Author's Notes: My appreciation to my beta, Arnel for all her help. Thanks my readers, for continuing to read and review. I appreciate them all, good and bad.
On the train back to Hogwarts, Ginny shared a compartment with Luna, Dean, Demelza and Dennis. Hermione was busy tending to her Head Girl duties, but had promised to meet Ginny after the train was underway. Ginny stared out the window while her four friends rehashed once again what they had done over the holidays and how the remainder of Hannah's party had gone. Apparently, nearly everyone had stayed until well into the wee hours of the morning, and nearly all of them were pissed by the end. Ginny was even more glad they had left when they had, even if it had been at her brother's expense.
She hadn't been able to speak with Ron since New Year's Eve. He had been busy with Auror duties, whether real or pretend, she wasn't certain. She had, of course, Floo called Harry every evening, and he had dropped by The Burrow the night before she had to return to Hogwarts. It had been too brief a visit for Ginny's tastes. Her mother insisted she get to bed at a decent hour since they had to travel to the station in the morning in time to catch her train. Sitting on the settee with him in front of the fire had been pleasant enough, but her mind had been filled with longing to fall asleep in his arms in her bed instead.
Her mother's rather cryptic comment to her when she had returned home after her lovely and eventful evening with Harry returned to her as she had sat snuggled next to him. Once you start, you can't stop, Ginny dear. At the time, Ginny hadn't known what her mother could possibly be talking about, but now she was beginning to have an inkling. How were she and Harry supposed to manage the next year? Just the thought of not being with him for the next few months was tearing at her more than it ever had before. She had wanted to talk to him about it, but her mum had bustled about the kitchen, popping in to check on them the entire time he was there.
After a while it had become rather comical and Ginny had broken down with laughter when the last time her mother entered the room, she was dragging her father behind her and asking them if they would like to play a game of Exploding Snap. She and Harry had declined and instead spent the remainder of the evening listening to her mother talk about their wedding and asking them if they had thought about guest lists and who they were going to ask to be in the wedding party.
Harry's eyes had glazed over at that point, and Ginny lost him to a discussion with her father over the latest in Muggle technology, something called a Cellulite Phone. Fortunately, not long before the clock on the mantle tolled ten, her father managed to get her mother to bid them good night and leave them alone for their good-bye. Like the proper gentleman Harry invariably was, he left not long after her parents disappeared up the stairs; giving her a kiss that had spoken volumes for the unspoken words they hadn't been able to share all evening.
All these thoughts incongruently brought her back round to thoughts of her brother, and how he had avoided The Burrow like the plague in the last few days she was home. Harry had told her Ron was doing fine, but was merely embarrassed. However, Ginny knew boys had a tendency to downplay things of that nature, and she wasn't sure she believed him. She also felt like a lousy sister, but was uncertain what her role was anymore in regards to Ron.
Blowing out her breath in frustration, Ginny turned away from the window to see both couples sharing the compartment with her snogging.
"Really?" Ginny grumbled under her breath and scooted out of the compartment into the corridor. She decided to seek Hermione out and headed towards the prefects compartment.
Hermione was just stepping out of the compartment, followed by Justin Finch-Fletchley when Ginny arrived. Upon seeing Ginny, Hermione paused at the door.
"Go on ahead, Justin," she said as Justin began to head towards the front of the train. "I'll check the rear and we can meet back here later."
Justin nodded, saying a quick 'hello' to Ginny and continued on his way. Hermione moved back into the empty compartment and gestured for Ginny to join her.
"What's it like?" Hermione asked without preamble as soon as she'd closed the compartment door.
Ginny flopped onto a seat and stared up at her friend in amazement. "Rude much?"
Hermione sighed and sat next to Ginny. "I'm sorry, I'm simply anxious to know. I mean, not know the details. That would be extremely strange to talk about, but simply know what it was like."
