Disclaimer--If you like it, assume I don't own it. The Potterverse belongs to JKR, Steve Klowes, Scholastic and WB. Fanon belongs to the multitude...I'm simply paying homage with the sincerest form of flattery. Most of this scene is from GoF by JK Rowling. No copyright infringement is intended, and no money is being made.
Author's Notes-- For those of you who know my posting habits, a warning progress may be a lot slower in this work. I hope you'll make the effort to stick with me anyway. As you all know, I may not own it, but I work hard, and I love it, so if you read it and enjoy it, please review it!
Seems like ages since I've posted...Sorry for the delay, but I hope you all had very enjoyable holidays to distract you. ;-)
Ranting Idiot--I hear you...but I guess that's how most citizens feel about their government...at least time to time. *makes wry face* Ginny certainly does seem to have everyone's number: even the most perceptive people can miss things, but today I think she's paying close at
Raiining--Thanks--Ilove knowing when I hit a particularly apt description or image. ;-) I'm glad I was so on cue with my timing in clearing up a question, too. *grins* You've really made my day. *winks*
Bee11-Thanks for the thought...my best wishes to you as well. The twins seem to get a lot of the most fun lines. ;-) Ginny's trust in them is a great thing...I think more older siblings should appreciate the unconditional belief of their siblings...it's a treasure beyond price! It is too bad Ginny missed out on the omninoculars, but I'm sure Harry will make it up after he finally notices what he's been missing.
J. Rhaye--It is nice to see a Harry Potter with family connections they can actually be proud of, isn't it? *grins wryly* I'm glad you enjoy it too. *Laughs* I couldn't have said it better about Ginny and Harry myself! *hugs*
EEDOE--I totally agree with you about Bagman! The first time I read GoF, he gave me a major case of the creeps...*shivers* I'm glad I'm not the only one who doesn't buy his stupid act! I agree...Percy's priorties are very out of whack, and in a way, that's almost as dark and threatening as more deliberate malice. *shivers again* Have I mentioned I secretly think Fred and George are probably the most brilliant of a very brilliant family--almost definitely past borderline genius. Their very lack of interest in being intelligent is probably the most compelling proof of it. *giggles* Yeah...I felt a bit sorry for the stick myself...it was a shock. *makes face and smirks* Hmmm...you have a point about the colors...I wonder what that signifies, then? Especially as Bulgaria LOOSES? *winces* I'm not sure I want to muse on that too deeply. *hugs*
Bill--*laughs and applauds* Brilliant, Mate! You have a point...but what a mistake it was, eh? You're right...we really haven't heard from Bion in quite a while...I hadn't realized how long...What a great picture you draw of Lee...if only I could work that in...assuming you'd let me borrow it. *grins* *hugs*
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All around them hummed the excited voices of a multitude. Ginny's skin tingled with the anticipation permeating the air. Her own heart beat so fast she could feel it fluttering like a captured snitch in her chest. She actually thought she could feel the ground beneath her feet thrumming with energy. The walk to the stadium seemed to take a lifetime, and she couldn't help twitching with nervous energy whenever they stopped to exchange friendly words with another witch or wizard along the way, all of whom wore a look of similar impatient joy.
Finally the stadium stretched out before them, vast as an ocean. Ginny was too busy staring at it to spare Harry a glance, but he was just as awed as she was...somehow she could tell. "Seats a hundred thousand," Dad told him. "Ministry task force of five hundred have been working on it all year. Muggle Repelling Charms on every inch of it. Every time Muggles have got anywhere near here all year, they've suddenly remembered urgent appointments and had to dash away again...bless them." He sighed affectionately, making Ginny smile.
"Prime seats!" The Ministry Witch who checked their tickets said a bit enviously as they followed the masses into the nearest entrance. "Top Box! Straight upstairs, Arthur, and as high as you can go." Even though she'd already heard as much from Ludo Bagman, Ginny couldn't help catching her breath with a sudden thrill of excitement. The purple carpet of the stairs was so thick and plush it felt like walking up an inclined featherbed, which only added to her sudden conviction-this had to be a dream.
