Nine days later

the Quidditch stands

"You look ridiculous," George said in disgust.

Ginny beamed at him. Nothing could dampen her enthusiasm for the inter-house Quidditch match, not the gray skies, not the cold weather, and especially not her most annoying brother. She wore black robes, one green-and-silver-striped glove, one scarlet-and-gold-striped glove, a Gryffindor hat, and Lily's Slytherin scarf. The rest of Ginny's family gathered in the front two rows behind the Gryffindor/Slytherin goalposts wore the colors of their individual houses, but although Harry had a Gryffindor scarf wrapped like a muffler against the biting wind, Ginny had talked him into wearing his bottle-green robes. Not many spectators would notice them under his winter cloak, but Lily would, and that was all that mattered.

Ginny climbed over Audrey and Angelina and sat down beside Hermione, drawing her legs back so Harry could pass in front of her to squeeze next to Ron. Ginny twisted to speak to Victoire, who sat on the row behind with Bill and Fleur.

"Where's Teddy?"

"Ask your husband," Victoire said, and what little of her face that was visible between the scarlet edge of her toque and the gold band of her folded-over scarf scowled.

Ginny gave her a sympathetic smile but said nothing. Victoire had yet to learn how to take the unpredictability of being an Auror's wife with good grace.

"Ginny, dear, I thought you were working," her mother called. She had her knitting in her lap with Molly on one side and Dominique on the other and looked delighted at the prospect of an afternoon spent outside under gray skies since it involved family.

"I am," Ginny said, brushing blue-and-bronze fringe out of her face as Rose moved to speak to her mother. "I'm going to use Harry's Pensieve later. I wanted to be able to enjoy the match." She bounced a little in her seat as she said it, and her mother smiled indulgently at her.

In an effort not to draw too much attention to their children, Harry and Ginny usually attended only one or two of Hogwarts's Quidditch matches throughout the year. Mindful of the intense competition for the Quidditch and House Cups and the fact that a victory for her boys was a loss for her daughter, Ginny had always tempered her cheering for Gryffindor so Lily didn't feel as if her mother were rooting against her. But today … today Ginny got to cheer for her daughter and her house, and her Ravenclaw nieces were just going to have to suck it up.

()()()()

Three hours earlier

the Gryffindor boys' sixth-year dormitory

James grabbed the first jumper his hand touched—last year's Christmas one, a red tweed—and began pulling it on. "I hope Mum's not too embarrassing today," he said.

Cameron stopped with elbows askew, both arms in their sleeves and neck opening poised under his chin. "Are you serious?"

"You know, with me and Lily playing together. It's bad enough at a regular match, but—"

Cameron reached out and pinched him.

"Ouch! What was that for?"

"Stop dreaming," Cameron said, his face reappearing through the turtleneck as he pulled the shirt down and tucked it into his trousers. "Your mum made a prat of herself on a daily basis for no reason at all less than a fortnight ago. Of course she's going to be embarrassing today. Mortifying, probably. Possibly even humiliating. Best you can hope for is that no one gets a photograph of whatever it is she does."

James groaned. "Maybe Dad—"

Cameron shook his head. "Lily's playing too. You always say she's his favorite."

"It's just 'cause she looks like Mum," James grumbled, bending over to pull on a pair of wool socks. It was dark outside, darker than it should be for this time of morning. There was no rain or snow against the windowpanes, but without the warmth of the sun, it would feel that much colder.

"Cheer up, mate. Gryffindor and Slytherin are the two best teams in the school. We're going to crush them, and no one will even remember, much less care, that Carmichael is leading the entire year in everything."

James brightened. DADA, which was usually his favorite lesson, had been ruined yesterday by the bragging of Daisy Carmichael, fellow sixth-year and prefect. The Ravenclaw had gone on and on during dueling practice about her top marks in not only DADA, but Charms, Arithmancy, Herbology, and Transfiguration. When she finally tired of that subject (much later than everyone else in the vicinity), she had moved on to the stellar Keeper skills of her boyfriend and informed James he had no hopes of winning the match when he wouldn't be able to score.

