Chapter 48 - The Quidditch Final, Part 1
"And just what do you all think you're doing in here?" I was shocked awake by an angry female voice.
"What... oh... Mum!" I heard Cedric sit up sharply as I kept my eyes tightly shut and pretended to stay asleep. I can't get into trouble if I'm not awake.
"Why are there girls in you room? And why at least are they not sleeping with their siblings?" Mrs Diggory hissed, I assumed she was trying to be quiet as I was still 'asleep'.
"We couldn't sleep so we came in here to just talk and fell asleep here. It was an accident." Cho said sincerely, I couldn't practically here her puppy dog eyes.
"It won't happened again, Mrs Diggory. We're all just so excited." Abe added mournfully.
"No, it won't happen again. It's time for you to get up so wake your sister up, you leave in half an hour, and breakfast will be on the table. And for heaven's sake, how many more times must I tell you to call me Rhia." She finished before leaving, banging the door slightly. I opened one eye and smirked at Abe.
"You're a cowardly Gryffindor." Abe sneered.
"Nope, just smart." I replied before sticking my tongue out at him. I stretched my arms above my head and moaned in relief as my bones cracked relieving the tension of being in the same position the entire night. I opened my eyes and saw Cedric looking down at me with a strange look in his wide eyes.
"Come on, its game day. We have to meet the Weasley's soon." Cho interrupts the staring stopped as he stood and went to his bedroom. I jumped up too and followed Cho to her room where we washed and dressed and before we knew it, it was time to leave. We left the Diggory's house through the back gate 15 minutes before the Portkey was scheduled to leave. We climbed up the steep hill, making it a race between the four of us with Amos struggling to keep up with us. I had the unfair advantage of being an animagus but Ced still gave me a run for my money, we both dived on top of hill at the finish line, panting heavily, in front of the Weasley twins. I rolled over and took a deep breath.
"Ash wins." I rasped with my arms up in victory.
"Well, I don't bloody know how. Merlin, you're fast." Cedric wheezed, still face down on the floor. Fred and George snickered at that before I sent them daggers.
"I don't know when my little sister grew up and became so fast. Ced, mate, we've been beaten by a girl." Abe mocked sorrowfully. I spotted Harry, Ron and 'Mione and secretly smirked, they of course knew how I won. I launched up and threw myself at my three best friends.
"Ash!"
"What are you doing?"
"Crazy girl!" Were the replies I got.
"Aww, I missed you too," I grinned at them as Amos finally got up the hill with Cho at his side who had given up halfway up the hill.
"Amos!" Arthur called and went over to him before the firmly shook hands. "This is Amos Diggory, everyone, he works for the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. And I think you know his daughter, Cho and his son, Cedric on the floor?"
"Hello." Cho smiled dazzlingly at the Weasley's.
"Hi." Cedric also greeted them as he got up off the floor.
"And we all know Ash..." Arthur continued.
"Unfortunately." Fred and George muttered so I threw some grass into their ginger hair.
"And you may also know Ash's older brother, Abbas I believe." Arthur finished.
"Pleased to meet you all finally, Ash loves you guys, says you're her second family." Abe replies charmingly.
"Long walk, Arthur?" Amos asks as we all get comfortable around the mouldy boot, waiting for it to set off to the stadium.
"Not too bad," Arthur replied. "We live just on the other side of the village there. You?"
"Our house is just at the bottom of the hill, I'm afraid these four turned it into a race." Amos sighed, smiling lightly making Arthur chuckle. "Are all these yours, Arthur?"
"Oh no, only the redheads," said Mr. Weasley, pointing out his children. "This is Hermione, friend of Ron's — and Harry, another friend —"
"Merlin's beard," said Amos Diggory, his eyes widening. "Harry? Harry Potter?"
"Er — yeah," Harry replied, he never was happy when someone recognised him as being the boy-who-lived.
"Ced's talked about you, of course," said Amos Diggory. "Told us all about playing against you last year. . . . I said to him, I said — Ced, that'll be something to tell your grandchildren, that will... You beat Harry Potter!" The twins scowled and I was going to say something before Harry stopped me with a subtle shake of his head.
"Harry fell off his broom, Dad," he muttered. "I told you . . . it was an accident. . . ."
"Yes, but you didn't fall off, did you?" roared Amos genially, slapping his son on his back. "Always modest, our Ced, always the gentleman... but the best man won, I'm sure Harry'd say the same, wouldn't you, eh? One falls off his broom, one stays on, you don't need to be a genius to tell which one's the better flier!"
