:Chapter Fourteen:

Remus had settled himself in front of the entrance of the tent. He hummed something while looking outside at the rain that was still pouring down.

"'Choo singing?" Sirius asked, sitting down next to his friend, laying Mayor Muggle on his lap.

Remus smiles dreamily. "Oh, nothing in particular."

"Hm." Sirius replied, more interested in the red can, shaped as a Muggle post-box which he opened. "Toffee?"

"How much was it again?" James mouthed towards Peter as they placed the groceries on the moving, rubber band that led the food towards the counter.
"I don't remember. We'll see. Look, it shows on the little thingy how much you have to pay." Peter said, pointing at the display sticking out of the cash, which showed the costs of the stuff from the lady in front of them.
"Oh, right." James said, already taking the pouch out of his rain-soaked pocket.
They followed the groceries all the way down, looking at it with fascination, until they were snapped out of it by the woman behind the counter. She looked a bit grumpy and her overly-bleached hair and the fact that she was chewing gum with her mouth open, didn't make her look any prettier.
"That's ₤10,50." She said on a bored tone.
James started to place some coins on the counter, trying to find out how on earth he was going to give her ₤10,50 out of all these confusing pounds.
"What's this?" Peter muttered, as they both started turning over the coins to check their value. The lady behind the counter let out a exaggerated heavy sigh as she watched the two boys struggling with the money. After at least one whole minute, she sighed again and reached over the counter and into the pouch James was still holding, and fished out a ₤10,- bill. She took another fifty pence from all the coins spread over the counter. As she continued chewing very disgustingly, she gave James an annoyed and arrogant look.
Peter thought they'd better leave, took the pouch from James and hastily started putting the coins back in. All the time, the woman was still being disgusting towards James.
James thought he was being treated very unfriendly.
"You know, you could try and be nice to your costumers." he said, trying to sound polite.
"Yeah, and you could have tried to finish school before your 13th. Would have made you able to count properly." she replied very unfriendly. The people standing behind James and Peter noticed this too and made hissing noises in disapprove.
"I'm sixteen." James replied, still looking at her.

"Let's go, Prongs." Peter suggested nervously, hastily stewing the groceries into a plastic bag.
"Yeah, you'd better take him back to kinder garden." the cashier said, turning to Peter.
James felt insulted and he didn't like to be insulted. That was typically something he and Sirius really had in common. Revenge was sweet in their eyes. He just couldn't resist…
"At least my hair doesn't look like molded cotton candy!"

The people behind James actually snorted and laughed, as the cashier got livid and picked up a receiver to call her boss. But Peter pulled James with him, laughing himself too.
As they struggled out of the shop, people started applauding. James walked back in, bowed a few times, until he caught eye with the cashier and was outside again in less than one second.

"Thank you," Remus said, taking a gold wrapped toffee out of the can.

Sirius took one himself too and stroke Mayor Muggle.

Remus softly started to sing something…

"It's raining rain…"
"Hallelujah," Sirius said, sounding a bit bored.

"And Prongs and Worm are getting wet, wet, wet…" Remus sang on, improvising at the very moment he sang it.

Sirius smiled. He was going to play along.

"How wet?"

"Very wet!" Remus sang through silent laughter.

"Very, very wet?" Sirius asked.

"You bet!" Remus added as final touch.
They both laughed and by the time Peter and James had returned, Remus and Sirius had made a song out of it. To James's and Peter's great annoyance, they kept singing and humming it, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

When the four boys went to Peter's parent's tent for dinner, the rain was already declining. They ate soup, French beans and steak.

When James complained about his shoes still being wet, Sirius couldn't resist the temptation of silently starting to sing the song again, eyeing amused into James's direction.

"Shut up, you!" James said scowling, throwing a bean at Sirius.

Sirius laughed and ducked, but the bean didn't miss and hit him in the eye. Sirius immediately threw one back at James.

Mrs Pettigrew shot a disapproving look at Peter.

"Er- guys…" he said carefully. "D- don't play with your food…"

They stopped, though James threw one more back into Sirius's soup.

When they were finished eating, they cleaned everything away and got ready to leave for the match. The boys were very excited and were very pleased that it had stopped raining.

