Chapter 4: Politics
Marinette showed her ticket to the entry guard who waved his wand over it with a bored expression. He nodded when the tip of it turned green, and stepped to the side. With an elated grin, Marinette stepped through the gate, and joined Nino and Alya on the other side. Mr. Lahiffe followed through shortly after and they began heading for their seats.
Marinette could see the excitement in the eyes of her friends, and she assumed she was wearing the same expression on her own face as well. The group stopped at a stand to supply themselves with food and French gear.
Alya bought a French flag, and Nino got himself a hat, which he swapped out for the usual red one he wore. Marinette found herself tempted by the Agreste jersey but didn't want to get knowing looks from Alya for the next three hours, so she settled on the French flag as well. The four then proceeded towards the stairs only to be bustled out of the way by several men and women wearing Auror uniforms. One actually bumped into Marinette in their haste, and she fell to the ground.
She found a hand offered to her and took it gratefully. As she rose, she realized she did not recognize the hand offered to her. She glanced up and found herself face to face with Prime Minister Bourgeois. Her mouth fell open and she began spluttering apologies, but he merely laughed.
"Relax young lady, I should be the one apologizing. Are you alright?" Mari nodded meekly, trying to find her voice. The Minister was a very tall man with sweeping brown hair, and in his professional attire for attending the match, he looked very intimidating.
"Yes I am. Thank you minister." Marinette was pleased that her voice didn't squeak. She glanced around her and noticed that they were surrounded by four aurors who all had their wands by their sides in case Mari went for hers. Marinette almost laughed, but then realized she should probably move cautiously unless she wanted a trigger happy auror to curse her. A thought struck her as the minister admonished the auror who had knocked her over. If the minister is here, that might mean that… She quickly cleared her throat.
"Ah anyways Minister Bourgeois sorry for any inconvenience but I should probably try to find-" but she was cut off by another voice.
"Daddy! Will you buy me the Agreste jersey?" Marinette cringed as Chloe Bourgeois came into view. Chloe stopped and she could see her face twitch as her eyes landed on Mari. Chloe almost sneered reflexively but remembered her father was watching. The minister sighed.
"Chloe you already have three at home as I recall, plus the one you're wearing right now." Indeed Chloe was wearing an Agreste jersey, which made Mari grateful she had not bought one.
"Yes but Daddy this is the world cup final edition can I have it pleeeease." The minister sighed and nodded, raking a hand through his hair, which immediately sent a wizard scampering off to the stand Marinette had just left.
"Marinette!" A voice called. Marinette turned and found Alya trying to reach her but found her path blocked by aurors who seemed unwilling to let anyone besides Marinette anywhere near the minister. Marinette turned back to the Minister.
"Thank you Minister Bourgeois." She said, smiling brightly. "Sorry for any delay I might have caused." The Minister chuckled again.
"Again, it was not your fault, Ms…"
"Marinette Dupain-Cheng. It was an honor to meet you Minister." He grinned and extended a hand which Marinette shook. He turned around and Marinette turned as well, but Chloe grabbed her by the shoulder and yanked her around.
"What?" Mari hissed, trying not to make a scene.
"Touch my father again and I'll make your life hell. Mudblood." Chloe hissed in her ear. Mari turned red, and felt tears rise as Chloe gave her a push. Marinette staggered a few steps before recovering her balance. "Glad we understand each other." Chloe said cheerfully. Marinette took a deep breath, fighting off the tears before Nino or Alya could see her. Confident that she could look at them without crying, she was suddenly embraced by Alya. Her confidence fled immediately.
"What happened to you?" Alya asked, concerned. "We lost you after those aurors swept by."
"Got knocked over." Mari mumbled, not feeling ready to look her friend in the eyes. She could practically feel Alya's eyes narrowing but she shook her head slightly and Alya let it slide for the moment.
