Full Circle

Chapter 3 - Finding a Seeker

As the first month of the semester drew to a close, things were starting to feel a lot more normal at Hogwarts, if, of course, you could ignore Hermione's bizarre behavior. With the exception of class, she spent an excessive amount of time in her bedroom, claiming to be studying for the N.E.W.T.'s. At first, Ron was terribly concerned, but as October 1^st neared, he had more pressing matters at hand. As the new Quidditch Captain, Ron was going to have to find Gryffindor a new seeker, since no word had been sent regarding Harry's return. It would be devastating for Gryffindor to not only loose Harry as the seeker, but to spend the time training a brand new one for the first time in seven years.

In anticipation for the tryouts, a team meeting was called for 9am on the last Saturday of September in the Quidditch locker rooms. When all six members were present, Ron paced back in forth figuring out a way to break the news.

"So, as you might have guessed, it doesn't look like Harry will be back in time for the start of the new season," said Ron, negatively.

"You've got to be kidding!" moaned Dean Thomas, a fellow 7^th year who had taken on a chaser position two years earlier.

"What are we going to do?" asked Antoinette Johnson who was a 5^th year chaser and the younger sister of the former all-star Quidditch player, Angelina.

"Well, we're going to have to hold tryouts," replied Ron "The same thing we do every year when we are in need of replacements."

"But this isn't just any replacement!" cried 4^th year chaser, Tina Ling.

"She's got a point, Ron," sighed Katie Bell's younger brother Edward. "Finding a substitute for Harry will not be a simple task."

"I realize this, but there is no other choice. Besides, there is more to the Gryffindor Quidditch team than the famous Harry Potter. We have a strong, well practiced team. We have a chance of winning the cup, even with a new seeker, if we start earlier enough."

"Do we have anyone in mind?" asked Sam Watson, who along with Edward played the position of beater.

"Not a one. I tried to convince my sister Ginny to try out - I mean four out of seven Weasleys have proven adequate on the field - but she has no desire to play. She's more focused on her music."

"What about Seamus?" Dean asked.

"Perhaps if we had an opening for a beater, but frankly he's just not built for a seeker."

"That means Neville's out too," said Edward.

"Alexander Foghorn?" asked Tina.

"He has terrible asthma."

"Roman Little?" offered Sam.

"Are you kidding? He's afraid to come to Quidditch games in case a bludger might accidentally fly into the stands."

"Natalie McDonald?" posed Antoinette.

"She has a bad ankle. Madame Pomfrey doesn't want her to play any sports."

"Mary Ann Quigley?"

"Did you forget that she's studying abroad at Beauxbatons this semester?"

"What about Pavarati Patel or Lavender Brown?"

Ron turned to Dean with indignant look on his face. "Are you serious? They wouldn't even be interested in the team unless they were trying to get a date with one of our members."

"Good point. I guess I'll get started printing up flyers for tryouts. How does 10am next Saturday sound?" asked Dean.

Ron sighed. "Make it 8am. I have a feeling it's going to be a long day."'

Hermione and Ginny were sitting at a table in the Gryffindor common room studying when Ron returned from practice.

"Good to see you out and about, Hermione. I was starting to think you were trapped in self-imposed solitary confinement," he said as he sat down across from them.

"You are tracking mud across the floor," she replied coolly. "Must you always create unnecessary work for the house elves?"

"Damn, Hermione, what's with you? I'm just trying to crack a joke." He was quickly loosing sympathy for her odd behavior.

"Such an appropriate time for joking, with Professor Dumbledore dead and Harry gone."

"I couldn't think of a better time for a sense of humor! Regardless of those two facts - we are still here at Hogwarts. We still have classes to attend, homework to do, tests to take. Nothing in this world has paused because of this. I'm not going to hide up in my room and brood over the matter because it is not going to make anything better. I feel it is my duty to do something to relieve this tension. Cheer people up. Provide our school with some rousing entertainment because of our winning Quidditch team - speaking of which, Ginny I really need to talk to you again about the seeker position-"

"I told you before Ron, I'm not interest-"

Just then Hermione got up quickly and ran to her bedroom.

"Oh, now look what you've done, Ron!"

"She's just being overly emotional. I don't see you acting like such a prat!"

Ginny stared at Ron with disbelief before grabbing her books and heading after Hermione.

"Girls!" he muttered to himself.

Ginny crept into the prefects lounge and over to the door emblazoned with a plaque reading Hermione Granger, Head Girl, which had been left slightly ajar. Without making a noise, she slipped inside and closed the door behind her. But it was the sound of retching stopped Ginny dead in her tracks. Was that Hermione? She paused as the hacking ended, the toilet was flushed and Ginny could hear her washing her hands and face in the sink. Emerging from her private bathroom blotting her face with a fluffy towel, Hermione almost screamed when she saw Ginny staring back at her. The two stood there quietly for a moment, not exactly knowing what to say to each other.

