Ginny's first exam was on a Wednesday. She was nervous as all heck and Harry was sweet enough to wait outside the Great Hall with her after breakfast. He had his first class only at ten as he had a free now. He worked on an essay while Ginny read over some last minute notes. The doors opened and McGonagall said swiftly, "Fifth years, please follow me. The seating chart is placed on the right hand side and goes in alphabetical order according to surname." Ginny sighed in relief! That meant she would be at the back of the hall, hopefully. Harry grinned, "You've got this, Gin! You've worked hard." She smiled and whispered nervously, "Thanks Harry. You've been a great help!" His smile grew wider and he leant down and kissed her cheek, "I'll see you at lunch?" Ginny nodded in agreement, "Of course!" She found her way to her seat and sat down, nervous as anything. First up was Herbology…not her best. She crossed her fingers as she sat down and hoped for the best.
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When Ginny walked out of the exam, she felt ok. A little shaken, but that was more like a post-stress sort of thing. She found it to be a fair exam…equal amounts of challenging and decent. She sighed in relief when Colin approached her, "How did you find that, Gin?" he asked. Ginny was grateful he actually wanted to know, "Uh it was ok hey. A little tricky…that question about Bubotuber I struggled with I won't lie. But I know I didn't learn them as well as I should have." Colin chuckled, "Kind of the beauty of exams isn't it? They can completely screw you over, but you can also do really well. It's just the luck of the draw." Ginny nodded in agreement, "That's so true. It's unfortunate but true."
He smiled and said conversationally, "So I hear you are playing Seeker for Harry in the next game?" Ginny nodded and grimaced, "Yeah…news gets around fast." He shrugged and asked caringly, "How are you feeling?" She bit her lip, "A little nervous, I'm not going to lie. Seeker isn't my normal position." This cause Colin to chuckle, "Yeah, probably doesn't help that you're playing against Harry's ex-girlfriend either."
I gasped, not even thinking of that! I felt my jaw slacken and mumbled, "Uh…thanks. That makes me feel loads better." He grinned and chuckled, "It might give you more incentive to win." Ginny stopped in her tracks and laughed, "You know you're right Colin! I can use it as my motivation." They laughed the rest of the way up to the tower and caught up on life and everything in between.
XXX
It was Saturday morning and the game was a week away, and Harry had already had his first detention the previous evening. Harry had replaced Ginny with Dean as Chaser (much to Ginny's dismay), and Harry was supervising the practice that Tuesday. He was holding tryouts for any other people who might be a reserve.
Ginny was so focused on finding the Snitch that she wasn't even paying attention to anyone else. She wanted to prove to Harry and everyone else that she was capable of being Seeker. They played four three aside practice games of twenty minutes each. Ginny managed to catch the Snitch three times and Dean scored three goals while a newbie called Andrew scored two and Demelza one. Harry seemed quite chuffed when they all touched down and he grinned, "You'll be perfectly fine without me."
They all departed and Harry approached her, "You were amazing," he said with a twinkle in his eye as he continued, "It's so much more fun watching you than actually playing." Ginny laughed, "You don't mean that." He chuckled as they walked back to the changing room, "To a certain extent I do." He grinned at her and she said as they entered the changing room, "I'm going to go and get changed." He nodded, "Me too. I'll wait for you when I'm done."
Ginny finished showering quickly and when she and the girls were changing, Ginny said, "I'm glad Harry thinks we've got a shot!" Angelina nodded, "I think we do too. Maybe we can just pull this off." Demelza laughed, "I saw you boyfriend checking you out. He was literally smoldering." Ginny blushed, "Yeah, he just told me that he enjoys watching me fly." The other two girls giggled in a very uncharacteristic way, "And so he should. Have you guys…you know?" Ginny blushed a bright Weasley-red, "No! He doesn't want to." Angelina raised an eyebrow skeptically as she pulled on normal, none-Quidditch boots over leggings, "Oh please, with the way he was looking at you he definitely wants to."
Ginny shrugged casually, "Regardless of whether he wants to, I know that he wouldn't. He wants to wait until I'm of age, and by then we may not even be together." Angelina frowned, "What makes you say that?" Ginny sighed, "I don't know, it's just a feeling." Angelina and Demelza exchanged a look and she knew what it meant. They thought it was odd that she was already predicting their split so Katie asked, "Why stay with him then?" She didn't know what to say and so she murmured, "I love him." Demelza nodded as if to say, 'Fair enough,' but Angleina was still watching her, like it didn't make sense, which of course to her it probably didn't. The two other girls left and Ginny waited in the general meeting area for Harry.
