Okay, a very long chapter. And for good reasons. The Quidditch World Cup has arrived!
Also, if you noticed that Lily interrupted Harry when he was about to tell her something in the previous chapter, you'll find what he wanted to tell her her.
HARRY XXIV
Harry was running wildly towards the goal of the other team, pushing the ball in front of him, as another player of the opposite team was closing on him. He pushed the ball to the right, evading the other player as well as he could, then feinted to the left and kicked the ball towards Stephen. His teammate managed to get it, then powerfully shot towards the goal.
Harry hoped, but his hopes were crushed in the end. The goalkeeper jumped on his right, and the ball ricocheted on the horizontal bar to end outside the terrain. Harry raged. There was barely a minute left to the game. He ran to take his defensive position.
"Get to positions, boys! Get that ball!" Harry heard his coach screaming at them.
The goalkeeper of the other team took his time to put back the ball into the game. When he did so, he threw it at a nearby player of his team. Harry wished he made a long kick that had higher chances of being intercepted. He tried to cover a player from the other team, but Harry was outsmarted and couldn't block either the incoming or the outcoming pass. It was one of his teammates who finally managed to get a hold of the ball and made a long pass. Harry looked at the scoring board. Only twenty seconds were left.
He received a pass, and ran towards the goalposts, but he now had two players from the other team covering him. Out of despair, Harry feinted again, and kicked the ball between the two players, aiming towards one of his teammates who was standing in front of the goal. But the ball brushed the leg of one of the players and deviated. As a result, the ball flew straight into a player of the other team, who kicked it far away from their goal. Harry looked at the sky in frustration. He missed his pass. A few seconds later, the whistle resonated across the pitch, and Harry had to listen to the cheers and celebrations of the other team's players. For Harry's team, the boys were slowly returning to their bench, a defeated, sour expression plain on their faces. Their coach was not much better. And why would he? They had trained intensively for two weeks in prevision of this tournament, and they just lost the final by one single goal, 2-1.
"Okay, boys…" their coach said, his face stretched. "You played very well, I want you to know that." He wasn't very convincing, and judging by the looks of his teammates, Harry could tell their coach wasn't fooling anyone. "You don't have to be ashamed or sad about anything. As for me, we won tonight as much as the others."
He kept saying a few empty words meant to comfort them, without success. When they made their team rallying cry at the end, Harry was the only whose mood had gotten better, and it was in no part thanks to the coach's words. He said goodbye to his friends from his football team and went to join his mother and his godfather who were waiting by the side of the pitch.
"That was a good game. You played well," his mother told him, ruffling his hair like always.
"Yeah, she's right. It would be practical if you were allowed to fly," Sirius commented to cheer him up.
"Not here, Sirius. Now, let's go. We have a busy day tomorrow."
That was the reason why Harry's mood was better. Tomorrow, on August 18, 1994, they would head for Dartmoor, where the final of the Quidditch World Cup would take place between the national teams of Ireland and Bulgaria. A victory in his football tournament would have been a cherry on top of the sundae for Harry, but at least he had something to look forward to tomorrow. He had followed Quidditch ever since he learned of the existence of the magical world when he was nine and that his mother allowed him to fly under her watch. Sadly, they didn't attend the World Cup in 1990. Harry had begged his mother, but she refused. Harry knew the reason today, but back then he didn't yet understand how famous he was in the Wizarding World and the kind of commotion their presence would have caused at this event where almost all wizards and witches would have gone. Still, Harry regretted he could only follow the performance of Scotland from afar, even though they were defeated by Canada in the final. At least, this year, he got Ireland to support. Too bad England was crushed by Transylvania.
"I must say, Harry, I wonder sometimes why you're not a Chaser," his godfather said as they walked into a smallwood nearby. "Your father was a Chaser, and looking at you play football, it's obvious you would be good."
"I like to be a Seeker," Harry said. For scoring goals and making passes, he had football. But he couldn't catch a ball in football.
"I know. But perhaps you could try to play at both positions next year. It could be interesting for you to be able to play at two different positions. Especially if you want to become a professional player."
"Have you ever seen a professional player occupying two positions?"
"A long time ago, it happened. I think I heard about a player who could play as both Keeper and Beater. I even think he was able to play as a Chaser too."
Harry knew very well what player Sirius was talking about. "You know that the player in question died almost two hundred and fifty years ago? And since the 1800s, no professional player has ever occupied more than one position."
Sirius sighed. "You know too much about the history of Quidditch. Lily, it's your fault. You have a bad influence on James' son."
Harry's mother smiled. "Now, stop squabbling you two. We will stop here. It seems like a good place to Apparate."
An instant later, once the feeling of being both strangled and compressed was gone, Harry found himself with his mother and Sirius in the entrance hall of the apartment where they lived. Sirius would stay for the night for he was coming with them at the Quidditch World Cup tomorrow.
"Okay, let's head home. We need a good night of sleep," his mother said, always the most rationale of the three.
Harry followed her from behind, but he heard a small gasp from behind his own back at the moment he was about to climb the stairs. He looked behind to see a long wave of hair disappearing in the stairs on the other side of the hall. Harry sighed and followed his mother, Sirius on his tails. He hoped he would not have to deal with this problem during the World Cup, even though he had to admit that he was in part responsible for this. He took a quick shower and went to bed immediately after, on his mother's orders. They had to wake up early next morning.
Indeed, despite having a very good sleep, Harry almost felt as if he had just fallen asleep when he was woken up by his mother the next morning.
"Up! We don't have much time. We'll take our breakfast on the road."
It sounded so weird to Harry's ears. It had been a long time, probably years, since his mother told him they would hit the road. It hadn't happened since she started her Auror training. When Harry crossed Sirius' path in the living room, his godfather still looked half-asleep.
"I'm no longer young enough for that," he complained, though his smile betrayed the joke he was doing.
"You were never young enough for that," Lily countered. "Among the Marauders, you were the one who spent the most time in bed."
"That was only after the nights of full moon," he retorted. "Try to stay awake after you spent the night wandering with a werewolf."
Despite the kind jabs they exchanged, it was obvious that Harry's mother was fully awaken, to the opposite of Sirius. Perhaps it was because she was used to sleepless nights and rising up early in the morning, when the light of day wasn't up like right now, a habit she took during her Auror training. Harry wasn't in as good a state as she was, though he was certain that he looked better than Sirius. Harry was also used to wake up early to prepare breakfast for his mother, and for Quidditch or soccer practices.
Carrying their trunks and luggage with them, Harry, Sirius and Lily left the apartment and went down the stairs to the entrance hall, where a small crowd of people had already gathered, most of them still looking half-asleep. There was a girl of Harry's age with long blond hair that waved her hand in his direction when they arrived. Harry hesitated. Parvati's family arrived from the other side of the hall. He finally went to speak with Hannah.
"Hi, Harry," she said. "Did you sleep well?"
"Well enough." He had not slept as much as he would have liked, but he could live with that, especially if it was to watch in person the final of the Quidditch World Cup. He was in a much better state than most people here from what he could judge, including better than Hannah who yawned.
"I think I'm going to sleep during the trip. I don't understand why we must leave so early," she said.
Her father, who was not far behind her, then explained what Harry already knew from his own mother. "It's to not attract too much attention. Imagine if everybody was to arrive on the site at the same time. There are thousands of people who will attend this match."
"Well…" She yawned again. She was clearly missing sleep. "I'm going to sleep a part of the journey, that's for sure."
"I told you, Hannah." A girl of the same age with red hair just joined them. "You should have gone to bed earlier last night."
