Chapter Twelve

Possibilities

It was a fortnight after the Hogsmeade attack, the parents of the dead students had come to Hogwarts to collect their bodies for burial and most of the injured students, including Peter, had now recovered and had been released from the Infirmary to join their classmates that morning.

Neville, Peter and Tom were just sliding into the empty places near the head of the Gryffindor Table when a large male eagle owl swooped down towards the table and landed in front of Harry.

He removed the roll of parchment from the owl's leg and it took off. Harry looked at the seal, it was a Ministry one, but he didn't recognise the department. He looked questioningly at Ginny and she looked over his shoulder at the letter. “It's from Bagman's department, Magical Games and Sports.” she told him.

Harry nodded gratefully and broke open the seal, he glanced over the parchment, his face filled with amazement and wonder. “Godric's mane.” he gasped. Ginny raised her eyebrows questioningly, so he handed the letter to her. She scanned it quickly and then smiled. She clearly wasn't as surprised as he was.

“What is it?” demanded Ron. “What does it say?”

“Not here,” said Harry shortly. <Padfoot?>

<That's fine. Could we meet in Phoenix's office?>

<I'll ask.> There was a pause. <He says we can. Who's it from?>

<The Department of Magical Games and Sports,> Harry told him. <I'm going to bring the gang okay?>

<It's your choice Harry. If it's what I think it is, congratulations.>

<Thanks, I think.> said Harry, and then turned to his friends. “Do you all have the third lesson free?” Ron, Hermione and Tom confirmed that the group were all free then. “Can you all meet me outside Dumbledore's office as soon as you finish lessons? I want to talk to him and Padfoot about this letter, but I'd like you guys to be with me.”

“We'll be there Harry.” Ginny told him, her eyes still shone with delight for her boyfriend's luck.

At that moment the bell rang, so the teenagers quickly rose nad headed to class - the seventh years to Transfiguration with McGonagall, and the sixth years to Potions with Sirius.

----

As soon as he had put the ingredients for the day's potion -- the Polyjuice Potion -- on the board, Sirius headed towards where Ginny and Colin were working. Under the pretext of checking that she was making her potion properly, he leaned close enough to her to whisper in her ear. “What was Harry's letter about?”

Ginny glared at the former Marauder, and replied in the same undertone. “Sirius Black! That is for Harry to tell you, not me.”

Sirius smiled, “Just checking.”

Watching him out of the corner of her eye as he continued around the classroom, Ginny noticed him clearly questioning her friends too. You won't find out that way Sirius, she thought with a quiet chuckle to herself. They don't know any more than you do.

About two hours later, Sirius called an end to the lesson, and opened a small door to one side of the door to the corridor. “Put your cauldrons on the benches and make sure you label them, then you can wash up and go.” Ginny was one of the last to put her cauldron on one of the heated mats. She hung back until all the other students apart from Roger and the cousins had left.

“Let's go see Harry and Dumbledore.” Sirius said, indicating the way out of the dungeon. They left and he locked the door after them, then led the way to the main stairs. About five minutes later, they arrived at the gargoyle that blocked the entrance to the Headmaster's office. Harry, Ron and Hermione were already waiting for them. “Cauldron cake.”

The gargoyle slid to one side allowing them to walk up the stairs, Harry went first, with Ginny and Sirius walked directly behind him; Ron, Hermione and the cousins ascended behind them. When they reached the top of the stairs, Harry knocked on the door in front of them. “Come in.” Harry opened the door and walked in the others followed. “Would you like a seat?” Dumbledore asked them when they were all inside.

Ginny, Ron and Hermione took seats, and Peter walked over to where Fawkes was perched and began to stroke his bright plumage, while Sirius sat down on the edge of Dumbledore's desk, and Tom and Roger leaned against the wall. After watching Harry pace for a several minutes, Dumbledore spoke up. “Harry, before you do wear a hole in my carpet, perhaps you would like to share the nature of your dilemma with us?”

Harry stopped beside Ginny's chair. She reached inside her robes and pulling out the letter, she held it out to Harry, he indicated that she should hand it to Dumbledore and then stood behind her chair, his hand gripping her shoulder tightly. Ginny handed the parchment to Dumbledore, and then reached up and offered him her other hand, he released her shoulder and took it instead. Sirius noticed the tender gesture and smiled happily, he glanced over the headmaster's shoulder as Dumbledore unrolled the letter. “Read it.” said Harry nervously.

Dear Mr Potter,

Due to serious injuries sustained by England Seeker Thomas Hillard during our qualifying match against Denmark two weeks ago, we now have an opening for a player in that position. I am pleased to announce that thanks to a recommendation by Ludovic Bagman, Head of Magical Games and Sports, the English National Selection Committee has decided to offer you a trial for the position. Please communicate immediately as to the most convenient time and place for your trial session to be.

Yours sincerely,

Oliver Kimberly

Chairman

English Association of Quidditch

Ministry of Magic.

