Chapter - 3
Upon returning, she was greeted by the sight of Hermione, Ron and Harry outside the tent.
"Hey! Ginny's back!" cried out Ron, "Where were you, dad was worried sick that you got yourself lost. You're not old enough to be wandering around, you should've at least gone with someone"
Everyone stared at her with worry, Harry and Hermione included and a twinge of annoyance poked at Ginny.
"I'm quite capable of going for a walk and arriving unscathed, thank you very much." She retorted. "And I did inform Percy and leave."
Ron looked a bit regretful for berating her but still stuck to his guns, "Right but even so, it's still dangerous!"
Ginny scowled at him and felt herself getting heated up. She had been avoiding him ever since she had overheard the conversation and quite frankly – she felt a bit betrayed that her brother mentioned her crush on Harry in a dismissive way.
She'd wanted to go and confront him and ask him if she was truly as annoying as he made her out to be. But Harry, Ron and Hermione seemed to be stuck to the hip to each other throughout, and she didn't want to argue with Ron and make an ugly scene in front of Harry and Hermione.
She held back, and gritted out. "Well, I'm not sticking to you guys or bothering you, am I? So, what's the big deal – if I wander off on my own?"
Ron looked taken aback and started off in a contrite way. "Ginny – that's not what, I mean we never- "
Ginny stopped him because she noticed the pitiful tone, she felt like she had pulled the conversation, and had caused Ron to become defensive. She didn't want to be a Debbie Downer and keep sulking about things. She just wanted to enjoy the match tonight.
"Ron, I get what you're saying. Next time I won't be that careless – ok." she said pointedly, hoping to end the painful conversation.
Harry shifted awkwardly in his stance, and in an effort to break the tension, he babbled.
"You know we saw this huge tent while fetching water, the people there were supporting Ireland, and it was covered with shamrocks." He added, with his eyes wide and animated, as if it were the most wondrous thing, he had seen all day
Ron's face lit up and he looked at Ginny and continued, "Yeah, and what do you know – it belongs to old Seamus!"
Ginny's face lit up and she welcomed the new lightness of the subject matter. "Woah! That's awesome, did you lot meet anyone else from Hogwarts, because I went around galumphing and I didn't see one Joe who looked remotely familiar, I did meet a German bloke though!"
Hermione looked excitedly and piped in "That's interesting, was he around our age and if so, did you ask him about which school he went to?"
They all looked at her curious, waiting expectantly.
Ginny looked up and thought that was something she had wondered about the mysterious boy on the way back, he presumably didn't go to Hogwarts, so he probably belonged to another school.
"I'm not sure, but he must be from Durmstrang, or Ilvermorny, his coat seemed to cost a heavy penny, so probably Durmstrang" she concluded, "That's where most of the spiffy European sort go."
Hermione looked thoughtfully, "Hmm, that was something I was curious about while reading about the other schools, like what's equivalent of Eton and such in the Wizarding World."
"Definitely not Hogwarts." Ron snorted and laughed nudging Harry who seemed perplexed.
"You know that thought never struck my mind!" Harry said aloud, "I just assumed everyone went to Hogwarts."
"Well, I don't think you have much time to ponder about things like this, not with the Dark Lord hot on your heels every year." Ginny joked darkly.
Uh Oh she screamed internally once she played back what she said in her mind. She glanced at Harry's face for any sign of anger or indication that he was offended, but to her surprise – Harry's eyes peered down at her, and his mouth was pulled into a bright smile, and he chuckled, causing Ron and Hermione to grin as well.
"Right! I tell you what though – he definitely could work on his timing." He said gravely, "Perhaps, come a bit early this time, instead of after the exams." He finished amidst the laughter pouring from the group.
Hermione not one to be left out added, "Harry! Don't you see! He cares about your education."
Ginny doubled over in laughter along with Ron and Harry, and felt lighter than she had the past few days.
"How philanthropic of him!" she joked.
"Philanthropic of who?" asked a deep masculine voice.
Out emerged Bill Weasley who stepped out of the tent and joined the group.
"Oh, we're just having a laugh about how our exams are never cancelled no matter what happens in Hogwarts." supplied Ron.
"Ahh, I see," he said amusedly glancing at the group, an impish gleam soon entered his eye, "Maybe that'll change this year."
The quartet looked at him weirdly and hurriedly spoke simultaneously.
"What does that mean?"
"Must you be vague, what's going to happen?"
"Is something going to happen this year?"
"I don't think that's in my place to reveal."
Ginny snorted and Bill crinkled his eyes and ruffle up her hair.
