Chapter 10: GOT IT

Ginny was startled „What"?!"

Hermione danced and jumped madly singing "I GOT IT, I GOT IT, I GOT IT!!!"

"Hermione would you calm, have a seat and tell me by Merlin what you've got! You're freaking me out! Ginny said in her best Molly voice.

Hermione looked around suspiciously, but nobody was in the common room. She leaned to Ginny and said happily "I got you!"

Ginny rolled her eyes "You sound like a maniac. Would you please explain yourself."

Hermione widened her eyes giving her face an even more crazed look and replied "No, but I explain you."

"I'm getting nervous Mione. What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about you, you and that Harry thing."

Ginny was about to comment but Hermione wouldn't let her.

"You were never star struck with Harry" she stated not needing an answer for she knew.

Ginny kept silent.

"You crushed on that tousled-hair-green-eyes-behind-glasses-boy, not the boy-who-lived. Although that didn't make things easier as well as getting him to know better. However you grew up, as everyone does - except for the twins maybe." She paused to get some air.

"Last time we were talking I asked the wrong question. You certainly don't have a crush on Harry anymore. It's all water under the bridge now. You're not crushing – you're falling in love." Hermione gaped at her own revelation.

Ginny stared at her hands. When she finally looked up her friend was smiling at her in anticipation.

"I really hate you Hermione Granger" she said defeated and smiled weakly. "And if you tell anybody especially your two best friends, I will hex you into oblivion."

"Gin, what do you think of me you're my friend too, aren't you. However I really suggest you should speak to Harry yourself. I have the slight feeling..." she couldn't finish.

Ginny interrupted "Slight feeling? A slight feeling! I need a proof. Crushing on someone who isn't interested in you is bad. But being in love with someone, who doesn't feel the way for you and could be lost as a dear friend too, is hell."

"But he loves you!"

"Of course he does, I know, as a friend maybe a sister. I'm fully aware of that and happy too, but that's not what we are talking about, isn't it. And by the way what do I know about love anyway, I'm not even sure, maybe it's just sisterly love I feel as well."

"I bet on that" Hermione replied ironically.

"I don't know. I'm all dazed and confused – with Ron always talking about hat newfound brother stuff. Me and Harry becoming close friends. I just don't know."

Hermione slumped back on the couch at the moment as the ones, just spoken of, stepped through the portrait whole. Both had red faces and looked exhausted but happy. Ron walked over to kiss Hermione and Harry sat beside Ginny.

Ginny watched the couple with envy and suddenly stood "I'm going to bed. Night" she said quickly and headed upstairs.

Harry looked questioningly "Something wrong? Have I done something wrong?"

"I don't know. Have you?" Hermione asked innocently.

He shrugged his shoulders and waved them good night.

"You should go too, Ron. You certainly need a shower."

"Well, if you don't want me anymore. Nice dreams Mione" he kissed her quickly and went after Harry.

Mere fifteen minutes later Ginny was peeking down the stairs. "You still here?"

"Thought you would come back. We are not finished. There's more than you've told me. Now carry on."

"I love him. I really do. I want to be with him, just with him, but its so difficult." She started sobbing. Hermione hugged her tightly.

"There seems to be no way to get through to him. Sometimes I'm sure I know what he's thinking and feeling, then he's acting exactly the opposite way."

"Tell me something new" Hermione grinned. "So you were sure he loved you and than he did anything wrong?"

"Not quite. I was sure we'd be friends and I got used to the idea, got comfortable with it and around him, at least I thought so. Then he kissed me."

"Kissed you? When?"

"The day of our first Weasley Quidditch match. Just a peek on my forehead. And all I could do was run away. To hell with being friends. Then we kissed the day before the congress and Hermione that was a REAL kiss."

"Fine let me gather this: Harry kissed you...twice and then?"

"And then nothing. We didn't even talk about it. It's like nothing had happened at all. Sometimes I think I just dreamt it." She smiled weakly "Wouldn't have been the first time."