"Let's go!" Marinette said in a cheerful voice, which earned her a strange look from Nino and his father, who both shrugged and turned towards the stairs. Alya and Mari followed suit and followed the Lahiffe's. After a long climb they finally reached their section and found their seats.
Marinette gasped as she caught her first sight of the pitch, and inside of the stadium. It was beautiful. The goalposts seemed to shimmer, while the crowd was clearly split into two different sections. If Marinette looked to the right the crowd was filled with French Flags and several larger than life replicas of the French Players.
On the other end of the pitch, American Flags were waved and their section had somehow managed to orchestrate the section behind the goalposts to wear shirts in colors that made a (currently incomplete) American Flag.
Marinette shook her head in amazement, and took in the sights and sounds. Alya nudged her and pointed across the pitch, handing her a pair of binoculars, which she took and looked to where Alya was pointing. Alya was pointing at the Minister's Box where the minister and Chloe were settling in. Chloe looked as smug as Mari had ever seen her. She sighed, and looked down towards the French locker room. To her surprise she found that someone was visible.
Her heart jumped (unwillingly) as her eyes found Adrien Agreste. He was leaning against the wall, looking exceedingly depressed. Marinette was confused as to why he looked so sad, when she caught a glimpse of movement behind him and Adrien whipped around. Marinette watched as Adrien took a step back from whoever was talking to him. When he finally turned around, he looked pale. He pulled back the sleeve on his left arm and glanced at it. He looked visibly relieved, before he was greeted by another French player, presumably the captain, going by the red armband on his arm.
Adrien's face changed immediately to one of confidence and happiness. Mari noted this and frowned. Nobodies emotions change that quickly. She thought to herself. But before she could keep staring, Alya snatched the binoculars away with a smirk, leaving Marinette to pout.
"What were you looking at?" Alya asked conversationally.
"The locker room." Marinette admitted. Alya leaned in with a grin.
"Trying to get a glance of the hot frenchie?" Marinette waved her off, but she could feel her face turn red. Alya laughed.
Marinette sighed and leaned on the banister. "We discussed this Alya." She grumbled.
"Ah but if you could…" Alya whispered into her ear, grinning victoriously. Marinette had no answer for her. Fortunately she was given an excuse for not responding when a voice began to speak in a magically enhanced volume.
"Gooooood evening ladies and gentlemen! Welcome welcome! Let us not delay! Let us begin!" The crowd began to scream in excitement.
"First!" The voice shouted. "The United States of America's National Quidditch Team!" The left hand side of the stands worked themselves up into a frenzy starting a "USA" chant.
"I give you- DAY!" A figure clad in red and white shot out of the USA locker room, and the USA spectators roared their approval.
"GRAHAM!" A second figure flew out at breakneck speed.
"RIOS! FRAZIER! GRIFFITH! INGRAM! AAAAAAND HARPER!"
The USA fanbase was absolutely besides themselves, screaming themselves hoarse. Marinette began to grin, knowing she was about to undergo the same experience.
"And now…. Please welcome - The French National Quidditch Team!" This time the right hand side of the pitch began to wave their flags and shout, as players dressed in navy blue shot out.
"Welcome! NALDI! THE VANG TWINS! ACARDI! GEISSLER! ARRIGHI! AAAAAAAND AGRESTE!"
The teenager trio screamed with the French supporters, and the French supporters began a chant of their own.
AGRESTE! AGRESTE! AGRESTE!
Mari snatched the binoculars from Alya again and focused on Adrien. He was smiling and waving, flying past the main section of the French supporters and waving. Once the crowd had finally quieted slightly, the voice began speaking again, as the players landed back down on the field, on their respective ends.
"And now please rise for the National Anthems. First, The Star Spangled Banner."
The crowd became nearly completely silent as the american national anthem began to play, until the Americans began to sing in harmony.
Oh, Say can you see
By the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed
At the twilight's last gleaming?
broad stripes and bright stars
Through the perilous fight
O'er the ramparts we watched
Were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare!
