"Right, we me and Fred reckon it's only fair, that they old Gryffindor team
get one last game together, alright you lot?" He magicked his voice so
everyone could here. There was some good-natured grumbling about the skills
of some people, but it was all in the name of fun.
Angelina, Katie, Alicia, Oliver, Harry, Fred and George gathered their brooms and stood in a circle. Oliver quickly laid down the plans for tactics they'd used a hundred times before.
"This'll be easy boys...and girls. We'll wipe the floor with 'em!" Oliver grinned cheekily.
On the other end of the makeshift field, Hermione, Ginny, Michael, Lee, Bailey and Daniel rallied together.
"How many of you lot have actually played Quidditch before?" Bailey asked the group. Hermione bristled slightly and informed him that Ginny and her knew perfectly well how to play.
"Brilliant, here's the plan..." Bailey had appointed himself the group captain, and since he had once headed up the Ravenclaw team, nobody argued with him.
The two teams met in the middle of the field. Oliver and Bailey shook hands, then realised they had no referee.
"Oi, Charlie! Don't suppose you'd be interested in ref-ing a friendly game of Quidditch, would ya?" Oliver called out to the passing Charlie.
"And miss the chance to penalise the famous Oliver Wood? Not a chance!" Charlie yelled back, and conjured up a whistle. Charlie pointed his wand at both ends of the field, and muttered something under his breath. A set of hoops cropped up, and a box of official Quidditch games appeared at his feet. Charlie whistled and the players rose in the air. He released the balls, and blew the whistle again, signalling the start of the game. Harry, who was playing Seeker lazily looked around. He enjoyed Quidditch so much more when he wasn't playing against the sneaky Slytherins.
Lee Jordon was playing Seeker for the other team. He was looking around everywhere, determined to spot the Snitch. Harry knew that the best approach was to just fly really high, and keep a look out, not quickly move your head around, as that'd make you lose concentration, and get dizzy. However, he let Lee figure that out for himself. He heard a cheer from Katie and Alicia. Oliver had stopped a Quaffle thrown by Bailey, who jokingly shook his fist at Wood. Alicia quickly took control of the ball, passing it back and forth between her and Angelina rapidly. Angelina threw the ball toward the hoops with exact precision and timing, and Ron, who was playing Keeper, didn't stand a chance.
Control of the ball passed to Michael, who raced down the field, scoring a goal without Oliver even realising. Daniel and Michael raised their arms, cheering, and in this time, Alicia again took control of the ball, passing it to Katie who scored.
The game continued along this vein for some time. Mr and Mrs Weasley had come out to watch the game, along with Percy, Penelope and Bill. Bill's girlfriend had gone to visit family friends so he was a bit at a loss of what to do.
Harry waved down at the witches and wizards below him. He flew over to Ginny's side. She and Hermione were playing Chasers, and doing a surprisingly good job.
"Sick of being slaughtered yet?" he asked, smirking.
"Not on your Nelly!" she yelled back. Harry burst out laughing at the expression, almost rolling off his broom. He slid halfway off, and it's a good thing he did, otherwise he would've missed the Snitch. He tore away from Ginny's side, gliding gracefully through the air to where the Snitch was. He wasn't counting however on Lee following him, and went he pulled up quickly to avoid smashing into the ground, Lee thudded into his back. Lee was thrown 2 metres off his broom. He landed sprawled out on the grass. He picked himself up laughing.
"I reckon I should stick to commentating!" he shouted out. A time-out was called, so Bailey's team could find a new Seeker. There was a short flurried discussion, in which both Bill and Charlie were called over to the group. When they finally disbanded, Harry could see the look of triumph on their faces. "Ar, they think they're so good because they've gotten Billy-boy to play.
"We'll still flog 'em!" George announced. However, his prediction was wrong, and instead of Bill mounting Lee's broom, Charlie, who was a first- class Seeker climbed on.
"OH...!" Oliver cursed after the "oh"
Harry himself was dubious of his abilities up against the brilliant Charlie. Bill sounded the whistle again, and the players once again took their places in the air. The score board was set 70:30 to Harry's team.
Players on both teams played their hearts out, and the score tied many times, however Oliver's team would edge just ahead each time. At around dusk, Sirius, Anya and Remus apparated in. They too, joined the crowd watching the games.
"I think these children will be up there forever!" Mrs Weasley exclaimed, after greeting and meeting Anya, Remus and Sirius.
