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The Family that Chooses You

Chapter 82 – Balls Vroom Blitz

The air within the common room was apathetic at best, dismal at worst.

Days after the events of the First Task, the energy that filled the air was absent. People lazed about in chairs and couches, all sharing a similar look of lethargy. Even the twins, the physical embodiment of mischievous energy, were slumped on a couch together.

Angelina eventually looked up when she realized someone was standing in front of her. She forced her eyes open and looked at a rare sight: a disapproving Harry Potter. "Hey Rabbit," she said tiredly.

"I don't believe what I'm looking at," he said in his most severe voice.

"What do you mean?" Alicia asked, trying to be offended by his tone.

"It's a beautiful day outside, no one is in the Infirmary, and you lot are lying about as if there's nothing to do!"

"But there isn't anything to do," George said.

"Speak for yourself," Katie said from a table, "I'm studying for my O.W.L.s,"

"But there isn't anything good to do," Fred amended.

"I so happen to know that there is something we definitely can do," Harry said.

"Well go on then, share with the class," Angelina said with a grin.

"Gladly! Grab your brooms and meet me at the pitch."

The team looked at each other.

"Harry, there's no Quidditch this year," George said in a tone of deep remorse, as if lamenting a beloved friend's death.

"There's not a Quidditch League this year," Harry corrected.

"Okay, fair point. But there's no point in doing any kind of trials or practice since there's no League this year." Fred sighed despondently. "And we don't have enough people for a pick-up game."

"Plus they can last a while and I don't think I have the energy for one," Alicia said as she slumped boneless, sprawling over the end of the couch.

"What if I find the people and have an idea to make things more interesting?"

"Oh? How so?" Angelina raised an eyebrow.

"Trust me," Harry said. "I already checked the pitch, it's back to normal from when they built the arena for the First Task. If you'll indulge me, meet me at the pitch with your brooms and I solemnly swear it'll be fun."

"I don't know Rabbit…"

He put his face right in front of hers. "Don't make me do the look," he said with a smile.

She grinned and pushed his face away. "Okay okay, fine! Not like I got anything better to do."

"Yes! You won't regret it," he said enthusiastically. "Ron! Ginny! Come on, y'all too. Hermione and Neville, come on down, it'll be fun to watch. Katie? You too please."

Katie looked like she wanted to protest but after a moment she sighed, "Fine but if your idea isn't fun I'm bringing my notes to study."

"Fair! I'll meet everyone there!" Harry ran from the room.

"You know, this might be the most excited I've seen him for a not-obvious reason," George said thoughtfully.

Angelina stood up and stretched. "Guess that's as good of a reason to listen to him then."

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The team and others from Gryffindor got to the pitch and looked about. As Harry said, it was restored to its former glory as the Quidditch Pitch. Harry was not waiting for them so his fellow Housemates clustered around the benches and chatted while they waited.

After a few minutes Harry came walking up followed by a random group of people close behind. Luna walked beside him, skipping merrily. Cedric, Susan Bones, Hannah Abbot, and various other Hufflepuffs followed after.

Harry stood in front of everyone and clapped his hands excitedly. "Thanks for coming out! I looked for some others and they'll be by later but we'll get things started. So I had an idea for us to do on this fine day. I know we can normally play pick-up games of Quidditch but they can still last a bit long and not everyone wants to play full games, so I came up with a version I call Blitz Quidditch."

With the twins' help, he summoned a blackboard and had it float. A bit of chalk appeared beside it. "It's essentially Quidditch but with these new rules. First, each game is only thirty minutes long. Whoever has the most points wins and stays in the game. The losing team goes to ground and a new team comes up to play. Second, catching the Snitch does not automatically end the game and you can actually end the game without catching it. It's also slower and only worth thirty points."

Angelina nodded. "You know, that's actually not a bad rule. Thirty points isn't so hard for Chasers to overcome and it'll also prevent catching the Snitch from upsetting the game completely."

"Thirty minutes hard limit also means more games. Seems like a good amount of time actually," Fred said.

Harry beamed. "Third, if you play on a school team, then you have to play a position that you normally don't play." The students that played on a team looked interested in that. "This ensures that the non-team members won't be at a huge disadvantage and this will let us who normally play a position try something else for fun. Finally, we should try to do mixed teams of different Houses for even more fun. We can't just rely on established teamwork. Wouldn't be as fun and wouldn't be fair."

