Quidditch

Hermione bundled up in her warmest sweaters and threw on a scarf before she stepped into the fireplace. Seamus was on the couch, passed out from too much wine, and Dean and Ron had already left, to reserve her a seat. She pulled out her wand and flicked the lights off, and then without missing a beat she threw her handful of green powder into the grill.

"King Stadium!" She shouted quietly. The sucking began in her feet, and moments later, she was in one of the fireplaces in the entrance to King Stadium, the temporary stadium of the Chudley Cannons. The Chudley stadium had been the recent subject of a fire, the apparent work of someone working for Malfoy. She hadn't caught the villain yet, but she knew she would, soon. It would only take so long before they struck again. Until then, the Chudley stadium was undergoing the necessary repairs. Actually, it was being rebuilt.

"Hermione!" Ron's booming voice called to her over the rumble of the stadium folk. She stood on her toes and waved, trying to signal them where she was.

"Ron! Dean! Over here!" Hermione waved at the red-head moving toward her.

"Hey poppy!" He approached her and took her in a big hug. Little did he know, he was squishing her.

"Ron!" she choked. She pushed him away and he laughed a little.

"So what has my little angel been up to, eh?" He wrapped his arm around her and she leaned into his warm sweater.

"You know what I have been doing..." Hermione pulled her arm around his waist as they walked toward the stairs to the press box.

"Oh yes, work as usual. Hey Dean," Ron called. Hermione glanced over her shoulder at the man, who was waiting in line for food. "We'll be up in the booth, savvy? You just tell them Ronnie sent you up, and they'll let you pass." He smiled and squeezed his best female friend before letting her go.

"Yeah!" Dean turned back around to face the mob before him.

"So..." Ron sighed. He began the slow decent up the stairs to his job. "What has been going on?"

"Well..." Hermione opened her mouth to speak, and Ron quickly cupped his hand over her mouth.

"Spare me the details!" he shouted over her failed attempts at protest. She stopped on a landing and he grinned. "I just wanted to know how you were, not work." He looked her in the eye to check that she wasn't going to talk about her job, and she began tapping her foot. "All right, all right." He let her go.

"Thank you," she huffed as she flipped her hair over her shoulder. She smiled and punched him in the sternum – hard.

"Oof!" He called as he doubled over. "You got me!" He squeaked as he fell. He laughed and in an instant was back on his feet.

"That's what you deserve. Nothing more, nothing less," she huffed playfully. She turned her nose up at him and he laughed.

"You are going to make me late to work," he growled as he swooped her off her feet and began carrying her up the stairs. He made it up exactly three before he set her kicking and screaming form down.

"Down!" She squealed, though her laughter was mixed with real concern.

"All right! You win! I quit!" He huffed as he leaned against the wall, panting hard. Hermione laughed at him and began running up the stairs as fast as she could. He shook his head at her cheap move and chased her, however, she was a bit younger and a lot faster. Damn that Auror training.

"You can't catch me!" She called over her shoulder. She bolted the last few steps and landed safely in the press box, the closest thing to a royalty box at King Stadium. She sighed and hid behind the door, basic training coming back to her. He would come in, looking for her, and she would spring on him and scare him shitless. It would be hilarious.

"Hermione!" Ron burst into the room, searching for her. Hermione suppressed a giggle as the door closed a bit. He looked across the room and she tip-toed up behind him. He was still searching for him, and just as he was about to turn around, she jumped on his back with a battle cry, sending him down on his knees. "What the!" He turned around, trying to shake the form off of him, but instead he crumpled to the floor like a tin can.

"I-e-i-e-i!"

A vicious, angry hand reached around and grabbed her by the waist, squeezing a bit harder than it should have. Ron pulled Hermione off of his back like he would have any other blood-thirsty animal and threw her to the floor. This is the point where Hermione grew a large lump of fear in the knot of her stomach. If he was really angry, and he probably was, he might hurt her, as he always did when he was angry. But Harry wasn't around to pull him off or stop him.

