Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Chapter 3 – Tryouts

Harry had been sorted into Gryffindor, alongside Ron, and he couldn't have been happier to have not been in Slytherin with Draco. Aldora and Cornelius were initially disappointed that he wouldn't be sharing a dorm with the Malfoy heir, but their tune changed the moment Harry mentioned he was happy because it was the house his parents had been in; such little manipulations were only too easy for Harry. The first week of classes began and Harry found that he rather enjoyed his classes, at least all except one.

"There will be no foolish wand-waving or silly incantations in this class." Snape said as he entered the classroom, black robes billowing behind him. "As such, I don't expect many of you to appreciate the subtle science and exact art that is potion-making. However, for those select few who possess, the predisposition... I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper in death. Then again, maybe some of you have come to Hogwarts in possession of abilities so formidable that you feel confident enough to not pay attention!" Harry felt Hermione's elbow hit him in the gut and he put his quill down. "Mister Potter. Our new celebrity." Harry felt his heckles rise at the look Snape was giving him. "Tell me, what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" Hermione's hand shot up next to Harry.

"I don't know, sir." He replied. He'd read his potions text over the summer but he couldn't be expected to remember everything that had been in it, could he?

"Where, Mr. Potter, would you look if I asked you to find me a bezoar?" Again Hermione's hand shot up.

"The stomach of a goat, sir." That one Harry knew.

"And what is the difference between monkswood and wolfsbane?" Hermione nearly jumped out of her seat as she raised her hand this time, desperate to be called on, though Harry knew this answer too.

"There isn't one, sir, they're the same plant." Snape sneered but could obviously find no fault with this answer so decided to focus on his one wrong answer.

"For your information, Potter, root of asphodel and an infusion of wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of Living Death. And why aren't you all copying that down?" En masse the class shuffled to get a piece of parchment and a quill, some of them muttering what Harry and Snape had just said in an attempt to remember. Hermione looked at him somewhat hurt that he hadn't let her answer, but Harry merely shrugged; Snape had specifically directed the questions to him, after all. Class continued and ended with Harry feeling even more like Snape hated him, something that had not gone unnoticed by Ron.

"Snape's really got it out for you." He said as they walked back to the Gryffindor common room after class.

"I know. But why?"

"Fred and George say he's a nasty teacher and doesn't like anyone, but they've never mentioned him singling anyone out like this before."

"Guess I'm just lucky then, aren't I?" Harry muttered. He was debating writing home about Snape, but thought better of it for now at least. He had no doubt that Aldora and Cornelius would rush to the school and demand fair, if not special, treatment for him, and while that might prove useful at some point now wasn't the time. Still, Harry refused to let himself be treated this way so knew he'd have to find Snape's weakness. That took a back seat though as quidditch tryouts were approaching. First years almost never made their house teams, both their small size and lack of experience tending to make them inferior players to the older students. Harry knew he was a good player – supposedly it was in his blood, his dad having been a Gryffindor seeker during his time at Hogwarts – and after having quizzed Ron's brothers, the team's beaters, on this year's prospects he knew he stood a good shot. Before he could attend tryouts, however, Harry first had to pass a flying test mandatory for all first years who did not want to take flying lessons. The second Wednesday of the school year, and three days before quidditch tryouts, found Harry alongside Ron, Draco and several other first years who came from wizarding families. Hermione had been quite put out that it was only those from wizarding families that were able to take the test, but Ron was quick to note that that was because only children from wizarding families would have grown up flying a broom. Hermione said that was unfair and though Harry had to agree he wasn't sure what could be done about it; it wasn't like they could have children flying around in the muggle world after all.

"Good morning, everyone." Greeted Madam Hooch, the flying instructor and quidditch official at the school.

"Good morning Madam Hooch."

"You know what to do." Was all she said and the first years present stepped up to the left side of their broomsticks.

"Up!" Harry said alongside his classmates, his broom flying into his hand. Mounting his broom, Harry waited for Madam Hooch's whistle before kicking off hard, hovering for a moment, leaning forward slightly and touching back down. It was the first lesson anyone was taught, to keep their broom steady, and all those present passed that particular test. Madam Hooch then ran them through several drills testing how well they handled their broom before declaring the test at an end.

