CHAPTER 38: EVE OF BATTLE
O'Bannon felt a quick knot of tension in his shoulders when he looked at his wall calendar.
May 8th. Exactly one month left until the Triad/Slytherin hockey game.
My God, I can't believe it's almost here, he thought as he put on his sweats and headed outside for his morning run. By now he had a fair idea which positions everyone was best suited to play. Fred and George, no surprise, had turned into a standout defensive pairing. While Angelina had played Chaser for Gryffindor's Quidditch team, given her size and willingness to get in anyone's face, O'Bannon felt she'd serve the Triad better as a defenseman. On the flip side, Mireet, who played Beater for her team back at Beauxbatons, had the speed, agility and shooting prowess that made her better suited as a forward. He'd also pegged Justin, Gordon and Tortorov as defensemen, with the others filling out the center and winger positions.
Now it was just a matter of putting together the offensive lines. O'Bannon had already decided on his fourth line, the checking line. Velich and Kurdzeli, "The Durmstrang Tanks" he liked to call them, would play the wings with Seamus, who wasn't afraid to mix it up, at center. The remaining three lines, as well as the last two defensive tandems, he still needed to figure out.
Better do it soon. You only have a month left.
A month left.
After showering and changing into his school robes, O'Bannon went down to the Great Hall for breakfast. He just took a bite of his fried eggs when owls soared over the tables. One of them dropped an envelope in his hands. It had come from Rosa, Jared and Artimus.
Jimmy,
I hope everything's going well. You must be excited with your hockey game with those Slytherin dipsticks over a month away.
His jaw clenched for a moment as he continued reading Rosa's message.
Speaking of the hockey game, you're not going to believe this. You made The All-Seeing Eye! They did a little article on you and your hockey game there in Britain. They even talked to Jared and me about it. I sent along a copy of the article to you, and my mom and dad also sent a copy to your parents.
O'Bannon reached back into the envelope and pulled out the article.
"Yo, check this out." He held it up. "They're talking about our game back in US."
"Cool," said Fred and George.
"So what does it say?" Dean leaned closer.
"Hang on." Ginny stood up. "Let me get the others. They'll want to hear this, too."
A couple of minutes later the Triad members from the other houses and schools had gathered around the Gryffindor table. O'Bannon happened to catch Cormac McLaggen pointedly turning his back on them all. Apparently he still hadn't gotten over being cut from the Triad.
Too damn bad.
He also noticed Ron frowning and staring at his food. His mood always soured whenever anyone mentioned the hockey game around him.
"C'mon, Jimmy." Terry tapped O'Bannon's shoulder. "Don't keep us in suspense."
"All right. Don't get your knickers in a twist." He furrowed his brow. Was it him, or were more British phrases slipping into his vocabulary?
He shook it off and read the article aloud.
SALEM STUDENT INTRODUCES RENOWN WIZARDING SCHOOL TO MUGGLE GAME.
Quidditch, broom racing and Gobstones are common games at Britain's Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. But soon the thousand year old magical institution will host another game. Not just any game. This one was created by Muggles.
On June 8th, Hogwarts will be the site of the first ever hockey game in Wizarding Britain. For those not familiar with this sport, hockey has teams of six players, including a keeper, who skate around a patch of ice trying to shoot a little rubber disc into a net.
This special exhibition match is the brainchild of Jimmy O'Bannon, a Sixth Year student at the Salem Witches Institute who is currently at Hogwarts on an exchange program.
"I think this is a great way to give more wizards and witches a first-hand look at Muggle culture," said Rosa Infante, a friend of O'Bannon's from Salem. "He's helped me appreciate the things the Muggle World has to offer. It's good he can do this for so many other in our world."
"It pleases me to see Jimmy taking full advantage of the opportunity awarded to him," said Salem Headmistress Athena Esmeralda. "Not only is he immersing himself in the culture of another country, he's also giving back to Hogwarts with this hockey game. It's the perfect way to give our world a better understanding and appreciation of Muggles, which is greatly needed after what happened during the war with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."
The hockey game features O'Bannon and a collection of students from three of Hogwarts' houses – Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff – along with a handful of students from France's Beauxbatons Academy and Eastern Europe's Durmstrang Institute, versus a team from Hogwarts' fourth house, Slytherin. As for how the game will turn out, Jared Diaz, another friend of O'Bannon's from Salem, says. "Jimmy's a wicked awesome player. He and his buds [friends] there in Britain are going to kick Slytherins' [behinds]."
