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(Arielle) Gathering of Krups
Author: Jolyon
Date: 03-24-20 18:31
Arielle and Pete entered Brews and Stews, where a dozen or so individuals and their krups congregated in a back room. The coverage of the Quidditch World Cup Opening Ceremony was being broadcast on the WWN, and the majority of the listeners were wearing colors in support of Wales, the only British team in the running this year.
"Arielle, over here!" exclaimed Chase, who held his puppy Janey in his lap.
Arielle led Pete to the empty chair next to Chase and sat down. Pete sniffed the other krups and some of the people too before settling down under the table.
"You've missed a lot already," Chase said, raising his hand to call a server over to the table.
"Will you catch me up?" Arielle asked.
He waited for her to give her drink order and then explained, "There's a display of the mascots going on. The announcer is being quite descriptive, but listening to it doesn't hold a candle to being there, or so I imagine, anyway. If only I could have gotten tickets."
"It's not that I don't like Quidditch," Arielle began slowly, well-aware that she was in attendance at a very important gathering for Quidditch enthusiasts, "but I think I would be more interested in seeing the mascots than the actual matches. They're real magical creatures, right? Not wizards in fancy dress?"
When Chase nodded, Arielle added, "I'd also just want to visit Argentina… that's where the matches are taking place, right?"
Chase nodded again and replied, "In the Patagonian desert. So, you missed hearing about the river Genies from the Ivory Coast."
"Genies! How interesting."
"And the Fijian Dukuwaqa are about to appear."
Arielle wracked her brain, trying to think if she knew what a Dukuwaqa was, but then the announcer was talking again, describing the beasts as shape-shifters that change between sharks and men. Dukuwaqa sounded terrifying!
She felt Pete lay his chin on her foot and looked down to see his little forked tail wagging. Arielle had met Chase and the other krup-owners only one other time after that initial outing with Amoret. A few of these krups, like Janey, were therapy pets. The others were all very well trained and had Arielle wondering about Pete. She wanted to get him properly trained as a therapy dog, not only for herself but for others to find comfort in.
She had thought to ask Chase about it during tonight's gathering, but then drama unfolded during the World Cup coverage on the WWN.
Hear No Evil
Author: Carys
Date: 03-25-20 17:12
"WHOOOOOAAAAA!"
"UGGGGHHHHH!"
"WIIIIIIICKEEEEED!"
Carys, rolling out dough for pizza, wiped her hands on the front of her apron and then stepped out of the kitchen to the living room, where Tristan, Tyler, and Tyler's brother Todd had paused the board game they'd been playing to listen closely to the WWN.
Both Carys and Griff were Quidditch fans, having played the sport while at Hogwarts, but neither had felt a pressing need to listen to the Quidditch World Cup Opening Ceremony. It seemed like something better done in person than via wireless. The same was probably true for the actual matches, but both were planning on listening to some of the games as time allowed.
"Is it really that interesting?" Carys asked, but no sooner were the words out of her mouth than she realized that things appeared to be much more exciting than anyone expected. In fact, there was a lot of human screaming and what sounded possibly like animals growls and yelps.
Tristan and Tyler looked entirely fascinated by what was happening, but Todd, who had just turned 11 and was only there because his parents had made Tyler bring him along, looked positively disgusted.
When Carys heard the announcer say in a shaky voice, "Total chaos! A bloodbath!", she flicked her wand at the radio and silenced it.
Tristan and Tyler both exclaimed, "AWWWW!", and then Tristan turned to his mother and asked in a rather whiny voice, "Why did you turn it off? It was just getting good!"
Carys shook her head. "Whatever's happening over there doesn't sound good. People could be dying."
Tristan rolled his eyes. "We don't know that. They might just be getting hurt."
"And that's any better?" Carys asked. "What happened?"
She was expecting them to say that the South American version of Death Eaters attacked everybody gathered in the stadium but learned from Tristan and Tyler's disjointed storytelling that nothing nefarious occurred. Instead, it was a major and evidently unforeseen mishap.
The boys helped each other explain that all of the team's mascots were performing dull dances and other uninteresting choreography, and when the Fijian Dukuwaqa and Norwegian Selma were released into the lake created for the event, everything went from boring to intriguing in an instant. The beasts attacked each other, and the Brazilian Curupiras were getting involved just when Carys turned the wireless off.
"See, no dark wizards involved. Can you turn it back on now?" Tristan pleaded.
Carys shook her head. "No. You can read about it in the newspaper tomorrow. Why don't you lot go outside and play a pick-up game of Quidditch instead, unless you want to finish your board game?"
