William was wandering down into the potions lab as he held a letter from Megan O'Rourke. He had only just received it that day but hadn't had the time to read it yet. William smiled, the lab was empty per usual, and he slowly set about preparing to mix another potion for his and Chris' next incursion into the tunnels in the hopes of finding Nick. After setting the ingredients into his cauldron and bringing the mixture to a simmer William opened up the letter.

While hoping to hear great tales of life in a muggle middle school, William was crest fallen to discover that his outpouring of bully complaints only brought him the same in kind from Megan. For the majority of the letter she explained how Eric Grossman, and a few other members of the football team now without the sport to occupy their time had come to picking on the mathletes and other various geeks, as Megan referred to them, as their main hobby. There were a few mentions from Megan about how this consolidated her and her friends closer together, but it mostly detailed how Megan was starting to feel about the harassment. She also explained that she felt if William were there it might be a little easier to deal with, William shook his head upon reading that unsure of whether or not that was actually true. He sighed as he set the letter down and began to stopper his mixture. At least here at Salem he had the capacity to fight back against Henry and Theodore, and the times that they really did get him good were times when they ambushed him. In a muggle school he realized that he would stand no chance against Eric Grossman, even if he did fight back like he did here. William shook his head, he knew many teachers at Salem over looked the hexes and jinxes and outright duels that occurred in the school. William also had started to wonder if they overlooked his plight because he was a member of the dueling team, as he had once seen one or two of the older duelists occasionally get into scuffles in the hallways but those were normally quick and decisive. William sighed as he thought about all of this while staring into his now grimy cauldron.

As he raised his wand to cast the cleaning charm, the door to the lab opened and in stepped Franklin Perry, "Ah, William! I've been looking all over for you."

"Really?" William asked, waving his wand and murmuring the incantation under his breath, "Why?"

"Well, you know the Quidditch championship is this weekend right?" Franklin asked somewhat surprised that he needed to explain this to William.

"Already?" William said surprised, "I thought they were in May or June?"

"No, that's Quodpot, longer season," Franklin said as he sat down across from William at the worktable. "Anyway, I need to talk to you because I'm going to be smuggling your sister in to see the game."

"You're what?" William half-shouted.

Franklin smiled mischievously as he set a package down on the table, "I'm getting her into the game, I even got her a set of school robes so she'll blend in. Thing is, when she gets here, well I have to go down to the locker rooms and everything. So I'm going to need you to help her blend in, alright?"

"This is crazy," William said as he stared at the older boy.

"Just crazy enough to work," Franklin replied in a correcting tone. "Look, I just need you to get her through the game, I'll handle the rest." He then rose up, and said, "Oh, and don't forget to teach her the team's song or else she'll definitely be out of place this weekend."

William shook his head as Franklin walked out the door, humming to himself. After Franklin left, William suddenly found himself resting his head on the work table debating on whether or not to begin to bang his head into it. He then slowly realized that despite hearing it many times, William didn't even know the quidditch team's song.

The next day he sat across from Sarah during lunch and explained the task he had been given. Sarah could only glare back at him, "How do you not know the song?"

William blinked, and then said, "I don't know, but you need to teach it to my sister, the muggle, that Franklin is going to be smuggling in here for the game this weekend."

Sarah grumbled under her breath then said, "Fine, I just can't believe you can go to a quidditch game and not learn the song." Sarah then took a bite out of her sandwich, and then a strange look came over her before she said, "Wait, your sister's a muggle isn't she?"

William then nodded, "Yes."

"How is Perry even getting her here, aren't there anti-apparation wards?" Sarah asked taking another bite.

"I don't know, I remember Tall Elk apparating last year, so did the Marshals," William explained, "Maybe there are loopholes?"

"Might be," Sarah mused, "Still I can't imagine this is going to be easy, how is she going to deal with the muggle-repelling charms."

That's when William explained the Christmas gift Franklin had given her this year, and frowned, "He's been planning this for a while I think."

Sarah smiled, "Well, he probably knew that he'd be leading the team to victory this year." She then smiled wider and asked, "Can you believe we're in the championship match? This is going to be awesome." As Sarah began to day dream and mention her theories on how the game was going to go, William could only shake his head unsure of how he was going to survive this weekend.

The weekend arrived quickly, and William was woken up early on Saturday morning by a knock at his dorm room door. Rubbing sleep from his eyes, William was surprised by a knock at all, and he then opened up the door to find his sister standing there decked out in a set of blue Salem robes with a Salem quidditch scarf wrapped fashionably about her neck. "Hey squirt," Elizabeth said before ruffling his hair.

