Author note: I absolutely must acknowledge one of my favorite stories – The Calendar Club by anonymouth as a major inspiration for this story and The Ties That Bind by Tigertales for its scenes of a certain quidditch match on the beach as having some flavor of what I've had to use here - "His name is Dirk!". Both these stories are ASTOUNDING and a MUST READ. I acknowledge the following HP authors and many others – all of whom have inspired me: Sela McGrane, tigertales, jazwriter, McGonagall's Bola, asouldreams, lolwrwg, tanithw, anonymouth, GreenEyedBabe, onecelestialbeing, Renard Noir, Twisted DKat, CherriiMarina, SassyKinglet21, Mr-Spock1, my dearest Sadainea, and of course – extra thanks for my betas Sadainea and Willowezra.
I own nothing, all credit is given J.K. Rowling.
Love Amongst the Quidditch Pitch
Chapter 3
The Hogwarts Quidditch Honor Challenge Team was meeting for a private dinner in a secluded section of reconfigured classrooms before retiring early. The Durmstrang team had been given the Room of Requirements which was also configured as their dormitory for the night while the players on the Hogwarts team that were former students were being put up in their respective Houses for the night. Rolanda and Hermione had worked out a meal to be filling, gentle on the digestive system, benefit recuperation and be appropriate for a good night's sleep. The Hogwarts team's final two weeks of practices had not only been using standard strategies but in their private workouts, they had incorporated some of Draco and Neville's unorthodox tactics. This fact they had hidden from the school teams. Not that they did not trust them, but what was known was that Durmstrang visitors were in Hoggsmeade and that the students might accidentally talk and reveal useful information near prying ears. Everyone was more than aware that the Durmstrang team was bound to be filled with strong, powerful males who tended to very much be "on the attack" and heavy scorers. The strategic plan of the Hogwarts team was to emphasize speed and defensive play. They would capitalize on Draco's lighting fast brooms and the sleeker form of many of the Hogwarts' Chasers to play a game of "keepaway" with the quaffle. Beaters would backup the Keeper to a great degree to block scoring. The lower the score, the greater Hogwarts' chances of winning. Now, seeing the actual players, they would discuss any adjustments to their strategy.
The team's main coach and one of the two Beaters, Rolanda Hooch was just ending her summary while finishing her hearty chicken soup, "Overall, I still think we have a good chance. Other than Toov, the players are about what I suspected and I think that minimizing their hands on the quaffle is perfect and will also frustrate the shite out of the them."
Sipping on his pumpkin juice, Neville chimed in, "Agreed but I've studied Toov. There is one technique later in his career that got on his nerves and I think impacted his retirement. Opponents would basically assign a chaser to shadow him one hundred percent of the time. He was so dominant, it was worth taking a player out of doing anything else just to keep track on him. I'd like to start out with our regular strategy, but about fifteen minutes in, switch to being in his hip pocket. It means we may have even less scoring as I may not be able to position for any formations but it will rattle him."
Minerva considered the proposal, but had an alternative approach, "Neville, rather than implementing at a certain time, let's have it be based on events. If they start pulling too far ahead, I'll give you a signal to try it. If what we are doing is working, let's not risk the change."
Neville nodded, "I'll agree to that Minerva."
It was Draco's turn to make an input, "I snuck a peak at their equipment as they entered the Room of Requirements. Most brooms were covered though. The few I saw were high end but a few years old. I can't believe that they would not be taking as much advantage of the latest equipment as us so I owled my father. He contacted Nimbus management and used some persuasion to see if any of the latest Nimbus brooms like the three we own have been sent up north and they said no. I think that Aurora, Astoria, and I will have the fastest brooms on the field."
"If Astoria gets to play that is," Astoria mumbled. She was still a bit displeased that she was a backup player as she felt with her experience and equipment she should be a front line chaser, replacing Pyreen.
Minerva cast a cold, warning glare at Astoria which made Draco's wife immediately remember her 'team spirit' and she sheepishly returned to picking at her food. The Headmistress heard a quiet chuckle from her left and glanced that direction to see Hermione with a slight smile gazing back at her.
The young professor whispered, "You can be very intimidating when you want to be. You know that? It's soooo sexy."
Minerva covered up her flushed cheeks and a surprised snort at the remark by raising her goblet of pumpkin juice to take a sip. She gently nudged Hermione's ankle under the table. "Shhhh" she whispered back to her brunette…. She had not quite figured out what to call Hermione in her mind. Was she her girlfriend? Her partner? They'd not crossed the line to lovers….yet. Hermione had tried, but had stopped when Minerva asked. She just wasn't ready with everything else going on, but the nightly farewell "kisses" were starting to turn into full on "snogging sessions". They were dating, of sorts, at least privately with a little bit being revealed to others slowly. They had dinner the one "recovery night" a week and a periodic afternoon tea, when the Quidditch practices allowed. They played chess and discussed books. Then the Transfiguration Mastery instruction had also started back up. Minerva reflected on the last few weeks as she watched Rolanda and Corbin discuss and then stand up and practice a few "shoulder digs" meant to knock a player off balance. She picked up more voices as Draco, Neville, Astoria, Aurora and Pyreen were discussing what might happen if Neville did break off to shadow Toov. The Headmistress realized just how well she was handling all the extra efforts and no longer feeling tired or buried. She knew she would also need to reward Filius later who had helped much more with school business and correspondence of late. But the real reason for her renewed vigor and the feelings that she was truly in charge of all aspects of her life was sitting next to her. The energy and adoration from Hermione was like a drug she could not get enough of. Their magic twined and twirled around each other when they were near without effort. She looked to her left again and instantly Hermione looked up at her and smiled. They both knew when the other was watching now.
