Ginny was pumped for the match today! If she didn't have Quidditch to look forward to, she would have gone completely bonkers this year. She didn't get much sleep much and she kept tossing and turning. When she did eventually find sleep, she had a nightmare. A Riddle nightmare.
She was flying and searching for the Snitch when Voldemort appeared next to her. However, he was in his Tom Riddle form, with the floppy brown locks and black eyes. He was flying in mid-air on a broom. She pretended to ignore him and he grinned at her with a conniving smile before saying, "Weasley…not bad on a broom." Ginny ignored him and kept her eyes firmly searching everywhere else. He was blocking some of her vision to the right though so it was very annoying.
Ginny grumbled at him, "Leave me alone, Tom." Riddle laughed at her and she narrowed her eyes in search for the Snitch. Tom continued ruthlessly, "I say, do you remember when you were younger and you almost got Potter killed? I remember it quite well. Well…you will help me do the same again." Ginny stared at him with distaste this time and said clearly, "Tom. Leave me alone. I'm not interested."
Tom rolled his black eyes at her and whispered in a nasty manner, "You're no good, Weasley. The only reason you've been made captain of this team is because of Potter. The only reason you'll get anywhere in life is because of Potter…so I'm not sure why you bother trying to prove otherwise." Ginny turned and glared up him, her attention distracted and she retorted, "Get a life, Tom. You're comments don't bother me anymore."
Tom chuckled darkly and then started changing. He began changing into Voldemort. He wore the same expression on his now snake-like face and he whispered, "Is that so, Weasley?" he sneered. Ginny scowled and then tried turning he attention back to the Snitch. Voldemort wouldn't let her. He said snidely, "You know…I'm going to get Potter before he's finished trying to destroy me. It's inevitable. I have so many people on my side helping me that it's nigh impossible for him to escape."
He had her attention now. She felt like she wanted to punch him. She just seemed to be flying around the stadium without really controlling her broom. Voldemort chuckled at her troubled expression, "Although you know…I would very much appreciate an insiders information. It could be valuable." Ginny felt her heart racing and she shouted at Voldemort, "I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE IS, OK?" Voldemort rolled his eyes in disbelief with a sigh, "Very well…if you're not going to tell me then there's only one thing left to do."Her broom came to a stop and Ginny's breathing hitched. She stared at him with hatred and Voldemort cackled, "CRUCIO!" Ginny began falling to the ground…like Harry had done in his third year…
And then she woke up. Drenched in sweat and her heart racing at a terrifying pace. She sighed in relief when she realized it was just a dream, but she felt thoroughly shaken. She wished she had Harry to comfort her. Maybe she would go to the kitchen after lunch today and see if Dobby had anything more for her. She sighed and got up to shower before the match.
XXX
When Ginny walked into the Great Hall, there was the usual uproar from the Gryffindor table. She saw her team chanting "Go Go Gryffindor!" with red and gold banners held up by the rest of the house. Colin was the first to greet her with a warm hug and he grinned a white-toothed smile, "You ready to rumble?" he asked. Ginny nodded with a beam on her face, "When am I not?" she asked cheerfully.
She looked at the teacher's table and saw Snape watching the hullabaloo. The Hufflepuff's were much less festive. He then caught her eye and Ginny scowled at him. She had barely made any contact with the new Headmaster this year. She wasn't intending to either since he didn't take classes anymore. Ginny then glanced at McGonagall, sitting the right of him. She was smiling proudly at the Gryffindor's and she raised her goblet to Ginny. Ginny knew she'd always be rooting for them.
Then some confetti exploded over her head and she laughed as she saw Neville and Seamus were the ones with the confetti. They grinned at her and came and flanked either side of her, draping their arms around her shoulders. Neville chuckled and yelled to the house, "WHAT TEAM?" The rest of the house shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!" There was a riot of applause and Ginny laughed, "Thanks guys! I should employ you as our professional cheerleaders!"
Seamus removed his arm from around her and said firmly, "Cheerleaders? Come on Ginny, we're grown men." She smirked at him, arms folded and then laughed at his sweater, which had a golden Lion on it pretending to roar in slow motion. She rolled her eyes and chuckled, "Cheerleaders." She said adamantly and pointed to his shirt.
Luna approached her then from the Ravenclaw table wearing the same, lion headgear she'd always worn. She smiled at Ginny kindly, "Hey Ginny! Good luck for today! You've got this!" Ginny hugged her and said appreciatively, "Thanks Luna. I miss you." Luna smiled at her back, "I miss you too. We'll catch up soon though?"
Ginny nodded and thanked her friend. She looked like she was in her own world as she drifted back to the Ravenclaw table. Then Ginny sat down to have breakfast. Katie asked her, "You ok, Ginny? You look tired." Ginny sighed and shrugged her shoulders, "I am. I didn't get much sleep last night." Demelza frowned and asked her, "Why?" She shrugged and whispered, "Nightmare." Nobody really knew of her nightmares. Nobody except Harry.
XXX
The match started, with Madame Hooch releasing the Quaffles into the air. Georgia Barnes was the announcer (a Ravenclaw) and Ginny heard her say, "And the first match of the season begins! The balls fly into the air and there is an immediate frenzy amongst the Chaser's to get it first. Oh! Seems Hufflepuff's Chaser, Harmony Williamson is onto the ball and the Gryffindor Beaters, Andrew Kirke and Charlotte Swart. That Charlotte really has some massive strength!" The Gryffindor's cheered loudly as Charlotte aimed a good blow at one of the Hufflepuff Chaser's. It didn't quite hit her but Ginny called anyway, "GOOD JOB CHARLOTTE!" The other girl grinned at her and continued on her merry way.