"I know, Susan. But what do you want? I was excited for this morning. I couldn't manage to sleep." Ironically, it was Susan who yawned now, and it caused Harry to yawn as well, which Hannah didn't miss the opportunity to point out. "And you don't seem much better than anyone else here."
"I had a game of football late last evening," Harry defended himself.
"My father spoke about the match until midnight. There was no way to stop him," Susan said on her side.
"Well, we'll sleep together in the bus," Hannah said, through another yawn.
"Who is driving it?" Harry asked.
"The husband of a witch who lives on the last floor. He's a Muggle. He's a bus driver."
Harry nodded but couldn't retain yet another yawn as both Susan and Hannah made one. Due to the sheer amount of wizards and witches from various countries who were coming to attend the Quidditch World Cup, the Ministry of Magic had organized a tight schedule for those thousands of people to arrive over the last few weeks on the site. Many were using Apparition, including with Portkeys. Harry knew that right now, the Weasleys and Hermione were probably waking up in the Burrow and heading towards it. The Portkey would bring them to the site since Ron, Fred, George, Ginny and Hermione could not Apparate yet. But Apparition was only one of the many means of transportation to reach the site of the World Cup. Some were using common means of transportation, and when thinking of common, Harry meant those that were common for Muggles. Cars, airplanes, trains, buses. For Harry, Sirius, his mother, and all the occupants of the abandoned Tower in London, they were using a special bus they prepared for the occasion, with the Muggle husband of one of the occupants driving them to Dartmoor. Harry wished they could have gone with Ron's family and Hermione, but his mother insisted that they use the bus that was booked. She said that it would be fun to travel by common means again. Harry wondered how it would be. Ever since he arrived at Hogwarts, he seldom used Muggle means of transportation. Though when he thought about it, he did climb into a bus with his football team to participate to a tournament last summer. And well, he would be reunited with Ron and Hermione once at Dartmoor. He thought of Ginny. She was surely excited to attend the game as well. Harry had been thinking about her sometimes during summer. Since Oliver was gone, there would be at least one free position on the Gryffindor team in September. Perhaps Ginny could try to integrate the team. After all, she would be in her third year. This was the same year that Fred and George started to play for the team, and Angelina, Alicia and Katie all started to play in their second year, while Harry exceptionally started during his first. He didn't see why Ginny couldn't try to join the team. Hermione confirmed, after Harry asked her in a recent letter, that Ginny was pretty good and still stealing her brothers' brooms early in the morning to try them, without their knowledge.
Someone snapped her fingers right in front of his eyes. "Hey, Harry! You're listening to me?" Hannah asked him.
His mind must have wandered a moment. Perhaps it was the impatient tone of Hannah, but Harry probably replied more harshly than he should have and than he would have liked. "Yes, I'm listening, Hannah. What?"
She took some time to answer his sharp reply. "I was just saying that we could sit next to each other in the bus."
"Oh. Yeah, okay. If you want," he replied, brushing the matter aside.
He crossed Susan's gaze, who was between a rebuke and a plead. He somewhat regretted his small outburst. The truth was, Harry had not entirely forgiven Hannah for revealing to everyone that Remus was a werewolf. He wasn't coming with them to the World Cup, and Harry suspected it had something to do with that, which didn't improve his feelings towards Hannah. Harry had come to accept that she didn't do it on purpose, after Hannah apologized and that Susan repeatedly told him that Hannah regretted what she did and didn't do it intentionally, but Harry still blamed Hannah for Remus quitting Hogwarts. She wasn't manipulative or ill-intended like Malfoy, but she could be stupid when she wanted. He didn't blame Susan. She kept Remus' secret over the whole year, and she let it slip unintentionally to one person, one single person, without realizing it, and tried to repair the damage as best she could afterwards. And she seemed to really regret what she did more than her best friend. But really, for Hannah, who screamed it in front of the whole school, Harry had a much harder time forgiving what she did.
"Okay, everyone," someone called from the center of the hall. "I need your attention please." It was a man in the forties, impeccably dressed as a bus driver, which he clearly was. "The bus is parked in the alley next to the building. I ask you to place your luggage in the compartments below, outside the bus. Then you can climb in and sit where you want. Once everyone is in place, we're leaving. I ask to remain calm and in good order while we board the bus. Follow me now."
They did so. Many people, including Harry, grew excited at the announcement, even those who a second earlier looked about to fall asleep again.
Harry had grown up in the Muggle World. He attended elementary school among Muggles, and he only became aware of the existence of magic when he was nine. His mother grew up as a Muggle too, and she lived and worked among them for years when he was a child. So they had absolutely no problem dressing and looking like Muggles, and they were relatively used to their means of transportation. Sirius was not as used. Harry's mother had to give him instructions yesterday so that he would dress appropriately, and he was obviously uncertain as they placed their luggage into the exterior compartments of the bus, although he also seemed to find it funny. Harry's godfather was certainly not as fascinated with Muggles as Ron's father, but he was nonetheless the guy who owned a flying motorbike.
The rest of the families who lived in the tower were more or less comfortable. Some of them dressed so perfectly that Harry wouldn't have doubted they were Muggles if they met on the streets. Parvati's parents, who happened to be merchants with dealings in both the Muggle and Wizarding Worlds, could have been mistaken for bankers. In fact, most of the people here dressed almost exactly like Muggles. They all lived in London, and despite most of them working in the Wizarding World and living among wizards, they were also surrounded by Muggles, and many had Muggles in their family. The children were attending elementary school with Muggles, so they easily dressed like them. There were a few exceptions though. One old man wore something that looked like a mix of clothing dating from the 1950s and wizard regalia. Still, the bus was in the alley beside the building, and there was no one to witness this small crowd climbing into the bus, so they went mostly unnoticed.
Quite a surprise was awaiting Harry when he climbed into the bus. From the outside, it was a regular bus, and he expected to find rows of seats inside, separated by a narrow alley in the middle leading to the back of the bus. But instead, when he climbed in, he was treated with the sight of something that looked like the interior of a long, large, big rectangular house. The seats, if they could be called so, looking more like armchairs, and were aligned along the sides of the bus, in small semi circles. Harry noticed a buffet that included sausages, bacon, broiled eggs, ham, small potatoes, fruits, chocolate and all kinds of things someone could dream of for breakfast. There was also a model of a quidditch pitch with small figurines farther, a space to read with a small bookcase, a bar counter (certainly reserved for adults) and another small space that seemed to be meant for small children to play games such as Gobstones and Exploding Snap.
"Impressive, isn't it?" Harry's mother commented, a smile in his direction. He followed her with Sirius towards a group of armchairs nearby that was unoccupied.
"I love magic," Harry couldn't refrain to say as he took place in his comfortable seat.
"Everyone in the building contributed to have this arranged," his mother explained. "It will make for a comfortable journey to Dartmoor."
Indeed, Harry felt it would be a very good trip. He talked with Sirius as the Patils walked past them. Hannah and her parents were among the last to embark, and they occupied the remaining seats in the semi-circle Harry already occupied with his family. Then the driver climbed and gave them instructions for the road. These proved to be quite different from what Harry was used to when it came to buses.
"So, is everyone here? No one is missing?" There was no answer. He still took a list and asked for the name of each and everyone here. When he was done, he asked again if he forgot someone. When it was clear that no one decided to miss the bus going to the Quidditch World Cup, the contrary if which would have greatly surprised Harry, he went on with the few instructions he had. "Okay. We have quite a few hours of road ahead of us. Please enjoy the commodities of the bus as much as you want. I only ask you to remain seated while I start the engine, and to not leave the bus before we arrive at our destination. So settle comfortably. We're going to the Quidditch World Cup!"
"YEAH!"
