Chapter Three

Japan vs. England

Mia had barely settled herself in her seat between Ruby and Mac when the commentator was introducing the teams:

'The Japanese: Himura, Hayashi, Hisakawa, Kimura, Takenaka, Yamada and Sato! And the English: Snell, Wright, Shaw, Thompson, Weller, Darrow and Masters!"

Mia saw that the commentator using a magical megaphone like the one Mac used to commentate Hogwarts Quidditch matches; instead she had her wand held to her throat, presumably using the sonorous charm that Danielle had used to make herself heard last year at the Keeper tryouts. The two teams mounted their brooms and then kicked off hard on the whistle – they were off.

And it's England captain Snell in possession, passes to Shaw, to Wright, Shaw, Wright, Snell-"

The play was fast and furious, the England Chasers passing the Quaffle to each other quicker even than Mia had ever seen Hailey, Lovell and Creevey, the Hufflepuff Chasers, play. One of the Japanese Beaters – Mia wasn't sure which – hit a Bludger at the England captain, Snell, and she dropped the Quaffle. It was caught up by one of the Japanese Chasers, Hayashi, and play resumed.

If Mia had thought the England Chasers were good, they were nothing compared to Japan's front three. Himura, Hayashi and Hisakawa were flying so fast they were just red blurs on the pitch. The commentator barely had time to shout their names, before they'd passed the Quaffle on. Within five minutes, they'd already scored three times.

"Snell, Wright, Snell, Shaw, intercepted by Himura, Hisakawa, Himura, Hayashi, and it's Japan's Hisakawa heading for goal!"

Mia watched as Will prepared to block the goal. Even though he had yet to stop Japan scoring, Mia could tell he was playing a lot better than he had been just a year ago. Now, as Hisakawa flew towards him, Mia watched carefully to see how he tackled this latest attack on goal. Hisakawa shot left, and Will dived left too, just managing to hit the Quaffle out of the way. The cheer from the crowd was louder than that for any of the Japanese goals; this being a home game, most of the crowd were supporting England. Mia and the Potters and their guests cheered loudest of all.

As the Japanese Chaser flew down to retrieve the Quaffle, Mia looked along the line to her left – Ruby, Lily and Hugo, all stood up cheering; Scorpius, intently watching the seekers; Al, tracking the progress of a Bludger across the pitch; and James and Chlo, James watching intently, and Chlo snuggled against his arm, a look of mild disinterest on her face. On her other side, Mac was mouthing along with the commentator, obviously incapable of merely watching a game anymore; and Harry and Ginny on Mac's other side, comparing predictions on the outcome of the match.

Play resumed, with the three England Chasers putting on a burst of speed to score barely thirty seconds after the Quaffle had been returned to playing height. Up above, the two seekers, Masters and Sato, were circling, keeping close to each other, wanting to be on an equal footing whenever the Snitch made an appearance.

"Japan in possession: Himura, Hayashi, Hisakura, Hayashi, Hisakura, Hiumura heading for goal!"

Mia watched the Japanese Chaser, Himura, speeding like a bullet up the pitch, dodging players and Bludgers alike. He was small and light, and nothing more than a red blur on his broom, which Mia guessed had to be a Firebolt Blue from the speed he was going. Even Will stood no chance against him, and Himura scored easily.

In the next half-hour, England scored two more goals, but Japan pulled ahead, with Himura scoring twice as many goals as his team mates combined. Will did stop several goals, but Japan's assault on goal was unrelenting, and they pulled further ahead.

"Himura, Hayashi, Himura, Hisakura, Hayashi, Himura, Hayashi, Hisakura, Himura, Himura heading for goal! Can Darrow stop him? No – Japan scores! Japan lead 170 – 30!"

"They're wiping the floor with England!" Mac yelled into Mia's ear. "The only way England could ever win is if they get the Snitch right now, before Japan get 150 points up. No offence to your mate Darrow, but he's really no match for Japan's front three."

"Japan are amazing..." Ruby said, on Mia's other side. "I wish I could fly like that."

"They've seen the Snitch!" Scorpius shouted, pointing. Sure enough, the two seekers, Sato and Masters, were diving, hands outstretched, speeding towards a tiny glint of gold, barely visible at the foot of the Japanese goal hoops. As they sped closer to the ground, the entire crowd were on tenterhooks – since Japan were only 140 points up, so whoever caught the Snitch now would win the match. The two seekers were neck and neck – it was anyone's guess as to who'd get there first.

