Chapter 6: Quidditch
Ginny woke early on the morning of the Quidditch match. The past few weeks leading up to it hadn't been too stressful. In fact, she'd got along better with Malfoy then she could have ever dreamed. Theodore had turned out to be a very valuable friend as well. He continued to help her out with Herbology and even gave her some tips for her charms homework. Every Tuesday, when it was just the two of them, Draco helped her with her Transfiguration. They managed to have polite conversations, though he seemed a little more distant than before and she hadn't heard him truly laugh since there first Quidditch conversation.
With their normal captain absent, Ginny had been given the team captaincy. She had pulled together what she felt was a good team and was ready to face Slytherin. After dragging Ariella out of bed, as she would be playing chaser, Ginny headed to the shower and then to change. As soon as her friend was ready they shouldered their brooms and headed to the Great Hall for breakfast.
They enjoyed a chorus of steady boo's from the Slytherins when they entered. Ignoring them as always they took their seats at the Gryffindor table. Ariella had trouble eating from nerves, as this would be her first match. She had been a brilliant find of Ginny's though and she was confident Ariella would play to her full potential.
After breakfast Ginny led the team to the locker rooms. She couldn't help noticing Malfoy staring at her as she passed the Slytherins. She flashed him a confident smile as she walked by.
Out on the pitch the weather conditions were ideal. Not a cloud in the sky. Her team changed in the locker rooms chatting confidently. Ginny had found she had a good knack for encouraging her team.
"Okay, its time." She said finally, hearing the whistle blow from the Quidditch pitch. They stepped out into the bright fall sunlight, the Slytherin team coming in from the opposite side.
"Captions shake hands."
Ginny stepped forward and saw the tall, pale figure of Draco Malfoy step forward as well, offering his hand.
"You didn't tell me you were the captain!" Ginny said shocked
"Surprise." He said calmly, half smiling. "Now are you going to shake my hand, Weasley, so we can start?"
Ginny started and took his hand firmly. They shook and she made to release but he held her hand for a second longer. Their eyes met, Ginny's curious, and then he let go.
Confused, Ginny mounted her broom and at the whistle kicked off into the air. It felt wonderful flying again, the wind rushing against her face. She spun her broom around and found herself only a few feet from Malfoy.
"Ready to lose, Malfoy?" She called and he turned slowly to face her smirking arrogantly.
"You wish, Weasley." He responded and leaned forward on his handle, shooting off like a bullet.
"Fine. Let's play." Ginny murmured to herself and she leaned forward, shooting off after him, scanning the skies and keeping a close eye on Malfoy. Around her the match was in full swing, Ariella managed to score the first goal for Gryffindor and the crowd cheered.
Ariella soared by her and she laughed at the confident, proud look on her friends face.
"Something funny?" Ginny turned her broom around and came face to face with Malfoy, his broom tip only inches from her own.
"Nothing involving you." Ginny said she knew she was wasting time, but since the other seeker was looking directly at her she didn't think it was too big of a risk.
"Well we'll see if you're still laughing once I've caught the snitch." He said almost as confident as her.
"Yeah, good job looking for it by the way. Maybe if you stay till long enough it'll fly up your sleeve."
Draco let out a single short ha of laughter and pulled his broom upwards, shooting up like a cork. Not to be undone, Ginny followed, scanning around her for the glint of gold.
Below her Ariella had the quaffle again and was being tailed closely by Thomas Wikly. Ginny watched Wikly attempting to take the quaffle from Ariella and fail, allowing her to score another goal.
The Gryffindor supporters cheered, screaming there chaser on. Ariella did a quick lap around the pitch and made to fly next to Samuel Stebs, one of the other Gryffindor chasers.
That's when Ginny spotted it. The tiny glint of gold was fluttering halfway across the pitch and very close to the ground. Ginny dived; next to her Malfoy did the same. His broom was faster but Ginny had more skill. She spun under his broom, flying upside down.
"Hey Malfoy!" She yelled. He looked down, shocked to find her under him. But when they both looked up again the snitch was gone.
"Nice job, Weasley. You made me lose it!" He yelled angrily. Ginny laughed and turned her broom up.
"Not my fault you're not a very good seeker." Before he could say anything else Ginny sped off. She could hear him flying after her and laughed again. Even though his broom was faster, Ginny managed to avoid him and still look for the snitch.
She heard the Slytherins cheer and looked up, Thomas Wikly had just scored Slytherins first goal. Annoyed she looked around for Malfoy and saw him tailing her a few yards back.
