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Author: jedi34 Story: Flying Free Rating: Teens Setting: AU Status: Completed Reviews: 2 Words: 69,057
AN: Here is Chapter 12. I tried to show more moments of Harry and Ginny growing close — so tell me how I did! In total honesty, this is not my most favourite chapter I have ever written…but I’m not sure what else to do and I don’t want to rewrite. So please be gentle. The next six weeks passed in a blur of joy for Ginny. She spent all her time doing the things that made her incredibly happy — playing Quidditch and spending time with Harry. And Harry! Harry was like a whole other person. Before, when they had been dating, he had always been so attentive and adorable, but a bit reserved. She had known instinctively that there were parts of himself that he hadn’t shared with her yet. She hadn’t been bothered by it at the time — after all, they were just starting out — but she was amazed at the difference it made once he finally opened up. And opened up he had. He had given everything over to her and while she had started to love him before, now she knew the depth of how far she could fall. Harry was simply amazing. There were no other words to describe him and trying to do so seemed impossible to Ginny as she lay next to Harry night after night and contemplated how happy she was. He shared everything with her — his thoughts, fears, goals, and triumphs. He wanted her to be a part of every nook and cranny in his life. She loved it, and with every passing day, she loved him a little more. They both were a bit shocked when they discovered that Harry’s magic simply refused to do anything that could possibly harm her in anyway. Embarrassingly, they found out in his bedroom one frisky night when he tried to put her in a Body-Bind for some wicked fun. It seemed his magic was still partially aware of itself and it had accepted Ginny as Harry’s equal in every aspect. The only blot on her joy was when Ginny had to take an entire day to attend Gwenog’s and Elaine’s trial. Emmeline had already been let off on probation. Even though she had known of the plan, it had been Gwenog who had actually signalled Elaine to hit the Bludger at Ginny. Gwenog had tearfully apologized to Ginny and Ginny had forgiven her. It was extremely hard — Ginny had looked up to Gwenog for a long time and she felt the betrayal deeply. Harry had been with her the entire time, and she had buried her head in his chest when the court announced a five-year sentence for her former mentor and friend. Every moment with Harry was a treasure that she stored up in her heart until she felt like it would burst. Coach Jones had initially been upset at Harry and Ginny spending so much time together, especially when he realized that Harry could wave his hand and cancel the charms on the staircases at Queerditch House whenever he wished. He soon relented after the team’s performance immediately picked up in practice. By the end of the second week, Coach Jones had declared this the best team he had ever coached and by the sixth week he was convinced the Cup was all but theirs. Their teammates seemed amused with them as well. Hamish had even gone as far as comparing them to teenagers with a crush, but Ginny couldn’t help it. Being with Harry made her giddy, and to be totally frank, watching him fly on a broom made her incredibly aroused. Kate had made it her mission to ensure that Harry and Ginny didn’t get too far out of bounds, but they still had managed to sneak in several mind-blowing shagging sessions. Matt Jones and, surprisingly, William Hastings, had gone out of their way to help the couple find some alone time. Ginny still snorted when she remembered Kate’s reaction when she had caught them partially unclothed next to the reserve Quidditch pitch. “Ginny Weasley and Harry Potter! If you get in the pudding club, so help me Merlin, I will kill you both!” she had shrieked as Harry and Ginny hastily pulled on their clothes while laughing uncontrollably. Ginny knew that wasn’t a possibility — she was on a very effective potion — but Kate’s face was still hilarious as she tried to cover her eyes and scowl at them all at once. The team was another source of pride for Ginny. Ginny and the other Chasers had really come together now that she wasn’t as distracted. They were becoming, in Ginny’s humble opinion, one of the best World Cup Chasing units she had ever seen. Coupled with the fact that Harry could basically read her mind, at least it seemed that way to her, the team’s overall coordination had achieved levels that seemed miraculous. Ginny’s only real problem was keeping herself from stopping play entirely just so she could watch Potter fly. As training came to a close in the eighth week, the team’s tension