May the Power Protect …the Quaffle?
Disclaimer: I wish I owned them but I don't; I'm just borrowing them for the duration of the story.
Chapter Three: the Meeting of the Teams, Part 2
" … I'd like to introduce two of my very first friends in Briarwood, Vida & Maddie Rocca, The Pink and Blue Mystic Power Rangers!" These words were the first thing Nick heard as he walked into the Rockporium. Exchanging 'Should we worry?' looks with Xander and Chip, he rushed forward to the stage Vida kept her turntables on, the other guys following close behind. Even as he opened his mouth to enter the conversation, Xander beat him to the punch.
"Bloody Hell, Leelee, nice way to keep us under the radar," the Green Ranger yelled, the might of oaks ringing in his voice. "Why not just hire a PR rep and hold a press conference! I'm sure there're people in New Zealand who don't know who we are, yet!" He stood fuming before her, waving his stump before her nose as if the arm would reappear long enough to point accusingly at her. Chip was urgently trying to restrain Xander, even as his accusing looks at Leelee told her how much HE agreed with his overly-dramatic friend. Nick meanwhile was silently taking Maddie's hand in a show of camaraderie, their eyes meeting briefly in the joint readiness they'd garnered as teammates and more recently, lovers.
Vida meanwhile was fast-processing the introductions Leelee had just dumped in their laps. Only half of the names had registered right away, until the final young man's visage had connected with his name in her head. Realizing who had just strolled ever-so-casually into the Rockporium, she began running the interference Xander's rant had apparently scared straight out of Leelee. "Chip! Xander!" She startled them by both dropping down the double step from the stage into the space between them, and bellowing their names in a fair imitation of Daggeron's training voice. Glaring at one and then the other of the two men, until she was sure she had their attention, she waved a hand at the small crowd of Brits, who'd been subtly closing ranks in the alcove by Toby's office, Harry prominently in front and distinctly on edge. At a glance, Vida didn't see any drawn wands, but from the way they all were standing, she could tell some of them either had theirs in hand or within easy drawing range.
"Do you know who he is?" Vida started in, singling out Harry with a grand gesture, catching the young wizard's eye with a wink. Harry relaxed imperceptibly, and the young red-haired girl beside him sighed and smiled at Vida.
"Now how would I bloody know who this guy is … " Xander started, but Vida could tell, from the break in his voice and the stunned look that crossed his face, as well as the complete drain of color that suddenly afflicted Chip, exactly when realization hit both men.
"There, there, Xander. I knew spending time in a library wasn't a complete waste for you," Vida murmured reassuringly. Then she looked at Chip, who was still way too pale. "Chip?" Vida was conscious of the other Mystic Rangers descending from the stage to gather around the three of them, ranged almost unconsciously in a spectrum row. "Charlie?" she tried again, using his name to make her concern plain to him.
"Wot?" asked one of the red-headed men from behind Harry. Luna and Leelee both giggled, and Vida turned her head back that way just in time to see the bushy-haired witch on Harry's other side elbow the shortest of the red-haired men, who Vida belatedly remembered was Charlie Weasley. She turned back to face Chip – HER Charlie – with a small smile. That's when she noticed; he wasn't looking at Harry at all! His entire attention was taken up with the pale woman standing at the back of the group in front of Toby's office door.
Fleur deLacour Weasley had her husband Bill's hand in a deathgrip, her Veela ancestry unconsciously spreading attractant and becalming pheromones around her in an attempt to dispel the imperceptible looming hostility. Unfortunately, the first victim HAD to be Chip.
