The Big Match

Minerva McGonagall stared at the document the headmaster had shown her, her eyebrows raised in surprise.

'Albus, are you quite sure this is a good idea?'

'Oh, yes, perfectly sure, Minerva. Why, don't you agree?'

He looked at her and she faltered.

'Well, I...' she paused, took a breath, then continued, 'Albus, the truth is, I really don't know if we ought to do it. I know you want to encourage solidarity between the Houses and so forth, but do you really think that this is the best way to go about it? Don't you think it might... well, make things worse?'

'Certainly not. What could bring the pupils together in one voice more effectively than a Quidditch match against their teachers?'

McGonagall sighed.

'Well, if you really think so, I suppose I should put this notice on the Gryffindor notice board, then.'

'Thank you, Minerva. I knew you'd see my point of view.'

She headed for the door, muttering under her breath about silly, new-fangled ideas.

'What was that, Minerva?' asked Dumbledore.

'Oh, nothing at all, Albus!' she said, forcing a smile.

'Glad to hear it.'

Harry, Ron and Hermione sat in their usual chairs in the Common Room. Harry and Ron were half-heartedly practising their Charms, and Hermione was absorbed in a book so thick that she'd had to ask Fred to lift it onto her lap so that she could read it.

'Harry! Hey, Harry, come look at this!'

Fred beckoned Harry over to the notice board and pointed at the newest item on it.

Students VS Staff Quidditch Match

A team of students will play a team of teachers and other staff on the weekend preceding the next interhouse match.

Teams have not yet been selected, and anyone wishing to try out for the students' team should see Madam Hooch.

The day will also include other activites, games and entertainments. Anyone wishing to become involved with this should see Professor Flitwick.

'Huh, well, that's interesting,' said Harry, 'are you going to go for it?'

'Of course,' said George, 'Fred and I are the best men for the job. How about you, Harry, think you'll give it a try?'

'Harry, you're behind on your homework already,' Hermione said without even looking up from her book.

Immediately, Harry was resolved to try out for the team.

'Yeah, I'll try for it,' he said casually, 'should be a laugh, at least.'

'Nice one,' said Ron, 'now what about this homework, mate?'

'Oh, come on. Somebody must want to do it.'

Rolanda Hooch stared despairingly around the Staffroom, where everyone had taken a sudden and intense interest in their cups of tea, the fire, their marking, anything to avoid looking into the eyes of the Quidditch teacher.

'You know, the Headmaster isn't going to like this...' she said, 'he's very excited about this idea and I can't go to him and tell him that the Staff Quidditch team consists of me, flying around trying to do four things at once!'

Still there was no response. Someone cleared their throat quietly and Rolanda's head whipped around to see who had made the sound, but whoever it was evidently didn't want to be discovered. It was time for some desperate measures...

Rolanda Hooch gulped, and burst into tears.

'I...I just want everything to work out!' she sobbed. 'And nobody wants to help and nobody cares that the Headmaster is expecting me to sort everything out, and, and...'

Minerva McGonagall got up and put an arm around the crying Quidditch teacher and with a flick of her wand, conjured a handkerchief to offer her.

'Come on now, Rolanda, I'm sorry. We didn't realise how important this was to you. I'm sure there are enough people who would like to do it, they just need a bit of encouragement.'

'Will you do it, Minerva?' Rolanda asked, with a sniff.

'Well, I...'

'I'd be so much happier knowing you were on the team... Please will you do it? For me?'

'Well, since it means so much to you, I suppose I could try. But Rolanda, I haven't played for a very long time!'

'I know, it's alright, I'm sure you'll be brilliant. Thank you so much, Minerva! But, oh, that's still only two of us...'

She gazed imploringly at the rest of the staff, tears still glistening in her yellow eyes. She blinked.

'Well, I don't suppose I'd be much good, but I'd be glad to help out,' said Professor Lupin, with a kind smile.

