Chapter 105: Chapter 105: "Quidditch Tryouts and School"
One week later, on a chilly Saturday morning, Harry and Roger made their way to the Hogwarts Quidditch pitch. Roger was a bundle of nerves hidden beneath a thin veil of excitement—today was the day for the Ravenclaw Quidditch team tryouts.
Upon their arrival, they found a group of eager students already milling about, each buzzing with the thrill of competition. Daniel Rogers, the Ravenclaw team captain, stepped forward to address the crowd. "Alright, everyone, welcome to the Ravenclaw try-outs," he announced. "For those who don't know me, I'm Daniel Rogers, your captain. I usually guard the hoops as the keeper. Today, we're testing for all positions except beaters. We're set there. But chaser, seeker, and even my spot as keeper are open. If anyone out here can outplay me or any of our current players, you could find yourself on the team."
This announcement stirred excitement among the roughly fifteen Ravenclaw students who had come to try out, each hoping to secure a spot on the team and gain some school-wide recognition.
The tryouts began with the chaser position. Each participant was tasked with outmaneuvering a defender and then attempting to score against Rogers, who was defending the hoops. They were given five shots each to showcase their skills. The air was filled with a mix of cheers for successful goals and groans for missed opportunities.
When it was Harry's turn, he climbed onto his Comet 220 broom—a model he was still using as he waited for the release of the Firebolt before upgrading. Harry caught the quaffle thrown his way and waited for the whistle.
At the sound, he surged forward. He had practiced maneuvers over the summer with Cedric but facing off against seasoned Quidditch players was a different challenge. Harry executed a series of feints to shake the defender and after leaving the defender behind him, Harry went close to the hoops and scored easily. Harry's strong arm and precise aim made it difficult for Rogers to block his shots.
The crowd, particularly a few spectators in the stands, began to applaud as Harry consistently bypassed the defender and scored. By the end of his turn, Harry had impressively netted all five of his shots, demonstrating his skill in both maneuvering and scoring.
Next up was Roger, who, inspired by Harry's performance, also succeeded in scoring all five of his attempts, showing off his skills.
The previous year's team members followed, and they matched the high performance set by Harry and Roger, leaving Daniel with some tough decisions to make about who would make the team.
Next, it was time for the seeker tryouts. The task was to catch golf ball-sized balls that a beater hit into the air. Each hopeful had to catch these balls before they touched the ground, and like before, everyone got five tries.
Harry, known for his quick reflexes, managed to catch all five balls effortlessly. A seventh-year student, who was the team's seeker last year, also succeeded in catching all the balls. This set up a direct competition between him and Harry.
The real test began when a snitch was released into the air. The first person to catch the snitch in two out of three attempts would secure the seeker spot on the team. Harry's competitive nature was evident as he swiftly captured the snitch in the first two rounds without giving his competitor a chance. As soon as Harry spotted the snitch, it was clear it would be his; his opponent barely had a moment to react.
Before the team captain, Rogers could announce the results, Harry approached him to discuss his particular circumstances. "Rogers, I need to be honest about something. My family has set up a strict training schedule for me, which means I can't join the early morning practice sessions. I can make it to later sessions or on weekends, though," Harry explained.
This put Rogers in a tough spot. Harry had proven himself to be an exceptional seeker, possibly the best he had seen. However, adjusting the team's schedule just for one player could upset the balance and fairness among the team members. Additionally, the other contender for the seeker position was Rogers' friend and in his last year at Hogwarts, looking to impress talent scouts.
After thinking it over, Rogers made the difficult decision to assign Harry as the reserve seeker instead of giving him the starting position. He explained to Harry, "Given the NEWT exams seventh-year students like me will be taking, you'll likely get to play in the last match of the season. And of course, if there are any unforeseen circumstances, we might need you for other games as well. I am sorry about this, but this is the best I can do."
Harry understood and respected the decision. He was happy for the opportunity to demonstrate his abilities, even if he wouldn't be the main seeker. He also accepted his role as a reserve seeker, knowing it was the fairest solution for the team. Harry knew that giving him special privileges would create problems within the team if handled poorly.
Later that day, after a few more rounds of tryouts, the final decisions for the chaser positions were announced. Roger was thrilled to secure a spot on the team, and Harry was the first to congratulate him on his success.
Throughout the week, the other house teams also conducted their tryouts, and soon the results were known. Harry's friends managed to secure the positions they were aiming for. Angelina and Alicia were both selected as chasers for the Gryffindor team, and Cedric was chosen as the seeker for Hufflepuff.
Although Harry's own situation wasn't what he had hoped for, the tryouts had showcased his exceptional flying skills to everyone who watched. Even though he wouldn't be playing in every game, his role as a reserve, capable of playing both as a seeker and a chaser, was a valuable asset for the Ravenclaw team. They now had a strong backup player ready to step in whenever necessary.
