Disclaimer: I do not, nor ever have, nor ever will, own Harry Potter or his friends or his foes.

------------------------Chapter 12: The Match

Before Ginny knew it, it was the first Quidditch match. She was quite worried. Not only was it against Slytherin, but she had not been at her best. She was very busy, and it did not help that Tom would pop into her head at the most inopportune moments, taunting her and annoying her, sometimes in his charming way.

"Hey Ginny," said Harry plopping himself down next to her to get some breakfast.

"Mornin'" she replied gloomily. She could feel Tom stir in her head; he normally liked to when Harry was around.

His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad…

Shut up, Tom.

"Are you alright?" said Harry with a worried expression.

"Just peachy," she grumbled.

"Tom?"

"He is unfortunately doing much better than I am."

"I didn't mean—"

"I know," said Ginny getting up. "We had better get going."

That was not nice, my love.

Stop calling me that.

You're cute when you're angry.

I think that is the most appalling thing you have ever said.

Ginny didn't have much time to elaborate. Harry caught up to her.

"I am very sorry."

"For what?" she said more harshly than she intended.

"For everything. For not being able to defeat Voldemort. For all the pain you have been put through. For being much a big prat."

"What are you talking about, Harry?"

"Nevermind, I talk about it later."

Ron had just walked up.

"Mornin'" he said groggily. "Ready for the first match?"

"Yep," grinned Harry. "We are going to beat the Slytherins, I know it."

"Seeing that you only lost one match."

"Well—"

"He is right, Harry."

Harry just grinned.

The pitch was muddy and it was raining quite a bit as the Quidditch game started. Draco and Harry shook hands curtly and the players were off. Ginny loved the feeling of flying, not even Tom could ruin it for her. She caught sight of Draco looking for the snitch as she raced the quaffle to the Slytherin goals. She practically slapped herself for thinking how good he looked. Tom was not pleased.

You like him? He is not nearly as handsome as I am.

Will you shut it for once!

Ginny was quite annoyed as she scored the first goal. It did not get any better either. It was a long game. Gryffindor was in lead, but Ginny felt more and more like knocking herself out as the game worn on. She missed scoring by several feet three times in a row. Apparently, Harry noticed, because he called a time-out.

"We are winning, but we need to keep it up."

"Ginny, you have missed three in a row!" said Ron.

"I know, I am sorry. I am just getting worn out." Ginny gave Harry a meaningful look.

"This is no time to be getting worn out!" said Jack Sloper, one of the beaters. "Slytherin is only three goals behind."

"Sorry, I will do better," said Ginny downcastly.

"It is fine, you are doing great Ginny," Harry gave a small smile.

Ginny just laughed sadly.

---------------------------------

Draco was determined to get the snitch. He knew he was an exceptional Quidditch player and the fact that he had never beat Potter was unacceptable to him. Draco was so focused that he didn't pay any attention to what was going on in the rest of the game. Potter called a time-out, so he decided to find out.

"What is the score?"

"180:210, Gryffindor in lead," answered Blaise, the keeper.

"Why are we losing?" said Draco glaring at the team.

"Well, Gryffindor does have good players, but don't worry it looks like the Weasel Princess is wearing thin," added in Theodore Nott.

Draco looked over to Ginny. She looked wearied and he knew it was not just from Quidditch. Draco looked away abruptly, masking the worried expression that was coming over his face.

"You cannot let a group of worthless Gryffindors beat us."

--

Draco was determined to beat Gryffindor. Unfortunately for him, his search for the snitch went unfruitful for a long time. He wanted to see how Ginny was doing, but he couldn't chance breaking his concentration. A while later he saw it, the snitch, glittering at the other side of the pitch. Draco was off.

Within a second, Potter was at his side. They chased the snitch into a dive. He and Potter both reached for the snitch. Only a little closer, thought Draco, but his thought was useless. Potter caught the snitch.

"GRYFFINDOR WINS!" yelled the commentator, Ernie Macmillan, a seventh year Hufflepuff.

-------------------------

Ginny was elated. They had won despite of her poor playing. Her cheer was interrupted though.

Stupid Gryffindors.

Will you give it a rest?

Ah, but I can never rest. Not until you are by my side.

Being in my head is not enough?

There is never enough of you, my love.

Right. I am just wondering what is going to happen when all your Death Eaters find out how much of a sap you are.

Perhaps the same thing that happens when your family and friends find out the darkness inside of you. What does that fool want?

Ginny and Tom conversation was cut off. Dumbledore had just walked up.

"Congratulations, Miss Weasley."

"Thank you," she answered quietly.

"I have some good new for you," Dumbledore said smiling. "I have found a remedy for your certain problem."

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A/N: Chapter 12, this is. Thank you all ever so much for reading. A extra special thank you to my twelfth ever reviewer, Apathertically Interested.

--Perplexity

PS--Not that I find any objection toexpanding my mind, but I agree, school is evil.

Also- I may start posting a new Harry Potter fan fiction as soon as next week. It is to be a Neville/Ginny fiction. I find it is sad that there is a sufficiant lack of them. It will be post HBP. I also am working on another one, which has a surprise pairing, which I have never seen done.