Everyone looked at each other.

"Well, that does sound interesting," Cedric said with a grin. "Worth a try I suppose."

"How do we pick teams?" Alicia asked.

"Each team will have a captain and the captain picks their team. To be fair, when you lose and a new team forms, move the captain role about. Since I came up with the game idea, I'll be a captain."

Angelina smirked. "Oh will you now? Trying to usurp Wood's memory?"

Harry hesitated for a moment before he smiled the craftiest smile anyone had ever seen on him. "Do you think you can do better?" he asked innocently.

The twins guffawed and shocked noises ran through the crowd.

Angelina was proud of him for acting so confidently, almost arrogantly. And she wanted to wipe the smile off his face as only an older sister could. "Oh, you're so on Potter. I'm taking team two." She looked at Cedric. "That okay?"

Cedric laughed. "I'm not sticking my nose between you two right now. Have at it!"

"I'll let you take first pick," Angelina said with a magnanimous expression.

Harry bowed politely. "Thank you. Katie! How do you feel about playing Seeker?"

Katie stood beside him. "If you can do it, then I can do it." She giggled at his look of offense and wrapped her arms around him.

"Alicia, here." Angelina handed her best friend a Beater's bat. "You get to hit things."

"Yes. Alicia hit things with stick." Alicia shook the bat with both hands, her face wreathed in a smile of child-like glee.

"Fred. Be a Chaser," Harry called.

"Ha! Suck it George! I'm the superior twin!" Fred taunted as he stood beside Harry.

"I like you both equally," Harry said in a stage whisper, "but I think George wants to be on Angelina's team so I picked you."

"Ha! Suck it Fred! You're the pity twin!" George taunted back.

Angelina rolled her eyes. "Shut up Georgie. You'll be a Chaser too. Wait, what position are you playing?" she asked Harry.

Harry's eyes sparkled. "Chaser. I just throw the Quaffle right? I don't have to go looking for it? Seems easier." He hid behind Fred when the three Gryffindor Chasers glared at him.

"Oh you cheeky thing!" Angelina laughed. "Alright, I'm playing Keeper and you're not scoring a single goal!"

"Ron, you're my Keeper," Harry said and his best mate ran to his side with a huge grin.

"Lee, you're my Seeker." Lee high-fived George and the two mooned Fred with Fred and Ron retaliating in kind.

Harry looked at the waiting crowd. "Hermione! Do you want to play?"

"Absolutely not! I'm more than happy to watch and keep score and cheer you on."

Harry saw Ginny's face and he remembered playing with her that summer at the Burrow. "Ginny! How does being a Beater sound?"

"I think I can do it better than my brothers," she said and she waggled the bat at the jeering twins.

Seamus had come down to the pitch with them and begged to be on Angelina's team and she accepted him as her second beater. Neville had also chosen not to play, instead wanting to help Hermione keep score. Luna also demurred, saying she wanted to be a cheerleader.

Harry looked at the Hufflepuffs. "Susan! Want to help Ginny as a Beater?" He had gotten to know the fourth year Hufflepuff at the World Cup when Amelia, her aunt, had set their tent up next to Sirius'.

"Yeah! Let's show them a little girl power," she said with a broad smile, slapping Ginny's outstretched hand.

Angelina took Cedric as a Chaser while Harry took Hannah as his last Chaser and Angelina took a Hufflepuff sixth year named Benson as her last Chaser. The two teams faced off and Hermione stood between them with the ball case at her side. "I want a clean match," she said in her best Hooch impersonation. At their laughs, she opened the case, releasing the Bludgers and Snitch. Then she threw the Quaffle and the game was on.

The watchers cheered and laughed at the players. The rule about team players playing different positions made things very entertaining as they tried to fight against years of training and conditioning to do something different. Fred tried to hit a Bludger out of reflex and nearly fell off his broom since he had no bat. Katie caught an errant Quaffle and flew towards the goal before she remembered she was a Seeker. Alicia almost fell off her broom when she hit the Bludger for the first time.

Despite the awkwardness, everyone was having a lot of fun.

Angelina proved to be a decent Keeper, recognizing the lines of attack from the more amateur Chasers. Ron was doing very well, showing more than a little skill. Katie and Lee dodged about, looking for the Snitch.

