Chapter 19:

The Game and Cold Feet

Harry took a sip of his wine, then looked down the table past Ron and Hermione to see Ginny, sitting there quietly. She glanced over at him and looked away. Harry chuckled to himself, he still had it.

After some time, and much chatter, Ron stood before all the guests, "The game will be held in 20 minutes, you all have time to go up to your rooms and change."

Harry tapped Ron on the shoulder, "Are you two playing?"

Hermione laughed, "Ron is, but there is no way your getting me up on a broomstick!"

Harry laughed, "Why doesn't that surprise me?"

Hermione began to say something but was drown out by the twins sputters of indignation.

"You, our future sister-in-law is not going to play?" Fred grabbed her arm and began leading her out of the hall.

George grabbed Ron and latched himself onto Hermione, "Really Ron, I thought you would marry a woman with more sense than that."

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley began walking to the doors with all of the other adults who thought themselves too old for a game of quiditch.

Harry looked at his right, Ginny was walking slowly and quietly. He caught his chance and caught up to her. He looped his arm with her and said, "I expect to be playing against you like in the old days Ginevra."

"Don't call me by my real name Potter!" Ginny snapped.

Harry laughed, she made his job too easy, "Your going to have to make me Ginevra!"

"Oh I will Potter, just wait, I'll meet you on the field in 20 minutes and I'll-"

What she was going to do nobody would ever know for Peeves came galloping through the door and caught her about the waist, sending her into Harry, which he instinctually caught her. "Why Weasley-Girl, I thought you were going to bump into the door, good thing Peeve-sie caught you and sent you to Harry."

"Get stuff you stupid poltergeist!" Ginny's temper was boiling over now.

"Oh, Ginny, your killing me, oh wait, I'm dead." Peeves blew a wet raspberry then continued, "Though I bet you didn't mind getting caught by old Potter?" He twitched his eyebrows. "His eyes may have, in the years since I last laid eyes on him, gotten a tiny bit greener, and maybe his hair, it may be shorter now, but really still the color of a chalkboard, eh?"

"PEEVES! YOUR SUCH A PAIN!" Ginny screeched as she ran from the room and up the stairs.

"Really Peeves, was that necessary?" Harry asked sarcastically as he followed her.

Harry traced the familiar path up to the tower, the portrait was there as always. She asked: "Password?"

"JuneBUG" Harry muttered as he ran into the tower, Ginny was on her way out. "Hold on, I've got to give you a speeding ticket."

Ginny dodged him, "Just be ready to lose Potter."

"You know me, I'm ready for anything, but losing has got to be on the bottom of the list."

Ginny didn't even reply she just stomped on down through the portrait-hole and continued down the corridor.

Harry quickly rushed up to his room, changed into his quiditch clothes, grabbed his firebolt, which was now a legendary broom as they had stopped producing them and had yet come up with something greater. Harry looked the broom over with a touch of sadness as he walked down the stairs to the Great Hall, this was the broom Sirius had given him. Sirius was a very sore spot in Harry's heart. It wasn't fair that he had to lose so much so young, he saw it more and more clearly as he grew older. Harry opened the great oak doors, and remembered bolting through them to rescue Ginny. He remembered entering the cave. He remembered her lying there, beaten to pieces, just lying there, looking so helpless. Harry shook his head, hard, he needed to get those memories out of his mind, or at least to the back of it for right now.

The Quiditch pitch was swarming with activity, Harry was surprised that many people were not playing. Harry turned to Hermione, who had the master list of players, "So what team am I playing on?"

"Your on Team A, you lot can make up your own name, you're also the Seeker, big surprise for you."

Harry laughed, "So, which team is Ginny playing for?"

"She requested to be a Seeker, against you."

"Oh, so I may have a little bit of competition on my hands."

After about ten minutes all of Harry's team was in a huddle. Harry glanced at who he had, Fred and George, who were to be the Beaters, Angelina, who as there as one of the twins date, was playing chaser alongside Luna Lovegood and Seamus Fingan. Ron was going to be the Keeper, the team would be rather good, hopefully Ron remained over his stage-fright.

Harry motioned for everyone to circle up, "Nice to be playing with most of you again."

"Ditto Harry," said George.

"Right then, so what will we call ourselves, we've got to have a proper name." Harry asked the group.

"Well, it has to be offensive," Fred interjected.

"And dirty," George added with an eyebrow twitch.

"So," Harry continued, "Completely ignoring them, what do the rest of you think?"

