MetaFic

I can imagine that, in some rare circumstances, Ginny is asked to reside with the team for a night or two. Maybe if they have a morning match, and the manager/captain/whatever wants them to be collectively rested and bonded and all that. Or during an intensive 'camp' style training session. Likewise, I can imagine times when Harry, as an Auror, has to spend a night away from home. Either he's on a stakeout, or he's in some sort of active pursuit, or whatever. However, I imagine that these occasions for either of them would be pretty rare. It's silly for them to sleep away from home for any logistical reason - Apparition makes that trivial. Therefore there'd have to be some other reason - such as team bonding or a pressing Auror need - for them to not come home at night. That doesn't mean that Harry might not get home at all hours of the night on a regular basis, though. Apparition doesn't make his job less unpredictable.

You could probably also sell me on the idea that those 'intensive' training camps or pre-match bonding sessions wouldn't happen that way. Economically, the team might very well prefer to just have people apparate to their own homes and back in the morning. They might go home directly before sleeping and return directly after waking, but they would go home. Likewise Harry - unless he's actively involved in something that he can't stop doing, then why not sleep in his own bed?

As for angst... well, I don't think they need any help, if you want to do that. Harry's unpredictable schedule is always going to be something they have to cope with. Ginny's requirement to be utterly focused on Quidditch for long periods of time is always going to be a factor in their relationship. Add in the fact that they're both fairly energetic and emotional people to begin with, and you can find the angst if you want to.

It is not just the time away the drives me nuts but the unrealistic understanding of what professional Quidditch would demand and being an Auror would demand.

England is not a big place. I am not sure how many Quidditch teams are in the country, but there are less than two dozen. All are based in England, Scotland or Ireland. British teams do not play against French or Bulgarian teams very often. That is what the national team is for. I mean come on people, Quidditch is setup up the same way football is in Europe. Also, the season does not last all year, maybe 9 months tops when you count training. It would seem to me that a Quidditch star, much like an American football or basketball star would have a lot of free time, especially since they don't need to fly or bus to every game. Twirl and Apparate.

Now Harry as an auror I could see having long hours. Law enforcement generally work long hours and unless they are desk bound can have odd shifts. Between investigations, stakeouts, paperwork, trials, and training it can be quite hectic. However, I do not believe in this idea of English aurors spending weeks if not months in other countries chasing Death Eaters and dark wizards. Aurors would not have jurisdiction in those countries. Perhaps one auror would be sent to help if the criminal is a British criminal.

There are a lot of ways to create conflict and tension ina story, and having unrealistic elements just make me feel as if the author lacks imagination and is simply too lazy to actually put together a good story.

-Jonathan

- A good novel is an indivisible sum; every scene, sequence and passage of a good novel has to involve, contribute to and advance all three of its major attributes: theme, plot, characterization.
Ayn Rand - The Romantic Manifesto p. 74 (pb 93)