Disclaimer: I own nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch…you get my drift don't you?
"My cloak, my cloak, my cloak…" a frantic Ginny mumbled as she looked around for her cloak amidst the mess in her room. Charlie, Hermione, Ron and Harry were waiting impatiently for her downstairs; they were ready to leave for the quidditch match.
"GINNY! Can you hurry up!" Charlie's loud voice boomed from the bottom of the
stairs.
"I'm coming, I'll be right there!" she yelled back, her head underneath her bed looking for her missing cloak.
"Aha!" she whispered delightedly as she saw the fabric of her tattered robe, she quickly grabbed it and rushed downstairs.
"Took you long enough to get here," Ron grumbled, giving his sister an agitated look.
"She's lost her mind, that's why she loses so many of her things," Ron explained to Harry and Hermione patiently.
Ginny gave Ron a glare and followed Charlie out the door. She tightened her cloak around her, as the afternoon drizzle softly fell.
St. Ottery Catchepole was located in a very quaint location. The population of this little rural community was modest but nonetheless very friendly and warm. All the people in the community were very well acquainted with everyone.
When they made their way into the small cluster of shops and stores, the Weasleys waved at many passer bys.
Hermione stopped inside a vintage bookstore for a few minutes, and Ron made a production of Hermione's studious habits. Harry and Charlie sniggered at his antics while Ginny gave her brother a disapproving look.
They walked to the community arena talking about the upcoming game. Harry, Ron and Charlie walking slightly in front of them and Ginny and Hermione trailing behind them.
"Ginny…" Hermione began looking over at her friend, who had a dreamy expression etched on her face as she was looking at Harry's back.
"Hmm?" Ginny replied still in her trance.
"Pay attention!" Hermione shot her a look.
"What?" Ginny looked at her.
"Listen, I know you've been acting like you're over Harry, but you're not fooling me," Hermione stated.
"What! That's not true, I absolutely do not like Harry," Ginny denied.
"Why are you denying this? Half the planet knows you like him…" Hermione shot her an exasperated look.
Ginny looked blankly in front of her, how could she say, because I have no chance what so ever with him? Because I'm not pretty enough for him? Because I'm Ron's little sister to him? Because he's never going to like me back? Because I'm not Cho? It was easier to deny her crush, Ginny had decided a while ago.
"I don't like him," Ginny said stubbornly.
Hermione sighed in annoyance, "Well, even though you don't care, I think I'll fill you in on something. Cho asked Harry out over the summer, and they'll most likely start seeing each other at the beginning of the school year," the older witch studied Ginny's face carefully for an expression but found none.
Ginny who already knew all this from the day she had overheard them in the Magical Menagerie looked calmly at her surroundings, an aloof expression gracing her face.
"Oh, that's nice for them," she said in an off handed voice.
"You don't care?" Hermione asked incredulously.
"Why should I?" Ginny tried to keep the bitterness out of her voice.
Hermione shot Ginny another skeptical look and their made their way in silence to the arena.
Charlie ushered them all inside once they had reached the worn out stadium. Since community quidditch games weren't highly publicized, the amounts of spectators was very low. Spectators included friends and family members of those playing on the quidditch teams, and die-hard quidditch fans of the area.
They found their seats up in the stands and waited for the match to begin. The stadium was worn out with use and it indicated that it hadn't been renovated for a long while. Some of the seats in the stands were ready to break and the wood was frayed. The brightly coloured flags around the stadium had lost their entire colour, but the amount of enthusiasm people had in the stadium made up for the lost glamour of the arena. Friends and family members were clad in red and blue to support one team, and another bunch were dressed in yellow and green. The sun had still not peaked from behind the clouds and the afternoon was still grey and drizzling.
There was still some time before the game started and Ron was telling them about how this year he had planned new strategies in quidditch so they might win the house cup yet again. Ginny was listening with interest, and Charlie and Harry seemed very engrossed in the conversation. Hermione on the other hand seemed a tad bored.
