A/N: The seventh chapter arrives!

Disclaimer: How many times do I have to tell you: I DON'T OWN THIS STUFF!!!

Chapter 7. Concerning Quidditch

Ginny was sitting in the Gryffindor common room, studying Transfiguration. Except for her there were a few students in the room, including Colin Creevey who was apparently cleaning his camera. Now the portrait hole opened.

'Here they come...' thought Ginny. The Gryffindor fifth years entered. They all seemed pretty tired. Neville had a slightly terrified look on his face, and went straight up to the dormitory. Harry and Lynn sat down in the couch. Ron and Hermione shared an armchair.

"Just done?" said Ginny. The others nodded. "What do you think of Zemeckare?" The others were silent for a few seconds.

"He's like a shorter, less hairier, Scottish, bee-obsessed Hagrid…" said Harry.

"That about sums it up," said Ron. "There was a few close calls with the bees..."

"What happened?" said Ginny.

"Neville had to dodge one of them," said Ron. "Otherwise he would've been decapitated."

"Oh, stop it!" said Hermione. "Zemeckare wouldn't risk our safety like that, he's a teacher! Besides the overalls were pretty strong." She looked towards the dormitory stairs. "Can't help but feeling sorry for Neville though..."

"Yeah," said Ron. "Speaking 'bout Neville, do you thinks he's gonna try out for the Quidditch team this year? Since he learned to fly and all." Harry had been checking his bag for a book, and looked up. Everyone was looking at him. "You should know Harry."

"Give it a rest, will ya'?" said Harry. "I not going to be quidditch captain."

"I was more referring to your experience with playing Quidditch," said Ron. "But thank you for letting us now you're thinking about it." Ron smiled smugly. Harry gave him a glare.

"Well, I  haven't seen Neville fly yet so I can't say anything," he said. "And stop looking so damn smug..."

About twenty minutes later Lynn went up do the dormitory. Hermione notice that she, Ron, Harry and Ginny were almost the only ones left in the room. She closed her book as soon as the last persons left, got up, and grabbed Ron's arm and dragged up out the chair.

"Come on, Ron, I need to show you something," said Hermione.

"Wha-? Um...okay," said Ron, allowing himself to dragged along. As soon as they'd left the room Hermione grinned over what she just had accomplished. Harry and Ginny were now alone in the common room. Ginny had realised what Hermione had done, and was grateful and angry at the same time. Harry looked at Ginny. She looked back.

'He just looking at me... I wonder what he's thinking,' thought Ginny. 'Oh, please, pleasity, please let him be admiring me or something...' She looked back into her book, a light smile on her face.

'God, she's beautiful,' Harry thought, admiring how her hair seemed to just flow down Ginny's neck onto her shoulders, shimmering a bit in the different colours of the enchanted fire. How her cheeks were a delicate shade of pink, how her lips were forming that cute smile, how-

"Um...Harry, could you help me with this?" said Ginny, snapping Harry from his thoughts.

"Um...sure," said Harry. Ginny got up and sat down next to him. Harry's heart rate jumped up a few beats a minute. "What is it?"

"Transfiguration," said Ginny. She started explaining her problem, Harry helping her as much as he could.

"Tehehehe! I'm so devious sometimes!" giggled Hermione in her private prefect room.

"Yeah, but are you sure it will work?" said Ron, having been let in on Hermione's improvised plan. "I mean, what if they just sit there?"

"I don't think so," said Hermione. "Ginny's smart enough to seize an opportunity when she gets one."

It was getting late. Harry and Ginny were still studying. Ginny yawned.

"Maybe we should stop, you're tired," said Harry.

"No, let's continue, I'll rest when I'm dead," said Ginny. Harry smiled.

"Okay, if you say so..." he said. They continued studying. After a while Ginny leaned against Harry, who paused for a second. "Um...sure you not to sleepy?"

"No, I'm okay..." said Ginny, sounding sleepy indeed. They continued. After a while Harry noticed that he wasn't getting the acknowledging 'Uh-huh's, 'Mmm's and 'Sure's from Ginny.

