Wouldn't it be the younger, less experienced players who would be put second string/reserve and the more experienced player kept playing?

That was pretty darn good!!!

Good job!Merry Christmas!

Firstly: lovely writing as always.

Highlights: I love the scene where they're thrown out of the library (I'm a sucker for parallels.  :P), and I love that it takes Harry so long to realize what the problem is.  (Actually, it's rather admirable that he gets it so quickly.  It takes mine until we both cool down before he gets it.)

This was plausible on many levels--not just because of the way sport-mad people think, but also because sacrifice is Harry's way of life.  I can easily see it being incomprehensible to Harry for someone else to object when faced with an unwanted sacrifice.  He's faced so many.

Also, I know you don't write sequels anyway, but I really do like how this ends.  With this kind of a set up, you just know that the Slytherins will win.  Kinda fun to have that left up to the imagination.

I finally broke down and registered just so I could review this story. 

First of all, as someone who is currently far more emotionally invested in the NBA playoffs than any sane person has a right to be, I can totally understand the devotion to sports.  Harry made the right decision for the team, and he shouldn't have to feel sorry for it.  I love that Quidditch (and beating Slytherin, of course) means as much to Ginny as it does to him, and I love that Harry recognized that she was in a better position than most to understand his decision.

Having said that, I'm still pretty miffed at him.  Like several of your other reviewers, I think he really should have pulled Ginny aside first and explained the matter to her, rather than letting her find out by reading the team roster.  That was spectacularly insensitive of him, and he should feel bloody well sorry for that.  I don't say this because Ginny is his girlfriend; if it had been Natalie or Dennis whom he'd chosen to bump from the team, I would have expected him to extend the exact same courtesy to them.  And in my opinion, the fact that he knew how important Quidditch is to Ginny makes it worse rather than better -- after all, he realized the game meant enough to her that she would understand his decision to remove her from the team, so shouldn't he also have known that it would still initially be a very upsetting blow to her, regardless of how logical his decision was?  I mean, if some freakishly talented young Seeker had come along and caused him to be replaced, wouldn't he have been hurt and upset about it at first, no matter how much it made sense to bump him from the team?  Especially if the Captain hadn't even warned him ahead of time what they were planning to do.

Now, I can cut him some slack, because didn't mean to be so inconsiderate.  And hey, I find Clueless!Harry as adorable as anyone.  But that doesn't mean he should get an automatic free pass every time he's an inconsiderate git. 

Judging by your responses to other reviewers, you'll probably tell me not to worry, that Ginny will make sure he makes it up to her, but I don't know.... if it's the kind of "making up" that the ending seems to imply, then it sounds as if Harry's going to enjoy it as much as Ginny does.  And somehow, that just doesn't seem fair.   

Sheesh, I've gotten so carried away talking about this that I've forgotten my original purpose -- to tell you that I really liked this fic.  It was a very enjoyable read, even if I was annoyed with Harry throughout most of it.  Oh, and I think it's really nice, the way you respond to all your reviews.

ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!!! Ohhhh- you did such an AMAZING job with this, but what I like most is how original this is- for once Ginny isn't portrayed as the best chaser to have set foot into Hogwarts. Not that those are bad fics, but if that was the case, wouldn't she already be on the team in the books? Plus- there was fluff. A fic just isn't a fic without fluff!  All in all, BRILLIANT work- you are just so good, MM!!!

*Maria*

I like this.  It is spare, economical, and gives us a lovely glimpse into a relationship.  I also appreciate the fact that you let your stories stand on their own, letting the reader fill in before and after.  What I see is Ginny making poor Harry pay (and pay and pay) in ways he never dreamed ...

Chances are there won't be one, or a sequel, because in general I don't care for them, but Ninkenate had a brilliant idea for a sequel that is very similar to your suggestion, and I might not be able to resist writing it.

Glad you liked this. Thanks for your review!

Well, when I first started reading I though, OK, Harry's got something else in mind for her like assistant captency or something better than chasing but to just boot her off without talking to her first, in private, and working out the anger and then (and only then) letting others know was just wrong on so many levels.

If this were real-life - there would never be a happy H/G. But, seeing as that I can only read and you have such great talent at writing I still bow down to your skills. Thanks for sharing!

Yay! MagnoliaMama posted this on PS. I can't remember if I left you a review on your LJ, but I think you deserve one here, as well. I really like this. I like that Harry's got the confidence to open up to Ginny and not just fumble about, like I see in a lot of fanfiction lately when Harry's faced with a rather angry Ginny. I like that Quidditch is as important to Ginny as it is to Harry and her brothers. And I loved their interaction at the end. I second Kelley on the cool fruit drinks. Fluffy and nice, I'm liking it!

Ark of Ache remains my favourite *nudge nudge*

I liked it.  I do think Harry got off waaay too easy, but that's okay -- rather than feeling irritated with him, I just feel admiring of Ginny's ability to forgive.  She's not the type to sulk or hold a grudge, so I think she's very in character here.

And she called him a randy old goat.  *snorts with laughter*

Not my favorite work of yours.

Didn't like the way Harry treated her.

But your other works are great.  Will stay a faithful reader.

Two months and a handful of days left.  Yes