CHAPTER 1

THE FALL

The October weather came as a relief to the senses: wide, clean and austere under the late morning sun. A gentle wind blew through the quickly-browning leaves. The air was cool. Early frosts had already tinged the grass on the Quidditch pitch with scarlet. Small flocks of late-migrating birds fluttered restlessly over the stands, their calls drowned by the cheers, boos and whistles of the crowd.

"And with that superb goal from Mannhart, that's one-seventy – fifty to the Harpies!" The ever present buzz from the crowd grew to a roar. "And that's Melhusih with the quaffle!"

Melhusih was small and squat, crouched over the quaffle like some grotesque gargoyle. He had a hooked nose, hunched shoulders and an evil expression. It was going to be easy to intercept his throw; Melhuish's tactic was to hold onto the quaffle as long as possible – a firm advantage to me.

"Melhusih dodges a bludger and – ooh!" the crowd gasped, "interception by Weasely! Harpies have the quaffle!" I winked at Melhuish, who gave me a terrible leer. I felt like laughing. The ugly goblin could TRY to get me back for that, but I wouldn't give him the chance.

"Mannhart! Weasley! Morgan! Mannhart! Weasley!" Neatly dodges a bludger and – SHE SCORES! AGAIN! HER TENTH THIS MATCH!"

I grinned wickedly at the orange-clad keeper who was scowling at me. I could feel the crowd swelling around me, and their answering appreciation of the goal hit my ears like a clap of thunder. It was for this,I thought, high-fiving a passing Regina Mannhart. This is why I play Quidditch.I turned my broom and prepared for play to recommence. The cheers of the crowd.

"Melhusih back in possession, passes to Foster! Dennen! Foster! Intercepted by Morgan!" I changed course and hastened to back up my team-mates. By leaning low over my broom, I accelerated towards Mannhart and Morgan, who desperately needed my help further up the pitch.

"Morgan throws to Mannhart who – ooh! Takes a bludger to the CHEST from Freud and DROPS THE QUAFFLE! Foster takes possession, Mel – HAS AUTUMN SEEN THE SNITCH?"

I swivelled in the air and felt the familiar 'whoosh' of air as Vera Autumn flew past me. I searched ahead of her and saw it, just above the opposing team's hoops – the golden snitch. It glinted innocently in the sun, flying serenely up towards the clouds. Game play seemed to freeze and the crowd drew its collective breaths. All eyes were upon Autumn and her opponent, Nash.

Autumn was closest, she reached out her hand to grab it, the snitch was fifteen, ten feet away. But Nash was gaining on her, he too reached out. They were neck and neck, only a few feet…

"COME ON VERA!" I yelled.

Autumn made a swiping movement with her outstretched hand and – "YES!" Autumn shouted.

The crowd's noise reached its crescendo. I streaked towards Vera, the other Harpies hot on my tail. I collided happily with Vera and enveloped her in a huge hug. I felt Regina's arms wrap around my shoulders, and Emily Morgan squeezed my waist. We piled in upon Vera until all of the team was in an airborne embrace. We were a mass of dark green and gold, each of us screaming our elation. Wewon. Euphoria was the only word to describe this feeling.

And then it happened. As if I was in a dream, everything grew bright. Vera's blonde turned yellow, the deep green of the robes was lime. Bright white light filled my eyes, like the light from a Patronus.

Suddenly, I felt very light-headed. I closed my eyes in the hope that the dizzy spell would go away - but that was a big mistake. Instantaneously, all my muscles relaxed. I felt the broom between my legs drop away, plummeting to the earth. The only reason I didn't follow it was that Emily and Regina's hold on me tightened at once. My head rolled back.

What was that shouting in my ears? Was it the crowd? Or was it Emily shouting for help? Why were they making such a noise? I was so drowsy. It was so nice just to lie here in my friends' arms. They should all be quiet, so I could just go to sleep…

It surprised me when I found myself on the grass. I could feel its stalks spiking my fingers, making them tingle ominously. It was still coated with the remnants of the frost, dampening my Quidditch robes. It struck me how short the felt, rather like the top of a shaved head, or the stubble of a man's beard: bristly.

It took me a moment to open my eyes, for they felt dry as the grass was wet. There was a lot of panicked yelling, so I tried to haul myself up, and see what on earth the racket was for.

"No, Gin!" someone unknown said, and pushed me back to the grass. "EMILY FOR GOD'S SAKE, GET HER A FUCKING HEALER!"

There was something deadly wrong. Why were my arms so heavy? Why did my head feel like it was made of stone? Why were my eyelids closing, as though I had no control over them? I wanted to ask, but my tongue had glued itself to the roof of my mouth, my lips cemented together. Why wouldn't my mouth open?

"Everything's going to be alright, Gin. Emily's just gone after Vera, they'll bring some Mediwitches. Stay with me, now, Gin," the voice said. It was kind, low, but most definitely a woman's. I knew I should recognise it. The deep vibrations were familiar…

Oh, it was Gwen. I could see her blurry face if I really concentrated, but it would be so much easier to succumb to the blurry black on the edges of my mind. I COULD just go back to sleep, if I really wanted. I let my lids fall shut. Blackness enveloped my view.

But she did say to stay awake, didn't she? And she WAS my captain, my heroine… at least I think she was… Anyways, I should probably do as she said. She had an unquestionable air of authority about her. Firm voice, firm grip on my arm.

I could sense a flurry of movement all round me, and the sounds were blurred into one loud buzz. Like a crowd watching Quidditch. Quidditch… who had won the match?

Opening my eyes again, I battled with myself to keep Gwen's toffee-coloured skin in view. I couldn't hope on focussing on her features, so I kept to the colours. Brown skin, black eyes, black hair, green robes. There was so much green. Green robes, green grass, green eyes.

Green eyes?

Harry's eyes!

"Ginny! Ginny!" I heard him say, as if from a great distance. I felt him brush the hair from my face. From far away it seemed, murmuring from more unknown voices swelled in my ear, as if we were all underwater.

I could see more colours. There was still green, brown, black, but now I could see blue, red and orange too. "She's come around again," a high-pitched voice said.

More movement. People twittered and fluttered around me like the flocks of birds flying over the pitch earlier. Had I fallen unconscious again just now?

I felt my unbelievably heavy body heaved upright, and they leant me against someone. Their strong arms wrapped around my body, holding me close. I recognised those hands.

Oh, Harry.

"No! Ginny, please, stay with me!" he said. Someone had just said that earlier. Why couldn't I remember it? Just a few seconds ago felt like a distant memory. What was wrong with me?

Maybe I was just tired. Oh, I was so tired.

"Come on, Gin!" Gwen gave my arm a little shake, as though she could shake off the lethargic feel steeling over me.

Just give me a minute, I silently told them. Just a minute. I'm not dying, I promise.

I closed my eyes once more…

Hello lovely readers! What do you think? Please review?
Oh, and are there any beta readers out there with a bit of medical knowledge? I'd like to know what happens when each of your major organs malfunction. But enough with the spoilers!
Thanks for all the great response so far! I love you guys :')