increased until Ginny felt like the team was going to explode. Get us out on the pitch, we are ready! ~*~ Welcome, all English Quidditch fans, to our broadcast of the first round of the Quidditch World Cup. As always, our broadcast is brought to you by WWN/W3 productions and Comet brooms — if it’s got to be fast, it’s got to be a Comet. Well, John, we are here in Fort Worth, Texas, all the way across the pond, to bring you the opening round of the Quidditch World Cup featuring the English vs. the North Americans. As always, home pitch advantage is determined by an initial ranking at the beginning of each round of the Cup by a world panel of Quidditch experts. That’s right, James. Many at our Ministry felt that the English team had been given an unfavourably low ranking due to the drama at the end of the season, which is why we find ourselves all the way in Texas for our first matchup. The North American team is heavy on players from this area with the majority coming from the Sweetwater All-Stars. The exception being Myron Cash, who just came over from the bizarre world of Quodpot to earn a spot on the North American team. For our loyal listeners who may not be familiar with Quodpot, it’s a silly game with an exploding Quaffle that seems to entertain the Americans to no end. That’s right, James, it’s important to note that Quodpot has influenced the North American playing style, so we may see some strategies and formations here that are not as common back home. The Goblins at Gringotts have the North Americas favoured in this match with a spread of forty points — quite a bit larger than I would have expected. The English Coach, Mac Jones, has not allowed any press contact with his team since training camp began two months ago. We can only hope the team has come together and will play with the potential we all know that they have. We are going to pause here for thirty seconds for station identification and then our starting line-ups. You’re watching British League Quidditch on WWN/W3. And we are back! Our starting line-ups are proudly brought to you by Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes for pranks that will scar for life. At Keeper, from Puddlemere United, with a lifetime save ratio of over 80%, Oliver Wood! At Seeker, in his first year in the league, with a catch rate of 80% in his last five games, Harry Potter! At Chaser, in her first year and the British League scoring Champion, Ginny Weasley! At Chaser, a league veteran and team Captain, Hamish MacFarlan! Our last Chaser is Matt Jones, who led the British Champion Arrows in scoring this season! Finally, our Beating squad: William Hastings and Gwen Gargin are two of the most dedicated and accurate Beaters in the league! What a team James, what a team! For the North Americans the two key players to watch are Myron Chase and Jack McCoy, both Chasers with great skill on the broom. The North American Seeker, Mike MacMitten, has a catch rate of only 60% and their Keeper, Jasper Jones, has a block rate in the mid-50s. The final Chaser for North Americans is Jessica Anderson. It seems to me, on paper, that this should be a much better match than the odds makers are claiming, but I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. We’ll be right back for the Quaffle toss. *At Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes we have all the jokes to make you the life of the party. Want a ginormous tongue? We can do that. Need that pushy bloke to turn into a canary? We’ve got you covered. Remember, at Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes, if we don’t have it, it’s just not funny* Well, James, we are thirty minutes into the game, what are your thoughts so far? The score, as you know, John, is 50-40 in favour of the North Americans. It seems like the strange tactics and formations really threw the English team at the beginning of the match, but now the momentum is clearly on the English side. I agree, John. Ginny Weasley has scored the last three goals to bring the English to within a score and Harry Potter has successfully kept the North American Seeker, Mike MacMitten, distracted while pulling off some brilliant defensive plays as well. Let’s bring it back to the action. Weasley takes the Quaffle straight up the middle, fakes a pass over to Jones. Weasley hands off to MacFarlan as he screams by, the English now being very conservative with the Quaffle after a series of early turnovers. MacFarlan loops right and up gaining some vertical altitude here as he circles back to the middle of the pitch. Weasley has looped back around even farther behind and is now closer to the opposing goals than her own. Matt Jones streaks across the centre, good Bludger hit from Hastings right across his front clearing out the