Holyhead stadium, Holyhead, Wales
Ginny Wealsey stepped out of the harpies fireplace and dropped her quidditch bag onto the bench in front of her locker. She pulled her green jumper and pants out of her bag and changed quickly. She pulled her hair into a ponytail and put on her gear. She grabbed her broom from its stand and joined the team on the pitch. Gwenog, Myra, Vasilina and Nichole were waiting for instructions from Morgan
"You're late" Vaslina whispered
"Sorry, long night" Ginny whispered back
"Was Harry in your room last night?" Vaslina snickered
"Get your mind out of the gutter. If you must know, Harry, Ron, and Neville had to leave at 3 am and got back at 6 so I didn't get the best night sleep"
"Wealsey, Sofka, pay attention." Morgan called
"Sorry coach" they both called back
"Right, for our first drill, we'll be doing a small scrimmage. Vasilina and Ginny on one team, Gwenog and Myra on the other. Nichole in goal. Up in the air girls" Ginny mounted her broom. She took off and waited for Morgan to blow the whistle. She and Myra were doing the toss up. Ginny reached higher and quickly caught it. She raced towards the hoop. She passed the ball to Vasilina. Gwenog raced forward to block Vasilina. Vasilina threw the ball back. Ginny caught it with ease. She made her approach. She swung her arm back and threw. The ball landed in the tall hoop. Ginny and Vasilina quickly scored enough points to end the game
"Nice game Weasley" Morgan yelled. Ginny fist bumped Vasilina
"Lucky game Weasley" Myra smirked
"Really?" Asked Ginny "because that's what you said last time, you know, when I beat you by the exact same score, 70 to zero" Myra glared
"You say that like you and Vasilina are just better than us" Myra jabbed
"Looks like it"
"Really? let's see what happens when we break up the 'dream team'"
"I'll win either way Myra, and you know it"
"You sure?"
"Duh. We both know I'm the better quidditch player" Ginny grabbed her broom and headed over to where everyone else was practicing. She was quickly up in the air with everyone else. The morning seemed to fly by. Before Ginny knew it, It was time for them to shower and change for their press meeting. Ginny grabbed her bag from where she left it. She showered and changed into her dress for the meeting. She dried her red hair into elegant waves and did the same Smokey eye look Vaslina taught her.
"Hey Weasley"Ginny turned to see Vaslina walking over to the mirror with her makeup bag in hand.
"Hey Sofka, nice dress"
"Thanks," Vasilina was wear in a red dress with a black choker "nice smoky eye"
"I've been practicing"
"Clearly. Unlike some things"
"What do you mean?"
"Well I mean Quidditch for one"
"Yes we all know I'm naturally gifted but what's your point?" Ginny grinned
"I'm just saying you could be on any team and it wouldn't matter because they had the best quidditch player" Ginny heard an undercurrent of venom is Vasilina's words. Ginny's smile faltered a little bit.
"Seriously Sofka, What's up?"
"I know you're new to professional quidditch. Can I offer you a word of advice?"
"Sure" Ginny's brow furrowed
"You don't make the team so you better learn to appreciate your teammates"
"What?" Ginny felt genuinely offended. She thought she was doing a good job at her part of the game. But she was only one position out of seven. She never implied she could win alone, except
"You're talking about that conversation I had with Myra!" Ginny exclaimed. Vasilina did not answer. "It was just some banter. I meant I was better than her" Vasilina sighed
"Sure Weasley" She grabbed her makeup bag and stormed off. Ginny watched her go. There had just been some arguing with Myra. Why on earth was Vasilina so upset?
Holyhead stadium press room, Holyhead, WalesGinny Wealsey took her seat between Gwenog and Vasilina. Leí sat in the middle with Nichole on her right. Even sitting down, Nichole towered over Leí. Gilat and Sonya were on the other side of Nichole. That was always the way they sat. It was fairly standard for quidditch teams to sit the chasers, the seeker and then the keeper and beaters, although some of the other teams had their keeper sit in the scanned her teammates quickly. Gwenog looked quite serious in her pants suit. It fit the team captain. Leí was wearing a teal halter dress with a white cardigan. Nichole was wearing a loose peach dress. Gilat was also wearing a pants suit and Sonya was wearing a floral dress.