Harry dove under a Bludger sent his way by Alicia and caught the Quaffle from Hannah. He fumbled it a little before holding it firmly against his chest. Another dive took him under Cedric trying to steal the Quaffle from him. He flew at the goal from below and threw the Quaffle as hard as he could. Angelina just barely blocked it, a finger tip sending the ball off course and bouncing off the rim.

Cheers rang out from the watchers as Katie had the Snitch in her hand. For a moment the players stopped before Fred scored a goal off Ron, reminding everyone that the game was still underway. When Hermione blew the whistle at the thirty-minute mark, the score showed Angelina's team winning by twenty points.

Both teams descended and they laughed and chatted about the game.

"I told you! You didn't score a single goal off me," Angelina crowed.

Harry grinned. "I better stick to Seeker then. Chasing is hard."

She snorted and grabbed him in a headlock, rubbing his head before kissing him on the forehead. "And don't you forget it," she said.

A second team was made with Ron being captain and they took to the air to go against Angelina's team. During the first game, more students had come to watch and now some Ravenclaws took to the air.

Harry sat beside Hermione, Neville, Luna, and other watchers. Lyla and Mirabelle peppered him with questions before they cheered on Katie who had joined the second team as a Beater.

"I have to admit, this version of Quidditch is very entertaining," Hermione said as she watched Alicia almost unseat herself again from hitting the Bludger.

Neville laughed when Ron did unseat himself from hitting the Bludger. Luckily he was only a few feet over the ground and landed easily. "It really is!"

Luna was wearing the jersey Harry gave her. "Don't you want to play a lot?" she asked Harry.

"I'll always want to play but today wasn't about just me playing." He leaned back on his seat. "It's about all of us having fun."

Luna's eyes glinted happily as she leaned against Harry.

Angelina's team was knocked out this time, losing by ten points. By now more students from the castle had shown up and Harry was in the midst of making a new team. He looked over at the new crowd and decided to try something.

"Daphne, would you like to play?"

Chatter stilled and all eyes turned to look at the very nervous looking fourth year Slytherin girl. "Oh, I, don't really play," she said with pink cheeks.

"Do you fly?" Harry asked.

"I do, and enjoy it for leisurely things but I haven't played Quidditch since I was a child." She looked at the pitch with apprehension.

"How about a game then? I'd be happy to have you on my team."

She looked at Tracy, one of the few other Slytherins there, and then back at Harry. "I…well…"

"How about I pick you and Tracy together? You can be Beaters." Harry tried to smile reassuringly.

Daphne shifted her feet a few times before she nodded, her shoulders straightening. "Actually, yes. That sounds pleasant." She smiled. "Thank you, Harry."

"Great! How about it Tracy?"

Tracy accepted the Beater's bat. "I'm all for it. I love hitting balls." She gave a saucy wink at all the boys that looked uncomfortable at that moment.

Harry snorted, going slightly pink at the joke. He looked at another silent Slytherin boy. "Selwyn right? You play on your House team? You play Chaser?"

Selwyn looked surprised and he nodded slowly. "Yes and yes."

"How does playing Keeper sound?"

Selwyn looked at Harry for a long moment. Then he relaxed slightly and nodded. "Sounds interesting. Thank you."

Everyone was quiet as they watched the three Slytherins stand beside Harry.

Harry looked unbothered by the quiet and smiled cheekily at Angelina. "You want to be my Seeker? I don't think you have the right build for one honestly. You have too much muscle and you're too tall but you might make a passable one."

Angelina's laugh and Alicia's cackle drove the awkwardness away and the taller girl picked Harry up and squeezed him. "I'm going to make you eat those words!"

Harry chuckled when Angelina set him down and he noticed a small trio standing to the far side. "Salut les filles," he attempted to say.

Fleur, Aimee, and Colette smiled at him and walked closer. "That was better," Fleur said. "You're practicing."

"We need to work on your accent," Colette teased. "You sound like half-fancy Parisian and half-farmer."

"I hope to be a full farmer one day," Harry said to their amusement. "Would any of you like to play Quidditch with us?"

"No thank you. I do not enjoy flying like that," Fleur said. "Aimee plays a little though, she should play."

"Oh brilliant, you can join my team for this round," Harry said. "Do you play for your school? What position?"

