A/N Happy 37th Birthday to the one and only Harry Potter! And a very happy 52nd birthday to Joanne Rowling.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Doctor Who, just the plot to this story.


Chapter 23: Quidditch

~ HARRY ~

"Ron, you can't just cover one of the hoops! You have to cover all three!" Ginny yelled at her brother, frustratedly. As much as Harry wanted his Chasers to be able to make goals, he wanted his Keeper to be able to block the goals, as well. Harry flew over to where Ron was blocking the goal posts.

"Ron, what's wrong? No offense, but you haven't been this bad at blocking the goals since last year when the Slytherins made up that song about you..."

"I know, Harry. I'm sorry, but ever since we caught Ginny and Dean snogging in that corridor, it's like I don't have my head on straight. She's my little sister, and I want to protect her, you know what I mean?"

I know more about it than you think, Harry thought to himself. "Look, Ron, you have to at least try, all right? We got that match with Slytherin tomorrow and in order for us to win, you need to block all three goal posts. I'll talk to Ginny, Amy, and Demelza and make sure they score as much as they can, but you can't let Slytherin score!"

"I get it, Harry… don't let Slytherin win..."

"Great. Thanks, mate."

Harry flew over a land near where the three Chasers stood, talking. Harry took a few moments, before going over to them, to admire Ginny. He couldn't help it. The way her hair flowed in the cool winter air, the way her nose crinkled and her laugh sounded when one of the other girls made a joke. Amy was the first to notice him standing there, observing them.

"Harry, you alright there?" Amy called, pulling him out of his Ginny induced trance.

"Wha — oh, yeah, sorry!" Harry walked towards them, trying to avoid eye contact with his best friends' sister. "I just wanted to make sure that you three make tomorrow the best Quidditch match we have. Ron's a bit out of it at the moment —"

"— a lot out of it —" Ginny mumbled.

"— but, I need you three to score as much as you can tomorrow to make sure we keep our points above Slytherins tomorrow. That'll make my job of catching the snitch a lot easier. I won't have to make sure that were within 150 points of Slytherins' score."

"We get it, Harry," Ginny answered, a smile on her face. "We'll do our best tomorrow and make up for all of my brother's mistakes."

"Ginny, can I talk to you?" Harry looked her straight in the eye.

"Umm, sure Harry," Ginny giggled awkwardly as the two of them began walking away from the Quidditch Pitch. Though his intentions for this conversation with Ginny were completely innocent, Harry didn't miss the thumbs up and wide smile that Amy seemed to give him before he turned away. Harry knew that Amy knew about his feelings for Ginny, he just hoped that Ginny didn't notice as well.

"Ginny, I want to talk to you about Ron," he was cut off by Ginny rolling her eyes, but he continued anyway. "Ginny, I would really appreciate it if you started being a bit more easy on Ron. At least until after the match tomorrow."

Ginny sighed. "Look, Harry, as much as I want to win the match against Slytherin, Ron had it coming. He keeps bugging me so much about Dean. You saw how he was when the two of you found me and Dean in that corridor!" she pointed out.

Harry remembered that encounter very well. That was the time that he realized he couldn't push his feelings for Ginny away. In that moment he wanted to pull Dean away from Ginny and begin kissing her himself, but he knew he couldn't…

"I know, Ginny, he went a bit overboard —"

"— a bit? —"

"— But can you blame him? Ginny," Harry sighed. He really didn't want to have this conversation with Ginny. "Ginny, I know you're entitled to date whoever you want. It's your decision and I want you to know that. But Ron still sees you as a little girl — as his little sister. He's just trying to protect you —"

"Well, apparently he's protecting me from the wrong people! If he were smart, which we both know he's not, he would try protecting me from himself and not from Dean. Why can't Ron just be more like you, Harry?" She whispered the last part as she softened her expression. He noticed the way a tear began to fall from her face and he had to resist the urge to wipe it away and pull her close. "What do you mean? More like me?"

