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--Hard as it is to believe, Ginny's second year is drawing to a close. *sighs* For those of you who are starting to wonder, SoA will be drawing to a close with Chapter 42. I'm seriously considering Ginny's third year, but can't give you any definite ETA yet. Hopefully I'll have a bit more info before SoA is finished. As for sequels beyond GoF, I do have some intentions of following Ginny through OotP, and even possibly writing Ginny PoV stories for books 6 and 7 when they appear...but for now, I think it's probably best to take it one story at a time. (Thanks for asking, Strawberries and Blueberries) *grins and winks*
Strawberries and Blueberries--You go girl! *applauds* As for any more stares from Harry...I'm not entirely sure, but I think Ginny's going to have quite a bit on her mind, so they're probably through for the year. Sorry! :-( Hope you enjoy the updates anyway!
Bee11--I admit, it is a presumptious of Percy to assume he knows what would be best for Ginny (and she handled him FAR better than I would have!), but he really is trying to help the only way he knows how. Judging from OotP, it may not be THE most important thing, but I think family does matter to Percy, and the books do seem to indicate he especially fusses over Ginny. Still, I totally agree with you that it's very lucky for Ginny she doesn't let him make her decisions! *shudders* Bill's career definitely inspired Ginny's interest in Ancient Runes...I think she's hoping to learn more about things like the verse he read her in Egypt. Good catch! *winks*
Adrienne--Warm and fuzzy! That just makes me so happy...Unfortunately, the tone of these stories doesn't give me much chance to write "feel good" chapters, and I kind of regret it, since I'd much rather make people happy than sad! *hugs* I hope you aren't disappointed with the amount of "happy" scenes left to us this year. *sighs* It was a very painful and mature thing for Ginny to step aside for Harry and Ron, but I'm very glad Hermione was smart enough not to let Ginny go back to being completely isolated. Of course I wonder if that would have occurred to her if Ginny hadn't been the one holding her hand all semester? *snorts and sighs* Anyway...I agree, Ginny and Hermione are rubbing off on one another for the better! *winks* It was amazing of Ginny to wait until Percy couldn't see her to roll her eyes--I'm sure I would have snapped at him! I think Bill's group is a good idea, too...I'm just not sure that we have enough to discuss to sustain it...*muses* I'm sure you're more computer literate than you think! *hugs*
EEDOE--You're absolutely right...that cut, and cut deep, and the scar will probably never fade entirely away. *sighs sympathetically* Poor Ginny...but at least Hermione administered some quick and effective first aid a lot of people would have missed. Like you, I love her for that...it makes up for a lot of her thoughtlessness, most of which is more circumstantial and/or lack of experience than any lack of affection. I just couldn't resist the opportunity to write some good old-fashioned gossip! *giggles* The lifeblood of any girl-bonding experience...*winks* (I love the image of men's role in a conversation with women. *snickers*) And those two moments were some of my favorites from PoA too! Go Hermione!! *whistles and stamps feet* You nailed exactly how I felt about Percy at that moment! *hugs* I know...Harry ought to be as wise and appreciative as a middle-aged man! *winks* Still...someday...he's going to feel the same way we do--at a loss as to why it took him so long! *hugs*
Bill--Very perceptive (of course) *grins* Most of Ginny's insecurity complex is clearing up, but that feeling of not being completely worthy to associate with less flawed people she had when Harry rescued her from the Chamber is probably NEVER going to disappear entirely...and here it cropped up again under stress...especially in a situation where the self-esteem problem she had at the beginning of CoS is reproduced. Hermione's no-nonsense practicality is actually one of the nicest things about her...sometimes it's exactly what you need...especially in a world full of less-than-practical contradictions (like the lack of guards against hexing fellow students *winks*). I can definitely see why you might not know how teenage girls talk when they're alone...I'm sure each friendship is a little different, but we do tend to jump subjects as if it were perfectly natural. *winks* I liked that line too! OOoh...I hadn't thought of that...what a hilarious mental picture! *rolls on the floor laughing* We're in agreement (as usual) on Percy.;-) And on the school as well...*winks* *hugs*
*************
Ginny was sitting in the Quidditch stands with Lee and Professor Lupin before she knew what happened.
"And here are the Gryffindors!" Lee yelled.
"Go Gryffindor!" Ginny and Professor Lupin roared as loudly as they could. The entire school seemed to roar along. Nearly everywhere she looked, Ginny saw red and gold rosettes and waving Gryffindor flags that set her heart racing...she could only imagine what it must do to Harry.
"Potter, Bell, Johnson, Spinnet, Weasley, Weasley, and Wood. Widely acknowledged as the best team Hogwarts has seen in a good few years--"
Lupin whistled and Ginny stamped her feet and tried not to listen as the Slytherin section hissed.
