A Matter of Circumstance

Chapter 9 - Challenges

It was clear and crisp that evening when Harry stepped onto the pitch with his teammates. They stood together as their opponents were announced and watched the Wimbourne Wasps take to the air. Looking into the stands, Harry noted they were near to bursting with spectators. He felt a twinge of excitement knowing that somewhere out there Ginny would be watching him. With practiced discipline, he pushed away all distracting thoughts from his mind and allowed the bright lights and the roar of the crowd to seep into his blood and exhilarate him.

Harry mounted his broom and, at the commentator's introduction of the Montrose Magpies, he kicked off into the air with his team. They flew in a loose formation, sweeping the perimeter of the pitch to the delight of the fans. Wind whipping through his hair, his black and white robes fluttering around him, Harry thrilled to the cheers. Ever since watching the World Cup right before his fourth year, he had secretly longed for the chance to be a professional Quidditch player. He couldn't imagine doing anything different with his life and took great joy in sharing his passion with the fans.

Having flown two complete laps of the pitch, the team was led by their captain to the center and took up their starting positions. Harry took the few moments before the starting whistle to size up their opponents. While once considered a formidable team, the players in their black and yellow robes didn't appear to be much of a challenge now. Be that as it may, Harry had learned never to take the other team for granted. Quidditch could be a fickle game and it sometimes didn't take but a twist of fate to come out the winner.

At the sound of the whistle, the match began. While Harry had always enjoyed playing Quidditch at Hogwarts, it was nothing like a professional game. The flying was fast and furious. With the Bludgers whizzing murderously through the air and the Quaffle changing hands so rapidly, Harry always had to concentrate especially hard to keep track of the game while searching for the Snitch. Compared to professional Quidditch, the matches at Hogwarts were like a casual pick-up game.

Soaring near the Wasps' goals, Harry had to duck as a Bludger zoomed by his head. Taking a moment to reorient himself, he searched the pitch to locate the other Seeker. Noting with satisfaction that the Wasps' Seeker appeared to likewise distracted by a Bludger, Harry increased his altitude and took off in a wide sweep of the pitch in search of a glimmer of gold.

As he approached the Montrose goals, he noticed the look of determined concentration on their Keeper's face. Ian MacGreggor might be a bit of a cut-up on the ground, but when he was playing Quidditch, he took it very seriously. Harry glanced over his shoulder to see the Magpies' Chasers in the Hawkshead Attacking Formation heading for the other side of the pitch. He quickly dove low to the ground and resumed his search for the Snitch.

Two hours in, the match showed no signs of slowing down. Surprisingly, the Wasps had made a good showing so far and the score was 120 to 80 in favor of Montrose. Twenty minutes ago, Harry had discovered the Wasps' Seeker marking him and had treated the crowd to a superbly executed Wronski Feint. The other Seeker had spent nearly ten minutes being attended to by the mediwizards before returning to the air. During the diversion, Harry hadn't seen even so much as a glint of gold.

His attention wavered as Harry began to wonder what he would do should this game last into the night. It was now only around eight o'clock, but if the match did not end in the next two hours or so he would have to find some way to be relieved. Tonight with Ginny was going to take some time and he couldn't risk their lives over a Quidditch match. A collective scream from the Montrose fans caused Harry to snap out of his thoughts just in time to avoid being hit once again by a Bludger.

The shock of the near miss hammered home to Harry the need to end this game. Not only could it pose an obstacle in meeting their deadline, he realized that an injury to himself could be life threatening for both him and Ginny. There rose a cheer from the stands and seeing the fans dressed in black and yellow waving and dancing, he knew that the Wasps had scored once more. He doubled his efforts and began a calculated search of the pitch seeking the Snitch.

Ten minutes later, he spied his prey hovering just inside the scoring area of his own team's goal posts. Harry accelerated and raced toward the Snitch. In his peripheral vision, he saw a blur of black and yellow that was the Wasps' Seeker. Putting on a burst of speed and stretching out his arm, he felt a thrill of success as his fingers closed around the fluttering ball just seconds before the other Seeker pulled up and soared over Harry's head. As the pitch filled with the roars of elated fans, Harry shuddered with the combined adrenaline of the win and the relief that he had not been plowed into by the other Seeker in the last moment of the match.

*****

As he emerged from the changing room, Harry was engulfed in a tidal wave of fans all seeking to congratulate him and get his autograph. He smiled, nodded and signed programs as was expected, all the while chatting distractedly as he scanned the throng for a glimpse of Weasley red. Finally spotting his friends, he excused himself and made his way toward them.

