Dinner in the Great Hall was wonderful. A beautiful array of color filled the tables and contrasted sharply with the jet black shade of Ginny's robes as she sat at the table between Colin and Bridget. Pushing Malfoy to the back of her mind, she focused on Colin and Bridget's hushed discussion about the Head Boy and Girl. They refused to tell her, so Ginny waited in suspense. Having nothing to do or talk about with her friends, she fruitlessly tried to concentrate on her food, but her eyes kept flicking toward the teacher's table, scanning it until they found a certain blonde head.
Draco sat at the teacher's table between Professor Flitwick and Professor McGonagall, sweeping the hall with his eyes every now and then, searching for someone. He saw some of last year's Quidditch team, and slightly tilted his head in acknowledgement. As he did this, some strands of his hair fell into his eyes, and as he looked down to brush them away, he felt someone staring at him. Looking up sharply, he found a pair of deep hazel eyes boring into his.
Icy grey eyes suddenly stared back at Ginny as she watched the blonde, and a jolt of something ran through her when their eyes connected. She quickly averted her warm hazel eyes from his piercing grey orbs and returned to her dinner, brushing a strand of soft auburn hair out of her face. Finishing the rest of her supper in deep thought and silence, Ginny was pulled out of her train of thought by Dumbledore who stood and cleared his throat.
"Welcome! A warm greeting to our new and old students! First of all, please remember that the Forbidden forest is, well, forbidden, so keep your adventures well clear of it's borders. The Head boy and Girl this year will be Mr. Rodney Jonelli from Ravenclaw and Miss. Bridget Kevick from Gryffindor!" Bridget squealed excitedly and Ginny and Colin turned to her happily, smiling broadly.
"I am also pleased to welcome a new Potions Professor, Mr. Draco Malfoy!" a burst of applause ran through the hall, mostly from the Slytherin table.
"I am sure we all give our best wishes to Professor Severus Snape in his retirement. A few more have left us also, but not staff. The captains of the Gryffindor and Slytherin Quidditch teams graduated last year, and the posts will be filled by Mr. Joseph Zambini from Slytherin and Miss. Ginny Weasley from Gryffindor. Miss. Weasley will be teaching our flying class this year due to the retirement of Madame Hooch. Congratulations! The first game will be on the 12th of October." Ginny smiled broadly at this news accepted the many handshakes thrown her way.
"My final request of the night is to our prefects. Please lead your houses to their dormitories and show them their common rooms. Thank you everyone, and a warm welcome to all of you. May your year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry be a memorable one." As he finished, the Prefects stood and led the new students out of the Great Hall. Ginny said a quick farewell to Colin and Bridget, who looked at her questioningly. She smiled and mimed flying with her hands. They looked confused for a moment before they understood and nodded.
Ginny left the hall briskly, running up to her dorm so she could change before the first years came upstairs. She swiftly turned the corner into a vacant dorm room and kicked open her trunk. Pulling out her Quidditch robes and throwing them on, she grabbed her snitch and her broom and exited the dorm, muttering a spell so her Starfly looked old and worn out. Only if someone had looked at it closely would they have been able to see through the illusion.
Walking back by the first years in the common room, Ginny earned many stares from the small huddle of students. Many looked at her curiously, mostly the muggle students. Ginny smiled warmly and nodded to Bridget, who was showing them the common room because the prefect that was supposed to be giving them the tour had had an allergic reaction to the peanut brittle at dinner.
"Everyone, this is Ginny Weasley, the new captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. She will be teaching the flying classes this year on Sunday afternoons because of Madame Hooch's retirement." Bridget's voice echoed slightly in the room and Ginny felt herself blush slightly as she flashed them another smile.
"If you have any questions about the game, feel free to ask me." she added. Some of the students grimaced nervously, but one girl who reminded Ginny distinctly of Hermione raised her hand.
"What's Quidditch?" she asked, opening her mouth to reveal a shining smile full of silver braces.
"Well, it's a wizard sport." Ginny began uneasily. "It is played on broomsticks with four balls, the quaffle, snitch, and two bludgers. I promise to tell you more at your first lesson, but you need to get settled in. Have fun!" The crowd of first years followed Bridget over to the staircases as Ginny swept out of the portrait and crossed the dry grounds of Hogwarts.
