Hey all! sorry for this late update. Thank you for all your support.
"Merlin's beard! He's here! He's here in France!" Ginny tried to cover her ears from her roommate's early morning ruckus. It's too early to wake up. She tried going back to sleep but nope, gone. Ginny groaned and opened one of her eyes to see why her roommate is making such a fuss. "Mira, it's still bloody early in the morning."
"Sorry Gin, I really can't contain it. He's here in France, watching our game" Mira replied excitedly holding the French newspaper on her hand.
"Who is here?"
"Harry Potter of course!"
Ginny sighed "He always watch our Quidditch games Mira, why is it any different?"
"I know, but this is France! Quidditch World Cup!"
"All the more that he wants to watch because he is a big Quidditch fan, would it?"
"He's a big Quidditch fan?" Mira's eyes widened.
"Well, yeah, haven't you seen him in most of our matches?" Ginny asked trying her best to sound normal.
"Yeah, I do, but I do know he's you brother's best mate and a family friend, so I thought he just tags along, I don't see him watching our games alone." Mira answered. You can't see him when my family can't make it to the match but he never missed one so far. Ginny thought smiling internally knowing Harry never did miss any of her matches, if Ron and the other can't watch; Harry would still be there in some corner perfectly hidden in his invisibility cloak.
"So Gin, what is he like?" Mira asked, looking at her intently.
"What do you mean?" Ginny cleared her throat and was a bit startled at the question.
"He's your brother's best mate and you all went to Hogwarts, you must've seen him most of the time?"
Oh, I've SEEN him alright.
"Yeah, most of the time" Ginny supplied trying to return her focus to the conversation and not somewhere else. She looked at Mira who was still waiting for her to answer her question.
"Oh, yeah, uhm, he doesn't talk much when we're together" Ginny supplied. Cause he is doing other things. Ginny shook her head to stop her current thoughts which is becoming inappropriate. "I didn't know you are a fan "Ginny asked.
"No wizard or witch in the world –yes, in the world who doesn't know him, the only person who survived the killing curse twice! You have to introduce me to him or to the Golden Trio"
"Who?"
"The golden trio, Harry, your brother Ron and Hermione" Mira answered while looking at her with a look of disbelief like this is something Ginny has to know.
"Is that what they are calling them? The golden trio? Let me guess, Rita came up with that?" Ginny chuckled at the absurdity, the golden trio. Ginny made a mental note to ask Hermione about this. "I don't think surviving a killing curse is something positive to be known for especially for him, the first time, he lost his parents, the second, well, he didn't really know he'd survive." Ginny added.
Mira looked like she was contemplating it. "Yeah, I think you're right. Thinking about it seems horrific but still he saved us, you all did. We were meant to come back to London when our term ends but my parents decided to stay in France while the war was happening over there. I'm sorry"
"Hey, you don't have to apologize, you were young, and your parents just want all of you to be safe."
Mira nodded and gave her a weak smile. "It's time, we need to change, practice with Andrew at 8"
They got up, ate their breakfast and headed for the field.
The practice with Andrew went well, Gwenog was right, he did have some idea about the strategies that Ginny came up with the other chasers so it was not hard for him to catch up. They practiced for a couple of hours and by the end of the morning, Ginny was confident about Andrew as a substitute chaser. When they landed on the field, they were met by Gwenog.
"Good practice, I have news, we will be playing with America next, they just won. Match will be tomorrow morning"
"That's just literally a half day's rest, we should have an advantage" Andrew commented.
"Don't be so sure, from what I have seen, their starting players were pulled out last night and were asked to rest. So, you three hit the showers and prepare for tomorrow's match." Gwenog answered.
The next match came in a whim. Ginny was feeling a bit more uneasy because of the change of players. She knew Andrew was a good player but her strategies are focus on them three, helping each other on the field. The whistle sounded and Ginny was brought back to the present. Andrew did learn fast about their strategies and was able to score the first goal. Their new dynamic got them scoring 100 points just an hour into the game. The crowd went wild every time they score and they seem to acknowledge the change that by the end of the match, they were making waves among the fans and other countries are keeping tabs on them as they won their way to the finals.
"I can't believe we are in the finals!" Ginny exclaimed. The players are asked to rest as their game was scheduled the next morning. She was in her hotel room with Mira.
"You should believe it because it's happening!" Mira added with the same excitement. She was holding the latest French newspaper. "Look Gin, the three of us are again on the news"
"Read it"
Britain VS Brazil.
