Chapter 10
The Yaxleys lived in the north of England, close to the Scottish border. The manor was built in Tudor style and lay very secluded.
"Miss Eleanor Seymour," announced the ancient house elf Eleanor, when she got out of the fireplace in the great hall.
Eleanor dusted down her emerald green robes and went with a hand through her hair. She hoped that she was looking respectable and elegant.
"Ah, miss Seymour."
In the hallway Berenice's father, mister Corban Yaxley, appeared. His light gray eyes were cold as marble. He wore his pale blond hair in a long ponytail and he was dressed in dark robes.
"Welcome to Falestone Manor, miss. My family is delighted that you were able to accompany them to the World Cup of Quidditch."
Eleanor shook his outstretched hand. "Thank you, mister Yaxley, for that generous invitation. Berenice told me that she was very ecstatic with the tickets you obtained."
"Yes, they are very good tickets indeed. Of course the name Yaxley is well remembered within the Ministry and I managed to obtain tickets for a very nice box with only the best of families of the Wizarding World."
Eleanor lowered her gaze.
"Come, miss Seymour. My family is in the sitting room, enjoying some tea."
Eleanor followed Berenice's father in silence. They passed paintings from Yaxley's ancestors, who looked at her with sceptical eyes.
Berenice's mother, Isabeau Fonteyre was the youngest daughter of one of the oldest French wizarding families. Her light mahogany hair was cut on shoulder length in a classic Parisienne haircut and her light blue eyes sparkled with joy when she discovered her guest behind her husband.
"Ma chère Eleanor. I am so 'appy to see you." Isabeau got quickly to her feet and kissed Eleanor on both her cheeks. Her French accent was hardly noticeable. "How are your 'olidays? Is your mother well?"
She guided Eleanor to the settee. "Some tea, chèrie?"
"Yes, thank you, ma'am. My mother is doing very well. She is very thankful for having extended your invitation."
Next to Eleanor sat Berenice, who held a watchful eye on her father.
"I must go. I am afraid that a meeting with the head of the Magical Law Enforcement cannot wait." Corban nodded at the ladies.
"But, mon chèri, Eleanor just arrived," objected Isabeau.
"I know, darling. But I am afraid that Amelia Bones will not understand."
"Hmmph," said Isabeau reluctantly. Corban gave his wife a kiss on her hand and nodded at Berenice and Eleanor. "I will see you three ladies at dinner."
As soon as her father had left the room, the atmosphere lightened. Berenice seemed to grow a few inches and a big smile seemed to appear on her face.
"Did Adrian write to you that his mother got tickets to the same box as father did? He wrote that we would have the best view of the stadium, after the Prime Ministers himself!" blurted Berenice out. Isabeau smiled half-hearted and filled a plate with pastries for Eleanor, before leaving to girls to themselves.
"No, Pucey didn't," answered Eleanor, while she took a sip of her tea. The tea was strong and she put a little bit of sugar in it. "I am sure I will receive an owl from him soon."
"Weird," shrugged Berenice. "Oh well. Do you want to practice some Quidditch after? I really want to make the team now that Flint has officially graduated."
"Even with Malfoy as Captain?" asked Eleanor incredulously.
"Still. Adrian said I would make a great Chaser."
Eleanor shook her head and smirked. "Of course Pucey said that to you."
"What do you mean with that?"
"Nothing, Bunny. Passed all your OWLs?" Eleanor quickly changed the subject.
It worked better than a charm.
"Yes, except for History of Magic," exclaimed Berenice. "Not that I will take that class again - the dreariness!"
After discussing in length for which subjects they would go for their NEWTs, Eleanor let herself be persuaded to go out to the great lawn behind Falestone Manor for some Quidditch practice.
Eleanor wasn't a bad flyer, but she wasn't half as good as Berenice was, who lived for Quidditch. She was nearly as bad as Pucey was.
Berenice wanted to practice the Porskoff Ploy by all means after they had practiced some reverse passes. Eleanor wasn't a bad catch, but she hated to dive after the Quaffle.
"Can we just stop already? I cannot feel my butt anymore," complained Eleanor after a particular nasty manoeuvre that she missed just by the tips of her fingers.
They had been flying for a good hour and now the sun was setting below the hills, the cold came creeping in.
Berenice huffed, but gave in. "At least we can sleep in tomorrow. Can you imagine that some people have to wait the entire day on the boring Muggle camp site to watch the game?"
Eleanor shrugged her shoulders. "I don't think that much about other people, Bunny."
"Of course you don't," grunted Berenice quietly, before leading the way to the manor.
It was a relief that Corban decided to have dinner with the Bones family. During dinner, Isabeau wanted to hear all the gossip and news from the British Muggle aristocracy, which Eleanor happily told her.
Isabeau was the only one from her world who was truly interested in her life as a duchess. She was the one adult who would never let Eleanor feel like an outsider.
