♕ twenty nine

"If only I had made better shots-"

"Ginny, this is not your fault," Harry reassured her. "McLaggen is... a very good Keeper. He's our best chance at the Quidditch cup, so we're going to take him."

Ginny shook her head. "There's something wrong about this. Harriet is so much better, I don't get how..."

"It's okay, Gin. Harriet is an amazing player, but sometimes the athleticism of a younger girl just..." He paused, as if searching for words. 

"can't compare to the strength of a Seventh Year guy."

Ginny stopped walking and turned to her boyfriend.

"Oh, so you're saying that Harriet let in more shots because she's a girl?"

Harry shook his head quickly. "Gin, that's not it at all, I'm just saying that McLaggen is older, he has had more training, he-"

"Harry, I am Harriet's age," Ginny reminded him. "Being younger doesn't make me worse than the other Chasers."

Hermione cringed inwardly. She didn't want to be caught up in the middle of a fight between her two best friends. In the public's eye, Harry and Ginny were seen as the ultimate perfect couple; and of course they were. But when they fought, it always got ugly. And all Hermione seemed to do was get caught up in their bickering.

"Stop it, you two," she reprimanded, before Harry could respond. "Your first game is in a And it's against Ravenclaw, a very good team. Do you really want to waste your chances at the Quidditch Cup over some stupid argument?"

Both Harry and Ginny fell silent as Hermione took a deep breath.

"I'm not happy that McLaggen's on the team either, Ginny; but he did win fair and square."

"Probably cheated," Ginny mumbled.

"He's innocent until proven guilty," Hermione reminded her best friend. "Now, you two, hug this out."

She watched with satisfaction as Harry wrapped his arms around Ginny and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "Let's not let our sport come between us, okay Harry?" Ginny mumbled. 

"Never," Harry agreed, nodding his head and looping a carefree arm around his girlfriend's shoulder. 

"Good," Hermione breathed, immensely relieved that she had saved her friends from an argument. "Now, is anyone else ready for dinner?" 

"Go on mate, show it to me!" Blaise whispered. Draco shushed him hurriedly and glanced around at the Slytherin table, but it seemed everybody was absorbed in their conversations. He took a deep breath and pulled the glittering silver promise ring out of his pocket and handed it to Blaise, who gave a low whistle. 

"I got it from the jewelry store in Diagon Alley," Draco said sheepishly as Blaise examined it with an impressed grin. 

"It's wicked, mate," he praised. "Must've cost a fortune though." 

"It was nothing," Draco said quietly. Blaise smiled and admired the minuscule jewels glittering on a silver infinity sign.

"And look, it's got our initials," Draco exclaimed. Blaise turned the ring over to see a small written in elegant cursive on the underside of the band. 

"Hell yeah," Blaise said, smiling. "Hermione's gonna love it."

"I'm going to love what?" Came a voice from the right that made Draco's heart stop and caused Blaise to nearly toss the ring into the treacle tart. 

"You're, going to love... this dinner," Draco recovered smoothly, smiling up at his girlfriend. 

"Speaking of which, I'm starving," Ginny complained, looking longingly over at the three empty seats at the Gryffindor table. Hermione gave Draco an apologetic look. 

"I'll see you after dinner," she said, giving him a kiss on the forehead. Draco watched her walk away and when she was out of earshot, let out a sigh of immense relief as Blaise slippped him the ring. 

"That was close," he murmured. 

"So when are you gonna give it to her?" Blaise asked as Draco put it carefully back in its box and slipped it into his pocket. 

"I was thinking after the game," Draco said, "Hermione and I are going to go up to the Astronomy tower..."

"To do what?" Blaise wiggled his eyebrows as Draco blushed. 

"We're going to , Blaise, you dirty minded git. And I'm going to give her the promise ring. To show her how much she means to me."

Blaise nodded. "Sounds like a plan." 

Suddenly, the Hall quieted as McGonagall stepped up to the podium. 

"Good evening, students and staff. Now I know how hungry you all are today, so I will keep this brief. The first Quidditch Match of the season is coming up this Friday, Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw!"

Students from both houses cheered loudly and banged their fists on the tables, as the Gryffindors all rallied around their team and the Ravenclaws did the same. 

"And the following week, Saturday, will be; Slytherin, versus Hufflepuff!!!"

Draco leapt out of his seat, whooping and hollering as he felt encouraging pats on the back from his fellow Slytherins. Blaise roared, along with the rest of the House; as did Hufflepuff and its players. 

"That's all I have to say; dig in!" 

Suddenly the dishes were laden with steaming shepherds pies, thick boats of gravy, slices of smoked ham and an enormous bowl of roasted carrots and potatoes. 

"Eat up, mate," Blaise encouraged Draco. "We've got potions with McLaggen and Weasley first thing tomorrow, and I'm not looking forward to it." 

Draco shrugged. "I'll survive." 

He stole a glance at Hermione over at the Gryffindor table and felt his grin widen as she smiled at him over her shoulder and made his heart flutter with a small wink.