I apologize for the wait. I've had some technical issues here and there, which are not yet resolved, and therefore chapter production will be much slower than before. Do accept my apology, as I have been working hard on improving my writing style. Also, again I'm sorry for another short chapter.

One would most expect a grand wizard such as Arthur to appear at this event. Harry held this belief true and dear, waiting the moment when he spotted Arthur at the Quidditch tournament. Then, he had this flawlessly planned out; he would walk up and ask all the questions that flowed idly in Harry's mind. Such questions as: Why were you in Privet Drive last night? Why did you leave so suddenly? What did you do to Hermione? And most achingly, why did you ignore me?

Harry felt bitterly crestfallen when he did not spot Arthur Kirkland. He stared at the audience, even Ron joined in the search. Neither boy saw the man. Harry sat, pouting somewhat, until the event began. Yet, he had not lost hope. He continued to search around, but soon the game plucked away his attention. He watched it instead, so immersed was he that he did not notice Quinn sitting only an arm's length away. With the players flying hither and thither, why that red head and studded piercing faded away like background noise. His imposing green eyes tracked the players, and especially the seeker. He hoped to soak in as much technique as he could.

Ron did not notice Quinn either, he was engulfed as well. Hermione was the only one bored to bits. She spotted Quinn sitting. At first she noticed the red hair and a vague sense of familiarity set in. When he turned around, and she spotted the impish face, she recognized him. She nudged Harry, trying to grab his attention, but heaved a great sigh when he did not stir. The boys did not see Quinn, even when the game was over and everyone filed out. Hermione crossed her arms sourly and walked on stiffly, she gave a small sort of yell but a firm hand muffled her cry. Panicking, her heart racing, and her hands clawing fruitlessly at the leather-bound hands she feared she would never see her friends again.

Squirming she turned to see who had grabbed her. It was Quinn. Quinn looked stern. His queer brows were furrowed, his mouth in a tight frown, and his eyes burning into Hermione's. "Shush, lass, I'm not trying to hurt you. Please come over here, this will only take a small moment. I need to tell you something," he tugged her into a small nook Hermione had hardly noticed before. Hermione was oddly reminded of two young girls sharing fretful secrets under the bleachers at a school. Quinn had removed his hands from Hermione, who grew curious as her fear washed away.

"What do you need to tell me?" she asked, shivering as a cool breeze flew over them. The cramped area was packed secretly into the stadium; it was behind the red velvet entrance and frightfully dim. She and Quinn were fairly well hidden, and the buzzing noise that many people talking at once made would hide their voices. Quinn turned back to her when he was certain the coast was clear, as they say.

"What I'm about to tell you is going to sound really mad, but bear with me," Quinn whispered and came closer to Hermione, who nodded uncertainly. "My brother is Arthur Kirkland, the lad who went to your school. We are not wizards. Don't look at me like that—I'm telling the bloody truth here. As much as it strains me to say so, we are much, much, more powerful than any wizard. We are older too, well, at least most of us. By us, I'm talking about a whole load of people like I and Arthur. You see, we are embodiments of nations. I'm Scotland, no I am not a representative of Scotland, but actually the Scotland. You're smart, lass, and I doubt you haven't figured it out, but Arthur really is old. Though I am a tad older than him, anyhow, he is England. More or less he is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. I fade in comparison, really. That is why I can talk to you. There's a resentful taboo against Nations talking with mortals, as of late, and England really does want to stop it. That's why he told you those odd little poems. He wanted to use you,

"I'm sorry, lass, it's not that he wanted to sacrifice you or anything. He knows how smart you are, and all, but anyway, I can go into his plan. I can't dally much about this. I can give you something, though, to explain us Nations if you wish. Anyhow, he wished to fix this strange occurrence between mortal and wizard, as it was grandly affecting the presidents and queens and whatnot. I haven't much idea of the plan, except that he wanted a blade, a sword."

Hermione paused, letting it all sink in, "what blade?" she asked, "The Gryffindor blade? Is that why he came to Hogwarts?"

"He came to Hogwarts in particular to freshen up on his charms, and talk to you. And no, he does not want that sword,"

"Well… A more ancient sword then. Excalibur?"

"Not quite. Now, think, what poems did he tell you?"

"Ah… Let me see, Against Idleness and Mischief and You Are Old, Father William,"

"Good, what do they both relate to? You got it, Alice—" he stopped right then. Ron and Harry were calling for Hermione. "You'll see more of us, I promise you, now go," he shooed her.

Hermione walked towards Ron and Harry, telling them that she forgot her scarf. She felt as if she had eaten a very large and delicious meal, she was so full of information—but she wanted more.

Ron didn't quite believe Hermione, as seeing that dazed look on her face. She was deep in thought, wondering why she could talk so freely with Scotland if the nations were having such a dreadful time with humans. She concluded that it was because he wasn't full nation.

He was more or less part of the United Kingdom, and probably didn't have the full strength of a real nation. It all sounded so odd to her, but it all made sense. That was why England seemed so old, why his eyes were so deep, why he knew the teachers. Such a thing was giving her a searing headache and she tried to focus on Harry and Ron.

It was quite simple, actually.

The Death-Eater's symbol in the sky quite took her thoughts off of that problem.