The Press Arrive.
The deal Hermione had struck with The Daily Prophet was that The Chudley Cannons would pay for half the publishing costs of the magazine. Initially the Prophet had wanted them to foot the entire bill, as publishing a free magazine in their paper wasn't something they usually did, but Hermione had persuaded them to go halves on the cost as more people would buy the paper just to get the magazine. Speculation around The Cannons was rife in the wizarding world, and Hermione was betting that almost everyone would buy the Daily Prophet just to get an insight into the new look team and what Harry and Hermione had done with it.
However, despite her initial confidence, Hermione was a bag of nerves as she waited for the reporter and photographer to arrive. Both of them were staying in the hotel overnight, and as well as interviewing each player, along with Harry and Hermione and some of the coaching staff, they were also going to spend time with the team just to see what the overall feeling in the camp was like. Hermione was just hoping that none of the dramas with Ginny and Ron would flare up over the next two days. Apparently Ginny was still playing up in training and she and Harry had ended up having more words, while Ron was still bemoaning the changes to the new uniform.
As Hermione was mentally fretting over what could go wrong, two very familiar faces entered the hotel. One was a stunning Asian witch with long, gorgeous black hair and a friendly smile on her face. Behind her was a dirty haired blond wizard, with an expensive camera hanging around his neck and a mischievous grin on his face.
"Padma, Colin," Hermione gasped in surprise.
Even though she'd known, Padma Patil and Colin Creevey both worked for the Prophet, she'd never really expected either of them to be the ones to take charge of the magazine about the Cannons. Padma wasn't a sports writer, and Hermione wasn't sure what her knowledge on quidditch was like.
"Hello, Hermione," Padma greeted, sharing a hug with her former classmate. "You're looking good."
"You too Padma," Hermione returned. "And you're also looking good, Colin," she added turning to the photographer and giving him a hug as well.
"Thanks," Colin beamed. "This place seems nice."
"It is," Hermione replied. "Let me get you both checked in, then you can take some time to settle in and we can discuss how the next couple of days are going to go."
"Let's guess, you've got it all sorted," Padma chuckled.
"I have," Hermione admitted with a smile as the girl behind reception sorted the keys for Padma and Colin. "Harry's got the team working hard, so I've had to schedule you in around training."
"That's fine," Padma replied with a nod. "Although, it would be nice to watch some training and get some candid shots of the team."
"Don't worry, you'll see plenty of the team over the next few days," Hermione reassured the reporter. "I might have scheduled the one on one interviews, but the rest of the time is yours to do with as you want."
"I have to admit, I'm looking forward to this," Colin said. "Everyone is dying to see what you and Harry are doing with The Cannons."
"Let's just hope it's all going to work out as we hope," Hermione replied as the pair from the Prophet grabbed their keys.
Arranging to meet Padma and Colin in the bar in half an hour, Hermione hurried off to check everything was running on schedule. The new uniforms had arrived that morning, and after checking they fit everyone, Harry had taken the team off outside for a marathon fly. Although hopefully, the training session would soon be winding down for the morning and Harry would be available to help her keep Padma and Colin sweet.
Fortunately, by the time Padma and Colin emerged from their rooms ready to get to work, Harry had handed the team over to Theo and he was sitting in the bar with Hermione. Once everyone had a drink, the foursome chose to sit outside, where the figures of The Cannons in action could be seen in the distance.
"If you don't mind, I'll be using a magical recording device for the next two days," Padma said, pointing to a flower broach which was pinned to her jacket lapel. "It just helps me keep track of who said what so I don't misquote anyone. I can't abide those quick quotes quills, they just write a load of tosh."
"Tell me about it," Harry muttered darkly. He could still remember the guff that came from the quick quotes quill Rita Skeeter had used when interviewing him back in his fourth year during the Triwizard Tournament.
"Of course, if there's anything you want to say off the record, you'll have to let me know and I'll turn the recorder off," Padma said. "But as well as doing the interviews, I was hoping to write an editorial in the magazine about our days with the team and our overall impressions. We don't want the magazine to just come across as a fan magazine. After all, the Prophet can't be seen to support one particular team."
"We understand that," Hermione said with a smile. "You just have to do what you think is best for the magazine, Padma. And as for saying anything off the record, I don't think we're going to be discussing anything we're not happy for the public to know."
"Since we're all here, why don't we start now?" Padma suggested. "Perhaps the two of you can explain how you bought The Cannons, and what most people want to know - why? Why buy a failing team?"
"Because no-one was selling a successful one," Harry joked.
