New Ideas

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

-Friday morning

Ginny was sitting on her bed, holding the mysterious birthday box. She had been trying to think of something special to keep in it, but had come up with nothing. Ginny had also gone through everyone she could think of that could have given her the unclaimed gift, but no one made sense. Her parents could never afford anything so fancy. All of her friends had given her gifts already. Dean was a possibility, but if he had gotten her anything that nice, he would have taken credit for it. She could think of no one else who could actually be the mysterious gift-giver. After carefully tucking the beautiful box into her drawer, Ginny went to breakfast.

As Ginny was eating her eggs and oatmeal, and talking to Bianca, Alistair Tobias walked in and sat down beside her. Ginny was expecting him to say something, but he didn't say a word. She went back to talking to Bianca.

"So, anyway, you said you're parents are getting a div-"

"Ginny! Bianca whispered warningly, "Now's not the time to talk about private matters!" she said, unnecessarily pointing to Alistair, blocking her finger with her other hand.

Ginny knew that Alistair could hear them perfectly well, but he didn't seem to mind Bianca's opinion of him. Ginny decided that she didn't object to him being there. "It's okay, Bianca. Alistair's all right," Ginny whispered, mimicking her best friend's tone. "Just keep talking."

Bianca gave Ginny a furtive glance, but nevertheless, continued what she was saying. "So, anyway, my parents haven't been getting along for a while now. Then, the day before school started, they got in a big fight. Before I left, they told me that they weren't going to get a divorce, but yesterday my mum sent me a letter saying that she was moving into an apartment! What am I going to do, Ginny?" Bianca was looking like tears would spill out at any moment if Ginny didn't say the right thing to comfort her.

"Bianca, it'll all be fine. Even though your parents are splitting up, they will still love you. You'll just have to see them at different times, that's all," Ginny said consolingly.

"But Ginny, you don't understand," Bianca's tears were still threatening to flow. "I'm the kind of person who is supposed to have two parents."

Ginny imagined what it would be like if her parents divorced. This thought made her shudder inwardly, and for the first time, she understood what her friend was going through. She spoke again, this time wholeheartedly trying to comfort Bianca. "Well, you'll adjust, and then you'll be the kind of person whose parents just aren't together anymore. I'm so sorry this is happening to you, Bianca," Ginny said, giving the blonde girl a quick hug.

Ginny had forgotten that Alistair was sitting on her other side, but suddenly, he spoke. "If I may offer my wisdom in this matter," he said, making Ginny and Bianca turn to look at him. "My parents divorced when I was eight years old. You can probably imagine how confusing it all was for me at such a young age. Only to be made so much worse two years later." Alistair suddenly stopped talking.

After a few moments of silence, Bianca whispered to Ginny, "Was that story over?"

Ginny shook her head, confused and worried by the desperate look on Alistair's face.

Bianca and Ginny stared at the dark haired boy for several more minutes before he seemed to snap out of whatever had affected him. "But what I'd like for the blonde-haired girl,"

"Bianca," Ginny told him.

"Yes. What I'd like Bianca to realize is that life goes on. Divorce is sad, but you just need to remember that your parents still love you, they just no longer love each other."

Bianca smiled. "Thank-you, Alistair. That really helps."

"Not a problem," Alistair said, turning back to his half-eaten breakfast.

………………………………...

Later that day, Ginny caught up with Alistair walking to the Quidditch pitch.

"Alistair, that was really nice of you to share your experiences with Bianca this morning. She really appreciated it, and I did too. She's been cheerful all day."

"It's not often I get to offer help to pretty blonde girls," Alistair said. Ginny laughed.

"Looks like we're the last people to show up for practice," Alistair commented as they joined the group of students standing in the field.

Everyone was talking happily when Ron's red head emerged from the dressing rooms. He took big strides over to the congregation, then spoke in his I'm-in-charge voice. "Now that we're all here, we can begin. Sean, Darryl," Ron gestured to the new Beaters, "why don't you go get the trunk." The two heavy-set guys walked away from the group. "Everyone else have a broom?"

Alistair quickly said, "I don't." Ginny was surprised to see her new friend looking so embarrassed.

"Not a problem," Harry said. "Accio!" he cried, summoning the school's best broom. A Nimbus 2000 flew through the air to Harry. Alistair gratefully took the broom. Harry leaned in towards Alistair and quietly said, "I'll talk to Professor McGonagall and Madam Hooch to see if you can have this broom." Harry had seen Alistair's flying abilities and had thought he at least deserved his own broom.

"That would be wonderful," Alistair whispered back. He was rather taken aback by famous Harry Potter's kindness and generosity.

Sean and Darryl had just returned, each carrying one end of the trunk containing the four Quidditch balls. Ron took charge once more. "Okay, team, today I just want everyone to get a feel for our new team. Practice working together and communicating while you're in the air. When we begin I want Chasers to come with me to the left end hoops. Harry, you and Bridget can practice with the Snitch anywhere you want. Sean, Darryl, and Ralph, when everyone else is gone, let out the Bludgers. And I don't want any injuries, so keep those things under your control, all right?" Ron now had the Quaffle under his left arm. "At my whistle everyone will land by the trunk. Now, let's get good, people!"

At those words, Ron kicked off the ground, and rose on his broom into the air. Ginny quickly caught up with him and said, "You make a great Captain, Ron."

"Thanks, Ginny," Ron said. His ears were brighter red than his hair.

………………………………...

Gryffindor team's first practice was well under way. The five Chasers, Katie, Alistair, Ginny, Renée, and John, were beginning to pick out each other's skills and weaknesses. Katie, who had the most experience, led the group. Renée and John were weak in making goals, but they were just reserve players for now. Ginny was weak in finding an open teammate to pass the Quaffle to.

At one point, Renée and John were defending when Ginny had the Quaffle. Both of her teammates were flying very close to her, totally preventing her from passing the ball to Katie or Alistair. Finally, in her moment of desperation, Ginny dropped the Quaffle. She cringed and shut her eyes, not wanting to watch the Quaffle hit the ground. But instead she heard a happy yell from Ron as Alistair swooped beneath her and caught the Quaffle. Ginny opened her eyes to see Ron beckoning the Chasers to the ground.

"That was bloody brilliant, Alistair!" Ron exclaimed.

"Thanks," Alistair replied.

"We can use that technique in the games!" Ron said happily. Everyone agreed that it was a wonderful tactic to use when opponents got too close to whoever had the Quaffle. The only problem was, at this point, only Alistair could safely pull such a stunt safely. During their next practice they would all try to learn how to do it properly from Alistair.

On the other side of the field, Harry was teaching Bridget how to find the tiny Snitch while zooming through the sky. Harry was a little resentful of training his replacement player, but he did agree with Ron. Having reserve players was a good idea. Harry's thoughts were interrupted by Ron's whistle, calling the players back down to earth.

When everyone landed back at the trunk, Ron had a big smile on his face. "I think we got in some good practicing today. Next practice will be on Wednesday, same time, same place. You're dismissed!"

The excited team walked together back to the castle, carrying brooms over their shoulders.

……………………………

That night, Ginny took her treasured box out from the drawer. She had decided what she would keep in it. Ginny took out a sheet of clean parchment and ripped off a thin strip of it. Then she took out her quill and carefully wrote My Family in her fanciest script. Then she folded the strip in half and placed it into her Gratitude Box. Each night she would write down one thing that she loved, and whenever she felt down, she would take out her box and remember all that she had to be grateful for. However, it was not part of her plan that someone else, half a castle away, would also be reading every piece of parchment.