CHAPTER 37: THE NAME GAME
"What do we call ourselves?" George asked O'Bannon at breakfast the next morning. "You mean the Hogwarts Hockey Club isn't good enough?"
"C'mon, man, we need a real name, like the Bruins or the Devils or the Flames, something like that."
"Besides, it wouldn't be appropriate to call ourselves the Hogwarts Hockey Club," said Katie.
"And why's that?" Fred looked to her as he cut into a sausage link. "We're a hockey club and we're at Hogwarts. Makes sense to me."
"How about the fact we have a witch from Beauxbatons and four wizards from Durmstrang on the team? Plus, Jimmy is only here as an exchange student from Salem. We don't want anyone to feel excluded."
"Katie's got a point." O'Bannon nodded to her. "We need a name that's unifying, that everyone can rally around."
"So any ideas?" asked Lee.
"Nope. That's why we're gonna have a meeting after dinner tonight, so we can come up with one."
O'Bannon took a swig of his pumpkin juice when dozens of owls flew through the Great Hall with the morning mail. Mom and Dad sent him some clippings from The Boston Globe on Red Sox spring training. He also received a letter from Rosa, Jared and Artimus. Rosa wrote that she and Gregory Lancemore broke up.
I can't believe I fell for all his charm. I don't think it's possible for him to love anyone more than he loves himself.
O'Bannon frowned, but knew from past experience Rosa would rebound quickly.
Jared wanted to know if he'd met any other hot witches at Hogwarts. He sighed and glanced over at Mireet at the Ravenclaw table.
Artimus said he was doing well in all his classes – though his father told him he should be doing better – adding he hoped everything was going well with the hockey club.
When breakfast ended, he went around to the hockey club members at the other tables, informing them of the meeting. He caught up with the four Hufflepuffs on the team – Ernie, Susan, Justin and Summerby – just as they exited the Great Hall.
"Be sure to hang around after dinner tonight. We're gonna have a meeting to decide what to name our team."
"That should be easy," said a familiar, snide voice behind them. "Just call yourselves Mudblood and Blood Traitor Losers."
O'Bannon and the Hufflepuffs turned around to find Malfoy smirking at them. Crabbe and Goyle flanked him, while Pansy Parkinson stood off to the side.
"I don't recall anyone asking for your worthless opinion, you ferret-faced little prick," O'Bannon countered.
Malfoy's head quaked in anger. Crabbe and Goyle glared at him and cracked their knuckles.
O'Bannon stood his ground, as did his Hufflepuff friends.
Malfoy thrust out his chin. "You just wait till June. We're getting better every day. Not surprising. Hockey's like a baby's game compared to Quidditch. When our match comes around, we'll embarrass all of you. We'll even be better dressed than you. My father has a stake in the ownership of the Banchory Bangers -"
"Oh yes." Justin cut him off. "The team that doesn't accept Muggle-born players, if I'm correct."
Malfoy scowled at him before continuing. "As I was saying, Father has contacted the witch who designed the Bangers robes, and she'll be making our uniforms for the hockey match. Where are you getting your uniforms from? The Weasleys donating some old potato sacks. Wait, can they even afford potato sacks?"
The Slytherins all laughed.
"For your information, Malfoy," Ernie stepped forward, "my parents have volunteered to pay for our uniforms and equipment. They seem to think learning about Muggle culture is a worthwhile endeavor."
"Bah!" Malfoy gave him a dismissive wave. "What do your parents know? They've always fawned over that old fool Dumbledore. You MacMillans may almost be as wealthy as my family, but you're just as much a disgrace to the Wizarding World as the Weasleys."
To O'Bannon's surprise, Ernie laughed. "That's rich, coming from you. No one in my family ran around with little snakes drawn on their arms and extolling the virtues of You-Know-Who during the war, unlike your family. So which of us is the disgrace?"
Malfoy's face tightened in fury.
"Dude, burn!" O'Bannon grinned and high-fived Ernie.
"Like I care what a bloody Hufflepuff has to say about me," Malfoy spat. "Your house is nothing but a great joke."
"Yet we have a champion in the Tri-Wizard Tournament and Slytherin doesn't." Ernie smiled with pride.
O'Bannon barked out a laugh. "Dude, double-burn! Malfoy, you better quit while you're behind."
Malfoy looked ready to explode. Both Crabbe and Goyle's shoulders rose and fell with angry breaths.
