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Chapter 38: Formal Dinner

Everyone who had been invited had managed to make it to the Schloss and they had dressed in their formal dining outfits by 6:30pm. The men had it easy cause black tie is black tie no matter whether it is Magical or Muggle. However the ladies of the Tonks -Lupin party had had a quick conference in Mimi's rooms to review the various gowns that the dress makers had sent her and so there were a couple of rushed ladies who descended the stairs to the formal lounge for pre dinner drinks.

When she entered the room Jordon was convinced that Viktor was well past gone over the young witch. Was it the gasp of his breath or the fact Vik could not get his eyes off her along with the simple fact he was stuck immobile by her beauty in a pomegranate red dress.

With a cheeky smile, the witch walked over to her wizard and asked "Has the cat got your tongue?".

Leaning down to kiss her cheek he asked "vhat you mean?" with a slightly confused look on his face for her English word play.

The blonde wizard who she recognized as one of Viktor teammates commented , "I would say so Miss Granger that cat has definitely been in the cream. By the way since this buffoon cannot string a sentence together I am Jordon Styles."

Putting her arm round Viktor's waist she commented, "By your dialect do I detect an Australian, definitely from the north of the tropic of Capricorn. Now I just have to pick out the regional words and I should be able to nail a bit more of your life story than your official team biography".

"Girlie I can only detect Brit and more Brit" he cheekily replied. Observing the close easy interaction between the two. Jordan also noted that she wore a matching simple band on her right ring finger similar to Viktor's ring.

"Now shouldn't I be a pommy bastard", she teased back.

Viktor found his brain back after he was able to connect with his witch, he had missed her so much. "Vhen ve vere in UK there vere so many accents that half the time I could not understand vhat people vere saying", he observed.

"Viktor it is a strange fact about the UK while we all speak English there are more regional dialects contained in the small country so you can go as little as five miles to hear a distinct dialect change. Honey you do great even if we were not considering it is what your six or seventh language?", she said encouragingly while soothing his male pride and his frustrations about his difficulties with English.

"So Miss Granger what is your dialect telling us?", asked Jordan, slightly jealous of his teammates linguistic ability as he had barely managed to get any words in a second language like Bulgarian and he had been in the country for 9 months.

Kicking the game off Viktor stated, "Born in London and lived there most of life but not the nassel twang of the Estuarine area."

"She is not from the East end of London as she does not do the rhyming", banted Jordan back.

"You say and write words that others from the London area don't use", observed Viktor.

"Correct so far keep going guys", she encouraged the pair.

"Hey unfair I declare a foul he has two years knowledge on me", whined Jordan using big puppy eyes in an attempt to get the foul called before cracking up with laughter.

"Do you want to trade having English as a first language? I am a school prefect so puppy eyes don't work", she sternly admonished with a steely glint in her eyes before joining in Jordan Style's laughter. Her laugh was a comfortable tinkle of joy that warmed Viktor's heart.

After stilling his own chuckles over her strict prefect look Viktor countered with "Not Liverpool not Scouse or woolie back".

"How do you know about those two terms? Viktor they are a little risqué depending whom you are talking too", she admonished him.

"We used to have a Scouse player on the team. Jordan replaced him", Viktor advised accepting her little scold about his use of the words.

"You mean that wally", quipped Jordan.

It was Jordan's turn for an admonishment, "Nice save I have an idea that you were going to use something slightly stronger although I would not suggest it Mr Styles as there are enough witches here in the room who will hex you for foul language".

Thinking with an intense look of concentration Viktor put his next guess in for the competition, "You don't have the vords that the Deputy Headmistress uses but you have some of the burr. It comes out more vhen you are excited about your subject."

"Christ Vik that was an innuendo or two you put in my brain", teased Jordan proving yet again he liked word play.

"Get your brain out of the Gutter, Mr Styles. He is right I am not a highlander like McGoungall but I am sort of a lowlander Scots accent but it is actually Cumbrian Scots English as my father's family comes from the northwest boarders region of England. The technical name for my dialect influence is Cumbric", she explained.

Curious Viktor commented, "You have never said vhere your father is from before. So is this a region vhere there is the roman vall starting vith a H name?" He was learning more about his witch.