"…. no no, you guys probably haven't tried this play, the gryffindor keeper came up with it when I was in sixth year…" Charlie was saying something to Harry and Ron.
Ginny started played with the ragged hem of her robe and absently picked lint of it, all the while listening to what the boys were saying. Hermione was looking around the stadium, merely observing the crowd that had turned up.
All of a sudden, Ginny heard a loud "Ohhh!"
She turned next to her and saw that Hermione's mouth was fixed in an 'O' shape and she was gazing at someone intently across the pitch. Following her gaze she saw that Hermione had spotted Cho. With a sick feeling in her stomach Ginny turned around to look at Harry who had also spotted Cho.
Cho was oblivious their group as she sat by herself checking her nails in a bored fashion.
"Do you guys know her?" Charlie asked the group when noticed the boys weren't paying attention to his quidditch talk.
"Oh yea, she's Harry's girlfriend," Ron replied.
Ginny's stomach twisted into knots hearing those words.
"I'll go ask her to come sit with us…" Harry said in a dazed voice, as if Cho had mesmerized him.
Ginny felt her mouth go dry as a sick feeling settled in her stomach; her anger was faint compared to the heavy dejection that had settled in her stomach.
Minutes later, Harry returned with Cho by his side, a goofy grin on his face.
"Cho meet my friends…" Harry started introducing them, Hermione and Ron were familiar with her but Charlie was not.
"This is Hermione," Hermione gave a polite smile to Cho who barely returned it.
"My best mate Ron and this is Charlie," Charlie said a little hello, "…and this is Ron's little sister, Ginny," Ginny managed a stiff nod towards Cho.
'Ron's little sister!' Ginny inwardly scoffed.
"Hi guys!" Cho said in a sickly sweet voice when she saw that Harry was looking at her expectantly waiting for her to say something.
Harry let Cho towards where he was sitting and Ron moved over a seat to make room for her. Harry and Cho settled down, and to Ginny's utter dismay Cho was sitting next to her. She became agonizingly aware that she must have looked like Cho's servant. Cho sat with perfect grace, her perfectly manicured fingers absently drumming against her knees. Her clothes were chic and stylish, compared to Ginny's worn out jumper and jeans. Cho's sleek black hair seemed to be shining. Ginny had put up her hair in a rumpled ponytail and she gave a little grimace as she saw her patched robe.
"So what are you doing at this game?" Ron asked bluntly.
"My little cousin plays Keeper for the Wiltshire Warriors, and I had to take him to his game today" Cho responded.
"Ohh, that's interesting," Charlie said politely.
If Cho were sitting any closer to Harry, she would have been sitting in lap. Ginny inwardly rolled her eyes and focused on the match before her, ignoring the two love birds.
The two team captains were shaking their hands, and unlike the animosity most Quidditch captains displayed, laughter was clearly evident on both faces. The whistle blew and the balls were released into the air.
"Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen! Well…there's nothing good about this afternoon considering that it's raining…it's already rained twice this month! When will the monsoon season be over!" The commentary had begun, Ginny saw a boy of about 13 sitting in the commentator's box and she arched her eyebrow in a bemused smile.
"And the quaffle is in possession of Thomas Brown of the Warriors, wow just look at him fly by! That's right ladies and gentleworms Brown is on the new Firebolt…. Joe Fisher gave it to him on his birthday by the way."
"Both seekers seem to be looking for the snitch but it seems like no one has spotted it yet…and it also seems the seeker from the St. Ottery Catchepole Crows is flying upside down…don't be a show-off Pete…" the boy drawled on.
"Brown is still in possession of the quaffle and the crows' chaser, Gordon is hot on his trail…look out Tom, you don't want to be messing around with my mate Gordon here…"
Ginny couldn't help it as the smirk formed on her lips; the boy was clearly not serious about the commentary.
Charlie also had a slight grin on his face, "Isn't that David McNeal doing the commentary?"
