A N - Warning - there is an assault written about in this chapter. It may trigger some readers.
I am rubbish at writing quidditch. So feel free to imagine your own version. Hang in there with me please.
Ron pinched the bridge of his nose. A sure sign he was getting a headache. Ted's normally implacable work facade was fraying around the edges. Louis had an impressive black eye and Scorpius' hair looked as if garden gnomes had taken up residence.
No wonder international rules did not allow either the players or the press to carry wands during world cup press conferences.
The English and Chilean players had been removed from the campground to a undisclosed hotel.
Right now Ron, Harry. Harry's Chilean counterpart and the head of the international Aurors office were trying to sort out what exactly happened.
Harry, Frau Sommaruga and Senor Farga strode into the room where the English and Chilean aurors were quietly typing in their reports.
Harry tapped his wand to his throat, implementing the translation spell. Now everyone in the room would hear what he said in their own language, even though he was speaking English.
"All right. First off the three of us want to say well done to all of you for getting that under control so quickly. Are all of you done with your reports?"
The four wizards and two witches all nodded the affirmative.
"Good. Now, for propriety's sake Frau Sommaruga's team will be interviewing each of you and retrieving your memories. We must and will handle this without bias and with transparency. I can let you know a few things without compromising our investigation.
First, all members of both teams are uninjured, or have had minor injuries healed, and have been medically cleared to play.
Second, the international quidditch governing body is going to review our reports and determine if any action needs to be taken against any players.
Third, we have already been served with multiple intend to sue notices from members of the press.
Fourth, Senor Fargo and I have issued a joint press release, included in there is the statement that any English or Chilean auror caught speaking to the press about this incident will face immediate and severe punitive action.
Ted, Scorpius, Louis, this includes Ginny. Ron and I are under the same restrictions as you are."
Senor Fargo tapped his wand to his throat "I have already offered Mr. Potter a cot in my tent in the event his charming wife wishes to kick him out of their tent!"
That got a hearty laugh from the room. The Chilean head continued:
"I will be serious now. I am impressed at how our two departments cooperated today. You are all to be commended.
Be honest in your responses during the interviews with the international aurors. Even admit where we might have made a mistake. But please do not worry. I would be proud to serve with all of you!"
With that Harry and the two other heads left the room.
Ron stood to address the English aurors, as his Chilean counterpart motioned for his country's aurors to gather around him.
"Alright, Louis you are to be interviewed first. Then I want you to get that eye seen to. It may have worked for Moody but I would prefer you use both eyes. Scorpius, you are second, then both of you are staying the night with our team.
I can let you know Rose and Dom are just fine.
Of our three girls only Roxanne had a slight injury from punching that reporter.
Ted for some reason they feel you and I might not be the best people to be around the press right now….." Ron gave a cheeky grin. "The boys are fine. Fred had a twisted ankle from jumping the table, but he has been healed.
I understand the international officers currently working security at the hotel would like our help as soon as possible.
It seems James and Al have swaddled Fred like a baby and are taking turns sitting on him to keep him there.
All of the teams wand's have been returned to them except Fred's and our Rosie's. Here is Fred's. As soon as you are done here head to the hotel. Don't give him back his wand until he has calmed down. We really don't need to be locking up one of our beaters for doing some of the things he reportedly wants to do to the reporter who allegedly "(Ron used air quotes) " assaulted his sister.
I'll be there soon after you. Providing the family doesn't kill me after I tell them they can't see their kids until after the investigation is complete.
Hermione says she and Victoire are having a hell of a time keeping a lid on George and Angie."
It was eight, local time, the next morning, when the international Aurors released their report.
During the sit down interviews, an American reporter. For one of their sleazier celebrity rags. Had asked Roxanne a highly sexual innuendo filled question then proceeded to reach across the table and grab her breast.
The Chilean keeper was positioned next to the England chasers, heard and saw, the whole thing and was only seconds behind Roxie as she landed an impressive right fist to the sleazeball's face.
Thanks to the translation spell both teams understood every word Antonio had screamed at the now prone reporter.
Well that emptied the tables. Some less than scrupulous members of the press corps deliberately placed themselves in harm's way. Either for a story or for an imagined payout or both.
The teams held a joint press conference. Neither were sitting as separate teams. All were united in their loathing of the blatant sexual assault.
Canada took over the prosecution of the reporter involved. He likely will be getting a unique inside view of His Majesty's Canadian magical detention system.
England won, after an eighteen hour game.
Two weeks later every Weasley, Potter, Lupin and Malfoy was gathered in to the auror's small auditorium, along with every one of Louis and Scorpius' available coworkers.
They were there to witness their promotion to full auror status.
