A/N: Hey Guys!
Thanks to everyone for all of the reviews! The next chapter will be the final one for Half-Blood Prince and then on to Deathly Hallows! Im super excited to mix things up a bit!
On another note, there are a few scenes that I choose not to write purely because they would be the same as the original book. I assume that anyone reading this story has read HBP at least once or twice, I find it a waste of the readers time to reread something that they already know by heart. Which is the reason why certain scenes are not in my story. If anyone has a problem with this please let me know, and I will try in the future to add as much as possible.
Chapter 32
"Ginny, stop fidgeting! You'll do fine, Harry wouldn't have asked you to be seeker if he didn't think you were capable." Hermione said, trying to calm down her friend. It was Saturday, the day that had been on everyone's mind for the past few weeks. Hermione and Ginny were now making their way down to the Quidditch pitch.
"I'm not nearly as good as Harry!" Ginny said, in a tone unlike her usual confidant self. "I can't stop thinking about the House Cup, everyone will hate us if we lose."
"What can I do to help Gin?" Hermione asked linking arms with the redhead.
"Help me get my mind off this game! Is their any news on the Snape front? Have you two snogged yet?" Ginny pipped up, mischeviously.
"Ginny! Don't be ridiculous, besides someone could hear you!" Hermione chastised.
"There has to be something you can tell me that I don't already know." Ginny all but whined.
It was then that an idea began to form in Hermione's head. Harry would kill me. Or would he? Surly he would like the end result, Hermione thought to herself. "Well...I do have one thing." She said hesitantly.
"Please tell me! I cant go into a match like this!" Ginny begged.
"Okay, I'm going to tell you, but you mustn't tell anyone that I told you this, at least not for many, many years," Hermione said pointing a warning finger at her friend. Letting out a sigh Hermione continued, "Harry fancies you." She decided that it was best to just be blunt about it.
"What? Are you sure? How do you know?" Ginny said, completely shocked, although a very large grin was starting to make it's way across her face.
"Yes, I'm sure. I have suspected for quite awhile but, his reaction to finding out that you and Dean had split up confirmed it for me. He likes you." Hermione said simply.
"If he likes me, then why hasn't he done anything about it?" Ginny said, not believing Hermione.
"My theory is that he is afraid of what Ron will say." Hermione replied, pensively.
"Who cares what Ron thinks!" Ginny muttered frustrated.
"Ginny you have to remember, Ron is Harry's best friend, and the closest thing he has to family. It makes sense that he cares about what Ron thinks." Hermione said, trying to reason with Ginny.
"I suppose." Ginny said. "But you're sure he likes me?" Ginny said, the smile from before making its way back onto her face.
"Positive!" Hermione smiled.
…...
"What's gotten into Ginny?" Neville asked, impressed watching the red headed Gryffindor zooming around the field. They were an hour into the match and Gryffindor had only just scored enough points, and were now in a enough of a lead that Ginny could end the game."
Hermione's news about Harry had definitely done the trick, for Hermione had never seen her friend fly better. "Not sure," Hermione replied, shaking her head.
"Maybe Ginny should have been a seeker! She's bloody brilliant! Did you see her distract Cho Chang from getting the snitch?" Neville said, almost in awe. "I wish Harry was here, if nothing else just to see this match." Neville commented sadly.
"Yes, it's a pity that he's not here to see his team at their best." Hermione agreed with her friend. "But I'm sure Ron and the rest of the Gryffindor's will regale every detail to him."
Hermione was then interrupted by the entire crowd gasping. She and Neville looked upwards where the crowds attention was focused. Hermione gasped and gripped Neville's arm in anxious anticipation. Ginny and Cho were diving fast towards the ground, to a glint of gold flitting around the bottom of the Gryffindor goal post. At the moment they were neck and neck if Ginny could just capture the snitch Gryffindor would win! Come on Ginny!
The crowd began to stand, craning their necks, trying to get a better view, they were only meters away now and it was still unclear which house would win. Both teams had abandoned the game and were all watching the two seekers now. Both girls stretched out their arm. And then it was over.
Ginny had grabbed the snitch, Gryffindor had won! There was a deafening roar from the Gryffindor supporters as Ginny flew around the pitch followed by the team, chanting her name.
When Hermione next saw Ginny it was in the crowded common room, at the moment she was being carried around by her team mates. Neville, Ron, and Seamus had gone to the kitchens, bringing back a feast of butter beer, cider, and an assortment of baked goods.
"Can you believe it! We won!"Ginny said running over to Hermione, embracing her in a hug.
"You were brilliant Gin!" Hermione praised.
"And it's all because of you!" Ginny said, a grin covering her face.
"What are you talking about, I don't remember swiping that snitch right out from under Cho's nose." Hermione teased
"Please Hermione, surly you are not that clueless!" Ginny scoffed, "The only reason I flew so well today was because of what you told me!" Hermione rolled her eyes. "No, it's true. And I've decided that I'm going to do something about it, I'm not going to wait around for Harry to make the first move Merlin knows I'd be as old as Dumbledore before he bucked up the courage!" She chuckled. "No, it has to be me."
"But what about Ron? Surely he won't be happy about this." Hermione pointed out.
"I don't give a flying fig what my dear brother thinks," Ginny declared.
"Good, Im glad. You and Harry deserve to be happy," Hermione smiled.
"I hope Snape doesn't keep him too long," Ginny wined.
"Knowing Professor Snape he will want to keep Harry all day just to keep him from finding out who won." Hermione smirked. She could only imagine how much Severus was enjoying torturing her friend at the moment.
…...
"Did you have fun today?" Hermione asked with a smirk, walking into Severus' library some hours later.
"Of course I didn't. I was stuck with Potter all day wasn't I," Snape sneered.
"And you didn't get any pleasure out of making him wait all day to find out who won the Quidditch game?" Hermione replied, knowingly.
A small smirk began to form, "I won't deny I did derive some pleasure from it. So... what, have you come here on behalf of all the Gryffindor's to tell me how cruel I was to keep him so many hours on the day of the final match?" Severus said with a sigh.
"You know I agree with your punishment." Hermione answered sitting down in her chair.
"Then why may I ask, are you not celebrating with the rest of Gryffindor, I only released Potter an hour ago." Severus questioned.
"I just thought you might like to know the latest Gryffindor gossip." Hermione said, doing quite an accurate impression of Lavender Brown.
"Ah yes, you know it is what I live for." Severus said sarcastically.
"Harry and Ginny are now together, and I thought you might like to know that it was really your doing," Hermione said with an evil smirk, as Severus made a disgusted noise in the back of his throat.
"How on earth is it my doing!" Severus questioned.
"If you hadn't kept Harry from the game, Ginny wouldn't have been so nervous and I wouldn't have had to distract her by telling her that Harry fancies her." Hermione answered.
"That's funny, the way you say it, makes it sound more like this is all your doing," Severus replied.
"Perhaps we should both take credit for it then."
"Oh no, I shall give you all the credit. I want nothing to do with the Gryffindor's perfect couple," Severus said, looking tired.
Noticing, Hermione began to examine his features more closely, "Severus are you all right?"
"I am fine, merely a long day in close quarters with Potter," Severus said rubbing the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger.
"Why don't you get some rest. Are there any potions that need to be made, that I can make for you?" Hermione said with a sympathetic tone.
"I finished everything today, but I appreciate the offer."
"All right, I'll just go then," Hermione said hesitantly, not sure what he wanted her to do.
"I shall see you tomorrow," Severus said not even looking at her.