James was quite looking forward to proving her wrong. And as long as his mother's name didn't appear anywhere in the Prophet other than her byline, he'd call that a win-win.

()()()()

Fifty-three minutes into the match

Ginny leaned over Hermione to speak to Angelina. "Is it just me, or is she really good?"

Lily had just swerved to dodge a Bludger, rolled out of the way of an oncoming Ravenclaw Chaser, and ended up right behind the opposing Seeker, accelerating smoothly to stay on his tail as he ascended high above the pitch.

"She's really good," Angelina admitted. "Her flying style reminds me of Harry."

"They trained together a lot this summer."

"Well, it shows," Angelina said. "She has an amazing awareness—"

Angelina's words were cut short as Ginny and Hermione stood on their seats, cupped their hands around their mouths, and bellowed over the rest of the family's cheers. "WAY TO GO, JAMIE!"

That made his eighth goal of the match. For some reason, all the current Hogwarts pupils in the family had scattered to sit with friends after James's first goal. Gryffindor/Slytherin were in the lead, one hundred sixty to forty.

"Quietus," Hermione said, returning her and Ginny's voices to normal volume. "An amazing awareness of what?"

"Of the other players," Angelina said. "She timed that duck and roll perfectly to end up exactly where she wanted to be."

Ginny renewed the warming charm on her seat before sitting down. "Well, Lily has had flying lessons since just before her third birthday. I had to teach myself, and I was six when I started sneaking the boys' brooms."

Hugo blocked a goal attempt by Murphy from Hufflepuff. Ginny, Angelina, and the boys whistled through their fingers as Hermione, who had never learned the trick, yelled and clapped her hands over her head.

"James is flying well too," Hermione said.

"He is." Ginny made no effort to hide the pride in her voice.

"Do you think he'll try out for the League next year?" Angelina asked.

"I don't know," Ginny said. "He mentioned that and the Auror Academy in the same breath a couple of weeks ago. He was teasing me about Quidditch being safer."

"Where on earth did he get that idea?" Audrey dropped down from the row behind. Without the kids, they had plenty of room to spread out and move around, and she had been visiting with Fleur. "Haven't you ever told him about all your injuries?"

"Not really," Ginny said. "There have been enough falls and bloody noses in family matches for him to get the idea, not to mention watching the Harpies."

"I'll say," Audrey said darkly. She was not particularly fond of Quidditch, but the Weasleys didn't give her much of a choice.

James had the Quaffle and was making a beeline for goal … under a Beater … away from the same Ravenclaw Chaser Lily had dodged a few minutes ago … towards the left hoop—or maybe center….

Ginny grabbed Hermione's arm, and they jumped up together. "WAY TO GO, JAMIE!"

()()()()

Thirty-one minutes after the match

James pulled on his cloak, ran his hand through his damp hair one more time, and left the changing room. CeCe waited just outside, and she threw her arms around his neck as soon as she saw him.

"Congratulations! You were brilliant." She beamed, blue eyes sparkling. "There's a joint party in the Great Hall. Frank and Louis told me."

James raised one eyebrow. "Mr. Head Boy is participating, is he?"

"Apparently he's the one who arranged with Professor McGonagall for the houses from the winning team to use the Great Hall for a joint celebration instead of separate common rooms."

"It is nice to have the Head Boy on our side. Where are Mum and Dad?"

"By the stands with Lily the last I saw them."

James reached for CeCe's hand, but she tucked it behind her back.

"Your parents…."

"Adore you," he said firmly. "And we won't have to say anything. I'm sure your dad will have already told them." He stretched out his hand again.

CeCe looked at it doubtfully. "But your mum … when she found out about Al and Maggie…."

"That's different. Mum found Al and Maggie in a broom closet, and trust me, she looked just as shocked as they did. She likes you. She'll be happy to see you've got such good taste." He grinned.

CeCe rolled her eyes. "Second thoughts, that's what I have, James Potter."

But she laced her fingers with his and fell into step beside him, and James felt the still-new rush of elation as they touched. Busy watching CeCe, who was busy pretending not to notice but blushed a becoming shade of pink, James didn't notice his parents until they were right on top of them.

