-Chapter 32: See You in August-
Ginny moved back into Gryffindor tower the following day. Hermione came to every single Quidditch practice and even helped Ginny formulate some new plays for Gryffindor's final match against Ravenclaw. They established a once a week date night on Friday nights which were spent in the Room of Requirement.
The final Quidditch match of the season was in late May, right before final exams and N.E.W.T.s. Hermione watched excitedly as Ginny lead Gryffindor to trample Ravenclaw, 300-0. Madam Hooch caught Ginny just as she was going into the Gryffindor locker room.
"Ginny there is someone here who would like to speak to you after you get dressed. I told him that you would meet him out on the pitch."
"Who is it, Madam?"
"You'll find out. Go on now and get dressed."
Ginny showered and got dressed as quickly as she could and told the other Gryffindors she would be in the common room later. She almost knocked Hermione down when she ran out of the locker room to get to the pitch.
"Where are you going in such a hurry?"
"Madam Hooch said that someone wanted to talk to me but she wouldn't tell me about what. I'm supposed to meet him out on the pitch."
"Would you like to just meet me in the common room afterwards, then?" Hermione asked.
"You could come with me if you want but we have to hurry."
They walked quickly to the pitch and saw a tall, slender man waiting. He was scribbling notes onto a piece of paper.
"Excuse me, sir?" Ginny said, "I'm Ginny Weasley. Are you who I am supposed to talk to?"
"Ah, yes, Ginny Weasley! So happy to meet you. My name is Howard Norville." He stuck out his hand and Ginny shook it excitedly.
"Howard Norville as in the scout for the Holyhead Harpies?"
"Last time I checked, yes," he said. He looked at Hermione, "Who are you? I did not see you playing."
"Oh I don't play Quidditch, sir. And not because I don't love it, I just have no skill at it."
"Okay then. Ginny, I've been watching you play all season. I told the Holyhead Harpies coach about you and despite the little incident at your match against Hufflepuff he would like to extend a personal invitation for you to come to trials at the end of August."
"I would absolutely love to!" Ginny nearly screamed.
"Wonderful. All paperwork and further information will be sent by owl to you sometime this summer."
"How many others will be trying out, do you know?" Ginny asked
"I have a few more schools to visit. Off the record though, I would say barring any unforeseen circumstances that I will be seeing you in October for the first official practice."
"Thank you so much Mr. Norville! I'm sorry but I must be going now. Thank you so much again!" Ginny squealed.
"See you in August, Miss Weasley."
Hermione and Ginny ran up to the castle. On the way up to Gryffindor tower they ran into McGonagall and told her the news.
"Congratulations, Miss Weasley. This does not give you an excuse to not do your best on your N.E.W.T.s next week though, you understand?" McGonagall said with a slight smile.
"Of course, Professor. I will do my best!" Ginny and Hermione took off running again. They stopped at the entrance and Hermione pulled Ginny in close to her.
"I am so proud of you, love," Hermione said as she ran a hand through Ginny's hair.
"I haven't made the team yet, 'Mione."
"I don't care. I am proud of you for being determined enough to go after what you want."
Ginny gave Hermione a kiss and they went in to the common room where everyone was celebrating the Gryffindor victory. A wave of cheers erupted when Ginny walked into the room and an even louder wave came when she announced her invitation for the trials.
...............
N.E.W.T. week was exhausting. Hermione and Ginny were so tired from them that the Friday after they were all over with they didn't even bother to change out of their uniforms before they collapsed on the bed in the Room of Requirement and fell asleep. The next day was the farewell feast. The two made plans for Hermione to come to the Burrow after she spent a couple of weeks at home.
The two weeks before Hermione came Ginny worked with George at the joke shop while Ron started moving his things from the Burrow to Grimmauld Place. Everyone was ecstatic to hear about Ginny's invitation to try out for the Holyhead Harpies but Ginny was having second thoughts about it.
Hermione apparated to just outside the Burrow from the train station in a nearby town, she wanted to surprise Ginny by arriving a day early. She knocked on the front door but no one answered. She let herself in and looked around, no one appeared to be there. She heard voices coming from up the stairs.
Hermione quietly made her way up the staircase and stopped outside of Ron's door. It was a bit ajar and she heard him and Ginny talking while they packed things in boxes.
"I used to think that this is what I wanted most in the world, Ron, but now I don't know."
"Why, Gin? This is all I have heard you talk about for years now, something happen?"
"Not anything specifically. I just started thinking and there are a lot of things I would rather do. I haven't talked to Hermione about it yet, I plan on doing it before she goes home. Please don't say anything to anyone Ron, I will do it when I am ready."
"I won't. Why are you going to wait to tell her though? Don't you think she should know sooner so you can talk about it?"
"Well I want a couple of weeks to solidify my decision. I really don't think I am going to go through with this though."
"Okay, Ginny. Whatever you decide you know I'll support you as long as you're happy."
Tears streamed down Hermione's cheeks. Her head was spinning and for a moment she couldn't decide which spell to cast first when she burst through the door into Ron's room. She took a deep breath and turned away. She ran down the stairs and out the door. She paced in the yard a few moments before disapparating.