Slytherin had possession of the quaffle but as she watched Harps managed to knock the quaffle out of Blodds hands. He sped up the pitch toward the Slytherin goal posts. Ginny turned her head in the opposite direction, searching for the snitch.
She heard a cheer as her team scored again, they would win for sure if she could get the snitch right now. Then she saw it fluttering lightly next to the Gryffindor goal posts, which were closer to her than to Malfoy.
She leaned forward on her broom and took off. She could hear Malfoy unleashing the full speed of his broom but her head start gave her an advantage. She stretched out her hand, feeling for the tiny golden ball. Suddenly, Malfoy was right next to her, his slightly longer arm reaching just like hers a look of deep concentration on his face.
The snitch fluttered to the left, favoring Ginny once again. She smiled and turned slightly and her hand closed over the cold fluttering ball. She heard Draco make a noise of pure frustration and annoyance and pull his broom toward the ground. The whistle blew and the Gryffindor supporters roared their approval. Ginny held the tiny ball above her head, beaming as her team flew at her in a many armed hug. They flew back to earth and dismounted their brooms still smiling at the cheering Gryffindor crowd. The team headed to the locker rooms to change and the Gryffindor supporters headed back to the castle.
"Party in the common room!" Harps called as soon as he had changed and he left the locker rooms in a rush, followed by the rest of the team. Everyone was excited to celebrate their win. Ginny changed slowly with only Ariella for company, though she was moving around nonstop, just as excited as everyone else to join the party.
"Go ahead without me," Ginny said smiling "You disserve it. You scored half the goals!" Ariella looked unsure about leaving her friend behind. "I'll be there in a second." Ginny assured her and Ariella left, eager to join the celebration.
Ginny pulled on a set of her plain black robes and patted the pockets for her wand. It wasn't there. She pulled open her locker and searched through her Quidditch robes as well. She checked the locker room bench next to her incase she'd left it laying there before the match. She even scanned the floor incase she'd dropped it. Slightly panicked, she began to pull out everything in her locker in her search.
"Nice game today, Weasley." Ginny jumped and spun around. Wishing she had her wand with her.
"What are you doing in here, Malfoy?" She asked shocked "This is the Gryffindor locker room."
Malfoy smirked and slid farther into the room his usual sleek blonde hair slightly disheveled. He appeared calm and collected, even though he had just lost the match.
"I'm perfectly capable of telling which locker room this is." He said simply "And I'm here to congratulate you of course."
"Told you I would win." She said glancing around again for her wand. She wasn't scared of Malfoy, but it didn't feel right not having it on her.
"Looking for this?" He asked holding up a thin wand. Ginny stared at it for a second, completely confused.
"Where did you get that?" She asked slowly
"Found it." He said his smirk growing into an actual amused smile.
"Give it back." She said firmly holding out her hand and taking a step toward him. He walked right up to her, between the bench and the lockers, holding out the wand. She made to take it and he snatched it back.
"Now why would I do that?" He asked, they were only a foot apart and Ginny had no wand. With nothing to take her growing anger out on she let out a slow calming breath. It didn't help much and she glared at him.
"Because its mine, Malfoy. And the second I get it back, which I will, I'll curse you into a great mass of nothingness."
He laughed and it only angered Ginny even more.
"With a threat like that I think it would be safe to say I'd be putting myself in danger by giving this back." He said still smiling slightly and waving the wand in her face. Ginny made to grab it but his reflexes were to fast.
"Give it back." She whispered dangerously.
He laughed and took another small step closer, there bodies only an inch apart. Ginny inhaled sharply at the sudden closeness and then wished she hadn't. He had a certain manly smell that attracted her instantly. Though she had to forcefully remind herself that was probably because they had just finished a Quidditch match. There was no way anyone could smell that invitingly warm all on their own. She could practically feel the heat coming off his body and wished she could take a step back; however, her legs didn't seem to want to move.
The grin slowly slid off Draco's face and was replaced by a very curious look. He stared down at her for a second his grey eyes meeting her brown. Hesitating only for a moment he leaned down slightly his lips very lightly brushing against hers.
The kiss was soft and light and only lasted a second. Then he was gone. Ginny stood there in shock, not quite registering what had just happened. She heard the door to the locker room close and knew she was alone once more. Looking down she spotted her wand, lying on the bench next to her.
A/N: Please review! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. I'll try and update soon.