Disclaimer: Hmm… No I don't Harry Potter.

Well it's been some time since my last update. My apologies to all those who have been waiting. I'm pretty sure that I promised the Harry/Ginny talk in this chapter but I had a lot to cover so I've have to split it in two. There is a bit of a build up in this one but hopefully the next one will see some actual interaction between the two. Stay tuned… Thank you everyone for the reviews by the way.

Chapter 10.

Ginny

"I'm really glad you called me again." I say with absolute sincerity. Harry's last floo has been keeping me awake for more nights now than I'd like to admit to myself. When Oliver had called to ask me to brunch this morning there was no hesitation on my behalf. My husband had moved on! Why shouldn't I do the same?

He's standing there in his training robes, obviously meeting me before he has to start work. Flying around on a broom all day playing quidditch doesn't seem like too bad a career choice to me. "Yeah well truthfully I've been wanting to call you since the moment our lunch ended… but I held myself back. It's not 'cool' to seem too eager right?" he offers with a smirk.

He's always been able to make me smile. "So where were you planning on eating?"

"I could do with a big breakfast this morning, so how about we head to The Leaky Cauldron." He reaches for my hand and I visibly stiffen. Noticing my change in demeanour he gives me a gentle look. "Baby steps Ginny… one at a time I promise." His hand is warm as it gently grasps mine. It's almost as if he weren't touching me at all, which is an honest relief to my system. My body relaxes further when I realise that he's doing this on purpose. Baby steps is right.

After eating a meal that I'm certain was half his weight in eggs, we talk for what seems like hours but can only be less since he's supposed to be heading off to training at some point. "So how long are you planning on staying with The Cannons? Your contract must be up soon so you must be scouting for a spot with a slightly more prestigious team?" I say taking a large sip of coffee.

"I feel like we're doing an interview Gin." He says with a laugh.

Grimacing I apologise. "You're right! Bad habit! I promise not to do the bombardment thing."

"No no! It just reminds me of old times. Do you remember when you interviewed me just after I made it to the big leagues? You were so professional and all I could think of was how little you were when you first joined the Gryffindor team."

I join in with his laughter. "That was a great night. It turned into a right party when Fred and George arrived. Then Harry came home and it was just like old times-" I don't even realise I've spoken his name until it's out of my mouth. It might be the first time I've said it aloud in weeks. I feel the lump in my throat and Oliver looks away.

His voice is soft. "Yeah that was a great night."

I break the eventual silence. "We've been married for more than eighteen years you know… and they were great years Oliver."

"Ginny-"

"I'm sorry. I thought that I was ready to do this. And if it was going to be anyone you'd be it… but I can't. I just can't." I can hear the sadness and the frustration in my voice. I wish that I could do this. I wish that I could move on… but I couldn't even move past it with Harry. How am I supposed to move past it with anyone else?

"Ginny I get it." He says taking my hand. "You and I don't have to be anything more than friends. I swear that all I want is to see the same woman I saw all those years ago." I feel myself smile sadly at him and take a deep breath. I need not worry about saying anything since Wood can pretty much talk his way through any situation. "So back to your questions. No I'm not looking to join another team. In fact I'm thinking it's about time that I got out of the game altogether. Am I crazy?"

I throw him a genuine smile. It's as easy as that. "No Wood. You're not crazy." We talk for a while longer discussing the first quidditch match of the season at Hogwarts on Saturday.

"So all your kids are on the team now… you'll be there with bells on!" He says with a grin.

"That I will! They're all playing too… James' last year and Mia's first. Merlin I can't wait to see her up there."

"I'm going you know… Maybe we could go together?" His voice is gentle and I know it's an olive branch in the friendship direction. "That is unless you're already going with someone else."

"No I actually didn't have plans to go with anyone, so it'd be nice to have someone to sit with in the stands."

"Brilliant! So should we say meet there at around noon?"

"Sounds like a plan to me… at the pitch entrance near the third stand."

"Okay then Saturday it is. Now I've actually got to get to practice today or I might find myself out of the league sooner than I was intending!" I'm laughing as he stands up to collect his training bag. It takes me by surprise when he gives me a quick hug before darting out the door. "See you Saturday!" He calls over his shoulder. I remain at the table and order more coffee. No need to go home just yet. At least that's what I was thinking until she walked in the door.

~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~

Tamara Cross… that's her name. She'd been to our house for dinner… my house… sat at my dinner table and ate with my family! Then she had sex with my husband. This was the woman my husband was in love with. I couldn't help but stare at her, at her hair slicked back behind her ears, the way she smiled at Tom when she ordered, all teeth and snappy hand gestures. Is this what Harry looks at? Is this what Harry loves now? This fake person in front of me.

