Chapter 7
Ginny felt herself being jolted out of the fire. She staggered as she arrived but after regaining her balance looked around the room. It was exactly how a Sports Professors office should look. There was a cabinet full of all the schools trophies to her left. In pride of place, the enormous quidditch cup ladened with red and golden ribbons to mark its current owners. Surrounding this, was an assortment of smaller cups and trophies, representing the new sports that Fripping had introduced to the school.
On the other side of the room was a small desk, covered with an array of parchment, books and photographs. Ginny stiffened. Would he want to add to this collection once she had spoken to him?
At this moment, the door opened and in walked the man who had haunted Ginny's dreams for so long. He stopped where he was when he saw Ginny and, after a moments hesitation extended his hand
'Miss Weasley, what a surprise, what can I do for you?' Ginny refused the hand 'How dare he be so callous' she thought.
Fripping, sensing Ginny's anger, dropped the hand and motioned towards the chair opposite his desk.
'If I may speak first' he asked Ginny who had just opened her mouth.' As I am aware of why you have come here and I want to explain my decision so you can understand why I has to do it.'
Ginny gasped. So he had planned it all along. He was revolting. She began regretting coming here alone, what if he tried it again. Well at least this time she would be ready.
'Miss Weasley, I-'
'Don't you dare have the audacity to call me Miss Weasley! You cannot use that form of formality after calling me Ginny for so long. It's cowardly to revert to the official titles after you have acted with shame.
Fripping looked flabbergasted. 'Shame Miss-, Ginny. I hardly think that I have acted with shame. I have to consider the repercussions and yours have the potential to be far too great on the others. I can't risk it. I admit I may have acted in a tactless way but really Ginny, you must have seen it coming.'
Ginny's mouth fell open. Was he calling her easy? Was he implying that she had asked for it? Well, she practically had his reasoning, now all she needed was from him to finally admit to the act, then, at last she could begin to clear up the mess her life was.
'So, you deliberately did it.' Her words came out as no more than a whisper. 'You had the full intention of doing it?'
For the first time, the professor looked sympathetic.
'Ginny, I know how much it means to you and I'm sorry that I was the one who had to do it but I just felt that there were so many factors supporting my decision. And when you mother-'
'My mum!' Ginny shouted the words. This couldn't be right. Her mum had reacted worse than anyone else. She wouldn't have, no, no. He was clearly making it all up now, trying to make it seem as though he was not in control.
'MY MUM WOULDN'T HAVE LET YOU DO THIS.' Bellowed Ginny. 'YOU'RE A LIAR AND INDESCENT AND I WILL HAVE THE MINISTRY ONTO YOU.'
'Ginny, please control yourself. Calm down. Please talk sensibly. I understand you are upset but the ministry is hardly going to listen to a girl raving on that her sports coach wouldn't let he become Gryffindor Quidditch Captain. Your mother sent me an owl explaining your current arrangements and she suggested that I refrain from making you captain because it would distract you from your other duties at home. I also felt that the responsibility would be too much pressure on you.'
There was a painful silence during which Fripping was sitting, looking directly at Ginny with the calm authority of a person who knows they are in the right. Ginny, was starring, straight into the man's eyes, disbelief pouring over her. He couldn't think this is what she was here for- her not being Quidditch Captain. She hadn't received the official letter from Hogwarts for a start and anyway, who in their right mind would be so concerned over a trifle incident like that. Unless-. Ginny's heart skipped a beat. What if he hadn't, she had only ever assumed, there was concrete evidence, unless you counted Lily.
Her mind in a haze, Ginny stood up and stumbled towards the fire.
'Ginny, I am sorry' Fripping called as she hastily stepped into the flames.