"Japan have done it," Mac predicted, watching intently, and he was right. Tomo Sato, the Japanese Seeker, leant so far forward on her broom Mia was worried she was going to fall off, but she didn't. As her fingers closed around the Snitch, a roar went up from the crowd, despite their disappointment – Japan had played well.

"TOMO SATO CATCHES THE SNITCH AND JAPAN WIN! FINAL SCORE: 220 TO 30!" the commentator yelled.

Later, in the function room, Lily and Ruby went giggling over to ask the Japanese Chasers for their autographs. Harry and Ginny were walking around greeting various official looking people, and looking thoroughly bored in doing so. Scorpius was deep in conversation with both the Japanese and English seekers, Will having introduced him to them, and Chlo was sat on James' lap on a chair, the two of them completely oblivious to anyone else. Mia was stood with Al, Mac and Hugo, who were daring each other to try and get their hands on some Firewhisky, when Will came over to talk to her.

"Sorry you had to see me on a bad day," he told her. "I was rubbish."

"No you weren't," Mia said, grinning as she turned Will's own words back on him. "Being beaten by a set of Chasers who are better than you doesn't make you rubbish."

"Touché," Will laughed. "Yeah, Japan are pretty amazing, and half of the guys who were playing today are in their national team."

Lily and Ruby came back over, still giggling.

"I thought you scorned at anyone who turned into a giggling wreck around boys," Mia sighed.

"Yeah, but these aren't just any boys," Lily grinned.

"Yeah, they're Quidditch players," Ruby said.

"But there are loads of boys at school who are Quidditch players," Mia protested.

"Not proper ones," Lily said. "Did you know, Himura's only fifteen? Only the same age as like Al and Scorp, and he's playing like that. He said hopefully he'll be playing for Japan's proper team soon, since the other two Chasers already are, and Himura's way better than them."

"I bet he didn't actually say he was better than them," Will grinned.

"Well...no..." Lily said. "But he is. I'm going to go and tell James – Himura's nearly three years younger than him, but he's way better."
"I'm not sure he'll really appreciate that ..." Mia said, glancing over to where James and Chlo were sat, still kissing, but Lily had already gone.

Will laughed. "Just the same Lily I remember from a year ago," he said.

"Lily's just Lily," Ruby agreed.

They all watched Lily walk up to James and Chlo, and could just about make out James' words as he looked up at his sister: "Go away, Lily. Can't a guy snog his girlfriend in peace around here?"

An hour later, Harry and Ginny decided it was time to leave. Lily was sent to fetch James and Chlo, who still hadn't moved from their chair. She came back reporting that they were ignoring her, and Harry and Ginny looked at each other and grinned. The two of them walked over to where James and Chlo were sat, and everyone averted their eyes as they two started kissing. It had the desired effect – within seconds James and Chlo had broken apart, and James was looking up at his parents in disgust.

"Seriously, guys?" he said.

Harry and Ginny both laughed. "We were just taking a leaf out of your book," Harry grinned. "Come on, son – time to go home."

The next morning, two owls, both bearing letters arrived for Mia. The first was an official looking tawny owl, bearing a letter with the Hogwarts crest, and the second Mia recognised as Venus, Lily's owl. She opened Lily's letter first.

'Mia – someone took a picture of Mum and Dad kissing at the Quidditch match yesterday, and it made it into the Prophet. I've sent you a copy – gross, isn't it? Dad's threatening to frame it and stick it up in the kitchen – eugh! Also, Hogwarts letters just came, and James has been made Quidditch Captain. See you soon – Lily.'

Mia looked at the newspaper cutting which Lily had stuffed in the envelope. It showed Harry and Ginny kissing, with James and Chlo looking thoroughly disgusted in the background. Wishing that Wizarding pictures didn't move so that she wouldn't have to watch them kissing for all eternity, Mia shoved the cutting back in the envelope and read her Hogwarts letter:

'Dear Miss Dursley, all third years will require The Standard Book of Spells, Grade Three, and Intermediate Transfiguration. In addition, for your chosen options, you will require: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander; Ancient Runes Made Easy by Laurenzoo; and Wizarding Britain: Social and Political Thought by Nicholas Fortesque. May I also take this opportunity to remind you that, as a third year, you will be a "big sibling" for a new first year student, and you will attend a meeting to find out what will be expected of you, and to meet your "little sibling" on the first morning of term. Third years are permitted to visit Hogsmede village at certain weekends – please give the enclosed form to your parent/guardian to sign.'

Mia looked at the second piece of parchment in her envelope – the Hogsemde permission form. She'd almost forgotten that this was the year they could start going on Hogsmede weekends. Yes, she thought her third year at Hogwarts was shaping up to be a very good one indeed.