Chapter Eleven

The points were more or less goal for goal until the Snitch made its presence known. Cho was the first to spot it of course, she had not lost concentration for one moment, not before or since finding Ginny in the crowd in the first minutes of the match. She saw the Snitch glinting close to the ground and took off leaving her opponent in her dust. Danny tried mightily to close the distance between them but he had no hope until, rather than staying low, the Snitch began to rise gently in his direction, teasing him, inviting him to abandon his chase of Cho, the moment he did, it dropped a foot and almost into the Ravenclaw Seeker's hand.

Even Hermione was on her feet cheering and clapping as soon as she had worked out what had occurred, Ginny was hollering and whooping beside her, waving her huge banner in celebration. Cho high fived all of her teammates, then she flew over in the direction of Ginny and held up the Snitch and pointing at her,

"Good luck for next week, you will need it!"

Ginny laughed and so did the crowd, who understood that next week's match had just started between the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw Seekers! Ginny and Hermione took their seats and waited for the hubbub to settle among the spectator stands.

Cho could be seen shaking hands with Danny on the ground, as all the players dismounted and shook hands, she could be seen chatting to him animatedly, she was pointing and appeared to be explaining something in some detail. He was listening and nodding and asked something else, she patted his back, apparently encouraging him for next time.

Ginny watched as people made their way on to the pitch, a photographer, the Headmaster and two of the Selectors made their way down from their seats, and an interviewer was running alongside trying to get quotes for their story. Ginny crossed her fingers, watching closely, hardly aware of the hundreds of students making their way to the bottom of the stands and back toward the Castle, she was hoping to see a selector approach Cho, just one!

"Come on," said Hermione, giving Ginny a little push, "Let's walk down and get a closer look,"

"Oh, of course," Ginny jumped to her feet without taking her eyes off the on field and began trotting down the steps. It was then that she remembered she was responsible for making sure the sports and medical equipment was returned to the Castle,

"Sorry, Hermione, I just remembered, I have to carry the gear back up to the school,"

"Oh okay, it was a good match, wasn't it?"

"Yeah, it was a good match," she replied, she couldn't take her eyes off of Cho, she was tall, athletic and beautiful, even being covered in sweat did nothing to ebb Ginny's desire!

Hermione could see her friend was distracted, so she simply patted Ginny's shoulder and departed.

Ginny leapt the barrier and tucking her Ravenclaw banner under her arm, jogged across the pitch toward the large bedraggled group. She started dividing her Gryffindor team mates into pairs to get started hauling all the gear back from the pitch, and not to leave until getting the all clear from both Madams Hooch and Pomfrey, lest they risk losing House points. She was just juggling her own load with her banner when a woman with a dictaphone approached,

"Ginevra Weasley?" she asked, with some hesitation.

"Ginny, yes?" she corrected the stranger immediately, she hated being called by her full name.

"Ginny, sorry. You're the Gryffindor Captain aren't you?"

"That's right."

"Penelope from the Daily Prophet Sports Department, care to answer a few questions for my article?"
"Oh, okay," said Ginny caught by surprise, she dropped her load and looked around hoping she wasn't about to tread on anyone's toes.

"Thanks. Great match, wasn't it?"

"Yeah terrific, Cho Chang was terrific."

"This Round Robin Competition was your idea wasn't it?"

"Chang and I worked on it together, we are just pleased to be playing lots of Quidditch this year."

"And Gryffindor plays Ravenclaw next week?"

"That's right, I'm looking forward to it."

"And you're Seeker, too?"

"That's right,"

"Got your work cut out for you next week, manning up against Chang."

"I look forward to the challenge,"

"Can you beat her?"

"I can try. Sorry, look, I've got to get this stuff back up to the Castle."

"Good luck next week, thanks for your time."

Excitement was still rife over dinner in the Great Hall, the Ravenclaw table was particularly jovial but Hermione and Ginny were pleased to note that there was no real malice to their celebrations. The Hufflepuff students, whilst feeling disappointed, were not exhibiting humiliation or devastation that would have definitely have been present in previous school years. The two women would never forget the incessant bullying of Ron Weasley by the Slytherin Team when he had been selected as Gryffindor Keeper, they had made a whole song, 'Weasley is our King' and made horrific, denigrating comments about Ron and Harry's parents.

