Chapter 10
Owl Post and Quidditch
Author's Note: Made a mistake in Chapter 7. Ron said he had to work the day after (which is where this chapter begins) but I got the day wrong... it was supposed to be two days later, not this day. Sorry about that. Also, if you read one of my stories, Butterfly Kisses, you may recognize quite a few character names from that story. I decided to borrow them for this one.
Also, in Butterfly Kisses, I had Gwenog Jones as a Chaser. She is actually one of the Beaters.
Edit: Had to re-upload chapter. Made a couple of glaring mistakes.
(Hermione's PoV)
Sunday, August 1st, 1998
The following morning, Hermione was awakened by Ron's traditional wake-up kiss on the lips. Hermione chuckled and kissed him back. She chuckled when Ron's lips moved to her earlobe and he nibbled on it lightly.
"Lovely way to wake up," she said, "How long have you been up?"
"Ten minutes or so," Ron murmured, "I checked on Matty. He's still asleep. Also, I just talked to Phillip. He said Markus' replacement will be here in an hour or so to meet us."
Hermione looked over Ron's shoulder at the clock: it was half-past-seven.
"Mmm," she said, "Is there a reason you woke me up?"
"Maybe," Ron said.
Hermione chuckled and pushed him onto his back. She kissed him softly and rubbed her tongue against his lips. He opened them and allowed her entrance.
"Sissy," Matthew's voice said through the speaker.
Hermione backed away and looked at the speaker.
"Did I just hear him call me sissy again?" she asked, looking back at Ron.
"Yep," Ron muttered, "Guess he's awake. Damn it."
Hermione smacked him playfully on the chest.
"You're lucky the speakers are on the one-way option at the moment," she said, and got out of bed, "Please watch your language around him."
Ron made a lips-zipped motion and Hermione rolled her eyes. She put on her morning robes and left the room then headed for the nursery. Inside, Matthew was sitting up and giggling at something. She put her hands on her hips and he looked up at her and giggled. She smiled and walked over to him.
"Did I hear you call for me?" she asked, as she gently picked him up.
He giggled and she rubbed her hand along his pyjamas. The bottoms were rather wet.
"You called me because you needed a change," Hermione said, "Very good."
She walked over to the changing table and laid him down on it. She proceeded to unbutton his pyjamas and change him into a new nappy. As she taped the nappy against him, she saw that his eyes were looking off to his left. She turned and saw Crookshanks sitting there in the doorway.
"That's Crookshanks... you know him," Hermione said to Matthew, "Can you say kitty?"
Matthew babbled indistinctly. Crookshanks meowed and Matthew giggled.
"Well at least he likes you," Hermione said, "Crookshanks doesn't like Ron. Though I think the feeling is mutual."
"Did I hear my name?" Ron asked, as he walked into the nursery.
Crookshanks hissed and ran off out of the room. Matthew pouted and started to cry. Hermione cooed and tickled him on his bare belly-button. He giggled again.
"Cranky today?" Ron asked.
"No, he's very happy," Hermione said, "But you scared his kitty away. He loves Crookshanks."
"Oh, Matty," Ron said, "Do you have to? I was hoping I could finally have someone on my side when it came to Crookshanks."
Hermione giggled. She then dressed Matthew into a simple outfit for spending the day inside and headed downstairs. A few minutes later, as Hermione was making breakfast for Matthew, he giggled in his high-chair and she noticed he was pointing his tiny hand at something. Hermione turned and saw an owl sitting in the window across the kitchen. Ron, who was sitting at the table with Matthew, stood up and crossed over to the window.
"The Daily Prophet?" Hermione asked.
"Nope," Ron said, as he allowed the owl inside, "Hogwarts letters. Our NEWT exam invitations, I expect."
Hermione waved her wand and the food mixer started mixing the baby food on its own. Ron handed her one of the letters and she opened the Hogwarts seal on the back then unfolded the letter and read:
Miss Hermione Granger,
On December 5th, the Hogwarts Express will be at Platform 9 ¾ to pick up the recent Seventh Year students who wish to take their NEWT Exams. Between December 6th and 10th, if you attend, you will be required to take one NEWT preparation class a day that will prepare you for the NEWTs which will take place between the December 13th and 17th. Below are the subjects you chose in your Sixth Year for your NEWTs:
Potions
Charms
Herbology
Defense Against the Dark Arts
Transfiguration
Extra Subject :
Muggle Studies
To those students who have a sixth subject on their exams, you will have the option of taking a sixth preparation class on Saturday December 11th.