The Top Box, when they reached it, was actually quite small and cozy. It was situated exactly in the middle between the two sets of goal posts, and Ginny found herself longing for Lee, who would really appreciate the view. But, she quickly reminded herself, he was watching the game from perfectly good seats of his own, no doubt having a great time in spite of a slightly less impressive perspective. She took a seat in one of the first row of purple-and-gilt chairs, settled comfortably between her dad and Charlie. Bill sat on Charlie's other side, reassuringly close by, but Harry seemed miles away on the other side of not only Fred and George, but Ron as well. Somehow, Hermione had ended up even farther away, on the other side of Harry. Ginny sighed, and shrugged mentally, doing her best to turn her attention to reading the advertisements on the blackboard directly across from her.
Mrs. Skower's All-Purpose Magical Mess Remover...Mum loved that stuff.
"Dobby!" Ginny turned instinctively at the disbelief in Harry's voice, then registered the name. Dobby. As in, Dobby the house-elf. As in, Dobby the house-elf who'd tried to tell Harry about Tom Riddle's diary...A fine chill fell over her, a mist of memory, making her shiver.
"Did sir just call me Dobby?" The big-eared, knobby-nosed creature Ginny assumed was a house- elf-she'd never actually seen one before-sitting in the second to last seat at the end of the row behind them peered out from between it's long, knotted fingers at the people-Ginny wasn't the only one who remembered the name-staring at it.
"Sorry," Harry said a bit awkwardly. "I just thought you were someone I knew."
"But I knows Dobby, too, sir!" The elf squeaked, still shielding its face with its hands. Ginny wondered if it was shy. "My name is Winky, sir-and you, sir-You is surely Harry Potter!"
Harry looked even more awkward. If he'd been a Weasley, Ginny was sure he would have flushed. "Yeah," he said, "I am."
"But Dobby talks of you all the time, sir!" The elf dropped its-her?-hands, forgetting to shield her face. She looked quite taken aback at such company.
"How is he?" Harry asked politely. "How's freedom suiting him?"
"Ah, sir," Winky said primly, shaking her head, "Ah, sir, meaning no disrespect, but I is not sure you did Dobby a favor, sir, when you is setting him free."
In spite of herself, Ginny stared, nearly open-mouthed. //How extraordinary.//
"Why?" Harry asked, clearly equally at a loss of his own. "What's wrong with him?"
"Freedom is going to Dobby's head, sir. Ideas above his station, sir. Can't get another position, sir."
"Why not?" Harry asked, thankfully giving voice to Ginny's question.
Winky looked around as if making sure there were no one to overhear, and lowered her voice so Ginny could barely hear her, "He's wanting paying for his work, sir."
"Paying," repeated Harry. "Well, why shouldn't he be paid?"
Winky covered her face again, horrified. "House-elves is not paid, sir!" She squeaked in affront. "No, no, no. I says to Dobby, I says, go find yourself an nice family and settle down, Dobby. He is getting up to all sorts of hijinks, sir, what is unbecoming a house-elf." Ginny could have sworn Hermione snorted., but she couldn't be sure as Winky continued, "You goes racketing around like this, Dobby, I says, and next thing I hear you's up in front of the Department for Magical Regulation and Control like some common goblin."
//She sounds like Mum//, Ginny thought, half-dazed and amused.
"Well, it's about time he had a bit of fun," said Harry.
"House-elves is not supposed to have fun, Harry Potter," Winky said in a tone nearly matching one of Percy's.
"She sounds like Mum," George murmured with dark humor.
"Only we're the house-elves," muttered Fred.
Ginny hoped Dad hadn't heard.
"I is not liking heights at all, Harry Potter--" Winky continued, glancing towards the edge of the box with a gulp, "-but my master sends me to the Top Box, and I comes, sir."
"Why's he sent you up here, if he knows you don't like heights?" Harry frowned, and Ginny could have kissed him.
"Master-master wants me to save him a seat, Harry Potter," Winky said, indicating the empty seat at the end of the row. "He is very busy."