Dumbledore put down the letter. Ron leaped out of his chair and ran to Harry's side. “Nice one mate. You are going to take it, aren't you? It's a great chance… you'll be the one of youngest international players in about two hundred years!”

Harry looked at Ron, considering his statement for a moment, before answering. “I don't know.” he admitted, turning back to Dumbledore and Sirius. “What do you think?”

Sirius grinned, “I think if you want to do it, go for it. Ron's right, it would be an outstanding achievement. Only three Quidditch players that I know of were recruited from school: Viktor Krum, the Bulgarian Seeker…” Ron scowled. “The last but one French Seeker, Jacques Dalais…” he paused. “And your father.”

Harry looked stunned for a minute, “Dad was on the International Team?”

Sirius grinned. “He was. He was a Chaser for England during eight European Championships and two World Cups.”

At this point, Dumbledore spoke up. “Would you like my opinion?” Harry nodded. “Very well. Your talent at Quidditch surpasses that of any I have ever seen. If you do decide to go for a place on the team, and I shall do everything in my power to help you if so, your talents will be up to the task.”

Harry looked at Hermione, she shrugged. “If you want to, I think you should.” He didn't need to ask Ginny what she thought, their linked hands boosted their low-level mind-to-mind link until he could feel her emotions, she was happy for him and would support him no matter what he decided, so he looked at Roger next.

“I am always in favour of someone following their talents with regards to a vocation, as some of your greatest talents clearly lie within the realm of Quidditch, it would be the height of foolishness not to follow those talents.” replied the burly Beater.

“Why couldn't you just say 'Go for it'.” said Peter.

“I believe I did, my dear.” said Roger, bowing to her. She snorted.

Harry stepped between them. “Peter, what do you think?”

“Go for it. Roger's wordiness aside, he's right.” she replied, seemingly very reluctant to admit it.

“I agree with my cousin,” added Tom. “What about you Harry?”

“Like I said to Ron, I'm not sure. I guess I should give it a shot, I'll write to…” He glanced at the letter. “… Mr Kimberly, to tell him I'd like to try for the position.”

Ron made a snorting sound.

“When would you go?” asked Sirius.

“Why go at all?” asked Harry. “The next Gryffindor Quidditch match is in about three weeks. That should be soon enough for them.”

“Good idea.” said Sirius.

“It's about time for lunch, Harry.” said Dumbledore. “So why don't you go down to the Hall now?”

Harry nodded. “Let's go guys.” He headed for the door, with Ginny beside him, her hand clutched in his, and the others followed close behind.

“When are you going to write to Kimberly?” asked Ron as soon as he and Hermione had caught up with him.

“As soon as I get something to eat.”

Half an hour later, after he had satisfied his appetite, he realised that he was curious about what his friends had planned for when they left Hogwarts. He asked Ginny first, she shrugged and admitted she wasn't sure. “Hermione?”

“If there's any teaching vacancies I might go for them,” Hermione answered. “If not I'll try for a job at the Ministry. Maybe in the Department of International Co-Operation or…”

“Come on 'Mione, would you want Percy for a boss?!”

“He's not that bad Ron!” said Hermione indignantly. “And he is your brother!”

“So? He's still a rule-obsessed git!”

Harry, scenting another Ron-Hermione Big Fight, decided to try and distract Ron. “What are you planning?”

“I thought I might go for a Ministry job too,” admitted Ron. “Not with Percy or Dad though.” he added quickly. “I was thinking of the Department of Magical Games and Sports. I like Quidditch but I don't have the skills to play.”

“Good idea.” said Harry. “What about you?” he asked the cousins.

Peter shrugged. Tom said he would be applying for a job at the Merpeople Liaison Office at the US Ministry. “My parents insist that if I want to stay on the surface, I've got to do something to help my people.”

Harry grinned wryly. “Too bad.” The Merpeople Liaison Office was only slightly better regarded than it's centaur counterpart. “What about you Roger?”

The ape-like Beater shrugged too. “St Mungo's employ potion researchers, so I'm thinking of going for a post there, or I might try to get a post in the Department of Regulation and Control of Magical Beasts. I might even stay here, Hagrid told me a couple of weeks ago that he could do with an extra hand around the grounds, some of the forest beasts are getting a little frisky -- Charlie, some of our allies and I have been helping Hagrid, but someone'll need to keep a permanent eye on them unless we sort it soon.”

“The Acromantula?” asked Ron, shivering at the prospect.

Roger nodded. “A few of his creatures are moving in too, Charlie spotted a small pack of Lupi and a pair of Iuvenci in the forest last week. They're keeping quiet for now, but they wouldn't stay that way. Harpie and Gladiator are keeping watch twenty-four hours a day, Charlie and Hagrid relieve when they can.”

At that moment the bell rang for next lesson, they all got up, picking up their bags as they did and hurried for the door.

Ch.13 Gryffindor Vs Ravenclaw