"Ginny?" he asked. No response. He leaned over a bit to see her face. Her eyes were closed. She was sleeping. Harry didn't quite know what to do. He didn't want to wake her, so he stayed there Ginny leaned against him. He started admiring her beauty again. Now the colour of the flames in the fire changed into a very dark, almost black colour. Harry looked to the fireplace.

'Hm... Never seen it do that before...' he thought. He looked back at Ginny. He had to fight an urge to start, so that he wouldn't wake her. Her hair looked almost black in the strange light from the flames. 'Black...like Cho's... Damn it, why did I have to think about her...?' Harry got up slowly, putting Ginny gently down upon the couch. Ginny woke just in time to see him walk up the stairs towards his dormitory. He didn't see her wake up. Ginny looked down at a strand of her hair, hanging down it front of her face. It still looked black. Ginny looked towards the stairs Harry had gone up. The flames in the fire turned blue.

"So, how did it go?" said Hermione, sitting down next to Ginny at breakfast. Harry wasn't down in the hall yet. Ginny looked surprise at Hermione's question. "I mean last night with Harry?" Ginny realised that Hermione had planned leaving Harry and her alone.

"Sort of good," said Ginny.

"Such as?" said Hermione.

"Well...I, um...fell asleep," said Ginny. "More precisely fell asleep while leaning against Harry..." Ginny blushed and poked around her porridge with her spoon.

"That's great!" said Hermione. "That has to have got his attention."

"Yeah, I think so, but..." said Ginny. "When I woke up, Harry was going up to his dormitory. First I figured he'd left because he was tired, but then I saw my hair..."

"What about your hair?" said Hermione.

"The flames in the fire had changed colour so that somehow, my hair looked almost black," said Ginny. She looked up into Hermione's face. Hermione looked like she was realising what Ginny was trying to say. "Hermione, answer me honestly: do Harry still like Cho?" Hermione nodded after a moment. Ginny's heart fell. She sighed heavily. "So...there really is no hope for the two of us?" Hermione clasped her hand.

"There's always hope," said Hermione, a light smile on her face. "I'll try and talk with Harry." Ginny nodded.

"Okay," she said.

Harry was on his way down to breakfast. He was alone since he hadn't waited for Ron. Just before Harry entered the Great Hall he heard a voice.

"Harry?" said a voice. Harry stopped and turned towards the voice. There stood Cho.

"Cho," said Harry. "What is it?" She walked up to him.

"I wanted to talk to you," she said. "Cedric and I had a long talk the other night and..." She paused for a moment. "You know, when he died, I was so sad and depressed. And angry. I, um..."

"Blamed me for him dying," said Harry. "I know."

"Yes... It's just that... I don't blame you anymore," said Cho. "When Cedric and I talked, he made me realise that there really wasn't anything you could've done. That's all I wanted you to know." She gave him a peck on the cheek. "See you around."

"Um...yeah, sure," said Harry, a bit shocked. Cho went down one of the corridors. Harry looked at her until she turned a corner. He touched his cheek. Then he sighed and went into the Great Hall. He sat down across the table from Hermione and Ginny.

"Morning, Harry," said Hermione.

"Morning," said Harry, looking down at his food.

"You okay?" said Ginny, uncertain as to what the answer would be. He looked up a bit, but not directly a Ginny.

"I'm fine..." he said. Ginny and Hermione exchanged glances. Ron came into the hall and sat down next to Harry.

"Morning everyone," he said.

"Morning, dear," said Hermione. Ron looked at Hermione, did a subtle nod towards Harry and glanced quickly at Ginny, and then looked back at Hermione again. Hermione gave him a look that said 'I'll tell you later.' Neither Ginny nor Harry had noticed any of this.

After having eaten breakfast Harry and Ron went up to Divination. The climbed the ladder and sat into two arm-chairs around a table. Professor Treelawney emerged, looking more bug-like than ever. After greeting the class she started with the usual predictions.

