Love's Talent

Chapter Six: Contestants Compete

LunarianPrincess

A talent contest and performing class brings new alliances and blooming romance, but is a sinister force trying to prevent it from being successful?

Pairings: GW/DM; KS/DS; some HP/LL and HG/RW

Disclaimer: I don't own the Harry Potter Universe/Characters, I do own Darien Solaro and Kassara Saravati. This is in Ginny's sixth year and some of the characters might seem OOC, but bear with me. Feedback is appreciated, but please try to keep criticism constructive, Thanx in advance

Warning- this is a long chapter, I hope you like it though. Please tell me if you think it is stupid or alright. I've never written about flying or that so it may sound stupid, just to warn you.

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Last Chapter-------

"But it was those first seven that ruined you for life," he retorted. Dare and he glared at each other before laughing for a second. "So you're ready for the tryouts today, I am sure you'll be a great Keeper," he said as they finished breakfast.

Now---------------

Ginny was writing in History of Magic when she looked up. Professor Binns was in front of her having just asked her a question. She called on her memory and recalled what he had asked.

"Well, Professor, The witch who formed a way to contain a bog-engorging jinx was Akiva Bogmarsh and she also help create a sanctuary for magical creatures whose habitats are bogs," she replied. He nodded before continuing to drone on, she nearly sighed. She could see why he had thought she wasn't listening, she was sitting listlessly in her chair plus she was fiddling with her quill. She was anxious for the House team tryouts after this class. She and Kasi were going to go upstairs and change before heading to the pitch.

Just then the bell rang, she and Kasi stood, throwing their things impatiently into their book bags. They headed out the door, cutting off the confused Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs. But as she went out of the room she collided with another student. Looking up she saw brown hair pulled into a severe bun, and a pinched expression.

"Sorry, Aralyn," she apologized, dropping to her knees and scrabbling to grab the things that had fallen out of her bag when she had dropped it.

"Well, Ginevra, if you weren't so impatient you wouldn't have caused this," the girls said condescendingly. Ginny scowled, that Hufflepuff got on her nerves. She thought she was smart, she was worse than Hermione. She finished picking up her things and looked up, there at the end of the hall Kasi stood. She was looking at Ginny mouthing 'hurry up' Ginny nodded and raced to the end of the hallway.

They raced up the wide staircase and through the portrait. They got into their room and threw their bags on their beds. Ginny threw off her robes and began unbuttoning her shirt. Kasi had unclasped her cloak on the way up and had already divested herself of her shirt and skirt. She was pulling on a pair of loose fitting dark colored jeans. Ginny had pulled off her skirt and shirt, having kicked off her shoes while unbuttoning her shirt. She pulled on a pair of worn, faded jeans. She rifled through her trunk looking for one of her t-shirts which were on the bottom. She pulled out a grey shirt that had a large green dog with a forked tail on it. Emblazoned above it in sparkling gold was the word Crup, it was one of her favorite bands. The group never really performed and they had only released a single but she and Kasi had designed the shirt and made it for her to wear.

She threw her t-shirt on, grabbing a large black jacket and tying it impatiently around her waist while Kasi looked at her impatiently. Kasi had put on a striped gold and crimson, collared shirt.

"C'mon Ginny, we're already late," her friend nearly shouted.

"Hold on I'm coming," Ginny replied as she slipped on her tennis shoes. They raced through the common room and down to the pitch. As they neared the field Ginny pulled her wand out of her back pocket and called "Accio Firefly!" a wonderful broom flew into her outstretched hand. The handle was mahogany and had a silver firefly with wings spread and a trail of fire following, among the flames in silver was the name of the broom. It had been a birthday gift from Fred and George. Kasi had also called her broom to her, a well maintained Firebolt was clutched in her hand.

"Sorry we're late," Ginny called, her cheeks flushed from running.

"Try not to be so again, Weasley," Harry said in his 'captain' voice. Ron and Ginny stifled laughs and even Kasi hid a grin. "Now, All of the people who are trying out line up over there. Those already on the team stand by me." Ginny smiled reassuringly at Kasi as they obeyed Harry. There were three positions open, one beater and two chaser positions. There were twelve people lined up in front of the team. "Please, step forward, say your name and the position you are trying out for,"

A boy with brown hair and dull blue eyes went first, his name was Mark and he was trying out for chaser, he was a seventh year. Then a girl with black hair and bright blue eyes said she was trying out for beater, she was a fifth year, and this was greeted by astonished silence. Three more boys for beater, all fourth-year students. Finally two third-year girls for chaser before Kasi introduced herself.