Rolanda glanced over to observe Hermione and Minerva 'looking' at each other. She had started noticing that the young Potions professor was more and more at the Headmistress' side. Or was it the other way around. Regardless, at meals, at faculty meetings or at sporting events, on evenings off, or just doing rounds through the halls, they were together. Everyone had also noticed an extra pep in Minerva over the last few weeks even with all the extracurricular activities going on. She was actually happy for both of them. Each one was a strong, brave witch who had sacrificed for the wizarding world. They had fought darkness and great evil. Had seen horror and yet never failed to believe and defend good. Both had forgone their own needs for years at a time. Minerva in particular had ceased to have any form of personal life for decades. Now it seems that has all changed. What a powerful couple they were going to make if this worked out. The Quidditch coach felt a warm, comforting feeling in her heart as she observed the two witches simply eating and sneaking glances and little smiles at each other.
Her Manchester Mermaids pocketwatch quietly dinged that the top of the hour had come. Rolanda stood up, "Alright. Time for everyone to head off to bed. Get a good night's sleep. No work, no talking, reading only if you need it to relax for sleep, and.." she snapped her piercing hazel/white eyes in Minerva's direction, "nooooo hanky panky."
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
The Headmistress entered her outer office, a young brunette professor hot on her trail, not to be denied no matter what the instructions. She had barely come to a stop in front of her floo, flinging her hat to the couch, when strong arms wrapped around her waist and a warm body pressed against her back. The older witch could not help leaning back into the warm cocoon. She felt not only the arms enveloping her waist, a warm body pressed against her back, but tendrils of sensation wrapping around her whole body. Suddenly, there was a scratching of teeth at the nape of her neck, outside her robes, making her knees weak and wobbly.
"Hermione," gasped Minerva, "we cannae tonight."
Hermione hummed into a fragrant, graceful neck, "Mmmmmmm, yes we can. It's actually a good relaxer and you will sleep like a baby after."
Minerva chuckled, "Probably true, but nevertheless…" and she started to unwrap the arms encircling her waist.
Hermione huffed, her plans coming unraveled. The agile shorter witch quickly slithered like a snake around the front of her target and reattached herself in a warm hug. Minerva could not help returning the embrace, wrapping her arms around Hermione's shoulders. This was innocent enough Minerva thought as she nuzzled into that familiar fragrant hair as they slowly rocked together.
The young witch did have another reason to get a few minutes alone with the object of her affection. Her mind shifted to how to bring it up. She kept her head pressed into a warm shoulder, "Minerva, I did have one thing to conf…. tell you though."
Minerva felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up again, "What is it my dear?" she responded.
Hermione's brows furled in concern, "It's about Viktor Krum."
Minerva froze, stopping the rocking as the tingling on the back of her neck grew in force. She unwrapped the young witch and pushed back to look her in the eyes. Hermione's whiskey brown eyes showed some apprehension and she was biting her bottom lip. The older witch felt something flow through her that she could not identify given the situation. If this was years ago, it was similar to the adrenaline flow before the battle. At that time, there was heightened strength that flowed through her and others as it was time for all good witches and wizards to come forward and protect the innocent.
The Headmistress pressed on, "and what did you want to tell me?"
The young witch took in a calming breath, "I didn't know Viktor was on the team and I think he didn't know I was here at Hogwarts. You know he took me to the Tri-Wizard Dance one year." Hermione pulled back a little more from her current love to talk a bit more comfortably about a previous one. But she wanted to stay connected to Minerva. She didn't want any doubt to spread. She pulled one of Minerva's hands to her chest, wrapping it there tightly in her own.
"It was a hard time for me. Blossoming into womanhood while hanging around all males who were more like brothers. I was young and confused. I didn't know why I did not seem to feel attraction towards males as the other girls did. I wanted someone to notice the physical 'me' and not just the intellect. I wanted to stop someone in their tracks…. I didn't know until I grew to know myself more than a year later that it was you that I wanted to notice me." Hermione pulled the warm hand up to her lips, delivering a reassuring kiss. She could feel Minerva had pulled back into a very reserved 'en guard' mode and she desperately wanted her to relax.
"So Viktor arrived for the challenge and all the girls were swooning. He had a presence and a confidence that surrounds him to this day. He noticed me. While I waited for anyone to ask me to the dance and none did, he walked up, gave a deep bow, and simply said, 'Eet vould be a gveat honor to take vou to dee ball'."
Minerva relaxed a little and broke out in a small smile at the sound of Hermione imitating Viktor Krum's heavy accent. Hermione smiled back, heartened that Minerva was opening back up.
"It was wonderful to be on his arm. At the time, I was a bit enamored with him of course. At least I thought I was. Now I know it was just happiness that I was fitting in to everyone's expectations." Hermione stopped, feeling the Headmistress' hand tense up, and once again she brought Minerva's hand up for another quick nuzzle.
