A Rivalry Rekindled and A Secret Revealed

Cho Chang and Ginny Weasley made their way to the centre of the pitch, clad in full Quidditch regalia. The crowd erupted into cheers for their favourite team from the stands, waving colourful banners. Luna Lovegood's lion-topped hat roared in the Gryffindor section, amplified by a Sonorus charm cast by Hermione. The Quaffle, the Bludgers and the Golden Snitch were in place, ready for the game to begin. Despite their unflattering uniforms and tightly braided ponytails, the two team captains remained strikingly attractive. Madam Hooch acknowledged them with a subtle nod of her head.

"You know the rules. Wait for my whistle, and let's have a clean game. Shake hands," Madam Hooch instructed them sternly.

The two young women shook hands with a firm grip, their eyes glaring at each other, making the tension in the air palpable. The anticipation in the stands grew.

"Is that Potter's broom?" Cho asked, still glaring.

"Yes," Ginny replied succinctly.

"Too bad Potter can't be here to see who's the better witch," Cho sneered. "Not only who's the prettiest but also the best flyer. The broom won't make a difference.

Ginny laughed mockingly. "Harry's absence won't change the outcome. Did you already forget who caught the Snitch last year?"

"You just got lucky, bitch," Cho growled. "I've seen your pathetic attempts to get Harry's attention in the Great Hall," she smirked. "Don't waste your time, Weasley. He has had a crush on me since his fourth year and probably wanks every night thinking of me. He'll never return your feelings. If I snap my fingers, he'll come running back to me."

"Snap away, whore," Ginny replied confidently. "Harry is already mine."

"Liar!"

Ginny glanced at Madam Hooch, who was clearly captivated by the unfolding drama and made no attempt to intervene. The juicy gossip being revealed would provide hours of entertaining conversation with Professors Sprout, Sinistra, and Madam Pomfrey.

"How about this," Ginny proposed. "If you catch the Snitch, I'll let you make a move on Harry. If I catch it… you'll stay away from him," she finished, hissing menacingly.

The fretful murmur from the stands grew more agitated as the handshake prolonged.

"You're on, Weasley," spat Cho before drawing her hand away sharply.

The two young women walked towards their respective teams, and Madam Hooch blew the whistle to start the game.

With Dean Thomas substituting for Ginny as one of the Chasers and having to improvise a new line-up, the Gryffindor team could not find a proper rhythm. The lead swung back and forth several times, and neither team was able to assert dominance. It was a battle of wills, and it was evident that victory would come down to whoever caught the Golden Snitch.

Ginny was conducting a meticulous grid search while keeping a watchful eye on Cho, who mirrored her every move. The Ravenclaw Seeker attempted a Wronski Feint, but the sharp-eyed Gryffindor was not deceived. Ginny's retaliatory spiral dive was a masterstroke, drawing a Blagging penalty from Cho when she grasped the tail bristles of Ginny's Firebolt to maintain contact. There was also blatant elbowing between the two Seekers, but Madam Hooch refrained from calling a Cobbing penalty for either side, concluding that the elbowing was mutual.

An hour into the game, Cho stopped mirroring Ginny to do her own seeking. The redhead took her eyes off the Ravenclaw momentarily, but a roar from the crowd made her look in her direction and, to her dismay, saw Cho hot on the trail of the Golden Snitch.

Ginny desperately set off on an intercepting course and leaned down on the Firebolt. She practically wrapped herself around the broom to minimise aerodynamic drag. In all her years, Madame Hooch had never seen anyone fly faster at Hogwarts. Ginny's ponytail whipped in the wind like a red banner behind her. With the light load that the petite redhead represented, the Firebolt honoured its name.

A collective gasp from the crowd echoed through the stadium. A high-speed collision seemed not only likely but inevitable. Regardless, Ginny never wavered and continued on her reckless course. Cho extended her hand, fully concentrated, and did not notice the red blur hurtling towards her. A smile formed on the Ravenclaw's face, almost savouring victory, as her hand came within an inch of the Golden Snitch. At the last moment, her eyes widened with terror as Ginny executed a daring Sloth Grip Roll to avoid a disastrous collision. She flew like a missile, just inches below Cho, and extended her hand upwards to grab the Golden Snitch a fraction of a second before the Ravenclaw's fingers closed around it. The only thing Cho caught was a whiff of the flowery smell of Ginny's ponytail.