Ginny scanned the field before removing the charm on her broom. No one was on the field and Ginny had it all to herself. It was around eight, and a dark haze had settled on the pitch, hinting of the night's advance. Visibility was perfect, and Ginny let her snitch go, counting to ten before she swooped into the dusk, her hazel eyes searching for the glittering ebony of the snitch against the bright banners lining the pitch.
Spotting the tiny silver ball, she raced in it's direction, speeding up rapidly and stretching her arm out as far as she could. Just as her fingers were about to close over the tiny ball, a figure dove in front of her and snatched it out of the air. She knew who it was before she even looked up.
"What are you doing?" she asked exhaustedly.
"Beating you." Came the simple reply. His long slender fingers let the snitch escape, but his eyes never left her face. Their gaze fell only on one another as each wordlessly accepted the challenge. With an unspoken agreement, they zoomed by each other, crossing paths with a swish of their cloaks. It was clear from the beginning that Ginny's broom was the superior. Draco didn't mention it though, and Ginny wondered if he had seen her purchase it in Diagon Alley. Shaking unneeded thoughts out of her head, she scanned the field, searching for any sign of the snitch.
With a start, she noticed Draco shooting toward the end of the pitch and she followed, pushing her broom to it's maximum speed. Gaining on him every second, she came up beside him and bumped his shoulder harshly, receiving a rebuttal that shocked her and forced her to swerve off course. In the valuable seconds she lost, Draco had swooped in and wrapped his thin fingers around the tiny ball. She cursed as he let the ball go, totally focused upon the game at hand.
Without the two players noticing, some of the students had filed into the stands, some cheering for Draco and some for Ginny. So focused on the battle at hand, neither noticed the growing supporters cheering them on. Draco released the snitch soundlessly and the race began once again.
The search for the snitch this time was incredibly tricky. The sky had grown considerably darker and people were beginning to leave the stands. As night fell, the sun filled the pitch with one blood red glow before falling out of the sky and giving up the daylight. Darkness fell in full force upon the pitch, shoving the last remaining spectators away from the game and leaving the duelers to finish their fight.
Draco raced across the pitch, eyes ever searching for the icy silver ball. He soared above the field, loving the way the wind rushed through his sun bleached blonde hair. The unwavering search led the players closer and closer to the center of the pitch. The snitch hovered in the center, waiting to dart away once again. Ginny and Draco saw the ball instantaneously and rushed toward it, determination shining in each of their eyes. Ginny spun her broom to the side at the last second and wrapped her strong fingers around the struggling ball.
Thrown off by her sudden change of direction, Draco spun sideways and collided with her, pushing her off her broom. A small clack of the two brooms as they landed preceded a large thump as Ginny and Draco landed on top of one another, rolling sideways in the grass and ending up side by side, breathless. Ginny's hand flipped carelessly onto Draco's finely shaped chest, rising up and down hurriedly. Both were exhausted beyond measure, too weak to do much but lay in the dark and breathe in the light summer air.
"Good game, Weasley." Draco breathed softly.
"You too, Malfoy. A tie. I believe I can live with that." She murmured in response.
"Well, shall we?" a hint of sarcasm etched throughout his voice was the only inclination that he wasn't being entirely serious. Ginny laughed softly, smiling a smile that only the darkness could see.
"Surely." Ginny replied happily. She felt him stand slowly, and saw a small flick as his hand reached out to her. Taking it, she felt him pull her up to a standing position, but not being entirely ready, she stumbled, and was forced closer to him. Catching her gracefully, Draco helped her stand upright.
"Watch it, Ginny. It's dark out here."
"No, really?" she replied sarcastically. "Come on, Draco. Let's go inside." Moving to get their brooms, neither noticed the small exchange. At the moment it seemed entirely natural, two friends exchanging a small goodbye after a pleasant game of Quidditch. Both went their separate ways, Ginny moving up to her four poster in Gryffindor tower and Draco slipping down the stairs to the Dungeons and the small suite off the Potions classroom that awaited his arrival.