Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Summary: After Hogwarts with Voldemort gone and Harry by her side, life should be perfect for Ginny Weasley, but when the lies start to pile up she starts to wonder. Maybe the chosen one is not so wonderful after all. D/G, Post-Hogwarts, rated M for later.
"Excellent score by the new chaser Ginny Weasley, who has proved to be a valuable addition to the Holyhead Harpies," roared the commentator at the last Quidditch game in the British and Irish Quidditch League. If everything went right, and the Seeker caught the Snitch on time, her team was going to win the league. She was in her prime, doing what she did best.
She spotted a head with jet black hair, surrounded by redheads. She knew it had to be her boyfriend Harry, surrounded by her crazy family. He had managed to get some time off his Auror training to see the Quidditch finals, to see her play. She started on the team straight after Hogwarts, but the first season she played very little. This season she had been playing at every single game. It was tiring, but she loved every minute of it.
The opposing team, Puddlemere United, was good, but they were not as organized. Ginny smirked as the Bludger hit one of the Chasers and the Quaffle fell in the hands of her team again. She sped off to help her teammate score another goal.
Harry was far from the only male in the audience watching the graceful redhead chase after the Quaffle. High up on the stands, in one of the extremely expensive lounges, sat Draco Malfoy.
Draco was slightly annoyed that one of the Weasleys was playing on his favorite team, but he had to admit she was good at what she was doing. She looked good too, so he really could not complain. He could think of a few things to do with her if she was his, but she was with wonder boy and would probably marry him and give birth to a horde of brats. He sighed and stretched in the seat.
"Looks like our girls are winning," his best friend Blaise Zabini said cheerfully and took a sip of Firewhiskey. They both favoured the Holyhead Harpies simply because it was an all female team, which made an interesting sport even more entertaining to watch.
Draco raised his eyebrow and looked at his much more easy-going friend, "It is not over yet," he drawled lazily and continued to follow the redheaded vixen on the pitch.
"Tsk, you're such a pessimist, Draco. What are the chances that they wont?" Blaise asked and followed his gaze, "Got some good eye-candy on the pitch this season, don't you think?"
"The Snitch isn't caught yet, so anything could happen," Draco mumbled without looking away from the game.
"Suppose it is up to the better Seeker to catch it then, or the cannier one," Blaise replied and smirked.
Draco turned to look at his friend; he was up to something again, "What are you on about?" Draco asked, pretending to be bored with the conversation.
"Oh, I thought it was obvious, or at least it is obvious that you want that sexy redhead who is scoring for your favorite team right now," said Blaise and took another sip of Firewhiskey.
"She is hot, I'll admit that, but she isn't my style. Besides, everyone in the whole Wizarding world expects her to marry pothead," Draco remarked.
"Pothead might screw things up... He is not perfect."
"Yes, but she has fawned after him for years. Besides, I told you, she's not my type."
"Keep telling yourself that, mate. If that makes you happy," Blaise responded and watched as the seekers were hurtling towards the ground neck to neck. Draco cursed loudly as the seeker of the opposite team caught the golden Snitch.
"See, even though the odds are bad the cannier Seeker can win the game," Blaise said and stood up to Disapparate home.
Draco shot him a death-glare and stood up himself. He didn't really want the Weasley girl, though she would be a good shag. He sighed and Apparated back to his luxury flat in London to take a cold shower.
Ginny hung her head in the locker room. They had been so close, then the other team's Seeker caught the Snitch with a margin of only a few inches. If they had only scored four more goals, it would not have mattered.
"Cheer up Ginny, there is nothing else to do right now. They just got lucky," her teammate and old school friend Angelina Johnson said.
"I know, but we were so close! Maybe next year..." she trailed off. There was no point speculating the next season yet. They had to find a new Seeker as their Seeker quit after the defeat.
"Don't worry about it now, let the team manager and captain deal with next season's problems," Angelina said and stood up to leave the lockers.
Ginny sighed and followed her gloomily. She Apparated to the Burrow to meet up with her family.
"I'm so sorry Gin, you guys were so close," her mother sobbed and hugged Ginny as soon as she appeared in the garden by the Burrow.
"It's okay mum, really, just let me go," Ginny said breathlessly as her mum gave her a bear-hug.
"Come inside, I have dinner on the stove. It will be ready soon, I just need to re-heat it," she said and tugged Ginny towards the house.
All of her brothers, her father, and Hermione were already seated around the table looking gloom.
"If it wasn't for that stupid seeker..." George started but was too upset to continue the sentence.
"She quit," Ginny said curtly and plopped down in a seat.
"Really?" Bill asked curiously.
"Yeah, I guess the defeat really hurt her pride," she answered and played with her fork.
"Probably scared to get kicked off," Ron muttered.
"Maybe... Where's Harry?" Ginny asked, suddenly aware that he was not by the table.
"Oh, he had to run to the Ministry, he said. I think he's got his tracking test tonight, but I'm not sure. I took mine last night, we all do it separate nights. It is just unlucky he happens to have it the night of your game," Ron responded. Both he and Harry were training to become Aurors, which took years. They had started their training soon after Voldemort's death, but still had one more year of training to go.
"Okay, I guess he will be home late then," Ginny said, feeling rather disappointed even though she knew it wasn't Harry's fault.
Her family continued to discuss the game over dinner, but she felt depressed. Things had started out so good. They had been winning game after game in the tournament so it had almost made up for all the time she missed spending with Harry. Even though she knew that he was rarely at home himself due to the Auror training.
"I think I will go back to the flat now, I'm tired," she said and stood up from the scrubbed wooden table.
"Alright, we'll be right with you, Ginny," Hermione said and flicked her wand to help Molly clear the table.
Ginny nodded and waved goodbye to everyone. She shared a flat in Diagon Alley with Harry, Ron and Hermione. The trio wanted to live together after they defeated Voldemort and moved into a large flat that could accommodate all three of them plus Ginny, once she graduated. It was a good arrangement at the time, though nowadays Ginny felt like it would be nicer to live on her own. Hermione could be extremely bossy around the house.
She Apparated straight into her room in the flat. She decided to take a bath even though she had taken a quick shower after the game. She wanted to loosen up her muscles and relax. Tomorrow would be another day.
Many thanks to Written Sparks for beta reading :)