"Having passed this test," Said Madam Hooch to all but two of the students. "Allows you the privilege of using the school's brooms on weekends for flights around the castle grounds. This does not mean that you are allowed your own broomstick, and there are certain restrictions, such as in inclement weather. If you are ever in doubt about whether or not you would be allowed to ride a broom on any particular day then you probably already know the answer, but do come and seek me out to ask if needed. Know also that this is a privilege, and one that can be taken from you." She stared all of them down, daring them to disagree with or disobey her. "Dismissed." She said finally.

"I knew we'd both pass." Said Ron as he and Harry went and put their brooms back alongside the others. He sounded somewhat relieved though and Harry had to wonder if Ron truly thought he'd pass. Apparently Harry wasn't the only one either.

"Well done, Ronnikins!" Fred and George came up beside them.

"Yeah, we didn't think you'd pass." George said plainly. Ron glared at his brothers.

"So, Harry, you ready for tryouts on Saturday?"

"Going to finally show us all how good you are?"

"Yeah." He replied confidently.

"Don't be so sure, Potter." Harry sighed.

"What do you want, Malfoy?"

"Only to make sure you know that I'm going to wipe the pitch with you during tryouts."

"I didn't know you were trying out for the Gryffindor team, Draco." It was said as condescendingly as could be but Draco only smirked.

"Oh, so they haven't told you?" He said with a superior air.

"Told me what?" Harry was getting angry; he didn't like it when there were things going on that he didn't know about.

"Slytherin and Gryffindor tryout together, have for years." He smirked again. "I'll see you on the pitch, Potter." When he was gone Harry turned towards Fred and George who cringed under his glare.

"We were going to tell you now." Fred promised.

"So Gryffindor and Slytherin really do tryout together?" Asked Ron, this being the first he'd heard about it as well.

"Yeah. Slytherin kept trying to sneak into our tryouts to find out if we had anyone good." Said George. "A few years ago wands were drawn finally and ever since Madam Hooch has made both houses try out together so there's nothing to spy on on either side."

"Not that we'd ever spy on them." Fred added, shooting a sideways glance at his twin.

"So how does it work?" Harry wanted to know.

"Well, Oliver Wood, our captain, and Marcus Flint, the Slytherin captain, will run everyone through a few drills to weed out the weak." Fred explained. "Once that's done it's basically a game of quidditch."

"Though each captain can stop the match to cut or replace people whenever they want." George concluded.

"And Madam Hooch oversees it all?" The twins nodded.

"Snape and McGonagall usually do as well." They admitted. That made sense to Harry.

"Keep people from getting hurt before the first quidditch game even begins." In the almost two weeks Harry had been at Hogwarts he'd seen that the ancient rivalry between Slytherin and Gryffindor was greatly downplayed and that in reality both houses were often at each other's throats, especially when it came to quidditch; purposefully injuring one of the Gryffindor recruits would be exactly something that Slytherin would do.

-H/G-

Three days later Harry found out exactly how right he had been as he dodged yet another bludger. This was one of the drills that the captains were putting the recruits through and so far Harry had yet to be hit, though it wasn't for lack of trying on the Slytherin team's side.

"And another near miss to possible Gryffindor seeker, Harry Potter!" Lee Jordan, a friend of the twins, was commentated as he too tried out for that position. "The Slytherins sure seem determined to knock him out of the air, though have yet to succeed as the first year demonstrates his skill." They hadn't even seen his skill yet, as far as Harry was concerned; the former quidditch star from Puddlemere United that Fudge had hired to teach Harry had put him through much worse than this.

"All right, enough!" Wood and Flint called, both not looking at the other as they did so.

"Now we're going to see how you handle a practice match." Said Wood as Flint cut two more Slytherins. Those that remained where split into groups and Harry found himself sidelined for the time being. As he watched the groups before him Harry grew more confident that he would make seeker, but it all came down to how the Slytherins played against him. If they played a clean game he had no doubt things would go well, though currently they were stopping just short of not playing a clean game, using their cunning to simply not give Hooch any reason to foul them, which she would no doubt do, regardless that it wasn't a real match. Finally it was Harry's turn and he took to the sky, flying to the topmost starting position reserved for the seeker.

