A/N: In my little world, Charlie Weasley left England and settled in America as a professional quidditch player for the Flying American Red Dragons. Off season, he works at the only American Dragon Preserve. My Charlie Weasley story ideas come from my story, "The Adventures of the Dragon Keeper."
In this episode, Charlie's team has a chance to make it into the North American Finals—the only qualifier for the World Quidditch Cup
The stories are based on characters created by J. K. Rowling. The woman's a genius.
The Flying American Red DragonsChapter Three—North American Finals
For the first time in a very long time, Charlie Weasley was in a bad mood. Even after his worst hangovers, he usually found something to be cheery about. It used to drive his family and friends crazy. When Lee sneaked in their room at three o'clock, Charlie barked at him for waking him up. Later, Lee was anxious to tell Charlie the results of his night on the town, but Charlie told him to piss off.
It wasn't that Charlie was sexually frustrated. He had been turned down before and he was a big boy and usually gracious about it, but to have a woman tell him that she had shut him down just to see if he knew the meaning of the word no infuriated him. What was he, some little school kid?
It was that point when Charlie decided he would no longer cooperate with the press. He was tired of being polite and answering inane questions from witches that didn't have a clue. He decided that he would only speak to quidditch news sportscasters and pre-arranged interviews on the WWN. He could always use the excuse that his team was getting ready for the North American finals and practice took up all his time and he needed to concentrate on helping the Reds go to the World Cup.
Word spread quickly that he was in a bad mood and those around him steered especially clear. By the time he made it to the team's locker room, his good humor had returned. The younger American players watched him warily. Only Joanna was brave enough to actually come up and talk to him.
"What's the matter, Weasley? Your panties in a wad? Jeez, you broke poor West's heart yelling at him like that. He was actually sobbing. It was pathetic." Joanna said, sitting next to him after she had donned her quidditch robes.
"Bugger off," he said, trying not to grin.
Joanna hit him hard in the arm and laughed. "There's my little sweetie," she cooed. "Really, what happened?"
"Everyone's entitled to one bad mood, for crying out loud. "
Joanna gave him an ironic look. "Mr. Sunshine himself?"
"I'll tell you later." Joanna was the kind of friend Charlie could talk to. "After the game."
She pointed at him, "Promise." And she skipped off to find her broom.
Popov was waiting for the team as they entered the arena. He had the same expression he always carried. He never minced words. Today was one of the most important matches because if they beat the All-Stars, they would qualify for the North American Quidditch Cup tournament, which was THE qualifier for the World Cup. He told them they had gotten lucky with the 180-10 victory day before yesterday. The beaters were morons, the chasers were sloppy and uncoordinated, the keeper lazy, and the seeker a lucky showboat.
"You don't deserve to be quidditch player," he said to all of them.
Charlie shook his head and grinned at Joanna. "Thanks for the pep talk, coach," he whispered in Joanna's ear. She stifled her giggles and coughed it her hand.
The owners followed Popov. The four wizards were flushed with excitement. This was the first time their team was ever this close to making it to the North American tournament. They praised the coach and staff, the chasers, the keeper, the beaters, and especially the talented and remarkable seeker. They were positive that the team would be victorious. The All-Stars were arrogant and complacent. They were in for the surprise of their lives. They completed their motivational speech chanting, "Go Reds, go!" The team cheered. Popov clutched his play book to his chest, looking disgusted.
The morning was perfect. It was cool and clear, and there was no wind, which was unusual for this part of Texas. The stands were filled with red and blue clad fans, cheering for their favorite team. Charlie could hear the cheering from their dressing room. Jason and Lee looked extremely nervous. Charlie passed them on his way out and gave them a big grin and a pat on the back. Lee's face relaxed a little, but he was still shaking slightly.
They flew onto the field amid deafening cheers. They flew once around the pitch waving to their fans. The All-Stars flew in from the other direction. They seem to have a more determined look on their faces. They never expected to be beaten by the lowly Red Dragons. This time last year, the former All Americans had not won a single match.
But here they were and ready to fly. As they gathered around waiting on the starting whistle, Joanna flew next to Charlie.
"Let's make this short," she said. "I have a date this afternoon." And she flew off, laughing.
Charlie laughed with her and held on to his broomstick tighter. The adrenaline was beginning to rise in him. His heart beat speeded up and there was a rushing in his ears. This is what he lived for; the expectation of the starting whistle. He had the same feeling when he was wrangling a dragon. The crowd excited him as did the noise and the anticipation of chasing after the tiny golden snitch. He was certain that it would be almost impossible to capture early in the game. But he would find it and he would win the game.
Charlie looked at the All Stars seeker. He was short and skinny, and aerodynamically, he was the perfect seeker. He looked at Charlie smugly and gave him a haughty smile. Charlie raised his head slightly as a return salute. He suddenly hoped Lee or Jason would knock that smug smile off his face.
Charlie was not nervous, but he was excited. When the whistle finally sounded, Charlie climbed high above the stands for a better view. He watched the game from his position and was impressed when Joanna took off with the quaffle at the very beginning. She passed the quaffle to Andrew who passed it to Iris who flew directly into the path of a bludger. She barely managed to avoid a direct hit, but it did narrowly miss her head. She kept flying until she was above one of the three goals. She faked a throw which fooled the All Stars' keeper . She dodged and threw the quaffle through the goal.
"The Reds score!!" shouted an excited announcer.
The three chasers flew around the pitch as an All Stars' chaser got the quaffle. They raced across the pitch passing the quaffle back and forth. Joanna flew in and stole the quaffle before any of them had to chance to change course. She quickly threw in for another score.
"Twenty to nothing!" the announcer shouted again.
The scoring after that went back and forth. At one time the score had the Reds down by fifty, but the chasers led by Joanna fought back.
Jason and Lee were working the bludger, keeping it aimed at All Stars and away from the Reds. They were determined to prove to Popov that they weren't morons.
"Great work!" Charlie shouted at them after they had directed a bludger away from Charlie's head.
About ninety minutes into the game, the score was 140 – 130, in favor of the Reds. The All Stars' seeker looked like he had spotted the Golden Snitch and made a dive straight for the ground. All Charlie could think of was the Wronski Defensive Feint used by Viktor Krum during the World Quidditch Cup against Ireland. He looked closely at the direction the seeker was headed, but he couldn't see the snitch. If he was wrong, Charlie was about to make the worst mistake of his short-lived professional quidditch career, but he did not believe the seeker had seen the golden snitch.
He looked further beyond the goal and thought he saw something. He decided to create his own feint and make it appear that he was following the seeker, but at the last minute, he pulled away and few toward the goal post. Dodging a bludger and several team mates, Charlie made his move. Closer and closer he flew until he stretched out his hand and captured the golden snitch. Most of the team was still concentrating on the other seeker's dive and didn't notice what he had done.
He held the golden snitch high above his head. When the whistle blew, his team mates flew into him, nearly knocking him off his broom. They shouted and punched the air. Together they flew around the pitch victorious. The Reds had won 290 - 130! They were going to the North American Tournament!