"Yes Hadrian's Wall" she said supplied the name before expanding with " We also have the lake district and some pretty spectacular walking trails in the fells and dales".

The Lakes is Beatrix Potter country but not quite over the hills to Heathcliff and Cathy country" replied Jordan.

"Now that's a surprise, Mr Styles. Another sports man who actually has some knowledge of classic writers. I was prepared to give the first one as a fluke but the second occurrence I will pay out and admit it is unusual", the witch responded explaining her reasoning.

"He is talking about one of the Bronte sisters and the Yorkshire moors isn't he", asked Viktor.

"Geeze Vik I thought you were a pure blood what are you doing reading Muggle literature", teased the Australian.

"It was her fault. I had to haunt a library to get her to go to a ball with me", Viktor accused with humour.

"Well you are level pegging the score board tonight lads", replied Hermione smiling at both of them.

Damn she is such a nice lass who does not seem to have a mean bone in her I can see why he was stuck on her for over two years Jordan thought before asking "Please Miss Granger call me Jordon cause every time you say Mr Styles I think my Granddad is in the room".

Looking up at Viktor with a quick glance Hermione was reassured that it was not too forward.

Now I have confused her. "Surely Miss Granger you have your own mind or is it something to do with a contract which I hear you are both dancing round with. I am sorry if I have put you in a tough place, my apologies", hoping he had dug her out of the trench he seemed to have put her in accidently.

"Its ok Jordon, I am called Hermione but you might hear my family call me Mimi over the weekend which is one of my preferred nicknames".

"So Mimi and Vik do you know who I am expected to escort tomorrow evening?" asked Jordan trying to move the topic onwards and away from the hurt and confusion.

"No sorry I am in the dark as you are", she replied.

"I think you are to escort my cousin Gretchen", advised Viktor.

Thinking about things for a bit Jordan had a quick conclusion that he wanted confirmed, "Oh Vik are you related to the coach?"

"By marriage, his vife is my first cousin and that fact is not for public knowledge", the dour but not so much tonight seeker advised his keeper.

"God the team is stacked with your family. So Magdalena Torlendo is your first cousin", commented Jordan realizing the significance of his conclusion.

"Well technically Jordan the Bulgarian National team is stacked with all of Viktor's family. I find it interesting that in the last 10 years since his mother became a very active player's agent there has been considerable development of the league and cross fertilization into European League Teams. If I remember from the last World Cup team for the Irish game you had first, second, third cousins and at least one Uncle on the National Team" remarked the young witch turning to Viktor for further confirmation.

"How do you remember these facts?", asked an astounded Viktor.

"I read the game program", Hermione simply stated.

"Yes that's right the first time I ever saw you had a book and vas reading in the stands rather than vatching the teams enter", he commented remembering the first time he had been intrigued by a girl.

Thinking how long they had been standing in the one spot and seeing Mrs Figg enter the lounge Hermione thought she prod the two players into mingling. "Viktor and Jordan would you like to move around the room a bit with me as we should not be rude and just be gossiping amongst ourselves. Come and say hello to Mrs Figg first and then we must say hello to Mama Krum as I have not seen her yet either. Then may be we can find Gretchen so Jordan can get to know her", she suggested.

The three of them mingled through the various groups not finding Gretchen before being called into the formal dining room.

Xxxx

Hermione had survived dinner with Madam and Mr Schenk and their other guests. It was suggested that the younger crowd retire to the second sitting room in the Tonks Lupin floor for after dinner coffee and liqueurs. Hermione looked at Dora to ask did that mean Mrs Figg was staying with the older group and or did that mean her Donna was going with them.

Dora suggested to Remus that they join the younger group and let Mrs Figg stay with Andy and Ted to enjoy themselves.

After some polite chatting with some of the other guests who stayed for a while before crying off with leaving excuses like work the next day there was a core little group of Remus, Dora, Hermione, Viktor and Jordan left. After the last of the other guests left "Who are they all kidding? How many of them are now off clubbing as it has gone 11pm so it is time to hit the dance floor?" remarked Hermione with some asperity.

Dora thought lets get down to business as she called on Mous the floor elf for some assistance in opening the card table and a tray of nibbles. "Jordan I hope you are a good card player as my Guardian and his wife are both reprobates who will fleece you the first chance they get", Hermione advised.

