When You Wasn't Famous

By: Sam Lincoln

Disclaimer: The characters from Harry Potter belong to JK Rowling and are used here without permission.

"When you're a famous boy/it's gets really easy to get girls/It's all so easy you get a bit spoiled/but when you try to pull a girl who is also famous too/It Feels Just Like When You Wasn't Famous

-When You Wasn't Famous, The Streets

Chapter 22: Empty Cans

"Now you see Ginny, it's like this. You had a wonderful season for us, and were an integral part of our success this year," Geena Thompson, the Harpies managing director said. Ginny was seated in Thompson's sumptuously appointed office in Holyhead. Upon her return to England following the Euro Cup win Ginny had received an owl from Thompson asking to speak with her. Ginny had an idea what the conversation was going to be about.

"I would like to think so. I take great pride in being a Harpy," Ginny said. She flash Thompson a bright smile. Ginny was determined not to let Thompson have an easy go of things.

"And we've taken great pride in having you on the squad."

"So what did you want to talk to me about? It's too early to start talks on a new contract, and you can't be giving me the captainship."

Thompson adjusted the papers on her desk before speaking. "As I said we just came off our best season in ages, but Ginny I'm sure you're aware that this club is not built for long term success. Nor are we going to be competitive in the Champion's Cup. We need an elite Seeker for that, and Victoria simply is not an elite Seeker. Don't argue the point, she's a lovely girl, and a capable Seeker, but she is not great."

"So who do you have in mind to replace her, since I guess that's where you're headed with this." Ginny knew the answer to her question, but wanted to hear it from Thompson.

"Inés Garcia, I believe you are familiar with her work."

Ginny arched an eyebrow. "As I recall Harry Potter beat her to the Snitch quite handily."

"Harry Potter beats everyone to the Snitch. You can't hold that against her. Besides, Potter isn't going to play forever, and Ines is young enough that she'll still be in her prime when he does retire. With Inés in the fold we will finally have the top-flight Seeker we've been searching for. Her Seeking will allow us to more reliably compete for international play, and that is where the real money is."

"And the arithmantic analysis that says Seeking is too unpredictable to count on reliably, and the surest way to win in league play is to have Chasers who can build up a hundred and fifty point cushion?"

"Nonsense dreamed up by wizards who spend more time looking at numbers than they do a Quidditch pitch," Thompson said. She waved her hand like she was dismissing a bad odor. "You need a proven Seeker to win, that is a cold hard fact."

Ginny bit her tongue and didn't challenge Thompson's statement. She enjoyed reading the new Arithmantic-based analysis of Quidditch because of the ways it attacked the entrenched orthodoxy of the sport. Though she did need Hermione to explain some of the trickier bits of maths to her. However this was not the time or place to get into an argument over Quaffle possession times. "I'm guessing this means you'll be shipping someone out to cover the cost of the transfer?" Ginny asked.

Thompson squirmed in her seat. "This is the hard part, and I won't even try to sugarcoat it for you. Yes we are, and you're the one we're looking to transfer Ginny."

Even though she knew the words were coming, they still cut at Ginny. "You want to sell me off to pay for your new toy? But I'm the best player on the club. Hell I'd still be the best player even with Inés on the roster. The supporters will riot."

"That's precisely why you're the player we have to move. Your value has never been higher; especially after the tournament you just had. As for the supporters, well they are a fickle bunch, and if the rumors about you and Harry Potter are correct then they'll be glad to be done with you."

Ginny's eyes narrowed. "That's…that's nobody's business, even if it was true."

Thompson clicked her tongue. "Oh come now, sleeping with a rival player? That's an unforgivable sin, especially to all your fans who think you're destined to marry them."

Ginny pinched the bridge of her nose. The kiss from Harry after the championship match had been amazing, but the gossip it had started was more trouble than it was worth. A day had not gone by since then without the gossip pages trotting out an even more sensational lie. "Look I know my contract, and I have to be the on to initiate a transfer request, you can't just put me on the list with a Galleon total next to my name. So why should I ask to be transferred from the only team I've ever wanted to play for?"

"Because I will strip this team of every useful part to get Ines. The Harpies won't be taken seriously as a Quidditch power until we have her."

Ginny's dismay quickly shifted into anger. "You stupid, shortsighted cow! You're willing to break up a potentially record setting Chaser unit just to chase some outdated cliche? You know what, fine, you want me to request a transfer? This is me requesting a transfer. You'll have my list of teams before the window opens." Ginny stood up and turned to leave. "Oh, and one more thing, when you announce this be very clear you came to me to ask for this, not the other way around. If you try to tar me as disloyal to the club I'll be forced to tell my side of the story."