"No I do not play for Beauxbaton. I play a little as Seeker," Aimee said.

"How about playing as Chaser then? For the rules of Blitz Quidditch."

"I have no problems with that."

Harry finished out his team and they took to the sky. As soon as the Quaffle flew up, Aimee did a pinpoint dive and snatched it out of the hands from Ginny on the opposing team and flew off at a sharp angle.

Fleur and Colette giggled as they sat beside the Gryffindor team members that were not playing and Harry's other friends.

Alicia watched Aimee with a professional eye. "There's no way she doesn't play for a team."

Fleur laughed outright. "She doesn't play for the school team, but she plays reserve for one of the regional teams, when studies allow."

Alicia laughed. "And let me guess, she normally plays Chaser right?"

"She is listed as reserve Seeker," Colette said before breaking into more giggles, "but she does practice as a Chaser a lot."

Harry's team ended up winning and they won their second in a row before being beaten. Everyone landed for a break and to make the final two teams before a sudden hush swept over the crowd.

At some point, some students from Durmstrang had come to watch and some left before returning with Krum. He came walking up the pitch, followed by the majority of the Durmstrang students and the ones closest to Krum carried brooms.

"You play Quidditch strangely here," he said.

Harry smiled. "Just a fun version I made up for today."

Krum grunted. "Hmm, so you can play normal Quidditch?" At their nods he smiled. "Then perhaps a game with any of you against me and the Durmstrang team? I specifically want to go against you," he said, pointing at Harry.

"Me?" Harry repeated, pointing at himself.

"Yes. You're the Boy-Who-Lived yes? They say you are a competent flyer?"

"He's the youngest school Seeker in a century," Angelina said stoutly and a lot of the Hogwarts students murmured words of praise

"Oh that is very impressive," Krum said, his tone conveying anything but being impressed. "I'm one of the youngest players in the European League as well as the youngest Seeker. We should be fairly well matched."

Krum towered over Harry and was physically fit in a way Harry never would be. Not to mention the vast difference in age and experience.

"Maybe I can go against you," Cedric said, standing in front of Harry protectively.

Krum looked down at Cedric. "But I've already beaten you once before. There's no fun in beating you again. I want to go against the best that Hogwarts has to offer." Krum's smile dripped with arrogance. "Don't worry, I'll go easy on you, little boy," he said to Harry before walking away. He and the other Durmstrang students laughed.

Angelina ground her teeth and she whistled sharply. "All teams, gather 'round," she said and immediately all the players of the school teams did with most of the other watchers clustering in close. "We're going to stick it to him. Let's make the best team we can from who we have here."

"No." Everyone turned to stare at Harry. He blushed and coughed. "I mean, no thank you."

"What do you mean no?" Alicia asked. "Don't you want the best team to make Krum eat a big bag of co-"

"I mean," Harry said loudly to cover up Alicia's next words, "it's not like he has a professional team with him either."

"He's making this a power play of him beating you, Seeker to Seeker," Cedric argued.

"Exactly. So, no offense to everyone, it doesn't really matter who's playing on the team. If it's basically a Seeker versus Seeker thing, then it'll come down to that."

"Don't you want to win?" George asked.

"Of course I like to win," Harry retorted. "But today wasn't about me winning games. This was about all of us playing together and having fun together. It's been a lot of fun right?" He smiled as everyone nodded. "We've had people from all four Houses here, playing and hanging out, no insults aside from game taunting. No drawn wands. We even have new friends from Beauxbatons here. When's that ever happened?"

"Not once during the seven years I have been here," Selwyn said gravely.

"Exactly. As far as I'm concerned, we've won today already. I'm not going to let Krum ruin our day, even if he wins and lords it over us. I'm not replacing anyone on my team, I picked them."

"But Harry, there's nothing wrong with taking the best choice for the advantage." Daphne held her bat to George. "I'm willing to give up my spot to ensure your best chances."

"And I'm not willing to abandon my friends for an advantage," Harry said softly. "I want to play with my friends. That's it. Win or lose, it'll be fun."

"You're far too noble, Harry," Hermione said proudly. "I'm still not calling you Sir Harry though."

Angelina looked at Harry with fondness and exasperation in equal measure. "Alright, the captain has spoken, but let's get each other equipped the best if we can." People exchanged brooms with the active players. George and Fred went over the practice bats and gave the two best to Daphne and Tracy. Aimee stripped off her outer robes and tied her hair in a tight braid.

