Disclaimer--Nothing here belongs to me--It's for the love of the craft and intended only as flattery. Most of this scene is from PoA and belongs to JKR, who is a MUCH more accomplished writer than me.
Author's Notes--If you left a review for Chapter 18 prior to this post, and I don't respond, I apologize--I thought FF.NET said there were a few more, but they aren't on the review page or in my inbox, so maybe I'm paranoid...
Strawberries and Blueberries--I hate being in that type of situation, too...and it always seems like there's never a convenient escape! Here's the next update, as ordered. *winks*
EEDOE--What an interesting and insightful reflection on human comfort instincts--as well as animals sixth sense (which I am very glad they have)...but not half as poetic as your lovely comment to Ginny that her soul is a phoenix (which strikes me as more and more wise as I think about it). I didn't think of it at the time I wrote the scene, but isn't it funny how Harry consistently mis-reads Ginny's motives for her less-advisable impulses? *snickers* I think Harry wanted the card back because it meant something to him, too...*winks* *hugs*
Bill--I loved this chapter, too. :-) I agree with you it that it was probably significant enough to provide Ginny with an emotional catalyst...Ginny's recovery is by no means complete, but...*grins* It was definitely time for a random gender-bender. *winks* I hadn't thought of it, but you have a good point about Madam Pomfrey's ability to read uncommunicative adsolescents. I agree the singing card was hideously mortifying...but it might not have been if Ginny had realized Harry wasn't disgusted. *grins* The line about the card's significance was one of my favorites from this story so far, so I'm glad you enjoyed it as well...though I might have guessed as much. *winks* I will see what I can do about Ron's sock revenge, but no promises...this story has a distinct mind of its own! *hugs*
*************
As November progressed, Ginny enjoyed being alive and at Hogwarts as she had rarely had an opportunity to before. Lupin returned with assurances the second years wouldn't need to know about werewolves for any future exams. He looked pale and tired in a way that gave Ginny more than a little concern, but he seemed as ready and willing to teach as ever, and tempted as she was, she could think of no way to ask politely whether or not he was well or why Professor Snape thought they needed to know about werewolves. In spite of such lingering mysteries, and the grim reminder of danger in the dementors continued presence, the days seemed to roll along with surprising smoothness, interrupted only by regular pranks from the twins-and they were more welcome than anyone cared to admit.
The last Saturday in November dawned bright and clear. Ginny almost hated to avoid the crisp bite in the air, but she couldn't go to a Quidditch match without her red and gold scarf and gloves. Especially since she didn't really want to be distracted from a game that could influence whether or not Gryffindor won the cup. The twins were going to sit with Lee as they weren't playing. When a similar situation had first arisen the year before, Ginny and Lee had discussed their options at length and Ginny decided-with which Lee reluctantly agreed-it would be better not if they didn't have to explain what had suddenly possessed to tag along with him. So whenever Gryffindor wasn't playing, she found somewhere else to sit. Sometimes she joined Tempest and Colin with the rest of the Gryffindors, but more often than not, she preferred to avoid such close proximity to Harry and Ron. They distracted her to the point she could barely enjoy the game. This match, like so many others, she was bending house borders to sit with Bion and Luna and root for Ravenclaw-luckily it would help Gryffindor as they won so Ginny didn't have to worry about conflict of loyalty.
The three of them met in the entry. Bion was wearing a scarf similar to Ginny's own in broad bands of blue and bronze, but Luna had risen to the challenge of house pride with surprising gusto-especially considering Ginny had never been overly aware of her actually paying much attention to the game-instead of a rosette a raven pinned to her cloak chirruped "Bury the Badgers" so loudly it echoed across the hall, drawing dirty looks from several passing Hufflepuffs and a couple Slytherins.
"Nice rosette, Luna," Ginny said once she had finished wrestling her grin into submission.
"Thanks," Luna said so vaguely Ginny was sure she hadn't even heard the compliment.
They had nearly reached the stands when Luna turned and looked her in the eye. "Do you want one? I'm sure I could charm a lion."
