Opened At The Close...

12: After The Game

Ginny arrived at the Holyhead Harpies stadium that Friday, flanked by Harry, Hermione, and Mrs. Weasley. (Ron would have come, but he was at work.)
"Don't be nervous, Gin," Hermione soothed.
"All right...All right," Ginny steeled herself.
"You'll do well, dear, I'm sure you will," Mrs. Weasley comforted. The walk onto the pitch consisted of a relentless flow of encouragement from the others, and by the time they made it to the outside of the locker room, Ginny didn't seem quite so nervous.
"Wish me luck," She said, drawing herself up. She walked in, and Harry, Hermione, and Mrs. Weasley listened from the outside.
"So you must be the new chaser, Ginevra!" An excited voice said.
"Yep. Call me Ginny, or Gin," she said confidently.
A slightly less excited voice said "Hope you're nice. Our last Chaser was a real pain in the neck."
"Until she got pregnant and decided she didn't want to come back," someome added venomously.
"Now, ladies!" a reproachful girl said."We shouldn't put down Loraine, she wasn't that bad."
"Yes, she was, Deb." An authoritative voice said. "That's why we have new girl, Gin, here; to make up for our last few seasons lost."
"That's Gwenog Jones, Harry," breathed Hermione in his ear.
"When do we start practice?" Ginny asked.
"Excellent!" Gwenog said."So eager! That's what we like to see, Gin. Right, team? We didn't even have to supply her with a good broom."
"Now that you mention it--is that a Firebolt!? It is! Blimey, I like you more than Loraine already, Ginny," the excited voice said.
"Oh, Belle, don't spoil her just yet. We don't know how she plays," The reproachful voice said.
"Must be good, or else Gwen would'nt have bothered drafting her," someone new said.
"That's right," Gwenog said enthusiastically. "Have faith in me, team! I can pick good players."
"You thought Loraine would be a good player," the venomous voice said.
"Oh, shut up, Lynn! Can't you see she's nervous enough without your help?" Another new voice said. "Sorry about her, Gin. I'm Heather Vacient, Seeker."
The reproachful girl spoke, though she wasn't reproacful anymore; in fact, she seemed cheerful."I'm Deb Hershall, Chaser, and this is-"
"Natalie Masons, Keeper."
"And I'm Belle Kindresse. I'm a Beater," the excited girl said energetically.
"Lynn Lorangis, also a Beater," the venomous player said.
"And I'm Gwenog Jones, Chaser, captian of the Holyhead Harpies,"Gwen finished grandly.
"Let's get practice started, then!" Heather said.
A few hours proved fun to Harry and the other two, who were amazed at watching their own Ginny playing with the other Harpies. Harry hadn't been surpised when she got her letter from the Harpies; she had been amazing when he was captain. She got along well with all of them, except Lynn, who seemed sullen and bitter to begin with. Ginny had scored almost every goal so far, and Natalie looked a little disgruntled.
"You chose a good one, Gwen!" She called. "I can't remember having more trouble saving!"
Whether or not Ginny blushed Harry did not see, but she seemed flattered enough to score another goal.
"Pull it together, Natalie!" Screamed Gwenog, aiming the quaffle for the middle hoop. Natalie saved that one, and seemed pleased.
"Give new girl another try, I bet I can get it this time!" She yelled confidently. Ginny aimed and threw, but Natalie saved and whooped."Getting it back together!"
"Caught it!" Yelled Heather from a long way away. She held the Golden Snitch in her glove, and landed with the rest of the tired team. Harry, Hermione, and Mrs. Weasley made their way down to them.
"Okay, girls, practice again next Tuesday!" Gwenog said. "You all did really well, especially you, Gin!"
"Thanks," Ginny said breathlessly.
"See you Tuesday," Gwenog said, waving, heading for the locker rooms.

"That. Was. Amazing." Ginny breathed, grinning broadly as they walked back down to where they had arrived.
"We told you they'd like you," Hermione prodded.
"You did wonderfully, dear," Mrs. Weasley smiled.
"They all seemed to love you and your skills, Gin. Especially more than Loraine, whoever that was," Harry added furtively.
"Yeah, all of them except that Lynn girl," Hermione said nastily. Ginny waved her hand cheerfully.
"Who cares? All the others seem to like me. And my broom," she added, winking at Harry.
"Well, I'm glad," Harry said, not knowing what else to say.
*_____*_____*
Ginny's first Harpies game was three weeks from then, and the anticipation at the Burrow the night before could not be more pronounced. Harry had arrived before dinner with Teddy at six, as promised, and he could definitely feel the nervous excitement; everyone spoke enthusiastically, and walked a bit faster than usual. Teddy was left to wander the living room with George, while Harry went to visit Ginny, who was in her room.
"Gin?" He asked, knocking on the door.
"Come in," she said quietly. When Harry opened the door, Ginny was sitting on the windowsill, not acknowledging him.
"Dinner will be ready in a few minutes," Harry said as quietly as she.
"Oh, that's good. I'm pretty hungry," Ginny said expressionlessly.
"I can tell you're nervous," Harry said, not letting her know that he was nervous himself. He knew she would win; it was him he was nervous for. Harry had a question to ask her, and he was not exacyly sure how to ask it yet.
"Yes," she replied as expressionlessly as earlier.
"You don't have to be, you know. I know that doesn't really help, but I thought you should be reminded," Harry said, feeling helpless. Ginny nodded, then got up suddenly and hugged him very tightly.
"What if we don't win and the other girls blame it on me? Oh, Harry, I've never been this nervous in my life!" She whispered frantically.
"If there's anyone to blame for not winning, it will not be you," Harry said firmly, forgetting his question for a moment."You were the best Chaser on my team, and you're the best Chaser on this team."
"If you're trying to flatter me into being encouraged, then it isn't working," Ginny said quietly.
"I didn't think that it would," Harry said sadly.
"Kiss me, Harry."
Harry did as Ginny said, and for a minute or two, (or maybe three) they stood in an embrace that seemed could not be broken by anything. After they pulled apart, Ginny said;
"That helped, actually," in a quiet voice.
"Glad to hear it, Gin," Harry said, smiling down at her. "Shall we go down to dinner?"
"I think so," replied Ginny more cheerfully, and she kissed him once more before they left.