Finally, Ginny spoke. "Are you ok, Hermione?" she asked, cautiously.

"Eh, umm...I think it might be a stomach virus," she sputtered in response.

"Really? Then you should head down to Madame Pomfrey right away. She'll know exactly what to-".

"NO! I mean, I'm fine, really. I have just been under a large amount of stress recently and when Ron says things like that...like he just doesn't care..."

"He really is worried, 'Mione. Honestly. It's just because he is a boy and he doesn't know how to show his emotions very well. He is upset about Harry being gone and about the way you have been acting. Frankly, I have been worried about it too."

"Well, I appreciate your concern, Ginny, but I'm fine. Really. I just need some rest, that's all."

Ginny looked suspicious, but said nothing.

"I'm going to lie down and take a nap," said Hermione, anxiously. "Come and get me for dinner, will you?"

Ginny put her books down on the bed and unexpectedly reached her arms around Hermione to give her a hug. After the initial shock, Hermione embraced her friend tightly. For a moment it felt like she wasn't totally alone.

"Whatever happens, Hermione, I'll be here for you. Ron and I both."

Perhaps Ginny would stand by her, but Ron? If he found out what Hermione already knew to be true, Ron would probably never talk to her again. She pulled away and smiled at Ginny. "Thank you. I needed that."

"No prob. I'll get you for dinner," she said, picking up her books and heading back to the common room to finish her studying.

The following Saturday came almost too quickly for Ron. He had stayed up much of the night dreading the painful process of picking a new seeker for the Gryffindor team. It had been two months seen he had seen or heard from his best friend and it was finally catching up to him. Ron had been telling himself for weeks that everything was going to be ok and that Harry will be back soon, but the act of finding a suitable replacement for his position made Ron realize how real this situation actually was.

He lied in bed remembering the day Harry had given up his role as Captain of the Quidditch team.

"Ron, I love Quidditch! I love the rush of flying on my broomstick, the excitement of a good chase, and the satisfaction of catching the snitch is just incomparable. But frankly, I'm not the best captain Gryffindor has ever had. I am no good at waking the team up at the break of dawn. I find it difficult to properly push our players to the next level. And no matter how many books on Quidditch I read, I still can not formulate the best strategies. So I may be a great seeker, but I feel you would be a better Captain, Ron. You just have a natural talent for it. So will you consider it?"

It had been one of the greatest compliments that Ron had ever received from Harry. So The Boy Who Lived wasn't the best at everything. There was something besides wizard chess that Ron Weasley could do just a little bit better. Remembering this, he smiled. But now he was faced with the daunting task of find a replacement. Quietly he climbed out of bed and got dressed in Quidditch robes before heading out to the field.

The grass was still moist with dew as the dozen or so hopefuls lined the field in anticipation of becoming the newest member of the Gryffindor team. They were a rather motley crew, mostly underclassmen ranging from pathetic to sorely out of place. Ron sighed to himself as he paced back and forth in front of them.

"Here's how we are going to do this: I will divide you up into small groups. Then I will release the snitch and the first person in each group to catch the snitch without any distractions will move on the next round. Then we will set up for a regular game and send whomever succeeded the first round onto the field to find the snitch again, but this time there will be three other balls in play. Based on your performance in this situation, my team and I will decide who is best suited to be our new seeker.

Ron was exhausted when the first round ended. The preliminary trial eliminated nearly three-fourths of the contestants by the sheer fact they couldn't even catch the snitch under the easiest of circumstances. Once he had narrowed it down to four potential seekers, he had suggested a fifteen minute break before they went on to the next round. Ron sat down on the bleachers with his head in his hands trying to figure out what to do next when he heard someone call out his name.

From a distance he saw Hermione, Ginny, Pavarati and Lavender walk onto the field. At the mere sight of them, Ron jumped up excitedly. Finally, Ginny has come to her senses and has decided to tryout for the team. He hurried over to where the girls were standing on the sidelines.

"Ginny, precious sister of mine, you have decided to give it a go. You don't know how thrilled I am to see you. Tryouts have been going on for over an hour and I've finally narrowed in down the four least worst players."

"Least worst? Is that even grammatically correct?" asked Hermione.

"It is in this situation! I do not know how any of the finalists will find the snitch once we throw the quaffle and the bludgers into the game! If we were to add a competing team to situation and we are bound to have a real mess on our hands." He ran his fingers through his flaming hair. "I wish Harry was here."

"I hate to disappoint you, Ron, but I'm not here to try out." Ginny said, calmly.

"What!" Ron squealed. "Ginny, I'm in a real spot. Trust me, you are way better than most of the kids trying out today. Please, you have got to help me."

"Sorry, Ron. We just came out to watch."