'Oh, Remus, that's wonderful! You were the best Beater Hogwarts had for many a year...'

Professor Snape's head snapped up at that, and he looked from Lupin to Hooch, as if he was unsure who to scowl at first.

'I was a Beater too, Rolanda, if you recall,' he said with studied indifference, 'if there really is nobody else, I suppose I could take part, although it's obviously an inconvenience...'

'Thank you, Severus, I appreciate it,' said Rolanda, 'anyone else?'

'I'd be happy to help,' said Professor Flitwick, 'but you know me, I can't fly for toffee. I'd need a bit of coaching.'

'I'm sure that can be arranged,' said Rolanda, 'Pomona, how about you? I seem to recall you were a pretty good Keeper before you started messing around with plants instead of turning up to practice...'

'Ooh, alright then!' said Professor Sprout, 'I suppose it might be fun, at that.'

'So now we just need one more,' said Rolanda, 'any takers?'

There was silence, but this time she didn't really mind. There would be plenty of time to find the final member of the team tomorrow. She had what she wanted for now. She smirked, no sign now of the tears of the moment before.

It was breakfast time the next day. Harry, Ron and Hermione sat in the Great Hall. Ron was stabbing at his egg as though there was something wrong with it, and Hermione was watching with bemused interest.

'Here comes trouble...' said Harry quietly, and the other two looked up to see Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle approaching on their way out of the Great Hall.

'Morning, Potter,' said Draco with a sneer, 'trying out for the new Quidditch team? I wouldn't bother, if I were you. I've got the Seeker position in the bag...'

Harry glared at him but didn't say anything, since this was merely a variation Malfoy's usual morning greeting. He was, in fact, intending to go and see Madam Hooch about the team after breakfast. He wasn't too worried. Surely she wouldn't choose Malfoy over him?

'He should get a haircut,' remarked Hermione absently as Malfoy walked away.

'Do you think there's a chance of Malfoy getting on the team, Harry?' asked Ron.

'I dunno,' said Harry, not wanting to sound too confident, 'I suppose it depends what Madam Hooch thinks.'

'Why should it matter what Madam Hooch thinks?' asked Hermione.

'Well, she is picking the team, isn't she?' said Harry.

'I shouldn't think so.'

'Well, that's what the poster said!' said Ron.

'No,' said Hermione patiently, 'the poster said that you should go and see Madam Hooch if you want to join the team, not that she would actually choose the team. I mean, I imagine she'll be on the staff team, so it wouldn't be very fair, would it? I expect she's just organising the selection, not actually doing it.'

Harry and Ron stared at Hermione.

'You've got a point,' said Harry, 'I wonder how the teams will be picked, then?'

Hermione shrugged.

'What, no idea at all?' asked Ron, grinning. 'That's not like you...'

'Ronald, I'm not psychic,' Hermione said, 'just very, very knowledgeable. And now you've got egg on your robes - honestly! Come here.'

She proceeded to grab Ron's robes and perform a cleaning charm on them, while he shrugged embarrassedly at Harry. After a moment, Harry got up to go and see Madam Hooch.

Rolanda Hooch sighed. All day, her office had been full of students trying to get into the Quidditch team. A lot of them seemed to have the silly idea that she was actually going to choose who made the team, and as a result she had received rather a lot of... gifts. The first had been a large basket of orchids from Draco Malfoy. The card said it was to thank her for being such a wonderful Quidditch teacher over the years. The orchids were very nice, as were all the other flowers, the chocolates, the brightly-coloured scarves and special Quidditch gloves, tins of broom wax and bristle repair kits. But were the pupils really so stupid that they thought she would take bribes? Or even that she would be choosing the team in the first place...

