A/N: writer's block sucks. But school has also started and you know those teachers, love to ruin our lives with homework. growls

But here you are…

Chapter Seven: The Holyhead Harpies

Portkeys were never Ginny's favorite way of traveling, but they were very useful in large groups of people. The Charm staff landed almost gracefully in front of the Wingledon Park gates. Ginny absentmindedly grabbed the arm of the person nearest her to steady herself.

"Are you okay?" Malfoy said looking down at her hand clasping his shirt.

Ginny jumped away from him feeling embarrassed. There were only so many times Malfoy could catch her off guard. Regaining composure Ginny nodded with a feeble smile and headed into the park alongside the blonde-haired man.

The park was bubbling with excitement. Everyone was waiting to see how the two rival Quidditch teams were going to play, no doubt it would be intense. Once inside the park, people went off in their own directions.

"Ginny!" Dennis Creevey called.

Both Malfoy and Ginny turned.

Dennis face was ablaze. He looked just like a kid again with all that excitement on his face.

"I'm going to interview Demelza, come with me? You too Malfoy."

"Sure," Malfoy said. He turned to Ginny to see if she agreed. The look on his face was a mix of interest and the usual cockiness. Ginny could not lie, she loved it. Coming out of her reverie, she said, "Yes. Of course."

Demelza Robins had furthered her Qudditch career as a Chaser. Now she was captain of the Holyhead Harpies. Ginny hadn't spoken to her in years.

Dennis led Ginny and Malfoy towards the team's tent. Ginny couldn't help sneaking quick glances at Malfoy as they neared the tent. So much had changed. Ginny wasn't the best at adapting to change even though she had gone through it her entire life she always held her complaints in. But this change was one of the biggest.

Dennis pulled back the flap of a tent that said HOLYHEADS in crimson letters. The youngest Creevey was greeted like an old friend.

A tall, broad black haired woman with a superior look on her face approached them. Demelza hadn't changed a bit.

"Ginny!" she said sweeping her into a strong hug.

"It's so good to see you!" Ginny said when they pulled away. "It's been so long, and now look at you! Captain."

"Oh, don't let that fool you I am as nervous as-''

Demelza stopped in mid-sentence. She was staring at something behind Ginny and over to the left. Ginny turned to see what she was staring at. All she could see was Dennis introducing Malfoy to some people on the team.

Malfoy…

"What the hell is going on?" Demelza asked raising her eyebrow.

"Oh, well, he works at Charm now."

Demelza's jaw dropped.

"No! And he's being civil? This is absurd, Ginny."

"You're telling me."

They both stood there a minute watching Malfoy socialize very differently from how he did at school. Then Demelza broke the silence.

"So how are things with you and Potter? When's the wedding?" she grinned as she looked at Ginny.

Ginny on the other hand felt a pain in her stomach. She didn't want to talk about Harry.

"We, um, decided we weren't going to see each other again."

"So this was mutual?" Demelza cocked an eyebrow again.

"Not really," Ginny replied looking away, wishing this conversation was over.

The Captain got the idea and changed the subject. After awhile Demelza looked at her watch and nearly jumped out of her skin.

"Gin, we really have to get moving here, it's almost game time, but I'll see you in the stands. Bye!" Demelza dashed off rounding up her players. Ginny joined Dennis and Malfoy and they left the tent together.

They walked up to the top box and on the way meeting the rest of the Charm staff. Jason was always able to get the best seats in the stadium. He had arranged for them to sit in the Top Box next to Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt. His back was too her and he was speaking to…

"Oh, no," Ginny groaned prepared to Apparate on the spot.

"What is it?" Malfoy said as they sat down in fuzzy green seats.

"Oh, nothing."

Ginny didn't need to let Malfoy know about Harry, after all they could still be after each other's throats and that would be quite a fiasco. And she knew Ron would go absolutely ballistic. The red head sighed and told herself that she couldn't run away from them.

She tensed as Ron and Harry sat behind her.

"Want some Omnoculars Ginny?" Malfoy asked.

She tried to give him a shut up look but apparently it didn't work, and apparently Harry heard.

"Ginny?" he said.

She turned slowly as if being caught in the act. They just looked at each other. Ginny wondered if he was still upset over the whole boyfriend girlfriend thing. He wasn't being as friendly and flirty as he had been. Ginny supposed he was.

