A Different Kind of Scar

"What a save by Ronald Weasley! The quaffle now in the hands of chaser, Thomas Blew. Blew weaves through two defenders, dodges a bludger, and shoots! Blocked by Fredrick Gritts! Quaffle now in German possession! Hynes Marks with the quaffle, he passes to Captain John Rite. Rite weaves around Blew! Ouch! He is hit by a bludger. Gregory Hicks picks up the quaffle and heads down the pitch. Hicks now with only the goalkeeper to beat, shoots and scores! France is on the board first. Rite with quaffle passes to Barny Llewllyn. Llewllyn takes it up the pitch and shoots! Saved once again by Weasley! Hicks has the quaffle. He gives it up to Sarah Fisher. Fisher has speed. She dodges a bludger and shoots... goal! France is now up 20 to 0! Rite with the quaffle, he's down the pitch in no time and fire a shot. Goal! What a quick come back by Germany. The score now 20 to 10 still in France's favor. Fisher throws a long pass to Blew. Blew, with a wide open goal, shoots and scores for France!"

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"Are you still watching the game?" asked Skye Robinson.

"Yes, its Harry and Ron's first professional game. I want to see how they do. I sure do miss them already," exclaimed Hermione to Skye. Hermione turned her attention back to the game as Skye sighed and walked out of the room.

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"The score is now 80 to 40 in Germany's favor. Ronald Weasley has put up an outstanding effort stopping now 24 of 32 shots, while France has only gotten off 11 shots. Germany is really starting to open up this game. France is going to need to catch the snitch quickly if they want to have a chance of winning this match. And there is a goal by Marks to put Germany up by fifty! Marks steals the quaffle and quickly passes it to Rite who scores as well. The score is now 100 to 40 in Germany's favor. Fisher with the quaffle and she is hit by a bludger! Luckily, Thomas Blew is there to snatch it up. Blew down the pitch, he shoots and scores! That puts France down only fifty. Ronald Weasley with an amazing block! Andrew Smith, the German seeker, dives toward the ground! I think he is going to catch the snitch! Wow, what a move by Potter! Harry Potter might have just saved the game for the French team! This is his very first professional quidditch game and he is pulling off moves that veterans rarely attempt. This kid if for real, he is so fun to watch, and is absolutely graceful out there. Kids at home who want to become professional quidditch players should watch how he plays. His method is so-"

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The luminous screen projected by Hermione's wand went out. "Oh, great now I'll never find out who wins," she sighed as she sat back into her chair. Her thoughts fell upon Harry Potter, for whom she has had feelings for since the moment the met at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She has been trying to forget the feeling she has had for him since the night before graduation, which was only two weeks ago. She told Harry how she felt about him. He said he never really thought of her of much more than his best friend. She was devastated as the words came out of her mouth, but she was determined not to let that come in the way of them being even closer friends. Beside she was now in Egypt with her best friend, Skye, studying ancient curses. Skye had told her to go out and meet new people, and Hermione had. She met Dale Wiggins at a restaurant one night. They had gone out twice since and she found herself thinking less of Harry and more of Dale. This was a good thing of course... so she thought.

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"The score is now 110 to 140 in France's favor! Ronald Weasley is letting nothing by him. He has now stopped an unprecedented 68 out of 79 shots! Harry Potter has already saved the game for France twice. So France's young guns are shinning in the first ever match. Blew with the quaffle, he passes to-! Harry Potter is streaking towards the ground! He is at least 30 feet in front of Smith! Harry now speeding through the air, stretching out his hand and, he has the snitch! France has won! 290 to 110, France has won the match. We have a tie for player of the game. It is between Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley! Well this raps up this week's edition of Quidditch TV, we hope to see you next week for our match up between Britain and Switzerland. Goodbye!" the announcer's voice trailed off throughout the stadium. It could hardly be heard as so, it was being drowned out by the cheers of over 100,000 fans in the stadium!

"Great game, Harry!" said Ron after the team was showered.

"Thanks and same to you. You played brilliant," replied Harry over his shoulder to Ron who was putting on his shirt.

"Great game guys," said the coach as he came into the locker rooms. "We need to work on our offense a little more, but this was the best first game of the year I've ever seen this team play. If we keep this up, we'll be in the World Cup Finals for sure. We have practice all this week for our game against Spain next Saturday." He finished up and everyone started to leave except Harry and Ron. They both had to go to a press conference.

"Harry what was it like to catch the snitch on your very first game?" asked a reporter.

"Well not much different then at Hogwarts I suppose. I mean I just go out there everyday wanting to get better and I try my hardest. The way I did it today was the way I always do," he replied.

"Ron, amazing goalkeeping today! How did you do it?" asked a different a woman reporter from the Daily Prophet.

"I don't know. Like Harry said I play my hardest all the time no matter what. I just felt like I was in a zone today. It was a great feeling and I hope I can keep up this kind of intense game play throughout the rest of the season," Ron answered smiling at Harry. Harry returned his smile, but he was lost in thought. Someone keeps popping into his thoughts all the time now. He can't think of why either. They both continued to answer questions until the conference was over. After the conference, they both apparated back to their houses. Their houses were both right next to each other and both fit for a king.

