AN: Many thanks to my great beta readers Verlor and udm17!


Chapter 7 - Foul Play


Love Troubles in Paradise – Harry Potter, a Player?

By Rita Skeeter

A violent brawl and foul rumors overshadowed yesterday's memorial service at Hogwarts, which was supposed to commemorate those who fell in battle against the Death Eaters. However, all decency suddenly vanished when Astoria Greengrass, sister of Harry Potter's teammate Daphne Greengrass, fought with his "official" girlfriend Ginny Weasley in front of hundreds of witnesses! Even if the background of this heated argument is unclear so far, it feeds rumors that have become louder in recent weeks.

Was this brawl perhaps the escalation of a long-smoldering conflict? Anonymous sources confirm a deep animosity between Ginny Weasley and Daphne Greengrass – something obvious to anyone who saw their miserable teamplay during the friendly against Belgium earlier this year. Could it be that the two women were arguing over Harry Potter? How loyal is our shining hero really? Is Greengrass maybe after the Potter fortune, after all, the Greengrass sisters lost all their wealth during the war?

Weasley or Greengrass? Vote now! Simply send an owl with your pick and a Sickle to the Daily Prophet and win a signed autobiography of the celebrated star reporter Rita Skeeter "Committed to Truth"!


Harpies or Cannons? Who Will Enter the Playoffs?

By Boris Chamberlain

After the bitter defeat by the Ballycastle Bats, the Chudley Cannons' hopes of reaching the playoffs for the first time since 1956 hinge solely on their final match against the Holyhead Harpies. The Harpies, who are currently placed fifth in the table just behind the Cannons are also hoping for a place in the top four. Thus, the next match will be decisive for both teams. Whoever wins the match will finish the season in fourth place and play for the championship next month!

When asked about the crucial match against his girlfriend's team, Cannons Seeker Harry Potter just said: "No matter what, one of us will be happy, and that's all that matters."


Harry's failure in the match against the Ballycastle Bats meant that winning against the Holyhead Harpies was the Cannons' last chance of making it into the round of the last four. They began to train like crazy, more strict and harder than ever before, five days a week with no off time. It was a grueling experience but neither hardship nor backache could tear them away from the dream of lifting the Quidditch Cup in the air.

Daphne especially wasn't talking about anything else, her eyes filled with a dreamy glow that Harry just found fascinating. They hadn't even discussed what happened at the memorial service yet, but he was grateful that she didn't seem to blame him.

And so it happened that two weeks later Harry found himself laughing in a long tunnel at the Harpies stadium – Ginny had already walked on to the locker rooms – besides him the beaming faces of Ron and Hermione. The latter had even taken a day off from studying for the NEWTs – or she had realized what was important in life, as Ron would say.

"... and show the world that you are better than Viktor Krum," Ron said to Harry with a grin.

"I thought I've already done that with the dragon," Harry laughed. "But I'll do my best!"

"Then this will just make it official," Ron replied before hugging him. "Good luck, mate."

They broke apart, and then it was Hermione's turn to hug him. "Good luck, Harry," she said. "And please don't try any dangerous maneuvers, you have already given me enough gray hair over the years."

Laughing, the three friends said goodbye to each other.

Harry had only walked a few meters when suddenly Astoria came towards him, apparently deep in thought. She would have run into him if he hadn't grabbed her shoulders first.

"Astoria," Harry called, "you almost ran into me. Are you okay?"

Astoria looked up, and a smile crept onto her features. "Oh, hi, Harry," she said. "Sorry, didn't see you I…" She paused, and then suddenly put her arms around his shoulders. Harry returned her hug hesitantly. Was she really alright?

But as suddenly as she had hugged him, Astoria broke away from him. "I wish you and Daphne all the best in the world," she then said quietly. "You both deserve it so much..."

And with that, she stepped past him to hurry on down the tunnel. Harry gave her one last thoughtful look before turning another corner. The sight that awaited him there deeply troubled him.

He spotted Ginny and Daphne at the end of the tunnel. They seemed to be talking to each other, although Ginny was holding Daphne's arm. Harry was already expecting the worst and quickened his pace, but then Daphne abruptly pulled away from Ginny and disappeared into the visiting team's locker room.

"Ginny," Harry called, and when he reached his girlfriend he asked softly, "Are you okay? Did something happen?"

He wanted to take her hand, but Ginny turned away from him, her head bowed to the floor. "It's nothing," she said, so quietly that Harry almost didn't hear her. "Just the normal teasing before the match..." And with that, she stepped into the locker room opposite theirs.

