Chapter Four
Ginny dragged herself into her return to school routine, her early morning training, her classes and her Prefect duties, squeezing meals in between trips to the library and homework sessions in the common room. Meal times reminded her of her brothers and she missed them then especially, which reminded her that Fred was dead. She often ate with Hermione, each took to waiting at the long Gryffindor dining table with their nose in a book until the other turned up, they would talk over their day together and update each other with their daily news and gossip from their correspondence with old friends.
Thank goodness Ginny had spent so much time with Hermione in her first year. Hermione had helped her draw up homework timetables, showed her how to use the library, helped her with some of the more difficult subject content, taught her how to write an essay and how to prepare for examinations. If she had learned her study habits from her brothers, she would have struggled academically, probably as much as Ron did. Simply being organised contributed much toward her overall success.
Ginny and Cho had immediately become fast friends and had fallen into a bit of a training routine together. Some mornings they met leaving the castle at the same time, otherwise they each began their own training program until Cho had finished running and then they trained together. Cho persistently tried to get Ginny to join her in her laps and Ginny persistently resisted. Cho explained the benefits of fitness as it related to Quidditch and flying, in turns she pleaded, pretended she didn't care and offered it as a wager -
"If I get there first, you run with me tomorrow?"
"You can have it then, Chang!"
Cho attended classes with Hermione, both being in the seventh year and they took to sitting together and partnered each other in practical lessons and assessments. They got along well together and came to appreciate their shared commitment to academic excellence. Cho had the extra responsibilities of Head Girl and Quidditch training which Hermione was free of, so she took it upon herself to pick up Cho's library books for her, she was going there anyway and picking up many of the same books.
Gratefully, Cho would drop by the Gryffindor dining table at dinner time, frequently using the opportunity to return a book they were sharing or pass on some notes she had made for an upcoming assessment they were partnered up for. This led to her more often than not having her dinner with Hermione and Ginny rather than at the Ravenclaw table with students she knew less well and who were three years younger than herself.
Neville and Luna frequently joined them, Justin on occasion sat with them for a spell. More than once they commented on how quiet the Great Hall was these days, unlike the old days where the background noise was a dull roar of hilarity, gossip and communication in the form of a thrown pea to get the attention of someone down the table or across the room.
"I've had an idea about that," said Ginny, thoughtfully.
"Oh yeah?" asked Hermione between bights of her steak and kidney pie.
Cho had a mouthful so she simply raised her eyebrow in question.
"Yeah, Quidditch."
"You would like us to play Quidditch in the Great Hall during meal times?" asked Hermione.
"No, of course not. Firstly, we don't play nearly as many Quidditch games across the academic year as I would like,"
Cho nodded vigorously, chewing a fresh mouthful.
"Secondly, it's a good way for us all to come together, to bond and to have some fun, and thirdly, I think we could create a less viscous competition than we have had in previous years."
Hermione appeared to be thinking the proposal over, "The students could use some fun,"
"We do need to have more fun, look at the tiny first years, they're just little kids. Check this out - I've designed a simple Round Robin competition, here," said Ginny, enthusiastically.
Ginny pulled a piece of parchment out of her breast pocket revealing a grid, "Each team plays all the others once each term. Six games in the middle of terms 1 and 2, with a finals series in Term 3."
"That looks awesome, Weasley," said Cho, looking it over closely.
"You would have to get Madam Hooch's approval, nothing will get off the ground without her," said Hermione, her brain already forming a strategic plan of attack, "Also, you would have to show how this competition would contribute to an improved state of student morale."
"Team selections could be a school event, rather than secretive like they used to be?" suggested Cho.
"Great idea. All of the Quidditch fans will vote for it, and they will encourage their friends to vote for it too," continued Ginny.
"Raise it at the Prefects meeting and get their approval, then take it to the Staff meeting and show them you have done the work to get everyone's support, they will give their permission, I am sure," said Hermione, still strategizing.
"So far two prefects are in favour," said Ginny, grinning at Cho, who grinned back, the idea was gaining traction and they were feeling excited.
"I could go with you to see Madam Hooch, Hermione is right, we need her support," offered Cho.
"That would be great, thanks, Chang."
"You could let students take turns commentating the match and run House point prizes for really excellent cheers, that's two inroads for general participation for students who are less enthusiastic about Quidditch, specifically," said Hermione thoughtfully.
"Thanks, Hermione. Perhaps we should speak to the Headmaster after Madam Hooch?"
"Yep, tomorrow?"
"That would be great."