"So that's a house-elf?" Ron said meditatively as she turned back to hiding, "Weird things, aren't they?"
"Dobby was weirder," Harry said with conviction.
Author's Notes-- For those of you who know my posting habits, a warning progress may be a lot slower in this work. I hope you'll make the effort to stick with me anyway. As you all know, I may not own it, but I work hard, and I love it, so if you read it and enjoy it, please review it!
Seems like ages since I've posted...Sorry for the delay, but I hope you all had very enjoyable holidays to distract you. ;-)
Ranting Idiot--I hear you...but I guess that's how most citizens feel about their government...at least time to time. *makes wry face* Ginny certainly does seem to have everyone's number: even the most perceptive people can miss things, but today I think she's paying close at
Raiining--Thanks--Ilove knowing when I hit a particularly apt description or image. ;-) I'm glad I was so on cue with my timing in clearing up a question, too. *grins* You've really made my day. *winks*
Bee11-Thanks for the thought...my best wishes to you as well. The twins seem to get a lot of the most fun lines. ;-) Ginny's trust in them is a great thing...I think more older siblings should appreciate the unconditional belief of their siblings...it's a treasure beyond price! It is too bad Ginny missed out on the omninoculars, but I'm sure Harry will make it up after he finally notices what he's been missing.
J. Rhaye--It is nice to see a Harry Potter with family connections they can actually be proud of, isn't it? *grins wryly* I'm glad you enjoy it too. *Laughs* I couldn't have said it better about Ginny and Harry myself! *hugs*
EEDOE--I totally agree with you about Bagman! The first time I read GoF, he gave me a major case of the creeps...*shivers* I'm glad I'm not the only one who doesn't buy his stupid act! I agree...Percy's priorties are very out of whack, and in a way, that's almost as dark and threatening as more deliberate malice. *shivers again* Have I mentioned I secretly think Fred and George are probably the most brilliant of a very brilliant family--almost definitely past borderline genius. Their very lack of interest in being intelligent is probably the most compelling proof of it. *giggles* Yeah...I felt a bit sorry for the stick myself...it was a shock. *makes face and smirks* Hmmm...you have a point about the colors...I wonder what that signifies, then? Especially as Bulgaria LOOSES? *winces* I'm not sure I want to muse on that too deeply. *hugs*
Bill--*laughs and applauds* Brilliant, Mate! You have a point...but what a mistake it was, eh? You're right...we really haven't heard from Bion in quite a while...I hadn't realized how long...What a great picture you draw of Lee...if only I could work that in...assuming you'd let me borrow it. *grins* *hugs*
*********************************************************************************************************************
All around them hummed the excited voices of a multitude. Ginny's skin tingled with the anticipation permeating the air. Her own heart beat so fast she could feel it fluttering like a captured snitch in her chest. She actually thought she could feel the ground beneath her feet thrumming with energy. The walk to the stadium seemed to take a lifetime, and she couldn't help twitching with nervous energy whenever they stopped to exchange friendly words with another witch or wizard along the way, all of whom wore a look of similar impatient joy.
Finally the stadium stretched out before them, vast as an ocean. Ginny was too busy staring at it to spare Harry a glance, but he was just as awed as she was...somehow she could tell. "Seats a hundred thousand," Dad told him. "Ministry task force of five hundred have been working on it all year. Muggle Repelling Charms on every inch of it. Every time Muggles have got anywhere near here all year, they've suddenly remembered urgent appointments and had to dash away again...bless them." He sighed affectionately, making Ginny smile.
"Prime seats!" The Ministry Witch who checked their tickets said a bit enviously as they followed the masses into the nearest entrance. "Top Box! Straight upstairs, Arthur, and as high as you can go." Even though she'd already heard as much from Ludo Bagman, Ginny couldn't help catching her breath with a sudden thrill of excitement. The purple carpet of the stairs was so thick and plush it felt like walking up an inclined featherbed, which only added to her sudden conviction-this had to be a dream.