After a moment, Harry took to the air with Daphne, Tracy, Aimee, Katie, Susan, and Terry Boot. The whistle was blown, the Quaffle thrown, and the game was on.

A nervous excitement came over the crowd. The Durmstrang contingent cheered loudly for Krum while the Hogwarts students and the Beauxbaton pair cheered for their friends. The Durmstrang team played well, but it was clear that they wanted their Seeker to be the main attraction.

Harry flew as well as he could. His heart pounded and his head and eyes were never still. Krum would alternate between flying very closely to Harry, shadowing his every move, and then speeding around the pitch at a very fast pace. Every time he looked at Harry, he wore that same smile that was a mix of condescension and pity, tinged with arrogance.

Terry, Susan, and Aimee played well as Chasers and maintained the small lead in points. Katie managed to defend the goals but it was starting to take its toll. Daphne and Tracy played valiantly but they were not as powerful or accurate as the Durmstrang Beaters.

A roar came from the Durmstrang students when they saw Krum flatten himself on his broom. They knew what that meant. It meant Krum was on the final part of his hunt. He sighted the quarry and was ready to end it.

Harry had seen the Snitch too and raced for it. Krum was larger and far more practiced, he used his weight and skill to push Harry around, nudging him from his flight path.

As the two Seekers started their ending race Katie called out to Tracy and Daphne. She mimed hitting the Bludger, pointing from Tracy to Daphne, then pointing at Krum. She hoped they understood what she meant. Then she waved wildly, crying out to Aimee. She waved her arm in a pattern, hoping the fellow Chaser would understand.

Aimee did.

As Krum was pushing Harry out of the way again, Aimee dove straight for him. The French witch dodged the attempts of the Durmstrang Chasers to interfere with her and she came in from Krum's blind spot, shrieking a French war-cry. She circled him once in a tight loop, making him slow and dodge to the side.

Krum growled at the distraction and sped up, trying to catch up to Harry who had taken the opportunity to speed ahead. So focused on Harry, Krum did not notice a Beater floating in mid-air ahead of them, waiting.

Tracy had caught on to Katie's miming and with a smile remembering a certain game from first year, she managed to hit a Bludger right at Daphne. Daphne had waited and swung at the Bludger with the bat held in both hands. She cried out as she struck the Bludger, hitting it so hard her broom spun in a circle.

Harry had heard the cry and looked up. The Bludger looked like it was flying straight at his face and he fell flat on his broom, the magically enchanted ball skimmed his hair. Krum was flying directly behind Harry and he saw the Bludger fly straight to him. He twisted and just barely managed to dodge a solid hit, grunting when it barely winged his shoulder, sending him off on an angle.

Harry reached out and grabbed the Snitch.

The crowd exploded in cheers as Harry held the Snitch high. The team followed Harry down and everyone stormed to them screaming happily. Finally, they let them down as the Durmstrang team landed. They followed Krum, looking glum.

"That was a good catch," Krum said evenly.

"Thank you," Harry said. "My team really helped me out there." After a moment of hesitation, Harry held his hand out.

After a longer moment, Krum shook it. "Clearly," he said wryly. "Well, perhaps we can do this again." With a curt nod, he left and all of the Durmstrang students left with him.

After the Durmtrangs left the pitch, George and Fred grabbed Harry and lifted him high. "That's our Seeker!" they cried in unison.

"Hogwarts!" Cedric yelled, punching the sky. The others took up the cry and they chanted their school's name.

"And Beauxbatons!" Harry shouted from on-high. The others cheered Beauxbatons willingly, much to the three French witches' delight. He stumbled slightly when the twins let him down. "I was serious, this was a team effort. We all share this victory."

"Yeah, and that was one of the best hits I've ever seen," George said sincerely to a blushing Daphne.

"You two did what George and I did three years ago and as amateurs," Fred admired. "You two joining the Slytherin team next year?"

Daphne snorted. "If we are needed on the team, then I worry about the team's prospects," she said and everyone laughed appreciatively. "I think not, but I could be convinced to play casually."

"For her, that's big praise," Tracy said with a smile. She yelped when Daphne prodded her with a bat.

