Harry and Ron left early to the pitch the next day. Ron couldn't beleave what a dump it was. He put down his Firebolt 2000 next to Harry's Falcon 10.
"Hey this is where you will become a legend," Harry said. "At least you can't get any worse."
"We should at least try to clean up," Ron said as he took out his wand. "I'll repair the Hoops you take care of the stands."
"I thought I was captain?" Harry said as Ron took on his broom towards the opposite side of the pitch. Ron gave the Harry finger and continued to fly.
"Hello," Said an old wizard that was sitting in the stands with a hat on and a cooler beside him.
"Hello who are you," Harry asked. The man chuckled, he was completely dressed in Empire gear and had a small book in one hand.
"I'm Frankie," He said. "I'm the only season/training ticket holder that the Empires have had. I believe that I'm the last true fan."
"Oh," Harry said. "So how many games have you gone too?"
"Every game since I was eleven, I remember when this place was once packed now it's just me and my friends. WE think this year will be different, in a good way of course." Frankie said.
"Thanks," Harry said and pulled out his wand to start work.
After a good hour work Ron managed to fix the hoops and Harry had the home side stands ready and clean. It was time to practice and people started to pop in left and right. First was Fred and George who where playing swords with their beater bats. Next was a young women with light blonde hair with crazy blue highlights. She had the body of model and a huge smile. Ron tapped Harry's shoulder.
"She's Kaley," Ron said. "Chaser from the USA's back up team. She is the best shot in years but can't pass worth shit."
Next was another girl. She was the same height as Kaley but was black with dread locks. She was of the same build and had light blue eyes.
"That is Susan," Ron said. "She was voted most defensive, also has the most fouls in the league. A bit touchy attitude so be careful."
The next to pop in was a man about Harry's age. He was medium build and had medium dirty blond hair. He wore it in large spikes that stuck out in every direction.
"That's Ty," Ron said. "He is great in everything and excells in speedbut he just can't catch."
"What do you mean catch," Harry asked.
"Like I said," Ron said tossing a quffle over towards Ty. Ty went to catch it but bobbled it and dropped it to the floor. "He can't catch. These are the only people I could get in such short notice."
"Fine," Harry said as he called them all in. "I'm Harry, I'm your captain so lets have a quick pratice round and I'll see what we got. We will split up in teams, defensive vs. offensive players."
It was terrible. Between kaley bad passing and Ty dropping the good ones there chaser game was terrible. Susan spent too much time attacking Fred when he picked up the lose ball to help with the offensive part. Ty did had a couple of shots but only a couple made it in. Harry sighed miserably.
"Hold on," Harry yelled. The others stopped and followed Harry to the ground. Harry's head begain to hurt.
"Something wrong sir," Kaley asked looking concerned. Harry laughed to himself.
"Everything," Harry said. "We have one more week to turn this around."
"One week," Ty said. "We will only be able to pratice for one week."
"Yeah then we play league champs, Ireland," Harry said. "So I've never been one to just roll over and die. I expect us to give them a run for there money."
"How do you expect," Fred said.
"For us to beat Ireland," George finished.
"For starters we could start to work as a team," Harry said. "Susan you have to be upfield when the others are and can't keep trying to steal the quffle when no one is around for back up."
"Passing is key and Ty you need to catch something," Harry said. Ty looked down at the ground and nodded.
"Lets start this up again, as a team." Harry said. He put his hand out in the middle of the group. "I promise when we finish this season we will be shocking more than just are selves."
The others put their hands in and then Harry yelled empires on three and they all yelled empires.
A week later.
"Harry Potter," A small man said. Harry stopped changing into his robes looked at the man. "I'm David I will be announcing the game. Could you please give me your roster so I will be able to say the names."
"Sure," Harry said as he handed him the roster and sat back down on the bench. They were in ireland's stadium. It was about the size as the one at the world cup and had that amount of people gathering in the stands now. Harry heard the footsteps of hundreds of wizards and witches coming over their small changing room. Harry stood up in his playing robes, they where all white with a large black stripe down the middle of the uniform. The empire's logo was pressed on the back.