With Quidditch practice not taking up any of his time, Harry had a lot of time to focus on his other interests.
One of his main focuses was progressing with the Knight Breathing Technique. He had found the perfect place for his training deep within the Forbidden Forest. There, he set up a new practice dummy. The forest creatures no longer posed a threat to him, making it an ideal spot for his training. Practicing in the tranquility of nature proved to be very beneficial for Harry, enhancing his concentration and peace of mind. This secluded spot also gave him the privacy he needed for his sword practice, away from the eyes of other students and professors, allowing him to train undisturbed.
Along with his physical training in the Knight Breathing Technique, Harry was also diligently working on the Vanishing Cabinet in the Room of Hidden Things. The repair work might have looked simple, but Harry was cautious. Space magic was complex and required careful handling. He conducted various tests on the cabinet to make sure the magical space within it was stable and safe before he would even consider stepping through it himself.
On the academic side, Harry wasn't just taking it easy. He had already finished the regular Hogwarts courses for all years and was now diving into more advanced studies.
In the wizarding world, further education often meant apprenticing under a master in a specific field instead of going to a traditional college. The levels of education were classified as School, Apprentice, Master, and Grandmaster. Grandmasters were widely respected for their vast knowledge and accomplishments. However, the pursuit of knowledge never really ended. Even if there were no official titles for knowledge beyond the Grandmaster level, learning continued indefinitely.
Harry decided to focus on Healing, thanks to his connections with Cordelia and Emma, and on Curse-Breaking and Warding. These subjects were essential for his future plans to travel the wizarding world, uncover secrets, and explore hidden places. He also kept up with his dueling practice to refine his skills.
Harry was very systematic in his approach to learning. He was careful not to take on too much at once, choosing to fully immerse himself in one area before moving on to another. Even with the aid of the Ravenclaw Diadem, which enhanced his ability to learn, Harry estimated it would take him more than five years to reach a Master's level in any subject. Since he was tackling two subjects at the same time, it would likely take even longer. Harry was okay with this because he understood the importance of both areas for his future plans.
Harry had a full schedule thus set for this school year. He started his days early with Knight training, breathing exercises, and sword practice, both in the early mornings and evenings. During the day, he attended his classes at Hogwarts, and at night, he dedicated his time to studying advanced magic.
To make the most of his time, Harry figured out a smart way to handle his class assignments without cutting into his study time at night. He used a special quill that could write down assignments just from his thoughts. This clever tool allowed him to focus on lectures while the quill quietly worked on his homework.
The weekends brought Harry some much-needed downtime from his busy schedule. He used this time to relax and have fun. He enjoyed playing Quidditch with his friends or just exploring the nooks and crannies of the castle. These lighter activities were a good break from his rigorous training and studies, helping him maintain a balance between work and play.
Chapter 106: Chapter 106: "Hallow's Eve Morning"
Time at Hogwarts flew by without anything interesting happening, and soon it was Quidditch season again. Although not interested in watching Quidditch games, Harry decided to attend this year's matches to support his friends. They were starting off this year and Harry wanted to cheer for them as well as see how they would perform in actual games. They were quite good in the games they played during the weekends and Harry had high expectations.
The season kicked off with a match between Gryffindor and Slytherin, two of the strongest contenders for the Quidditch Cup. The game, however, turned out to be tough for the young Gryffindor chasers. Despite their speed and skill, they struggled against the aggressive play style of the Slytherin team, who didn't shy away from using rough tactics. The Slytherin players even resorted to fouling the Gryffindor newbies, aiming to injure them and knock them out of the game. Harry watched frustrated from the stands, angry at the unfairness but knowing he couldn't intervene without causing more trouble for himself and his friends.
Slytherin won decisively with a score of 300 to 50, but their happiness was short-lived. The next day, each Slytherin player mysteriously ended up with a joker face painted on their faces that wouldn't wash off. While they blamed the Weasley twins for the prank, Harry just watched everything unfold with a quiet smile.
Next was the match between Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Roger, playing for Ravenclaw, showed good form, possibly performing a bit better than the Gryffindor players due to his stronger build, but it wasn't enough to make a significant difference. The game highlighted how physical strength and fitness were crucial for chasers in Quidditch. The match ended with Hufflepuff emerging victorious, thanks to Cedric Diggory's quick reflexes as a seeker. His lean build and quickness on the broom helped him outpace the Ravenclaw seeker, snagging the snitch for his team and securing the win.