Hockey is played at Salem, one of the few schools in the Wizarding World with a sanctioned league for Muggle sports. The game takes place in conjunction with the third and final task of the resurrected Tri-Wizard Tournament, which is scheduled for June 24th.
The article included a picture of O'Bannon in his Blazenrowe Hall hockey uniform.
"Very nice picture, Jimmy," commented Alicia. "You look quite handsome. Don't you think?" She glanced over at Mireet, who stood on the opposite side of the table.
O'Bannon looked up at the French witch, who smiled shyly and blushed. He cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck. "Uh, thanks," he muttered.
"Oh." Katie looked down at the letter. "Looks like your friends included some juicy gossip from Salem as well."
"Katie!" Angelina gave her a disapproving look.
"What? The letter's right there on the table for the world to see."
O'Bannon read the bottom paragraphs. His eyes bulged. "You gotta be kiddin' me."
"Okay, now I'm actually interested," Fred said.
"What is it?" asked Ginny.
"Rana Rollingsworth and Darius Forten broke up."
"Who are they?" Susan inquired.
"She's the Seeker for my dorm's Quidditch team and he's one of the Beaters. It says Rana caught him in the dorm trophy room making out with Ivy Chatham. Damn. They were together for two years. And he cheated on her with Ivy Chatham. I mean that girl's a . . ." He gazed at the witches around him. "Uh, well she's, you know?"
"A bint."
Everyone swung their heads toward Ginny, a few with their mouths agape.
"Where did you learn that word?" said Fred.
"Mum would cast a Scrubbing Charm on your tongue if she heard you say that," warned George.
"Well, she's not here now, is she?" Ginny narrowed her eyes. "And you'd best not blab it to her, if you know what's good for you."
Fred and George looked at one another, winced, and nodded. Despite her young age and small size, O'Bannon had learned over the past few months that Ginny Weasley, at times, could be downright terrifying.
It made him wonder if he should have put her on the checking line with the Durmstrang Tanks.
"Well," Alicia began, "hopefully her next boyfriend will treat her better than this Darius wanker."
O'Bannon hoped so, too. Rana was a nice girl, and deserved better.
XXXXX
Over the next couple of weeks, the Triad/Slytherin hockey match garnered more publicity. Both the Daily Prophet and Wizarding Wireless Network News sent sports reporters to Hogwarts. O'Bannon didn't detect any "slime factor" from either reporter as he had with friggin' Rita Skeeter. Both of them also produced good and fair stories on the game, though O'Bannon had to shake his head when he read the article in the Prophet. Cornelius Fudge had been quoted as saying, "This, er, stick and disc game at Hogwarts is yet another example of my tireless efforts to show that Great Britain is at the forefront of the Wizarding World when it comes to respect and tolerance of Muggle-borns, and the Muggle culture they hail from."
This from the guy who tried to stop us from having this game. While he wasn't one to tell the Brits how to run their own affairs, he had to admit this country would be better off with someone else as Minister of Magic.
Witch Weekly also sent a reporter to Hogwarts to do an article on the game. When O'Bannon read it, he noticed they spent more time talking about the Triad's uniforms than anything else. They called the color scheme of their jerseys, "atrocious," and that they, "clashed horribly with players whose hair was blond."
Who the hell cares about that? This was hockey, not a friggin' fashion show.
On May 25th, fourteen days before the game, O'Bannon and several other Gryffindors were in the common room when Lee called out, "Oi! They're talking about us on the wireless."
Everyone gathered around the set, where the two men who hosted The Wizarding Sport Roundtable argued about the hockey game at Hogwarts.
"It's a monumental waste of time, Benton. How can any non-magical sport compare to the thrill of Quidditch? You can't even fly over the ice."
"Why don't you give it a chance, Farley. I dated a Muggle-born when I was at Hogwarts, and one summer she and her family took me to this basketball game, and it was rather entertaining. The same might be true of this hockey sport."
"That won't happen, old chap. You mark my words."
"But you can't deny that this game is getting a lot of publicity. Mark my words, Farley, come the Eighth of June, the eyes of Wizarding Britain, perhaps the entire Wizarding World, will be on Hogwarts and this ice sport of hockey."