"How about dinner, al fresco? m'dear?" Mr Weasely suggested. Molly contemplated the idea briefly.
"Well they couldn't make a mess out here. That's a good idea dear!" She pulled herself up off her little foldout chair, and Anya joined her. Together they went back to the kitchen to prepare for the picnic dinner.
Anya and Mrs Weasley apparated back 15 minutes later, arms laden with goodies. The tantalising smells drifted toward the players in the air. Oliver called a time-out, and the players landed again, running toward the food. Harry's team was still 30 points up, but it was anyone's game from there.
Mr Weasley magicked up a few picnic rugs, and everyone piled on to them, but Percy, Mr Weasley and Mrs Weasley all chose to remain on chairs. In Percy's case, it was to look more dignified, but the Weasley's laughed if they sat down, they wouldn't be able to get up again.
Harry and Ron tore into the chicken and salad sandwiches. Ron was starving after playing Keeper for so long.
"I don't know how you do it Oliver!" he told him, Oliver took this as a compliment, and puffed out his chest.
"Down boy, there's no-one here to impress!" Fred patted Wood on the head, who in turn shot the twin a murderous glare. The congregation laughed.
"So Anya dear, what did you do before you came to Hogwarts?" Mrs Weasley asked through a mouthful of pumpkin juice. Anya swallowed, before answering. "Well, after I finished at Hogwarts, I moved in with some.....friends, and I just did the housework for them for about 3 years. Then, well, I left for Australia, and I studied law and defence against the dark arts over there for about 8 years. Up until last year, I spent the remainder of the time, just travelling around, helping in any way I could," Anya looked nervously toward Sirius at the start of her speech, but Mrs Weasley didn't notice, and just bobbed her head approvingly. "Yes, yes. And what about you Mr Lupin?"
"Well after Hogwarts, I got a job at the Ministry, for the Care and Control of Magical Creatures, Werewolf division. Then I taught at Hogwarts for the year. Lately I've been doing more work for the Ministry," Lupin explained.
"I've never seen you there!" Arthur Weasley explained.
"I'm afraid I didn't socialise much the first time I worked there. And this time around, I'm doing some....reconassaince work," Remus said calmly. Mrs Weasley again nodded happily, then turned to Sirius. She was about to open her mouth, presumably to ask him about his life, but stopped herself short. Instead she gave him a compassionate, understanding smile.
Angelina, Katie, Alicia, Oliver, Harry, Fred and George gathered their brooms and stood in a circle. Oliver quickly laid down the plans for tactics they'd used a hundred times before.
"This'll be easy boys...and girls. We'll wipe the floor with 'em!" Oliver grinned cheekily.
On the other end of the makeshift field, Hermione, Ginny, Michael, Lee, Bailey and Daniel rallied together.
"How many of you lot have actually played Quidditch before?" Bailey asked the group. Hermione bristled slightly and informed him that Ginny and her knew perfectly well how to play.
"Brilliant, here's the plan..." Bailey had appointed himself the group captain, and since he had once headed up the Ravenclaw team, nobody argued with him.
The two teams met in the middle of the field. Oliver and Bailey shook hands, then realised they had no referee.
"Oi, Charlie! Don't suppose you'd be interested in ref-ing a friendly game of Quidditch, would ya?" Oliver called out to the passing Charlie.
"And miss the chance to penalise the famous Oliver Wood? Not a chance!" Charlie yelled back, and conjured up a whistle. Charlie pointed his wand at both ends of the field, and muttered something under his breath. A set of hoops cropped up, and a box of official Quidditch games appeared at his feet. Charlie whistled and the players rose in the air. He released the balls, and blew the whistle again, signalling the start of the game. Harry, who was playing Seeker lazily looked around. He enjoyed Quidditch so much more when he wasn't playing against the sneaky Slytherins.
Lee Jordon was playing Seeker for the other team. He was looking around everywhere, determined to spot the Snitch. Harry knew that the best approach was to just fly really high, and keep a look out, not quickly move your head around, as that'd make you lose concentration, and get dizzy. However, he let Lee figure that out for himself. He heard a cheer from Katie and Alicia. Oliver had stopped a Quaffle thrown by Bailey, who jokingly shook his fist at Wood. Alicia quickly took control of the ball, passing it back and forth between her and Angelina rapidly. Angelina threw the ball toward the hoops with exact precision and timing, and Ron, who was playing Keeper, didn't stand a chance.