Harry's answer caused everyone to laugh, but when the laughter stopped, Harry and Hermione turned serious and they spoke in length about what had driven them to buy the club, and what they hoped to achieve with the club. Harry spoke passionately about the team they were building, and the amazing players they had, while Hermione talked about the other aspects of the club. She talked about the new stadium they were building and the new look they had for the team.
"A new mascot sounds interesting," Padma said when Hermione mentioned the changes they'd made to the Cannons look. "I do hope we can get some pictures of this new mascot and new strip."
"The players will all be modelling their new strips for you," Hermione supplied as she reached into her bag and pulled out one of the new Cannons stuffed phoenixes. "And this is our mascot," she announced as she placed the toy on the table. "We're having a bunch of new merchandise made up, and our phoenix mascot will be available to buy at every game."
"It's adorable," Padma gushed as Colin snapped a few pictures of the stuffed toy. He even took a few pictures of both Harry and Hermione with their new mascot. "Is there a reason you've chosen a phoenix as your mascot?"
"We think it represents what we're trying to do here," Harry answered. "Like a phoenix, we're rising from the ashes. We might be down, and we might look dead, but we're still fighting. We're not finished yet."
For the next half hour, Padma asked more questions about what their hopes were for the future of the club. By the time the questions were drawing to a natural conclusion for the moment, it was time for lunch. Since the entire team would be there, Padma and Colin joined The Cannons, where introductions were made. Throughout the meal, Colin snapped a few pictures while Padma turned off her recording device and she and Hermione spent the time catching up with how their lives were going and what they'd been up to since they'd last seen each other.
After lunch, Hermione suggested that Padma and Colin might want to do their interviews and pictures in the gardens of the hotel. It really was too nice to be stuck indoors, plus the views would lend themselves to some stunning looking pictures.
"Can I stay for the interviews, or would you rather I left?" Hermione asked. Her intention had been to stick around as Padma and Colin did their thing, but she didn't want it to look like she was monitoring what her team said.
"You can stay for me," Padma said as she settled down on a bench beside some rose bushes. "Although, if I feel as though the players aren't talking freely with you around, I might ask you to leave."
"Okay," Hermione replied. "I'll try and stay out of your hair. I just want to be on hand in case anyone needs me."
Fortunately, they didn't need to worry about the players not talking freely where Hermione was. The first couple of players to be interviewed were Angelina and Alicia, and they had no problems with Hermione sitting nearby listening to what was going on. They also had no problems with making it clear that the reason they switched clubs was all down to Harry and Hermione personally. They wanted the chance to play for people they liked and trusted, and they made it obvious that any success the team had would entirely be down to the new owners and the effort they'd put into turning a failing club around.
Even the players Hermione hadn't had a personal friendship with had no problems with her being present, and several of them brought Hermione into the conversation and laughed and joked with her. Over the course of the last week, Hermione had found that the team Harry had built was made up of genuinely nice witches and wizards and already there was a genuine sense of camaraderie around the team and the management.
It wasn't until the last interview of the day, which was Ginny's, that Hermione felt as though she wasn't really welcome. Even though Ginny didn't say anything to her, and what she said to Padma was all positive and glowing, Hermione just got a sense that the younger witch wasn't impressed to have her hovering around. Then again, Hermione was pleased she was around as she wasn't sure what Ginny might have said if she'd been alone with Padma.
"So we've done about half the squad, is that right?" Padma checked with Hermione while Colin was taking a few pictures of Ginny in her new Cannons uniform.
"That's right, and we should get the other half done in the morning," Hermione replied. "Then in the afternoon you can watch training and we can have a group photo shoot."
"Sounds good to me," Padma replied with a smile. "And some gossip tonight would be good. I'm looking forward to spending a bit more free time with your team."
"They're a fun group," Hermione returned. Hopefully Padma and Colin would have a great time, and the pieces Padma was going to add to the magazine would turn out to be positive articles.
Much to Hermione's relief the evening was a huge success, and the team made Padma and Colin very welcome. Breakfast the next morning was no different, and when they settled back outside to carry on with the individual interviews, Padma was in a great mood. Hermione was also in a great mood, until the first of the players turned up, and she was faced with her scowling best friend. Hermione's hopes that Ron would be professional like his sister seemed unfounded as he sat down next to Padma, pulling at the neck of his new quidditch jersey uncomfortably.
"Relax Ron, it's just a quick chat," Padma chuckled. "I just want to ask you about The Cannons, and what it's like now your two best friends are in charge."
"Very different," Ron said diplomatically.
"In a good way or a bad way?" Padma asked, leaning forward as she sensed some friction with Ron. So far there seemed to be a good energy around the squad, but Ron was the first person that she got the feeling was far from happy with the new regime.