If you wish to take your NEWT exams, we wait your owl no later than November 1st.
Yours sincerely
Minerva McGonagall
Headmistress
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
By the time she finished the letter, the food mixer had stopped. Hermione dished out Matthew's food, and sat down with him and started to feed him with a spoon.
"November 1st," Ron said, "We have four months to think about it."
"Do you need to think about it?" Hermione asked "You seem pretty sure since you need NEWTs to become an Auror."
"True," Ron said, nodding, "I don't really have to think about it. What about you? It is only for two weeks in December. Less than two weeks. There's usually a Hogsmeade weekend the week before term ends. Mum and Matthew could visit."
Hermione opened her mouth and Matthew mimicked her, and took another mouthful of food.
"I do like that idea," Hermione said.
Ron looked at Matthew. "What do you think, Matty? Should sissy take her exams?"
"Sissy," Matthew said, nodding.
Food spilled over his lips.
"Ron," Hermione said, giggling, "No letting him talk with his mouth full."
Ron chuckled as Hermione cleaned Matthew's chin with a napkin.
"Well, at least he can say one word pretty well," Ron said, with a smirk, "And he did answer my question."
"Yes," Hermione said, "And how can I say no to that?"
While Hermione made breakfast for herself and Ron, there was a knock on the front door. Ron left the kitchen, and a minute later, returned with a girl in her mid-twenties dressed in Auror robes. Hermione raised her eyebrows. She didn't expect their new protection would be a girl.
She was rather tall and had long blonde hair that reached the middle of her back. Her eyes were a dark blue, she had a noticeable scar that went from her forehead to her right ear. She was, however, rather attractive, even with the scar.
"This is Allison Fawning," Ron said, "Markus' replacement."
"Hermione Granger," Hermione said, smiling.
"Very nice to meet you," Allison said, then looked at Matthew, "And this must be your brother?"
"Matthew," Hermione said, "Or Matty, as we like to call him."
"What a beautiful little boy," Allison said.
Hermione smiled.
"Auror Dayton said that you wanted my credentials?" Allison asked.
"Yes," Ron said, "If you please."
"Well, I've been a part of the Aurors for five years now," Allison said, "I was a Ravenclaw in Hogwarts, and I was one of the top ten of my class in Brighton Auror Academy. My strengths are Stealth and Disguise, which is probably why I was picked for protection detail. I am a fairly good duelist if I may so, but I am very lax in interrogation. Not one of my strong points. I am always honest and very trustworthy. Minister Shacklebolt tells me that was something you didn't like about who I replaced."
"He withhold information from me and I felt it could put me, Ron and my brother in danger," Hermione said.
"I will never do that," Allison said. "If something happens during my protection rounds, you'll be the first to know. Let's see... more about myself?"
"If it isn't too personal," Hermione said, nodding.
"I am twenty-six," Allison said, "I joined the Aurors when I was twenty, and I took off a year two years later when I became pregnant with my little girl."
"So you're a parent and an Auror?" Ron asked.
"It is considered quite rare for someone of my position," Allison said, "But I'm a family woman. My husband works at home most of the time. His work at the Daily Prophet allows him to be a stay-at-home father."
"I'm only curious," Ron said, "Because I want to be an Auror, even though I am helping Hermione raise her brother and we want children of our own in a few years."
"As I said, it is considered quite rare to be a parent and an Auror," Allison said, "Because my job is quite dangerous. But I also find it quite enjoyable. If I have days where I come home after a hard day at work, it is always relaxing to come home and spend time with my little girl. Anything else?"
"No," Hermione said, "I think you'll be quite welcome here."
"My pleasure," Allison said, "Now if you excuse me, I must catch up on the routine with Phillip. Should be exciting. Never had an Animagus as a partner."
"Also," Ron said, "If you see this orange cat around here, can you scare him off –?"
"Ronald!" Hermione said, "Ignore him, Allison. That cat is Crookshanks and he is mine."
Allison chuckled and gave Hermione a thumbs-up motion as she left the kitchen.
"You're no fun," Ron said.
Hermione stuck out her tongue as she returned to making breakfast, and this caused Matthew to giggle.
-
(Harry's PoV – Meanwhile at the Burrow...)
In the Burrow's tiny kitchen, Harry, Ginny, and Luna were sitting at the table, while Teddy was in his high-chair. Mrs. Weasley was at the stove making breakfast. Luna was working on one of her drawings that she loved so much. She usually drew her friends or events in her life.