Ginny thought the question over. How could she possibly describe the myriad of emotions she had felt making love to Harry for the first time? The nervousness, fear, anticipation, and excitement all jumbled together until finally merging into something beyond exhilaration? How every time she thought about him her heart skipped a beat and she was overwhelmed? That the day after she had felt like she was floating on air?
"Like flying on a broom for the first time," Ginny answered, suddenly inspired.
"That was not a good experience for me," Hermione admitted.
Ginny sighed. "Alright, well for me, the first time I flew on a broom was incredibly exhilarating. It took my breath away, and I never wanted to come back down to earth."
Hermione looked skeptical. "Really? All the books I have ever read have said that the first time for a girl usually is horrible."
"You can't trust everything you read in books, Hermione," Ginny chided, ignoring her friend's doubtful look. "If that were true, boys would never be able to entice their girlfriends to ever do it again. Harry told me what you said to him about not being disappointed if I hated it."
Hermione blushed scarlet. "I didn't put it like that! I only intended for him to understand, that's all."
"I know he can be dense, Hermione, but give him a little credit," Ginny admonished. "After you whispering in his ear, I'm surprised it happened at all. If it hadn't been for me, we probably wouldn't have."
"Ginny!" Hermione exclaimed.
"What?" Ginny asked unperturbed. "Except for our first kiss, I've always been bolder than Harry. Most of the time," she added with a smile. "The next day, Harry was late for work and I wound up being late for lunch at home."
Ginny smirked as her friend's face turned bright red. "You did ask," Ginny remarked as Hermione tried to compose herself. "So, I suppose Ron was passed out all night?"
Hermione frowned at the memory. "Yes. He was miserable the following morning. I absolutely hate that I can't be there for him. I know Harry will try his best, but neither he nor Ron is any good at talking things through. That was my job. They just say 'it's fine' and move on as if nothing ever happened."
"That's how all boys are, Hermione," Ginny commented. "They don't feel the need to 'talk'. Whenever I tell Harry I want to talk about something, he visibly cringes, as if he's preparing for the worst."
Hermione giggled. "Ron does that. Boys."
"Boys," Ginny agreed. "I was thinking about Ron earlier. Did I do the right thing? Leaving? I felt so out-of-place that night, like I didn't belong."
"Why would you feel like that?" Hermione asked, her brow furrowing.
"You, Harry, and Ron share a history, especially after last year, that I'm not a part of," Ginny replied, staring out the window at the blurry, grey landscape. "There's a look in Harry's eyes sometimes, when I know he's remembering that breaks my heart."
Hermione touched Ginny's arm lightly. "Don't you think he notices the same in you? Of course, there are things you both had to deal with separately. We all did, Ginny. Ron went through things apart from Harry and me I will never understand. He talks to me about them and I listen. Like, at Hannah's party. I've heard all of those things he was saying at one time or another. I can't understand how he feels over what he did during the Horcrux hunt, but I don't need to in order to comfort him. I hope this won't hurt your feelings, but Ron needed me that night, not you."
"That's what I thought at the time, honestly, but when I started thinking about it, I was afraid I had shirked a duty somehow," Ginny admitted.
"You were exactly where you needed to be Ginny," Hermione replied. "Don't you think?"
"It's where I always want to be," Ginny answered. "And it scares me."
Hermione shook her head. "No, Ginny. What should scare you is if you ever stop feeling that way."
"I know that's never going to happen," Ginny stated with conviction.
Hermione nodded. "I know that's true, but I'm glad to hear you say it all the same." She stood up. "I'm sorry, but I do have to tend to my Head Girl duties, but I'll be back soon. I'll see you later."
Ginny nodded as Hermione stepped out of the compartment and closed the door behind her. She supposed she should head back to her own compartment, but didn't relish the idea of walking in on her friends still snogging. It was definitely better to be one of the ones kissing than someone viewing such displays.
Settling back in the seat, Ginny leaned her head against the window and closed her eyes. Yes, this term was most assuredly going to be harder to bear than the last.
hghghghghghghgh ghghghghghghghg
As soon as the winter term began Hermione cracked down on both Ginny and Demelza to focus on revising for the fast approaching N.E.W.T.s. Ginny would have been annoyed if her N.E.W.T. classes hadn't become increasingly more difficult as the school year progressed, and if it wasn't for Hermione's schedules, she very well would have been falling behind.
