Disclaimer - I don't own Harry Potter, but I'd consider taking over.
Chapter Ten: A Triumph
The following morning Harry was up early. He dressed himself carefully, pulling a dark blue sweatshirt over his white t-shirt and took his blue and white Colwyn Bay Albatrosses scarf out of a drawer. He and Ron would be travelling up to Colwyn Bay in Northern Wales to watch Ginny play Quidditch later that morning.
As he went downstairs he stopped on the second floor and knocked on Ron's door. He heard Ron grunt and the sound of feet shuffling across the carpet. Satisfied, Harry continued downstairs to the kitchen. Inside it was warm and the smells and sounds of frying bacon and sausage brought a smile to Harry's face.
Kreacher turned on his small stool by the stove and made a small bow to Harry. "Good morning, Master. Kreacher has almost finished cooking your breakfast."
"Thanks, Kreacher. Ron should be down in just a minute."
Harry poured himself a cup of coffee from the pot on the table. As he sat down, blowing on his coffee to cool it, Ron walked into the kitchen yawning heavily. He nodded to Harry by way of greeting and poured himself a large cup of coffee, stirring in milk and sugar.
Kreacher placed large plates of eggs, bacon, sausage and toast in front of them. They both tucked in heartily and their plates were wiped clean in very little time. Kreacher offered them seconds, but Harry declined. He knew better than to apparate on an over-full stomach.
"Ready to go?" Harry asked Ron, as he stood up.
"Yep," replied Ron, pulling an Albatrosses hat onto his head.
They said goodbye to Kreacher, turned on the spot and almost instantly reappeared in the Pwllycrochan Woods, not far from the town of Colwyn Bay. Instead of walking towards the picturesque little seaside town, they turned and walked deeper into the woods. After about ten minutes they came upon a small Quidditch pitch – Colwyn Bay Quidditch Ground: Home of the Flying Albatrosses. Est. 1356.
They walked up to the ticket box and purchased seats from a young wizard with blue and white striped hair.
"I think he must be a fan," Ron sniggered. They entered through the main gate and were surprised by the large number of fans that had turned up to watch the game.
Harry turned to Ron with raised eyebrows, "There weren't this many people last time we came. Who are they playing this week?"
An elderly wizard with long white hair standing nearby spoke up, answering Harry's question, "It's the big match between the Colwyn Bay Albatrosses and the Gwynedd Knights. It's the longest standing Quidditch rivalry in Wales. Goes back nearly seven hundred years."
Harry and Ron turned to each other, impressed expressions on both their faces. They walked through the lower stands, looking for their seats. As they walked Harry heard his name whispered excitedly a few times, but to his relief, no one approached him. He and Ron had paused to check their tickets when next to them there was a loud shriek. Harry turned, startled, and found a short, dark-haired girl staring at him, wide-eyed with one hand covering her mouth.
"You're Harry Potter!" she squealed, causing many other people to turn. "Ohmigoodness! You're my hero! I love you! I'm a third year at Hogwarts – in Hufflepuff. All my friends love you too. They'll be soo jealous. Are you an Albatrosses fan too? Do you come to lots of games?" The girl finally paused to draw breath.
Harry smiled ingratiatingly, "I've just recently become an Albatrosses fan, my girlfriend is one of the chasers. It was very nice to meet you, but my friend and I need to find our seats before the game begins. I hope you enjoy the match." He turned and pushed Ron down the aisle as they hurried towards their seats. As they passed several people patted Harry's back and shoulders.
Harry often found himself swamped by people when he went out in public. Hermione told him regularly that eventually people would be less fascinated by him, especially if they saw him frequently doing normal things. Initially Harry had been sceptical, but lately, in his most regular haunts, he noticed that people were not approaching him as much.
He sat down next to Ron, stretching out his legs. They joked about ways Harry could use his Auror training to evade over-enthusiastic fans until the two teams walked onto the pitch. Harry and Ron stood up with the other spectators, whistling and cheering. The referee blew his whistle and the fourteen players shot into the air. It was clear Ginny's performance had benefited from regular training. Harry noted she was flying faster, her broom handling was improved and her passing and shots on goal were more accurate. After an hour, Ginny had scored nine of the Albatrosses sixteen goals and Harry was hoarse from cheering.
The Knights were pulling back - they had scored four goals in a row and were only thirty points behind. Harry watched closely as Ginny grabbed the Quaffle from the hands of her blocked opponent and ducked up past another Knights' chaser and a beater; she was not distracted when the two seekers shot past her toward the Albatrosses goal in hot pursuit of the snitch. Just seconds before the Albatrosses' seeker Gavyn Lloyd caught the snitch, Ginny put the Quaffle through the centre goal post, and the match was won.
The Albatross fans began to run from the stands onto the field to congratulate their players. Harry could just see Ginny's vibrant hair in the middle of the pack. Harry and Ron decided to go around to the player's entrance to wait for Ginny.
As they killed time kicking a pinecone Harry had transfigured into ball, Ron suddenly gestured to Harry to look over his shoulder. Harry let the ball roll past him and turned. Gwenog Jones was headed towards them. She nodded at them as she marched past them into the change-rooms.
