Hermione and soccer

Rose loved football. It was all the running and kicking the ball to her teammates, scoring goals, winning games, losing wasn t much fun but it happened a lot too. She was running hard when she got the ball, moved it down the field just like the coach had taught them when a defender came out of nowhere to get in front of her, reaching out with a foot to take the ball away. Rose tangled her feet and went down hard, bounced a bit and came up, looking around.

The other player grinned and mouthed the word, "Clumsy," at her and ran down the field laughing. The next thing she knew her feet tangled up and she was on the ground, nursing a skinned knee. Rose grinned and mouthed the word, "Clumsy," at her and took up her position, ready for when the ball came her way.

Hermione talked to the coach a moment then called her daughter over to the sideline. "You mind telling me what you did out there."

"Nothing."

"What? You think I don t know what a jelly-legs jinx looks like, young lady? Are you supposed to be jinxing people? Especially Muggles?" Hermione asked with a glare.

"But mom, she made fun of me. She said I was clumsy but she was the one that tripped me."

Hermione didn t hesitate, not after all this time. "And just how does that justify what you did? I don t even have to tell you how much trouble something like that can cause, jinxing Muggles. What if your friends found out? Or worse, the other coach? If he believed you jinxed his player he d have you tossed out of the game, if not right off the team. Who would want to play with someone that puts jinxes on people when they get upset? Do you understand how losing your temper like that can get out of control?"

"She deserved it," Rose muttered.

"Maybe so, maybe not," Hermione said. "But one thing for sure is they didn t deserve a sneak attack like you pulled. Maybe I should just pull you off the team just to make sure you don t get tempted to jinx someone you might not like. You think I won t do that if I have to?"

A very wide eyed kid stared up at Hermione. "If that s what it takes to make sure you don t lose your cools and do that again, Rose, I just might. Do you understand me young lady?"

"Yes mom," Rose said quietly. "Sorry."

"Yes, well, maybe you should sit out part of the game to think about keeping your head on straight and not taking unfair advantage. I ll talk to the coach," she said.

"No, you can t do that!" exclaimed Rose.

"Oh? Was it me that lost my cool and jinxed a defenseless Muggle on the other team? No? Another word about what I can t do and it ll be the rest of the game. Do you understand me?" Hermione stared her daughter down.

"Yes mom." Rose turned so she wouldn't have to face her mother with that look on her face.

"I want you to think about keeping your head together when you get upset. You re a growing girl now, not a little kid that doesn t know better." Hermione tried to keep a fierce face on though she was smiling inside. She sounded just like her own mother. When she told Ron about it tonight they were both going to have a good laugh.

"Now Rose," she said, putting her hand on her daughter's shoulder, "you play nice and you play fair. No more jinxing or you won t need those expensive football shoes I got you. Now, go out there and do your best but behave like you know you should."

Rose nodded her head with great vigor and trotted to the coach to wait her turn in relieving another player.