"Here Mimi have a glass of white we need to dull that brain of yours, so you don't let all of our tricks out of the bag", instructed Dora Lupin.

After a few rounds Jordan throwing his cards in commented "I believe she is counting the cards. It seems that Dora and Remus are not the only card sharks at this table".

"Moi never. It takes one to know one. We are not in a casino here you can not get me removed from the premises", responded Hermione laughing at being discovered.

Viktor had never heard the Muggle term before so he asked, "Vhat is counting cards". It was explained to Viktor what a Card counter was and how they were not allowed to use their skills in most casinos.

"So Mimi what advanced card games do you play?" Jordan asked trying to work out her skill level.

"After the casino card games, you don't want to play bridge, 500, euchre, samba, canasta, gin rummy or cribbage against her as she is a real arithmetical shark", warned Remus.

"What you can count three extended card decks and do the probability calculations in your head easily?", blurted a surprised wizard.

"She is a very very bright young vitch", Viktor announced with great pride. Noticing his Mia was blushing.

"Have you ever won an Open Misère call", Jordan asked. He knew that Viktor was exceptionally bright and he was trying to work out if she was even brighter or fairly evenly matched to him.

"Please I have not lost an Open Misère call since I was eight", she retorted a little frustrated that yet another male was underestimating her ability to calculate probability or play cards since she was a female.

"Ever play tournaments?" queried Jordan further attempting to gauge her skill.

"I used to regularly play in tournaments where I would partner my father", she answered.

"What does the call 6 no trumps mean in 500?" he asked testing her knowledge as he could not believe someone as young as her was that skilled at a highly complex game at such a young age.

Sighing in frustration Hermione provided the meaning of the call to him, "If my partner calls it means I did not like your opening call as I do not have enough cards in the suit to support even your starting bid. They may also be alerting you that they have the Bird or all four Aces. Or it is an indication that you are highly loaded with court cards and would be able to support a higher bid of no trumps or another suit. Does that satisfy you Jordan?"

"Hey Viktor we need to teach the guys on the team 500 and start a 500 school. You and the missus could clean up big time if we played against other teams. The Gong Warriors host a regular inter-team card tournament for team players and club employees and their spouses. Once a year they have a mega tournament weekend and put up a big purse. With this missy in our squad we could fleece them big time", he proposed excitedly.

"Sorry Jordan but I have to focus on my studies for a now. Back on your dialect query I think you are from a very remote region so I would say SW Queensland anywhere the other side of Birdsville and the black stump. But seriously before I can led a whole team of Quidditch players astray I have to get my NEWTs", said Hermione before she laughed almost hysterically.

"That is a pretty impressive mental jump and you are right Mimi about me being from the other side of the black stump", advised Jordan, "but missy you have to watch the double entendres. If Viktor was into word play he could have a field day with you" before he joined in with the laughter.

"What's wrong Mimi?" asked Dora not quiet sure of why Hermione was laughing and noting the slight note of hysteria.

"Can you imagine the Daily Prophet Front page if they got hold of that one?" she explained between laughs.

Dora and Remus looked at each other and burst out laughing joining with her knowing that the paper would be totally over the top about her leading a whole quidditch team astray.

Turning to Viktor, Hermione noticed that he was not really laughing along with the group, she could see the anger and wounded feelings in his micro facial expressions. "Love I know you are still upset with the stories they printed about Harry, Me and you two years ago but we wont be able to reform the journalistic standard of that rag not even if we manage to remove the corruption in the UK Ministry of Magic" she advised before gently kissing him which turned into a mini snog.

"Aww how sweet", teased Dora.

"Actually Remus and Dora can you explain to me a bit more about what is going on in the UK. I am a little confused about things", asked Jordan. Suddenly the feeling of the room changed.

Hermione saw a very subtle nod from Viktor to the couple. "Why don't we talk about this in front of the fire the couches will be more comfortable even though it is an unpleasant subject", she suggested.

That evening she was able to observe the subtle art of Non-British Order of Phoenix member recruitment. It was about 2 am when there an induction ceremony for the new member of the Order of Phoenix in the second sitting room of the Tonks Lupin floor with the presence of the Commander from the only remaining magical unit of the Swiss Guard.