When Ginny was walking up to the castle, she ran into Malfoy who was on the way out. He didn't look like he'd been bleeding terribly, but he did jump like a frightened mouse when he saw her... or perhaps the word ferret would be more accurate. She frowned at him and he spat, "What are you staring at, Weasley?" Ginny shrugged, "I'm surprised to see you out of hospital Malfoy-considering all the who-ha you caused." He looked at her as if he had just seen a ghost, but retorted, "Yeah, you have your boyfriend to thank for that!" At this point, she heard Harry from behind her as he said slowly, "Malfoy…I'm sorry."
Malfoy scowled at Harry and Ginny felt Harry clasp her hand in his. Malfoy snarled, "You really think I'm a Death Eater, Potter?" Harry didn't say anything so Malfoy laughed without a trace of humor, "Get lost and get a life. Apology not accepted." He turned around and walked back into the castle.
Ginny shook her head, "What did you expect?" Harry grimaced, "I just said that to make sure he didn't start attacking either of us and to distract him." She shook her head and sighed, "After today I don't think he would even try."
When they arrived in the Great Hall, Ginny felt like she was under scrutiny. She didn't like the feeling. So many eyes were on her, and not in a good way-in a judging way. Even when they made their way over to the Gryffindor table, so many people were watching Harry, and she felt like she was now a part of their judgment too. She suddenly understood why he hated it so much!
As they sat down, Ginny realized a little too late that they had sat down next to Rebecca, Julia and Romilda, who kept whispering to each other and then shooting Ginny and Harry dirty looks. Hermione was asking Harry, "Have you gotten rid of the book yet?" Harry groaned and Ginny said abruptly, "We did, Hermione. Last night." Hermione gave her a dubious look before nodding at her intense stare and he sighed, "Yes. We did last night" Hermione nodded slowly, "Good. Glad to hear it."
On the way back to Gryffindor tower after dinner, Harry turned to her and commented, "Hermione was rather quiet during dinner." This made Ginny smirk a little, "Yes she was, wasn't she? I wonder why." Ginny laughed and shook her head, "Who knows! It's a mystery to me. So are you happy with Jack and Andrew as replacements?" Harry shrugged and grumbled, "I mean they're not as good as the original team, but I suppose they'll have to do."
XXX
It was the Saturday morning of the match and the excitement was tangible as always. When I walked downstairs to go to breakfast, several people cheered and Harry greeted Ginny with a kiss on the cheek. She grinned confidently and he asked, "How are you feeling?" She laughed and replied happily, "I think we can do this." Katie approached Ginny and said with a grin, "You've got this, Gin. I believe you can show them all, for once and for all, that you've got talent!"
Harry seemed to be hiding something as he seemed too pleased for someone who had detention. Ginny raised an eyebrow at him, "What are you thinking?" She knew him too well. She could practically read his mind. Harry chuckled, "Oh nothing. I've just heard rumors that there are going to be some audience members watching out for potential new players on their future teams, that's all. No pressure to do well."
Ginny's jaw dropped and he laughed at her expression, as did several others in the room. Ginny shook her head and asked skeptically, "Where did you get this tidbit of information from?" Harry shrugged his shoulders, "McGonagall casually mentioned it in class the other day." Ginny felt nervous now. She hadn't upon waking up. When she'd woken up, she'd felt pretty good. Now…now the nerves hit!
Ron looked pretty pale himself. He was sitting alone in the corner of the room with Hermione. She seemed to be comforting him, or trying to. As Ginny looked at her, Hermione quickly glanced away, pretending she hadn't seen Ginny look. Ginny sighed. She was three exams down, and had five more to go. She really didn't need more drama in her life, like this tension with Hermione.
Ginny decided to head over to Hermione and break the ice. She sat down in front of her, on a coffee table and said, "Hermione, I'm sorry for snapping. I just thought Harry was down enough as it was. Anyway I hope you can forgive me?" Hermione glanced up as people started cheering for Angelina and Demelza. She shrugged her shoulders, "Sure Ginny. I understand. He is your boyfriend after all." We smiled at each other and I asked curiously, "Is Ron ok?" Hermione chuckled and replied, "He'll be fine. You know Ron. It's just the nerves."