Ginny scanned the stadium for the Snitch. It was almost a little too early in the game to find it. Ginny just wished Harry could be here to see her fly. Of course he was a far better Seeker than her, but she just pictured him in the crowd, cheering for her with Ron and Hermione and she couldn't help the smile that reached her face.
Ginny whizzed around the pitch several times. She watched her Chasers retrieve the Quaffle from a failed attempt by Hufflepuff to score, and then Demelza hurried on down the pitch, chucking it to Christopher who chucked it to Katie. Katie then tossed it back to Christopher, who was now in line with the centre hoop. The commentator said, "Those Chaser's have really good form! Good job on their captain, Ginny Weasley, for realizing their potential!"
Ginny couldn't help but grin at the compliment. She skirted around a few more times, watching the game but also watching for the Snitch from high above. She found it about half an hour in, right smack bang between the two Beaters of the Hufflepuff team. Ginny bit her lip. Did she risk slamming herself head first between the Beaters? Then she heard Voldemort's voice echo in her mind: You're no good, Weasley. The only reason you've been made captain of this team is because of Potter. The only reason you'll get anywhere in life is because of Potter…so I'm not sure why you bother trying to prove otherwise.4
She furrowed her eyebrows in determination and decided to go for it. She wasn't aware what the score currently stood at, but she knew if she hesitated any longer, she'd miss her shot. Ginny pushed her broom at a slant and she went speeding forwards at lightning speed. The Beaters glanced at each other and Ginny thanked the Pope there was no Bludger in near-sight…or so she thought!
Ginny stretched her hand out in front of herself, gaining speed more and more. She could feel the wind whipping her hair behind her, and she felt her hand close over a the small, golden ball. Then the next thing she knew, Ginny heard her broom make a "WHACK!" noise! She gasped loudly as she was jolted sideways off her broom. One of the Beater's had aimed the Bludger at her after she had already caught the Snitch, and now she was dangling on the side of her broom, using one hand, her other still clasping the tiny golden ball.
XXX
They were in the Gryffindor common room and the party was in full swing. The Bludger had (thankfully) hit her brooms tale, which was easily mend-able, and not Ginny herself. She was currently holding a Butterbeer in her hand and there was music thumping loudly through the speakers which Colin had bought from home.
Seamus had gone with Neville to the Room of Requirement and requested a room full of Butterbeer and Firewhiskey. The room had obliged and Seamus was currently describing the sight to her, a large crate of the drinks placed on the table by the fire. He was saying enthusiastically, "And there were thousands upon thousands of crates of different kinds of drinks! It was amazing, wasn't it Neville?" Neville chuckled and nodded as he took a drink from his Butterbeer, "It was amazing, Ginny! You wouldn't believe it even if you saw it with your own eyes! Seamus and I managed to levitate two boxes down the corridors!"
Ginny laughed at this and grinned, "Well, I'm surprised you managed to do it unnoticed by the Carrows! Cheers to that!" They all clinked their glasses together and Seamus raised his shouting:
We are the Gryffindor's
Hear us ROAR
We will dominate
We will beat them all!
Ginny rolled her eyes at the ridiculousness and Neville laughed from beside her, "I think he's had one too many!" She chuckled and replied, "I agree." The party had been going for half an hour already and there were currently streamers being thrown in the air and confetti covered the floor. Colin came up to her, Firewhiskey in hand and kissed her on the top of her head, "Ginny! You were amazing up there! I'm so proud of you!"
She giggled a little as he draped an arm around her shoulders. Ginny glanced up at him and felt some sort of warmness overcome her…although she wasn't sure what. It was nothing like the passion she felt when kissing Harry, but maybe it was maybe an inkling of that. A little hint. A sense of comfort. She wasn't sure what it was, but it was nice.
Colin took her by her hand and danced with her in the mash-pit of bodies in the middle of the dance floor. There was a song playing in the background that Ginny kind of liked. It was pretty accurate in describing how she felt in terms of some of her friendships:
As long as you got me
And I got you
You know we'll got a lot to go around
I'll be your friend
Your other brother
Another love to come and comfort you
And I'll keep reminding
If it's the only thing I ever do
I will always love
I will always love you
Yes you
Colin was grinning as he spun her around swiftly and she laughed. It was as though this was the first time she was truly happy since Harry's departure. Ginny enjoyed being spun around and feeling like she didn't have a care in the world. Colin chuckled with her, his boyish smile gleaming at her and his brown eyes bright and shining. She couldn't remember the last time she was this happy.
A/N: Hi all! Wow! Wow! Wow! 102 followers! Whaaat! You guys are awesome! Thanks for believing in this story! It really means the world to me!
And thanks to my reviewers as always.
N.B: Think of Colin and Ginny like how Harry and Hermione were in the seventh movie the dancing scene. It's a moment when everyone thought something was going to happen. They're a comfort to each other and they deeply care about each other. Colin might feel more deeply for her, BUT he doesn't care what happens between them as long as she's happy. That's most important to him. Just a little character insight.
Also: I made up Seamus' cheer just in case anyone's wondering. And the song is called "Song for a friend," by Jason Mraz.