Their interest in the board game lost thanks to not being able to listen to the Quidditch World Cup Opening Ceremony, the boys went outside like Carys suggested they do.
Appointment
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 03-25-20 19:01
The Potters had discussed attending the opening ceremony of the Quidditch World Cup, ultimately deciding to attend the cup match itself and one or two matches in between. With no travel plans on the Saturday agenda Harry left the house just after breakfast to locate a call box. With mobile telephones so popular there is no longer much need for call boxes but there are a few scattered about. Stepping into the one he'd found and pulling the door shut he couldn't help but wonder if one day very soon the one used as the Ministry's main visitor entrance will be camouflaged as something else and if so, what that something else might be.
He fumbled the coins, realizing there were a few Wizarding ones mixed in with the Muggle money. He thought he'd taken care of that before leaving the house but Lily was "helping" separate the coins. He should have paid better attention. Appointment to see Aunt Petunia made, Harry left to seek out Sirius. In Hogsmeade over tea for Sirius and coffee for him, Harry asks, "What can you tell me about Dad's sister?"
"Anne?" Sirius questions, almost as if James had more than one sibling. "Nice. Typical annoying sibling. I was gobsmacked that she turned dark."
"Anne was my grandparents' biological child, right?"
"Yes, or I should say as far as I know. Why? Have you found adoption parchments or something like that?"
"No, nothing like that. It's... it's... Last night we had dinner with my cousin Dudley and his family. His aunt showed up unexpectedly and invited herself to stay for supper. Strange as this sounds she swears Dad was an only child. The Dursleys never said much about him or Mum but she distinctly remembers Dad being described as a late in life only child."
Sirius scratches his temple then asks, "Have you spoken with them? The Dursleys that is? Perhaps your cousin's aunt misunderstood what they said."
"I'm seeing Aunt Petunia later today. I thought I'd pick your brain in the meantime."
"As much time as I spent at your grandparents' house you'd think I'd have a number of clear, distinct memories of Anne but I don't. By the time I was more or less living there she'd gone. I'll put more thought into dredging up memories of her."
"Thanks, I appreciate it."
That avenue of discussion on hold for now, Sirius and Harry talk about the Quidditch World Cup and which team each thinks will fly away with the cup this time.
Quidditch Correspondent
Author: Ginny Weasley
Date: 03-26-20 14:31
Ginny is pacing when Harry arrives home from his appointment with Petunia Dursley. Seeing her slight agitation he says, "Sorry I'm a little late. When leaving Aunt Petunia's I noticed Arabella Figg. I didn't realize she'd gone back to the house she had there when I lived with the Dursley. I asked her about Anne."
Ginny had had an urge to interrupt Harry the second he began speaking but she held her tongue. He had no way of knowing what had her impatiently waiting for his return. She smiles and steps in for a hug and a kiss. "I'm not upset you're later than you'd said. I want to hear what everyone said about Anne but first I have a decision to make that needs to be made pretty much this second."
Keeping hold of her hand Harry's face twists in puzzlement. "What's wrong? What decision?"
"I've just been asked to cover the World Cup for the Daily Prophet. The journalist who had the assignment quit without notice or reason a little earlier. I need to hurry and tell the Prophet if I'll do it so they have time to get someone else at least for the opening ceremony if I say no."
"Do you want to?"
"We've been talking about me doing more journalism and WWN coverage; plus, it is the World Cup. Free access to tonight's event and all the matches. I get a complimentary ticket for someone to come with me."
"Let them know you'll do it and I'll go pack overnight bags for the kids. Who should we ask on short notice?"
"Mum and Dad and if they can't I'm fairly certain Percy and Audrey could do it. She told me yesterday they're staying in tonight and listening on the WWN."
A short time later with Jamie, Albus, and Lily at their grandparents, Ginny and Harry apparate to the location where they are to get their portkey. They arrive in Patagonia, in Argentina, to the stadium where streams of witches and wizards from all over the world are presenting tickets, passing through the entrances, finding their seats, and queuing for refreshments and souvenirs. Glad he thought to grab his Omniocculars, Harry takes the seat next to Ginny, who already has a notepad out, taking notes as the Daily Prophet's sports correspondent for the 427th Quidditch World Cup, neither having a clue of the somewhat violent, bloody spectacle that was about to unfold.
Chaos
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 03-27-20 17:37
Fritz surprised Coco with a pair of tickets to the Quidditch World Cup Opening Ceremony and very first match, having heard something about there being a showcase of magical creatures at tonight's event. As a veterinary healer, Coco has a love for animals, but the magical creatures she heals are more on the mundane side than those on display in Patagonia. Dukuwaqa and Selma definitely would not make good pets!
