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For copyright and disclaimers, please see chapter 1
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23 – Interlude Five, Second year
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Friday, April 21, 2000:
Hogwarts, Great Hall, Ravenclaw table: 08:43
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Roshawn smirked into her morning coffee. The Easter festival looked to be interesting, even more so when Minister Fudge arrived this afternoon for the Student/Alumni Quidditch game. She had no idea how the two 'coaches' were picked, but this year, Professor McGonagall had selected the alumni, while Professor Snape had chosen the student team. Typically for Professor Snape, he had done it covertly, under cover of a "detention", Sprink had confessed.
Mildly disappointed in not being chosen, she did have to admit his choices for the student team were excellent. 'So what if there's a bunch of Slytherins this year? They've got a hell of a team!' All four teams had contributed tactics, with Henry Spencer from Gryffindor as Keeper, Mattie Wayne as Seeker, Sprink Tonks and Jeremy Slater from Hufflepuff were playing Beater 'I think that's the first time three werewolves have been on the same team.', she mused. Abby Michaels (one of two Hufflepuffs), Amy Johnson of Ravenclaw and Karen Bundy were Chasing. The practices had been... interesting, but the big mystery was who was on the Alumni team.
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Friday, April 21, 2000:
Hogwarts, Quidditch Pitch, Student lockers: 12:50
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"Right-o, people!" Abby called, and the team gathered. "I know as Captain, I'm supposed to make an inspirational speech. Well, thanks to our friends in Slytherin, we know who our opponents are, and how they're going to work together."
"Poorly," Professor Snape said, emerging from the shadows, with a nod to Abby. "They have had scheduling conflicts, and have only managed three team practices. Because there are several professional players on Minerva's team, they also have ego problems. These can be used against them, as you have had the time with my 'detentions' to fuse your playing styles."
"Everyone got their earworms?" Abby asked, and people nodded. "Remember, the Weasley twins invented the bloody things; not only are they Beating for the other team, they may have a way to intercept communications. If anyone thinks they have, shout out 'Channel three', and I'll call a time-out so we can switch to the muggle devices." She nodded at Mattie, "Everyone got their new brooms? Right-o. Spencer, you're going to have to run the game, we'll try to keep you bored. Wayne, shout out 'Channel five' when you spot the bloody Snitch, Spencer will let you know when to take it." She took a breath, asking "Ready? Let's kick some ARSE!"
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Friday, April 21, 2000:
Hogwarts, Quidditch Pitch, Commentators booth: 13:00
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"Good afternoon from Hogwarts, and welcome to the 254th annual Student/Alumni Quidditch game. I'm Lee Jordan, your commentator. This game is sponsored by Weasley Wizard Wheezes, just down the road in Hogsmeade, and with our original Diagon Alley shop. Both teams' rosters have remained secret until right now. The envelopes, Professors?" There was a tearing sound, and Lee said, "Oh, my! The alumni have a very strong side today. In black robes, we have Oliver Wood, Keeper for Puddlemere, Chasing for the alumni are Angelina Johnson of Holyhead, Roger Davies of Wigtown and Alicia Spinnet, also of the Harpies. Beating for the Alumni are none other than my mates, the legendary Fred and George Weasley, and Cho Chang is Seeking. Ms. Chang has accepted a position as Transfiguration professor, which would normally disqualify her, but she won't start until next year. Yes, this is a very, very strong side."
"And for the students..." (the envelope ripped), "Oh, my, oh, my. Professor Snape, you are a cunning one. Leading off the students in blue robes is Seeker Mattie Wayne of Slytherin, holder of the school's fastest catch record, and incidentally owner of the Ballycastle Bats. Keeping for the students is Henry Spencer of Gryffindor, one of the better Keepers to come along since Oliver Wood. That has always been a strong position with Gryffindor." The paper rustled, "This is interesting; both Beaters are werewolves, Sprink Tonks of Slytherin and Jeremy Slater of Hufflepuff. We also have a third werewolf, Amy Johnson of Ravenclaw who is Chasing, along with team captain Abby Michaels of Hufflepuff and Karen Bundy of Slytherin."
"Referee Harry Potter is levitating the chest of balls out to the center of the pitch. The snitch is released, there go the Bludgers, and with the whistle, the Quaffle is tossed, snatched by... Johnson and we're off!