The stadium, bedecked with the colourful banners of all four Houses, erupted in a roar of excited cheers as the whistle blew, signalling the end of the match. A beaming Ginny flew toward the centre of the pitch, proudly holding the Golden Snitch aloft, much to the delight of the roaring Gryffindor supporters waving their colours. Her teammates eagerly awaited her, joyfully jumping up and down and pumping their fists in the air.

As soon as the redhead landed, she was mobbed by her jubilant teammates. Ginny was being backslapped and hugged by many people, but she was in a daze and didn't recognise who was embracing her until Dean Thomas enveloped her in his arms and attempted to plant a kiss on her lips. Startled, she quickly turned her head away, leaving him with his eyes closed and his lips puckered mid-air. She pushed him back forcefully.

"What the bloody hell do you think you're doing?" she demanded furiously. "You and I are finished."

Dean seemed ready to explode with anger, but Jimmy Peakes and Jack Slopper, who were still holding their beater bats, stepped between them and menacingly tapped their bats against the palms of their hands, ready to protect their captain from more unwanted advances.

"You're crossing the line, mate," Ron said after glaring at Dean. "Let's go and get the trophy."

The whole team flew to the headmaster's box in the main tribune. Dumbledore gave a short speech extolling the daring flying he had witnessed and praising the valiant effort of the losing team. As acting team captain, Ginny received the trophy from Dumbledore's hands and raised it above her head to thunderous applause, including from most of the Ravenclaws.

Ginny scanned the pitch below, searching for Cho Chang. She intended to fly down and offer a sportsmanlike hand of congratulations for a well-fought game. When she finally spotted her, she saw Cho crying bitterly as her teammates tried to console her. She felt her heart fill with empathy, but before she could fly down, a crowd lifted her onto their shoulders, singing in unison:

Weasley is our Queen,
She flies like no other witch.
The best you've ever seen,
Always catches the Snitch.

They carried her triumphantly all the way to the Gryffindor common room, where Seamus Finnigan had organised the victory celebrations. The room was adorned with red and gold banners proclaiming their conquest. The wireless was blasting music, and the Butterbeer, courtesy of a donation from Fred and George Weasley, was flowing freely.

Despite the chaos around her, Ginny wasn't paying attention. Normally, she would shower immediately after a match, but this time, she had only taken off her Quidditch pads and decided to stay in the common room, still wearing her Quidditch jersey and trousers. Her eyes were fixed expectantly on just one spot—the portrait entrance to the common room.

O-o-O-o-O

Harry and Ginny stepped out of the Gryffindor common room, leaving behind a cacophony of wolf whistles and catcalls. As soon as the entrance closed, he pulled her into his arms for another kiss. This one wasn't hard and passionate but slow and tender, their hands gently caressing each other's faces. They savoured the moment, reluctant to end the kiss, until the sound of the Fat Lady clearing her throat broke the couple's reverie and made them pull apart.

"Don't block the entrance, dears," the painting said kindly. "There are plenty of broom cupboards around."

The couple laughed, their joy echoing in the empty corridor. Their eyes locked on each other's glowing faces. "Should we go to the Room of Requirement?" Harry asked.

The offer was tempting, but Ginny was smart enough to know it was probably not a good idea to be anywhere too private and too comfortable with Harry. She trusted him unconditionally and believed he would never pressure her into anything. However, she recognised that resisting Harry's advances wouldn't be as easy as resisting those of Dean Thomas or Michael Corner. He stirred a physical reaction in her that the other boys had never elicited. Ultimately, she prudently chose a different option.

"It's a beautiful day. Let's go outside," she suggested.

Harry took Ginny's hand, and she happily skipped her way out of the castle. The couple laughed and smiled, rushing down the stairs and ignoring the puzzled and curious looks of the students they encountered. They stopped under the castle's barbican, and after sharing another passionate kiss, the couple strolled sedately towards the Black Lake.

It was a gorgeous spring afternoon. The Sun shone warmly, and there was not a single cloud in the clear blue sky. The mountains surrounding the lake, which had been barren just a few weeks earlier, were now vibrant with lush green grass. The glens nestled between the hills were filled with blooming bluebells and lilac cuckoo flowers. The lake's calm surface was as smooth as glass, mirroring the sky and the surrounding mountains. A majestic golden eagle soared lazily high above, and the air was alive with the cheerful tweets of songbirds. The breathtaking surroundings of Hogwarts never looked more spectacular.