Cho had eaten her dinner at the Ravenclaw table in celebration of their Team win, she stopped by the Gryffindor table to say goodnight,

"I've got to attend a surprise private party in the Ravenclaw Common Room," she said with a grin.

"Well at least our plan is working," said Ginny, "Students are becoming involved, House spirit and Interhouse relations are improved - Hufflepuff aren't humiliated."

"Yes, I have to agree, so far your plan is a complete success," said Hermione.

"Enjoy your party, at least they are clever enough to invite the Head Girl!"

"Ha!" responded Cho cheekily, "Head Girl and Seeker!"

Over the following week students talked incessantly about the upcoming Ravenclaw - Gryffindor match, two awesome seekers being pitted against each other, one the was Head Girl the other Team Captain! Informal wagers were being exchanged as students of all houses took part in the active anticipation of the next Quidditch match.

Ginny and Cho returned to their training on Monday morning in the Room of Requirement; they started with stretching and a warm up routine, running, weights and then they jumped on their brooms and took off. Ginny had to admit that not only had she come to enjoy running, she had also noticed the benefits, on and off the broom, of her increased fitness.

She still could not bear the actual running of laps, the endless, boring round and round - but the Room of Requirement provided specially prepared tracks for the 50m, 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m. Ginny and Cho would take each of the tracks and a jog to warm up and then return to race each other. The board recorded their results, how many wins at each level. Ginny was faster in the shorter distances and Cho much better the longer the distance.

Not only were their times recorded but all sorts of other measurements and recordings were taken as well, their starting positions, their breathing, arm movements all sorts of minute improvements that would assist each to improve their results. On the one hand the women worked together to help improve their own and each other's performance and on the other hand they were highly competitive, trying very hard to eak out a win over the other, at every opportunity.

They both worked industriously all week, training, classes, homework, Quidditch training and Prefect meetings and duties. They were looking forward to Saturday morning where they had planned to walk together to Hogsmeade Village, they were going to have a look at various shops and stores and have lunch together. When Cho had asked Ginny to go, Ginny hadn't realised that the occasion may have been a date until Hermione had corrected her. Cho was indeed in two minds - she had developed romantic feelings for Ginny but she was reluctant to rush into anything romantic herself and was concerned about disrupting her friendship with Ginny.

Regardless of the consequences, Cho could not seem to help herself, she threw out the invitation and Ginny enthusiastically accepted and for one moment Cho was in perfect happiness, but then the acceptance was followed by a comment about extending the invitation to Hermione Granger. Cho's confusion was followed by disappointment, she had concealed her dismay in a flurry of activity - it was not that she didn't like Hermione, quite to the contrary, actually.

But to spend the day alone, in Ginny's company, wandering along the High Street in the village, popping in and out of the speciality stores like Zonko's Joke Shop and pubs including Honeydukes, there was also the infamous Shrieking Shack. Cho and Ginny worked out together, made use of the luxurious bathroom facilities, went to have breakfast in the Great Hall, they sat with Hermione who was enjoying her breakfast, sipping her coffee in between turning the pages of the Daily Prophet.

Eventually the breakfast things cleared away and students in the third year and above began lining up at the front doors of the Castle, Cho and Ginny began pulling on their woollen coats, hats and gloves but Hermione didn't make a move.

"Coming, Hermione?" asked Cho, in surprise at Hermione's apparent reluctance to join them.

"Oh, no thanks, Cho, I've some owls to send this morning and I am having lunch with Hagrid."

"Oh," responded Cho, she felt a flicker of anticipation, excitement and joy swelled in her chest, perhaps it would be just the two of them after all?

"Can we bring you anything from the Village?" asked Ginny.

"I am partial to Honeydukes Chocolate, but don't go to any trouble," replied Hermione.

"It will be no trouble, Hermione. See you for dinner?" said Cho.

"Enjoy the Village," said Hermione, turning back to her paper.