Chapter 4

"Welcome everyone, I'm glad I got such a turnout, more fun for everyone."

Harry stood next to Ron as the flying professor talked. "Harry, look I'm sorry I didn't tell you about me and Hermione, we were just trying to work it out ourselves, still are in fact," Ron whispered.

"It's okay, I understand," said Harry simply.

"That's it? No yelling?" said Ron.

"Ginny talked to me about it, it's okay." Harry replied. Ron just shook his head.

"Now could I please have all house Quidditch players over here, reserves too," called madam Matthews.

"Also those who think they could teach the younger ones something." Ginny went over to join the rest of the players.

"Those who are here to learn some new tricks or to better their flying skills, over on the other side." There were still a few left. Madam Matthews smiled. "And those who are here for a bit of a muck around, in with them as well." They shuffled over.

"Right, tonight will be the first of a series of nights over third term and the next, helping you to build your flying and Quidditch skills. The two groups will work alternately, so each group gets optimum time on the pitch. I may swap you into different groups over the term, depending on your level of improvement. I want the beginners up first."

She led them all to the middle of the field where some brooms lay. She split them up into two groups because there were so many. "I'll assume that you all know how to actually mount and ride your brooms buy now. If you don't I haven't done my job properly."

"All right, first group up," Madam Matthews said, and then blew her whistle.

They were mostly 1st or 2nd years although the odd 3rd and 4th year was flying up there. Some were rather good, others a little jerky, then there was one that was down right reckless. Madam Matthews blew her whistle.

"Aidan Hooch, get your broom back down here right this instant!" She yelled.

A young boy with mousy brown hair dropped down in front of her.

"Aidan if you can't control yourself, or your broom, you can leave this practise and not come back."

Aidan scowled.

"Don't look at me like that, you know very well what you were doing was reckless. In fact you can go back into the school and think about what you have done, you may come back the next lesson. Is that understood?"

Aidan looked down at the grass. "Yes ma'am." And he left with his broom dragging behind him.

Madam Matthews turned to face the rest. "Sorry about that, but sometimes that kid needs a good kick up the ar. ah, never mind."

The rest of the 1st group went up for a little longer, until Madame Matthews blew her whistle for them to all come down.

"Right, I have all your names, I will sort you into training groups and have the groups posted by next weeks training session. I know this was short tonight but you will get a full session from now on."

The younger group went in and Madame Matthews turned to the other group. "Okay those who aren't in the Quidditch teams, I would like you to get up and show me what you can do."

Ginny stepped forward along with a few others from other houses he didn't recognise. Madame Matthews gave them a Quaffle and let them go. Being about 7 on the pitch didn't matter; they were just passing it to one another. They zoomed in and out of the goal posts. Ginny by far as the best out there, so said Harry.

"My God she's beautiful."

"Damn straight!"

"Who is Harry?" Said Ron, who was standing behind Harry.

Harry blushed. "Ah, no one, don't worry about it."

Harry kept watching Ginny, her auburn curls coming out of her loose ponytail. Her balance and cat-like agility was amazing, shown as Ginny, instead of turning around and diving for the Quaffle, bent backwards on her broom to catch it deftly in her hand.

The whistle blew.

"Well done everyone. Gryffindors, I would seriously think of putting miss Weasley on your team."

Harry, Ron and the others all nodded.

"Okay, first up, the seekers," said Matthews, the excitement clearly shown in her voice. "Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, you're first."

"This activity will be testing your speed and reflexes. I will have a glowing sphere floating stationary on the pitch. Every time a person touches it, it will disappear and reappear somewhere else."

The Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff seekers went up, poised, ready to start. The whistle blew and the sphere appeared. It was quite good to watch, as you could actually see what they were going for. Cho was going really well against the Hufflepuff seeker.

"But he's not as good as Cedric was," thought Harry, a heavy veil covering his heart.

A hand lightly touched his shoulder. "It wasn't your fault Harry, we all know that."

Harry turned to face the voice. "I know you say that Ginny but it still feels like it was my fault."

A strand of hair had come loose from Ginny's newly made ponytail. He brushed it back behind her ear. She smiled warmly at him. Harry's heart felt light once again.

"How does she do that?"

"What? Make you feel all goofy inside? You're falling for her mate."

"I can't she's my friend"

"Again with the friend thing? FACTS: you stare at her constantly, you stare at her assets mostly, you called her waist sexy, you blush when she touches you, the "beautiful" comment, want anything else?"

"Oh man I am falling for her!"

"WE HAVE A WINNER! DING! DING! DING! DING! DING!"

Harry gave Ginny his biggest smile.

"Gryffindor, Slytherin, up you go."

Madam Matthews comment snapped Harry out of his reverie. He got up onto his Firebolt and stopped opposite Malfoy in the centre of the pitch.

"You know Potter, I don't think you could do it with a real snitch, not with your track record, you would probably think it was a bomb. or a portkey!"

"Shut you face Death Eater!"

"Oh I'm so hurt Potter. Well why don't you prove it." Draco pulled a snitch from his robes.

Harry needed no encouragement. Draco let the snitch go, and it hovered for a few seconds before taking off. Harry and Draco followed the snitch, swerving to avoid each other.

"Hit and miss Potter!" Called Draco as he rammed Harry off course. But in doing so, they had both lost sight of the snitch. Then a streak of black went past them, then dived. Stephanie Matthews grabbed the snitch a meter from the ground and pulled out, skimming the grass.