Luna spoke up, "Why don't we ne called the Floppy Windows?"

George sputtered, "And you said we weren't allowed to be dirty?"

"I don't know what your talking about, "Luna muttered airily,

"Why don't we call ourselves the Black Dragon's?" Seamus suggested.

Nobody could come up with anything better, so they left themselves as the Dark Dragon's.

The other team had Charlie Weasley, Katie Bell , and Alicia Spinnet as Chasers; Bill Weasley and his wife Fluer Delacour as Beater; Oliver Wood was going to be the Keeper, oh no, Harry thought, he can actually save some goals. The other team had decided to call themselves the Hippogriff's. Naturally, Ginny was standing there, hair blowing wildly in the wind, holding onto her broom waiting patiently to have her chance as seeker. Harry couldn't wait anymore, he had to start the game now! Then suddenly, Harry felt like he was going to be ill, his stomache was filled with giant butterflies. He was going to have to work hard to contain his nerves.

The crowd was large, larger than the people attending the wedding, it seemed that several people from the village had come up the the castle to watch the legendary Harry Potter in action, he would not disappoint, hopefully.

Percy Weasley, who was naturally officiating the game tonight blew his whistle, this game was going to be funny with all of the Weasley children involved. "Now, listen all of you, I will put up with no disrespecting of the rules. You all will behave or be pulled from the field."

Fred rolled his eyes, "Or pushed off your broom."

Percy drew himself up to his full potential, "You listen here, we are not-"

Ginny interrupted, "We are not having this conversation here. Can we al just play?"

Percy looked rather taken aback, "Okay then, now on my whistle-"

The balls were released , the whistle blew and 14 players soared into the air along with Percy. Instantly Harry began searching around for the golden snitch. He noticed Ginny out of the corner of his eye, searching around. It was dark outside, but the stands and field had been magically lit up. He watched her go this way, then that. Finally Harry was forced to move when Fred or George, he couldn't tell who, but the player was definitely on his team, hit a bludger into his direction. Harry dodged it easily and began searching on his own quest for the snitch.

Suddenly, Ginny cut into a breakneck dive not 15 feet from Harry. Harry followed her and search for the snitch. Ginny pulled up about eight feet from the ground. Harry by now had figured out that she was feinting and kept on going till he was about less than a foot from the ground, everyone in the crowd and on the field gasped. Harry pulled up not a second too soon and zoomed on towards Ginny, when he came near her he whispered into her ear, "I'll make a nice little bet with you right now Ginevra."

"Don't call me by my proper name Harry!"

"Oh, don't stress your beautiful vocal chords Gin m'dear. So what say you, will ya take my bet?"

"Depends on what it is."

"I'll catch the snitch before you." Harry said.

"You on Potter!" Ginny screamed as she tore off into the opposite direction.

Harry chuckled, rookie mistake, she never set a wager. He had her pegged exactly where he wanted her to be.

Harry now had to actually work. I might as well put on a good show, though Harry, he hear cheers. Some one had scored on Ron, they were now down by ten.

Five minutes later, Harry was still searching when Seamus scored on Wood.The scored was tied, not too bad. Wood retrieved the quaffle and sent it to Charlie, who began speeding off towards Ron then he unexpectedly threw the ball over his shoulder Katie Belle. Harry recognized the move instantly as the Reverse Pass, it was an excellent move, even if if was done against Harry's team. Unfortunately it was no good, for as good as Ron was, his brother Charlie knew his weakness. The score was 80 to 10. Harry had to catch the snitch soon, or else life would be unbearable. It was funny how old Quiditch feelings came back to him after so many years of just playing pick-up games. Then Harry saw it. It was several feet from Ron's head, Harry had to get it, even though it was clear on the other side of the field.

Harry threw himself flat onto the broom handle and took off towards Ron.

The crowd gasped. It seemed Harry was going to attack Ron. Harry then lost sight of the snitch, then he saw it again, it was on the ground, at the bottom of the goal post. Harry tipped himself into a steep dive and took it on full speed. Then with his hand outstretched he reached for the snitch, clutching the squirming ball in his right hand. Harry sighed, they had won, he was going to be able to collect on his bet with Ginny.

The stands began emptying themselves and the people were filing out onto the field to congratulate Harry's team.

It was announced, "Dragon's 160! Hippogriff's 80! Dragon's WIN!!"

Harry dismounted from his broom, and was clapped on the back by Fred and George, "Well done man, well done Harry."

Percy walked over to him, all dignity forgotten, "That was bloody brilliant Harry!"