The older witch was vacillating between being as ease and the feeling of being 'en guard' or even 'protective'. She was having an impulse to 'protect Hermione' come over her even though there was no physical danger. So what was it?
At the next statement, Hermione felt a wave of warm magic surround her, "He was my first kiss under the moonlight."
The Headmistress' protective instincts spiraled out of her as firm, almost visible, tentacles of powerful energy wrapping around her target. But she realized it was not danger she was protecting Hermione from, it was her own fears that these old memories could be moving Hermione away from her. The tentacles came from her long dormant sexual side reaching out to claim Hermione.
The young witch felt the pull and knew what it was. This was something she had been trying to drive Minerva towards anyway, towards not worrying about controlling her passion. The young witch opened herself and allowed the energy to flow around her and through her. Her magic accepted the magical embrace while she moved her body back into Minerva's heated physical embrace. The shorter witch pulled an ebony-grey covered head down to join her in a passionate kiss.
Minerva kissed back with a wild abandon that she'd not let out in decades. Her hands grasped at the back of Hermione's outer teaching robes, pulling and tugging their bodies against each other. One hand finally buried itself in flowing brunette hair. She bent Hermione over backwards, forcing her tongue into a gaping mouth. Passionate moans, the clinking of teeth, and sucking sounds resonated through the room.
Suddenly, the floo roared to life and a crimson and black rough facsimile of Madam Hooch's face pushed up from the embers. The facsimile noticed the intense interlude happening and out of respect, it closed its eyes before bellowing out, "MINERVA G MCGONAGALL!….. I THOUGHT I'D HAVE TO CHECK ON YOU. YOU UNHAND HERMIONE AND SEND HER TO HER ROOM THIS INSTANT. I SAID NO HANKY PANKY!"
The forceful voice penetrated Minerva's animalistic side like a bucket of ice water being flung in her face. She suddenly pulled out of pummeling swollen lips and released the vice grips that her arms had on the younger witch. Hermione plummeted to the floor with a "THUNK" while Minerva backed up a step or two, clutching her chest with one hand and taking in a deep breath to calm her pounding heart and clear her mind. Emerald eyes darkened with passion and perhaps a bit of rage glared at the unwelcome, however correct, floo visitor. A fir wand whipped out and the owner sent a substantially charged stinging hex into the 'face formed of embers'. The floo puffed out a cloud of soot as a flash and a 'yelp' reverberated through the room.
Minerva stood there, arm raised and wand still pointed at the now dormant embers. She continued to take some deep calming breaths as she put her animal away. The Headmistress was filtering through the happenings of the last few minutes and was quite embarrassed. If Rolanda had not interrupted them, she was not sure where this would have led.
The sounds of gentle chuckling broke the silence. Minerva lowered her arm and put her wand away while sheepishly casting her eyes towards a pile of teaching robes and flowing brunette hair from which the chuckles were emanating.
The older witch reached down with an elegant hand to help pull the younger witch back up to a standing position. She had to say something. She had to apologize. Hermione closed the distance once again to reassuringly embrace the object of her affection, putting her ear against a chest, still sensing an elevated heart rate.
Minerva wrapped her arms around the younger witch, "Hermione, I'm sooooo sorry. I donnae know why I did that. I shouldae controlled maeself better. I told yae I was not always easy tae be with. Mae animagus side can tend to be quite jealous."
Staying snuggled against a warm chest, Hermione reassured her paramour, "I stand by what I've said before Minerva my love, I never want you to feel you have to be in control. I want your passion. I long for it. I told you about Viktor because I was surprised that he was here. We only had that one kiss. I knew it didn't 'feel right' at the time so I told him I wasn't ready for anything else. He was a perfect gentleman. Over time, we've owled some, but obviously not enough to even know we were both on the challenge teams nor does he know I'm gay. Now he is here and …. he 'winked' at me in the hall…"
Hermione felt Minerva go tense again. She quickly continued, "That's why I had to tell you. He doesn't know about us, I'm sure. So I'll tell him 'I'm taken' as long as that is alright with you because I truly am. I'm not interested in anyone else. I love you."
The Headmistress smiled and relaxed. Once again their magic flowed around each other, matching their physical embrace.
"and I love yae too Hermione."
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Deafening.
The roars that rose up as both teams entered the Quidditch Field were deafening. The stands were packed. There were overflow fans lining the walls of the school using various magical and non-magical means to visibly zoom in on the action and the audio was being amplified so they could hear. The Hogwarts faculty box was doubled up to include Ministry dignitaries and senior distinguished visitors and family of the players such as the Malfoys. The Durmstrang box had a similar gathering of dignitaries. The seating stands alternated between the fans of the two teams and the associated team colors. The weather was cool enough to need double robes and some overcoats, but fortunately no snow had started and winds were light. However the cloud layer hovered low and dense, like a ceiling of grey and white lumpy potatoes.
