They wandered around London hand in hand for awhile, before Ginny checked her watch.
'Oh, Viktor will be training in about half an hour. How about we go and watch? He said we could go any time last time we saw him.' The chance to watch the best seeker going around practising was too irresistible for Harry to refuse, so they ducked into a deserted alley to disapparate to the stadium.
Ginny and Harry apparated with a faint pop at the stadium the Chudley Cannons used to practise. Already Harry could see members of the team zooming around in their violent orange robes.
'Harry! Ginny!' Viktor Krum grinned and hurried towards them. He too wore the orange Chudley Cannons robes and carried a Firebolt 3, the latest and fastest racing broom ever.
'Hi Viktor,' returned Harry, shaking his friend's hand 'Is it okay if we watch you practice?'
'Of course, but I've got something better for you to do. Our reserve seeker couldn't make it today, so we're one short for our usual practise game. How about it?' Viktor's grin grew even broader.
'How about what?' Harry asked faintly, knowing what Viktor wanted.
'How about you filling in for her? We've got some spare brooms and robes in the change rooms.'
'Go on, Harry. It'll be fun.' Urged Ginny.
'What, being beaten by the best seeker around?'
Eventually Harry reluctantly agreed after being pushed into it by Viktor, Ginny and several other players who'd come over to see if Viktor was ready. Harry followed the Cannon's keeper into the change rooms where he was given a set of robes and a Firebolt 3, like Viktor used. He quickly changed and made his way out onto the pitch. The Cannons cheered when he mounted his broom and flew up to join the other players. He could see that the regular team members were wearing their game robes while the reserves were wearing black robes.
The coach mounted his broom after releasing the four balls and blew the whistle to signal the start of the game. Harry immediately scrutinised every inch of the pitch, trying to find the elusive golden snitch. He barely registered what the other players were doing, except to sneak a glance at Viktor every once and again. Twenty minutes into the game, Harry still hadn't caught site of the snitch. The reserves were two goals behind the firsts, but other than that it was a closely contested match. Both keepers had made several spectacular saves, while the chasers dazzled the few people watching with their speed and incredible accuracy. Harry quickly ducked a bludger heading for his face and took off towards the opposite side of the pitch. Viktor wasn't far behind him; Harry could almost hear him breathing. As Harry scanned the area near the firsts' goal posts, he noticed a flash of gold near the keeper's knee. Like a flash, he zoomed towards it, Viktor hot on his heels. The snitch darted away, but Harry was in pursuit. He pushed his Firebolt to go faster and dove suddenly towards the turf. He extended his arm, Viktor was only a few inches away. Harry concentrated every ounce onto getting that snitch before crashing into the ground. He surged with an extra effort and his hand closed around the struggling snitch before he veered his broomstick up into the air. The cheers of his team mates reverberated around the stadium, and they raced over to congratulate him.
'Well done, Harry!' exclaimed one of the beaters. Viktor too, came over to congratulate Harry, although he was clearly disappointed with his effort.
'Wonderful!' The Cannons' coach was beaming from ear to ear 'That was a marvellous catch! How long have you been playing Quidditch?'
'Since I was eleven. I was seeker for my school house for seven years. I haven't played a proper game since I left though.' Harry explained.
The coach stroked his chin thoughtfully.
'I'd love to take you on as a reserve, but we already have one. As much as I hate to do it, I'm going to recommend you to the coach of the Puddlemere United team. They've been looking for a new seeker for a while now. Even tried to take Viktor here.'
Harry was numb. Him, playing professional Quidditch! It was laughable really. Then Harry remembered he'd quit his job that afternoon. He needed something.
'Thanks,' he grinned 'that would be great.' At that moment, a whirl of red hair grabbed Harry.
'You were great!' squealed Ginny 'You too Viktor.' She added as an afterthought. Viktor laughed.
'Thanks Ginny. But not quite as good as Harry here. Our coach has offered to set him up with Puddlemere United!'
Ginny gaped.
'Wow,' she said quietly 'But what about your job, Harry?'
