The Grand Opening.
The Rising Phoenix stadium launched three weeks before the start of the new season. While Harry had been busy with the players, including overseeing a week's training camp, Hermione had been working on putting together the perfect launch for the stadium. The evening she'd put together was a sophisticated casino night, with half the profits going to a charity she and Harry had decided that the club was going to endorse.
Lucius had helped Hermione with the arrangements, and thanks to his contacts the corporate boxes had been transformed into a luxury casino. There were the traditional casino games, like roulette and blackjack, with a magical twist of course, as well as several magical games Hermione had never heard of. Two bars had been set up at either end of the stadium, with an added waiter service to help things along. The catering had been done by a professional firm, and as with the drinks there was a waiter service to go with the tables of food which anyone could help themselves to.
Considering the type of evening she'd put together the dress code was formal, but Hermione was pleased to find that it hadn't put anyone off attending. If anything the demand for tickets for the evening was higher than she expected. Aside from a few freebies, all tickets had been paid for by the guests. Hermione had given everyone associated with the club a chance to buy a ticket, or a pair if they wanted to bring a date, and she was thrilled that every single player had bought at least one ticket. As for the other tickets they'd been snapped up by a wide range of people in the wizarding community. Within an hour of the party starting, Hermione had spotted the Minister for Magic, several quidditch players that didn't play for The Cannons, a few old friends from Hogwarts, and a selection of other people she knew from using various shops and business in the wizarding world.
As she sipped on a glass of champagne, standing on one of the balconies that overlooked the floodlit quidditch pitch, Hermione looked around at the party and felt a sense of achievement. The buzz was noticeable and she hadn't heard one negative thing about the evening or the stadium. It did help that aside from the changing rooms and the offices, the entire stadium was open and free for people to explore.
Hermione was also pleased that her choice of entertainment had gone down well. It had taken her a while before she settled on a casino evening, but so far it seemed to be the right choice. Upon arrival everyone had received a small bag of chips to start the evening with, just a nominal amount but it was enough to generate a fair bit of goodwill. However, there were a couple of booths where people could buy more chips, or cash in the ones they'd won. At each booth there was also donation box so that people could donate any of their winnings to the children's charity Hermione and Harry had chosen to sponsor. Hermione wasn't sure if anyone was actually donating to the charity, but even if they didn't, she was still confident the night itself would raise enough so that they could make a large first contribution to the charity.
"What are you doing out here?" Draco questioned as he strolled out of the stadium and joined Hermione in the fresh air.
"Just checking out the evening from a distance," Hermione replied, smiling at her boyfriend. In his black tuxedo he looked incredibly sexy, and from the second they'd arrived at the stadium, Hermione had been filled with the temptation to drag him off to her office and have her wicked way with him.
"It's much more fun if you join in," Draco whispered in her ear, before he pressed a light kiss to her neck and took hold of her hand. "Come and have some fun."
With a smile, Hermione allowed Draco to lead her back inside. By this point the party was in full swing and everywhere she looked she was confronted by people having a good time. Since casinos weren't really her thing, Hermione gave herself up to Draco as he took her from table to table explaining the games to her. Some of the games were easy to understand, and Hermione quickly got the grasp of them, however some were more complicated and she decided they weren't for her.
"Roulette is easy," Draco said as he led Hermione to the roulette table. "You place your chips on whatever you want to bet on and wait and see if it comes up."
"So I could place everything on red?" Hermione asked as she slid her last two chips onto the red space on the table.
"If that's what you want," Draco replied as he spread five of his remaining chips around the board.
With the first spin, Hermione won her bet and within a few minutes she was well into the game. It would seem beginners luck was also on her side as while Draco lost his chips in a matter of a few spins, Hermione was just accumulating more and more. After nearly fifteen minutes she had a considerable number of chips, and after a bit of debate she placed the entire lot on number one.
"Why one?" Draco asked as the ball spun around the roulette wheel.
"Because that's where we're going to end up this season, number one," Hermione replied with confidence.
"Let's hope you're right," Draco replied, holding his breath as the ball slowed down and prepared to land.
After a torturous couple of seconds, where the ball just flipped from number to number, it finally settled in the number one slot. Hermione whooped with glee as the croupier slid the winning chips her way. Gathering them up, she decided not to push her luck and cash out.
"Nice win," Draco said as they headed over to the counter to exchange the chips for money. "I take it this means dinner is on you at the weekend."
"Not with this," Hermione replied. "These winnings are going straight in the charity pot."
True to her word, Hermione deposited her winnings into the charity pot, before she and Draco wandered back into the crowds. As they mingled with the guests, and just generally had a good time, Hermione lost track of time. She'd been having so much fun, she didn't realise the evening was reaching its conclusion until Harry approached her and told her it was time for them to get the fireworks ready. Thanks to Fred and George, they had a magnificent display planned and it was the perfect way to end the evening.
"Ladies and gentlemen, can I have your attention," Harry called, using magic to amplify his voice while Hermione went to check everything was in hand. "First, I want to thank you all for coming. I hope you've all had a good time, and I hope you enjoy the rest of the evening. If you'd all like to step outside, we have a little show in store for you."
