Ginny placed her palms on the cool drinks table. Kicking off her kitten heels, she wriggled her pinched toes. Her sweaty tights peeled away from her skin, and she pressed her hands against her scarlet face. Neville grabbed a bottle and stooding beside her in the outlandishly decorated Great Hall. Ginny had spent the majority of her night in stunned silence, watching Neville debate with Professor Sprout on a range of Herbology led topics, (who knew there was morale argument over dead-heading mandrake?) It wasn't the night she was expecting, sure, but she found it quite exhilarating to see Neville in his stride, arguing against a teacher no less. But, Professor Sprout was a popular person, and after hours of replying 'Oo I love your dress, too!', 'No, he asked me.', 'Yes of course we support Harry.' Ginny started to turn quite sour, and Neville had hurried her onto the dance floor.
"I'm not the best dancer."
"You're a great dancer, Neville, you're just not used to a partner." Ginny smiled. After having her toes stepped on several times, she'd pulled them both off, looking for an quiet spot to view the crowd of from. Here the lights were dimmer, the music quieter. Her feet hurt less as she perched next to a brilliant, crystal punch bowl, surrounded by discarded bottles. It was the perfect place to watch the show.
"Thanks."
"Hm?"
"For coming with me- thanks."
"Yeah, it was fun... and I'm sure Hermione would have had fun with you too." Neville's head snapped up as she nudged his shoulder. "I know you wanted to go with her. She would have like to. She would! But, what can I say, she's internationally sort after now. Even you can't compete with an international superstar, Neville. Now I know you like to brag, 'I single- handedly won the house cup in my first year' and all that, but she's heard it all before! Krum won the world cup, when he was- oh wait..." Ginny grinned and Neville's shoulders began to shake with silent laughter. "Everyones gone a little mad this year, haven't they? Hermione's picked up a quidditch player. You asked out Hermione." Ginny hurried on, "But nobody's going to remember that when Ron murders Krum." She pointed to where she had eyed Harry sitting earlier. Sure enough Victor Krum was there, towering over Ron, who was glaring at him ferociously, dressed as a curtain rail.
"Harry got rejected by Chang- she's come with Diggory."
"Yep." Ginny nodded, swallowing hard. "But, look, he wants to snog that guy in the blue." Neville choked, and began craning his neck to see where Ginny was pointing. "Seriously though, Chang's all but crumping at this point." Ginny snorted. Cho Chang; the girl who'd caught Harry Potter's eye. A pretty, Ravenclaw seeker. Was there more to her than that?
"They're coming over here."
"What?" Ginny jumped. Neville whipped around, flustering with his jacket.
"They saw us staring and they're coming over here!" Ginny frowned glancing back to the dance floor, but she couldn't spot Chang or the rest of her group. Then she saw him. The-boy-in-blue was carving a path, threw the crowds, strait for them.
"Oh babbity rabbity, we were only looking!"
"Dean, wait up!" Neville called, disappearing as he dived after one of Ron's dorm mates.
"Neville!" Ginny hissed. She tried to shove her foot into her heel, which was one size too small. She kicked the second under the table in the process, and hurriedly ducked down to grab it.
"Hey," Ginny wacked her head on the underside of the table, "you looking for some spiked punch?"
"A shoe actually." She replied.
She appeared from beneath the table and was faced with The-boy-in-blue, holding out a glass of luminous, pink punch towards her. "But sure. Thanks." Ginny smiled, looking at him over her glass. He was cute. Light curls, pink lips. Big arms. She took a sip of her drink and gagged. "Dear Merlin, what did they spike it with?"
"Fire whisky? Spinner?" He guessed, startled, peering into his own tumbler.
"Well, I'm not a fan. You know what it reminds me off? My brother, Charlie, he used to bring back a new drink each year from wherever he'd been off too, chasing Occamy, dragons and the like. Except one year, I got my hands on his stash. So of course I drank the lot- to prove a point. I mean, what else was I going to do with it? Afterwards I vomited it all out under the mistletoe. Mm a very Merry Christmas. It reminds me of that." She was rambling and she knew it. But a warmth was building inside her, cracking out of her chest, fizzy through her body, like the blood rushing to her fingers and toes.
"I won't be needing that anymore, then." The-boy-in-blue muttered, but he flashed her a smile. Ginny laughed and flicked her long hair over her shoulder. He grabbed them two fresh bottles of butterbeer returning her laughter, his smile broad... and familiar.
"Hey! You're a Hufflepuff beater, right?"
"Yep-"
"In the match against Ravenclaw last year, you hit a Bluger Backbeat? That was epic."
"Thanks!" A bemused smile warmed his face. "I'm Toby Forber by the way."
"Ginny Weasley."
"Only two Weasley's on the Gryffindor don't play?" The room tilted slightly in Toby's eyes, but he masked his swaying by leisurely leaning on the table.
"No." She sighed, her shoulders sagging. "I was going to try out for the team this year, but-" She threw up her hand and huffed, raking her fingers through her fiery roots, sending the locks cascading down her back. She really needed a trim.