The bombs bursting in air!
Gave proof through the night
That our flag was still there
Oh, say does that star spangled
banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free
And the home of the brave
The crowd cheered and Alya leaned over. "That song seems a bit violent and a bit of a middle finger to England."
Marinette laughed. "True about England but the violence is nothing compared to France's." She pointed out.
"I don't speak French." Alya said blankly.
Marinette opened her mouth to respond but the voice cut her off.
"And now! La Marseillaise!"
Marinette grinned as the French National Anthem began to play, and held up a finger at Alya. The atmosphere was thick with energy and excitement from the French supporters, as they began to sing, and Marinette joined in.
Allons enfants de la patrie,
Le jour de gloire est arrivé!
Contre nous de la tyrannie,
L'etendard sanglant est levé
L'etendard sanglant est levé
Entendez-vous dans les campagnes
Mugir ces féroces soldats?
Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras
Égirger vos fils, vos compagnes!
Marinette hesitated as the chorus began. It had taken on a new meaning ever since she had joined the wizarding world. Chloe's insult rang renewed through her mind, and as the French continued singing, Marinette contented herself with surveying the French players with the binoculars.
Aux armes, citoyens,
Formez vos bataillons,
Marchons, marchons!
Qu'un sang impur
Abreuve nos sillons!
She applauded and cheered with the rest of the crowd, but couldn't help but notice that Adrien Agreste hadn't sung the song either. Any trace of a bad mood vanished in moments though as the french began their favorite chant.
Vive la France! Vive la France! VIVE LA FRANCE! VIVE LA FRANCE! VIVE LA FRANCE!
The chant caught fire amongst the french supporters, and now their half of the crowd was screaming the chant in delight. The chant finally began to die down as people realized that they were only delaying the start of the match, but the crowd still buzzed in anticipation. Then a voice rang out from the Minister's box.
"Ladies and gentlemen." The Prime Minister began. "As the Minister of Magic for Great Britain, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you all, to the 424th Quidditch World Cup final." The crowd roared their approval. "Allow me to introduce our Head of Magical Games and Sports, and tonight's announcer! Mr. Simon Grimault!" The entire crowd began a "Grimault" chant. English though he may have been, everyone remembered his incredible international career. His face showed up on the large magical screen and the crowd cheered. Scoreboards appeared all over the stadium, now reading USA:0 FRANCE:0
"So what do the words mean?" Alya questioned loudly over the crowd.
"Oh. Basically they're calling their citizens to arms, and stuff about impure blood watering their furrows." Alya gave her an incredulous look and Marinette shrugged. "Believe me or not it's the truth."
"Thank you! Thank you!" Grimault said with a wide smile. "Let us begin! Mr. Davis!" he said acknowledging the referee. "When you are ready." Davis nodded and grinned. The crowd became very quiet, only a light buzzing sound remained.
"Captains. Shake hands." Davis instructed, and the two captains shook hands briefly, before shaking hands with Davis. "Gentlemen and ladies… You may take off." A small cheer came from the crowd but it quickly became quiet again. The fourteen players mounted their brooms and launched themselves. After a few moments, Davis turned to the trunk behind him. He opened it and let the snitch escape.
"An obligatory reminder." Davis said. "The snitch is worth 150 points." The crowd roared with laughter and Davis chuckled himself. "It's on the list of things I have to do before the match starts!" He said, defending himself, but laughing nonetheless. The crowd quickly calmed down as the snitch disappeared into the lights. Marinette gazed at the two magical screens which were focusing on the two seekers. Adrien was sitting calmly, adjusting his gloves, while Harper looked like he might throw up.
Marinette's gaze lingered on Adrien for a few moments, before the screens returned to Davis. Mari snapped her attention back to the middle of the pitch, where Davis was holding the quaffle. He blew his whistle and tossed the quaffle up, and with a massive roar from the crowd, the Quidditch World Cup began.