"Wow." Dean smiled wide and looked to O'Bannon. "You hear that, Jimmy? The eyes of the Wizarding World will be on us."
"Yeah. Great."
XXXXX
Over the next couple of days O'Bannon received a few letters wishing him good luck. Two came from Rosa's parents and Jared's parents. Another came from his mom and dad, with mom sending along a tin of her awesome lemon squares, which he shared with the entire team.
On May 29th, ten days before the game, O'Bannon received a rolled up package from Salem during breakfast. When he and the twins unfurled it, it stretched out nearly ten feet.
"Whoa." Dean gaped at it. "That is seriously cool."
The snow white banner had the words GOOD LUCK JIMMY & TRIAD exploding in brilliant colors, fading, then exploding again. Wallet-sized moving photographs had been attached all over banner, the person in each one holding up a handmade sign with their well wishes.
O'Bannon smiled, a warm feeling spreading through him as he gazed at the boys, girls and teachers he hadn't seen in, Merlin's beard, almost ten months now!
Much as he enjoyed it here at Hogwarts, he did miss everyone back at Salem.
"So that's Rana Rollingsworth," Katie pointed at the photo, which had Rana's name written above it. "The one who's slimy boyfriend cheated on her."
"Yup, that's her," O'Bannon answered.
"Blimey, she's fit." Lee nodded approvingly.
"I'll tell you who's really fit." George tapped his finger on another photograph. "Your friend Rosa Infante here. Hmm. I might have to see if I can spend next term at Salem."
O'Bannon chuckled softly, trying to imagine Rosa and George together.
"We've got to hang this up," Terry suggested.
"But where?" asked Susan. "It wouldn't be fair to put it in one of the common rooms."
"Why don't we hang it here in the Great Hall?" said Ginny. "I'm sure Dumbledore wouldn't mind."
"He may not, but others might." Seamus glared over at the Slytherin table. "What's to keep those plonkers from doing something to it?"
"Don't worry," Fred said. "We'll make sure nothing happens to the banner, won't we, George?"
"Absolutely, Fred."
The twins grinned at one another.
As expected, Headmaster Dumbledore gave them permission to hang the banner in the Great Hall, which they did during lunch. When dinner time rolled around, O'Bannon approached the Great Hall with Fred, George, Lee and Angelina. Just as they entered, Ares Urquhart and Millicent Bulstrode walked passed them. Both Slytherins sported bright orange toucan beaks, facial warts and elephant ears.
"Off to the hospital wing with you," said Headmaster Dumbledore, who stood by the archway. "Madam Pomfrey will have you right as rain in no time."
O'Bannon looked at Urquhart and Bulstrode, then turned back to Dumbledore. "What happened to them?"
"It would appear Mister Urquhart and Miss Bulstrode attempted to hex the banner you and your friends hung in the Great Hall earlier today. For some reason, the hex backfired and resulted in, well, what you just saw. You wouldn't happen to know how that could have happened, would you?" He cast his gaze on the Weasley twins.
Fred shrugged. "No idea, Professor."
"They must not be very good at casting hexes, I imagine," George added.
Dumbledore paused for a moment. "Yes, perhaps you're right, Mister Weasley. Well, enjoy your supper."
The old headmaster headed back to the staff table with a twinkle in his eye.
O'Bannon turned to the twins, who were grinning wide. "You guys rule."
"We know," Fred and George both replied.
They all sat at the Gryffindor table and dug in, or "tucked in" as the Brits said. When O'Bannon finished dinner, he reached for a blackberry cobbler when an owl swooped down and dropped a letter in front of him. It was followed by another owl. Another. Another.
"Well someone's popular tonight," Fred joked as another owl delivered another letter to O'Bannon.
"Who's sending you all these letters?" asked Katie.
He checked the envelopes. "They're all from the US, but I don't know any of these people."
He opened one from a Roy Davis, who lived in Independence, Missouri.
Dear Jimmy,
I saw the article about you in The All-Seeing Eye about how you put together a hockey game at Hogwarts. I'm also a Muggle-born, and I think what you're doing is great. Too many in the Wizarding World think our Muggle heritage is not worth knowing about, or that it's something to be embarrassed about. I'm glad you're doing something to bring a greater appreciation of Muggle culture to the Wizarding World. I wish you nothing but success with your hockey game.