It did not surprise Harry that when he finally reached the Weasley family, he was not completely inundated with congratulations. Exclamations over the dangerous events of the match were interspersed with the comments. As he answered questions and made assurances, he surreptitiously inventoried the group and noted that, with the exception of Charlie and Percy, every one of the Weasleys had attended the match. He could not help but feel a pang of jealousy when he saw Ginny nestled under Mark's arm. They were hanging back at the edge of the group and Harry noticed that Ginny appeared very pale.

Gradually, most of the clan bid farewell for the evening and left with their families. Soon it was only himself, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Mark and the twins who were left standing in the night air.

"Why don't we all go have a drink at the Three Broomsticks," suggested Ron. "I don't know about all of you, but I'm just about chilled to the bone."

"A nice, warm Butterbeer sounds great to me," added Hermione, pulling her cloak about her more closely. Ron reached over and pulled her into his arms enveloping her.

"I never say no to Firewhiskey," agreed Fred.

"Count me in!" added George.

"I don't know..." hedged Harry with a shake of his head. "It's getting kind of late." His eyes flicked over to where Ginny stood with Mark.

"Oh, come on, mate...it's just now a quarter of nine," wheedled Ron. "We'll just stay for a bit. One or two drinks. You could use some relaxing."

"Don't pressure, Ron. Harry might have other plans for the evening," Fred scolded with a suggestive tone.

Harry wheeled around to glare at Fred. Apparently someone had stomped on his foot because Fred stood with one leg pulled up, his hands cradling his foot and his face bright red. Hermione stood serenely next to him with a look of smug satisfaction.

Harry glanced back to Ginny to see her looking daggers at Fred. He noticed Mark had pulled Ginny tight against him and was giving Harry a steely glare.

Fred found his voice and protested, "I only meant he might have a date, what with all these lovely fans hanging about!" He glared at Hermione. "Merlin, woman...I think you broke it!"

"Just shut it, Fred," sighed George.

As Harry turned back to Ron to beg off this evening, he heard Mark's cool voice cut through the crowd. "I'm sure Harry would feel like a third wheel hanging around us couples. Let's not put him on the spot."

Were it not for the fact that Mark's words had grated so irritably, Harry might have laughed when he noticed Fred turning to George and mouthing, "We're a couple?" As it was, he closed his eyes and slowly counted to five. When he reopened them, he looked directly at Ron, pulled out his wand and said, "I'll see you there."

*****

The atmosphere of the Three Broomsticks at night was distinctively different than it was during the daytime. Without the sunshine spilling in through the windows, the numerous candles created muted lighting that flickered and quavered with every gust of wind. There were quite a number of people crammed into the tables and the noise level was higher even than when the pub was filled with Hogwarts students.

With some polite requests to other patrons, they managed to clear two tables next to each other and pulled them together. Harry was not surprised to see Mark steering Ginny toward seats as far from him as possible. Ginny, for her part, smiled apologetically at Harry and sat down.

Once everyone was seated, an attractive witch came over to take their orders. Harry decided to stay away from the Firewhiskey tonight and settled instead for mulled mead. He had hoped that Ginny would have a glass of wine. He had read about the relaxing properties of wine and thought it might make his task later this evening a little easier. Unfortunately, like Hermione, she stayed with Butterbeer.

Soon Harry was pulled into a conversation with George who was sitting next to him and the evening slowly wore on as the group enjoyed their libations and each other's company. At ten o'clock, Harry found himself repeatedly glancing to where Ginny and Mark were engaged in a discussion with Hermione. He hadn't had an opportunity to speak with Ginny all day and as the evening grew later, the need to do so became more imperative.

Ron was busy explaining to Harry his impression of the Double Eight Loop that Ian MacGreggor had used during the match. Harry was only half listening as his attention was diverted when he noticed Mark leaving his seat and walking toward the loo.

"Personally, I would have slowed down and tightened it up a bit. I think that's why the Wasps were able to score as much as they did-" Ron placed his hand on Harry's arm. "You there, Harry?"

Harry snapped his attention back to Ron and apologized. "Sorry, Ron. Look...I need to go talk to Ginny for just a minute." Harry rose up out of his seat. "Be right back."

Ginny was involved in a discussion with Hermione seated next to her and didn't appear to notice Harry. Slipping into the seat vacated by Mark, he nodded an acknowledgment to Hermione and placed a gentle hand on Ginny's shoulder. When she turned around to look at him, he asked, "Er...Ginny, can we talk for a minute...outside?" Turning back around she made her excuses to Hermione and Harry pulled her seat out for her as she stood up. They made their way to the front door of the pub and stepped into the night air.

