Exhibition is a Right: Chapter 15 Early Release (Patreon)

"A Question of Captaincy"

The next morning, Harry sat down to breakfast a seat down from Fay. At her questioning look, he simply smiled sheepishly. He mouthed “he's on his way” to which she rolled her eyes playfully and thanked him before returning to her conversation with her friends.

Beginning to add food to his plate, Harry felt himself get flanked by people behind him. Before he could turn, Lavender and Parvati took the seats either side of him.

“Morning Harry! Did you sleep well?” Lavender asked with a teasing grin. Parvati giggled, blushing slightly at her tone.

Harry glanced at either side, taking in their skimpy uniforms. Both girls chose to wear their shirts differently, with Lavender tying hers in a knot around her impressive bust while Parvati had it buttoned…barely. Two, by his count.

“Morning ladies. Yes, I did. Something tired me out, after all…” he said with a significant look at Lavender. She simply gave him a smoldering look. Harry chuckled before turning to Parvati. “Sorry about…you know. Not having enough time.”

Parvati sighed, before shrugging. “Hardly your fault. Though, next time, it's my turn first.” Harry raised a brow, “next time huh?” Lavender shifted nearer, her thigh touching his own. “Now, don't act like you don't want that, Harry…we could even do so again tonight…”

Harry turned, coming almost face to face with Lavender, as she was now quite close. He couldn’t help but take in her features. Lavender used more cosmetics than many witches, but they were used tastefully. Her lashes were long, and her eyes had noticeable mascara and eye shadow. Her lips had a deep red lipstick, and they puckered slightly towards him…

“If you're quite done, you two…” came a stern voice from behind them. Separating rapidly in embarrassment, Harry looked back to see Madam Hooch stood behind him with a raised eyebrow. “Hello Professor…can I help?” he asked, trying to be as nonchalant as possible. Parvati suppressing her giggles beside him didn't help matters.

Madam Hooch shook her head, before looking at Harry. “Congratulations for making Captain, Mr. Potter. Now, as I'm sure you've figured, this year's extra activities makes having a normal tournament impossible.” Harry nodded. He had wondered when it was announced after all.

“Well, to that end, I've requested that the four house team captains come to my office after classes today to resolve this. I will see you later, Mr. Potter…do try to avoid any discretion until then” she said, casting an eye at the blushing Lavender. She nodded, before turning to walk back towards the staff table. 

Once she was out of ear shot, Lavender sighed. “Well, there goes that idea of meeting again tonight. Oh well. Think you can manage to resist, Parv?”

Parvati rolled her eyes. “I'll manage. I'm not desperate like you, Lavender.” Lavender gasped, and the two started bickering good naturedly across from each other.

Harry smiled at their antics, returning to his breakfast with gusto. “Having more friends is one good result from coming here…that's for sure.”

The day's classes went by mostly smoothly. Neither Charms nor Herbology were classes that were unpleasant, and it certainly beat yesterday's Potions class.

The one point of interest was when Harry was required to practice the colour changing charm as review during Charms. Having to use the elder wand, he was still struggling a little to control his output.

While he didn't cause anything dramatic, like Seamus's love of causing explosions, he did cause his gobstone to constantly shift colours in a rainbow. When he had simply been trying to make it red. It continued to change until the class was dismissed, despite his attempt to revert it.

He was now heading towards Madam Hooch's for the meeting of the Quidditch captains. Madam Hooch's office was on the ground floor, accessible from the grounds as well as in the castle, something useful for the school's flying instructor.

As he turned the corner into the corridor with her office, he was met with the sight of two of the other captains.

Cedric was hardly a surprise. During their brief conversations at the Quidditch world cup, they had chatted about their teams, after all. However, the petite, dark haired Cho next to him was less so.

“Huh, I had thought Roger Davies had been Ravenclaws captain before…” As he neared, he took note of the two. Cho was currently smiling up at Cedric, tucked into his side slightly and conversing comfortably. Their close proximity suggested that they were already more than friends.

Harry felt a slight pang of regret. Sure, his history with Cho was hardly a normal relationship…but she was still his first ever crush. Seeing her again was bringing some of those feelings back. Given how good Cho looked in her current attire of a tight sports bra and even tighter yoga pants was not helping his regret any…

Shaking his head out of his reverie, he picked up his pace, his footfalls alerting them to his presence. “Hey there Harry!” Cedric greeted, Cho waving from his side with a smile.

