Chapter 6: Chaos in Ireland
The time of the first match was drawing near. It was not a home game, and they were practicing every spare moment of the day. Even if it was five minutes after lunch, until midnight, or even during Defense Against Against the Dark Arts.
It was also getting hard to find time to do homework, and they were all glad Hermione didn't play Quidditch. She was being very supportive and was of great help. So was Sirius. He didn't give homework, and gave them all a study hall during class to finish work after he gave his lesson.
But Snape was a different story. He seemed exceptionally crabby and hateful this year, especially towards Sirius, who everyone except the Slytherins liked better, and doled out extra work to make things harder for the Quidditch players.
The team had perfected the new plays, but they needed names. Elizabeth hadn't named them, and she decided to let the team do that job.
" So what are you going to call your new plays?" She asked, smiling at them after a particularily easy practice.
" What are * we* going to call them. We have to name them?" Cate said, apparently not in a thinking mood.
" Yes, you. But probably not you Cate, I doubt you can think of any good names." Responded Elizabeth.
" Oh, thanks..."
" Well, what are we going to call the Chaser play?"
"Um..."
Everyone shouted names off the top of their heads, such as " Cate Black!" (Suggested by Cate herself, as a joke of course) " Katie Bell!" and " We don't have a name for it!" But finally, the newest Chaser, Melissa Haroldson, shouted out, " Tornado! Because we're always spinning!"
" So Tornado it is. Very nice name. Now what about the next one?"
" Cate Black!"
" NO!" everyone else responded.
" You really are more like your father Cate..." Elizabeth said in the process of shaking her head at Cate.
" Hogwarts Feint." Ron said quickly.
" I like it." Harry said. " After the school. Let's use it."
" That was fast..."
So it was Hogwarts and Tornado, the names of the new plays. They got done with practice early that day, the day before the game, and instead of doing their homework, they used the spare time for relaxing in the common room.
" Ah, it feels good to do nothing." Cate said, leaning back on a couch and closing her eyes.
" You should do your homework, all of you. This is your chance you know!" Hermione suggested, a little surprised that they weren't already.
" It's more fun to sit, besides, we can do it on the ride to Ireland tomorrow, though I don't expect it to take long." Harry said, letting himself fall backwards on the spot next to Cate.
" He's right. Besides, we're almost done anyways." Cate said, poking Harry in the side for almost falling on her.
" Well, you are." Ron said. Professor McGonagall had given him extra work for doodling Quidditch plays during a lecture about apparating, which she was beginning to prepare them for.
" The game should be fun." Harry said. " Don't stay up too late Cate. You need sleep."
" I don't really sleep anyways. I never have, and don't see if it'll work tonight."
Cate was playing in the game, as she had gotten the hang of they play better. Elizabeth had spent more time on Cate, and between this game and the next, she would completely neglect Cate and work entirely with Harry on timing it perfectly. She could run it without fault by now, and was glad she got to introduce it to the league.
" So what do you figure Ireland will be like?" Harry said with a yawn.
" Not too different I suppose. Did you know we're playing on the professional field?"
" Yes, we were only told a few thousand times."
" Just thought I'd let you know again." Cate said, also yawning. " But you know, I think I'm going to bed. I'm suddenly pretty tired. Goodnight guys!"
" G' Night."
" Nighty night!"
" Sleep tight-"
" We get the picture."
***
" Wakey Wakey!" called a voice in the boys dormitory. " Time to get up!"
" Cate... It's too early..." Harry groaned, and Ron muttered something across the room.
" Just because I actually get a girl's dorm this year means you'll all be up late again."
She was right. The fact that she actually had a girl's dorm wouldn't keep her out. So she left, allowing them time to change. Sleepily, Ron and Harry pulled on their clothes, and trudged down the stairs. The rest of the team had been waiting. Including Sirius and Elizabeth, who were currently pointing out familiar objects in the common room.
" How are we getting there?" Harry asked Sirius.
" Ahh... Flying bus. I dunno where they found this thing, but it looks to be at least 40 years old..." He shrugged, pointing out at an old double-decker bus parked on the grounds. It was painted with the Union Jack. Cate seemed to be the only one to think uncomfortable seats and a poor radio was cool.
