(Finally! I'm sorry to have kept anyone waiting, but I have finally finished writing and typing this chapter. It's not quite how I wanted it to come out, it feels a bit choppy to me. I feel the scenes shift to fast, but I got all the information in that I planned on so...I hope you enjoy this shocking discovery! XD)
Chapter 8 – A Shocking Discovery
Harry and Ron were surprised when they went down to the common room the next morning. Instead of finding Hermione's stern face they found twelve eagerly awaiting ones staring at them. Harry also saw Ginny among the twelve and he smiled. He had to hand it to her; at least she was playing along.
"We didn't realize you'd all be waiting here." Ron said looking around.
Harry walked over to the bulletin board and felt twelve pairs of eyes following him. With his back to them, "Now I wanted to remind you that everyone did good at the tryouts. Only some were better then others. For those who made the team come and see me and Ron after breakfast before classes so we can tell you when the first practice session is." He pinned the piece of paper to the board and he walked back over to Ron.
The players waited and Ron made a hand motion toward the board and they rushed over pushing each other.
Gryffindor Team
Beaters
Jordan Grey
Ginny Weasley
Chasers
Julia Clark
Jake Williams
Emily Xanders
Ron and Harry stood there and watched as the girls who made the team jumped up and down and hugged each other. The boys shook hands congratulating each other. The ones who didn't make the team walked out of the common room; heads hanging not saying a word.
Ginny quickly jumped over to Ron and hugged him. She turned and hugged Harry next and he gave her a quick pat on the back as he looked at Ron. "Thanks you guys." She smiled at them.
"You deserved it." Ron said and then whispered, "You know you were the best."
She just shrugged and he continued, "And I'm sorry that ferret caught you two talking last night. Rotten luck about the detentions."
Her eyes darted to Harry's with an eyebrow raised, "Right well…can't change what happened so…" she cleared her throat, "I think I'm going to go and eat." She said quickly.
"We'll go with you." Harry said and looked at Ron.
"No…I'm going to wait for Hermione…you-you two go." Ron said looking at the girl's staircase.
"We'll wait with you then." Harry offered.
"No no you-you guys need to get to breakfast. Sooner you guys get your detention dates the sooner we can figure out the first practice."
"Oh right…well okay then, see you down there." Harry said.
Ginny gave Ron an odd look and then smirked. "Right." She said realization dawning on her. "Come on Harry." They left and Ron sat on one of the chairs.
He didn't have to wait long until he heard footsteps coming down the stairs. He stood when he saw Hermione. "Hey," he grinned.
"Hey." She said walking over to him. She smiled as he bent down and gave her a light kiss on the lips. "Were you waiting for me here to do that?"
"Of course." He grinned again.
She blushed, "You're up early this morning."
"Me and Harry had to pin up the list of new team members."
"Oh right…I forgot after what happened last night." She grinned shyly.
He smiled, "You know…I wish I had been stupid enough to make you that mad years ago. Then I wouldn't have had to wait so long to finally be able to kiss you." He bent down and kissed her again.
"So…did you find out why Harry ran from you last night?" She asked.
"He said he was talking with Ginny and Malfoy caught them. Got a week's detention and everything. Poor guy, you're not going to yell at him are you?"
She smiled as she thought how different Harry's story was from Ginny's. "No actually I'm not going to say a word. He got what was coming to him, I told you he would. At least now he might listen to the rules more."
"Probably not, but still…anyways let's get down to the Great Hall, I'm starving."
"What? You're honestly hungry?"
"Well it's morning, of course I am."
She shook her head, "I'm still full from last night and considering I ate about half as much as you I thought you'd be about to burst."
"What can I say? I need my strength." He smiled and took hold of her hand. She smiled and followed him out.
As soon as the portrait closed Ginny spoke up. "We need to tell Ron about us."
Harry just stood there in silence for a moment. "What brought that up? We're fine without him knowing."
