Title: An Oliver & Ginny Affair br
Rating: PG (mild language) br
Pairings: Oliver/Ginny & others br
center Chapter Two
~~~~~ /center
Ginny paced back and forth in the locker rooms. She=d already been there for fifteen minutes; thirty if you count the time she spent going through a security check by the guard.
She took a seat on an empty bench and flipped her notebook open, skimming her notes as she waited.
AI wonder what kind of pictures Colin got,@ she said aloud to herself.
Colin Creevey was her partner at the IDaily Prophet./I He took the photographs that to accompanied the articles and reports she wrote. Colin had also been in her year and house at Hogwarts. They had been friends since second year, which mostly came about from a mutual hero worship of Harry. She had also briefly dated him in the 6th year, but the two had decided they were better off as friends.
While Ginny had joined up at the IDaily Prophet/I immediately after school, Colin had gone on to become a freelance photographer. When Ginny had made senior journalist two years ago she had requested a new photographer; she had never liked her first partner. Not only had she requested a new partner, but had specifically asked them hire Colin Creevey.
Ginny was jolted from her thoughts when she heard footsteps and animated talking. The first player Ginny saw step into the locker room was Palmer Kenley. His blue robes were drenched with sweat and he was rubbing his left arm. Ginny figured it must be aching after all the swinging he had done with it. Kenley was followed by Patterson, Fenton, Thane, Oliver, and Ryder.
AReporters already?@ Thane groaned good-naturally upon spotting Ginny. Ginny smiled pleasantly.
AYes, I=m Ginny Weasley, from the-@
AIDaily Prophet./I@ Fenton interrupted. AYou=re the one we agreed to attend dinner with.@ Fenton made a low wolf whistle. AIn fact, since they sent us a very pretty specimen consider dinner my treat.@
AThank you,@ Ginny said politely.
AGinny,@ began Oliver, AIt=s been quiet a while. How are you?@
ADoing very well,@ she returned.
AYou know her?@ asked Ryder. Ginny thought she detected the smallest of frowns.
ASure. She was at Hogwarts when I attended; in my house, tooYbut of course, she was five years below me. Her brother, Percy, was in my year, though.@
AI see.@
AWell, mates, I say we change and go get some grub; I=m absolutely ravenous.A Patterson put in.
The rest of the team nodded their heads in agreement, and Ginny waited in the locker rooms while the players went to the changing rooms.
As soon as they were ready to go, Courtland brandished some Floo powder and they made their way to the nearest fireplace. Their destination was Hogsmeade.
~~~~~
Dinner that evening was held in a private room at a fancy restaurant in Hogsmeade. Ginny decided she would not even attempt to pronounce the name. As it was an old diner, kept in its original prestige Ginny guessed its name was in an ancient language that was no longer spoken in the Wizarding world.
Ginny and the seven Quidditch players of Puddlemere United sat comfortably around the table that had been expanded to a size where each had his or her space, but small enough that everyone could be heard without having to raise their voices.
Menus sat in the contented hands of the group as they scanned them.
AHmmYthink I=ll have the chicken platter,@ Oliver mused absently. In no less than two seconds' time his once-empty plate was suddenly filled with two chicken wings, a helping of mixed vegetables, mashed potatoes, three dinner rolls, and a side of chocolate pudding.
AThat food looks good,@ commented Fenton. AI think I want that as well.@ His plate too, was filled just as Oliver=s had been. AHow about you, Ginny; would you like to try the chicken?@
Oliver, around a mouthful of the tasty bird, remarked, AThis chicken is brilliant. I highly recommend it.@
Ginny smiled politely, but declined, AI=ll just have to take your word for it, Oliver. I=d like the vegetable dish.@
AYou=re a vegetarian, too?@ inquired Thane. Ginny inclined her head as a yes.
AAre you one of those animal rights' activists?@ Ryder asked with a hint of sarcasm.
ANo, actually,@ Ginny answered politely. AAnyway, enough about me. After all, I=m the one who's supposed to be asking the questions.@ Everyone had a courteous laugh.
Ginny pushed her untouched plate of food aside and pulled her notepad from her robes.
ASo, Mr. Wood, how does it feel to have led your team to victory?@ Ginny was, of course, referring to the fact that Oliver was the Captain.
