different fonts so as to keep them straight. One is the good voice, the other is the bad voice. I'm sure you guys would've all
figured that out, but there you are anyway. Let me know what you think of the voices in her head, Harry might have a couple of
his own pop up later on. Oh, and thanks for the reviews! : )
Oh, and to w&m_law: Thanks for turning such a simple statement as "riding his broomstick" into something very, very
naughty. I haven't been able to quit laughing at that. ; )
Not too much happens in this chapter, but there's a line in here that I have been absolutely dying to use in an HP fic, so I had to
think of a way to include it.
~~~~~~~~~~
Ginny's day turned out quite differently than she had planned. Not that the day was bad, quite the contrary, but the events that
occurred were most unexpected. It was almost too easy, getting on the team. She had expected opposition from all sides, and
not just from her brothers. But Angelina and Alicia had both stood up for her, whether this was out of actual support for Ginny,
or just to drive the twins mad, Ginny couldn't say. Both of them seemed rather pleased with Ginny, and were extremely nice to
her.
Fred, George, and Ron even seemed happy to have Ginny on the team, which was quite funny since they were the ones who
were very vocal against the idea in the first place. In either case, practice was scheduled to begin on Monday and nearly
everyday after that.
But what kept Ginny up in her bed late that night were thoughts Harry and his reaction to her. He had her so confused, on so
many different levels, she didn't even know where to start. Surely he would've been on the side with her brothers, but no…he
spoke up for her! And then he offered her his Firebolt, then he practically walks her back to the castle!
Have I suddenly gone nuts? she thought to herself, staring up at the curtains above her bed. Harry was walking with me,
joking around with me. Hell, he winked at me! Harry doesn't wink at me! He's never done it before.
Why do you care? asked another part of Ginny. You are supposed to be over him remember? He likes that girl in
Hufflepuff, I forget her name. The point is, you are not to care what the stupid git does!
If I didn't care, the first half argued, then why the hell did I try out for the bloody team in the first place? Huh? It was to
see if Harry Potter would notice me in some way other than besides being that little freckle-faced sister of Ron's! I was
rather good though, wasn't I? Even Ron said that he'd never seen anyone fly so fast. Oh, God. I flew on Harry's
Firebolt and he winked at me and then he smiled at me and then he smiled at me again…
Stop it this instant! shouted the second half. You are not to care what Harry says or does. I don't care if he smiles and
winks until his teeth rot and his eye falls out! You are to be the best Chaser the whole of Hogwarts has ever seen and you are to get Harry out of your head this instant!
I can think about Harry if I want! I've been doing it for the past five years, you should be used to it by now!
Get this through your head. Harry Potter does not, will not, ever, in a million years, like you! You—
Well, he liked me enough to let me on his Firebolt didn't he? I never heard you complaining—
Ginny let out an audible groan and rolled over, shoving her pillow into her face. "Oh, God!" she whispered. "I'm actually
arguing with myself…and losing."
There was tons of homework to be done, and Ginny had to get it all finished in advance so she wouldn't be so swamped on her
first day of practice. The fun of Hogsmead had long since worn off, and so Ginny basically lounged around the common room
and worked on her Transfiguration and her Muggle Studies lessons. The only thing that Ginny took notice of on Saturday was
how disappointed Harry looked when she announced that she wouldn't be going in to Hogsmead. What was that all about
then? Don't pay attention to it, he's probably just being nice since you're his new teammate. Or it could be my plan is actually working! Don't be ridiculous!
Monday rolled around soon enough as Ginny found out. She managed to make it through Potions and Transfiguration without
thinking about practice or Harry, which seemed to please both halves of her mind.
"You excited about this afternoon, Gin?" Ron asked her, he and Hermione both scooting in the seats across from her at lunch.
"I guess so," she smiled.
"Fred and George are getting everything set. We have the pitch booked for the entire afternoon, which totally pissed those
Slytherins as they wanted to use it too, but Harry got a letter from McGonagall saying that we needed to try out our new team
member." Ron said this rapidly as he shoved bits of jacket potato in his mouth. Ron's excitement was contagious, Ginny's
other friends sitting next to her were all smiling as well. But that could also be because the silly chits had crushes on her
brother.