The next letter he read was from a Bobbi Hall, a Fourth Year student at Colorado's Snowtop Mountain Magical Academy.
I'm a Muggle-born, and I get teased a lot because of it. The kids here think Muggles have nothing to offer the Wizarding World. I'm glad you're doing something to try and change that. You're an inspiration to people like me.
All the letters were like that. Muggle-borns expressing their support of his game, one even calling him a "champion of Muggle-borns everywhere."
"Looks like you got a fan club, Jimmy Boy," Fred quipped as he looked at one of the letters.
"Next thing you know they'll be putting up statues of you," said George.
"Yeah, right," O'Bannon muttered as he stared at the letters.
XXXXX
The next day when the Triad gathered for practice, O'Bannon noticed not all the players were present.
"Hey. Where's Seamus at?"
"He's got detention with Snape," Dean answered. "The greasy-haired git was on him that he didn't mix his Skin Restoration Potion right. Seamus said he put all the proper ingredients in, and Snape docked him ten points and gave him two nights detention for talking back to a teacher."
"What?" blurted Katie.
"Are you joking?" said Terry.
"Bloody wanker," George scowled.
"And of course he schedules Seamus' detention during our practice," Ernie noted. "Coincidence? I think not."
"You know what this means?" Summerby looked around at the others. "Snape'll look for any excuse to put us in detention between now and the game, maybe even on the day of the game. Anything to give Slytherin an advantage."
"Then don't give him an excuse to do it," Angelina said. "Snape's going to do everything he can to bait us up till game day. Don't fall for it. No matter what he says, just nod and say, 'Yes, Professor.' You're not going to do the team any good if you're sitting in detention on the Eighth of June."
"Angelina's right," O'Bannon said. "Just keep your mouth shut around Snape. Actually, watch what you say or do for the next week around all the teachers. I don't want anyone getting in trouble and missing the game." He then looked at Fred and George. "That also means no practical jokes."
The twins gaped at him.
"What?
"You can't be serious."
O'Bannon folded his arms and gave them a hard stare.
Fred frowned. "Oh, all right. For you, Jimmy Boy."
"And for the Triad," George added.
"What about after the game?"
"After the game, you can cover Hogwarts in pink polka dots and have butterbeer shoot out all the battlements."
Fred and George looked at one another with mischievous grins.
Angelina groaned. "Oh for Merlin's sake, don't give them any ideas."
Even without Seamus, practice went well. By the time it was over, O'Bannon had his mind made up on the remaining lines and defensive pairings. He teamed Tortorov with Angelina on defense. Justin and Summerby made up the third "D" tandem. While neither player was very big, they had good speed and a knack for mucking up the opposition's attack.
As for the offense, O'Bannon would center the first line with Katie and Dean as he wingers. Since all three were Gryffindors, he dubbed them the G Line. His fastest forwards, Mireet, Ginny and Michael, formed the second line, called the Rocket Line. The third line consisted of Ernie, Terry and Anthony, who used the first letter in each of their names to become the ETA Line. The fourth line, with the absent Seamus and the Durmstrang Tanks, simply went by the Bruise Line.
O'Bannon went to dinner in a very good mood. All his offensive and defensive formations were set, and the team looked great. He couldn't feel any more confident about their chances against Slytherin.
He'd barely begun to eat when an owl delivered a letter to him. He tensed when he saw the name of the sender.
Marlene Maybin, Director the US Department of Magic's Office of Wizarding-Muggle Relations.
Dear Jimmy,
I am so delighted to hear that you are exposing the wizards and witches of Britain to this exciting Muggle game of hockey. What an excellent way to promote Muggle culture to the Wizarding World. A successful game could open the door to a broader understanding of the Muggle World and help end the sort of prejudice that led to the rise He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and his followers.
O'Bannon felt a little twist in his stomach when another owl arrived. He hesitated for a moment before taking the letter it held in its beak.
Dear Jimmy,
I want to wish you best of luck in your hockey game coming up on June 8th. You should be proud of all the work you have done to make this a reality. You embody not only the spirit of the exchange student program, but the spirit of the Department of Magic to promote tolerance and understanding of Muggle-borns, and Muggle culture.
I shall be at Hogwarts for your game, and look forward to seeing this hockey sport first hand.
Sincerely,
Marcellus Laribee, US Ambassador to Wizarding Britain.
