AN: The story is just kind of flowing out of me right now, so I'm going to keep on rolling with it. Again, it's been a bit since I've written anything, so I'm all for any reviews, constructive criticism, etc. Thanks for sticking with this to Chapter 5!

Disclaimer: Still don't own Harry Potter, don't imagine it'll happen over the duration of this story!

Chapter 5

"Yes!" Ginny shouted as she whizzed past Ron. "What's that make the score? Tied at 140?"

Ginny circled back around from behind their makeshift Quidditch goalposts. Three weatherworn 4x4 posts stood at the far end of the orchard clearing, each topping out at different heights. What looked to be three produce baskets with the bottoms busted out had been fixed to sit at the tops of the posts, creating hoops. Ginny flew past George, high fiving him, as Fred and Harry were hovering next to each other, creating their next plan of attack. Ron, who had flown after their old Quaffle that had landed on the edge of the trees behind the goalposts, flew towards the group.

"Yeah, yeah, tied at 140. Can we just call it first to 150 wins? I'm tired of this tie-breaker crap, and I'm hungry!" Ron whined at the group.

"Oh Ronnie, buck up. You're barely even doing anything," Fred shouted from across the field. "Which is why we've each scored 14 times on him…" he muttered to Harry, which got a laugh out of the younger boy.

Ginny flew to stop next to George. "What do you think? They'll start with the Quaffle, is there anything we can do to stop Harry?"

"Honestly Gin, I think we just hope Ron makes the stop. We can't keep up with Harry when he's on the Firebolt. Love that advantage for us when we're at Hogwarts, it almost makes me feel bad for all of the other teams that they have to deal with this. Not too bad though," George grinned.

"Alright… If Ron does make the save, would you be up for a Porskoff Ploy?"

"Sure thing Gin, let's go for it. Oh Merlin's beard, here they come!"

Fred and Harry had taken control of the Quaffle and were speeding down the pitch towards them. Fred was in possession, then Harry, then Fred again. They wove around each other and suddenly Harry had the Quaffle and was looking to slingshot around the back of the goalposts. Ron pivoted with Harry, protecting the goalposts the best he could. Harry tossed the Quaffle to Fred who had moved to the front side of the goalposts as Harry had drawn Ron to follow him, but Fred never received it. Ginny, who knew she wouldn't be able to stay with Harry and hoped that Ron would move with Harry, was patiently waiting and watching for when Fred would arrive on Ron's blindside where the goalposts would be wide open. As Harry threw the Quaffle, Ginny sped forward and stretched out her arms as far as she could to intercept the pass intended for Fred. George whooped at this, and they sped off to the other end of the pitch to reset the play and begin their own attack. Ginny passed to George, who took off down the pitch as fast as his Cleansweep Five would take him. He too went around the backside of the goalposts to slingshot himself around, but instead of replicating the play Harry and Fred had just tried, George whipped around and then straight up as he made the sharp turn behind the goalposts. As soon as Fred and Harry both bit and tried to apprehend the Quaffle from George in a Body Blow, George dropped the Quaffle as Ginny bolted directly on Ron, immediately catching and firing the Quaffle through the bottom right hoop. Their timing was pinpoint perfect.

"YES!" Ginny shouted in excitement. She flew a lap around the clearing in celebration, with George trailing behind her. She then landed in the center where Fred, Harry, and Ron were now standing, already having dismounted their brooms.

"You got us on that one, baby sis, nice job!" Fred offered her a high five.

"Seriously Ginny, that was some great tactical flying out there! I know there aren't really going to be any open Chaser spots this upcoming season, but have you been thinking about trying out for the house team?" Harry asked.

Ginny smiled at this, as this is exactly what she wanted to hear from her brothers and Harry. Again, she didn't want to get a look for the team just based off of who her family is or who she knows, she wanted to get an opportunity based on what she could do.

"We'll see. I mean I know those Chaser positions are pretty locked up, but I wouldn't mind starting out as a reserve and being able to work with and learn from the three girls, and I guess you lot as well. Or, you know, I could always go out for Keeper, I hear there's no real replacement for Oliver that anyone's been talking about," she smirked as Harry, Fred, and George laughed and Ron frowned. "I'm just kidding Ron. Keeper is all yours," Ginny laughed and punched her brother on the arm reassuringly.

The five of them threw their brooms up over their shoulders and Ginny tucked the Quaffle under her arm as they began the walk back to the Burrow, discussing all of the possibilities for the Gryffindor Quidditch team this year, as well as the excitement they had for the Quidditch World Cup the following day. Ginny couldn't wait for tomorrow. She'd get to see the best of the best executing Quidditch at the highest level possible. The boys dropped their brooms off in the broom shed, Ginny held onto hers as she was still insistent on keeping it up in her room with her. As they entered the back door of the Burrow, they were greeted by Mrs. Weasley, who once again was busy working in the kitchen.

"Goodness, you five are sweaty! Go on upstairs and get cleaned up, dinner will be ready soon!"

The five climbed up the stairs and Ginny peeled off from the group first, knocking on her door before entering.

"Come in," Hermione's voice rang out from inside the room.