" I swear you aren't related to me." Her mother muttered. " You're totally off in the head."
" Naw... I think she's a lot like you dear. Can I drive?" Sirius said eagerly.
" No dad, we actually want to get there. I want to live to graduate..."
" Funny Catie, funny..."
The ride wasn't long. It took about half an hour. Obviously, the bus's speed was magically enhanced. The stands were already crowded, and the Irish team was flying about. There were professional Quidditch players watching, in top box seats.
" Lynch, Moran, and Mullet all have siblings playing..." Elizabeth whispered. " This team is highly rated. But we'll show them. By the way, you were the highest rated Seeker. You're not supposed to know that, so shush."
" I'll take that as a compliment." Cate said, thought she couldn't suppress a grin.
" So I guess I'll go have a seat." Harry said, his stomach lurching a bit. He was almost glad he wasn't plying, it made him nervous to think of losing at all...
" I'm supposed to be commentating..." Sirius said, looking around. " Top box it is for me! Good luck Gryffies! Lizzie... Be a good coach. Bye!"
Everyone stared. " That was interesting..." Cate said quietly. " I swear again... We can't be related..."
" Hey, Cate- Good luck!" Harry called before going to have a seat. " You too Ron!"
" Thanks!" Cate and Ron called in unison, heading off to the locker room to change and prepare.
" Okay, well before we start... All I have to say is if you play like you do in practice, you should win. Don't use the new plays just yet, we'll bring them out later. When I say so. Now let's GO!" Elizabeth said shortly to them, just before they were about to take off.
The team walked to the field, rather silently. They just had to win! Cate bit her lip and grinned, while eyeing up the other Seeker. He was eyeing her up too... In a different way... She sighed, it would be an easy game. He was already following her with her eyes.
There was a very official looking referee there. He was going bald, and was very serious looking. Straightening her face, Cate watched the Snitch fly away, keeping her eyes locked on it, until it was out of sight.
The whistle blew, and Sirius immediately started commentating. " Quaffle taken by Rowan... Pass to Bell.. Back to Rowan... To Haroldson... SCORE! Ten points for Hogwarts!" He said, half-dancing in his seat. The Irish commentator gave him an odd look and he calmed down at once.
The game commenced. Indeed it was rather easy, but the Irish Seeker, Lynch, the sibling of Aidan Lynch, was tougher than Cate had thought. He had survived two Wronski Feints, and didn't seem the least bit shaken.
The Chasing game was going well, but Ireland was starting to catch up... Soon they were behind by ten points... At this, Elizabeth called a timeout.
" What's happening? You were ahead by so much. Cate.. Does that guy die? How many Feints is that now?"
" Die?! You mean we're aiming to kill..."
" You know what I mean..."
" Oh, well, in that case, three."
" Well, time to show them all our new plays. Bring it on." She said a little too dramatically. Cate took a step back. The crowd was starting to give them odd looks. " Okay.. Let's go... Hogwarts!" The whole team shouted Hogwarts, Cate shouting exceptionally loud, and causing Melissa to rub her ear, and get back on her broom, a little shaken.
Cate smiled to herself in the air. She smiled sweetly at Lynch and caught the attention of Jonathon Davids. She moved her head about a bit, and nodded towards Lynch. Sighing, Jonathon headed as fast as he could towards a Bludger, and Cate gasped and went into a dive, with a clever flick of her gold wristwatch. The glint caught Lynch right in the eye, and he followed her in a dive... But halfway through... SMACK! He was hit hard in the face with the Bludger. Cate gave a thumbs up to Davids, who right after, nearly swung at Katie Bell, causing her to swerve left and almost drop the Quaffle.
The Tornado was working well too. It was hard to steal the Quaffle when the Chasers had it going in a combination of dizzying spirals. The Hogwarts lead lengthened, and as Lynch was being examined once more, the Snitch popped up, at an inconvenient time for the Irish. Cate sighed, as she easily caught it, and more than half the crowd groaned. The Hogwarts supporters were few, mostly the parents and a few students permitted to leave for the game... Nothing compared to the Irish crowd.