"Hi," she finally said slowly.

"I didn't know you'd be here," he said flatly. His emerald eyes had turned as dark as a forest and his jaw tensed.

"The whole staff is here."

Malfoy turned as well and looked taken aback to be staring into the eyes of the famous Harry Potter. Savior of the Wizarding World. Ginny watched him hoping that her laser vision would make him not say anything rude.

"Potter, Weasley."

"Malfoy," Harry and Ron said together.

Ginny noticed the hatred in Ron's eyes. She shot Ron the same laser vision she had shot at Malfoy. Ron though, ignored his little sister.

"Interesting seeing you here, Malfoy."

"You as well."

"What did you do to get Top Box seats, your parents-''

"Ronald Weasley, that is enough. He works for Charm, be respectful."

The youngest male in the Weasley family lifted an eyebrow and sank back into his fluffy green seat. Ginny and Malfoy turned back around in their seats and focused on the field where two referees were conversing.

"So, do you want some Omnoculars?" Malfoy asked again.

"Oh sure," Ginny said reaching for her purse. She pulled out ten Galleons but Malfoy pushed them away.

"I can pay."

Ginny lifted an eyebrow. Of course he could pay he was filthy rich.

"There's no need to take pity on me you know, I can pay for it myself," she told him firmly. She gave him her hardest stare but he did not back down.

He turned to the man selling them and said, "Two, please."

"That'll be twenty Galleons, lad," the man said.

Malfoy handed him the money and passed a pair of Omnoculars to Ginny. She narrowed her eyes at him but Malfoy just smiled slyly.

When he wasn't looking she put ten Galleons in his pocket.

-:-

Every Holyhead supporter was on their feet screaming at the top of their lungs. The two Seekers were neck and neck. They dove down towards the ground, hands outstretched. Ginny was afraid for a second that they would crash…they were only inches from the ground. Then the Holyhead's Seeker, Vince Polterash, closed his hand over the Snitch and dove right back up as the Stinger's Seeker crashed into a heap.

Ginny wasn't even paying the slightest bit of attention to the collision. She cheered and waved the banner Luna had conjured in the middle of the game. Leaning towards Malfoy she said, "That was absolutely amazing! He just came right back up so smoothly!"

The scoreboard flashed; Harpies: 340 Stingers: 280.

It had been quite a brutal game with lots of blood and dirt. Some robes were torn and some people had to be subbed out.

The Harpies flew around the pitch as the crowd continued to cheer for what seemed like hours but Ginny didn't mind. This was her team and they had done so well. And Demelza had done absolutely splendid. Ginny had used her Omnoculars to see what the name of some of the moves she had made were. The Omnoculars' description had been difficult to understand but Demelza had performed them with ease.

Ginny and Malfoy walked down from the stadium talking animatedly about the game. They had reached the grounds when Dennis caught up with them.

"The Charm staff has been invited to celebrate with the Harpies!" he announced.

"Really?" Ginny said amazed.

"It was all Demelza's idea. She said to meet them at the tent."

They waited for the entire staff to gather and they headed off to the team tent where shouts and whoops of laughter could be heard. They entered the tent and were all suddenly embraced by members of the team.

Demelza opened a bottle of Chandler's Best Champaign and said, "We must take this party to the Three Broomsitcks!" A second later she Apparated and so did everyone else.

The Three Broomsticks had never been so busy. Madame Rosmerta was overwhelmed but eventually she gave in and joined in the festivities as well. By 11:00 pm Ginny was on her fourth glass of Champaign and she was acting like an idiot. She rambled. On and on she went about stories from the Hogwarts days. She wound up crying about Fred and she kept kissing everyone on the cheek, even Jason.

The Seeker, Vince Polterash, took away what was about to be Ginny's fifth glass and said, "I don't think so."

Ginny shook her head slumped in her seat pouting. She heard Pansy laughing at her and Dolly offering her a doughnut and Luna talking about Neville and Malfoy….saying……something…..

"What?" she said looking at him, her voice slurring.

"I think I'd better get you home," his voice slurred a little too.

Ginny hadn't a clue what was going on. All she remembered was being dragged out of the pub, side-along Apparition, unlocking her apartment door, and crashing on the couch.