A/N: I am sorry if I forgot to reply to your comment last chapter, perhaps I shall still do it now!
Not much to say, I am frankly exhausted this week and glad this was already completely written.
Next chapter we will find out who made it on to the National team, very exciting!
Announcing to the Harpies management she was together with Harry went worse than expected. After the baffled looks from the mostly old men, they told her they would need to discuss, and that she was suspended for the day until they could take 'appropriate measures'. They didn't want to hear her arguments.
Fuming, she left the men and walked to the changing rooms. She stopped by Gwenog's office.
"What did you discuss with management? I heard you owled them over the weekend," Gwenog asked.
"They force me to date a lovely, sweet and gorgeous man and now that I am actually dating him, I am suspended for the day; maybe even longer! So they can decide what to do with me, like a misbehaving child!"
Gwenog shot off her seat. "Suspended?! Are they out of their minds!?"
"I know! It's insane." She shook her head and went to the dressing room, storming in and grabbing her bag.
"Ginny?" Livvy asked.
She shook her head. "I'll explain later. I'm suspended for the day. Have fun." She pulled her bag over her shoulder.
Objections came from all her teammates.
"They can't do that!" Cayla said.
Ginny shrugged, defeated and left the room. Gwenog called her name, and she turned back around.
"I don't give a damn what they told you, I better see your arse on that field today or so help me, Merlin!" Gwenog said.
Ginny considered it. It could get both of them in trouble. "Are you sure?"
"Yes. I'll pay you out of my own pocket if I must but we have ten practice days left before the Cup. I need you giving it your all, right now," Gwenog said.
"Okay." She relaxed her shoulders. "I'm sorry, this whole thing is a mess."
"Not your fault," Gwenog said, turning back around. "Maybe a little bit." She walked back to her office. "I'll give you 10 extra minutes to change for the hassle!"
"Thanks!" Ginny took a deep breath and then started making her way back to the changing room, when she heard Harry's voice behind her.
"Ah, suspended as well?" Ginny asked.
He nodded. "Yes, until the afternoon when they make a choice."
"Bloody bastards," Ginny said. "Gwenog said I am attending practice. I am not wasting more time not training, and I'm pushing back."
He smiled at her. "Dang it, and I thought we had another day ahead of us."
"Tempting," she teased. "But I can't afford any more time off, Gwenog is right. I am joining practice; I suggest you do the same."
Harry hesitated. "I don't know if Michael will go for it."
"You can only find out by trying." She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. "I have to go, every moment I leave Gwenog waiting she comes up with a new drill."
"Alright." He let her go. "Go get 'em!'
She started walking back. "You too!" She waved at him before disappearing back into the locker room.
"What is going on?" Livvy asked, arms crossed. "I saw your 'break-up' hit the newspapers. What did they do now?"
She let out a long sigh, aware all her teammates were listening in. "We were told to break up and neither of us were really happy about it."
Livvy's eyes opened wide, a smile forming.
"Hold on," she told her friend, trying to recap the events as quickly as possible. "So we go back to his place, I start summoning all items that belong to me."
Cayla paused mid-ponytail to focus better on what she was saying.
"And I very nearly tear his heart out—because he considered it belonged to me."
Isabelle hid her incredulous smile behind her morning coffee. Livvy let out a tiny squeal.
"So he nearly died, he confesses his feelings, and I confess mine."
"Oh, bless," Livvy commented.
"We ended up going to Mungo's to have a check-up—all was fine in the end. So this morning I let management know that we were dating… they said they'd think about it and I'm suspended in the meanwhile," she finished.
"That's dragon's dung!" Tara complained. "They were the ones encouraging the whole thing and now they're going to be difficult about it!"
Isabelle frowned. "Can they even do that?'
"I don't know," Ginny said. "But they did. Maybe they say all is fine tonight… but I am starting to doubt it. Harry is suspended too."
They heard the whistle on the field coming from Gwenog, meaning they were all late. They scrambled to get out first, grabbing their brooms from their stands as they went.
And Gwenog ran so many drills because they were late. Ginny didn't mind one bit—she had to blow off some steam.
Management told them to come see them after practice, both of them together as they had come to a collective decision.
Ginny got out of the shower in the locker room, face red from all the work and the hot water. Then she waited by the entrance for Harry.
He walked up to her, letting out a little sigh and kissed her. "Hi."
"Hey handsome," she said softly. "Did you get to practice?"
Harry nodded. "Michael allowed it. I think he didn't want to give Gwenog the upper hand."