"Must be nearly time," said Arthur quickly, pulling out his watch again. "Do you know whether we're waiting for any more, Amos?"
"No, the Lovegoods have been there for a week already and the
Fawcetts couldn't get tickets. The rest of the Hyde's have hired a muggle car with them having the triplets now," Amos replied, "There aren't any more of us in this area, are there?"
"Not that I know of," said Arthur. "Yes, it's a minute off... We'd better get ready..."
"Quite right, everyone put a finger on the boot please." Amos commanded, we did as we were told and all managed to squeeze a finger on it. It happened quickly, the usual feeling of someone having a fish hook connected to your naval and spinning you around, I tried to keep my balance when we landed, really I did. I wobbled a bit but Ced caught me. Of course all the Diggory's, Abe and Arthur did fine. Everyone else did not, all landing roughly on the ground. Harry actually fell on top of me, making me fall into Cedric, creating a sort of pile on. At least that's what the twins made after jumping onto Harry.
"I think I've died." I wheezed as we managed to untangle ourselves.
"I was pretty comfy, I think you took all the weight." Ced grinned.
"Lucky me." I replied sarcastically.
"Come on kids, we have to get moving before another portkey lands, It's time to set up camp. And we're all sharing a luxury tent, won't it be fun. We have to get that done before the games start later on." Arthur informed us all jovially. He definitely looked excited. We made our way through the fields of witches and wizards around there camps before Arthur suddenly stopped in front of a rather small looking, pale green, tent. It wasn't much to look at until I followed Arthur into the mouth of the tent. The living area had rich looking wooden flooring with a big red rug in the middle, a black gothic looking chandelier hung over which was surrounded my 3 big grey sofa's. On the far wall was a grand fire place that was just waiting for a fire to be put in it. It was brilliant. Harry and Hermione gasped in shock as they saw the room, I hadn't considered they'd never seen a magical tent before.
"Now this tent hold seventeen but only has one bathroom which may be become a problem in the morning but we're all gentlemen here so I think the ladies can go first." Arthur started after we congregated on the sofas before he was interrupted by the boys moaning. "Come now, behave. The bathroom is over there, in between two of the bedrooms. The far door in the corner is the master bedroom, Amos, I insist you have it..."
"Arthur..." Amos tried to argue but got nowhere.
"No, Amos, I insist. The bedroom on the opposite side of the bathroom is where I will be sleeping, there is also a bunk bed and a single bed for three of my boys. Across from that is the girls room, just over there, it has two sets of bunk beds and next to that is the boys room where there are three more sets of bunk beds. I assume Harry and Ron and Cedric and Abe will be sharing bunks in there but it's up to the rest of my boys to decide who sleeps where. Now, go unpack, we have half an hour and I think I'll have a cup of tea." Arthur finished smiling brightly as the twins ran into the boy's room. Percy, seeing the twins run in there, went into the room where his father would be sleeping. I was last into the girl's room so I got last choice, I was bottom bunk with Cho on top. I looked around the room and wrinkled my nose. It was pink, very pink with a fluffy lilac rug on the fuchsia pink carpet with pale pink walls that had a white border. I dropped my bag on the bed and walked back out of the room.
"I think I'll sleep on the sofa." I announced to the Amos, Arthur, Cedric and Abe who sat on the other sofa's drinking cups of tea.
"Why?" Abe asked.
"It's pink. It's so pink it hurts my eyes and makes me want to vomit fluffy bunnies." I wrinkled my nose again making them laugh.
"Well, my room is Gryffindor red." Amos smiling mischievously.
"Trade me?" I asked jokily while pouting.
"Oh my gosh! The room is sooooo cute!" I hear Cho squealing as she comes out of the room.
"Of course it is." I grumbled and slumped onto the sofa make Abe and Cedric properly laugh.
"What's going on?" Ron asks when he walks back in.
"Go look at the girl's room." Abe replied grinning. Ron, Harry and the twins do just that.
"My eyes! My beautiful eyes." Fred cries with his hands covering his face while he dramatically knocks into the sofa and falls on top of me.
"They'll never be the same again!" George mock sobs before he does the same and lands on me.
"Get off of me you great lumps!" I growl and push them both off and onto the rug, head first.
"You're strong for a little thing." Charlie Weasley remarks as he and Bill come out of their room, I remember their names from the pictures in the daily prophet last year when they were in Egypt.
"And don't you forget it." I smirked before standing.
"Want to go for a walk?" Harry asked me, I nodded.