" Hogwarts victory in the first game of the International Student Quidditch Cup!" Sirius's magically magnified voice boomed, as he danced around the top box. " Congratulations to Coach Elizabeth Rowan, and all the players!!!"
Cate grinned, and steered her broom to right in front of Harry. He took the hint and hopped on, and she flew them down to the center of the field, where the Hogwarts bystanders were.
"Well done, Cate." Harry smiled.
"Thanks, next game is all yours..." Cate smiled. "Might as well join the commotion!"
Harry laughed. There was a commotion indeed. Sirius was making his way through the Irish crowd, to the field. Elizabeth flipped her long brown hair, and laughed herself as Sirius flipped over some poor old man's back, falling a few steps down.
"I think they're officially together..." Cate whispered to Harry. "Watch them watch each other."
"I've seen. Poor Sirius..."
Sirius finally just apparated, right behind Elizabeth, and grabbed her at the waist, making her jump. But Harry's attention was diverted by something... He saw the woman dressed in all black once again, looking him straight in the eyes and grinning.
"Cate..." he said, nudging Cate. "It's her again. That woman... She's here..."
"Where, Harry I don't see her!"
"Look there-no there."
"Oh... She sees us!"
The woman grinned once more, and disappeared suddenly. Then, by impulse, Cate turned around, and wheeled Harry around with her. She shrieked, and grabbed her broom. Harry stood there for a minute, shocked. A hideously ugly crossbreed of a troll and a giant of some sort stood behind them.
"Cate!!!!" Elizabeth shrieked. Sirius looked disappointed, and he also looked ready to kiss Elizabeth... Then he caught sight of the troll... "Cate! Don't you dare!"
Cate looked to Harry for help. "Come on, we can outsmart this creature. It looks bloody stupid to me. It's still standing there, scratching its head... We can rope it... aha!"
"Cate, you're mad..."
"Well, no one's going to think I'm mad if we get rid of it... Mother! Get rid of the people, get them away!"
"Catttiieeee! Switch! You're not going after it!" Elizabeth shouted from the ground.
"Too late, come on Harry... Before they yell at us some more!"
Harry didn't know quite what he was doing, all he knew is that the troll had a small brain, no stick, and one hell of a bad stench. The smell made him sick, and Cate didn't seem too pleased either. But however, Cate knew what she was doing. She had ropes flying out of her wand, and flew in a circle around it. Harry followed suit... Soon, the exceptionally confused troll-cross-thing fell to the ground, appearing unconscious.
"And what were you doing, Miss Catherine Elizabeth Black?"
"Taking action... I didn't see anyone else concerned about-"
"About making a show.... Yes, I see you wanted to show off... Well, next practice will be harder." Elizabeth interrupted. The she suddenly softened, and drew Cate into a hug. "I'm not letting you die... Again. I'm here to protect you, remember? Don't scare me again, alright dearheart?"
"Yes mum... I won't, but it's hard to do..."
"Too much like your father, Cate..."
"Hey..." Sirius said, ruffling Cate's hair. "That's not a bad thing..."
"I never said it was either..."
Harry shook his head, and he and Cate pulled off to talk to Ron, who looked pleased with his own performance in the match. The whole Weasley family had showed up, adding greatly to the number of Hogwarts supporters. But soon after, Elizabeth decided it was time to go back to school. It was back on the bus for the Quidditch team... Cate's energy had dropped, and she fell asleep on the short ride back.
"Wake up Sleeping beauty..." Elizabeth said, poking her once they arrived.
"It's morning already?"
"No, we've just arrived at the school. Up and at em'."
"Arrgh.."
Everyone went to sleep instantly.... That was instantly after they told their story and had a small party in the Gryffindor common room. But the next morning, Snape had no pity for the tired people...
The morning held many things, including a newspaper article. It featured the highlights of the game, individual team members, though most of it was dedicated to the tragic life story, and a full page pull out picture of Cate Black. Cate thought this was utterly wrong, and annoying. However more, several first year boys asked her to sign their photograph, which she did begrudgingly.
She sighed, and was glad that Harry got to take the next game...
(((Well, any opinions? Sorry it took so long to post! I was kinda busy with another fic... Hehehe... But yes, I got around to posting this one here, oh joy... R/R please, and I'll give you an imaginary animal cracker!)))