"You," she said in her misty voice when looking at Neville, whom started in his arm-chair. "You will experience something very painful, very soon."

"Oh no," said Neville, whimpered, and backed his arm-chair against the wall. Although, upon doing so, he knocked down a crystal ball on a shelf, which bounced down into his head, and then down into his crotch. Neville doubled up in pain.

"Ow! That's gotta hurt!" said Seamus, sympathising with Neville.

"I did warn you, dear..." said Treelawney, feeling a bit sorry for Neville. "Could someone please take him to the hospital wing?" Harry and Ron saw their chance in getting away, and was about to speak up when...

"I'll take him, Professor," said Dean.

"Thank you, dear," said Treelawney.

"Damn!" said Ron, disguising it as a cough.

Dean helped Neville up, and then down the ladder. "Now, to continue..." She looked around a bit, and stopped at Harry.

'Here it comes...' he thought.

"Don't say it: I'm going to die a horrible Death," said Harry, seriously getting tired of the whole thing.

"Yes, I'm afraid so," said Treelawney mournfully.

'Only third year in row she's predicted that...' thought Harry. 'Be strong, you need the grades, you need the grades, you need the grades...'

"Ah, but there is more," she said in an even mistier and mysterious voice than before. "You will have problem's with a woman with red hair, and one with black hair. Towards the end of the year you should watch out for a pale man, pale in both hair and appearance."

"You do get around, Harry. First TWO girls, then Malfoy? I seriously never thought you were like that..." said Dean jokingly, sighing and shaking his head sympathetically.

"Shut up, Dean," said Harry, although he found it rather funny.

'Oh great, now Lavender and Parvati know about Ginny and Cho,' thought Harry. 'Why don't Treelawney just call it out in the great hall? And why on Earth is she so obsessed with hair anyway?'

"I also see something I've seen before in your future," said Treelawney, ignoring Dean.

'Gee, you mean except me dying?' thought Harry.

"The Grim," said Treelawney. Lavender and Parvati gasped.

'Good, then I know Sirius will come visit me,' thought Harry. Treelawney looked at Ron.

"You will go through a challenge, but the outcome will not be that which you expect..." said Treelawney. "Now, let's get to work." She walked away to get some things. Lavender and Parvati whispered, giggling once in a while and looking towards Harry.

'Grades, grades, grades, grades, grades, grades...' thought Harry.

The week went by. Harry pretty much avoided both Ginny and Cho. He had other things on his mind for the time being. Soon it was Saturday. Time to select the new Captain and to fill the empty positions in the team. Harry got into his Quidditch clothes and gear, grabbed his Firebolt, and walked down towards the Quidditch field. He went out into the field where Fred, George, Angelina, Alicia and Katie were waiting. They all looked very serious.

"Hi guys," said Harry. They didn't answer. "Um...something wrong?"

"How dare you show up here like that?" said George.

"Huh?" said Harry.

"Your not properly dressed," said Angelina.

"Not properly- Hey, this is the right gear fo-" said Harry.

"We're not talking about your clothes," said Fred. "We're talking about this." Fred gave him a box. Harry looked at them all strangely, and then opened the box. Inside was a patch saying 'Captain'. Harry looked up, surprised. The others were grinning broadly. "Congrats, Harry!"

"Or rather, Gryffindor Quidditch Captain Harry!" said Alicia.

"Wha- How- Why- What?" said Harry. "You can't make me Captain!"

"You even know how you make someone Captain?" said George. Harry didn't answer. "Well, the team members each vote which they think should be Captain, and then the one who gets the most votes win!"

"But I never got to vote," said Harry.

"That's because we all met and decided that you should be best for the job," said Katie.

"Based on what?" said Harry.

"I and George can't be Captain, neither of us," said Fred.

"To much organisation!" said George.

"We're just in it for the fun!" said Fred, grinning.