"Well, ever since I started dating Dean, you've always been there for me. You've supported me. Remember the talk we had at the beginning of the year? In Fred and George's shop? You said you didn't care who I dated as long as they treated me right. I just don't know why Ron can't understand that." Ginny moved closer to Harry, and they were now only inches away. "Harry, can I tell you something? If we're being completely honest… ?" She waited for him to shake his head yes in response before continuing. "Harry, Dean hasn't been treating me right..." she looked him directly in the eye. "He's… he's been seeing other people behind my back, and I… I don't know what to do." Ginny let the tears fall freely from her face. Harry took this moment to truly comfort her and he pulled her into his chest, allowing her to feel safe. She wrapped her arms around his neck and continued to cry into his shoulder. "Harry, I… I wanted to tell someone, but… I just, I didn't know how," Ginny sniffled. "I wanted to tell you, Harry," she removed her face from his shoulder, but her arms remained where they were. "You were the one that told me to make sure Dean treated me right… and look where I am now!" Ginny let out a wretched laugh. "I'm here. Crying into your arms because my boyfriend couldn't stay true."

She stood there staring into Harry's eyes for how long? Harry didn't know; it could have been hours. He stared back into her her sad brown eyes as she looked into his green ones. It was only when they heard the voices of their Quidditch team members that they moved away from each other. Ginny began furiously wiping the tears away from her eyes as Ron, Amy, and the rest of the team rounded a corner and saw them standing there. Demelza Robins, Jimmy Peakes, and Ritchie Coote all went off to the Common Room as Ron and Amy stuck with Harry and Ginny. Amy noticed that Ginny's eyes were red and puffy and asking if she was alright.

"I'm fine, Amy," Ginny lied. "Harry and I were just talking about… stuff."

"Oh," Amy was not convinced. "Alright then. I think it's time we head back up to the Common Room..." Amy urgently ushered the other three Gryffindors along with her.

"Harry, what's wrong with Ginny?" Ron whispered as they walked through the corridors. "You didn't make her cry, did you?"

"No! No, of course not. We were just talking," Harry quickly defended himself.

"Alright, just want to make sure. As much as I'm mad at her, she's still my baby sister, you know? That's why I'm so protective of her around Dean. I'm just trying to make sure the school doesn't view her as something she's not."

In that moment, Harry wanted to stop walking and confess to Ron everything he knew about Ginny: from Dean cheating on her to Harry's deep feelings for her. But he sided against it. Merlin knew what would happen to their friendship if Ron found out, and Harry didn't want to be responsible for that.

"Harry, I think I should resign as Keeper," Ron said bluntly as he stopped short.

"What?! No, Ron… you can't! We have a match against Slytherin tomorrow!"

"Just let McLaggen in then. We both know he's better than I am."

"Ron, does this have something to do with Ginny?"

"Well… yeah, it does. She's been pointing out all of my mistakes and… I just know I'm not good enough. And seeing her with Dean all the time —"

"Ron, we're not replacing you. Just because you're upset about Dean dating Ginny it doesn't mean you have to take it out on your Quidditch. You're playing tomorrow. And that's it."


"So you're going to trick Ron into thinking he has the luck? That's brilliant!" Amy complimented Harry's idea. During the time that Amy, Hermione, and Ginny were stuck at Malfoy Manor, Harry had won Felix Felicis in Potions class for brewing a perfect Draught of Living Death. He and Amy agreed to make Ron believe that he had obtained the luck, in order for him to do better in the match.

"We better get to the Great Hall, then, if we're going to do this," Amy said as she stood. Together the two walked and sat with Ginny and the rest of the Quidditch team at the Gryffindor table. Ron walked in a few moments later. "Show time," Harry mumbled to Amy as he took the sealed bottle out of his pocket. "Hey, Ron! Something to drink?"

"Yeah, anything..." Ron looked nervous.

Harry swiftly poured Ron a glass of Pumpkin juice and passed it to his friend. He made sure that the bottle was at least visible.

"Ron, don't!"

Ron stared up at Hermione who had just appeared in the room.

"What are you talking about, 'Mione?" Ron asked.

Hermione turned accusingly towards Harry. "You put something in it."

"I'm sorry?" Harry asked, pretending to be shocked.

"I saw you pour something into Ron's drink."

"I really have no idea what you mean," Harry lied as he placed the bottle back in his pocket.

