Summer 2030
The Welsh skies were a bright blue. Not a cloud could be seen. The sun beat mercilessly down on the group of athletes as the noon hour approached.
Holyhead's normal August average temperature was around 18, (celcius, mid 60s fahrenheit), for the past week the daytime high had hung right at 23, (mid 70s).
Everything about this year's world cup was proving to be just a bit more difficult.
This was Al's first, and what only his family knew, last world cup chance. He was giving it one more year. The Cannons' reserve seeker was a very talented recent Hogwarts' graduate. She just needed a bit more polish. Next season Al intended to concentrate on helping to get her ready to take over.
The season had been a long hard grind. Then the Cannons and the Harpies had battled 10 hours for the league championship. The Harpies had pulled out the victory by the slimmest of margins. In the process both of the Harpies' beaters had been injured enough to disqualify them from a spot on the national team. Their seeker played for her native Yugoslavia.
On the Cannons two of their chasers were picked for the Irish team and the last retired to start her family. Their keeper was picked for his native Canadian team.
After the player announcements, the press had begun calling the 2030 all England team the family plus one.
Starters were:
Fred Weasley and James Potter, beaters.
Dominique Weasley, Roxanne Weasley and Freya Cooper, chasers.
Albus Potter, seeker.
Rose Weasley, keeper.
The elimination games had all been hard fought, but somehow they had qualified for the big one against Chile.
Right now they were sweating their backsides off. Al was looking forward to a shower and a kip. Oh, two or three liters of water would taste good too.
This was their last practice in Wales before they were heading to the Yukon. The pitch there held a special place in the family's hearts.
His mum had been on the 2002 all England team who won there. His Da had proposed there. Uncle George and Aunt Angie had seen their business expand to stores all over the wizarding world, due to their world cup booths. Aunt Hannah had made enough from her food tent to buy the Leaky.
This year Aunt Hermione had negotiated some pretty sweet merchandising and endorsement deals for the cousins. If they won, James and Rose would definitely have enough to buy a team after retirement. Fred could buy the land in Hogsmeade for his and Uncle Charlie's long held dream project.
What Dom and Roxy would do if they got the cash was anyone's guess.
What Al wanted was to go to Uni. He was also going to bump up his special investment portfolio. He had a dream that involved his sister and St. Mungo's.
The only people who knew were his da and Uncle Bill.
But first they needed to win. Chile was not going to be a walk in the park. They had a good team and a fantastic seeker. Nothing else would come to pass without the win.
Ted leaned back in his chair, stretching and then kicking his legs up on to his desk. The schedule for the world cup had just been posted.
Hopefully Uncle Harry and Uncle Ron would never know the subterfuge that had gone on under their very noses.
Katie Finnegan, Trina and himself had found themselves pulled into Minister Shacklebolt office.
Kingsley hardly ever interfered with the workings of the Aurors. He completely trusted Harry and Katie, (Harry's number two), to run the department. In the case of Ron he trusted him to ethically and efficiently train the new aurors.
In turn they trusted that the minister had their backs.
Perhaps that is why it was easier to arraign for Ron and Harry to "have" to be at the game.
An official invitation had been sent to Harry from the United Magical Nations, asking him to be their guest for the game. Kingsley had insisted he accept. Emphasizing the need to continue fostering international cooperation.
Katie, just happened to mention how beneficial security duty would be for the trainees. The minister strongly encouraged Harry to send Ron with the trainees. After all he had experience providing team security, they had trainees all along the learning curve and he would be best at coordinating all of them.
After getting a look at the scedual, Teddy suspected Trina of a bit of subterfuge also.
It seems he was going along to look after Louis and Scorpius on their last assignment before they obtained full auror status.
Dang! He was going to get to see the cousins play in, possibly the biggest game of their lives.
It would be a history making kind of event. Heck it already was. Never, in the history of U.K. quidditch had this many family members played on the same team.
Two of those players were his godbrothers. He still remembered Ginny's world cup. It was after that cup, and the planning of Harry and Ginny's wedding, that he first began to understand that Harry was not his "real" father.
It bothered him for years. Until Harry had found him crying one summer Saturday at Grimmauld place.
"Teddy what's wrong?"
"My mum and dad are dead Uncle Harry! If Grandma dies there won't be anyone who is a part of me! I'll be just me. I love you and Aunt Ginny, I really do! But, as much as I want it you aren't my parents, James, Albus and Lily are not my brothers and sister. Nobody shares all the stuff that makes me."
Harry held him as he cried, at a loss as to what to say other than he loved Ted like a son and that he would always.
Kreacher, wonderful, wise Kreacher had taken Teddy's hand. Tugging gently "Master Teddy youz come with me! Youz needs to see something."
Down to the tapestry they had gone. Standing on a chair Kreacher pointed, "Master Teddy youz reads me this name!" He was pointing to Theodore Lupin.
"Now who is above you?" " Nymphadora Tonks Lupin"
"Now this one!" "Andromeda Black Tonks"
On they went trading up and then over to where Aunt Ginny's great grandmother, a Black, had married a Weasley.
Then down to Aunt Ginny and Uncle Harry. Proving that Teddy and Ginny shared the same family dna.
But there was more. Back up Uncle Harry's line they went. Tracing the family connections that proved the Blacks, Potters and Weasleys were all related.
Then Kreacher looked solemnly in to Teddy's eyes. Gesturing at the tapestry, "This is youz history and it is important." Gently placing his hand on Teddy's chest, "But here is more important. When Master Harry first knows Kreacher he knows a mad lonely Kreacher who thinks I am alone. Then Master Harry shows Kreacher that he loves Kreacher and so does Mistress Hermione, Mistress Ginny and Master Ron. Then Kreacher starts to love back. He meets your Grandma and you and he falls in love with you. Kreacher says to himself: I love this baby, he fills my heart. I will protect and feed and watch out for this baby. This baby is mine as sure as if I was his father. Your Uncle Harry, Kreacher saw, he thinks the same thing. Kreacher watches. Kreacher sees that when you is sick, Master Harry he worries. When you is sad so is he. When you is happy Master Harry's eyes twinkle and he is happy. Master Harry is your dad! Mistress Ginny didn't need to give birth to you for her to be your mum either. You is never alone. You is part of this big family. Someday youz will find someone who you will know is who you spend forever with, then youz give Master Harry and Mistress Ginny grandbabies to love too. Just like your grandmas Andi and Molly love youz. Youz just be careful that youz Grandpa not teach youz babies about flying cars!"
Kreacher had been right. His boys called Harry and Ginny Grandpa and Grandma. Unfortunately Arthur never got the chance to take the boys for a ride. Kreacher didn't even get to be at his wedding. Both were gone.
But his boys had great-grandparents, grandparents, Aunts and Uncles galore.
In two weeks his boys would get to watch two of their uncles and one aunt play for England in the biggest show of all. Thanks to the schedule, Ted would be there too.
On his way home tonight he needed to stop by Weasley's headquarters. He was certain Aunt Angelina could hook the boys up with all the gear. Now which twin should wear James' robe and which one Al's?
What to do about representing Dom? Maybe Vic would have an idea.