"I know that, but you know it would be nice to be around you without my brother thinking something weird is going on…" she was silent for a moment as they continued walking. "Besides, something has happened between Ron and Hermione and I want to know what it is." She said determinedly.
"Do you think that's the right reason to tell him though?"
"I don't really care if it is, he'll find out eventually and it would be better if it was one of us who told him."
"That's true…he'll hate me you know that right?"
"No he won't…he'll just have to get used to the idea." She tried to look confident but failed, knowing quite well Ron would be angry. "I'll just tell him when I feel the time is right, okay?"
"Okay." He said as they reached the Great Hall. As soon as Harry and Ginny sat down at the table, Professor McGonagall walked over to them. She handed them two slips of paper and walked back to the high table without uttering a single word.
Harry looked at his slip as Ginny did the same.
"What does yours say?" Ginny asked.
"Thursday, report to Mr. Filch's office. Yours?"
"Friday same thing." They shrugged and began to eat. "At least we can fit in a quidditch practice."
"True." She said.
Five minutes later Ron and Hermione sat down across from them.
"So?" Ron asked.
Harry and Ginny slid their pieces of paper across the table and Ron looked down at them.
"Perfect…you guys just had to talk to each other last night. You know, that's what the common room is for?" Ron said shaking his head.
Ginny gave a small smile to Hermione. "Well we couldn't help it." Hermione let out a snigger.
Harry looked up at Hermione, but all she did was smile. "Don't you have anything to say?" He asked.
"Me? No, you got your punishment for the…fun you had last night." Her smile grew wider.
His eyes widened and he looked at Ginny. She just smiled back at him and patted his leg under the table.
Ron spoke up next before Harry could even give what Hermione said a second thought, "Hey how about first practice Wednesday then?" He brightened considerably still looking at the detention slips.
"Sure that sounds great." Harry said.
They left the hall after breakfast to find the other four players waiting at the staircase.
"First practice is Wednesday…what time Harry?" Ron asked.
"How about after dinner?"
The players shook their heads excitedly.
"Alright then, Wednesday after dinner." Ron said and they left up the staircase leaving the players talking behind them.
Ron was first to bid goodbye to Ginny as he entered the classroom. Ginny ran her hand along Harry's arm when Ron was gone and she left smiling. Harry turned to Hermione who was smiling as well. "What did she tell you?" He whispered.
"Everything." She shrugged and walked inside.
Wednesday came faster then any of them expected. What with the unwanted homework load dumped on them and Ginny's constant questioning of Hermione about Ron.
Ginny sat by Hermione during dinner and asked her yet again, "Come on Hermione, something happened. I can tell, plus I told you…well you know what."
"You told her what?" Harry and Ron asked together. Harry gave Ginny a questioning look.
"Nothing." Ginny said innocently, "Come on, tell me!"
"Tell you what," Hermione said smiling, her eyebrows raised, "You tell Ron what you told me and I'll tell you."
Ginny's mouth dropped open. "What! That's not fair!"
Hermione shrugged and smiled.
"Tell me what?" Ron said looking from one girl to the other.
Ginny eyed Hermione as she stared back at her. "Fine…Harry and I are going out."
"WHAT!" Ron said looking at Harry and Hermione's eyes widened. She hadn't expected Ginny to actually say anything.
Harry choked on his pumpkin juice and started to cough, "Th-That's what you call the right time!" He said, as he turned red.
"It's true!" Ron said loudly.
Harry didn't say anything.
"Come on now! You have to tell me!" Ginny said not paying the boys any attention.
"Fine, Ron and I kissed last night." She said more bravely then she felt at the moment.
"Hermione!" Ron said disbelievingly.
"Really! Oh my God, that's great." She smiled, not paying Ron's surprise look any mind. "It's about time you two did." She grinned.
Dinner ended and Hermione walked down to the quidditch field with the others, a book in her hands.
Harry and Ginny walked into the locker rooms, but Hermione pulled Ron aside.
"Listen I'm sorry. But she told you about Harry, so I had to tell her."