"Just different," Ron replied with a shrug. "We never had training camps before."
"A lot of people seem to be enjoying it," Padma said. "Does it not help with the bonding of a new team?"
"I guess so," Ron answered moodily. "But you don't need to be friends with someone to play alongside them."
"But surely it helps if you get along?" Padma questioned. Even though she wasn't a quidditch reporter, she'd often heard it said that the best teams had a genuine bond between their players.
"Maybe," Ron shrugged in an uncommitted way.
"How are you finding it working for your best friends? Is it tricky?" Padma asked.
"No, Harry and Hermione are great," Ron replied, looking up and giving Hermione a small smile.
Hermione breathed a sigh of relief, hoping that the interview was going to turn around, but sadly Padma mentioned the new uniforms and Ron's face set itself into an even deeper scowl. Even though he refused to say he disliked the new uniforms and logos, he did admit to being a long term supporter of the team and finding it hard to cope with the changes. By the time Ron left, after getting a few pictures taken, Hermione felt as though her entire plans for a positive magazine to introduce the fans to the new look Cannons were sunk. Thankfully, the next person to appear for their interview was Blaise, and he spent nearly half an hour flirting outrageously with Padma, gushing about Hermione, Harry and The Cannons in general and posing for pictures with a beaming smile. By the end of his interview, Hermione couldn't help but have a smile on her face. Ron's bad attitude may have been obvious for Padma, but just as equally, Blaise's joy and enthusiasm, had been on display and after talking to him, it was impossible not to feel happy.
After Blaise the rest of the morning flew by with everyone being positive, until finally it was time for the last interview of the morning, which had fallen to Draco. When Draco arrived, Hermione was careful not to react any differently towards him as she didn't want Padma to get a whiff of their burgeoning romance. Not that two kisses could be counted as romance just yet, but Hermione was sure there was more on the horizon for the couple. But right now, The Cannons and making a good impression with Padma came first. Luckily Draco was on the same page as Hermione, and aside from a quick smile aimed in her direction, he settled down to talk to Padma while Colin grabbed some candid shots.
"Why come to a team at the bottom of the league when you were with the champions?" Padma asked. "Surely it meant a drop in pay and prestige?"
"Money isn't an issue for me," Draco answered with a slightly embarrassed shrug. When he was younger he wasn't above bragging about his wealth, but these days he could see how crass it was to and he rarely mentioned the fact he was the wealthiest wizard under twenty five in the country. "And I'm not interested in the prestige either. I'm here for the challenge. I want to help build the team into something great. I want to be part of quidditch history."
"And do you think the Cannons will make history?"
"I do," Draco answered with a firm nod of his head. "I think Harry and Hermione are very driven, and they've put a lot of faith in the team they've chosen. We all want to repay that faith and prove to them that the trust they put in us hasn't been wasted."
"And what about this unique contract you've got?" Padma questioned. "Can you really play chaser and seeker."
"Not in the same game," Draco joked. "But seriously, I'm delighted by the chance Harry and Hermione have given me by allowing me to fulfil my desire to play chaser. Of course, I'll still be playing seeker in some matches and I'm looking forward to the twin challenge."
"What is it like playing chaser?" Padma asked. "As a seeker you're on your own, but as chaser you've got to play with two other people in the same role? Is it hard to make the adjustment?"
"Not at all, I'm enjoying the experience," Draco answered. "We've got some brilliant chasers with The Cannons, and I'm really enjoying having the opportunity to play with them and learn from them."
A few questions later, Draco's interview was finished and Colin took a few more pictures of the blond. As he left, Hermione shot him a grateful smile and as she accompanied Padma and Colin back into the hotel, she decided the interviews had gone well on the whole. She was still annoyed with Ron, and just had to hope he didn't let his attitude spill over any more while Padma and Colin were still in residence. Fortunately, Ron didn't get much of a chance to throw any more spanners in the works as over lunch, Padma was sitting across the room from him and all afternoon he was too busy with practice to cause any trouble.
As for Padma and Colin, they spent the afternoon with the team as they practiced, with Colin getting some action shots of the new look Cannons. The team then gathered for their first official team picture, which Padma promised Hermione would be the front cover of the magazine. Before they left, Padma promised Hermione an advanced copy of the magazine, and as she and Colin headed back to London, Hermione was left to hope that The Cannons had provided a positive outlook for Padma to write about. After all, it would be a total shot in the foot if after all the hard work Hermione had done to seal a magazine deal, it ended up being a flop and The Cannons were once again the laughing stock of the quidditch league.