The young couple found a large willow tree just a few feet from the shoreline, safely hidden from prying eyes. Harry sat down, resting his back against the tree trunk, and extended his arm toward Ginny, inviting her to sit between his legs. She complied willingly, adjusting her position until she was comfortable and allowed her back to rest against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her midriff, holding her snuggly against him. Ginny took a deep breath and exhaled with a contented sigh.

However, a sombre thought clouded Harry's mood despite the bright, sunny day. The rumour mill at the castle was notoriously quick, and soon, everyone at Hogwarts and even in Hogsmeade would know they were a couple. "Everyone knows about us now," he said, unable to hide the concern in his voice.

"I don't care," Ginny replied defiantly. "I'll never deny how I feel about you again. Not to myself or anyone else. I did that for far too long."

Harry turned to her despite his uneasiness and gave her a glowing smile. He had always admired her strength and determination. "I'm sorry, Ginny. I love seeing you happy, but I can't help worrying about you."

Ginny squeezed his hand, acknowledging his concern. "Let's not worry today, Harry."

"I must admit I got jealous when I heard everyone singing 'Weasley is our Queen' when we snogged," Harry observed with a chuckle. "I don't want to share my queen with anyone else," he added.

Ginny laughed. "No need to worry about that, Harry. You've always been the only one for me."

There was a comfortable silence while they digested their confessions. "Tell me about the game," Harry said, breaking the silence.

Ginny narrated the match highlights, illustrating with her hands the various aerial manoeuvres she performed and growing more enthusiastic as she approached the final play. Harry listened with a grin, captivated by the expressions on her beautiful face. She sat up and looked at him, elated as she described the play that led to the Sloth Grip Roll she used to capture the Snitch just beyond Cho's extended fingers.

Harry embraced her tightly before planting a firm kiss against her lips. "You're brilliant, love," he said huskily.

When Ginny heard the endearment, she wanted to scream with happiness, but instead rewarded him with a fervent kiss that quickly grew heated. Harry leaned in to kiss her neck, but Ginny pulled away.

"I haven't showered yet," she protested only half-heartedly.

Harry moved his upper body forward, ignoring her objection, and kissed her just below the right ear. His nose and lips lingered against her neck, and Ginny melted in his arms, moaning softly. He gently kissed his way down to the crook of her neck.

"Your neck tastes a little salty, but you still smell wonderful," he said in a low mellow voice.

Ginny bit her lower lip and turned almost entirely around to look at him, her eyes blazing. She kissed him fiercely, their tongues battling for supremacy. Before they knew it, Harry was on his back with Ginny's body on top of him. Her hands dug into his hair as he found the edge of her jersey, and his hands slid against the bare skin of her lower back. She accidentally moved her leg, and her thigh brushed against the noticeable hardness in his crotch.

The kiss stopped abruptly, and they awkwardly pulled apart. Ginny's cheeks flushed as she met his gaze and shifted to lie on her back beside him. They remained silent for a moment, staring at the drooping boughs and the sky above them.

"I'm sorry," Harry said, feeling embarrassed.

Ginny reached out to squeeze his hand and turned to face him. "Don't be, Harry. I like you that way too," she replied before looking back up at the branches and the sky. "I'm not quite ready for that yet. Not for a while. But when the time comes, I want it to be you," she said candidly before facing him again.

His green eyes bore into hers, and his expression softened with wonder. He leaned in for a chaste, sweet kiss that left a pleasurable frisson all over their bodies.

"Take as long as you need, Ginny. I don't want it to be anyone else either."

"We'll take it one step at a time. Slow, but not too slow, Harry," she teased, a mischievous smile spreading across her face.

"If I remember my Astronomy and Divination classes correctly, we were both born under the constellation of Leo," he replied with a crooked grin. "Our ruling planet is the Sun, so it's bound to be hot and fiery."

Ginny burst out laughing. "Don't make promises you can't keep, Potter."

"Oh, I fully intend to keep that promise," he said in a low, mellow voice.

