Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowlings. No copyright infringement is intended or inferred. I do own this storyline.
A/N: OK, so I was just kidding with the 170 thing, hmmm… I shouldn't have counted multiple reviews… just kidding hehe, ^_- thanks everyone, keep on reviewing. Hope you enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 13: Let the Games Begin
Harry had told his friends about everything the night of the Halloween Dance. They had all reacted pretty much the way he thought they would. Ron just spewed off ideas about how Luna was crazy and about the untrustworthiness of the Quibbler. Hermione had immediately excused herself to go to the library and Ron had soon after followed suit. The only one that had slightly surprised Harry was Ginny.
She had remained rather calm while he told them everything.
When the room was empty except for the two of them, Harry decided that he should ask her about her tranquility concerning the situation.
Harry thought for a moment about the correct way of addressing the issue.
"Ginny, can I ask you a question?"
She had been staring at the fire place for time, with a far away look on her face. Startled by the sudden change in silence she whipped her head around to meet eyes with Harry. "Of course" she replied rather quickly.
"It's just that… well I considered this to be big news… and well you didn't seem to have much of a reaction."
Ginny's face was serious, "I'm sorry Harry but I already knew… well most of it anyway."
Whatever Harry had been expecting her to say, it was not that. He hadn't told anyone about the things that he had found out about the Veil. The only other person who knew was Luna, and Harry did not think that she was the type of person that would tell after he asked her to keep it a secret.
After he didn't say anything Ginny shifted slightly in the corner of the couch, raising herself up so that she was sitting with her feet on the floor.
"I guess I should explain… you see, a couple of weeks ago I was studying by myself in the library before Quidditch practice. That is, until Luna came in. She put her books on the table but then realized that she had forgotten her Defense notes in her dormitory. She asked me to watch her things and I, of course, said yes." Ginny paused momentarily eyeing Harry cautiously.
"I went to move her books closer to me when I noticed that she had an issue of the Quibbler mixed in. I love doing those quizzes with her. So I didn't see any harm in looking at it… that is until I noticed the date… and then the captions. I read the article about the Veil Harry. I figured that it couldn't be some strange coincidence that Luna had something that was probably of great importance to you… I put it back before she returned so Luna doesn't even know I read it."
"Ginny, why didn't you tell me you knew I was researching the Veil?"
"I didn't want you to think I was interfering. Besides I talked to you later that day, and I told you that if you ever needed a friend…"
Harry interrupted her, "You read it before I did! I met Luna after Quidditch practice… I could have just told you then."
"Harry, I knew that you would tell me – err I mean Ron and Hermione when you were ready… and you did. Besides, like I said I didn't know everything… I knew that this Veil had to be the same one that Sirius fell into…But I didn't know that you had discussed it with Aberforth… I thought all of the information you had came from the Quibbler."
Harry did not look Ginny in the eyes, "Yea but I only told you after Dumbledore suggested that I should tell someone."
Ginny smiled and reached her hand across the couch onto Harry's, "You know that you would have told someone… you know you can rely on your friends."
Harry laughed, "One thing I know is that Hermione is probably driving Ron mad with research in the library right now."
Ginny laughed, pulling her hand back and slowly lifted herself off of the couch. She attempted to smooth the dress, but to no avail, the wrinkles endured.
She turned slightly and stopped to face Harry once again.
"I know what Percy wrote about you last year, and I know that was horrible… but he is my brother, and I still love him. I know Mum and Dad and everyone else still see him as this lying git, but I still see him as Percy, the person who would work so hard for anything. I see him as someone who has made some bad choices, but I don't think he deserves this."
Harry heart sank as he realized what Ginny must be thinking, "Ginny I am not glad that this happened to Percy… I admit that he is not my favorite person at the moment, but he is family to you and Ron, and that makes him mine, in a way."
Ginny smiled warmly, "Thanks Harry, I am just afraid no one will bother looking for him."
She turned and walked slowly to her dormitory staircase disappearing as she ascended.