At first, Harry wasn't too sure about these drawings, especially when the first given to him was her version of a Post-Quidditch-Match kiss between Harry and Ginny on the Hogwarts Quidditch Pitch the previous year; the thought of it alone was quite embarrassing. But when one of her drawings, one of Ron and Hermione dancing at Bill and Fleur's wedding had helped bring back Ron's memories, he was more supportive of them.
"What are you drawing there, Luna?" Ginny asked.
"Something for Daddy," Luna said.
"That will be nice," Harry said, "Something for him when he wakes up."
"Oh, I think he'll like it even when he's asleep," Luna said.
"Are you sure?" Ginny asked, looking at Harry.
"The Healers told me yesterday," Luna said, "that Daddy can hear me when I talk to him. So if his ears are open, it is possible he could also see the picture even if he can't look at me."
"That is a very nice way of putting it, Luna," Mrs. Weasley said, kindly.
Harry frowned. He knew Luna didn't exactly understand the concept of her father being in a coma. So she would talk about him as if he was just in a very long nap. Harry remembered one of the first things she had said when she came to stay at the Burrow yesterday...
"Daddy is hibernating," she had said, "just like the Blibbering Humdingers do... that only lasts a few days, so he'll wake up very soon.".
Harry had almost felt like crying when Luna said that, and had severely hoped it was true for her sake.
A sharp tapping sound was heard nearby and Harry looked up. An owl was sitting in the open window.
"Oh, Hogwarts letters!" Mrs. Weasley said, taking the envelopes from the owl, then handed them out, "Ginny... rather bulky letter... big book list perhaps, oh dear. One for you too, Luna. And Harry... must be your NEWT invitation."
Harry, Ginny, and Luna started to open their letters. Before Harry could even look at his, he heard a gasping sound come from Ginny. She was holding a brightly colored badge.
"B-b-but," Ginny sputtered, "I missed half of my Sixth year! No bloody way – oops, sorry, Mum -"
Mrs. Weasley was, however, too busy snatching the badge away to notice Ginny's swearing.
"Head Girl!" Mrs. Weasley said, "Oh, congratulations, Ginny!"
"Thanks, Mum," Ginny said, blushing and looking at Harry, who was beaming at her.
"I'll have to get you something extra special," Mrs. Weasley said, "Luna and I can go next Saturday while you two are at the Quidditch Match."
"Oh, Mum, it is so close to my birthday," Ginny said, "It will be the same thing."
"My daughter, always humble!" Mrs. Weasley said, grinning.
Harry looked down at his letter. Mrs. Weasley was right. It was his NEWT invitation letter.
"Hmm," Harry said, "I don't have to accept or decline this until November 1st."
"Why would you decline, Harry?" Ginny asked "You need your NEWTs."
"I just want to know if Ron and Hermione are going too," Harry said, "It won't be the same without them."
"I'm sure they'll go too," Ginny said, "Even if it takes them till November to decide."
Harry nodded and looked back at his letter... NEWT exams. The exams that would help him get into the Aurors... It was almost like these exams were the official start to the rest of his life.
-
(August 7th, 1998)
"Oh, bloody hell, this is amazing!" Ginny squealed lightly.
At noon the following Saturday, Ginny and Harry were currently walking up the long staircase to the top of the large Holyhead Harpies Quidditch stadium. Leading them were Susan Bones and her uncle, the Auror. Auror Bones had invited Susan along, and the two of them had free passes to the game because he was protecting Harry and Ginny.
"This is a wonderful birthday present," Ginny said, "Thank you, Harry!"
Harry smiled and caressed Ginny's hand. They were soon in the VIP section and Harry looked around. The chairs looked very comfortable, and when he sat down with Ginny in the front row, the seat automatically fit to his size, and was quite cool, even though the temperature was steaming hot.
"Oooh, complimentary Omnioculars," Susan said, "Brilliant."
Harry looked in front of his chair and saw the fancy binoculars, identical to those he had seen at the Quidditch World Cup.
"The Quidditch World Cup stadium was bigger," Harry said, looking around.
"Of course it was, Harry!" Ginny said, "It sat a hundred thousand! This can barely seat – I dunno – twenty thousand!"
"Are there even twenty thousand Harpies fans?" Harry asked.
"Even if there was," Susan said "Puddlemere United has a huge support-base. You can bet there will be a lot of their fans here too. Heck, I'm one of them."
"What?" Ginny asked.
"Oh, yes, I forgot to tell you," Susan said, grinning, "I'll be rooting for Puddlemere today. You know Oliver Wood is playing today?"
"Really?" Harry asked.
"Yep," Susan said, "First game as the official Keeper."
