As the shrill whistle sounded, the fourteen players rose into the air to the deafening cheers of the rest of the school. Speeding forwards on her faithful Silver Arrow broom, Minerva caught up the Quaffle at once...

“The Chudley Cannons wrote to Charlie saying they want him on the team!” Percy burst out, showing much more excitement at the prospect of Quidditch than he ever had before, and barely pausing for breath.

“The Chudley Cannons wants you-” Fred started, his jaw dropping.

“On their team?” George finished.

“How’re you feeling?” she asked him quietly as they walked out onto the pitch together.

Ron looked slightly green and seemed unable to speak. Gaping wordlessly like a goldfish, he merely gestured out at the stadium, where a loud chorus of ‘Weasley Is Our King’ was being bellowed to the skies.

“You all remember what it was like last year,” she stated simply. “I know I do. Sometimes, I have still have nightmares. When you’re fighting every day, when you’re constantly worried about your family and your friends, wondering if it’ll ever end and hoping beyond hope that nothing will happen to those you love, then Quidditch isn’t top of your priorities. But now, well, we can enjoy life again. We can enjoy school, and friends, and Quidditch. But that doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten the past. Let’s be realistic, I don’t think anyone here is going to forget what happened anytime soon.”