~~~***~~~***~~~
Harry's favorite past time of Hogwarts had finally come. The first Quidditch match of the year was quickly approaching. Harry was managing to breed enemies out of his teammates. They did not appreciate the practices every evening, most of which had lasted numerous hours passed the allotted pitch time.
Harry knew that he was overworking them, but he figured that they would thank him for it when they defeated Slytherin that coming Saturday. He could hear some of the older teammates, especially Katie Bell, murmuring Wood under their breath every now and again. He decided after a while to take it as a compliment. And thus the practices continued.
Saturday morning found Harry wide awake sitting with Hermione at the breakfast table. He had attempted to wake Ron but all that had succeeding in doing was testing Harry's reaction time as he just barely ducked out of the way of Ron's fist.
Hermione had already yelled at him twice for tapping his fingers on the table. Saying that he was nervous was the understatement of the decade. Harry wished that he could close his eyes and be back at his first Quidditch game. As nervous as he had been, he had still been under Oliver Wood's wing a benefit that was no longer his.
Harry knew all too well that if the game was lost, he was to blame. As he sat there, waiting for the team to make their way into breakfast all of the bad points from the practices came floating back into his mind; the time when Ron had missed five Quaffles in a row. Or the time he had to pull Andrew and Jack aside for their incessant cobbing. How could he forget about the time when Ginny had tried to avoid an oncoming Bludger, only to instinctively throw the Quaffle… right into Katie Bell who had not been paying attention.
Harry was stirred from his thoughts as the members of his team slowly appeared through the doors. First, came Ginny and Dean, who looked relatively excited. Then Andrew Kirke and Jack Sloper had arrived along with several of the people from their year. Katie walked in with several seventh year girls and finally Ron walked in, looking like he hadn't slept in years.
Hermione looked concerned, "Ron what happened to you?"
He murmured several statements while devouring some food that Hermione had placed on a plate in front of him.
Ginny giggled, "Ickle Ronnekins is just a little nervous."
Harry watched as Ron shot his younger sister death glares.
Ginny turned around and said something to Dean, obviously ignoring her brother.
"Ron" Hermione gasped, "Stop eating so much, you are going to make yourself sick!"
Harry noticed that Ron had managed to shovel all of the food into his mouth, and he was turning a strange greenish color.
Harry had to do something, "Ron relax, remember the last match of last year… you were the hero."
Ron looked like he was about to speak. All that he managed was a quiet squeak before he held his hand up to his mouth and immediately dashed toward the doors.
Ron didn't return for the remainder of the meal. Instead he met everyone in the changing rooms.
Harry was relieved to see that he had returned to his normal color and was managing to carry on a conversation with Andrew.
Harry knew that he should address the team with some inspirational words but he wasn't sure where to start.
"Alright everyone, this is Slytherin. I assume I don't need to tell you what that means… but we are better, therefore make sure it is a clean game. As long as each one of us do what we have trained so hard in practice for I don't see any reason why we shouldn't be able to beat them. We have both new and old players who I know will do everything and anything in their power and using their skills to fight for the Quidditch cup this year. We all know that we deserve it. We won it last year and we can certainly do it again… so let's go out there and let's get 'em!"
Everyone sat quietly as Harry realized he had managed to spout the long speech with only one breath. He was sure that if Wood was there he would've been proud. He was only too grateful that the twins had not been there to poke fun at him for the inspirational speech.
After several more moments passed, they could hear the roar of the crowd from the outside. Harry was very nervous but he was also surprisingly confident that they could win. The Slytherin team had the same members as the previous year, so he knew what to expect.
At last he gathered everyone up and they marched out of the changing rooms. The day outside was cloudy and Harry could feel the slight chill of oncoming winter on his face.
They walked toward the Slytherin team who were already getting ready to mount their brooms. Viktor Krum mumbled, "Captains shake hands."
Montague, the Dudley look alike that Harry recognized from the previous year, took Harry's hand in his and attempted to crush every bone in his hand. Harry tried not to flinch, as he was not nearly as strong as Montague.
Harry glanced at Viktor, who gave him a small nod, "Mount your brooms."
Viktor reached his hand under his robes and pulled out a whistle that looked very much like the one Madam Hooch used to own.