Harry joined the outcry, just like Sirius, under the amused gaze of his mother. Then the driver closed the door of the bus, sat behind the wheel, and Harry heard a muffled thundering sound under his feet. Then the bus started to move. However, Harry didn't feel it moving. By looking outside through the windows, he could tell that they were leaving the alley and driving in the streets of London, but they didn't feel the movements of the bus as it accelerated, slowed down or took a turn. Harry smiled again, thinking for himself that, again, he loved magic.
"Well, I don't know for you, but I'm hungry," Hannah's father declared all of a sudden. He stood up right away and walked towards the buffet.
"First to the feast," Sirius said joyfully, standing up as well.
Harry followed suit, and in no time, everyone was rushing to the buffet to fill their plates. Harry ended up next to Hannah as he filled his own plate.
"I can't believe how many good things there are. It's hard to choose," she was saying.
Harry only replied with some yes or no there and there. As they approached the section of the table where laid the sweets, Hannah looked over her shoulder.
"What's going on with Parvati?" she asked.
He shrugged. "I don't know," he replied, not looking behind.
"I saw her yesterday. She doesn't look very happy. I hope she's not still thinking about the predictions of the Divination teacher."
Harry didn't answer to that, but he doubted that it was the reason for Parvati's current behavior. He went back to take his place and eat his breakfast. Hannah moved to speak with her parents while Harry discussed with his mother.
"For once, I don't need to prepare breakfast," he commented. This earned him a pinch on the top of his head.
"Be careful about what you say next, young man," his mother warned with a smile.
"Will I get the same treatment if I echo my godson's words?" Sirius joked, which earned him a not very serious glare from Harry's mother.
"Talk about Quidditch. It will be for the best for both of you," she suggested.
It wasn't hard to follow her advice. After maybe fifteen minutes spent discussing their breakfast, almost all discussions in the bus turned to the matter of the day. Harry discussed how most teams from the United Kingdom, especially England, but also Wales and Scotland, were crushed early by teams that were not that good. Harry regretted that Ron wasn't there to discuss with him. It went on like this for quite some time, but after an hour of discussion, Harry went to look at the small Quidditch pitch, where people were simulating games between the various international teams, but changed his destination when he saw that Parvati was among the onlookers. He ended up at the buffet again, taking some pumpkin juice, near the end of the table. He saw Susan standing nearby, looking through the window which now showed a large landscape rolling under their eyes as the bus drove on the highways.
"Are you fine, Susan?" he asked her.
"Yes. But I needed to get away from my father," she replied.
Harry frowned, and looked towards Susan's father, who was discussing with animosity with a few other people, including Susan's and Harry's mothers now. "Why?" He thought about asking jokingly if he was that boring, but refrained out of fear that he might unwillingly insult Susan this way. He only meant it as a sarcastic joke, of course, for by the way by which Susan's father behaved right now, he looked everything but boring.
"I'm in danger of a Quidditch talk overdose," she replied.
Harry was surprised. He didn't think someone would not want to hear about Quidditch on this day.
"Really?" he asked.
She looked at him. "If your father…" She stopped in her words, sounding as if she just made a mistake. Harry understood why she thought an instant later, but he did as if she said nothing. It wasn't as if she just revealed to the entire world that Remus was a werewolf, after all. "If someone spent days and days only talking about Quidditch in your presence, you would be fed up you too," she adjusted.
Harry looked again at her father. "Your father always talks about Quidditch?"
"Always. When he starts, there's no way to stop him. My mother and I have some sort of ways to prevent discussions from going in this direction at home. But lately, it's been impossible to stop him. He can make a monologue about anything, from the first brooms to be produced centuries ago to who should have been the Keeper of the Japanese team, and it can last for hours."
Harry had to say that he was impressed. Even he couldn't talk so long about Quidditch, and certainly not all alone.
"So you were not joking before we left? When you said your father kept you up until midnight?" he asked her.
"No. And in fact, I'm not sure, because I didn't look at the hour when I fell asleep, but I think he might have kept it up until one or two in the morning."
She yawned. Harry now understood why Susan was tired, although she still looked in a better shape than Hannah this morning. "Well, for someone who may be about to fall asleep, you look very woken up."
"Thank you." She looked back at the landscape, but turned her gaze back to Harry in no time. "Oh, by the way, is everything going fine for your mother? At the ministry, I mean."
"Yes. Her schedule is much better now that she's done with her training. But I'm still preparing breakfast in the morning."
Susan smiled at him, though he didn't think she noticed that he was joking about the breakfasts. "I wish my aunt didn't work so much either. But it's difficult, in her situation."
Harry nodded. He knew very well which aunt Susan was talking about. "You're very close to her, aren't you?"
She nodded. "She finds a way to see us once a week. She doesn't have children, and she's my godmother, so…" Harry got it. Sirius was in a similar situation.
"And she's not bothered by your father always talking Quidditch?"
On that, Susan laughed lightly. "Only a little. She sometimes has funny stories to tell him about Ludo Bagman."
Harry knew who Bagman was. He was a former Quidditch player, a legend among Quidditch fans, who was now Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports. He was about to ask Susan about him, but she resumed talking before he could.
"But lately, it's the conversations she has with my mother that I must watch and be careful about."
Harry frowned. He looked in the direction of Susan's mother. He didn't know the woman much either. Much like Susan, her parents seemed to be keeping to themselves most of the time. Though right now, the woman whose physical similarities with Susan were plain seemed to be enthusiastically talking with other parents.
"Why?" he asked.
"Let's just say that… My aunt doesn't like to talk about Canada." Harry was even more lost than he was before. Susan seemed to have realized for she explained. "My mother is Canadian. She was born in Montreal."
This only slightly reduced Harry's puzzlement. "And why does your aunt not like to talk about Canada?"
Susan had a nervous laugh. "My aunt always says that discussing with the authorities of this country is always a nightmare because they have two ministries."
"Two ministries?"
On that, Harry didn't understand at all. As much as he knew from what he managed to remember from the History of Magic classes, each country had its own Ministry of Magic, although in some countries they were called Congress, such as in the United States. There were also Ministries that covered more than one country, such as the British Ministry of Magic that covered not only Great Britain, but also Ireland. But he never heard of any country having two ministries.
"Yes," Susan continued. "They're giving headaches to my aunt whenever she contacts them, and she and my mother have disagreed a lot lately about the fact there should be either one or two ministries." Harry was even more puzzled than before. Why would someone want two ministries of magic for a single country? In the meantime, Susan sighed. "My mother is excited for the Quidditch World Cup, but not really for Quidditch. She wants to meet other Canadians to know what's going on there. And she's also happy that Canada was defeated early in the qualifications."
Things got even less understandable for Harry by the minute. "But… Your mother is Canadian? Why is she happy that her country lost?"
The defeat of Canada early in the qualifications for the Quidditch World Cup had surprised a lot of people. The Canadian National Quidditch team had won the last World Cup four years ago, after a final that lasted five days against Scotland. This had been a heartbreaking defeat for Scotland, as they were leading the game by 120 points when the Canadian Seeker caught the Snitch, giving Canada the Cup by a mere 30 points. Despite the close victory, Canada was among the favorites for this year's World Cup. But the day before their first game a few months ago, four of their players had suddenly withdrawn from the national team. The Canadians lost their Keeper, their two best Chasers and their Seeker, the very one who gave them a victory four years ago. The team had to replace them in urgency. As a result, they were flattened in their very first game by the United States 290-20, adding to the humiliation as the United States were very far from being considered a worthy opponent. According to an article Harry read, there were even riots in Canada as a result, and the International Confederation of Wizards even sent a delegation as they feared these riots were threatening the secrecy of magic.
