Hogsmeade & Quidditch Cup
Ginny and Draco entered Hogsmeade right at lunch time and decided to have some lunch while he looked through the "Prophet" at the flats advertised for rent.
"So, you are going to rent, not buy?" Ginny asked, biting into her sandwich.
"I was thinking that, until I was sure I liked the place and that I like teaching…," Draco pushed his salad around on his plate, looking deep in thought. Ginny watched him as she ate, noticing he looked very distracted, taking a bite here and there and generally staring out the window or looking down at his food.
"Malfoy…," Ginny said in a quiet voice and he looked up, "What's wrong? You look very distracted." Ginny shoved her plate to the side concentrating on him.
"Nothing. Just trying to get things straight in my head. It's the first time I have had to think about anything other than classes or exams."
Ginny waited watching him to see if he would say more. He looked at her and was quiet for a moment.
"I think I'm just nervous about everything," he admitted.
"You? nervous?" Ginny asked smiling and he shrugged, taking a drink.
"It happens every so often," he said lightly.
"What about? Leaving school? Teaching? Living on your own?" Ginny asked and saw Draco jerk back, surprised. "Well, that is what I would be feeling if I was you."
"That about covers it," Draco admitted.
"It's your birthday, let's not worry about all of it. Try to have a good day. Let's just find you a place to live first," Ginny said, then grinned, "But first we have to stop by my brothers shop."
"Uh-oh, why?" he asked suspiciously.
"Your birthday present is there," Ginny stood up with him and he grabbed her hand as she went to throw some galleons on the table. Resignedly she put them back in her pocket and followed him outside.
"Why did you get me a present? And why from your brothers?"
"Because it's your birthday and it's something that they could get; not something they sell so don't worry," Ginny steered him down the street and into her brothers shop.
"Ginny!" they said in unison, both looking up from the supplies they were stacking.
"Malfoy, I hear it's your 18th birthday today," Fred said and Draco nodded, looking around the shop highly amused at everything stacked from floor to ceiling.
"Here you go," Fred slid a brown paper wrapped package across the counter to Ginny who thanked him. They chatted Quidditch for a few minutes then Ginny said goodbye and walked out the door, the package securely under her arm.
"Where to first?" Ginny asked and Draco pointed towards the end of the street at a group of houses and a small building with flats.
For the next two hours they wandered around, looking at different flats until they came to an area in the middle of town that had some new flats built last month. After meeting the witch at the front office, she walked them up to the second floor and to a door at the end of the hallway. Ginny noticed that there were four doors on this level and when she walked through the doorway she knew why. The place was huge, obviously new and still smelled of new paint.
It was empty, with wall to wall carpet, a fire place, a huge kitchen and small eating area. Off the living room there was a hall that led back to two bedrooms and two bathrooms. An office sat off to the other side of the living room.
Ginny walked through as Draco asked a few questions and she liked what she saw, wondering if he would too. She heard the door click shut as the witch left, giving him time to walk through. Ginny emerged from the hall bathroom and saw him looking out the window in the living room.
"What's the view like?" she asked walking up next to him.
"Not bad. Hills, trees, a road," Draco turned around and walked towards the bedrooms.
Ginny glanced in the office, noting the double doors and the hard wood floor, thinking it seemed so much like Draco.
'But it's not my place; it's his,' she thought to herself. Patiently she waited in the kitchen, leaning against the counter, looking over the empty living room and out the window.
"I like it," she heard him say before he emerged from the hall looking for her, then finding her in the kitchen.
"Ok," Ginny said, tucking his gift under her arm and he eyed it. She thought for a moment and held it out for him.
"You know, you should not have bought me anything," he stared at her and she smiled at him.
"It started out as a challenge, and ended up working out for the best, I hope," Ginny explained watching him pull apart the paper, revealing an old black book, leather binding, quite worn and he turned it over reading the title, "Potions-Salazar Slytherin".
"Bloody hell, Ginny, where did you get this?" Draco stared at it, at her, then back at the book opening it carefully.
"My brothers mentioned they ran across it and I thought you would enjoy it, so I had them buy it for me…for you." She walked over and looked over his shoulder, seeing the writing, a bit faded but still readable; notes scribbled in the margins and many scratchouts. "It's supposed to be the original Potions book that he wrote. I guess he took out everything that worked and put it into the school text book."
