A/N: Hi guys, I'm back with another chapter...Ughh I'm so sorry for this absolutely long delay...I had my exams goin on and then when these holidays started, high school friends reunion was just taking tooo long...Anyhow hope you enjoy this chapter...and I hope you guys will review soo i won't feel so guilty abt the long gap lol *sheepish grin*

Practises and Promises

"GO GINNY GOOO!!!" Harry cheered from the stands as he gripped the railings tightly.

Beside him Teddy was standing on his chair, his cheer reduced to a low chant as his eyes ran wildly around the pitch, watching the game intently, not missing a thing.

Ginny was too high up in the hair on her Firebolt to be able to listen and was anyway too indugled to register. Besides she had a charmed bludger chasing her. There was no way she would let herself get distracted. She expertly passed the Quaffle to Valmai Morgan, the outside chaser while Gayle Phillips- one of their beaters approached stealthily to dodge them. She had so much as steered her broomstick towards Morgan, when the Quaffle was passed back to Ginny, who without wasting a second or blinking an eye raced towards the hoops and scored her tenth goal.

Harry let out a shrill and loud whistle from the stands.

Ginny glanced at their team captain, Gwenog Jones and made a 'T' with her hands, yelling "Time Out" once. The Bludger following Ginny immediately stopped mid-air and then dropped instantly. Ginny lowered herself from her broom slowly. Gwenog approached with a slight curve to her lips. This was the closest you could get to a smile from Gwenog, Ginny observed.

"Wicked game, Weasley."

"Wicked charm, Jones" Ginny replied quickly, gesturing towards the fallen Bludger.

"Only because you're one of the best. I wouldn't try that on any other player, except maybe Morgan, but she's played beside me for far too long. I think you're good for today. Keep it up." she said with a pat to her shoulder. She then turned and walked towards Gayle yelling at her about not doing a good job.

"GINNYYYYY" She saw Teddy running towards her with a zealous smile on his face, his hair a bright yellow and his arms outsretched. Her heart gave an involuntary skip at the sight of Harry following, walking rapidly trying to catch up, an equally enigmatic smile glued to his face. Teddy ran into her and hugged her knees, being short and all.

"Heyy" she said fondly as she crouched down and kissed Teddy on the top of his head. "Did you like the game, Ted?" she asked.

"Yeshh, Ginny was Glreat!"

"Aww thank you, Teddy"

"Yourl welcome!" he answered automatically, just the way he had been taught.

She reached back up only to be looking into intense emerald orbs.

"Hey you"

"Hello yourself" Harry gave her a quick but meaningful peck to the lips before putting his arms around her encasing her into him. Ginny couldnt help but wonder for the millionth time, how well they fit together.

"How did you like the game?"

"Awesome" he replied as he let go of her and then added, "so many things to watch. So many girls..." he trailed off a cheeky grin curving his lips. This earned him a hard elbow to the chest.

"Oww" he rubbed the bruised area while Teddy chortled shamelessly.

"I shall be hitting the showers now. I'm too filthy. Can't believe you guys hugged me like this" she looked down at her practise robes with disgust.

"Want me to join you?" Harry asked lowly with a sly grin on his face.

"NO!" Ginny said her eyes wide, "besides" she added in a calmer tone, "Gwenog looks like she's trying to get your attention" she made a motion behind his back.

"Oh" he turned.

"Potter!" Gwenog called out "get your arse over here. I need to speak to you about securing the wards."

"Auror Business" Harry sighed.

"Right. See you in ten" She kissed his cheek before he grabbed hold of Teddy's hand and made his way to captain of the Holyhead Harpies.

"So what did she want?" Ginny asked Harry, running a hand through her wet hair. Harry looked up from where he was sitting and brooding, "Oh she wanted me to secure the wards for your game" He paused for a second with a silly grin on his face before repeating, "Me!"

"Are you serious?"

"Yes! She wants me to take care of the wards!"

"Bloody hell Harry, that's unbelieveable!" she hugged him tightly.

"Better believe it."

"Wait" she said as she pulled back a little and a confused expression took over her freckled face, "you're allowed to do that during training?"

"Well, not my fault, Auror training takes more than 2 years" Harry shrugged.

"In any case, that amazing! We should celebrate!" Ginny clapped excitedly.