Still, it wasn't a bad haul, and at least now she had the list of who wanted to try out for the team. All of the members of the House teams had put their names down, as well as quite a few others, some of whom she knew for a fact couldn't even stay on a broom while it hovered three feet above the ground. Why they thought they might be in with a chance was a mystery to her, but it wasn't really her problem. Anyway, it would all be sorted out at the tryouts tomorrow evening.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

All they had been told was that tryouts for the team would take place on the Quidditch pitch that evening, so Harry, the twins and the three Gryffindor Chasers weren't entirely sure what to expect as they walked down through the grounds.

'Isn't Oliver trying out?' Harry asked Angelina as they went.

'Nope,' she said, 'he has some other stuff he's busy with.'

'What other stuff?'

'Never you mind. Just mind you don't forget you're the junior member of this team, my lad.'

Harry rolled his eyes.

When they arrived at the Quidditch pitch, it was full of people wanting to try out. Some of them didn't even have brooms. Once everyone had arrived, Madam Hooch called for silence.

'Welcome to the tryouts for the student team,' she said, 'you will be separated into groups according to which position you are trying for. You will then take part in a number of exercises, during which your performance will be noted by some independent observers. Chasers, over there, please.'

Harry and the other Seekers were sent to a far corner of the pitch. All of the school team Seekers were there, and Malfoy sneered at Harry. Harry glared back out of mere habit - he didn't want to think about Malfoy now. He wanted to concentrate on making the team.

'SEEKERS, START BY TAKING OFF, MAKING A SHARP CHANGE OF DIRECTION AND THEN LANDING AGAIN,' boomed Madam Hooch's magically magnified voice.

But where were these independent observers?

As he took off, they appeared - dozens of birds hovered around them - owls and pigeons and sparrows, some kestrels and a few eagles. Each one had fastened to it a small, glowing stone. Harry guessed that these must be what recorded how well the Seekers did. It was very distracting at first, but soon Harry forgot about the birds, which kept a sensible distance away, and concentrated on the various exercises. He was concentrating so hard that he didn't even pay attention to what the other Seekers did. Finally, Madam Hooch blew her whistle and they all flew back down to the pitch.

'Good flying, everybody,' she said once they had all gathered around, 'the team should be up on your notice boards by this time tomorrow. Good luck, everyone!'

'Oh, look, the Staff Team has been announced!' called Hermione, as Harry and Ron stumbled down the stairs into the Common Room. 'My goodness, there's a few on there I wouldn't have expected...'

Ron peered at the list.

'Hmm... Madam Hooch, well, that was a given...Professor Sprout - didn't she used to play years ago? McGonagall? Isn't she a bit old? And I can't picture Flitwick on a broom...'

Harry smiled. 'Hey, Professor Lupin made the team! And...Professor Snape? I didn't know he played. And....and...surely not?'

Ron looked over his shoulder. 'Blimey!'

Hermione peered in to look and tutted loudly. 'Honestly, I don't see why you should be so surprised.'

'But, Hermione, she's so...' Ron began.

'She's so what? Just because she's an intelligent, dignified woman, you assume that she can't play Quidditch?'

'But, Hermione, it's Madam Pince!'

'So?'

'But...Madam Pince...'

'Not seeing your point, Ronald...'

'Well, I bet she can't play anyway,' Ron said grumpily.

Hermione opened her mouth to respond, and Harry started to look for cover, but the argument was cut short when Professor McGonagall entered with a piece of paper and approached the notice board.

'Is that the Student Team sheet, Professor?' asked Harry.

'Indeed it is,' she said, 'and you have nothing to worry about, Potter.'

She smiled at him as she pinned it up, and sure enough, his name was in the box marked 'Seeker'. He grinned, trying not to feel too smug, and watched Professor McGonagall leave. Then he looked again at the sheet.

'Oh, that's not good...' he said.

Ron and Hermione looked over his shoulder.

'They're not going to like that much,' Ron said with a deep frown.

'Let's get out of here before they find out,' suggested Harry.

The three of them darted up to the dormitories to avoid the wrath that would inevitable descend once certain people saw the team list.