"Can we, Dad?" Ron asked Arthur for us. "Of course, but don't go too far and be back in 15 minutes so we can go up to the stadium.
"Thanks." We chorused.
"Don't get into trouble, Ash." Abe called as we crawled out of the tent, I rolled my eyes. I skipped to catch up with them and threw my arms around my boys.
"How have your summers been?" Hermione asked us.
"Pants, it always is with the Dursley's." Harry whined.
"Fred and George has been testing the products on me all summer, I can't tell you how many different colours my skin has been, or the nosebleeds and fevers." Ron sighed.
"It's been okay, after I had a chat with my dad things have been a little tense but I love my little siblings and business at Vander's has been good, I've only got today off." I replied. "What about you?"
"I caught up on my reading, I've finished my homework and I've started for next year. I also had a week at the seaside with my mum and dad which was kinda fun but I wasn't allowed to take any of my school books." 'Mione finished scowling.
"The horror." I mocked before grinning.
"You both looking forward to seeing Sirius?" Ron asked in a hushed voice.
"Oh yeah! I can't wait." I grinned at them. "And there'll be a bit of time to teach you animagus, you might be able to do it before we get back to Hogwarts, Pads and Moony can help me teach you."
"I can't wait, I can't believe I spent half the year being mad at you when I could have been learning. I did practise a bit but not much." Harry replied looking saddened.
"Hey, it's in the past." I smile brightly at him.
"Come on, we'd better get back." Hermione reminded us.
"It's game time." Ron added grinning. I jumped on Harry's back and started chanting, "Go, Ireland, go!" I knew we would win. We got back just in time for me to put on my Ireland shirt and big hat before we had to leave. Arthur gave 'Mione and Harry and running commentary of all the ministry people we met ending with Ludo Bagman just before we went into the stadium.
"Everyone," Arthur introduced, "this is Ludo Bagman, you know who he is, it's thanks to him we've got such good tickets —" Bagman beamed and waved his hand as if to say it had been nothing.
"Fancy a flutter on the match, Arthur?" he said eagerly, jingling what seemed to be a large amount of gold in the pockets of his yellow-and-black robes. "I've already got Roddy Pontner betting me Bulgaria will score first — I offered him nice odds, considering Ireland's front three are the strongest I've seen in years — and little Agatha Timms has put up half shares in her eel farm on a weeklong match."
"Oh . . . go on then," Arthur replied, pulling a coin out of his pocket. "Let's see . . . a Galleon on Ireland to win?"
"A Galleon?" Ludo Bagman looked slightly disappointed, but recovered himself. "Very well, very well . . . any other takers?"
"They're a bit young to be gambling," Arthur said seriously. "Molly wouldn't like —"
"We'll bet thirty-seven Galleons, fifteen Sickles, three Knuts," said Fred as he and George quickly pooled all their money, "that Ireland wins — but Viktor Krum gets the Snitch. Oh and we'll throw in a fake wand."
"You don't want to go showing Mr. Bagman rubbish like that —" Percy hissed, but Bagman didn't seem to think the wand was rubbish at all; on the contrary, his boyish face shone with excitement as he took it from Fred, and when the wand gave a loud squawk and turned into a rubber chicken, Bagman roared with laughter.
"Excellent! I haven't seen one that convincing in years! I'd pay five Galleons for that!" Percy froze in an attitude of stunned disapproval.
"Boys," said Mr. Weasley under his breath, "I don't want you betting. . . . That's all your savings. . . . Your mother —"
"Don't be a spoilsport, Arthur!" boomed Ludo Bagman, rattling his pockets excitedly. "They're old enough to know what they want! You reckon Ireland will win but Krum'll get the Snitch? Not a chance, boys, not a chance. . . . I'll give you excellent odds on that one. . . . We'll add five Galleons for the funny wand, then, shall we. . . ."
Mr. Weasley looked on helplessly as Ludo Bagman whipped out a notebook and quill and began jotting down the twins' names.
"Cheers," said George, taking the slip of parchment Bagman handed him and tucking it away carefully. Bagman turned most cheerfully back to Mr. Weasley.
"Fifty Galleons on the same." I declared. "And I won't have you disappearing with my money like I've heard you've done before."
"And where would a little girl like you get fifty galleons?" Bagman asks suspiciously. I pull out the money bag connected to my bank and hand him fifty galleons.
"I work at Ollivanders and I have for two years. I've earned my money and had nothing to spend it on." I reply with a raised eyebrow.