Harry and Ron both got ready for the night and around 8 o'clock they left their houses for a night on the town. Ron had a date with a young reporter from the Daily Prophet. Harry was meeting Fred and George Weasley, Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet, and Katie Bell, all of whom were on the quidditch team with Harry. They went to ate at a restaurant, went to a bar, and danced. Harry had an especially good time with Angelina. They danced, partied, talked and had fun together, which Harry didn't have too much of anymore.

"Great game today, Harry," she said to Harry. She was sitting right next to him at the table in the dance club.

"Thanks, the team played well today," he replied. He knew Angelina still played quidditch. "So, you still playing Semi-Pro?"

"Yea, actually come to think about I haven't gotten around to telling anyone yet," she said with a smile coming onto her face.

"What?" asked Harry who couldn't imagine what she was talking about.

"Well, today I got traded to the French International Semi-Pro Team!" she exclaimed looking Harry straight in the eye. It suddenly hit her; Harry Potter was the most amazing person she had ever met. Harry Potter was a great sorcerer, great athlete, famous, kind, so handsome, and such a gentlemen. Why she didn't realize this at Hogwarts, she didn't know.

"Really, Angelina?" asked Fred, enthusiastically, snapping her out of her daze.

"Yea," she said in reply. She still couldn't stop thinking about Harry.

"Then maybe Fred and I could see some of you games," pointed out George. George and Fred loved to come to her games to cheer for her.

"Yea that would be great!" she tried to sound excited but couldn't stop her stare into Harry's eyes. She wanted Fred and George to leave so she could have him alone again.

"Fred! George! Come here!" Angelina heard Katie say to them. They said bye to her and Harry as they walked over to Katie.

"So, what do you want to do," asked Harry, scratching his head.

"I don't know how about you," she said back to him.

"Doesn't matter to me," Harry said getting up, "let's just get out of here."

"Good idea," said Angelina, "we should just go for a walk."

"Fine, lets go," he said getting up, walking around the table, and taking her hand. He helped her up and they walked together out the door. They walked for an hour at the least, stopping in shops here or there to look at things. They got coffee together and finally ended up back at Harry's house. Harry saw that Ron was home and figured that Fred, George, and the girls were there as well.

"Do you want to stop in?" he asked Angelina, who was shivering. Harry, who had noticed her shivering, took off his jacket and put it around her.

"No, we don't have to, we can go to your house," she said, answering his question from a moment before. Harry shrugged and led her to his house.

When the got into the house, Harry tried took off her coat and hung it on the rack. They made there way into the huge mansion. They sat down in one of the many living rooms the house had. They sat right next to each other.

"Hey, let's make a fire," proclaimed Harry, who seemed excited about his idea.

"Wonderful idea," Angelina agreed, thinking the fire would make it more romantic than it had been already that night. Harry gathered some wood and put it in the fire place. He stared the fire and a sudden burst of heat ran through the room.

"You want some hot chocolate?" asked Harry, turning around from his kneeling position in front of the fire.

"Please," Angelina said trying to warm up. Harry left the room, leaving her alone to think about her thoughts. Angelina was getting very anxious. She was with the most famous wizard, and one that she had fallen in love with in just one night. He was very hot in Angelina's perspective. He was muscular like any athlete, had a hair cut that would bring out his eyes, and was more of a gentleman than anyone she had ever met before. A moment later, Harry Potter walked in with two glasses of hot chocolate. He had changed from his evening clothes to shorts and a cut-off T-shirt that brought out his muscles. Harry handed her, her glass of hot chocolate, and got a blanket off the couch. He covered both of them as she laid her head on his chest. They sat talking there in front of the fire for a long time. They talked about everything from their jobs to school to family and friends. Only when the front door opened and closed did they stop talking.

"Ron!" said Harry. Ron stopped dead in his tracks, he hadn't seen them there, and maybe it was for the better Harry thought.

"Oh, Harry, I didn't even see you there," he said with a smile on his face. "We thought you'd be home by know, but I didn't see any lights on when I came over."

"Why are you over here?" he asked starting to get angry that he came in like it was himself, but then Harry thought it was probably just embarrassment overtaking him.

"Oh, I'm just here to get some marshmallows," he said, "We ran out of them over at my house."

"Who is we?" Angelina asked.

"Fred, George, Katie, Alicia and I are making s'mores over at the house. We were wondering where Angelina went and if you were home or if you'd stop by. Well I better get those marshmallows, they'll be waiting," he replied as he walked into the kitchen. On his way out he said bye and they heard the front door slam shut. Harry was glad that he and Angelina were alone again at last. He turned to face her, and when he did she was staring right back at him. He grew nervous of what was to happen next. Her face grew closer and their lips touched. Angelina felt so wonderful to be with Harry, and Harry felt the same, except for one little thing. Well, it wasn't so much of a thing as it was a person that was the exception. Harry was suddenly thinking of the kiss, though. Angelina was beautiful, more than he so remembered. She was funny, nice, smart, and played quidditch. He thought about it for a moment and thought they would make quite a good couple actually. They were with each other for the rest of the night.

