Disclaimer: - see first chapter for the usual blurb –
Author's Note: Thanks for the wonderful reviews & comments. Sorry for the update delay – been crazy-busy this past couple of weeks, plus my muse threatened to abandon me so I gave it a rest for a bit. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter. Happy reading!
IV. the Roster List
GINNY STILL COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT HARRY and Katie managed to pull off – and to the delight of each and every student present as well as majority of the staff and former students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry when they received an invitational letter from the Headmistress. Of course the staff invited wouldn't be competing; they're only there to lend support why as for the former students, each individual invited were former Quidditch player for Hogwarts and almost everyone of them has accepted the invitation.
"Can you believe the amount of turnout for this project Katie and Harry launched?" Luna asked suppressing her giggle as the two professors made their way to the Great Hall for breakfast.
"Harry and Katie are still recovering from the overwhelming response," Ginny replied, leading her friend towards the teachers' table.
"Really?" Luna looked utterly surprised. "Then that means we are in for a really good reunion Quidditch match, huh?"
"You better believe it," Ron said who joined his sister and her best friend. He was right behind them when they entered the Great Hall.
Luna frowned and turned to look at her friend's brother. "Do you know who the participants will be?" she questioned.
"Not yet. I tried asking Harry to share, but he and Katie are keeping it a secret," Ron didn't look happy to be kept in the dark. Sometimes even best friends don't get special treatments.
"I'm sure Harry and Katie will tell us when they're ready," Ginny said, stopping by her usual seat at the teachers' table.
"It better be soon," Ron muttered while unconsciously pulling Luna's chair and assisted her.
Ginny cocked an eyebrow when she saw what her brother did. Luna didn't seem to mind this kind gesture from Ron even though they often butt heads. Ron saw the funny way his sister was looking at him and was about to question her about it when he realized what caused Ginny to raise an eyebrow at him questioningly.
"Sorry. Reflex," he excused and quickly let go of Luna's chair that he just pulled.
"Yeah, sure," Ginny didn't sound convinced. Ron wasn't the chivalrous kind even when he and Hermione were dating.
Ron ignored his sister and went to sit down beside Luna. Hermione occupied the seat to his left and turned his attention to her, ignoring her and her Luna completely.
DRACO AND GINNY SKIDDED TO A STOP at the same time before they collided with each other – again – on their way to see what the students had been gossiping about in their last classes of the day. Apparently Harry and Katie broke their silence and released the roster for the Reunion Quidditch Match to be held two weekends from today, and there seemed to be quite a stir regarding who was teamed up with whom.
"In a rush, Professor?" Draco smirked, his gaze locked on the fiery brunette's face.
"No. Are you?" Ginny flung back at him.
"No. Why should I?" Draco fibbed.
"Oh, I dunno. Maybe you're itching to see if your name made it to the roster of players picked for the reunion match."
"I already know I made it, Professor. Maybe it is you who is itching to find out if your name's included," he flung back at her.
Ginny cocked an eyebrow. "Like you, Professor, I already know my name's on the roster."
Draco couldn't help himself from snorting. "Of course. How can I forget, you and Potter used to snog each other. I'd be surprised if your name wasn't included in the roster."
He made Ginny's past relationship with Harry sound malicious and something purely sexual only. She didn't like his tone or the underlying implication.
"My past relationship with Harry has got nothing to do with whether or not my name made it to the roster," she huffed.
"Yeah, sure, whatever," Draco didn't sound like he believed her.
"Well how sure are you that your name's included in the roster?" she challenged.
"Simple. I put my name down for possible player participant. It has been ages since I last played Quidditch and I think I kinda missed it," was his nonchalant reply.
"Oh great, you're both here!" Luna exclaimed when she saw them, preventing Ginny from saying anything back to the smug Potions Master. "Let me be the first to congratulate the both of you. Your names are on the roster!" she announced.
"Really?" the two asked in unison, their expression mirroring each other's as they stared at the blonde Divinations' professor.
"Yes," Luna nodded. "The names of participants are posted already and now I'm worried on who to cheer for come the inaugural match," she looked forlorn and really troubled by the thought.
Draco knew he shouldn't care, but something nagged at the back of his head and he wanted to know why she seemed forlorn by the result of who was teamed up with who for the inaugural Quidditch match. Potter and Bell couldn't have mucked up the list that badly, could they? Before Draco could question Lovegood if she saw who his teammates were, she was already being escorted away from him by the red haired Charms professor.
OUTSIDE THE GREAT HALL, POSTED ON THE message board was a large parchment with a list of the four teams competing against each other for the inaugural Qudditch match. Students and teachers alike were all eager to find out whose names landed on which team and who the other players were. All day long students and staff alike crowded over at the posting making it near impossible for others to see the posting without having to elbow someone out of the way.
Ginny decided to check it after dinner. She was sure everyone's seen the posting already by then so no one would crowd around the bulletin. The hall was quiet when Ginny got there. All the students were either in the library or in their dormitories doing homework.
"Here I thought I was the only one who had this bright idea," snarled the last person in the castle Ginny wanted to be alone with.
She jumped back when she heard Draco's voice hidden in the shadows. She had her wand out and ready to strike.
"Whoa, easy there, Professor. We don't want any accidents now, do we?" Draco stepped out of the shadow he was using as cover and stood face to face with the startled redhead.
"What are you doing skulking about in the dark?" Ginny snapped as she slowly lowered her wand.
"Nothing. I was just checking the roster list," he shrugged.
"From the shadow? I don't think your eyesight's that good to see it from where you were hiding."
Draco chose not to reply to that. He wasn't sporting for a fight. He just wanted to see who his teammates were. He was just going down the list when he heard footsteps. He didn't want anybody to see him checking out other players' names so he hid. When he saw it was only Ginny he chose to reveal himself instead of staying hidden in the shadows for however long she decided to stick around for.
"I see that you're teamed up with your brother," Draco said wryly when his gaze landed on Ginny's name and checked the rest of her teammates. He hid his disappointment when he didn't see his name on her team's list.
"What?" Ginny stopped haranguing him and turned her attention to the list posted. Her eyes scanned the paper and landed on the column Draco was looking at – or so Draco thought until she spoke. "Alicia's in your team. Looks like you're the only Slytherin player in your team."
"What?" Draco was far too busy looking for Ginny's name to pay attention to the rest of the people on his team. He noticed that in the other three teams at least two former Slytherin students made it. He didn't realize he was the sole Slytherin representing his team.
"Don't worry, Malfoy, you got yourself a good team," Ginny consoled him. "They won't do anything to cheat their opponents," she added with a tinge of pride lacing her tone as she continued to eye the names of Draco's teammates.
"Are you implying that I will to cheat at the inaugural Quidditch match?"
Ginny's smile was a mixture of mischief and innocence. "You'll try, but I doubt you'll succeed," she said then turned her back and walked away.
Draco watched the fiesty redhead walk down the hall until he could no longer see her. He remained standing in front of the bulletin board staring after the galling woman. He was annoyed when he saw her name on another team's list. Why? What does he care if Ginny Weasley played for another team? He doesn't care.