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Things went pretty tits up after that to be honest.
The bar emptied kind of quickly and Octavia was looking grim. She said her goodbyes and apparated away as quickly as she could to get home. Admittedly, things weren't looking great; and I was secretly glad my parents had insisted that we cast the Fidelius charm on our houses. Despite the security I felt about going home, which was where I was at the moment, I worried about Kendra and how she was going to spend her last year at school, I didn't envy her. Still, she was a good kid and pretty well behaved, she wouldn't have many problems.
As the summer moved on into autumn and the start of the Quidditch season; Diagon Alley became a mess. Shops were still open but there were Aurors stood in every doorway and it was definitely Death Eaters skulking around the street, Wilkes was stood outside Madam Malkins leering at anyone walking past, he was a Slytherin from my year, he was friends with that idiot Marcus Flint. Needless to say if I needed anything nowadays most shop owners in Diagon Alley knew me well enough that I could apparated straight into the shop with no problem.
It was the end of September where things started to really wrong for us. I grabbed my cloak pulling it on and fastening it around the neck and did something I hadn't done in at least a year or so, pick up my wand and conceal it in the underside of my cloak.
It didn't seem very long ago that I bought my wand from Ollivanders, yet another shop that was now bordered up down the street; It contained a phoenix feather, and had taken a little while to get used too but it had always been exceptional for whatever class I was in at school. It was made of larch and 11 and 3 quarter inches long and probably next to my broom; my most prized possession.
Wands had not been allowed at training nor while we were playing in matches, something I found stupid; as fans could take their wands into the stadium if they wished; although generally there was never any trouble at Quidditch matches... having said that we played Puddlemere United the beginning of next year so there was a first time for everything. I doubted highly that Gwenog would leave her wand secure in the changing rooms. Or that the fans would behave themselves for that matter.
Our training grounds were located just outside Holyhead in the countryside moorland. To Muggles it was a tourist attraction, disguised to look like ancient burial grounds with stones the Welsh had named the Penrhos Feilw standing stones. The stones had been placed there by a Wizard in the early Bronze Age about four thousand years ago when he was using the area to hide dragons.
Every so often we could hear the roar of a Welsh Green but all of them were bewitched to remain in certain areas so not to cause any harm to Muggles.
As I stepped inside the changing rooms almost everyone was already there, and Claudia had the radio turned up high on the Wireless Wizarding Network. They all seemed to be listening intently and Greta was biting her fingernails uncomfortably. "What's wrong?" I asked as I walked in to all their solemn looking faces.
Octavia spoke and I could hear that she was trying hard not to cry. "It's today," She answered, "The ministry is expected to announce their plans for a Muggle-Born register."
I opened my mouth to speak but no words came out, she fell mournfully onto one of the benches and I went to sit next to her taking her hands in mine and giving them what I hoped was a consoling squeeze.
Gwenog spoke next, her arms folded across her chest. "If any Death Eaters turn up here looking to cause trouble I'll make them regret it." She grunted furiously.
There were murmurs of agreement from everyone and it was then I noticed something different about everyone... it looked like I wasn't the only one who had thought to bring my wand to training. Felicia had hers out and was clutching it rather tightly I noticed as she sat next to Greta.
"Well we can't just sit here." Gwenog said finally as the next news segment had passed, "Let's head outside and get some training done, our first match is this Saturday after all; even if it is only the Cannons."
I grabbed at my Firebolt that was hooked onto the wall and heaved it over my shoulder following the others out of the double doors. Outside I swung my leg over it and kicked off the ground with force. The wind rushing through my pulled back hair was wonderful and in the air it was easy to forget about the worries that were troubling the Wizarding world even if it did make me feel slightly guilty afterwards.
Gwenog released the balls and the bludgers flew up high into the air. I grabbed at my bat and zoomed after it as it changed direction and rocketed towards where Claudia was protecting the goalposts. With an almighty swing I smashed it with the side of my bat and it whizzed off towards Gwenog.
Training went brilliantly and even Octavia managed to forget about the Ministry by the time we landed and trudged back inside the changing rooms happily. As we finished getting changed Gwenog decided to elaborate on her newly formed plan for the beginning of the season.
"I've had an idea." She announced cheerfully placing her hands on her hips as she surveyed us proudly. "Whilst we play against the Cannons on Saturday two matches are being played on the Friday evening."
A thought suddenly occurred to me and I couldn't help myself, I groaned. I knew exactly where this was going. Gwenog flashed me a wicked grin as I wailed, "Oh Gwenog no."