"If Oliver is still as good as he was in Hogwarts," Harry said, "Or better, the Harpies will have trouble scoring against him."
"No they won't," Ginny said, "Chase Crowe is an amazing Chaser. Her real name is Chastity, but they call her Chase because of how good she is. Of course, with Gwenog as Beater and Roxy Waters as Keeper, it will be Puddlemere who has trouble scoring."
"Surely, you jest!" Susan said, scoffing, "Jocelind Wadcock is better than Crowe. Then there is Quaffle Jenkins who had his name changed to Quaffle from some barmy name like Zeke or something, because he is just that good. Also you think Gwenog is good? Puddlemere has Connolly and Quigley."
"The two Beaters from the Irish National team?" Harry asked.
Susan nodded and grinned.
"We'll see how they match up against Gwenog and Bertha Biggs," Ginny said.
"Harpies and Puddlemere United Fans!" a voice said, and Harry realized the voice was coming right below the VIP area, "Welcome to the 1998-1999 Season Opening Game between Puddlemere United and your Holyhead Harpies! I am Billy Tremble and my always beautiful commentator-in-crime is former Harpies Chaser Xena Mason is here as well to give you full-match commentary!"
"Ooh, Xena Mason!" Ginny said, grinning.
"It is very nice to see everyone here!" Xena Mason said, "I really get so many letters from my dedicated fans who want me back on the team, but unfortunately I don't think even Gwenog Jones will let me since I only have two fingers on one of my hands."
"You could play with that hand tied to your broomstick and still be better than Chase Crowe," Billy said.
"You're very kind," Xena said, "And -"
She was interrupted by cheering coming from the other side of the stadium as a blur of navy robes and broomsticks flew off around the Pitch.
"And here is the Puddlemere United Quidditch Team!" Billy said, "Wood, Quigley, Connolly, Williams, Jenkins, Woodley, and Captain Jocelind Wadcock!"
Susan clapped and cheered beside Harry and Ginny as the team circled the field. Harry put the Omnioculars to his eyes and he saw Oliver Wood separating from the pack and heading off to the rings on the other side of the stadium. He hadn't changed much in the three months since Harry had seen him at the Battle of Hogwarts.
"There they are!" Ginny said, cheering.
"And your Holyhead Harpies!" Xena said, "Morgan, Griffiths, Isaacs, Waters, Biggs, Crowe, and Captain Gwenog Jones!"
Harry had met Gwenog Jones once in his life. She had been at Slughorn's Christmas party in his sixth year at Hogwarts. On the Quidditch Pitch, she looked much different, and quite a threatening figure in her dark-green robes. She indeed looked ready to play.
"As the players from both teams get ready to begin the game," Billy said, "Acclaimed Quidditch Referee, who has been a part of 750 matches, both as a celebrated Chaser, and official, Alec Salvatore flies out onto the field."
"Alec Salvatore gives his traditional pre-match speech to the players," Xena said, "and he releases the Bludgers, followed by the Golden Snitch. I'm sure you don't need reminded that the game can't end until the Golden Snitch is caught. Whichever seeker catches it earns 150 points for their team. Salvatore takes the Quaffle from the chest, blows his whistle and throws the Quaffle in the air! Every one of the Chasers on each team goes in for the Quaffle, can't tell who is who! And someone breaks out of the crowd with the Quaffle... who is it?"
"It's Chase!" Ginny cheered, "Ha!"
"Chase Crowe separates from the pack," Billy said, "and heads off toward the rings where Puddlemere United Keeper Oliver Wood is waiting."
"Wood was only a Reserve Keeper until this year," Xena said, "Fans will be interested to know that Oliver Wood played in the Hogwarts School Quidditch league as a Gryffindor and was the Captain, and he played with the famous "Boy Who Lived", Harry Potter!"
Ginny and Susan grinned at Harry, as he rolled his eyes.
"Can't even go to a Quidditch match without a name-drop," he muttered.
He put the Omnioculars to his eyes and looked on as Chase Crowe neared in on Oliver Wood. Oliver was staring intently toward Chase and the Quaffle. Chase threw the Quaffle toward the rings...
" – but it is intercepted by Puddlemere Captain Wadcock!" Billy said, as the Harpies' fans groaned, "And Wadcock takes the Quaffle back toward the other end of the Pitch. Chase Crowe is having trouble getting situated as she starts off back in pursuit. Oh, watch out!"
"Nice hit on the Bludger by my old Captain, Gwenog Jones," Xena said, "and – ohh, Puddlemere Beater Quigley smacks it back in her direction before the Bludger can get anywhere near his Captain!"