Dailey Prophet camera flashes turned the dark blue Hogwarts uniforms a myriad of paler hues. The Headmistress, in full Keeper pads and padded helm, grimaced at the blinding assault on her vision. She held back from launching a wandless hex though. To spoil this outpouring of shear joy would be a crime. Finally, such spirit showing from so many. The mix of young and old, different houses and schools, was similar to a Quidditch World Cup – but different in that it had brought the school that had been the focus of so much of the last war out from under the self-enforced darkness that had held it down. She gazed up to look from section to section of shear joy, of unabashed celebration. Never again would darkness take this away. No matter the outcome, things would be different from this day on.
The Hogwarts Honor Challenge Team formed a line at one end of the field, laid their brooms down, and awaited the entrance of the Durmstrang team. Rather than both team's flying in through the entrance tunnels, it had been agreed to acknowledge each other on the ground to allow the crowd and press some settling time. The flashes continued for a bit and then there was a scrambling away as the entrance of the Durmstrang team caused another tidal wave of cheers.
The Headmistress took this opportunity to say something that would only be within the earshot of her team given the roars of the crowds, "No matter the outcome, we have won a victory for Hogwarts on this day as surely as in the throws of battle for we have finally lifted the remnants of darkness. We have reunified all factions of the wizarding world as one team with one goal. I'm honored to be out there with each and every one of you."
From her right, she heard a reply from a male voice, "and we are proud that you lead us, then and now."
All eyes turned to the tall thin man that Draco had become and each nodded in gratitude.
"Course kicking Durmstrang's bums would not be bad either," heralded Madam Hooch. She held back the extra thought in her mind about the wagers she had placed on her team to win. A variety of snorts and chuckles brought the team back to the task at hand, to try to win against a crimson-clad wall of confident, talented males.
Hermione stood at the tunnel entrance along with Astoria, as backup players in case of injury. Madam Pomfrey was here too, complete with an assistant, a stretcher and a medical bag. The young professor smiled at the outpouring of emotion and cheering. The cloudy sky held no signs of rain or snow thank Merlin. She watched the Hogwarts team stomping their feet and swinging their arms to stay limber, their brooms laying alongside their feet.
Minerva turned to look behind her towards the tunnel. There was Hermione, her Hermione. When their eyes locked, Minerva no longer heard the crowd. The world shrunk down to just the two witches. She thought back to just a few moments before, as the female players on the team were finishing putting on their gear in the changing room. The other witches headed out leaving only Hermione helping Minerva with the last of her Keeper pads. The Keeper was flexing her gloved fingers and interlacing them, shoving them together to get the gloves on as tight as possible. Hermione had finished tightening the lacings on the shin guards. She had on a set of similar pads herself. The young professor rose and without warning she pulled Minerva into a passionate kiss. Minerva was initially startled but then joined into the tongue battle. Running low on air, Hermione gasped and leaned back to gaze at her leather-clad love.
Minerva took a breath in and in a raspy voice asked, "What brought that on at this moment?"
Hermione reached up to touch a rosy cheek, a strange look of determination in her eyes, "It was my farewell to my heroine before she goes out to battle. After this game, no matter the ending, I'm escorting you to the ball with our heads held high and afterwards we celebrate. I've waited long enough to make love to you."
Minerva's mouth opened in surprise at the bold words. She was speechless. She could not bring herself to once again sing the words of caution or reprimand. Her heart had won, finally. She raised her thickly gloved hand to gently caress Hermione's cheek. In a voice just above a whisper Minerva responded, "Alright my love."
Minerva nodded to her soon-to-be-lover and Hermione responded with a smile that sent the Keeper's spirits souring to the clouds high above. After the flashes of cameras had completed at the far end of the field, the Drumstrang Keeper raised his broom into the air. The Hogwarts' Keeper bent down and raised hers in response and both teams mounted their brooms and shot into the air.
The crowd roared once again while the press cleared from the pitch grounds scrambling into various spectator stands. Brunhilda Grimms, one of the best Quidditch referees from the World Cup, calmly strolled onto the field with the box holding the snitch, quaffle, and bludgers.
Both teams flew into standard starting formations, a Beater from each team close by the central release point to swing their bats and redirect the hard, black bludgers which were released first. The snitch came out next and Keepers Draco and Viktor instantly shot towards the school and straight up after the Golden Snitch as it jutted and jerked about for a moment or two and then catapulted off incredibly fast to hide. Chaser Neville was watching Chaser Haakon like a hawk, perhaps too much. Referee Grimms threw the crimson dimpled quaffle straight up into the air signaling the beginning of the one hour game and while Neville was watching Haakon, another Durmstrang player swooped in to grab the scoring ball and take off towards the Hogwarts goals, Aurora hot on his trail. She could catch him of course, but his physical strength would not let her wrestle the ball away.
It was obvious from the beginning that Durmstrang planned to score fast and often. Their first 10 point score happened within a minute of play as the talented Durmstrang chaser feigned an attack against Minerva's left goal but then swiftly backhanded the quaffle around his back to score through the right goal. Cheers and Cries of Woe rang out evenly throughout the pitch. Minerva flew a tight circle in front of the goals shaking her head at falling for such an easy feint. Get into it old girl… she thought to herself.
The announcer's voice rang out above the throng of the fans, "and we have our FIRST SCORE by Durmstrang just one minute into the match. It is Durmstrang 10, Hogwarts Zero."
