|
||||||||
|
||||||||
Author: DailyProphetReporting Story: The Season Rating: Young Teens Setting: Pre-HBP Status: WIP Reviews: 1 Words: 45,032
From the Daily Prophet of 3 June, 2000 Potter will play Hero commits to place with Puddlemere By Mike Thalia HOGSMEADE -- Filibuster Fireworks filled the sky long into the night Friday in Britain's tiny all-wizarding hamlet, and every flash of brilliant colour reflected the enthusiasm of the throng of witches and warlocks who danced and sang on the village streets. For supporters of the Puddlemere United Quidditch Club, it was a rare opportunity for pure joy. The Boy Who Lived is coming to Nimbus Arena. Harry Potter ended two weeks of speculation and years of anticipation by announcing he will honour his contract and join Britain's oldest team. He plans to attend United's summer training camp and, should he live up to the heavy expectations draped upon him, could be just three months away from his professional debut. "There is very little I have enjoyed more than playing Quidditch," Potter told the gathering of reporters and league and club officials at the Scottish headquarters of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. "It's so intense and exhilarating to go after the Snitch with broomsticks and Bludgers flying about. It would be such an honour to earn the chance to do that professionally. "Thus, after much thought, I have decided to try for a place with Puddlemere United. I will be on the pitch the 1st of August for the start of training, and I will work hard every day. It's the least I can do. Puddlemere has shown a great deal of faith in me by seeking out my services, and I intend to pay that back by giving my all. I don't know if that will be enough to win me a job, but it's the most I can promise. If my effort on the pitch comes anywhere close to the level of support the club has given me these last two weeks, I will be happy however things turn out. "Again, I want to thank Puddlemere United for this incredible opportunity. I will be looking forward to the 1st of August." The Boy Who Lived barely completed his statement before the first joyous Puddlemere fans began arriving to show their support. About three dozen witches and warlocks cheered and chanted Potter's name as he departed, and the crowd continued to grow throughout the afternoon. By sundown, a congregation of more than 200 was overflowing from the village's taverns. "I haven't seen a crowd like this since You-Know-Who disappeared the first time," said Rosmerta Remington, matron of the Three Broomsticks. "We've been full for hours. This is quite a party." The impromptu fireworks display and rowdy choruses of Puddlemere's team anthem, "Beat Back Those Bludgers Boys and Chuck that Quaffle Here," capped off the grandest celebration by United fans in decades. After 24 years without a league title, many in the crowd were already claiming victory. "We might as well be celebrating a championship," said jubilant rooter Elrick Scott. "With Harry Potter on our team, how can we lose?" Friday's announcement was also a triumph for Glenn Watson. The United manager orchestrated Potter's controversial 100,000-galleon move from the Cannons just 12 days ago. "I was delighted to hear that Harry has decided to join us," the fourth-year boss said of his new Seeker. "We definitely put a lot into bringing him here and to know that he will actually be in camp is unquestionably a relief. "But that isn't really about the gold or the hype. We made the transfer because we think Harry's going to be a brilliant player. Now he will have a chance to prove that himself. August training should be very exciting for this club, and I hope Harry can help make the 2nd of September and the rest of the season enjoyable as well." Officials with Chudley, the club that had held Potter's rights for more than two years before last week's transfer, declined comment. Meanwhile, the ownership and most of the players in Puddlemere shared Watson's enthusiasm. "It has always been our intention to field the best side possible," said United owner Meredith Mason, who has sunk over 500,000 Galleons into rebuilding her club over the last three years and watched its win total double from nine to 18 in that span. "The addition of Mr. Potter brings us depth and a great deal of raw talent. I think he will help us take the championship we have all waited so long for -- if not now, then in the near future." "Everything I have heard about Harry Potter -- as a player and as a person -- has been positive," added team captain Siobhan Moran. "I look forward to seeing the lad in the air. If he catches Snitches half as well he catches Dark wizards, he'll be a good one." The only ambivalence to be found in the Puddle U. camp came from the wizard who could be most effected by the Boy Who Lived's announcement. "I do not concern myself with who else is on the team," Samuel Diop, Puddlemere's primary Seeker, said in a fire interview. "It is my job to catch the Snitch, and that is what I do." Diop, a Senegal International, could be a formidable obstacle to Potter's chances of suiting up for United. The 1998 World Cup star has been a fixture at Nimbus Arena for two seasons, filling the place in the first seven in Puddlemere's last 48 games. Diop caught the Snitch 17 times during the 1998-99 campaign, his first with the club, and led the Quidditch League of Great Britain and Ireland with 19 captures last winter. Potter's Quidditch CV is considerably less distinguished. The Boy Who Lived has played a grand total of 12 organized matches, all at Hogwarts. The Gryffindor was a surprise first-year starter and posted an impressive 11-1 record when he was in uniform, but he won just two Hogwarts Quidditch Cups (1994 and 1998) in six seasons marred by injuries, suspensions, cancellations and spectacular crashes. Though he signed his professional contract -- rumoured to be worth about 60,000 galleons over five years -- with Chudley in 1998, he never reported to Cannons Coliseum before giving up the game in favour of an appointment to the Ministry of Magic's Auror Division. Potter was pressured into resigning from the Ministry last week. Last year's backup, Gregg Knapp, former Hollyhead reserve Gwen Ayres and 17-year-old rookie Ekatarina Petrova are the other Seekers under contract with United. Watson refused to speculate on what his first seven would be for the 2 September season opener at Portree but seemed to indicate Potter will have to work hard if he intends to be the blue and gold's first Seeker. "We have a number of highly skilled players under contract and to say that any of them will start with two months to go before the start of training would be most unjust," the manager said. "The entire reason we have a camp is to determine what is the best side we can send up. That said, we have a number of returning players, Samuel Diop among them, who have established themselves with this club. I think it's safe to say, they are the frontrunners to keep their positions." The Boy Who Lived is keeping his opinions on the road ahead to himself. Potter declined the Daily Prophet's request for an interview and referred all questions to his twin agents, Fred and George Weasley. "Like he said in his statement, Harry doesn't know if he will make the team or not." Fred Weasley said. "He is going to work for it though." "He started training with us and a few old friends this week," explained George Weasley, who teamed with his brother and Potter on the Gryffindor team at Hogwarts. "And we have ways to keep him at it, so he should be in good shape when camp starts," Fred Weasley added with a smile. "But," concluded George Weasley, "you're just going to have to wait with the rest of us to see what happens with our dear friend come September." While his supporters might have to wait months to find out what Potter's future will bring, a number of players and officials from other clubs did not hold back their scepticism about the league's newest star. "I doubt Mr. Potter will see the pitch this season," said Montrose manager Edmund Worthington. "Puddlemere is a very strong side and could well challenge for the top of the table. You cannot achieve that level of play with untested players." Wigtown's notorious Beater, Gunther LaRock, was more blunt. "Why are we talking about Harry Potter? What has he done on a broom? All he is is a wee little rookie with a famous name. Personally, I hope he does get to play against us. I would like nothing better than a chance to welcome him back to the game with a Bludger or two." But a bit of disbelief wasn't about to dampen the spirits of the long-suffering Puddlemere fans. For them, Potter's arrival ushers in a new hope after 24 years of frustration. "You can't help getting caught up in this kind of excitement," said Patrick Hartwell, 23, during a lull in Friday night's revelry. "This is the biggest thing to happen at United in my lifetime. Now I can't help but think something great is going to happen." --------------------------------------------------------------------- Mike Thalia covers Puddlemere United for the Daily Prophet. Owl him at thedpreporting@yahoo.com.
|