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"One hundred eighteen minutes into the match, with the alumni ahead by twenty points, 130-110. The students, each of whom is riding a Firebolt II, have had a lot more cohesive play, with Johnson and Spinnet using the Harpies' playbook and virtually ignoring Davies, to the intense displeasure of alumni captain Oliver Wood. One goal was scored by student Karen Bundy, who distracted Wood with a brilliant fake and an offside pass from team captain Michaels." Lee took a gulp of water, "Wayne is diving, Slater and Tonks are firing Bludgers at Chang to get her off Wayne's tail, one connects with her left arm. Oh, that's gotta hurt! Does she... YES! Wayne catches the snitch, the game is over; students win a tight game 260-130! The students form up for a victory lap of the pitch, once again, in 119 minutes of play, the students beat the alumni, 260-130!"
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Saturday, April 22, 2000:
Hogwarts, Great Hall, Hufflepuff table: 07:33
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"Post's here!" someone called, and a bat fluttered down in front of Jeremy Slater. He blinked; unrolling the scroll.
"What's it say, mate?" He ignored the question, looking down the table to Abby, whose own bat was fluttering away. She looked at him, and he shook himself. "I've just gotten an invite to the Bats' training camp this summer. You?" he asked Abby, and she nodded, croaking out "Professional ... professional Quidditch."
"Did Wayne..." someone asked, and Jeremy shook himself. "I don't know, but we're going to find out," he said. Taking a fortifying sip of tea, he walked with Abby over to the Ravenclaw table, where Wayne happened to be sitting today, discussing something with Amy Johnson.
Abby cleared her throat, "Wayne, can we have a moment?" People budged over, and she sat with Jeremy. "We just got invites to the Bats' training camp this summer," she said, and Wayne's face split into a grin. "Wonderful! I'm so pleased for you! I hope you make it!"
"Wayne, I have to know... did you arrange it?" Jeremy asked. "If you did, then..."
Mattie held up a hand, "I don't deal with that; it's the coach's decision. I'm management, not the fun side of the game. I won't know the final roster until we have player's union negotiations in..."
"August 14th is when they're scheduled," Amy said, flipping through a day-timer. "Two weeks before school starts, and a full moon next day." She grinned at the two Hufflepuffs, "Good luck, guys!"
"And with that, I hope you guys have a good weekend at the festival," Mattie said, taking a last gulp of coffee. "I've got just enough time to change into my team robes for the Chaser booth." She grinned, "How did you lot ever convince Binns to take part in the dunking booth?"
"We're still not sure how well it will work," Abby said. "He said he'd be there, house pride and all, if he remembers, that is."
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Saturday, April 22, 2000:
Hogwarts, Easter festival, "chaser booth": 09:47
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"So you think you're a Chaser?" the sign read, "Can you score against a Hogwarts Keeper?" and gave the schedule. Slytherin was scheduled Saturday 8-12, with an assortment of team brooms floating behind the table.
"Those regulation, and what kind of brooms?" the fellow asked, his two galleons in hand.
"Nimbus 2000, and regulation practice pitch", Sprink answered, showing him a certificate from the Department of Magical Games and Sports. He grunted, reluctantly dropping the gold in the box. The three Slytherin chasers floated in midair, waiting for him. James floated in front of the goals as the heavyset man kicked off. Karen tossed him the Quaffle, and backed off. The fellow started a clumsy corkscrew maneuver, trying a desperate feint at the last minute which James intercepted. Tossing the ball back to his sister, he smiled, "Not as easy as it looks, is it? Another try, mate?"
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There was a splash as Hagrid was dunked, shrieks as onlookers were splashed. Mattie sighed, admitting, "I wish I could have dunked Dumbledore."
"At least y'can do Fudge," Sprink replied. "An' Croft," Frank added, and Sprink swatted his arm.
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"Ah, there y'be," Frank told the arriving Ravenclaws. He looked, asking, "Wha' is tha' y' eatin', lassie?"
"Corn dog," one of the twins told him. "It's basically a sausage on a stick, dipped in batter and fried. It's good, but not the best for your heart."
"Take your brooms back to the dorms!" Karen called as she passed the gold to the Gringotts' goblin, who signed for it.
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"Can I use my own?" Mattie asked at the Ravenclaw booth.
Louis looked at his partner and shrugged, as Mattie passed Sprink her broom. "Thanks, I'll need an assistant," Mattie answered, spying a little girl watching. She asked, "Ma'am, can I borrow your daughter? Just set her on the table." As she pulled out four throwing knives, she told her 'assistant', "I need you to pick my targets. Can you do that?" The girl nodded as Mattie started to juggle them, adding a knife until all four of them were in the air. "What do I get if I score?" Mattie asked.
"Your choice of the toys," Chang Li answered, mesmerized by the flashing blades.
"Okay." She asked her 'assistant', "Pick a balloon," and was pointed at 'upper left red'. With a wrist flick, a knife scored on the target while the other three stayed in motion. Another balloon was named and popped with a flick, until all four were buried in target balloons.