Ron turned away exasperatedly and shoved his hands into his pockets. He took a few steps before he removed them for his robes and waved them in the air. "Agh!" he groaned, turning back to the girls. "What am I going to do!?!"

"Well, if you are really that desperate, Ron, I'll give it a try," said Lavender.

Ron stared at the girl with his mouth hanging open in disbelief. "You!?!"

"Yeah, why not?" Lavender replied, stubbornly.

"No offense, Lav, but what do you know about Quidditch? I've known you for over six years and your only hobbies include fashion, boys, and listening to the half-witted Professor Trelawney go on about her tragic death predictions!"

Lavender looked shocked but the other girls were furious.

"I can't believe you just said that!" said Hermione.

"How would you even know anything about her, Ron?" cried Pavarati "You've hardly had a conversation with her in all the years we've been classmates."

"And she was offering to help you, Ron, you should be a little more appreciative," growled Ginny.

Lavender just reached quietly into her pocket and grabbed a ribbon before reaching back and pulling her honey colored hair into a high ponytail. "I'll show you, Ron Weasley!" she said before walking out onto the field. Asking one of the eliminated players if she could borrow their broom, Lavender mounted gracefully and speedily flew into the air where the other finalists were practicing. The other girls said nothing but angrily walked off to grab a seat on the bleachers.

Once everyone was situated, the balls were released and the mock game began. Antoinette, Tina and Dean passed the quaffle between each other while Sam and Edward whacked bludgers out of the way. Five participants glanced wildly around the field searching for the golden snitch. Lavender sat on her broom, her hands angrily clenched in fists along the handle. How dare Ron assume that I can't play Quidditch! He has never even seen me try, she thought to herself. She squinted her eyes hoping to catch a glimpse of the snitch, desperate for the chance to prove herself to Ron and all the other Gryffindor boys who had never taken her seriously.

True, she liked to read fashion magazines like CosmoWitch and YM (Young and Magical). It was also correct that she often had crushes on boys - what teenaged girl doesn't? Even Hermione, thought she does not often admit it, sometimes has crushes from time to time. And she could not deny the fact that she enjoyed Divination class, but this was because it is the one subject that Lavender truly excelled at. Her potions grades were ok and her transfiguration attempts satisfactory but when it came to foreseeing the future, she was actually pretty good. (Now if she could only concentrate on foreseeing the snitch...)

What few people at Hogwarts knew about her (probably because they never bother to find out) is that Lavender used to be a bit of a tomboy when she was younger. She had been the only girl amongst five male cousins who would often spend their summers play Quidditch in the backyard. Because Lavender was lonely and had no one to play with and the boys were desperate to even out the teams, they finally agreed to let the pleading little girl play with them and to their surprise she was pretty good. Who knew knobby kneed, pig-tailed Lavender Brown could put aside her dolls and tea set to play a rousing game of short-handed Quidditch? Surely no one at Hogwarts!

Lavender smiled to herself and started to feel more confident. If only Daniel, Ryan, Michael, Robert and Eric could see their little cousin now! Suddenly, she got a strange feeling in her gut - she sensed that the snitch was in the left hand corner, near the bleachers. She rose up above the players to get a better look and her heart jumped when she caught of a glimpse of gold reflecting off the mid morning sun. Lavender looked around cautiously to determine if any of the other challengers had caught wind of the snitch's location.

Ashton Blake, a curly haired fifth year was the only other player staring at the exact same corner of the bleachers. Noticing Lavender watching him, he sped off toward the desired location in a heated attempt to make it there before her. Quickly she dropped down to an equal level with Ashton and listened to the echo of her cousins' past advice repeating in her ear.

"Never loose focus. Once you catch sight of it - always keep your eyes on the prize."

"Don't hold on too tightly to the broom. You'll need a light but firm grip for maneuvering correctly."

"Keep your speed steady. Always stay in control of the situation."

"Most importantly, never let the size of another player frighten you. The game is about precision, not strength."

Before she knew it, Ashton was flying right next to her. "Keep steady," she said to herself, as he brushed against her in an attempt to knock her off. "Look calm".

The snitch was only twenty or so feet away, fluttering mischievously in the air. It was then that Lavender realized that the audience had become aware of its presence and that all eyes were on her and Ashton. Her heart beat heavily in her chest and her face was flushed as Ashton pulled ahead of her and he started speeding toward the snitch.

"Not too fast," she followed him in hot pursuit. "Always keep you eye on the prize." Suddenly a bludger zipped past her face, nearing taking off her nose! "Dammit!" she screamed, ducking to dodge another. Fortunately Edward was soon behind her in an effort to ward off any future bludgers.

"Where's the snitch?" Lavender asked herself, but sighed in relief when she realized that Ashton, too, had lost sight of it. She once again rose above the crowd of players and to her spectators' surprise, closed her eyes.

