A/N: I'm back already! Yay
By the way; if this is not enough for your Quidditch Star fake dating AU needs, you can also read Seeking You by Startanewdream, which is also an ongoing fic. I can hear you say why promote something so similar (and this was a worry of mine, that it is too similar) but apart from the setup, it is taking quite a different turn now and I am really enjoying it myself! (But do read this chapter first, pretty please.)
I finally have vacation very soon so I hope I can write ahead a little more but overall I think I am making good progress on this fic.
Thank you for your lovely comments!
"Hi Liv." Ginny set her bag down on the bench.
Livvy hummed a reply, busy braiding her long brown hair.
Ginny pulled off her shirt and then grabbed her Quidditch uniform from the other side. It was always washed and dried to be in pristine condition for a game. She put it down beside her and took the shirt off its hanger. She pulled it over her head.
"That's an interesting spot for a bruise," Livvy said, her finger pointing to a spot somewhere between her hip bone and her navel.
Ginny's eyes widened and she quickly pulled her Quidditch shirt down to cover the 'bruise'.
Livvy's eyebrows shot up high. She quickly tied her braid and pulled up Ginny's shirt just a smidge. She smiled up at Ginny. "Oh my. That's not a bruise, is it?"
Ginny slapped Livvy's hand away and adjusted her shirt again. "Mind your business."
"No no." Livvy shook her head and crossed her arms. Her eyes danced over Ginny. "You are in an alleged super public relationship and you walk in here with a hickey there. I just want to know who— Oh my god. Is it him?"
Ginny wanted to continue looking angry, but truth be told she really wanted to talk about it with someone who understood. She smiled the tiniest bit. "Who?"
"Who? The man you're smooching with on the front page half the week. The man with the lovely dark locks and those green eyes that keeps looking at you like he doesn't want to do anything more than get his lovely hands all over you? That one?"
She grinned. "Yes, I am." She turned around to her locker. "We're kind... friends with benefits. Thought I'd spend our time together well."
Livvy let out an excited gasp. "Good for you, Weasley!" She sat down on the bench and pulled Ginny down on it too. "Tell me everything. How is he?"
Ginny figured she could humour Livvy just a little bit.
"How big is it?" Livvy asked immediately without a hint of shame.
Her cheeks heated up. "I am not telling you that!"
Livvy waved her hand dismissively. "It's alright; you're shy." She clapped her hands together. "I'll move my hands apart and you just say when." Livvy started to slowly move her hands apart. She smiled. "Okay, getting into good territory." She moved further and her eyebrows raised. "... No way?" She continued, looking indignant. "Ginny, you'd be impaled!" She moved her hands back together. "I'll start again."
She pulled Livvy's hands down with a smile. "I am not telling you. It's fine. It's perfect."
"Perfect," Livvy nodded in understanding. "I hear you. What about girth?"
"Liv!" she let out with a laugh. "No!"
"Ginny," she said, her eyes desperate. "You got to give me something. Does he make your top ten of sexual partners?"
She frowned. "I haven't had ten! He makes the top three." She sighed, the heat rising in her cheeks. "He makes the top one."
"I knew it!" Livvy exclaimed loudly and Ginny was glad she had come in early, and no one could overhear this conversation. "He's got that big dick energy. What else?"
"He's got this thing..." Ginny started.
Livvy leaned in closer. "Yes...?"
She felt like she may regret telling Livvy this. "He likes to take his time with foreplay and… he doesn't stop until I've cum at least once, often twice." She bit her lip. "The orgasms I've been hitting recently…" She shook her head, her eyes almost glazing over as she recalled some of the highlights.
"Merlin." Livvy groaned. "When you break up, can I take him for a spin?"
"Honestly, I don't think he's the type for casual, usually... I just asked and he went along." She shrugged. "But you can try."
"It sounds like he doesn't just 'go along'. Don't you think?"
"True," Ginny agreed. She leaned her head back. "Now it's my issue is that my expectations will be too high for the next guy."
Livvy snorted. "Invite Harry to give the poor guy pointers." She laughed to herself. "So that's how the hickey got there?"
Ginny nodded. "He was in the area."
The door opened and Carrie walked in, greeting them with a wave. Ginny stood up again, deciding she didn't need to share more details when more people were coming in and Livvy didn't continue her interrogation. Ginny put on the rest of her uniform. A knock on the door made the three of them pause.
Ginny walked to the door and opened it. "Harry. You're early." He stood there, wearing Harpies merch.
Livvy came to stand beside her, looking at him with much interest. "Were you in the area?"
Ginny's eyes widened and she turned to Livvy, biting back a smile. "No."
"I figured if I wanted some merch from the shop, I should come before the crowd arrives." He pointed at his Harpies shirt and cap. He had also tucked a little flag in his back pocket.
"Is that allowed by your contract?" she asked with a frown.
Harry nodded. "Unless I am up against you, yes." He eyed Livvy for a moment, who had been staring at him shamelessly.