"In fact, no one of us can be Captain," said Angelina. "We're all in our last year, and it's pretty pointless to be Captain for only a year. Therefore, I hereby promote you too Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, effective immediately." She attached the 'Captain' patch to his Quidditch robe. Harry looked down at the patch. He looked up at the others.

"Um...first of all: wow," he said. "Secondly: thanks everyone!"

"Aw, you'll make us blush..." said Fred.

"I'm not going to cry..." said George and wiped away an imagined tear.

"You deserve it," said Alicia.

Harry remembered something.

"Come on, we gotta get ready for the tryouts," he said.

Half an hour later the people wanting to try out were standing on the field. The Quidditch team were up in one of the viewing towers. Lee was up there with them so that he could call out which one was next up. Angelina, Alicia and Katie were flying over the flying on their broomsticks. They had large bags with seven quaffles in them each, the bags charmed too be light. When trying out the new players the girls should fly around and try to throw the quaffles into the hoops. The more the players managed to stop, the better. If they caught all twenty-one quaffles they would probably become the new keeper.

"Right, who's first?" said Harry.

"It's-" said Lee, but was interrupted by someone calling. Harry looked around. Then he spotted a group of people in another of the viewing towers on the opposite side of the field.

"What. Is. That?" he asked. Fred took out a pair of omniculars. After a moment he chuckled. "What?" Fred gave him the omniculars.

"It appears that our new Quidditch Captain already has a fanclub," said Fred. Harry saw that in the viewing tower Lavender, Parvati and a group of fourth and third year Gryffindor girls were standing. They had plaques and signs saying things like 'Potter rules!' and...

"'All hail Captain Potter!'?" said Harry. He lowered the omniculars and looked at the others. "Does anyone of you happen to know exactly HOW they knew that I was Captain before I knew?"

"You know, I just might have let it slip the other night..." said George.

"Personally, I'm relieved," said Fred. "I mean, at least Ginny's not among them."

"GO HARRY, GO!!!" called someone of the 'Captain Potter fanclub'. Harry could see that Angelina, Alicia and Katie giggled at this. Fred and George barely contained themselves from laughing. Harry sighed.

"Let's...just get on with it..." said Harry.

"Right," said Lee and started calling out names for the keeper position.

Some of the applicants were pretty good, some were not.

"Not too bad, " said Harry after third-year girl called Amy Khondji had tried out. She had missed only two quaffles and those were the two extremely difficult throws. "Who's next?" Lee chuckled.

"Next applicant: Neville Longbottom," he called out. Down on the field Neville stepped forward.

"Is this so good?" said George. "I mean, it's Neville!"

"Hermione said she'd be ready with some healing charm..." said Harry. He saw that Hermione looked up top the tower. She and Harry looked at each other. Hermione nodded. Neville kicked of the ground. Everyone became silent and waited with tension as to how badly Neville would fail.

A few minutes later pretty much everyone were totally stunned. Neville had turned out to be an exceptional flyer and keeper, not missing even one of the quaffles. Harry's jaw had dropped along with pretty much anyone watching the whole thing. Even the 'We love Potter' fanclub was quiet.

"George?" said Fred.

"Yes, Fred?" said George.

"Punch me," said Fred.

"Why?" said George, snapping from his amazement a bit.

"Because I don't think pinching me will be enough..." said Fred. Neville landed. He saw the looks upon the faces of the group standing on the ground.

"Um...was it good?" he said. Everyone nodded in unison.

"Well, I guess we have our new keeper," said Harry. "Lee, continue calling out the names anyway. Just to be on the safe side."

"Okay," said Lee. "Jonathan Newman."

After a while they got to W in the list.

"Ronald Weasley," Lee called out.

"Damn..." said Harry quietly.

"What?" asked George.

"I would've hoped that he wouldn't try for the position," said Harry. "In case he's not good, I have to turn him down. In that case he might get a bit grouchy..."

"I understand you, I don't like him trying out either," said Fred.

"Really?" said Harry.

"Yeah, the little traitor should've tried out to be a beater reserve..." said Fred.

