*My Notes:* I'm so glad to be writing again. Finally I can get furthur with this fic. I even have some good ideas for what I`m doing after I finish. . . when it`s done, if I were you I would keep checking back if you`re interested in deleted scences, some backstory on how i wrote this and some other goodies. I can`t wait for that!
*Chapter Eleven* /Of Practises and Playbooks/
"Well, Gryffindor seemed to like it," Ginny said indignantly.
"Gryffindors are known for their bad judgement."
"Face it, Malfoy. You didn't completely humiliate me."
"I don't give up easily. Believe me, I will get you," Malfoy spat back.
Ginny closed her mouth humbly and let him continue, waiting to hear what he had to say.
"Now then. You're on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, aren't you?"
"A Chaser."
"Right. I can see a forfeit in the near future..."
"But I'm not the team captain; I can't do that! And Harry would rather die than forfeit. Especially if it were to Slytherin."
"Oh. You're so silly, Weasley. I know Potter has too big a head to give up without even trying. Your team is just like him. They will try as hard as they can. But it won't matter. Because you will be their undoing."
"Wonderful... More karaoke?" Ginny said dryly.
"No. Just throw the Quaffle away. Drop it. Miss the goals. You know. Be an idiot. Shouldn't be too trying."
Ginny shrugged nonchalantly. So? Who cares if they lose one game of Quidditch? No one had cared too much when she had preformed and are matches any more important?
***
She looked out at the Hogwarts Grounds, frosted from the November chill. Ginny rubbed her arms quickly to warm up and pulled her Gryffindor scarf more tightly around her neck. Not much had happened since Malfoy had left her to go inside. She supposed she would retire to the Common Room, too, or have something to eat, but the sky was beautiful. She watched as the sun set. But when its orange and pink rays pierced the dull grey sky, Ginny felt empty. Winter was upon Hogwarts and how long would it be until she could see the green hills of home? Smell the sweet flowers and juicy red tomatoes? Sit on the swing, stargazing on a humid night?
The summer was much too far away.
***
"I'm here for you, Gin!" Luna said empathetically.
"I know. I know," Ginny said. How many times had she repeated herself?
"But I mean it."
"I know that, too! Luna, you don't have to worry!"
Luna frowned indignantly. "You never told me you were going to be singing the other night. I would have loved to help."
Ginny knew Luna hated boas, but laughed at her friend's enthusiasm. "Right."
"So, are you planning another musical act?"
Shaking her head, Ginny replied, "Definitely not." She was tired of the bad renditions of her performance Slytherins gave her as she walked down the hall and superior glances from Ravenclaws – Ravenclaws, too good to wear short green dresses and sing muggle songs. Hufflepuff and Gryffindor didn't really care anymore, although occasionally they'd snap their fingers in time and sing, "R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out what it means to me!" – and that was only when the Muggleborns were bored.
And now Ginny just felt disjointed. She didn't feel like a part of Hogwarts anymore, not really. She wasn't a student. She was an object. She was something to keep them entertained or simply something to snicker at. Not quite a celebrity, not quite a face in the crowd. Damn Malfoy. Damn him. Without him, maybe she would have been able to channel her lust into a relationship with Chantal, or Harry, or…Hermione.
"Miss Weasley! I do not tolerate daydreaming in my class!" Snape barked. Luna blinked and sat upright again, and Ginny made a lame attempt to focus on the Potions lesson. Nearly impossible.
***
"Hey everybody, it's Giiiinny!" Harry called loudly as she approached him and the rest of the Gryffindor Quidditch team on the Pitch. "Just the woman we've been looking for."
"Yes, sorry about being late," Ginny said with a smile. Practises were always fun with Harry as captain. It didn't make a lot of sense to Ginny; there was so much tension and worry around with rumors of Voldemort returning – and for good – but she shrugged it off and supposed Quidditch was Harry's way to unwind. Although he did seem a lot more serious before games, they had a solid team this year and his logic was that with eight or so hours a week of drills, they would be able to dominate with ease. It had proved mostly true, and the team went with all of Harry's ideas...their logic was that he had enough on his shoulders. Compared to some of the other houses, their Quidditch sessions were almost *lax*.
"It's fine," Harry said. "As long as you get here."
Ginny mumbled something about Professor McGonagall keeping her after class and then mounted her broom with the rest of the team. As one red and gold creature – 'A phoenix, maybe,' Ginny thought – they rose into the air. The bird sighed in the happiness that flight often brings. Then the bird scattered its feathers in the wind and Ginny did a loop-the-loop. With each turn she made, each slight ascent and little dips, she felt more and more bad feelings disintegrate. Finally, something she could really concentrate on. If she let her mind control her muscles, she wouldn't be able to pull off a corkscrew so well (she heard a whoop! or two from Ron).
After a few drills and a long scrimmage, Harry flew close to Ginny and asked if he could talk to her. She nodded, so he waved to the rest of the team, telling them to take a break. Ginny and he hovered low to the ground and jumped off of their brooms. Trailing the brooms behind them, they walked off to the side of the Quidditch Pitch.
"I'm glad you came today, Ginny. But either way I would have sought you out on my own. I want to talk about the upcoming Slytherin match."
Ginny's eyes lit up. She liked playing matches against Slytherin – not only was the win more satisfying, but those kinds of games always gave her a rush of adrenaline and competitiveness. Who wouldn't like to beat in the faces of gits like Malfoy?
Oh. Right. Malfoy. This was the game she was supposed to lose.
"Bugger," she spat.
"Er, is there a problem with that, Ginny?" Harry looked concerned. "Actually, I was going to talk about how badly we'll need to win it. This year, both Quidditch-wise and in the way of points, we've been neck and neck with the smarmy Slytherins. This game is quite vital. We need to chalk up another one for Gryffindor."
Wonderful, now Ginny had to lose an important game. The thought made Ginny feel terrible. She looked out at her hard-working teammates and sighed.
"Oh, I've already told the whole team. We've been working on some new plays, and they all revolve around you. You're a good player, Ginny, but I think if we get you executing some top-notch plays you'll be even better." Harry sounded reassuring, but he didn't know how much he wasn't helping. "This'll be a tough game if you don't pull through for us."
Looking into his pleading eyes, Ginny thought she saw some hope, and some pride. She knew if she told him the truth, all his emotions would be replaced by one, single feeling: Disappointment.
Probably followed by betrayal, mistrust... That fun stuff!
Ginny pasted on a weak smile. "I'll see what I can do."
"Good! We really need it." Harry took out an enchanted playbook. He looked so earnest, his eyes sparkling happily, his pencil sketches smudged and the papers full of eraser marks. Ginny bit her lip and tried not to frown – or cry – as Harry began dramatically acting out each play. He was funny and so genuine that she just wanted to throw her arms around him.
She realized she must be more evil than even Malfoy to hurt someone like Harry.