A/N: I was considering what else I have planned for Lilac and I think there are less than 10 chapters left?
This fanfic already turned out longer than I intended, but I surprised myself with that a little! I think I can encompass all things World Cup in one or two chapters and then there are just a few more things to wrap up. As soon as I know the exact amount of chapters left, I'll let you know!

"I can just go ahead and go to the Burrow now," Ginny suggested as she stood in the bathroom applying mascara. "You can meet me there." She was annoyed about forgetting her dress there, but she couldn't wear anything else because it had to be formal, and the colour had to match her team's.

"It's fine, just two more minutes and I'll be ready," Harry said from the bedroom.

Ginny tucked her lipstick in her handbag in case she needed to re-apply, which she might with Harry nearby. When she walked out of the bathroom, Harry stepped out onto the landing too.

Ginny paused, her eyes tracking down his outfit. He wore a dark blue suit, with a long cloak over it. He looked even taller than usual, and the cut showed off his fit shape well. She nodded approvingly.

"Good?" he asked her.

She pursed her lips. "Yep." She could feel her cheeks heat up. "It's good."

"Oh, you really do like it?" he teased with a smirk.

She smiled at him. "We should go… before I take that back off you."

"You can't!" He took a step back. "At least not until we get back home."

She walked to him and stood up on her tiptoes to kiss him. "You look dashingly handsome tonight, and I love that you wore your glasses."

Ginny made her way to her room, leaving Harry downstairs to chat with her mum. She put the bottle-green dress on. It came down just above her knees and the cloak that went with it was a bit longer and slightly translucent, drawing the attention to her dress.

She tucked her wand in the hidden pocket and put her high heels on. She quickly checked if her hair and make-up were still okay and then made her way downstairs.

Her mother was busy fussing over Harry and adjusting his collar for him. Ginny smiled, it was a familiar sight to see her mother do that, but not with Harry.

She stepped down the final step and the two looked up at her. Her mother looked excited and beamed at her. Harry froze on the spot, and he blinked a few times, his mouth halfway open.

"Merlin, you're gorgeous," he blurted out.

Ginny chuckled, feeling the heat rising in her cheeks as Harry seemed to show no constraint with her mother right there. "Thanks," she said quietly.

"Turn around," her mother ordered.

She turned on the spot and faced them again.

"You look very pretty, darling," her mother said.

"Ready to receive that Chaser award," Harry told her, his eyes still dancing over her body.

She shook her head. "There is no way of knowing I'll win that."

"Forgive me, but I do recall you making the most goals in a season," Harry told her, looking unimpressed by her dismissive attitude.

She shrugged. "So? That doesn't mean I'll get it. You'll at least get the team award, but likely Seeker as well."

He put his hands in his pocket. "We'll see."

"Oh, so you can be like that but not me?" she asked him with a shake of her head. She kissed her mum on the cheek. "Goodnight, mum."

"Goodnight, sweetheart. Have a great evening, both of you."

Ginny and Harry walked the red carpet together and paused for photos. She felt Harry's eyes on her, and she looked up.

"You're supposed to be looking at the cameras," she told him with a soft smile.

"I am," he told her with a grin.

She pinched his side lightly and then turned back to face the cameras. She was still blinking when they were told it was okay to continue.

"How can you see where you're going?" she muttered as she held on to his arm.

His hand came to the small of her back to guide her. "I charmed my glasses to reduce the flashes."

"Smart," she noted.

She looked around the room for her team. Livvy waved excitedly from her spot by their round table.

"I guess I'll see you after," she told him. She kissed him on the lips.

He nodded. "Do you have your speech ready?"

"No! Do you?" she asked him. "My family will be listening on the wireless."

"I don't," he admitted. He squeezed her hand. "Good luck."

"You too."

She hurried off to her team's table and settled down. Cayla arrived right after her.

The Seeker looked at the chairs. "Why are we one chair short?"

"Carrie couldn't make it," Gwenog informed them.

Ginny's head whipped up and looked up at Gwenog, wondering if the Captain had forced Carrie not to show up. Gwenog met her eyes and gave the tiniest shake of her head.

Livvy leaned in. "What do you know?"

"Nothing," she said immediately.

Livvy frowned at her but did not press on.

Isabelle turned to the audience behind them, reserved for significant others. She waved at her husband, who happily waved back. "Isn't he adorable?"

"Big golden retriever energy on that one," Livvy teased. "Your wedding was fun. We should do that again." She turned to look at Ginny.

Ginny shook her head with a laugh. "You're just looking for a party."

"So?" Livvy asked blankly.

"May I remind you we have been dating for less than a month?" Ginny told her.

"Yes, sure… but not really. There was all the…," she raised her eyebrows suggestively so Gwenog wouldn't hear.

Ginny took up her glass. "Oh, so you do agree that means something?" She took a sip.

Livvy shot her a look of betrayal. "Shut up."

Captain and Keeper were won respectively by Michael and Cole Moss. She applauded politely.

The announcer walked back to the microphone. "And our Chaser of the Year is Ginny Weasley!"

Livvy pushed her up on her feet before she had time to think. She walked up to the stage with her heart thundering.

"Ginny Weasley has been a very promising Chaser from the start and has shown she is not afraid to try out new things, though we are all glad she is sticking with the Chaser gig. She has made more goals across a season than any Chaser in the history of our League. She also has the third-highest average scored goals per game globally. She is selected as one of our Chasers for the National Team."

When she got up on stage, the Quaffle-shaped award was thrust into her hands. The announcer stepped aside to let her speak.