"Possible." She held out her hand. "Let's go and face the vultures then."
They arrived at the meeting room and headed in, the men already waiting for them. They had nothing better to do than decide all day what other people should be doing.
"We have decided that you will be allowed to date, under certain conditions," the man in the middle said.
Ginny had expected some conditions, so it wasn't sounding too bad yet. After all, their tactics and training had to be kept confidential.
The man continued. "You can date, if you agree to still adhere to a schedule and keep up a certain appearance to keep the audience entertained; you understand."
"No," Ginny went.
Harry righted his shoulders. "Did you speak to the League about this?"
"This is what we propose to you, if you want this to work," he said, pointing between the two of them.
"Aren't you more concerned about information we're exchanging…? Did you even speak to Gwenog today—Don't answer that; I know you didn't. —about concerns when it comes to actual Quidditch and not your ticket sales?" Ginny asked, fighting not to lose her temper.
"What did the League say?" Harry asked again.
The man looked gravely at him. "The League will be informed as soon as you agree."
Ginny folded her hands together solemnly. "Please do enlighten me, what do you suggest happens if we do not agree to your proposal?"
Another one of the men spoke up now. "You can agree, or you can break up."
Ginny looked over at Harry and nodded.
Harry took her hand. "We do not agree to your proposal."
They walked out of the meeting room together, holding hands in protest.
"They're bastards," Ginny let out when they were out of earshot. "They can't fire either of us—we're too important to the team—but they want to make it hard on us. For what?! They're just trying to get every last coin…"
"We have to go to the League," Harry said. "They don't even read their own policies!"
She kissed her cheek. "But we did. Come on."
They were seen by a board member of the League in under an hour. Some reporters noted them going in, so they knew they'd be in the papers but they were in it now, and they had to continue.
"I am Martin," he introduced himself. "So nice to meet you both, do come in."
They were led into a stately office with high ceilings and asked to sit down, and were offered tea or coffee while they spoke. Ginny explained the situation, with only a few comments from Harry.
Martin thought silently for a moment. He had made notes as they spoke and was glancing over them. "We were aware of the ruse, but we thought you were in on it."
"We were, to some degree, of course," Harry told him. "But it certainly wasn't our idea, and we didn't have much agency in it… especially at the start."
"They were supposed to come to the League as soon as you announced you were together. They have a say for in-team dating, but you're from different teams…" Martin sighed and took a sip of his tea. "There is definitely something going on here, and we will have to look into it. I am glad you came to us."
"We understand there are conditions," Ginny told him. "But they have to be within reason… for example not discussing our routines and tactics with each other…" She shook her head. "Not putting on more of a circus for the amusement of the public."
"I want to keep this as private as we can," Harry said with a glance towards her. "I think we've shared enough already."
Martin nodded. "I quite agree, you have earned that… as much as you make an interesting pair…" He took up his quill and wrote a few more things down. "As your respective managements have not done their due diligence on this whole situation, I think the League will handle it from here."
"I'm glad to hear," Ginny told him. "I have lost my faith in them a little."
"I completely understand." Martin smiled at them. "I will call a meeting to speak to our council members and decide which—appropriate—measures need to be taken with you two." He put his quill back down. "And your managements will be under investigation; we will inform you on that as appropriate, which won't be much at all."
"Do you know when we will hear back from you?" Harry asked.
Martin nodded. "I have to check but considering the announcement of the National team on Friday and the League Cup next week; I would really prefer to have clarity as soon as possible. Tomorrow, or the day after at the latest."
"Great, thank you," Ginny said, taking another sip of her tea before they'd leave.
"And you are not suspended for the time being and we will see to it that your pay is not withheld for this. We'll let the management know today." Martin looked between them. "Do you have any other questions at the moment?"
Ginny shook her head.
"Thank you for seeing us on short notice," Harry told him. "We were a bit appalled, and we wanted clarity."
"That's what we're here for." He stood up together with them and shook both their hands. "Pleasure to have you both. Shall I see you for the League awards?"
"Yes, unless we have killed each other in the final…" she added cheekily.
Martin laughed. "Let's hope not." He walked the door and held it open for them. "We'll be in contact soon."
Ginny turned the heat on the pasta down as Harry finished up the sauce. She grinned at him.
"You're worth getting suspended for," she teased.
He nodded. "But I would prefer not." He kissed her temple.
The door rang and Harry sighed. "Watch this?"
She nodded, letting Harry get the door. He came back in with Michael on his heels, looking upset. He was holding a letter.