Ginny flipped onto her stomach, propping her upper body on her elbows. "Where is Harry Potter, and what have you done to him?" she asked playfully, her expression a mix of shock and amusement. "You don't sound like the shy and modest boy I know and love."

A slight blush crept onto her cheeks as she realised what word she had used, but she was done denying her feelings.

Harry turned serious. "You bring out the Gryffindor in me, Ginny." His green eyes grew darker, his voice deeper. "I love you too."

Several minutes later, after another ardent bout of kissing, they lay on their backs, hands entwined and their eyes closed, basking in the warmth of their love.

"This day has been a dream come true," Ginny said, her voice filled with emotion. Tears hid behind her closed eyelids. "I never knew it was possible to be this happy."

Harry squeezed her hand. "Neither did I."

"When did it start for you?" Ginny asked. "The falling in love part. Was it that night at the Burrow... by the pond?"

"No. It was before that," he said, turning to face her.

"Good. I would hate to think you fell in love with me only because you saw my bare bum."

Harry chuckled. "It was an important contributing factor. Most definitely," he said, raising his eyebrows with a smirk.

"Tell me when," Ginny pleaded. "I'd like to know."

"It started just before the night at the Ministry…" Harry took a deep breath, steeling his resolve. His vulnerability on the subject was palpable.

"I'm sorry, love. Forget it," Ginny interjected, full of concern. "Let's not relive that night."

"It's okay." After a pause, Harry went on. "I was worried about Sirius and wanted to get going, but you insisted on coming along. I was such an insufferable arsehole to you, trying to make you give up on the idea, but you wouldn't budge. That day, I realised I could always rely on you and that you were a courageous and formidable witch. I also realised one more thing…"

"What?" Ginny asked, intrigued.

"That you're not just Ron's little sister. You are a remarkable young woman and a bloody beautiful one at that."

Ginny smiled gratefully at him. "I must confess that my feelings were shallow initially, but almost immediately, you showed me that you were more than just the Boy Who Lived."

"How?"

"Remember the butter dish?"

"The butter dish?" he repeated, puzzled.

"It happened just before the start of my first year, during breakfast. I put my elbow in the butter dish… Remember?"

Harry laughed. "Yes, I remember now."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"I didn't want to embarrass you."

Ginny's face brightened into a smile. "There you have it. That's the moment my crush began to turn into real feelings. Can you imagine the ridicule I would have endured from everyone, especially the twins, if you had said anything?"

"I can imagine,"

"And then there's the whole killing of a giant basilisk and sweeping me off my feet part. Believe it or not, that left an impression on me," she added sarcastically.

"Ginny…" he replied cautiously. "I would have done that for anyone, but I'd especially do it for you."

"Exactly. That's the point, Harry. You're so noble that you try to make it sound like it was nothing, but you almost died because of me." Harry squeezed her hand reassuringly. "It took me a few years to get over the guilt, but you never blamed me," she added, her voice trembling. "It's for all these reasons and more that I love you."

Harry looked into her eyes, his gaze filled with understanding and love. "Ginny, it wasn't your fault. I would do it all over again if I had to. I couldn't bear to lose you. Not even back then."

He enveloped her in a warm embrace, with one hand on her back and the other cradling her head. He felt her sob silently against his shoulder a few times, but she quickly recovered. That resilience was one of the reasons why he loved her, and he let her know it. They talked about diverse and random topics for the next hour, simply enjoying each other's company. Despite the bright spring sunlight, the Sun gradually lost its warmth, and before they realised it, it was seven o'clock.

"If we hurry, we can still grab dinner," Ginny suggested.

"Let's go," Harry replied, standing up and pulling her to her feet by the hand.

When they entered the Great Hall holding hands, a wave of whispers filled the air. Harry noticed Hermione arguing with Ron and tugging at his shirt as they approached. He figured his best friend was unhappy about the hours he and Ginny had spent away. When they sat down facing them, Harry ignored Ron's irate glare but could feel Ginny getting tense beside him. He knew she would lash out at the first disapproving comment from her brother, but Harry underestimated the deviousness of his girlfriend.

"Today was such a lovely day, Ron," Ginny said with a sweet smile as she served Harry boiled potatoes. "The Hogwarts grounds are quite romantic this time of year. You and Hermione should have enjoyed a walk together."

