Tryouts, Truces and Congratulations
It had been a week since Ginny and Hermione had had their row and they still weren't speaking. Hermione had apparated over to Harry's flat in a flaming temper right after she and Ginny'd had it out. Harry couldn't remember when he'd last seen her that angry. She was so put out that she nearly exposed their secret in her rage, as Ron was there when she popped in. Harry and Ron had originally thought that this was one of their normal arguments where they'd be mad with each other for a day or so and then carry on as if nothing had ever happened, but they soon came to realize that this argument was very different from the others the two had engaged in over the years. It had been a full week and neither of them had spoken a single word to the other. Hermione was in such an extremely tetchy mood about the entire ordeal that if anyone so much as mentioned Ginny's name within earshot of her she went into an apoplectic-hexing fit. Which Ron found out after he stupidly asked why she and Ginny'd had it on in the first place. Hermione had given him a severe case of twitchy ears; his ears had twitched so forcefully that they caused his head to loll from side to side and his torso to jerk at very odd angles. Harry had tried for hours to remove the hex before finally giving up and taking him to St Mungos where they were told that a sticking charm had been added to the hex to prevent its easy removal. It sounded as if the same held true for Ginny; Ron told Harry that she had hit him with an outstandingly violent one of her infamous bat bogey hexes after he'd asked her why she and Hermione were feuding and he'd been forced to go to St. Mungos for treatment yet again.
Harry hadn't been able to spend much time with Hermione during the last week to see if it were possible to repair her and Ginny's friendship (not that he was inclined to bring up the subject with Hermione hexing anyone who opened their mouths about that particular state of affairs) for the reason that he and Ron had spent the week with about a hundred other hopefuls trying out for the English National Quidditch Team. All week long he had endured grueling sixteen-hour practice sessions against some of the top seekers in the British league while Ron took on the best keepers the league had to offer. Harry was so worn out and achingly sore at days end that persuading Hermione to talk to Ginny was the last thing on his mind. Most nights he simply popped over to her flat briefly to see how her day had gone and to steal a kiss before heading to his own residence for a much-desired rest. Today was the last day of tryouts and each would-be player had been a given an arrival time and were set a sort of hour long training scenario in which they had to perform a series of moves and tasks so that the selection panel could ascertain their abilities. They were then sorted into teams and asked to perform the same moves and tasks but this time in a simulated Quidditch match. By lunchtime Harry's trials were over and he was quite pleased with his overall performance. On his way out of the locker room he ran into Ron who was just heading in to begin his trials.
"All right, Harry…how'd it go"
Harry looked up at Ron and smiled.
"All right Ron…quite well actually…think I've got a real shot"
Ron clapped Harry on the back and grinned broadly.
"Of course you've got a shot…you're the best ruddy seeker I've ever seen…none of these other blokes are near as good as you…those judges'd have to be daft not to pick you"
Harry smiled again.
"Thanks… I'm looking forward to playing on the same team with you again …one of the best keepers in the league you are"
Ron's cheeks took on a rather red hue as he hoisted his broomstick up onto his shoulder and murmured.
"Thanks mate…guess I'd better get in there…"
Harry nodded as he picked up his duffle bag and swung it onto his shoulder and replied.
"Good luck…not that you need it"
Ron nodded and headed towards the door leading to the changing rooms as Harry started for the exit leading to the street beyond them. Ron stopped and called after him.
"Oh Harry I almost forgot…mum is giving us a party for trying out for the team and all…she and dad reckon we're gonna make it and bring home the world cup…starts at seven…she's invited Hermione as well…"
Ron's voice kind of faltered Harry imagined he was remembering the twitchy ears and the bat bogey hex he'd suffered in the space of the last week. Harry expelled a breath and asked.
"Your mum doesn't know they're fighting"
Ron shook his head.
Harry sighed and cursed under his breath. He'd been feeling rather good about his tryouts and the absolute last thing he wanted to do was spend the remainder of his afternoon at St. Mungo's covered in hex marks. That notwithstanding he replied resignedly.
"I'll talk to the pair of them and get them to square things before tonight"
Ron broke into a grin.
"You're the best mate a bloke could have"
"Yeah, yeah…you better get going otherwise you're gonna miss your own bloody trials"
Ron nodded fervently and disappeared into the changing room. Harry stood where he was wondering why he'd volunteered for this at all. Groaning miserably he decided to visit Ginny first, he felt certain that she was the lesser of the two evils he was destined to face that afternoon. For one thing he wasn't involved with her romantically and secondly since she wasn't expecting to see him he'd have the element of surprise and a good chance of dodging any hex she might throw at him.