AOh, I didn=t lead anyone. Couldn=t have been done without an equal team effort. But it sure as hell feels great to have won!@
ADon=t be so modest, Captain!@ said Patterson. AWe wouldn=t have been nearly as good save for your pushing us so hard!@ Ginny noticed a slight red tinge wash over Oliver=s cheeks.
IHow adorable! /Ishe thought. Ginny shook her head. IOkay, that was badYbabies are adorable, not men. /I
AI still stand by my previous comment.@I
It was cute thoughY/I
ACome on, Oliver, you never give yourself any credit.@I
So what if he doesn=t? Modesty is very sexy./I
ACould you pass the Butterbeer, Faith?@
I
Did I just call Oliver sexy? /I
ABloody hell, you=ve already eaten both pieces of chicken!? Just how hungry were you, Ollie?@ Ryder asked. I
Oh God, did she just call him Ollie!? That is definitely not sexy! /I
AShannon, do you ever stop teasing the poor boy?@ questioned Faith-Leigh Courtland.
I
Why am I thinking about this? This is certainly not the time to be thinking about some bloke being sexy or not. /I
In response, Ryder reached over and playfully patted Oliver=s hand.
ASo, how long have each of you been with Puddlemere?@ Ginny asked after finally shaking herself free of her pointless thoughts.
AThis is my first team,@ Fenton answered. ABeen with them for three years.@ It was then that Ginny noticed Fenton was about the youngest of the group; only maybe a year or two older than herself.
AI=m afraid I=m the old man here,@ grinned Patterson. AUnited is my sixth team. I got traded from the Ballycastle Bats just over six years ago.@ Ginny guessed him to be in his mid-forties.
AI=ve been on United for four years,@ Oliver spoke. Ginny wondered, if Patterson had been on United the longest, why Oliver was Captain. She made a mental note to ask later. AThird team.@
Ginny scribbled fiercely as they each took turns answering. She was especially intrigued by Courtland, whose first team, although she was British, was Japan=s Toyohashi Tengu. All of Ginny=s questions were either Quidditch-related, or fan-curious questions such as, Where did you grow, up?=
One hour and several helpings of dessert later, most of the team had gone.
AIt was nice meeting you, Miss Weasley,@ said Thane as he stood up. AI think I=m going to head to the Leaky Cauldron. I=m sure they have some sort of party or another. Want to come, Wood?@
Oliver waved his hand at him. ANo, I think I=m going to stay and catch up with Ginny. It=s been ages since we=ve seen each other.@
ASure thing. How about you, Shannon?@ Ryder looked for all the world as if she wanted to go, but she too declined. Ginny was half-annoyed by this. She had gotten the feeling all evening that she was not liked by Ryder, although she had no idea why. As far as she could tell she had not done or said anything offending.
AOh, Oliver, do you mind if I ask one more question?@
He shrugged. ASure, why not?@ Ginny grinned ruefully.
AThis is of particular interest to all the lady fans out there.@
AOh? Like what?@ Oliver looked clearly puzzled, and Ryder looked irritated.
I
I wonder if Oliver is just playing along, or if he really doesn=t know what I=m going to ask.
/I
ADo you have a special someone?@
AA what?@ Oliver asked. After a few moments the question sunk in, and his cheeks flamed. AOh, you meanYYdo I have a Igirlfriend?@/I
AYes, that=s exactly what I mean.@
AWell, I-@
AOliver and I are dating,@ Ryder cut in.
Ginny was stunned. She had suspected that Ryder might have fancied Oliver, but she hadn=t expected them to be dating. They didn=t act like a couple. At least, Oliver didn=t. When Ginny looked over at Oliver she found that he appeared to be just as surprised as she was. Astonishment was etched in every aspect of his facial expression.
AW-wYwe are?@ he stammered.
ACome now, Oliver, no need to joke around.@ Ryder forced a smile; her voice, however, was cold and she did not in the least sound amused. An awkward silence ensued as Ginny didn=t know what to say to this, and Oliver was still looking perplexed. After several moments, Ginny made to stand up.
AThank you for your time, Mr. Wood, Miss Ryder. I had a lovely time this evening.@
~~~~~
As soon as Ginny had left, Oliver rounded on Ryder.