William tried to bat her hand away but it was far too early in the morning for that, "What are you doing here?"

"Franklin just snuck me in to your school, told me to come here to hang out and wait. He's already getting ready for the game apparently," Elizabeth said with a roll of her eyes and hints of annoyance in her voice. She then stepped into William's dorm room without a moment's hesitation.

William was forced to step back and then close the door behind her, "How'd he even get you in here?"

"I don't know," She responded, "He called it porting or something, you're the wizard." Elizabeth then began to inspect William's desk as she sat down in his chair. She flipped through his papers, and read the spines of his book titles.

"Could you not go through my stuff?" William asked.

Elizabeth shrugged, "Fine."

Chris suddenly shuffled awake, and only nodded at William and his sister as he made his way out to the bathroom, only after opening the door did he pause and do a double take then said sleepily, "You're not Sarah."

"No, I'm not," Elizabeth said with a devilish smile looking at William then back to Chris, "Who's Sarah?"

Chris grumbled, "A quidditch fan." He then walked out of the room.

Elizabeth's eyes were still a light as she turned to William and asked, "Who's Sarah?"

"She's a friend of ours, the only person we know who wears quidditch scarves," William explained not liking what his sister was trying to imply.

"Is she in here a lot?" Elizabeth asked, casually as her eyes began to glance back towards William's desk.

"No," William stated flatly.

"Alright, I'm just teasing you anyway," Elizabeth said defensively, "So when does this whole quidditch thing start?."

William walked to his bed and checked his watch, "Not for another two hours, I need to shower, I'll be back." William then grabbed his bathroom stuff and made his way out of the room, his sister just smiled back at him as he left.

When William arrived in the bathroom, Chris was on his way out looking a tad more awake. He stopped William and asked, "So wait, who's in our room?"

"That's my sister," William answered with a groan, "Franklin smuggled her in here for the Quidditch championship."

"Oh yeah, those are today," Chris replied, "Think they're going to be any good?"

William shrugged, "I don't know, probably?"

Chris nodded, "Yeah, it is Quidditch," He then walked out of the bathroom leaving William to get ready for the day.

William arrived at his room not long later, where his sister was flipping through one of William's school books, Chris was seated at his own desk scribbling down some notes. Elizabeth looked up and said, "They teach you guys really weird stuff here. Chris said you guys don't even have like, English courses."

"No," William responded and then explained, "Just magic."

Chris then looked up at her, "So yeah, that's our Charms textbook, what do you think it's like?"

Elizabeth laughed and explained, "I don't know, most of these books are like all textbooks, boring. You're probably better off telling people you go to some special science school or something."

Chris grumbled, "I guess I was decent at some science stuff."

"Really?" Elizabeth asked, "William was really good with all that junk."

Chris looked at William, "William you never said you were good at like science."

William shrugged, "I figured you always knew I was, I mean Potions and Transfiguration are my best subjects."

"Yeah, but the dueling, I don't know," Chris shrugged at a loss for how to explain what he had thought.

"Oh yeah, will I get to see any of all the dueling I hear you do," Elizabeth asked curiously.

William felt himself get strangely tense at the question, and then said, "I hope not." He frowned as his sister only looked confused, "I mean, there are no dueling club meetings on the weekend and well, if I have to duel someone today it'd only be because well, it's like fighting."

"Oh," Elizabeth said, "So you guys use dueling for both like, fights and sports?"

"Yeah," William said never noticing just how strange it was until his sister had said it.

"Weird," Elizabeth answered.

There was another knock at the door, Chris raised an eyebrow and William answered the door to find Sarah and Alexandria standing there. Sarah was dressed in a manner similar to his sister, blue school robes, and a quidditch scarf, tucked under her arm she had a six pack of bottles and she smiled, "Quidditch Championships!"

Alexandria gave her usual half smile, as she said smoothly, "Good morning William, may we come in?"

William stepped aside as the girls entered, Sarah was particularly bubbly, she then said to Chris, "Are you coming to the game?"

Chris sighed, "I guess I can endure a game of Quidditch if it's the championship."

Sarah let out a whoop as she then said, "Butterbeers all around then! A quodpot fan is going to watch a game of Quidditch!" She then set the six pack down on Chris's desk and handed one around, and then paused as she extended one to Elizabeth, "Oh, hi. Who are you?"

"Hi, I'm Elizabeth, William's sister," Elizabeth answered as she accepted the butterbeer, "And you're Sarah?"

Sarah smiled back and said, "Yes, how'd you know?"

"Chris and William mentioned you earlier," Elizabeth explained, taking a sip of her suddenly opened butterbeer to hide what William knew was a smile on his sister's face.