"More fan male, Jimmy?" George quipped.
"Uh, yeah." He handed him both letters. George shared them with the others at the table, who looked excited over them.
O'Bannon just sat quietly, staring at his dinner.
XXXXX
May 31st. June 1st. June 2nd. June 3rd. The days flew by for O'Bannon, drawing closer and closer to "The Day." The game began to dominate his mind, to the point it became a struggle to concentrate on his school work. Professor Flitwick had even kept him for a few minutes after class to discuss the Poor grade he received on his Charms test, and that was one of his best subjects.
More owls arrived with letters from Muggle-borns wishing him luck, or calling him an inspiration. One or two letters came from people who wrote that the hockey game was a waste of time and, "If you like stupid Muggle games so much, then go back to the Muggle World."
Those letters he ignored.
June 4th. June 5th. June 6th. The dread that normally came with the approach of final exams had been replaced with excitement, not just over the Triad/Slytherin hockey game, but over the third and final task of the Tri-Wizard Tournament. It would take place on the Quidditch field, now covered by rows of hedges that grew larger every day.
A maze? That was O'Bannon's initial impression, though he doubted the final task would be something as simple as just navigating through a maze. The champions would probably face all sorts of obstacles in there. He just hoped Harry was ready for it.
June 7th. One day left before the game. O'Bannon didn't talk much during the morning and afternoon. Some of his friends asked if he was all right.
"I'm fine," he'd always answer, and go back to being quiet.
For their final practice, the Triad headed to the arena that had been used for the first task of the Tri-Wizard Tournament. While the grandstands remained, the dragon pen had long since been removed. A huge ice rink took its place, surrounded by glass and plastic boards. Large wooden scoreboards hung from the grandstands on the north and south ends of the rink. A large green banner stretched over the ice that read WELCOME TO HOGWARTS' FIRST EVER ICE HOCKEY MATCH: TRIAD VS. SLYTHERIN.
"Wows," went up from many of the Triad members.
O'Bannon took in the scene without a word.
They watched the Slytherins practice, with Professor Snape and Professor Burbage on hand to make sure both sides behaved. Much of the practice consisted of Malfoy yelling at and threatening his players. From their facial expressions, the Slytherins and two Durmstrangs either looked intimidated or pissed off. They made lots of errant passes. O'Bannon couldn't count how many times their shots missed the net.
"What the hell is wrong with you lot?" Malfoy screamed. "Do you want to lose to those Mudbloods and blood traitors?"
"Five points from Slytherin," Burbage said.
Malfoy didn't seem to notice as he kept yelling. "Do you want to embarrass your families? Embarrass our house? This is our chance to show we're superior to trash like that!" He pointed at the Triad. "In every way! Now start playing better."
To O'Bannon's surprise, they did. The Slytherins' passes were crisper, their shots on net more accurate. When their practice ended, they left the ice and strutted past the Triad, with Malfoy wearing a smug look.
"You don't stand a chance against us," he said, chin raised.
"Isn't that what you always say before every Quidditch match with Gryffindor?" asked Fred.
"Yet you always seem to lose, don't you?" George chimed in.
Malfoy scowled at them.
The Slytherins hung around to watch the Triad's practice, jeering them non-stop. O'Bannon and the others ignored them. After about 20 minutes, the Slytherins gave up and headed back to the castle.
O'Bannon ran the team through a light practice. After doing this for six solid months, they were as good as they were going to get. No sense in wearing them out a day before the big game.
When practice ended, he called everyone to center ice. He took a deep breath and tried to look relaxed.
"Well, gang, this is it. Tomorrow's the big day."
Several players cheered. A few stayed quiet, looking nervous.
O'Bannon continued. "I know ten months ago, you guys didn't know a thing about this sport. And now, I ain't blowin' smoke up your asses when I say you've all become top notch players. I'm damn proud to be going into battle with you tomorrow. But even more important than becoming good players, we've become a team. I know we've got each other's backs, on and off the ice, and that's what's going to carry us through the day."
He turned to Angelina and the twins. "Alternate captains, anything to say?"
Angelina nodded. "I just want to say that all of you should be proud of yourselves for all the work you've put in over the past few months. I know some of you I've gotten on quite a bit, and you've probably hated me for it. But tomorrow, when we beat Slytherin, you'll see it was all worth it, because it made you into better, more determined players."
