Chapter 12:

Later that day Cedric approached Harry about quidditch tryouts which he was hosting on Sunday. He had written approval from Professor Sprout to allow him into tryouts, and the boy enthusiastically told him that either way he would have a place on the team as an understudy, or as a full-time player depending on the talent of the chaser tryouts.

Dumbledore had even sent him a message, requesting his presence after dinner, but none of that was nearly as interesting as the conversation he had with Darrel Abbot that afternoon.

After lunch had finished, and before Harry could head off to his last class of the week which was Charms, the fifth-year Hufflepuff prefect stopped him and told everyone else to go ahead. Normally the site of someone as large as Darrel holding someone up would intimidate a man, but Harry just kept an even look on his face, while Darrel spoke, "Look Potter, I just wanted to thank you for what you did for my sister. I obviously didn't see it myself, but I am getting my dad's Pensieve and would like to see the memory if you wouldn't mind showing it?"

Harry shrugged his shoulders, "I'm not so sure you want to. It's a memory I will be hopefully quick to forget. For a few horrifying moments, I thought I wasn't going to catch her, or that I was going to miss her when I flung that hex at her."

Darrel nodded in understanding but countered, "You grew up with your dad, who I know instilled the Pureblood traditions in you. I think you have to understand just what this means."

Harry shook his head, "I won't acknowledge a life debt between the two of us. Unless your head of house takes it as a slight of respect, then I won't do that to Hannah, she is my friend."

"You say that now, but in a few years, you may regret that decision. I know you didn't save her with the intention to get a life debt, if you did you would've declared it immediately, and I am sure we would've ended up locking wands over it." Darrel conceded.

Laughing for a moment, Harry realized the older boy was not joking, "I know the implications Darrel, and I will send word to my father of what has happened. But if I can avoid it, I will not put that kind of pressure on Hannah. Besides were too young to claim anything fun or useful out of a life debt. I have heard what older purebloods do, and I can honestly say I am probably too young to consider something like that."

With a knowing look, Darrel nodded, "But that hasn't stopped people in the past. I am sure had the tables been set differently and Malfoy had saved her, she would've been forced into a rather unpleasant life. I guess what I am trying to say other than thank you Harry is that, if you ever need something, from me or her, please all you have to do is ask."

Harry gave the boy a smile, "Just give me a fair shot at the dueling team. And I do mean fair. Just because I am a first-year doesn't mean I can't handle a wand. Other than that Darrel, I don't request anything besides friendship, from either of you."

Darrel gave the boy an eye of respect and offered his hand, "That's a promise Potter. I look forward to tryouts tomorrow."

Harry gave the boy a salute and took off towards his next class knowing he was going to be late. Arriving at Charms led to him explaining in private with a professor why he was late, and thankfully the tiny professor did not take off points from his house, as he had heard of what had transpired on the quidditch pitch that afternoon.

Classes had come and gone and Dinner was already coming to an end when the headmaster motioned for Harry to join him up at the head table. It was clear that whatever Dumbledore had to say he wanted it to be public, "Can I have everyone's attention, please. It has made it my old ears today that on our very own Hogwarts ground we almost lost a first-year student.

Thanks to the quick and noble efforts of our own Harry Potter, we were able to prevent such a thing from happening, however, I must warn everyone to be extra vigilant in these coming times. It had been determined that the broomstick that Ms. Abbot was put on was indeed hexed with some type of obscure charm that left no magical trace even to my eyes.

I fear there is nothing we can do at this point, but hopefully, this was a harmless prank gone wrong. I understand Madame Hooch awarded Mr. Potter thirty points for his quick thinking, and I will award him twenty more for his willingness to help a friend. Well done Mr. Potter!"

Harry gave the headmaster a slight bow of respect and took his seat with his housemates pounding him on the back and roaring their approval. The rest of the school even politely clapped for the heroics, but some were clearly concerned by Dumbledore's message. Harry was stealing looks at Quirrel for the rest of the evening, and even at one point went to talk to his mum before he was dismissed from dinner.

The next day proved to be a little less eventful than the previous. To start the day Harry was in the great hall while the Hufflepuffs lined up for the House dueling team. Darrel had explained it to Harry pretty simply. You had twelve duelers from each house.

Five of them would rotate every event, and the captain and co-captain would switch off in every event. The co-captain and captain cannot fight in the same round, but one of the two must fight in every match against rival houses. From there you were seeded by your captain, and you would face the other houses' duelers.

For example, Tonks was the first seed dueler even though she was not the captain, she was the co-captain, so Tonks would be the last to fight, and if it was like it normally was then she would have to face the Slytherin Headboy in their match against Slytherin because he was the first seed in his house.

However, it is possible that the sixth seed dueler (Marcus Flint last year) could go on a run and end up fighting Tonks, to win the match for his house, because he upset all the other Hufflepuff duelers. If Marcus did not win, then Tonks would have to follow up by defeating five more duelers. This is unlikely, but not unheard of. So the match always starts with the eleventh or twelfth seed and then it goes forward from there.

The youngest person on last year's Hufflepuff dueling team was Cedric Diggory and he was the third year. However a Gryffindor from last year Cormac Mclagen had made it and he was a second year. It was rumored that Neville was likely to make it this year, as the Gryffindor team had already had their tryouts.

Harry sat there in his dueling equipment as he watched several contestants step to the plate and attempt to shield against blasting charms thrown by Tonks and Darrel. The two would take turns against each contestant, and they were asked to shield against three charms, and then return three, if they could go on then the two would duel for a short bit.

So far Harry had noticed only six people make it to the stage, and all of them lost rather quickly from there. Harry knew Darrel had to fill three spots, because he had lost three seventh years last year, including the captain, so the green-eyed boy had hope.

It was also an interesting scene because many adults had gathered in the great hall, and not just parents (including his own), but Hufflepuff alumni, who were invited by professor Sprout.

Harry decided to pass the time with meditation and after maybe twenty duelers (they started with the oldest) they had finally made it to Harry. When Professor Sprout called out his name, his eyes shot open and jumped to his feet with lightning-fast reflexes.

If he learned anything from his godfather it's that sometimes the wow factor can go a long way. Darrel Abbot tapped Tonks out of the ring and he announced, "I acknowledge that I have let a first-year into tryouts, and while some may be skeptical, I gave my word to put together the best team possible, and from what I have heard Harry has some potential, and today we are going to test that.

Now, Harry, I am going to throw three blasting charms your way. I want you to shield, deflect, or dodge these curses in any way you feel necessary. Is that understood?"

Harry nodded his head, his wand at the ready. Darrel looked towards the stands to ensure Madame Pomfrey and Professor Sprout were ready, and then he flicked his wand forward, "Flipendo!"

The spell whizzed towards Harry, but he lazily flicked it to the side without batting an eyelash. This led to light applause and Darrel threw his next two spells together, "Stupefy, Perifcus Totalus!"

This time Harry flicked up a full shield that the crowd completely gasped at. Darrel for a second even looked at the shield stunned for a moment, but shook it off, "Now I would like you to throw three different curses at me. Make them whatever you want, and I will use my shield to deflect them."

Harry nodded making a quick step forward, "Deprimo, Expelliarmus!"

Harry threw the first spells as a part of a chain, then lastly followed up with his silent Perifcus Totalus, which was so far the only spell he could consistently cast silently. The crowd was now chattering immensely at the site of a first-year casting non-verbal magic, while Darrel had a huge grin on his face, "Very good Potter, now we shall duel, until I disarm or stun you. Are you ready?" When Harry nodded he turned to Professor Sprout, "Please count us down professor!"