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!
Raiining--I've always thought there was a special bond between Ginny and Arthur, but maybe I'm prejudiced, since I'm definitely a Daddy's Little Girl! I'm glad you enjoy seeing them together as much as I do. ;-)
J.Rhaye--I agree..it's nice to see Ginny thinking more about having fun than about Harry...and that thought about Lee certainly served Harry right! *winks* I think you're right...growing beyond the crush actually allows Ginny's relationship with Harry to deepen and mature. I'm looking forward to it, too. *hugs*
EEDOE--You know me so well! I hope the Malfoy's arrival lives up to your expectations. *winks* I'm glad you're enjoying the excitement of the match, you've certainly earned a little fun! *hugs*
Bill--Sorry you had to wait so long for this next chapter. I used to love ballgames as a little kid. Actually, I still do. *grins sheepishly* I'll try to work Lee and the twins in somewhere, but no promises...these stories have a way of taking on a mind of their own! *laughs* You're right...there are definite patterns here...*laughs* Still, people do tend to have...um...well...patterns. *grins* *hugs*
Enjoy!
**********************************************************************************************************
Other wizards filed into place, nearly all of them shaking hands with Dad along the way. Percy jumped to his feet to greet everyone who walked by...until he broke his glasses bowing-"More like kow-towing," George snidely said-to the Minister of Magic. He repaired them easily, but he kept his seat after that, glowering at Harry, who'd seemed to interest the Minister a lot more than he had. He was telling them about the Bulgarian Minister-whom he'd been attempting, without much success, to introduce to Harry-when the last occupants of the box arrived. It had to be the Malfoys, Ginny thought, making a face to herself.
Mr. Malfoy and Dad glowered at one another, all but oblivious to the Minister and his Bulgarian counterpart. "Good lord, Arthur," Mr. Malfoy drawled in a way that made Ginny's skin lurch like an escaping slug, "What did you have to sell to get seats in the Top Box? Surely your house wouldn't have fetched this much?"
"Lucius has just given a very generous contribution to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies, Arthur," Fudge said, apparently oblivious, "He's here as my guest."
"How-how nice," Dad said with admirable-and somewhat unexpected-control.
Mr. Malfoy was staring pointedly-Ginny couldn't see what had his attention around her brothers, but she had the bad feeling it might be Hermione. He didn't say anything, though, and Ginny found herself breathing a sigh of relief as he and his family continued down the row to their seats...though she did wish they weren't quite so close by, especially as Lucius Malfoy reminded her quite strongly of Tom.
His shadow seemed to taint her excitement with a darker cast, and, overall, she was quite grateful for the distraction of Ludo Bagman bounding into the box.
"Everyone ready? Minister-ready to go?"
"Ready when you are, Ludo," Minister Fudge said amiably.
Bagman performed a quick amplifying charm on his voice, and spoke over the rushing roar of the crowd. "Ladies and Gentlemen...welcome! Welcome to the final of the four hundred and twenty-second Quidditch World Cup!"
The noise was unbelievable. Ginny thought it was so strong she could walk across the field on it.
"And now, without further ado, allow me to introduce...the Bulgarian National Team Mascots!"
"I wonder what they've brought," Dad said excitedly, leaning forward as the Bulgarians shouted their approval and support. "Aah!" He whipped off his glasses and polished them on his robe, even though they didn't look the slightest bit dirty to Ginny. "Veela!"
"What are veel--" Harry began, and stopped in the middle, his mouth suddenly going slack. At least, Ginny thought it did...it was hard to tell around so many of her brothers. She couldn't really see what had captured his attention...veela were just women. Maybe they were extremely beautiful...with their long golden hair, burningly brilliant eyes, and glowing white skin like pearls...a little too beautiful...almost as if they weren't exactly human...but they weren't exactly the most fascinating creatures she'd ever seen. Music started, and they began to dance, which Ginny had to admit was an amazing sight to behold, the graceful and flowing lines of their movement so expressive and emotional they made her want to shout, they made her want to weep.