Ron balled up his fist and Hermione squeezed her eyes shut, preparing for a real beating. (Although, as an Auror and a roommate of four other guys, she had learned that beatings and fights were normal.) Ron's grip tightened on her waist and her hands flew to her face automatically. This is the point where Ron began laughing.

"What?" Hermione pulled her arms away and opened her eyes. Ron's grip had lessened considerably on her and he was sitting back, laughing.

"I had you, admit it. Me, Ron Weasley, the pitiful fool, has you, the great and all-mighty Auror..." He was cut off, because at that point, Hermione had sat up and pounced right back on him, her game increased.

"You were saying?" she asked as she rose from the floor and dusted herself off. He lay on the ground, staring at the ceiling.

"Shit." It was all he could bring himself to say. His pride and ego were crushed, but it had never stopped him before. He rose and also dusted himself off. He might as well get to work. He smiled a bit and walked over to the announcer's section of the booth. That's right -- he had made a respectable, if not measly, living by announcing for the Chudley Cannons. And it was kind of fun. He traveled around and announced to the people back home, received lots of fan mail. Yeah, it was definitely a keeper job. He settled into his chair and checked his watch. Still five minutes to go before he would really begin.

Hermione, on the other hand, found herself a nice, comfy sofa to sit in, and once she was settled, she closed her eyes for a bit. After a few moments of peace, she had a feeling that the Weasley's were coming up the stairs; call it intuition, call it Arthur's loud grumbling. She smiled a bit, knowing full well that this was their first outing as "rich" people. Although to Hermione, they had always been the richest family she had ever known. Arthur's angry voice could be heard as clear as if he was standing in the room.

"I've told you before, Molly. I exercise plenty. With all of cases I have to run to, you'd think I'd get enough exercise. I mean, the Ministry is a very big building...No! I am not going to have a heart attack. How many times have I told you...What! Oh. All right. Sorry love..." This was when the three Weasley's walked into the room and Hermione opened her eyes. Molly was wearing very thick robes, Arthur was as bundled as his wife, and Ginny was sporting a very lovely fur-lined jacket and matching scarf.

"Hello everyone!" Hermione stood and hugged the Weasley's times three, saving Ginny for last. She squeezed her friend tight, who smiled and winked knowingly. Hermione grinned back and sat down with Ginny on the wonderfully soft couch.

"So dear," Molly began from the other couch, very close to her own. "How are things with you and Harry?"

"They're just fine. We are making the final preparations for the wedding."

"That's at the beginning of September, isn't it?" Arthur asked from the other side of Molly, furthest away from Hermione.

"Yes, September first, the day Harry and I met."

"Well, that's nice." Arthur had turned and was talking to someone else. Then, he picked up a magazine and began flipping through it, not wanting to talk anymore. Molly turned to him, feeling the same, and began humming to herself, looking at her thumbs. Ginny didn't have much to say either, other than, "Yep."

Hermione couldn't bear the silence. It was too much. None of the Weasley's had really been rich before, not like they were now. They might even be considered filthy rich. She was sure that each of them felt guilty for the fortune that had been bestowed on them, even though they had no reason to be. While she thought, the silence grew.

"So!" Hermione began happily, looking over at Ginny, who was leaned back against the sofa. "What color have you decided on?"

"I haven't given it much thought."

"Well, think about it. You know, you would look smashing in a dark green. Or maybe a pale blue. Lavender works for Witches Weekly, she can hook you up with the latest hair and nail care, and she can help with your makeup and maybe even might help with a color." Hermione knew she was rambling, but at least it wasn't quiet.

"I like purple," Ginny mumbled from her coat.

"I know, but your hair is red."

"But I like purple."

"But your hair is red."

"So, what does that have to do with anything?"

"In the world of fashion, red and purple clash. Even I know that."

"So… you're suggesting that I wear something that matches what I look like?"

"Yes. It will make you look just that much more smashing, darling." Hermione beamed at the girl, who was considerably slumped in her seat.