"That Boy!" Hermione shook her head. "But Gin why didn't you say something. You know Harry. Well, let's say he's not really used to feelings and love stuff, is he. Rejection is one of his more common reactions. Just ask him!"

"Ask him what?"

"Ah, Ginny" Hermione sighed. "He's acting all weird around you, one could say he's acting all Ginny-first-year like. And you should have seen him tonight when you left. Like a left behind puppy. Just ask him if he is in love with you. That keeps your own feelings safe. If his answer is no, just say you wondered why he is acting all weird. If he says yes, well."

"Hermione, honestly sometimes your ideas are just absurd, you know. Where do you get these from?" she grinned "But let's just think for a moment I would do it. Of course, he will answer honestly" Ginny said mocking.

"He don't really has to. You can tell by his reaction, for sure."

"For sure. We are a couple. I'm pathetic and you are lunatic."

"Romantic." Hermione corrected pouting.

"Far from it. I can't do this."

"Of course you can, you are a Gryffindor, remember! Now let's go to bed. At the right moment you will have the courage to ask."

+++++++

Ginny felt more at ease. At least she had – well, sort of - a plan and a confidante. Therefore she could concentrate on the tryout which was held on Friday. She practised hard to show everyone that she earned her place on the team.

Harry watched her intently but didn't say anything, didn't need to. She was brilliant and he knew. He couldn't get enough of seeing her zooming around the pitch, waving hair and flushed face. Harry was in awe.

On Friday evening many people had gathered to watch the tryout. Nervous anticipation filled the pitch. They started with the beaters. Alex had obviously done a lot during summer, but the rest was exasperating. Harry's heart sank.

"Anyone else?" he shouted hopefully when another disaster of a beater returned shaking.

"Me, me, me!"

Harry turned around to the boy running towards them.

Ron raised his eyebrows "First year?"

"Hey, I've been a first year and didn't I turn out brilliant." Harry grinned.

Ron smacked him "Lil' bigheaded, aren't we!"

"Sorry for being late, can I try. My names Steve. Steven Tailor."

"Up you go, mate."

Many people looked a little disbelieving. The boy wasn't small for a first year but still he looked somehow to weak for a beater. However very soon everyone of them had to revise their theory of a typical beater. Steve did awfully good and a wide grin spread over Harry's face.

"What a strike!" Ron shouted when he dismounted his broom beside Steve and clapped him on the shoulder "Where did you get that from?"

"Baseball" the first-year answered simply.

"Fine, chasers now please." Harry shouted.

Everybody knew this was a mere formality. Jake surprised the most. It was obvious that beater wasn't his place on a Quidditch team and he worked perfect together with Katie.

Some people were good, but when Ginny joined Katie and Jake the spectators broke into hysterics. They were a great combination and Ginny raised quite some low whistles of amazement.

Harry and his team needed half a minute to deliberate the choices.

"We want to thank everybody for coming, you've all done your best. For beater, we want to welcome Mr. Steven Tailor. "

"I got it" the boy sighed and then nearly fainted.

"And for Chaser welcome once more Miss Virginia Weasley." Everybody cheered and shook hands. It took Harry some time to reach Ginny trough all the congratulants. He picked her up and whirled her around. "You were brilliant!" he sighed.

"Harry I get sick really!" Ginny cried happily.

He stopped and let her down slowly but held her still in his arms. Both stared at each other breathing heavily. He felt like he couldn't let her go. He had to keep her near.

Seeming to be far away they heard Ron shout "The twins might be gone, but we certainly haven't forgotten how to throw a party, have we? Let's go!"

The cheering resembled a thunder, but for Harry and Ginny it still seemed far away. Ginny melted into the embrace. She couldn't decide if she felt his or her heart beating.

Suddenly he stepped back and made her nearly stumble. People were brushing through them following Ron up to the castle.

"Mylady, let's go?" Harry offered his arm gentlemanly.

Ginny shook her head sighing, but took his arm none the less. She grinned up at him "I was good, wasn't I"

"You weren't bad." he answered but the proud smile said something else.