"Katja knows what I'm about to say." She stated, "The two matches on Friday night are the Wasps against the Falcons at Bodmin Moor and at Exmoor, The Bats are playing Puddlemere United!"
"This is a beyond stupid idea." I stated interrupting before she could get into full flow of her heinous plan, "There's no freaking way they'll let us into the stadium, and if they do, they'll only confiscate our wands for safety. Which will be great if the Puddlemere United fans decide they want to kick the crap out of us."
"Yeah but not all of us has a sister that plays for the Bats!" Gwenog argued and I could see the wicked gleam in her brown eyes that meant trouble as I rubbed my forehead wearily. "You can go, they'll let you in if you're going to watch your sister with your parents, and if you take Felicia with you no one will think any different... I might go too actually come to think of it-"
"Oh no you don't!" I retorted, "I don't trust you anywhere near United, and neither will any official who's right in the head. I'll take Felicia."
"So you agree to it then." Gwenog stated grinning.
Damn.
She'd tricked me into agreeing by threatening to go herself. I hated her, so freaking much right now. Felicia gave a small snort. "I don't mind going, they'll suspect me less than the rest of you at least... and we should find out what their new Keeper is like as well." She added after a moments after thought.
"Their new keeper is good." I stated, "We don't need to see that, Kaitlyn and Katherine will back me up on this, they had him in the Gryffindor squad while they were there and he was Gryffindor Captain."
"He's also pretty fine." Claudia mused out aloud.
Gwenog glared at her, "No fraternizing with the enemy." She stated.
I rolled my eyes as there was a sharp tap at the window bringing us all out of our stupor. A handsome tawny owl was perched on the window ledge and tapped at the glass impatiently again as none of us moved. "Who is that for?" Valmai asked cocking her head slightly.
I moved to open the window and the owl flew inside right to Gwenog where it sat on her shoulder as confused she untied the letter around its leg. Having delivered its letter it hooted importantly before puffing its chest out proudly and taking flight again through the still open window.
As I turned back Gwenog had ripped the envelope apart and was reading carefully. Looking disgusted she turned to the rest of us angrily. "It's a letter from the ministry." She said. Octavia let out a whimper as Gwenog began to read. "Dear Ms. Jones." She began, "On the 22nd of September the Department of Mysteries reached the conclusion that magic can only be inherited, any other acquisition of magic deemed to be obtained by force. We are inviting all Muggle-Borns to register their status with the Ministry of Magic for investigation to clear any and all doubts of where they acquired their magical skill. Until such time it is considered an offence to aid a Muggle-Born who resists the register, and we advise all employers and managers with a Muggle-Born in their vicinity to provide any information that can aid our investigation. It has come to our attention that Ms. Octavia Ball of 3 St. Johns Road, Thatcham, Berkshire is in your Quidditch team, and we require her co-operation by registering with the Ministry of Magic. To assist you in your effort to encourage Ms. Ball to send her information via owl we will be sending our own inspectors to your training facilities on the 29th September 1997. We advise you to co-operate with our inspectors to your fullest ability to ensure everything goes smoothly, furthermore we require you and the rest of your professional Quidditch team to attend a mandatory seminar on the 30th September at Bodmin Moor Quidditch ground for the Department of Sports and Regulation to introduce its new Head of Department and advise you on this year's requirements and rules in Quidditch.
Kindest regards,
Dolores Jane Umbridge.
(Head of the Muggle-Born Registration Commission)"
There was a stunned silence as she finished reading, broken only by Octavia bursting into tears. "Bitch." Gwenog said crumpling the letter in her hands, her fist shaking angrily. "Propaganda, pure propaganda. How dare they involve Quidditch in this?"
"What do I do!?" Octavia mumbled shaking her head incoherently. "They'll be after me." She whimpered before sobbing softly into her hands.
Claudia, ever the diplomat grabbed her by the shoulders and stared at her fiercely. "Get your stuff and get out of the country, go into hiding somewhere away from England. Get out of Europe if you can, go as far away as possible."
"But- But, what about you? You'll all get in trouble, you heard what the letter said!..." Octavia sobbed ever harder staring at us all with tears in her eyes.
"We'll be fine!" Gwenog stated fiercely glaring at her, "Never mind us! Get going! We'll deal with it somehow! You need to go! Claudia is right; the Death Eaters won't be worried if you get out of the country! They only care about their tyranny here within the Ministry's power!"
"What about my parents?" Octavia replied wiping her eyes. "They could be in danger."
"We'll sort that." Felicia replied, "The important thing is getting you out of here. We'll wipe their memories and when it's safe again we will restore them and come and get you."
"How will you find me?" Octavia asked.
