kill Harry on his broom. "I looked around and saw Granger pocketing her wand. I flew down to her and asked her what she was doing and if she had cast a spell, she denied that she did but three nearby students had told me that she had. I told Granger to leave and that I would tell you about this later, which I am doing now, then I flew to McLaggen and informed him that I was giving him another shot since Granger had messed up his previous one."
"It's true Professor," Demelza said. "we all saw it and Harry had told us the same when we gave Cormac the shot."
"I see," McGonagall sad, not looking very happy. "and what of Mr Weasley? He claimed that you have chosen Mr Bale over him because you are biased against him."
"I don't like Ron, I admit that," Harry replied. "but I did not in anyway interfere with his tryout nor did I show any biasedness."
"It's true Professor," Ginny nodded. "Harry didn't say anything to Ron until the end when Ron demanded to know why Harry chose Bruce over him."
"And why was that?" Professor McGonagall raised an eyebrow at Harry.
"Simple," Harry responded. "Ron, Cormac and Bruce had all saved nine goals each. Ron and Cormac had the advantage of being older plus Cormac had a better broom yet Bruce was able to keep up with them, plus Cormac only has one year left in school and Ron has this year plus next year. Bruce on the other hand is the youngest and that means he can have more years of training and working with the team, I promise you that Bruce earned his spot. Also I have to think about the team."
"What is that supposed to mean?" McGonagall asked.
"Cormac and Ron are not exactly...team material." Harry replied.
"Explain." McGonagall said.
"Well Cormac has had various complaints made about him from the female members of the Hogwarts population," Harry began, McGonagall lips thinned but she had to admit that was true as most of those complaints were brought to her. "which wouldn't be a good thing seeing as the team has at least three girls. Plus he is the sort of person who has to be in charge and generally wouldn't get on well with the rest of the team. As for Ron, Ginny do you want to take this one?"
"I trust that this won't get back to my brother," Ginny said to McGonagall, after receiving confirmation she continued speaking. "well Ron's an alright keeper but we doubt if he can really handle the pressure from the crowd, plus he's very emotional and gets angry easily." She said, McGonagall found herself once again conceding the point. "How long do you think it'll be before he loses control and starts throwing punches or gets too nervous to play? Besides, I don't know what the two are complaining about, Harry never told them that they weren't going to make the team."
"What do you mean?" McGonagall asked.
"I told them that it was very possible for them to make the reserve team," Harry explained. "Katie said she's willing to try out for reserve keeper, after we all see how good she is we'll decide on who our reserve keeper is."
"Hmm, very well," McGonagall said, looking very unhappy, it was clear that McLaggen and Ron were going to find themselves called into their office at some point. "you may leave."
"Thanks Professor," Harry said as they all left the room, though once they were out Harry leaned his head back in. "hey quick question, did you ever think that perhaps Weasley had Granger cast that spell to help him out on his tryout? Just something to think about." Harry smiled before leaving.
"That was evil Harry," Katie commented once they were out. "nice." She added and raised her hand for a high five which Harry happily gave.
"Yes my lord," Snape nodded as he sat on his knees in front of Voldemort, Apophis was stood next to Voldemort. "Dumbledore's hand is getting worse and worse. The curse that you had placed on the ring will kill him sometime around the end of the year." He said, during the summer before the school year Dumbledore had gone to the Gaunt shack to retrieve an important item, he of course did not tell Severus what that item was. But did return sometime later with a cursed ring on his finger.
"Hmm," Voldemort frowned thoughtfully. "do you know where he has placed the ring?" He asked Snape.
"Unfortunately not," Snape shook his head. "he has not told me."
"Perhaps Dumbledore has finally gained a brain cell and realized that you shouldn't be trusted," Apophis commented. "even Potter's dead muggle relatives could tell him that. How do we know that Dumbledore isn't just playing him?" Apophis asked Voldemort.
"Perhaps, but perhaps not," Voldemort said, more to himself. "Dumbledore trusts Snape, that story of him being in love with Potter's mudblood mother was enough to convince him, of that I'm sure."
"He is a fool," Apophis conceded. "if Dumbledore perishes in a year then what of the Malfoy brat?"
"If Dumbledore dies due to my curse then Malfoy would have failed, though with Dumbledore being dead I might be happy enough to let him keep his life."
"After lots of torture."
"After lots of torture," Voldemort nodded. "Snape, what is Dumbledore doing now?"
"I don't know," Snape answered honestly. "he keeps to himself mostly and occasionally has meetings with Potter."
"And?" Apophis asked in an interested voice.
"He does not tell me what happens in those meetings," Snape admitted. "and I am unable to get close enough to Potter to find out."