defence. MacFarlan is now on the move, pushing hard against the North American main defence. I feel like the North Americans are a little taken back by the physical play so far. I agree, James, in Quodpot the team members spread out to avoid the explosions and seem to have less physical interactions. I think this is a key advantage for the English. MacFarlan turns left and circles back to centre. BEHIND THE BACK PASS TO WEASLEY. Weasley comes screaming across the pitch, clear from the opposing zone, and now she has an incredible burst of speed and momentum. Weasley’s past the defence, one man to beat — oh, what a good Bludger shot! — and I’m not sure how Weasley will avoid this one. I don’t think she sees him, John, she’s focused on the goal now. Potter swoops in and takes the Bludger in his side — what a great play and sacrifice from the Seeker. Weasley free now, she shoots and SCORES! It looks like the Keeper Jasper Jones was expecting a pump fake there, but Weasley just went all out. It’s that Harpy strategy coming out in her, James: when at first you don’t succeed, just bull rush the Keeper! ~*~ Ginny sat at the table, facing the press, tired but satisfied. They had just finished demolishing the North Americans 340–100 and she felt good about the game overall. Ginny reached under the table and squeezed Harry’s hand as he sat to her right. Harry looked at her and gave her a silly grin that made Ginny’s heart warm. “Miss Weasley, James McCoullogh from WWN/W3 here. Tell me about the North American strategy. It seemed to give you some trouble at the beginning of the match.” Ginny glanced around, momentarily confused why they would start with her as opposed to the team Captain. Hamish gave her a gentle smile and nodded his head as if to say, “Go ahead.” “Hi, James, can I just say I loved your commentary on MirrorVision during the regular season? As for your question, the North Americans have a very solid team and some interesting formations and strategies. I know that there was a little more space than I’m used to and they were really getting into our passing lanes early on.” Ginny stopped, unsure of herself, and glanced back to Hamish. “We really had to focus on taking care of the Quaffle,” Hamish quickly picked up for her. “We also increased our physical play which seemed to throw them out of rhythm.” “Mr. Potter, you seemed more focused on defence early on, and some of the interference plays you made, and some of the Bludgers that you intercepted, seemed really key to getting the team on track. Can you comment on your thought process?” Harry smiled, more relaxed than Ginny had seen him in a while. “Our team seemed to be struggling with some turnovers and I felt like I had the opposing Seeker pretty well bottled up, so I thought I could help out and get the team back in sync.” “Mr. Potter, some of your interference plays seemed almost prophetic. For example, the key intercept of the Bludger that allowed Miss Weasley to tie the game. You had your back to the play and then just whipped over and down for a perfect intercept. How did you know that she was in trouble?” Harry looked over at Ginny and smiled his special smile, just for her. “I know where Ginny is all the time.” Kate quickly stepped up to the front of the table. “Moving on please… next question.” “Mr. Potter, would you mind clarifying your statement? How do you know where she is?” “Next question!” Kate said forcefully. Harry looked at Ginny with a question in his eyes as Kate tried in vain to get the press to move on. Ginny understood exactly what he was asking and shrugged her shoulders; she really didn’t care either way. “I KNOW…” Harry said loudly, causing the room to go silent. “Because I love her.” Pandemonium reigned. ~*~ English Team Demolishes North Americans, Potter Declares Love for Weasley! The British Quidditch season extended in a bizarre fashion, as the most exciting season in memory continued last night with the English team facing the North Americans. The English team destroyed the North Americans 340–100 with Ginny Weasley leading all scores with over 100 individual points. The story of the match was the seamless strategy and play of the English team, particularly between Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley. However, in continuing the strange happenings between the two rookie stars that have occurred as far back as the pre-season (see Ginny Weasley Suspension on Page 6), Harry Potter declared his love for the Chaser during the post-game press conference. Despite statements to the contrary from both the Potter and Weasley agents as well as the English team front office, this reporter witnessed firsthand the glances and smiles between the two. Are the two best players on the English team off the market? If