Susan, however, looked at Harry with a somewhat amused look. "Never tell her that she is Canadian. Right now, she does not take it well at all. We must say that she is a Québécoise."
"A what?" Harry asked, even more lost than before.
"Okay. I'm sorry, Harry. I should explain. My mother's family came from Ireland. In fact, that's why she's supporting Ireland. But they migrated to Canada a long time ago, and she was born in Montreal as a result. Montreal is part of a territory in Canada that is called the Quebec. And… There is a separatist movement in that region. Some people would like Quebec to be an independent country."
"Wait… Like in Scotland? And in Wales?" His brain was slowly connecting on the Muggle World. One of his teammates on his football team just happened to originate from Scotland, and Harry once surprised his parents arguing with other parents about the autonomy of Scotland. He also remembered his teachers in elementary school speaking about how Scotland was integrated into the United Kingdom.
"And also in Northern Ireland," Susan completed.
"Yes, of course. Among Muggles. There aren't among wizards." After all, their Ministry of Magic had authority over England, Wales, Scotland and the whole or Ireland. And Harry never heard of wizards who wanted their region to get independence.
"Well, in Quebec, it seems to be a little different. I don't know all the details but… To put it simply, the wizards from Quebec would like to have their own Ministry of Magic. In fact, they already have one, but it is not recognized by the International Confederation of Wizards. They only acknowledge the Ministry of Magic of Canada as having authority over the whole country. But the people in Quebec consider the Ministry of Magic of Quebec to be their own ministry, and they currently have a de facto control over the region, we could say. And my mother comes from a Muggle family. She is Muggle-born, just like your own. So she wants Quebec to have its own Ministry."
"Okay." Harry was quite surprised to learn that some wizards wanted their own Ministry of Magic. "To the point that she would like Canada to be crushed in a Quidditch game?" He didn't really understand how someone could want so much a team of Quidditch to lose for political reasons. Though, now that he thought about it, he had wanted to crush Slytherin last year, along with most other students, for personal reasons and because they hated Malfoy and other Slytherins.
"Well, all wizards of Quebec seem to have wanted that. I'm not sure if you know, but half the team of Canada left before their first game."
"Yes, I'm aware. Everyone was surprised. I don't understand why." The article he read didn't provide many details.
"The players who left the team came from Quebec. Their Ministry had asked to have their own team in the Quidditch World Cup, but the Ministry of Canada and the International Confederation of Wizards Quidditch Committee refused. So a few days before the tournament began, the Ministry of Quebec called for a boycott of the World Cup. And the four players from Quebec on the Canadian National team left the day before their first game as part of the boycott."
Harry was stunned for a moment. Then he couldn't hold back a laugh. "So… The team of Canada got crushed because of… politics?"
Susan had some kind of a sorry smile. "Yes."
"But… I don't understand. I mean, our own Ministry covers all the United Kingdom and Ireland. And yet, we have a team for England, one for Ireland, and even one for Scotland and for Wales. Why didn't they simply give a team to Quebec?"
Susan shrugged. "No idea. It might have saved a lot of trouble. But… Currently, there are elections in Quebec, in the Muggle World. And it is expected that a separatist government will come to power. The wizard population there hopes that if the Muggles manage to make of Quebec a country, their Ministry of Magic will finally be recognized internationally. So the wizards of Quebec are beginning to make more demands, and the Canadians don't want to give them space. And that's how a Quidditch team got crushed."
She ended her explanation almost on a theatrical tone, and an expression that clearly showed how she found it stupid. Harry couldn't refrain himself from laughing. Well, in some way, he didn't regret that Canada was defeated. After all, Harry supported Scotland during the last Quidditch World Cup, and Canada defeated them. It didn't bother him that they were crushed early this time, though he found it funny how it came to happen.
"When I read Quidditch Through the Ages, I learned that riots were started in the Ministry because of Quidditch, but I never heard of a Quidditch team sabotaged by a Ministry," he commented.
Susan rolled her eyes, in a way that reminded Harry of Hermione. He guessed that it was no wonder that the two girls were friends. "Believe me, Harry, it's not the worst. You know, this famous Ministry of Magic was created because of a riot. But the riot came from another sport than Quidditch."
"Oh yeah?" Harry asked, interested all of a sudden.
Susan laughed slightly. "Well, Quidditch is popular in Canada, including in Quebec, but especially in Quebec, there is also a Muggle sport that is very popular among wizards. Hockey. They even have their own magical version of it. In 1955, there was a very popular hockey player in Quebec who was suspended after he punched a referee during a game. He was a Muggle, but nonetheless, a riot took place during a game at Montreal not long after because of his suspension. Some wizards participated to the riot. The Ministry of Magic of Canada arrested them, took away their wands, and forbade them from using magic for the rest of their lives. That's when the Ministry of Quebec was created, to oppose that decision."
Well, if sports could shape Ministries of Magic that way, Harry guessed that Ludo Bagman had a lot of work on his plate.
"In fact, when I say that I couldn't sleep before very late last night," Susan resumed, "it's because both my parents spent their time talking. Normally, my mother and I try to calm my father, but this time, she was discussing with him about all that, and she had no interest to stop, or to stop him."
Harry almost felt sorry for Susan. Though another part of him wanted to laugh uncontrollably. But he decided to refrain himself all the same.
"By the way, Harry, how has been your summer so far? I haven't seen you a lot lately?"
"I know," Harry replied evasively. "I was very busy. My mother was completing her Auror training, and then we went on vacations. And I also had a lot of football games."
Susan nodded. "Yes. I saw you playing one evening, when I happened to walk next to the park. But I thought you planned to stop playing football after last summer?"
"I know. But… I changed my mind."
Harry ended up talking for quite some time with Susan. Now that many had taken their breakfast, some people like Sirius and Hannah had fallen asleep. As for Harry's mother, she switched easily from one conversation to another, and she also found herself close to Parvati or her family a few times. And right now, Harry wasn't very keen to discuss with Parvati or Padma. He also had the distinct impression that Susan wasn't keen to join the conversations in which her parents were involved, so they both remained near the windows, looking at the landscape as they approached Dartmoor.
Harry nonetheless returned to sit next to Sirius when he realized that his godfather had woken up. They were quite near their destination by now.
"Well slept?" Harry asked him.
"Yes," Sirius replied. "I feel ready to watch five finals of Quidditch World Cup."
"Slow down, Sirius," Harry's mother said, sitting back as well. "The game only starts late in the evening."
"Too bad that Remus isn't here. I can still remember when we all went to attend the World Cup after we left Hogwarts. Do you remember, Lily?"
"Yes. In 1978."
"We were all there. James, Lily, Remus…" His expression seemed to darken a moment. "Your grandparents were there as well, Harry. These were the good times."
His godfather started to tell Harry everything that happened at this World Cup, but he had to interrupt as the bus stopped. Harry heard the engine ceasing to operate.
"Destination reached," the driver announced. "Please leave the bus in order and gather your belongings in the compartments outside. We are on the first field. I'll take care of the details with the camp manager while you get your things in order. Remember that you are not to use magic. We are in a Muggle zone, and people like me are not supposed to see that."
The doors opened, and everyone slowly, but excitedly left the bus after him. Harry and his mother had no trouble getting their luggage from the compartments, especially when compared to the others. One person used a Levitation Charm to get his huge trunk out, which earned him a rebuke from a Ministry official who was positioned nearby. Some were still getting their stuff out when the driver came back.
"Each one of you has a place. When I call your name, come and take your ticket along with a map of the campsite. Abbott!"
One by one, people came to get the papers authorizing their presence at the campsite. Harry, his mother and Sirius were among the last to be called, and they headed for the gate of the campsite.
