Chapter 3

Quidditch Star

Ginny's POV

A month passed after the incident at Harry's without me saying a single word to him. I had seen him, it would have been rather hard not to be seeing as he appeared almost everywhere I went. I tried to ignore him when he approached me. I either turned and struck up a conversation with the person next to me or simply walked away. He seemed to get discouraged after a while and stopped showing up. Either that or his Quidditch practices took up all his time.

It was probably the Quidditch.

He was smart though, and gave tickets to all the Puddlemere United matches to my entire family. So I was practically dragged to each match.

And that is how I found myself stalling in my bedroom dressed in navy from head to toe.

"GINNY!" Ron's irritated voice echoed down the hallway of my flat. "Hurry up! We have to get there to see them warm up!"

I sighed, and walked out of my room. Ron was standing in the hallway dressed with the left half of his body navy and the right half bright orange.

"What in the bloody hell are you wearing?" I asked him. He looked rather ridiculous.

"Hermione did it!" He beamed. "I couldn't just support one team! My best mate is on one and the other is the team I've loved for my entire life!"

I rolled my eyes and walked around him out to the living room where Hermione was waiting. She was dressed in an oversized Puddlemere shirt and jeans. She smiled as I approached her.

"About time." She said playfully. "Ron was about to burst down your door."

I rolled my eyes again. "My brother is a moron. And by the way, he looks like one too."

Hermione just smiled, "I like to keep him happy."

"I'll be happy once we make it to the pitch! Let's go!" Ron yelled from the front door.

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Twenty minutes into the game I regretted my decision to come. Well, it wasn't so much MY decision to come, but nevertheless I did not want to be there any longer. Harry had not lost any of his flying ability; in fact he seemed to have only gotten much better. Within the first twenty minutes he had already faked the other seeker out three times; and effectively tiring him to the point that he was barely hanging onto his broom. Harry, on the other hand, looked just fine. In fact, the navy quidditch robes suited him perfectly as he flew around the pitch, dodging bludgers and players with ease.

I had never been so attracted to him in my entire life. And this was why I needed to leave.

" LOOK!" Ron screamed from his seat next to me. "Harry's seen the snitch! Look! I can see it in front of him!"

My eyes followed Ron's finger and I too saw Harry chasing after the snitch. He suddenly dove downward; obviously the snitch had changed direction.

"He's going to crash into the ground!" Hermione shrieked from my other side. I rolled my eyes; Harry knew what he was doing.

I watched as Harry got dangerously close to the ground, gaining speed with his hand outstretched. I held my breath; he was surely going to crash. But at the last moment I saw him pull up with the golden snitch grasped in his hand and a large smile on his face.

I sat back as the entire stadium cheered loudly.

"And that ladies and gents is the shortest game in Quidditch history!" the announcer's voice was barely audible over the roar of the crowd.

I watched as Harry took a victory flight around the pitch. As he got closer his eyes caught mine. He stopped right in front of where Ron, Hermione and I were seated and looked directly at me.

"That was for you," he said, and then he turned to join his celebrating team on the ground.

"I have to go." I mumbled as I scrambled from my seat and ran up the steps and out of the stadium.

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"So, why are we here drinking to your sorrow?" Saranna asked as we sat at the far end of the bar.

"Three Firewhiskeys." I told the bartender and then faced Saranna. "I wanted to go out with you and Luna." I lied feebly.

"Yeah, sure. Does this have anything to do with the fact that you went to Harry's match today?"

"Do not say his name to me please." I murmured. The bartender placed our drinks down. Luna raised her in the air.

"To He Who Must Not Be Named the second." She said quietly and then downed her drink in one gulp.

Saranna started laughing hysterically; tears were streaming down her face. I frowned.

"Not funny Luna." I said through clenched teeth.

"Harry!" Luna said loudly as she jumped from her stool and walked quickly to the door. I froze. Perfect. Fan-freaking-tastic.

"Well this is going to be interesting." Saranna said dryly.

I glared at her.

"It seems that he and the entire Puddlemere United team just walked in the door. Shall I order us some more drinks?"

"No need." Harry's voice startled me. I turned to face him. "I've got your three's drinks this evening. Order what you want." He turned to the bartender. "Javier, put these three's drinks on my tab tonight." He smiled pleasantly at me. "Did you enjoy the match today?"

I looked at him curiously. "It was fine."

He raised his eyebrows at me and was about to say something when one of his teammates came up behind him, clapping him on the shoulder.

"Why Ginny Weasley! I have heard so much about you!" An extremely handsome man held out his hand for a handshake. I shook his hand and a brilliant idea flooded my mind.

"Thanks," I smiled coyly. "But I don't seem to know your name."

"Oh! I'm so daft, sorry beautiful. I'm…" but before the dark-haired stranger could finish his sentence Saranna screamed.

"Benji?"

"Saranna?" He replied, looking completely shocked.

"Uh… Do you two know each other?" I asked.

Saranna looked a bit green, "We dated back in school." She answered me quietly.

Understanding that the situation needed to be diffused, I turned to the bartender.

"Javier! We need a round of firewhiskey for the entire bar!" Harry would regret giving us access to his tab, I would make sure of that.

I drank the firewhiskey in one gulp and noticed that Saranna had disappeared into the crowd. Harry was mysteriously missing as well. I assumed that his hero complex would not allow him to leave her alone. He was probably hugging her at this very moment.

"Did you want another drink?" Benji asked from the stool next to me, the one Saranna had recently vacated.