“Hey guys. What do you think we're in store for?” Harry replied, coming to stop opposite. Cho shrugged, tucking her hair behind her ear. “No idea…though, I'm excited by the idea of playing against other schools!”

Harry nodded, fully in agreement. Cedric scratched his neck sheepishly, “It was a bit of a mess at the World cup, huh? I hope you weren't too caught up in that mess?”

Harry repressed a wince, thankful that the Daily Prophet did not out just how “involved” he was. “Err..no, managed to escape into the forest. You?”

Cedric chuckled, “Dad got us port keyed out as soon as the trouble started. Being a ministry employee has its benefits. Now, we're just waiting on Slytherin’s captain…ah, there he is…now…”

Harry saw Cedric's slight wince before he turned. He had expected to see the thuggish visage of Flint, but was instead greeted by an even less welcome sight…Draco Malfoy.

 “Well, that explains why he wasn't made a Perfect…” Harry turned and braced himself for the superiority complex that was about to come his way.

To his surprise, Draco did not immediately approach with a sneer, nor did he immediately insult him. Instead, he stopped in front of them with a carefully neutral expression.

“Potter. Diggory. Chang.” He looked at Harry specifically. “I must say, I'm surprised to see you here, I had thought Johnson would take the badge”.

Harry frowned, not quite sure how to take this approach. Sure, it wasn't friendly, per se. But it was far more polite than he was used to from Malfoy.

“Yes, I was surprised too…what about you? Flint got bored with the role?” he asked, trying to gauge Malfoy’s reaction.

Malfoy frowned and shook his head. “He failed one too many classes last term. So his captaincy was revoked. I was chosen as his replacement.”

Harry nodded. It made sense, Flint was never the brightest student. Before he could continue this strange interaction, the door to the office opened and Madam Hooch appeared. “Come in.” She then stepped back and allowed them entry.

Harry let the others enter ahead of him. Old habits die hard, and he wasn't keen to show his back to Malfoy anytime soon. Even if he was being strangely civil.

Once inside, there was an obvious set of chairs set in front of the desk. Harry took his seat on the opposite side of Cho, meaning he was the furthest from Draco.

Madam Hooch sat in her chair across from them. “Now, this year presents an exciting opportunity for Quidditch at this school. With the tournament, we will be expected to put together a team to compete against the other two schools. However, this also presents a bit of a dilemma.”

She looks over the four of them. “There are four teams. But only one will be needed for the competition. With some reserves, as well. There are also four captains…you. I think you can see where I'm coming from”

The four nodded, looking at each other hesitantly. Clearly, all four of them couldn’t act as captain simultaneously. Cedric cleared his throat. “And…er..what would the solution be?”

Madam Hooch leant back. “You are all old enough, and I hope mature enough, to figure it out yourselves.”

“We will need to pick one of us to be the captain. Maybe a vice as well…” Cho murmured, looking around at the others. Harry and Cedric nodded in agreement. Draco raised an eyebrow. “And which of us will be that captain?”

Harry shrugged. “Cedric” the other three turned to him. “Well, this year is our first year as captains, right? Cedric's the only one with experience.” Cho nods enthusiastically, while Draco seems to begrudgingly agree.

Cedric however, looks a little sheepish as he rubs the back of his head. “Well, while I appreciate the vote of confidence…I'm afraid I'm going to have to disappoint you.” Madam Hooch simply raises a brow, while the others look at him curiously.

Straightening up, Cedric looks directly at Madam Hooch. “I would like to decline the opportunity to play in the inter school competition.” Harry's eyebrows raised in surprise. Draco almost spluttered. Cho…seemed resigned, as if she was expecting him to do so.

Hooch just calmly leant forward. “May I ask why, Mr. Diggory?” Cedric nodded. “I plan to enter my name towards being champion. If I get it…well, I want to focus solely on that.”

“And if you don't get chosen?” Hooch asks, looking at him over her glasses. Cedric shrugs. “Then I'll focus on helping Cho. I won't expect to still be able to play.” Cho smiled with a faint blush, tracing her thumb over the back of his hand.

Cedric grinned at the group. “Besides, I count three seekers here. One of us would have to drop out, at least.”

Harry frowns. “That's a good point…though, I had thought all of us were seekers…” He cast an eye over the others. He suspected Cho was still a seeker…so what then, was Draco?

