A/N: This story can be read alone, but it's also part of a larger story arc and will reference events from past fics (don't worry, you don't have to read the prologues to understand this). If you'd like to know more about how these characters came together in this particular way, check out my profile for my list of Trickverse fics. For Trickverse readers, this story is the sequel to both "The Insomniac's Blade" and "Pomp and Circumstance".
Before I forget, thanks to littlesun for reading over the first few chapters of this story and letting me know I was on the right track.
Also, because four characters have top billing in this story, it's going to jump character categories based on the events/POV of the current chapter. Be thee warned.
This is a work of fanfiction. Standard disclaimers apply.
The Four Hundred and Twenty-Third Quidditch World Cup, or Neville Wishes for the Patience of Angels
Chapter One: Parkin's Pincer
"I just can't ruddy well believe it," Ron said for the hundredth time as Ginny refastened her travel bag.
"Ron, it's the Quidditch World Cup," she explained patiently. "I'd go with the ghost of Voldemort if he could get me there."
"Well, Malfoy's not far off," her brother grumbled, crossing his arm over his chest as he sank into the chesterfield. "I haven't quite forgiven him for breaking into our home, among other things. I would think you'd remember that, considering he ended up in you room."
Oh, she remembered. The evening had led to his arrest. "I saved his life after the final battle, Ron," she pointed out. "He's just trying to thank me." Ron muttered something about traps. "And he saved my life too, so I somehow doubt he'd try to harm me now."
"Don't you dare break my Ominoculars," Ron warned, re-channeling his irritation. "I want them back in perfect working order."
She rolled her eyes. "Look, if you don't trust me to take care of them-"
"You're going to be late, dear," Molly fussed, trying to herd Ginny towards the fireplace. "It was nice of him to open his Floo for you," she added with false cheeriness. Ginny hadn't told anyone that his Floo had been re-keyed for her six months ago. There was a lot Ginny hadn't told her family about Draco.
To Ginny's surprise, George stepped forward. "If there's any trouble," he said, handing her a small velvet pouch that clinked, "any at all, come right back home. Don't worry about paying me back." Molly nodded approvingly at this.
"Thanks," she said awkwardly, adding the coins to her bag, "but you're all worrying over nothing."
"You never know," George insisted. George knew that Ginny had gone once to visit Draco in Azkaban.
No one knew that she'd continued to visit him after that first time. No one knew that she'd visited him briefly for Christmas, and though Ron had caught her sneaking into the Burrow at three o'clock in the morning on New Year's Eve, no one knew that she'd come from a dreadful row with Draco at Malfoy Manor.
The entire student body knew that Ginny had received a posy of Sighing Irises in the new year. As far as Ginny knew, no one knew that it was Draco's best attempt at an apology. No one knew that they'd exchanged a few short messages by owl during the spring semester.
No one knew that she was Draco Malfoy's friend. She preferred things that way. The situation was hard to reason through for her own benefit – how could she expect others to understand?
"Get cracking, then, Ginnykins," George said when she didn't respond to his comment, puffing himself up in an imitation of Percy. "Some of us have jobs to get to."
Ginny giggled. George was still more somber than he'd ever been as a child, but she thought she could see signs of him moving past Fred's death. "Fine, then. I suppose I've got everything important. If I'm missing anything, I can probably do without it."
"You've got socks and knickers?" Molly asked. George pranced around behind their mother, batting his eyelashes and tugging at invisible undergarments.
"I'm not eleven, Mum," Ginny snapped, turning red.
"Yes, but you were once," Ron replied. "A WEEK in Egypt and you didn't think you'd need either."
Ginny decided to ignore him. They'd never understand why she was so distracted that summer. She hoisted her bag onto her shoulder. "I'm off. Think of me when you're reading about the match in the Prophet, Ron. If you promise to be good while I'm gone, maybe I'll bring you a souvenir."
"The Quidditch World Cup. Malfoy," Ron grumbled.
Ginny grinned wickedly. "I'll be sure to send him your love."
"You can give him this while you're at it," George added helpfully, producing a small packet from his robes.
Ginny wrinkled her nose in suspicion. "I'll pass." She leaned over to peck Molly on the cheek. "Bye, Mum. See you in a couple of days."
"Take care," Molly said, squeezing her shoulder. "If anything feels off, come right back home."
She didn't care if she had to fight through Dark wizards and sit beside Flobberworms. After being lucky enough to score Draco's extra ticket, she was going to watch the Quidditch World Cup, come hell or high water.
"Bye," she said again, tossing some Floo powder into the fireplace and stepping into the flames. "Malfoy Manor!"
The first thing she heard was a woman's tinkling laugh. As Ginny emerged into the Manor's welcoming salon, Pansy Parkinson swiveled in her seat on the gilded, high-backed loveseat and her laugh died away. Ginny hoped that she didn't look visibly startled. Draco had led her to believe that he only had two tickets. "We've been waiting for her?" the erstwhile Slytherin asked, her voice betraying disappointment but not disbelief. Of course. Parkinson had been at the Manor that New Year's. She was probably the only person who had an inkling of her relationship with Draco.
Sitting beside Parkinson with a look of utter shock on his face was Parkinson's boyfriend, Neville Longbottom. He and Ginny stared foolishly at each other for a moment before Draco rose to his feet from his armchair.
"Good to see you, Ginny," he said, completely unruffled, and Ginny saw Neville's shocked gaze flicker to their host. "We should be off as soon as possible. Shall we?"
"Let's Apparate over to the Authority," Parkinson suggested. "I nearly caught my suitcases in the Floo on the way over."
Draco rolled his eyes. "You shouldn't need more than one suitcase for a two-night trip."