Control of the ball passed to Michael, who raced down the field, scoring a goal without Oliver even realising. Daniel and Michael raised their arms, cheering, and in this time, Alicia again took control of the ball, passing it to Katie who scored.
The game continued along this vein for some time. Mr and Mrs Weasley had come out to watch the game, along with Percy, Penelope and Bill. Bill's girlfriend had gone to visit family friends so he was a bit at a loss of what to do.
Harry waved down at the witches and wizards below him. He flew over to Ginny's side. She and Hermione were playing Chasers, and doing a surprisingly good job.
"Sick of being slaughtered yet?" he asked, smirking.
"Not on your Nelly!" she yelled back. Harry burst out laughing at the expression, almost rolling off his broom. He slid halfway off, and it's a good thing he did, otherwise he would've missed the Snitch. He tore away from Ginny's side, gliding gracefully through the air to where the Snitch was. He wasn't counting however on Lee following him, and went he pulled up quickly to avoid smashing into the ground, Lee thudded into his back. Lee was thrown 2 metres off his broom. He landed sprawled out on the grass. He picked himself up laughing.
"I reckon I should stick to commentating!" he shouted out. A time-out was called, so Bailey's team could find a new Seeker. There was a short flurried discussion, in which both Bill and Charlie were called over to the group. When they finally disbanded, Harry could see the look of triumph on their faces. "Ar, they think they're so good because they've gotten Billy-boy to play.
"We'll still flog 'em!" George announced. However, his prediction was wrong, and instead of Bill mounting Lee's broom, Charlie, who was a first- class Seeker climbed on.
"OH...!" Oliver cursed after the "oh"
Harry himself was dubious of his abilities up against the brilliant Charlie. Bill sounded the whistle again, and the players once again took their places in the air. The score board was set 70:30 to Harry's team.
Players on both teams played their hearts out, and the score tied many times, however Oliver's team would edge just ahead each time. At around dusk, Sirius, Anya and Remus apparated in. They too, joined the crowd watching the games.
"I think these children will be up there forever!" Mrs Weasley exclaimed, after greeting and meeting Anya, Remus and Sirius.
"How about dinner, al fresco? m'dear?" Mr Weasely suggested. Molly contemplated the idea briefly.
"Well they couldn't make a mess out here. That's a good idea dear!" She pulled herself up off her little foldout chair, and Anya joined her. Together they went back to the kitchen to prepare for the picnic dinner.
Anya and Mrs Weasley apparated back 15 minutes later, arms laden with goodies. The tantalising smells drifted toward the players in the air. Oliver called a time-out, and the players landed again, running toward the food. Harry's team was still 30 points up, but it was anyone's game from there.
Mr Weasley magicked up a few picnic rugs, and everyone piled on to them, but Percy, Mr Weasley and Mrs Weasley all chose to remain on chairs. In Percy's case, it was to look more dignified, but the Weasley's laughed if they sat down, they wouldn't be able to get up again.
Harry and Ron tore into the chicken and salad sandwiches. Ron was starving after playing Keeper for so long.
"I don't know how you do it Oliver!" he told him, Oliver took this as a compliment, and puffed out his chest.
"Down boy, there's no-one here to impress!" Fred patted Wood on the head, who in turn shot the twin a murderous glare. The congregation laughed.
"So Anya dear, what did you do before you came to Hogwarts?" Mrs Weasley asked through a mouthful of pumpkin juice. Anya swallowed, before answering. "Well, after I finished at Hogwarts, I moved in with some.....friends, and I just did the housework for them for about 3 years. Then, well, I left for Australia, and I studied law and defence against the dark arts over there for about 8 years. Up until last year, I spent the remainder of the time, just travelling around, helping in any way I could," Anya looked nervously toward Sirius at the start of her speech, but Mrs Weasley didn't notice, and just bobbed her head approvingly. "Yes, yes. And what about you Mr Lupin?"
"Well after Hogwarts, I got a job at the Ministry, for the Care and Control of Magical Creatures, Werewolf division. Then I taught at Hogwarts for the year. Lately I've been doing more work for the Ministry," Lupin explained.
"I've never seen you there!" Arthur Weasley explained.
"I'm afraid I didn't socialise much the first time I worked there. And this time around, I'm doing some....reconassaince work," Remus said calmly. Mrs Weasley again nodded happily, then turned to Sirius. She was about to open her mouth, presumably to ask him about his life, but stopped herself short. Instead she gave him a compassionate, understanding smile.