Harry Potter and the Enchanted Scroll

Chapter 10- Dinner

The first day of classes passed without little trouble for the Gryffindor fifth years. Professor McGonagall did not seem to lighten up at all over the summer. She gave them a pile of homework to do on the first day and the summer did not seem to cure Snape's foul mood. He was as still rotten as ever.

Harry sighed as he made his way down to Great Hall for dinner. Fred and George had corralled him into an empty classroom to discuss their plans for this year's Quidditch team. Against her better judgment, Professor McGonagall had declared them both captains of the Gryffindor team. They had a lot of vacancies to fill and they wanted Harry's input about who they should choose to be on the team. He smirked when he thought of their reaction to his recommendation for the position of Keeper. They had grudgingly agreed that he would be the best choice but left the responsibility of telling him to Harry. Who better than to tell someone news like that then his best friend?

He rushed into the Great Hall, eager to tell Ron the news. He spotted Ron and Hermione sitting next to each other at the Gryffindor table, their heads bent together in deep conservation.

"Oh would you just tell him?" hissed Hermione.

"NO! I'm not going to tell him," responded Ron, in a loud whisper.

They did not even notice Harry approach them.

"It's not like it's going to matter to him," said Hermione.

"We are not telling him," Ron insisted. As he said this, he noticed Harry standing across the table. "Harry!" Ron screeched, his voice cracking.

"Hey guys," Harry said, as he took a seat at the table across from them. "What are you guys talking about?"

"Harry, we have something to tell you...." began Hermione before an elbow in the ribs stopped her.

Ron glared at her before responding: "Nothing. Just homework." With that, he began scarfing down his dinner.

Hermione rolled her eyes in disgust before starting her own dinner. "After dinner, we should go to the library. I want to start on Dumbledore's essay right away."

"Whyitnotdueforaweek," said Ron, with his mouth full.

"Swallow then speak," said Hermione. Harry chuckled.

Ron swallowed before trying again, "Why? It's not due for a week."

"Ron this year is critical in our magical education and it's important we start it off on the right foot," responded Hermione.

"Oh give it a rest. It's the first day of classes," said Ron.

"Ron!" started Hermione.

"Guys, give it a rest," interrupted Harry. He wanted to tell them his news. "Guess what?"

"What?" said Ron, after giving Hermione another death glare.

"Fred and George are the new captains of the Gryffindor team," he exclaimed.

"What, really?" said Ron.

Harry nodded. "Professor McGonagall told them this afternoon."

"Did she have a stroke or something?" said Ron.

Harry chuckled. "No. They told me that since they are the oldest ones on the team, she sort of had to do it. They said that she wasn't happy about it at all and threatened to turn them into raccoons if they screwed it up."

"Honestly, I don't think Professor McGonagall would turn them into raccoons. Toads maybe, but not raccoons," Hermione said.

Ron and Harry both laughed at Hermione's joke. "They're taking it really seriously though. They already cornered me to discuss strategy," said Harry. "They some spots to fill so they wanted to know who I thought would be good to add to the team." He stared at Ron.

"How many spots do they have to fill?" asked Ron.

"Well there's Keeper and a couple of Chasers," responded Harry.

"Well who did you recommend?" asked Ron.

"Well I told them they should get Dean Thomas for one of the chasers and maybe Neville for Keeper."

"NEVILLE?! ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR RUDDY MIND?" screeched Ron. Everyone around them stared at Ron. "Sorry," he mumbled, blushing red.

Harry grinned at his reaction. "Well I told them that if Neville didn't want it, they might as well just let you have it."

"Huh?" was all Ron could say.

"Well they didn't want Neville so they're just going to be let you have it," continued Harry. "That is, if you want it."

"Huh" was all Ron could say again. He sat there for several minutes with his mouth open, stunned in silence. Harry and Hermione giggled at his reaction.

Harry turned to the head table and noticed Dumbledore's seat was empty. "Where's Dumbledore?" he asked Hermione, since Ron was still not capable of speech.

"I don't know. We haven't seen him since class this morning. Why?" she responded.

Harry reached into his robe and pulled out the piece of parchment he had found earlier that day in Defense Against the Dark Arts. "He dropped this after he wanted to talk to me and I wanted to return it to him."

Hermione frowned at it. She reached out her hand to take the rolled-up piece of parchment from Harry. She studied it for several moments. "It looks really old," she said simply. She tried to slide off the ring to read it, but the ring wouldn't budge.

"The ring won't come off. I tried and tried to get off. It won't budge," said Harry.

Hermione peered closely at the ring. "There are some markings on the side. It looks familiar. But I don't remember where I would have seen it. Let's go the library."

"Okay," said Harry. They gathered their things and left the dinner table and Ron still sitting there in shock..

"I'm going to be Keeper?" said Ron, several minutes after they had left.