For a moment, Harry just stood there, confused, before finally shrugging his shoulders and opening the door Daphne had passed through, heading for their locker room.

After they had changed in their Quidditch robes, the entire Cannons team was finally assembled. Coach Meyers had already given his last tactical instructions. Now it was up to Davik to give the final address to the team as their captain.

"Everyone," he said with audible pride. "Who would have thought that we would be on the cusp of reaching the top four? I definitely didn't. But we've already achieved more than anyone ever thought possible – and the Chudley Cannons are once again a team to be feared. But you know what? Let's try to make them even more afraid, let's try to achieve a little more, and keep going, until there's nowhere else to go. Let's go for the stars, my friends, for triumph is at our fingertips and our reach is strong. Let's go out there – and win!"

"Hear, hear!" they cheered before standing up together, shouldering their brooms, and stepping out in the bright blue sky. Thunderous noise greeted them, and Harry could hear the now familiar chant of the Cannon fans, albeit drowned out by the jeers and whistles of the Hollyhead supporters. And in the middle of the field, the Harpies players were already standing and waiting for them.

"Well, let's go," laughed Jeremy before looking at Sophie and Daphne. "And you two pretty ones better show them what real women power is."

"Idiot," replied Daphne, rolling her eyes. "Just keep the damn Bludgers off my neck."

"Will I get a kiss from you as a thank you?"

"Only in your dreams."

Harry had followed the back and forth with an amused smile, even if there was an uncomfortable feeling inside him he could not quite explain. But then they had already reached the opposing team. Harry sought Ginny's eyes, but she looked past him, her body noticeably tense, almost cramped, after all, it was the most important match of her young career too.

"Good luck, Harry," he suddenly heard Daphne's voice next to him before she gently squeezed his hand. Harry looked at her, and her smile suddenly made him beam from ear to ear.

"Thank you, Daph, you too."

Then they heard the referee's imperious voice. "Players to me," he barked. "And captains, shake hands." Davik and Gwenog Jones, the Harpies' captain, shook their hands. "I want to see nice, fair Quidditch," the referee continued. "Now on the brooms, steady, go!"

A sharp whistle rang out, the balls were released, and the fourteen players shot up. Harry, highest of all, started eagerly looking for any sign of the Snitch. Under him, the game took its course.

Jon, Sophie, and Daphne tossed the Quaffle to each other at a breathtaking pace –especially Daphne as she performed maneuvers on her Firebolt like Harry had never seen her before, far too fast for their opponents. After half an hour of play, the Cannons led 70:0, a truly incredible result.

"Harry, watch out!" he suddenly heard Jeremy's voice – before one of the black Bludgers came shooting towards him, which Harry avoided by a hair's breadth. And then the second Bludger shot at him, but Jeremy came racing from the side and hurled it towards a Harpies Chaser who had to roll on her back in midair to dodge. A disappointed groan from the Harpies fans followed, but much applause came from the Cannons side for their Beater.

"That was close," Jeremy called to him. "They're targeting you now, watch out!"

Harry nodded and rose further up, his eyes strained to find the Snitch, a golden flicker, a flutter in the air, anything, but so far in vain.

All of the sudden, he heard a loud, bloodcurdling bang, followed by a violent outcry from the audience. Instinctively, Harry spun around on his broomstick – and saw Daphne fall to the ground, a heavily bleeding wound on her head and red streaks in her hair. Above her, Ginny flew on her broom, her face hidden behind her strands.

Harry screamed, but the enchantments on the field slowed Daphne's fall and she gently hit the ground, but even from there Harry could see she was whimpering in pain. As fast as he could he raced towards the ground, beating the Medi-Witches to her side.

"Daphne!" he yelled in fear as he tossed his broom. "Daphne!"

"Get away," one of the Medi-Witches called, pushing Harry aside. "We'll help her."

Helplessly, Harry watched as the healers examined Daphne, who was still whimpering in pain, her hair covered with blood. It was trickling down by her side, slowly seeping into the grass below. Only now, through the corner of his eye, did he notice how the other players had landed next to them – and above all of them were the screaming fans, although he could not understand what they were yelling. Then he saw a reddish shimmer; he looked to the side and saw Ginny standing next to him, her face grim.