The time of the first match was drawing near. It was not a home game, and they were practicing every spare moment of the day. Even if it was five minutes after lunch, until midnight, or even during Defense Against Against the Dark Arts.
It was also getting hard to find time to do homework, and they were all glad Hermione didn't play Quidditch. She was being very supportive and was of great help. So was Sirius. He didn't give homework, and gave them all a study hall during class to finish work after he gave his lesson.
But Snape was a different story. He seemed exceptionally crabby and hateful this year, especially towards Sirius, who everyone except the Slytherins liked better, and doled out extra work to make things harder for the Quidditch players.
The team had perfected the new plays, but they needed names. Elizabeth hadn't named them, and she decided to let the team do that job.
" So what are you going to call your new plays?" She asked, smiling at them after a particularily easy practice.
" What are * we* going to call them. We have to name them?" Cate said, apparently not in a thinking mood.
" Yes, you. But probably not you Cate, I doubt you can think of any good names." Responded Elizabeth.
" Oh, thanks..."
" Well, what are we going to call the Chaser play?"
"Um..."
Everyone shouted names off the top of their heads, such as " Cate Black!" (Suggested by Cate herself, as a joke of course) " Katie Bell!" and " We don't have a name for it!" But finally, the newest Chaser, Melissa Haroldson, shouted out, " Tornado! Because we're always spinning!"
" So Tornado it is. Very nice name. Now what about the next one?"
" Cate Black!"
" NO!" everyone else responded.
" You really are more like your father Cate..." Elizabeth said in the process of shaking her head at Cate.
" Hogwarts Feint." Ron said quickly.
" I like it." Harry said. " After the school. Let's use it."
" That was fast..."
So it was Hogwarts and Tornado, the names of the new plays. They got done with practice early that day, the day before the game, and instead of doing their homework, they used the spare time for relaxing in the common room.
" Ah, it feels good to do nothing." Cate said, leaning back on a couch and closing her eyes.
" You should do your homework, all of you. This is your chance you know!" Hermione suggested, a little surprised that they weren't already.
" It's more fun to sit, besides, we can do it on the ride to Ireland tomorrow, though I don't expect it to take long." Harry said, letting himself fall backwards on the spot next to Cate.
" He's right. Besides, we're almost done anyways." Cate said, poking Harry in the side for almost falling on her.
" Well, you are." Ron said. Professor McGonagall had given him extra work for doodling Quidditch plays during a lecture about apparating, which she was beginning to prepare them for.
" The game should be fun." Harry said. " Don't stay up too late Cate. You need sleep."
" I don't really sleep anyways. I never have, and don't see if it'll work tonight."
Cate was playing in the game, as she had gotten the hang of they play better. Elizabeth had spent more time on Cate, and between this game and the next, she would completely neglect Cate and work entirely with Harry on timing it perfectly. She could run it without fault by now, and was glad she got to introduce it to the league.
" So what do you figure Ireland will be like?" Harry said with a yawn.
" Not too different I suppose. Did you know we're playing on the professional field?"
" Yes, we were only told a few thousand times."
" Just thought I'd let you know again." Cate said, also yawning. " But you know, I think I'm going to bed. I'm suddenly pretty tired. Goodnight guys!"
" G' Night."
" Nighty night!"
" Sleep tight-"
" We get the picture."
***
" Wakey Wakey!" called a voice in the boys dormitory. " Time to get up!"
" Cate... It's too early..." Harry groaned, and Ron muttered something across the room.
" Just because I actually get a girl's dorm this year means you'll all be up late again."
She was right. The fact that she actually had a girl's dorm wouldn't keep her out. So she left, allowing them time to change. Sleepily, Ron and Harry pulled on their clothes, and trudged down the stairs. The rest of the team had been waiting. Including Sirius and Elizabeth, who were currently pointing out familiar objects in the common room.
" How are we getting there?" Harry asked Sirius.
" Ahh... Flying bus. I dunno where they found this thing, but it looks to be at least 40 years old..." He shrugged, pointing out at an old double-decker bus parked on the grounds. It was painted with the Union Jack. Cate seemed to be the only one to think uncomfortable seats and a poor radio was cool.