Weeks went by quickly after the Quidditch matches, and before long, it was the last day of October—Halloween. This day always put Harry on edge. In the days leading up to it, he had been extra vigilant, using the Marauder's Map to patrol the castle and diving into the DADA professor's memories in search of any hint of trouble. But so far, everything seemed normal. It looked like this might actually be a calm year, which made Harry cautiously optimistic.
On the morning of Halloween, Harry stuck to his routine. He jogged to his secluded training spot in the Forbidden Forest, where he practiced with his wooden sword. He enjoyed the peacefulness of the forest, which helped him concentrate and practice the sword undisturbed.
As he was intensely practicing his sword strikes on the training dummy, Harry suddenly heard a strange hissing sound. He paused, sword in mid-air, and listened intently.
The forest was usually quiet apart from the natural sounds of wildlife, and Harry had set up protective wards to ensure his training spot remained undisturbed. Intrigued and a bit alarmed, Harry wondered who or what could have bypassed his defenses. The hissing was unusual, and he couldn't immediately place what could be making such a noise in this part of the forest.
As he concentrated, Harry realized that the hissing noise he heard was actually a snake talking.
"Why is that human hitting a dead tree? The human might be crazy," said the sanke, which Harry understood clearly due to being a parselmouth.
Once Harry recognized the source of the sound as that of a snake, his curiosity faded, and he picked up his sword to resume his practice.
"For a moment I thought the human heard me speak and was looking for me. Silly me. Speakers are too rare, there's no way someone as great as a speaker would be hitting a dead tree like that."
Harry ignored the snake and continued his practice. In his previous life, the presence of a snake might have scared him away from the spot forever, but in this life, a snake was as insignificant to him as an ant. He could kill a snake with a thought alone.
"I don't have time to watch this crazy human. Those darn spiders—I don't know what's gotten into them. They've started moving from their nest. They must be mad moving so close to the edge of the forest."
Harry paused in his sword practice when he heard this last bit. On a day like today, he was especially vigilant, and any mention of large spiders set off alarm bells in his head.
Large spiders in the Forbidden Forest were likely the acromantulas descended from Hagrid's pet Aragog. The idea of those dangerous creatures coming close to the edge of the forest near the school suggested trouble might be brewing.
Harry, feeling a strong sense of urgency, began searching for the source of the voice. He soon located the chatty snake, which from its markings, he identified as a common European viper, also known as an adder.
He cautiously approached the snake.
"Why did the crazy human stop again? Why is he coming towards me? Should I run?" the snake wondered aloud in alarm.
In Parseltongue, Harry called out, "Come out, snake, I need to talk to you."
Over the years, Harry had mastered the ability to switch between speaking Parseltongue and his normal language with ease.
"A speaker! I am honored," the snake exclaimed, its tone shifting to one of respect. "I apologize for my earlier words. I wasn't thinking clearly. Please, don't kill me."
"Quiet! I'm not going to kill you," Harry replied quickly. "I need information about the spiders you mentioned just now."
"Those terrible spiders? Oh, Speaker, you should eliminate them. They're dreadful. They built a new nest right next to my home, and I had no choice but to flee," the snake explained.
"Why did they move? What happened to their leader?" Harry inquired, seeking more details.
"There's a rumor of a civil war within their group. The clan split, and the losing group was expelled," the snake revealed.
Harry understood that there must have been a falling out between Aragog and a new, strong acromantula, leading to the division. Realizing the potential threat this posed, he decided it was essential to investigate this splinter group to determine if they posed any danger to the school.
With his acceptance of Gryffindor's legacy, Harry felt a responsibility to protect Hogwarts from external threats.
"Lead me to these spiders," Harry commanded.
Excited by the prospect of reclaiming its home, the snake agreed eagerly, "Yes, Speaker! Destroy them. Let's take back my home."
Harry cautiously followed the snake as it weaved through the trees, leading him to a part of the forest close to the Great Lake. He remembered jogging through this area last year, but it looked completely different now.
Where there had once been a shadowy grove dense with tall trees, there were now sprawling webs shimmering with dew. The webs were teeming with acromantulas of various sizes—some as big as small cars. Seeing about 200 of these formidable creatures so close to the school grounds was truly alarming. Even with his considerable skills, Harry wasn't confident he could handle such a vast number of these dangerous spiders on his own.
Based on his unfortunate relationship with Halloween at Hogwarts, Harry couldn't shake the feeling that something was bound to go wrong tonight, possibly involving this large group of acromantulas.
Unsure of the best course of action and knowing he couldn't handle this threat alone, Harry realized he needed to alert someone—either one of the professors or Sirius, who was now working in the Auror Department.
While Harry was lost in thought, considering his options, the snake, eager to take back its home, slithered a bit too boldly. Its movement caught the attention of the nearby acromantulas.
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