"You damn bitch," suddenly yelled a voice nearby. "That was on purpose, you –"

Harry didn't hear the rest of the words, because just then the Medi-Witches carefully raised Daphne and placed her on a stretcher. For a moment, Harry and Daphne's eyes found each other, one pair filled with worry, the other barely open at all, but then Daphne's head slumped to the side – she had passed out. The healers hurried off with her, disappearing into the dark tunnel under the stadium while Harry couldn't move, paralyzed by his turbulent emotions.

Only an abrupt bump against his shoulder pulled him out of his rigidity. Looking around, he saw that the Cannons and Harpies players were facing each other, screaming and red-faced. And in the middle of all of them stood Ginny and the referee, who was blowing his whistle and pointing to the tunnel into which Daphne had just disappeared. She was sent off.

Ginny's face showed no emotion when she grabbed her broom and began to walk towards the edge of the field. Harry was about to run after her when suddenly a voice stopped him in his tracks.

"Greengrass' faking it," sneered one of the Harpies players. "She –"

For reasons he couldn't quite explain to himself, these words sparked a wave of searing anger in Harry the likes of which he had seldom felt before. Reflexively, he spun around and punched the player in the face, who went down with a sharp scream.

Immediately a crowd formed around him. Screams, insults, more punches, all while Harry stared at his hand in disbelief. He had punched her. He had never punched anyone before, especially not a woman...

Then more whistles, the furious face of the referee in front of him, an unmistakable hand movement.

As if in a trance he started moving, leaving it to his feet to find the way since his mind was no longer able to do so. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Davik and Jeremy walking next to him, still screaming and making wild gestures towards the Harpies. And then they disappeared into the players' tunnel as well – and suddenly everything went very quiet. No sound reached them from outside, and still Harry just followed his feet, only realizing where they had taken him when he saw the open door to the medicine room in front of him, behind which an elderly healer was disposing of blood-stained towels.

A jerk went through Harry's body, and he rushed into the room. "Where is she?" he called. "Is she okay? Is she–?"

"Quiet, Potter," replied the healer. "Your teammate is fine, but the others brought her to St. Mungo's. But she'll be fine, don't worry!" Then she slowly shook her head. "But what was Ginny Weasley thinking..."

Ginny!

Harry felt like someone had dumped a ton of ice-cold water on him when he heard his girlfriend's name. Abruptly he turned around and started running away, ignoring the thoughtful look of the healer behind him. He had to find Ginny! He needed to hear from her what had just happened, even if an ugly, horrible suspicion was already growing in him.

Finally, he heard Ginny's voice outside the locker rooms – and the voice of Ron. He was yelling at her.

"...your damn jealousy!" shouted Ron. "Don't tell me it was an accident. You're going to destroy everything with your behavior!"

"What's going on here?" Harry cried as he ran to them. At the sound of his voice, the siblings turned to face him. Ron's face was marked with anger, while Ginny was still staring unusually passively. Concerned, Harry stepped to her side, grabbing her hand, which instantly clenched in his.

"Ron is mad that the Cannons are losing," Ginny then muttered softly.

"I don't give a shit," shouted Ron. "Don't lie! You didn't ram Daphne over a stupid Quidditch match!"

"It was an accident," Ginny whispered.

"You don't even believe that yourself! Ginny, you –"

"Ron," Harry said, putting his hand on his friend's shoulder. "Please let me do that, will you?" The two looked at each other, and Harry could see Ron still shaking. Finally, however, he nodded but otherwise remained unmoving Harry then turned back to Ginny, who was looking at the floor. "Ginny," he said. "Please tell me the truth. Did you hurt Daphne on purpose?"

Ginny looked up – and Harry thought he saw a terrible fear flickering in her eyes for a moment. "No, of course not," she replied, her voice trembling slightly. "I would never do that."

Harry looked her straight in the eye, saw her pleading look to believe him, and let out a heavy sigh. He wanted so badly for that to be the truth, so, so badly, but he couldn't rid himself of the feeling of doubt that slowly closed around his heart like an ice-cold fist. But Ginny loved him, and he loved Ginny…

"I believe you," he whispered. "I believe you…"


Scandalous Match Between the Holyhead Harpies and the Chudley Cannons – Four Sending-Offs

By Boris Chamberlain

Ugly scenes brought an abrupt end to the sporting competition between the Holyhead Harpies and the Chudley Cannons for fourth place in this year's Quidditch season yesterday. It was the 32nd minute of the match – the Cannons leading sensationally by 70:0 – when suddenly the entire stadium froze in horror as Harpies Chaser Ginny Weasley crashed at high speed into Cannons Chaser Daphne Greengrass, who until then had delivered an outstanding performance. Weasley hit Greengrass in the head with her boots, who then fell from her broom, bleeding profusely; her fall stopped only by the enchantments on the playing field. Healers have taken Greengrass to St. Mungo's for examination and treatment. No new information is known yet about her condition.

