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Worries
Author: Mildred
Date: 10-26-12 10:15
The little witch had never seen so many people in her life. Witches and wizards from around the world had come to St. Petersburg for the final of the Quidditch World Cup. The match would be between the British national team and the Portuguese one but there were people from other nationalities present as well. So many that Mildred had trouble to identify them all.
She was grateful to have the chance to attend such event but at the same time she couldn't feel like smiling. Mildred was terrified to cross herself with Amelia and Queenie and being forced to tell them she was not going to attend Hogwarts in the next school year.
She had received such news after settle up at her aunt's new house in the United States. The house had two floors, and it included an attic that her aunt transformed into her painting studio. There was a study reserved for her aunt's husband, Daniel. Mildred liked her uncle. He was very nice and treated her in a polite way and he didn't seem to mind to take care of a 12 year old girl. In fact he was thrilled he had someone to play wizarding chess with, since aunt Helen was not really a fan of the game.
Mildred had a bedroom for herself and she had been the one decorating it. She had pinned her Gryffindor scarf above her bed despite the colors of the room did not match it. That task took her a few days and when she was putting her Hogwarts' robes inside the closet, her aunt told her maybe she should toss them away to leave room for the other clothes.
Mildred did not understand this suggestion and with a sigh her aunt took her to the living room and told her to sit down. The little witch did what she was told as she had a bad feeling about this. The feeling ended up to be correct: Helen announced that with her move to the United States and the death of a student at the school as well as the death of a teacher at Hogsmeade, she thought Mildred would be safer near her. She got Mildred to be transferred to The Salem Witches' Institute and she would have the possibility to go home every day after taking her classes there.
The shock formed in the little witch's face and seeming to guess her thoughts her aunt added that her father had agreed with her decision.
Mildred felt as if they had taken a warm and comfortable rug from her feet and now she had to step on the cold floor. Hogwarts was what helped her to cope with her mother's death and her father's absence. She had made some good friends and she enjoyed her daily routine there. She was even able to talk to the teachers almost without blushing. And now she would have to go to a strange school in a different country, try and make new friendships, adjust once again to a big change in her life. The whole idea frightened her. She also didn't like to be so far away from her father. She could not tell the exact location of Azkaban but she could tell it was not near America.
Her aunt tried to assure Mildred that everything would be all right. She was going to present her to Daniel's brother, who was a couple of years older than her and he also attended Salem. That way he could tell her about the school and even show her the surroundings, since the school was not far away from their house.
That night Mildred ate her dinner in silence and she went to her bedroom earlier than usual, refusing to play a chess match with her uncle. Instead she sat on her desk and tried to write a letter to her friends explaining the situation to them. But then she thought about their replies. Melpomene would tell her to try and find some logic argument to convince her aunt to change her mind about the school, while Amelia would recognize nothing could be done and she would invite Mildred to come and visit them whenever the school was open. Achilles would be sorry for the whole situation and ask her who would play chess with him now that she was gone. Queenie would advise her to rebel against her aunt and even run away from home, offering her shelter while the school year didn't start.
Mildred put her quill down, giving up. She would act as if everything was all right and then eventually she would tell them the truth. But as the time passed it was getting harder and harder to tell them what was going on.
Mildred had also wrote to her father and he gave her the same arguments as her aunt, even adding that the previous year he recalled there had also been another death at the Hogwarts' castle where a wife of a teacher died. Mildred realized he was talking about Professor Somerset's wife. She knew both her father and her aunt wanted to protect her but she still felt sad with their decision. The idea of going to Salem terrified her.
In order to cheer her up Daniel had planned the trip to St. Petersburg. He bought his tickets to a colleague at work who acquired them in advance convinced that Australia was going to make it to the final. Disappointed with his team's performance he refused to go to the stadium and see another team hold the cup destined to Australia. Daniel got two tickets,(his colleague's wife seemed to share the same aversion as his husband to other teams that were not her own) and he surprised Mildred with them in one afternoon. She had thanked her uncle and for a couple of days the idea of going to the world cup final occupied her mind and she forgot all about changing school.