Outside the pool of light coming from the windows, Ginny stood with her arms wrapped around herself and waited patiently for him to begin. Harry nervously combed his fingers through his hair, wondering now that he had got her alone just what he was going to say to her. Taking a breath, he calmed himself. "I'm sorry it's a bit cold out here...but it was just too crowded and noisy in there..." He pulled off his cloak.

"It's all right, Harry," she assured him. "Thank you," she added as Harry carefully draped the cloak around her shoulders.

"Well...we haven't had a chance to talk since this morning. I was wondering...well...how did your visit with Madam Pomfrey go?" he asked with as much tact as he could muster.

"Oh," she replied with a bit of surprise, "well...the spell has not been broken yet." Ginny hesitated a moment, a curious expression flitting across her face. "Harry, I would have told you right away if...if there was a baby. I would have found a way to get word to you," she assured him.

Harry was not sure whether he should be relieved that Ginny wasn't yet forced into motherhood, or depressed because they had to continue under the onus of this spell. Regardless of how he felt, he knew that he needed to go forward with his plans. With grim determination he nodded his head. "As it's after ten already, I thought we might...think about how we might gracefully exit here." Harry's heart shriveled at the look of dismay on her face. He knew this whole situation had been hardest on her and wanted desperately to make it better. He thought he knew how to do that, but he wasn't sure how he could make her understand that he needed some time with her tonight. Having Mark here wasn't helping the situation any for him. "Ginny...do you know when Mark planned on bringing you home tonight?" he asked tentatively.

"We didn't have any definite plans..." she began. Harry noticed that she was now avoiding his gaze and had a guilty look upon her face. "I...I never specifically told Mark...where I'm staying now," she stammered in a small voice.

"Ginny!"

"I just haven't found the right way to tell him!" she exclaimed defensively. "He's already so upset about all this...I just can't...and I feel so awful..." Tears glistened in the corners of her eyes and Harry's heart melted.

"Shhh," he comforted, reaching out to smooth her hair away from her face. "It's okay. It'll keep. You can tell him when you're ready. It's not like he doesn't know what's going on anyway." Harry faltered a little. "He does know...doesn't he?" he wondered aloud.

Ginny's eyes hardened a little. "Of course he does," she replied sharply.

Harry pulled his hands back in surrender. "I was just asking..." He tried redirecting the conversation back to deciding how to leave. "So...were you going to leave here alone...or with me tonight? Or did you plan to let Mark take you home to the Burrow?"

"Honestly, I really hadn't given it a whole lot of thought," she sighed. "I think I expected to break the news to him sometime tonight."

"It might be a good idea to decide now. There isn't a whole lot of time left before midnight." Harry decided to take a chance and added, "I'd like to...well...we really need to spend a bit more time tonight...er...well, we've been a bit rushed...before."

Ginny snorted softly and shook her head. "Harry...you aren't making any sense."

"I'm sorry. Just please trust me when I say we need to go home soon," he appealed.

Ginny squinted when a panel of light fell across her face. Turning, Harry noticed Mark standing in the doorway of the pub. "What's going on? Why are you out here?"

"Nothing is going on," Ginny replied as she stepped toward the door. "It was just too loud in there to talk."

Mark glanced over Ginny's shoulder at Harry suspiciously. "Well...I didn't know what to think. I came back to the table and you had disappeared," he said to Ginny.

"I wouldn't have left without telling you," Ginny murmured. "But it is getting rather late..."

"Did you want to go home?" Mark asked. "We can leave right now, if you'd like."

"I...I was thinking I'd just go ahead and go...with Harry," she stammered.

"Oh." Mark's tone was flat and his eyes narrowed a bit as he looked back at Harry. He stepped out of the doorway and, taking Ginny by the elbow, began walking away from the pub. Mark muttered a curt, "Excuse us" as he brushed past Harry.

Harry bristled at what he perceived as manhandling of Ginny but he held his tongue. He watched as the engaged couple walked out of hearing range and stopped. They were facing each other now and Harry's back stiffened as he saw Mark gesturing wildly at Ginny. Once again, Ginny appeared to placate Mark with a calm response and soothing gestures. When Harry saw Mark take Ginny into his arms lovingly, he turned away from them, with waves of jealousy washing over him, deep enough to drown.

Breathing deeply and steeling himself, Harry turned back to watch the couple. He was surprised to see Ginny standing alone, head bent in a pose of utter defeat. Concern welled up in him and he strode quickly out to her.

"Are you all right?" he asked softly.

She brought her head up to look at Harry. "I'm fine," she replied. She had a haunted look in her eyes as she continued, "I think...I think it was just a bit of a shock for him. Seeing us together, knowing we'd be..." The tears she had been holding back spilled down her cheeks and she dropped her face into her hands and sobbed silently.