"Don't worry about her," Ginny reassured him. "She doesn't bite."
"Only if you ask nicely," Livvy quipped with a wink.
"And you are going back inside." Ginny pushed Livvy backwards. "Say bye to Harry now."
Livvy waved as Ginny closed the door on her. She turned back around and cleared her throat. "She wouldn't mind a bite."
Harry chuckled awkwardly, slightly blushing. "Right."
Ginny looked at his getup more closely now. "Green looks good on you," she noted. "Compliments your eyes nicely."
"Thanks."
"I am surprised they let you in here. Mum had your ticket, doesn't she?" she asked.
He went into his pocket and showed her the ticket. "I went by your mum and got it already. She didn't seem to mind I was sneaking in early."
"Of course." She checked her watch. "I think I have about twenty minutes before warmups. I can show you to your seat?"
He nodded and stepped aside. "Sure. I have to wait to get drinks once the bar opens."
"If you don't want to be trampled, don't hesitate to ask one of my brothers to get it for you." She took the ticket from his hand. "Top box 3," she read. She pointed down the corridor. "That way."
They walked down the corridor together until they reached the stairs leading up to the top box. She was about to lead Harry that way when she noticed Gwenog coming from the opposite direction. Ginny paused until Gwenog made it to them.
"Gwenog, Harry. Harry, Gwenog," she introduced them.
Harry shook her hand. "Nice to meet you."
"Was just showing Harry to his seat." She pointed at him. "Nice with the merch, don't you think?"
Gwenog eyed his shirt. "I admire your dedication to show your support," she said.
She sounded somewhat unimpressed but coming from Gwenog, this was a pretty decent compliment.
"I'll be back in the changing room in ten," Ginny assured her.
Gwenog nodded. "Come see me before then." She looked at Harry. "Give Michael my regards." She trod off.
Ginny walked up the stairs, pulling on Harry's arm so he'd follow when he didn't immediately move.
"Are you in trouble?" Harry asked, following her up to the top box.
She shook her head. "Pretty sure I am not. If she'd mad at me, I'd know."
"And that wasn't it?" Harry asked, sounding unconvinced.
Ginny laughed and stepped into the top box, handing Harry his ticket back. "Oh no, that's her usual cheery self. She's not the... warm fuzzy type."
"Thanks for walking me, I'll get settled."
She smiled. "You get the VIP treatment." She started walking out.
"Good luck with your game," Harry told her.
She turned back around. "Let's hope I don't drop off my broom this time."
"Don't look at the Snitch this time," Harry teased.
She laughed. "I wasn't looking at the Snitch then." She winked and walked down the stairs, leaving Harry to discern by himself what she had meant by that.
She walked to Gwenog's office next to the changing room and knocked on the open door.
"Come in and close the door," Gwenog said, putting her quill down.
Ginny stepped in and closed the door behind her. She settled down in a chair across from her Captain. "I am not in trouble, am I?"
Gwenog shook her head. "No, I just had a question... about Harry."
"Get in line," Ginny let out with a smile.
"Right." Gwenog mustered a small smile. "It's just that I was talking to Michael and he seemed convinced that you two are actually dating."
Ginny chuckled. "Michael does indeed think that."
"If that is the case, I would prefer to know," Gwenog said calmly. "For practical reasons. You understand. I don't care what the League thinks. I just..."
"No, I get it. It could affect the game." She shifted in her seat. "Harry told them that because they were mad at him for losing the game because he caught me instead. He just wanted them to back off."
"I should thank him," Gwenog said. "That fall could have ended badly, cushioning charm or not."
"I know." She smiled reassuringly. "But no we are not actually dating."
Gwenog nodded. "Good to know. I wasn't sure based on the photos if you were committing to the bit or..."
"He's not a bad kisser, I don't mind it," Ginny said matter-of-factly.
"Ew, Weasley. I don't need to hear the details." She waved her off. "You can go. I just wanted to be aware of the situation."
Ginny shot off her seat. "Okay. Okay. We're not together. Is that sufficient?"
"Yes. Thank you. Now hurry up."
Ginny arrived home, still feeling triumphant after their win against the Tornados. Her family, including Harry, cheered when she arrived home. Drinks were handed around. She received hugs from some of her brothers before she settled down beside Harry.
"This is exactly why you were on my locker," Harry said. "Your skill and focus... It's impressive."
She looked at him in genuine surprise. "Really?" she asked softly.
He smiled. "Yeah. No one does it like you, Weasley."
"Thanks, babe." She sipped her drink. "I think we have good chances this year for the Cup."
Harry nodded. "Perhaps."
She cocked her head. "Oh, you think the Phoenixes will win."
"Maybe."
Several people stopped their conversation to listen to theirs. All the Weasles were well aware of Ginny's competitive streak.
"Oh really," Ginny said. "You think you will win against us?"
Harry nodded slowly. "The Harpies are good. But the Phoenixes have never been better."