"Hi, I'm Kassara Saravati, I am a sixth year and I am going to tryout for chaser," she said confidently though her smile wobbled a bit. Ginny flashed her a thumbs up sign, and she smiled wider.

Harry had the chasers tryout first. He sent them into the air against the team two at a time, it was the two girls first. They went against the rest of the team to try and make it in against Ron. They got close but the one dropped the quaffle, the other rescued it but couldn't make it in against Ron. By this time a few Slytherins had arrived to wait for their time to try out. Ginny saw Malfoy and Dare on the ground on the side of the pitch, they were watching the figures in the sky. Harry let those girls down and called the other people. Kasi and Mark went next. Mark was good in the air, agile, and Kasi was quick and a great flyer. They got the ball and Mark put it through a far hoop before the rest of the team knew what was going on. Then they stole the quaffle from the team and Mark passed it to Kasi who maneuvered around Ron and threw it easily into the middle hoop. They returned to the ground and scrambled members but the other two girls weren't very good. They returned to the ground and Harry tried out the beaters. The boys went first but only one got a hit on one, and it was a weak hit that barely changed its trajectory. The girl got in the air and went after a bludger she kept it away from the team members and had only one close call when they both headed in opposite directions. She analyzed it quickly and gave one bludger a powerful smack and sent it careening into the other bludger. The team's mouth hung open, the only people who could manage that move were Fred and George and some professionals.

"Thank you for trying out, the team and I will confer and the roster will be in the common room tomorrow after dinner," Harry said with a tone of finality in his voice. The group trudged off the field, while the team grouped around Harry.

"Well, I'd say that was rather one sided," Ron said jokingly.

"Sadly it was, wasn't it," Harry said. "Well then, its Mark, Kassara and Amaranta," he named the outstanding flyers. The group nodded unanimously.

They were about to leave when a mocking voice called out, "Picking our newest losers are you Scarhead?" Malfoy had just approached, he was wearing a pair of meticulous blue jeans and a black shirt with a dragon on it. With him was the team of Slytherin, plus a few new recruits. Crabbe and Goyle stood behind him, next to him stood the brunette Kasi had liked, Darien.

"Oh, no Malfoy I think you were stuck with that lot this year," Harry retorted.

"Well, you had better clear off the pitch, it's ours now and besides it's not like practice every night a week would help you anyways," He drawled, his eyes drifting over Potter and his companions.

"Shows what you know Malfoy, we're not the ones who need practice, I could out fly you any day," Ginny said, her temper getting to her. She was still mad about the comment he had made about her weight.

"You, you aren't even good enough to polish my broom," he bit out.

"I bet I could catch the snitch faster than you could," she proclaimed, stepping towards him. His eyes flicked over her, widening almost imperceptibly at her shirt. She wondered what he had seen that caused that flicker.

"I'd love to prove you wrong Weasley but I have to pick my new team, sorry to disappoint you," he countered

"Well, I could wait till after you've had tryouts Malfoy," she pointed out complacently. "Unless, you're afraid I'll beat you," she challenged. He smiled slowly, the smile becoming purely predatory. She shivered involuntarily, seeing a promise in his eyes. She was surprised that Harry and Ron had stayed quiet during the entire exchange. She glanced over at them and saw them looking at her with something akin to respect.

"Well, I would love to beat you, after I've finished with my tryouts," he said dismissively. She smiled, nodded and headed towards her friends.

"Wow, Ginny, was Malfoy the one you were mad at yesterday?" her brother asked. She nodded, before turning to Seamus.

"Hey, would you go get Kasi, I want her to be here, she should be in the common room she was going to wait for me there," she told him. He nodded though she could see he wanted to stay.

"Well, I know you're quite good but do you really think you can beat Malfoy, much as I hate to admit it he has gotten good," Harry said grudgingly. Ginny nodded absently, glancing over at the proceeding Slytherin tryouts. The brunette was trying out for Keeper, there was one other boy for that position. There were five girls trying out for Chaser, two were in her year, she recognized them. One she knew by name, Dylan, one of the few Slytherin students who was an okay person. She saw Dylan in the air and recognized raw talent, she was agile and determined. She watched as the girl made some excellent maneuvers. She vaguely registered Harry and Ron trying to get her attention.

"What?" she asked absently, looking at the impressive display provided by Dylan.

"Well, we're going to stay to watch and make sure Malfoy doesn't cheat," her brother declared.