AWhat do you mean, we=re dating?@
AOh come on, Oliver, I was just helping you out.@
ABy lying?@
AThink of it this way: if the whole witch population knew you were single you=d be getting more proposals by owl than you already are.@ Oliver blushed. He had in fact received several such offers.
AI suppose soYbut you could have just made up a name. You're probably going to end up with howlers.@ Ryder looked unfazed. ANot mention all sorts of rumours.@
She smiled at this, and reached out to take his hand, giving it a light squeeze.
APerhaps we might make some truth of it all.@ Oliver just stared at her. AI=ll see you later, Wood.@
~~~~~
Ginny was working late into the night to have her article ready for the next day's issue of the IDaily Prophet./I It was nearly four A.M. already. Dipping her quill into the small ink bottle, she wrote,
I
The love life of Mr. Oliver Wood, which had remained a mystery for many years, has finally been unearthed. When asked if he had time is in his busy life for a special someone, it was his girlfriend who spoke up and broke the news. Miss Shannon Ryder, the Seeker for United, stated that she and Oliver are seeing each otherY /I
Ginny looked down at her work and scowled. She didn=t like one word of what she had just written. Closing her eyes, she remembered the look on his face when Ryder had announced this. They weren=t really dating, and yet Oliver had said nothing to either confirm or deny it.
Ginny ended up drawing lines through her words, before crumbling the paper into a ball and tossing it toward the trash can.
I
The love life of Mr. Oliver Wood, which has been a mystery for years, still remains so, despite inquires made last night after United=s big win against the Goblins.
/I
Ginny smiled. She liked this much better.
~~~~~
Two weeks later Ginny found herself in her childhood home. She had spent almost twenty years of her life in one of the second-floor bedrooms. Then, of course, she had met GrahamYwhich, although she hadn't realised it til much later, was the worst thing that had ever happened to her. Her mum had strongly warned her, her brothers had, too; even Hermione had cautioned her, but she had been convinced that they were only judging him because he had been in Slytherin while at school. Then, of course, there was the small matter of his being three years younger.
Ginny sighed. She didn=t like to think about it. Besides, today was not the time for petty reflections of the past. Today was Harry=s twenty-third birthday. The Weasleys, Hermione, Sirius Black, Remus and Jacqueline Lupin, Arabella Figg, and Harry=s old Gryffindor housemates (the ones in his year) were expected to be there.
Ginny gave her self-pity one last shove to the back of her mind, then shoved open the door to the Burrow.
AGinny!@ Mrs. Weasley ran toward her daughter, wrapping her in a hug.
AHey, Mum,@ Ginny greeted as she returned the hug. AWho all is here?@
ASo far, Ron and Sarah, Fred and Angelina, George, Charlie, andYYLavender Brown.@ Ginny noted the awkward tone in which her mum had spoken Lavender=s name.
She wasn=t surprised of course. Ginny always felt awkward around LavenderYthe whole family did. It had come as a great shock to them when Percy had announced he had found the one. Of course, everyone was excited to meet herYand no one could have been more shocked to find out it was Lavender Brown. The same Lavender Brown who had briefly dated George in his final year (her 5th) and then broken up with him for a fling with some Ravenclaw named Boot. George had been livid when Percy had introduced her as his steady girlfriend. Fred, his best friend as well as his twin, had been right behind him. It was considered unsafe to leave the twins and Lavender alone in a room together. Lavender had also never forgiven Ron for his 4th year comment to her about Uranus, which put even more strain between family members. Other than Percy, only Bill seemed have even a smattering of a liking for her.
AHmm.@ Ginny suddenly decided it was too quiet. AIs Gail not here?@ Molly shook her head sadly.
AThey left her and Asa with Sarah=s parents.@ Although Molly did indeed like her in-laws, she was selfish where grandchildren where concerned.
AYou know, sometimes I think they should take Dad over there for the day.@ A small smile crept over Molly=s lips.
AExcept, I=d never get him back.@ She shook her head. Sarah and her family were Muggles, so naturally Arthur had been ecstatic about this, but had only ever been able to meet them at gatherings. Although, given the chance, he would surely bolt straight to their house and badger them with questions for days, something he already did to Sarah whenever he saw her.