Thompson nodded. "Of course, you've given us many years of fabulous service, and you have been a model Harpy. There's no reason to spread rumors or antagonise you."

"No more than you already have," Ginny said. She crossed her arms and glared at Thompson.

"We will tell the press that there was a difference of opinion between you and upper management over the direction of the club. Which is of course the truth."

"That's as good as saying I wasn't willing to play alongside Inés," Ginny said. "I'll still get pilloried."

Thompson leaned forward in her seat and rested her arms on her desk. "You'll be pilloried regardless of what we say, you know how the press is. Especially if you wind up where I think you will. Who talked to you on Atlantica, Cabbock or Westerman? Don't worry, I won't lodge a tampering complaint."

Ginny glared at Thompson. "I haven't decided on which team yet. Like I said I'll let you know before the window opens."

"I would have thought you'd jump at the chance to play for United. Especially if they pull off the acquisition of a certain Seeker."

"What can I say, you really shouldn't believe what they print in those rags," Ginny said before she exited the office.

When Ginny returned home she found Hermione waiting for her in the kitchen. "Well they did it," Ginny said. She angrily yanked open the refrigerator and withdrew a bottle of ale. "They bloody well asked me to tender a bloody transfer request to help them purchase Inés, bloody fools."

"So what did you tell Thompson?" Hermione asked. She eyed Ginny warily as she flounced onto a stool at the kitchen island.

"I put in the bloody request of course. If they don't want me then I bloody well don't want anything to do with them." Ginny took a long pull from her bottle.

Hermione rested a hand on Ginny's forearm to comfort her. "I'm sorry it came to this Ginny, but maybe a change of scenery will do you good. After all you got along well with Shetley and Westerman during the cup run."

"Who says I'm going to ask for Puddlemere?" Ginny asked.

"Because the other option is Spain."

"And you just finished saying a change of scenery would do me good, and Spain would be a change of scenery."

"But isn't that a little extreme, especially considering all that Puddlemere can offer." Hermione stopped talking and pulled her hand back from Ginny. "Merlin, are you that afraid of him?"

Ginny started to pick at the label on her bottle. "Afraid of who?"

"Don't be dense, Harry. You'd run away from everything you've built here just to avoid Harry?"

Ginny slammed her bottle down on the counter. "First of all it wouldn't be running away." She pointed a finger in Hermione's face to emphasise her point. "Two if you didn't notice we spent the past month on the same team."

"A team that had a built-in end point. You knew it was temporary, hence your little arrangement. If you both wind up with Puddlemere you'll have to deal with him on a daily basis. That's what scares you, and I want to know why."

"You'll think I'm mental if I tell you." Ginny crossed her arms in front of her as if she was trying to wall off Hermione's questions.

"I will not, I promise."

Ginny let her arms fall to her side. "I still fancy the git."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "That much is obvious, and he plainly still fancies you as well, so what is the problem?"

"I'm still angry with him! He chucked me over for Quidditch." She held up a hand to forestall Hermione from speaking. "I know, I know, I said I understood, I've said I don't hold it against him. Apparently I do go figure." She shrugged her shoulders.

"He did it once, what's to stop him from doing it again, is that it?"

"Exactly, and even if we do play for the same club next season who's to say our careers will continue to pull in the same direction? To say nothing of the epic fit the press is going to throw if half the national team winds up on the same club."

"When have you ever cared about the press?"

"Why do people keep saying that? I'm human, of course I care about public opinion. Bloody hell we'd be public enemy number one, and I doubt either the Harpies or Tornados would do anything to quell that. It's easier for them to say we wanted to chase cups together than it is to admit their inept management."

"So in your mind the better move would be to avoid all that by playing in Spain?"

"Exactly, plus nice weather, lots of attractive men," Ginny said as she ticked the items off on her fingers.

"No friends or family," Hermione said, cutting Ginny off.

"What do you mean no friends? You're my manager, it's your job to be there."

"And what about Ron and his job? He loves working for the twins and it would be unfair of me to ask him to quit and follow you into exile. Besides we are still trying to get pregnant, and I will not raise my child so far away from her grandparents." Hermione placed a hand on Ginny's shoulder. "I'm sorry Ginny, but if you do this I'll be forced to quit. I have too much of a life here in England to just pack it all away and flit off to Spain."

Ginny heaved a great sigh. "And I suppose you did just buy that delightful house in the country that you said you always wanted. I'm sorry Hermione, I'm being quite the self-absorbed bitch aren't I?"

Hermione reached over and gave her friend a hug. "You are, but I forgive you. And you aren't entirely wrong about Spain either. It could be a fabulous opportunity for you. Provided you're doing it for the right reasons."

Ginny rested her head on Hermione's shoulder. "And what exactly are the right reasons?"

