The Harpy and the Vulture

HumbugGirl

Story Summary:
Ginny Weasley, newest member of the Holyhead Harpies, attends a charity function. Ginny Weasley x Viktor Krum

Chapter 01

Posted:
09/30/2007
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The Harpy and the Vulture

Ginny lifted a hand to shield her eyes as she focused on the small figures that were swarming around overhead, occasionally letting out excited cheers. In her other hand she clutched the highly polished shaft of her team broomstick, absent-mindedly tracing the Holyhead Harpies badge engraved into the wood with her thumb.

The flyers above dashed around, frequently causing Ginny's heart to leap into her mouth as she nervously anticipated mid-air collisions and small bodies plummeting to earth. More than once her hand had twitched towards the wand that was tucked into the top of her boots, and she knew in her heart that it was only a matter of time before she cracked and actually drew it. She felt anxious, and tense, and was nearly completely certain that a whole host of butterflies had set up residence in her stomach. Over the last couple of hours, Ginny had come to one unassailable conclusion: she was not cut out to look after small children.

The children in question were all from a group that had been selected as part of a charity scheme sponsored by, among several other teams, the Harpies. Most came from families that had been severely affected by the events leading up to, and during, the war with Voldemort. Ginny knew for a fact that there were several orphans in the group. The aim of the event was to promote cooperation and good feeling in the post-war era - something that Ginny could readily applaud. She had seen too many people crushed in the rush to place blame and recriminations after Voldemort's death, and in her opinion it was about time that people tried to move on.

As the youngest and newest member of the squad, Ginny had been nominated by the management to be their representative. She was also, they had pointed out, by far the most photogenic member of the club, having never taken a Bludger to the face, and there were sure to be members of the press present. Indeed Ginny had already posed for a half a dozen photographers, sometimes with one or more of the fortunate children but more often than not with other players who had been sent by there clubs to the event. Marcus Flint, looking rather impressive in his Falcons uniform, had already taken advantage of the situation by pinching her bottom as they had been posing together for a picture. After the photo had been taken, she had shot a vicious smile in his direction and silently promised herself that she would take revenge on him in their next league match.

A particularly raucous screech split the air, leaving Ginny to look around frantically. She levelled her eyes on a small body spiralling wildly though the air exhibiting surprising skill, and immediately opened her mouth to shout a warning. There were charms cast on the brooms to stop from them flying too high, and limiters on the speed they could achieve, but the child had still somehow managed to build up enough velocity to attempt to pull off some tricks. He was not the only one.

Before she managed to call out, however, a figure swooped to intercept the offender. The child was quickly pulled up in midair and given what looked to be a stern talking to that culminated in him flying away a few moments later looking rather sheepish.

"You are not flying?"

Surprised, Ginny spun around. Her eyes widened briefly, and then a perfunctory smile slipped onto her lips. It was returned easily - perhaps more so that it had been given. Viktor Krum covered the last few feet between them, coming to a halt at Ginny's side as she once again turned her eyes skyward.

"I'm meant to be taking charge of a class for beginners," she told him. "I think they're still getting kitted up. At least I hope they are."

There was a jovial lilt to Ginny's voice as she spoke - one that masked her genuine, if momentary, concern over the location of her missing charges. She only just managed to stop herself from looking around, knowing that Viktor's eyes were still on her. Looking around would risk accidentally making eye contact with the man stood next to her, and that was something she almost desperately wanted to avoid doing.

Lately it had come to her attention that Viktor's intentions where she was concerned were possibly not be as entirely pure as she had previously understood them to be. Indeed, as Ginny had formerly understood matters, Viktor Krum did not actually have any intentions at all, pure or otherwise. A series of recent occurrences and conversations had brought that understanding into serious doubt, however. It was a series of events that Ginny was nearly certain begun with a European Cup match between Viktor's team, the Vratsa Vultures, and the Harpies. The Vultures had thrashed the Harpies in an almost humiliating rout that had left Ginny with nothing but an intense desire to immediately return to Wales. Unfortunately, there had been press commitments to honour and she had been stuck in Bulgaria for several hours after the end of the match. It had been during those hours that Viktor had approached her with an invitation to dinner.

Ginny had thought nothing of the offer. After all, they had encountered each other several times over last couple of years, and while they only really knew each other only in passing, Ginny had never seen anything to indicate that Viktor might be interested in her. They were acquaintances - friends, of a sort. It was Fleur who had altered her perception of the situation. In casual tones, her sister-in-law had one day happened to mention that Viktor had been making inquiries about her and ever since Ginny had been plagued with a persistent sense of certainty that the former Durmstrang student was going to contact her. As yet that had not happened, but Ginny knew that there was still time.

