chap14pg1

�What was that about?� Harry asked angrily. Ron�s hand gripped Harry�s arm tightly as he yanked him down the hallways.
�Nothing,� Ron said curtly. �I just want you to hurry, we have to get to Quidditch practice.� Harry seriously doubted that this had caused Ron to act so strangely, but he decided not to badger him about it.
�Well, in that case you can let go of me now,� he said. Ron released his hand from Harry�s arm, but continued to race down the hallway. Harry stumbled to keep up. �Will you slow down?� he asked. Ron�s pace slowed slightly, but he still was walking rather quickly. �What�s with you today, anyway?� Harry said. Ron stopped dead, causing Harry to nearly crash into him.
�Nothing, ok?� Ron said crossly. �Stop asking me so many questions!� Harry stared at Ron in shock, as he started to storm off. He quickly began to follow him to the Gryffindor commons room.
After Harry and Ron were finished changing for Quidditch practice, they ran off to the locker rooms, broomsticks in hand.
�I can�t believe how late we are!� Harry panted. A fine captain I am, he thought. I can�t even show up on time for practice! They burst through the door to the locker rooms. The entire Gryffindor team stared at them.
�There you are!� George said cheerfully as he stepped towards Harry and Ron.
�Sorry we�re late,� Harry apologized.
�Not a problem!� Fred piped from the table. Harry trudged over to the table.
�So, captain, what�s the plan for today?� George asked happily. Harry sighed deeply. He regretted he had taken the job as captain now, but it was too late.
�Well,� Harry began, �I want you, Ron to work with the chasers,� he said to Ron. He turned to the three girls. �You can all shoot on him, but try to go one at a time.� He looked at the twins. �Fred and George, I want you to take turns throwing balls to each other and hitting them, sort of like baseball.�
�Baseball?� Fred asked. Both of them looked very confused.
�Oh,� Harry corrected himself. �Never mind. Just take this ball and while one of you throws it, the other should hit it with your club as hard as you can,� he said, handing them a bludger-sized ball. �I�ll just be throwing these golf balls and catching them before they hit the ground.� He got up to go, but Angelina stopped him.
�Harry,� she started, �We have to wait for the professor that is supervising us.�
�Who did you get, guys?� Katie asked the twins. They both gave her uneasy looks.
�There was only one teacher available,� Fred said apologetically to Harry.
�Who?� Harry asked.
�Well, we got�� George stuttered. Suddenly, Ron gave a startled look towards the door of the locker rooms.
�Professor Figg?� he gasped. Everyone turned to the door. Mrs. Figg was standing there, smirking.
�Surprised to see me, Mr. Weasley?� she asked, walking over to the table.
�N-no ma�am,� he mumbled, looking at the floor.
�Good,� she said. �Now, lets start this practice before it gets dark, shall we?� The entire team stood up immediately, and started towards the door. Harry felt a little uneasy. Why did Mrs. Figg want to watch Harry so carefully? He remembered the way she had spoken to him, and this made him nervous. He saw Ron walking towards the door, and decided to express his concern. Harry grabbed Ron�s sleeve and pulled him over to where he was standing.
�What is it?� Ron asked irately.
�Keep an eye on Professor Figg,� Harry whispered. �I don�t like how she�s following me around everywhere.�
�Oh, ok,� Ron agreed. They walked out onto the field, and then began their training. Harry steered his broom towards the sky. Once he was high enough, he grabbed a golf ball from his pocket. After gathering a lot of strength, he threw it as far as he could. It sailed forward for a few seconds, then began to drop. Harry quickly accelerated his broom towards the speeding ball. He quickly dove beneath the ball and caught it, less than ten feet from the ground. Suddenly, he heard clapping. He looked over to the bleachers, where he saw Colin Creevey and his little brother Dennis. They were clapping madly, and Harry got a bit angry. The last thing he wanted right now was for the Creevey brothers to be watching him practice. He flew over to them.