The cryptic statement galvanized the group and soon they all entered the tents, and started rapidly discussing the possibilities, joined by the twins, the guesses for the mysterious event ranged from 'A party to celebrate Snape finally shampooing his hair.' to 'A celebration of Dumbledore's 200th Birthday.'
'Because Merlin knows, that wizard is older than he looks!' swore Ron.
Ginny chortled and pictured the old headmaster peering down in the hall through his half-moon spectacles.
The arrival of Ludo Bagman and Mr. Crouch at the campsite soon cemented the fact that something was abound especially when Mr. Bagman looked towards Mr. Crouch and said, "Still, it's not as though we haven't got anything to look forward to, eh, Barty? Eh?"
Once Ginny heard that, she turned to the others exchanging looks of curiosity and caught Harry looking back at her with the same knowing look in recognition.
The sky outside slowly started to gradate from a warm orange tinge to a darker tone. Their shadows grew long with the evening sun and on its disappearance, the shadows dissipated. Ginny stepped out and gazed at the moor in wonder, it was a sight to remember.
With all the tents pitched out, the air was buzzing with excitement. Lanterns and levitating balls of luminosity shone all over. People paraded out in robes matching the team colours of their favourite sides. Ginny herself wore a bright green jumper, and pulled her hair back with a white ribbon to show her solidarity with Ireland.
Ron on the other hand seemed to be split and kept changing colours.
"Which side are you going to support Hermione?" asked Ginny, while the girls got ready.
"I'm not sure." Mused Hermione, "Both the countries are of the same appeal to me."
A stray balled up T-shirt soon landed on Hermione's face.
"Hey, what's that for?" Hermione harped out in surprise. "For being wishy-washy." Teased Ginny.
Hermione smirked and then wore a maroon jumper, and turned to Ginny, pointing at her jumper.
"How's that for wishy-washy?" she called out. Ginny smiled and said, "Point taken."
The group soon headed to the stadium and passed through the woods. "Stay close to each other!" Instructed Mr. Weasley to the unruly teens.
Ginny shivered and pulled her jumper closer to her body, the woods were made up of gnarly trees blanketing the areas. And resembled sharp pointy claws in the absence of any light.
Charlie noticed her veering off the party, and stuck to her while walking.
"Excited?" Charlie asked. "Yes! I can't wait for Ireland to flatten Bulgaria!" squealed Ginny, "That'll show that smarmy tosser."
"Which smarmy tosser?"
"Oh, just someone..." she replied vaguely. Charlie nodded and smirked. They soon came across a stall selling souvenirs and fan merchandise.
Ginny gazed at it in wonder and touched the live sized poster of Aidan Lynch the Irish Seeker (her favourite player), who looked quite like the muggle actor – Brad Pitt, that Ginny had asked Hermione about. The shop held exciting trinkets, including a mini diorama of the stadium populated with tiny quidditch players whizzing about.
"That's charmed to play the exact same game and moves that'll happen this evening." The shopkeeper explained. Ginny looked at the price tag and balked. 5 galleons were a hefty price for a souvenir. "No, thank you." She smiled sheepishly.
"She'll take it." Charlie unceremoniously announced, handing the amount to the shopkeeper.
"Charlie! You can't!" She protested, pushing away his hand. "Nonsense, this is a once in a lifetime experience, you need to keep something to remember it by." He finished, thrusting the purchase at her hand.
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" she gushed, gazing at the diorama the whole time while walking to the stadium.
When reaching the stadium Ginny's eyes were pulled from the diorama and towards the colossal structure. The stadium was titanic in size and a marvel to wonder at. Scarlet walls enclosed the green velvety field below, and rows upon rows of seats were attached at every level.
Ascending the crowded stadium was a mammoth task in itself, and it seemed like the stairs were never ending. They kept bumping into people who were all filing towards their seats. Ginny stumbled on a particularly rickety step, when an elegant hand was offered towards her.
Accepting it she helped herself upright and only then did she notice the person who had offered the hand. Standing tall and poised, was the same boy she had encountered earlier.
"Oh Wilhelm, what are you doing here?" she asked transfixed.
"I might ask you the same thing, Ginevra?" he replied cheekily. Harry, Ron and Hermione who were walking ahead of her, waited and looked back inquisitively, upon her absence. They all stood in silence and gazed curiously at the boy.
Noticing her rudeness, she introduced him to them. "This is Wilhelm, the German bloke I told you about before."
Harry and Ron both peered warily at him, whilst Hermione smiled in recognition and held out her hand to greet him.