"You guys ready," Harry asked looking at the group. Ty was sleeping on kaley's lap while she read witch weakly, Susan and George where flirting and Fred was playing snaps with Ron. They all nodded and got up.
"So lets say we give Ireland a little jolt," Harry said as he put his hand in the middle. "ON THREE….ONE….TWO… THREE, EMPIRES!"
Everyone yelled it and they made their way down the long tunnel leading to the pitch.
"Wow," Ron said as they finally made it outside. They all mounted their brooms took flight.
"Look at all of these people," Fred said flying next to Harry. "This was way worth it your little bossy practices and such."
"I have to agree," George said flying on the other side of him gripping his bat. "This is defently worth that one day of practice that was about twelve hours."
"I get it practice wont be as bad if you guys don't let any one by," Harry said with a smile. Fred and George looked at one another for a moment.
"You have yourself," Fred said.
"A deal," George said as the twins tapped their bats together and took off. Ron pulled up next to Harry after that.
"Do you think we actually stand a chance," Ron said glumly.
"If you act like that then we don't," Harry said. "For every block goal I'll buy you a pint. How dose that sound?"
Ron's eyes went wide and nodded. "I'll take it."
Harry went towards the middle of the pitch where the Refferire stood with Irelands captain.
"Gentlemen I'll have clean match," He said. He was short and his grey hair was pushed over to the left. "If there are no questions I'll like to get this started."
"None here," Harry said. The Irish captain nodded and extended his hand.
"Good luck," He said with a smile. "You'll need it."
"And you," Harry said shaking it. "Will too."
"On my whistle," The reff said as he pointed his wand at the box. He blew the whistle and let go the quffle and blundgers. Then finally the snitch was set free.
Harry took off form the ground and looked around the stands made things blend in including an incoming blundger that was hit towards him. Harry dodged it and sped lower to check. He heard a loud boo and looked up. Ty was pumping his fist in the air and Kaley and Susan where behind him as the score turned ten to none. Harry cheered his team and took off towards Ron's side of the pitch.
As he flew Harry saw Ireland's team speading down there. Then two blundgers hit two out of three of the chasers. The last chaser cut threw and shot an amazing shot that was on it's way in. Ron was in the middle of the rings and shot to the side but took a bad angle. He was too low and Harry saw it. Harry knew that it was going in. Ron stood up on his broom, jumped forward off the broom, caught the quffle, flipped, and landed back on his broom all in the same motion. The crowed all though was a home crowed cheered for the amazing catch. Harry couldn't belive that the team was playing so good.
"Keep it up," Harry said as he flew buy Ron who passed the ball to Susan. Ron was grinning from ear to ear. He put up one finger as if showing one block. Harry nodded and took off towards the other side. Susan was flying threw the Ireland defense like a hot knife threw butter. Kaley and Ty followed behind. Susan dropped the quffle off to kaley who shot it up really high over the hoops where Ty was speeding towards. He got there and kicked the quffle down towards the hoop at a great speed. Twenty to Zero. Ireland was losing to the Empires. It seemed that mentally they were being beaten.
Harry and the Ireland seeker where hovering over the pitch after an hour into the game. The score was 160 to 40. Empires were winning.
"How did you guys get so good," The other seeker asked. Harry looked over at the man. Just over his shoulder laid the snitch. Harry thought quick. He dived forward as if seeing the snitch causing the other seeker to dive too. Harry pulled out as soon as the other seeker dived. Harry charged back up towards the sky and reached forward. The snitch took off upwards. Then it dived and was a mear couple inches away. Harry reached and grasped the tiny ball in his hand.
LUCKY IRELAND NOT SO LUCKY
During the must exiting expedition match last week the Empires, under new captain Harry Potter, took on the league champs Ireland at Ireland. The surprise was not the low scoring Ireland team, that usuall averages 450 points per game, no the surprise the winning team. You might have thought that the Empires club gone since the golden years of the 72 but today they seem like a championship contender
The question is how long will it last. Draco Malfoy, of the Big League Champions Serpents, says it's was just Ireland's fault for not taking it seriously. Mr. Malfoy went on to say many other thing including that when they meet them they will show the world what a real team is like and where the Empires really belong.
Full Article inside and other scores page three.