"And here comes the Slytherin team, led by Captain Flint. He's made some changes in his line-up and seems to be going for size rather than skill--"
The wall of green and silver booed loudly. Ginny couldn't see why, she didn't think Lee had meant the comment as slur so much as a statement of fact-the Slytherins were big.
And suddenly the teams were in the air in a flurry of color and motion...
"Gryffindor in possession, Alicia Spinnet of Gryffindor with the Quaffle, heading straight for the Slytherin goal posts, looking good Alicia!"
Professor McGonagall's groan nearly drowned out even Lee's as Warrington intercepted Alicia.
Ginny jumped up and down and waved her arms, wild with pride as George slammed a Bludger at Warrington with surprising violence. Warrington dropped the Quaffle, making Ginny smirk with pleasure.
Angelina caught it and swerved around Montague to score...and Ginny stared in awe, wishing she could move like that, hoping someday she would...imagining...
Flint barreled into her as if he were a human Bludger. "FOUL!!" Ginny howled.
"Sorry, didn't see her!" Flint said, but he didn't even sound apologetic.
"FOUL!!" Ginny roared again, wishing she could reach out and club him one herself. Fred must have read her mind, because his club hurtled into the back of Flint's head, slamming his face into his broom. "Ha!" Ginny breathed, feeling only marginally better.
Madam Hooch was nearly hopping up and down on her broom as she called penalty shots for both teams.
"Come on, Alicia," Lee said, "YES! SHE'S BEATEN THE KEEPER! TWENTY-ZERO TO GYFFINDOR!"
Wood saved Flint's penalty shot, and Gryffindor was in possession...Montague actually grabbed Katie and lifted her half off her broom. He kept insisting he'd mistaken her for the Quaffle, but Madam Hooch obviously didn't buy that any more than Lee, who actually called, "TAKE THAT, YOU DIRTY, CHEATING--" as Katie made her shot.
"Jordan," if you can't comment in an unbiased way--!" Professor McGonagall interrupted, but she didn't sound as outraged as usual.
Ginny and Lupin exchanged grins, only to laugh out aloud with delight as Harry pulled out from between the Slytherin beaters, causing them to collide.
"BLOOODY--" Lee exclaimed spontaneously as Flint scored for Slytherin. Professor McGonagall wrapped both hands around the magical megaphone and pulled so hard she nearly fell over Professor Flitwick. Lee yanked bank, nearly elbowing Ginny in the nose. "Sorry, Professor," he shouted as close to the megaphone as he could. "Won't happen again! So..Gryffindor in the lead, thirty to ten, and Gryffindor in possession..."
Bole hit Alicia with his club, making her drop the Quaffle, and insisted he'd mistaken her for the Bludger; George didn't wait for Madam Hooch to intervene, though she almost certainly would have as that was even less believeable than Montague mistaking Katie for the Quaffle, and elbowed Bole in the nose so hard he drifted several feet backward.
And in a burst of action, Gryffindor was seventy points up!
Ginny found herself holding her breath.
Harry nearly had the Snitch...
"What! Malfoy has a hold of his broom! That has to be illegal!" Ginny shouted.
Madam Hooch was already zooming in to declare the penalty, which didn't really relieve Ginny's feelings.
Or Lee's.
"YOU CHEATING SCUM!" Lee dodged Professor McGonagall's wild swipe for the Megaphone, but McGonagall hardly seemed to notice, as she was too busy shouting something that sounded like, "Absolutely ridiculous lack of sportsmanship!" shaking her finger so hard, her hat had fallen onto the riser behind her.
Ginny gasped in reckless wonder as Harry dived wildly into the midst of a forming Slytherin Block. Harry, though was staring down the field with a worried lock on his face, and, with a sudden sinking in the pit of her stomach, Ginny realized why...Malfoy nearly had the snitch. Harry nearly dove off the broom, grabbing the snitch a mere fingersbreadth before Malfoy. Ginny screamed so loudly she thought she'd punctured her own ears, and didn't care.
Professor Lupin picked her up and spun her around, looking younger than he had all year, his eyes shining.
The rest of the team soared into Harry, crushing into a giant group hug.
"AND GRYFFINDOR WINS THE CUP!" Lee bellowed, jumping up and down. "TAKE THAT, SLYTHERIN!"
They rushed the field together, Ginny, Lee, Lupin...even Professor McGonagall. Hagrid was there, too, plastered with crimson rosettes. Percy was jumping up and down, Professor McGonagall was sobbing, Ron and Hermione looked as if they'd just swallowed a couple of dozen Giggling Gulps a piece. Lupin was still beaming as if he'd never been happier...Lee was turning cartwheels, and Ginny thought her heart would swell to burst as Harry and her brothers made their way to the stand where Dumbledore stood waiting.