Cedric shook Harry's hand. "That was a great catch and this was a lot of fun. Definitely let me know when you want to do this again." People agreed and after some chatting, they drifted away in groups until the only people left on the pitch was Harry, the Gryffindor team, his closest friends from Gryffindor and Lyla and Mirabelle, Luna, the Slytherin pair, and the Beauxbatons trio.

Angelina squeezed Harry. "Thanks Rabbit! That was a lot of fun and just what we needed."

He hugged her back hard. "Great! I'm glad. And it's not over yet." He disentangled himself from her and had a whispered conversation with the twins and Ron. "You lot stay here, we'll be right back," he said to the others and dashed off with the twins and Ron close behind.

Those that were left behind decided to settle down in the shadows of one of the stands, sitting comfortably on conjured blankets.

"Why did she call Harry a rabbit?" Aimee asked Daphne.

"That is Angelina's nickname for Harry," Alicia said smoothly. "They exchanged stuffed rabbits as gifts during his first year." She raised an eyebrow at the surprised looks she got. "The Spinnets do a lot of business in France. Plus many of the older Potions text are in French. Not to mention I like how I sound."

At Angelina's look Alicia patted her hand. "And yes I was talking about you in a language you don't understand." She squeaked when Angelina pinched her.

"How did we find the only group of students that speak French?" Colette asked, amused and annoyed in equal measure. "It really prevents us from speaking ill of others in front of them."

"Only if you speak ill of us," Alicia said. "Otherwise, speak as ill as you like. I'm a bit of a gossip so I'd probably join you to be honest."

After some time, Harry and the Weasleys returned bearing picnic baskets. "I thought it'd be fun to sit and have dinner out here," Harry said. "I got permission from Professor McGonagall and the House Elves were happy to pack us picnic food. Dobby even helped me with some French food when I mentioned you three."

"That's very kind of you," Fleur said, smiling brightly, making the other boys blink a few times.

"I've always wanted to try some and I've been really working on my French for food." He set a basket down in front of them and opened the lid. "First, we have some jamb-on burr."

The three Beauxbatons students blinked at him.

Hermione saw his grin and she groaned. "Jambon-Beurre," she hissed.

"Right, that's what I said. Next we have a saucy-son sack."

"Saucisson Sec," Hermione hissed again. Fleur, Aimee, and Colette began to snicker and giggle.

"Yeah that. We also have some cheeses like bree, chev-ree, and camburt."

Hermione did not even deign to try to fix his pronunciation with those and by now everyone knew what he was doing, laughing at his insincere sincerity and the looks on those that did speak French.

"And some tuna knee cozy salad," he said with relish.

The French speakers stared at him blankly.

Luna opened the container and peeked at the salad. "Oh you mean niçoise," she said helpfully. "It means 'of Nice'."

"It certainly does look nice," Harry said agreeably.

Alicia grabbed a baguette and started smacking a grinning Harry with it. "You. Uncultured. Butchering. Idiot!" She punctuated every word by hitting him. "You're not as funny as you-don't you run away!" She chased after a laughing Harry, swinging the bread like she did the Beater's bat.

Everyone laughed at the scene, especially the girls from Beauxbatons, holding their sides with tears streaming down their faces. The next time Harry came close, Katie tackled him and held him down while Alicia continued to attack him. Angelina pushed Lyla and Mirabelle who leapt to Harry's rescue, jumping on Katie.

"I never thought the Harry Potter would be so…silly," Fleur gasped at the sight.

"I understand what you mean," Aimee said to Luna, "he must be very comfortable with you before acting in such a way."

"Is he usually like this?" Colette asked Daphne.

Daphne laughed and shrugged. "I've never seen it like this. Granted, I have not hung out with him much before this year and not usually with everyone like this."

Hermione and Luna shared a look.

"This is the first year Harry's been relatively…care-free," Hermione said slowly.

"He had a much better summer than he used to," Luna said, uncharacteristically sad and serious. "And like Hermione said, this is his first normal school year so far."

Daphne, Fleur, Colette, and Aimee looked at each other.

Harry finally escaped and brought the baguette over. He noticed their looks. "Oh, sorry," he said sheepishly, looking down at the bread in his hands. "It got a little beat up, didn't it? I can go get a new one."

"That will not be necessary," Fleur said with a haughty voice. "French bread has substance and structure. It is not weak and lacking like English bread."