they keep playing like they did last night, I say, who cares! The English team will be back on familiar ground next week to take on the South African team that barely squeaked by the team from Japan. In other Quidditch news closer to home, the Irish easily beat the underpowered New Zealanders and move on to face the Australians in round two. You can catch all the action on your MirrorVision on WWN/W3! ~*~ After Apparating back to London, Ginny and Harry had two days off before having to report back to the Queerditch House to prepare for the South Africans. They chose to spend the two days at Harry’s flat, just enjoying being a couple while avoiding the reporters that had attempted to hound them since the game. “I can’t believe you said that to the press,” Ginny said for the hundredth time with a small smile as she sat on Harry’s lap on the couch. “Did you really mind?” Harry asked as he kissed her neck, then reached up and brushed her hair behind her ear. “I don’t mind that the entire world knows you’re mine, Potter. That’s totally fine with me,” she murmured capturing his lips with hers. Harry pulled his head back and smiled impishly at her. “I’m yours? You have that backward, Weasley.” Ginny laughed and put her hands on either side of Harry’s face. “Harry, Harry, Harry…”she said with mock sorrow, shaking his head back and forth in sync with his name, then traced her finger down the scar on his right check. “I’m a famous Chaser, you know. For a Quidditch team. You might have heard of me. You should just get used to being identified as Ginny Weasley’s boy toy.” Harry gazed into her eyes, smiled and then shrugged, pulling her lips back to his. “Fine with me, Weasley, fine with me.” They stayed on the couch for a long time, enjoying each other’s company and bodies. The next morning Harry awoke early and made Ginny breakfast — toast and eggs — which he put on a tray next to a conjured rose that he had made. Harry walked into his bedroom and carefully moved Ginny’s wand out of her reach, as she tended to not like to get up in the morning. “Ginny, wake up, love,” Harry said softly as he sat down next to her. “Harry?” Ginny asked, slowly opening her eyes and sitting up. Harry smiled at her gently. Her hair had that sleepy-in-bed look and drifted around her face like a halo. “You look like an angel.” Ginny’s frowned grumpily at Harry. “That’s not fair. How can I be angry at you when you make me breakfast and say such sweet things?” she pouted, gently slapping the covers with her fist. “That, Ginny dear, is exactly the point. Oh, here’s your wand.” Ginny fully smiled at him and smothered a small laugh. “You know me too well.” Harry sat the tray down in front of her and tucked the rose behind her ear. “One Bat-Bogey Hex was enough for me, thank you. You’re scary in the morning.” Ginny took a bite of toast. “Harry, that might be the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.” Harry sat in bed next to her and nicked the other piece toast, causing Ginny to mock-glare at him. “You’re mental, you know that, right? A certifiable mental patient.” “But I’m your mental patient.” Ginny said quietly, looking at Harry earnestly. “Always.” Later that afternoon, Harry and Ginny started to pack up their gear to return to training facility. “I don’t want to go back,” Ginny whinged to Harry as she sat on the sofa and watched him finish packing the last of his gear. “You don’t mean that, Ginny. You’ll get there, and get that Quaffle in your hand, and you’ll be in total bliss. You know you love Quidditch.” “I love you more, silly,” Ginny said, sitting in the sofa backwards with her chin resting on the back of the sofa, watching as Harry moved around the sitting area picking up odds and ends to stuff back into his duffle. “Sure, sure,” Harry said. “Harry, I do!” Ginny exclaimed, realizing that something was really bothering him. “What’s wrong?” Harry came over and sat next to her. Ginny twisted around and crawled in his lap, quickly kissing his nose. “I don’t know, Ginny,” Harry said. “I just haven’t been this happy for this long before. It’s like I’m waiting for something to go wrong.” Ginny sighed and ran her fingers down the side of his neck. “Harry, nothing is going to happen. Just relax. It’s not like trouble is just waiting at the door.” Just as Ginny finished speaking, a loud knock sounded from the front door causing Harry to jump and spill Ginny off his lap. “Harry,” Ginny scolded as she stood up and brushed off her trousers, “trouble usually doesn’t knock.” Ginny rolled her eyes at Harry and made her way to the front door with Harry quickly following her. “Minister!” Ginny exclaimed after opening the door and seeing Kingsley Shacklebolt standing out front. “Kingsley,” Harry said, “please come in.” “Harry,” Kingsley