Draco turned to Ginny, his face unreadable as he pulled her to him in a one armed hug.
"It's great; possibly one of the best gifts I have ever received," he kissed the top of her head and she hugged him back. He set the book on the counter and reached into his pocket.
"I have something for you," he said pulling out a box.
"Why? It's YOUR birthday, not mine," Ginny eyed the white box in his hand.
"I saw this awhile back and it kept with me as something you might like, so I wanted to give it to you before school ended," he held it out to her and Ginny took it, feeling the smooth box under her fingers. It wasn't very big, about two inches square. She flipped it open and almost dropped it when she was what was sitting there.
"We saw this when you got your mother her present," Ginny whispered, looking at the silver ring with her birthstone in it. It was even more gorgeous up close and she was speechless because she had never received a gift like this in her life.
"Yes; this one however can change colors," he took the box from her and took it out, setting the box on the counter, "when you wear it. You can charm it so whenever someone thinks about you, it will change colors or whatever you want, really." He took her right hand and slipped it on her ring finger and Ginny felt her heart stutter in her chest as she stared at it, never ever expecting a gift from him, let alone one so beautiful and sentimental.
"Why did you buy this? I have never received anything like this ever…," she ran a finger over the circular stone, staring at it. "I love it, it's beautiful, but you didn't need to get me anything."
"I wanted to," he said simply and finally she looked up at him and smiled.
"Thank you," she stood up on her toes and kissed him. As she pulled away she remembered something.
"You can charm it? So, if you do, what will it do?" she looked down at it, hearing him gather his present and pocketing the box.
"You can charm it so it will do a number of things…grow warm, change to whatever color you want so when I think about you, you know it."
"Really? Then if I wanted it to change color, I would never see my birthstone," she kidded and he laughed opening the door to the flat.
"True," he said and pulled the door shut behind him. The witch was on her way up the stairs and the three of them headed down to the office for Draco to sign the papers for his new flat.
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Saturday passed by quickly for Ginny, who couldn't stop playing with her ring. It felt foreign on her hand after not wearing any jewelry except small earrings for most of her life. Hermione was the first one to notice the ring and asked about it, watching Ginny flush as she explained about it and told her what she got Draco for his birthday.
"You know Ginny," Hermione said in THAT tone of voice, causing Ron to look up from his spot on the sofa where he was reading a magazine. Harry was helping Neville with some DADA reading and it was just the three of them in the common room.
"It was nice you got him that book for his birthday, even I would love to look at it. BUT, that ring came out of the blue. I think you should thank him, properly you know," Hermione said with a slight smile. Ginny's eyes went wide and Ron spewed his juice into the fire place.
"Hermione! That's my sister…and…and…Malfoy…oh, ewwww," Ron shuddered, looking at Ginny.
"I can't believe you just said that; touché I suppose though," Ginny mused, thinking back to the train ride on their way back from holiday and her comment to Hermione.
"She hasn't even slept with him, so why say that?" Ron said in a strangled voice and saw Ginny stare evenly at him, not defending herself.
"You…you…HAVE?" Ron's eyes got huge and Hermione jumped up from her spot at the table.
"Ginny!" they both said in unison.
"No! Ginny…it's Malfoy…and you're…you're…16 for Merlin's sake!" Ron said staring at her so hard, she looked away.
"For real Ginny?" Hermione said softly and Ginny nodded slowly, not looking at either of them.
Ron groaned and fell back onto the sofa, his hands covering his face.
"Please let this be a bad dream," he mumbled hopefully.
"Ron, I'm a big girl. I know what I'm doing," Ginny said softly, staring at the ring on her finger. Her brother had spotted it at dinner and asked about it, his face remaining passive as she explained who gave it to her.
Hermione stared at her, seeing that she was confused about sharing any information about her and Draco with Ron sitting there. She knew Ron was struggling with this relationship and how serious it was becoming.
He had confessed to Hermione that even though he had seen a change in Malfoy, he was still hoping that maybe next year wouldn't work and he wouldn't have to stress out about having Malfoy at family functions. Hermione told him to just trust Ginny and that Malfoy had not given them any reason to question his feelings for Ginny.
