A/N: Thnak all of you who reveiwed.
ONLY HOPE by Lina Shay
Chapter Six: A Fancy or A Feeling
"That's enough for today," Angelina announced. "Harry, you might want to take some time to practice on your own."
Hope rolled her eyes as Angelina and the others walked away from the Quidditch pitch. Hope didn't have to take this. She was not sporty and she had no desire to be.
"I'll help you practice if you'd like, Harry," Ginny offered, standing right next to her.
"No thanks," Hope said softly. "I'm not practicing."
"You mean you were serious about all that quitting hogwash?" Ginny gasped.
"Yes, I'm serious," Hope insisted hardly. "Why is it so essential that Harry Potter be a bloody Quidditch player?"
Ginny stood very silently. Hope looked at Ginny's blank face and felt bad.
"I'm sorry, Ginny," Hope muttered. "I had a rough Summer."
"It's all right, Harry," Ginny told him with a sad indifference. "I understand. Maybe you should wait until November to decide whether or not to quit. You might change your mind."
"It's not likely," Hope groaned.
"Either way, I should probably be prepared," Ginny said, suddenly glowing. "I'm going to practice."
"I think that's a pretty good idea," Hope advised, placing a hand on Ginny's shoulder very briefly.
Ginny looked at Hope quite oddly for a second. She blushed, then ran off. Hope just shrugged it off, and started walking back up to the castle. You'd think, being a girl, Hope would be able to decipher the strange looks girls kept giving her. But she really hadn't been around people much. She was allowed to go with Luphenda to Diagon Alley now and then as long as she wore a cloak so that no one could recognize her.
A loud scream rang out. Hope spun around and caught sight of Ginny falling through the air. There was no time to think. Hope mounted Harry's broom and immediately went speeding through the air. In minutes she was within yard of Ginny. Hope clung tightly to the broom with her feet, holding out her arms. As she sped by, Hope caught Ginny around the waist. Ginny instinctively cleaved to her so Hope could steer the broom down to the ground. Once landed, Hope allowed herself to breathe again. Ginny still held on to her, shaking like a leaf.
"You all right, Ginny?" Hope breathed. "What happened?"
Ginny shook her head, saying against Hope's shoulder, "I-I was just trying to catch the apple I threw. It was just outside my reach. I just needed to lean a little father..."
Ginny glanced up at Hope in surprise.
"Harry, you CAN still fly," Ginny told her.
Hope thought about it. She could fly. She could steer and go fast and all that stuff. She had the ability. Maybe she could live up to Harry.
As the two walked slowly back up to the castle, Ginny had a thoughtful look on her face. Hope kept glancing over at her, wondering what was so thought provoking.
"What are you thinking about?" Hope asked curiously.
Ginny blushed. "I was just wondering why you couldn't fly before."
"I think I lost passion for the game," Hope reminded, having said the words before.
"And-and you gained it back when you saw me falling?" Ginny said in a very quiet voice.
"I guess so," Hope shrugged.
She looked over at Ginny's blush and suddenly figured out what she had meant.
"Whoa! Wait a second, Ginny," Hope exclaimed. "Don't go reading too much into this."
Ginny just smiled at her. "I know exactly what's going on."
"I seriously doubt that," Hope muttered.
"It's OK, Harry," Ginny looped her arm around Hope's. "I feel the same way you do."
Ginny kissed Hope's cheek, then ran up to the castle. Hope ran her fingers through her short hair, shaking her head frettedly.
When Hope made her way to Gryffindor tower, it was getting a little late. It was a good thing because Hope was exhausted. She went straight to her dormitory, walked passed where Ron sat on his bed, and let herself fall forward on her own bed.
"Harry, you are wicked out of shape," Ron observed.
Hope just groaned into her bedding.
"You look tired, I guess I'll just put out the light," Ron said.
Ron put out the candles and everything went rather dim. Hope figured it would be safe now to undress. Ron was going to bed and it was dark besides. She turned over and began to pull off her robes.
"Hey, mate!" Ron exclaimed.
Hope started and looked over at him watching her.
"You should see you," Ron began wryly. "The moonlight is shining on the edge of your face. It's like you're glowing or something. It's really cool-looking."
Hope smiled.
"Well, g'night," with that, Ron lay his head down and closed his eyes.
Hope had to wondering if maybe Ron knew she was a girl subconsciously. He could see her as a girl, but didn't trust it because Ron knew Harry to be a boy. It was something to give her nice things to dream about.
A/N: GinnyHarryP asked me what MST stands for. I really have no earthly idea. If any of you know. Please tell me.