The Top Box, when they reached it, was actually quite small and cozy. It was situated exactly in the middle between the two sets of goal posts, and Ginny found herself longing for Lee, who would really appreciate the view. But, she quickly reminded herself, he was watching the game from perfectly good seats of his own, no doubt having a great time in spite of a slightly less impressive perspective. She took a seat in one of the first row of purple-and-gilt chairs, settled comfortably between her dad and Charlie. Bill sat on Charlie's other side, reassuringly close by, but Harry seemed miles away on the other side of not only Fred and George, but Ron as well. Somehow, Hermione had ended up even farther away, on the other side of Harry. Ginny sighed, and shrugged mentally, doing her best to turn her attention to reading the advertisements on the blackboard directly across from her.
Mrs. Skower's All-Purpose Magical Mess Remover...Mum loved that stuff.
"Dobby!" Ginny turned instinctively at the disbelief in Harry's voice, then registered the name. Dobby. As in, Dobby the house-elf. As in, Dobby the house-elf who'd tried to tell Harry about Tom Riddle's diary...A fine chill fell over her, a mist of memory, making her shiver.
"Did sir just call me Dobby?" The big-eared, knobby-nosed creature Ginny assumed was a house- elf-she'd never actually seen one before-sitting in the second to last seat at the end of the row behind them peered out from between it's long, knotted fingers at the people-Ginny wasn't the only one who remembered the name-staring at it.
"Sorry," Harry said a bit awkwardly. "I just thought you were someone I knew."
"But I knows Dobby, too, sir!" The elf squeaked, still shielding its face with its hands. Ginny wondered if it was shy. "My name is Winky, sir-and you, sir-You is surely Harry Potter!"
Harry looked even more awkward. If he'd been a Weasley, Ginny was sure he would have flushed. "Yeah," he said, "I am."
"But Dobby talks of you all the time, sir!" The elf dropped its-her?-hands, forgetting to shield her face. She looked quite taken aback at such company.
"How is he?" Harry asked politely. "How's freedom suiting him?"
"Ah, sir," Winky said primly, shaking her head, "Ah, sir, meaning no disrespect, but I is not sure you did Dobby a favor, sir, when you is setting him free."
In spite of herself, Ginny stared, nearly open-mouthed. //How extraordinary.//
"Why?" Harry asked, clearly equally at a loss of his own. "What's wrong with him?"
"Freedom is going to Dobby's head, sir. Ideas above his station, sir. Can't get another position, sir."
"Why not?" Harry asked, thankfully giving voice to Ginny's question.
Winky looked around as if making sure there were no one to overhear, and lowered her voice so Ginny could barely hear her, "He's wanting paying for his work, sir."
"Paying," repeated Harry. "Well, why shouldn't he be paid?"
Winky covered her face again, horrified. "House-elves is not paid, sir!" She squeaked in affront. "No, no, no. I says to Dobby, I says, go find yourself an nice family and settle down, Dobby. He is getting up to all sorts of hijinks, sir, what is unbecoming a house-elf." Ginny could have sworn Hermione snorted., but she couldn't be sure as Winky continued, "You goes racketing around like this, Dobby, I says, and next thing I hear you's up in front of the Department for Magical Regulation and Control like some common goblin."
//She sounds like Mum//, Ginny thought, half-dazed and amused.
"Well, it's about time he had a bit of fun," said Harry.
"House-elves is not supposed to have fun, Harry Potter," Winky said in a tone nearly matching one of Percy's.
"She sounds like Mum," George murmured with dark humor.
"Only we're the house-elves," muttered Fred.
Ginny hoped Dad hadn't heard.
"I is not liking heights at all, Harry Potter--" Winky continued, glancing towards the edge of the box with a gulp, "-but my master sends me to the Top Box, and I comes, sir."
"Why's he sent you up here, if he knows you don't like heights?" Harry frowned, and Ginny could have kissed him.
"Master-master wants me to save him a seat, Harry Potter," Winky said, indicating the empty seat at the end of the row. "He is very busy."
"So that's a house-elf?" Ron said meditatively as she turned back to hiding, "Weird things, aren't they?"
"Dobby was weirder," Harry said with conviction.