'Uh, I'll talk to you about that after.'
The Chudley coach suddenly pushed a set of omnioculars into Harry's hands.
'Here. The entire game's on here. Give this to the Puddlemere coach. I'll contact her now, so you'd better get yourself over there. She'll be eager to see that.' The coach hurried off at once, leaving Harry to ask Viktor about the Puddlemere team.
'They're not bad. Some superb chasers. Keeper's okay. Beaters are pretty deadly. Nearly took my head off last time we played.' Viktor rattled off various statistics of the Puddlemere team while they headed toward the change rooms. Harry quickly put his muggle clothes back on, and after thanking the Cannons and their coach, he and Ginny disapparated and apparated a moment later at the Puddlemere pitch. A tall, athletic looking witch hurried over to Harry.
'Potter?' she asked. Harry nodded and gave her the omnioculars. She put them up to her eyes and fiddled with the knobs, no doubt fast-forwarding to Harry's capture of the Snitch.
'Fantastic,' she breathed, watching the capture for a second time 'Coach Jefferson's filled me in on your playing background. What house were you in at Hogwarts?' she asked.
'Gryffindor.' Harry replied.
'Great. I find the best seekers out of Hogwarts are almost always from Gryffindor. Potter, I'm going to offer you a place on the Puddlemere team. Our current seeker is normally on reserve, but the regular player was sidelined. Now the reserve's looking as though he needs a good break.'
Harry was rapt. He followed the coach into her office where she ran through the contract. Harry almost fainted when he read the salary. It would have taken him almost a year at the Ministry to earn the amount of galleons she was offering per game.
'Plus there are bonuses for our players. Scoring lots of goals for chasers, saving goals for keepers, effective bludger deflection for beaters and of course, speed of snitch catches for seekers.' Harry gulped. On this kind of money, he'd be able to ask Ginny to marry him sooner than he'd thought.
'I'm in.' he grinned. The coach smiled broadly and handed Harry an eagle feather quill. He dipped it in the pot of ink on her desk and signed his name of the contract. Ginny hugged him and his new coach shook his hand.
'Welcome aboard, Potter! Let's go and meet your new team mates.' Harry followed Coach Dane down to the change rooms. The team was gathered around a complicated looking game plan.
'And the seeker will be up here, that is if we ever get one.' Harry heard the captain saying.
'No need to worry about that. We officially have a new seeker. This is Harry Potter.' The players gaped a bit.
'The Harry Potter?' one attractive chaser asked.
'That's right. Watch this.' Coach Dane tapped the omnioculars with her wand and the vision of Harry's capture was projected for the others to see.
'You beat Krum?' the captain gasped 'He hasn't been beaten since his first game!' The other players murmured appreciatively. Harry felt a warm glow spread through him, which increased with Ginny putting her small hand in his.
'Right Potter, here's the training and game schedule. You'd better go and celebrate before you're back here bright and early tomorrow.' Coach Dane shoved some parchment pieces in Harry's hand.
'Uh, what about a broom?' he asked tentatively.
'Oh, of course! I'll place an order with Quality Quidditch Supplies. It should be here this afternoon.'
The rest of the team gathered around Harry and patted him on the back.
He and Ginny left not long after.
'I'm so proud of you!' Ginny kissed him on the cheek and squeezed his hand 'I think this deserves a special dinner. Where should we go?'
'I really don't mind. It all depends on whether we can get in on such short notice.' Ginny bit her lip.
'Didn't think of that. I tell you what, you go and tell Mum, Dad and Ron, and I'll go and call some restaurants. Warn Dad it might be a muggle restaurant, and show him what sort of clothes to wear.' Ginny gave Harry a quick peck on the cheek and disapparated.
Harry grinned, then disapparated himself, apparating a moment later in the kitchen in the Burrow. In fact, he'd apparated right in front of Mrs Weasley.
'Oh, Harry! You gave me a fright.' She laughed, clutching her chest.
'I'm sorry, I've just got some good news for you all.' He hugged her warmly.