Before anything could happen, Professor Flitwick appeared and shooed them off to class. O'Bannon glanced at Ernie as they neared the staircase.
Who said Hufflepuffs have no backbone?
XXXXX
After dinner, as many of the students filed out of the Great Hall, O'Bannon and the other hockey club members gathered at the Gryffindor table. This also included their "support staff," meaning Lee Jordan, the Creevey brothers, and Alicia Spinnet. Even though she had fully recovered from the effects of the Blue Dreariums, it would take her a while to get back into playing shape, and longer still to get used to playing hockey instead of Quidditch. No way would she be ready for their game in June. But since Alicia wanted to become a mediwitch after graduation, O'Bannon made her team trainer.
"Okay, gang," he said once everyone was settled. "Now that we've got our roster set, it's time to come up with an actual name for our team. So let's start throwing out ideas, and keep in mind, we should probably have a name that shows how a bunch of wizards and witches from different houses, different schools and different countries can come together and be united in a common cause."
"Well there you have it, then," said Terry Boot.
O'Bannon tilted his head. "What are you talking about?"
"There's the perfect name right there. The United."
A doubtful look formed on Dean's face. "I don't know. There's loads of Muggle football teams that call themselves United. West Ham United." He flashed a smile at mentioning his favorite team. "Newcastle United, Leeds United, Sheffield United, Peterborough United . . . bloody effing Manchester United."
While not a soccer fan, even O'Bannon knew of Manchester United. Basically, they were to British soccer what the New York Yankees were to American baseball. You either loved them or you despised them. Dean was definitely the latter.
"We even have a United in the Quidditch League," Alicia pointed out. "Oliver Wood's team, Puddlemere United."
"Okay," O'Bannon said. "So basically, the United, not a very original name. Any other ideas?"
Several seconds passed before Michael Corner spoke. "I've got it. The Chimeras. You know, they've got three heads, and there are students from three schools on our team."
Tortorov shook his head. "No. Chimeras I do not like. An uncle of mine was killed by one."
"Sorry about that, mate," George said. "I guess that name's out, too."
The players continued to throw out and debate more names. Fred came up with The Ice Lords, which O'Bannon thought was a cool-ass name. But Angelina and Mireet pointed out that Ice Lords had nothing to do with the diverse make-up of their team, so the captain got overruled. Velich suggested The Gestalt. Most of the players, including O'Bannon, had no idea what that meant.
"A Gestalt is a structure made up of many individual parts, yet it functions as a single entity," Velich explained.
Anthony Goldstein thought it an appropriate name. Then again, O'Bannon expected one of the Ravenclaws to dig The Gestalt. For him and the rest of the team, the name was way too intellectual.
Summerby, considered on of the best Astronomy students at Hogwarts, suggested The Constellations.
"Think about it. You have several stars that make up a single formation. The same principle applies to our team, in a manner of speaking."
Many players made faces and shook their heads. O'Bannon also wasn't too keen on The Constellations. It was just way too out there.
More names followed. So did more rejections. The Tri-Wizards from Susan Bones. The Yetis from Lee Jordan. The Puck Parliament from Justin Finch-Fletchley. The Ice Alliance from Katie Bell. It went on and on for the next hour-and-a-half. Frustration set in. Tempers flared. O'Bannon decided to end the meeting before someone drew a wand. They pick this up again tomorrow.
Merlin's beard, I can't believe this is so friggin' hard.
It was just a name. No, it couldn't be just a name. It had to be the right name. One that people would remember. One that defined them as a team.
O'Bannon headed back to his dorm room, trying to finish his Transfiguration and Potions homework. Many times he paused, thinking back to all the names that the club had brought up. He reviewed the ones that had a group connotation. Alliance. Parliament. United. Even The Gestalt. None of them seemed . . . powerful enough.
He reconsidered Susan's idea. The Tri-Wizards. O'Bannon, and many others, thought that was just stealing from the Tri-Wizard Tournament.
But hadn't Dumbledore convinced those jagoffs from the Ministry of Magic to have the hockey game connected to the Tri-Wizard Tournament, as an embodiment of the spirit of international magical cooperation? Maybe Tri-Wizards wouldn't be such a bad idea?
But it still sounds like we're stealing the name.
Or maybe he could just use the first part somehow. Tri. Tri meant three.