"Ron…do you think you could find Harry for me?" Hermione asked suddenly.
"Why?" he asked grumpily from the sofa.
"I need to quiz him in Transfiguration; I believe he is in the Room of Requirement with Neville. Please?" Hermione practically begged. Grumbling, Ron got up and walked out.
"Ok, Ginny…when did this happen?" Hermione came over to the chair Ginny was sitting in and sat in front of her. "This is big news."
Ginny nodded, twirling the ring around on her finger.
"It was amazing Hermione, which I believe is the word you used," Ginny started off, seeing a nod out of the corner of her eye. "That whole pure blooded information you gave me is true because he charmed his room so nothing would fly around."
"It happened here at school?"
"No, his house actually," and Ginny explained why she had gone with him and how the moment seemed right with not being in school and being in his room. "But, it was just…the experience was…I can't even describe it. It was like we could feel each other…you know… and it totally sapped my energy, but then I don't know what happened but energy came from nowhere and we did it…it happened again." Ginny couldn't look Hermione in the eyes, feeling red in the face. She stayed staring at the carpet.
"Wow!" was all Hermione could say.
"Yeah, nothing hurt either like some girls said it would…and…I love him, I really do Hermione and I keep trying to figure out how next year will work," Ginny sighed now looking up and meeting her friends brown eyes.
"I figured you loved him if you slept with him, Ginny. You aren't the type to do something other than that," Hermione patted Ginny's knee. "Are you ok?"
"I'm fine. Looking at the flat today, which by the way is a nice area…I think the other flats will be done soon, so Harry should check it out…anyway, it just cemented in my mind that he will be an adult, having a real job teaching at Hogwarts, a totally different life from mine, you know?"
"Have you talked to him about this?"
"A bit; he said we could play student-teacher during the week and maybe try and get together on weekends; or just put it all on hold but I don't want to do that. I mean, everyone but the new first years will know we are dating, so how do I act as if we AREN'T?" Ginny sighed and threw herself back into the chair.
"Well, think about it…how often will you see him? Twice a week for NEWT level potions, an hour at a time; you won't be interacting with him at meals, and that is about it. The only snags I can see are the dances that come up. I think you would still want to go," Ginny gave a shrug, then nodded, "so you would have to find a friendly date, or go by yourself. I think, Ginny, that it will test you both. I mean, look at EVERYTHING you have gone through at the hands of his family and remember the things he used to call you and us…and now look. Somehow you found the good in him and brought it out. I see him and how he interacts with you and how he is integrating you into his life; he is so serious about you Ginny that I am sure he will try to make it work for both of you."
"Thanks Hermione," Ginny stood up and stretched. "It's late and I am beat walking around town today. Thanks for talking with me…see you in the morning?" Hermione nodded and gave her a quick hug. Ginny headed to her room and was asleep within minutes, dreams filled with empty flats, old books and jewelry all around her.
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The House Cup was upon them on a breezy Saturday in the middle of June…two weeks before the end of the year. The schools were actually tied going into the Cup, so it was up to the Seekers to make sure their team was ahead in points before they caught the Snitch to seal the win.
Ron pulled Ginny aside in the changing rooms.
"No fraternizing with the enemy, Gin," Ron said seriously and Ginny rolled her eyes.
"I know. That is my own rule too you know," Ginny pushed him away and they fell into line behind Harry, hearing the roars of the crowd outside.
Ginny was nervous, it was the first time she was going to be playing Slytherin since dating Draco and she made it a point to stay away from him all morning and knew she probably wouldn't see much of him during the game. He and Harry would be searching for the elusive snitch.
Mounting their brooms, they flew out on to the pitch, the first team to emerge hearing the cheers and boos from the stands…forming a half circle with Ginny at one end and Harry at the other end they waited for Slytherin to come out. It wasn't long until she heard the screams from the students in green as they flew out, Draco leading his team which put him next to Harry. For a moment Ginny's eyes met Draco's and his game face was well into place; she wondered that if she had been wearing the ring he gave her if she would have felt it get warm or not. Moving her gaze to Madame Hooch they listened to the rules they knew by heart and on the count of three, she threw up the balls and the teams took off to their respective positions.
