"Alright, one week till our first match. I know we'll do well. Mistakes can and will happen, but I couldn't ask for a better team. We all have worked hard and we are going to win that Quidditch cup, again. Three more practices until the game. We can still improve. Ravenclaw is not a pushover team. We have to take them seriously. So, if you have any issues or problems come to me about them or solve them. We need to be focused. Alright see you all next practice," he said, encouragingly. 
                              
      The rest of the team returned his sentiments, and Ron and Harry moved ahead of them to meet Hermione at the edge of the stands. She came to all the practices now, which she had never done before. Harry thought that she was just keeping him company out of sympathy, but it did not seem like it. Though she greeted both of them, she told Ron it had been a great practice. Harry shook it off as helping Ron getting over his nervousness, but whether Hermione was there or not, it made little difference. He was still going to be nervous, but they headed up into the Great Hall for lunch. When they sat down, Ginny came ate lunch with them, too.
                              
      "The team's not that bad this year. Oh, I forgot to tell you, Angelina sent Katie a letter, and she got on the Wimborne Wasps and Alicia is a reserve on Puddlemore United. They've been doing great," Ginny said.
                              
      "I wonder if she thinks I'm doing a good job," Ron said, unenthusiastically.
                              
      "Ron, she put you on the team, because she believed in you, not just because of your skill," Ginny said, coolly.
                              
      "Thanks, I'm just worried I'm going to mess up," Ron groaned.
                              
      "You won't, I know it," Harry said, looking Ron straight in the eyes. Ron looked slightly relieved by the reminder that Harry gave him the Captaincy.
                              
      "Yeah, Ron, the team looks great," Hermione said, reassuringly.
                              
      "Okay, let's go play some Exploding Snap or something," Ron said.
                              
      They finished their lunch and headed up to the common room. They played a few games, but then Hermione forced them to finish their homework. They went to bed early, knowing that Halloween was going to be a long day. Harry was not remotely interested in celebrating, but not participating would certainly cause alarm.  
                              
      He had another troubled night's sleep. Sirius had died again. He was sure no one woke up, when he jolted awake, but he kept still until morning. Ron, Dean, Neville, and Seamus had all decided to sleep in. Harry grew impatient and seriously considered throwing something at Ron to wake him up. The time he spent awake was not cheerful, either. Seamus was the first to stir, then Neville, Dean and finally, Ron woke up. Harry pretended to let Ron wake him.
                              
      "Hey! Come on, get up!" Ron said, and they got dressed and went downstairs. Hermione seemed almost as impatient as Harry was.
                              
      "I thought you guys would never wake up," she said irritably.
                              
      "Sorry, but we're going to have a lot of fun tonight, we need sleep. Right, Harry?" he said.
                              
      Harry nodded thinking about the three or four hours of sleep he got. They ate breakfast and went to visit Hagrid. As they walked over there, Harry looked over at the lake by the edge of the forest. Seamus was walking by himself, and staring at the pond as he walked. When he saw Harry had spotted him, he slowly walked over to them. His eyes were red.  
                              
      "What's going on?" Harry asked, trying to make it seem like he did not notice anything unusual.
                              
      "Just thinking. My mum has been getting threats from Death Eaters, but I don't really want to talk about it," he said, awkwardly. "I'll see you guys later."