Harry laughed, he glanced over at Ron, who was definitely busy with Hermione. Everyone continued cheering and laughing all the way up to the castle. Harry scanned the pitch for Ginny, he spotted her just off to the left of the very goal post he had dove under. He walked over to join her.

"Hey Gin," Harry flashed her what he hoped was a dazzling smile, and instantly felt stupid for trying to impress her.

"Good game Harry, you still have it I suppose." Ginny said without looking him in the eye.

Harry gripped her shoulders, "Why are you so down? It was just a fun game of quiditch."

"I know, but, well it's stupid, so-"

"Ginny, you can always tell me, you know that right?" Harry looked her straight in the eyes.

"Harry, its not about quiditch or anything, its just that, well, being back here makes me remember everything, good and bad, and I think I may never be able to leave-"

"You-"

"I know I have to though. So I guess I'll just have to-"

Harry interrupted her, "Ginny, you don't have to do anything you don't want to, you understand?"

She nodded, and buried her head in his chest, sobbing.

"So, um, why are you still crying?" Harry had her in his embrace, and wasn't blushing or anything, but was he squeezing her too tight or something?

"It's just that I'm not sure if I want to move to America at all."

Relief must have shown on Harry's face, "Then don't, Mick will understand."

"Yeah, I think I'll just marry him there and move back here with him," Ginny began smiling.

This was not the place Harry had expected to take this conversation to her staying with Mick. He put on a fake smile. "So, are you ready to go up to the castle?"

"Sure," Ginny said as she looped her arm through his and began chatting aimlessly. "So Harry, what was the wager I owe you on that bet?"

Harry sighed, he may have lost the battle, but not the war, he still held a few cards in his hand. "You'll see."

They reached the doors and went up the staircase together. When they arrived the Gryffindor tower, Ginny and Harry went up to their own staircases, each smiling.

When Harry reached his dorm, he saw Ron sitting his bed, white as a ghost. "Ron, are you okay?"

Ron gulped, "No, I'm getting married tomorrow to the most beautiful scary woman on earth!"

Harry laughed, "Simmer down, I'm going to get your brothers, they'll be of a lot of help in this matter seeing how a couple of them have gotten married before.

After a few minutes it was all the Weasley brothers and Harry in the dorm room from Harry's childhood.

Bill spoke up first, "Ron, really, you wanted to marry her when you asked her right?"

Percy scoffed, "What kind of a question is that?"

"Well, he may have been drunk of something!" Bill defended himself.

Fred perked up, "Drunk? Like at last weeks Bachelor party?"

Harry laughed, "No, never that drunk ever again!"

George sighed, "Sadly, I think that was some kind of wonderful alcohol."

"You lot do not understand," Ron exclamed, "I'm marrying a woman who is smarter than she!"

Percy spoke up, "Little brother, we really neglected you, didn't we?"

Charlie nodded, "It as our duty to teach Harry and Ron the ways of the world, now is our chance to set things right."

Ron was bursting, "What do you need to 'teach' me?"

Bill sighed, "You better learn this soon enough Harry, woman are smarter than us, its a fact."

"Thats ridiculous!" Ron announced. Harry said nothing.

"No , Harry agrees, I see it in his eyes," Bill continued, "They can't do everything better than us, but, they are generall smarter than us, that is why we love, marry and fear them, all in that order usually."

"And that," stated George, "Is why we go crazy when we reach a certain age, we just plain realize we aren't going to when in their eye's and give up"

Ron was stunned, "And that works?"

Bill nodded, "It helps to add a 'Yes dear' and an 'I love you' from time to time, but that would be the general idea."

Harry almost completely agreed, "They don't always know what is best."

Fred yawned, "Not always, thats why the man is around, once in a while to remind her of what is sensible when she is too busy to see it clearly."

After about two hours, Ron simmered down enough to get some sleep, and Harry himself tried to get some rest. It was no good. The nightmares returned, full blast that night. It came from being back in the place where he burried all of his horrible memories.

She was alone, laying on the rock in the cave, and no matter how hard Harry ran towards her, it was never quick enough, she always died in the end.

Then he returned to the grounds, the trees rustled softly in the breeze, he was once beside her and then far away. Harry called her name and she was gone.

Harry sat bolt upright, he had to find her.

Harry crept out of dorm room and down the stairs, he went up her stair railing, remembering boys weren't allowed in girls dorms.

Harry walked softly into her room, and then he saw her bed, it was empty! Where was Ginny?

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