"Better doesn't mean best," she retorted.
He smiled. "True."
She put down her glass and turned to him. She held out her hand for him to shake. He took it. She squeezed tightly. "You're on, Potter."
"You got it, Weasley."
They shook on it solemnly.
"You're lucky," George said, sitting down across from them. "She has killed for less."
Ginny winked at Harry. "That's absolutely not true," she told him innocently.
"You can't fool me anymore," Harry told her. "Not after the bats."
"Not underestimating me anymore now, huh," she teased.
He folded his arms, equally teasing. "My bad."
Ginny had been discussing the highlights of her four goals with her brothers and was about to ask Harry his opinion when she noticed he wasn't there. She excused herself from the conversation and went to look for him.
She found him resting on a bench outside, sitting in silence. He seemed upset. She settled down beside him quietly and looked at him, waiting for him to speak. He remained silent.
"Is something wrong?" she asked then.
Harry took a moment to reply. "It's fine."
She scooted a little closer. "It's just that you kind of slipped out and I know a frown when I see one."
"Ginny..." He sighed with frustration. "When I win a game, either I go out for drinks with the team to celebrate. Or..." he said, looking down at his knees. "I go home alone and get into bed." His eyes landed back on her. "I'm jealous. Because I don't have such a big family to cheer me on, or any family for that matter."
She paused for a moment. There wasn't anything she could say that would fix it. "They would cheer for you too, you know."
"It isn't real," he replied bitterly. "And it'll be gone again in a second."
Her mouth closed again and she nodded. She hadn't fully understood until then how this lie was hurting him.
"And I know there is nothing you can do to fix it, and it isn't your fault. Which is why I went outside instead of being a party pooper."
"It's incredibly hard to ruin a party when my brothers are involved," she joked. Her smile faltered. "Your feelings are important too."
He shook his head. "Not tonight, not like this." He pushed off the bench. "I think I'll go home, and you can get back to your party. You deserve it."
She stood up too, disappointed he was leaving so soon. "Are you sure?"
He nodded. "Yeah. I'm tired anyway."
She decided not to argue, she wasn't sure what to say to comfort him. She walked him to the apparition point silently.
Harry put on a smile. "Great game today. Now go back inside and celebrate with your family." He kissed her cheek and then disapparated before she could say anything else.
She walked back inside.
Her mother caught her eye. "Is Harry okay?"
"Yeah," she said. "I don't think he's used to this much noise. He was tired." She smiled in the hopes that her mother wouldn't ask any further, or she may be sent to Harry's with enough food to feed two Quidditch teams.
"Ginny, what are you doing here?" Harry mumbled half asleep.
She dove into his closet for an old shirt of his to wear, pulled it on and then crawled into bed. She knew he was struggling emotionally and if she had gone to her own bed, she would have wondered all night if he was doing okay. "I just figured you could use a friend." She yawned. "Everyone went home or to bed so I could come over."
He looked at her. He seemed a little confused.
She locked eyes with him. "Do you want to fuck about it?"
A small smile appeared on his face, but it disappeared as quickly as it came. "No."
"Okay."
She shuffled closer and he put his arms around her. She was tired and so she fell asleep quickly, aided by the few drinks she had.
When she woke up again, it was still the middle of the night. Harry was not in bed. She assumed he went to the restroom but he did not return immediately. She remained awake, listening intently for any sign of what he was up to but she did not get up to check.
Eventually she heard him come back up the stairs. He crawled back into bed, facing away from her. His back was rigid as he rested against the mattress. If he had noticed she was awake, he did not show it.
"Harry?" she asked carefully.
"Go back to sleep," he muttered. "It's fine."
Ginny was quickly learning that when Harry said it's fine, it really meant 'leave me alone' and she did just that. She didn't close her eyes again, however. She kept watching his back, counting his breaths. He was still clearly still awake, his whole back tensed up. She only fell asleep again when her eyes slipped closed of their own accord.
Harry was unusually silent during breakfast as well, but he made her breakfast all the same. Ginny read the news article on her game, checked if there were any comments about them but neglected to share them with Harry. He did not seem in the mood.
Having cleared the table, and growing increasingly frustrated by his silence, she turned to him. "Harry, whatever it is... just talk, please?"
He had been fiddling with a piece of bread with a frown and now looked up in surprise. "Drop it, please?"
"Maybe I can help," she suggested.
"You can't help," he snapped. He appeared to be biting his tongue as he looked away from her. "It isn't about you. Please just head home and I'll see you tonight." His expression didn't leave much room for discussion.
She escaped the kitchen and quickly pulled on her clothes. She left the shirt she had worn on the floor, just to be a little petty at his behaviour. Then without saying goodbye she escaped the house. She put on a smile for the reporters, no need for them to write about this. She apparated home with a small pop. She had looked forward to the Quidditch party that night, but she wasn't quite sure of it now. Pretending to be a couple when he was in such a mood would be a challenge.