When they awoke the next morning it was almost noon. Harry remembered last night and kept replaying it in his head. He got up and made some lunch for the both of them. Just when lunch was done, Angelina walked in and sat at the table.

"Morning," she said mixed in with a yawn. Harry laughed as she said it. "What's so funny?"

"It isn't morning anymore, its past noon now," he said nodding his head up toward the clock on the wall. She looked up at it and was shocked to see that he was right. It was half past twelve.

"What's for lunch?" she asked looking at him.

"Macaroni and cheese," he said giving her a bowl with some in it. All through lunch they talked. Neither of them brought up last night or how they felt about each other or neither dared to even think about bringing up if they'd want a relationship. At two o'clock Angelina left Harry's house for practice. Harry didn't have practice today because of the big win yesterday. Harry cleaned up a bit as Ron came over to hang out.

"So you have fun with Angelina?" asked Ron, already knowing the answer to his own question.

"Yea we talked and then fell asleep. She is wonderful. She is smart, beautiful, kind, and so much fun to be around. You know I haven't had fun for so long, and just by talking to her I had more fun than I had in a long while," Harry said, a smile growing on his face as he remembered Angelina.

"Well, that's good to hear," Ron said, eating some cashews.

"Yea, I think I like her, Ron," Harry said, suddenly being more serious.

"Well, does this mean you're over Hermione?" he asked looking up from the magazine in his hand.

"I don't know, I mean Angelina is awesome. I want to see if I think less about Hermione the more we spend time together. If that is so, then, yes, I will be over Hermione. I highly doubt it, though, I miss her so much. Yet, Angelina gives me some consolation. I sound like an idiot don't I?" he asked looking up, expecting to see Ron laughing at him. Ron was looking more surprised rather than ready to burst out with laughter.

"Seems like a great idea," he said, "I mean you like Angelina, and it's obvious. If you end up not thinking abut Hermione that would be great because you need to be happy. So, yea go for it, I mean if you think you really do like Angelina."

"I do," Harry said as Ron got up and left the house. Harry spent the rest of the day swimming, working out, or riding his broom. He was in such a good mood, by the end of the day he worked up enough courage to call Angelina. He decided he'd wait until after dinner. So he ate in silence, carefully picking out the words that he would say to her on the phone. After he cleared the table and did the dishes, he walked over to the phone and picked up the receiver. He dialed her number, and his heart stopped as the phone rang.

"Hello," Angelina's voice sounded through the phone.

"Angelina, hi, it's Harry," Harry said.

"Harry? Hi, I've been wanting to talk to you," she sounded a little nervous.

"Really? Same here," he replied, "You first."

"Well about last night," she paused, "I really had a good time. I mean I can't remember having that much fun in a long time. You are so wonderful."

Harry was pleases to hear this. "Me, too," he began, "I had a great time last night, better time than most nights. That's why I called; I want to know if you want to do it again sometime. I mean if you want to-"

"I thought you'd never ask!" she blurted out before he had time to say anything else. Harry felt wonderful the rest of the time they were on the phone. They talked for another hour and then she had to leave for something. For the first time in a long time, Harry Potter went to sleep thinking of someone other than Hermione Granger.

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"Dale! Come in! What a pleasant surprise," Hermione heard her best friend Courtney say from the dinning room. A few moments later Courtney walked into the room, quickly followed by Dale. Dale went up to Hermione and kissed as her said 'hello'.

Dale, Courtney, and Hermione spent the rest of the day talking, playing games, and just hanging out. Hermione had such a good time that that night she didn't think once about Harry. All she thought about was Dale and how good of a time she had with him. She kept wondering if she should tell Harry about Dale. She couldn't see why she shouldn't, but something told her that he wouldn't be happy to hear about him. It was probably from the very last time she say him.

It was right after graduation on the way home. Hermione said goodbye to everyone, except Harry. She gave him a hug and said she'd miss him. He didn't say anything back, but he just stood there looking slightly angry, slightly pleased, and slightly disappointed. As she walked to leave for her ride to Egypt, she heard him say something, but she did not bother to ask what he said. She only thinks about Harry when she wants to figure out why he looked at her like that, but she has had no such luck in figuring it out.

Courtney, who was very funny, outgoing, and quite pretty was standing across the room. "You still like him you know. I can see it in your eyes. You wonder what would be the right decision would be, to stay with Dale and forget Harry even though you can't or tell Harry how you still love him. But you won't do the second one because you are afraid of getting hurt again."

Hermione was astonished. Did she really make it that obvious? She wouldn't let Courtney win that easily, though. "Why would you say that? I don't think about Harry at all anymore. I am finally having a good time with someone else."

Courtney laughed. "Whatever you say, but you don't just want a good time with Dale; you want a great time with Harry. Good night," she said as she walked out of the room to her own bedroom.

Hermione lay awake that night thinking about what Angela had told her. Was Angela right? Did she really want Harry back or is Dale what she wants? For the first time in her life, Hermione Granger did not know they answer.