The New Look Cannons.
Hermione stood at the edge of The Cannons training ground, watching as the work on the new stadium finally got underway. Thanks to Draco, they now had a new sponsor in the form of his father's newest company, Silver Ink publishers. Lucius Malfoy had been more than willing to sponsor The Chudley Cannons, and the deal Hermione had struck with him was far more profitable than even she imagined it would be. The deal meant they could start work on the new stadium, and they still had money left over so that they could make a start with their merchandising for the new season. Hermione had thought most of their new merchandise would have to wait for the following season, once the stadium was finished, but the deal with Lucius meant they could get some merchandise in place for the new season.
As she watched the workmen bustling around the site of the new stadium, Hermione felt the excitement whirring around her body. Even though she and Harry had owned The Cannons for a few months now and they'd spent their time sorting the club and implanting their changes, it really felt as though they were just really starting on their journey. The quidditch season had drawn to a close the previous week, and as of the start of the week, all the new players and employees they'd signed were officially part of The Cannons. The real work began now, and Hermione knew the next few months of pre-season could very well determine the club's entire future.
Harry was still super confident they could turn the team around, and for the last week he and Theo had been holed up together, plotting their pre-season. Hermione had left the boys to it, but they'd kept her in the loop and she knew just what was in store for the new squad of players. In fact, Hermione herself would be getting involved in some of what was going to be happening over the course of the next few months. Including the first ever squad meeting, which was due to take place that afternoon. Harry had arranged for the entire squad to meet up at the club's training facility where they would be briefed on what the next few months held for them.
Checking the time, Hermione found she had nearly ten minutes before the meeting started, so she stayed where she was, watching the workmen as they cleared the sight they would be building on over the coming months. When Hermione felt someone come up behind her, she thought it was Harry, so she was rather surprised when she turned round and came face to face with Draco.
"Hello," she said with a smile. She hadn't actually seen the blond since the evening he and Blaise had agreed to sign for the team as Harry had dealt with the contracts and sorting out their contracts with The Tornadoes.
"Hi," Draco returned with a smile of his own.
As he'd approached Hermione, he'd noticed how different she looked when she wasn't all glammed up as she had been over dinner. But even in a casual pair of trousers, a pale lilac top, very little make-up and her hair tied back in a high ponytail, he still thought she looked attractive. There was something compelling about Hermione, and quite honestly Draco wasn't sure why he hadn't noticed it back at Hogwarts. It wasn't like he hadn't known she'd existed back in school, because he had, but for some reason he'd just totally missed the fact she was a very attractive witch. However, he hadn't missed the fact at dinner the other evening, and since then he hadn't been able to stop thinking about Hermione and how she'd blushed adorably whenever he'd given her a compliment.
"When will it be finished?" Draco asked, gesturing to the work going on a short distance away.
"The middle of next season," Hermione replied. "But we won't be using it until the following season. Even once the building itself is finished, everything inside needs sorting. Plus, I want a big opening for the stadium and I want us to start the season with a ground of our own."
"It's something to look forward to," Draco said.
"It is," Hermione agreed. "And are you looking forward to meeting your new team-mates this afternoon?"
"I do know most of them already," Draco pointed out. "The quidditch world isn't that big, so most players know each other in some respect. But it will be interesting to really get to know the people I'll be playing with."
"Let's hope everyone has your attitude," Hermione replied with a sigh.
"Are you thinking of anyone in particular?" Draco asked. He was suspecting that Ron wasn't taking things too well, as from what he knew about the redhead he wouldn't be happy about his two best friends being the bosses while he was merely an employee.
"Not really," Hermione said with a shrug. She had been thinking of Ron, but she wasn't going to be unprofessional enough to complain about one of Draco's teammates to him, especially since she and Draco hardly knew each other.
"So what sort of meeting is this today?" Draco asked, letting the subject of difficult people drop.
"It's just a bit of a meet and greet," Hermione replied. "We've laid on a bit of food and drink, and it's a chance for everyone to get to know each other. Harry will then make a bit of a speech and lay out what going to be happening over the next few months."
"Something tells me it won't be a relaxing off season," Draco chuckled.
"Not this one, no," Hermione agreed with a smile. "Maybe next year you'll get a break."
"Something to look forward to," Draco said, his grey eyes sparkling with amusement.
To be honest he didn't mind an action packed pre-season, and he'd certainly expected it. Anyone who really thought The Cannons pre-season would be anything other than hard work, just wasn't thinking straight. Of course a team who had just been brought together, and with new owners at the helm, were going to need time and effort to gel as a team. As such, Draco was fully expecting to spend the majority of his time over the next few months working with his new team.
"It's nearly time to get started, shall we head back?" Hermione asked as she checked her watch.
Draco nodded and together the pair turned around and walked back over the training ground and towards the building that housed the changing rooms, a few general staff rooms and the temporary offices that had been built. Hermione was now based at the training ground full time having given up the lease on the offices The Cannons had been renting.
"Will you be keeping the training facilities when the new stadium is built?" Draco asked.
"That's Harry's call," Hermione replied. "All the admin will be moved into the stadium, and there's where I'll be based, but as for everything else that's up to Harry. He might want to keep this place, or he might be happy to move training to the ground itself. What did The Tornadoes do?"