"Harry," she heard Hermione snap sharply as the music stopped, "what are you doing?"
She could barely seem him just beyond Ron-who appeared to contemplating a dive-or, rather, she could see his leg, resting on the wall of the box. The entire stadium was yelling, angry at the loss of the veela. Ginny felt rather relieved. Especially to see Ron drop back into his seat...even if he and Harry were both toying with their Irish accoutrements.
Dad leaned over and tugged Ron's hat away from him before he could do it any more damage. "You'll be wanting that," he said, amused, "once Ireland have had their say."
"Huh?" Ron grunted vaguely, still staring across the field at the veela.
"Oh, honestly!" Hermione huffed, yanking Harry back into his seat.
Ginny grinned, a bit comforted.
"And now," Bagman boomed, "kindly put your wands in the air ...for the Irish National Team Mascots!"
A great shamrock of leprechauns soared overhead, tossing gold. Ginny dodged as best she could...where the gold pieces hit, it stung. Eventually the shamrock dissolved, the leprechauns drifting down to the field across from the veela.
Bagman shouted out the names of the Bulgarian Team as they zoomed into place, looking quite impressive and intimidating in bold scarlet robes a little like the ones worn by the Gryffindor team. "That's him, that's him!" She heard Ron shout as Bagman announced the Bulgarian Seeker, Viktor Krum. She squinted across the field at a somewhat round-shouldered man with dark skin and a face like a hawk.
She was quickly distracted by the entrance of the Irish Team in a burst of green streaks reminiscent of the leprechauns zooming about.
The Chairwizard of the International Association of Quidditch, a wizard from Egypt named Hassan Mostafa, came in last, his broom under his arm, wearing golden robes, and the silver whistle of the referee. He mounted his broomstick, releasing all four balls from their crate, so they burst into the air in an explosion of color-red Quaffle, black Bludgers, and tiny golden snitch. With a sharp burst of his whistle, Mostafa shot after them. "Theeeeeey're OFF!" Bagman shouted, so Ginny's ears started ringing.
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!
Raiining--I've always thought there was a special bond between Ginny and Arthur, but maybe I'm prejudiced, since I'm definitely a Daddy's Little Girl! I'm glad you enjoy seeing them together as much as I do. ;-)
J.Rhaye--I agree..it's nice to see Ginny thinking more about having fun than about Harry...and that thought about Lee certainly served Harry right! *winks* I think you're right...growing beyond the crush actually allows Ginny's relationship with Harry to deepen and mature. I'm looking forward to it, too. *hugs*
EEDOE--You know me so well! I hope the Malfoy's arrival lives up to your expectations. *winks* I'm glad you're enjoying the excitement of the match, you've certainly earned a little fun! *hugs*
Bill--Sorry you had to wait so long for this next chapter. I used to love ballgames as a little kid. Actually, I still do. *grins sheepishly* I'll try to work Lee and the twins in somewhere, but no promises...these stories have a way of taking on a mind of their own! *laughs* You're right...there are definite patterns here...*laughs* Still, people do tend to have...um...well...patterns. *grins* *hugs*
Enjoy!
**********************************************************************************************************
Other wizards filed into place, nearly all of them shaking hands with Dad along the way. Percy jumped to his feet to greet everyone who walked by...until he broke his glasses bowing-"More like kow-towing," George snidely said-to the Minister of Magic. He repaired them easily, but he kept his seat after that, glowering at Harry, who'd seemed to interest the Minister a lot more than he had. He was telling them about the Bulgarian Minister-whom he'd been attempting, without much success, to introduce to Harry-when the last occupants of the box arrived. It had to be the Malfoys, Ginny thought, making a face to herself.
Mr. Malfoy and Dad glowered at one another, all but oblivious to the Minister and his Bulgarian counterpart. "Good lord, Arthur," Mr. Malfoy drawled in a way that made Ginny's skin lurch like an escaping slug, "What did you have to sell to get seats in the Top Box? Surely your house wouldn't have fetched this much?"