"Alright then, I just hope you're not spending daddy's money." Ludo leered at me, Harry had grabbed my arm just in case.
"She does work thank you very much." Harry glared at him.
"I'll, of course, give you the same as I gave the boys. Here you go." Ludo handed me a slip of paper.
"Thank you." I smiled innocently, "But I know where to find you if it you don't pay us when we win." He shuffles off quite quickly as we enter the stadium.
"I can't believe you spoke to a ministry official like that, it was so rude." Percy hissed at me.
"Ludo Bagman is known to be a conman and fraud, he owes so many people money it's ridiculous. He has goblins baying for his blood, he may be a ministry official but doesn't make him a good man." I retorted, "If you're so naive, you'll never make it at the ministry."
"I'm afraid she's right son, her father has worked at the ministry longer than anyone I know and I'm sure he's told her a thing or two." Amos added and clapped a hand on his back and headed passed him.
"Then why did you bet with him?" Charlie asks as we start climbing the many, many stairs.
"Because my daddy will make him pay me." I smirked making them chuckle. On the second level some of us bought Omnioculers which are a bit like binoculars but they can zoom in, record and rewind, it's the best way to watch a Quidditch game, especially with how high up we were going to be.
"Prime seats!" said a Ministry witch at the entrance when she checked our tickets as we got onto the fourth level and we was officially able to see the inside of the stadium. "Top Box! Straight upstairs, Arthur, and as high as you can go."
The stairs into the stadium were carpeted in rich purple. We clambered upward with the rest of the crowd, which slowly filtered away through doors into the stands to their left and right. Our party kept climbing, and at last they reached the top of the staircase and found themselves in a small box, set at the highest point of the stadium and situated exactly halfway between the golden goal posts. About twenty purple-and-gilt chairs stood in two rows here and as we filed into the seats and looked out onto the magnificent Quidditch pitch. We had the best seats in the house unfortunately someone else the four of us knew also did.
"Ah, Lucius, there you are. Come, come." Said the Minister of Magic whom we'd just met in the box with the Bulgarian Minister who didn't seem to speak very good English.
"Ah, Fudge," Lucius replied, holding out his hand as he reached the Minister of Magic as a fake smile plastered. "How are you? I don't think you've met my wife, Narcissa? Or our son, Draco?"
"How do you do, how do you do?" said Fudge, smiling and bowing to Mrs. Malfoy. "And allow me to introduce you to Mr. Oblansk — Obalonsk — Mr. — well, he's the Bulgarian Minister of Magic, and he can't understand a word I'm saying anyway, so never mind. And let's see who else — you know Arthur Weasley, I daresay?" It was a tense moment, Lucius looked at Arthur with cold grey eyes and sneered.
"Good lord, Arthur," he said softly. "What did you have to sell to get seats in the Top Box? Surely your house wouldn't have fetched this much?" I practically hissed angrily at the arrogant death eater, I could just rip off his sleeve and remind the world of his days not under the imperius curse at all. My eyes finally rested on my actual cousin, Cissa Black-Malfoy, same eyes as Abe and same cheek bones and nose as myself. Fudge continued as he had not been listening.
"Lucius has just given a very generous contribution to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, Arthur. He's here as my guest. As is Amos with their children and friends." Fudge continued.
"How — how nice," said Arthur, with a very strained smile.
"Little Miss Hyde. And Mr. Hyde, a pleasure to see you as always." Lucius had a leering look across his face as he looked at us, Abe actually felt the need to stand in front of me.
"Draco, still below us at Hogwarts I see, Slytherin's are just not as smart as us Gryffindors." I blinked innocently while smirking as I stepped away from my brother and stood in front of the junior Malfoy. He practically snarled before his mother admonished him.
"Draco, remember your manners in front of ladies, I did not raise you to act like this." Narcissa Malfoy towered over me but I kept my head high, I could practically hear everyone holding their breath. "Aurora-Shaw Hyde, my how you've grown into a Black, unfortunate you're a Gryffindor." She muttered quietly,
"Cissa Black, my how you've sired a son not fit to be a Black." I sneered at her.
"Come on, Ash, we're going to miss the game." Cedric came forward and loosely pulled on my arm.
"And you have a knight in shining armour, a Diggory, I do approve." Cissa added.
"Enjoy the game, see how it's supposed to be played, eh, Draco?" I smirked and flounced to my seat pulling Cedric along with me by the hand. Thankfully they were in the booth next door so we could just pretend the Malfoys weren't there as we enjoyed the show which was about to begin.