"Ron please don't —"

But Ron already had the cup on his lips. "I don't need you to tell me what to and what not to drink, Hermione."

Harry could feel Amy laughing next to him as Hermione sat down on his other side. "I can't believe you, Harry. You know that's illegal."

"I still don't know what you're on about," Harry lied again as he bit into his muffin and stood up. "Come on, team. It's nearly time for the match to start."

Harry, Ron, Amy, and Ginny left Hermione behind and headed towards the Gryffindor changing rooms. When they arrived, they met an excited looking Demelza at the door. "Guess what? Vaisey, Slytherins Chaser, got hit by a Bludger yesterday and is too zoned out to play. Also, Malfoy isn't playing either! He's gone off sick!"

"Really?" Harry asked, staring at her.

"Yeah, they got Harper instead. He's an idiot, that one. Shouldn't be that hard for us to beat him," Demelza walked off into the room as the rest followed.

"I guess that's good news for us," Amy breathed out.

"Nah, just luck," Ron stated as they all put on their Quidditch robes. "Wait a moment… what was it Hermione said you put in my drink…?"

"What do you mean?" Harry kept a blank expression on his face. "Anyway, come on. The match is about to start!" Harry yelled so that all of his teammates heard. Harry, Ron, Ginny, Amy, Demelza, Jimmy, and Ritchie all grabbed their brooms and walked out onto the pitch, set to win.

Most of the stadium was filled with the colors of red and gold, but one large section was crowded with green and silver. Most of the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws had also sided with Gryffindor. Amy pointed out to Harry that Luna Lovegood was sitting in the Ravenclaw section with her huge lion hat covering her head.

Harry and the Slytherin Captain, Urquhart, met in the center of the pitch and shook hands. Madam Hooch counted up to three, and the match had begun!

The players kicked off from the ground to be level with the goal posts. The commentating began as well, and Harry had recognized the voice immediately. It was Zacharias Smith, the boy that no one from the DA had particularly liked. Harry turned his broom to face the commentator's podium and instantly missed when it was Lee Jordan that occupied that seat. Regardless of the demeaning comment Zacharias was making, within the first half hour of the match, Gryffindor was already winning sixty to zero while Ron had saved twice as many goals.

After a few more goals saved by Ron, the crowd began to sing out a fan favorite: "Weasley Is Our King." Harry could tell that Ron was enjoying all of the attention. But Harry was thrown off track when Smith's voice boomed over the megaphone. "Blimey, I think Harper has spotted the snitch!" Harry's head shot in the direction that Harper was heading and he went off on his Firebolt. With his Firebolt's speed, he was soon caught up with Harper. They bumped into each other as they both reached for the snitch, only inches away. Harry peeked over at the score and saw that Slytherin was behind Gryffindor by one hundred points; meaning that if Harper caught the snitch, Slytherin would win. Harper was still a bit ahead of him and Harry's head jumbled with ideas of how to distract Harper.

"Hey, Harper? Malfoy pay you for playing for him today?" Harper looked back at Harry and hesitated just enough for Harry to get ahead of him so that he could reach the snitch. He reached his hand out and caught the snitch!

"Yes! I got it!" He and the rest of Gryffindor team gathered together in the air for a hug. After the group hug had ended, they all hug each other individually; Harry's hug with Ginny did not last as long as Harry wanted it to, but he went straight on to hug Amy. Harry noticed Ron and Ginny hug without even noticing that it was with each other. They soon released each other, but Ron offered her a small smile before looking away.

The team landed safely down on the ground and all of Gryffindor house and surrounded them and raised them up on their shoulders. Harry found Hermione in the crowd, who was still giving Harry a disapproving look. After being released by the rest of their house, Harry and the rest of the Gryffindor Quidditch team went off to the changing rooms to put their regular clothes back on. As they were finishing up, Hermione walked in as Dean rushed past her and yelled, "Party in the common room!" He grabbed Ginny by the arm and began pulling her out before she could turn to look at Harry one last time.

Demelza, Jimmy, and Ritchie followed out after Dean and Ginny, leaving Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Amy alone in the changing room.

"You really shouldn't have done it, Harry. Slughorn told you it was illegal..."