Author's Notes--Hard as it is to believe, Ginny's second year is drawing to a close. *sighs* For those of you who are starting to wonder, SoA will be drawing to a close with Chapter 42. I'm seriously considering Ginny's third year, but can't give you any definite ETA yet. Hopefully I'll have a bit more info before SoA is finished. As for sequels beyond GoF, I do have some intentions of following Ginny through OotP, and even possibly writing Ginny PoV stories for books 6 and 7 when they appear...but for now, I think it's probably best to take it one story at a time. (Thanks for asking, Strawberries and Blueberries) *grins and winks*
Strawberries and Blueberries--You go girl! *applauds* As for any more stares from Harry...I'm not entirely sure, but I think Ginny's going to have quite a bit on her mind, so they're probably through for the year. Sorry! :-( Hope you enjoy the updates anyway!
Bee11--I admit, it is a presumptious of Percy to assume he knows what would be best for Ginny (and she handled him FAR better than I would have!), but he really is trying to help the only way he knows how. Judging from OotP, it may not be THE most important thing, but I think family does matter to Percy, and the books do seem to indicate he especially fusses over Ginny. Still, I totally agree with you that it's very lucky for Ginny she doesn't let him make her decisions! *shudders* Bill's career definitely inspired Ginny's interest in Ancient Runes...I think she's hoping to learn more about things like the verse he read her in Egypt. Good catch! *winks*
Adrienne--Warm and fuzzy! That just makes me so happy...Unfortunately, the tone of these stories doesn't give me much chance to write "feel good" chapters, and I kind of regret it, since I'd much rather make people happy than sad! *hugs* I hope you aren't disappointed with the amount of "happy" scenes left to us this year. *sighs* It was a very painful and mature thing for Ginny to step aside for Harry and Ron, but I'm very glad Hermione was smart enough not to let Ginny go back to being completely isolated. Of course I wonder if that would have occurred to her if Ginny hadn't been the one holding her hand all semester? *snorts and sighs* Anyway...I agree, Ginny and Hermione are rubbing off on one another for the better! *winks* It was amazing of Ginny to wait until Percy couldn't see her to roll her eyes--I'm sure I would have snapped at him! I think Bill's group is a good idea, too...I'm just not sure that we have enough to discuss to sustain it...*muses* I'm sure you're more computer literate than you think! *hugs*
EEDOE--You're absolutely right...that cut, and cut deep, and the scar will probably never fade entirely away. *sighs sympathetically* Poor Ginny...but at least Hermione administered some quick and effective first aid a lot of people would have missed. Like you, I love her for that...it makes up for a lot of her thoughtlessness, most of which is more circumstantial and/or lack of experience than any lack of affection. I just couldn't resist the opportunity to write some good old-fashioned gossip! *giggles* The lifeblood of any girl-bonding experience...*winks* (I love the image of men's role in a conversation with women. *snickers*) And those two moments were some of my favorites from PoA too! Go Hermione!! *whistles and stamps feet* You nailed exactly how I felt about Percy at that moment! *hugs* I know...Harry ought to be as wise and appreciative as a middle-aged man! *winks* Still...someday...he's going to feel the same way we do--at a loss as to why it took him so long! *hugs*
Bill--Very perceptive (of course) *grins* Most of Ginny's insecurity complex is clearing up, but that feeling of not being completely worthy to associate with less flawed people she had when Harry rescued her from the Chamber is probably NEVER going to disappear entirely...and here it cropped up again under stress...especially in a situation where the self-esteem problem she had at the beginning of CoS is reproduced. Hermione's no-nonsense practicality is actually one of the nicest things about her...sometimes it's exactly what you need...especially in a world full of less-than-practical contradictions (like the lack of guards against hexing fellow students *winks*). I can definitely see why you might not know how teenage girls talk when they're alone...I'm sure each friendship is a little different, but we do tend to jump subjects as if it were perfectly natural. *winks* I liked that line too! OOoh...I hadn't thought of that...what a hilarious mental picture! *rolls on the floor laughing* We're in agreement (as usual) on Percy.;-) And on the school as well...*winks* *hugs*
*************
Ginny was sitting in the Quidditch stands with Lee and Professor Lupin before she knew what happened.
"And here are the Gryffindors!" Lee yelled.
"Go Gryffindor!" Ginny and Professor Lupin roared as loudly as they could. The entire school seemed to roar along. Nearly everywhere she looked, Ginny saw red and gold rosettes and waving Gryffindor flags that set her heart racing...she could only imagine what it must do to Harry.
"Potter, Bell, Johnson, Spinnet, Weasley, Weasley, and Wood. Widely acknowledged as the best team Hogwarts has seen in a good few years--"
Lupin whistled and Ginny stamped her feet and tried not to listen as the Slytherin section hissed.
