Chapter VI - Almost

Monday, The 31st of August, 1998

Unlike other times, when half the Burrow household would be returning to Hogwarts, the house was quite calm the day before the school term began. Mr. Weasley was working at the Ministry in his new position as Head of the Muggle Liaison, which was a new and extremely important department that had appeared once Kingsley had become Minister for Magic. Hermione had returned home for the last few days of the holidays. Ginny's trunk was packed and Mrs. Weasley was busying herself in the kitchen.

"Where are you off to George?" Mrs. Weasley called as George opened the back door, hoping to leave unnoticed.
"Quidditch practice, remember I told you mum?"
"But that doesn't start for another hour at least and isn't Ron going with you?" She said, glancing at the clock.
"Er, yes but I'm er going earlier to, er, you know get some extra practice,"

"Well, tuck you're shirt in!" George began mumbling about not being a child any more but Mrs Weasley just shook her head and he left as quickly as he could.


George breathed in the cool morning air as he walked out onto the pitch wearing his Quidditch robes. He mounted his Nimbus 2005 and flew a lap around the relatively small stadium. As he hovered well above the ground, holding his beater's bat, he noticed a figure striding onto the pitch. George checked his watch, it was far too early for the rest of the team to have arrived. Diving down, he landed on the ground expertly and saw who it was.

"It's not like you to be early Georgie!"

"Figured I'd get some practice, I don't get these muscles from nothing you know!" he said, flexing his biceps comically. Angelina chuckled. George couldn't help but notice how pretty she looked when she laughed.

"Will Harry and Ron be joining us?"

"Yeah, that was a good idea getting Ron to play beater, he's alright at it you know,"
Angelina smiled.

"Do you want to practice a bit then or what?" she said, mounting her broom and shooting off towards the other end of the pitch.

They were having such a good time that George was almost disappointed when they spotted Oliver Wood approaching. Soon the entire team had assembled; Wood as keeper and captain, Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet and Katie Bell as Chasers, Harry Potter as Seeker and George and Ron Weasley as Beaters. It's just like being back at Hogwarts George thought as they kicked off into the air.

After a couple of hours, Oliver called a halt to their training. Everyone agreed on lunch at the Three Broomsticks. George and Angelina both volunteered to catch the bludgers and put them away.

"Good practice." George said as he wrestled a bludger down.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it, will you come again?"

"Of course!" George paused and looked at Angelina in such a way that she felt herself blush.

"Angelina I-"

"Yes?"

"Nothing, it doesn't matter."

"Oh, ok." Angelina replied in a slightly disappointed voice.