Ron gave a little laugh, and Hermione too wore an amused smile.
"Boy oh boy will you look at that! There's a ladybug crawling around here…is it too much to ask for a spotless and clean commentator's stand?" David continued. "I hope the caretaker's hearing this…and will you look at that! Dust bunnies under the chair! How do you all expect me to commentate in these conditions!"
A loud cheer in the crowd indicated that a goal had been scored and David's head snapped back up.
"HA! GORDON STOLE THE QUAFFLE FROM TOM! I TOLD YOU NOT TO MESS AROUND WITH GORD! THE CROWS LEAD BY TEN POINTS! BOO YAH! IN YOUR FACE TOM!" David yelled pumping his fist in the air.
"Andrew Chang can't save anything for his life! Hahaha! I'm kidding Andrew, you know you rock," David said jokingly sending a smile towards the Warrior keeper.
"Boys! Will you two stop that? Look at the Warrior beaters ladies and flobberworms; it seems to me that they're just hitting that bludger back and forth, should we boo them off the pitch? Yes? No? C'mon, they're just taking up space…"
"Isn't there any adult supervising this?" Cho asked annoyed at the odd commentary David was making.
Charlie gave a little laugh, "No…but I suppose if things get out of hand too much someone from the maintenance office will come to jinx his mouth shut."
"And will you look at that? Mike Flemington, the seeker for the Warriors and the Crows' seeker, Pete are having a little flying competition. Flying without hands eh? You'll break your necks numbskulls…go back to hunting for the snitch; I don't wanna be sitting here commentating all night. Mum's making her chocolate pudding tonight and I plan on having at least 5 servings…"
Ginny laughed along with the crowd at the randomness David was exhibiting.
"Ohhh! Will you look at that; Warriors' chaser Sean managed a goal! So the game is now tied, 10-10. I think its Sean's first goal this season…or is it his first goal in three years? I lose count…the years are getting to me…" David gave a melodramatic sigh.
"C'mon Doug…how could you let in Sean's quaffle! Doug, if I was the Crows' manager I would've fired you off the team after your first game…no hard feelings though mate."
"You too Sean, you're not that bad, I'm just messing with ya!" David continued.
"What's this now? Warrior's chaser Tom and the Crow's chaser Jason seem to be tossing the quaffle back and forth! HELLO! This is a quidditch game; you're not in your backyard to be tossing around the quaffle like that! And not to mention you're on opposing teams here! Can I see some hostility and competitiveness between the two teams! I didn't pay 5 sickles to come and watch something my little brothers would do!" David boomed loudly.
David had to duck slightly as Jason chucked the quaffle towards him.
"I think exhibiting violence towards such a dashing and handsome commentator should cost Jason expulsion from the team. Learn to respect your elders Jason! I'm three months older than you! Three months and 17 days to be exact…yes folks, I know my math, and I can count properly contrary to popular belief."
"I don't like how this boy is commentating the game…he can't even get anything right!" Cho complained.
"C'mon Cho, he's not that bad," Harry said suppressing a grin.
"Ha! Gord stole the quaffle from Tom yet AGAIN…he's heading straight towards the goalposts…Andrew Chang you better let his goal in or else I'll tell everyone what you were doing in my backyard last summer!"
Andrew wore an expression that resembled "What-the-heck-is-he-talking-about" and in his confusion Gordon let the quaffle through the goalpost.
"Hahahaha! You actually fell for that old joke Andrew! So now thanks to Andrew's slow brain processing, the Crows lead 20-10," David laughed loudly.
"Andrew, you can't murder me after the game, they'll send you to Azkaban for that you know," David explained in an exasperated tone noticing the dirty look he was receiving from the Warrior's keeper.
"What's Pete up to now? Still haven't found that snitch old boy? Maybe you're losing your eyesight or your IQ…let me know how things are, my cousin is a healer at St. Mungo's. I might be able to pull a few strings and get you your own room in the "Mentally Challenged" ward there…" He continued in a laughing voice.