"But why right now? I mean it just happened a few days ago." He said looking at her.
"I know, but I want her and Harry to know. I mean now we don't have to hide it." "You could have at least told me you wanted to tell her." He said.
"Well I didn't actually think she would tell you about her and Harry."
"Yeah and how long have you known about that? I can't believe you didn't tell me!"
"It wasn't something for me to tell you about. That was up to her and Harry. I'm sorry."
He shook his head and sighed. "It's okay…I'm just not sure I like the idea of them together."
"It doesn't matter it's already done." She said, "Listen I'm going to sit in the stands for awhile. If practice runs too incredibly long you'll find me in the common room."
"Okay."
She stood closer to him, "I am sorry. But trust me, it's better that they know." She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. He smiled as he watched her walk toward the stands.
After a moment, Harry realized Ron must be talking to Hermione so he thought he would do the same with Ginny. "Hey what was that back there?"
"You heard Hermione, that was the only way I could find out about her and Ron."
"Yeah but that wasn't what I would call the perfect moment to do so."
"It doesn't matter now, he knows…we can't change that."
"I know. You just didn't exactly tell him the way I thought you would…just promise me if we ever have to tell him something, let me do it." He said.
Ron walked into the changing room and looked at the two of them. They all stood there awkwardly for a few minutes. "So?"
"So what?" Ginny asked anxiously.
"How long have you guys been going out?" He asked uneasily.
Ginny looked at Harry and he cleared his throat, "Since tryouts."
Ron just looked at them, "Well…alright." Harry and Ron went to change as Ginny did the same.
The team marched out onto the field, brooms on their shoulders. They stopped in the middle of the pitch and Harry and Ron turned to face them. "Alright, I'm not going to waste my breath so let's make this short. You guys know why Ron and I picked you. You were by far the best players and that means you know what you're doing out there. We have yet to see how you play together though. So this is what we are doing tonight." Harry said.
"Mount your brooms." Ron said and kicked open the trunk. "Bludgers out! Beater's up!" Ron flew up with Ginny and Jordan and flew to the goal posts.
"Alright Jordan and Ginny block the chasers as they sped down the pitch! Still protect them though and aim the bludgers for one of the goal post. Yell which one you are aiming for so that you don't hit Ron!" He yelled up to them. "Chasers, when they block your way you pass to the person farthest from you. I want to see how far and fast you guys really are." He grinned at them. "Feel free to change it up and you'll have to try your best getting the quaffle by Ron. But you'll know you can get it by anyone if you get it past him. Now get up there."
They rose into the air, "Ready?" He yelled and they shook their heads as one. He flung the quaffle into the air and they sped after it. Harry grabbed the snitch and held it. He opened his palm and examined it. Hopefully he hadn't lost his touch. He watched as wings shot out of the sides and it zoomed up to hover in from of him. The next second it disappeared from view and he was up in the air with his new team, the wind whipping back his hair.
Only when the sun completely disappeared from view and the warmth from the sun's rays dissipated did Harry and Ron touch back down. Harry had long ago placed the snitch back in the trunk after his fourth capture and the sun had started to lower in the sky. That's all he needed was Madam Hooch angry with him for loosing it. Ron had only missed five goals and they were grinning like fools when Ron called the other players down.
The team touched down, they were all breathless but they too were smiling. They knew they had done well and they stood quietly waiting for Harry or Ron to speak.
"Wow." Ron said grinning even bigger.
"Impressive, very impressive. You guys play together like you can read each other's minds. I-we…" he just smiled. "Saturday ten o'clock. We learn a few plays and...fantastic job tonight!"
"I see we picked the right players." Ron grinned. "Alright everyone, get changed and get back up to the castle."
They walked back to the locker rooms and Harry watched them. They were some of the best players he'd seen and that included last year's team. They all had good skills and brooms to boot. He scanned their shoulders, but his face fell.