"Okay, you remember," Lily warned both her son and his godfather as they walked through the gate of the campsite. "No use of magic."
"No need to tell me, Mom. I can't use magic. It's someone else you must worry about this time," Harry said, sending a meaningful look towards Sirius.
"Be careful, or I'll start pinching your head like your mother does," Sirius playfully warned.
However, it quickly became clear to Harry that any Muggle passing by this campsite would quickly realize something off was taking place. Some tents that were installed looked mostly normal, if you tried hard not to notice chimneys, doors at their entrance or weathervanes. But even someone both blind and deaf would have a hard time ignoring the massive palace-like red tent, with a large fountain and a small garden in its backyard, or the four storey tent made of bricks.
Harry's mother rolled her eyes while Sirius was in admiration.
"It seems like some people didn't get the memo," his godfather laughed.
They soon arrived at the spot they were attributed. A small sign was installed in the ground with the name Evans on it. Harry dropped the heavy bags he was carrying.
"Alright," his mother declared. "We are there. Harry, you know what to do."
He nodded. Of course, he knew what to do. Before he went to Hogwarts, he and his mother went camping a few times. It had been a few years now since the last time they did it, but old habits came back quickly, and within less than fifteen minutes, their tent was up and ready. Harry excitedly went inside first, to be treated with a large space with a kitchen, two bedrooms (one for women, one for men), a washroom, and a living room. He smiled at the sight of it. He really loved magic. It was quite different from the normal tents he and his mother used before.
"Finally!" Sirius was behind him and let himself drop into an armchair. "Home, sweet home."
Harry's mother, who came right behind, shook her head while smiling widely. "Well, we're going to let Sirius sleep a little. In the meantime, we will get some water," she declared.
"Now?" Harry had hoped to search for his friends to see them.
"Yes, now. This tent cannot make water appear out of thin air."
"Go. I'll watch the tent," Sirius said, his eyes closed. Harry followed his mother outside.
The sun was beginning to appear on the horizon. He and his mother each seized two buckets to fill them at the tap indicated on the map they were provided when they arrived.
"Lily!"
They were about to leave when someone hailed Harry's mother. He was a small man with short black hair, glasses and squinted eyes. He was coming out of a tent close to theirs.
"Gen!" his mother obviously knew him. He looked familiar to Harry. "So you're installed close to us?"
"I was wondering when you would show up. This sign has been there for days."
The small man came to shake her hand. Harry really thought he saw this man before. But he didn't recognize him. At least, not by his face. It was the sign next to the tent where he came from that gave him away. Chang. An instant later, a girl who was a head smaller than Harry, with long black hair and the same Asian looks than her father came out, and Harry's heart began dancing.
"Harry!" She approached, all smile.
"Hi Cho," he awkwardly replied. "How are you?"
"I'm very fine. I was wondering when you would arrive. What about you? Ready for the final?"
"Yes." He fought to not stammer. And he also tried to look around him without anyone noticing. There didn't seem to be anyone else around, aside from the four of them.
"You're going to take some water?" Cho's father asked.
"Yes. We need some," Harry's mother confirmed.
"We'll go with you. We're beginning to not have enough."
And Harry ended up walking towards the tap with his mother, Cho and her father. The adults remained in front while Cho and Harry walked side by side behind. Harry tried hard not to brush her hand or her arm.
"How was your summer?" she asked him.
"Oh, well. Very well. Well, nothing extraordinary. It was fine," he blurted. "And yours?"
"Good. I was in a summer camp in July. A Quidditch summer camp. Be ready to face a dangerous Seeker this year." On that, they smiled at each other. "But we've spent most of August here. It's been over a week since we arrived."
"That much time?"
"Yes. My father couldn't afford the best tickets."
"But Scrimgeour couldn't…"
"He's not very generous with his employees," Cho said. "My parents had to buy their tickets themselves. We're going to be quite high in the stadium. And you? Did you get fine places?"
Harry was a little uneasy to answer. "Well… My mother bought us tickets but… She was invited in the lodge of the Minister."
"Really?" Cho seemed surprised. "Wow! You'll have the best view of the entire match."
Harry was glad that she wasn't jealous and only glad for him. Truth be told, Harry didn't feel particularly lucky to have such seats. The main benefit was that he would be in the same box Hermione, Ron and his whole family. He still hoped to see them, but there was no trace of them so far as they went through the campsite. Soon, they met tents that were entirely green, covered with clovers.
"Ireland supporters," Cho explained to Harry. She must have seen his puzzled expression. "I must say it's quite pretty. Better looking than those who support Bulgaria."
Harry had to admit that the decorations had their charm.
"Lily! Gen!"
A man with black skin, who Harry recognized immediately as Kingsley Shacklebolt, a fellow Auror who worked with his mother, appeared to greet Harry's mother and Cho's father.
"Kingsley! I didn't know you would be there," Gen Chang told him as he shook his hand.
"I'm part of the security team for the Minister and his guests. But before they arrive, I patrol the campsite. I envy you. You managed to escape work today."
"Harry!"
He recognized the voice. Seamus Finnigan came from a nearby tent towards him and Cho. Dean was on his tails.
"Hi Seamus. Hi Dean," he told them.
"We were beginning to wonder if you would come at all," Dean said. "Wait. If you're here, then that means… Are Parvati and Padma here too?"
"Errr…" Harry looked around. Neither of the twin sisters were in sight. "Yes. They are farther on the site."
"Cool. I'll go and see them."
Dean left them on that. "Don't bother about him. You like our decorations?" Seamus asked, indicating the forest of green plants covering his tent.
"Yes, it's very pretty," Cho replied.
"Thank you. You're supporting Ireland, aren't you?"
"Yes," Harry said, while Cho nodded.
"Good. The more supporters we have, the better."
Harry had almost forgotten that Seamus was from Ireland. Well, anyway, Harry was indeed supporting Ireland. He had a feeling that Susan's mother would like this place.
"Okay, children. We've got water to carry," Harry's mother called from not far away.
Harry had to leave Seamus, saying they would have more time to discuss later.
"You're really taking for Ireland?" Harry asked Cho, mostly curious, after they were far enough from the section of green tents.
"Yes, mostly," she said, with a smile at the corner of her lips that made her look even prettier than unusual. "But not that much. I mean, I just hope we'll have a very good game to watch. Though I wish it was Korea against Ireland."
"I'm sorry," Harry said. The Korean team had been defeated quite early in the qualifications, defeated by Japan before they were themselves eliminated.
"Don't bother, Harry. It's not your fault."
"Gen! How good to see you!" Another person called Cho's father at this moment.
It took them a lot of time to reach the tap of water and to return to their tents. Not only their parents got stopped all the time by a friend or a colleague calling for them, but Harry and Cho were stopped repeatedly as well. Oliver Wood had both of them coming into his family's tent to introduce them to his parents. He didn't seem to hold any grudge towards Cho, perhaps because he was no longer the captain of the Gryffindor team, but also because they defeated Ravenclaw last year. Cho didn't seem to hold any grudge towards Oliver either, and she was very kind with his parents, and showed much pleasure when Harry's former captain announced them that he was taken as a reservist by Puddlemere United. Cho was called by a few fellow students from her house, proving how popular she still was. Harry, on his side, was accosted by many people he knew at Hogwarts. A few Hufflepuffs, especially Ernie Macmillan and Justin Finch-Fletchley rejoiced at his arrival, and left him to search for Hannah and Susan when Harry told them they were there as well. He also crossed Katie Bell's path who waved her hand at him while she was preparing breakfast. Harry even spotted Susan's mother discussing with animation with a group of adults, and when they walked past her, Harry realized they weren't speaking in English. There was a flag, a white cross in the center separating four identical blue squares, with a lily flower at the center of each square, flying high over the tent in front of which they gathered. Harry supposed that Susan's mother found other Canadians, in the end. However, he didn't come upon any Weasley or Hermione. He was wondering where they were. On their way back, he stopped by Seamus' tent and asked him about Ron and Hermione.