'What is it dear?' she asked, filling the kettle up.
'I'd rather tell all us you.'
'Tell us what?' Ron and Mr Weasley walked into the kitchen.
'Well, Ginny and I went to see the Canons train this afternoon-' Harry noticed Ron's face light up then change to a scowl. He'd stopped following the Canons as soon as Krum started playing for them '-and they were short a seeker, so I filled in. Anyway, I got the snitch and the coach was so impressed that he recommended me to the coach of Puddlemere United.' Harry paused momentarily.
'Go on,' urged Ron.
'Well, you're looking at the new seeker of Puddlemere United!' Harry grinned broadly, and next thing he knew, Ron was roaring with delight and he was being swept into a hug by Mrs Weasley.
'Well done, Harry!' exclaimed Mr Weasley.
'So, you're all coming out to dinner with Ginny and I tonight. She's trying to get a booking now. Oh, that means we might be in a muggle restaurant Mr Weasley.' Mr Weasley's face lit up at the mention of muggles.
'How exciting dear!' Mrs Weaslet squeezed Harry again. At that moment, Ginny appeared in the kitchen.
'We got in to that lovely muggle restaurant around the corner from my flat.' She said as she wrapped her arm around Harry's waist.
'Did you show Dad what to wear?' she asked Harry.
'I was just about to.' He replied. Harry pulled out his wand and transfigured his simple muggle jeans and shirt into a sharp black suit, with a charcoal shirt and a bright blue silk tie.
'Impressive,' said Mr Weasley, looking at the tie 'What does it do?'
Harry laughed.
'Nothing. It's just to decorate.' He turned his wand on Mr Weasley and transfigured his dusty robe into a lovely navy blue pinstriped suit with a crisp white shirt and dark red tie.
'Marvelous.' Mr Weasley examined the cuff links Harry had added to the shirt.
'I'll do mine.' Said Ron, as Harry turned to him. He pulled out his wand and in an instant he wore a black suit similar to Harry's with a black shirt and red tie.
'Nice,' said Harry, admiring the fine cut of Ron's suit.
'What do we wear, dear?' Mrs Weasley asked Ginny anxiously.
Ginny frowned and considered her mother. She flicked her wand and Mrs Weasley was suddenly wearing an emerald green skirt and jacket combo.
'Now me.' Laughed Ginny. She turned the wand on herself and transformed her plain muggle dress into a knee length blue dress, almost the exact colour of Harry's tie.
'We match!' he grinned, kissing her. Ginny took a straw from on of the kitchen drawers and transfigured herself a hair clip. She shook out her beautiful red mane and then clipped it up in an elegant twist, leaving a few tendrils loose.
'Are we all ready?' she asked 'We have to be there in twenty minutes. I thought we'd apparate to my flat first then walk to the restaurant.'
'I'd better go to Gringotts first. I'm short on muggle money,' grimaced Harry 'Back in a minute.' He disappeared with a pop and returned within ten minutes, clutching a handful of notes.
'May I see?' asked Mr Weasley. He examined the notes with interest and got thoroughly overexcited when Harry produced a handful of coins for him.
Ginny grabbed Harry's arm.
'Let's go. We'd better be early.'
'Okay.' Harry checked his pocket for the small velvet box. It was still there.
The five of them apparated at Ginny's a moment later. Ginny quickly put on some lipstick and grabbed her handbag before they headed out the door to the restaurant.
It was a lovely meal. Mr Weasley gaped as the waiter lit the candles using a cigarette lighter.
'Ingenious.' He whispered. The waiter gave them an odd look, but things ran smoothly.
At last the wine was produced.
'To Harry. The best seeker in the league.' Toasted Mr Weasley, raising his glass.
'To Harry.' His wife and children chorused. Harry grinned sheepishly, but thanked them all. He put his hand into his pocket and pulled out the box.
'While we're all here, there's something I wanted to do.' He turned to Ginny and knelt in front of her, opening the box as he did.
'Ginny,' he started, looking deeply into her beautiful brown eyes 'I love you. Will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?'