The whistle blew shrilly and everyone was flying into their positions. Harry could hear Colin Creevey over the crowd, as he had inherited the position of announcer from Lee Jordan. This of course was not wanted by the other houses as Lee had been infamous for his biased commentary of the games. Colin was at last accepted because McGonagall had given her word to the other heads of houses that she would be monitoring him extremely closely.
Harry shot up into the sky so that he was given an unobstructed view of the field below. His eyes searched wildly for any golden gleam of the Snitch. Across the field, he could make out Malfoy doing the exact same thing.
Colin's usually quiet voice boomed over the cheers, "Bell is first to take hold of the Quaffle… She maneuvers around Montague… oh I wish I had my camera, Dennis grab my camera!"
"Oh close call as she is hit by a Bludger courtesy of Crabbe… and the Quaffle is snatched from under her by Warrington. *click*"
Several audible clicks are then heard, as Harry mused that Colin was probably holding the camera up to the microphone while taking his pictures.
"Warrington barely avoids a hit by Kirke… oh and he makes a pass *click*… But it is intercepted by none other than Ginny Weasley!"
Harry was quickly distracted as he thought he saw a glimmer of gold out of the corner of his eye. With a second glance he had deduced that it had unfortunately just been the end of Ron's broom. He lowered himself slightly so that if he was to catch a real glimpse he would be in better reach of getting it.
"Weasley quickly moves toward Slytherin goals… Montague looks like he is trying to catch up *click* but Weasley… oh she passes to new Gryffindor chaser Dean Thomas *click* … Thomas throws toward the posts and it is… missed by Bletchley… SCORE!! *click click click* …Gryffindor starts the score with 10 to nil!"
Harry grinned as Dean smiled wide, Ginny had flew up to him and was patting him excitedly on the back.
Everything started up again quickly, Harry noted that the Slytherin team was looking especially peeved.
"Pucey has the Quaffle… and he passes to Warrington… oh he barely misses the Bludger as Goyle hits is out of the way..."
"Warrington passes around Weasley to Montague… Sloper hits the Bludger in his direction and he is hit!... Oh but he hangs on, he passes the Quaffle back to Pucey, who shoots… and it is blocked by Gryffindor keeper Ron Weasley! *click click*"
"Bell regains control of the Quaffle… she is pushed by Montague who swoops down and grabs the Quaffle… he is flying fast back toward the goal and shoots… Weasley hits it… oh but it goes in! *click* Slytherin and Gryffindor are tied."
Harry watched on impatiently as Slytherin scored once more taking the lead. He knew that the team was losing moral quickly but all that he could do for them was to try and concentrate on catching the Snitch.
Ginny managed to score and the crowd roared loudly from the Gryffindor stands.
"Tied once again 20 to 20!"
Harry dove toward the Gryffindor goal posts where he could've sworn he had seen the Snitch. Harry vaguely heard Colin's voice through the roar of the wind passing his head, "Potter is off…"
Harry saw out of the corner of his eye the all too familiar green robes of the Slytherin team.
"Malfoy is on his tail…This is not phasing the chasers of either team… Bell has Quaffle… she throws it to Ginny Weasley… she looks like she is gonna shoot… OH She is knocked off of her broom by a hard hit Bludger from Goyle! *click*"
Harry unconsciously turned his head to see Ginny plummeting towards the ground. He hadn't realized he had stopped in mid air while watching until he heard Colin announcing that Malfoy was close up on the Gryffindor goal posts.
Viktor Krum pointed his wand toward Ginny as she fell to the ground. Harry surmised that he must have used a cushioning charm as she fell gracefully on the mossy grass as if it had been an invisible bed of feathers.
"Harry!" Harry hear Ron call his name and he whipped his head back around. Malfoy was less than two arm lengths away from the Snitch. Luckily, Harry felt someone fly past him and he heard the crack of a Bludger against a bat as Jack Sloper directed the Bludger right toward Malfoy. The Bludger made full contact with Malfoy's side. Harry watched as Malfoy gaped like a fish, and fell off of the side of his broom… to the ground below. Harry, regaining his composure, took advantage and lurched forward on his broom, closing the last distance between himself and the Snitch. He reached out his hand and didn't close it again until he felt the reassuring shape of the small ball in his palm.