But now the panic started to form as Mildred and her uncle walked towards the stadium's direction because she knew some of her friends would be there and she didn't want to face them. From time to time it seemed she would see a glimpse of Queenie's hair, or hear Achilles' voice in the crowd but it happened to be other people. She tried to relax. The place was crowded and the odds of finding someone she knew would be few.
"Ready to see Britain to lose?" her uncle asked her, teasing her. He was supporting Portugal.
"You wish!" Mildred replied with a smile.
Soon the excitement of the upcoming match took over the little witch and her worries were forgotten.
Reunion in St. Petersburg
Author: Karma Davyd
Date: 10-26-12 15:21
"And it is tents like these that make camping in the Wizarding World so much easier." I said as I stepped out behind Dex.
"I know. We would all never fit in a standard muggle tent."
As it was the Morgan clan was in one wizarding tent and had gotten a great spot due to being family to not one but two British National players.
"Karma?"
I turned at the sound of my name and took in a sharp breath.
"Vladimir. How are you?" I said giving him a hug and the traditional Russian greeting of a kiss to each cheek though I was far from comfortable doing so. I was also intently aware of Dex and everyone else staring at me.
"I am doing well and it seems you have only gotten even more beautiful since we were together."
I didn't have to look behind me to know that Dex was rapidly getting irritated.
"Thank you Vladimir, and I would like you to meet my boyfriend Dexter Morgan." I introduced the rest of the Morgan's and the othwrs that were part of our group getting ready to head into the stadium.
Vladimir tried to continue to goad Dex and flirt with me but it quickly ended when I threatened to transfigure him into a female lawn gnome and ship him back to his mother.
"I am sorry about that. I had no idea he was even still here in Russia. The last I knew he was in the states."
We managed to make it to our seats and I took first watch for any misbehavior from Crew, though I doubted there would be a repeat of what happened during the Mongolia match.
The Quidditch World Cup
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 10-26-12 17:56
Like so many, the Dewhurst, Beck and Diamond families had flocked to the outskirts of St. Petersburg to watch the Quidditch World Cup. This was Bronwyn's first time attending the major sporting event, which occurred every four years. Of course, she had every reason to attend this year, since her husband Toby was on the team.
He had arrived earlier with the rest of the British National Team in preparation for the big game. Bronwyn and the others had followed somewhat later, making camp on the field surrounding the stadium. Their tent hardly seemed like a tent, which was just how Bronwyn liked it. She had never been much of an outdoorsy sort of person.
The campground, which had seemed so crowded and full of excitement all day long had grown somewhat empty and quiet. The game was about to start, so most everybody was already in the stadium.
Bronwyn and Desi quickly cut across the campground with Wolfie, who was visiting his father for the summer. He had hold of one of their hands and swung back and forth between them as they walked.
"Higher, higher!" he exclaimed.
The girls did their best to assuage their little brother, who had christened them with nicknames of his own choosing. Bronwyn, affectionately known as BonBon, reminded Wolfie that once they were inside the stadium, he needed to be on his best behavior, or at the very least behave as one should at a Quidditch match. Desi, or DeeDee, promised to put him on her shoulders if he couldn't see over the heads over the people standing in front of them.
As it turned out, they had perfect seats in the stadium. As the wife of one of the Quidditch players, Bronwyn had a private viewing box. Everyone in their party was already there when they arrived.
Bronwyn's mother looked immensely relieved and exclaimed, "I thought you had gotten lost!"
"It just took a little longer than ancitipated," Bronwyn replied, settling in next to her mother. Desi slid onto the seat beside her and put Wolfie in her lap. He stood up on her thighs and peered over the edge of the box.
"Wolfie decided to change clothes no less than five times," Bronwyn explained.
"Gee, I wonder who he inherited the vanity trait from," Desi commented. She held onto Wolfie's hands while he balanced on her legs.
Bronwyn stuck her tongue out at her friend. "Could be a Dewhurst gene, but it could be a Diamond gene too." After all, Bianca was just as into appearance as Bronwyn, if not more.
Suddenly, a clear tone echoed throughout the stadium, with the intended effect of silencing the crowd, but resulting in a great deal of cheering. While all the yelling went on, a woman under spotlight stood up and pressed the tip of her wand to her throat.
She started speaking in Russian, her voice echoing throughout the stadium. The Russians and Russian speakers in the audience cheered when she finished.