"Jake, Ginny come back here!" He yelled after them. Ron faced him and gave him a questioning look. Harry tapped his broom and pointed. Ron looked at them and nodded. At least Harry thought they all had good brooms.
"Yeah Harry?" Ginny asked.
"We have to get you guys new brooms. You guys did so great out there I didn't realize what you guys were riding. We can't play with you guys on these." Harry said taking hold of their brooms. Ginny was riding a battered old Shooting Star and Jake had a Twigger 90.
"I'm going to ask Professor McGonagall for new ones."
"But my dad bought me this when I was young." Jake protested. "Why do we need new brooms anyways, you just said we were great."
"You were, but Slytherin will blow you two out of the water on their Nimbus 2001. We can't have you riding on these rickety old brooms. And I'm not saying you have to throw your Twigger away, but I need you at your fastest on the field."
Jake looked down and nodded, "Okay."
"Good and you two will come with me when I ask."
They shook their heads and Jake left.
"Do you actually think McGonagall will get us two new brooms?" Ginny asked doubtfully.
"We can only hope." Harry said.
Ron stood there again looking at them.
"Are you mad at us?" Ginny asked hesitantly.
"No…it's just weird. I mean you're my best friend Harry and you're with my sister."
"I like her…I can't help how I feel." He said turning red and Ginny smiled at him.
Ron nodded his head, "I know how you feel." He said as he looked up at the stands to find Hermione still sitting there. With that they headed back to the locker rooms.
As Harry pulled a clean shirt over his head Ron spoke up, "I saw Hermione still in the stands. I'm going to go meet her." He said with a slight tinge to his cheeks.
Harry didn't notice though, "Alright."
Ron left back through the door leading to the field and met her in the stands.
"Hey, I'm surprised to see you still here." Ron said.
"I was actually watching you guys play out there, they were really good." She said impressed.
"I know, I think Gryffindor will have the upper hand this year." He grinned. "You know you could always come up and fly after we're done practicing."
She shook her head, "I don't think so."
"Why not?"
"Flying isn't exactly my strongest skill." She said looking at the field.
"But that's why practice makes perfect." He grinned, but he left the subject at that. "Let's get back to the common room, I'm exhausted."
Harry's detention came too quick for his liking. His homework had now piled up because of last night's practice and his only soothing thought was that he would at least get it done tomorrow. So as he left the common room he grumbled to himself as he now wondered what Filch was going to make him do.
He was so lost in thought that he hadn't even seen Mrs. Norris crossing his path and he stumbled over her onto the cold stone floor. "Stupid cat!" He said angrily as he pushed himself up to his feet.
As soon as he uttered those two words, it was as if Filch could sense it and the next moment he was standing in front of Harry out of breath. "What was that Potter! Trying to kick my cat were you?" He growled.
"No, I just didn't see her." Harry said trying to keep his temper.
"Well I think something special for your detention then." A slimy smile appeared on his face. "I think cleaning all the bathrooms are in order." He smiled sadistically, "Without magic!"
It was nearly three in the morning when Filch finally let him go. "Since you only finished six floors, you'll continue this next time." His grungy yellow teeth showing through his grin.
Harry walked straight to the common room and up to his dormitory. He quickly changed, not wanting to sleep in his other clothes and fell onto his bed. He fell asleep so fast he didn't even take off his glasses or close his hangings.
It only felt as if he had been sleeping for a minute though when Ron was shaking him awake.
"Come on, class in half an hour."
Harry got up and walked down with Ron to the Great Hall. He sat down and placed his head in his arms. Hermione and Ginny soon joined them.
"You look horrible." Hermione exclaimed.
"Thanks." He mumbled.
"Aw." Ginny grinned and rubbed his back. "What did Filch make you do?"
"Every bathroom in the entire castle. I only finished six floors. He wouldn't let me leave until every crevice had been cleaned. I already know what my next detention will be." He sighed.
"Wow…can't wait till mine then." She said sarcastically and frowned.
"Oh…" Harry looked up sleepily at Ginny, "We are meeting Professor McGonagall today. Could you go and tell Jake to be outside her class before lunch."