"Sean's got the quaffle again! What's the world coming to? Don't let that quaffle in Doug…if you do I'll tell everyone what you were doing in my cellar last winter!" David's threat got a smirk from Doug, as he knew David was joking and he managed to block Sean's quaffle.
"Way to go Douggy! I'll keep my mouth shut about the cellar incident…for now anyways." David pumped his fist in the air.
"You know what I'd kill for right now? It's just an expression mum!" David hastily said when he noticed his mother's stern face.
"Well…besides an exciting game…I want some cabbage flavoured Bertie Bott's jelly beans! I am telling you folks; those are taken straight from the jellybean trees in heaven…what's this now! I think Mike and Pete have actually spotted the snitch! Or they're racing towards Andrew's left leg for no reason…"
"No no, definitely the snitch, Andy's shoes aren't made of gold…. lets see now, who will get the snitch? I'll put my money on Pete…because he still sleeps with his stuffed duck Stanley…whoops! Didn't mean to slip that mate…but cuddling with a cotton stuffed duck doesn't make one fly faster…ok, no money on Pete…if anything, me revealing his dark secret will let him fumble the snitch…I'll put double my allowance on Mike…I don't know that many of his dark secret to embarrass him with…there's only that one time where I caught him wearing that pink frilly tutu prancing around to Swan Lake…. oh boy! Didn't mean to slip that out either…ok so no money on either one. I think they're both traumatized now…" David gave an overdramatic sigh.
"What the heck! WHY is there mouldy bologna sandwich underneath the bench? WHAT do the caretaker's do when they're supposed to be cleaning? Play wizard's chess? I want this place sparkling clean the next time I'm commentating in here…"
Loud cheering from the stands made David look up from the mouldy sandwich, "Well, what do you know! Pete caught the snitch! I knew he could do it all along! Pete you better be buying us all butter beer's tonight!" David said wrapping up his commentary.
"Well ladies and gentlemen…the rainy weather still hasn't let up, which means local streets will flood up overnight. Please stay cautioned and alert and board up your windows and doors so trolls infested with dragon pox won't break into your houses at 4:08 am in the morning…oh and the Crows won by a whole lotta points!" David finished.
"And next time I expect to see my face gleaming in the polished wood…you hear that Mr. caretaker of this pitch! This is David McNeal ladies and gents and I'm signing off for tonight, because nothing can keep me away from chocolate pudding!"
Charlie and the rest of the group were laughing at the amusing game they had just witnessed and they started making their way down from the stands.
"David ought to do the commentary at Hogwarts' Quidditch games" Ron said laughingly.
Cho had tightly wrapped her arm around Harry's waist and Ginny gave her the dirtiest look she could muster. Mind you, Cho didn't see Ginny's death glare as her and Harry were walking in front of her.
"Harry! I'm going to miss you so much! It'll be so long before we see each other again!" Cho pouted as she hugged Harry tightly.
Ginny rolled her eyes.
"I'll see you in two days on the Hogwarts Express Cho," Harry said with a small smile.
"That's a whole 48 hours away Harry!" she said with a dramatic sigh.
"But I guess I'll manage…" she sighed yet again.
Harry awkwardly patted her on the back.
"Oi! Cho! Take me HOMEEE!" a new voice interjected, and Ginny turned around to see Andrew tapping his foot impatiently.
"Duty calls Harry," Cho said batting her eyelashes at him and she gave him a peck on the lips. Ginny tired not to hurl her breakfast.
"Bye Conner!" Cho said waving goodbye to Charlie.
"I'll see at Hogwarts Hermione and Ron! You too Jenny!" Cho gave them all sickly sweet smiles and she was gone.
This was going to be one long year at Hogwarts Ginny grimly decided.
A/N: Aahh….so? Liked it? Hated it? Let me know, drop a review!
P.S: Thank you so much to those that have reviewed!