"I don't think Malfoy would cheat against a girl, besides, I heard from Hermione that you have two rolls of parchment due in potions because of something you did," she accused. "Besides Kasi will be here, she'll come and get you if there's trouble," she told them. They exchanged glances and nodded.

"Ok, we'll go but you better win," Harry said, clapping her on the back. She smiled and saluted him.

"Yes sir, captain sir," she said sarcastically. He grimaced at her before walking away with Ron. She felt better. She performed better when her brother and Harry weren't around. They tended to make her self conscious.

"Ginny, I just heard, are you really going to do this?" Kasi asked as she approached. Ginny looked up from the side of the field where she had sat cross legged, watching Draco as he ran the flyers through their paces.

"Yeah, I hope I didn't make a mistake though, if I did I'll never hear the end of it," she told her friend quietly.

"Gin, I don't think it's possible for you to make a mistake, and besides, you're a better seeker than Harry," Kasi said as she plopped down next to her. Ginny smiled at her friend gratefully, Kasi always knew what to say. They both looked at the people on their brooms in the air. "Wow, is that Dare, he is good, it's going to be fun trying to get past him," Kasi said competitively. Ginny smiled, Kasi would try to win, even if she were playing against her crush.

A few minutes later the group landed. She stood up and dusted herself off. She bent over and grabbed her broom. She walked towards the center of the pitch where Malfoy was standing. He was telling the team to leave, an order that could not be ignored, and that the list would be posted the next day. She walked towards him, she felt Kasi walking behind her.

"Well, Weasley, are you ready to be thrashed," he asked brusquely.

"Well, Malfoy, if you mean am I ready to kick your arse then yes, I am," she returned. The rest of Malfoy's team straggled off the field, looking covetously back at the two of them. The only people who remained were Darien and Kassara.

"Well, then lets get started, rules are first one to catch the snitch is the winner, no use of magic or underhanded tricks," he told her while opening an aged wooden box. He opened a small compartment and the released snitch fell into his open palm. He closed his fingers around the golden sphere quickly.

"Well, Malfoy guess that means none of your usual tactics huh?" she joked.

He narrowed his eyes at her. "Let me inspect you broom, I want to make sure you aren't cheating" he told her sharply.

"Only if I get to inspect your broom as well," she rejoined.

"Be careful with it, if you break that nothing you own or could do could pay for that," he told her snidely. He traded brooms with her. She took his broom it was a Firebolt Dragon. It had an ebony handle and a small silver dragon on the handle. The flames coming from its mouth spelled out the name of the broom. She looked at it in awe, the little dragon looked so real. Her fingertips caressed the cool silver inlay. She handed the broom back to Malfoy when he held hers out to her.

"You ready?" he asked as he mounted his broom, gripping it with one hand.

"Get on with it, Malfoy," she called straddling her broom and waiting for him to release the snitch. He released it and waited to a count of five. They both took off, kicking off the ground powerfully.

"I'll bet you Draco wins," Darien said as he stood next to Kasi, staring at the two figures in the sky. Neither had spotted the snitch yet, they were both flying rather high surveying the field.

"Not a chance, Ginny is the best I know of," she replied, her eyes following the flame colored dot in the air she knew was Ginny.

"Well, okay if Draco wins you go out with me," he said offhandedly, though he was looking at her intensely.

"What do I get if Ginny wins?" she questioned playfully.

"I'll go out with you," he said mischievously, nudging her with his shoulder.

"How about if Draco wins you can pick where we go, and if Ginny wins I choose where we go," she suggested.

"You're on," he replied shaking her hand before his eyes returned to the figures silhouetted against the sky.

Ginny had her eyes focused and was sweeping the field for any sign of glinting gold. She and Malfoy were about the same altitude in the air, at opposite ends of the pitch. Ginny got tired of waiting and darted forward to the center of the pitch, as she had expected Malfoy rushed towards her, stopping short when he saw her pull up and sit complacently in the center of the pitch.

"What are you doing Weasley," he demanded suspiciously.

"I'm bored, it's not as fun alone, I mean there's nothing going on, I mean there's no dodging bludgers or racing away from a hostile player, make it interesting for me," she demanded. Malfoy looked at her in surprise, most seekers like the easy game this way, but she wanted more action. He smiled grimly and saw her eyes widen at his predatory grin.

"I'll give you more action," he drawled with a devastating smirk and was rewarded with her jaw dropping, "If you can give me the middle name of the lead singer of that band," he told her haughtily.

"Are you kidding? Barely anyone knows his first name, not even me," she cried in disbelief. He smiled wider at her consternation.