"Press will be entering in 5" Morgan informed them. Ginny stared at the door. The minute it was open, a flock of people entered. They all began an assault of questions.
"Please, one at a time." The harpie's PR manager, Lana Farrell called. "Quidditch Today first please"
"Err right, Ms. Jones, this has been only your third year as the Harpies Captain, Since you were made captain, the Harpies record has improved until this season with a 3:0 record. What would you credit the Harpies success to?"
"Well, I would give credit to Morgan for sure. Her training has been incredibly helpful to our teamwork and overall success. I would also give credit to the whole team for their individual talent and teamwork"
"Do you believe your own abilities have lead to your team's overall success"
"No more than any of the other factors I listed."
"Right, Ms. Kanfo and Ms. Ramirez, you two have been beaters together for 5 years now. Do you still work as well as you did, worse than you did before or better?"
"Definitely better" said Gilat
"What would you attribute that to?"
"Better communication for sure" Sonya said
"I was thinking the exact same thing" Gilat smiled
"Ms. Sofka, this year the Harpies have to balance a new chaser and a new captain. How has that affected the chasers as a whole"
"Well, we are a unit, even if some of us are not the best at remembering that." Gwenog's brows furrowed. Ginny Gritted her teeth. The rest of the harpies stared at Vasilina, wondering who she was talking about."We have adapted to our new situation for the sake of the team and it seems to be working"
"I'm sorry but we need to move on to our next reporter if we want to have time for everyone. Up next is" Lara sighed and pitched the bridge of her nose. "The Quibbler"
"Harpy players as you may be aware, the Shfae are a race of elves that can take the appearance of anyone they choose. They have been known to leave pale white dust wherever they go-"
"I'm sorry, but what does this have to do with quidditch?" Gwenog asked
"Suspicious, there has been white dust left at the last 2 Harpies games. So which one of you is it?" Xenophillus Lovegood pointed his pen at each of them.
"Right" Gwenog muttered
"Mr. Lovegood-" Ginny began
"I've known you since you were 9 years old. Please call me Xenophillus. Unless you are a Shafe" he narrowed his eyes
"I don't believe anyone on the team is a Shfae. Maybe it's nargles leaving the dust?"
"Hmm. Shfae can see nargles. Interesting. That means Ginny Weasley can be moved to the bottom of the suspect pool. Better move Gwenog Jones to the top-"
"Right, thank you Mr. Lovegood. Next up is witch weekly."
"Ms. Weasley, You have been dating the boy who lived for 3 years now, correct?" The young witch asked
"I've been dating Harry for four years"
"Right, well anyway, can you share some information about him? Many people are curious about your relationship and your boyfriend. He seems very private about his personal life"
"Too bad, I am too"
"Is there anything you would be willing to share?"
"She has been known to call him a bit of a noble git and as observant as a brick" Vasilina added. Gilat, Sonya and Nichole started laughing. Ginny bristled. Gwenog noticed her discomfort
"Ms. Weasley, would you care to elaborate?"
"I've said much worse to his face. Now can I please have a quidditch question?"
"Er" She looked at her notes
"I'll take that as a no," Gilat chuckled. Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Ms. Tusi, and Ms. Gordan you have landed numbers 25 and 14 on Witch Weekly's 30 under 30 style icons. Ms. Weasley you landed 8 on Witch Weekly's 20 under 20 style icons. What tips do you have for your average witch's ability to up their style?" Ginny raised her eyebrows in surprise
"Ah, my best advice would be to find colors and styles that work for you and that you're comfortable in. I wear a lot of teals, turquoise, light blues and greens and I've been told I wear a lot of casual wear" Leí said
"Leí is right. It's all about what you are comfortable in. How your clothing looks has a lot to do with your own confidence." Nichole said
"Anything to add Ms. Weasley?"
