Chapter 278 - Confundus Charm (2/2)

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On the Quidditch field, half of Gryffindor House seemed to have turned up, from first-years who were nervously clutching a selection of the dreadful old school brooms, to seventh years who towered over the rest, looking coolly intimidating. The latter included a large, wiry-haired boy Chris recognized immediately from the Hogwarts Express. He winked at Chris and approached Harry. Chris hurriedly walked to the opposite side, away from him.

Harry decided to start with a basic test, asking all applicants for the team to divide into groups of ten and fly once around the pitch, which was a smart decision: The first ten was made up of first years and it could not have been plainer that they had hardly ever flown before. Only one boy managed to remain airborne for more than a few seconds, and he was so surprised he promptly crashed into one of the goalposts.

The second group was comprised of ten of the silliest girls Chris had ever encountered, who, when Harry blew his whistle, merely fell about giggling and clutching one another. Romilda Vane was amongst them. When Harry told them to leave the pitch, they did so quite cheerfully and went to sit in the stands to heckle everyone else.

The third group had a pileup halfway around the pitch. Most of the fourth group had come without broomsticks. The fifth group were Hufflepuffs.

”If there's anyone else here who's not from Gryffindor,” roared Harry, looking seriously annoyed, ”leave now, please!”

There was a pause, then a couple of little Ravenclaw girls went sprinting off the pitch, snorting with laughter.

With a sigh, Harry called the last group and then they finally started Beaters trials. Colin again made it to the team and so did Ritchie Coote, a third-year boy who looked weedy but aimed well.

Then Chasers tryouts started, as planned Chris started well but slowly started to miss goals intentionally, people laughed (especially the girls group of Romilda Vane) but Chris was happy when she saw Ginny making her twentieth goal.

Harry looked pained when he announced new Chasers: Katie returned to the team after an excellent trial; Ginny, who had outflown all the competition and scored seventeen goals to boot; then a new find called Demelza Robins, who was particularly good at dodging Bludgers.

”What?” Ginny looked shocked. ”But you played better than him. This is impossible.”

”I didn't play better than him, Gin,” said Chris quietly. ”And I think, this is for good. I am too distracted to play Quidditch this year.”

Ginny narrowed her eyes, a knowing glint in her eyes.

”Chris, you did —”

At that moment, Harry called the Chasers for Keepers tryout, so Ginny had to go. Chris slid up to Hermione and Luna who were sitting behind Harry. Both of them gave Chris a questioning look and Chris shrugged muttering, ”later.”

None of the first five applicants saved more than two goals apiece. To Chris' great disappointment, Cormac McLaggen saved four penalties back to back. On the last one, Chris pressed her lips together angrily and looked at him and ”Confundus!” McLaggen shot off in completely the wrong direction to the Quaffle; the crowd laughed and booed and McLaggen returned to the ground grinding his teeth. Chris laughed loudly.

Ron looked ready to pass out as he mounted his Cleansweep Eleven. ”Good luck!” cried a Lavender Brown from the stands. Surprised Chris turned to Hermione, who doesn't look too much surprised.

Ron saved one, two, three, four, five penalties in a row. Delighted, Chris jumped up and cheered for Ron. She desperately wanted McLaggen to fail and Ron was a lot better than him. But seeing Chris cheering for Ron, McLaggen went red with anger and stomped to Harry.

”His sister didn't really try,” said McLaggen menacingly. ”She gave him an easy save.”

”Rubbish,” said Harry coldly. ”That was the one he nearly missed.”

McLaggen took a step nearer Harry, who stood his ground.

”Give me another go.”

”No,” said Harry. ”You've had your go. You saved four. Ron saved five. Ron's Keeper, he won it fair and square. Get out of my way.”

Hermione tensed and Chris jumped up instinctively, as for a moment, it looked like McLaggen was going to punch Harry, but then he contented himself with an ugly grimace and stormed away, growling what sounded like threats to thin air.

”Congratulations and thanks, Harry,” Chris whispered.

Harry smiled at her then turned back to his new team while Chris walked out of the Quidditch field.

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To be continued. . .