As it was, she was barely keeping up, especially since she was drilling the Gryffindor Quidditch team as much as time allotted to prepare for their match against Ravenclaw. Ginny wasn't really worried about that match, but she didn't want her team slacking off simply because they had defeated Slytherin.
The only time Ginny felt like she should have been able to relax was in Divination class with Professor Trelawney. However, the batty professor hadn't changed at all, and once she had discovered that Ginny was engaged to Harry, Ginny had become her prime target for her foreboding predictions. It was all Ginny could do not to laugh out loud when Professor Trelawney gazed into her cup of tea one day and declared that a swirl of tea leaves predicted Ginny would be injured in the near future.
Ginny rolled her eyes, while Demelza snickered next to her. "That's not a prediction, that's an educated guess," Ginny grumbled under her breath, blowing on the rose tea Professor Trelawney had chosen in honour of Valentine's Day. "Who doesn't get injured at one time or another and I'm a Quidditch player!"
"At least this is one class where we can make up the answers," Demelza commented, looking in her cup. "According to these, the rest of my year is going to be rosy."
Ginny smirked. "Very funny. According to my cup, I should expect a thoroughly romantic gift in the post on Sunday."
Demelza looked dreamy. "I wonder what Dennis will give me?"
"A snog in a broom cupboard somewhere," Ginny remarked.
"You're just jealous," Demelza said.
"Of course, I am," Ginny replied. "I'll be spending the day stuck with Hermione in the library while you and Luna cuddle with your boyfriends."
"I don't envy you," Demelza commented.
"Me either," Ginny agreed gloomily.
Saturday, February 13th was the scheduled Hogsmeade visit for the winter term and Ginny had been sorely tempted to pull an Angelina Johnson and call a Quidditch practice. Not because she wanted to be mean and deny her teammates the outing, but so she would have an excuse not to have to revise even more with Hermione. She had toyed with the idea of going to Hogsmeade on her own, but the thought of trudging around in the snow didn't appeal to her.
Both she and Hermione had been disappointed that neither Ron nor Harry had been able to secure any time off. They had been dealing with classes as well as regular Auror duties and it seemed their responsibilities were multiplying. Currently, they were on assignment guarding Malfoy Manor. Since last May, the remaining Death Eaters that had been captured had been slowly brought to trial and sentenced.
Lucius Malfoy had managed to put off his impending trial by listing names and informing the Ministry where his fellow Death Eaters were said to be hiding. However, his well of information was running dry and his court date had been scheduled for some time in April or May. In the meantime, Robards had ordered round the clock watches on the house to ensure the Malfoys didn't try to escape.
It irked Ginny that Lucius and Draco had been allowed this much freedom. She was ambivalent about the fate of Narcissa, thinking that, most definitely, losing her husband and possibly her son to the walls of Azkaban would be sentence enough for the woman.
Ginny was further annoyed that her Valentine's Day plans had been foiled by the slimy, ferret-faced git and his family, and instead of being snuggled somewhere warm and cosy with Harry, she was going to be subjected to hours of torture, revising. Meanwhile, poor Harry would be shivering in the cold outside Malfoy Manor.
"Harry and Ron won't be freezing," Hermione stated when Ginny voiced her concern to her on Saturday morning.
"How do you know, Hermione?" Ginny asked. "You aren't there."
"I know, because Ron told me they made sure to learn warming charms," Hermione said. "Hannah taught them."
"That must have been an exciting letter," Ginny testily commented, while flipping through the pages of her Transfiguration book.
Hermione harrumphed from behind an incredibly thick and equally dusty tome of ancient runes. "Don't take your frustrations out on me."
"How can you simply sit there and study?" Ginny asked. "Don't you miss Ron? Aren't you worried?"