As the teams were reforming, Rolanda belted out, "Everyone better wake up. Aurora, remember your broom is one of the fastest out here so BLOCK and let Neville and Pyreen wrestle if they have the quaffle." The white haired Beater stopped mid-sentence as she swung her bat to send a bludger straight at two Durmstrang chasers who spiraled left and right out of the way. The quaffle was relaunched and this time Aurora flashed in to gather it up.
Now their tactics came into play. Rather than rapid scoring, they played their carefully practice routine of 'keepaway'. Chaser Aurora tucked in behind Neville and Pyreen. They would peel off as Durmstrang Chasers challenged them but Aurora would pivot and bolt back towards the Hogwarts' side of the field rather than attempt a shot on goal. After a few laps, they would finally go into a scoring mode. At the six minute mark, after Keeper Tchekov was forced out of position by an incoming bludger, Hogwarts finally scored.
The match continued on with Durmstrang trying to push the pace when they had the ball and Hogwarts evading and slowing down that action on their turn. Due to Aurora's faster broom, she was able to grab the quaffle a fair share of launches even against the more physical Durmstrang Chasers. She would then hand it off to Pyreen usually. Beater Corbin hovered close to the Hogwarts goals returning bludgers and aiding in goal protection while Beater Hooch gleefully wrecked havoc body blocking the Durmstrang Chasers away from whomever had the quaffle on the Hogwarts side. Every once in awhile, a couple of high flying flashes across the sky would give a hint of the Seeker battle going on high above.
After twenty minutes or so, if it was possible, the crowd was even more deafening than before. The Durmstrang fans were screaming bloody murder. There was wailing at the referee about the stalling tactics, screaming of the cowardice at the Hogwarts team players waiving crimson team banners and trying to rile them, and there were general arguments in the stands of mixed devotion fans that had to be broken up by Ministry Aurors. It was not quite matched by the cheers and laughter of Hogwarts supporters who soon picked up on the overall strategy and how frustrated the Durmstrang team was getting.
During a short reset period between the very few scores, the Durmstrang team adjusted their own strategy. They began using their physical size to even greater advantage. It became difficult for either Chaser Aurora or Chaser Pyreen to be the quaffle carrier as Chaser Haakon would use his unparalleled maneuvering skills to herd and block them from their random circling while the other chasers would wrestle through the blockers. The quaffle was dislodge several times resulting in a few Durmstrang scores although Keeper Minerva had blocked her share. By the time that half the game was over, the score stood at Durmstrang 50, Hogwarts 30.
Hogwarts Beater Corbin Firestrumb had to return to a more beater-like role to the game to aid the hoarding of the quaffle. He could tell the Hogwarts Chasers were getting pummeled. Flashing up to the Keeper station, he yelled, "Headmistress, I feel I need to go defend our Chasers."
Minerva nodded in acknowledgement, it would once again be up to her to defend the goals without a guaranteed patrol in front of her. She immediately noted Corbin duck in well behind their "Triple Threat" formation made up of Aurora with the quaffle led by Neville and Pyreen to either of her sides. Two Durmstrang chasers were already bumping into Pyreen, the third coming up under Aurora who was preparing to accelerate out of danger.
As the Hogwarts Keeper scanned the area, ever aware of where the bludgers were, she saw a recently deflected one head for the concentrated group. Gripping her broom in anticipation, it was impossible to yell any warning that would be heard. Fortunately, she did not need to. Out of his peripheral vision, Corbin saw the dark mass. He shot around to the side of the formation and screamed, "Pyreen, DIVE!".
Even though intensely engaged, Pyreen heard the command and deftly went into a downward spiral. Corbin swung his bat just as the bludger was within reach sending it towards the two Durmstrang Chasers. One curled up against his broom and pulled up allowing the bludger's own momentum to carry it under his broom. However, the next player was not as lucky seeing the incoming black oval of death and it hit him straight on the right forearm and wrist. The arm pads spread out the impact but he was sent off balance and his flightpath careened off to the side and well out of the playing pitch. Aurora shot up front during the distraction deciding to take a shot on goal, Neville and Corbin covering her tail and Hooch a distance off to the side watching the other bludger and wrestling with a Durmtrang Beater. Aurora made a shot on the left goal, however Keeper Tchekov deflected the quaffle down with a tail swing. Pyreen swooped up at her highest speed possible from underneath to retake the quaffle and powered it through the right goal to the screams of the Hogwarts fans. Her momentum carried her dangerously close to the goals and while trying to maneuver between them, her left shoulder impacted one of the hoops with a audible snap.
After a few more minutes of play, it was Durmstrang 60, Hogwarts 40. Pyreen wiped the sweat from her brow with the right sleeve of her uniform with a grimace. Even with the weeks of work and practice, even with what she thought had been physical play with the Slytherin team, she was getting pummeled by the Durmstrang play. Both of her upper arms and outer thighs were sore and bruised even through the padding and they were getting more sore every time the Durmstrang players bumped into her or vice verse. The Transfiguration Professor tried to raise her left arm and pain shot from her fingertips to the center of her back. She was trying to get to the ball when Durmstrang had it, but they were indeed incredibly strong. So for the moment, Hogwarts was steadily falling behind.