"On a whole we trained at the stadium," Draco replied as he opened the door to the training building and held it open for Hermione.
"Thank you," Hermione said as she stepped past the blond and into the warm building.
Hermione led the way into the large, living space that the players used to relax and socialise before and after training sessions. At the back of the room, food and drinks had been laid out and Hermione could see several people had already helped themselves to food and drink. Leaving Draco to chat to his new teammates, Hermione made her way to where Harry was standing with Theo. Both Ginny and Ron were sitting nearby, openly scowling at Harry as he chatted quite amicably with the former Slytherin.
"Is everyone here?" Hermione asked as she grabbed a glass of wine of the table.
"I think so," Harry replied with a nod. "We'll give people a few more minutes to chat, then I'll quieten them down to talk to them."
Ten minutes later, Harry tapped his fork on the side of his glass to attract attention. Once everyone was looking at him, he invited everyone to sit down so he could address everyone. Aside from Hermione, who remained at Harry's side, everyone else sat down on the chairs that were dotted around the room.
"First I want to thank you all for either moving to The Cannons or sticking with us," Harry began. "We all know the club has been less than successful for many years now, and it means a lot to Hermione and I that so many people have been willing to give us a chance and to help us get this club back to winning ways. I won't lie to you, the next few years are not going to be easy. Just because I think we happen to have a very talented squad, with some genuine superstars, we aren't going to win the title overnight. However, I believe that is we all work together and really put in the effort we can turn this club around. No longer will The Chudley Cannons be the laughing stock of the league."
"Here, here," Blaise cried, applauding Harry. A move which several other people copied and it then took Harry another five minutes to get the room quiet again.
"Thank you Blaise," He said, shaking his head at the troublesome keeper. Blaise was definitely going to keep him on his toes.
"You're more than welcome," Blaise replied with a smirk.
"Back to business," Harry announced. "As a former player, I know the months in between seasons is usually a relaxed time before pre-season training starts just before the new season. However, we don't have the same luxury as the other teams, who maybe have a couple of new players to intergrate into the team each year. This squad all comes from different teams, and while some of you have played together before, the majority of you haven't. If we want to avoid complete embarrassment next season, the work needs to start now."
"Don't say you've gathered us for a training session. I don't think I can fly after all this booze," Angelina quipped.
"No training today, Angelina," Harry chuckled. "In fact, I want you all to take the next month and just relax. The start of our training will begin next month at a proper training camp. We will be going away for two weeks, and it will be two whole weeks of bonding and training."
"Where are we going?" Ron questioned with a frown. He wasn't sure he liked the idea of having to spend two weeks in some sort of training camp.
"Final details are still being sorted, but everyone will get an owl with all the details within the next few weeks," Harry answered. "I expect everyone to turn up at the training camp, no excuses."
"I also just want to mention that there will be an extra element to the camp," Hermione said, stepping forward as Harry stepped back to give her the floor. "As you all know, this is a new era for The Cannons and I really want to push that in the media. I've arranged for a reporter and photographer to come and visit during the camp. Every member of the squad will be photographed in the new uniforms and asked a few simple questions. The idea is to put together a magazine that will be free with The Daily Prophet the week before the new season starts, that will introduce the wizarding world to the new look Cannons and their players."
"Cool," Blaise remarked with a grin. "I love a good photo shoot."
"It won't be anything glamourous, Blaise," Hermione chuckled. "It's just a few publicity shots and a few questions about what it's like to be part of The Cannons."
"Does anyone have any questions?" Harry asked.
"When can we get back to the drinking?" Blaise called. "I'm parched sitting here."
"You can get back to the socialising in just a moment," Hermione replied with a small smile. "I just want to ask everyone to take a minute to pop into the changing rooms and get measured for your new uniforms before you leave. There's no rush, so feel free to have another drink or something else to eat if you want. Just please remember to get measured up before you leave. I'd hate to have to come chasing after you when you were on holiday just because you've forgotten to get measured for your uniform."
Satisfied that she and Harry had covered everything for the time being, Hermione headed into the changing rooms with Theo. Between them they were going to get everyone measured up for their uniforms, and then with all the measurements, Hermione could make sure they were ready for the training camp. As it turned out, it only took about forty minutes before all the squad had visited the dressing room to get measured for their new uniform. After double checking everyone had been sorted, Hermione slipped the book of measurements in her bag before re-joining the party.
As she wandered the room, getting to know some of the players she'd never met before, Hermione noticed how unsociable Ron was being. Ginny was at least chatting to people, even though she was clinging onto Harry's arm, but Ron was just sitting in the corner of the room with a face like thunder. Watching her friend, Hermione hoped that she and Harry hadn't made a big mistake letting him remain with The Cannons. She just hoped that Ron snapped out of whatever mood he was in before training camp. The last thing the team needed was for one their squad to be causing trouble and making waves right from the start. What they needed was unity, and right at this moment, Hermione wasn't sure if Ron was going to be able to manage it. She just didn't know if Ron fit into the new look Cannons, or if he even had a future with the team he'd loved since childhood.