said, then made his way inside following Harry. Ginny closed the door and then joined them, feeling a bit of worry worm its way past her good mood. “Harry, I’m sorry to bother you and I’m aware that you’re on your way back to the Cup training ground, but I need to speak to you.” Harry sat at the small table and beckoned Ginny and Kingsley to join him. “Actually, Harry, I was hoping to speak to you alone,” Kingsley said. “Oh, all right,” Ginny said brightly; Harry, however, caught the disappointment that appeared in her eyes. Harry quickly reached out and grabbed Ginny’s forearm, stopping her from leaving the table. “No. She stays. Er… only if she wants to, that is,” Harry said sheepishly as he realized he had just barked out an order. “Harry, I don’t think…” Kingsley trailed off as Harry raised his hand in his direction. Harry’s eyes, however, never left Ginny’s face. “Do you want to stay?” he asked her gently. Ginny nodded and hugged him around the neck, her eyes shining. She sat next to Harry and they both turned their attention to Kingsley. Kingsley noted their hands intertwined on the tabletop and cleared his throat. “Fine, fine.” Kingsley stopped and looked around, clearly uncomfortable. “The truth is, Harry, the Ministry needs your help. Dumbledore provided great service to the Ministry even though he was only the Headmaster at Hogwarts. “Due to his power and wisdom, he would be consulted on a great many things. When a Dark wizard arose, it was Dumbledore we turned to, despite the fact that he was never an Auror.” Kingsley stood up and paced in front of the table. “The fact is, Dumbledore was the unquestioned leader of the Light, and there’s been a void in that leadership since his death.” Kingsley stopped and looked directly at Harry, who had a confused look on his face. Kingsley saw that Ginny understood — she was already scowling and shaking her head. “Just say what you want, Kingsley,” Harry said. “We could always talk during the war, you and I, don’t go formal on me now.” Kingsley smiled a tight smile. “The truth is, Harry, I would like to rely on you like we did Dumbledore in the past. You have his knowledge, you’re powerful in your own right as most likely the strongest wizard in a thousand years, and people generally recognize you as the leader of the Light.” “What exactly does that mean, Minister?” Ginny said, standing up and facing him as she fingered her wand. “It means I would like to be able to call on Harry for his advice and for him to take a more public role in helping guide our world.” Harry looked at Ginny and shrugged, still not understanding why she was angry. “I guess I can do that, right, Ginny?” Ginny smiled softly at him before returning her scowl back to the Minister. “That’s not all, Minister, tell us the rest.” “Well,” Kingsley said, pulling his suddenly too-tight robes away from his neck, “I would ask Harry’s help if any Dark wizards or witches appeared that the Ministry wasn’t capable of handling by itself.” “No, absolutely not!” Ginny shrieked. “He’s done his part, leave him alone!” Harry stood up and rushed to Ginny’s side, pulling her to him. “I know it’s a lot to ask….” “This is about Darby, isn’t it?” Harry asked quietly. Kingsley looked very embarrassed and sat heavily back in his seat. “Hell, Harry, we don’t even know where she came from. One day everything’s fine, the next, bam, a new Dark Witch appears?” “She’s nowhere in Tom Riddle’s league, but she’s bad enough and she’s getting followers. I just thought…” Harry pulled Ginny tighter as she sobbed out loud. “Give me time to think,” Harry said quietly, “I’ve got more to consider than just myself now.” Kingsley sighed and stood up. “Let me know, all right?” He glanced at Ginny, who was glaring at Kingsley murderously from inside Harry’s arms. “I’ll just let myself out.” ~*~ Ginny managed to put the Minister’s visit out of her mind over the next few days as her time was consumed by Quidditch and Harry. As Harry had foretold, once back at the training facilities, Ginny’s attitude about being back quickly turned to joy. “It’s because you’re still here with me!” she exclaimed when Harry pointed it out to her after practice the day after they had returned. The English team once again rolled over their opponent, defeating the South Africans by one hundred-ninety points and were quickly gaining in the Cup rankings, which were recalculated after every round. Harry and Ginny hadn’t seen Kingsley face to face since the meeting in Harry’s flat, but he had sent Harry several owls, each one growing more desperate. The Dark Witch Darby had managed to kill three Aurors who had attempted to infiltrate her group and the Ministry was no closer to bringing her to justice as she was under a Fidelius Charm. The public had begun to grow wary, with memories of the late Tom Riddle beginning to infect public opinion. Despite the seriousness of the letters, Harry and Ginny hadn’t had an in-depth discussion about the situation, instead spending their limited time together as a couple and growing closer. Their isolated bliss was interrupted during the post-game press conference after the English had beaten the Austrian team in a hard-fought fourth-round match. “Mr. Potter, can you answer some questions about the Ministry’s situation regarding the Dark Witch Darby?” Harry’s eyes widened in surprise and he glanced at Kate, who was officially supervising the conference for the team. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” Kate said firmly, “Let’s please keep the questions to Quidditch.” “Mr. Potter,” the same wizard repeated, “do you feel like you are wasting your talents playing a game like Quidditch when the public is so obviously being threatened by a Dark Wizard?” “You are out of order!” Kate yelled, quickly standing and quelling the reporter with a glare. “I told you to keep the questions to Quidditch!” “That had Quidditch in it!” the reporter shot back. “I just want Mr. Potter to discuss why he doesn’t have any problems condemning her victims to death while he frolics around on the Quidditch pitch.” “How dare you!” Ginny shouted as she jumped to her feet and pulled out her wand. The unfortunate reporter quickly fell to the ground as Bat-Bogeys began beating his face. The other reporters backed away from the table in fear. “Harry has more than done his part! It’s not his responsibility to always be the one in harm’s way, for Godric’s sake. What is wrong with you people?” “With all due respect, Miss Weasley,” a brave reporter spoke up, “but Mr. Potter is the most powerful wizard in history. If not him, then who?” He flinched back as Ginny’s wand swung over toward his face, then relaxed as Harry gently reached out and pulled Ginny’s hand down, pointing her wand at the table in front of her. “I’m not sure how to respond,” Harry said softly. “I thought it was over for me, but now I just don’t know.” Ginny glared at Harry for a second, then stormed off into the team rooms. “This press conference is over,” Kate declared ushering the remaining team members off the stage. Harry quickly followed Ginny into the team room and caught her as she attempted to slip into away into the ladies’ changing area. “Ginny, wait!” he said desperately, gently grabbing her left forearm from behind. “We need to talk about this.” “No, Harry, we don’t,” Ginny said, not turning toward him. Her voice sounded thick and low. “We don’t because the answer is no. You’re not going.” “Ginny,” Harry said softly, “please look at me.” Ginny turned and Harry wasn’t surprised at the tears running down her cheeks, but he was taken aback by the sheer fear and pain that was haunting her beautiful face. “Harry, I just found you,” Ginny sobbed, throwing her arms around his neck. “I can’t lose you now, now that I know what life is like with you in it.” Harry pulled her tightly to him, thankful for the privacy screen his teammates had cast around them after following Harry into the room. The press wasn’t supposed to be here, but one could never be too careful. Through the screen, Harry could see Hamish, Matt, and Oliver standing guard, making sure that they would be undisturbed. “Ginny, I’m not going anywhere or doing anything that you don’t want me to,” Harry said reassuringly, rubbing his hands up and down her back. “I just found you, too. I’ve found you and I’m not letting go. You understand?” Ginny nodded into his chest and looked up at him with fear still in her eyes. “I love you, Harry James Potter, and that’s that.” “I love you, Ginny Molly Weasley.” Ginny pulled back and rubbed her face as her tears stopped. “I’m not a crier, but lately you couldn’t tell that. You must think I’m a crazy waterworks.” Harry smiled and brushed a kiss across her lips. “I don’t think anything of the sort. You’re strong, and brave, and beautiful, and you love with your whole heart. You’re an amazing women, Ginny, and I’m so thankful that we’ve found each other.” Harry noticed Hamish attempting to peek his head behind the charm to check on them. “I think we’re worrying the folks back home, dear,” he said, smiling. “Let’s go talk to the team and get ready.” “Get ready?” Ginny asked with confusion. “Forgotten already, have you?” Harry said laughing. “Tonight’s win put us in the Championship. We’ve got to get ready to face the Bulgarians next week.” Ginny gasped and pulled completely out of his arms. “I did forget already! I told you I loved you more than Quidditch!” “What do you know,” Harry mused, “you were right after all.”
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