Ginny frumped. "I hope Lavender can make tom-boy scars go away. I hope she can make my hips look thinner. And I hope to God she has fashion sense."

"Is that a mark on me?"

"Yes it is."

"I hate you."

"I know. Love you too." Ginny grinned.

Hermione smiled again, glad that she was able to get a few words out of Ginny, and was about to speak again, but Ron's rapid voice boomed over the speakers.

"Welcome ladies and gents to the match between the Chudley Cannons and Puddlemere United. On Puddlemere, playing the Beater position: Stanley Wicket, Matt Hearn, Bret Speigle, and Jordan Smith. Playing Chaser: Tim Wells, Josh Kinkly, Chris Bothwell, Chris Olin, and Andy Thornton. Playing the Keeper position is Joe Crane, and the Seeker is Justin White." The team flew out and the crowd cheered. Then, Ron began again.

"Now, for the home team, the Chudley Cannons. Playing the Beater position: Matthew Koss, Lewie Whitney, Robert Hanna, and Taylor Jones. Playing Chaser: Ned Kinder, Nathan and Ryan "Rybone" Johnson, and Jack Hughes. Playing Keeper is Kit "Skittles" Chathum, and lastly, but not leastly, your favorite Seeker, Harry Potter!" Ron paused, his mouth away from the megaphone. The crowd roared and stood as the team flew out on the field. They loved it, and he knew they loved it. And they knew he knew they loved it. And everyone knew everyone loved it.

The players whizzed in front of the press box, where one section over, the photographers were having a field day. However, the players also zoomed by the royalty box so that the richer, more eloquent folks could see them. Hermione knew that the Weasley's were richer, but not necessarily eloquent. There was an old American saying that summed it up best: You can take the girl out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the girl. And the same was true with the Weasley's. And though they were good-hearted people, they just weren't cut out for the rich life.

Now Ginny on the other hand, she was meant to be extremely wealthy. She was one to go shopping everyday and take all of her best friends with her and spend oodles of money on everyone. But she wasn't snobbish. There were lots of rich people in the world who only cared about themselves, but Ginny was a real… humanitarian, if you will.

Hermione jumped off the couch and ran to the ledge of the booth. It was beginning to be very chilly outside, and she shivered. The days were hot, but the nights were very cold. Puddlemere United flew right past her and to the cameras, but the Cannons at least slowed down.

"Mione," Someone nodded as they chugged past. She smiled and waved, waiting for her favorite player to pass her. Four Beaters, four Chasers, and a Keeper later, Harry eased on by the booth. He was grinning, ear to ear, and waving like an idiot. He was about to zoom right on by Hermione, when he slowed to a hover.

"Well hello, beautiful babe," he purred as he neared closer to her. "What do you say we go back to my place after the game and… you know. Hook up?" He wiggled his eyebrows up and down and shook his shoulders in mock seduction.

Hermione couldn't help but laugh at him. He was so cute in his orange and black robes. And his big, goofy grin didn't help her either. She leaned out of the booth and placed a kiss on his flushed cheek.

"If you win, we will. If you lose, we might." She smiled and pushed him away a little. His hair blew back in the wind and he gave her his patented smile. "Now get out there and win!" she shouted, and he rushed on by. She smiled as he flew to his position and relaxed on his broom. She loved him so much.

Dean opened the door silently behind everyone and slipped past them, unnoticed. He wanted so much to talk to Ginny, who was relaxing on the couch so simply that is was a sin, but he knew that Ron would be wanting his food. With a heavy, unheard sigh, he opened the door to the announcer's booth and entered as silently as if he didn't exist. Ron smiled at him and patted the chair to his left, which Dean promptly sat in. At least Ron was still his friend. And Ron would be going to the party that night, which meant that he would pick up girls. Dean smiled a little. So maybe he could get sloshed and forget all about her. That was what rum was for anyway, right?