"I know his middle name," he told her. She looked at him expectantly, hope in her eyes. "I'll tell you, but what are you going to do for me first." He said, his eyes sweeping the field, still looking for the snitch, but he saw no tell-tale flash of gold.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" she asked flying closer to him, just an arms length away.

"Nothing you could give me, I'm sure," he told her mockingly. He saw her eyes go dull, and they looked hurt for a minute but he was sure he was imagining it.

"So, how am I going to learn his middle name," she growled, flying closer, her teeth were clenched and her eyes had murder in them.

"Alright, Weasley, you have to stop mooning over Precious Potter for a whole week," he said jokingly. He could instantly see he had made a mistake by teasing her about this.

"Arrgh!" she screamed flying straight at him, he quickly maneuvered out of her path. She came at him again, her right arm out, cocked to punch him. "I do not have a crush on that stupid git," she shrieked. She flew by Draco slowing to hit him, he grabbed her arm and trapped her against him, quickly balancing so neither of them fell of their broom.

"Ginny, I was kidding, gees chill okay, I figured you didn't anymore, if you don't calm down we're both going to plummet at least fifty feet to the pitch, I don't particularly want that to happen," he told her urgently over her angry mutterings, she was wiggling as if to get away from him.

"How about this Malfoy, you never, ever mention that prat and I romantically in the same sentence and I let you keep your manhood," she declared seriously, glaring at him, nose to nose. He laughed at her statement, he knew she wasn't in love with Potter but he didn't know she would be that angry at his suggestion.

"Alright, Spitfire, chill, now about that thing you're going to do for me, I want you to sing some romantic song at the talent contest and dedicate it to Professor Snape," he told her.

"You're mad, Malfoy," she stated and he laughed at her. He let go of her and they hovered side by side. "I am not going to do that, besides I would have to wait about two months before I found out what his middle name is, something else," she pleaded.

"What are you going as for Halloween," he asked, abruptly changing the subject.

"Well, Kasi was thinking about us going as can-can dancers, like from the Moulin Rouge, why?" she asked confused, cocking her head as she gazed at him.

"I know what you can do, you have to dance with me, in front of everyone at the Halloween dance," he announced. She stared at him for a moment in silence.

"Why?" she asked bemused.

"Well, for one thing, your brothers would be shocked, second it would piss Precious Potter off," he stated. Her eyes blazed at the mention of Potter but she didn't try to strike him.

"Okay, what's his middle name?" she replied, her eyes flicking distractedly over his shoulder.

"His middle name is Ladon," Malfoy responded. His eyes flicked to his left and he smiled. He turned his broom and raced in that direction. Ginny's eyes widened and she raced after him. She was only a second behind him and now they were neck and neck. She saw the tell-tale glimmer of gold as it fluttered downward. She tilted her broom and flew straight down after it, she saw Draco do the same. She stretched her fingers out, reaching for her elusive quarry and saw Draco do the same, the snitch stilled before turning to her right. She rolled out of her dive and raced after it but Draco was in her way, she saw him reach forward. He stopped in midair, spinning to face her. In his fingers he clutched the snitch. She sighed, disappointed in herself.

"How about two out of three," he suggested, her eyes lit up as she smiled. "Okay, I'll let it go and we'll wait for a minute before we go after it, how's that," he inquired.

"Sure, okay," she responded. He let his fingers fall open and the golden snitch raced away from them. "Malfoy?" she called hesitantly. His eyes had become slightly unfocused, looking out towards the horizon.

"Hmm," he answered, his silver gaze returning to her.

"How did you know his middle name?" she questioned expectantly. He looked at her for a second, his eyes narrowing as he evaluated her.

"I just know, how did you find out about the band, I thought it just released in America," he returned.

"Well, Kasi just came from there this summer, she got me hooked, she really likes the bass, but I like the voice, it's good, and the lyrics are easy to relate to, I mean every kid has been hurt by their parents ignoring them or expecting to much," she explained, her eyes becoming unfocused, a bittersweet tone entering her lilting voice. "How do you know about them?" he looked at her for a while in silence.

"It's a long story, do you know how long they've been playing?" he questioned her. She thought about it, biting her lip as she thought about it.

"Well, I know they've only released the C.D. and that came out in May, so a little longer than that I suppose," she saw him look at his watch and nod grimly, her eyes swept the pitch but she saw no golden glint.