Ginny caught the Quaffle thrown to her by Delmeza, dodged a Slytherin and threw it hard as she could, satisfied when it sailed through the fingertips of the Slytherin's keeper. Turning back around she high fived Dean and chased after a Quaffle thrown towards a Slytherin. She rolled her broom to avoid getting hit by a Bludger and barely grabbed the Quaffle, launching it to Dean.
"Look at Weasley go on her broom, like someone is chasing her…oh wait, she is a Chaser!" Luna chortled from below.
"That was lame, Lovegood…maybe that should be your first name, Lame," a familiar voice came back.
Ginny was startled for a minute as she had a moment to rest, seeing Dean racing towards the rings… 'Pansy is commentating the game too?' Ginny knew no good could come of this and wondered briefly if Professor McGonagall and Hooch were drunk when they made this decision.
"You just don't know when something funny is dropped right on top of you…ohhhh…like that bludger Coote just hit!" Luna said smugly.
"Slytherin scores on the male Weasley, now that is funny, seeing it sail right past him," Pansy came back.
Ginny flew higher to get closer to Demelza who had the Quaffle and felt Draco and Harry fly by her, veering her off course slightly. She didn't even look in their direction, intent on getting to Demelza.
"Look, Malfoy and Potter must see something..," Luna started before she was cut off.
"Yea, we all know who Malfoy is seeing…," Pansy retorted
"Sod it Parkinson…there's the snitch…they must see it…who will get there first?"
"Slytherin scores again…way to go Montague," Pansy yelled over Luna. "I think that puts us in the lead."
"Not for long, Parkinson. You need to learn to add…Gryffindor just scored…tied…," Luna said and even from high up, Ginny could hear the restraint in Luna's voice.
"Oi! there goes a stray bludger, almost knocking Potter off his broom forcing him to pull up," indeed Pansy was right and Ginny almost ran smack into him.
"Careful, Harry," Ginny reached out to steady him. Nodding to her, he took off, having lost sight of the snitch and Malfoy. Turning on her broom she pulled up shortly seeing Draco hanging there.
"Draco, go play," she hissed at him.
"Oh I am…just wanted to catch sight of you in Quidditch robes," he winked at her and took off after Harry.
"What are they saying? "I love you" to each other?" Pansy spat out.
"Probably talking about you and your horrible skills as…,"
"Watch it Lovegood," Pansy cut in and Ginny could hear McGonagall saying something to them as she raced
towards the Quaffle that Dean passed to her. Racing towards the rings she ducked under a bludger and threw the Quaffle
to her right, Demelza caught it and tossed it in the ring, both of them swerving back towards the middle of the
pitch.
"Score is tied…40 each…very evenly matched so far," Luna said idly.
"That's obvious," Pansy sniffed and Luna let out a laugh.
"Oh, look at that! Dean Thomas scores...Gryffindor in the lead! Nice one Dean," Luna called out, only to have Pansy cut her off.
"Peakes just hit the bludger at his own teammate…he's acting like Longbottom up there not knowing what he is doing!"
"Ah, Pansy…you just don't know when to stop do you?" Luna said lightly, "Lucky you haven't encountered Neville in a dark alley, he'd obliviate the arse off you."
"GIRLS!" McGonagall roared and everyone went quiet.
"Fine!" there was melodramatic sigh. "The score is now tied, with Sltytherin adding points and there go the seekers…OH MY! Nice… boys in Quidditch pants are great aren't they Lovegood?" Pansy asked sweetly as Harry and Draco soared by them in the commentator box.
"Depends on who you are looking at in them I suppose," Luna answered tightly.
"Wait…," Pansy said serious for once. "Malfoy sees the snitch."
"As does Harry," Luna said excitedly, not announcing that Gryffindor just scored, leading now. "Go Harry…we're ahead!"
"Your voice is enough to make our seekers cover their ears, and they need their hands, so sod it," Pansy said and the crowd began to go wild watching the two seekers streak towards the sky, side by side.
Ginny threw the Quaffle, having it blocked by the keeper and raced back to try and help Dean who managed to catch it, knocking a huge Slytherin out of the way. Ginny so much wanted to look down and see what the seekers were doing, but knew she needed to help score more points.
