Chapter Seven: Quidditch and Conversations
Bill was rifling through an old trunk of gloves and scarves and winter hats in the mudroom, finally pulling out a pair of scarlet mittens. "Here you go Al these should fit."
The boy smiled and pulled them on over his small hands. "Thanks, Uncle Bill. They fit fine." Then he followed his younger uncle out of the Burrow, past the frosted garden, and into the snow covered orchard where all of the other Weasleys and kids were with there brooms.
James and Harry were talking about the dangers of being Seekers and the best way to avoid bludgers. While close by Ron was looking delighted as Rose talked non-stop about Keeping. He looked up as Bill went by and whispered, "I can't believe it she is just like Hermione except she loves Quidditch, it's wonderful!"
Al heard someone giggling and turned to see his mother tying up her fiery hair in a ponytail and then pulling a matching red knit cap over her head.
"A dream come true, right Ron." she smirked. Ron's ears went red and he muttered something under his breath and walked back over to his future daughter. Good thing Aunt Hermione isn't here. Al thought. She didn't want to play Quidditch with them so she had stayed back at the house with their grandparents, Teddy's father, Fleur, and Lily (who wanted to help Molly and Fleur make dinner). Charlie had left to tell his boss that he would have to be taking a few days off for "impotant family matters" and would be back for dinner tonight.
"Alright everyone!" Bill called over the chatter. "The teams captains will be me and Teddy." Immediately there were complaints.
"Wait I wanted to be a captain."-Louis
"Harry should be one, he's Gryffindor's captain this year!"-Fred
"No, Fred, I really don't want to be one."-Harry
"You? I want to be!"-George
Bill sighed and looked at Al and Hugo, who were the closest and the quietest. He shook his head then yelled again. "Oi! Everyone, shut it! I picked Teddy and I because I'm the oldest here, and he's the oldest from the future." There were some grumbles but the others nodded and George called "Alright then captain's take your picks."
Teddy went first looking around then said "I pick . . ."
The teams ended up that Bill's team the Chasers were him, Ginny, and Al, the Beaters were Hugo and Fred, Ron was the Keeper, and James, the Seeker.
Teddy and George were the Beaters for Teddy's team, Harry was the Seeker, the Chasers were Victoire, Tonks, and Louis, and Rose was Keeper.
"Since we can't use the Bludgers and Snitch, I'm going to enchant these two old Quaffles here to go around and be substitute Bludgers. Then I'll turn this golf ball gold and enchant it to act like a Snitch but stay in the orchard." Fred told everyone who murmured their agreement.
When they started to play Ginny immediatley grabbed the Quaffle and sped up the field. George shot a perfectly aimed "Bludger" that wacked her on the arm making her release it so Victiore swooped in and grabbed it.
Cursing at her brother angrily under her breath Ginny turned and flew after her niece. James floated above keeping an eye out for the spark of gold the was the golf ball/Snitch, his father a couple yards above him doing the same thing.
Victiore passed the Quaffle to Tonks who caught it quickly and then shot off quickly towards Ron. Then Al came up next to her out of nowhere, and the boy snatched the Quaffle from her, turning away at the same time, all in one deft movement. He quickly went up the field then as Louis came at him he threw it to Bill and ducked under his cousin.
After a few more passes between the Chasers on Bills team the Quaffle ended up back in Al's hand just as he was in front of his best friend. "Hey, Rosie!" he called happily as he whipped the Quaffel towards her and it flew threw the left hoop.
The cheers and groans that erupted around the orchard told just how much this family was obsessed with Quidditch. "Good job, Al!" Ginny called to him as she flew after Louis who now had the ball.
The game went by quickly and before long everyone was frozen in midair watching as the two Potters raced each other towards the gold-painted golf ball at a break-neck spead. James pulled slightly ahead then Harry strained pass him, and it continued like that for a bit one or the other pulling a little ahead than the other.
Finally James, laying flat on his broom his dark red hair whipping around his head, reached out and snatched the fast little golden "Snitch" and pulled up short grinning like wild. Bill's team burst into cheers while after a bit Teddy's did, too. They all landed and laughed clapping Al and James on their backs (for it was probably Al's many scores and James' catch that they won).
The score ended up 420 to 210 and everyone was exclaiming at how good a Beater Hugo was or how good a Seeker James was or how extremely good Al was at being Chaser. Walking back to the house everyone was looking forward to having a big snowball fight that Lily and Hermione would be joining.
Ginny looked over at Al who was walking with Rose smiling and talking. His cheeks and nose were a bright pink from the cold and had snow settling in his black hair as it gently floated down from the sky. She walked over to him taking off her cap. "Here Al put on my hat you look cold and," she smirked slightly pointing at his white flecked black head. "Your hair is going to be more white than black soon."
Al was slightly startled but he grinned and shyly took the hat and placed it on his head. "Thanks, mum." Ginny nodded and then hurried forward to walk in between her twin brothers and draped her arms around their shoulders.