Ginny started to say no, then suddenly decided she shouldn't be so quick to disregard the gift of friendship...regardless of the odd packaging in which she might find it. After all, wasn't that part of what drove her nuts about Harry, Hermione, and Ron? "That would be great-maybe you could even show me how to make my own?"
"Why not?" Luna said airily. "I'll show you, too, Bion."
Bion looked at Ginny as if to exclaim he hadn't the least interest in making an odd animal rosette, but Ginny frowned slightly and shook her head, and after a minute he quirked his lips with defeat and subsided. Ginny grinned and made a mental not to thank him later.
"Do you think Cedric Diggory is cute?" Luna inquired matter-of-factly as the players took to the field a few seconds later.
It was probably not something she would have done on her own, but with a bit of a mental shrug, Ginny surveyed the Hufflepuff Seeker with an eye as unbiased as she could manage. "He looks very good-natured," she said at last, "but he's not really my type...he's far too..." she paused, trying to figure out how to explain her impression, "perfect."
Beside, Bion let out a bark of laughter. "Is it even possible to be too perfect?"
Luna fixed him with a distant but spearing stare Ginny found disconcerting-even though she wasn't the one receiving it. "Of course you can," she said so firmly the answer was final.
Not really knowing why, Ginny felt herself flush and shifted uncomfortably. "Um...maybe we should..."
"Yeah," Bion agreed a bit darkly, "let's just watch the game."
"Hey," Ginny said a few minutes later, the thought springing unbidden to her lips, "where's Cho Chang-isn't she your Seeker?" She'd actually been rather curious to see how the delicate, giggly girl did on the Quidditch Field.
"Yeah...but she's injured," Bion explained.
"Oh," Ginny said, disappointment quickly lapsing into apathy.
"Bury the Badgers," said Luna's raven rosette.
The rosette must have been good luck, because eventually the Chasers proved to be more interesting than either of the Seekers, Cho turned out not to be necessary, and Ravenclaw got the Snitch as well as the win. Ginny went back to the castle as warm with satisfaction as either of her companions, pleased with the game, and relieved Gryffindor was still in the running for the cup.
Author's Notes--If you left a review for Chapter 18 prior to this post, and I don't respond, I apologize--I thought FF.NET said there were a few more, but they aren't on the review page or in my inbox, so maybe I'm paranoid...
Strawberries and Blueberries--I hate being in that type of situation, too...and it always seems like there's never a convenient escape! Here's the next update, as ordered. *winks*
EEDOE--What an interesting and insightful reflection on human comfort instincts--as well as animals sixth sense (which I am very glad they have)...but not half as poetic as your lovely comment to Ginny that her soul is a phoenix (which strikes me as more and more wise as I think about it). I didn't think of it at the time I wrote the scene, but isn't it funny how Harry consistently mis-reads Ginny's motives for her less-advisable impulses? *snickers* I think Harry wanted the card back because it meant something to him, too...*winks* *hugs*
Bill--I loved this chapter, too. :-) I agree with you it that it was probably significant enough to provide Ginny with an emotional catalyst...Ginny's recovery is by no means complete, but...*grins* It was definitely time for a random gender-bender. *winks* I hadn't thought of it, but you have a good point about Madam Pomfrey's ability to read uncommunicative adsolescents. I agree the singing card was hideously mortifying...but it might not have been if Ginny had realized Harry wasn't disgusted. *grins* The line about the card's significance was one of my favorites from this story so far, so I'm glad you enjoyed it as well...though I might have guessed as much. *winks* I will see what I can do about Ron's sock revenge, but no promises...this story has a distinct mind of its own! *hugs*
*************
As November progressed, Ginny enjoyed being alive and at Hogwarts as she had rarely had an opportunity to before. Lupin returned with assurances the second years wouldn't need to know about werewolves for any future exams. He looked pale and tired in a way that gave Ginny more than a little concern, but he seemed as ready and willing to teach as ever, and tempted as she was, she could think of no way to ask politely whether or not he was well or why Professor Snape thought they needed to know about werewolves. In spite of such lingering mysteries, and the grim reminder of danger in the dementors continued presence, the days seemed to roll along with surprising smoothness, interrupted only by regular pranks from the twins-and they were more welcome than anyone cared to admit.