Another person plopped down in the empty seat on the other side of Ginny. Don't you dare blush, Ginny Estelle Weasley. Do Not Dare! Funny isn't it? Harry has never sat next to me before. Only because Ron and Hermione don't normally either. He's just sitting with his friends.
"Are you ready to play Quidditch, Ginny?" Harry asked her, his green eyes sparkling behind his glasses.
Act normal and don't look in his eyes! "Sure, Harry. What about you?" Ginny spoke to directly to her fork, which was
suspended in mid-air.
"Can't wait. This is going to be so much fun. Ron and I spent all day yesterday working on new strategies and most of them
are really pretty good if I say so myself. If—" Harry lowered his voice and leaned in close to Ginny, "Ron can keep his mind on
his game and off his girlfriend long enough." He gave the two across from them an amused glance.
Please tell me he just didn't whisper in my ear. Hmm, can't do that. And stop blushing! Ginny followed Harry's gaze to
Ron and Hermione who where both blissfully unaware of the rest of the world and were talking quietly to each other.
"What classes do you have this afternoon?" Harry turned back to her.
"Double divination."
"Oh, I'm so sorry," Harry moaned, patting her back in sympathy.
He's touching my back, He's touching my back. Ok, so contact has just been made. Um, I don't know what to do in this situation. Be cool. "It's ok," she said in what she hoped was a 'cool' tone. "Actually, I pretty much just end up going to
sleep in the back of the class and she never notices me."
"Really? Wow, I can't imagine that."
"Yeah, I just told her once that the atmosphere in her class was conducive to dream-state visions and she ate it up like spun
sugar," she giggled.
"Brilliant! Wish I thought of that when I had the old bat." Harry laughed. His eyes lit up mischievously. "Watch this," he said,
whispering in her ear again. God, I love it when he does that. It is nice, isn't it?
"Hermione," Harry tried to get her attention. "Hey, Hermione!" Hermione was otherwise occupied. Ron was gently kissing
her. "Hermione!"
Hermione jumped and looked both very embarrassed and extremely annoyed at Harry. Ron looked plain murderous.
"Sorry," Harry apologized, trying very hard not to grin. "I just noticed you had a bit of Ron on your face. But he's gone now."
Three things happened simultaneously. Ginny burst out laughing, Ron jumped up ready to kill, and Harry grabbed Ginny and
plopped her in his lap, holding her as a shield.
"I'm going to kill you!" roared Ron.
Harry and Ginny both were almost doubled over in hysterics. Harry somehow managed to realize that Ron was very much
intent on doing some sort of physical harm to himself, and possibly his sister as well since Harry still hadn't let go of her.
"Come on, Ginny, we're gonna get in trouble in a minute!" Harry gasped
as he pulled her from the Great Hall.
"I didn't do anything!" Ginny protested, still giggling.
"Yeah, but you've gotta protect me." Harry said, dragging her outside
into the corridor.
Who IS this guy? I have no idea. Just enjoy it.
And try not to blush so much.
********************************
Ginny made it through the rest of the day, somehow. As she literally
sprinted down the ladder from Trelawney's class room to
the Gryffindor Tower, she nearly got caught by Filch for running in
the halls, but the old git was just too slow to go after her, not
with the way she was running.
"I've got your number, Missy!" Filch yelled after her.
She dashed up the stairs, tossed her books on her bed, grabbed her
old broomstick and was back in the common room in five
seconds flat. Harry was there waiting for her, his Firebolt swung
over his shoulder and a big smile on his face.
"Great! Everyone's already gone down to set up." He beamed at
her. "I told them I would meet you here and take you down
there."
What? Did you somehow forget the way to the pitch? You've
only been here for five years! What stunt is he trying to pull?
I don't care if he walks me to Idaho. He's smiling at me again.
