A/N: And we're back! =D
Harry had been laughing with his parents before Gryffindor's second match of the season when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He was surprised to see Dennis standing behind him.
"Hi Harry, Mr. and Mrs. Potter, do you mind if I sit with you?" Dennis was getting taller, and Harry smiled sympathetically as the lad's voice cracked at the end of his sentence.
"Of course you can sit with us dear," Lily scooted closer to James and pulled Harry over with her. "You're always welcome with us."
"Thanks," Dennis smiled sheepishly.
"So, you don't want to sit with the other Gryffindors because..." Harry left the sentence hanging waiting for Dennis to fill in the blank for him.
Dennis blushed, "Well, er, you see, Colin, he, well, he seems to think it's funny, er, never mind, just, thanks for letting me sit here."
Harry chuckled, "I know your brother, Dennis."
Harry could now laugh at the situation he found himself in his second year when Colin had been told Harry was the youngest Seeker in a century. Colin had pestered him endlessly, wanting photographs and looking at Harry as some sort of celebrity. At the time, it had made Harry want to throw Colin's camera in the lake. Thankfully the next year Gracie and Dennis came to Hogwarts and Colin started focusing on Dennis. But Harry was sure that Colin's enthusiasm was still present and accounted for.
Dennis rolled his eyes. "I suppose you do. Colin is trying to get pictures of Gracie and me. Nothing inappropriate," Dennis assured the Potters, "but he's constantly asking us to pose for him, to kiss for the camera, it's exhausting. I'm hoping that if I sit with you three he'll take a hint and lay off."
James nodded, "You know he might, but I bet that if you ask him why he's doing it, and maybe let him know that he's being a bit overbearing about the whole thing, you'll be able to get him to stop faster."
"What does Gracie think about it?" Lily asked.
Dennis rubbed his gloved hands together against the cold, "I don't know. I haven't asked her about it actually. She just laughs every time Colin shows up with that stupid camera."
"So she's encouraging him," Lily stated matter of factly. "Talk to Gracie about it first, and then the two of you can do what James suggested together with Colin. You might be surprised to find that your big brother is just happy for you."
"Maybe," Dennis looked dubious, "but I'll at least talk to Gracie about it today after the match."
"Good," Lily reached around Harry to pat Dennis on the shoulder.
It wasn't long after that that the match started. Harry was immensely impressed. He and Ginny had talked about what sort of shape her Gryffindor team was in, but seeing them play was another thing entirely. The new Seeker, Rafael, was even pushing the seasoned Hufflepuff Seeker. The game was close, but ultimately, Gryffindor pulled a close win again. Harry hurried down with his parents and Dennis to the lockers. Waiting with them were the scouts who wanted to talk with Ginny.
Desmond waved Harry over and Harry approached him and a woman wearing a green jacket Harry knew very well. He'd bought one just like it for his girlfriend.
"Harry this is Diane, she's the Harpies' scout. Diane this is Harry, he's Alex's reserve."
Diane nodded and shook Harry's hand quickly before looking down at her watch. "I hope Miss Weasley can hurry. I don't have much time."
"Come on, Diane," Desmond threw his arm around her shoulders and gestured to the grounds around them. "Take some time and enjoy being back where we all learned how to use sticks instead of our backs."
Harry chuckled, but he let it die quickly when Diane huffed and shook her head. "Just because you don't choose to take this job seriously doesn't mean the rest of us don't."
Desmond grinned at her, "You'll notice I'm a much happier person than you are too, and the Catapults are doing well this year, not to mention how well the reserve team is doing in their scrimmages."
Diane huffed and checked her watch again. Harry gave Desmond a look that he hoped conveyed not only how confused he was, but how uncomfortable this was as well. He didn't like Diane, but he didn't want to do anything to cause problems between the Harpies' scout and Ginny, so he kept his mouth shut.
"Oh good, there she is," Diane walked briskly towards the team as they emerged from the lockers.
Harry turned to Desmond, "I don't particularly care for her attitude."
Desmond chuckled, "I don't particularly care for her person, but she's a right bit of fun to annoy."
Harry smiled, instantly reminded of several people in his family, but it faded quickly as Diane nearly jogged past him like the world depended on her next appointment. She'd maybe given Ginny one minute, and Harry didn't particularly care for anyone treating his girlfriend as if she wasn't important.
But he quickly pushed those feelings aside to embrace said girlfriend.
"You were brilliant!" He pulled back to kiss her before allowing her to talk with Desmond. Harry remembered how last year had been a whirlwind after every game with the scouts waiting for him. Ginny handled it all with the same charisma and shining smile she had when she'd been supporting him last year. Desmond was the last scout to leave; having spent a decent amount of time with the Potters after he'd had a chance to chat with Ginny. Ginny leaned against Harry and pulled his cloak around her as his arms wrapped around her waist.
"I'll walk you to the gates." She took a step forward and Harry shifted to walk next to her.
"How is it to be in the spotlight this time around?" Harry kept them moving slowly, stretching out these last moments together a bit longer. The next Hogsmeade weekend wasn't for another two weeks.
"I think I get why you were exhausted most of last year. Between the scouts and my team and my NEWTS I'm surprised I'm not sleeping through my classes." Ginny chuckled and rested her head against Harry's shoulder. "Did you get to meet Diane?"
Harry tried to keep his body from tensing. "Desmond introduced us. She left pretty quick today."
"Yeah," Ginny sighed. "She said she was busy, but that she enjoyed the match. At least she had space in her schedule to see me play. I was worried she wouldn't be able to make it to all my games."
Harry was silent. But Ginny seemed to know something was up.
"You don't like Diane, do you?"
Harry scoffed, "Gin, I barely know her. Desmond introduced us and then you and the team came out. That's all the interaction I had."
"Then what's the matter?" Ginny stopped them as they reached the gates. Harry looked down at her. He really didn't want to go two weeks without seeing her with a disagreement for their last interaction. So he shook his head and pushed everything he felt on the subject of Quidditch aside.
"I'm sorry, Gin. Training has me beat and I'm just trying to keep up and get to the point where I can actually be Alex's second. And most of all being away from you is hard after we had a whole year where we weren't ever apart for more than a few days." He ran a hand through his hair. "I'm still figuring out how to handle all this."
Ginny pulled him into her and for a moment Harry just held her. He chose not to acknowledge the guilt he felt at not being open with her; there'd be time to chew on it later.
"Go home and take a nap," Ginny pulled back and kissed him. "You'll feel better after a good nap."
Harry chuckled and kissed Ginny again, "Aye, aye, Captain."
They shared a few more moments before Harry finally stepped across the boundary and Apparated home.
Ginny was right, Harry did feel a bit better about all that other stuff after a short nap, but he didn't feel better about anything to do with Ginny and her future Quidditch career. And he had no plans of talking to her about it, at least not until he'd be able to see her more often than once or twice a month.