A new level of cries came from the crowd as both seekers shot down into the bowels of the pitch, a glint of gold flitting in front of them. Draco was a flash of blue, cape flapping in the turmoil directly behind the golden prize. Viktor's larger form in crimson angling in from the side. He could not match the speed of Draco's broom, so he had to predict and take a tactical angle towards where the thought Draco might drive the snitch. Now that they were into a more confined space, Viktor used his Quidditch World Cup experience to the maximum. He knew fastest broom did not mean "first to the snitch". Sure enough Draco inadvertently herded the snitch towards the southwest corner of the pitch where Viktor predicted it would curve to the east so he peeled off on an arc cutting across the path just after the snitch turned. Throwing caution to the wind, the great seeker timed his grab perfectly, grabbing the snitch and pulling up with all his might to miss a set of banners and stands. Draco shot under him, diving down to avoid a collision and then having to pull up just as hard to avoid auguring into the sand.
Hooch hissed, not that she could hear her own thoughts over the roaring of the crowd. 'That hurt', she thought. A voiced echoed through the air, "Durmstrang 210 to Hogwarts 40 at thirty-seven minutes into the match."
Up in the stands, the tall sleek forms of Draco's parent, Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, quietly grimaced through the onslaught of revelry and lamentations that surrounded them. Lucius tisked his lips, preparing for his son to once again fail in front of the entire wizarding world. He dared not reveal those feelings externally. Draco had become more accepted than he was in general. Lucius continued in his twisted mind to always blame part of his own failure on the failure of Draco to do what he was destined to do during the war. Narcissa, the strong but still caring mother, held positive energy in her mind and focused her thoughts… please, oh please let him pull this out.
Hermione and Astoria, still tucked into the tunnel, looked at each other with matching scowls. Draco's devoted wife interjected as she turned back to look towards the pitch, the worry evident in her tone, "He is going to be angry at himself. He will have trouble staying calm and concentrating now. I wish I could go to him."
Hermione nodded and reached out to put an understanding hand on Astoria's shoulder. Astoria felt the reassuring squeeze of the warm hand. She didn't turn, but internally she decided to put aside some of her old animosity towards this member of the Golden Trio.
The great Durmstrang Seeker, Viktor Krum took a victory lap around the pitch, the Golden Snitch held firmly in his outstretched gloved hand. Durmstrang colors waved from every crevice of the stadium. A normal game would be over, but for this special one, the balls would be recaptured and the game restarted. Both teams came down to the pitch for a few minute reset. Referee Grimm recalled the bludgers as only a referee could do and refastened them into the box with the quaffle while awaiting Viktor to return with the snitch.
Keeper McGonagall landed with a thump, quickly flexing her legs with some deep knee bends. The cold was beginning to get to the players. It was hard to stay loose. Now on the ground, the drying sweat made things worse. The teams only had a couple of minutes to converse before the game would restart. Course given the pandemonium of noise from the stands and the fact no magic was allowed, the conversing would have to be done in a very tight group and quite loud for them to hear each other. She joined the Hogwarts players just as Draco arrived. Most were stretching and flexing their bodies a bit.
What Minerva noted most however, was the clinched jaw and angry eyes of their Seeker and Pyreen bending over, hanging on to her broom in obvious pain. Once the Transfiguration Professor had landed and put weight on her sore legs, the level of pain in her body skyrocketed and she was gasping just barely able to stay standing with her left arm hanging limp at her side.
Neville was the first to clasp Draco on the shoulder and break through to the stoic young man. The Seeker's head snapped around to look at the former schoolmate that he had once bullied so much. Neville said loudly, "This is not over unless you let it be." Aurora also came over to assure Draco that this was as a team sport above all.
Minerva and Hooch ran to Pyreen who was slowly collapsing down her broom. Minerva waved wildly at the tunnel entrance where Madam Pomfrey was stationed. Poppy Pomfrey charged out to the field, her assistant close behind dragging the stretcher. Besides the Referee, only the medic's magic could work under the wards currently blanketing the pitch. The crisp maroon skirt of the medic dug into the sand as she knelt and started immediately casting diagnostic spells on the crumbling Transfiguration Professor.
As soon as the medic was on the sand, Referee Grimm had also jogged to the person of concern. Grimm listened to the medic's diagnosis being yelled over the sounds of the crowd, "Moderate level trauma to both legs, left shoulder dislocated, elevated blood pressure and heart rate…. I'm certifying her unfit to safely continue play." She pulled out a golden potion to start Pyreen on the way to feeling better. As the stretcher began to magically follow her, she was already pulling the Bruise Removal Paste from her bag.
Brunhilda Grimm nodded in agreement and motioned towards the Hogwarts backup players. Astoria could see that Pyreen was being loaded onto the stretcher which Madam Pomfrey then magically elevated. Draco's wife felt her adrenaline surge. She was a little sorry Pyreen was injured but on the other hand, her Slytherin nature thought the team had a better chance now that she was joining. She flung her overcoat off and trotted out to the team, broom in hand, and passing the floating stretcher containing Pyreen.
Astoria immediately grabbed on to Draco's hand and said things no one else could, "You know what to do. Don't dwell on what you can no longer change. Clear your mind and we start again." Drawing strength from the bond with his wife, his jaw finally relaxed and he nodded in understanding.