Hermione looked over her book at Ginny. "Of course I miss Ron. Immensely. However, I also need to revise and it takes my mind off my worry."
"I wish I could say the same," Ginny said with a sigh. "I hate revising."
Despite her complaints, Ginny spent most of the day attempting to revise and by suppertime felt relatively caught up on Transfiguration as well as Charms.
At breakfast the next morning, the Great Hall was adorned with garlands of red, pink, and white roses and red candles floated above the tables. Ginny nearly gagged on her pumpkin juice when Luna slipped onto the bench next to Dean and he Transfigured her toast into hearts; something he certainly never had done when Ginny had been seeing him. She wondered if she should feel offended, but decided more than likely she would have punched him if he had been so sappily romantic with her.
Her spirits perked up considerably when owls began entering the Great Hall laden down with letters and parcels. Pig's tiny form appeared, dangling a large, boxy parcel that threatened to bring him out of the air. He landed next to Hermione, but the parcel slipped off the table taking him with it with a squeak.
Hermione quickly retrieved him, soothing his ruffled feathers and relieving him of his heavy load. Pig nipped at her untouched toast as Hermione gleefully opened the box to revel a thick book. Her eyes filled with tears as she lifted it out and hugged it to her chest.
Ginny made a face. "Yergh! I hope Harry doesn't send me a book. If he does, it better be the Quidditch book I never received for Christmas."
Hermione happily ignored her. "This is an updated text on Ancient Runes I've been aching for." She pulled a smaller box out of the wrapping. "And a box of cherry cordials!"
"What are cherry cordials?" Ginny asked.
"My favourite Muggle sweet," Hermione said. "Try one."
She offered the box to Ginny, who plucked one out and examined it closely before popping it in her mouth. Biting down on it, she nearly spat it back out when liquid burned her throat. "There's liquor in these!"
Hermione snickered. "Sorry. I should have warned you, I suppose." She bowed her head to peruse her book while Ginny chewed the remainder of the chocolate thoughtfully. They were good, she had to admit. She wondered if George would be interested. She imagined he would be able to come up with a Wizard version that could knock the socks off the recipient literally.
The air was clearing of owls and there was still no sign of Alithea. Hard as she might, Ginny couldn't squelch the disappointment inside her. Surely Harry wouldn't have forgotten. He'd been absolutely contrite and miserable when he had written that he'd miss the Hogsmeade visit. He knew how much it meant to her. After all, it was their first Valentine's Day as a couple.
Ginny played listlessly with the bowl of porridge she had served herself, not feeling hungry. The thought of another day stuck at a table in a stuffy corner of the library was dead depressing. A nap was sounding like a nice way to spend the afternoon. Maybe she should feign illness; then she could curl up in her bed, draw the curtains and feel sorry for herself.
The quiet buzz of conversation around her had become quite animated and a small squeak of surprise from Hermione shook Ginny from her funk. Glancing over at Hermione, her friend pointed at the head table.
Looking up where Hermione was pointing, Ginny's eyes widened to the size of saucers when she saw Ron and Harry standing there talking with Professors McGonagall and Flitwick, as well as the new Defence teacher, Professor Thacker. Harry glanced her way and actually winked, which made her grin like a silly loon. Turning towards Hermione, she saw that her friend still looked utterly astounded as well.
Harry and Ron finished up their conversation with the professors and headed towards the Gryffindor table. Every student eye in the room was on them and the whispering increased in volume. Ignoring the stir, Ron slipped onto the bench next to Hermione while Harry sat next to Ginny.
"What are you doing here?" Ginny asked, as Hermione nodded in agreement to the question.
"Happy Valentine's Day," Harry replied, kissing her cheek.
Ginny beamed and grabbed his hand. "I'm so glad you're here, but tell the truth."
"Ron and I are going to guest lecture the Defence classes tomorrow," Harry replied, nodding over at Ron. "Ron's going to teach the first years how to defeat mountain trolls."
"What are you going to do?" Ginny asked.