Five minutes later, the guests were all gathered in the stands of the stadium, ready to see what Harry and Hermione had in store for them. Returning to the balcony where Draco was standing with Harry and Ginny, Hermione took her place next to her boyfriend just as the first of the fireworks lit up the sky. What followed was fifteen minutes of the most amazing fireworks anyone could imagine. Fred and George had really outdone themselves with the colour and quidditch theme, and the fireworks came to an explosive end with the words 'Go Cannons' blazed all over the night sky.
"Impressive," Ginny whistled in awe.
"The twins certainly came up trumps," Harry agreed.
The fireworks should have triggered the end of the evening, but before anyone had a chance to leave, Hermione and Harry became aware of raised voices from the next balcony over. Unfortunately they weren't the only ones to notice the altercation, and by the time they manged to get close enough to find out what was going on, the party had come to a standstill as they watched the unscripted entertainment.
Unsurprisingly, Ron was at the centre of the drama and both Harry and Hermione were disgusted to find him throwing insults at Lucius. To his credit, Lucius wasn't responding to Ron's insults, he was merely waiting for a clearly drunk Ron to finish his ranting. However, Harry and Hermione were not happy to just let Ron rant, and they intervened in order to try and bring an end to the drama.
"What are you playing at?" Harry hissed to Ron while Hermione apologised to Lucius.
"I was just giving your sponsor a piece of my mind," Ron spat, glaring at Lucius. "Although, why is someone like him your sponsor? I had no idea I was playing for a team sponsored by a Death Eater."
"Seriously?" Harry asked. "You didn't know Lucius owned Silver Ink Publishers?"
"Not until I've just heard him bragging to his mates about how he has control of The Cannons," Ron replied.
"I never said that," Lucius said, speaking up for the first time. "I was just talking about how proud I was to be the sponsor of an up and coming team like The Cannons. I've never claimed to have control of the club."
"I know you wouldn't," Hermione reassured their sponsor. "I'm sure Ron just got the wrong end of the stick, and I'm also sure he's sorry."
"As if," Ron snorted, unmoved by the fierce glare Hermione sent his way. "I'm not sorry about anything. Just the fact I've been playing for a Death Eater club is enough to turn my stomach."
"That is enough, Ron," Harry barked. "Apologise now."
"Hell no," Ron spat. "Malfoys are scum and I want nothing to do with them."
"Have it your way," Hermione said sharply. "Ron, I would like you to leave the premises."
"You're kicking me out?" Ron questioned in shock.
"We are," Harry said, stepping up to stand with his partner. "And we're terminating your contract. As of tonight, you no longer play for The Cannons."
"You can't do this," Ron hissed angrily.
"We can and we are," Harry replied. "Just leave Ron, before we have to force you."
"You'll regret this," Ron declared angrily as he backed off. "You and your Death Eater supporters."
Hermione shook her head as Ron turned around and staggered out of the stadium. Turning to Lucius, she offered another apology, totally mortified that Ron had made such a scene. From the looks of Ginny she was equally as embarrassed by her brother, and Harry looked angrier than Hermione had ever seen him.
"There's no need for you to apologise," Lucius reassured Hermione. "You've done nothing wrong."
"I just hope this won't affect our working relationship," Hermione said. "We would hate to lose you as our sponsor."
"That won't happen," Lucius said. "I'm dedicated to The Cannons and it'll take more than one mouthy player to change that."
"Make that ex-player," Harry muttered.
"You're seriously ending his contract?" Ginny asked her boyfriend.
"I'm sorry Ginny, but this is the last straw," Harry said, glancing around at the partygoers that Draco and his friends were busy persuading to call an end to the evening. "He's made a hugely embarrassing scene, and we all know this will be all over the papers in the next couple of days. I've had enough Ginny, it's time we cut our losses and went our separate ways. It's nothing personal, and I hope we can still be friends with Ron, but I can't allow him to get away with this."
"I understand," Ginny said sadly. "You have to do what's right for the club."
"I do, and cutting Ron loose is what's for the best," Harry replied.
Silently agreeing with her partner, Hermione turned her attention to the remaining guests. Hermione played the gracious hostess until the final guest left. However, the second the last guest left she turned to Draco and allowed her boyfriend to wrap him in his embrace.
"I can't believe Ron ruined tonight," Hermione muttered.
"He didn't ruin the night, he merely showed himself to be an immature child," Draco replied. "Everyone will remember what a great night it was."
"Everyone will remember Ron and his outburst," Hermione countered. "I've never been so embarrassed in my life. Thank god your father was reasonable and didn't want to sever all connections with the club."
"I'm sure Father's heard worse over the years," Draco replied. He knew Lucius was used to dealing with his past and the fact he'd been a Death Eater all those years ago.
"Even so, I wish Ron hadn't blown up like that," Hermione said. "Like it or not, he's made us headline news for all the wrong reasons."
"We'll just have to change the headlines when the new season starts and we begin our fight for the title," Draco said. "Don't worry Hermione, all this with Ron will blow over."
"Let's hope so," Hermione muttered.
Something told her they hadn't heard the last of Ron, and she doubted her best friend was going to leave The Cannons without a fuss. She just hoped things didn't get too bad and that Ron wouldn't ruin the entire club and its reputation.