She stopped in front of the microphone. "Uhm," she started, and it echoed through the room. She had to collect herself. She looked at her team first.

"I had no clue about the averages, that's great to hear," she said with a smile. "It has been an incredible season, so I'm really honoured to receive this award out of so many talented Chasers. Thank you, Gwenog, for pushing me to be my best and believing in me. I want to thank my parents for helping me follow my dreams. Harry…" She paused until she found his eyes in the crowd and smiled. "I can't thank you enough for catching me."

He chuckled at it.

"It means more to me than I can explain."

His whole expression softened and she found it hard to tear her gaze away. She glanced down at the award in her hands. "And to my brothers, who wouldn't let me play Quidditch as a child because I was a girl and I wasn't good enough. I told you I was going to show you that you were wrong. I'm sure I'll be receiving your apologies soon. Go Harpies!"

Livvy screamed loudest while the crowd applauded. She was guided back down by someone standing by the side and she hurried back to her spot.

She had barely sat down or Gwenog was called up as best Beater. It wasn't the first time she had won the award, but the team knew it would be her last. They all cheered for her as she went up to collect the award.

When she walked back to the table, she added her Bludger-shaped award next to Ginny's Quaffle one. Ginny watched the announcer carefully.

"The Seeker of this year will likely not come as a surprise to most; it is of course Harry Potter!"

Ginny smiled widely and watched when Harry stood up, and somehow still looked surprised himself.

"Harry Potter had a successful Seeker year and was selected for the National team. He also secured the Cup for the Phenton Phoenixes and has a nearly 100% success rate when he hunts down the Snitch. Only when he is otherwise distracted does he fail to grab it. Harry Potter is also the only winner tonight who has never been on a Hogwarts Quidditch team."

Harry received the Snitch award, by far the smallest of the evening. He stood by the microphone for a moment. Ginny sat up, worried that he was going to freeze. His eyes landed on her and she smiled encouragingly.

"Right, well. Thank you," Harry started. "This is a great award to receive and I feel very honoured. As mentioned, I was never on a Hogwarts team, so it was difficult to break through. I am so immensely thankful that Michael took a chance on me." His gaze jumped to Michael. "I look forward to having you as my coach as well for the World Cup." He looked back at her. "Weasley."

She chuckled.

"In short, thank you. I'll tell you the rest when we get home."

Livvy snorted into her glass of champagne. Ginny could feel her face burning as Harry walked off the stage with a satisfied grin.

"Right," the announcer went. "And with that, we have come to the Team of the Year, which true to tradition is for the Cup winners!"

The other teams clapped politely as the Phenton Phoenixes walked up.

"Someone keep Harry away from the microphone," Ginny muttered.

Isabelle chuckled. "Oh no, I think he should say more."

Michael walked back to the microphone. Robert and Harry were chatting together in the back.

"I am so proud of my team, you worked really hard and I am so happy we could take the Cup home this year. The other teams gave their best too so we did have a few tough wins." He looked over at the Harpies table as he said it. "I am proud to be Captain to these talented players."

Several players clapped him on the back.

The announcer came back to the front. "And that is it for all the awards! Can all the winners please come to the front for a group photo? After that, the entertainment can start! For the folks on the wireless, thank you for joining and until next year!"

After the photo had been taken, old Phoenix Seeker Maddox walked up to Harry. Ginny stepped aside, nudging Robert.

"Oh, boy," Robert commented. "Now two of his idols are here. The poor man may faint."

Ginny watched as Harry blushed talking to Maddox, explaining excitedly. She frowned. "I think if I let them talk too long, he may leave me for Maddox."

"That guy has a type," Robert joked along. "He is blushing. He used to do that so much with you." He looked at her. "Jealous yet?"

Ginny chuckled. "No, I'll be fine. How much did he have to drink before he went on stage?"

"Nothing," Robert commented lightly. "He was nervous, didn't want his brain to… not that it helped."

"Oh, Merlin. He meant that?"

Robert nodded. "I think he did." He patted her shoulder. "I'll leave you to it."

Ginny waved him off and then walked up to Harry.

"Weasley," Maddox greeted her.

"Nice to meet you," Ginny told him. "Did you know we are on Harry's locker together?"

Maddox laughed. "Are we really?"

Harry turned redder. "Gin. Please." He wrapped his arm around her. "I am afraid you are. All the Quidditch players I look up to are on there."

"We can't hate that, can we?" Ginny joked. "He has excellent taste."

"I can only agree," Maddox retorted with a smile. He turned back to Harry. "I've always been glad they found a proper replacement for me." He shook Harry's hand. "It was nice meeting you."

"Likewise," Harry told him.

Maddox walked off and Harry looked at her.

"Am I dreaming?" he asked.

She nodded. "Yes, you are." She smiled at him. "What did you mean you're going to tell me at home?"

"I knew if I started talking about you it would become a very long speech," he told her. His hand brushed against her back.

She closed her eyes for a moment and then locked her gaze with his. "That's adorable, and completely not how that came across."

"Mind out of the gutter, Weasley!" Harry told her with an amused shake of his head.

She pursed her lips. "My parents were listening."

He stilled and looked at her in confusion.

"And the papers will know what to write…"

His expression shifted. "Did I fuck up?"

She shook her head and smiled. "It's alright. You can tell me at length when we get home."

He looked fondly at her. "Okay."

She looked over at the dance floor. "Will you dance with me?"

"I hate dancing," he told her.

She frowned. "We have danced before. Humour me."

"One dance, then," he gave in, and let her drag him to the middle of the floor.