"What happened? Why did you go up to the League?" Michael asked him. "Did you really think there wouldn't be consequences?"
Harry crossed his arms, frowning at Michael. "Reasonable consequences."
"And you've been spotted going to the League—there are already rumours…" Michael continued.
"So what? There is nothing that states we can't go to the League directly…" Harry walked behind the counter and stood next to Ginny. "Which we should have done, because management did not even bother to inform them."
Michael sighed, putting the letter down. "You have to give them some time… Why didn't you take the deal? Do you want to mess with your career?"
Ginny turned the stove off. "Do you even know what they suggested? Or did you have faith they would do the right thing?"
Michael looked from Harry to Ginny and back. "What are you implying?"
"That you assumed they would be fair to us," Ginny said.
"But—"
"They didn't even follow the rules," Ginny continued. "And they weren't so concerned about the things they should have been."
Michael deflated a little bit. "What did they propose?" he gave in.
"They want to continue orchestrating our whole love life, so we would remain under much more scrutiny than I would like… and they didn't mention one thing whatsoever about confidential information about training or games…" He shook his head. "Considering the final is next week and they know we are up against each other, that's completely baffling."
"Management is trying to get you in their corner, and they didn't even give you all the information," Ginny offered. "Gwenog would never let herself be played like that."
Michael turned red, looking a little ashamed. It was easy to pit Quidditch players against each other; they all had a competitive nature.
Harry explained to Michael what the League had told them.
"I suggest you don't stick your neck out for them," Ginny said. "It's going to be in your favour. You want to be in their good graces in case you win the League Cup…" She knew he'd rise to the bait, because the Captain of the winning team would be Coach of the National Team.
"What now?" Michael asked.
"We wait for the League's decision, and management will have to follow," Harry offered. "It's not that we didn't try to give management an opportunity to do the right thing, and they've been putting immense pressure on both of us for months."
"I understand," Michael said.
Harry nodded, throwing a glance at the pots. "Do you want to stay for a plate of pasta?"
"I wouldn't want to intrude," Michael said.
"You're not," Ginny insisted. "Unless you say something else daft like trust the people in charge." She grinned at him.
"Alright." Michael nodded. "I don't mind a plate."
Harry set the table for one more while Ginny drained the pasta.
"I am curious since you may be the coach for the team, do you have rumours for the selection?" Harry asked as he put the pot on the table and started serving everyone.
"Rumours? Yes," Michael confirmed. "As much as Gwenog does I suppose."
"I just want to get my hands on those brooms," Ginny complained.
"Me too," Michael agreed.
They dug in to their food and it was silent for a moment.
"So Harry, the guys were quite amused when you told them this morning about your—ahum—new situation," he said, nodding towards Ginny.
"They did take the news I was lying to them rather well," Harry said. "They told me they knew I fancied her terribly either way."
Ginny chuckled and sipped her drink, waiting for him to go on. Harry let out a sigh and explained what had happened for the nth time.
"That's quite adorable," Michael told them.
Ginny squeezed Harry's hand.
"But now I am terrified someone can just summon my heart at any time?" Michael placed his hand over his heart.
"There are spells against it," Harry told him. "I am considering it now."
She shook her head slowly. "As if I would be insane enough to try that a second time… this was scary enough."
"If I didn't know any better, I would think you were trying to take him out before the big game," Michael joked.
She let out a light chuckle. "Oh no, in that case I would have ensured he was truly out."
"…And you're sleeping in the guest room," Harry added with a wink.
"I wouldn't trust that either," Michael added.
Harry groaned as he sat down on the couch. Ginny joined him, cuddling close to him.
"I know this day would be tiring," Harry said. "But that was really something."
She nodded in agreement. She raised an eyebrow. "Do you want to return me? I think your warranty is still valid."
"Unfortunately not," Harry responded, carding his fingers through her hair. "I did a trial period and after that it's…"
She laughed at him. "You're stuck with me."
"Oh, yes." He kissed her softly. "I guess there will be more articles about us tomorrow."
Ginny groaned. "Break-up, hospital visit, going to the League together… according to the public we've had quite the weekend."
"We did have quite a weekend," Harry replied.
"Just not the one they think we've had." She moved, though her body was mildly objecting from the hard work Gwenog put them through for being late. Ginny straddled Harry's lap.
His arms came around her waist. "Hi, pretty."
"Hey, handsome Harry," she told him.
Harry chuckled, kissing her softly. "That one may be my favourite, hot fudge."
"I knew you'd like it." She leaned in and kissed him softly. "I've been working on that one."