"When this is all over believe me, you'll know." I stated. "We need you to be safe. Go to the house my Parents use in the Winter that they have in Australia, the one we used to celebrate our season win the end of last season." I said quickly, "Put a Fidelius charm on it and I'll tell them you're there. No one will come and look for you all that way."
Octavia nodded in understanding, her eyes brimming with tears as she asked again, "Are you sure you'll all be ok?"
"Get going." Valmai cut in, "The sooner you're gone the better. We'll be fine; they can't prove we've done anything."
"I love you guys." Octavia stated, before there was a pop and she was gone.
Felicia left immediately after that to do what needed to be done with Octavia's muggle parents. She informed me on the Friday night as we ascended the stairs of Bodmin Moor stadium stand following my parents. "I didn't know what to do." Felicia explained quietly as we went to find our seats. "So eventually after I told them what happened I just wiped her from their memories and invented a muggle son for them that's in the Army and away from home a lot. They could find every person named Ball in the country and she could belong to any of them."
"Good idea." I muttered back as we sat down. "This way they're all safe as long as none of us blab."
"It's unfortunate all of us know," Felicia sighed, "As long as we tell them that she never turned up for training they can't prove anything."
I nodded in agreement as we sat down in the family area. We had gotten some pretty suspicious looks as they glanced at our tickets to enter. As suspected they did ask if we had our wands on us, and were only spared handing them in as my mother snapped angrily at the officials that two of us were not likely to cause commotion against a thousand Puddlemere United fans and that we were there to support family. The official looked pretty embarrassed as he mumbled apologetically.
We were clad in Bats scarves and my mother had pinned a black rosette with a scarlet bat in the centre of it to her hat for good measure. Barny the Fruit bat was dancing around in the centre of the stadium delighting the crowds with various bits of magic, ten minutes later the commentator walked into our box and took his place in the centre of the stand. Today's commentator was in fact Kenneth Peters an old friend of my mothers who used to play for the Tornados as Seeker.
"Sonorus." He said quietly after shaking quick hands with my parents, at once his amplified voice echoed around the stadium. Felicia and I grinned at each other. There was nothing like the start of the season, even if there was an empty hole without Octavia.
"Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen!" Cheers emitted from the crowd as one of the first two games of this year's Quidditch season was about to get ahead. "Welcome to the 1997 start of the British and Irish Quidditch league!" More cheers, which I hasten to add, we delightfully joined in with. "First of all, we welcome last year's runners up of the League... The Ballycastle Bats!"
"They are so the front runners for this year's cup." Felicia said almost sadly to me as she sighed.
Instantly, Barny the Fruit bat started dancing around again as players began to zoom out of the player's entrance to the grounds. "Please give a big cheer for Captain of the Ballycastle Bats and member of the Irish international Quidditch team... QUIGLEY!" The Bats fans let out a tremendous cheer as Finbar did a couple of loop the loops in the centre of the field. "YOUNG!" He cried as The Bats second Beater exited the player's entrance. "The Chasers... HENNIS!... JOHNSON!... annnnd one of your Nations sweethearts... POLARIS!"
Kaitlyn zoomed out of the entrance, waving to her fans as I could sickeningly hear my mother go next to me, "Look at my baby."
"Keeper... HUTTON..." Another cheer, "Last but not least, your Seeker... YANDLE!"
The crowd went ballistic, and even I had to admit, Felicia and I were out of our seats clapping joining in with our half of the box as the Bats did a couple of laps around the field. Peters cleared his throat as the cheers died down and the Bats went to have a team meeting before the match as the attention was drawn to Puddlemere United.
The roars continued from the fans, this time from the other end of the pitch. "Now introducing the challengers... Puddlemere United! Including your Beaters...! MURDOCH! And MURRAY!" Two players dressed in Navy and Golden robes flew out from the player's entrance, the other side of our box was on their feet, cheering now, I thought I recognised Wood's parents for a second, but being that I hadn't spoken to them... ever, I turned my attention back to the match.
"I really hope we have bad news to report to Gwenog." I muttered quietly not even bothering to clap politely. Felicia couldn't force herself either I noticed as she nodded in agreement.
"The Chasers! Including Your Team captain and England international..!. VOSPER!" An ear splitting roar erupted in the stadium as a wizard zoomed into the sky waving at everyone, even I couldn't moan, he also played Chaser for England. Peters continued as Felicia and I looked at each other as we knew what was coming. "HARRIS! And for the first time ever in the navy and golden robes... GRIFFITHS!"
