(I hope you enjoy! I loved writing this chapter, especially the H/G scenes! XD)

Chapter 4 – Good News

The rest of the school week passed by awkwardly for Hermione. Although Ginny had assured her Ron like her, she just couldn't see it. He barely said a word to her all week and the worst part about this silence was when they had prefect duty late into the night. He kept giving her side-glances and not talking made the time crawl by.

She was surprised on Saturday morning when Ron suddenly spoke up. "Are you going to come and watch the tryouts?" He said while looking at his porridge.

"Uh, I don't know. Do you want me to go?" She asked hesitantly.

"Sure…I-I mean if you want to. I thought maybe you'd like to see some of the new players."

"Okay…I'll go then." She smiled.

He look relieved, "Alright well we're off to talk to the new hopefuls and I'm not sure how long Harry will talk, so come down in about fifteen minutes." Ron and Harry got up from the table and headed off through the doors toward the quidditch stadium.

Hermione smiled to herself as she continued to eat. "Well that has to be something if he asked me to come watch." She whispered to herself, "Doesn't it?"

"Alright listen up you guys. Since this is going to be pretty much a whole new team this year, we'll have the element of surprise over slytherin. We are going to separate the good from the bad today and for those of you who make the team, understand now that pretty much the only thing you'll be doing this year is classes and quidditch. For the ones who have heard of Oliver Wood's enthusiasm about quidditch, you will be relieved that while Ron and I love the game, we aren't about to kill you out there. But we do expect you to always try your hardest. Now to the task at hand, we don't intend for this tryout to be long. If your good, we'll know the moment you lift off of the ground. If we feel you belong on this team you will see your name on the team list on Monday. Now Ron, what shall we have them do first?" Harry finished his speech to the twelve people in front of him.

Ron stood beside him the entire time smirking, "I think perhaps the people up for the chaser position should go first."

The players sat silently for a few moments. "Well what are you waiting for, get out there!" Harry said loudly. The players flinched and they all quickly hustled out of the locker rooms. Ginny passed by Harry and winked. Once they were all out Ron gave Harry a pat on the back.

"Pretty good speech captain." They smiled at each other.

"Thanks…I hope these guys are good. I would hate to lose to slytherin my first year as captain."

"Don't worry, we'll win."

Fifteen minutes into the tryouts Harry's fear were washed away. The players in the chaser positions were doing spectacular. They had excellent hand eye coordination and although few made a goal, Harry realized it wasn't their fault. Harry flew down by Ron, "Wow I'm impressed! You definitely practiced over the summer didn't you?"

"Yeah well…I just didn't need any Slytherins thanking me this year for helping them win."

"I don't see that happening. I've only seen two get by you. So…what do you think of these ones?" He asked lowly.

"I think it's going to be hard to choose."

"That's exactly what I was thinking." Harry said and then yelled out, "Alright, chasers down, beaters up!" Harry flew down to the quidditch trunk. "Alright ready!" He yelled, "When the bludgers are released, aim for one of the three goals! Ron get down here."

Ron flew down beside him and kicked open the trunk. The two bludgers flew high into the air. "Alright Justin and Lisa, go!" Ron yelled.

The two hurried into position, Lisa smacked it hard although it flew toward the stands. Justin lay panting on his broom having missed his all together and being hit in the stomach.

"You alright there?" Harry yelled.

"Fine." Justin yelled in a winded but disappointed tone.

"Alright, they're coming back so get read you two!" He pointed at the small mousy haired boy and a girl who looked terrified.

Both players ducked when the bludgers came at them.

"I have a feeling it'll be easier to weed out the beaters." Ron whispered to Harry.

"Watch it!"

Ron and Harry looked up in time to see a bludger fly straight through the middle goal post. They looked back in amazement as Ginny rested by the frightened girl having taken her bat from her.

"You'll need to watch yourself up their guys!" Ron said and looked back at Harry with a smirk. "Brilliant isn't she?"

"I'll say. Ginny!" She looked down at Harry, "Hit both that are coming at you!"