Harry stepped up and gathered her in his arms. He wanted so much to be able to make everything better for her. Every cry of hers cut through him like a knife. She collapsed against his chest and he rocked her gently in his arms. They stood in silence in the center of Hogsmeade for some time as Ginny's tears gradually diminished.

When she finally stepped back from Harry a bit and looked up at him with dry eyes, she smiled softly. "Let's go home."

*****

It was after 10:30 when they walked into the house. As Ginny moved toward the stairs leading to their bedrooms, Harry told her that he would be up to his room in a few minutes but asked her not to wait for him in his bed. After a moment's questioning look, she agreed and went upstairs. In the kitchen, he pulled out two wine glasses from the cupboard and a bottle of wine from the pantry. Taking his time, he made his way up to his bedroom where he stopped and knocked on the door.

Listening carefully, he heard her soft voice call out, "Come in."

When Harry entered the room, he saw Ginny sitting in the chair at his dresser. She was once more wearing the dressing gown he had bought her and he felt a surge of desire within himself.

Looking at him curiously, she asked, "Wine?"

He smiled warmly. "Trust me," he said. He placed the glasses and bottle on the table and using his wand, uncorked the wine. "It will help us to relax," he explained as he poured the fragrant red liquid, handing a glass to Ginny.

Harry sipped his wine slowly and considered his next words. He watched as Ginny carefully drank from her glass. Deciding on his approach, he began. "Ginny...I've been very bothered by the amount of discomfort you've been having. I know this situation isn't pleasant for you, but I'm concerned that it's more unpleasant than it should be." Ginny stared at him blankly, her faced tinged with red. He took a deep breath and continued. "I can't claim to be an expert on...intimacy, but earlier today I did a bit of research and I think I know what's causing it." He then took a rather large gulp of his wine while he gauged her response.

Without changing her expression she prompted, "Go on."

"While some pain is expected the first time..." he recited thinking, God, I sound just like Hermione. "With proper...er...preparation, any discomfort should subside and you should feel some...pleasant sensations from the experience." He watched as Ginny's eyebrows had raised just a little. "So...it was my mistake in thinking that the Lubricus spell was sufficient preparation."

As he paused, Ginny opened her mouth and took a breath. "That was a bit unnecessary, by the way," she said as color blossomed over her cheeks.

At her statement, Harry was thrown off stride. He felt a tingling sensation as the implications of what she had said sank in. Stumbling to keep his thoughts in order, he cleared his throat. "Yes...well...I'm sorry. I didn't realize..." As he noticed her lips twitch slightly, he thought to himself, She's enjoying the hell out of this. Determined to get through this without dying of embarrassment, he switched gears. "It seems that in my attempts to respect the nature of our friendship, I've neglected to...pay attention to...other important aspects."

Ginny smiled genuinely at him now. "Harry...what are you trying to say?"

Harry didn't respond as he walked toward her and placed his wine glass on the dresser. Taking her glass from her hand, he set it down as well. Kneeling down in front of her, he place a hand gently on her knee and looked up into her eyes. "We're friends, and seeing you in so much discomfort just tears me up inside and makes me feel even more horrible about this entire situation." He paused for a moment, hoping that what he was about to suggest would meet with her approval. "Ginny, what I'm trying to say is, I want to...I need you to allow me to...spend some time...arousing you. I don't want to make you uncomfortable, but I think we both need this to get through this situation without going mad."

"What do you mean by...arousing me?" Her smile had faded and her eyes had widened.

Wanting to reassure her and comfort her, Harry reached up to cup her cheek. "Please trust me," he whispered as he guided her mouth down to his.

As their lips brushed ever so softly, Harry felt his soul tearing in two. A part of him still raged about the violation this curse had brought to their friendship. But a larger part of him melted into the feel of her, relishing the sensation of their lips caressing one another. His heart leapt as Ginny's mouth opened to him, their tongues tangling as the kiss deepened. Harry relinquished that part of him feeling any distress and surrendered himself to the woman in front of him.

Without breaking their kiss, Harry slid his hand behind Ginny's waist and slowly rose to his feet, pulling her from her seat. When they were both standing, he encircled both arms around her and pulled her close. His body, as well as his mind, was responding to her warmth pressed up against him, and as her arms slid around his neck, he let his hands caress her back.

Slowly he broke their kiss and stepped back enough to look into her eyes as they fluttered open. Holding her gaze and bringing both his hands to cup her face, he silently pleaded to her to trust in him. Without breaking eye contact, he slowly moved one hand from her face and gently slipped in under her gown at the collar. Marveling at the silky feel of her skin, he slid his hand up over her shoulder, pulling open the collar of her gown and exposing her neck.