Felicia and I sat back in our seats looking murderous at this point as Wilda flew out to join Vosper and Harris in some sort of threesome chaser display in the centre of the field. Perhaps it was lucky that everyone else in the family box was ignoring us because both of us were sharing some sort of Basilisk stare that would kill anything at the moment.
Her curly hair was tied back in a bun to keep it out of her face and my insides squirmed uncomfortably at the fact she was playing in different coloured robes than I was used to seeing her in. Peters continued undisturbed as there were only two more players to emerge. "WILLIAMS!" Puddlemere United's Seeker flew onto the pitch and at this point I grabbed the binoculars next to me to get a better look at the next competitor.
I seriously couldn't help myself, and for that I felt kind of ashamed... well not really. But that's what I'd tell Gwenog in the months to come anyway.
"And for his first professional league match, your new keeper... WOOD!"
Admittedly, Wood looked better than I remember, and ten times better than the daily prophet article he appeared in earlier in the week. His hair was curling around his shoulders, messy, thick and unkempt and his facial hair made him look more masculine than he usually did; although I personally knew that the real reason he had more facial hair today than in his new paper article was because he'd probably been bricking himself so much about his first match he'd forgotten to shave. I was willing to bet money on it.
Either way, as I set the binoculars down and settled back to watch, it didn't matter what he looked like. We just needed to know how he played, and thankfully we didn't have to wait long.
"Please also give a big hand to our referee and assistant referees Archibald Nelson, Frederick Griggs and Julian Terry!" Three Wizards in black and white robes flew onto the pitch and as the teams got into their positions, Quigley and Vosper flew down to shake their hands and each others. The match was about to begin.
"Come on Kaitlyn!" I heard my mother yell from besides me as I muttered quietly to Felicia.
"Here we go..." Felicia crossed her fingers and bit her lip hesitantly.
"Johnson... Hennis... Polaris... Hennis, back to Polaris, pass to Johnson, intercepted by Vosper! Pass to Griffiths! Great flying by Polaris there! Bats resume possession... Hennis, Johnson Hennis... Sneaky flick to Polaris! ... WOOD SAVES!"
"Shit." I stated pouting as the other half of our box cheered.
I saw Kaitlyn mouth some sort of similar swear word as Wood passed the quaffle back to Vosper and play resumed once more. "And it's Vosper back to Harris! Oh dear! A well aimed bludger from Quigley means the Bats are back into possession with the quaffle, Polaris catches and it's back to Hennis!..."
Wood saved three more Kaitlyn shots and a difficult flick from Oscar Hennis before Aiden Johnson finally managed to sink a shot past him, and that was only because Harriett Young had chosen that specific moment to belt a bludger in his direction. "TEN – ZERO TO THE BALLYCASTLE BATS!" Peters roared to the crowd as we stamped our feet in delight.
Fifty minutes later, we weren't looking so thrilled, Griffith's was aiding Vosper and Harris as though they'd worked together in years and I could see Kaitlyn losing her decorum as Wood saved yet another seemingly difficult shot that she tried to fling pass him, the score was currently 70 – 40 to Puddlemere United. "I was really hoping we would have good news to take back to Gwenog." Felicia sighed disappointedly as the match restarted from centre field after Griffith's second goal. "But this is not looking good."
"They need to catch the snitch and fast, but neither Seeker has shown any sign of spotting anything so far." I complained as Vosper put another goal pass Gloria Hutton. The groans from the Bats fans were drowned out by the cheers and thumping from the Puddlemere United fans. Barny the Fruit bat was looking as depressed as I'd ever seen him, mulling about miserably on his broom.
Just as Kaitlyn took possession of the quaffle once more and restart the match with a pass to Hennis, it was then that Yandle had zoomed upwards and following the direction he was heading as Williams sped after him to try and keep up; did I see the tiny little golden fluttering of the Snitch.
"LOOK OUT!" Felicia couldn't help herself yell as Murray chose that moment to belt an oncoming bludger up towards both Yandle and Williams. As a beater; I could tell that Murrays aim was poorly timed, as Griffith's put another goal through the hoops at our end of the field turning the score 80 - 40, Murray's bludger collided nastily with his own Seeker and Williams went spiralling off into the crowds, luckily caught by his own fans as Yandle's fingers closed around the snitch.
Our half of the box and the other end of the stadium burst into cheers and yells as Yandle waved his hand around in delight.
Once the cheers had died down and the Puddlemere United fans began to leave the stadium I said to my parents that I would walk Felicia out and wait for them before walking down the stairs with Felicia so we could talk privately. "They make a formidable partnership." She stated carefully, "That was always Wilda's strength; to be able to read people so well that she knew what they were going to do with the Quaffle before they threw it."