"All those things you said earlier. Fabulous weather, dishy blokes, a fresh way to look at your play, because they will pay you more than Croesus. The wrong reason, in case you were wondering, is because you are running away from a certain fit Seeker."

Ginny pulled away form Hermione. "And what would it take for me to convince you I'm doing it for the right reasons?"

"Talking to Harry would be a good start."

"Okay, but do you need to be in the room, or should I have a Quick-Note Quill transcribe the conversation?"

Hermione's mouth quirked into a smile. "No, I trust you."

They were interrupted by an incessant knocking on the kitchen door. "Who on earth is that?" Ginny asked as Hermione got up to check. "All of the people who could get past the wards without setting them off wouldn't bother knocking."

Hermione glanced out the window to see who was standing on the door step. She turned her head and smirked at Ginny before opening the door, allowing Harry to step into the kitchen. "Harry, what a surprise," Hermione said. "And what in the name of sanity are you wearing?"

Harry glanced down at his outfit, bright red Hawaiin print shirt, crisp white shorts, white plimsolls and topped with a white bucket hat. "They're clothes," he said. "And good to see you too Hermione. Is Ginny about?" He glanced around the room until his eyes fell on Ginny. "Oh good, there you are." He walked over to the counter and plucked Ginny's bottle of ale from her hands. He downed the bottle in one long drink and banged it on the counter. "Brilliant now come along, time is wasting." He grabbed Ginny by the hand and tried to pull her to her feet.

Ginny resisted Harry and remained firmly atop her stool. "Come along where?"

"As your captain." He paused then frowned. "Former captain, as your former captain I order you to go on holiday with me."

Ginny stood up and leaned into Harry. She took a deep whiff of his breath. "Are you pissed?"

Harry swayed unsteadily on his feet. "Have to be, it's the only way I can handle International Portkeys." He gave out a quiet hiccup.

"And what makes you think I want to go on holiday, especially with you?"

Harry took off the bucket hat and ran a hand through his hair. "I reckoned that by now Thompson's talked to you about the whole transfer thing, and knowing you I figured you'd be pretty cut up over the only club you'd ever wanted to play for saying they'd rather have some rubbish Spanish Seeker than you. So I thought I'd pop by and see if you wanted to come drown your sorrows with me away from all this."

Ginny felt her stomach flip as she heard Harry diagnose her mood. "And where exactly do you want to squire me off to?"

"Las Vegas," Harry said. "It's in the United States. You'll love it, it's a Muggle city so the Wizard press won't be around to bother us, and we can drink and gamble all night if we want. I go by myself every year after the season ends to blow off steam."

"So you got pissed then thought it would be a good idea to invite me along?"

"Oh no I decided to invite you along then got pissed to work up the courage to ask. And like I said, it's the only way I can stand Portkeys."

Ginny's hand twitched as she debated reaching for her wand. "And just how did you slip past the wards Hermione has carefully set around the townhouse?"

Harry shrugged. "I asked Luna how to get in, plus my dad's old Invisibility Cloak lets me slip past most wards."

Ginny pinched the bridge of her nose. "Okay one last question. What in the bloody hell are you wearing?"

Harry returned the hat to his head. "It's from a Muggle book my mum has about Las Vegas. I think it was a guide book." In the background Ginny could see Hermione massaging her temples. "So how about it, come drown your sorrows with me?"

"Harry," Hermione said. "You are aware of Las Vegas's reputation aren't you?"

"It's one giant debauch yeah?"

"No not that." A smile spread across Hermione's face. "It's where Muggles go when they want to get married in a hurry."

Harry's face turned beet red. "Ginny, I promise that's not even remotely what I had in mind."

Ginny tapped a finger against her chin. "Let me see if I have this right. It would just be you and me going, nobody else, not Hermione, Ron, Dean, Luna or Neville?"

"That's right, you and me in a desert resort town with unlimited money."

"Will there be drinks with umbrellas in them?"

"As many as you can stand, and more when you fall over."

"In that case let me go pack a few things."

"There's no time, we can buy you a new wardrobe when we arrive."

"Awfully sure of yourself were you?" Harry shrugged in response. "So when do we leave?"

Harry checked his watch then pulled a battered cigarette holder out of his pocked. "Just about now."

Ginny looked over at Hermione. "Cancel any appointments I might have, and don't tell anyone where I am." Before Hermione could respond Ginny placed a hand on the Portkey and she and Harry vanished.

Author's Notes: I offer no apologies, or explanations, for the big goofy HST reference slapped onto the end of this chapter, it just kind of happened when I was writing. This was also supposed to be the last chapter, but there was too much stuff so I had to split it into two. Thank-you all for your continued support. Next week is the finale, then a little epilogue, then we're done, so until then.

-sam