Alexandria extended her hand and provided her usual introduction, "Alexandria Blair, of the New York City Blair's. You wouldn't happen to be Franklin Perry's...friend, would you?"

"Yes," Elizabeth answered, somewhat confused, "How did you know?"

William watched carefully, he knew that Alexandria was a very progressive full blooded witch but she still made occasional remarks that William had no idea how his sister might take. Alexandria just smiled and said, "Oh my family and the Perry's are just friends that's all, my mother wrote me and told me that Franklin was seeing someone unusual these days, that's all."

William watched his sister smile, and say, "Oh alright, I didn't realize that I was that different than," She then closed her mouth and smiled when she caught her younger brother watching the conversation. William had only at that moment noticed that Chris was busily asking Sarah which of his countless school spirit spreading devices would be considered acceptable for the Quidditch final. William also noticed that he was the only one with an unopened butterbeer, he quickly cracked it open and drank the beverage. He had only had butterbeer on a few occasions, and found the drink to be almost too sweet but for some reason perhaps just the sheer awkwardness of this moment he found it quite enjoyable.

Luckily though Sarah quickly thought it was time that everyone learned the song by heart so that they could all sing along during the game. The tune was catchy, and William quickly found that he knew more of the words than he thought he did. Everyone else was also able to catch on to it as well, though Chris had a bit of trouble since he was used to the more chant-like version the quodpot team had adopted in the fall semester. Finally, Sarah was teaching Elizabeth all about the importance of proper scarf-use as they started to make their way to the stadium.

As they walked Alexandria fell into step with William, and said, "I'm very sorry about earlier."

"It's my own fault, I should've been doing something," William responded.

"I know but still I didn't mean to imply anything about your sister or Franklin's relationship or..." She shrugged, "I suppose I'm just being silly that's all."

William just smiled back in response, "It's alright, Alexandria."

As they passed by Nick's dorm room, William paused for the briefest of moments. He wanted to knock on his old friend's door, but quickly found himself only frowning. Alexandria tugged on his arm and said, "I'm sure he's sleeping in, William."

"Right," William answered as they walked out of Corey Hall.

The campus was abuzz with people swinging scarves, singing songs (both the Quidditch team's and several random songs only a few of which William recognized), and people handing out warmed bottles of butterbeer. William also noticed a handful of older students that were slightly inebriated. In fact as they were moving to the stadium, William or more appropriately his sister was greeted with a surprisingly friendly hello from Clark.

Clark had nearly tackled Elizabeth in a hug, and shouted, "Fraser's older sister, hey!"

Elizabeth was somewhat confused until she recognized the curly haired girl who was wrapped around her, "Emily, right?"

"Yeeeup!" Clark said with a broad smile on her face, "What are you doing here, I thought you were," she then whispered into Elizabeth's ear.

"A friend of mine helped me," Elizabeth explained.

"Oo, naughty," Clark responded as they walked into the stadium and began to trudge up the many stairs.

William then found himself surrounded by the various seniors that were traveling with Clark now all singing a drinking tune and passing about flasks. Alexandria had on one of her standard half-smiles, and Sarah didn't quite know what to make of the situation until as the upperclassmen stumbled over the lyrics and paused she started singing the team song and they all joined in. For some reason as William settled into the stadium seat, a few seats down from his sister who was talking with Clark he suddenly felt relaxed. William could take several guesses from the giggles and smiles that his sister and Clark were sharing what the conversation was about but with them just a few seats down in this packed stadium he had no chance of hearing it.

It was at this moment that William suddenly realized just how packed the stadium was for a quidditch game. Every seat was packed in the student section, and there were plenty of alumni, and parents, and general fans cheering throughout the other parts. And the opposite side of the stadium was equally packed with the opposing team's fans, cheering their hearts out. It was at this moment that he recognized the colors of the opposing team, the rich blues and reds of the Academy down in Louisiana. The other side were also singing, though William couldn't understand the words at all.

The standard quidditch announcer who was normally quite subdued was accompanied by the man who normally announced the quodpot matches. The quodpot announcer greeted the stadium, "Goood morning Salem! Are you ready for the Quidditch National Championship!" The whole crowd roared.

The quidditch announcer then spoke, with a tad more enthusiasm then usual, "Today we are met by our friends from Acadienne Académie Magique, who have also traveled the long and fantastic road to this Championship. And now let me present our teams!"

The stadium erupted into cheers as the players from both teams poured out into the air. William saw the Salem mascots soar above his head and marveled as a scarf wall formed in their wake. Suddenly, the majority of the Salem side was holding up scarves and singing the school's song. The stadium quieted as the national anthem was played, and then the captains shook hands, and the balls were released.