Hermione's eyes widened, but Ron's expression of shock and surprise was too much for Ginny. She spun around and pretended to greet Luna at the Ravenclaw table, barely able to contain her laughter.

"That's right," Harry added seamlessly. "The Sun was shining, the birds were singing, and love was in the air."

The pumpkin juice Ron was drinking sprayed out of his nose, followed by a coughing fit. Hermione slapped his back, but that only increased the distress of the red-headed boy even more.

"I'm finished," Ron said, standing up abruptly. "I have a chess game with Neville," he explained as he hurried away.

"What? No third helping?" Hermione asked, holding up his plate.

"No," Ron squeaked, his face turning red as he quickened his pace out of the Great Hall.

Once he was gone, the three teens burst out laughing.

"You two are evil," Hermione scolded. "He could have choked to death."

"Not a chance of that happening," Ginny chuckled. "You were practically licking your lips in anticipation of giving him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation."

"Ginny!" an incredulous Hermione shouted. "Shut it."

The three friends laughed heartily.

"I'm happy for both of you," Hermione said sincerely after they calmed down. "I'll leave you alone for your romantic dinner," she added, getting up to leave.

"Hermione," Ginny called out as the bushy-haired witch walked away. "We'll talk later, won't we?"

Hermione stopped and turned. "You bet we will. I'll be in the common room," she replied, waving goodbye as she walked away.

"Reason number five out of a hundred why I adore you," Harry said, leaning against Ginny's shoulder. "Your wicked sense of humour."

She resisted the urge to peck his lips. They had agreed to keep public displays of affection to a minimum. "You were brilliant too, love," she laughed. "We make a good team. That should keep Ron off our backs for at least an hour."

O-o-O-o-O

When Harry and Ginny returned to the common room after a short detour for Harry's first-ever snogging session in a broom cupboard, they found the atmosphere in the room much more sedate than it had been when they left. The wireless was not at full volume, and the crowd was smaller, more typical for a Saturday evening.

Ginny was immediately surrounded by a pack of giggling girls from various years, who pulled her to a far corner for a thorough interrogation. Ginny laughed and resignedly rolled her eyes at Harry as she was dragged away. Hermione continued watching Ron and Neville playing chess, knowing she would receive a private and more detailed account later.

"Congratulations, Harry!" Neville exclaimed. "It took longer than I expected, but I knew it would happen eventually."

"You did?" Ron asked, surprised.

"Of course. It has been obvious for months. Didn't you notice how Harry constantly stared at your sister all googly-eyed?" Neville asked with a chuckle.

"I've never…" Harry tried to object.

"Yes, you did," Hermione interjected firmly. "Ginny couldn't keep her eyes off you either. She had been trying since November to come up with an excuse to break up with Dean."

"How do you know that?" Ron asked sceptically.

"She told me so herself at the beginning of November," Hermione asserted.

At that moment, a disappointed whinge echoed through the room. Ginny approached the group of friends, disregarding the protests of the girls with whom she had been talking, and stood beside Harry, hooking her arm through his. They leaned affectionately into each other.

Ron grumbled audibly under his breath.

"Do you have something to say, Ron?" Ginny asked, her tone sharp and dangerous.

Ron opened his mouth to respond, but Hermione interrupted. "You're such a hypocrite," she shot back venomously. "Just recently, you were snogging and pawing Lavender Brown on that very chair. Students were making bets on how soon the two of you would start shagging in the middle of the common room."

Ron blushed, momentarily taken aback. "Just because I gave my approval for Harry to date my little sister doesn't mean they can get all handsy around the school."

Harry noticed the building tension in Ginny's arm, so he intervened before things escalated further between the siblings. "Ron," he said forcefully, "I don't need your approval to date Ginny, and she doesn't need your approval either. You'd better get that through your thick head."

All activity in the common room had ceased. Everyone watched, enraptured by the unfolding drama. Neville looked like he wanted to bolt out of there, and Hermione was wringing her hands, dread etched on her face.

Ron wanted to back down, but feeling the weight of his pride, he was unwilling to lose face. "And what if I don't?" he challenged, his face turning red.

"Then you will deal with me," Ginny replied calmly.

She let go of Harry's arm and slowly advanced towards her brother. Leaning down, she whispered something into his ear. Ron's transformation was immediate. His face went pale, his eyes widened, and he looked as if he might be sick.