"Alas, the respect of the elderly is low this day, brother..." said George.

"True, brother, all too true," said Fred.

Ron tried out, and missed five quaffles.

"That's the end of the list," said Lee to Harry.

"Okay," said Harry. He turned to Fred and George. "There's really only one choice: Neville." Fred and George nodded.

"And as reserve?" said Fred.

"The third-year girl, Amy Khondji," said Harry. "She's not perfect, but with some training I think she could improve. Okay, reserve chaser are up next, right?"

"Yeah," said Lee. He started calling the names out. Their tests manly contained of chasing Angelina, Alicia and Katie around the field, and trying to take the quaffle from them. As with the keepers they had some good and some bad tryouts. "Okay, just one left: Ginny Weasley."

"What?!" said Harry, surprised. "She's trying out?!"

"Something wrong with that, Harry?" said George.

"No, of course not," said Harry, composing himself a bit. "Just didn't expect it." Fred and George exchanged glances that said 'Riiiiiight, sure.' Ginny began her tryout. And was actually good. Very good. After the tryout was done Angelina, Alicia and Katie landed and came up into the tower. "Okay, chasers reserves are as following: Emma Craig, Sofie Lucas and Ginny Weasley. You okay with that?"

"Yes, those were our choices too," said Angelina.

"Good," said Harry. "Okay, beaters then."

"Our time to shine, brother," said George. He and Fred went down the stairs and onto the field. The beater tryouts consisted of Fred and George beating dummy-bludgers (because of safety) towards the person trying out, and the person would try to hit the bludgers into rings moving around the field. The two people who were best was selected and then went up against Fred and George as a team. If they co-operated well enough they had they're new beater reserves.

"David McFadden and Peter Boyd, right?" said Fred once they had finished the tryouts and come up into the tower again. Harry nodded.

"Yeah, they're the best and can co-operate too," he said.

"No wonder they can co-operate, they're best friends," said Alicia.

"Really? I didn't know that," said harry. "And how do you know it? I didn't think you socialised with the third-years?"

"I know Boyd's older sister in Rawenclaw," said Alicia.

"Ready to call out the winners then?" said Lee. Harry nodded. "Here he is, Gryffindor quidditch Captain: Harry Potter!" Harry stepped forward. Everyone on the field looked up towards him, and there was a sudden surge of cheering from the 'Potter Worshipers fanclub'. Harry rolled his eyes. He didn't look behind him, but he swore that everyone in the team plus Lee was barely able to contain themselves. He sighed.

"Good day, nice to see so many here watching, and that so many tried out," he said. "After hard consideration, we've decide who the new keeper and the new reserves will be. Do keep in mind that the reserves for the chasers and beaters will take of these positions next year. The new keeper is: Neville Longbottom!" Everyone clapped, some cheered. Neville locked absolutely stunned. He snapped put of it a bit when Dean and Seamus patted him hard on the back.

"Well done, Neville!" said Dean.

"T-Thanks!" said Neville.

"The reserve keeper is: Amy Khondji!" Harry called out. Clapping and cheering again. Someone who seemed to be her best friend hugged her, cheering. "On to the chasers then. The new reserve chasers are as following: Emma Craig, Sofie Lucas and Ginny Weasley!" Clapping and cheering. Harry saw that Ginny's eyes went wide. She looked at Harry and mouthed 'Me?'. Harry nodded, a light smile on his face. Hermione cheered and hugged Ginny.

"Well done, Ginny!" said Hermione.

"Great job sis!" said Ron.

"Thanks!" said Ginny, still a bit stunned.

"And now, the reserve beaters," said Harry. "They are as following: David McFadden and Peter Boyd!" Cheering and clapping again. A girl in Rawenclaw robes hugged Boyd. "That's it for today. Look forward to seeing you at the first game!" Harry stepped back.

"Ladies and gentleman give it up for the Captain!" Lee called out. Everyone cheered and clapped again.