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Draco waved his hand back and forth in front of Ginny's face repeatedly, sighing in exasperation he banged his fist on the desk and quickly rose from his seat. Ginny jumped; startled out of her reverie by Draco's sudden irritation. She glanced up to see the cause of his displeasure and met his cold gray icy stare. Ginny stood to her feet and placing a hand gently on his forearm inquired.
"Is something the matter"
Draco snorted derisively and replied.
"Is something the matter…is something the matter…no…no everything is perfectly fine…I always bang my fists on desks…I mean honestly Ginny one would think you'd have cottoned on to your boyfriend's everyday habits by now"
Ginny sighed audibly as Draco yanked his arm out of her grasp and strode to look out of her office window. She was about to be treated to one of Draco's spectacular tantrums. Steeling herself for the coming tirade Ginny sat on the edge of her desk and propped her feet up in the chair Draco had abandoned moments before and waited. No sooner than she had made herself comfortable Draco exploded.
"I'M REALLY SICK OF THIS GINNY…FOR THE PAST WEEK YOU'VE BEEN IN A NARK ABOUT THIS SQUABBLE YOU HAD WITH GRANGER AND I THINK I'VE BEEN QUITE PATIENT AND UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE WHOLE THING…LISTENING TO YOU RANT ENDLESSLY AND OFFERING ADVICE ON THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION TO MEND THINGS BUT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, THIS HAS GONE ON FOR FAR TOO LONG…NOW YOU EITHER PATCH THINGS UP WITH GRANGER AND GET BACK TO BEING FRIENDS OR TELL HER TO SOD OFF AND NEVER SPEAK TO HER AGAIN…I DON'T BLOODY WELL CARE WHICH SO LONG AS YOU STOP THIS INCESSANT SULKING"
Draco turned around to find Ginny staring at him with an expression of mild displeasure.
"I am not sulking…and I have no intentions of apologizing…Hermione is the one who should apologize, imagine not telling me she was carrying on with Harry…Harry…I mean really of all the people in the world for her to go out and shag she picks Harry…"
Draco came and stood before Ginny and tilted her head so that their gazes met and demanded through clinched teeth.
"Why…do…you…care…that…she's…shagging…Potter"
Ginny quickly averted her eyes and hitching a repentant smile on her face returned her gaze back to Draco's. She looped her arms about his neck and replied.
"You're right…I've behaved horribly…going on and on about this rubbish and completely neglecting you…can you ever forgive me"
Draco raised an eyebrow and responded impishly.
"Well…I suppose I could be persuaded to forgive you…under the right circumstances of course"
Draco's mouth descended upon Ginny's and he kissed her slowly and intensely, he reached down and slipped his hands up her robes and began caressing her thighs edging his fingers under the elastic of her knickers as he continued kissing her passionately. Ginny felt his fingers slip inside her and whimpered wantonly. Draco smiled and began trailing kisses down her throat when they heard a pounding on the door. He whispered roughly.
"Ignore it"
The pounding resumed followed by an all too familiar voice.
"Ginny…it's me Harry…we really need to talk"
Ginny shoved Draco backward as she jumped off the desk and hurriedly straightened her clothes as the door burst open and Harry strode in. Upon seeing Draco Harry pulled up short.
"Oh…sorry…I thought you were alone…"
For one horrifying second Ginny thought Hermione had broken her vow and told Harry about her relationship with Draco, then her brain processed the remaining words that were coming out of Harry's mouth.
"…didn't know you were with a client…I can wait outside until you're finished"
Harry turned to walk back out the door. Ginny rolled her eyes skyward and exorcised a relieved breath as she caught Harry's arm and pulled him back.
"No need to apologize…we've concluded our business…Draco was just leaving"
Ginny threw a pleading glance in Draco's direction. Draco picked up his cloak and swung it about his shoulders in one smooth motion, walked to where Ginny and Harry where standing and said.
"Yes I was just leaving…good day Ginevra I look forward to hearing of the progress you make on that matter we discussed"
Ginny nodded and without a word to Harry, Draco turned and strolled from the room.
Harry glared after him for a second before he waved his hand and the door swung shut. While turning back towards her Ginny heard Harry muttering.
"Stupid git"
"Oh Harry, he's really not so bad anymore"
Harry stared at Ginny with a look of surprise.
"Ginny…are you taking the mickey…Malfoy was, is and will always be a stupid git"
Ginny replied.