Ginny entered the room to see Hermione sitting on the bench under the window with Crookshanks, reading one of her schoolbooks for the upcoming term.

"How'd it go?" she asked the redhead.

Ginny gave her a big grin, "Really well, actually! George and I beat Harry and Fred 150-140. We were going back and forth in a tie-breaker for a bit, but then Ron got hungry so we decided to end it at 150. The last few plays were pretty great, and George and I pulled off a play pretty seamlessly to win it," Ginny smiled even bigger at this, reminiscing on the successful afternoon in the orchard.

"That's great Ginny, I'm glad it went well! I – " Hermione stopped abruptly as Ginny pulled her green Holyhead Harpies t-shirt up over her head and replaced it with a slightly nicer shirt for dinner. She went to change out of her shorts when Hermione jumped up suddenly.

"Ginny I'm going to go help your mum with dinner, see you down there," Hermione rushed out leaving Ginny staring at Crookshanks. Ginny was confused, not sure what the big deal was with her changing in front of Hermione. Living with four other girls in a dormitory at Hogwarts, she'd changed in front of her roommates loads of times, and she assumed Hermione had as well. Ginny shrugged. Regardless, she didn't want to make Hermione uncomfortable. She filed this away and would make sure to either change only when she knew Hermione wasn't around or she'd change in the bathroom, she didn't mind. Once Ginny had swapped her shorts for some light jeans, she headed downstairs for dinner.

The boys were nowhere to be found, it was just Mrs. Weasley and Hermione in the kitchen when Ginny arrived. She looked around, her mum was hard at work churning out chicken and ham pies while potatoes boiled on the stove. Hermione was tossing a salad. Ginny walked over to Hermione and under her breath said "Hermione I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable up there. That's the last thing I would want to do, and I'm sorry."

Hermione's cheeks turned light pink as she blushed slightly "No Ginny, nothing's wrong. I just realized I hadn't been very helpful to your mum since I got here yesterday. My leaving had nothing to do with you."

"Are you sure? Seriously Hermione, it's not a big deal, and I'll be more aware of when I'm changing and if you're around if you're uncomfortable. I don't want you to be – "

"Oh Ginny don't be silly. I'm not uncomfortable." Hermione insisted, giving Ginny a stern look.

"Okay…" replied Ginny reluctantly. "It just seems like – "

"Ginny! Let it go!" Hermione nearly shouted at the younger girl. Ginny froze at this, looking at Hermione with wide eyes. Hermione had never raised her voice at her before, and it seemed like an odd thing to get accelerated about. Obviously something had made Hermione react when Ginny had changed out of her clothes today, so why was she being so adamant that that wasn't the case?

"Okay, got it," Ginny agreed.

"Good," Hermione huffed as she returned to tossing the salad. Ginny walked outside and sat down at the table that had been set up in the back garden by Percy and Mr. Weasley. She felt like she had done something wrong, but she hadn't done anything wrong. Hermione was insisting that everything was fine, but it didn't feel like she meant it. Ginny put her elbow up on the table and put her head in her hand, continuing to think about the situation while she watched bees and butterflies float through the garden, visiting flower after flower. Letting it go would probably be the best path forward, it truly wasn't a big deal, she just couldn't get over the fact that it felt like Hermione was keeping something from her, and she had no idea what that something would be. Again, she didn't really know the girl that well, but something in the pit of her stomach was telling her that something was off.

Her brothers started to join her at the table, followed by Mrs. Weasley, Hermione, and Mr. Weasley transporting all of the food out to the back garden. Her oldest brothers, Bill and Charlie, had arrived after she went outside, so their appearance at the table was a welcome and joyful surprise to Ginny. The dinner was full of laughter and stories, as well as the feeling of building anticipation about the Quidditch World Cup the following day. Once the plates were nearly empty and everyone was full, everything was moved back inside and they all headed upstairs to get to bed early as their wake-up call was coming much sooner than any of them would like. Ginny and Hermione got ready for bed separately, Ginny wanting to be mindful of not changing in front of Hermione or allowing vice versa to happen as she couldn't quite shake the day's events. Ginny was in her cot and Hermione was in Ginny's bed, and they were both quietly trying to get to sleep.

"Hermione..?" Ginny asked softly.

"Yes Ginny?"

"…are you mad at me?"

Hermione exhaled, "No Ginny, I'm not mad at you."

"I'm sorry about earlier. Whatever I did to upset you, either making you uncomfortable or annoying you with thinking that I was making you uncomfortable, I'm sorry…" Ginny apologized.

"Ginny, I already told you, nothing's wrong. There's no need for you to apologize to me." Hermione had rolled onto her side to look at Ginny, and Ginny did the same as she heard Hermione shift in her bed.

"Okay," Ginny gave Hermione a soft smile that Hermione returned. "Are you excited about tomorrow? Even though you're not that into Quidditch?"

"Yes Ginny, I am. I know this might be a ridiculous question, but are you?" Hermione smirked.

"I don't think I've ever been more excited for anything in my entire life," Ginny's smile widened into a beaming grin.

Hermione laughed lightly at this and gave the girl a genuine smile, "Then let's get to sleep so tomorrow can come. Goodnight Ginny."

"G'night Hermione."