"Sure," I smiled at him. "So you're from America?"

"Yeah, I'm from Chicago. But I went to school in Salem with Saranna, obviously. I was playing Chaser for the Sweetwater Allstars before they traded me here. But that was fine; I always wanted to see more of the world."

"I played Chaser in school." I mentioned offhandedly.

"I know. Harry told us." He motioned towards the door where the rest of the quidditch team had entered. "He said you were really good. Why didn't you play for the Harpies? They could use some help this season." He leaned forward with an inquisitive look on his face. He really was handsome.

"I never thought about it much." I admitted. "I wanted to make a difference in the world. Healing has always been what I wanted to do. I will admit that watching today really made me want to start playing again."

Just then the music changed from background to full on dancing music. It seemed that no one wanted to be the first on the dance floor.

Benji leaned forward. "Want to dance?"

I was about to say no, but then I saw Harry heading towards us.

"Yes!" I yelled, grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the floor.

It didn't take long for me to realize that the firewhiskey I had consumed was taking effect. I felt the tell-tale tingling in my fingers.

After a few songs I needed a break. So I grabbed Benji's hand and hauled him back over to the bar.

"Not all of us are big, strong quidditch players." I teased, poking his muscular chest.

He just grinned at me and ordered more firewhiskey. I was about to sit on the stool, but before I could I felt myself being pulled in the other direction, right onto Benji's lap.

"Sit here." He murmured into my ear.

I knew what my reaction should have been. I should have hexed him on the spot, poured my drink in his face and stormed off. But I didn't. I hadn't had enough to be drunk, but I was feeling fine and his forwardness was flattering.

"What would my mother think?" I asked, giggling into Benji's shoulder.

"Hey Harry, having a good time?" Benji suddenly asked, sounding a bit guilty. I turned to see Harry settling into the stool where I almost sat.

"Not bad." He answered. "I just got back actually. I walked Saranna and Luna home." He was looking at me. No not looking, staring at me. I didn't want to meet his eyes.

I pecked Benji on the cheek. "Want to go dance again?" I purred in his ear.

He nodded and I hopped off of his lap, tripping on something on my way down. Harry reached his arm out and caught me before I could fall over.

"Careful Gin." He whispered, the double meaning was obvious in his voice.

I pulled my arm out of his grasp.

"I'll be just fine." I snapped, and then I turned and pulled Benji out onto the dance floor.

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I groaned as the sunlight streamed in the window directly into my eyes. My head was pounding and my entire body felt like it was covered in bruises. I sat up and realized I was not in my flat. I was lying in a large bed that had what felt like satin sheets. Who the bloody hell has red satin sheets?

I panicked slightly. What had happened last night? I took inventory of myself. I had all my clothes on still. That was a good sign.

"Morning sunshine!" Benji's voice was overly bright and cheery.

"What time is it?" I asked sitting up. The room spun slightly when I moved. I grabbed on the side of the bed and waited for it to stop.

"Oh, about noon. You were out for quite a while. But I suppose vomiting that much can really take it out of a person."

I closed my eyes and groaned. Had I really gotten sick?

"I'm sorry Benji." I mumbled pathetically.

He walked over to the bed and handed me a small bottle. "Hangover potion. Drink it. It will help. And don't worry about it. I let you drink too much."

I took the small bottle and drank it in one gulp, grimacing at the taste.

"Do you want to shower?" He asked politely. "You can borrow some of my clothes too. It'll make you feel much better, I promise."

I looked down at myself. A shower would be a vast improvement.

"Sure," I answered.

After my shower I dressed quickly in a pair of old shorts and an old Allstars jersey. I walked out into the kitchen combing my fingers through my wet hair.

"How about breakfast?" He asked all cheery again. "Not only am I amazing on the Quidditch Pitch, but I'm a genius in the kitchen!"

I nodded and he smiled at me.

"You sure do look good in that jersey."

"Knock, Knock!" A familiar voice echoed into the kitchen. "Draco needs an egg. Can we borrow…" Harry's voice trailed off as he entered the kitchen.

"Sure," Benji answered unfazed as he tossed an egg across the kitchen to Harry. Harry caught it without taking his eyes off of me.

I just stood there, not blinking.

"Thanks mate." Harry answered and he turned and left the room.

"So," Benji continued talking as he worked over the stove. "Would you like to go out on a date with me this week? I'd really like to get to know you better."

I sat down in the kitchen chair. "Yeah, sure." I answered without really thinking.

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Harry's POV

"Wait, you are telling me that Ginny is up there in Benji's flat. Dressed in his clothes with wet hair and he is cooking her breakfast?!?!?!" Her voice had escalated to the point of yelling.

I just nodded. I was surprised too. I knew she had spent most of the night all over him to spite me. I had never expected her to go that far to drive me away.

"How very Slytherin of her." Draco commented, looking a bit amused. "I never saw Ginny as the one night stand type."

I smacked him in the chest and wandered over to the sofa. Saranna followed me, she looked dazed.

"Ginny and Benji?" she asked quietly to herself. "My Benji and your Ginny?"

I looked over at her curiously. "Your Benji?"


A/N Hello! Anyone else see Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince last night?!?!?! I did! Stood in line for 6 hours too! Best one yet, I believe. Anyway, so again I'm on Twitter and update about what I'm upto with my story and stuff. hptwifanficer follow me and I'll give you a shout out or somthing... :-D So... Review! Review! Review! and Love to my Beta from Javier the bartender. Hey sexy ;-)