She smiled, "Okay!" The bludger came pelting back at her and she smashed it into the right goal with a determined look on her face. The next wasn't far behind and soon it was flying through the left goal.

"Wow." Harry said quietly.

"Yeah I know."

Ron turned and looked at the stands as Hermione began to cheer, "Alright! Go Ginny!" He smiled and turned back around.

"Alright, last beater…Jordan you're up." He bashed the bludger aiming for his face right at the goal posts but missed by less then an inch.

"I think that's enough." Harry said and Ron shook his head.

"Alright gather round!" Every player hurried over when Ron yelled.

"We've seen enough. You'll see your name on the list on the notice board Monday if you made the team. For those of you who don't make it, let me say now that you were all good. You're dismissed." Harry said.

As the players left, some looked scared while others confident, but not one was silent. They all burst out talking about how they thought they had done. Only Ginny stayed behind.

"So what did you think?" She asked with a smile.

"No Ginny, you have to wait like the others." Ron said.

She looked at Harry and saw him watching her. He stayed absolutely silent.

"Okay fine. See you guys later." She walked off toward Hermione and as they left the field both girl's smiles were see by Harry and Ron.

Ginny leaned close to Hermione, "I think my plan is going to work just fine." They both grinned.

The day came and went quickly enough. Harry and Ron spent nearly the entire day in the locker rooms discussing who should make the cut. Dinner came and they continued in hushed voices as Ginny and Hermione talked in the same manner.

"So just say I don't feel well. Are you sure Ron will go?" Ginny whispered.

"Don't worry he'll come." Hermione assured her.

"Then you guys will take my rounds and…I'll talk to Harry." She grinned.

"Perfect…so what exactly are you going to do?"

"Don't worry I'll tell you after it happens. I just don't want to jinx it." She whispered.

Hermione walked up the boy's staircase around ten and knocked on the door. Ron opened the door in his pajamas. "Hey do me a favor?" She asked.

"Depends what it is?"

"Do Ginny's rounds with me tonight."

"Why?"

"She doesn't feel too well…please?"

"Hermione, I'm exhausted."

"Please." She looked intently into his eyes. "I don't want to go on my own."

He sighed, "Okay, let me change." He closed the door and she smiled.

"Harry I'm goin' on rounds." He said pulling on different cloths.

"I didn't know you had them tonight."

"Yeah well me either. See you later." He headed toward the door.

"Wait I'll come down too." Harry got up and they both headed down the staircase. Hermione was waiting by the portrait hole.

"How long are rounds going to take?" Ron asked her.

"Uh…probably an hour or so."

"See ya guys."

"Bye Harry, have fun tonight." Hermione smiled.

He gave her a confused look, "I…will."

Ron and Hermione left as Harry took a seat on the couch.

Ron and Hermione walked silently through the halls for about half an hour until she couldn't take it anymore, "So…tryouts were good. Some of the players looked pretty good." Her voice sounded very loud in the silence.

"Ya we're having a hard time choosing the chasers. They were all good."

"What about the beaters? You're going to pick Ginny right?"

"I can't tell you." He said.

"Oh."

"Well I mean not until Monday." He looked at her.

"Oh." She said again and looked down.

He closed his eyes, "Yes Ginny made the team. I mean you saw her. She was without a doubt the best."

"Really! She's going to be so happy!" She said smiling.

"You can't tell her though okay?"

"Okay," they were silent a while longer until, "You know…you were really good too. I've never seen you play better." She smiled.

"Thanks I practiced practically all summer. It was fun."

"It looked like it out there today."

"Ya well…I had an audience to impress." He smiled as she laughed.

"Ah I see. Well you did your job then." They laughed together for the first time all week and they continued to roam the corridors.

"Can we go back yet?" Ron asked. "I'm dead tired."

Hermione looked at her watch. "I guess it's safe to go back." He looked at her in the same confused manner as Harry had and they headed back to the common room.

Ginny crept down the stairs around eleven. Only a few third years remained talking quietly in a corner. Then she smiled as she saw the top of Harry's messy black hair sticking up on the couch. "Thank you Hermione." She whispered to herself. She quietly snuck up behind him on the couch and grabbed his shoulders. He jerked and turned around to look at her with tired eyes.