"Hello," CeCe said.

James felt her hand tighten on his and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

"Hello, Cecelia," Ginny said. She looked pointedly from their joined hands and back to CeCe. Then Harry nudged her and she relaxed. "Had a good week?"

"A great week," CeCe said, smiling up at James.

"Great game, son," Harry said. He had one arm around Lily but clapped James on the shoulder with his free hand.

"We're very proud," Ginny added, leaning in to kiss his cheek.

"I never would have guessed," James muttered, and his mother laughed.

"I wanted to borrow Luna's lion hat, but I didn't think of it until yesterday, and George couldn't get it fixed it time. Remember the hat that roared, Harry?"

"Vividly," Harry said. Standing slightly behind his wife, he mouthed, "you're welcome" and winked.

James grinned. "Well, we couldn't have done it without Sticks here."

Lily scowled and made to jerk away from Harry, but he held firm. "Don't call me that!"

"Pixie Sticks," James taunted, just for the sheer pleasure of winding her up right under their parents' noses.

"Oh, James, don't tease her," CeCe said. "She flew really well today. The way you twirled around on your broomstick—you made my heart stop more than once!"

Lily gave James a final glare before turning to CeCe. "Thanks. You should come flying with us—it's really fun!"

The Potters had been trying to get CeCe on a broom for more than a decade.

"Oh, no. I like both feet firmly on the ground, thank you very much," CeCe said.

"I don't know, you look like a girl with her head in the clouds to me," Ginny said.

James turned to look at his girlfriend and was not disappointed—her cheeks were bright pink even as she smiled up at him again. She was so pretty when she blushed, and it was easy to make her do it. Especially now.

"Hey, Neville!" Harry raised one hand in greeting.

James and CeCe let go of each other and spun round in alarm. Harry, Ginny, and Lily fell on each other laughing.

"That's not funny," James grumbled, having seen nothing but the empty stretch of grounds leading up to the castle. Beside him, CeCe closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"It's a lot funnier than a stupid nickname," Lily retorted.

"An after-party isn't a party without the Seeker and top-scoring Chaser," Harry said. "We should let them get to it, Ginny."

"All right." Ginny looked a little wistful. "Take care of yourself and be good. Do all your schoolwork, and don't distract CeCe too much—it's her O.W.L. year."

"I know, Mum."

"No more letters from Neville," she said firmly. "Especially not about broom cupboards, or empty classrooms, or—or the greenhouses, or anything."

James felt his face getting hot. "Mum…."

"Don't worry, Mrs. Potter," CeCe said as Harry kissed Lily goodbye. "We'll be discreet."

James sucked in his laughter as Ginny shot a sharp gaze at CeCe, but she was distracted as Harry reached across her to grasp James's hand and pull him into a hug.

"I left something in your trunk," Harry said quietly. "Use it well."

James looked at his dad in surprise.

"But in all seriousness, James—"

"No more letters," James said. "I promise." He reached for his mother first and was pleased to see her face light up at the voluntary gesture. "Bye, Mum. I love you."

She squeezed harder, her face pressed into his shoulder. It still felt weird to look down and see the top of her head.

"I love you too, James." She stepped back slightly and looked straight into his face. "First, last, and always."

"I know, Mum. Thanks."

James would remember her smile for a very long time.

a/n: For those of you who missed it, I posted an outtake of this story two weeks ago. It's chapter eight of "One Big Happy Weasley Family." I really appreciate everyone's patience; I am home with my dad, who's laid up with a broken leg. Needless to say, that threw a big wrench in my writing plans. For my lovely British readers, if you don't recognize "pixy sticks," it's a candy-uh, sweet ;) Basically straight sugar with food dye added and wrapped in paper so you just rip off the end and pour the sugar into your mouth. "Pixie" as Lily's nickname is, of course, taken from the lovely and talented My Dear Professor McGonagall.

Thanks, everyone, for reading and especially for those of you who have reviewed faithfully!

ktoo