"Malfoy." He greeted, unsurprised that he was facing against his rival. Draco merely smirked and Harry sighed knowing already how this match was going to go.

"The quaffle is released and the final tryout beings!" Cried Jordan. "Gryffindor in possession, Katie Bell for Gryffindor has the quaffle, the second year possible chaser is sure flying fast as she dodges a bludger, dodges two Slytherin chasers, and scores!" Harry clapped for his teammate as he kept an eye out for the snitch. They were using a training one at the moment that had been spelled for a fifteen-minute game, so he really didn't have long to catch it. As he hovered over the pitch Harry kept an eye out both for the snitch and on Draco, in case he should spot it first. Luckily for Harry he had played and trained with Draco throughout the years so knew when he was faking and so far two attempts of Draco's to misdirect had failed.

"Chris Garland for Gryffindor in possession. Garland is a fourth year student who-has just lost the quaffle! Slytherin in possession, six year Malcom Baddock with the quaffle, flying towards the Gryffindor goalpost and…stopped by Fred or George Weasley and their bludger! Katie Bell for Gryffindor back in possession!" The game was quickly turning nasty, that much was clear, though how nasty would soon be determined unless Harry caught the snitch; Draco catching it was just unthinkable. Looking around even harder he saw Draco making a circle of the pitch, though thankfully it looked like he had not spotted the snitch himself yet. That changed in but a moment as Draco fell into a dive; this was no misdirect. Taking off as quickly as his school brook would go, Harry caught up to Draco and saw that the snitch had indeed finally been spotted. "And it looks like the snitch has been sighted!" Said Jordan. "Potter side checks Malfoy who side checks him back, both are neck and neck!"

"Give up, Potter." Draco snarled. "The snitch is mine."

"Not if I get it first." Harry snarled back.

"Potter and Malfoy both dodge bludgers sent their way though it looks like the aim of the beaters is off for it was Weasley or Weasley's bludger that almost hit Potter." Harry scowled at the twins who yelled sorry as the game practically drew to a stop, everyone watching the two first years who were in a near vertical dive. "Madam Hooch yells at the first years to pull up, though neither are giving an inch!" Jordan sounded surprised, and Harry supposed he was; not many first years would be able to pull off a dive like this. "Malfoy inches ahead, but Potter quickly catches up. It is too close to tell who might catch the snitch!"

"You'll both crash if you don't pull up" Madam Hooch could finally be heard above Jordan. "Pull up!" Neither did as instructed even though it was true that the ground was getting precariously close. However, the snitch was closer and that is what both of them were focused on. Harry could feel the wings fluttering as the tiny golden ball tried to get away, he was that close. Finally though, neither Harry nor Draco could ignore the ground any longer and both pulled up hard. Luckily the snitch had to pull up as well or it too would have hit the ground. Draco saw the snitch rear up as they did and reached out for it but he was too slow. Harry's hand shot out, his fingers wrapping around the little ball as he let out a whoop.

"Harry Potter has caught the snitch!" Yelled Jordan. "And what a catch it was, I don't think any of us have seen such a perfect display of skill by two first years ever in our lives!" Madam Hooch was not in agreement with Jordan and was currently screaming at both Harry and Draco, threatening them with taking away their flying privileges.

"Thank you, Madam Hooch." Said Professor McGonagall as she approached with Wood and the rest of the team, for which Katie Bell had just filled the open chaser position. "Potter, where did you learn to fly like that?" She asked.

"Blyff Williams, ma'am." He said. "He was hired to teach me."

"Teach us." Draco muttered before going off to speak with Flint.

"All right, to teach Malfoy and I." Harry amended.

"B-Blyff Williams?" Wood looked like he was about to have a stroke. "The famous seeker from Puddlemere United?" Harry nodded. Now both Wood and McGonagall looked like Christmas had come early.

"If Blyff Williams taught you himself then I think we've got our seeker!" Said Wood. "Welcome to the team, Potter!"

A/N - Last chapter to be posted for awhile I'm afraid. My health isn't doing too good at the moment so taking a bit of a break. Will keep it as short as I can!

Review please!