The onlookers clapped and whistled, as Mattie picked out a soft toy, giving it to her 'assistant'. With an 'oof', Louis extracted the last, as someone said, "Those can't be real knives." Mattie flipped one, offering it to him hilt first. He ran his thumb along the edge, then sucking at the line of blood. Mattie smiled, stowed the last one, and wandered off toward the castle, green Slytherin Quidditch robes flapping in the gentle breeze.
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Mattie and Sprink watched the dunking booth; currently Madame Pince occupied the 'chair of honor'. Each house's Quidditch team operated the booth, the balls selling one for a galleon, three for two galleons, and eight for five galleons. Currently, Hermione Granger tossed a ball in her hand as Pince climbed back on the small stool.
"Lucky hit," Sprink said. "She throws like a girl, no wrist at all, mate. Reminds me of my sister." Sure enough, the ball bounced off the steel arm, which quivered, but held. Her third ball sailed over the arm, Granger shrugging and calling something to Pince, then wandering off.
"Sprout's up next," Charlie said, wandering up to join them. Mattie cocked her head, asking, "You're not going for your Head of House?"
"At five quid a throw? Not bloody likely," he said. "I'm saving for a good target, mate."
"Who?" Sprink asked.
"Professor Croft!" Sprink slapped his arm, as Andrew said, "Good choice, mate." Mattie huffed, and slapped his arm, to the boys' chuckles.
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Sunday, April 23, 2000:
Hogwarts, Easter festival, "dunking booth": 10:47
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Mattie waited patiently, as above her; Cornelius Fudge squashed his dripping green bowler back on his head, climbing back on the stool. The Minister was one of the more 'popular' targets, especially as he had neglected to wear swimming attire, showing up in business wear.
"Professor Flitwick, can we conjure a few piranha for the tank?" Mattie asked loudly, tossing her third ball in her hand.
"What are those, Miss Wayne?" the tiny charms professor asked, drying his beard.
"Man-eating fish," she replied, and Fudge looked wildly at her, just as her ball banged against the target. With a 'glub', the Minister was dunked again. She smiled sweetly, picking up her fourth ball, tossing it while he climbed back aboard the stool. "I know!" she said, waving her wand at the tank. "I'll just transfigure the water to something nasty that will strip the flesh from his bones!" 'BANG!' went the target, and the Minister went swimming again.
"Um, Miss Wayne," the tiny professor said.
"The problem is, there are so many choices, professor," she said, picking up her fifth ball. "You have the ones that act instantly, like carbolic and the fluorocarbon acids, and..." 'BANG!' "The ones that work best when ingested. I do hope you're not getting any into your mouth, Minister!" she called. "Then, of course, there are the bases that we need to discuss." 'BANG!' "You know, Minister, like the alkali salts, that would wither you up like a prune, suck all the moisture out of your body." She tossed her seventh ball, "Yes, Minister, you'd dissolve into a kilo or two of dust, in the middle of all that water..." 'BANG!'
Tossing her eighth and final ball, she asked, "Tell me, Minister, I think the proper thing to do would be to ask you. After all, you'll be the one, it's only fair. What should I transfigure that tank of ordinary water into?"
"You mean you haven't?" he babbled.
"Of course not, Minister! I'm not a killer," 'BANG!', "Just someone with a long memory," Mattie said, as she walked away.
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Sunday, April 23, 2000:
Hogwarts, Easter festival, "dunking booth": 14:00
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Someone shouted "Time!" and Professor Sinistra hopped off the stool, into the tank and waved to the crowd through the front of the tank. She swam underwater to the ladder, the sunlight rippling on her green one-piece suit. Karen handed her a towel as she climbed down. "Really, Severus, couldn't you find a more modern suit?" she asked.
"This is perfectly adequate," he replied frostily, his white undershirt billowing over the long trunks he wore over his pale limbs as he climbed the tank. Sinistra winked at Karen, aiming her wand and transfiguring his suit into a skimpy green speedo. "Now all he needs is a tan," she whispered.
"And now, the man of the hour," Frank called, "The one, the only, Professor Severus Snape! Who's going to be the first to send the dreaded Potion Master into the tank? Will it be you?" he asked the firstie at the head of the line, who 'eeped' as Snape glowered at her, bellowing "Ballantyne!"
"G'won, Daphne, wash 'is hair!" Abby said from the row behind her. Daphne swallowed, and dropped the ball. Jeremy picked up the ball, giving it back to his year-mate, while hidden wands were readied. "You can do it!" he whispered to her, as she scrunched up her face and flung the ball.
'BANG!' and with a glower, Severus Snape dropped into the tank.
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