She tensed, wondering whether this was that time. Almost immediately she began to scold herself. The chances were that Fleur had exaggerated. Her sister-in-law was not above teasing her about men and her newly gained status as a Quidditch pin-up girl - especially since her break up with Harry had occurred. It might simply prove to be that case that Viktor was but one more in the increasingly long line of men that Fleur had managed to pluck out of thin air over the last few months. Besides, ever since the birth of her first child, Fleur had started looking everywhere for romance.

Anyway, being asked out by Viktor was hardly the worst thing that could happen to her. It was not as if she had to say yes. In a way it would actually be rather flattering. He was Viktor Krum, after all.

"What about you?" she asked, realising how long they had been quiet. The silence had been companionable, but somehow that did not make it any better.

"I haff been grounded."

Ginny's eyes widened and she looked towards him in disbelief. She glanced down towards his leg, which she knew had been broken in a recent league match in Bulgaria. "Still?" she asked. "I didn't think that the crash was that bad."

"It vos not," he admitted somewhat reluctantly. "I haff had another accident."

Interpreting the slight flush staining his cheeks as embarrassment, Ginny said, "An accident? Not while training..."

Viktor rapidly shook his head. "No. Not flying." His cheeks darkened. "I haff accident vhile... vhile in bed."

"Doing what?" Ginny exclaimed, unable to stop an accompanying short bark of laughter erupting from her. She instantly regretted the question, and blushed as she realised what she had asked and precisely what the answer might be.

She had not thought that it would be possible but Viktor managed to look even more uncomfortable. "I vos... I... Vell, I..." He stopped abruptly, seeming to run out of air.

Ginny hesitated. She was not entirely sure that she wanted to know the answer if it was capable of causing so much embarrassment. Of course the problem with that was that her imagination was all too ready and willing to speculate as to what Viktor might have been up to. After all, there was only so many things that someone could get up to in bed that might lead to injury. Ginny swiftly decided to take pity on him, for both their sake's.

"How long is it going to keep you out?" she asked quickly, finally forcing herself to fully meet his eyes.

Viktor instantly looked relieved. "Two veeks."

"But you'll miss the semi-finals of the cup!" she exclaimed.

He shrugged and started to reply only to be interrupted by a new voice and the appearance of a very determined looking photographer. Ginny started in surprise and then automatically fixed a smile on her features as she spotted the camera clutched in the man's hands. A brief glance towards Viktor revealed that he had made no such similar concession for the sudden appearance of the press. Indeed, he had assumed a rather surly expression, which Ginny supposed was actually more normal for him than a false smile. It was well-known that he was no fan of newspaper reporters and photographers.

"A picture, please, Mr Krum, Miss Weasley."

"Of course," Ginny replied, even as a reluctant Viktor grunted in the affirmative.

The redhead leaned towards him and only just managed to cover her surprise as he wrapped a strong arm around her middle. Abruptly, Ginny could feel the weight of him against her shoulder. She could not help but feel somewhat dwarfed by him. For a Seeker, he was unusually tall. Indeed, he was taller than the majority of Keepers playing the modern game, and it was only his lean, lanky frame and natural talent that allowed him to be competitive as a Seeker. More than anything, however, Viktor Krum exuded a powerful sense of presence, and right at that moment, Ginny was completely subject to it.

She was so caught up in the strange feeling of being so close to him that she barely noticed the photographer lift the camera. The flash startled her into skittishly jumping away from Viktor, and almost immediately a somehow guilty feeling shot through her. She flushed at her foolishness, and then again at the bemused expression shot at her by the photographer and Viktor.

"One more," the photographer prompted, briefly holding up his index finger as he did so.

Without commenting, Viktor drew her back towards him until she was pressed against his side, and once again Ginny was left fighting the same distracting forces that had occupied her previously.

The second photo went off without a hitch. Ginny fixed what she hoped was a brilliant, confident smile on her features - one that was sure to please the Harpies press officer. She tried almost desperately to look relaxed as she leaned against Viktor's side even though there was a knot tension pulsing under her skin, radiating out from the spot of her hip where his hand was resting.

As the photographer left, Ginny awkwardly stepped away from Viktor. She hesitantly glanced towards his face and was mildly disgruntled to see that he did not look half as uncomfortable as she felt. But then Viktor rarely seemed to exhibit anything that was not at least tinged by confidence, and he almost always looked at ease.

Almost immediately, she felt a wave of irritation roll through her. It was not directed at Viktor, but rather at herself. It was not as if she actually wanted Viktor to feel uncomfortable around her. Indeed, she did not particularly want Viktor to feel anything around her - except, perhaps, for a measure of friendship mixed with a healthy sense of rivalry on those rare occasions that their teams met in competition. It was somewhat distressing to acknowledge but it was not as if it was Viktor's reaction of lack there of that she was really irritated with. No, what really irritated her was her reaction to being so close to him. Ginny Weasley, a young successful Quidditch star, was not the kind of girl who got all flushed and tongue-tied around any man - not even a man like Viktor Krum. Not anymore, anyway. It was beneath her.