On the field, meanwhile, this gross foul led to a mass confrontation, acts of violence and insults between the Harpies and Cannons players, resulting in not only Weasley – for her foul on Greengrass – but also Harry Potter, Jeremy Gottwald, and Davik Berg (all three Chudley Cannons) to be sent off the field. Without their best players, the Cannons lost by 70:560 after the restart.

The question, which of course interests many fans now and which will also be decisive for Ginny Weasley's sentence, is whether Weasley deliberately fouled Greengrass so brutally, or if it was an unfortunate accident. Harry Potter seems to be assuming the latter because when leaving the stadium with his girlfriend Ginny Weasley by his side, all he said was that Weasley had not wanted to hurt anyone and that he hoped his teammate Daphne Greengrass would be fine again soon. A hope that we all agree with.


Wearily, Harry looked at the newspaper picture in front of him on the breakfast table; he just couldn't take his eyes off it, even if the scene was already burned into his mind forever. Daphne falling to the ground in slow motion, over and over again, a curse of eternal repetition captured in newsprint.

Harry sighed deeply, as he had done countless times this morning, before hearing faint footsteps in the hallway. Ginny joined him in the kitchen, her hair sticking out in all directions and deep, dark circles under her eyes. She looked like she hadn't slept a second that night, as did Harry himself.

"Good morning," he greeted her, but Ginny remained silent. She only gave him a long look – and Harry knew his girlfriend well enough by now to recognize her feelings: pain, confusion, and, covering everything else, a terrible fear. And then a violent tremor went through her body as she walked slowly towards him.

"Harry," she said, almost pleading. "I –"

Just then a loud bank was heard, and Kreacher appeared in the kitchen, two letters in his hands. "Good morning, Master and Miss," he said as he handed them the letters. "Kreacher has mail, a letter from Daphne Greengrass for Master, and one from Coach Themis Nika for Miss Weasley."

Ginny stopped before turning to Kreacher and taking one of the letters from him, her hands trembling so violently that she found it difficult to open it. Harry, on the other hand, took Daphne's letter and, after thanking Kreacher, opened it too. With a pounding heart, he began to read.

Harry,

I'm writing to you from St. Mungo's, but please know I'm fine! The healers are taking good care of me and I will be able to return home this afternoon. Of course, I'm sad that the season is over for us now, but I look forward to the upcoming World Cup with full confidence. Apparently, Coach Nika asked about my condition, and that's a good sign, isn't it? Oh Harry, I would love to play on the National Team with you! You already have your place in the squad safe anyway.

But I am writing to you for another reason. Tori told me that you were the first by my side, even before the healers. And that you punched Regina Heron in the face when she said something derogatory about me. I can't condone violence, but thank you, Harry! It touches me deeply, so much even that I have no words to express my feelings. That you stepped into my life is the greatest blessing that I could ever have imagined and that I will never miss again.

Your Daphne

Smiling, Harry put the letter on the table in front of him, directly on the distressing newspaper picture. Daphne was fine, and that was the most important thing.

He turned back to Ginny – and his smile froze. His girlfriend stared at the letter in her hands with a deathly pale face, before she suddenly dropped it on the floor and ran out of the kitchen. Harry called after her, but she ignored him, and a few seconds later he heard the front door slam open, followed by a loud bang. Ginny had Disapparated.

Carefully, Harry picked up the letter and read the lines that had shaken Ginny so much.

Dear Miss Weasley,

Unfortunately, I have to inform you that you will not be nominated for the English National Quidditch Team until further notice. Your behavior during yesterday's match against the Chudley Cannons, especially against a fellow member of the National Team, in no way reflects the values to which our association and the National Team hold ourselves to.

I ask for your understanding.

Yours sincerely,

Themis Nika


Next Chapter: World Cup

Release Date: Sunday, 18th July, 2021

Preview:

"Daring is good," she laughed brightly, pulling him towards the carriage behind her. "Because I have great goals that I will now pursue with all my might. After all, the Sorting Hat didn't put me in Slytherin for no reason."