AN: Here's another H/G chapter! Thanks to all who reviewed! I appreciate it. Please review this chapter…criticism and compliments are both welcome!
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter
Chapter 5: Frustration
"What are the three major points of focus to consider when attempting to perform a successful Summoning Charm?" Harry read from Ginny's Charms textbook.
"Harry! I don't know! I'm never going to get this right," Ginny grimaced and buried her head in her hands in frustration.
Harry set the book down. Obviously it was time for a break. They had been studying nonstop for the last forty-five minutes and Ginny had become more aggravated at herself with every question that he asked. "It's okay," He said awkwardly, attempting to cheer her up. "It took me a long time to understand Summoning Charms. I couldn't do them right until I had to learn one for The First Task."
"That's comforting. It took a dragon to make you learn a charm," Ginny sighed. "I'm through studying for the night. Let's do something fun."
Harry nodded in agreement, "Want to play chess? Or Exploding Snap?"
Ginny shook her head, "Let's get our brooms and sneak outside. One-on-one Quidditch Potter!" She grinned and Harry laughed.
"You really want to?" He asked her. Ginny nodded. "Alright, but let it be said that you will not beat me. So when you're crying in shame because you have just lost don't whine to me."
"Harry Potter!" Ginny shouted, "Control that ego of yours! I happen to play a mean Keeper. We'll see how good your Chaser skills are. Go get your broom." Harry raced up the stairs to his dormitory to retrieve the Firebolt as Ginny did the same. He ran back down to the common room to find Ginny tossing a Quaffle in her hands, her Nimbus 2000 at her side.
"Where did you get that?" Harry asked, pointing to the Quaffle.
"Bill and Charlie got me a set of Quidditch balls for my birthday," She said matter-of-factly. Harry nodded. He hadn't known that Ginny was that into Quidditch. Of course, being a Weasley, it was probably hard not to.
"I've brought something to help us get out of the castle," Harry said slyly. He held up his invisibility cloak.
Ginny's eyes widened in awe, "An invisibility cloak! Where did you get one?"
"It was my father's," Harry said simply. They exited the portrait hole. They walked silently through the halls of Hogwarts. Harry was acutely aware of how close they were standing. He could feel Ginny's breath against his arm as he held the cloak over them. They finally reached an exit and Ginny's challenge came back to him in full force. He wanted to beat her.
Ginny laughed as she mounted her broom, "Here's the Quaffle Potter! Take your best shot."
Harry caught the Quaffle as she threw it at him and mounted his broom. He flew around for a few minutes, unaccustomed to the extra weight of the ball. Finally he rocketed towards Ginny and threw the Quaffle as hard as he could towards the hoop on the left. Ginny flew quickly towards the ball and made the save easily. Harry gaped at her. Ginny grinned, "Is that the best you've got?"
Her playful taunt rang in his ears. Filled with a new resolve he accepted the Quaffle again and flew towards the hoops at an astonishing speed. He faked a throw to the right hoop and instead sent it towards the one he had shot at the first time. Ginny was not fooled. She didn't hesitate for a second as she jetted to the left and made a one-handed save. Harry stopped in midair. How did she make it look so easy?
"Come on Potter! I thought you were the youngest Quidditch player in a century!" She yelled.
Harry grinned and took the Quaffle again, this time determined to get it past her. He charged towards the hoops and flew around them before attempting to dump the Quaffle in the right hoop. Ginny swooped down effortlessly and made the save. "Oh a Lipskoff Loop! Mr. Seeker knows a few Chaser moves!" She shouted gleefully.
Harry stared at her. He knew of a lot of Chaser moves and practiced them regularly just for fun. The Lipskoff Loop was his best and he still couldn't beat her. "Alright you win," he said. "That was amazing…I can't believe I couldn't get it past you once."
Ginny smiled triumphantly. "I knew I could beat you!"
Harry grinned and landed on the ground next her. "So when did you start playing Keeper?"
Ginny sighed as if remembering something from long ago, "All of us used to play together and my brothers were all set in their positions. By the time I could play Quidditch the only thing they were missing was Keeper and they would only let me play if I agreed to play Keeper so I have always played it."
Harry nodded and threw the cloak over them. His hand brushed hers as he pulled the cloak down to cover their feet. "Sorry," He muttered as his cheeks turned red.
Ginny looked serious all of a sudden. "It's alright," she said. They walked tensely through the corridors, watching out for any faculty members roaming the halls.
Harry was barely concentrating on not being caught. He kept shooting glances at Ginny. He couldn't easily forget the tingling he had felt when their hands had touched. He looked at her again and this time she was looking at him. Harry stopped walking as Ginny did the same. He stood there staring into her eyes, not knowing what to do next. He knew what he wanted to do, but he couldn't seem to bring himself to do it.
He felt panic rise up in him. What was he supposed to do? He wanted to kiss her…but he wasn't sure how he should go about doing it. They had just become friends not to long ago and Harry was already feeling things for her that he had never felt about anyone else. He could barely admit it to himself, but Harry was scared to go the next level. What if he screwed up? What if she didn't want the same things? He looked down, breaking their eye contact.
"It's getting late," he said quietly. "We better get back to Gryffindor." Mentally, he kicked himself for being such a coward.
"Okay," Ginny whispered. Harry felt her breath tickle his neck and for a moment he could barely control himself. She began walking and Harry broke out of his trance. Silently, they made their way back to the common room. They entered the portrait hole and took off the cloak. Ginny turned to him. "Thanks for helping me study, Harry. And thanks for helping me get rid of my frustrations by beating you in Quidditch."
Harry laughed. "Oh, you're welcome. I'm going to be working on my Chaser techniques. You won't beat me so easily next time."
Ginny raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Oh! Am I actually going to have to be awake for your next attempt?" She laughed and Harry joined in. "Seriously, thanks for everything Harry. You're a great study partner. I'll let you help me again."
"Thanks for the honor," he said. She grinned and walked up the staircase to her dormitory. "Goodnight!" Harry called out to her.
Ginny turned around and smiled at him. "Sweet dreams, Harry." She disappeared into her dormitory and Harry sighed, frustrated at his own inability to make things happen. He needed Ginny Weasley. He needed her badly.
AN: Well Whaddya think? Was it good? Did it suck? Please review! Next chapter: R/H