Parkinson rolled her eyes right back at him. "Not everyone has a Hartley Super-Expansion Series like you do."
He flushed slightly. "Fine, we'll Apparate."
"I can't," Ginny broke in. Both Draco and Parkinson turned to her; Neville had hardly looked away from her since she had arrived. "My birthday isn't for another two weeks," she explained. "I'm still sixteen. It's okay," she said wearily as Parkinson puffed up, effectively heading off whatever denigrating tirade she was about to unleash. "I'll just Floo over."
"You don't have to do that, Ginny." Neville spoke for the first time.
"You'll come with me," Draco decreed.
"Or I could-" Neville started.
"That's fine," Parkinson snapped, glaring at Neville. Ginny hadn't thought that the situation could get any more awkward, but she'd evidently been mistaken. Neville cleared his throat and stared at the floor. Parkinson turned to glare at Ginny for good measure. Ginny shot a narrow glance at Draco.
Draco looked pleased. "I'll lead the way," he said, hefting a very chic-looking suitcase and parading out of the room. Neville stopped staring at Ginny when Parkinson snapped her fingers irritably in front of his face, and Ginny followed Draco out of the room before she could be alone with the couple.
She was going to kill Draco. She thought that they had an understanding that their friendship was best kept discreet. If he'd at least had the decency to let her know that Parkinson and Neville were going to the Cup as well, she could've prepared Neville for the shock of a Weasley and a Malfoy getting along. As things stood, though, who knew what Parkinson was filling his head with at the moment? It was obvious that this was the first he had heard of it. Had Pansy simply neglected to tell Neville about that New Year's, or had Draco sworn her to secrecy? Ginny had a lot of questions, and she was sure she wasn't going to like some of the answers.
Draco had stopped at an Apparition point in the Manor gardens. He smirked a bit as she approached, and Ginny found it unpleasant enough that part of her recoiled. She sneered at him and his smirk grew wider, so she opted to turn around and watch Neville and Parkinson. Neville was carrying one navy suitcase and one pink one, which incensed Ginny further, but she didn't have much time to ruminate on it as she was distracted by Draco winding his arm around her waist.
"Hold on," he murmured, drawing her flush against him. "I'm not used to having someone Side-Along and I don't want to splinch you."
Ginny was sure that her face was scarlet as she thought of what Neville and Parkinson likely thought of this display. She knew Draco was doing this to rile them further. "Look, I'm just going to Floo," she decided, stepping away from him.
He tightened his hold and dragged her back to him. "It was a joke," he said quickly. "I'm not going to splinch you. I've brought you safely before, remember?"
Yes, she remembered. He'd hit her with a Freezing Charm first.
"Are you lot ready?" Parkinson broke in. Neville was looking over at Ginny with concern.
"Yes," Draco answered. "Let's go." Ginny clutched her pack more tightly with one hand and reluctantly wrapped the other around Draco's shoulder. "Ready?" he whispered, and Ginny felt the crush of Apparition take her.
They appeared with a pop in a soaring marble lobby. Neville and Parkinson were already there. Ginny disengaged hastily from Draco and gave Neville a reassuring smile as they left the Apparition point.
"Here are your travel papers," Draco said, pulling a small folder from his robes and handing it to Ginny. "Come on." He strode up to the receiving counter.
"Welcome to Twonk International Portkey Authority," a distinguished older wizard said as they approached.
"Reservation for Malfoy," Draco said without preamble.
"One moment." The wizard scanned a parchment in front of him.
"Alright, Ginny?" Neville asked.
"Yes, fine. How's your summer been so far?" she asked, eager to stay on neutral topics with her friend while Draco and Parkinson were nearby.
"Good," he answered with a glance over his shoulder at Draco. "I've got a flat in Prague for when I get there, and I've been spending a lot of time in the garden keeping my techniques sharp. I don't want to look like a fool when I get out there."
"You'll be brilliant," Parkinson purred, appearing at his side.
Draco was right behind her. "We're cleared. Let's get to our Portkey." He led the group to a numbered archway off the concourse which was attended by a smartly-dressed witch. "Malfoy, party of four," he said to her.
"Destination Athens?" she finished for him. "You've been cleared for departure. If I could just check everyone's travel papers, we'll get you situated and get your luggage stowed and you'll be on your way."
"Perfect. Go ahead," he said, ushering Ginny forward. Once the stewardwitch checked her papers, she entered a large chamber housing an International Portkey, a chest-high gold cylinder with five steel handles protruding from it. Ginny had been eleven the last time she'd seen one. She rounded the apparatus and stood in front of one of the handles. Draco followed her in and stood at an adjacent handle. Neville chose Ginny's other side and Parkinson stood beside him. Draco gave Neville a hard look, which he returned.
This is going to be a disaster, Ginny thought as their luggage was affixed to the empty handle using rugged Sticking Charms. Her excitement over the upcoming match was overshadowed by the awkwardness of the current situation. The trip was only for two nights, but how was she supposed to survive it if Parkinson thought she was a rival for Neville's affections and Draco continued to act like Ginny's bosom buddy to make some obscure point to their travelling companions? She really needed to talk to Neville away from the other two and explain the situation – and Draco's delicate mental condition – to him before he decided Draco had placed her under the Imperius Curse for his amusement. Draco. Damn him, why hadn't he told her that Neville and Parkinson were coming?
"Your luggage has been secured," the stewardwitch announced. "Are all passengers ready for transit?" Everyone nodded. "Your Portkey will activate in ten seconds," she said. "Please enjoy your trip." She exited the room.
Ginny gripped her handle like she was steering a pram. "Greece, here we come!" she heard Parkinson squeal, and then she felt the hooking sensation under her navel and they were whirling through the air. It went on and on. Something was wrong...they weren't stopping...