"Hey."

She laughed and looked at her watch, "Sorry grandpa, I didn't realize you were asleep."

"Ha ha, very funny."

She slide backward over the back of the couch so her head rested on the cushion and her legs dangled over the top. "So are you going to tell me if I made the team?"

"You know I can't. It wouldn't be fair to the others to have them wait."

"Who said life was fair?" She smiled, "You know you want to tell me. I can see it in your eyes."

"That's the blood rushing to your head. You're mistaking the two." He laughed.

"Oh sorry, didn't realize," she smiled. "Come on please?"

Harry looked at her as she hung upside down giving him a pleading look. "Ginny come on, I can't."

She swung her legs over the top and they fell to the cushions. She wiggled her body so that her head was in his lap and she made puppy eyes at him. He laughed as he looked straight down at her. "You're relentless." He shook his head and bent down over her.

"You can't tell anyone." He paused, "You were brilliant and yes you made the team." He said quietly.

But nothing about her reaction was quiet or subtle. "Yes!" She yelled making Harry jump. She leaned up and pulled him by his shirt closer and kissed him. A few seconds later she leaned back down.

She looked somewhat nervous at him. "Sorry I um..." She moved off his lap and sat up. "I was…happy sorry."

Her eyes darted about until she saw him shift in his seat. His face quickly came into view as he leaned over and kissed her back. It was softer and longer then the first. He moved his hand to her cheek and ran his thumb over it. She smiled through the kiss and he pulled back.

"Don't be sorry…goodnight." He said shyly as he got up and headed up the stairs. Ginny sat there stunned. He kissed me back. A huge grin appeared on her face. She heard the dormitory door close. "Yes!" She said and laughed.

"What are you feeling so happy about?" It was Ginny's turn to jump as her brother spoke. "I thought you didn't feel well."

"I feel better." She stood up and tried hard not to smile but the corners of her mouth kept twitching.

"How convenient." He said sarcastically.

"Hermione I need to talk to you." She grabbed Hermione and led her toward the stairs.

"Okay, thanks Ron for doing rounds with me." She said as her head disappeared up the stairs.

"You're welcome." He said mainly to himself. He headed up the stairs and fell into bed. He fell asleep so fast he didn't realized Harry was still wide-awake.

"So what happened!" Hermione whispered hurriedly. "I hope we didn't come back to early."

"No you guys have perfect timing." She grinned and continued to tell Hermione about trying to get him to tell her if she'd made the team. "Then I just put my head in his lap and he told me."

"That sure was bold of you. I could certainly see why he told you." Hermione stated in an impressed tone while smiling.

"Yeah well I was so excited when he told me I leaned up and kissed him. It was great of course but I was so nervous of his reaction that I said sorry and just sat up. Then before I knew it he leaned in and kissed me back." She closed her eyes imagining it. "If I thought the first kiss was good, it didn't even compare to the one he gave me."

Hermione squealed making Ginny cover her mouth this time with her hand. "I'm sorry, that's great! What happened next?" She asked excitedly.

"Well he looked so shy when he pulled back he said don't be sorry, goodnight and then he left. Then you two came in."

"That was a close one then. What are you going to do tomorrow?"

"I didn't think that far ahead." She shrugged. "Probably just talk to him about it…I guess."

"Good luck then. I hope he opens up more then Ron." She smiled.

"Are you guys still not talking?"

"Well we talked on rounds about tryouts. He told me you made the team too so at least he trusted me to tell me that."

"I'm telling you I know my brother. You need to make the first move."

"I think I'm starting to realize that."

"Well you think about how while I go dream of Harry." She laughed and got up, but Hermione got up too and hugged her.

"I'm so happy for you, about the team and Harry."

"Thank and if you need help with Ron, I know how to deal with him. I'll knock some sense into him. Goodnight." She smiled and left.

"It'd have to be a pretty hard hit." Hermione said once the door closed. She lay back down on her bed and started to think.

(If you would be so kind as to review, I will love you forever! XP)