" I swear you aren't related to me." Her mother muttered. " You're totally off in the head."
" Naw... I think she's a lot like you dear. Can I drive?" Sirius said eagerly.
" No dad, we actually want to get there. I want to live to graduate..."
" Funny Catie, funny..."
The ride wasn't long. It took about half an hour. Obviously, the bus's speed was magically enhanced. The stands were already crowded, and the Irish team was flying about. There were professional Quidditch players watching, in top box seats.
" Lynch, Moran, and Mullet all have siblings playing..." Elizabeth whispered. " This team is highly rated. But we'll show them. By the way, you were the highest rated Seeker. You're not supposed to know that, so shush."
" I'll take that as a compliment." Cate said, thought she couldn't suppress a grin.
" So I guess I'll go have a seat." Harry said, his stomach lurching a bit. He was almost glad he wasn't plying, it made him nervous to think of losing at all...
" I'm supposed to be commentating..." Sirius said, looking around. " Top box it is for me! Good luck Gryffies! Lizzie... Be a good coach. Bye!"
Everyone stared. " That was interesting..." Cate said quietly. " I swear again... We can't be related..."
" Hey, Cate- Good luck!" Harry called before going to have a seat. " You too Ron!"
" Thanks!" Cate and Ron called in unison, heading off to the locker room to change and prepare.
" Okay, well before we start... All I have to say is if you play like you do in practice, you should win. Don't use the new plays just yet, we'll bring them out later. When I say so. Now let's GO!" Elizabeth said shortly to them, just before they were about to take off.
The team walked to the field, rather silently. They just had to win! Cate bit her lip and grinned, while eyeing up the other Seeker. He was eyeing her up too... In a different way... She sighed, it would be an easy game. He was already following her with her eyes.
There was a very official looking referee there. He was going bald, and was very serious looking. Straightening her face, Cate watched the Snitch fly away, keeping her eyes locked on it, until it was out of sight.
The whistle blew, and Sirius immediately started commentating. " Quaffle taken by Rowan... Pass to Bell.. Back to Rowan... To Haroldson... SCORE! Ten points for Hogwarts!" He said, half-dancing in his seat. The Irish commentator gave him an odd look and he calmed down at once.
The game commenced. Indeed it was rather easy, but the Irish Seeker, Lynch, the sibling of Aidan Lynch, was tougher than Cate had thought. He had survived two Wronski Feints, and didn't seem the least bit shaken.
The Chasing game was going well, but Ireland was starting to catch up... Soon they were behind by ten points... At this, Elizabeth called a timeout.
" What's happening? You were ahead by so much. Cate.. Does that guy die? How many Feints is that now?"
" Die?! You mean we're aiming to kill..."
" You know what I mean..."
" Oh, well, in that case, three."
" Well, time to show them all our new plays. Bring it on." She said a little too dramatically. Cate took a step back. The crowd was starting to give them odd looks. " Okay.. Let's go... Hogwarts!" The whole team shouted Hogwarts, Cate shouting exceptionally loud, and causing Melissa to rub her ear, and get back on her broom, a little shaken.
Cate smiled to herself in the air. She smiled sweetly at Lynch and caught the attention of Jonathon Davids. She moved her head about a bit, and nodded towards Lynch. Sighing, Jonathon headed as fast as he could towards a Bludger, and Cate gasped and went into a dive, with a clever flick of her gold wristwatch. The glint caught Lynch right in the eye, and he followed her in a dive... But halfway through... SMACK! He was hit hard in the face with the Bludger. Cate gave a thumbs up to Davids, who right after, nearly swung at Katie Bell, causing her to swerve left and almost drop the Quaffle.
The Tornado was working well too. It was hard to steal the Quaffle when the Chasers had it going in a combination of dizzying spirals. The Hogwarts lead lengthened, and as Lynch was being examined once more, the Snitch popped up, at an inconvenient time for the Irish. Cate sighed, as she easily caught it, and more than half the crowd groaned. The Hogwarts supporters were few, mostly the parents and a few students permitted to leave for the game... Nothing compared to the Irish crowd.
" Hogwarts victory in the first game of the International Student Quidditch Cup!" Sirius's magically magnified voice boomed, as he danced around the top box. " Congratulations to Coach Elizabeth Rowan, and all the players!!!"