"There's no question about it..." I answered as we exited the Stadium to walk to the apparition site, "They would have beaten the Bats no problem if Yandle wasn't so good at catching the Snitch. Wood saved almost everything they threw at him, I bet Kaitlyn is seething."
Felicia sighed, "Gwenog is going to be furious, she has to get another Chaser to play while Octavia is in hiding, plus Puddlemere United are looking particularly good and Griffiths played well tonight."
"We'll break it to her first thing on Monday." Felicia nodded, "That'll brighten up our morning before our inspection."
"It's this Monday?" I asked.
"The 29th." She answered, "You should ask your sister whether they've received the same letter."
"I will." I answered as she joined the queue for apparition. "Have a good evening; I'll see you on Monday."
Felicia reached the front of the queue and got the go ahead from the grim looking ministry official. "Later." She said, before disappearing with a pop.
I shrugged my hands back into my cloak pockets and headed back towards the stadium. It had mostly emptied by now, judging by the hordes of fans leaving to go in the opposite direction, instead of going up to meet my parents I headed for the changing rooms instead to wait for my sister. I wasn't allowed inside but Hutton told me Kaitlyn was almost ready as she left herself.
I sat waiting for ten minutes and Kaitlyn still hadn't appeared as the Puddlemere United players began to leave. I refused to meet Wilda's eyes as she passed me rather quickly, keeping her head down low she shifted her bag onto her shoulder as she carried her broom trying to keep her attention on Vosper as she did so.
"Katja?" Hearing my name unfortunately gave me no other option to turn away from six of the United players retreating backs to address who'd called me... hang on six?
Oh crap.
"Wood." I said my blue eyes having to travel up somewhat to meet his soft brown ones. Had he grown taller? Oh who cared? I still hadn't gotten an apology.
He shifted his bag onto his shoulder uncomfortably and I could see he was debating whether it had been a good idea to speak to me as he clutched at his broom. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to watch my sister play." I lied catching the cautious glance of Vosper as he looked over his shoulder at me thinking I wasn't looking. I gave him a curt glare and realising he had my attention he turned his head back around and continued walking. "You made the actual team then." I added, stupid comment, I knew this... he didn't have to know I knew though.
"Yeah." He answered, "Took a bit longer than you, but I made it eventually."
"Congratulations." I said automatically. "You were pretty good."
"From you I'll take that as a compliment." He answered giving me a wolfish smile.
"I know where to aim my bludgers." I answered truthfully. I don't know whether he took it as a joke but he didn't look uncomfortable, although it was pretty clear he was running out of things to say to me, bearing in mind our last conversation had ended in some sort of argument; which I'm certain was his fault; it wasn't surprising. "Shouldn't you go with your team?" I added saving him the trouble.
"Oh." He looked down the corridor but the rest of United had already left. "Well I guess it's a bit late now..." He trailed off. He turned back to me, "You're doing ok then?"
"I'm fine." I answered wishing Kaitlyn would hurry up. "I thought I may have seen your parents upstairs."
"Well with it being my first match they were there." He replied nodding. "Guess I'll see you around then... I assume you'll all be at the meeting next Tuesday anyway."
"Oh right, the meeting." I answered, "Are you being inspected as well?"
"We had our inspection today." He answered. "The team itself is ok, as there are only seven of us but our reserve team has lost a third of its players... but it's the inspectors they're sending..." He looked visibly angry as he said it and frowned down at me. "You won't like it, but don't speak out... it's not worth it."
So it seemed like everyone had gotten the same stupid letter... hang on, what had he meant? "What are you talking about?" I asked suspiciously.
"Am I interrupting something?" Wood and I turned where Kaitlyn was looking somewhat triumphant as she stood smirking in the doorway, great; I was never going to hear the end of this. "Good game Wood," She added, "Didn't think you would possibly save my third shot, but you did so well done. Credit where credit is due."
"Thanks." He answered, "You were pretty relentless sending those quaffles at me."
"Of course I was, I wanted to win." Kaitlyn answered as if it was simple. "Are you finished with Katja? I need to have a word with her."
"Oh yeah sure," Wood flashed her a smile anyone else would have swooned over and I rolled my eyes automatically. "We were just catching up, see you both on Tuesday." He turned around to leave and Kaitlyn and I headed in the opposite direction to meet our parents.
"Catching up huh?" She asked.
"Shut up." I responded.
So now I have introduced Wood, I can't say I have taken any direction from the movies... in fact none at all; so appearances may be different. Anyways thanks in advance, I hope you have enjoyed.