A MATE FOR LIFE

Chapter Five

The next couple of days, Hermione tried to stay out of Draco’s way. Spending a lot of her free time in the library, occasionally helping some other students who needed help in their assignments.

On her way out of the library one night, she happened to glance at the bulletin board to see that there was going to be Quiddich tryouts for each house. She enjoyed flying, the sense of freedom that was felt when you were on the broom. She smiled thinking of the expression on Harry and Ron’s face if she were to try out. They didn’t realize that Madame Hooch had been teaching her a couple of times a week for the past year. She thought she did quite well in those private classes. She looked for when the Gryffindor tryouts were and noticed that they were being held tomorrow after classes.

All the next day she couldn’t stop thinking about the tryout. After classes were over she rushed up to her room to change into her jeans and a sweatshirt, then went down to the Quiddich pitch.

Draco was sitting at the desk in the common room and looked up as Hermione dashed through the portrait and went into her room. A couple of minutes later she came out smiling and was practically racing out the door. He was curious, so he followed her through the castle and out the front door. She was heading to the Quiddich pitch, ‘probably to watch Potter and Weasley’ he thought as he continued following her. He expected her to go up to the stands, and was surprised that she went onto the pitch itself where all the hopefuls stood waiting their turn to prove themselves. He climbed up to the seats and waited to see what was going to happen.

Hermione rushed to the pitch and saw Harry talking to a few third and fourth years, asking them why they wanted to be on the quiddich team and what position they were interested in. Ginny being a chaser was up in the air already, while Ron was circling the hoops in his keeper position.

Harry had a couple of the tryouts fly up and see how they handled themselves on their brooms. Two of the students were trying out as chasers, as the other three were trying out for the beater position... He looked over and saw Hermione standing there, he walked over to her, “So, come to check out the new hopefuls ‘Mione?” He said while still looking up.

She looked over to Harry to see his reaction, “Actually Harry, I came to try out for the team.” And was not surprised at the look of astonishment on his face.

“Did you say try out. I didn’t even know you could fly a broom.” He said after he saw that she was serious.

Hermione smiled at the look of disbelief on his face. “Madame Hooch has been teaching me for about a year and a half. Come on Harry, give me a chance. If I don’t make it, I don’t make it. I will need to borrow your firebolt though. I don’t want to buy a broom if I don’t make it. So what do you say Harry, do I get a chance?”

Harry looked at the seriousness of her face, and relented. “What position do you want to try for?”

Hermione thought about it. “Chaser I think or......how about seeker?” She said impishly.

Harry smirked back at her. “Okay, we’ll try the chaser position first. You can borrow my broom. We have a few Ravenclaw people helping us out for the tryouts, so you will be going against them.” He motioned for Ginny to come down. “Gin, Hermione here is going to try out for the chaser position and then seeker, you never know when I won’t be able to play for some reason or another.”

Ginny looked at Hermione . “Are you serious, I didn’t know you even knew how to fly.”

“That’s what I said, but it turns out she’s been taking lessons without anyone knowing about it.” Harry added.

She took Harry’s firebolt and mounted it to kick off in the air. She flew around getting used to the feel of the broom. Ginny called and threw the quaffle to her, which she caught one handed and tucked it into her side. She raced to Ron and looked around and saw Ginny. She tossed it to her which Ginny then tossed back letting Hermione toss it through the undefended hoop. She raised both arms. “Scores” she cried.

Next she had to go to the other end with the quaffle while the bludgers were let loose. She grabbed the quaffle close to her and listened and looked out for the bludger. It was coming towards her where she stopped suddenly as it zipped in front of her. She then noticed the two Ravenclaws coming towards her. She leaned into the broom racing to the end of the pitch as the Ravenclaws were above her and beneath her about to close in. She took a hard left, then tossed the quaffle to Ginny who was flying close to the hoops, where Ginny scored. Harry called her down. “That was amazing ‘Mione, didn’t know you had it in you. Now I’m going to let the snitch go and see how fast you can catch it. Go up by the Gryffindor end to wait.”

As Hermione was flying around waiting for the release of the snitch, Harry heard someone walking towards him. He turned to see Professor McGonagall. “Hello Professor.”

“How are the tryouts going Harry?” She asked as she looked up. “Is that Hermione Granger up there?”

“Ye is. is. She decided to try out. As chaser I think she would be pretty good. I was just about to let the snitch go to see how fast she can catch it. I would like if you gave an unbiased opinion on how she does. That way if she is picked, it won’t show favouritism.”

“Why is she trying for seeker, that would be your position Harry?” McGonagall asked.

Harry looked up as he released the snitch. “Just in case, for some reason that I am unable to play. It would be nice to have a back up player for seeker.”

Hermione circled looking for the flash of gold. She saw it almost immediately. She headed towards it, leaning into the broom, picking up speed. The snitch was heading towards the stands, with her getting closer and closer to the banners that covered the stands. It looked like she was just about to collide when the snitch veered right. She leaned over to the right. As she turned, she could feel the er rer run along her leg. The snitch then went down lower to the ground where she got closer, reaching out her hand. Her fingertips were just touching the wings of the snitch when she leaned down even more and surged forward to grasp the walnut sized snitch in her hand. She smiled as she slowed down and descended where Harry , Ron, Ginny and Professor McGonagall were waiting.

“My word Miss Granger, that was exceptional flying.” McGonagall stated.

Hermione smiled, her cheeks flushed from the speed she had been flying. “Thank you Professor.” She handed the snitch over to Harry. “Thanks Harry, that was a rush. Anything else you want me to do?”

Harry shook his head. “No, I think that would be about it. I want to make a decision by this weekend, so we can have a practice this Sunday.”

“How many positions are to be filled anyway?” She asked.

“Four people. I want one from each year if possible. As this is me and Ron’s last year.” Harry said, as he motioned for the next tryout.

Hermione nodded. “Well anyway you choose, I’m okay with it. I’m going back to finish some homework and then have a soak in the tub.”

“Aren’t you going to watch the rest of the tryouts Hermione?” Ron asked.

“No, I’ll get too nervous if I watch. Besides I like the suspense.” She said as she walked towards the castle waving to them.

“I would have never figured her to ever be that good at quiddich.” Ginny stated

“She probably learned most of it from books, knowing Hermione.” Ron said as they snickered and went on with the tryouts.


Draco sat back on the bleachers after Hermione left. Surprise was an understatement on what he just witnessed Hermione do. He thought for sure that she was going to end up in the infirmary after nearly colliding into the stands. He hoped that she wasn’t chosen for the Gryffindor team as she would certainly be an asset to them. The way she manoeuvred on the broom, he was surprised she didn’t try out in the previous years.

He strode out of the stands wondering what else she would be good at.