Chapter Sixteen

Two hours later Ginny was circling widely above the gameplay, Slytherin Seeker Owen Jones at her heels. Ginny had given her team another delicate pre match pep talk - none of this 'we are going to smash them' rubbish, and more of this each person has a vital role, a specific contribution to make. She asked them to believe that if each did their part, that they would become a team capable of formidable on field performances.

They had agreed to believe, to try, to work hard and to encourage each other and they had come out onto the field prepared to apply themselves. They had scored the first goal quite quickly, students and spectators erupted into all sorts of jollifications, excepting those Slytherin students and their supporters. They scored three more goals with relative ease and Ginny could sense their giddy excitement, "Be calm", "Return to your position", "Focus on your role", "Keep to the plan," She called out to various players in a commanding tone.

It took some exertion for the Gryffindor players to overcome their dizzy exhilaration, they schooled their thoughts and focussed their minds and tried to stick to the plan. Ginny dipped low, she was confident, less in her team's ability to win than in their ability to employ the strategy she had explained to them during the week and they had practiced in training.

Ginny was now free to focus on her own role, seeking the Snitch. Owen followed her down, circling just behind her, she was aware that the Slytherin team was rather young and inexperienced this year, they had lost all of their older students, their sixth and seventh years, leaving the fifth years with the responsibility to lead their House and their Quidditch Team throughout the year.

Ginny had a lot of respect for Slytherin House this year. The new Prefects were amiable, hardworking students, showing care for their fellows, keen to overcome the ugly reputation Slytherin had earned over years of isolating themselves from the other houses. They had set themselves up as better than others, with ideas about blood purity and relying on building nefarious community connections.

But post war, those ideas had become universally shunned replaced by more worthy virtues - team work, friendship and become 'part of' and members from all areas of the wizarding community welcomed them easily into the fold. Their unique personal skills and qualities were valued not only by their own House, but all the other houses as well.

Owen suddenly darted off to the left, Ginny turned and squinted but she didn't immediately follow, she had not seen any movement or glimmer of light. She continued to survey Owen's flight path whilst simultaneously scanning the rest of the field, she continued circling. Ginny was feeling relaxed and positive, unlike Owen who was becoming increasingly stressed, in correlation with the length of the game, she could understand it.

Gryffindor continued to dominate on the pitch and Slytherin were apparently unable to interrupt the maroon and gold rhythm or mount a challenge worth disrupting their routine. Ten point goals were being scored by Gryffindor with what could be described as regular dependability, the score was getting quite out of hand and serving to incite a panicked response in those wearing the green and silver robes.

Catching the Snitch earned the Seeker who achieved the feat 150 points and Owen could feel the mounting pressure to save his team from what was developing into painful, humiliating whitewash. If he could only catch the Snitch quickly, he could manage to secure a win, by a slim margin, but a win nevertheless.

His panic and agitation was making his blood pump urgently around his body, his breath was coming in jerky pants, his eyes were darting around and was seeing things out of the corner of his eye. He couldn't be sure whether he was actually seeing anything at all. He began to depart from his game plan, he had started out with impressive discipline, staying at Ginny's side, but now he had darted off. And Ginny hadn't followed!

She either thought he was feinting or that he was mistaken, and her ability to withstand the lead was unnerving. She continued circling and, finding nothing, he had decided to return, he pulled the handle of his broomstick, swinging it in the direction of where he had last seen her but was unable to find her. She had, at some point, passed through the playing field at speed toward the Slytherin Goal Hoop.

The moment his eyes spotted her, his ears detected the desperate screams of his teammates, they were calling him to alert him to the presence of the Snitch. Owen pitched forward and made haste to reach Ginny but she was so far ahead of him and had wrapped her hand around the snitch before he had even gotten close. By the time he reached her she was holding the Snitch aloft and was surrounded by her teammates, yelling and cheering and his own teammates were clapping in good spirit but were obviously feeling thoroughly dejected.

Owen felt lousy, he had let his team down. All the players slowly descended to the grassy ground, Madam Hooch was blowing her whistle and finalising announcing the scores for official purposes. Ginny made her way to Owen and shook his hand, "Don't feel too bad," she said in an effort to cheer him up, "It happens to the best of us." He nodded and congratulated his opponent, "Thanks," he said, kicking at the grass.

"It's not your fault, Owen, it's not. It's a team effort and your team got beaten today, it happens. But it gives you something to work on for the match against Hufflepuff after Christmas, hey?" She bumped his shoulder and he nodded, he felt better despite himself, she was right, he knew, they just felt lousy because they lost. The Slytherin players congratulated the Gryffindor players and as they began to disperse, Hufflepuff players came onto the field to cart all the gear back up to the Castle.

Ginny made her way over to the sidelines to see Cho and Hermione, her other friends and her House in general. She allowed Cho and Hermione to hug her, Neville, Luna, Justin and their other close friends all patted her on the back. The other Gryffindor players came to greet their friends as well, the post game party appeared to be starting early.

"I am fine," Ginny said, rolling her shoulders before anybody could ask, "The Slytherins are feeling pretty flat. But I have to talk to my team before we head up, so I'll see you up there? Chang, will you come? Hermione will sneak you in, won't you, Hermione?"

"If ever I was going to become a law breaker, Ginny, it would be on our behalf," she said huffily, but she was clearly joking, she tugged Cho's arm and dragged her away.

"Gryffindor, front and centre, please, Gryffindors!" They tore themselves away and presented to their Team Captains like little soldiers.

"This morning, I asked you to believe. To believe that if we individually performed our roles, that it would convert to team success. I didn't expect such swift results, or so convincing a demonstration, but I hope you now believe?"

"Yes," they replied in a scattered response.

"When we scored those first few goals, we got a little giddy, but we returned to a disciplined performance. This behaviour is far more valuable than scoring goals, can anyone tell me why?"
One girl raised her hand, "Yes, Georgie?"

"Because we can't always control goals, we can only control creating opportunities."

"Precisely, Precisely. Now I asked you to believe. Can you believe?"

"Yes!"

"Can you believe?"

"YES!"

"Lets celebrate!" Two hours later, Ginny was showered and having a Butter Beer with Cho and Hermione around the fireplace.

"But surely you are coming home to The Burrow for Christmas?" asked Ginny, incredulously.

"No, thank you, Ginny, I am going to stay here at Hogwarts,"

"Why? You've had Christmas with us before?"

"I know, but - " began Hermione, but Ginny cut her off.

"And you don't have so much homework that you can't spare a few days?"

"No, that's not why," said Hermione, determined to remain calm.

"It's Ron, isn't it?"

"Yes, Ginny, please try to understand."

"It's not as though I expect you to give him another chance, I know his behaviour was unacceptable, I am not defending him."

"I just can't, Ginny. Know that my decision is not an easy one. You know I would do anything for you, and I have the highest regard for your parents, your family."

Ginny sighed in acceptance, "I know. It's just that, well, I don't want you stuck here on your own, and I will miss you."

"Bring me back a knitted sweater?"

"You have to be there to get one!" Said Ginny, pretending to hold a grudge. She knew full well that Mrs Weasley considered Harry and Hermione to be part of the family and there would be two sweaters with the letter H one the front, under their Christmas tree.