Hooch nodded and leaned back. “A well thought out response. Very well, though I am sad not to have your skill assisting us, this does mean that the problem of the Seeker position is likely solved. Still, only one of the three of you should be Captain.”

Surprisingly, Draco spoke up. “Then it should be Chang.” Harry almost choked on his own tongue. “What? Not himself?”

Seeing the looks cast his way, he elaborated. “Me and Potter do not see eye to eye. Something mother constantly points out, to my frustration. If either of us were the captain…then we would argue. And that will not help us win this tournament.”

He grimaces slightly. “Being captain would be good. Winning the tournament? That would be better.” He then leans back, seemingly purposefully avoiding looking at Harry.

Harry shrugs. “He's not wrong. I also vote Cho.” Cho looks ready to protest, but an encouraging look from Cedric stops her. Instead she smiles and nods. “Very well. I accept”.

Madam Hooch nods. “Good. Now that that is sorted, there's the matter of the team itself, and its reserves. Now, while you could simply pick your team out, Miss Chang, I thoroughly recommend you hold tryouts. No doubt all the team players will want a chance to compete, after all.”

Cho nods with a contemplative look. “I will. Could we say, next Saturday? Gives us a chance to put notices up in the common room” she says, looking at the others.

The others all agreed. Madam Hooch nodded and stood from her seat. “Well, with that sorted, I will not keep you. Good luck on Saturday, and when you have decided on your final roster, please inform me.”

Everyone stood, saying their goodbyes before leaving the office. Once outside, Harry turned towards Cedric and Cho. “Well, I can't say I'm not surprised. It will be a shame not to have you there, Cedric.”

Cedric chuckled. “You don't need me there to win this tournament. You've got this. Besides, if I have my way, I'll be working towards a different cup.”

Cho stepped forwards. “Thanks for voting for me. Though, don't think I'm going to go easy on you. I want to get that starter spot as seeker after all.” She then stepped forwards and hugged him, with Harry having to try very hard not to think about the ample breasts pressing against his chest. Especially with Cedric right there!

“You're welcome, Cho. I look forward to earning my starter spot” he teased, looking over her shoulder nervously. Thankfully, Cedric did not seem to mind his girlfriend hugging another guy, if his easy smile was anything to go by.

Cho separated from him, and with some final goodbyes, the pair walked away. As his eyes trailed a little lower to the tightly clad ass bouncing in her yoga pants, Harry shook his head and turned away. “That's just not playing fair…”

When he finished turning, he paused when he saw Draco leaning against the corridor wall, looking at him with a bored expression.

“What?” Harry asked, folding his arms and looking at him challengingly. Draco scoffed, before pushing off from the wall. “Don't worry, Potter. I won't tell Diggory you were checking out his girlfriend.”

As he moved to go past, Harry felt he had to ask the question that had been bugging him since he turned up. “Why?”

Draco paused, looking at him with a confused face. “Why are you being civil? As you said in the office, we do not get on…so why so polite?”

Draco huffed. “Contrary to popular opinion, the world does not revolve around you, Potter. Perhaps I have simply grown tired of antagonising you.” Seeing his unimpressed look, he sighed before turning towards him properly.

“Mother has made me promise not to be antagonistic towards you. I do not know why, but I respect her enough to listen to her. But if you decide to pick a fight with me…” he leaves the words hanging. 

Harry blinks, before frowning. “I don't remember ever being the one to pick the fight. Still, if we are going to try to win the Quidditch tournament…” He hesitated briefly, before holding his hand out in a handshake to Draco.

Looking down his nose at the offered handshake, Draco sniffs before stepping past Harry and ignoring it completely. “Don't get the wrong idea, Potter. I'll be civil, not friendly.”

As he disappears round the corner, Harry awkwardly lowers his hand again with a chuckle. “Right, civil…” putting his hands in his pockets, he started making his way back towards the Gryffindor common room.

“Quidditch, duelling, academics…this tournament is sure to be more involved than the last time. Question is.. should I intervene to prevent my name being put in by Crouch?” 

It was a question that had been bugging him. On the one hand, stopping it happening would prevent Voldemort from conducting the ritual. It could buy precious time. But on the other…it would give him the opportunity to face him on his own terms. He could surprise him the moment the portkey lands…

Still, he had time to make a decision yet, Halloween was still almost a month away. “I wonder if Ron is up for some exploding snap…”