Harry Potter and the Wanderer by The Shadows


Greetings from within the shadows to all my readers! I would like to mention now that I am aware that Quidditch has always been played in Hogwarts on Saturday mornings. I have a very good reason for making a change here, a reason that will be revealed in time.

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Chapter Eleven: Ravenclaw versus Gryffindor

"Do ya reckon he could've come up with a worse birthday present for her?" Ron muttered to Harry as they left Defense Against the Dark Arts Friday afternoon an hour earlier than usual. "I mean, letting class out early would be most people's dream... but I bet Hermione's livid."

"She did stay behind to talk to Talisien," Harry replied, not really paying attention. He knew that the 19th was Hermione's birthday... but his mind wasn't really even on that - at least, not completely. He couldn't stop thinking about things he should have done different during the few practices that the Quidditch team had had thus far. The first game was that evening.

That in and of itself was enough to set Harry's nerves on end. McGonagall had refused to say why they were starting the season so early this year, save "For a very good reason, Potter." He saw the two beaters in the corridor ahead of them passing three rocks back and forth at a time, and was heartened a little by the fact that they seem to have improved beyond his wildest dream so quickly.

"So, think we're ready for tonight, Harry?"

"I have no idea," Harry said honestly. "But do you think there's any chance you can get Ginny, Colin, Denis, and Lavender to join Sloper, Kirke, and I in the common room? You too, of course."

"Yes, your majesty," Ron said with a flourishing bow before running down the corridor quickly so Harry couldn't say anything about the title. Harry glared after him anyway, and then turned to find Hermione coming out of the large classroom that the class had moved to.

"Find out what you wanted, 'Mione?" Harry asked as she joined him and they started walking down the hall together.

"He showed me the Quintali, Harry!" Hermione said with a large smile. "He even let me hold it... but apparently it had other ideas, as it decided to fly from my grip when I tried..."

"I guess some swords have minds of their own, too, right?"

Hermione nodded, and looked away from him, biting her lip as though trying to come to a decision. "Harry?" she said after a moment.

"Yeah?"

He turned to her, and found himself held in a very tight embrace. "Good luck tonight. I'll be cheering you on, okay?" She released him almost as quickly and then motioned down the hall. "Looks like your beaters are waiting. Take care, and don't do anything too stupid on the field, please?"

"I'll try, 'Mione," Harry said with a grin of his own as she kept walking passed them. "So, guys, ready for the game tonight?" he asked.

Sloper flipped the three rocks into the air and Kirke caught all three, flinging one of them to eith...

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