At first, Fritz and Coco are captivated by the creatures, but when some begin attacking each other and their respective handlers move in to restrain them, the crowd begins to gasp, exclaim, and even scream. Things go from shocking to much, much worse when the Brazilian Curupiras go after the handlers. In fact, Fritz quickly lowers his omnioculars after observing a forest-dwelling dwarf pull one of the handler's arms off. Blood gushes everywhere.
By then, the screaming from the stands grows louder and hysterical, and some of the spectators get up to rush for the exits, fearing that the creatures around the lake will begin rushing for the stands. Fritz grabs Coco's hand and pulls her up to stand on the wooden bench as people stream below and above them. A few rows down, a woman stumbles and gets trampled on.
Things get worse when really terrifying-looking creatures begin entering the stands. Fritz and Coco later learn that they are Nigerian Sasabonsams, but they learn right away that they are vampiric. When the feeding frenzy begins, Fritz decides he and Coco should take their chances and flee. They choose the right time to get moving, because in addition to the spindly vampires, Inferi belonging to the Haitian National Quidditch team suddenly stream into the stands.
Fritz and Coco whip out their wands and still holding hands attempt to fight the chaotic throng for the exit. As he's tugging on Coco's hand, Fritz shouts over his shoulder, "If we survive this, we should get married this weekend."
First Aid
Author: Kody
Date: 03-28-20 21:14
Drake can't suppress a groan of pain as Etta gently uses her wand to fix what she can where bone had been sticking through skin near one of his elbows. "This should hold for now but the bone ends need to more properly be realigned and you'll need Skele-Gro as well as a potion or two against infection."
Drake, white faced and tight lipped, nods at her then looking past her worriedly asks, "Ophelia, you're sure you're okay?"
"A little banged up. A few scrapes. No doubt I'll have some spectacular bruises tomorrow." Ophelia, a nurse, is using her wand to clean and close a deep cut on one of Deak's legs.
Etta tells them, "Drake, you should get what potions you need as soon as possible but I think whatever the nearest hospital will be chaos right now with all this. Portkey on back then apparate or Floo to St. Mungo's."
"If everyone else is about ready, we should all go together since we came on the same portkey," Drake suggests.
Daria, a handkerchief pressed to her forehead, voices agreement. "That's a good idea but can you hold on that long, Drake? Kody, what about you?"
As Drake says, "I'm in pain but not in dire need now that Etta's done a patch," Etta has Daria move the handkerchief to do a quick mend of a scalp laceration. It's bleeding profusely but is not actually that bad of a cut.
Kody replies, "I've banged my knee and one of those damned Nigerian what's its bit me but Deak zapped it before it did any real damage. I won't get sick from the bite will I?" As he speaks Etta begins assessing Daria for signs of concussion. In answer to his question she says, "I don't think so but mention it at St. Mungo's."
He wincingly stands, a hand going to his lower back. "Think I've pulled a muscle or two but overall I've had worse in practices and definitely in matches."
They all make sounds of agreement when Ophelia states what they've all been thinking. "Thank Merlin we didn't bring the children." Drake and Ophelia's two oldest, eight year old Marnie and six year old Morgan, initially had wanted to attend the Quidditch World Cup's opening ceremony but had changed their minds when invited to spend the weekend going to an amusement park.
Etta rapidly deems them all ready to travel not surprising any of them when she says, "There are lots of others that need tending and not enough healers, at least not yet. I'm staying for now."
Also unsurprisingly Deak chimes in, "I'll stay with Etta. Who knows if any of those nasty buggers are still lurking." None of them ask if by nasty buggers he means the Sasabonsams or the Inferi, or even the Curupiras who'd begun attacking some of the crowd who were defending themselves against the Inferi and the Sasabonsams.
Drake doesn't want her to but he understands when Ophelia insists on staying to help as well. She promises, "I'll be along quick as I can as soon as more nurses and healers arrive to sort all this out."
Though he works in the British Ministry'sDepartment of International Magical Cooperation, Drake is skilled at magicking portkeys. Rather than the group go in search of one of the exit portkeys in their designated departure area and thinking he'll be forgiven for creating an unauthorized one, he crafts one using a now empty bottle of lager. He hates to leave his wife behind, as well as Deak and Etta, but with a compound fracture in one arm he's good for much at the moment. With great reluctance he portkeys from right there with Daria and Kody, who would also stay if not for his knee and back badly hobbling his ability to move.
With Deak keeping watch over them, Etta and Ophelia get busy helping others in the stand around them, all of them thinking this is a far more memorable opening ceremony than any of them had thought it ever would be.