It was game day and Ginny was feeling nervous. Nervously excited. It was against Hufflepuff, and she had experience in playing against them before from last year. They had good individual players, but the players didn't always work well together as a team. However, that being said, they may have changed it up a bit this year in tryouts.
She wasn't nearly as nervous as she was though, when she had played Slytherin for a number of reasons. l That was a whole other ball game, both literally and figuratively. Firstly, because she had to prove to hundreds of other people and secondly because it was her third match ever and now she was getting used to flying in front of crowds. She'd come a long way since her first match.
Ginny walked down to breakfast fairly early with Neville, Dean, Seamus, and Demelza. Neville asked them fondly, "How are you guys feeling?" Ginny shrugged and whispered so no passers-by would hear her, "To be honest, totally okay. I feel like we've got this, hey Demelza?" She nodded in agreement, "Yeah, should be fine, as long as the weather keeps up." Seamus nodded and grinned, "Good luck to you guys then! Seriously, this weather is looking rather dim." Ginny rolled her eyes, "Thanks for the heads up!" she muttered under her breath.
They entered the Great Hall to a load of cheering from the Gryffindor table. It was nine thirty in the morning and the Great Hall was more packed than usual at this early hour on a Saturday morning. She smiled at everyone, who wanted her to come and take a seat next to them. The only people not joining in on the festivities were Romilda, Julia and Rebecca. They were staring at Ginny with disgust written across their faces. As soon as she looked at them, they turned their backs on her.
Ginny rolled her eyes and decided to not let their attitude affect her mood. She was feeling in high spirits as she sat down next to Neville and Demelza. Dean and Seamus sat opposite her. Ginny noticed Neville watching the Hufflepuff table and she murmured to him, "You still fancy Hannah?" He blushed and asked, "Is it that obvious?" Ginny shook her head and grinned, "Only to those who know." She winked at him and he blushed even further.
She ate her breakfast slowly, eager to get down to the pitch as she commented out loud, "I wonder where Harry is?" Neville shrugged, "I saw him earlier. He said he was going to visit Ron before the match." Neville nodded and said, "I saw Ron yesterday. How long does Madame Pomfrey want to keep him there?" Ginny shook her head and sighed, "I don't know, to be honest. She hasn't said but I doubt it will be much longer."
They finished breakfast quickly and then all left together for the changing rooms. Dean was playing because Katie was still not back at school. She still felt weird around Dean but at least he kept his distance now and knew that she didn't fancy him. On the way down to the pitch Ginny asked him while the others were talking, "How's things with Hannah?" He blushed and avoided looking at her as he said, "Uh, well actually. I asked to her to our next Hogsmeade trip." Ginny grinned, "And?" he chuckled, "She said yes." Ginny nudged him playfully, "Of course he did! I'm not surprised! Good job, Nev!"
Unaware that Seamus was eavesdropping, Neville continued, "Thanks, Gin. It was you who sparked the motivation, really." Ginny frowned and asked, "When?" he grinned, "When you told me I should go for it." That's when Seamus interrupted, making the both of them jump, "Go for what, Neville?" Neville looked entirely embarrassed when they reached the changing rooms and Neville mumbled, "I'll tell you later! Good luck Gin!" he gave her a huge hug, which lasted a second too long, and then merely nodded at Demelza and Dean, "Good luck to you guys too! You guys will kick butt!" Ginny grinned, "Thanks Nev! See you later!" Seamus agreed, "Good luck guys! We'll be celebrating in the common room afterwards either way!" They hurried towards the stands.
When they entered the girls changing room, Demelza said to Ginny in an undertone, "Neville totally likes you." Ginny sighed and shook her head, "No, he doesn't. He likes someone else. I'm not saying who though." Demelza chuckled, "Aw, come on Gin! A little hint won't kill you!" Ginny shook her head and smiled determinedly, "Nope, sorry Dem, but my lips are sealed."
They finished changing and walked out into the main changing room. Ginny found McLaggen to be lecturing Peakes and Coote on their Beating technique, but they were looking slightly murderous. There was still no sign of Harry. She turned to Demelza to express her irritation, when a concerned looking Harry rushed in, his hair all windswept and sexy looking from running and he walked in out of breath. Ginny strode up to him and said irritably, "Where have you been! The rest of us are ready!" He began pulling on his attire right there, as he whispered, "I found Draco Malfoy sneaking off with a couple of girlfriends…" Ginny interrupted him, "Really Harry, do you intend to forfeit the match because Malfoy is running off who knows where?! Is he really that important to you?" She hadn't realized he was still so obsessed with Malfoy. It was because Harry hadn't mentioned him to her in a long while. He grimaced, "I wonder why he's running off. It makes the second time this year he hasn't attended a match, not like him at all." Ginny rolled her eyes and couldn't help but snap, "Honestly, Harry, get your head out of your Draco Malfoy obsession and get it in the game! We're on in five!"
