So Much for No Strings Attached

Chapter 14 Potter Versus Krum

The idea for this chapter comes from Dorkchic.

 

Just before the Easter holidays Dumbledore announced the fact that there would be a Sporting and Games Contest at Hogwarts that would be open to anyone from Hogwarts, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. This was to take place during the Easter holidays.

 

Snape told Harry that Dumbledore had told him it was to generate more interaction and good will for when the war starts because he feared that Voldemort was getting stronger. Harry suspected it was to see which Light and Neutral wizards he could recruit. After all there was a duelling competition.

 

Lucius, however, thought it would make good publicity for Dumbledore after the incidents that had occurred over the last few years. First there was a teacher dying at the end of the year. Then there was the Chamber of Secrets being opened. Then there was Black being able to enter the castle (and even attack one of their students).

 

Harry had thought about entering the Magical Duelling competition like Draco and Hermione were but after thinking about decided it would be better not. There was only so much you could learn from books Harry knew. And Dumbledore would become suspicious if Harry had suddenly become far more powerful and knowledgeable on duelling than he was before. He'd love to show the world his skills but not yet.

 

Harry had instead entered with the Gryffindor Quidditch team and Katie Bell's boyfriend – Cormac McLaggen – the Quidditch competition. Harry was just glad that Ron hadn't tried to blag his way onto the team even if McLaggen was an arse. It had been voted upon since no captain had been chosen to replace Oliver as there was no Quidditch house tournament this year.

 

The Quidditch tournament was the most popular tournament naturally. There was a Durmstrang team lead by Krum himself which were naturally the favourites to win. There was the Beauxbatons team. Then there were the four Hogwarts house teams. Then there were around a dozen other teams made out of friends of Hogwarts students, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang who weren't on the main teams.

 

Ron had naturally signed up as a keeper along with Dean, Seamus and Ginny as chasers. Ginny had somehow managed to coerce an odd Ravenclaw into playing seeker although it looked like Ginny was her only friend. Harry couldn't help feeling sorry for the blonde girl. Then Colin and Dennis Creevey had wanted to join to be on the Boy Who Lived's best friend's team. They took the spot of beaters. Harry had almost winced at seeing the line up.

 

Harry had played Ron several times over the summers at the Burrow. He was decent enough but had a knack of panicking when the twins or Bill came towards him and swerving the opposite direction. Harry wasn't sure about Dean, Seamus, Ginny or the Ravenclaw girl. Then there was Colin and Dennis – on old school brooms – they may fly well enough (Harry again wasn't sure) but they were built for a Seeker's position or at the most a Chaser's. They could hardly hold the bat never mind swing it at a flying ball that wanted to take their head off. Harry wondered how many would be still on their brooms by the end of their first match.