So what words have "tri" in them?
Triumph came to mind, but to name a team that sounded way too arrogant.
Triangle, but who the hell would call their team The Triangles?
But wasn't there a similar sort of word for triangle? Something that sounded much cooler?
Yeah. Triad. He recalled the word from one of Dad's Tom Clancy novels he'd read. It referred to the US nuclear triad, the combination of land, sea and air-launched weapons, all used in concert in the event of war.
Triad.
He leaned back in his chair, a smile growing on his face.
Triad.
XXXXX
After his morning run and a quick shower, O'Bannon rushed down to the Great Hall. He gathered up his Durmstrang and Hufflepuff players from their tables before going over to Mireet, Michael, Terry and Anthony at the Ravenclaw table.
"Guys, guys! C'mon. I got something to show you."
"Mate, I'm still eating," Terry said as he chewed.
"Then just bring your plate. This is important. C'mon."
Mireet and the Ravenclaw trio followed him, all with curious looks on their faces.
"So what's so bloody important you have to interrupt my breakfast?" Terry demanded.
"I got it."
"Got what? Spattergroit?" Fred chuckled at his little joke, as did George. Several of the witches around him turned up their faces in disgust.
"No, you pillock," O'Bannon snapped.
Fred did a double-take. "Hang on. Did you just call me a pillock?"
O'Bannon blinked. "Oh my God. I did. Damn, I think I've been in this country way too long. I'm starting to talk like you people."
"That's not such a bad thing," said Fred.
"Maybe now you'll actually be able to use the letter 'r'," George remarked.
"Ha-ha, very funny . . . not."
"Quit joking around," said Angelina. "I want to know what's got Jimmy so excited."
"Like I said, I got it. The name for our team." He pulled out a piece of parchment and plunked it down on the table. Everyone leaned in for a better look.
"Triad?" Ginny read it aloud.
"Yup. Triad. I think it's perfect. The name's short, it's got some punch, and it perfectly describes us. Wizards and witches from three schools – Beauxbatons, Durmstrang and Hogwarts – all coming together for a single purpose. To kick Slytherin's ass in hockey."
He gazed around at the team. "So, what do you think?"
A few seconds of silence passed. Apprehension crept through O'Bannon. He wondered if this name would get shot down like all the others.
"I think it is very appropriate," Mireet said.
Her comment sent a swooping sensation through his chest.
Alicia, Seamus and Kurdzeli nodded.
"I think it's pretty cool," said Corner.
"It's better than anything we've come up with so far," George noted.
"Okay." O'Bannon clapped his hands together. "Let's put it to a vote. All in favor of calling ourselves the Triad, raise your hands."
Most everyone's hand went up, the exceptions being Velich, Ernie and Terry, but as they stared at the others, they seemed resigned to defeat.
"Well, I guess it's official. Ladies and gentlemen, we are now officially, the Triad."
Many of the players smiled and nodded, giving brief cheers or saying, "Yeah."
Out the corner of his eye, O'Bannon noticed Ron looking their way. He frowned, slumped his shoulders and pushed his food around his plate. Hermione gave Ron a dirty look, then leaned in and said something to Ron. He appeared to ignore it.
O'Bannon couldn't help but feel bad for Ron. He hoped Fred and George's younger brother would get over being cut and realize it hadn't been anything personal.
Maybe not for you, but for him it's a different story.
"Well if we're a proper team, we're going to need a logo," said Justin.
"Leave that to me." Dean tapped his chest. "I'll try to come up with something by tomorrow. Oh, Jimmy. Could I borrow that hockey book of yours, the one with all the photos?"
"You mean NHL History in Pictures? Yeah, sure. I'll give it to you at lunch."
For the rest of the day, O'Bannon had to force himself to concentrate on his school work. He was anxious to see what Dean would come up with. If the banner he made of Cedric Diggory running around with his hair on fire was any indication, the Triad logo would be wicked pissah.
The next day before practice, Dean marched down to the hockey pond carrying several pieces of parchment, a huge smile on his face.
"I take it by that smile you've come up with our new logo?" asked Terry.
"That I did, and a few ideas for our uniforms, thanks to Jimmy's book. Tell me what you think."
Dean took out his wand and suspended the parchment in the air. O'Bannon and the rest of the team gathered around, staring at the first one in line.
"This is very good, Dean," said Mireet. "You are a very talented artist."