"Thanks," she smiled. They walked down to the pitch,
arms almost touching.
"Don't be angry at your brothers," Harry said as the team was coming
into view over the hill. "They were just trying to look out
for you."
"I'm not mad at them. Well, not really. Those blockheaded
gits are just going to have to learn that I can take care of myself
and think for myself, surprising though that may seem."
Harry chuckled. "Oh, I don't think they have any doubts about
you not being able to take care of yourself. Not from what
they've told me at least."
Ginny nearly stumbled over. I'm going to kill those
bastards. I'll hand you the blunt spoon to do it with.
"What have those mangy—" she took a deep breath, "what have they told you?"
Harry sniggered, "Well, lets see. There was the time you got
Ron's head caught in a sock, there was the time you turned the
twins room upside-down, the time you conjured a rain cloud to constantly
follow Percy—"
"Ok, ok. I get the point. They didn't perchance tell you
what they did to deserve such deeds, did they?" Ginny asked, hoping
to high Heaven that they hadn't.
"I guess it must have slipped their minds." Harry winked at her,
waving to the team as they joined them on the pitch. Oh God,
he did it again! Take deep breaths, deep breaths. Don't
look at him for the rest of the day if you can. The boy is lethal.
Ginny's first Quidditch practice went really well, considering the
state her mind was in. She even imagined to impress them all
with a few suggestions to the game plan that she had thought about.
Just as she was getting ready to hop on her broomstick,
her brothers pulled her aside.
"We, uh—wanted you to use something better than that old thing of Charlie's,"
Fred said as George and Ron huddled around
her.
"We're also really proud of you, Gin," Ron chimed in.
"Yeah," George added, beaming as he handed her a long parcel.
"And we're sorry for making such a fuss the other day."
Ginny unwrapped the parcel, wondering if the whole world had suddenly,
irrevocably gone utterly and completely insane. Her
brothers never apologized for anything at all. If they did, they'd
never have any time to make further mischief. A brand
spanking new broomstick rolled out into her hands.
NIMBUS TWO THOUSAND AND ONE was engraved into the handle.
"It's not a nice as Harry's Firebolt, but Nimbuses aren't nothing to
sneeze at," Fred said hesitantly. Ginny felt tears well up
behind her eyes. They didn't even have new broomsticks, they
were all on used Nimbus Two Thousands that they bought last year at Used
Quidditch Supplies. She couldn't help the big fat tear drop that
fell on the engraving.
"There's nothing to cry about," Ron said irritably. Ginny
looked up to see he was looking rather embarrassed and glassy eyed
along with the twins.
"Its beautiful," she said, wiping her eyes with the sleeves of her
robes and giving each of the brutes a big hug.
"Ok, family time's over. Let's get to it," Fred announced.
The Nimbus was unbelievable, even better than the Firebolt, which was
probably because it was hers. It was amazing how fast
she could go; everyone around her were just blurs flitting around like
flies. The three Chasers worked on their timing and
strategy, which considering that this was their first practice, they
were really tight, almost able to read each other's minds. It was
nearly nightfall before they had finished, and they were all starved
as they had completely skipped over dinner. Ginny was hot,
tired, and sweaty, but had never felt so relaxed, despite the feeling
that she was the only sane person on the planet.
"Good one, eh, Ginny?" Harry asked as he caught up with her, leaving
Fred, George, and Ron behind.
"We'll just stay here then and clean up," called Ron angrily.
Apparently he hadn't gotten over Harry's bit of a joke during
lunch.
"Ok, thanks mate!" Harry shot back.
"It's a nice broom, isn't it?" Harry asked, pointing to her Nimbus
2001 which was held carefully in her hands like a baby.
"Be nice to me and I might let you ride on it," Ginny said, winking
at him. Whoa, did I just wink? I believe you did.
Didn't
think you had it in you. I didn't either.
Is he actually blushing? No, that can't be right, can it?
I think he is blushing! Oh. My. God. Congratulations, Ginny
Weasley. You are now officially the only sane person in this entire
universe.