"Play the part of the mountain troll," Harry replied, helping himself to Ginny's goblet of pumpkin juice, as Ron chuckled beside Hermione.
"Why are you two here today then?" Hermione asked suspiciously.
"Aren't you happy to see us?" Ron asked, pulling Hermione's plate towards him and finishing off the eggs and sausage she had left uneaten, and yelping when she swatted his hand.
"Didn't you eat before you arrived?" she asked, glaring at him.
"Yah, but, Habby mabe me leabe bebore I bas banished," Ron said around a mouthful of sausage and egg.
Hermione made a face. "That is so disgusting, Ron."
Ron swallowed and grinned. "But you love me for it." Hermione attempted to look stern, but a grin crept over her face.
"Professor McGonagall arranged for us to stay the night," Harry said. "I think we'll be bunking with Dean and the other seventh years."
Ginny beamed ecstatically. "You'll be here all day today and tomorrow too?"
Harry nodded and Ginny squealed in delight, throwing her arms around him and kissing him.
"This is the best Valentine's Day gift ever!" she exclaimed.
After breakfast the two couples went for a walk on the grounds, while Ron and Harry told the girls about how tediously boring it was observing the Malfoys. Ron griped that they were given the duty because they were rookie Aurors, but Harry commented that it was a nice change of pace to their classes and duelling practices. As much as he loved duelling, the sessions were long, tedious, and gruelling. Ron quipped that Harry was barmy, which resulted in Harry throwing a snowball that hit Ron square in the back of his neck and sent snow melting down the back of his robes.
Of course, a snowball fight ensued with Harry and Ginny attacking Ron and Hermione. Ginny had no qualms taking Hermione out with a snowball or two to make up for the nagging, lecturing, and revising Hermione had subjected her to. Ron tried his best, but Hermione, whose snowballs invariably landed short of hitting either Harry or Ginny, handicapped him. That is until she resorted to cheating and used her wand to levitate huge mounds of snow to fall squarely on both their heads.
"Not fair, Hermione!" Ginny cried, attempting to dig herself out of the pile of snow. "Everyone knows you aren't supposed to use magic in a snowball fight!"
"No one ever told me that," Hermione stated, looking unruffled.
"It's an unspoken rule!" Harry complained, shaking snow from his hair.
"We won!" Ron whooped, dancing around Hermione. "They're just sore losers."
"If you can live with cheating, in order to win, go right ahead and celebrate," Ginny scoffed.
"We will!" Ron said, taking Hermione's hand. "Come on, Hermione. It's nearly lunch time and I'm starved!"
Hermione beamed up at him and pecked him on the cheek. "I'm actually famished myself. See you two later!" They turned and trudged through the snow towards the castle, leaving Ginny and Harry behind, covered in snow.
Ginny looked over at Harry. "Even though we lost, that was fun. I'm really glad you were able to come today."
"Me too," Harry replied, reaching over and taking her hand to help her out of the pile of snow. "Are you hungry?"
Ginny squeezed his hand as she stepped closer to breathe in his ear. "I'm ravenous."
The searing kiss Harry gave her then could have melted all the snow around them. As it was, it was more than enough to take Ginny's mind off the icy snow still in her hair and on her clothes. She would be very happy if they never had to move again and could stay like this forever.
However, the world continued to spin around them and a red-faced Hagrid, just returning from a trip to the Forbidden Forest interrupted them too soon for her tastes. He apologized for intruding, but was hoping they and Ron and Hermione might like to stop by after lunch for tea and rock cakes.
They happily agreed and headed back towards the castle where lunch was already underway.
"Gin," Harry asked as they walked up the stairs to the Entrance Hall doors.
"Hmm?" Ginny asked, linking her arm through his.
"What do you think of me asking Hagrid to be in the wedding party?" Harry asked.
"Really?" Ginny questioned, looking up at him.
"He was my first friend," Harry replied. "And it would mean a lot to him, I think."
"I think it's a wonderful idea," Ginny agreed.