"He's done a lot to change who he was raised to be over the last few years you have to at least give him credit for that"
Harry regarded Ginny and spoke.
"Yes he has done a lot to change because no one would give him the time of day after I outed Lucious Malfoy as a Death Eater, if it hadn't been for that I seriously doubt that Malfoy would be so kind and gracious towards you or anyone else for that matter"
Ginny could see that Harry was getting annoyed and as she was certain now that he suspected nothing was going on between her and Draco she thought she'd best change the subject before he caught on. She walked around to her desk and took a seat, gesturing for Harry to do the same she queried.
"Obviously you don't fancy a chat about Draco so what brings you by"
Harry supposed the best way to handle this was to just jump right in. He glanced around Ginny's desk and seeing her wand in her cloak pocket on the coat rack in the corner behind her desk he sat down, took a deep breath and said.
"I came here to talk to you about Hermione and to sort out this row you've had"
Ginny opened her mouth to speak but Harry held up a hand and looked at her imploringly.
"Would you please just hear me out"
Ginny nodded her head and allowed Harry to continue.
"Obviously Hermione told me what happened between the two of you and as she isn't disposed to clearing things up at the moment I reckon that job falls to me…Ginny… Hermione has not been keeping things from you."
Ginny threw Harry a look of incredulousness. Harry ignored it and pressed on.
"We've only been…"
Harry was at a loss for words to describe his and Hermione's current relationship. Ginny chimed in.
"Carrying on"
Harry frowned and continued ignoring Ginny's suggested choice of words.
"We've only been seeing each other for a week…after her birthday we…we…we found out that we had feelings for one another and well we didn't want to go telling the whole bloody world not being sure of what was happening between us ourselves…neither one of us has told anyone anything about the change in our relationship…so you see she wasn't purposely keeping anything from you it was a mutual decision of ours not to tell anyone…it was nothing personal"
Harry fell silent. Ginny stared at him then spoke.
"Neither of you has told a soul"
"No…apart from you the only other person who knows is Remus…he sorted it out like you did"
Ginny nodded vaguely but avoided making eye contact with Harry. Harry sat motionless watching Ginny, after several minutes he voiced the question that had been bothering him since Hermione had first told him about the disagreement.
"Ginny why did you get so upset about Hermione and me"
Ginny looked up at Harry momentarily before getting up from her seat and walking over to the window where she began pacing back and forth.
"Hermione and I have been best friends nearly as long as you two have…she was the one person I could confide all my deep dark secrets to and I was that person to her…we look out for each other and well…I…I thought that before she got involved with someone else she would have at least mentioned it especially considering the fact that its you"
Harry glared at Ginny.
"And what's that supposed to mean…what's wrong with me"
Ginny stopped pacing and walked over to the desk and sat down in the chair beside Harry's.
"Don't take this the wrong way Harry but you're not exactly the stable type…I mean most of your relationships barely last a fortnight…I can't think of one girl you've dated longer than that…and Hermione's a lot more devoted than that…she and Viktor were seriously involved for a little over a year…I'm just not sure if you two dating is such a good idea, particularly since you two are such good friends"
Harry stared at Ginny for a moment his expression unreadable, hers clearly uncertain of whether or not she had violated the bounds of their friendship.
"That's exactly why we haven't mentioned our going out to anyone…neither one of us wants to ruin our friendship but we can't ignore the other feelings we have either…"
Harry stood and took up pacing the floor as Ginny had done earlier.
"And I know I'm not that good with relationships but this time its different Ginny…I really want this to work…I really want to be with Hermione"
Ginny was flabbergasted; she hadn't expected Harry to be so serious about this new relationship with Hermione. She responded quietly.
"Harry I'm sorry I didn't mean to make it sound like you didn't care about Hermione"
Harry waved his hand dismissively.
"I know you're only looking out for your friend…I'd do the same for Ron if it came down to it…listen…now that you know my intentions are…er…honorable…do you think you could patch things up with Hermione…Ron is worried that if you two don't sort out this mess you're gonna ruin the do your mum's throwing us for making the national team"
Ginny looked up in surprise.
"You've been picked then"
"No…your mum's just being optimistic"
The two shared a laugh, then Harry spoke again.
"So what's say we pop over to Hermione's office and clear the air"
Ginny hesitated.
"I'm certain I'm the last person Hermione wants to see right now"
Harry draped Ginny's cloak about her shoulders, extended his hand to her and said.