She sat down and a man seated next to her stood up. He spoke in Portuguese.
His welcome speech was followed by that of Kingsley Shacklebolt, Minister of Magic for Great Britain.
"As Minister for Magic," Kingsley began, "it gives me great pleasure to welcome each and every one of you to the Finals of the 425th Quidditch World Cup. Let the match begin!"***
No sooner had he taken his seat, when the teams were introduced. First came the Portuguese National Team, along with a group of beautiful women. They were not veela, but they seemed to have the same effect on the male population. Wolfie, as young as he was, seemed transfixed. Even Siegfried and Asa seemed to forget for a moment that they usually weren't attracted to women.
The women were moura encantada, a race of beings no doubt related to the veela. They were dressed in sequined dresses in the national colors and sang the song of wizarding Portugal.
Next came the British National Team. The men in the stadium seemed a bit dazed at first, but soon came to their senses and cheered as loudly as the women. Bronwyn got to her feet and shouted at Toby, even though he had yet to find her in the massive stadium.
The British were represented by two dragons, only they weren't real. Elaborately constructed heads, one a Hebridean Black, the other a Common Welsh Green, were trailed by long silky pieces of cloth meant to be the dragons' bodies. The dragons flew around the stadium, the silk undulating in the wind. Periodically, smoke blew from the dragons' nostrils.
"DeeDee, look!" Wolfie exclaimed, bouncing on Desi's legs.
"I see. First pretty women, now dragons. There's something for all the guys in the stadium, isn't there?"
Bronwyn quirked her eyebrow at Desi, knowing that the latter had questioned her sexuality once upon a time. "And what did you think of those women?" she asked.
Desi said, "Oh, look. The ref just released the balls."
And just like that, gameplay in the Quidditch World Cup began.
---
***quote respectfully borrowed from Minister Fudge from the 422nd World Cup!
Start Of The Match
Author: Kody
Date: 10-26-12 19:43
The snitch, bludgers, and quaffle are released with Aveline Boggs getting hands on the quaffle first. One of the bludgers is only a few feet from Kody when the whistle starting the game blows so he shoots his broom towards it to cover what little distance he needs to connect bat to ball. His target is Beatriz Basso who's already giving Aveline grief trying to steal the quaffle. The hit and his aim are good but three quarters along the black ball's journey to Basso, her teammate Nestor Lusitano gets between her and the bludger. There's nothing Kody can do other than accelerate his broom forward to do his best to stop Lusitano from hitting his likely target of Aveline.
He's a shade too late being able to stop the bludger from catching Aveline but by that time she's passed to Wiggy Hodfuffer, meaning the bludger hit doesn't affect her hold on the quaffle or interfere with her passing it. Kody next sends the bludger to Sarita Ferdinando who's in Wiggy's way to hand off to Fletcher Morgan. Last night at a banquet for the two teams, Sarita was openly, and somewhat shamelessly, flirting with Wiggy. Today, none of that is visible, her face screwed up in intense concentration at intercepting any pass Wiggy might make to Fletcher.
Either the two Portuguese beaters don't see Kody targeting Sarita or one does but can't do anything in time. The bludger gets her from behind, slamming her hard enough in the shoulder to spin her slightly on her broom. It's the distraction Wiggy needs to pass Etch the red ball, working the quaffle that much closer to where Portugal's keeper Letícia Dobreiro avidly watches the action, looking more than ready for anything the British might throw her way.
Kody's attention is back on a bludger, though which it is he doesn't know. He's sometimes wondered, as have others, why one of the balls isn't another color or maybe has a second color. It's not a big deal but now he's playing beater instead of chaser, he's found he sort of would like to be able to mentally distinguish one from the other. When involved in pick-up games and playing beater every now and again, it was something he did wonder about but never gave overly much thought to nor had he ever considered whether he had a preference that both balls are solid black or not.
Oriana Inácio, a pretty woman right around the same age as Kody with festive stripes of green and red in her dyed blond hair, is Portugal's other beater. She races Kody for the same bludger and though both are aware of the other and steering their brooms so as not to have a collision or bats hit somehow Inácio's bat catches the knuckles on Kody's free hand. Both end up missing the bludger just then, Inácio profusely apologizing, or that's what Kody thinks she's doing as it's all in Portuguese and he only knows a few words, none of them fit for polite conversation.