Ron walked near Tonks in silence until he quickly asked "Why aren't you frreaking out." Tonks looked at him confused. "What was that Ron?"
The tall redhead shifted his feet uncomfortably and said, slower this time, "If I found out I was going to die I would be going insane right now but everyone is so calm." He glanced as his older brother, Fred, and winced unhappily. "Why?"
To his surprised Tonks laughed. "I don't know Ron. Maybe it's because the man I'm in love with finally admitted his feelings for me and we have a wonderful son. I'm sad that I wasn't able to see him grow up but I'm proud that I died to make the world a better place for him-everyone." She grinned at him sadly, then brightened. "And at least I know that I'll have Mum, Harry, and all of you Weasleys to take care of him and tell him about Remus and I."
Ron nodded a look of fierce determination on his face. "Of course Tonks we'll all take care of him and treat him like are own and tell him and all of our children about the brave Remus Lupin and Nym-" He cut off at the murderous glare she shot him. "Er, Tonks-Lupin?" She smiled and nodded liking that better.
When they got back to the house Molly, Lily, and Hermione were there waiting. "Ginny, dear why aren't you wearing your hat?" Molly asked when her daughter walked up to her. The girl scowled, "I'm not a child anymore Mum. And I gave it to Al because he didn't have one." Molly glanced over at the boy who did in fact have Ginny's red hat pulled over his messy black hair. Shesighed and said "Fine." and walked back into the house.
Ginny rolled her eyes at Hermione. "She treats me like I'm six!" she complained. Hermione shook her head smiling. "She just cares about you Ginny." Ginny sighed the same way her mother had just moments before.
Later closer to dinner they were still randomly throwing snowballs at each other but the heat of the fight had slowed and were now making a large snowman together. Harry somehow ended up helping Ginny roll around the base collecting snow and making it better.
Without even noticing it the two had been avoiding each other for some reason and they now rolled around the giant snowball in silence. Finally Ginny spoke up, "Did you mean what you said the other day when you said you had a crush on me?"
She glanced at Harry and was a little amused to see him blushing slightly. "Yes I was telling the truth. I really do like you." She grinned widely and said, "I guess you do something about it then since we have three kids."
Harry blushed deeper at that and glanced around. There was James and Louis crouched with Bill and Fred running around picking up different snowballs that they had next to them and tossing them at anyone who took their fancy while they rolled the head of the snowman and tried to find different pebbles and rocks for the eyes. Lily was inside with Hugo and Hermione looking for a proper scarf and gloves for their snowman. Al was laughing as George toted him around on his back while he walked around the garden letting the boy try to find the little gnomes somewhere among the frosted bushes.
"Yeah, I guess I do." he muttered finally. Ginny frowned but understood that this was hard for him and confusing since the only thing he could see in his future is Voldemort, not marriage or kids.
"What I don't understand," she continued as they pushed the base farther from the garden then turned slowly back. "Is why do you like me? I'm just a stupid freckled ginger who's your best friends little sister."
Harry stopped suddenly making Ginny draw up short a few steps in front of him. "Your not stupid." He said fiercely, then seemed to calm and looked down at her. She looked up and met his gaze evenly. "I personally like freckles and red hair. And your not just Ron's sister-your funny, smart, cute, and understand some of the things I've been through more than anyone else."
Ginny stared at him for a little bit then grinned. "You think I'm cute." Harry laughed then happily and leaned towards Ginny. And before either of them could think he kissed her and she was kissing back.
Fred looked around a snowball held in his gloved hand when he caught sight of Harry Potter snogging his little sister. Raising an eyebrow he snuck over to George who was now rolling the middle of the snowman with Al and Tonks.
He nudged his brother and, when he looked up, nodded over to the pair in the shadows of the garden. George's mouth flopped open and he muttered "Is that what I think it is?" Fred nodded and smirked holding up his snowball. George got a wicked smile on his face and he dropped to his knees and formed a snowball in his cupped hands.
He jumped to his feet and they both raised their hands, drawing them back while taking aim. Tonks saw what they were doing (and who they were aiming at) and cried "Fred, George no!". But she was to late. The snowballs flew threw the air glittering in the light from the house atracting the attention of everyone in the yard.
Fred's hit Harry in the head first, then George's smacked Ginny on the side. The couple broke apart and Ginny swung around with a murderous look on her face. "Fred! George! I'm going to kill you!" She took off chasing them and the twins yelped and sprinted away. Ginny was to fast for them caught up with them quickly, and tackled them to the ground shoving their faces into the snow.
"Truce! Truce!" they cried their voices muffled by the snow. Ginny sat up still sitting on them and made a snowball. She rolled off them and pounced to her feet. The scrambled to their feet groaning and stretching. "Man Ginny have you gained weight? I think my back's broken." George complained and that earned him the first snowball Ginny had made right in his face.
Everyone all started whipping snowballs then and ten minutes later when Fleur came out to call that Charlie was back and that dinner was ready, she had to duck because of the furiously flying snowballs. "What is going on?"