Author's Note: I want to thank everyone who has read so far. After the last chapter, I had twenty-two messages in my e-mail, all of them either people adding it to their favorites or watching me. But, I'd still like you guys to tell me what you think! I want to make this the best story I possibly can, and I can't do that if I don't know what you like or dislike about it, or any ideas for future plot-lines! So, let me know please!

Pre HPB

Disclaimer: Still not mine. Sad, isn't it?

What Women Want

Try-Outs

Harry sighed, watching the current Gryffindor team hopeful try out. When he had accepted the position of quidditch captain that summer, he thought it might be a good way to keep his mind off Sirius. He had no idea how frustrating it would be to hold try-outs. Each person who took the field seemed worse then the last.

He was currently trying out beaters. So far, he had been through six people and none of them had matched the energy or strength that the Weasley twins had possessed. Some players who had tried out could barely lift the bats, making flying with them quite impossible.

The last person who was signed up to try-out was Chloe Garcia, one of the girls Harry had met in the Great Hall. He had only seen one decent try-out at this point, and the fact that his last hopeful was a girl did nothing to improve his mood.

Grumpily, he told her to mount her broom, and watched her fly off. He was surprised. She flew around the pitch with an easy grace, looping the chasers and waiting for a time when she needed to protect her fellow players. Harry waited, sure that she wouldn't have enough power to make much impact on a bludger.

Finally, a bludger shot quickly at Echo, who had been made a chaser earlier that day. Chloe lifted her bat with a fierce determination, and swung.

'Take that!'

All her force went into it. The bludger came flying at the side lines, right where Harry stood watching. He ducked just in time, and the bludger made contact with the stands behind him.

Harry blew his whistle, signaling for the bludger to be restrained. Chloe touched down in front of him. "Well..?"

"You're the best player I've seen all day," he admitted slowly. Seeing her start to grin, he continued. "But you have got to work on your aim! You can't just hit the bludger at the fans, or worse your team mates! You almost took my head off!"

At this, her smirk grew.

'And if you wouldn't of ducked, I would of hit my target. Doubt me again, Shaggy. See what happens.'

She turned and walked away without saying anything. She joined the other beater hopefuls waiting on the field. Harry went to talk to the players he had already assigned to the team. After a few minutes discussion, they were all in agreement.

"Alden Anderson and Chloe Garcia, congratulations. Everyone else, we thank you for your time and ask that you please leave the field."

Chloe had started doing sort of a victory dance.

'I knew I'd get picked. I love when a guy has to admit he's wrong. I bet Viktor is never wrong though!'

'She's really devoted to her favorite quidditch player,' Harry thought to himself, before calling his new team over. He had planned on talking strategy with them, but the girls were too busy squealing with in their minds that Harry couldn't pull himself to do that.

"You guys did a really great job today. I think we have a pretty good team here, and I want you all to get some rest tonight. Our first official practice will be tomorrow, and we can see how we all work together."

The team started walking away, but Harry called Chloe back.

'What now? Does he doubt my ability to walk across the field too?'

Harry rolled his eyes. "You did really great today. I'm sorry I laughed at the idea of you being a beater. I was just surprised. I've never heard of a woman beater. I was wrong."

'Of course you were.'

"So, to make it up to you, how about I buy you a drink or something at Hogsmeade?"

He could hear her thinking, wondering if she should really encourage Harry's ego.

'Well he met Viktor. If Viktor likes him, he must be ok!'

She nodded at him. "Sure, Harry. I'd like that." And she walked away.

Harry was satisfied. He felt that making an attempt at finding someone he loved was all he could do. He spotted Ron walking in the castle, and smiled. Maybe in the meantime he could at least help Hermione get the guy she loved.

He was about to yell at Ron to wait, but then he heard a voice inside his head.

'The team looks good this year. I wish I could have tried out, I love Quidditch so much. I guess with Harry being there it wouldn't work though.'

It was the same voice that he had heard at breakfast. Whoever she was, she was thinking about Harry again.

'Look at all those girls staring at him. They weren't so interested in him last year when they were making him out to be a fool. But now that the ministry has admitted he was right all along, they're right back to fawning over him. I bet they've never even spoken to him.'

Harry scanned the people in the stands, who had been watching the try-outs. Most of those that remained were female, and many of them stared at him. It was once again impossible to pick out the voice, though he was sure he had it before.

'I know he's a great person and has a good heart.'

Harry left the field, more confused then ever.