Minerva and Hooch pulled everyone into a tight circle. Minerva ensured Draco was tight against her side, offering silent support. Chaser Hooch yelled out, "We have to stop our stalling tactics. We have to score more goals than them for the rest of the match. I'll speak the obvious. No matter, to win we must catch the snitch before the end also."
"BUT…", yelled the seasoned Headmistress, "that task it not just Draco's, it is all our jobs. To get ahead, keep them battling us. The snitch likes hiding in chaos. Let's bring it down."
Keeper McGonagall loudly followed up, "Neville, try your tactic on Toov so we can try to free up Astoria. We have 23 minutes. Make Hogwarts proud."
The Drumstrang team huddled around the Referee as she retrieved the snitch from Seeker Krum and told them of the medical substitution.
Both teams flew into starting positions once again. Draco eyed the confident Viktor Krum with steely, calm determination. He had been outmaneuvered for the last time.
Play picked up with a totally different look from the Hogwarts team. Astoria's and Aurora's lighting fast brooms flashed by causing a physical turbulence in the air. Haakon noted with both irritation and a smirk that he had acquired a constant shadow. Hooch and Firestrumb concentrated on keeping the bludgers constantly headed towards the Durmstrang side of the pitch. With Neville countering Toov's blocking, Astoria was quickly able to get a score on goal.
This was followed up by one Durmstrang score but then three fast Hogwarts scores driven by the very fresh Astoria with her high level of comfort with her broom. The announcers voice range out, "Forty six minutes into the game and it's Durmstrang 220, Hogwarts 80."
Haakon smirked as he once again had shaken the Hogwarts player off his tail with some skillful and rather acrobatic broom flips. He still "had it" indeed he gloated internally. Aurora zipped by him, quaffle firmly in arm, and he took off after her quickly losing distance. He looked forward gratified to see both Durmstrang Beaters and one other Chaser ready to receive the incoming potential scorer. He peeled off, noticing his shadow had returned.
Beater Hooch took a perpendicular path to Aurora's current assent towards the goals and then cut across the front to sweep away some of the blocking which allowed a score against the outer edge of the leftmost goal, just beyond the swing of Keeper Tchekov. Haakon grimaced, the younger players were just not up to par compared to his generation. His trust that they could stop a simple professor from scoring was misplaced.
He screamed out to the Beaters and Chaser, "Vat arre you doingk? A picnic? Play as dough your life depends un it, because eet does." Haakon was no fool, the opponents had pulled to within a "snitch" of winning. They needed to regain a larger lead for complete assurance.
With only seven minutes to go in the game, both sides had ramped up their frenzy. Chaser Toov was carrying the quaffle himself at this moment, belting out orders to his fellow players to clear a path to the opposing goals. He dove as a bludger came streaking towards him and his shadow had to bank hard right. The bludger turned to follow Neville as he was still its closest target. He flew toward Corbin who expertly batted the bludger back towards the Durmstrang Chasers. Haakon crouched into his most aerodynamic position and slithered a path of fast banking turns towards the Hogwarts goals.
Minerva saw the wave of slithering players and at least one bludger headed for her and she kicked hard into her broom stirrups ready to respond. Keep your attention on the ball old girl – she thought. Corbin and Neville were both heading forward to help at the goals. Corbin pulled into the leftmost position in time so Minerva had some backup as Haakon advanced.
The mass of action and acoustic waves and airflows down below intrigued the little snitch. It was tired of flitting around in the wind currents of the clouds hiding from the two that 'try to capture it'. These were good hunters. Every time it stuck its little wings out, they would spot it and be on its tail fast, so the clouds had been the best hiding place. This was a long time to be out and it was bored. A flow of blue and black breezed by underneath it, the human oblivious to the fact he had just passed the snitch again. It decided to have some fun and took off like a golden meteor, headed down to play in the ruckus and turmoil of the pitch for a while. Sure enough, Viktor spotted the target and headed off at full speed, straight down towards the playing field. Draco turned in another orbit and noticed Viktor was already well below him streaking into the pitch. He turned hard and fell into full pursuit
Minerva knew something was up, the screams and chanting from the crowd had elevated, but she dared not take her eyes from Haakon. She had to trust her teammates to keep any bludgers from her as she was zoned in only on him. The World Cup Famous Chaser did not seem willing to hand the quaffle off to other players so that was to her advantage. It was taking precious minutes of maneuvering and Neville had returned to bump in and foil any good path towards the goals.
Viktor curled into the pitch between two of the stands, a tiny golden glint in front of him and a mass of players beyond that. Astoria had stayed back towards the center of the playing area and watched as Viktor swooped in obviously tracking on the snitch. She parallel his path on the left noting Draco was now arriving at high speed on Viktor's right. Draco was coming up fast. He smiled inside when he finally caught the glint and could track the snitch directly.
Predict, think ahead.. the Hogwarts Seeker thought. Snitch likes the chaos but not being too near…it will go... BELOW…. and Astoria watched with a gasp as Draco dove down and skimmed along the sand of the pitch field.
Minerva kept her eyes on Haakon who was still headed in on a scoring attempt with plenty of guards in front of him. She caught Viktor headed in from one side and a flash of blue as someone headed way down to the bottom of the pitch.
Viktor was just stretching out for an attempt at a capture when the snitch suddenly dove down away from the grouping of people in front of them. He regrabbed his broom and dove after the prize.