The knuckles are already showing some bruising and slight swelling and the skin is scraped off but at least it's not his bat hand. Kody assures her he's fine, not sure if she speaks enough English to know what he's saying so he offers her smiles and keeps nodding his head. There was no foul and the referees didn't see anyway from what Kody can tell so after she seems satisfied he's not maimed for life, they both respot that bludger and go in pursuit.
The Carters at the Quidditch World Cup
Author: Cai Pembroke Carter
Date: 10-27-12 01:52
Cai, Broderick and Angharad had spent the last few weeks catching up with family before everyone got ready for the trip to St. Petersburg, Russia for the Quidditch World Cup match between Portugal and Britain.
They'd set up among the camp grounds the night before the match and the kids at least had spent the night speculating over the ultimate scores between the teams,holding friendly wagers between themselves for the ultimate turn out of the match.
They'd spent some time in the morning getting to know the group of people around them, and unfortunately the Ling's couldn't make it to the match, so Cai was in a bit of a funk.
"Brat, don't worry about it. You'll see him when we get home and ultimately aren't you going to Emrys Fest with him?" Broderick said as we headed into the stadium for the match.
"Yeah, and after Emrys fest I won't see him for two weeks because I'm going to Japan for a little while. Gonna go see Grandma and Grandpa for a bit."
"You asked for the trip or she wanted just you to come because she usually wants all of us to come."
"According to the letter that came three days ago, she just wants me to come. She says she did the same for you and Evan when you were both around my age, though this time last year we were already in Japan so it didn't require much of a trip."
"Oh! Right, I know what this trip is about. Though, honestly I'm surprised she didn't want Angharad with you."
"Where do you think she was four days after we left school? There was a reason she wasn't home for Quidditch Con Brody!"
"How come she didn't tell anyone?"
Cai rolled her eyes and shook her head. "You are dense sometimes brother of mine."
Broderick couldn't respond, as Cai had settled next to Aderyn and they were already talking about the abundance of snoggable boys on both the British National Team and the Portuguese National Team.
"Mum! Can I have a butterbeer please?" Broderick called down the line to his mother who had the drinks and snacks with her for the duration of the match.
Within moments he was sipping his butterbeer watching the match, and he couldn't help but laugh as his brother Evan tried to flirt and get a date with a cute girl from Portugal, but she didn't speak enough English to understand what he was saying, and Eric didn't speak any Portuguese to get her to understand him.
Delight and Disappointments
Author: Celeste Quigley
Date: 10-27-12 03:54
Caleb's cheeks were red with the cold but he didn't seem to mind. He had a big smile on his face and he watched the match with attention, his hands tightly holding the British national team's scarf. Celeste lost herself observing her nephew's delighted face and she wondered how Tobias was able to refuse taking his son to the match, claiming he had a lot of work to do.
Caleb's stepfather was only able to get two tickets and since Eugene had to work that day he decided to stay at England. It seemed that the goblins from Gringotts didn't care about the World Cup final. However Eugene had planned to sneak out from his office at Hogsmeade and go to The Three Broomsticks to hear the match being broadcasted at WWN, while he had a butter beer.
Caleb let go a gasp when one of the Portuguese chasers shot towards Britain's hoops, but then he sighed with relief when Pyrrhus Fine hold the quaffle. He clapped his hands, applauding the keeper's good defense. Celeste clapped her hands as well but then she could not help to look once again at her nephew.
Recently he had made a friendship with a Muggle girl from the nearby village and there was not a single day he wouldn't mention her to his uncle and aunt. Celeste had the feeling this was the first friend Caleb had in a while but she could not help to feel a little bit concerned about this girl. Since she entered her nephew's life he would arrive home in a deplorable state: his clothes would be ripped, his shoes filled with mud, his arms and knees presenting some bruises. But Caleb didn't seem to mind and with a smile of pure happiness he would tell her aunt the adventures he had with his friend Sophie.