He had finished pulling on his gear and then he walked over to McLaggen who was busy saying, "Alright team, the weather conditions are a bit tricky…fly out of the sun…" when Harry interrupted, "Excuse me, McLaggen, I'm the captain so stop acting like you are!" This shut McLaggen up but he didn't look too impressed. Ginny couldn't help but feel proud of Harry in that moment; no matter how irritated she was about him being late. He wasn't usually one to put someone in their place, but clearly McLaggen had overstepped his mark.
Harry muttered something to them once McLaggen had stalked off and he said to Ginny, "I want you to walk on with me, ok?" She nodded and couldn't help but grin, "Sure, Harry." He took her hand and she felt her heart flutter as they walked into the stadium, hands held together tightly. She let go of his hand to mount her broom and she nodded at him confidently. She found it amazing how one second she could be incredibly angry with him and the next…the next her heart was soaring and she loved him with all her heart. It was a small, little gesture, but it was one that meant the world to her.
He shook hands with the Hufflepuff captain and then they kicked off on Madame Hooch's whistle. She noticed Zacharias Smith-who had accused Harry of not telling the truth about Voldemort in the D.A meeting last year-and felt her intense dislike for him resurface. He was player Chaser for the Hufflepuff's. Suddenly she heard Luna's voice loft over the stadium, "Smith has the Quaffle…" She shook her head in disbelief about the fact that Luna was commentating. She liked Luna well enough, but she didn't think she was the most responsible…
Ginny was too distracted. She focused her attention back on the game and she soared closer to Smith. She rammed into him from the side ("accidentally") and Luna commented on it. She had just heard him yelling at her, "Potter's favorites…can't play to save your life!" which had redirected her attention back to the game.
While Smith tried to pass it to another Chaser, Ginny easily intercepted and soared in the opposite direction of the pitch, throwing the ball to Demelza. As she did, however, a big Hufflepuff guy intercepted her pass and caught the Quaffle, flying back to the other side. Seconds later, McLaggen was yelling at her, "Ginevra! Don't be so bloody careless! Get the damn ball!" Ginny fumed angrily. Nobody dared call her Ginevra! Not if they wanted to be dead meat! She swung around to face him when she saw that the Hufflepuff's had used their distraction to score. She groaned and Harry yelled, "McLaggen do what you're supposed to do and DON'T reprimand Ginny!" McLaggen shouted back, "You're a bit of a hypocrite, aren't you Potter!" Ginny heard Luna commentating on their argument, which caused much laughing below and embarrassment on Ginny's part. She snapped, "Harry, just leave the prat alone!" Ginny heard Harry swear and she turned around to focus her attention back on the Quaffle. Demelza was busy tossing it back to Dean and Ginny sped up as fast as her broom could take her. She caught up quickly, and Dean had already passed it back to Demelza, who was on the far left side. They were closing in on the goals and Demelza couldn't get to Dean, a Hufflepuff was blocking her way, so she threw the ball to Ginny.
Ginny sped to right behind Dean before anyone realized what she was doing, and caught the ball effortlessly, before throwing it without second thought into the goals, sending the Gryffindor's cheering. Ginny heard Luna, moments later, explain how McLaggen had grabbed Peake's bat and was using it for demonstration purposes. Ginny groaned internally and Harry was speeding off to reprimand McLaggen.
Suddenly, everything happened so fast she didn't have time to process it- she saw a Bludger flying towards McLaggen he flung with all his might, the bat towards the dangerous ball.
Ginny saw what was going to happen before it did, and she screamed at Harry to move. The Bludger was too fast though, and got to him before he could do anything about it. It slammed into Harry's skull and he fell off his broom in a heartbeat. Ginny screamed for someone to do something, and she heard shouting everywhere. She watched his body fall to the ground, and she thought that he had to be dead. Her heart rate sped up and it took her a second to fly down and reach him. The side of his head was bleeding badly and she gasped, tears threatening to fall down her cheek. "Harry!" she whispered, fear trickling into her voice. He was completely unconscious. She checked his wrist for a pulse. There was one and she breathed a sigh of relief.
Everything after that was a wild blur. Professor McGonagall, Dumbledore, Hooch and Pomfrey all came running to the place when Harry had fallen. Madame Pomfrey conjured a stretched and they levitated Harry to the hospital wing. Ginny followed earnestly, and she asked Madame Pomfrey, "He will live right? He's got a pulse and everything…" Madame Pomfrey nodded in agreement, "He will survive, Miss Weasley. But there will be damages to his skull. I can fix that, but it will take time." Ginny breathed a sigh of relief as she held Harry's lifeless had, while Dumbledore levitated the stretcher with Harry on it to the hospital wing.