"Leave that to me"
Ginny considered her options but upon seeing the stubbornly determined look on Harry's face she resigned herself to the fact that he wasn't going to give up. Ginny gave a weak smile, slipped her hand into his outstretched palm and they disappeared with a crackle.
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Hermione was seated at her desk surrounded by rolls and rolls of parchment. She'd just sat through an hour-long meeting with Percy and several liaisons from the Goblins. Before that she'd met with the International Wizards Confederation to discuss the Centaurs and their recently filed declaration of separation, she was scheduled to meet with the IWC again later on that afternoon to discuss uniform rules in the magical community in relation to Werewolves and Vampires and she still had to sort through all the requests on her desk. Hermione shook her head and sighed as she picked up one of the rolls of parchment littering her desk. Just as she focused her attention on the words in the first line of the letter she was holding Hermione heard her door bang open. Thinking it was the departmental assistant Maude bringing more request letters, Hermione conjured a box beside her desk and responded without looking up.
"Maude if you could just put them there in that box I'll get to them as soon as I can"
Harry closed the door behind him and replied.
"Have I come at a bad time"
A smile spread across Hermione's face. She dropped the letter she'd been holding and rose quickly from her seat, stepping from behind her desk into Harry's waiting arms. Their lips met in a rather steamy kiss that went on for several minutes before the need to draw breath compelled them to disconnect themselves from one another. Harry was the first to speak.
"Guess I haven't come at a bad time then eh"
Harry dropped down into the chair directly in front of Hermione's desk. Hermione smiled and lowered herself into his lap.
"No actually your timing is perfect you've saved me from having to read all those letters…how did your tryouts go…have they made a decision yet"
Harry wrapped his arms about Hermione's waist and answered.
"I won't know anything until sometime this evening but I think things went rather well I actually think I've got a good chance of making the team"
"Of course you will make the team you are the best seeker there is they simply have to pick you"
Harry smiled broadly.
"That's the same thing Ron said"
Hermione beamed at him.
"How were his tryouts were you able to see"
"No…mine were before his and they won't let you back on the pitch once you're done…we chatted a bit before he went in though…his mum is having a do for us making the team…its tonight at seven at the Burrow"
Hermione nodded stiffly and reached into the pocket of her robes.
"I know…Molly sent this along by Errol this morning…I have not had the time to let her know I will not be there"
Harry grimaced.
"Hermione don't you think it'll look a bit odd you not being at a party when your two best friends are the ones its being given to"
Hermione sighed.
"I suspect it will look a bit peculiar but I refuse to be in the same room as Ginny and I am certain that she will be there"
"You and Ginny have got to patch this thing up"
Hermione glared at Harry with a look of utmost vexation.
"You expect me to apologize to her after what she said to me…"
Harry cut in quickly before Hermione's temper got out of control. He spoke calmly and evenly.
"I expect you to be fair and listen objectively…I've been to see Ginny and I sort of explained things…"
Hermione's eyes narrowed dangerously and she folded her arms across her chest. Harry ogled her warily as he continued.
"And I've convinced her to come along so you two can sort this out…"
Hermione retorted angrily.
"How dare you think it your place to…"
Harry cut in again.
"It just so happens that I care about you and I don't want to see you throw away a good friendship over a silly misunderstanding…now Ginny is right outside and it would mean a lot to me if you would hear her out"
Hermione chewed her lip thoughtfully for a moment before she nodded her head and muttered.
"All right…but only because you asked me to"
Hermione emphasized the word `you' heavily.
Harry smiled and dashed over to the door, flung it open and disappeared through it for an instant before he returned with Ginny at his side. Harry closed the door behind them and remained there watching Ginny and Hermione as they stared at each other. He gave Ginny a little shove and she tentatively stepped towards Hermione. The room was extraordinarily tranquil. Then suddenly there was a great cacophony of sound as both Ginny and Hermione burst into tears and leap into simultaneous apologies.
"Oh Hermione, I'm so sorry…I don't know what came over me"
"No Ginny, I'm sorry…I wanted to tell you but I just didn't know how"
Harry stood at the door completely astounded, a full week they hadn't spoken to each other and now within two seconds of seeing each other they were carrying on as if it had been only a small disagreement and not a week long hate fest complete with hexes. Ron was right; women were completely mad. Shaking his head, Harry refocused his attention on the pair in front of him, they were talking animatedly wholly oblivious of his continued presence in the room. Ginny was speaking.
"So you two'd dropped off Ron and you were standing outside your flat…then what happened"
Hermione replied.