Scorpius' mum kissed his cheek then handed his badge to Rosie to pin on to his dress robes. Her new beautiful sapphire engagement ring sparkled as she did.
Louis' mum dazzled the gathered crowd, her smile was incandescent as she pinned on his badge.
It was a season of change. Ted would be replacing Ron as head trainer, after he, Victorie and the twins returned from a month long vacation.
Ron was going back to work full time for Wealey's. Their law enforcement line, most invented by Ron, was expanding rapidly.
Hugo was going to take over the Burrow. There were plans for part of the land to be used for a rural dental office when he finally finished Uni.
He and Lily were also thinking about putting in an office for her there too.
Ron and Hermione had found a stunning piece of land overlooking the sea near Shell Cottage.
Currently a beautiful set of buildings were under construction. Their snug, thatched roof cottage. A lab for Ron. A glass fronted office/library for Hermione and three guest houses.
It was to be their place of tranquility. Hermione was steadily working her way up the ladder at the Ministry of Magic. They were remodeling a flat in the Knightsbridge area of London. It would be mainly for Hermione's use when she needed to entertain or conduct ministry business in a less formal setting than her work office.
Lily still had years left until graduation, but Harry was dropping hints that he was not going to remain as head Auror for long after she finished.
Considering Aunt Ginny had been looking at land around Hogsmeade, for a "vacation " home. Ted was fairly certain his Godfather was hoping to become Hogwarts' defense against the dark arts professor eventually.
After Skeeter's latest article, detailing how the Potters, Weasleys and Malfoys had instigated and then covered up the fiasco at the world cup press conference. Ginny had told the profit where to put her resignation letter.
Aunt Hermione was currently representing Roxanne in a lawsuit directed at both the bug and the Prophet.
Uncle Lee had agreed to allow Ginny to back off covering Saturday games for the cableless. Uncle Neville had talked her into taking over as flying coach and quidditch referee at Hogwarts.
He was hinting that the transfiguration post would be open in a few years and that he really wanted her to fill that spot too.
Ted wondered if his boys, Harry and Art, would be pleased or mortified to have one of their grandmas as a professor.
They still had time left before then. Right now he needed to hug his cousin and his soon to be cousin and say his goodbyes. Vic had already left with the boys. He needed to run by the apothecary, poor Art got apparition and portkey sickness so badly! Considering how many hops they needed to do before getting to the Thala Beach, Australia, he wanted to stock up on the potion that would help.
Hugo slowly opened his eyes. He had laid down in his dad's new hammock just after lunch. The hammock had been a retirement gift from the uncles and Aunt Ginny. His dad already had a spot on the private beach, that came with the new property, picked for it. As comfortable as it was Hugo was thinking that getting another one for here at the Burrow.
It was strange to think that, in a few weeks, there would just be him here.
At least Rosie and Scorpius were just a short walk away. His sister adored the thatched cottage she had inherited from their Granger grandparents.
Next June she and Scorpius were getting married. The location had been a source of many discussions. They had their choice of here or on the grounds of the Malfoy's house.
Malfoy manor, a place that still haunted his mom and dad's nightmares, was long gone. It held too many bad memories for Mr. Malfoy and his mother.
They first had the old manor torn down to the ground, then donated the land to the ministry. Magical sports had turned it into a mixed use park. It had a quidditch pitch, with thriving children's and amateur adult leagues.
Plus a large rec building that was used for community plays, classes and an occasional dance. They moved to a slightly less grand home next to the potion factory that Draco had started.
Once Rose, Scorpius and Al had become best friends Hugo had spent many an enjoyable day at the Malfoy's home.
He knew the war stories about Mr. Malfoy, his father and mother. Plus he knew that somehow his dad and Uncle Harry had prevented Scorpius' grandfather from killing Mr. Malfoy, a bunch of muggle children and kidnapping Scorpius.
His mum said that after that it was easier to get over old grudges. Although it did take his dad longer to accept that Scorpius' dad and grandma were now nothing like how they had been.
To resolve the dilemma, Rose and Scorp had chosen Victorie and Ted's farm.
Hugo was looking forward to the wedding and having Scorpius become an official part of their family. With his focus on uni and studying, he planned on letting the mums and the happy couple tell him where to be and what to do.
He hadn't found the right somebody yet. He wasn't in a hurry. Attending classes made up of non magical folks made dating awkward. He did not think a relationship should start out with a lie. Someday he would find the right person then his kids would grow up in the Burrow, just like he and his dad before him had.
Saturday Lili headed back to the states for her next year of med school. Two Mondays after that his classes started up again. If he wanted to be on time for the dinner he and she had planned he had better get a shower and leave the hammock napping for another time.