"Thanks." Dean straightened up and, incredibly, smiled wider.
"Yeah, I like this." Anthony nodded, looking impressed.
O'Bannon folded his arms and looked at the logo Dean came up with. It had two hockey sticks and a wand forming a triangle, with each point bearing the crest of one of the three schools. In the center of the triangle was a large bronze-looking "T" with the word TRIAD underneath it.
"I'm sold on it. Awesome job, Dean."
The other players nodded or voiced their approval. Next, Dean showed them uniform designs, most of the color schemes and patterns based on NHL jerseys, but with the Triad logo in the center.
"Mind you," Dean said. "I ruled out anything that had green or silver in it. I didn't think we'd want to go around wearing Slytherin colors."
"Good thinking," said Fred. "I'd sooner cover myself in Stinksap than wear Slytherin colors."
Everyone looked over the designs. The first one had been based on the old Ottawa Senators uniform from the 1920s, with its black, orange and white-lined pattern. From the facial reactions of many of the players, him included, the design didn't go over well.
O'Bannon had a more favorable opinion of the design based on the Pittsburgh Penguins uniform, since they had the same colors, gold and black, as his beloved Bruins. The rest of the Triad, however, seemed split on the matter.
The reaction to the purple and gold color scheme based on the Los Angeles Kings uniform from the 1970s was universal.
"I wouldn't be caught dead in something that hideous." Katie summed up everyone's feelings, considering how most everyone nodded in agreement.
The next uniform resembled that of the Quebec Nordiques, light blue with white trim and small castle designs around the waist line where the fleurs-de-lis would normally be. Not bad, though not many players got excited over it.
Then they came to the last design.
"This one I like." Harkorth pointed at it.
"Yeah." Ginny nodded. "This looks really cool."
"I'll second that," said Corner, who immediately received a beaming smile from Ginny.
O'Bannon gazed at the design, which was a black jersey with gold and red trim similar to the Vancouver Canucks. He'd always thought they had some of the coolest uniforms in the NHL. Not as cool as the Bruins, of course, but still cool.
"I got no problem wearing that. How about the rest of you guys?"
Many of the other players answered with nods or "yeahs."
O'Bannon called for a vote. Susan, Tortorov, Mireet and Katie were the only ones not in favor of the uniform.
"Sorry, guys," O'Bannon said. "Majority rules."
"If I may." Mireet raised her hand. "Perhaps we can incorporate the small castles Dean had on those blue uniforms onto this one."
O'Bannon looked around at the players. Many shrugged or nodded, but no one dissented.
The next day, Dean took his final design of the Triad uniform to Ernie, who owled it to his parents.
Then came the waiting. One week. Two weeks. Had it not been for all the homework and practices, O'Bannon would have gone insane dying to see their uniforms for real. But even in the magical world, some things took time.
On the last Friday of April, the Triad was headed off the ice, with O'Bannon noticing Michael Corner and Ginny Weasley laughing over something and briefly pressing their shoulders together – is there something going on with those two? – when Professor Burbage hurried across the grounds, levitating dozens of packages with her wand.
"Oh good, good. You're still here. I was afraid I'd miss you. All this was owled to my office by Mister MacMillan's parents."
"Our uniforms!" Dean exclaimed. "It must be!"
"All right!" Ginny cheered.
"About time," Fred said jokingly. "I was beginning to wonder if we'd ever see them."
Professor Burbage levitated the packages toward the players, each one bearing their name. O'Bannon got his package and tore it open.
Excitement rushed through him. He held the jersey in front of him, grinning ear-to-ear. He gripped it tighter, just to convince himself this was real.
O'Bannon turned the jersey around. He bounced on the balls of his feet as he stared at his name and number emblazoned in gold. O'BANNON 4. The same number he wore for Blazenrowe Hall back at Salem. The same number as Bruins legend Bobby Orr.
Not only did Ernie's parents send them their uniforms, but their pads, sticks, helmets, skates and additional pucks.
"Look, Jimmy." A grinning Terry put on his jersey and looked it over with pride. "Is this cool or what? It's like we're a real team now."
O'Bannon looked around, bursting with joy as he watched his friends looking at their uniforms, putting them on, or talking excitedly about them.
He turned back to Terry and slapped him on the shoulder. "No, man. We were a real team long before now."
TO BE CONTINUED