"You gonna turn us in, then?" Ron asked, narrowing his eyes at Hermione.

"What are you three on about?" Amy asked, grinning in the opposite direction so Ron and Hermione couldn't see.

"Harry spiked Ron's Pumpkin Juice with Felix Felicis!"

"No, I didn't," defended Harry.

"Harry, don't lie to me —" Hermione advanced towards Harry. He took this as the sign to pull the full bottle out of his pocket. "I faked it. I wanted Ron to think he had the luck, but you did it all by yourself, Ron."

"But… what about Vaisey… and Malfoy… ?"

Harry and Amy shrugged. Ron turned accusingly towards Hermione. "You didn't think I could do this good with the luck, did you?"

"I never said that, Ron —"

Ron shoved Hermione out of the way as he stormed out of the changing rooms and towards the common room.

"Hermione," Amy started. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine!" Hermione yelled, blinking back the tears. "I just want to be alone right now," she said, right before storming out as well. But she went in the opposite direction of Ron.

"Er," Harry broke the silence, "maybe that wasn't our best plan..."

"I guess not," Amy sighed. "Come on, we should get to the party." Amy linked arms with Harry and pulled him along up the seven flights of stairs to the common room. When they walked through the portrait hole, the room erupted with applause and the crowd pulled both Harry and Amy in, separating the two of them. Harry could see that Amy was already deep in conversation with Neville, so he had to wade off the group of girls around him all by himself. Not so long after that, Colin Creevey and his brother Dennis tried to start a conversation with Harry, but he shrugged them off as well. Harry began searching for Ron, hoping to calm him down after what happened, but he couldn't seem to find him, so he decided to move towards the drinks table. While trying heavily to avoid Romilda Vane (who was trying to ask him to Slughorn's Christmas Party), he ended up walking straight into Ginny who was just as shocked as he was when they collided.

"Oh, sorry Ginny —"

"Harry, hide me!" Ginny whispered as she pushed Harry out of the way and hid behind his back. In that moment, Dean Thomas strolled over looking confused. "You haven't seen Ginny, have you, Harry? She told me about five minutes ago that she had to use that bathroom."

Harry had to make sure not to punch Dean and replied, "I think I just saw her walk out the portrait hole," Harry lied as he pointed towards the exit.

"Really?" Dean asked. "Alright, then..." he mumbled as he headed in that direction and left the common room.

"Ginny," Harry pried Ginny from his back and turned to face her. "He's gone. What was all that about?"

"Thank you, Harry!" Ginny sighed as she pulled him into a hug. Harry couldn't help but return the embrace, wanting to hold her for eternity. But she soon ended it when she pulled away. "I just… I don't want to be around him right now," Ginny answered.

"I can't blame you. Considering what you told me," Harry replied, trying to catch her eyes, but she seemed to be avoiding his. "Ginny," he placed his hand on her shoulder. "Why don't you just, you know… dump him?"

Ginny mumbled something soft enough that Harry couldn't hear her. "Ginny, you have to speak up. I want to help you. Please, Ginny. Why don't you just break up with him?"

"Because I can't!" she practically yelled. The people that were close enough to hear their conversation, flinched when she did. Ginny took Harry by the sleeve and pulled him into a corner so no one else could hear them. "Harry, I can't."

She looked into his eyes as if pleading for help. "Dean and I… well we… it's complicated..."

"Ginny, you can tell me. I know it's awkward talking to me because you see me as your brother, but you can tell me anything."

Ginny looked as if she was about to disagree with his statement, but instead, she gave in. "Harry, I'll tell you, but you have to promise not to tell anyone else," Ginny pleaded.

"Of course."

"Well… after Hermione, Amy, Malfoy, and I were brought back to Hogwarts, everyone was happy to see that we were alright and safe. Especially Dean. When Madam Pomfrey had checked me over and made sure I was fine to stay in my own room that night, she let me go. Apparently Dean had been waiting outside of the Hospital WIng for me, because they wouldn't let him in to see me. I was happy to see him too, of course, I mean, I was just abducted by Death Eaters. Who wouldn't be happy to get back to their boyfriend?" Ginny flinched at the word boyfriend, but continued anyway. "We were so happy to see each other that we started making out in a deserted corridor, and that's where you and Ron found us… When I met him back in the common room, there were other people in there, and he asked if I wanted to go up to his room with him… and I said yes."