"What in Merlin's name does she think she's doing?" cried Ginny.

Pavarati's face burst into a smile. "Lavender's attempting to see the snitch in her mind."

"Are you serious?" asked Hermione. "If she's not careful, she's going to get hit by something - or someone!"

Lavender's eyes flew open and she turned around quickly, heading off to the smallest goal hoop on the right side of the field. Ashton panicked and swiftly followed her. Lavender swerved in between players in an effort to drive her opponent off course. Finally, she was within ten feet of the golden snitch, but Ashton was still right behind her. Could he see it or was he just trusting her judgment? Hoping that he was more focused on her, Lavender pulled up suddenly to see if Ashton would follow.

Unfortunately, Ashton could see the snitch and was not fooled by Lavender attempt to confuse him. Realizing her mistake, she pointed her broom downward, held her breath and dived. The snitch was almost in Ashton's grasp when he looked up to see Lavender about to crash into him from one direction and a bludger about to hit him from the other. At the last possible second, he pulled away and Lavender managed to close her fist around the tiny golden ball before she was hit in the shoulder by the bludger and knocked into the goal post. The applause turned into screams as she fell off her broom and slid down the post to the grassy field below. Her body lay like a rag doll at the bottom of the goal post as snitch slipped out of her hand and rolled across the grass.

"Someone get Madam Pomfrey, quick," yelled Ron as he and the rest of the students ran over to Lavender. He knelt beside her and anxiously tried to assess how much damage had been done. Ron pushed back her sleeve to see that there were bruises forming on her right shoulder and he guessed that similar ones were appearing on her left hip and ribs, but there was no blood and apparently nothing was broken. Just then Lavender's eyes fluttered open and stared up at Ron.

"Well, I may be no Harry Potter," she whispered in a strained voice. "But you've got to admit, Weasley, that was pretty darn good."

He smiled down at her, feeling somewhat relieved that she had a sense of humor. "Yes, Lavender. That was pretty good."

Madam Pomfrey arrived, fretting and muttering under her breath. "Why you kids insist on playing this game is beyond me sometimes! Never a game or practice goes by where I don't have to carry someone off to the hospital ward." But the rest of the students just talked amongst themselves. Has Gryffindor found themselves a new seeker?

After Lavender was gone, Ron announced that tryouts were over and the team needed to have a meeting to make their final decision. Once everyone was gone, Ron sat down in front of his teammates and asked their opinions.

"Well, I never thought I'd say this but Lavender showed a great deal of guts out there," said Antoinette. "I would have never expected that kind of performance from here."

"I was impressed too. She's was the best of those out there today," commented Dean.

"Any other opinions?" asked Ron.

"I say we go with Lavender," replied Tina and the rest of the team nodded.

Ron agreed. "I'll go to the hospital ward tonight to welcome Lavender to the Gryffindor team - that is if Madame Pomfrey will let her have visitors. He remembered the many times she had turned Ron and Hermione away when they tried to visit Harry. He wished he got send an owl to Harry - what a shock it would be for him to find that his position had been filled by none other than Lavender Brown - but Ron didn't know how to reach him.

Later that night, Ron headed up to the hospital wing.

"Madame Pomfrey, it's important that I talk to Lavender. Can I visit her for a few minutes?"

Looking irritated, she nodded, "But only for a few minutes, Mr. Weasley. She needs her rest."

He walked quietly over to her bed and sat down in the chair beside it.

"Lavender?"

She opened her eyes slowly, surprised to see him there. "Ron?"

"Yeah, Lavender." Ron looked around the room awkwardly before focusing back on her. "I just wanted to stop by and tell you that I was sorry for what I had said earlier today."

"It's ok, Ron. You're not the first guy not to take me seriously."

"No, it's really not ok. I should have never jumped to conclusions like that. I mean, I of all people have no room to judge, being a Weasley and all."

"A Weasley?" Lavender looked confused.

"How hard did you hit your head? A Weasely - you know the poor red haired family with too many kids all dressed in shabby hand me downs."

Lavender laughed. "Oh, Ron, no one really cares about that. At least not any Gryffindors."

Ron smiled in relief. "Well, still. I have no right to assume things about you."

"Well, you've learned your lesson now, haven't you?" She smiled mischievously - a very pretty smile at that.

"Yes, I have." Just then Madam Pomfrey cleared her throat loudly from her desk. "I should get going. Oh! And by the way, we've decided that your effort has earned you a place on our team as the new seeker."

"Really? But I dropped the snitch!"

"Yes, but for a moment there you had it! You have something we can truly work with."

"Thank you, Ron." Lavender blushed. "Tell the team I accept their gracious offer."

Ron blushed slightly too, before he clumsily said goodnight and headed back to Gryffindor Tower.