A/N: Happy 35th Birthday Gwenog!

January 4, 2003

"Alright ladies, listen up!"

All eyes turned to face the Holyhead Harpies captain as she stormed into the dressing room. Her face was a mask of determination as she strode confidently into the middle of the room and put her hands on her hips. Ginny stopped midway through lacing up her boots and looked up at her captain. There was just something about Gwenog Jones that was inspiring - perhaps it was the way she held herself, or her fierce expression. Whatever it was, it enabled her to have the utmost attention of the six other women in the room.

"Today is the day," Gwenog began, tossing her long, dark ponytail over her shoulder as she addressed her team. "There is no turning back now. We've come this far already, there's no reason why we shouldn't go further!"

Ginny listened with adoration as Gwenog continued her motivational speech, as she did before every game. She noticed that this particular pep talk held far more emotion, possibly due to the fact that they were now playing off in the Quarter Finals of the English League. It was a spectacular achievement; no one had picked the Harpies on making it this far, but Gwenog had always known that her girls had it in them.

"We're playing the Wanderers today. Now, I know they finished above us on the ladder, but we beat them the last time we played them, and there's no reason why we can't do it again today!"

Her dark eyes narrowed and her expression changed to one more serious. "If we don't win today, it's the end of the road. If we win, we'll move forward to the Semi Finals, and depending on the victor, will either play the Arrows or the Bats."

She began pacing the room, eying each team member carefully as they strapped on their Quidditch gear and laced up their boots.

"Do not doubt yourselves. Each of you is capable of winning today. No one picked us. No one thought we were good enough! But I did! I knew I picked a brilliant team, and today, we will go out and prove to everyone how wrong they were to underestimate us!"

"Hear, hear!" Some on the girls cried, throwing their fists in the air. Ginny grinned. She loved it when Gwenog affected her teammates such that they began to cheer. It created a great atmosphere. The woman was one of the greatest motivators Ginny had ever known.

"Bring it in, ladies!" she cried, her eyes flashing with pride. The six woman gathered around her and put their hands together in the centre.

"Who are we?" Gwenog cried.

"HARPIES!"

"What do we want?"

"VICTORY!" they all roared and threw their hands up in the air.

As the team made their way out of the change room, Ginny caught up to Gwenog and fell into step beside her.

"Hey, Captain," she said.

"Yes, Potter?"

"Happy Birthday!"

The beautiful Beater flashed her a grin and nodded her head. "Let's make it one to remember!"

A/N: Hope you enjoyed that little birthday snippet :) Please read and review! xx