Soon they were on their way to the stadium. The camp side was pretty large, so it took them at least fifteen minutes to get there. On their way, they spotted some people from school and had some nice chats. James and Peter told Remus and Sirius what happened at the shop. They laughed and Sirius said they should have brought him with 'm. But then James reminded him that he didn't want to come because if a bit of rain.

"Remember!" James added, grumpily.

Sirius just flashed him a toothy grin.

As they walked through a little bit of forest, Sirius was fooling around with James and Remus and Peter were having a conversation with Mr and Mrs Pettigrew.

As Sirius and James were looking at the people joining the stream from other parts of the camp side, James spotted something familiar.

"Hey, is that-"

Remus looked up too and spotted some tartan.
"Must be!"

"What?" Peter squeaked.

Sirius looked up lazily.

"Hm?"

"It's McGon- Professor McGonagall." Remus said, following the tartan.

It was then that Sirius spotted Professor McGonagall's hat.

"Oh, jolly. More security." he muttered back.

It was then that Professor McGonagall looked around.

"Hi professor," both James and Sirius said sweetly.

McGonagall groaned and smiled in her particular kind of way; "Oh, hello, gentlemen."

"'Evening, Professor."Remus said.

Minerva shook hands with Peter's parents.

"So, Professor, who do you support tonight? England or Japan?" Remus asked.

Minerva raised an eyebrow.

"I was hoping Scotland would make it to the finals, but I suppose I'll have to cheer for England tonight, the bastards." she said, an innocent expression on her face.

"Hey, hey, hey! Nothing against England, alright! Their seeker comes from London." Sirius protested, looking at his Professor with a semi-offended expression on his face.

Minerva smirked thin-lippedly.

"I don't care where he comes from. Fact is, the English are the worst colonialists in the history of colonialisation. Us Scots don't easily forget those kind of things. But," she sighed.

"As long as they play a good game, I suppose there's no harm in supporting England."

"'Course not!" James said fanatically.

"So," Minerva said, poking James with her stare, "I suppose you'll be wanting to join a Quidditch team after Hogwarts?"

"Would love to." James replied, clearly drooling over the idea.

"Sorry, James, lad. That's only for good players." Sirius said teasingly, avoiding a hair-up-messing hand.

Minerva actually snorted.

"Yes, I suppose Mr Black is right, Mr Potter, no need to physically harm someone for their opinion..."

Remus looked up at Minerva, in a state of awe. Then he said;

"Say, Professor, Sirius wondered where you'll be staying and if you had someone to watch the game with..."

Sirius couldn't believe his ears.

"Moony! Shu' up, will ya!"

"If you insist, Mr Black, I must say I won't be displeased to watch the match with such ardent supporters." Minerva said.

"I never said that!" Sirius started. "He was lying. But if you insist... You've got food with you?"

Mrs Pettigrew, clearly disapproving Sirius' inappropriate behaviour towards an adult, glared at him. Minerva, on the other hand, smiled with pursed lips but couldn't suppress some nosy laughter.

"I bet you never did, Mr Black. I'd be thoroughly honoured if you would allow me to sit with you and your friends for the duration of the game."

That's when she held up a tartan bag.

"I have a supply of haggis, havermouth biscuits, ginger ale, grog, pork pie, liquorice wands and chocolate cake. Will that do?"

Sirius flashed a dazzling smile.

"I wouldn't mind sitting with you either, Professor!" he said, shooting a glance at the bag and smiling too friendly to be realistic.

"Did you really say chocolate cake?" Remus said, eyes twinkling.

"Yo, Sirius." James said, drawing Sirius's attention back to him.

"What?" Sirius replied, looking at James who appeared to have picked up a stick.

James threw the stick on front of them.

"Fetch it, boy!"

"Oh, HA. HA! Funny! Fetch this!" Sirius said sarcastically, pushing James aside.

James lost his balance and fell flat faced into the bushes.

Minerva failed to suppress a bout of giggles but tried to turn her face stern again.

"Gentlemen!" she said.

Remus helped James out of the elder-bushes.

"It's your own fault, mate..."he said, smiling broadly.

James got up by Remus's help, letting out a "HMF!"

As soon as James stood again, Sirius had taken a run, laughing his head off. James ran after him.

Sirius stayed ahead of James, until he was stopped by a security wizard, because he had reached the stadium.

"Ticket, please." the heavily moustaged security guy asked Sirius.

'Oh, shit!' Sirius thought, seeing James catch up with him. James soon reached Sirius, jumped on his back and flung his arms around Sirius's neck; almost choking him.