Her eyes meet mine across six tables. I'm drawn to those big black eyes like a moth to a flame, unable to look away, unable to move. My face is like stone. I can feel the emptiness in my eyes. I hate this woman and everything she represents. My mind is working double time. Things are beginning to shift and I realise that I'm standing. My feet are moving and the tables between us disappear. I'm almost directly in front of her when she draws her wand. It's not aimed at me. It simply hangs by her side, at the ready. Idiot! I motion to Tom and flick him a galleon. "Thank you Tom." Then I'm walking directly past her and I feel her weight shift and stiffen. In a moment I'm out the door. Baby steps Ginny… baby steps.

The fresh air is heaven on my flushed skin. My pulse is racing and all I want to do is go back into the pub and beat the living shit out of that piece of trash! But if there is anyone on this planet who is worth less of my energy it is her. I stare straight ahead and begin walking away from the building. With a quick turn and flick of my wrist I'm back in my kitchen… safe. For the first time in a long time I want the phone to ring or the floo to light up, but instead I'm met with silence. No children, no work… no husband… just me.

Tugging on my short locks I'm reminded of my mantra. No more feeling fucking sorry for yourself! In less than five minutes I'm changed into sweatpants and a tee, pulling on my trainers. Just run it all out Gin!

~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~

James

With only a couple of days before our first match on Saturday I figured some extra practice was in order. Grabbing my broom I'm through the common room and down at the change rooms in record time… an hour early. It should give me some solo pitch time before the rest of the team arrives. I can smell her before I see her… that faint scent of butter and oranges. How the hell did I know that?

"You came!" My voice is rough and I have to cough to bring it back to normal.

She smirks at me and turns back to her locker. "I said I would didn't I?"

"You're early." I say pulling my robes off and fastening my protective gear.

"So are you Potter." She says turning around.

"James. I think you can bring yourself to call me James now Price… and I'll endeavour to call you Emily." I'm grinning and take a few steps towards her. I can feel the electricity practically bouncing as I close the distance between us. I want to run my hands through that pixie cut so badly my palms are itching. Obviously she spots my intention and before I can raise my fingers to her cheek she's slipped under my arm and is standing behind me, smiling and… Is she blushing?

"Save it for Hogsmead… James. Now let's train."

I take a breath before grabbing my broom. "Alright Emily let's train." I can feel the smile stretching across my smile. She's coming to Hogsmead.

For the next two hours I try as hard as I can to focus on the task at hand… getting them all ready for Saturday. Ravenclaw is the team to beat this year. The Chang triplets have finally arrived for their first year and it looks like they're just as good as their older brother. Kellan needs to work on his passing with Mia. She's a great player but seriously needs to learn how to work with team mates that aren't Potters. Leo and Price are in fine form as usual, smashing absolutely everything in sight. All in all we're as ready as we're going to be for Saturday's match. Signaling for everyone to make there way to the ground I make a nose dive before pulling up a metre above the ground… never hurts to test out the broom every once and a while… and well if Price found it impressive that's just a bonus!

"Are we done James or what mate? My arms are killing me!" Leo's out of breath and sufficiently red in the face. Actually we're all pretty red in the face. I can tell I've worked them over more than a little!

"Yeah we're done everybody… But remember to sleep Friday night, especially you Mia! This'll be your first real game and I don't want any mistakes because you're too tired or haven't eaten!" I can tell my voice is a little harsh but I'm in Captain mode.

"For your information James I do sleep and I'm not gonna make any mistakes." She pipes up. I can hear the annoyed tone in her voice.

"Mia you know what I mean! You're gonna make mistakes and that's cool… but not because of being tired or skipped breakfast. Got it?"

"Yeah I've got it alright!" Then she turns right around and walks back towards the changing rooms.

"Don't be so hard on her. It's her first game for crying out loud!" Says Lilly, with a slap to my shoulder.

"The Changs are good Lil. They'll be hard to beat. She needs to be prepped."

"Just take it from me when I say that you've prepped her enough for one week. Now leave her alone. You know she's dealing with a lot."

"We're all dealing with a lot Lilly." Ant's voice is harsh and strained. Shit! This was supposed to be practice, not counseling!

"Enough! Let's all go get changed and back to the dorms. It's late and dark and I for one am bone tired." Price has saved the day.

"Price is right. Let's all get some sleep and regroup on Saturday morning." I finish off as everyone makes their way back to the building on the far side of the pitch. When we reach the change rooms however, Mia is nowhere to be seen.

"She must have gone to shower in the castle." Ant says grabbing her bag. There's a silence as we all pack up our gear.

Then Lilly's voice comes out of nowhere with the one comment that could wreck my day. "Dad wrote to Mia this afternoon… he's coming on Saturday." Neither Antonia or I say anything. I honestly have nothing to say. "You can imagine the pressure she's feeling right now. Plus… Mum's coming."

"Lilly leave it alone! I don't want to know anymore. I only want to think about the game right now okay… so leave it be!" Ant spits out before storming off.

I turn to follow her. "James!" Lilly calls out "He's still our Father!"

I pause. What does she want from me? "Yeah Lilly he is… but he's no longer Dad."

~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~