Harry grinned. "Good. We'll ask him this afternoon then."
The remainder of the day was just as lovely as the morning had been, and as Harry had thought, Hagrid was over the moon when he asked him to be in the wedding. Ginny was afraid Hagrid was going to break her ribs when he hugged her and the large fat tears that leaked out of his eyes nearly soaked her jumper.
The evening was bliss, sitting with Harry in the common room staring into the fire. She closed her eyes and nestled next to him, resting her head on his shoulder and realizing this moment was one she had dreamed of all summer. She was very happy that she would have this memory to add to her collection and was grateful that somehow, one day with Harry at Hogwarts had fulfilled all her expectations she had wished could be for her final year at school.
She was disappointed that she did not have a Defence class the following day and wouldn't be able to enjoy the pleasure of having Harry as her guest lecturer. Unfortunately, he and Ron had only been able to wrangle two days out of Robards, and thought Sunday spent with Ginny and Hermione would be better than two days teaching. Ginny had to agree. Harry had also added, that most of the sixth and seventh year students had participated in the DA, and therefore Harry thought the younger students would benefit more from learning about Ron and Harry's experiences as students. It was a valid point, and Ginny marvelled at how sure and confident Harry had become in his abilities in the past year.
She really didn't think it had anything at all to do with defeating Voldemort. If anything, she felt that that burden had been holding him back, but without having to be under the strain of it, he had finally been able to flourish.
By suppertime all the first and second year students were chattering happily about how exciting their Defence classes had been and how amazing both Harry and Ron were. Ginny couldn't help but notice how happy Ron appeared, and he beamed from ear to ear when a first year boy informed him he hoped he would grow up to be half as good a wizard as Ron was.
Unfortunately, Harry and Ron had to leave right after supper. Professor McGonagall invited them all for a quick tea and biscuits before they had to Floo home. They enjoyed a nice conversation with the professor and she professed that it was pleasant to simply enjoy their company and not have it be because she needed to reprimand them for one thing or another.
Professor McGonagall left them to their good-byes and Ginny hugged Harry fiercely while Hermione did the same with Ron.
"Be safe?" Ginny asked.
"Always," Harry replied. "You too. Watch out for Bludgers."
"I will," Ginny answered and kissed him one final time. "I'll see you soon and write to you sooner."
"I love you," Harry said, throwing a handful of Floo powder into the fire and stepping into the green flames.
"I love you too!" Ginny called as he disappeared.
Ron gave her a hug and told her to watch out for herself and Hermione before he too whirled away and Ginny found herself staring at the flames until Hermione finally had to tug on her arm.
hghghghghghghghg ghghghghghghghgh
The Quidditch match against Ravenclaw was the weekend following Valentine's Day, and Ginny had been surprised to see how much the Ravenclaw team had improved since their match against Hufflepuff. Their Beaters were seamless, much better than Jimmie and Ritchie and Ginny found herself having to spend an inordinate amount of her time dodging Bludgers instead of scoring. It was maddening.
"Ginny!" Demelza yelled.
Ginny looked up from where she had been glaring at her hands tightly gripping her broom handle in time to see the Quaffle fly past her head and smack loudly into the outstretched palms of a Ravenclaw Chaser. She grinned broadly over at Ginny before shooting towards the Gryffindor goals.
Cursing under her breath, Ginny headed after her, but realized it was, more than likely, a futile effort.
"Ginny's head isn't in the match," Luna's dreamy voice echoed over the pitch. "I hope she isn't suffering from a malady of the muffs."
"Do I dare ask what that is?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"I remember one other time Ginny suffered from this very same thing," Luna continued. "It was during her fifth year. I hope she can come around or Gryffindor may very well lose this match."
There was no doubt about it, Ginny was off, and she had better get her head straight or they could lose the match, which would cause them to lose the Quidditch Cup as well. Ginny was bound and determined she was not going to let that happen. She planned on walking into the Harpies try-outs with a Quidditch Cup win fresh under her belt.