When the others arrived at the entrance too, James had already jumped off of Sirius's back, who was now making sure his hair got into model again.

"Anyway. tickets."

After Mr Pettigrew had handed over the tickets, they had to walk up a small stairs into the stands.

After ten minutes, they had found their seats and looked around in awe. The arena was huge. Hundreds and hundreds of people filed into their seats, filling the stands from top to bottom. The field was larger than Hogwart's Quidditch pitch and the six goals, which stood on either sides of the pitch, were higher too.

After a fifteen minute wait, it all started.

As always, both the teams had brought their own boast-mascots. The Japanese team had brought at least a hundred Kappa's, strained by witches on brooms. They did some silly tricks. After they had left, the English team showed off by taking Kelpies into the stand, all in the form of horses, which had be removes quickly, because some kids had started climbing out of the stands, to pet the dangerous creatures.

After all this, the teams were announced into the stage, by a commentary, who was a curvy looking witch in a purple dress on the other side of the stands.

"And first! Our own English team!" (the stage erupted with applause and shouts) "With Chasers Matthew Underhay, Chelsea Whitgift and Elfie Zeal! Followed by their Beater team-mates Kay Tracey and Scott Toller! And here's our marvellous Seeker Gabriel Wigram and last but not least! Keeper Anora Torres! Give them a great applause!"

And again the stands thundered with cheers.

"And now!" the purple-dressed witch said, "for the first time ever in the finals… Japan!"

And as the Japanese top Quidditch players entered the stage, the Japanese crowd roared with supports.

"In the lead, Keeper Watanabe Hibiki, followed by Chasers Tanaka Bunmai, Takahashi Machi and Sato Kaori! Behind them their Beaters, Saito Makishi and Ito Ryuugo! And finally, Nakamura Haruo! Their Seeker. Nakamura has only been playing professional for one year and already made it into the finals! Let's wish them luck and plaaay!"

They all took positions, waited till the Quaffle was released and the start sign to be fired. One second, and the game was off.

"And they're off! Quaffle caught by Takahashi from Japan. Nicely played towards Tanaka… Oh! Almost hit by a Bludger. Already!

Quaffle still in possession of Tanaka. He's heading for the goal… avoids Underhay with a nice backflip. He throws- and it's shot right back into the pitch by an excellent move of Torres."

"Nice one!" James said fanatically as the Japanese crowd buzzed with Aaah's.

"-Quaffle caught by Whitgift. Passed on to Underhay. Throws it back to Whitgift, but it gets take by Takahashi, who plays it over to Sato. Sato is heading for the goalposts! Oeh! Ito is just in time to block the Bludger Tracey just sent off-

Sato is getting closer- Torres is alert- Sato is confusing her. She has to choose- Wrong way! She lets Sato score! That makes it 10 – 00 for Japan!"

The whole Japanese crowd exploded with roars, screams and applause as the scoreboard changed and the Japanese team did a victory dance in the air.

"Aah. Just bad luck." Remus said. "England is well trained and made it into the finals. Why won't they win from Japan too?"

"You're right." Sirius said. "Those Japanese can't even talk properly. Let alone play Quidditch."

James laughed.

"But they did make it to the final too, Mr Black." Minerva said calmly.

Sirius looked around at her.

"That's…"

She glared at him with a look on her face which told Sirius she expected an explanation. None came.

"On who's side are you anyway!"

She curled her lip into a little smirk.

"Scotland."

Sirius turned towards the game again, throwing his arms into the air, muttering.

"They're not even playin'!"

In the following thirty minutes Japan scored another point. But when England made their first score after another ten minutes, it was clear there were more English fans then Japanese, for the Japanese 'boohs' were hardly audible because of the stadium-shaking roars of cheers from the English supporters. Within three minutes they made their second score.

"And that fantastic Porskoff Ploy, makes it twenty, twenty. Oh, isn't it exciting? And the Quaffle is in possession of Japan again. He's heading for the other side of the pitch- ouch!

A Bludger, coming from the Tracey hitting Sato right in the stomach! She's shouting something… It sounds like… 'baka', Merlin knows what that means.

The Quaffle is now taken by England again in possession of Underhay. Oh! And suddenly the Seekers are active! Without a doubt they've spotted the Snitch. Wigram from England is ahead of Nakamura from Japan. OUCH! And another Bludger from the English team. Bloody hell, those English Beaters are like raging bullets!