"Wadcock passes the Quaffle to Omar Woodley," Billy said, "Omar to Quaffle – Quaffle Jenkins that is, lets not get the name and the ball confused, folks. Jenkins in pursuit of the rings! Harpies Chasers Crowe and Morgan in pursuit, but they may be too late aaaand –"
Ginny groaned and Susan cheered along with the rest of the Puddlemere team.
"- And Puddlemere scores!," Billy continued, " Roxy Waters completely misses the Quaffle. Ten-zero to United!"
"Beat back those Bludgers, Boys!" the Puddlemere fans chanted.
"And let the Quaffle In!" Susan finished.
"As the Puddlemere fans chant the words to Puddlemere's famous theme song, created by Celestina Warbeck," Billy said, "Chase Crowe takes the Quaffle. Lets see if she can do better this time."
Harry watched on as Chase Crowe flew off back down the Pitch, with her fellow Chasers nearby.
"Wadcock in pursuit, possibly looking for another interception!" Xena said, "Big Bertha swings her club and aims a Bludger right for the lead Puddlemere Chaser and – ooh, nice block by Puddlemere's own Beater, Connolly! The Bludger boomerangs back to Big Bertha, and she has to duck out the way! I have never seen Big Bertha have to dodge her own Bludger!"
"Back to Chaser action!" Billy said, "Crowe fakes an attempted score toward the rings, and passes it to Griffiths! It seems she has learned from her mistake! Griffiths has the Quaffle, and she passes it to Morgan and – oh, another fake scoring attempt as she passes it back to Chase – who throws it and scores!"
Ginny, Harry and the rest of the Harpies fans cheered.
"This is not the Hogwarts league, Wood!" Xena said, "You'll have to do better than that to get past Chase Crowe! All tied up, ten-ten!"
Almost two hours went by in the match, and it was all tied up once again. The match had gone back and forth... sometimes the United team would get a twenty or thirty point lead, then the Harpies would come back and tie it up.
"- and Chase scores past Wood again!" Billy said, "An amazing three scores in a row to come back and tie the match up! 190-190! And – where is Gwenog Jones sending that Bludger?"
The Omnioculars were pressed against Harry's glasses as he watched the Bludger swerve toward a man in green robes.
"Hmm – ohh, toward Puddlemere United Seeker Benjy Williams!" Xena said, "He was in pursuit of the Snitch, but the Bludger made him swerve off course -"
The commentator was right. Harry could see the Golden Snitch now flying across the Pitch in his direction.
"- and Illiana 'Ice' Isaacs sees the Snitch as well!" Xena said, "And she is in pursuit! The match could end here! Connolly hits a Bludger toward Ice – and Bertha Biggs sends it right back at him – and ooh! The Bludger hits Connolly's broomstick and he goes flying off toward the ground! Can he save it in time -"
Harry was still watching Isaacs in her pursuit of the Snitch. He saw the determination in her eyes. Then, in his view of the Omnioculars, he saw Benjy Williams fly in behind her.
"Go! Go! Go!" Ginny said, "Come on, Ice!"
Isaacs aimed a kick at Benjy and sent him flying away.
"Ooh!" Billy said, "Ice with a brilliant move to get the Puddlemere Seeker off her tail – is that legal, Xena?"
"You know it is, Billy!" Xena said.
Harry watched on as Ice reached her hand forward. He could picture himself in her position as she reached her hand out, trying to keep her other hand steady on the broom and –
Harry heard a coughing sound behind him. He turned around and saw Auror Bones standing there.
"An urgent Owl post was sent to you from Hermione Granger, Mr. Potter," Bones said.
Bones handed the letter to Harry and he looked at it. He didn't hear the muffled cheers and screams, and could barely hear Ginny telling him that Isaacs had caught the Snitch and the Harpies had won, as he read the letter.
Harry,
Ron is in St. Mungo's. He was injured in an accident at Weasley Wizard Wheezes. I'm at St. Mungo's now with Matthew. See you here soon. Hope the game is going well.
Hermione
Cliffhanger! How badly is Ron injured? And what exactly happened? You'll find out very soon!
Auror Allison Fawning, Chase Crowe, Bertha Biggs, Roxy Waters and Illiana 'Ice' Isaacs (though Ice was only mentioned in name) was all names from "Butterfly Kisses".
Sorry the Quidditch match was so short. It was kind of difficult to write. I don't really fancy writing matches from a audience PoV. It is not very fun at all! But I hoped you liked it anyway. And the Chapter as well!