The last Saturday in November dawned bright and clear. Ginny almost hated to avoid the crisp bite in the air, but she couldn't go to a Quidditch match without her red and gold scarf and gloves. Especially since she didn't really want to be distracted from a game that could influence whether or not Gryffindor won the cup. The twins were going to sit with Lee as they weren't playing. When a similar situation had first arisen the year before, Ginny and Lee had discussed their options at length and Ginny decided-with which Lee reluctantly agreed-it would be better not if they didn't have to explain what had suddenly possessed to tag along with him. So whenever Gryffindor wasn't playing, she found somewhere else to sit. Sometimes she joined Tempest and Colin with the rest of the Gryffindors, but more often than not, she preferred to avoid such close proximity to Harry and Ron. They distracted her to the point she could barely enjoy the game. This match, like so many others, she was bending house borders to sit with Bion and Luna and root for Ravenclaw-luckily it would help Gryffindor as they won so Ginny didn't have to worry about conflict of loyalty.
The three of them met in the entry. Bion was wearing a scarf similar to Ginny's own in broad bands of blue and bronze, but Luna had risen to the challenge of house pride with surprising gusto-especially considering Ginny had never been overly aware of her actually paying much attention to the game-instead of a rosette a raven pinned to her cloak chirruped "Bury the Badgers" so loudly it echoed across the hall, drawing dirty looks from several passing Hufflepuffs and a couple Slytherins.
"Nice rosette, Luna," Ginny said once she had finished wrestling her grin into submission.
"Thanks," Luna said so vaguely Ginny was sure she hadn't even heard the compliment.
They had nearly reached the stands when Luna turned and looked her in the eye. "Do you want one? I'm sure I could charm a lion."
Ginny started to say no, then suddenly decided she shouldn't be so quick to disregard the gift of friendship...regardless of the odd packaging in which she might find it. After all, wasn't that part of what drove her nuts about Harry, Hermione, and Ron? "That would be great-maybe you could even show me how to make my own?"
"Why not?" Luna said airily. "I'll show you, too, Bion."
Bion looked at Ginny as if to exclaim he hadn't the least interest in making an odd animal rosette, but Ginny frowned slightly and shook her head, and after a minute he quirked his lips with defeat and subsided. Ginny grinned and made a mental not to thank him later.
"Do you think Cedric Diggory is cute?" Luna inquired matter-of-factly as the players took to the field a few seconds later.
It was probably not something she would have done on her own, but with a bit of a mental shrug, Ginny surveyed the Hufflepuff Seeker with an eye as unbiased as she could manage. "He looks very good-natured," she said at last, "but he's not really my type...he's far too..." she paused, trying to figure out how to explain her impression, "perfect."
Beside, Bion let out a bark of laughter. "Is it even possible to be too perfect?"
Luna fixed him with a distant but spearing stare Ginny found disconcerting-even though she wasn't the one receiving it. "Of course you can," she said so firmly the answer was final.
Not really knowing why, Ginny felt herself flush and shifted uncomfortably. "Um...maybe we should..."
"Yeah," Bion agreed a bit darkly, "let's just watch the game."
"Hey," Ginny said a few minutes later, the thought springing unbidden to her lips, "where's Cho Chang-isn't she your Seeker?" She'd actually been rather curious to see how the delicate, giggly girl did on the Quidditch Field.
"Yeah...but she's injured," Bion explained.
"Oh," Ginny said, disappointment quickly lapsing into apathy.
"Bury the Badgers," said Luna's raven rosette.
The rosette must have been good luck, because eventually the Chasers proved to be more interesting than either of the Seekers, Cho turned out not to be necessary, and Ravenclaw got the Snitch as well as the win. Ginny went back to the castle as warm with satisfaction as either of her companions, pleased with the game, and relieved Gryffindor was still in the running for the cup.