Two weeks after term had started, Ginny went to approach McGonagall for her weekly dose of the ant-truth potion every Friday afternoon. When she knocked on the door, the professor answered immediately, "Come in!" She smiled at Ginny, "Ah! Ginverva! So pleased you've made it early! I need to have a word with you!"
Ginny smiled nervously, "Hello, professor. Is something the matter?" McGonagall shook her head, "No my dear. Quite contraire! It's something good for once." Her mood turned silent in an instance and she sighed, "Ginny, I need to find someone to be captain for Quidditch. I can't think of anyone better than you. Would you be willing?" Ginny couldn't believe her ears! She gasped, "Really? Oh professor, I'd be honored! Thank you so much!" She smiled briskly, "Not to worry, Miss Weasley. I think you proved last year that you have the talent. I know you can keep your team in check again this year." Ginny wanted to hug the professor! It was the first good news she'd had it two weeks! She beamed, "Thank you so much! It really means a lot to me!"
McGonagall nodded swiftly and then nodded at her potion. Ginny took a teaspoon of the herb-smelling potion and gulped it down. Then she said to the professor cautiously, "Professor…has anyone else been…tortured recently?" Professor McGonagall stared at her through her glasses, a deadpan expression on her face.
McGonagall said slowly, "Miss Weasley, I advise you not to please go around asking those sorts of questions that could get you into trouble. However, here is a book I pulled from the restricted section. It's a useful book with spells that contain advanced magic. Some can make you invisible, and there are many useful ones about protecting yourself. I suggest you browse through it and maybe practice one or two. If there are any issues, come back to me and I'll sort you out." Ginny took the book and shoved it in her bag, "Thank you, professor. I truly appreciate your advice." She walked out of the room and hurried to her dormitory, eager to read the book in peace.
XXX
The following week, Ginny set up Quidditch trials for a new team. It was a Wednesday afternoon and not as many showed up as last year. There was Demelza- whom she was pleased by- and Jack and Andrew. Angelina and Alicia were finished school now. So Ginny wondered if Katie would try out. She was- after all- in Harry's year. She sighed in relief when she saw Katie running towards her! She grinned, "Katie! Oh thank goodness we still have one original member left on this team!"
Katie grinned at her back and hugged her, "Hey Ginny! I'm so glad McGonagall made you captain! You really deserved it after your spectacular win last year!" Ginny beamed at her, "Thanks! I better get these hooligans to stop talking now though!" She blew her whistle and the small crowd turned to face her. Surprsingly, McLaggen had returned and he looked about as arrogant as ever, smirking at her from the middle of the field.
Ginny said, "Listen, so I'm going to repeat what Harry said last year. Just because you made the team last year, does not mean you'll make it this year." McLaggen laughed and commented arrogantly, "Yeah, just because your boyfriend isn't here anymore, now it means we can all stand a fairer shot- since he won't be putting his best buddies and his girlfriend in the team." Ginny scowled at him and retorted firmly, "McLaggen, another comment like that from you and you won't even get a chance to try out for the team. I proved my worth last year and clearly McGonagall agreed." Silence followed and she nodded shortly, "Good. Split into groups of five, please. You'll all take turns flying around the pitch. Once we've done laps we'll split you up into tryouts for Keepers, Chasers and Beaters. From there on out, I'll decide who stays and who goes, understood?" Everyone nodded and Ginny sighed. Most people who were trying out were elder students-fourth year and up-so most knew what they were doing thankfully.
Half an hour into practice, Ginny already knew she'd have Katie and Demelza, as well as Andrew back on the team. She was a little concerned for Jack though. His aim wasn't as good as it had been last year. She shouted, "HALF TIME EVERYONE! Go take a break!" As they all walked away, Ginny approached Jack in the stands. He stood up and she smiled genuinely, "Hey Jack. I'm a little concerned. You haven't been doing your beating as well this time. Is everything ok?" Jack watched her with guarded, green eyes and gestured his head to the left. They walked away from the crowd and he whispered, "Ginny, it's to do with Mr Carrow. I'm muggle born and so he and his sister are giving me a harder time in both classes. It makes things really tough. And I think the…" She could tell this was difficult for him to talk about, "The pain…?" she asked in a whisper. He pushed back his blonde hair and nodded surly, "Yeah. The pain is having a really bad effect on my body…and my playing skills. I just can't focus like I used to." Ginny patted him on the shoulder and said kindly, "I understand. Just do your best, ok? That's all you can do." He smiled at her gratefully, "Thanks Ginny, for believing in me," he murmured. She nodded and then he returned to Andrew, a little more cheerful.
XXX
Ginny watched Jack aim bludgers at targets on the ground. He missed more than he hit. Andrew, on the other hand, hit a few successors in a row. There were two others trying out for beaters- Charlotte and a guy in the fifth year called Christopher. They were both pretty decent though. Charlotte won by a long shot! She couldn't help but grin. A female beater was definitely a first in a long while on the Quidditch team. It would make an interesting addition. She was bloody good too!