"You missed them by not much. They went to take water not long before you. I saw them heading… this way."
After they brought back the water, Harry apologized to Cho, which she didn't seem to take personal, as he went to search for his best friends. They agreed to talk more later though. His mother allowed him to search for his friends as she remained behind to, according to her laughing words, keep an eye on his godfather.
It took Harry some time and wandering through the site, but he finally found a group of people of people with distinctive red hair, and before he could hail them, one of them stood up and ran to him.
"Hey, Harry! Finally!" Ron roared.
"Harry!" Hermione joined him not long after.
They were all there. Mr Weasley came to shake his hand. Fred and George clapped his back, and Percy also shook his hand in a very ceremonious way. There were also two other people Harry had never met. He soon learned that the one with calluses and blisters on his hand, and a large scar on the arm, was Charlie, while the one with an earring and long hair arranged in a ponytail was Bill. Harry was especially surprised by Bill's appearance, who he always pictured as some older version of Percy since he had been Head Boy too.
"You missed Ludo Bagman and Barty Crouch by a few seconds, Harry," Fred said.
"You should hear him call Percy Weatherby," George added.
Almost everybody, but Percy of course, laughed at it.
"You want something to eat, Harry?" Ron asked. He looked at his father.
"There are some bacon and sausages left…" he began.
"No, thank you," Harry replied. "I already took my breakfast in the bus." He didn't want to steal their food to the Weasleys.
"A bus? So you really came here using Muggle's means of transportation?" Ron's father asked, sounding particularly enthusiastic about the prospect of hearing more about Muggle technologies. "How was it? Is it true that when you press a button, it stops immediately?"
Harry had to straighten out the truth to Mr Weasley, explaining that the bus they used was another model than those used for urban transit, and that this one was modified using magical means. Ron, but also Hermione were awed as Harry detailed them the interior of the bus.
"Wow! Lucky guy! Hey, dad! We should get back home in one of those!" Ron declared.
"I'm afraid we won't, Ron," his father replied, though envy was plain on his face, but certainly only because he would have liked to climb into a Muggle bus, as magically enhanced it might have been. "This bus goes to London, far from our home. Now, we will get back home using a Portkey, like when we arrived."
"How does a Portkey work?" Harry asked.
And it was Ron's turn to explain to him how they had to wake up very early this morning to use one of those Portkeys. He explained their effect, and Harry was intrigued, as he never used one of those devices. The conversation went on for quite some time. On Mr Weasley's insistence, and seeing Ron taking a second portion, Harry finally gave in and took some toasts and bacon.
"Eh. By the way, I spotted someone near your position," Ron whispered to him, a knowing smile on his lips. It took a few moments for Harry to understand what he meant, but it finally dawned on him.
"Yes, I know. I've already come across her." His time with Cho was interrupted quite often by their respective friends coming to see them, but Harry had to admit it was a good way to start this day.
"Good for you, mate. Could you hold a conversation with her without stammering?"
Harry returned his attention to his plate at this moment. Another girl with long black hair just walked close to them, and Harry prayed that she wouldn't notice his presence. Luckily enough, she didn't seem to, or if she did, she ignored him. He exhaled in relief. The conversations kept evolving around them. Ron was on his left, discussing with Fred and George now. Hermione was on his right, engaged in a conversation with Percy. Looking at her for a moment, he took a decision, and tugged at her sweater.
"Can I talk to you? Privately?" he whispered, low enough for only her to hear.
First, she seemed puzzled, but probably seeing his worried expression, she took a more serious expression.
"Come, Harry. I'll make you visit the tents."
She first showed him the boy's tents, which was even more impressing than the one he and his mother brought with them.
"Ron's dad borrowed it from his colleague," she explained. "But I'll show you our own tent. It is smaller and we will have fewer chance to be interrupted."
Indeed, the girls' tent was smaller, but just as comfortable. And inside there was also the only girl Hermione shared it with, comfortably seated into an armchair. Ginny Weasley. The moment Harry and Hermione got in, she looked at them, and when Harry awkwardly smiled at her, she turned scarlet.
"Hi Harry," she nonetheless said. Harry was glad that she was able to speak to him.
"Ginny," Hermione said, "can you leave us alone for an instant?"
Ginny looked confused for a moment, but she agreed nonetheless and left the tent. Harry and Hermione were now alone. His best friend settled into another armchair.
"Okay. What is it, Harry? Is there a problem?" Well, yes, there was a problem. "Did something happen this summer? Is it your mother?"
"No. No. My mother is very fine. She completed her training. She's an Auror now."
Hermione smiled widely. "I knew she would succeed. So, what is it you wanted to talk to me about?"
Harry had thought that Hermione was the most sensible choice. This was a delicate subject, and truth be told, he trusted Hermione to keep such a secret better than Ron would. And he also thought that it was less likely for Hermione to laugh at his face once she would know the truth. Nevertheless…
"Before I tell you, Hermione, you must swear that you're not going to laugh at me," he asked her.
Hermione frowned. "Of course. I won't laugh," she said after a moment.
"And please, you must swear that you will not talk about it to anybody, not even Ron."
"Okay," she replied after a moment. Though Harry could feel she was uncomfortable with that. Ron didn't take it well when he discovered that both Harry and Hermione knew about Remus being a werewolf and never told him, and Hermione often told Harry later that they should have told him. Harry didn't think they did anything wrong. He never blamed Hermione for keeping the secret. He didn't see why Ron would blame them.
"You can drop the veil, Harry. What is it you wanted to talk to me about so urgently?" she asked.
Harry hesitated. Finally, he dived, and once he began, words poured out his mouth. When he was done explaining, Hermione seemed at a loss of words. At least, she was not laughing.
"You're not joking, aren't you?" she finally asked.
Harry sighed. If only he was. "No, I'm not," he truthfully. "Don't laugh at me," he warned her. He already felt stupid.
She raised her hands in innocence. "I'm not laughing, Harry." Despite this, he perceived a slight giggle in her voice, barely perceptible, but present nonetheless. Still, she seemed to contain it, for which he was grateful. "But… Parvati? Really? Our Parvati? Parvati Patil?"
Harry nodded against all his good will, feeling more stupid by the second.
"You… dated… Parvati Patil?" Hermione asked.
"Yes," Harry confirmed.
It had started early in the summer holidays. Well, in fact, it probably started before that, at the end of their previous year at Hogwarts, in June. Harry had started to spend some time with Parvati after Peter Pettigrew's death, and after she attended the burial of Buckbeak. He continued to do so once the summer holidays started, and on the first Friday following their departure of Hogwarts, Parvati, with her parents' and Hannah's help, organized a group activity for students of their year. To summarize, they spent a day at a beach that was reserved for wizards and witches. The day was a success. Aside from Parvati and Hannah, Harry, but also Ron along with Fred, George and Ginny, Hermione, Susan, Ernie, Justin, Lavender, Sophie, Lily, Seamus, Dean, and a few other students from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, spent the day there. Parvati's twin sister, Padma, was not there. Parvati said that her sister thought she had more important things to do. It was in the evening of this day, when they went back home, that Parvati asked Harry if she could follow him in his apartment. Apparently, her family was not home yet, and she didn't have the key to access it. Harry, not really thinking, allowed her inside as they waited for her family to arrive. He didn't think his mother would disapprove. She was completing her trials to become an Auror back then, staying at the Ministry day and night, and Harry didn't think it would be fair to leave Parvati outside in the corridors of the Abandoned Tower. However, it was that evening that Parvati had kissed him.
