The match was, in a word, amazing. Ayla could scarcely believe she had been there for three hours already. Why hadn't she realized how great this game was before? All those years complaining about how dull the sport was had been wasted. This was pure poetry in motion. The way the players glided effortlessly through the air. The way they communicated with each other through a simple look. Oliver had been right, this really was the sport of Kings.
Puddlemere were leading the Falcons 270-120. Despite the other teams repeated attempts at cheating, they had no chance. Puddlemere were far superior. Though it was difficult to tell which team wanted to win more. The sheer ferocity of the players was astounding.
It was a shame Sarah couldn't share Ayla's enthusiasm. Ayla had been given two tickets for the match, and she knew that Sarah was the only one whom she could trust to behave herself. Unfortunately Sarah's baby was now a week overdue, making the expectant mother uncomfortable as hell.
"Oh how much longer is this bloody game going to go on for? Surely they've had enough of flying around by now? Don't they know how hard these seats are? Can't we just leave? Please?" she was whining again.
In all honestly Ayla too wished that the game would finish soon. Sarah was becoming intolerable. It was also clear that the people around them agreed, muttering under their breaths how much they wanted Sarah to shut up.
"I know hun. But it can't be much longer. And it would be rude to leave without thanking Oliver. Besides don't you want to see who wins?" she tired to sound as sympathetic as possible.
"Oh come off it! Golden boy's team are bound to win. And if they do he won't even notice if we're missing. He'll be too busy getting his ego stroked by all his little fans."
Ayla grimaced. "Well I sort of promised to go for a drink with him after the match."
"Oh do we have to?" Sarah let out and exasperated sigh. "Can't I just go home? I don't even like the guy."
"Sarah shush!"
At her last comment many of the witches and wizards surrounding them had given Sarah dirty looks. They were sitting in the Puddlemere section after all.
"Look you can't let me go on my own. Who knows what'll happen. We'll just have one drink and leave ok?" Ayla said. She hated to compromise right now, but she knew she couldn't take much more of Sarah's mood. The sooner that baby popped out of her the better.
"Oh fine!"
The girls sat in a tense silence for the rest of the game. Which as it turned out was over sooner than anyone expected.
"And Chaser Flint for the Falcons with the Quaffle. He's tearing up that pitch today. Did he just kick Rob Jenkins out of the way? Doesn't look like the ref spotted it, so I don't suppose it matters. Flint's within scoring range now…. And oh Bludger to the face, that's gotta hurt! But what's this? The Falcons Seeker has gone into a spectacular dive. Has he? He has! Halliday has the snitch! Falcon's tie with Puddlemere. I don't think anyone saw that coming." the commentator's voice boomed out over the crowds which had erupted into cheers and jeers. Ayla felt Sarah grab her arm.
"Does this mean we still have to go for that drink with him?"
Twenty minutes later the girls were sitting once more in the Drunken Doxy, waiting for Oliver and the team to arrive. There were numerous witches and wizards milling around the bar, each from a different publication, also awaiting the arrival of the teams. The tie was big news. This hadn't happened in so long that it added to the already tense atmosphere in the league. Puddlemere had been on a winning streak, and now they had tied. What would Wood say? How did Puddlemere feel? The public needed to know. Sarah on the other hand just wanted to leave.
"One drink Ayla. Just one. Then we leave. I am not hanging round here listening to that idiot prattle on all afternoon."
Ayla was interrupted from answering by a stout wizard.
"Hello ladies, I'm Benjamin Herd sports correspondent for the Quibbler. Would you care to comment on today's games?"
Ayla was about to decline his offer, when she was once again interrupted. This time by Sarah.
"Yes I'd like to say that I don't trust that Wood as far as I can throw him. There's something wrong about him. Mark my words, it'll all come out in the end!"
Ayla was gob smacked. She couldn't believe her friend had just done that. And before she could correct the man he had left. The wizard walked away thanking them and scribbling furiously on a piece of parchment.
"Are you crazy?"
"What? Oh come on. He was from the Quibbler! No-one really believes anything they see in there. I doubt anyone'll even notice."
"You better hope no-one does. You might have ruined his career with talk like that."
"Oh don't be so dramatic."
It was at this point that Oliver finally turned up.
"Who's being dramatic?" he asked.
"No-one." Ayla answered, a little too quickly to be believable.
"Now Ayla, you know that's not true. She was just saying that we shouldn't stay too long because I could drop at any moment. But I personally think that it would be impolite of us. We should stay for one drink. Then leave." Sarah said, smiling at Oliver. "So your round. I'll have an apple juice. With ice. Come on Ayla let's go sit down while Quaffle boy gets the drinks in."
Oliver was, as was usual during encounters with Sarah, dumbstruck. How did the witch do it? She made him feel so uncomfortable. Maybe it was her hormones, and she was really nice when she wasn't pregnant? He shook his head, ordered the drinks, and made his way over to the girls. His team would be in soon, hopefully they could distract Sarah enough for him to have a conversation with Ayla. He hoped she'd enjoyed the game.
The three sat in silence. Each unsure of what they could say. They were saved, however by the arrival of Oliver's team. A short and sandy haired wizard was the first to join them. He seemed out of breath and his face was red and sweaty.
"Good Merlin it's mad out there! All the press grabbing at you. Tell you what boss, they all want a word with you. All asking where you were, and if you were ok after today's 'embarrassing tie'." the wizard paused to catch his breath and wipe the sweat from his brow. "No need to worry though. We told 'em you were in here, drowning your sorrows in wine and witches."
The look on Oliver's face caused the rest of the group to laugh. He looked mortified.
"Eh Evans I hope you're not telling the boss about the little surprise we've set up for him!"
Another wizard, this one taller and leaner than the first joined them. He had a confident swagger to his stride and Sarah immediately disliked him.
"Eh lads," he shouted to the rest of the team. "Come over here, it's wind up the boss time."
The four remaining members of Puddlemere United joined the table. The first wizard punched Oliver on the arm, in an apparently playful manner. Though Sarah was pleased to see Wood wince.
"Well then boss, where are your manners? Aren't you going to introduce us? Or are we all too much of an embarrassment to be associated with?"
Oliver grinned. "This is Ayla and Sarah. Girls I'd like you to meet my team, this idiot here is John Evans, one of the Beaters. That guy there with the fat lip is the other one Jeremy Ford."
The two men waved and said hello.
"And these are my Chasers. Rob Jenkins, Martin Archer, and Richard Hill. And this dodgy looking bloke is our Seeker Justin Puck."
Sarah rolled her eyes as the Seeker winked at the two girls. She could spot his type a mile off. The self-assured smile and cocky swagger, this was the worst type of Quidditch player. The one that believed his own hype.
Ayla just smiled and said hello, grateful that Sarah hadn't torn into each one of them already, telling them exactly what she thought of them.
The door opened with a bang and the sound of raucous singing filled the pub.
"Ah and here come the Falcons. Couldn't they have found somewhere else to have a drink?" said Archer looking genuinely fed-up. "We come here to unwind, not for a punch up. Drunken idiots."
Hill leant in conspiratorially and whispered to the girls: "As you know ladies, the Falcons have a bit of a reputation. They like to toast each game they can actually walk away from without crutches."
"Alright ladies! Fancy a drink? That goes for you too Wood." a voice bellowed from the bar.
Ayla glanced over at the other team, catching the eye of the wizard who had knocked her over earlier.
Hey to all the great new people who've started reading/reviewing. You rock!