Or so she told herself - repeatedly.

"So... you've got two weeks of freedom then," she prompted. "Do you have anything interesting planned?"

"I haff decided to take a holiday," he said and then glanced around. Leaning closer to Ginny, he added in quieter tones, "I vill be staying vith Fleur and Bill for a few days."

"Oh! Fleur didn't say anything when I last spoke to her."

"It vos a last minute decision."

I bet it was, Ginny thought wryly as she remembered her sister-in-laws reaction to learning that she had been asked to participate in the charity event. Suddenly, she knew with absolute certainty that Fleur had already known that Viktor would also be at the event. It explained perfectly why she had sent Ginny an owl later that same day inviting her to dinner later in the week, and the way she had neglected to mention that Viktor would be at the cottage at the same time. No doubt she had confirmed that Viktor would indeed be staying with them and then decided to give into her urge to play matchmaker.

"I vos hoping to see you vhile I vos here in Britain," he added.

Panic briefly surged through Ginny. Tightening her grip on her broom, she murmured, "Oh?"

Viktor smiled. "It vould be nice to be meeting up, I am thinking."

Ginny's fingers were starting to turn white and she had to force herself to loosen them before they started to cramp. She nervously swiped her tongue over her lower lip. There was no way that he could possibly have just asked her out on a date, was there?

Noticing the confusion that washed briefly over Ginny's features, Viktor added, "You are eating vith us on Vednesday, no?"

"Oh, yes. Sorry. Of course I'll be there."

Viktor's smile widened slightly, apparently genuine pleasure. Ginny resisted the urge to frown at his expression as she tried to work out the motive behind it. It occurred to her that perhaps she was being too analytical, and that perhaps she should not expend so much effort trying to figure the Seeker out. Viktor had done nothing to suggest that he had any romantic intentions towards her. Not really, anyway. The only thing he had done was mention that he had been hoping that he would run into her, and that might mean anything. It probably meant nothing.

"That is goo-"

He broke off, eyes widening dramatically. Before Ginny even had a chance to ask him what the matter was, he barrelled into her while grabbing her shoulders.

Ginny's breath exploded from her body. She coughed loudly as Viktor's weight drove her to the ground, and then squealed as she felt her knee twist awkwardly. Buried underneath him, it would have been impossible for her to see anything even if her eyes had been open. That did not stop her from hearing the rush of air as something shot by them at high speed, however, or the subsequent cries of surprise and horror that erupted from around the Quidditch pitch.

Time seemed to stop. Slowly, Ginny opened her eyes to find her vision filled with the black and red of Viktor's Quidditch kit. She realised with a jolt that her face was pressed against his chest, and furthermore that one of her hands was trapped between their two bodies. She flushed brilliant as it dawned on her precisely where it was trapped, and she was about to apologise to Viktor when he suddenly leapt to his feet.

"You are idiot!" she heard him shout as he stormed away.

Ginny blinked, gathering her wits, and then attempted to follow his example. The moment that she tried to stand on her knee, however, it gave out. With a yelp she dropped back down to the grass and winced as she realised that there was every chance that she had managed sprain her knee. Sucking in a deep breath, she gingerly attempted to stand again, this time using her broom for support. She was grateful when one of the event stewards appeared by her side and wrapped an arm about her waist to aid her.

"What happened?" she asked him stupidly.

The man looked momentarily surprised that she would deign to speak to him before opening his mouth. "One of the kids nearly brained you - looked like he was attempting a Wronski Feint or something. Krum looks like he wants to kill Flint."

"What's he got to do with it?" Ginny asked, craning to try and see around the steward. The man seemed to realise what she was attempting to do and stepped to one side just in time for Ginny to see Viktor reach out. He shoved Marcus hard, making the more muscular man stumble backwards but not fall.

"Flint was meant to be supervising the kid."

"Oh, bloody hell," Ginny exclaimed, watching as Marcus angrily prodded Viktor in the chest. Both men were red in the face, and it was obvious even from where Ginny was standing that the situation was rapidly deteriorating. Indeed, from the sounds of things, Viktor had lost the ability to speak English and had resorted to ranting in Bulgarian.

"Get me over there," she said to the startled steward.

"Do that again and I'll shove your broom up your arse!" Marcus snapped at Viktor as she approached.

Viktor growled something in response and with a series of hand gestures made it blatantly apparent exactly what he would do to Marcus if he tried that particular manoeuvre.

Ginny ducked as she halted by his side and one particularly expressive gesticulation nearly removed her head. She grabbed Viktor's arm out of self-preservation and immediately found herself the subject of his rather intense gaze. There was a moment when Ginny was not certain that he recognised her, but then Viktor's eyes softened and a healthy measure of the tension running through his frame drained away. Ginny suppressed the urge to groan as somewhere in the background there was a series of flashes as the various photographers present caught the moment.