Nakamura fell behind, but it seems that Wigram lost the Snitch anyway. In the mean while Japan tried to score, but missed."

In the following thirty minutes, both Japan and England scored which made the score 30/30.

"I have a bad feeling about this…" Peter said, seeing the Quaffle in possession of the Japanese team again.

"Let's just hope they'll catch the Snitch soon." James said, also sounding a bit worried.

"I'm positively sure they will win. Anyone fancy a toffee?" Sirius let the bag go around, as they all started praying for England.

Within ten minutes, Japan had scored one more and England two, what made the score 50/40 for England. England's sixth goal, after a difficult throw from Zeal past the Japanese keeper Watanabe, brought hope back to the boys.

The tension was rising as the Japanese team were getting rougher, fully aware of the fact they were behind.

"The seeker's are active again!" Remus said, right before the commentator did.

"Mind the seekers ya'all. The little, golden Snitch is clearly visible in the sunlight. He's really fast! Still the Seekers keep up with it. Oh, almost a crash, there. Nakamura is close to it while Wigram is fighting for that position. Wow! Fantastic move around the hoop! Saito fires a Bludger towards Wigram, will Toller make it? And yes, he's just about to hit it right back at Saito. He avoids it.

And both seekers have landed on the other side of the pitch. This Snitch loves hoops! Look how difficult he's making it for these two fantastic Seekers. Wigram bumps Nakamura out of the way and gets almost on top of it. OUCH! A Bludger he didn't see! It hit him in the side of his face and falls back- Nakamura takes his chance and continues his hunt after the Snitch- he stretches out his arm- the English beater Toller tries a desperate attempt to fire a Bludger- Nakamura avoids it- he makes a grab-"

On the moment the Japanese Seeker slowed down and put his hand, clutching the Snitch, into the air, the arena exploded with roaring Japanese applause and praise.

Japan had won.

The four boys, who had been standing to follow the Seekers's chase, fell back in their seats, great disappointment showing on their faces. Except for James. He just slowly turned around.

"I can't believe it." he said softly, then he stared at Sirius. "How's this possible… tell me Padfoot…"

Sirius just shook his head , jealously looking at the overly happy Japanese crowd.

Mr Pettigrew leaned forwards to their seats.

"But it was a good match."

"It was a good match, indeed." Minerva added.

"And," Remus started "They were ahead. If that Bludger hadn't hit Wigram, I'm sure he'd had caught it."

"Of course he would've." Sirius added a bit haughtily.

"For Merlin's sake, Mr Black," Minerva started, "Coming from London doesn't make one superior!"

"Yes, it does." He answered stubbornly.

"Doesn't." she said silently.

Sirius didn't hear it, but Remus did and snorted.

When they headed back to the tents, they passed loads of happy, sad and still excited faces. All the conversations were about the match and when they passed the area where the Japanese flags towered above the hundreds of tents, it was clear there was a huge party going on.

"You like Quidditch that much, Mr Black?" Minerva said, when their tent came into sight.

"I like watching, yeah. Why?" Sirius answered.

"You didn't even eat anything." She replied amused.

"When I asked about the food, I was just kidding, Professor." Sirius said, turning to her.

"Hm. I wasn't. I am carrying all this food with me." Minerva heaved the bag over her shoulder to show him.

"Will you be leaving early tomorrow, Professor." Remus asked.

"I was not planning to. Why do you ask, Mr Lupin?"

"Well," Remus started, "if you think it a nice idea and Mr and Mrs Pettigrew here agree too, we could have a picnic tomorrow and eat your stuff."

She smiled.

"I'd love to." she said turning to Peter's parents. "If you agree on that idea, of course."

"We're in no hurry, so… sure." Mrs Pettigrew said. "Shall we meet here one o' clock, tomorrow?"

"One o'clock'll be fine. Then I wish you all goodnight." Minerva said, while they got to the boys and Peter's parents tents and she went to her own.

The boys and Peter's parents split up too and went into their tents.

After Sirius and James both had taken a shower, they all changed into their pyjama's and climbed into their beds. Of course they didn't fall asleep right away. They talked about the match and enjoyed themselves eating Sirius's toffees. James and Sirius even went on till past three o'clock.