Angelina and Demelza approached Ginny, "Hey girl! We're ready to head!" said Angelina happily. This caused Ginny to smile, "I know. I'm just going to walk with Harry to his detention first, and then I'll meet you guys in the Great Hall, ok?" They nodded and Harry came and joined the trio. She turned to them, "I'll see you in the match Ron. We got this ok?" He nodded feebly and Ginny pulled Angelina aside, "Please make sure he get there in one piece, ok?" She laughed but guaranteed that she would.
XXX
Ginny stopped walking outside of Snapes dungeon, where they were given dirty looks from a group of Slytherin girls walking by. Harry sighed and Ginny placed her arms around his neck, "We can celebrate afterwards, alright? Don't look so down." Harry chuckled and nodded, "I know. You're going to win for me." Ginny beamed brightly, "Of course. I won't let you down, Harry." Then she leant forwards and kissed him reassuringly. She was about to pull away when Harry pulled her closer and she felt his hands travel up her back and into her hair. This caused her to smile happily and it gave her that little extra confidence boost.
That's when she heard someone clearing his voice. Ginny knew who it was immediately. They broke apart to see Snape glaring at them emotionlessly, "Excuse me, Miss Weasley, but Potter has detention to attend, and I think you have a match to go to." She smiled at Harry and said, "Good luck. Enjoy it." She winked at him and he smiled back at her before retreating into the dungeon.
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Cho was closing in on her! There were screams and cheers of "Weasley is our Queen!" She was so close! Her fingers could practically touch it! She pushed her broom forward just a little bit more and then her hands wrapped around the little gold ball! The whistle blew and Ginny felt her heart racing in her chest! She heard the commentator shout, "AND GINNY WEASLEY CAUGHT THE SNITCH! GRYFFINDOR WINS!"
The cheering in the stands was increasing as she touched down and then was engulfed almost immediately in a full on hug by Demleza and Angelina! They jumped up and down in excitement and Ginny couldn't quite believe it! She had won! She had won!
She checked the score to see that it was four hundred and fifty to Ravenclaw's two hundred and ninety five! Next thing she felt Ron hugging her tightly and he beamed incredulously at her, "We did it! Gin we did it!" She laughed at his exuberant face and then the rest of the team gathered and embraced them. She just wished Harry was there to celebrate with them.
Cho touched down, looking crestfallen. She led by example and went to go and shake her hand, "Good job, Cho. It was a close call." Cho forced a smile, "Thanks Ginny. You deserved it though." Ginny thanked the other girl and everyone shook hands with each other. Then we all lined up and lifted our hands into the hair. Madame Hooch came and shook each of our hands in succession. Lastly, she gave Ginny the cup, "Well done, Miss Weasley. I'm sure Potter will be proud."
This statement caused Ginny to blush, from both the exhilaration of winning and from the compliment, "Thank you Madame Hooch. That means a lot." She nodded and handed me the cup. Then I felt Jack and Andrew grab a hold of me and lift me into the air as I raised the cup and the stadium screamed and cheered. Red confetti even shot into the air from the Gryffindor stands and Ginny and the rest of the team yelled in excitement! When Jack and Andrew put her down, Ginny handed the trophy to Ron, who asked, "Really?" She nodded with a grin, "Really. You deserve this just as much as I do."
Ginny heard the commentator saying, "And the Weasley siblings are sharing a moment on the pitch! How touching!" This caused some to laugh in the stands and Demelza shouted, "COME ON guys! I'm wanting to go back to the common room and celebrate!" Jack and Andrew then lifted Ron in the air too and I grinned at how delighted he was! Then we all headed to the tower.
XXX
The party had been going on for about half an hour before Harry entered the common room. His face lit up when Ron ran at him and yelled, "HARRY WE WON!" Harry grinned like a maniac and then Ginny ran at him, throwing her arms around him! Before she had a chance to say anything, Harry kissed her in front of the whole house! There was wolf whistling and his kiss became more passionate, if that was possible. He even slid his tongue in- in front of Ron!- and this caused Ginny to grin and sigh in contentment.
Finally, they broke apart and Harry said genuinely, "I'm so proud of you!" This caused Ginny to kiss him again and Ron yelled, "OI!" but they ignored him and continued kissing. This made several others around them laugh and then people left them be. She broke away from Harry and asked with a massive grin on her face, "So how was detention?" Harry chuckled and replied, "It was worth it since you won for us."
A/N: Hey all! Managed to write another one! Whoop whoop. After this I'm going to skip ahead a little bit to the part where Harry leaves with Dumbledore. After all, all that Ginny is going to be doing from now on is studying and it would be boring to write about that consistently.
Thank you so much to GinnyPotter6891 and starya47 for the reviews and to all those who followed and faved!