Toby's eyes stayed transfixed on the the scented hair that danced in the soft light. "Merlin it must suck not being able to play in your sixth year. And what about everyone in their seventh year? It's their last chance for the cup!"
"Ah," Toby spoke flashing her his toothy smile, "Now that there are ways around." He raised an eyebrow suggestively. Suggesting what, Ginny had no idea.
"Hey." A soft voice spoke at her shoulder and Ginny jumped. Again. Toby swayed unsettlingly at the movement and- counting his bets- decided it was best to sit squarely on the drinks table. Luckily only a couple of glasses where knocked over in the process, both empty. But Ginny was distracted besides; she had noted the Hermione's red rimmed eyes. She blocked Toby's view, and placed a light touch on her friends wrist. Hermione answered with a tight lipped smile. Taking this as an affirmation to carry on, Ginny turned back to introduce her.
"Hermione, this is Toby Forber beater of the Hufflepuff team." Ginny gave her friend a pointed look but Hermione just blinked back, smiling politely towards Toby. She had definitely fallen asleep during the match last year. Ginny shook her head and continued, "And Toby- I mean Forber this is Hermione Granger, the brightest witch of her age." Hermione blushed furiously. Shaking Toby's offering hand, she directed a glare at the third year. "What? You are!"
"You can just call me Toby." He laughed and leaned too far forward, but somehow managed to stay on the table, whilst retracting his hand from Hermione's cold one.
"Toby. Finally. I went to the wrong bar. Assistance needed." Two girls had appeared beside them. The first was out of breath, holding up the second and Ginny recognised her as another member of Chang's flamboyant clique. Her tanned skin seemed to glow but strands of dark fine hair where stuck to her forehead and the nape of her neck. She supported the second new arrival, a giggling tipsy blonde swathed in turquoise and teetering in silver heels. The brunette had positioned the girl on her hip so they lay flush together, gripping her waist with one arm, the other flung out for balance.
"Right-io! Back to the commons me thinks." Toby announced, slipping of the table, only staggering slightly. He placed the blonde's free arm around his shoulder. "Bye, brightest witch of her age!" Ginny laughed as Hermione's cooling face began to blush again. "Ginny, see you around?"
"Sure." She smiled.
"Well, I'll have no more of you saying 'I can't talk to boys'." Hermione huffed taking Ginny's Butterbeer from her hands and sipping at it.
"Wh-What do you mean?"
"I saw you as I was walking up here. Flicking your hair, smiling up at him, you're a natural."
"Really?" Ginny asked eyes wide, touching her hair, taking back her drink as Hermione bent to rub her ankles.
"Yes, really. It must just be Harry you're hopeless around."
"Um, Harry."
"Stop. Ok, answer me honestly. Where you attracted to erm," Hermione clicked her fingers, "Toby! Where you attracted to Toby?"
"Well yes he's pretty gorgeous... And he is fabulous at quidditch. Plus he offered me a drink and warned me it was spiked-"
"Great-"
"But," Ginny stopped Hermione, "he's like the same age as Fred and George, and I'm pretty sure a sixth year is not going to want to date a third year so-"
"Okay, okay, maybe he's not your best choice," Hermione replied, interrupting Ginny in turn. "I talked to my friend after the World Cup about you and your 'situation' with Harry-"
"You- Wait, your muggle friend!"
"Yes my Australian friend, Ginny. God we're not a different breed you know!"
"Hermione, for the last time! You. Are not. A muggl-"
"Do you want to know her advice or not?" Hermione snapped crossing her arm. Ginny sealed her lips, nodding her head. Hermione cocked an eyebrow.
After several seconds she cleared her throat, "She said, and I quote 'show him what he's missing.' "
"She wants me to play the field?" Ginny asked, head cocked as she looked out into the crowd. Hermione's nose wrinkled and her lips pursed as she followed her friends gaze.
"Hm. I don't know about that. But, maybe this is your way of getting over Harry."
"I suppose I would like some practice... Hermione! Get your own drink!" Ginny laughed as her friend took a last sip. Hermione's answering smile was less than lack lustre. "What happened?"
"Oh it doesn't matter. I'll sort it later. Aha there's Victor!" Hermione waved wildly across the room. The crowd parted so that the seventeen year old could stride through it. "Okay Ginny why don't you go talk to... him over there. He's in my year, Ravenclaw, loves quidditch, can't remember his name but he looks nice, and doesn't have a date."
"What about Neville?" Ginny whispered hurriedly, Victor's long strides covering the distance between them at an astonishing rate.
"Oh, I walked past him earlier he's talking to Seamus and Dean, it's fine."
"Are you su-"
"Now go!" Ginny felt herself get pushed in the back and skittered closer towards the throbbing mob of students.
" 'ermioninny I 'ave missed you."
Ginny took a deep breath and walked over to the blonde Ravenclaw Hermione had pointed out. She nocked into him slightly.
"Sorry! This place is packed! I love the weird sisters, but this tournament is still not worth cancelling quidditch over, you know?"
Chapter 4: Drown your sorrows
Authors note: Thank you Poppysmic7 for editing my first two chapter, and i apoligise to everyone else as she's not edited this last one, because i left it so down to the wire! See you next week x
BlushingBelle