"Yeah?"

"Absolutely! Three Broomsticks?"

"Alright. I shall drop Ted at your house then. Yeah?"

"Ok, I'll meet you at Hogsmeade" Before Harry went to collect Teddy (who was busy flying on his imaginary broomstick), Ginny tugged on his sleeve and asked him to not be late, to which he kissed her softly on the nose and said that he won't.

"C'mon just one drink. Let me buy you just one drink" The tall, bulky and very drunk guy drawled.

"No. How many times really? I don't want a drink, not from you atleast" Ginny responded in irritance.

" K forget the drink. How might a nice time at the inn, yeah girly?" He sidled up closer. Close enough that she could smell the stench of his drink in his breath.

"OH Merlin NO! You know what? My boyfriend is going to come soon. He won't like this scene too much" She clicked her tongue angrily, and to add to her annoyance he wouldn't stop staring at her mouth. How he was able to concentrate and focus on something was beyond her understanding, him being pissed-drunk and all. She looked at the door of Three Broomsticks for the millionth time, hoping her boyfriend would appear.

What in Merlin's beard was keeping him?

"Oh boyfriend shmoyfriend. What he doesn't know won't hurt him. C'mon, get your pretty arse up, if we wann do this, we need all the time in the world" He made a show of hands.

"K you really don't know who my boyfriend is, do you?"

"I don't really care either. Did I mention that it's you I want" the ugly guy paused for a second before gesturing with his hands, "right here" which made Ginny close her eyes in disgust as she tried to stop herself from gagging, "I'm gonna make you-"

"Hi Sir?" a calm male voice interuppted, followed by a hand that turned the big ugly guy on his feet. Harry repeated, "Hi" with a deadly calm expression on his face, "if you fill my girlfriend's head with such things ever again or so much as look at her ever again, I'm going to make sure Voldemort isn't the last thing I eliminated from the world" he was just about to turn when he faced the open-mouthed big guy again, "Besides" he added with a small smile to his face, "don't you know her?" pointing at Ginny, "she's Harry Potter's girlfriend! Wait you don't know her? Don't you read the Daily Prophet at all?" He fished his pockets and produced two sickles and placed it in the still openmouthed man's palm, "Here, get yourself the paper. It'll keep you aware!" and with a pat on the big guy's back he turned and grabbed hold of Ginny's hand to usher her away.

The warmth and familiarity of his hand in hers got her to swallow her disgust and got her mind at ease. Not to forget, got her faith back in men again. Harry, made a motion towards Madam Rosemerta (she never seemed to age) who immediately set up a cozy and secluded spot for the two. One that had a large window that looked out to Hogwarts and one that was Ginny's favourite spot in the pub. And Harry knew that.

As Harry settled down, with their still intertwined hands, he pulled her closer to himself, thanks to attached seats and he put his arm around her. In the heavy silence, she peeked from under her lashes up at him, to see him working his jaw.

"Everything k?" she asked softly.

"NO!" he replied aggresively, before changing his stance " Ughh I should be asking you that!"

"Creep" she muttered under her breath.

"Damn it, I wanted to...crush him" he made a gesture with his fingers to illustrate his point.

"Harry" she touched his arm lightly, "it's ok. Really"

"NO, hell no!" he ran a hand through his hand mussing it up more than it already was, "I guess I should be used to it, with you being...beautiful and all" he added sheepishly, "but I'm not, I'm really not...everyone knows us and I guess everyone knows better than to mess with us. But this was..." He shrugged

"I realized-" he started but stopped when Madam Rosemerta approached them with their usuals. She smiled at them tightly sensing the heaviness of the situation and quickly left.

"So, I was saying that, I think I'm taking you for granted... and I'm sorry. I'm promise I'm gonna try and be a better boyfriend from now on!" he said with a confident smile.

Ginny smiled and hoped that it didn't turn out as a grimace. It probably didn't because he took her hand and kissed it fondly.

No No NOOO! This was going all wrong, Ginny realized. He couldn't be a better boyfriend. He was perfection itself. But what was it going to take to make him realize that it wasn't good enough. The situation that had taken place could have probably been a lot better if Ginny had had a wedding ring to wave at the creep.

She looked down at her mug, "I think I need something stronger than butterbeer."