"Here they come…right after the snitch!" Luna announced.
"Side by side…push him off!" Pansy yelled and the crowd drowned out the rest of the spirited dialogue.
Draco and Harry split rounding on the Snitch trying to catch it from the side.
Ginny tossed the Quaffle to Demelza who was pushed out of the way so a Slytherin Chaser caught it instead.
Ron saved a goal using his foot as the crowd turned into a sea of yelling, screaming people.
Ginny turned and saw Harry and Draco heading towards the ground, each on the opposite end of the field now, closing in on the snitch that hovered barely a meter off the ground. Ginny flew near her brother, catching a Quaffle as it sailed towards her, hauling it as hard as she could to Dean on the other end of the pitch.
"They're going to crash," Ron said following her gaze and sure enough Ginny saw that both their hands were outstretched and the next minute, brooms went flying and they were on the ground.
"Who has it?" Luna and Pansy yelled in unison. Both green and maroon went flying towards the pitch, getting there seconds after Madam Hooch went over to the boys lying on the ground.
Ginny ran over with Ron pushing her way through a sea of Quidditch players.
"Guys! You ok?" Ginny skidded to a stop on her knees and saw both of them lying on their backs, gulping for air.
"Bloody hell," Harry mumbled and Draco turned onto his hands and knees, taking deep breaths. Harry held his hand out to Ginny and there was the snitch.
"Gryffindor wins!" Madam Hooch said and the stand erupted into ear splitting screams. Hermione came running over, looking at Ginny then at Harry who was without his glasses.
"You suck, Potter," Draco said turning so he was sitting and Harry slowly pulled himself up to the same position.
"Thought that… was a girl's job," Harry said lightly, taking deep breaths and massaging his shoulder.
"HARRY!" Hermione and Ginny reprimanded above the noise.
Draco looked at Harry and started laughing, but quickly stopped and grabbed his ribs.
"You ok?" Ginny crawled over so she was sitting in front of both of them.
"As much as can be for colliding with Potter and the ground," he whinced as he took a deep breath. Madame Pomfrey made her way over and demanded both be brought to the wing so she could check them out. Crabbe and Goyle helped Draco stand and Ron helped Harry, taking his glasses from Hermione, who performed what was quite possibly the 1000th repairo spell on them. Ginny was unsure if she should follow them but Ron pulled her back.
"Let's get the team back inside, then we'll go see them," Ron said and Ginny followed his lead…leading an ecstatic team to the changing room…walking through a crowd of well wishers.
"I saw Harry's Aunt and Cousin attended again. Wonder if this open invite to families is such a good idea," Ron said as they trailed behind the team.
"I think so…then you can come see me play next year," Ginny said. She felt Ron give her a quick hug.
"True! Maybe you'll be captain, no?"
Ginny shrugged, "I don't know. That would make me even busier than I will be already."
She wrapped her arm around his waist and together they walked to the changing rooms, excited and concerned about Harry and Draco in the hospital wing.
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An hour passed by in which Ginny managed to celebrate the victory with her team in the common room, looked at the Cup and got a quick shower. She changed into a skirt and blouse…all her other laundry way overdue for cleaning. Leaving her hair wet she walked quickly down the stairs meeting Ron who was freshly showered and they took off for the hospital wing. As they rounded the corner she heard someone yell her brother's name.
"Samantha!" Ron barely had time to put his arms out to catch her as she came running over.
Ginny watched the happiness spread throughout Ron's face, but turned away when they started snogging.
"How did you get here?" he asked, still holding her after setting her back on the ground.
"Hi Ginny!" Samantha said smiling at her and Ginny smiled back.
"You guys catch up; I'll be in the hospital wing," Ginny took off down the hallway, her sandals barely making any noise on the stone floor. She opened the door and saw Harry's aunt and cousin near the door where Harry's bed was, which was next to Draco's. Harry was sitting up, his arm in a sling while Draco was lying down grumbling about something.
"Ginny! Did you see Samantha?" Hermione asked and Ginny nodded.
"She and Ron are a bit occupied at the moment," Ginny smiled and nodded at Petunia and Dudley. Madam Pomfrey was talking to Draco so she turned to Harry first.
"How are you?"