"Of course." She got up and left to find Jake. Harry only managed a piece of toast before it was time for their first class.
Harry waited outside Professor McGonagall's classroom for Ginny and Jake. He finally saw them walking toward him just as the door opened and her class filed out.
"Alright come on." They went inside and found Professor McGonagall sitting at her desk grading what Harry could only assume was a recent test. "Professor?"
"Yes Mr. Potter?" She asked looking up. Her eyes strayed to Ginny and then to Jake.
"We have a request. Ginny is one of the new beaters this year and Jake is one of the chasers." She nodded her head, "Well they're flying on ancient brooms and I need these two at their fastest. They are two of the best players out there and Gryffindor can't afford them to miss a pass or bludger because the brooms they are flying. I need permission to order two new ones."
Professor McGonagall sat there and looked at him a moment. "I'm sorry Potter, two brooms are out of the question. You can order one and decide who it goes too."
"But Professor, I really need two. They both will need-"
She cut him short, "Sorry Potter. One broom, you decide. Now get to the Great Hall for lunch."
Harry looked down, "Thank you Professor." They left the classroom and stood in the hall.
"It's okay Harry, I can stick with my Twigger. Ginny can have the new broom." Jake offered.
"No I can't have you falling behind the other chasers. You have the best aim out of all of them and you'll have to be quick to get it past Slytherin's keeper. You get the broom. I'll probably order a 2001 as well so you can match their speed. Now get on down to lunch."
Jake nodded, "Okay." With that he left somewhat disappointed.
"He's an odd fellow. You'd expect he'd want a new broom." Ginny said.
Harry turned to her, "You do understand right? You did a great job on that old Shooting Star and I'd love to see you on a faster broom, but I need my chaser's as fast as Slytherins."
"No I understand," she shrugged, "Maybe next year." She smiled somewhat sadly.
Harry looked down at her and just put his arm around her waist. "Yeah…maybe next year."
It was now Ginny's turn to serve her first detention and images sprang into her mind of what Filch would have her do. But none of them came close to what he told her. "Polishing all the pictures frames should keep you busy…that'll teach you to wander around at night." Four hours later, her hands smelling of lemons she was finally allowed to go. She had only finished up to the third floor and she glared up at the hundreds above her. "I hate cleaning."
She set off to the common room when she heard someone talking off to her right. She was on the fourth floor and her mind sped through names of prefects who were to be patrolling this corridor. She inched closer to the voice and stopped outside an empty classroom. She peered through the crack in the door and found the familiar outline of Malfoy. She could see no one with him though. He's not supposed to be here. His patrol is on the second floor. She strained to hear what was being said as Malfoy whispered.
"I did everything you asked me to do. The owls finally came back with a reply."
"What did they say?" A hoarse voice spoke, but it sounded weak.
"They said everything will be taken care of. You don't have to worry." Malfoy turned somewhat and she caught a glimpse of something in his hand. He was holding what looked like a mirror.
The moonlight glinted off of it as the other voice continued. "Good…good."
"I'll contact you soon, it won't be long now." Malfoy shifted once again and Ginny saw who was reflected in the mirror.
Ginny's eyes widened and she hurriedly moved away from the door. She quietly went back up the stairs and only when she reached the flight above did she fly up the rest of the them two at a time. She ran to the portrait and gave the password breathlessly. She rushed inside to find Ron, Hermione, and Harry still doing their homework. They turned to look at her.
"Hey Ginny, so what did Filch have you do?" Ron asked smirking.
"Not…now!" She said as she clutched the stitch in her side.
"What's wrong Ginny?" Harry crossed to her side.
"I saw Malfoy…he-he," she breathed.
"He was what?" Harry asked. He led her to a chair and she sat down.
"He was talking…to," she paused again to catch her breath.
"Come on spill it!" Ron and Hermione said.
"His-his father!"
(Review please! Did you like it or did it suck? Honest opinions please!)