During lunch the following day Ginny and Cho met up in the Great Hall, they made a couple of sandwiches each and ate their lunch on their way out onto the grounds towards Madam Hooch's office. She was in the middle of her lunch too, she waved them in and put the kettle on. Ginny and Cho found a seat and took it in turns, between bights, to explain Ginny's idea. Madam Hooch handed out cups and saucers and then picked up the grid proposing the Round Robin schedule.
"So you suggest six games in terms one and two, and a finals series in term three?"
"Yes, what do you think?" responded Cho, noticing Ginny had a mouthful.
"Well in theory I think it is a great idea…"
"But?" asked Ginny.
"But I am concerned that as the flying instructor, Quidditch Coach and match referee that I am going to be left doing the heavy lifting."
"What if one of the teams who are not playing committed to assisting pre and post match, every single week?" Cho suggested.
"Oh yes, that would be helpful,"
"Perhaps they could lose house points if you thought they could have been more helpful?" Ginny offered, keen to gain the Coach's enthusiastic support.
"Okay, I'll draw up a list of match day duties. You can tell the Headmaster that you have my support."
"Thanks, Madam Hooch," said Ginny and Cho, grinning broadly, they left quickly and headed back toward the castle in hopes of finding the Headmaster free.
Professor MacGonagall was impressed with Cho and Ginny's interest and desire to contribute to raising the school morale, it was a further sign that her choice to raise them to Prefect status was the correct one. She noted that they had already gained the support of Madam Hooch and seeking her own support, they further planned to raise it at the weekly Prefect meeting and to call a meeting of the House Quidditch Captains. She commended them for their maturity and planning.
The Professor also liked their suggestions to include participation of a wider portion of the school population and was only too pleased to approve the suggestion of extra Quidditch matches throughout the year. She suggested that the proposal be made and approved at the Prefect meeting before it could be brought by the Head Girl and Head Boy to the Hogwarts Staff meeting.
Both women thanked the Headmaster effusively and immediately made plans to present their idea to the next Prefect meeting.
"Thanks for helping, Chang, it's been really nice hanging out with you."
"It's actually a great idea, I don't know many people who love Quidditch as much as me, so it's nice to have someone cool to share it with."
"I owe you one,"
"Well, I'd really like it if you ran with me?"
"Uggh, alright. You've been awesome about the Round Robin so I will run with you every day this week - IF - you don't laugh at me and tease me for my lack of fitness."
"Scouts Honor! I knew I would get you sooner or later."
"Don't gloat," groaned Ginny, already regretting her enthusiastic offer.
The next morning Cho waited for Ginny by the front doors of the Entrance Hall, they walked down together, Cho trying to hide her happiness and Ginny trying to mask her regret and dread. Cho put them through a few stretches in the bleachers before they began their laps,
"Don't want to injure the Gryffindor Seeker, I will be accused of sabotage," laughed Cho.
"Stretching is preferable to running, so whatever, you're the boss," replied Ginny, elbowing the slightly taller girl in the ribs.
That was almost the last thing Ginny said for an hour, without complaint, Ginny followed Cho around the pitch, to be fair, Ginny could hardly breathe at all let alone have any oxygen to spare for talking or complaining. When Cho noticed Ginny struggling to regulate her breathing under the exertion, she slowed to a walk for a spell and when they started up again, maintaining their pace at a slow jog.
This was a good choice because once Ginny was able to breathe better she was more willing to participate in conversation - anything to distract herself from the terrible torture that was running. After the first ten laps they took a break and were having a drink when Ginny struck a brilliant idea,
"Cho?"
"Uh oh."
"What?"
"You always call me 'Chang',"
"Oh yeah, that's true. I was wondering if you felt inclined to try a different sort of running?"
"What do you mean?"
"It's the going around and around that I just can't abide. What if we tried racing from end to end, rather than round and round?"
"You want to race?"
"Not really, but I think I would enjoy it more than the pointless, boring laps."
"Alright, start now - " and Cho capped her water bottle, threw it on the bench and took off for the other end at top speed.
"Cheat!"
Ginny didn't give it another ounce of energy, instead injecting her full effort into closing the distance between herself and Chang, but Chang was far too fit and far too fast and Ginny wouldn't soon catch her. But the racing was definitely more fun while achieving Cho's aim of improving her fitness.
Secretly Ginny thought she could happily run with Cho everyday if it was racing and games rather than laps, but being the sister of Fred and George, she also wondered whether Cho would give her an opportunity to earn a favour out of it. Cho also enjoyed it, the pair of them dashed up and back, played tag and joked and laughed until it was time to do it all over again on broomsticks and in the air!