Ginny found Ron awake in the hospital wing, but he sat up worriedly when he saw Harry being floated in on the stretcher. He asked concernedly, getting out of bed, "What happened?! He's bleeding so much..." Ginny interrupted sourly with a ferocious snap, "McLaggen happened! He sent a Bludger flying at Harry while trying to show Peake's how to use a Beater's bat." Ron shook his head in dismay, "WOW! And to think I'm bad!" Ginny rolled her eyes and went to stand next to Professor McGonagall. Pomfrey waved her wand over Harry's head where it was bleeding and the wound seemed to close itself up. She put a wet cloth to the side of his head and gently wiped the dry blood away as she sighed, "He will be unconscious for quite a while. I will let you all know when he has risen. I will give him an antidote for the pain when he wakes up." The professor's nodded, "Thank you Madame Pomfrey," they said and Dumbledore stayed a second longer before saying, "Ginny, I wonder if I might have a word with you?"
Ginny frowned, wondering what on earth Dumbledore wanted to say to her. She nodded and followed him into the hallway of the hospital wing. When they were outside, he closed the doors with his wand and put a silencing charm on them. He sighed and shook his head, "The poor boy, really he's been through enough. But there's something I must ask of you, Ginny, and I'm afraid it's a very important and serious matter." Ginny frowned and nodded, "Alright…I first want to hear what it is though." Dumbledore nodded and smiled, "Naturally, naturally. The thing is, I'm sure Harry is currently confiding in you that we are trying to find a way in which we can finish off Tom Riddle for good." Ginny tensed at the name, but otherwise nodded, "Yes, he had been telling me." Dumbledore nodded, "Good, good. However, I think it is best for you to not discover too much about what we are uncovering, for your own protection you see. I don't think Molly and Arthur would be too impressed about you knowing what we are doing." Ginny frowned, "Are you worried I will tell them? Because I never would I swear…"
Dumbledore shook his head, "No, that's not my concern. My concern is that you will know much more than you should, especially given that you're not of age. I don't think your parents would appreciate you knowing even this much, and it wouldn't be seen as responsible of me to inform you about such delicate information, do you understand what I'm saying?" Ginny shook her head, "Only that I'm not…old enough to be trusted." Dumbledore sighed and shook his head, "No, Miss Weasley, it's not that at all. All I'm saying, is that it's for your own protection for you to not know certain things. The less you know, the better. I also feel like I would be disrespecting your parent's wishes by allowing Harry to confide in you every detail we discuss in these sessions." Ginny frowned, "So basically, Harry isn't allowed to tell me anything anymore?"
Professor Dumbledore had the decency to look slightly ashamed as he nodded, "I would like to ask you not to pry into these sessions too much, for your own sake and for everyone else's. Knowing too much is not always the answer. Sometimes, ignorance is truly bliss." Ginny grimaced, not liking the sound of this as she gave the best response she could, "If it causes too much of a rift in our relationship I might have to resort to it. If it doesn't…I'll leave it be." Dumbledore nodded and smiled, "Thank you for your understanding and consideration, Miss Weasley. I appreciate it. Sleep well then!"
He walked off as if they hadn't just had the most serious conversation she'd had in a long time. He was basically asking her go with the flow and not look into things. That was difficult because she had a curious nature, but she would try-for Dumbledore's, for Harry's and for her own. She returned to the hospital wing, trying to act as if nothing had happened. Ron was still awake as he asked immediately, "What did he want?" Ginny shrugged her shoulders and smiled, "He just wanted me to stay the night here, to keep an eye on Harry if he wakes up so that I can call him." Ron frowned, "Can't Madame Pomfrey do that?" Ginny shook her head, "Nope, she's got lots of admin to do."
Ron shrugged his shoulders and said, "As long as you sleep on another bed then…" she rolled her eyes at him, but then did as she was asked. She couldn't sleep, not even for a second. The image of Harry falling off his broom played repeatedly through her head as if on repeat and it woke her up with a start every time she was on the brink of sleep.
Eventually, when Ginny was sure her brother was in a deep sleep, she got up and moved over to Harry's bed. She hoisted herself up onto it and carefully moved his unconscious form so that she could squeeze in beside him, pulling the duvets up to her chin. Ginny sighed contentedly as she snuggled closer and rested her head on his shoulder gently. She didn't want to wake him.
Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait, again! Been really busy trying to get varsity work done but slowly getting there! Thanks for all of your patience and support!
P.S: 123summer123 inbox is private messaging. Yours might not be activated on your fanfiction account as I cannot message you.
P.P.S 123rachel123 finally got to writing your chapter! Hope you enjoyed it!
P.P.P.S: Guys please review! Anymore suggestions are welcome and thank you to all of my amazing reviewers! You guys have gotten me to 170 fantastic ones! I can't thank you enough so thank you, thank you, thank you!