"Why not?" Voldemort asked in his 'there had better be a good answer unless you want me to remove your head' voice.
"Potter...has refused to attend my lessons," Snape reluctantly answered, Merlin how he hated that brat. "apparently he did not trust me enough to be in a room where I am in charge of spells."
"And?" Voldemort asked, knowing that there was more.
"He also...mentioned that he did not trust the learnings of such an important subject to me," Snape said, trying not to growl. "he has his godfather and order members, to train him. Dumbledore has warned me not to approach or antagonize him, as he doesn't want Black or the other order members to have more reasons not to trust me." Snape admitted, knowing he would not be able to hide the truth from the dark lord. Yes Snape was an expert in the mind arts but Voldemort was also an expert and had years more experience, despite what people believed it would be incredibly hard to keep a full attack out, he could barely keep the passive ones out. Thankfully he had never given Voldemort a reason to look deep into his mind.
"So...once again..." Voldemort's body stiffened as he stopped twirling his wand and held it in his tight fist. "...our operation suffers due to your inability to...'play nice'."
"Or in other words because this stupid half-blood is an idiot!" Apophis hissed.
"Indeed," Voldemort agreed. "You may have the first five minutes, I'll take then next five."
"I don't have a problem with that." Apophis replied before pointing his wand at Snape. "Crucio!"
Harry was currently in Dumbledore's office, it was Harry's second lesson and it had started much like the previous one where Harry was shown a memory of Tom Riddle. Through the memory Harry saw Caractacus Burke talking about a locket of Salazar Slytherin's that a pregnant and desperate Merope Gaunt had sold him, Riddle having abandoned her when she stopped giving him love potion, then Harry went into a memory of Dumbledore's to the orphanage that Riddle had grown up in. Harry then learns that Merope had later died in childbirth, and that even at an early age, Riddle had developed his powers, which he used to punish people who annoyed him and had a sadistic, cruel and independent nature, just like the adult Voldemort. Dumbledore also reveals to Harry that Voldemort likes to collect trophies.
"And now it's time for you to be off Harry." Dumbledore said after he had decided to finish the lesson.
"Wait," Harry said instead of leaving. "that's it?" He asked with disbelief.
"Harry?" Dumbledore asked.
"I mean...all you did was just show me a memory."
"Harry it is important to know about you enemy." Dumbledore frowned.
"Yeah, fair enough but that can't be all!" Harry protested. "I'm supposed to fight Death eaters, Apophis, and Voldemort! If I'm attending these lessons then I would at least like to learn some spells or something! Like show me an ancient spell, one that you invented or at the very least give me a spell book that I can't get from somewhere else. I need to learn how to fight, he has years of experience on me and will definitely have a greater knowledge of spells."
"Harry, I feel like you are powerful enough," Dumbledore replied. "after all you are capable of holding your own against Voldemort's heir." Truthfully Dumbledore was a bit worried about Harry getting too powerful, power corrupts after all and he felt like the boy was already far too powerful as it is.
"Fighting off Voldemort's little bastard child is highly different to fighting off a man who is feared by the whole country because of how dangerous he is!" Harry argued.
"Harry, I have limited time and..."
"Then make more time or use it more efficiently!" Harry cut him off. "Let's look at these memories then instead of this guess work that you're so fond of making me do, how about you just tell me what you think, then we can look at memories of your battles with Voldemort so I can gain more knowledge of how he fights, then lets practice spells. That's better than wasting a couple of hours on memories then guessing. Are you really trying to help me or not?!" Harry demanded.
"Of course I am but..."
"Then I need better help than just knowing my enemy, a muggle could know how to the theory of magic but that won't make any difference if they don't have the actual power to cast the spell! I need more than just some memories!" Dumbledore looked unhappy but he could see what Harry was saying, he knew if he didn't want to lose the boy's trust he would have to throw him a bone, though Dumbledore supposed that it would make little difference in the long run.
"Very well," Dumbledore said as he stood up and walked over and picked up a book. "this is a book of spells, I had received it as a gift from a friend a few years back. A few spells can be found in other place and are fairly well known, you may even know a few, others are much harder to find and I estimate will take a lot longer to learn. Take this book and practice until next lesson, I would teach you myself but I don't have time today."
"Thanks." Harry said in a calm voice as he took the book from him. "I'll see you later then."
"Of course." Dumbledore said with a small smile that didn't reach his eyes, he was still not entirely happy with how Harry was acting but knew why the boy was acting that way. As Harry left Dumbledore looked at Fawkes who wasn't showing any negative reactions to the boy, Dumbledore breathed a sigh of relief, Harry was still on the light side.