Harry wasn't expecting it. Well, now that he thought about it, it was true that Parvati had gotten closer to him, even flirting with him during at least the preceding days, but he didn't really notice it. The next morning, she came back to see him and kissed him again before he could talk to her. Each time, he didn't try to push her back, and returned her kiss. He had to admit that it was hard to push back Parvati, as she grabbed and hugged him quite strongly. The day after, he went to see her and kissed her of his own initiative. That was when they actually started dating and spending a lot of time together.
Harry couldn't tell his mother. He couldn't have any contact with her during her final trials. And when she came back home, he didn't want to trouble her with that. He thought about telling her when she suggested that they would take some vacation, only the two of them, and he agreed, thinking it was a good idea. But he also decided to not tell her yet about him and Parvati, and finally never told her. His time with his mother during the holidays had been limited over the last three years. So he left, and for an entire week, he didn't have any contact with Parvati. When he came back and his mother resumed to work, they resumed seeing each other, but things were different. Finally, three days ago, before his football tournament began, Harry broke up with Parvati.
That was why Harry had been avoiding her these last few days. He preferred not to come face to face with his ex-girlfriend. The truth was, Harry didn't even know why he started dating Parvati. He wasn't in love with her. He had never been in love. Of course, Parvati was pretty, he didn't say the opposite. There were a few things he liked with her, such as her long, shining black hair. Or even her lips. Harry felt good when they kissed. And ever since she told him about Trelawney's prophecy concerning Pettigrew's death, he had gotten along better with her. It was strange to say, but Harry thought he preferred the Parvati who was afraid of Trelawney's predictions than the one who giggled and whispered all the time with Lavender about the silliest topics there could be. And when she kissed him for the first time, Harry was so caught by surprise, so unsure about what he should do, that he simply returned it.
The problem was that, as soon as they were not in each other's arms, there was nothing left. Harry could hardly have a good conversation with Parvati. Most of their time spent together after the day at the beach didn't involve many words. He became acutely aware of it during the week he spent at Calais with his mother. He barely thought about Parvati during this week. He didn't even miss her. Ironically, the girl he thought the most about during this time, though not in any romantic way, was Hermione. He wrote to her to tell her about the things he saw in Calais. Hermione had visited France last summer, and she was excited about the things Harry wrote to her. But Parvati… He barely spared a thought about her. He only thought of her as if she was a friend. Not a close friend like Ron and Hermione. Only a friend. That was another reason why Harry never told his mother about their relationship. When he returned, he resumed spending time with her, but the more he spent time with Parvati, and the more Harry realized he wasn't in love with her, and that they didn't seem to have much in common. The worst part was that when he kissed or caressed her hair, he often thought about Cho. The Ravenclaw Seeker made its way into his dreams, and Parvati's hair reminded him of Cho's hair, even though he never touched hers. After struggling with this relationship for a few weeks, Harry finally gathered enough courage to break up with Parvati.
The girl didn't take it well. First, she didn't seem to understand. When Harry finally told her that he was sorry, but that he wasn't in love with her, she looked at the same time utterly sad, but also angry. And she just walked away. They had not spoken since that time.
This is what Harry just told Hermione. Well, he didn't tell her all this. He limited himself to a chronology of events and gave her as a reason for breaking up with Parvati that he didn't feel in love with her. And his best friend was agape before what Harry just told her.
"Look, Hermione, it was a mistake, okay? I should never have dated her in the first place. You can say that I'm stupid."
"What? No, Harry. I don't think you're stupid." Something told him that she wasn't entirely saying the truth here. "I'm just…" She seemed to be choosing her words very carefully. "Surprised. I mean, I never imagined that you would date Parvati. She is…"
"We have nothing in common," Harry summarized.
"Well… Not much, it's true. Though… she also has some qualities."
Harry scoffed. Hermione was Parvati's roommate at Hogwarts, and Hermione often complained about her. The two girls didn't hate each other, but whatever friendship there was between them was limited to greeting each other and shortly exchanging a few words from time to time. Hermione was closer to Susan, or even Ginny. She also got along well with Harry's teammates on the Gryffindor team and Ron's brothers, even Percy, and with Neville, who she often helped in class, such as when she saved Trevor in Potions, which cost her points because Snape didn't appreciate that the poor toad survived.
"Hermione, no need to present things better than they are. I've been an idiot, you can say it."
"Well…" She hesitated. "You didn't love Parvati? You were never in love with her? Not even when you started seeing her?"
"No," he reluctantly said. He knew how it sounded.
"Well, Harry, you're right then. You should never have started to go out with her."
"I know. I just…"
His voice trailed off. It was difficult for him to explain why Parvati became his girlfriend at all. Well, the truth was probably that Parvati was pretty, and she kissed him. Somewhere, Harry must have been excited to have a girlfriend. And he was, at the beginning, before he actually became conscious that it was a mistake. Before he realized that whatever love he had was for a girl one year older than she was, who was currently installed nearby the tent he shared with his mother and godfather.
"Look, Hermione, I made a mistake. And… I'm wondering how I can… I don't know… Solve this."
It didn't come out exactly as he thought. In fact, he was wondering what he should do about Parvati. Was he to avoid her for the rest of his days at Hogwarts? He didn't think it would be feasible. They had so many classes in common and belonged to the same house. Should he talk to her and try to explain himself? To the risk that she might despise him more than she may already?
"Well, Harry, I think you already made the right choice when you broke up with her." Harry thought so, but it was good to hear it from Hermione. "And aside from that, I think you should just… behave with Parvati like you did before. Change nothing. From the time when you were not dating, of course."
"Okay, but… What if she's angry with me?"
"Do you know if she is?"
"Well…" Now that he thought about it, Harry had absolutely no idea. He didn't know if Parvati spent her days crying, hating him or if she was already indifferent to their breakup. Of the three options, he hoped it was the third.
"Well, in this case, Harry, you should talk with her, try to sort things out. Don't come back with her," she also warned him. "But try to make your breakup smoother. Especially since this is Parvati. I mean, she could start to spread whatever is untrue about you."
That was true enough, although Harry didn't feel much concerned about it. He was already famous, and it bothered him. After being suspected of being Slytherin's heir, he didn't make much a big deal if people started talking behind his back because he dropped a girl. He was more concerned about how Parvati would behave around him.
"Okay… I guess I'll have to talk to her some time," he said, although he didn't look forward to it.
Hermione nodded. "Glad that I could help you. But Harry… Why did you ask me for help? Why didn't you ask Ron?"
"Well, because…" Harry refrained, but he decided to reluctantly complete the sentence, although he wasn't proud of the answer. "You're a girl."
The fact was that he didn't expect Hermione to mock and laugh at him, at least not as much as Ron would do. And she could better keep a secret. And he also thought that she might have a better view of what he should do with Parvati, being a girl like she was. At his answer, Hermione took a superior attitude.
"Thank you for noticing the obvious."
Harry felt quite uneasy in this situation under Hermione's stare.
"You're not going to talk about this to anybody, won't you?" he asked, fearing the answer.
"No, Harry. I won't. But I would expect people to learn about it sooner or later if I were you. I don't think Parvati will keep for herself that she went out with you. I'm even surprised half the school is not already aware of it."
They left the tent not long afterwards. While Harry was discussing with Hermione, his mother had arrived, and was now discussing with Mr Weasley.
"Molly couldn't come?" she asked.
