Standard disclaimers apply!

I do not own Harry Potter. I have nothing to do with Scholastic, Warner Bros or Bloomsbury. I'm not JKR and I am certainly not making any profit out of this.

7th November 1998.

2.35pm.

10C, mostly cloudy.

Perfect Quidditch Conditions.

Ginny had been merciless with their practice regime; in part thanks to her particularly competitive nature – Seamus suspected that had something to do with being the youngest of seven – and in part thanks to Hermione and her bloody timetables.

It was all worth it in the end, though – all the nights in the driving rain, the afternoons in the freezing wind and all the bumps and bruises and aches in places he'd never even known existed - now that he had the fluttering snitch clutched tightly in his hand.

oOo

He'd looked pretty happy with himself; as he should, Eva Bones thought, considering the snitch had been conspicuously absent for almost the moment it had been released.

The Gryffindor team had worked like an almost seamless unit – even the weaker members – which had resulted in an absolute trouncing for Slytherin.

470 to 30.

There was a small part of her that felt sorry for the Slytherins, but it was a very small part and it was mostly over-ridden by the thought that Hufflepuff didn't have to face Gryffindor until late February.

Seamus was a good seeker. Light and fast, with really sharp eyes, and the little game of "chicken" he'd played with Marius Cradock when the snitch had finally decided to show itself was proof that he was cocky enough to push it.

Yeah, he was cocky all right. Especially right now, surrounded by a group of admirers all vying for his attention. She couldn't help raising an eyebrow in slightly mocking amusement when he caught her looking and shot her a sheepish smile.

"Bit of a tart, isn't he?" Ginny chuckled as she walked past on her way outside.

"Just a bit," Eva grinned, "good game today."

"Yeah, thanks," Ginny paused, looked as if she was going to say something, glanced over at Seamus and then shrugged slightly. "You've got Ravenclaw on the 28th?"

"Yeah." Eva nodded, but didn't offer up anything else.

"Hm. I've been watching them. Keep an eye on Angela Daniels. She's their strongest player. Anyway, I'm off to walk with Harry. See you at dinner?"

"Yeah, see you at dinner," Evie agreed, then added, "thanks for the tip."

"No problem."

She stood staring thoughtfully at the great doors, which Ginny had disappeared though, for several more moments before turning around and finding the one and only Seamus Finnigan standing before her.

"What's got you looking so serious?" He asked, twinkling his eyes at her – probably deliberately – and shooting her that winning smile he reserved for special occasions.

"Oh, hello Seamus. Just Quidditch," she pursed her lips slightly and looked him up and down with a critical air. "For all your bitching and moaning about it, you did well today."

"Bitching and moaning?" Seamus looked offended, but it was so obviously put on that she couldn't take him seriously at all – and he knew it. "Ah, come on Evie, be nice. I've come to ask if you'd like to take a turn around the lake."

"With you?" She looked aghast.

"No, with Hagrid," Seamus widened his eyes.

"I don't know ..." she murmured, knowing full well that she would, "it's a bit chilly."

"I'll keep you warm!"

"What about your fan club?" She asked, glancing over at the group of girls who were taking their time in dispersing.

"I'm sure they'll survive without my august presence," he told her gravely. "You're not going to hold that against me, are you Evie?" Tugging on the drawstring of her hood, he stepped closer. "I can't help it if they're bowled over by my dashing good looks and charm."

Eva snorted rudely. "Good lord! How can you say things like that with a straight face?"

"It's a skill," he shrugged. "Will you come and enjoy the last of the good weather?"

"Oh OK then." She sighed dramatically and took the hand he held out. "You win, Finnigan. Take me for your walk around the lake."

"So it's 'Finnigan' now, is it?" His tone was casual as he linked their fingers together. "Am I in the bad books for something?"

"I don't know," Eva looked at him suspiciously. "What have you done?"

The corners of his mouth twitched upward slightly. "Nothing?"

"Well, that's OK then," she smiled easily. "The lake?"