"You are okay?" he asked hurriedly. "This idiot..."

"Oh shut up, Krum. You're just pissed off your little play for Ginny here got cut short."

"Marcus!" Ginny snapped, tearing her eyes away from Viktor's face and the concern that was written across it. "You're really not doing yourself any favours."

"I don't need to."

"Well maybe you should."

She wet her lips, taking in the way that he kept shooting glares in Viktor's direction. There was more than simply professional enmity there. In fact, if Ginny had not known better then she would have wondered whether there was history between them. What that history might be, however, was beyond Ginny. One thing she was certain of though was that splitting Marcus and Viktor up before they came to blows was a good idea.

"Maybe you should go and see what happened to the kid," she prompted, tossing her head back in the direction that she had come from.

"Kid?"

"You know - the one that just tried to play human Bludger practise with me."

"Oh." Marcus glanced towards where she had gestured. "Bugger. Just... Just keep Krum on his leash from now on."

He stalked away before Viktor had a chance to respond, which, Ginny decided, was probably a good thing. She watched him go and then looked towards Viktor. It was only then that she realised she was still holding onto his arm. Almost guiltily, she quickly relinquished her hold and took a step away from him, forgetting about her knee as she did so. She hissed and stumbled backwards before managing to regain her balance.

"That man is, vell, he is not a vord that I should be saying in front of you. Not even in another language."

Ginny offered him another small smile. There was something charming about his reaction. It was... almost gallant, in a way.

"Feel free to call him whatever you want," she said. "I know precisely what he's like. I went to school with the guy."

"Then I feel sorry for you." He paused and glanced towards the broom that she was using for support. He reached out towards her. "You are hurt."

Ginny shifted her weight, letting Viktor take some of it. The sense of distraction that she had felt earlier returned, although this time it seemed muted by comparison. Ginny still pushed it away with a firm hand.

"It's probably nothing," she told him. "And it's certainly nothing compared to what probably would have happened. Thank you for that, by the way."

His cheeks darkened noticeably. "It vos nothing."

"Don't say that. If you hadn't saved me then I probably would have been a big mushy heap right now. Besides, you could have been hurt."

His bashful expression grew even stronger, but he joked, "I vos already hurt. Vot is one more injury?"

Ginny grinned at him, and without thinking gingerly pushed up on her toes to brush her lips over his cheek. She froze as she realised precisely what she had done and felt a hot blush slipping over her cheeks. It was a second before she could convince her muscles to once again work properly and then she quickly pulled back, turning her head away from him. She could hear others approaching in the background but they all seemed rather distant somehow. There was Viktor and there was her, and they were the only two people on the pitch.

"Thank you," she said again, this time rather hoarsely.

Viktor licked his lips, keeping his dark eyes trained on her. The moment was filled with tension and Ginny was not unhappy when it was interrupted by the arrival of the Harpies press officer and Ginny's agent.

The latter of the two glanced between Viktor and Ginny, obviously curious as to what they had been conversing about and perhaps even a little suspicious. The woman was fiercely protective of her latest bright star, and even if she had not noticed Ginny kissing Viktor's cheek - which Ginny was certain she had - then she would certainly have wanted to know what they had been talking about.

"What happened?" she asked, turning her attention to Ginny. "Someone told me there was an accident and you'd been injured."

Ginny switched her gaze from Viktor to the woman fretting around her. "My knee..."

Concern flooded over her agent's face. Viktor's presence was abruptly forgotten as Ginny's injury devoured the woman's attention. "Your knee?" she exclaimed. "How bad is it? Why are you still standing? We need to get you a medic. I'm sorry, Mr Krum, but we really should get her to see someone..."

"Of course," Viktor agreed.

"Viktor," Ginny called as he started to turn.

"She is right," he replied. "It vould be best. I vill see you on Vednesday."

"Until then," Ginny replied after a moment's hesitation.

His lips moved into a brief smile and then he turned and left. Ginny watched him go with interest.

"You're seeing Viktor Krum?" her agent asked the moment he was out of earshot.

"No," Ginny said automatically. It was only when she noted the pregnant pause that followed her abrupt denial that she realised that she might have spoken too quickly. "He's staying at my brother's place and we're all getting together for dinner," she explained.

"Really."

"Yes, really."

The agent gave a knowing smile - just the slightest tilt of her lips that suggested she did not believe that Ginny was telling her the entire truth.

"Really," Ginny repeated, and then made the mistake of looking over in the direction that Viktor had walked.

She missed the look that the agent and the press officer shared, but she did not miss the way that the tall Quidditch player twisted to glance back at her. It was only when his dark eyes briefly caught hers that Ginny realised with a jar that she was actually quite looking forwards to the meal on Wednesday.

END