"I've never been upset about bread before," George remarked.

"Yeah this is a first," Fred agreed, "I feel the urge to sing God Save the Queen and defend a batch loaf."

"Well now that Harry has seen some side-by-side, he'd agree that French things are far finer," Aimee said, her eyes sparkling.

"Let's not get too carried away." Ginny looked at the jambon-beurre. "That's just a ham and butter sandwich."

"Ah but the quality is so much better. So much nicer than that thing," Aimee retorted, pointing at a cheese sandwich. "It looks so bland and tasteless."

"I could be convinced to nibble on some English fare," Colette coyly suggested, giving Harry a look that was a smidge hotter than warm. She nearly recoiled at the glares most of the other witches gave her. "I merely meant Harry could give me some suggestions."

Harry looked up at the sky with a face as red as the sunset.

"I don't think you have them convinced on what suggestions you're looking for," Aimee said snidely.

"Have I mentioned that Harry has some incredibly protective friends?" Daphne said with a predatory smile.

"Clearly," Colette said wryly. "It's not like I said I was going to mount him like a broomstick and ride him around the pitch."

Hermione choked on her drink, spitting it out into a fine spray and coughed violently. Harry immediately pounded her on the back, trying to help. Daphne's face went bright red and Alicia convulsed so hard, the sandwich in her hands crumpled.

Luna looked at Colette, her usual detached expression focused. "I don't think you'd fly as high if you rode Harry like a broom-"

Daphne cackled, falling onto her back, and Alicia and Hermione sputtered and gasped. Colette and Aimee shrieked with laughter while Fleur tried to hide her scarlet face.

Everyone else looked at each with deep confusion.

Harry only sighed as he continued to rub Hermione's back. "As long as everyone's having fun," he smiled weakly.

"Do you know what they're saying?" Katie asked, pointing at the witches who were yelling French.

"Nope, but like I said, as long as everyone's having fun."

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Imaginer.012 - I sometimes worry I am overreaching. That I am making assumptions in this fic that aren't true on a mental health side. I just hope that I am realistically portraying something that everyone can somewhat identify with in some small way, and walk away with a measure of comfort and a willingness to do and feel better. Thank you so much.

Caroline - Ah thank you so much. I took French a few years back in high school but that was ages ago and I've forgotten everything save a smattering of kitchen terms that I know because I like to cook. I'll probably leave the phrase as is so others see your review and learn from it as I have. Thank you.

DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - Just wait like...one more chapter, maybe, possibly. But be forewarned, even then, it won't be set in stone. I always thought that people on the sidelines would be very scared of what the Champions had to do, and how people who applied but were rejected were probably very relieved.

FanfictionFanGirl59 - I hope your week gets better.

Urgwaew - Well I guess I'm an enabler this week then. I like giving the lesser seen canon characters a bit more depth and have plans even more for Luna, Daphne, and others. Perhaps not too much more, but still, enough to let them grow and feel a bit more involved. The same with Fleur and the two girls I created: Aimee and Colette. I don't want useless secondary characters. I want them to feel important even if they aren't as important as others. Especially showing a slice of their life at Beauxbatons, and why she isn't being as supported as say Krum and Cedric were. I want Fleur to grow into herself, and be better for it.

I liked thinking of the Ron and Cedric thing because I wanted to get around the whole cheating thing and show how it happened without Harry's direct involvement. Gives Ron a bit of time to shine as well. Charlie may show up soon, I haven't decided yet to be honest. I'm a lot closer in chapters than when I first started, so there's more wiggle room.

I really wanted to develop Katie more too, as much as everyone. Exams and thinking of your future is such a scary thing, and as well as not knowing what you want to do. I hoped a lot of people can empathize and sympathize with the feelings here. Someone else mentioned the French bit and I'm glad to have outside perspectives since I am not a speaker of it at all save for a few years in high school.

I'm glad you like the change and slice-of-life is what I really wanted this fic to explore. Thank you.

yogibears - I'm glad. I want them to grow as people and characters, showing different facets of their personalities. I'm happy you think it was a good career choice. I wanted to tie her love of Quidditch with her personality and her family. Didn't want everyone on the team to try for the League, that feels lazy to me. Hope you have a better work week. Mine has been difficult too as of late.