Ginny walked over toward the family clock, glancing at its hands. Arthur, Molly, Charlie, the twins, Ron, and Ginny=s hands all pointed to home,' while Bill=s and Percy=s pointed to work.' Ginny smiled when she saw a very similar, yet smaller, clock next to this one. It consisted of hands for Sarah, Gail, Asa, Isis (Bill's wife), Eshe (their daughter), and Angelina (Fred's wife).
Ginny made her way to the living room and the twins immediately descended upon her.
AHow is our very favourite sister?@ they asked in unison. The two smiled brightly at her, before Fred went on,
AIn fact, because you're our favourite, we made you something!@ George held out a small red-coloured ball that looked like a piece of candy. Ginny looked at it suspiciously.
AI=m not so thick, you know.@
AOf course you're not!@ said George brightly. Ginny rolled her eyes and took the piece from his palm. She did not miss the excited looks that crossed their faces nor the way they looked at her expectantly.
AI swear, if my hair turns blue or I end up with an extra-long tongue the two of you will have some serious prices to pay.@ The two put their most innocent faces on, and Ginny did not miss George winking to Fred as she put the candy into her mouth.
Nothing happened.
Ginny looked at them sceptically. She had a bad feeling about this.
A loud rumbling sound was heard from the other room; Ginny figured it was someone in the fireplace, having arrived by Floo powder.
AOi! Harry!@ Ron=s voiced resounded.
ALet=s go greet Harry, shall we?@ asked Fred. He and George were grinning like madmen. Ginny wondered what about. After all she was over Harry and had been since her 5th year.
The twins escorted Ginny into the other room rather roughly. Their expressions of delight, however, were diminished when, once again, nothing happened.
AAre you sure you worked the last bit of the potion right, George?@ asked Fred.
AYes,@ answered his twin.
AWell then, there is only one explanation for this. Harry must have a girlfriend.@
AWhat in the blazes are you two talking about?@ asked Ginny. By now she was completely lost.
The two ignored her, however, and descended upon Harry. George demanded,
AWho is she?@
AWho's who?@ asked Harry, completely bewildered.
AWe know your secret!@ exclaimed Fred in a singsong voice.
ASpill, Harry! Who's the smashing young bird that has caught your attention?@ Harry=s face coloured to match the famous Weasley hair.
AWeYhaven=tYtol- Wait, howYdo you know?@ Harry finally stammered. The twins grinned mischievously but didn=t answer. Other guests soon arrived: Neville; his wife, Leeanne, and their two-year-old daughter, Alexis; Percy; Parvati Patil; and Sirius Black.
It happened when Ginny was chatting with Parvati. A loud banging noise could be heard from the fireplace and Ginny suddenly felt a pull running through her body. It was a very curious feeling and for a few moments it was only a light sensation. However, as soon as the new guest had cleared out of the fireplace the pull became stronger and Ginny=s feet suddenly began to slide across the floor, despite all efforts to keep herself in place. It was then that Ginny realised she was being pulled toward Oliver Wood and was shocked to even see that he was here.
AOliverY@ Ginny said slowly as the two of them collided. Oliver and Ginny were plastered against each other and, despite all efforts, the two could not pull apart.
AErr, nice to see you again, Ginny, even if the quarters are a bit close.@ Ginny was, luckily, tall enough to see over his shoulder. Beyond it, she saw the twins snickering at the two of them.
AFredrick and George Weasley!@ she bellowed, right in Oliver=s ear. He winced. ASorry,@ she mumbled, having seen the look on his face.
AHello, Oliver!@ George said cheerfully when the two finally came over.
AWhat the bloody hell was in that candy?@ demanded Ginny before Oliver could respond.
AJust our newest prank!@ Fred answered.
ASeems to work well, but slowly. I think we need more magnetismY@
AYou magnetised me!?@ Ginny asked in horror.
AThat about sums it up,@ said Fred.
AYes, the potion we put in it attracts anyone of the opposite sex who has no romantic entanglementsYand, wellYyou and Oliver are perfect examples of the result,A George said proudly.
AUndo us right now!@ Ginny commanded.
AOh, I don=t knowY@ began George. Fred finished,
AYOliver seems to be enjoying it.@ Oliver coloured and Ginny scowled.
---
A/N: Weee, next chapter we find out who Harry=s new girlfriend is. As well as more Oliver/Ginny interactionYoh and Ryder makes an appearance at the partyYwho invited her anyway??