"Sprained shoulder, bruises that's about it," Harry said. "I'll be out of here soon."
"You all get hurt about as much as those American Football players do," Dudley muttered, watching with interest as Madame Pomfrey waved her wand over Draco.
"I'm glad you aren't seriously hurt. And everyone upstairs is waiting to show you the last Cup of your Hogwarts career," Ginny said, watching Harry swing his legs to the side of the bed. Hermione rearranged the sling a bit and he thanked her.
"I'm going to grab a bite to eat then head up there," Harry looked at his aunt. "Are you two hungry?"
"Yes," Dudley answered for the both of them hearing his question.
"We could eat quickly, then catch the train back," Aunt Petunia said and everyone turned as they door shut behind them. Professor Snape walked through and Ginny noticed he clearly wasn't expecting to see Harry's family here. He nodded to Petunia and made his way over to Draco's bed, blocking Ginny's view of him. Dudley looked at the expression on his mother's face and gave a loud sigh.
"Mum, how do YOU know HIM?" he whispered loudly and all eyes turned to Petunia, Harry's especially. She looked around at the group of teens watching her, glancing up to see Ron and Samantha walk through the door.
"I would see him when my parents and I would drop off Lily at the station," she explained simply.
Dudley seemed to accept that but Harry felt there was more to it, as did Ginny and they looked at each other then back at Petunia. Ron interjected asking how Harry was doing.
Soon, Harry was standing as he took another potion from Madame Pomfrey for pain. All but Ginny left to have a quick dinner.
Ginny sat on the edge of Harry's bed waiting for Snape to leave. She heard their low voices talking back and forth and briefly, she wondered what Snape was going to do next year. He turned around and Ginny jumped a bit at the suddenness with which he turned. He looked behind her then met her gaze.
"They're eating," she said, wondering why she felt the need to supply that information. He nodded, looked at her for a moment then said his usual "Miss Weasley," and left.
Draco turned his head and for the first time realized she was there. He opened his mouth to say something then stopped, looking at her legs, which were crossed at the knees, her floral skirt a few inches past her knees, then up to her wet hair.
"What's the occasion? I have never seen you dressed up unless there is a dance involved," he asked quietly.
"I need to do laundry. It was this or my sweaty robes," she gave a pull at her pale blue blouse, got up and settled in the chair next to him.
"So, what's the damage report?" She asked, noting that he wasn't wearing a shirt and had bandages on his ribs.
"Two broken ribs, probably from Potter's shoulder," wincing slightly he pulled himself up into sitting position, still in his Quidditch pants. Ginny couldn't help but let her gaze run over his chest, his long arms and long legs.
"Nice," she said to him boldly and she swore she saw him blush slightly. "Quidditch robes are so overrated…it's the pants that make the uniform." She smiled and he looked away, rolling his eyes but she saw the smile he tried to hide.
"Don't get to excited there Weasley, I'm here for the night much to my dismay," he said, feeling her take his hand. Wrapping his fingers around hers he felt her ring and for some reason he felt a surge of emotion surge through him. He looked at her seeing Ginny's wet hair hanging down her back and shoulders, her sunburned face and simple yet flattering blouse and skirt; feeling her thumb absentmindedly trace a circle on the back of his hand. He cleared his throat and she looked down at him.
"Come here," he said softly and she leaned over enough for him to raise his left arm, touch the back of her head and draw her lips to his. He kissed her, trying to pass all the emotions he felt to her through his kiss, tongue sensuously touching hers, his hand framing her face as she responded, careful not to touch his right ribs. She suddenly pulled away, breathing a bit faster her face registering surprise.
"What is it Draco?" she asked, touching his cheek and he stared at her for a few seconds. He laid a hand on her shoulder and then slid it up to her neck.
"I love you," he whispered, shocking Ginny since she had only heard him say it twice since he first told her back in early Spring. Leaning in and kissing him next to his ear she whispered it back to him.
"I love you," she felt his hand tighten around hers and wondered what brought this unusual display of emotion through his tough exterior. She pulled away and saw him looking out the window.
"Are you hungry? I'll go get us some food," Ginny sat back watching him carefully.
"I am, that would be great," he agreed and she gently took her hand from his and silently walked out to the Great Hall to make two plates for dinner.