Celeste was horrified to know that such quiet little boy would trespass Muggle's private property to steal apples, or that he would climb into trees without thinking the risks of falling, or he would stalk a rabbit in the woods. But Eugene did not seem so concerned. He said it was healthy for children this age to live such adventures and Caleb should seize all the freedom he had now because once at Hogwarts he wouldn't have much time for such things.
Celeste prayed to Merlin and also to God, that her nephew wouldn't be such a rebel at school. She could not help to feel glad the girl was a Muggle and so she would not attend Hogwarts. Celeste had the feeling the girl was the one who challenged Caleb into participating in such activities and she didn't dare to think what happened if magic would be involved. Eugene on the other hand thought it was a pity the girl was not a witch because that way Caleb would arrive have a friend once he arrived at Hogwarts.
"Go Britain!" Caleb exclaimed out loud as Wiggersmythe Hodfuffer hold the quaffle and gracefully avoided a bludger from one of the Portuguese beaters. "Will he really attend Hogwarts next year?"
"Yes. So technically you two will be colleagues," Celeste replied.
"I need to write to my father about this. I want to tell him I'm at the same school of Wiggersmythe."
Celeste gave him a smile but she didn't encourage the boy. Poor child, she thought, already predicting Tobias would not show any kind of enthusiasm once he received the letter and his reply would only disappoint Caleb.
More Important Things than Quidditch
Author: Xiomara Sofia Serano
Date: 10-27-12 04:42
"The house is perfect Alexander, and thank you for rushing to get it done."
Heels clicked as I wandered through the foyer one more, before pausing and resting a hip against the decorative table within the center.
"Has Jasmine's tutor left yet?"
"No, she is still in the parlor with Miss Jasmine. When last I poked my head in, she said they would be another forty five minutes or so."
I lofted a hand to lightly massage my temples. "That means we are going to be late for her fitting. Bloody hell. This woman is getting on my last nerve, she can't seem to arrive on time, or finish on time without some wayward excuse. Fire her, and I will find another tutor for Jasmine tomorrow."
"Yes Madame."
Alexander then stepped into the parlor, all the more gleeful to be firing the twit of a woman who had been hired to look after young Jasmine's schooling until she as of age to attend Hogwarts. As it was, there had been arguments this morning when her daughter had found out that she would not be allowed to attend the Quidditch World Cup on the outskirts of St. Petersburg, Russia.
There were things that needed to be done that were of more importance than a quidditch match, and she would not have her daughter exposed to so many drunken revelers once the match was in progress and underway. She remembered events past, and had delighted in hearing of the escapades of those the night of the 422nd Quidditch World Cup when the dark mark had illuminated the sky. That had been a thrill, and she'd been eighteen, and newly begun following the Dark Lord once she was out from under her parent's thumb.
"MOM!"
"Please don't scream darling, I'm standing right here. What could possibly have you so enraged?" Knowing full well what the issue was.
"That is the THIRD tutor you've fired in the past week. What is wrong with them?"
"Worry you not my dear, eventually I will find one that makes me happy and ensures that you will be completely prepared for your entrance into Hogwarts in two years. Now, go change and get ready for your fittings. You have dress robes and dresses to be fitted for today. We will also be having lunch out and I expect you to behave like a proper lady. Also, your etiquette lessons will begin tomorrow afternoon."
Jasmine sighed and once she turned her back rolled her eyes, she was not looking forward to having another tutor, and definitely NOT looking forward to having to go to etiquette lessons. Why she needed those she would never understand, and she'd rather be attending the Quidditch World Cup, but her mother believed that a woman playing quidditch was something that should simply not be done, among other things.
At nine, Jasmine couldn't even begin to remember each and every little thing on her mother's list of things that were and weren't acceptable for young women to do in proper society.
"Jasmine Evangeline Serano. If you roll your eyes at me once more, you can forget about going to your play date with the young girls you met in London. Is that understood?"
Jasmine sighed and turned to look at her mother. "Yes Mum." She said, all the more petulantly before stomping up the staircase to her room. As it was she hated that they were back in London instead of back in the tropical expanse of the Bahamas and also that she was unable to attend the quidditch match. She hated the fact that she had to be a "proper" society witch or whatever it was that her mother expected of her.
"Jasmine, move quickly or we will have to reschedule the fitting and I've no desire to reschedule a third time. Do you understand me young lady?"