Madame Matthews blew her whistle. "10 points off Slytherin for releasing a snitch at practise."

"Hey that's not fair, it's only a snitch," called another Slytherin.

"You're lucky that I'm not reporting Master Malfoy to the authorities for his little stunt."

Matthews showed the crowd what looked like.

"A silver snitch. Extremely fast, and extremely illegal, because they are used in illegitimate Gambling circles and for fixing games." She turned to Malfoy. "Since I can't, and won't keep it, you might get it back at the end of the year."

* * * * * * * *

Ginny and Harry were walking down a corridor towards the Gryffindor tower after the eventful night.

"I am going to punch Malfoy in the face one day soon," said Harry through gritted teeth.

"Good, but, make sure I'm there," replied Ginny.

"Why do you hate him?" Asked Harry.

"Well, apart from insulting our family all the time, he propositions me."

"HE WHAT! Now I'm definitely going to punch him, and break a few bones while I'm at it."

"Shh Harry, calm down," said Ginny, pushing him against the corridor wall. "He only does it to aggravate me in the hope that you, or Ron," she said placing her hand on his chest, "are there to witness it."

"But don't you get it?" Said Harry grabbing her hand. "It's working."

Ginny looked at him mischievously. "Then lets do something about it."

* * * * * * * *

They went up to the common room to play a game of wizards' chess, Ginny losing miserably.

"How can you lose against me Gin, I am the worst player, besides Hermione."

Ginny furrowed her brow in concentration. "Ron is the good one at chess, I'm good at writing and Quidditch."

Harry looked at her and smiled. "You know you look really cute when you frown Gin."

Ginny just gave him a, I-know-your-trying-to-put-me-off look. She finally made her move.

"Check mate," called Harry as his King smashed her bishop.

"Ah, it doesn't matter, I'll whoop you later on the Quidditch field."

"Gin, we play different positions," he said.

Ginny raised her eyebrows. "Hey Ron. How well do I play seeker?" she called across the room.

"As if you were born to do it," he called back.

"Then why do you play chaser?" enquired Harry again.

"Hey Ron, why do I play chaser?" She called again.

"It's a challenge."

"So Harry, next time we're on the field, you're mine!" Said Ginny, playfulness escaping her voice.

The room got less and less crowded as the night wore on. Finally only Harry and Ginny were left. Harry pulled out the invisibility cloak from beneath him.

"I still can't believe you have one of those," Ginny said.

Harry grinned as he pulled it around them, "Neither can I."

They made their way down to the library, this time using the portrait Ron and Hermione showed them. Creeping into the restricted section, the walked down one of the aisles.

"So do we know what we're looking for," whispered Ginny.

"No, not really, but 'Moste Potente Potions' has some really good stuff in it."

They found the book on a lower shelf. It was just as Harry remembered it, big and smelly. They stood up but Harry's foot got caught on the hem of the cloak and he stumbled into Ginny. His mouth was centimetres away Ginny's.

"Ginny, I." started Harry, but couldn't finish as the library's door creaked open noisily. "Glad we came through the portrait," thought Harry.

"Anyone in here my sweet?" It was Filch and Mrs Norris, his awful cat. Harry pulled at Ginny's arm and tucked the heavy tome under his arm and quietly made their way towards the portrait of the old man. They opened it quickly and got back to Gryffindor tower without being caught.

Ginny heaved a sigh of relief. "That was close, even with the cloak."

Harry looked away from Ginny's chest. "Um, yeah, that was close, but we got the book," he said, tapping it triumphantly.

"Well I'm tired, I'll see you tomorrow Harry."

"Goodnight Gin, sleep well."

That night, Harry dreamt.

He was in a graveyard. "Not again," thought Harry. He walked around the tombstones looking at them. "Hey, these are the names Ginny had on hers." Then he saw a flash of red hair. He followed it. When he got there, he saw Ginny standing in front of an open grave. Then Tom Riddle appeared. "No! I won't let this happen!" Yelled Harry. Ginny turned. "Harry?" she said, before being hit by a green light and she fell into the open pit.

"NO!"

Then he woke up.

In nothing but his boxers, Harry raced down to the Gryffindor common room, which was lit only by the dying embers of the fire.

"Harry?" Called a voice. It was Ginny and she was standing at the entrance of the girls' dorms.

"Gin, are you all right? I dreamt."

Ginny gasped. "So I wasn't imagining it, you were in my dream. Oh Harry why won't these dreams stop."

Harry looked at Ginny to see all the pretence gone, all the walls crumbled. Ginny shed a single tear.

"Oh Ginny," said Harry, opening his arms to her. She buried her head in his chest and he wrapped his arms around her, tightening his embrace. Ginny continued to cry.

"Shh, Ginny, it's all right, I'm here. No one will hurt you I'll protect you."

"Do you truly mean that Harry?" Ginny said, looking up at him.

"Yes, I do," he replied, laying his head on hers.

She pulled out of the hug. "Thank you Harry, I feel much better."

"My pleasure," Harry said, realising that it was very cold down there in the common room.

"Well, goodnight again Harry," she said at the girls dorm door.

"Goodnight Virginia."

Before Ginny went up though, she turned back, a mischievous smile on her face. "By the way Harry, nice tartan boxers."

Harry looked down, forgetting that, that was all he wearing. Harry didn't feel so cold any more.