Ginny finally exited the change-rooms about a half an hour later.
"About time!" Ron exclaimed. "What were you doing in there?"
Ginny looked as if she was about to burst from excitement. "Gwenog's been to see me. I'm playing my first game with the Harpies tomorrow!"
Harry's mouth fell open with shock, though he quickly recovered and rushed to Ginny, wrapping his arms around her waist and lifting her into the air. Ginny shrieked as Ron punched his fist into the air and shouted, "I knew you could do it, Gin!"
Harry lowered Ginny to the ground and hugged her tightly.
"It's so exciting. I can't believe it's happening to me!" said Ginny, hugging Harry back.
"I can believe it," said Harry, "never a doubt in my mind. After tomorrow, everyone in the country will know how great you are - and then they'll find out that I discovered you."
Ginny laughed, pulling away and punching Harry's shoulder. Still laughing and joking the three of them walked back into the woods and disapparated.
The following day Harry and Hermione along with the Weasleys were seated in the living room at the Burrow, listening to the WWN broadcast of the Holyhead Harpies versus the Ballycastle Bats. Ginny had asked them not to attend, she said knowing they were in the stands would make her too nervous to concentrate on the game. Harry, Ron and Mr Weasley were on the edge of their seats, shouting at the wireless, while Mrs Weasley hummed and supervised her knitting; Percy and George sat back, occasionally cheering a Harpy goal and Hermione sat next to Ron, looking bemused by Ron's outbursts.
Harry's heart leapt in his chest every time Ginny's name was mentioned. She had not scored a goal so far in this game, but had been instrumental in several goals. The commentator shouted, "Weasley with the Quaffle, she's flying toward goal, OH!" A whistle could be heard blowing. "FOUL! Orla Moran blatches Ginevra Weasley. Weasley to take a penalty."
Harry was sitting with both his hands over his mouth, unmoving, listening hard.
"Weasley prepares herself. She's off, she flies right – oh SHE'S FEINTING! Keeper Byrne tries to recover, but the Quaffle slips past his fingers. It's through! Ginevra Weasley scores her first League goal! And she's flying around the stadium, her fist pumping. That brings the Harpies' score to one hundred and twenty - Ballycastle still lead by ten points. This is turning out to be one close match!"
Harry and Ron were on their feet, high-fiving and shouting. Mr Weasley was sitting back in his armchair, wiping his eyes on the cuff of his robes.
Hermione passed him a handkerchief. "Are you alright, Mr Weasley?" she asked as he trumpeted into the hanky.
"Oh yes," he replied, "I'm just so proud. I never dreamed that one of my children - my only girl – would be playing professional Quidditch."
"Gee Dad, you'd think the rest of us had never done anything!" said George jokingly. "Have you forgotten the time I charmed everyone's lunch to beg not to be eaten?"
Mr Weasley opened his mouth, but Mrs Weasley spoke up first, "Now you're being silly, George," she said, putting down her knitting. "We're very proud of all our children, but today is a very special day for Ginny. Though I've never forgotten my talking ham sandwich, dear."
George rolled his eyes very dramatically, but winked at Percy as he sat down.
The snitch was caught soon after by the Ballycastle seeker. Mr Weasley stood and turned off the radio as the on-field commentator began to interview Ballycastle's captain, Finbar Quigley. Mrs Weasley called them all to the table for dinner. Harry sat down next to Percy and helped himself to roast lamb, potatoes and mint sauce. Across from him George turned to Ron and asked him if he'd thought anymore about what he would do now he had left the Auror program.
Ron frowned as he covered his potatoes in thick gravy. "I have, but nothing has really grabbed me."
George nodded thoughtfully. "Would you consider coming and working with me and Lee at the shop?"
"What? You mean selling the products?"
"Well, yeah, but also developing new products."
Ron scratched his head. "Er, I dunno if I'd be any good at it. I wouldn't want to get in your way."
"Well, that's never stopped you before and you never know, you might have a stroke of brilliance one day – stranger things have happened," said George, grinning.
Ron elbowed George, but after a few moments chewing his lamb, he said, "Alright. I'll give it a shot."
"Good man," George replied, clapping Ron on the shoulder. Harry smiled at Ron across the table.
"That's wonderful boys! I think it's a wonderful idea, Georgie."
Percy, Ron and Harry snickered, but George flashed his most winning smile and thanked his mother.
Later, as Harry and Ron prepared to return to Grimmauld Place, Ron pulled Harry aside.
"What do you think about me going to work with George?"
"I think it's a brilliant idea. I reckon you'll be really good at it."
Ron's face lit up, "Really?"
"Yeah. I don't think you should worry about it. You can help George think out his ideas and if you don't come up with any of your own, you'll be on hand as their personal test subject." Harry said, cracking up laughing as Ron groaned loudly.
Yay! Ten chapter's down! Thanks for all the great comments and reviews. I love getting your feedback. I dedicate the ham sandwich to my friend and the best beta ever, Anna.