As soon as Ron had barely taken a sip of black coffee, the game began. Ron called out what was happening out on the field as it happened, and his voice echoed through the pitch. There was so much action happening all at once, no one but Hermione noticed Harry zoom straight toward the ground. He was going so fast that he might have splattered all over the ground in a broken heap, but years and years of training were behind him and he knew when to pull up. He raced along the ground faster than her eyes could manage, and soon he was back in the air.

The other Seeker followed behind him, unsure of what Harry was getting at. The snitch couldn't have been found that quickly… then a flash of gold whizzed by the royalty box and Hermione's heart raced.

"Did you see that?" Ginny roared as she joined Hermione at the window. "It was so fast!"

"It was… " Hermione was about to finish, but Harry whizzed by and carried away her words. The other Seeker flew by right after Harry, knowing full well that the snitch was within his grasp.

"Hanna beats off the bludger and saves Rybone just in time… wait, what's this?" Ron's voice went from announcer to amazed friend in a second. "Potter and White seem to be on to something… just a minute, everybody, I think. I think Harry Potter is on the tail of the snitch!"

The crowd went crazy and began chanting "Harry" over and over again.

Hermione and Ginny clung to each other, unaware of what was going on. They were just moving so fast. How could anyone see anything? They were small, blurry shapes that were diving and throwing things, and the colors were indistinguishable. They all looked so alike.

Then suddenly, a referee stopped the game. Someone had either gotten hurt, or caught the snitch. Those two things were the only way the game would be stopped in such a short time. Ron's booming voice stopped as something happened out in the air… the referee flew over to a man cloaked in orange and black, who was slightly slumped over his broom. Hermione and Ginny squeezed each other tightly, both of them close with everyone on the team.

"I wonder what is going on… " Hermione whispered as she watched the field in horror. Everything was moving so suddenly slow out there…

Suddenly, a hand shot out from the limp form, and even the blind men could see the gold sticking out from his fingers. It flitted about wildly, trying to escape.

"The snitch is caught! The snitch is caught!" Ron shouted over and over again, his voice cracking. "Harry Potter has just set a new record for the shortest Quidditch game ever! The Chudley Cannons win! GOOOAL!" Ron's excitement could not be contained with the megaphone. It spread to everyone in the stadium, even the Puddlemere fans. People were screaming and shouting, and Hermione and Ginny were crying.

"What happened?" Arthur called from his seat. He rose and stood next to Ginny, who was wiping away her tears of joy.

"Harry just set a new record for the fastest Quidditch game ever!" Ginny enthused. She hugged her father, who didn't understand at first, but he smiled and hugged her back. Molly, who had watched the whole thing, was clutching her head and shaking it.

"That boy will kill himself one day… " she hissed to no one.

"Oh, come on Mum, be happy for him!" Ginny sprang over to her mother and hugged her tight. "He's making something of himself, and that should be enough."

"You're right," Molly sighed as she began clapping. "It is enough. But he will give me a heart attack along the way!"

No one was listening. They were all clapping and hooting and cheering, happy that the team had won yet again. Hermione hugged Ginny, and then Arthur and Molly. She was beside herself with glee. Harry deserved everything he was going to get… every last thing. She smiled wickedly to herself and laughed a bit. It would be fantastic. She was about to think more dirty thoughts, when the team flew right up to the box and landed on the pad set aside for the teams. The weary players sighed and shook themselves; some were dirty, others were filthy. But they all wore huge grins on their faces.

"Some victory, eh?" Ryan was asking his brother Nathan.

"Yeah, you could say that. I mean, I had barely begun to play when we stopped. Kind of a shame."

"I totally agree." They walked past Hermione and nodded as they made their way to the press booth for pictures. Hermione waited patiently as several more teammates walked past, but she couldn't see Harry. He seemed to have gotten lost along the way, or something. She was about to turn around and ask Ginny if she had seen Harry, when a hand came over her eyes and pressed her close.

"I'll give you three chances to guess who I am," the voice growled. "And the first three don't count."