Finally, two and a half hours later, tryouts were finished and Ginny had decided on her team mates. She announced to the crowd of hopeful's, "Thanks everybody for coming to try out for the team! I definitely have a good mind about who I will choose, but there will be a list up on the Gryffindor common room board tomorrow night after dinner." Some people thanked her before retreating to the changing rooms.
Colin approached her from the stands. He grinned and said encouragingly, "Well…that was a job well done. You definitely seemed in control." She shrugged her shoulders and smiled happily, "Thanks. I'm pleased with how it turned out…although I'm worried for Jack. His skills aren't what they were." Colin nodded in understanding, "I noticed. Did he say why?" Ginny turned to face him and she said in a whisper, "He's getting tortured. Not by one but two Carrow's. He's muggle-born too." Colin grimaced and said sternly, his face in a frown, "Ginny…we have to do something! We can't let this keep happening!" She nodded in agreement, "Yes Colin. I agree. The question is, how?"
XXX
Ginny sat in the common room that evening with Neville and Seamus. Neville had a scar across his cheek and Ginny gasped when she walked in and saw it, "Neville! What happened to you?" He turned from his chair and he said somewhat proudly, "Carrow. Amycus. He was talking rubbish about how the three unforgivable curses are beneficial and should be taught in class. I stood up to him because…well you know." Ginny did know about Neville's parents and she knew he wouldn't stand for these kinds of fibs.
She walked up to him and gave him a hug. He sighed and she smiled weakly, "I've got a book McGonagall leant me with useful spells in it. Let's see if I can find one. Wait here." She hurried up the stairs to her dormitory and grabbed the book from her under her bed. She then searched under the title, "Healing spells," and found one called "Tergeo." She grinned, hurried down the stairs and then told him, "Nev! I've got a spell here that will hopefully help." He nodded and she pointed her wand at his scratch. She read the instructions, "Wave your wand in a circular motion anti-clockwise and say the incantation." She did so and then she watched as Neville's scratch instantly began healing itself. She sighed in relief and asked, "Feel better?" He nodded and whispered, "A little. Thanks Gin." She spent the rest of the evening writing the Quidditch list. Colin sat beside her, doing an essay. It was one for Defense which they had. The essay was entitled, 'How to Protect yourself using Crucio. The many benefits…and few cons.' Ginny almost blatantly refused to write the essay. She'd rather get in trouble for not writing it, than spend time writing two thousand words about it. She glanced up from her list and asked Colin irritably, "Why are you even bothering?" He shrugged and whispered in a confident voice, "Because I'm setting an example for Dennis. If we want to encourage him to do what they say…we better be providing an example, or at least I should." Ginny sighed and nodded in agreement, "You know what, you're right Colin. It's a bit pointless to refuse to do homework, even if the homework topic is bogus. I'm just going to write a final list for Quidditch to put up tomorrow night and then I'll get cracking. He smiled at her encouragingly.
XXX
The next day, Ginny had Defense and she handed in her essay. Instead of having written about the many benefits…she decided to be different and write about the many cons. Her total also had not reached two thousand words either. She'd only finished around twelve and she knew it wasn't her best, but she was tired and felt like she didn't want to exhaust anymore sleep on this essay.
When she handed in her essay after the lesson, Carrow glanced at the end of her essay for her total of words. He said tonelessly, "Miss Weasley, did I not specify that you need at least two thousand words or more for this to be deemed acceptable?" Ginny muttered under her breath, "Mr Carrow, I really tried very hard to write as much as I could, but you see, I didn't want to waffle aimlessly either." Carrow eyed her skeptically; eyebrows raised and said seriously, "Alright, Miss Weasley. I shall read your essay and then determine whether or not it is of adequate standard. Don't say I didn't give you a fair chance." Ginny nodded, thanked him tonelessly and then stumbled out of the room.
She ran into Neville who was coming out of Charms with Professor Flitwick. Ginny smiled at him, "Hey! Your scratch has nearly gone completely!" He nodded gratefully, "Yeah it has! Thanks Gin. How did tryouts go? I feel like I've hardly seen you!" Ginny shrugged her shoulders and replied, "I don't know if I have quite the same eye as Harry when it comes to making the best decisions, or spotting the best players. He certainly had a knack for it! I'm just really uncertain about this bunch. I chose them because they show potential to be great. Not because they were showing off on the pitch or anything." Neville sighed, "You've got to have more faith in your skills, Gin. You can't compare yourself to Harry also. You may have dated, but that doesn't mean you're the same person." Ginny nodded in agreement, "You're right, Neville. I need to find my own niche." He smiled genuinely and they headed down to lunch.
Important notice: Hey all. I'm going to be going away on holiday on Friday so I won't be able to update then- I probably won't have wi-fi. So don't expect updates from then for a week. I might take my laptop so I can write when I'm there in my spare time, but I might write in my spare time when I'm there even though I won't be able to post. We'll see. Anyway here's another chapter for now. Xoxo.
GinnyPotter6891 can't answer that question, sorry ;)