Cate grinned, and steered her broom to right in front of Harry. He took the hint and hopped on, and she flew them down to the center of the field, where the Hogwarts bystanders were.
"Well done, Cate." Harry smiled.
"Thanks, next game is all yours..." Cate smiled. "Might as well join the commotion!"
Harry laughed. There was a commotion indeed. Sirius was making his way through the Irish crowd, to the field. Elizabeth flipped her long brown hair, and laughed herself as Sirius flipped over some poor old man's back, falling a few steps down.
"I think they're officially together..." Cate whispered to Harry. "Watch them watch each other."
"I've seen. Poor Sirius..."
Sirius finally just apparated, right behind Elizabeth, and grabbed her at the waist, making her jump. But Harry's attention was diverted by something... He saw the woman dressed in all black once again, looking him straight in the eyes and grinning.
"Cate..." he said, nudging Cate. "It's her again. That woman... She's here..."
"Where, Harry I don't see her!"
"Look there-no there."
"Oh... She sees us!"
The woman grinned once more, and disappeared suddenly. Then, by impulse, Cate turned around, and wheeled Harry around with her. She shrieked, and grabbed her broom. Harry stood there for a minute, shocked. A hideously ugly crossbreed of a troll and a giant of some sort stood behind them.
"Cate!!!!" Elizabeth shrieked. Sirius looked disappointed, and he also looked ready to kiss Elizabeth... Then he caught sight of the troll... "Cate! Don't you dare!"
Cate looked to Harry for help. "Come on, we can outsmart this creature. It looks bloody stupid to me. It's still standing there, scratching its head... We can rope it... aha!"
"Cate, you're mad..."
"Well, no one's going to think I'm mad if we get rid of it... Mother! Get rid of the people, get them away!"
"Catttiieeee! Switch! You're not going after it!" Elizabeth shouted from the ground.
"Too late, come on Harry... Before they yell at us some more!"
Harry didn't know quite what he was doing, all he knew is that the troll had a small brain, no stick, and one hell of a bad stench. The smell made him sick, and Cate didn't seem too pleased either. But however, Cate knew what she was doing. She had ropes flying out of her wand, and flew in a circle around it. Harry followed suit... Soon, the exceptionally confused troll-cross-thing fell to the ground, appearing unconscious.
"And what were you doing, Miss Catherine Elizabeth Black?"
"Taking action... I didn't see anyone else concerned about-"
"About making a show.... Yes, I see you wanted to show off... Well, next practice will be harder." Elizabeth interrupted. The she suddenly softened, and drew Cate into a hug. "I'm not letting you die... Again. I'm here to protect you, remember? Don't scare me again, alright dearheart?"
"Yes mum... I won't, but it's hard to do..."
"Too much like your father, Cate..."
"Hey..." Sirius said, ruffling Cate's hair. "That's not a bad thing..."
"I never said it was either..."
Harry shook his head, and he and Cate pulled off to talk to Ron, who looked pleased with his own performance in the match. The whole Weasley family had showed up, adding greatly to the number of Hogwarts supporters. But soon after, Elizabeth decided it was time to go back to school. It was back on the bus for the Quidditch team... Cate's energy had dropped, and she fell asleep on the short ride back.
"Wake up Sleeping beauty..." Elizabeth said, poking her once they arrived.
"It's morning already?"
"No, we've just arrived at the school. Up and at em'."
"Arrgh.."
Everyone went to sleep instantly.... That was instantly after they told their story and had a small party in the Gryffindor common room. But the next morning, Snape had no pity for the tired people...
The morning held many things, including a newspaper article. It featured the highlights of the game, individual team members, though most of it was dedicated to the tragic life story, and a full page pull out picture of Cate Black. Cate thought this was utterly wrong, and annoying. However more, several first year boys asked her to sign their photograph, which she did begrudgingly.
She sighed, and was glad that Harry got to take the next game...
(((Well, any opinions? Sorry it took so long to post! I was kinda busy with another fic... Hehehe... But yes, I got around to posting this one here, oh joy... R/R please, and I'll give you an imaginary animal cracker!)))