The British Quidditch team has won their way through the Finals and are playing against the Brazilian Quidditch team. "I have watched them play, they are a fair opponent but I believe our team can do better" answered Silva, Brazilian keeper, when asked if he is worried about going against the British team especially that their chasers are now known to be the magic three. "They are just the best! They got a fan in me!" said Luther, an American who was already planning to go home after his home country lose but decided to stay and wait for the finals when he saw how well the British chasers played. Just like the case of Luther from America, a lot of fans from different countries decided to stay even though their home countries have lose because they want to see more of the magic three.
"Seriously, who comes up with these rubbish names?" Ginny replied looking horrified with the new nickname.
"The stadium is going to be packed, the French ministry is at its wits trying to figure out how to accommodate them" Mira commented, still reading the newspaper.
"What do you mean? Haven't they expected the finals to be packed?" Ginny asked.
"Not this much. Usually, after a country loses, their team with their fans go home. Some also do not arrive until the finals, whoever is playing, they just want to watch. So now, a lot of these lot who were not expected to watch are now watching. It's big sales though."
"And that is because of us?"
"Mostly, yes. Do you know they have been trying to ask the three of us for an interview? Never seen Gwenog wound up over a bunch of photographers and journalist before." replied Mira.
"Well, to be honest, we were really going for it out there, -I'm not saying anything against Thompson, she was really good but Andrew also is good he helped us a lot" Ginny commented.
"Are you kidding me Ginny? –I mean the reason we are so good is because of the fact that you have better strategies and Andrew, he knows you, like, he knows what you are about to do, your fakes, your dives, what you are about to do. I know you but if we hadn't spent years practicing together, I wouldn't be able to do what Andrew is doing in just a few days."
Ginny was stunned by the comment but told her self not to think much about it. The girls went to bed ready for the last and final match of the Quidditch world cup.
The Quidditch Finals opening
The stadium, just like the start of the cup was filled with wizards and witches of all ages. Only, the finals have more audience this time with the French ministry adding more and more rows of benches to accommodate the unexpected number of spectators. Harry along with the Weasleys and Hermione was again given the privilege to be seated on one of the VIP boxes. A big screen was on the far right of the stadium flashing different advertisement. The British roared and cheered when they saw Weasley Wizard Wheezes: The Sckiving Snackbox. "That didn't come cheap" George muttered.
After a few moments, the French minister again addressed the crowd. "Welcome to the 423rd Quidditch World Cup Finals! This year has been indeed exciting and enjoyable. The French Ministry had the honor to host this year's Quidditch World Cup! And now, without further ado, let me introduce the teams for tonight!" The crowd cheered "-First off, The Brazilian Quidditch Team!" A huge Brazilian flag appeared on the crowd and there were four big drums that were wheeling itself into the stadium with two drumsticks on top of each without any players. The drums sticks moved on its own and a loud rhythmic beats filled the stadium and a dozens of fairies came out. The crowd oohed and aahhed by the appearance. The fairies danced to the beat and there were others flying around the stadium giving out flying kisses to the crowd. The fairies then formed a circled in the middle of the stadium and started dancing again and this time there were visible green mists forming at the center. The beat began to sound intense and the fairies dance also became aggressive and alas! The green mist formed into a big tree. Everyone applauded; the Brazilian fans howled and wolf whistled. Hermione smiled proudly at the performance "They are advocating the forest conservation" she announced to everyone in the box. The occupants nodded and applauded as the fairies exited the stadium and the Brazilian players entered.
"That was a spectacular performance. Up next, the British Quidditch team" There was a big boom! At the center of the field and a round flame erupted then, taking everybody by surprise, a phoenix flew out from the flames. The stadium was filled with the phoenix song. The crowd went silent and was looking at the bird flying around the stadium when it neared the VIP box, harry noticed that it was not a real bird, it looked like a hologram or a patronus with colors and it grew bigger and bigger as the song goes on and it went back to the middle and flew up, and boom! The phoenix erupted sending dozens of rose petals around the stadium. The crowd went wild. Percy and Hermione never looked proud, they obviously knew what was going to happen. "It's in honor of the war heroes Harry, especially professor Dumbledore" Hermione whispered to Harry. He smiled and nodded. The crowd's cheers grew even louder when the British player flew out. Ginny flew with Mira and Andrew on each side, they were asked to fly together for publicity. The teams formed their starting positions. The crowd went silent anticipating the whistle. Phwwwwwhh and the game began.
I did my best coming up with those opening performances so sorry if its a bit nah...:) anyway, find out how the whole quidditch world cup affects ginny and harry's relationship in the next chapters! thanks!