"Lucius has just given a very generous contribution to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies, Arthur," Fudge said, apparently oblivious, "He's here as my guest."
"How-how nice," Dad said with admirable-and somewhat unexpected-control.
Mr. Malfoy was staring pointedly-Ginny couldn't see what had his attention around her brothers, but she had the bad feeling it might be Hermione. He didn't say anything, though, and Ginny found herself breathing a sigh of relief as he and his family continued down the row to their seats...though she did wish they weren't quite so close by, especially as Lucius Malfoy reminded her quite strongly of Tom.
His shadow seemed to taint her excitement with a darker cast, and, overall, she was quite grateful for the distraction of Ludo Bagman bounding into the box.
"Everyone ready? Minister-ready to go?"
"Ready when you are, Ludo," Minister Fudge said amiably.
Bagman performed a quick amplifying charm on his voice, and spoke over the rushing roar of the crowd. "Ladies and Gentlemen...welcome! Welcome to the final of the four hundred and twenty-second Quidditch World Cup!"
The noise was unbelievable. Ginny thought it was so strong she could walk across the field on it.
"And now, without further ado, allow me to introduce...the Bulgarian National Team Mascots!"
"I wonder what they've brought," Dad said excitedly, leaning forward as the Bulgarians shouted their approval and support. "Aah!" He whipped off his glasses and polished them on his robe, even though they didn't look the slightest bit dirty to Ginny. "Veela!"
"What are veel--" Harry began, and stopped in the middle, his mouth suddenly going slack. At least, Ginny thought it did...it was hard to tell around so many of her brothers. She couldn't really see what had captured his attention...veela were just women. Maybe they were extremely beautiful...with their long golden hair, burningly brilliant eyes, and glowing white skin like pearls...a little too beautiful...almost as if they weren't exactly human...but they weren't exactly the most fascinating creatures she'd ever seen. Music started, and they began to dance, which Ginny had to admit was an amazing sight to behold, the graceful and flowing lines of their movement so expressive and emotional they made her want to shout, they made her want to weep.
"Harry," she heard Hermione snap sharply as the music stopped, "what are you doing?"
She could barely seem him just beyond Ron-who appeared to contemplating a dive-or, rather, she could see his leg, resting on the wall of the box. The entire stadium was yelling, angry at the loss of the veela. Ginny felt rather relieved. Especially to see Ron drop back into his seat...even if he and Harry were both toying with their Irish accoutrements.
Dad leaned over and tugged Ron's hat away from him before he could do it any more damage. "You'll be wanting that," he said, amused, "once Ireland have had their say."
"Huh?" Ron grunted vaguely, still staring across the field at the veela.
"Oh, honestly!" Hermione huffed, yanking Harry back into his seat.
Ginny grinned, a bit comforted.
"And now," Bagman boomed, "kindly put your wands in the air ...for the Irish National Team Mascots!"
A great shamrock of leprechauns soared overhead, tossing gold. Ginny dodged as best she could...where the gold pieces hit, it stung. Eventually the shamrock dissolved, the leprechauns drifting down to the field across from the veela.
Bagman shouted out the names of the Bulgarian Team as they zoomed into place, looking quite impressive and intimidating in bold scarlet robes a little like the ones worn by the Gryffindor team. "That's him, that's him!" She heard Ron shout as Bagman announced the Bulgarian Seeker, Viktor Krum. She squinted across the field at a somewhat round-shouldered man with dark skin and a face like a hawk.
She was quickly distracted by the entrance of the Irish Team in a burst of green streaks reminiscent of the leprechauns zooming about.
The Chairwizard of the International Association of Quidditch, a wizard from Egypt named Hassan Mostafa, came in last, his broom under his arm, wearing golden robes, and the silver whistle of the referee. He mounted his broomstick, releasing all four balls from their crate, so they burst into the air in an explosion of color-red Quaffle, black Bludgers, and tiny golden snitch. With a sharp burst of his whistle, Mostafa shot after them. "Theeeeeey're OFF!" Bagman shouted, so Ginny's ears started ringing.