Closing his eyes, he leaned forward and placed a small kiss on her jaw. He let his lips trail slightly on her skin as he moved to her earlobe. As he placed another tender kiss on her pulse point, Ginny let out a small gasp and Harry felt her weight collapse into him as her knees buckled. Smiling inwardly, he nibbled slowly down her neck to her collarbone as she tilted her head granting him easier access.

Very cautiously, so as not to startle her, Harry slipped the hand he'd had on her shoulder down the length of her arm. His movement pulled open the front of her gown even further and he continued his downward path of kisses until he reached the top of her cleavage. Pulling back, he noticed her stance: she stood on tip toe; her back arched with her head tilted to one side with her eyes closed and her lips parted.

She was the epitome of wanton desire and it made his heart pound.

He reached down, carefully swept her up into his arms and carried her to the bed. Gently laying her on top of the duvet, he knelt next to her and slipped his fingers into the knot of her gown's sash. Her eyes came open and before she could speak, he leaned forward and gently kissed her eyes closed again before moving to her lips. By the time he had broken their kiss, her sash was untied and the silky material slipped away from the front of her body.

When Ginny's hands moved automatically to pull her gown back over herself, Harry gently grasped her wrists and pulled them to his mouth. He gently placed a kiss on this inside of each wrist, then placed them on the pillow on either side of her head. Leaning in very close, he whispered softly in her ear, "Trust me."

Harry proceeded to slowly rain kisses down her throat and over her collarbones. Not wanting to rush her, he made sure than his hands caressed only her midsection but gradually, with each stroke, swept higher on her sides and lower onto her hips. When he felt she was comfortable with this level of touching, he pulled back and looked down upon her form. He was stunned by her beauty and he ached to touch all of her.

With great tenderness Harry began to make love to her with his hands. He felt a jolt of thrill when she responded to his touch and a shock of pleasure shot down his spine when he felt her fingers tangle into his hair. He lay down beside her and slipped one arm underneath her to hold her close. His mouth captured hers in a languorous kiss and he took great pleasure in the small sounds she made as he brought her to new heights.

As she lay panting next to him, he slid from the bed and removed his clothes. Now naked, he climbed back onto the bed and stretched out over Ginny's body. Kissing her lightly on her lips, he nudged his legs between hers and reached down to pull one of her knees up slightly. He shivered when her hands slid around his back and pulled him close to her. Knowing she was now truly prepared for him, he entered her.

Harry was amazed to hear her softly groan aloud, "Oh God...Harry..." Needing no further encouragement, he began slowly moving. He was totally lost in this creature beneath him. Her open response to him had touched him where no woman had before. His fingers slid through her hair and his mouth devoured hers. His body tingled in pleasure as her hands slipped up along the sides of his chest, her fingers wrapping gently around to his touch his back. He groaned when her fingertips bit into his flesh. Her gasps delighted him and when she cried out, he fought to hold off his own pending response until her climax had receded.

As they lay entangled in one another, their heartbeats gradually slowing...their breathing returning to normal, Harry felt his consciousness slipping away. He did not care about anything right now except for the woman in his arms. A faint smile played across his lips as he drifted off to sleep.

*****

The soft tickle of hair on his cheek brought Harry to the brink of consciousness but no further. He was vaguely aware of warm lips pressed to his forehead, a weight lifting from the bed, and the whisper of satin. But that awareness did not stay with him as he slipped back into deep slumber.

He was not aware of time as he pulled himself from the comfortable repose. The blissful feeling of his joining with Ginny had not passed and he reached out to pull her close to him. His euphoria crashed when his grasp found nothing but cool sheets.

Opening his eyes, he sat up and struggled to peer through the darkness. Though unable to see, he instinctively knew that she had left his room. That knowledge brought with it a sinking sensation in his chest. Though they had shared a physical satisfaction beyond anything he had experienced before, he knew this was still an unwanted, emotional intrusion for her. As he had reveled in her body and celebrated her response to him, he had allowed himself to forget...forget that she did not belong to him. As he sat staring into the dark, he became of aware of her weeping in the room next to his.

He had to stop himself from bolting into her room to check on her...to comfort her. He wasn't sure what he could say as he wasn't even sure why she was crying, but he suspected he knew. His attempts to lessen her physical discomfort had only increased her emotional pain. His presence was most likely the last thing she needed. Racked with guilt and feeling helpless, he sank back onto his pillow and listened to her muffled sobs. It was the wee hours of the night before sleep came again.