Despite her blunder, Kevin managed to deflect the over-confident Ravenclaw Chaser's throw and Gryffindor was no worse off than it had been. Dean had retrieved the Quaffle and was tearing down the pitch erratically. It was his trademark, and while annoying to Ginny, seemed to effectively throw the Ravenclaw Chasers off. The Beaters were another story and they were able to careen one of the Bludgers into the arm cradling the Quaffle. Dean grunted in pain and dropped the Quaffle.
It free-fell towards the ground and Ginny shot after it, resolving to catch it before the Ravenclaws did or crash into the ground trying. Fortunately, she caught it and pulled her broom up, but all the same, her feet dragged over the grassy pitch. Jerking her broom harder she propelled upward and flew past the astonished Ravenclaw Chasers.
Grinning over her shoulder, she headed toward the Ravenclaw goal and flung the Quaffle through the middle ring.
"Eighty to seventy Gryffindor," Professor McGonagall called out.
Ginny turned back to the match, scanning the sky for Mary. She'd improved with each practice since their last match, and was well on her way to becoming a superb Seeker. Mary was currently looping over the pitch in lazy figure eights, scanning for the Snitch.
Visibility was poor, as the sky was overcast and snow was beginning to fall. Ginny hated playing Quidditch in the snow and rain. While the conditions made it more challenging, she didn't like the feeling of being cold on the outside from the weather and hot on the inside from the exertion. Plus, the weight of the snow and rain dragged down her Quidditch robes and currently, ice was building up on her broom.
She zoomed after the Ravenclaw Chaser in possession of the Quaffle, but focused her gaze towards Kevin. He'd been having a tough time blocking goals, but no more so than the Ravenclaw Keeper, hence the closeness of the match. Hopefully, Mary would catch the Snitch and end the torment soon.
The Ravenclaw Chaser managed to slip the Quaffle past Kevin and score, bringing the two teams even once more. Ginny sighed, but zigzagged back down the pitch while Demelza and Dean did the same in a three-point formation they had been practicing. They threw the Quaffle between them and so far, had effectively confused the opposing Chasers of where they would throw it next.
Nearing the Ravenclaw goals, Dean threw the Quaffle one last time towards Ginny, which she deftly caught, preparing to hopefully score a goal. However, just as the Quaffle was leaving her fingertips, a Bludger, precisely hit by a Ravenclaw Beater, appeared out of nowhere and smashed into Ginny's right shoulder and upper arm. Pain lanced down her arm and through her collarbone, and her fingers slipped past the Quaffle, affecting her aim. It bounced against the outside of the ring and fell towards the ground.
Ginny groaned in frustration and pain as she drifted towards the ground. Her vision was blurring and she was feeling light-headed. As much as she hated to admit it, she was sure she was out of the game. She was unable to move her arm and had a feeling it, as well as her collarbone was broken.
Madam Hooch blew her whistle to signal a time-out as Ginny landed. Assessing the damage she informed Ginny that she was correct in her assumptions of her injuries and should go to see Madam Pomfrey immediately. Ginny refused and told her she would stay grounded and coach her team from the sidelines.
Madam Hooch shook her head in dismay, but resumed the game. Ginny cursed herself for allowing a Bludger past her defenses, as now Demelza and Dean would have to work doubly hard. On the bright side of things, they were experienced with this scenario, and hopefully could pull from their previous experience and make it work in their favour this time.
As it was, Ravenclaw held the advantage and were able to score twenty more points, while despite their best efforts, Demelza and Dean only scored ten. Mary had falsely spotted the Snitch twice in the snow that was falling thicker and harder than ever, and Ginny would have screamed if she weren't feeling increasingly tired and numb. Her broken arm was tingling and she was losing sensation in her fingertips.
Black dots were popping up at the sides of Ginny's vision when she saw Mary careening down the pitch towards something Ginny couldn't see. As the blackness increased, Ginny fervently hoped it was the Snitch. Before completely succumbing to unconsciousness, she cursed Professor Trelawney for jinxing her.
TBC