Ginny backed away from her brother, who appeared to be stunned. Then she turned to Hermione and smiled. "Do you want to come upstairs with me?"

"Yes," Hermione replied, still processing what had just transpired.

Ginny turned to Harry and, rising onto her tiptoes, pecked his cheek. "Goodnight, love. See you tomorrow for breakfast?"

"Certainly," he responded.

The room was eerily quiet, and the silence of the onlookers lingered. Hermione and Ginny walked towards the girls' dormitory stairs with all eyes fixed on them. When they disappeared out of sight, conversations erupted throughout the room.

O-o-O-o-O

As soon as the curtains around the four-poster bed were closed and the privacy charm was cast, Hermione leaned forward towards Ginny.

"What did you say to Ron?"

"Never underestimate the power of information, Hermione," Ginny replied soberly. "I realised that if Harry and I ever ended up together, Ron would give us a hard time. I needed to have his most embarrassing secret up my sleeve, ready to use if necessary. I revealed that secret to him, which will probably save Harry and Ron's friendship. I know Harry; as much as he loves Ron, he would fight him if he had to. His sense of honour and duty wouldn't allow him to do anything else."

"But what is it?" Hermione pressed on, her curiosity still unsatisfied.

"Look, Ron might be an insufferable arsehole some of the time, but he's still my brother, and I love him." She paused for a moment, pursing her lips to consider her next words. "I can be a bitch when I'm provoked, but I could never truly do that to him, especially when you two might still end up together."

"Urgh," Hermione huffed. "Not bloody likely. He drives me barmy."

"Join the club," Ginny laughed. "Ron is a thick-headed prat, but he has a good heart."

"I know," Hermione replied with a weary sigh. "Now, let's talk about you and Harry," she grinned eagerly.

Ginny recounted the afternoon's events with a dreamy smile, omitting only the most intimate details. When she finished, the two girls spontaneously embraced, squealing and laughing.

"I'm so happy for you," Hermione exclaimed, beaming.

"Thank you. I still can't believe it actually happened."

"Are you taking precautions?" Hermione probed cautiously. "Are you on the potion?"

"Hermione!" Ginny scolded with a laugh. "I'm not planning on making love with Harry just yet. We agreed to take things slowly."

"Most of the time, first-time sex isn't planned. It just happens," Hermione said soberly. "I'm glad you don't want to rush things, but excuse me for saying this; you strike me as an impulsive and passionate girl, Ginny."

The redhead nodded introspectively in agreement, pondering her friend's words.

"Harry tries to hide his real feelings beneath a cool exterior, but he's passionate about the things and people he cares for. We also know how impulsive he can be," Hermione observed.

"You're right," Ginny agreed. "Harry's… intensity… has surprised me a few times."

"You should visit Madam Pomfrey. She'll supply you with a one-month dose of contraceptive potion without judging you. You just need to answer some basic questions. I will show you how to brew it yourself later."

"Thanks," Ginny replied. "I'll stop by the hospital wing on Monday."

O-o-O-o-O

The tension was palpable in the sixth-year boys' dormitory. Dean was still fuming that his former girlfriend had moved on so quickly. He roughly closed the curtains of his four-poster bed in a huff, muttering to himself. Meanwhile, Seamus and Neville fully expected Ron to have a go at Harry now that Ginny wasn't there to intervene. They watched with trepidation as Harry returned from the loo just as Ron was putting on his pyjamas.

"Hey," Harry greeted.

"Hey," Ron responded.

"Goodnight," Harry said cautiously.

"Goodnight," Ron replied absently.

Both boys climbed into their beds and closed their curtains. Seamus and Neville exchanged astonished glances. They shrugged their shoulders and climbed into their beds, relieved they wouldn't have to take sides.

Inside his four-poster, Ron closed his eyes and exhaled. He knew he would have nightmares that night. His sister's calmly delivered words still echoed in his head.

"Dear brother, do you remember that photo of Hermione you asked Colin Creevey to give you? The one with a close-up of her face, in which she looks really pretty? The one that is full of cum-stains, especially around her mouth, because you wanked yourself looking at it all of last summer?

"I have it.

"If you give Harry or me any trouble, I will give it back to her right here in this common room… in front of everyone.

"Please, don't make me do it."

O-o-O-o-O