Fred spoke next. "I'm sure you'll all do your part to beat those snakes tomorrow."
"At least you'd better," said George. "Because if you don't, there'll be consequences."
"Yes, dire consequences."
"Like Fire Tongue Powder on your treacle tart."
"Or a Snot Rocket Special slipped to you unknowingly."
"Or your seat in History of Magic replaced by a Sit and Scratch Chair."
The twins looked to O'Bannon with a grin. He gave them a faux scowl.
The other players laughed. This was another reason he liked having Fred and George on the Triad. Besides being talented athletes, they also did a great job keeping everyone loose.
"Okay," O'Bannon said. "I want everyone in bed early tonight so you're well rested for tomorrow. Those of you with girlfriends and boyfriends, if you have any issues going on, take care of them tonight. If you don't have any issues, don't create any. We need you one hundred percent focused on the game."
He paused and looked around at the team. "Anyone else have anything to add?"
No one did.
"All right. Bring it in."
Everyone gathered in a circle and put their hands in the middle.
"Triad on three. One, two, three."
"TRIAD!"
They skated off the ice and went back to the castle, except for O'Bannon. He stood on the edge of the ice, taking in the open-air arena. He pictured the Triad and Slytherins skating around in their uniforms. He imagined the stands packed with students and teachers . . . and reporters . . . and Ambassador Marcellus Laribee.
He swallowed.
"Jimmy?"
O'Bannon turned around to find Mireet walking over to him.
"Are you all right?" she asked.
"Um, yeah. I'm fine."
"You do not seem fine."
"I'm, um, just thinking."
Mireet continued to stare at him, unconvinced.
O'Bannon's lips tightened. He didn't want to say anything. He was the captain, the leader. Leaders had to appear in control. They couldn't go spilling their guts about whatever stupid fears they had.
And what was it you said about taking care of issues?
He looked at Mireet, noting the concern on her beautiful face.
"You know, I didn't plan to do anything like this." He spread out his arms toward the ice. "I just wanted to show some wizards and witches what hockey was all about, maybe make some friends. Now look. This thing's taken on a life of its own. They're writing about this game in the newspaper, talking about it on the wireless. We've got politicians coming here, and half the Muggle-borns in my country think I'm some sort of champion of Muggle culture. It's like they expect this one hockey game to change the world, to end hundreds of years of prejudice just like that. What happens when it doesn't? What happens if we go through all this trouble and most of the people here tomorrow think this is the most boring game they've ever seen? What if, God forbid, we lose to Slytherin?"
"Why does it matter to you what those people think?"
O'Bannon's mouth hung open, searching for an answer.
"Jimmy." Mireet stepped closer to him. "In all the months I have known you, you have always struck me as a person who does not care what other people think of you. That is . . . an endearing quality. Yet now you are concerned about the thoughts of people you do not even know."
"Because . . . I don't know, because it feels like there's a lot more riding on this game than just beating Slytherin."
"Perhaps for some people, and you can do nothing about what they think. But to us . . ." Mireet bit her lip for a moment. "I think for many of us, there is more to this game, to the Triad, than simply beating Slytherin. We . . . you, have created something special. Because of the Triad, I have had the opportunity to meet many wonderful people and become friends with them, and I believe those friendships will endure long after our game with Slytherin is over. I think that shall be my fondest memory of this team, and you made that possible."
O'Bannon felt his nervousness, his tension, dissolve. Mireet was right. Damn, was she right. He had been putting way too much pressure on himself. Yes, the hockey game would be an excellent way to promote Muggle culture in the Wizarding World. But if some people didn't enjoy the game, well, like Mireet said, he couldn't help that. He decided to concentrate on the fact that he had brought together 19 other wizards and witches from different countries and, for Hogwarts, different houses, and turned them into more than a team.
He had turned them into a family.
That was good enough for him.
Mireet took hold of his hand. The breath caught in O'Bannon's throat.
"We will do well tomorrow." She gently squeezed his hand.
O'Bannon smiled. "Yeah. We will."
NEXT: THE TRIAD VS. SLYTHERIN. GAME ON!
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Anyone interested in seeing some of Jimmy's adventures outside of this story can check out my one-shot "The Luna Effect." Yes, it's Jimmy's encounter with Luna Lovegood. Need I say more?