Draco saw it, he caught the glint heading downward and kicked into the highest gear ever. All caution to the wind, concentrate and damn the consequences, don't even breath. He was so close to the sand a brown wake was curling up behind him. He did not even hear the noise, the screams, he only saw the target. He was reaction only, no more time to think. The little winged ball didn't know what happened. One moment it was flitting through wonderful air currents and the next, a gloved hand closed around it.
With one arm on his broom and one holding his prize, Draco pulled up with all his might. The tail of his broom swept through the sand of the floor of the pitch for just a moment before he shot up, dodging a wave of fellow and opposing players. He pulled to a stop some 20 meters above the Hogwarts goals and looked at the prize in his hand. Now the sound started to penetrate. The cheers, the cries, the turmoil of mixed emotions. He'd done it. He'd won. In this little game, he had been part of the team and had fulfilled his promise. The young Malfoy didn't know whether to cry or to laugh. He finally took in a big breath and shuddered off his shock. He raised the arm with the snitch and screamed a cry of victory as he had never done in his life.
She was laughing and jumping and crying, all at once. Narcissa Malfoy's normally stoic and calm façade was exuberantly thrown to the side. Her son... The crowd was cheering her son. People were touching her, welcoming grasps on her arms and shoulders and hand shakes of congratulations – and she cared not and returned their well wishes. There was even a "High Five" with someone. She finally turned to her husband. No matter what kind of weaknesses he had, she still loved him and had stood by him. It was her quiet strength that had healed both her husband and son, at least to the level they could be. He could not cry out in happiness, it was just not in Lucius. But she could see it. A tiny return of the glint in his eyes, or was it tears? There was a calmness in his face, perhaps contentment, maybe even real pride. No one had dared touch Lucius in celebration, but Narcissa did. She looked into his eyes and smiled with bright shining teeth and the streaks of her tears of joy down her cheeks. His lips curled into a little grin as she touched his cheek and brought her fingers around one ear, tucking his long white/blonde hair behind it.
The announcer's voice bellowed through the air, "Durmstrang 220, Hogwarts 240 with 4 minutes to go."
Referee Grimm once again had recalled the bludgers and took the quaffle from Haakon. Draco did a few victory laps then landed near the Hogwarts team to turn over the snitch. Astoria plowed into Draco's arms, "You did it. You did it my husband. My love." she whispered. Then the entire team descended on the Seeker and his wife, slapping their backs and yelling out the congratulations.
Beater Hooch regained her own composure, remembered her role and yelled out, "It is STILL not over yet. They have four minutes to either capture the snitch again or score three goals while we score none. My suggestion is we pull Corbin after the bludger releases to help make sure Viktor's ability to maneuver is impaired while Draco still keeps his eye on the snitch. Draco, just keep it going AWAY from the pitch. Neville stays on Haakon and I backup Minerva. Pyreen, Aurora – GET THE QUAFFLE and delay as much as you can. You will need to watch the bludgers since we won't be as close as usual to protect you."
All nodded in agreement and mounted their brooms for the last time. It was almost surreal. The last four minutes ticked by as if Hogwarts had planned them all out. The bludgers were released and were batted various directions. The snitch zinged straight up, rather peeved at being caught again. Draco bolted right after it. When it ducked into the clouds, Draco simply blindly plowed in too hoping to scare it further into the dense cover. Viktor watched Draco disappear into the cold mist and held up, hoping the snitch would actually be flushed out. A bump against his left side startled him and he turned to see the smiling face of a fellow Durmstrang graduate.
Corbin reflected, "Dee time ess short."
Down below, Astoria had timed her arc towards the quaffle perfectly and caught it at full speed, Aurora guarding her rear. This was a much faster game of keepaway with the Durmstrang players desperately trying to get an angle on the speedy Chaser and her just-as-speedy blocking partner. Neville blocked and bumped and rode Hakoon until they almost collided with a set of stands. Out of the corner of her eye, Aurora saw a bludger coming up from behind and deflected it just enough with a swing of her arm.
Narcissa watched the clock with baited breath, the seconds ticked by steadily
and then,
almost quietly,
it was over.
Hogwarts had won.
To the cheers of the assembled crowds, both teams landed and met in the center of the pitch. The associated Keepers clasped forearms in acknowledgement and sportsmanship for a hard fought game.
Headmaster Tchekov spoke first, "Several unorthodox tactics Headmistress. My complements to vour cunning. I trust vour injured player veel recover een time for dee ball."
"Thank You Headmaster. Well played game on both sides." Headmistress McGonagall replied.
Hermione came running up to join her team on the field. She waited until the Keeper's arm-clasp was over and the players were slowly congratulating each other, with some amount of unhappy grumbles from the Durmstrang players, before grabbing onto Minerva's arm in excitement. The Headmistress turned to pull Hermione against her side, smiling into those whiskey brown eyes she could just get lost in.
Seeker Viktor Krum sauntered over to the two powerful witches, with a slight bow he offered a compliment, "A good game Headmistress." Totally ignoring Minerva's embrace of the young professor, he reached down to pull up Hermione's hand and places his lips gently against the leather-clad knuckles, "I eenzist ve have dee first dance dis evening."
- End of Chapter - Comments Appreciated -