Disclaimer: OK, you really should know by now that nothing but Bryn belongs to me.

Chapter 13 - Games We Play: Bryn was both excited and nervous on the morning of her first Quidditch match at Hogwarts, Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw. Slytherin and Hufflepuff had played in November, and Slytherin had flattened the Hufflepuffs. If Gryffindor beat Ravenclaw, they'd play Slytherin next, and whoever won that match would be headed for the Quidditch Cup.

Bryn changed into her scarlet Quidditch robes in the girls' locker room, and headed out with Katie and Ginny, Pegasus in hand. They met the boys outside their locker room and, after a short pep talk from Harry, walked onto the pitch to a loud cheer from the crimson supporters.

All the players mounted their brooms and were off as soon as Madam Hooch blew her whistle. Bryn rocketed up, keeping an eye on Ginny, who had the Quaffle. A minute later, Ginny had scored. Bryn got the Quaffle next, but passed to Katie just before she had to roll over in midair to avoid a Bludger. "Damn!" she hissed, shaking off the dizziness that maneuver caused.

A second later she was ready to curse again as one of the Ravenclaw Chasers dodged a Bludger aimed at him by Peakes and got past Ron to tie the score at 10-10. She dove as fast as she could and managed to get the Quaffle. Bryn streaked up the field towards the Ravenclaw end and threw as hard as she could. The Keeper just missed, and they were ahead again, 20-10.

The match continued like that, with the lead rapidly switching from one team to the next. Finally, when Ravenclaw was ahead by 30 points, they'd been playing for two hours, and Bryn had begun to worry about losing, Harry and the Ravenclaw Seeker went into a sudden dive, and Harry came out with the Snitch in his hand.

During the party that followed, Bryn discovered why Ron had been eyeing Bill and Fleur at Christmas. He'd been hoping to pick up tips! He was now in one corner of the common room, wrapped around Lavender Brown, one of Bryn's dorm-mates.

Ginny seemed quite amused by this. "Looks like he's eating her face, doesn't it?" she asked Harry and Bryn before going to find Dean. Bryn looked worriedly over at Harry, who was looking at the portrait hole. Bryn flinched when she noticed a bit of brown hair whip out of sight. Harry ran off, obviously deciding that Hermione was far more in need that Ron was.

About 10 minutes later, Ron and Lavender left, and not too long after that, Hermione came running back in. She went straight to the dormitory, and after a minute's hesitation, Bryn followed her.

"You OK?" she asked Hermione, fully aware of how stupid the question was.

"Sure," Hermione replied in a falsely cheerful voice. "Don't even know what's wrong with me. I'm just being silly." Bryn managed not to roll her eyes. It was so obvious that Hermione liked Ron, even a blind man could see it. As for Ron himself, Bryn had a feeling he liked Hermione too, but Lavender was pretty too, and quite aggressive when interested in a boy. She'd been throwing herself at Ron since before Christmas. Plus, boys were immature idiots anyway.

"You're not silly, 'Mione," she said, hoping the other girl wouldn't get mad that she'd used the nickname that only Ginny often used. Hermione looked up and gave Bryn a watery smile.

"Yes, I am. Crying over a boy! It's completely ridiculous!" Bryn shook her head.

"It isn't. Last year -" She hesitated. It was still hard to talk about. She took a breath and continued. "Last year, I was seeing this boy, Andy. I really liked him, and I thought he liked me too, but then I caught him kissing this other girl in our year, Desiree. Turned out he was just trying to get in a girl's pants, and any girl would do. I cried too, and my friends... well, Sarai's advice was to just get a new boyfriend, but she's got a new one every week, so her advice is suspect. Ailin, though, she said that of course I was upset, I liked him and he hurt me, and that's OK. She also said I'd move on, and I did. It'll be fine, I'm sure."

Hermione laughed sadly. "I'm not so sure I'll get over this particular boy. It's just- I've liked him for so long, and he never noticed! And now, I guess it's obvious that -"

"That he's an idiot, and if he hasn't noticed you yet, he's not mature enough to be with you. Give him a chance to grow up a little," Bryn said flatly. Hermione looked at her shrewdly, all tears suddenly gone.

"You're giving me all this advice, Bryn, but what about you? Aren't you interested in anyone? " Bryn hesitated again. She'd thought she might be falling for Harry, but now she wasn't so sure. She'd noticed him watching Ginny, and supposed if she liked him, that ought to make her upset, but it didn't. And it didn't help that lately, another boy had been filling her thoughts...

"I don't know," she admitted. Then she laughed. "God, aren't we a mess? You're upset 'cause you like someone too childish to notice, and I'm not even sure who I like, if anyone!" Hermione laughed too, and they spent the rest of the evening cheerfully abusing the general male population for their total immaturity and the social opinion that a girl needed a romance to be someone.

A/N: I know, my Quidditch match sucked, but I'm not a sports person myself, and I really am not too good at writing them. I fully understand why Jo Rowling didn't like to write them anymore (MuggleNet/Leaky Cauldron interview)! I thought I needed some Hermione/Bryn bonding, because I think Hermione needs more girls to talk to, don't you? I know she has Ginny, but it's good to have more than one girlfriend, especially if your best friends are guys. As for abusing the immaturity of boys, my girlfriends and I are always remarking on that. (And for any boys reading this, don't get offended; I'm sure you say some uncomplimentary things about girls too!) R&R, people!