Harry had a feeling he knew where this was going, but he didn't want to seem immature and say it.

"So, we went upstairs and sat on his bed. For a while, nothing happened, but then he heard people coming up the stairs, so he closed the curtains around his bed and casted Silencio."

"So… you and Dean…? You… you had sex?" Harry asked tentatively.

"Well," Ginny sighed. "No, not exactly. Blimey, you were right, this is hard to say. Umm… Harry. Dean raped me."

Harry began to fume. "He what?" He asked through clenched teeth. "Dean did what to you?"

"Harry please don't freak out!" Ginny began tearing up.

"How can I not?! He hurt you, Ginny, and you want me to not freak out? You have to leave him!"

"Harry there's more," she cut him off. "I'm late."

"Late? What do you mean 'late'?"

Ginny sighed, obviously not wanting to have to say it out loud. "Harry, I missed my period," she whispered. "I think… I think I might be pregnant. And if I am then I definitely can't leave Dean."

"Ginny, I need you to say something to me that will stop me from going after Dean right now. Because if you don't I'm going to find him and I am going to hurt him."

"Harry, I just —" Ginny's voice was cut short by the loud cheering that ensued within the common room. Harry and Ginny looked into the center of the room to see Ron — their Ron — making out with Lavender Brown. "Merlin, now I know how he felt when he saw me with Dean," Ginny grimaced. There was a loud slam as the common room door was closed. But before it closed, Harry caught sight of a bushy brown mass that had whipped away.

"Ginny, I'll be right back. This conversation is not over," Harry gave her a distinct look and with that, went after Hermione. He exited the common room and entered the deserted hallway. He heard Hermione's voice coming from down the corridor and wondered who she could be talking to. He walked briskly towards the classroom and peered through the window in the door, not expecting to see this.

Hermione was sitting on the desk in the front of the classroom, tears falling off her face, and leaning into the shoulder of the one and only: Draco Malfoy.

What the hell? Harry thought to himself. He was about to barge into the classroom right then and there when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Don't, Harry," Ginny sighed. She had a sad look in her eye, but she tried to use her smile to make the sadness go away. Ginny peered into the room as well, smiled, let out a small laugh, and turned back towards Harry. "Is there something going on that I should know about?" Harry asked carefully.

"I think it's best you ask Hermione tomorrow," Ginny reasoned.

Just then, a series of giggles were heard around the corner. Ron and Lavender ran, hand in hand, to where Harry and Ginny were standing.

"We're just looking for somewhere private," Lavender laughed. Still holding Ron's hand, she pushed past Harry and Ginny; before Harry could stop them, the pair had entered the room currently occupied by Hermione and Malfoy. Harry and Ginny opted to not follow them into the classroom. They soon realized that they could hear the yelling inside clearly without having to enter.

"Malfoy?! What the hell are you doing in here?"

"I could ask you the same, Weasley. Apparently looking for somewhere better than the middle of the common room to snog your new girlfriend."

"Hermione, what are you doing with him? Get away from him!"

"No, Ron! As if you're any better to be with at the moment!"

"What the hell is wrong with you? Do you not understand that Draco freaking Malfoy just had his arm around you?!"

"Yes, and I had mine around him! If you have a problem than just come out and say it, though you were never really good with words."

"'Mione —"

"Don't you dare call her that! You have no right! After everything she's done for you for the past six years, you decide to toss her off to the side like a dirty rag."

"Draco, please —"

"'Draco?' Oh, it's 'Draco' now?" Ron let out a mocking laugh. "I see what's going on, Hermione. And it's not going to work… Come on, Lav."

Harry and Ginny were pushed out of the way by a fuming Ron and an awestruck Lavender as they walked off down the corridor.

Harry peeked back into the room. Hermione was sobbing even more now than she was before Ron had appeared. Harry and Ginny looked at each other and let out a long breath. Harry really hated when his friends didn't get along.