Eleanor never quite understood how someone so kind as Isabeau ended up with a Pureblood supremacist like Corban Yaxley, but she knew better than to ask Berenice.
Her best friend was many things, but she was unable to stand criticism concerning her father, whom she adored. Berenice was smart enough to see the unpleasant truth, but that didn't mean she would tolerate the truth spoken by someone else.
In the morning, Eleanor learned that Berenice's father was already on the camp site to take care of a few things. They killed time waiting on the Portkey by amusing Berenice's little brother Castor with Hogwarts stories. Little Castor was a delight, who looked every inch his mother.
"Hold on tight, Castor," urged Berenice her little brother when one of the house elves announced that the Portkey was about to be activated any time now.
They were all dressed in impeccable Muggle clothing. Eleanor had helped them find suitable and matching clothes. Isabeau wore a very nice patchwork paisley-print midi skirt with a simple white top and a brown blazer. Berenice wore a long satin dress with a floral print that accentuated her light colour and Eleanor was dressed in a simple white T-shirt with a black skinny jeans.
Isabeau started counting. "Five, four, three, two, one."
They arrived in a desolated field, but they could hear the excited noise of thousands and thousands of international wizards together.
"The 14:10 from Falestone Manor," said a very bored voice. "Madam Yaxley," said a Ministry official. "Your husband has asked me to accompany you to your tent. Madam Malfoy is already waiting for you."
"Thank you, Radford," said Isabeau with a smile. She took Castor's hand and followed the Ministry official. Berenice and Eleanor exchanged glances. There was to be no doubt that wherever Narcissa Malfoy was to be found, a young Draco followed closely in her footsteps.
"Oh, Izzy, you look splendid," exclaimed Narcissa Malfoy as soon as they arrived at their tent. The pale blonde woman, dressed in a long black dress, eagerly hugged Isabeau. Behind Narcissa stood Draco Malfoy, looking like he smelled something foul.
"Merci beaucoup, Cissa. Eleanor 'elped to pick out the right clothes. She 'as very good taste. You look stunning as well." Isabeau beamed at Eleanor.
"Of course, who better than Eleanor would know her way around Muggle fashion?" sneered Draco, which earned him an irate look from his mother.
Eleanor clenched her fists. Who did that little slimey git think he was?
"Why don't you girls go look for Adrian Pucey, Berenice? I am sure Madam Malfoy and myself have some catching up to do. Draco will guide little Castor around the camp site, won't you, Draco?" smiled Isabeau, already smoothing out any possible wrinkle.
"A splendid idea, Izzy," clapped Narcissa.
"Of course, mother," smiled Berenice, who dragged Eleanor away. "Come on, Nell," whispered Berenice. She knew that murderous look on her best friend's face. It was the same look she had just seconds before she had hexed poor Davies during Transfiguration.
"That prick," grunted Eleanor, who kicked at some blades of grass. "Did you hear what he said?"
"Don't let him get under your skin, Nell," said Berenice, before changing the topic. "Let's find Adrian Pucey."
The campsite was filled with a city of tents. Every nation was represented. Most of the tents looked ordinary, but many of the wizards had been putting too much effort in it. They had added chimneys or bell pulls or weather vanes. Some other wizards hadn't even bothered to follow the security measurements of the Ministry and looked so obviously magical.
Eleanor and Berenice walked around on the campsite and tried to avoid the busier parts of where the Irish and Bulgarians were staying. The Irish had decorated their tents with a thick growth of shamrocks, while the Bulgarians had chosen to display pictures of their beloved Seeker.
It was crowded with wizards dressed up in the strangest Muggle clothes combination. Berenice and Eleanor passed an old wizard dressed in a long flowery nightgown. He was followed by an agitated-looking wizard who tried to persuade him to change into a pair of pin-striped trousers.
"Please, Archie, be a good chap and just put them on -"
"I'll do nothing of the kind!" said old Archie angrily. "I like a healthy breeze down there, thank you very much."
Berenice nearly split her sides with laughter after the two wizards had disappeared in the crowd.
"Please don't choke on me," said Eleanor with as much dignity she could grasp, while Berenice was doubled up. Eleanor groaned and leaned down to grab her friend's elbows. A shadow fell over them.
"Oh, there you are. I was looking for you."
In front of them stood Adrian Pucey. He was dressed in a jeans with a green T-shirt that made his eyes pop.
"What's the matter with her?" asked Adrian, who gestured at Berenice, whose shoulders still shook with stifled laughter.
"She saw a wizard in a nightgown," explained Eleanor, who pulled Berenice back to her feet. "What are you doing here?"
"Searching for you girls. Our families have tickets to the same box according to my father and my mother wants to invite you girls for dinner."
"That's awfully nice of her," replied Eleanor.