What followed over the next three hours William could barely keep up with as one of the most intense games of quidditch he had witnessed occurred. Chasers were zooming up and down the field, constantly performing a variety of maneuvers to trick each other and keepers. The scoreboard was constantly chiming as both sides were scoring left and right throughout the game. Bludgers were flying about regularly bashing into players causing reserves to be called in while others were dealt with by the attendant healers. William was impressed though as even the reserve players kept up their mettle against the opposing team. The only people who William barely saw were the seekers.

William craned his neck and could see them on occasion hovering, every so often they would go zooming off at break neck speeds for the ground or a particular part of the stadium but more often than not they would be circling each other well away from the action. There were no attempts at false moves in this match, with scores so tight whoever captured the snitch was going to come out the winner and nothing could be risked on an attempt to pull a feint.

As the game entered its fourth hour with the teams scores already in the two hundreds William saw Franklin Perry break off from his current seeker circling, like a bullet. The other seeker gained on Franklin by pouring into a steeper descent. As Franklin zoomed in toward the stands, William could barely make out the flittering hint of gold in front of his hand as the snitch soared over the crowd and with it came the seekers. Fans cheered, and others began singing as the seekers buzzed past them after the snitch. William could easily have reached out and touched the seekers from his seat if he had really wanted to that's how close they got.

Suddenly Franklin did a barrel roll into the action of the pitch, while the other seeker made a wider banking turn. And it was that banking turn that cost the Academy the snitch and the match. Franklin's hand had outstretched while he rolled, and his hand clasped onto the snitch at the same time as a bludger crashed into his right hip and a thrown quaffle accidentally hit him hard in the shoulder. Still despite a clearly dislocated hip bone, and probably a bruised shoulder Franklin held up the snitch above his head as the whole Salem side of the stadium got up and started cheering, people broke into various songs as the quidditch team flew into a massive bear hug above the stadium. The Academy side was shouting all variety of expletives and there were many shouts of rage that could be clearly heard across the stadium, but no one on the Salem side cared.

The day then passed in a haze of partying and dancing. William was surprised with how quickly the campus became filled with all manner of delicious foods and sweet desserts. Before William even knew what was going on, there were various student groups playing a variety of instruments that William both recognized and didn't and all manner of music across the campus.

Sarah and Alexandria dragged William and Chris across campus to a variety of the dances. There were various bands playing, and everyone was playing some form of merry upbeat tune that resulted in people swinging partners about and exchanging dance partners on seemingly random occasions. At one point, William remembered, a by this point in the day clearly drunk Clark leading him in a jig across a dance floor that had sprung up in front of the main academic building.

As the day wound down, so did the music, and William found himself in one last dance with Alexandria as they moved about in a traditional wizarding dance in the dining hall. The dance was very subdued, no clapping, or stamping, just people moving about in time with the music. As they danced, Alexandria remarked, "I'm really surprised all of this happened for a quidditch match."

William shrugged as he tried to concentrate on being as graceful as Alexandria was, "It seemed to spring out of nowhere."

"Well I suppose we are out of the Quodpot playoffs," Alexandria stated.

"Really?" William asked.

"I'm surprised you don't know, after all you live with Mr. Quodpot," Alexandria said with a quiet laugh.

William just shrugged, "I guess so." As they continued dancing he then asked, "What makes this a wizarding dance?"

"The fact that wizards dance it," Alexandria responded with her traditional half-smile. "You think far too much about the wizarding world."

William laughed, "I guess, but I don't really...get it."

Alexandria laughed, "I'm amazed that you, a wizard, seem so perturbed by the wizarding world and yet your sister, a muggle, has been able to masquerade as a student here all day."

William frowned as they slowly twirled about, "It's different for her."

"I suppose so," Alexandria assented. As the dance came to a conclusion Alexandria explained, "Look, Sarah and I were talking about perhaps getting together over the summer. She'll probably suggest a quidditch game or something, but if you want to see the wizarding world outside of school activities, maybe you should come, Chris too."

"That's a good idea actually," Willliam said as they bowed the traditional bow of the dance and walked off the dance floor.

"I'll talk to you about it later," Alexandria said as she then walked off to say hello to some people William didn't recognize.

Realizing that most of his friends were gone, William left the party, and stumbled out on to the school grounds. His belly full of good food and drink, voice hoarse from singing, and limbs tired from dancing, William couldn't help but think about what a great day today had been. As he walked home though, he paused and found himself staring up at the waxing moon, quite nearly full. Staring up at that glowing white orb, William realized that there was something distinctly missing from that day: Nick.