"Well we were saying goodnight and the hug felt different somehow…"
Harry realized that Hermione was catching Ginny up on the details of their getting together, a conversation he had no desire to hear, Harry cleared his throat loudly and said.
"Well then, now that we've sorted all that out I'll leave you two to it"
Hermione and Ginny strolled across the room to where Harry was standing and kissed him on the cheeks in tandem said they'd see him at the Burrow later on and ushered him out the door.
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Ron stared at Harry incredulously as he recounted how he'd gotten Ginny and Hermione back on speaking terms minus the bit about his and Hermione's snogging. Harry glanced across the room where Ginny, Hermione, Tonks, Luna Lovegood, Fleur Delacour, Pavrati Patil, Lavender Brown, Penelope Clearwater-Weasley, Susan Bones, Hannah Abbott, Alicia Spinnet, Angelina Johnson, Katie Bell and the Weasley family matriarch, Molly Weasley were all sitting laughing. Harry took a gulp of ale as Ron spoke.
"Bloody hell…they hexed me for asking what was wrong…and then they have the nerve to make up in less than a minute"
"Yeah it was less than a minute"
Harry replied as he took another drink of ale.
Ron nodded in the direction of the assembled group of women.
"Nutters I tell you…every bleeding one of them"
"But they are lovely nutters aren't they"
Ron and Harry looked around and saw Fred and George standing on either side of them. Fred replied to George's statement.
"I reckon you're right George…they are quite lovely at that aren't they"
George smiled and raised his tankard of ale.
"A toast then…to lovely nutters"
Fred, Ron and Harry raised their tankards and chorused.
"TO LOVELY NUTTERS"
As they all took huge gulps from their tankards, Ginny's voice floated over to them. She and Hermione had strolled over unnoticed to join them.
"Why are you lot drinking to nutters"
George replied.
"No, no, not plain nutters…lovely nutters"
Ginny rolled her eyes and asked.
"And what's the difference"
Before George could answer her question two eagle owls swooped into the room. One landed on the table holding all the drinks and extended its leg to Ron while the other perched itself on Harry's right shoulder and hooted importantly. Harry and Ron carefully extricated the letters each owl carried then watched them as they swept from the room. Everyone had stopped talking to watch Harry and Ron. The Weasleys and all the other guests formed a circle around Ron and Harry. George asked.
"Who's it from then…its got to be the tryout results if you've both got one"
Ron turned his letter over and saw the seal of the English National Quidditch Team.
"Well go on…open them"
Fred encouraged.
Harry stared to his right and looked into Hermione's beautiful brown eyes, she nodded and flashed him a beautiful and encouraging smile. Harry looked over at Ron and nodded, Ron returned the nod and they exchanged envelopes and tore them open. There was complete silence for a full minute as both Ron and Harry read the contents of the other's letter. They looked up at practically the same time. Ron said.
"Congratulations mate…you're the next seeker for the English National Quidditch Team"
Harry beamed at Ron.
"Same to you mate…you're the new keeper for the English National Quidditch Team"
The room erupted in raucous cheers as everyone began congratulating them. Bill handed them each a glass of Ogden's fire whiskey, Fred and George began setting off several crates of Weasley's Whizbangs Fireworks and Molly bustled off to the kitchen to retrieve the cake she'd baked. Ron and Harry received a steady stream of hugs, kisses on the cheek, handshakes and pats on the back from everyone in the room.
Once a sea of well-wishers deluged Ron and his view of Harry was obscured Hermione walked over and wrapped her arms around Harry's neck and kissed him full on the lips, briefly nibbling his bottom lip before letting him go. She leaned in close and whispered how very proud of him she was, then she stepped back and winked at him suggestively. Harry very nearly forgot himself and would have kissed her back properly but she was out of his arms and into Ron's before he had the chance. However, he made a mental note to ask her whether they would be spending the night at his flat or hers.
Hermione enveloped Ron in an embrace and kissed him sweetly on the cheek. She pulled him into a hug and whispered `I knew you could do it'. Ron's stomach flipped and his heart was hammering uncontrollably seemingly from somewhere around his throat. He hadn't expected this kind of congratulations from Hermione, could this possibly mean what he hoped it meant.
Hermione stepped back out of Ron's embrace just as Molly came in with the cake. Throwing another bright smile over her shoulder at Ron and Harry Hermione hurried off to help Molly with the cake completely unaware that both Harry and Ron were staring after her each wearing the same wistfully longing expression. She was equally ignorant of the contemptuous glances being thrown at her from the corner of the room where Ginny was standing.
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