"Yes Mum!" She called, and within minutes she ran down the stairs, dressed to go out, though still pouting a bit, but I no longer had the desire to argue with my daughter over things that I've already put into place.
Some Good News Before Work
Author: Melinda
Date: 10-27-12 08:23
Saturday had dawned, and it took me a minute to remember why my house was so quiet. Camden was at the Quidditch World Cup with the Morgans, they'd invited us both to go, but I couldn't get the time off at work. So, I'd let Camden go and spend some time with her friend Crew and his little brother Mase at the game.
Running a hand through my hair I went through my morning routine and ultimately curled up on the porch with a mug of coffee reading today's issue of The Daily Prophet. I needed to get some shopping done before my shift at Petals tonight and having a kid free weekend made me wish that I wasn't single...really.
I was up and moving, or rather up and productive by noon and headed to The Magic Neep first and got the fresh produce and things that I needed. I'd probably head into London a little later and go to my favorite grocery. I took Penelope out for a walk, stopping to talk to one of my neighbors and jogged most of the way home.
Rabbit and feline tended to as well before I realized the time and muttered. The trip to the grocery would have to wait, I needed to get ready for work. I idly wondered if I'd see any familiar faces, more importantly the familiar faces that tipped well. Either way, I had to work to ensure that my daughter had everything she wanted and needed in life.
"Mel? You home?"
I came downstairs at the sound of my eldest sister's voice. "Charlotte, what are you doing here? Is everything alright?"
"Everything's fine, why?"
"Because you never show up without owling first. Something's up. Spill, though quickly, I don't want to be late for work."
Charlotte took one look at me and frowned. "We have a lot to talk about it would seem. Do mom and dad know you are stripping again?"
"As far as again, I'd never stopped and no, they do not know and it is going to stay that way Charlotte Evangeline. Or do you want Mum to know who exactly had ruined her one of a kind hand crafted necklace when we were kids?"
Charlotte raised her hands in defeat. "Fine, I won't say anything to them. However, I will tell you this, they are going to find out sooner or later. But, that's not the reason I came by. Matthew and I are inviting you and everyone else to the house for a family get together, bring that absolutely wonderful potato salad. It will be August 15th, okay?"
"You came all this way just to tell me about a family bbq thing? No, you are up to something Charlotte. Are you pregnant?"
My sister and brother-in-law had been married for three years and had yet to start a family, I know there had been fertility issues between them both but they'd still been trying.
Charlotte blushed and nodded. "Yes, but don't tell anyone! Seriously Melinda! You are the only one that knows, everyone else thinks we are just wanting a family get together, and we are but we want everyone there so we can share the news. I'm officially three months on the fifteenth, which is why we chose that day."
"Alright, I won't tell anyone, and I will see you on the fifteenth. Cam will be happy to not be the only kid around anymore."
"Speaking of my niece, where is she?"
"At the Quidditch World Cup, probably in one of the best seats in the entire stadium as she's there with the Morgan Family, as in Fletcher and Fallon Morgan."
"Holy crap! Matthew is going to freak when he learns that you know two professional quidditch players that made the British National team. He wanted to go to the game today, but is stuck listening to it on the WWN because he ended up getting food poisoning from some foul take away we had last night."
"Oh, that sucks..." I looked up as the clock chimed the hour. "Crap. I've gotta go Char or I'm gonna be late."
"Alright, remember don't tell anyone, and I'll see you on the fifteenth."
With that Charlotte apparated away with a "pop" and I headed out of the house and toward Petals, and figured I'd probably grab something quick at Burger Wizard on my break later or reheat something when I get home.
(Toby) Match of a Lifetime
Author: Beck
Date: 10-27-12 11:12
Toby had played a lot of Quidditch matches in his lifetime––at Hogwarts, in Brisbane, and with the Falmouth Falcons––but the Quidditch World Cup was by far the largest and loudest event in which he had ever played. There was a constant din, even when nothing particularly spectacular was happening in the air.
Toby had sought out his family, knowing all had come to see him play, but the stadium boasted so many private boxes in several tiers that he had yet to find them or anybody else he knew. Not that he really had time to conduct a thorough search. As soon as the British National Team had entered the stadium, Toby had been unceasingly on the go.