"No. She had to stay home, to take care of the chickens and the other animals. And also, the match might last quite some time. She will buy the school material of the children just in case."
Harry's mother seemed troubled at this. "I should have thought about doing that."
Harry had to admit his mother was right. He received his letter last week. In fact, he could have gone to buy his stuff for the new school year himself, but he didn't. He felt stupid for not thinking about it before.
"If you want, I can tell Molly to buy them," Mr Weasley offered. "Harry has almost the same classes than Ron and Hermione. It's not going to be hard."
"Thank you, Arthur, but don't bother Molly for that. I'll take care of it when we're back home. Even if the match lasts for days, we should have more than enough time to buy everything," Harry's mother replied.
Ron's father, however, insisted that it was no big deal, and Lily Evans Potter finally allowed him to write to his wife about that, if he wanted, and if it was no big trouble for Molly. In the meantime, Harry was discussing with Fred and George about the next season of Quidditch at Hogwarts. He told them he came across Oliver and informed them that he was a reservist for a professional team now.
"Well, I hope his captain will make him wake up at two in the morning. It will be good for this dear Oliver to be on the other side for once," Fred joked.
"You have an idea of who might be the new captain this year?"
The twins shrugged. "No idea," they both replied, then George continued alone. "Normally, the new captain is chosen before the year starts. He…"
"Or she," Fred added.
"… receives the badge with his letter from Hogwarts. A little like Prefects. Fred and I didn't receive any with our letters, so it's obviously, and expectedly, not us."
"McGonagall would have to be crazy to name one of us," Fred commented.
"She didn't choose you, Harry?" George asked, to Harry's surprise.
"What? No." He didn't even consider the possibility that he might become captain.
"Too bad. We would have a long list of complaints before the season for you in this case. I guess it's going to be Angelina or Alicia. But we thought it might be you. After all, McGonagall let you in the team when you were in first year, so we thought she might make another exception."
To Harry, the idea that he might be captain of the Gryffindor team seemed ridiculous. After all, he was only in fourth year, and all the other players on the team were older than he was. Though, now that he thought about it, he would probably like to be captain. And make sure to not wake up the others at two in the morning like Oliver did.
"What's going to happen now that Oliver is gone?" Ginny asked, joining their conversation. "Who is going to be the new Keeper? And the other positions? Are everyone going to keep them?"
Fred and George shrugged together. "I don't know," Fred answered. "The new captain will probably hold trials to choose a new Keeper, at the very least. Oliver didn't take reservists these last two years. He was happy with our team, and he didn't want to hear about replacing any one of us. But the new captain might take a different approach and hold trials to have some reservists. After all, that's how Alicia got in. And George and I too. We were reservists before Harry came up."
Ginny seemed very interested by what her brothers were saying. Harry knew she wanted to join the Gryffindor Quidditch team, but she didn't have a chance so far, because Oliver didn't hold trials and wasn't looking for new players. Harry may have to talk to Angelina or Alicia, or even Katie, whoever would be the new captain, to know if Ginny would have the chance to try for the team. Harry knew that Ginny told Hermione once that she would like to be Chaser. Harry didn't think she could replace any of their current Chaser, but she might be a reservist. After all, Ginny would begin her third year. Alicia had joined the team at the same age, and was a reservist a year earlier, while both Katie and Angelina began to play a year earlier. Harry absolutely saw nothing that could stop Ginny from joining the team.
The discussion went to the players of each team in the final and what they expected as a result. Harry was surprised when Fred and George told him they bet all their savings that Ireland would win the Cup but that Viktor Krum, the Seeker of the Bulgarian team, would catch the Snitch. Ron expected Krum to catch the Snitch too, but he expected Bulgaria to also win the match. He didn't bet any money though. Harry wasn't sure. It was true that Krum weas a phenomenal Seeker. Very young, barely eighteen-years-old, Viktor Krum had been one of the stars of the Quidditch World Cup so far. In its first game, Bulgaria crushed Russia 150-10 when Krum caught the Snitch after only two minutes. When Harry told that to his mother, she said there was some justice in it, after Bulgaria got free of the influence of Soviet Union. She was of course talking of events in the Muggle World. From what Harry could say, Bulgaria had its own Ministry of Magic for centuries, and its own national Quidditch team for as long as this. He never heard about any bad blood between Russian and Bulgarian players. Though after his conversation with Susan on the bus, who knew? But Bulgaria didn't only crush Russia. In their second game, they crushed the United States 150-0, Krum catching the Snitch after less than one minute this time. Krum dominated his games so much that some articles gave scores such as Krum: 170 Italy: 30. The other Bulgarian players seemed to be overshadowed by his mere presence. This led many people to say that the other Bulgarian players were not very good, although Harry wasn't sure. They might not have had the opportunity to show their prowess, but that didn't mean they were talentless.
Ireland, however, was praised by almost all Weasleys, although Ron remained convinced that Bulgaria had the upper hand thanks to Krum. But Charlie said that Ireland had a marvelous team. The individual players were not necessarily better than those of the other teams, but their team play was extraordinary. Their victory over Peru in semi final was proof of that.
They exclusively discussed Quidditch until noon. Harry's mother left to go back to their tent, saying there was someone who needed some awakening. Harry had no trouble guessing who needed it. He remained with the Weasleys and Hermione for a little while longer, but finally went to his tent, as lunch time was approaching, and also to talk with Sirius a little. On his way, however, he was hailed again.
"Hey, Harry!"
It was Ernie who called him. He was sitting on a folding chair, with Hannah, Susan and Justin. On the table, there was a series of fuming plates, and Harry's nostrils were hit by the familiar smell of barbecue. He was surprised to see Hannah's father grilling things.
"You want some?" Hannah asked him. "My father has outdone himself a little."
"Thanks. I didn't know he knew how to use these things," Harry said, remembering that Hannah's father was a wizard.
"My mother showed him how to," she explained.
"Thanks, but my mother and my godfather are waiting for me. Perhaps later."
"Okay. See you soon."
Harry resumed his path towards his mother's tent. He arrived within a few minutes. Cho was outside her own tent and waved towards him. He waved back, and walked into a wizard who looked like an employee of the Ministry, who barely gave him any attention as he continued to walk hurriedly. Harry saw a few people like him since the day began, running everywhere to stop people from displaying magic, an almost impossible task.
When Harry approached the tent, he heard muffled voices inside. He crouched and walked into it as his mother was talking to a very awakened Sirius.
"Look, Sirius. I'm not asking for the moon. I just want you to talk with…"
She stopped at this moment, when she saw her son had just gotten inside tent. Harry watched both of them as they stared at him, both looking a little uncomfortable. It seemed he interrupted a conversation he was not supposed to hear. But before he could utter a single word, his mother did towards Sirius.
"Well, Sirius, time to play your role as a godfather."
On that, his mother left the tent, shooting looks at both Harry and Sirius. Harry was now alone with his godfather, who looked even more uncomfortable.
"Did I interrupt something?" Harry asked uncertainly.
Sirius looked at all sides of the tent before he spoke up. "Well, Harry… Your mother asked me to have a conversation with you about a subject that… Well, she thinks I'm better positioned to talk about this with you. So, let's get straight to the matter at hand. Lily is wondering whether you have a girlfriend and why you didn't tell her?"
Harry was stunned. What? Couldn't Hermione keep a secret?
If anyone wanted more details about the relationship, there might be flashbacks in future chapters, but truth be told, I didn't want to spend much time on this relationship. The truth is that it does not have a significant role in the story. But Parvati is going to remain a POV. She had a role to play in the third book, and it's very unlikely to be over.
Please review.
Next chapter: Ginny