"And here comes the Slytherin team, led by Captain Flint. He's made some changes in his line-up and seems to be going for size rather than skill--"
The wall of green and silver booed loudly. Ginny couldn't see why, she didn't think Lee had meant the comment as slur so much as a statement of fact-the Slytherins were big.
And suddenly the teams were in the air in a flurry of color and motion...
"Gryffindor in possession, Alicia Spinnet of Gryffindor with the Quaffle, heading straight for the Slytherin goal posts, looking good Alicia!"
Professor McGonagall's groan nearly drowned out even Lee's as Warrington intercepted Alicia.
Ginny jumped up and down and waved her arms, wild with pride as George slammed a Bludger at Warrington with surprising violence. Warrington dropped the Quaffle, making Ginny smirk with pleasure.
Angelina caught it and swerved around Montague to score...and Ginny stared in awe, wishing she could move like that, hoping someday she would...imagining...
Flint barreled into her as if he were a human Bludger. "FOUL!!" Ginny howled.
"Sorry, didn't see her!" Flint said, but he didn't even sound apologetic.
"FOUL!!" Ginny roared again, wishing she could reach out and club him one herself. Fred must have read her mind, because his club hurtled into the back of Flint's head, slamming his face into his broom. "Ha!" Ginny breathed, feeling only marginally better.
Madam Hooch was nearly hopping up and down on her broom as she called penalty shots for both teams.
"Come on, Alicia," Lee said, "YES! SHE'S BEATEN THE KEEPER! TWENTY-ZERO TO GYFFINDOR!"
Wood saved Flint's penalty shot, and Gryffindor was in possession...Montague actually grabbed Katie and lifted her half off her broom. He kept insisting he'd mistaken her for the Quaffle, but Madam Hooch obviously didn't buy that any more than Lee, who actually called, "TAKE THAT, YOU DIRTY, CHEATING--" as Katie made her shot.
"Jordan," if you can't comment in an unbiased way--!" Professor McGonagall interrupted, but she didn't sound as outraged as usual.
Ginny and Lupin exchanged grins, only to laugh out aloud with delight as Harry pulled out from between the Slytherin beaters, causing them to collide.
"BLOOODY--" Lee exclaimed spontaneously as Flint scored for Slytherin. Professor McGonagall wrapped both hands around the magical megaphone and pulled so hard she nearly fell over Professor Flitwick. Lee yanked bank, nearly elbowing Ginny in the nose. "Sorry, Professor," he shouted as close to the megaphone as he could. "Won't happen again! So..Gryffindor in the lead, thirty to ten, and Gryffindor in possession..."
Bole hit Alicia with his club, making her drop the Quaffle, and insisted he'd mistaken her for the Bludger; George didn't wait for Madam Hooch to intervene, though she almost certainly would have as that was even less believeable than Montague mistaking Katie for the Quaffle, and elbowed Bole in the nose so hard he drifted several feet backward.
And in a burst of action, Gryffindor was seventy points up!
Ginny found herself holding her breath.
Harry nearly had the Snitch...
"What! Malfoy has a hold of his broom! That has to be illegal!" Ginny shouted.
Madam Hooch was already zooming in to declare the penalty, which didn't really relieve Ginny's feelings.
Or Lee's.
"YOU CHEATING SCUM!" Lee dodged Professor McGonagall's wild swipe for the Megaphone, but McGonagall hardly seemed to notice, as she was too busy shouting something that sounded like, "Absolutely ridiculous lack of sportsmanship!" shaking her finger so hard, her hat had fallen onto the riser behind her.
Ginny gasped in reckless wonder as Harry dived wildly into the midst of a forming Slytherin Block. Harry, though was staring down the field with a worried lock on his face, and, with a sudden sinking in the pit of her stomach, Ginny realized why...Malfoy nearly had the snitch. Harry nearly dove off the broom, grabbing the snitch a mere fingersbreadth before Malfoy. Ginny screamed so loudly she thought she'd punctured her own ears, and didn't care.
Professor Lupin picked her up and spun her around, looking younger than he had all year, his eyes shining.
The rest of the team soared into Harry, crushing into a giant group hug.
"AND GRYFFINDOR WINS THE CUP!" Lee bellowed, jumping up and down. "TAKE THAT, SLYTHERIN!"
They rushed the field together, Ginny, Lee, Lupin...even Professor McGonagall. Hagrid was there, too, plastered with crimson rosettes. Percy was jumping up and down, Professor McGonagall was sobbing, Ron and Hermione looked as if they'd just swallowed a couple of dozen Giggling Gulps a piece. Lupin was still beaming as if he'd never been happier...Lee was turning cartwheels, and Ginny thought her heart would swell to burst as Harry and her brothers made their way to the stand where Dumbledore stood waiting.