Currently, Etch had possession of the quaffle and was making a good effort at avoiding the other chasers as they avidly dogged his every move. Toby noticed Portuguese beater Oriana Inácio whack a black bludger with her bat, aiming for Aveline, who looked determined to stop Sarita Ferdinando from harassing Etch. Toby knew he could get between the bludger and its target and did so easily. The tricky part was turning the ball so that he could get Sarita with it. Without even realizing his intention, Sarita moved out of the way and avoided getting hit, but the bludger still collided with a Portuguese chaser. It struck Beatriz Basso in the shoulder blade.
Etch, temporarily freed from two of the Portuguese chasers, took the opportunity to pass the quaffle in a perfect overhand throw to Wiggy. Wiggy pulled the red ball close to his body and urged his broomstick forward in a burst of speed.
Toby, well-aware that the pack had just entered scoring range, quickly determined where his need was greatest. Should he protect Wiggy, distract the Portuguese chasers, or target the team's keeper, Letícia Dobreiro?
Decision made, Toby intercepted Oriana's bludger intended for Wiggy and redirected it at one of the Portuguese chasers nearby. Simultaneously, Kody used the other bludger to distract another of the Portuguese chasers. Wiggy, somewhat unobstructed for the moment, let the quaffle fly...
Talking Between Cheering
Author: Harry Potter
Date: 10-27-12 11:30
As Raton of Portugal moves in to intercept a pass, Harry is half out of his seat yelling for Aveline Boggs to get the quaffle. Relieve when she does just that he's back down and picking up mid-sentence where he'd left off talking to Ron. "... but if a girl there's no question she'll be named after my mother."
"Bludger!" Ron shouts at Aveline as if she could actually hear him before asking, "If you do go with James as a boy's name are you concerned about your godson James?"
"Ginny and I have talked about that. It's still up for debate." Harry and Ginny now know the sex of their baby but aren't sharing with anyone else, or at least yet anyway so when the question of names comes up, they both give their short list of both girls' and boys' names.
A roar erupts throughout the stadium as Wiggersmythe Hodfuffer, now in possession of the quaffle, drives in for a goal. Just about the time most everyone thinks the shot is good, a very well hit bludger catches the quaffle just right, knocking it into the hoop's rim. A hush falls over the crowd as they all wait with baited breath to see what hitting the rim will do, those in favor of Britain fervently hoping the quaffle continues on through the ring; those in favor of Portugal, wishing just as much for the quaffle to rebound back out.
Ron, Harry, Hermione, Hagrid, and the rest of their sizeable group are on their feet cheering wildly when the quaffle continues on through adding 10 points to Britain's side of the scoreboard. As Basso and Raton of Portugal put the quaffle back in play, Harry and those around him sit again with Harry asking of Ron, "Have you two narrowed down your names?"
"Sort of. We did cross a junior off the list if a boy. I can't see straddling a son with Bilius as a second name. I wouldn't mind Ronald something or something Ronald but not Ronald Bilius."
"Nothing against the uncle you're named after, but I can't say I blame you. Did Ginny say anything to either of you about coming over for dinner Monday night?" Harry would have asked Ginny before asking the question of Ron but as an honorary team member she's down with the coaches and alternates.
Ron leans over to ask Hermione then shakes his head as Harry. "Not to either of us."
"Then consider this your invitation. We've finished the nursery and Ginny's wanting to show it off."
"Do you end up going with the pale blue and light peach or the bright yellow and spring green?"
"Neither. It's more gold with scarlet."
Ron grins. "Niiiiice. Let me guess. There are little lions everywhere too."
"Excellent guess. You would be correct." Harry catches sight of a woman's profile further down in the crowd from the box they are in. He pats Ron on the arm and points. "That looks like that woman I told you about from the Ministry party at Mockridge Manor."
"The one who stared at you half the night?"
"Yeah. Elladora Thickey." He relaxes his body a little as he gets a better look at the woman. "It's not her."
"Why would that disappoint you?"
"I don't know. It's not like I'd go down there and ask why she kept looking at me half the evening."
Attention is drawn fully back to the match as Portugal's Ferdinando is moving in close in hopes of getting the quaffle past Pyrrhus Fine to score.