Hermione whirled around and placed a big kiss on Harry's lips. He was laughing slightly, and it tickled her. He pulled away and sighed as he brushed a strand away from her face.

"All right, I won. Let's go home, eh?" He smiled and flinched, but rightfully so. Hermione slugged him on the shoulder and pulled his warm body into a hug.

"That was amazing, what you did out there," she breathed into his hair. "Do you still have anything left in you for… you know. Later?"

Harry laughed and picked her up from around the waist, which caught her off guard, and of course, she screamed a little. However, her scream was soon forgotten in a mix of giggles and whispers.

Ginny gazed over at her wistfully, knowing that it would be a while yet before she found herself a relationship like that. She sighed heavily and plopped down on the couch behind her. There was not much good for her anymore. She was an obsolete version, as some might say.

And that was how Ginny went home. Alone. Her parents had decided to stay and talk to Harry, but she was tired and wanted nothing more than to curl up in her warm bed and go to sleep. It would really make her day.

So a floo and a nightcap later, Ginny laid in her fluffy blankets full of thoughts. Thoughts of the events that had unfolded, thoughts of the feelings that had unfolded. And though she wanted to think about Dean and how they almost kissed, she found herself too excited about the following evening. What kind of dress was she going to wear? What color? How would she fix her hair? If it was a masked ball, would she have to take off her mask at all? Could her mask just be an eye mask? Who was going to be there?

Eventually, Ginny fell asleep; happy, numbing thoughts running in her head. The night was long, but she didn't know that. Somewhere in merry old England, a flat located at 601 West Fairview Lane was beyond sleeping. Every room in the house was occupied, but not empty, quiet, but not silent. Even the living room was occupied, where Seamus still slept off the alcohol he had drunk.

"Wake up!" Someone was shouting in her ear. Ginny groaned and pulled the blanket over her head. "Come on you, wake up! It's time to go shopping! Have you bloody forgot about tonight? Cute boys, excellent food, dancing… "

Ginny say up in a moment. She had forgotten all about it. The party tonight. The shopping. The cute boys. The shopping. The chances to meet someone new. The shopping.

Hermione smiled at her friend and pulled the blankets off. "It's nearly a quarter till eleven, you idiot. I promised Lavender we would be at the studio at noon, and we have yet to eat and go to the bank for spend-ing mon-aye." Hermione added a bit of attitude to her last words. Ginny blinked at the sun and shook her head.

"Give me five minutes," she gasped as she bolted off her bed and toward her shower. Hermione nodded and set her watch. The water ran for two minutes; the door opened and closed a minute later. Ginny strode in with nothing but a towel around her head and body, some fuzzy pink slippers, and her wand in hand. She waved her wand at the far wall and it opened. She waved it again and all of her green shirts were instantly displayed. She flicked her wrist at one and it came flying toward her. She waved her hand again and the wall changed again, this time displaying all of her blue jeans. She randomly flicked her wrist and a cute pair of flared pants came flying toward her. Ginny ran over to her dresser and grabbed some knickers from the top drawer. She darted behind her changing screen, clothes in hand, and threw off her towel and slippers. She was changed in less than a minute.

In a rush, and much to Hermione's amusement, Ginny flipped her long, wild red hair around and stuck it under a very bulbous-looking contraption. A second later, her hair was as dry as a bone. Then she darted over to a shelf, where she sprayed a huge gob of mist all over it, which sent the frizzy strands laying flat. Hermione giggled and glanced at her watch. Ginny had a minute left to finish getting ready.

Ginny tore open a can of something and sprayed her body with it. She reached over to her night stand and grabbed everything off of the top and shoved it in her pockets.

"Done!" she shouted. Hermione smiled and nodded.

"You beat your old time by 10 seconds. Good job. Now let's go eat!" She smiled and held out her arm to the flustered girl, who panted a little before taking the other girl's outstretched arms. "To shopping?"

"To shopping."

With that, the fun day began.