"Hi there! I'm Hermione and this is Ron and Harry." She spoke. Harry and Ron both gave a tight-lipped smile and then Ron in a hasty voice said, "Wilhelm mate, it's been nice to meet you, but we have seats on the Top Box and it's a long way ahead and we need to rush."
Wilhelm smiled, and leisurely replied, "I'm headed towards the top myself, let me accompany you."
Ron hesitantly nodded, and they all journeyed again, tracking the Weasley party who were not in sight. The boys walked a bit ahead, conversing in hushed tones. Leaving the girls and Wilhelm trailing after them.
"So, which school do you go to Wilhelm, and if you don't mind my enquiring, how old are you?" asked Hermione expectantly.
"I'm from Durmstrang, and I'm going to my fourth year." He said, "And I don't mind the questions Hermione, it's a welcome change from aggressive conversations about your favourite team being flattened." He added, smirking at Ginny, in reference to their earlier encounter.
"Hey, now! You needed to be humbled." Ginny said laughingly.
The trio walked up the stairs and chatted rapidly. Wilhelm fielded most of Hermione's questions about Durmstrang and answered them all, and similarly asked about Hogwarts and what year the girls were in as well.
Once they reached a level below the Top Box, he bade them farewell and moved to take his seat. Ginny peered over his shoulders and saw a well-dressed elderly couple waiting for him.
"Well, it's been lovely chatting with you girls! I hope to see you after the cup as well!" he added looking towards Ginny.
"Likewise, Wilhelm," Hermione answered, she then looked up the stairs and noticed that the boys had left, "I'll get going then!" she said, nodding at Ginny and giving the duo some space for saying goodbye.
Ginny stood, and shook her legs, drawing out a big sigh. "Sorry bout Ron and Harry, they're not the sociable sort."
"That's ok. I understand. Correct me if I'm wrong, but is Harry the same Harry Potter as the Boy Who Lived." He asked looking at her.
Ginny's expression changed and she crossed her arms, widened her stance and stuck her chin out.
"Yeah, he is, why do you ask?" she questioned suspiciously.
"Nothing really, I've just heard a lot… about him." He said nonchalantly. Ginny surveyed his face for any deceit – and she found none.
"Enough about that, now tell me how can we exchange letters, I want to have you as my pen friend." He continued.
Wilhelm looked at her earnestly, his eyes drooped down and he looked upwards to see her reaction. Ginny wondered whether she should give her address, on one hand she did want to keep in touch with Wilhelm but on the other, that comment about Harry left her a bit displaced.
It wasn't like none of her classmates had asked her about Harry. In fact, a lot of people would come up to her and ask curious questions about him to which she rarely knew answers to (his shoe size, his first kiss etc), especially since she was the sister of his best friend.
But she felt a bit odd, and even though she was trying to decimate her crush on Harry, she still felt a bit protective of the spectacled boy.
"You're not a Harry Potter fanatic or something of that ilk, are you?" she jokingly quizzed, even though she asked it with all intentions of taking the answer seriously.
"No! Oh God, I hope you don't think, that that's why I talked to you. No, I asked because well," he said looking around, "Well my cousin is in the same year as him in Hogwarts, and he didn't exactly tell me the most pleasant things about him." He elaborated.
That sounded odd, because Ginny knew that most people had two reactions to Harry – they were either in awe of him or they pitied him. Hate was something new.
Ginny looked confused and tilted her head, "Ohhh." She let out, "Well Harry is quite nice actually, he's a normal bloke. So don't believe what other people say. Even though it's your cousin, they probably don't know him that well." She defended.
She felt like bonking herself, now Wilhelm would think that she was calling his cousin a liar. But the Gryffindor in Ginny couldn't help but defend someone she held in close regard.
Wilhelm smiled and stared at her with an unfamiliar expression on his face, "You're loyal aren't you." He commented in a deep voice.
"I like that."
Immediately, heat rushed to her face. Ginny didn't even need a mirror to know that her cheeks were probably flaming due to the compliment he paid her. This was a different feeling, altogether she gathered. She knew that if someone called her pretty, she'd be quite shy, but this was novel, someone had noticed a quality in her and they liked it. Also, it didn't help that his voice sounded like he came right out of one of those muggle movies that Hermione had shown her, the ones with the handsome Clooney fella.
Feeling like she was floating, she dreamily took out her wand and incantated a writing spell. She took a hold of his forearm that felt sturdy to the touch, and pulled it, writing her address in squiggly letters, she let go of his arm, and missed the touch.
"There." She said.
Wilhelm gazed at her and then looked at the address once more grazing the lettering on his arm. Looking back, he grinned and waved a goodbye.