"Potter has caught the Snitch!... Gryffindor wins 170 to 20! *click click*"
Harry could hear the deafening roar of the crowds as he safely returned to the ground. His team quickly surrounded him in an enormous team hug, but Harry noticed that two red heads were missing. He peered over the heads of his teammates to see Ron and Krum standing over Ginny; he also saw that several teachers were running across the field.
Malfoy was standing not far away with his teammates, hugging his side lugubriously.
As Harry pushed his way over to where they were, he was eerily reminded of his second year in the Chamber of Secrets. Ginny lay upon the ground, unconscious and Harry felt chills throughout his spine as he remembered his experiences with Tom Riddle and the diary.
McGonagall stood over and murmured, "Mobilicorpus", and Ginny's body was raised into the air. "Get back everyone… we are taking her up to the hospital wing."
~~~***~~~***~~~
Harry, Ron, and Hermione waited outside the hospital wing with Luna and Neville. Ron was uncharacteristically quiet and his freckles had apparently disappeared within the white color that his skin had taken on. Finally Madam Pomfrey appeared from behind the doors "You can see her now for a couple of moments… she is fine… a few broken ribs and the wind knocked out of her, nothing I couldn't take care of." She stood with a reluctant look her face, sizing them up, "Perhaps you should go in shifts…"
Harry waited as Hermione and Ron went in first. He stood quietly with Luna and Neville, not one word escaping their mouths.
After several minutes the other two had reappeared, Ron looking very much recovered. Hermione turned to Harry, "We are going to go back to the common room… I think we," she looked pointedly at Ron, "should get a start on our work."
Neville and Luna had spent even less time than the other two had. Luna shuffled past Harry, "You can go in now… we are going to the library."
Harry smiled to himself as he saw their hands link. He couldn't help but feel as if he had contributed to their happiness in some way.
He pushed open the door and saw a small figure sitting up in a bed in the far corner. Harry walked toward where Ginny was, propped up reading the Quibbler.
She looked up and smiled, "Congratulations on the win Harry… first game as captain and you emerge victorious."
Harry grinned coyly, "I think I should be congratulating you."
Ginny grimaced slightly, "I didn't do anything but get hurt."
Harry sat down on the edge of her bed, "Please Gin… for the sake of my ego don't say you didn't do well because you were hurt… do you have any idea how many times I have been up here in my Quidditch career?"
Ginny laughed quietly before cringing, and carefully holding her side. Harry watched her, "Not fully healed yet?"
"Madam Pomfrey says I will be out of here in a couple of days… no big deal really."
Harry turned his gaze to the magazine that she had been reading. It was the one that Luna had given him. Ginny quickly realized what he had been looking at, "Harry, don't be mad… Luna doesn't know that I took it"
Harry smiled reassuringly, "I didn't know you were such a kleptomaniac."
Ginny completely ignored his joke and continued, "It's just that I thought that maybe I could look it over again and hopefully find something. I know that you only tell Hermione and Ron about things… but I want to help… a lot of people actually."
Harry stared at the covers on the bed, not meeting her glance. If he could make the decision he wouldn't want anyone to have to be involved, he couldn't bear to lose anyone else in his life. He didn't realize that Ginny was still talking, "I know Neville…he may not talk about it but I know he thinks about getting revenge." She stopped abruptly and met his gaze, a moment of understanding passing between them.
"Ginny I know I can trust my friends, of course you and Neville are included in that… I just don't want anyone getting hurt."
He rose, signaling his departure and turned to her smiling and slightly bemused face, "Thanks Gin… I'll come back later."
Harry walked out of the hospital wing, for once in his life finally realizing that, Voldemort aside, the larger war against evil was not wholly his to fight.
Please Review Everyone! ^_^
Special Thanks to my beta who took his time making sure it was perfect ^_- Thanks Bootstrap Jim ^_^