The Matchmaker

"Harry, now you're captain, I really think you should, you know, take charge a little more," Ron said, glancing nervously at his friend as they walked to the Quidditch pitch. It was a crisp day, but still quite warm for late October. The feathery white clouds overhead would help block some of the sun, giving them very good conditions for practice.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you know, be a little tougher on us in practice."

"Don't tell me you want me to be like Oliver or Angelina?" Harry laughed, referring to the past two captains of the Gryffindor team. Both had been tough as nails and very high-strung when it came to Quidditch. "I can't believe you're complaining!"

"No, not complaining," said Ron quickly, "just constructive criticism. Advice, really."

Harry shrugged. He wasn't sure why Ron had brought it up, but Harry wasn't really in the mood to find out. Ron wisely let the conversation drop off without argument, and they were soon at the pitch preparing for practice.

The Gryffindor Quidditch team was made up mostly of older students. Harry had resumed his Seeker position after being reinstated. Last year the evil Professor Umbridge had unceremoniously given Harry a lifetime ban from the game. Dumbledore had done away with that proclamation at the beginning of this year, and Professor McGonagall, their head of house, had appointed Harry as the captain of the team. Ron, after his outstanding performance in the final game last season, had kept his position as Keeper. At the beginning of the season, Harry had been hard pressed to fill the five positions that had been left vacant by graduating, or in the case of the Weasley twins escaping, students. Ginny, who had done an admirable job of catching the snitch when filling in for Harry the past year, was kept on as a Chaser. Parvati Patil and Daisy Alexei, a fourth year, made the team as Chasers also. Harry had been forced to bring in Seamus Finnigan and a fifth year named Max Bailey as Beaters. They had been the only two people at tryouts that had wanted the position. Harry could only guess that no one had wanted to try to fill the shoes of the now infamous Fred and George Weasley.

The team gathered on the field and Harry quickly outlined the drills that they would be working on. They mounted their brooms and took to the air. As instructed, the Chasers took the quaffle and began to weave down the field toward the goal, which was being guarded by Ron. Seamus and Max were working on controlling the path of the bludger, while Harry flew around observing the group. He had stopped in midair to give some direction to Ron when suddenly a scream rang through the air. Harry glanced around and then down at the ground where a tangle of red hair and robes lay in a heap surrounded by Seamus, Daisy, and Parvati.

"Ginny!" Ron gasped. Harry quickly went into a dive and shot to the grass. Ron was on his heels.

The figure on the ground began squirming and sat up. Ginny looked a little dazed but none the worse for wear.

"What the hell happened?" Harry's voice echoed loudly around the pitch as Max and Ron hit the ground behind him.

"I'm really sorry, Ginny!" Seamus grimaced and then looked at Harry. "I hit the bludger wrong and it went the wrong way. Knocked her right off her broom."

Harry took Ginny's arm to help her to her feet. She was a little shaky and grabbed both his arms for support. Harry noticed that she was favoring one leg.

"Luckily we weren't very far up! It's ok, Seamus, don't worry about it. I'm fine!" Ginny said, irritated. She was trying to release herself from Harry's grasp and wobbled a bit as she wrenched her arm away quickly.

"You're not fine," Harry said, staring her down. "What's the matter?"

Ginny was trying not to look too closely at the green haze aimed at her. "I just twisted my knee a bit," she winced, "I'll head to hospital wing and have Madam Pomfrey check it out after practice is over."

"Practice is over for you," Harry said, settling the matter. "Ron will put your broom up for you. Just go ahead and go now."

"No, really, I'm fine," Ginny said as she looked around for her broom. She located it and started toward it, limping slightly. With the stealth of a lion Harry swiftly moved to step in front of her and block her path.

"You're no good to us if you're hurt, Gin."

Ginny looked up at Harry who at first thought the fire now burning in her brown eyes might be a reflection from her hair. The clarity came quickly.

"I said I'm fine," said the redhead firmly. Harry, who really had not thought that this would turn into such an issue, was taken aback. "This is the last practice before our first game and you're not kicking me out."

At this point the rest of the team were spectators to this, to put it lightly, disagreement. Their reactions ranged from surprise to awe and respect for Harry's authoritative attitude. Ron's reaction was different however, as he was witnessing a fight between his best friend and his sister, who let no one talk to her like this except their mum, and even then it didn't go over very well.

I told him to take charge, not get himself killed! Ron thought silently. He knew that Harry had never faced Ginny's anger before and just hoped that his friend was up to it. He knew from experience that this interchange could get interesting.

Ginny was obviously taking the command to leave practice personally, which was not the way that Harry meant it. Unfortunately, Harry did not realize this and let his anger get the better of him. He was concerned about her and wanted to make sure that she would be all right for their game that week. It would have been very easy to back down and let Ginny have her way. Most likely she would be fine for the rest of practice and would be healed completely before the end of the day after a visit to Madam Pomfrey. However, at that moment he remembered what Ron had told him earlier.

"I don't remember it being a request," Harry said nastily.

Holy crap, thought Ron.

"Since when do I follow your orders, Harry?" Ginny asked venomously.

"Since you're on my team. And as long as I'm captain, you will do what I say, end of discussion," Harry growled, his green eyes boring holes into her brown ones as he towered over her. "Go, now."

Ron would talk years later about what happened next with the same disbelief that he knew was plastered all over his face when it actually played out before his eyes. As the team looked on, Ginny threw back her head, scarlet hair flying out behind her, and drew herself up as tall as she could make herself. Her nose was just inches from Harry's. For a moment, although Harry would never admit it to anyone, especially Ron, he was really afraid of what Ginny was going to do to him. In the same moment, being a 16-year-old boy, Harry realized that he had never been this close to Ginny before. Her freckles were really quite cute, and she really was much prettier than he ever remembered noticing before. Harry's anger went out like a match. Her brown eyes bore into him for just a second, although it seemed like forever, and then she turned quickly on her heels and stalked off towards the castle.

Ron was in shock. He had never seen his sister back down from a fight before. Was it possible she had finally met her match?

Harry watched her retreating figure for a second and then looked around at the others. Ron's mouth was hanging slightly open and his large blue eyes stared at Harry.

"Holy sweet Merlin," he said faintly, "I thought you were a goner!"

Harry laughed loudly, letting out the breath he didn't realize he had been holding. "Well, what are we standing around for? Let's get back in the air!" Harry said as he mounted his Firebolt and sped off into the sky.