"Yeah, they've been together for about half a year," he told her. She gasped seeing a glitter in the corner of her eye. She sped off, Malfoy following her closely. She raced across the field, pushing her broom to the limit. She saw the snitch rise sharply, she pulled her broom straight up, but the snitch darted over her head and behind her. She performed a back flip diving after the snitch. They came close to the grass, she pulled up and reached forward. The snitch hit her fingers and she gripped it tightly. She flew up, high above the pitch, her elation showing clearly on her face.

"That's one, one," she said proudly. He merely looked at her, a black look covering his flawless features. She held her hand up, palm out and unclenched her fingers. The snitch flew from her fingers but instead of flitting away it flew towards her playing with her hair. She giggled as it reminded her of a hummingbird, flitting through her hair.

"How did you do that," he asked when it finally flew away. She looked at him blankly before realizing he meant keeping the snitch near her. She shrugged, her head cocking as she though about it.

"I know Harry says before a match it will fly around each seeker but I've never heard of it doing this, have you?" she asked him.

"Once, I heard it will recognize the true seeker in each instance but I don't think I've ever heard of it really happening," he told her honestly. She nodded grabbing a curl and playing with it. She saw Draco look over her shoulder, his eyes narrowing almost undetectably. She whirled her broom as he darted towards the end of the field. She felt her hair come loose from the tie she had put in it, strands broke free to trail behind her like streamers. Draco raced at it, but at the last minute it dodged and Draco raced past it, she was a few feet away but he performed an impressive maneuver and turned to face her. They made eye contact over the snitch and raced for it, they flew at each other head on. Her fingers grabbed the snitch a split-second before he did, his hand ended up grabbing hers. He gripped her wrist, bringing it towards him. He plucked the snitch from her grip and looked at her with grudging respect.

"I'd ask for the best three out of five but for two things, one I have no desire to be humiliated and secondly, it is getting darker, it will be past sunset in a few minutes," he told her, looking at the horizon where a rosy sun hung over the shimmering lake. She laughed at his comment before sighing in appreciation for the remarkable sunset.

"Okay, Malfoy, so I beat you but I have to dance with you at the Halloween dance, by the way, what dance will it be?" she looked at him.

"Oh, do you know how to tango?" he asked her.

"No, I've always wanted to know how but no one I know can do it," she replied.

"Well, I could teach you, but when is the question, I'm willing to bet you wouldn't want any of your friends to find out, or your brothers," he responded sardonically.

"How about the astronomy room, not the tower, no there's a room by the prefects bathroom, the third door to the right, it has a small bookshelf against the wall, but otherwise, it's a large room with nothing on the floor, it's a wood floor, and the ceiling is like the great hall, but its enchanted just to show the constellations," she told him quickly as the sun sank behind the horizon.

"Does it have something we could play music in?" he countered.

"Well, I'm sure we can get a radio or a c.d. player in there," she answered. "We could meet around 8:30, half an hour before curfew, and since I'm you're head boy you shouldn't get in trouble," He nodded and they slowly drifted to the ground. Dare was leaning against a tree on the side of the field, Kasi had her back to him and was sprawled between his legs.

"Finally done are you?" Kasi asked acerbically. "You kept us waiting long enough, who won?" Ginny reached down and held a hand out to her friend. Kasi gripped it and Ginny lifted her to her feet.

"Ginny," Draco replied sourly.

"So you can pick where we go out first," Dare remarked to Kasi. Neither Draco nor Ginny was surprised by this statement, they smirked at each other.

"Let's go, lover-boy, its almost time for dinner," Draco pronounced, grabbing his best friend by the collar and dragging him away. "Don't forget," he said over his shoulder as he and Dare headed back towards the castle.

"What was that about," Kasi slanted a look at her.

"Nothing, just I had to agree to do something for him, oh by the way, guess what, the lead singer's middle name is Ladon," Kasi looked at her in surprise at that announcement.

"Really? Wow, that's why you're doing something for him, well Dare asked about the shirt you had on and I told him about them, he knew what the bassist's middle name is, it's Helios,"

"Wow, what are the odds that they both knew about the band," Ginny asked softly, she was a little suspicious, almost nobody at school had ever heard of the band.

Okay I am the stupidest person alive, the Halloween Feast is before the Competition, so there will be a feast for the winners after the Contest in which a Queen and King will preside, just thought I'd say that in case I confused some people.

I want to thank all of you who reviewed my story:

Dracosbaby7: thanks for the great review, I hope you like the flying thing!

Hoppers: Thanks for your support, I'm glad you liked it and I thought that part was funny too! The worst part is it's happened to me!

HyperCrazy: I'll do my best, I hope you like it!