"Harry!" called someone once Harry had come down from the tower. He looked towards the voice. There stood Ginny, grinning broadly.

"Ginny," said Harry. She threw her arms around him. Harry tried to say something, but merely stuttered.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you SO MUCH for selecting me for the team!" she said.

"W-well, it, uh...it wasn't all my decision," said Harry. "I, um, mean, the girls had som-"

"Don't listen to him, Ginny," said Angelina, coming down the stairs from the tower. "It was his decision. Right, girls?"

"Yes," said Alicia.

"Absolutely," said Katie.

"Well, see you later, Captain," said Angelina, and left along with Alicia and Katie. Ginny still hadn't let go of Harry. The two looked at each other, something that didn't take much effort since they're faces weren't that much apart.

"Um...glad you're happy to be in the team," said Harry. "Eh...training tomorrow morning." Ginny noticed on the tone of his voice that he felt a bit awkward about her hugging him. The fact that he still hadn't hugged her back enforced this. She let go of him.

"Well, see you later then," she said. "Bye." She started walking away.

"Bye," said Harry. "Ginny..." he added quietly as soon as she was out of earshot.

"So," said a voice. Harry turned towards the voice. It was Ron, with Hermione beside him. "How does it feel do be Captain?" Harry smiled.

"Pretty good actually," he said. "By the way, I have a job for you."

"Really?" said Ron. "What is that?"

"I don't exactly know if I can decide this, but I would like you to become the new Quidditch commentator," said Harry. "If it's not up to me, I'll try and talk to whomever is deciding it."

"Thanks, but, uh...we already have a commentator," said Ron.

"Yes, but this is Lee's last year," said Harry. "Both of you could be commentators this year, and then next year you'll do it yourself. Come on, what do you say?" Harry put forward his right hand.

"It's a deal, Captain," said Ron, shaking Harry's hand.

"Great, now I'm totally surrounded but Quidditch nuts..." said Hermione.

"Hey!" said Ron.

"Aw, you know I'm only joking!" said Hermione. "I'm happy for the both of you." They someone calling, and turned to the voice. The fanclub was coming towards them form the other side of the field. "Uh oh..."

"Um... Run!" said Harry. He, Ron and Hermione started running up towards the castle, laughing a bit at the absurdity of running from a group of teenage girls with plaques and signs.

A/N: Got the new chapter up a bit quicker than the last one, eh? The chapter name is inspired by LOTR, where the original name was "Concerning Hobbits".

Now, you'll notice that there was some new people in this chapter. Here follows the list:

Jonathan Newman - Named after Star Trek' Jonathan Frakes (Commander Riker on TNG) and composer Thomas Newman (The Shawshank Redemption, American Beatuy).

Amy Khondji - Named after the great cinematographer Darius Khondji (Se7en, The Beach).

Emma Craig - Named after the brilliant Emma Watson, all ours Hermione Granger!

Sofie Lucas - Actually the first name of a charachter in an upcoming fic about my own character Michael Walsh. More exaclty, she's the love interest of Michael. But as the characther, and the influence too it, changed, I changed the name to Kate.

David McFaddden - Named after Star Trek's Gates McFadden (Dr. Crusher on TNG).

Peter Boyd - Named after Billy Boyd, who plays a perfect Pippin Took in LOTR!

Review comments:

¤Canadian¤Gurl¤ - Thank you. I thoguht bringing Cedric back would add some tension, and to make Cho be able to get some closure on the matter. Aw, I wish I could tell you who he picks, but I cant't, 'cause that would give it all away! :p  *GASP!* No favourite movie?! It's okay, I was like that once too. There are just som many great ones that its' hard to pick just one, right?

anon - Thank you! I've actually taking your word into thought on all my fics, and started skipping the author's notes withing the text.

dementorchic - Glad you stayed on this long! Yeeees, triangles are fun :D

U1 - My cousin, who totally agrees that making Zemeckare Scottish was the right thing to do. And he thinks that it would REALLY hurt to get stinged by those giant bees...

Until next time,

Emher