"I think Nichole and Leí pretty much summed it up"
"Sorry, we are running low on time, The Daily Prophet" Lana called. Rita Skeeter stepped forward. Her quick quotes quill flew up with a notepad. She flashed a smile at Ginny. Ginny felt her stomach drop.
"Ms. Wealsey, you were present for the battle of hogwarts is that correct?" Rita Skeeter asked
"Yes," Ginny gritted her teeth
"During the last few hours of the battle was your boyfriend, The boy who lived, hit with a killing curse?"
"No" Ginny lied smoothly. Vasilina laughed
"It is common knowledge that he was carried back to Hogwarts, appearing to quite frankly be dead."
"Yes, is there a point here?" Ginny asked. Rita smiled
"Many people have testified that they witnessed it. Are you saying they are all lying? Or maybe your boyfriend hasn't told you the full truth?"
"I'm saying that the witnesses are death eaters" Rita scowled at Ginny and turned to Vaslina
"Ms. Sofka, you had an interesting reaction to Ms. Weasley. Care to elaborate?"
"Sure" Vasilina smiled
"Ok, I'm going to stop this here. Not one of these questions have been about Quidditch" Gwenog said
"And on top of it, we are out of time," Lana said. Ginny got up and left with the other harpies. She was fuming over Rita's questioning and Vasilina's goading. Her hands curled into fists. She grabbed her bag. She was ready to storm out when Morgan flagged her down. She was standing with Gwenog and Lana. Ginny flipped her hair over her shoulder and walked over to them.
"I'm sorry about the press today Ginny, we should have shut down those questions sooner" Lana began
"You shouldn't be constantly asked about your past and relationship while the rest of the team gets asked about Quidditch. It's not fair to you" Gwenog continued
"Fine, but I will never answer another question about the Battle like that again." Ginny growled
"We'll make sure you don't have to," Morgan said.
"Good" Ginny stormed off, still fuming. She pushed through the stadium doors and felt the cold air on her cheeks. She tried to take a deep breath. She kicked the snow covering the ground in front of her. She looked up and saw Vasilina leaning against a pole. She didn't even acknowledge Ginny's presence. Ginny curled her hands into fists. She walked over to where Vasilina was standing
"What is your problem with me today" Ginny growled
"I don't have a problem with you"
"You told the press about me and Harry, Oh, and you implied that I lied to Rita Skeeter"
"Well then maybe you shouldn't pretend you are better than the rest of us"
"It was just some banter with Myra. Get over it" Vasilina laughed
"Please, you believe it. After all you have an ego bigger than the F-ing moon. You don't care how much we do for you"
"Oh please"
"I have done so much more for you than you have for me"
"Oh, Grow up. It's not about keeping score"
"Really? Who helped you with a panic attack? I never even got a thank you"
"Get over yourself. You have no idea what it's like."
"Oh right, because you're miss broken. Save me the sob story"
"I'm done" Ginny stormed off, leaving Vasilina to stew with her own thoughts. She huffed and continued to stare ahead. Ginny thought she was so special and important-
"Hey, everything ok?" Myra asked
"Yeah, it's fine"
"Doesn't seem fine"
"Ginny's just a bitch"
"Tell me about it. You know she talks shit about Harry behind his back. Wonder what she says about us?"
"Yeah. She thinks she's so much better than everyone else because she fought in the Battle. You know she lied to the press today"
"Really?"
"She told me that night after our first game, Told me he was shot with the killing curse. Has another lightning scar and everything. She also loved to tell me all about her nightmares."
"She just loves everyone feeling bad for her doesn't she?"
"Yeah apparently she has nightmares about being chased by death eaters, or seeing people die. She even told me about her brother dying"
"Wow"
"Yeah, then she had a panic attack about getting possessed. I helped her through it and she didn't even thank me"
"Possessed?"
"It's a long story"
"I have all day"