Chapter 7
Kevin Slugworthy was train prefect all alone now Gorbrin was gone; though the Belle Marauders tended to mill around in a less official capacity and help as whippers-in, though as Kevin said to his own set this would be less nerve-wracking if only he didn't have a constant picture in his own mind of Bella with a real whip for those she considered total idiots.
Having Lilith chivvy a group of weevils, her little brother among them, into a line and instruct them to raise their right hand and say 'Ave Kevin, Educatori te Salutamus' was just par for the course and very Lilith. Kevin poked her.
"What does it mean?" asked Lucy.
"It means you got Latin left off your curriculum" said Richard.
"You ARE a pig, Richard" said Rose amicably "They don't do Latin in any but the poshest muggle schools and by the way, only Snapes actually come to school fluent in more than the usual selection of languages, which is to say English, Rubbish and Gibberish."
Richard laughed.
"Well that's only too true" he said "Don't worry, Lucylastic; we get taught from scratch here and I'll catch the rest of you oiks up if you struggle."
"Thanks but what DOES it mean?" asked Lucy.
"Hail Kevin, we who are about to be educated, we done salute you" said Richard "It's from the thing gladiators used to say, 'Hail Caesar, we who are about to die salute you"
"That's in Asterix" said Lucy "And it's 'salutant' in there not 'salutamus' you know."
"That's a very good memory you have" said Richard approvingly "The translation there is 'they salute you' not 'we salute you', speaking in the third person; either is correct and might have been used. If they did it at all and it ain't some story tacked on by people of later times."
The Hunting Marauders firmly shed those weevils who were not to maraud and sought themselves a compartment to commandeer. They consented to let Penny share it with them with Darius, Ramsey and Draco – quickly dubbed Drax to prevent any confusion if Drogo's brother should be mentioned – when they arrived though as Richard said rudely they ought to get a compartment just for Drax and make sure it wasn't in a place to upset the balance of the train. Drax grinned and poked him to the applause of Richard's own cronies.
"He's rude" said Rose.
"No!" said Drax "You don't say!"
Richard grinned at him.
"You're a good sort, Drax" he said "I'm really glad your mum survived having you; and if you ever need a place to stay or she does if she's not well, you have only to ask you know. Or one of our free elves would gladly take care of her and nurse her for a while in her own home; Mimette loves having people to run around after only she refuses point blank to be anything but servantly even though she's really a member of the family."
"I think elves can be like that, some of them" said Drax "That's really kind of you Richard; and for my mum I guess I'd not be too proud to ask."
"A man has to take care of his mum" agreed Ramsey.
Varjak meanwhile opened a book on how many weevils this year were named after Ron, Harry, Hermione, Draco or Neville; Krait was a bit of an individualistic name and was unlikely to be taken up, and besides she and Severus had kept firmly in the background, the so-called Golden Trio being the most famous for Draco having been more or less under cover until his personality as Lord Convolvumort was revealed, and Neville being firmly almost as self-effacing as Severus and the Weasleys had firmly tried to keep Ginny's name out of things. Which meant that anyone named Severus or Ginny was probably going to be much in the know, though Neville's parents' recovery had thrown him more into the limelight than he might have wished.
Richard was of the opinion that most of those named after the trio would be from Gryffindor families as so were the originals; and Rose declared it was the sort of dippy thing Hufflepuff families did. Not that calling Drax 'Draco' was dippy, she added hurriedly, because it was encouraging for Miss MacNair to know that other people had been brave too.
It was a surprise to them to find two traditionally Ravenclaw families who had succumbed to the temptation to name their offspring after the Heroes, and Ronalda Ackerly admitted to three brothers named Harry, Herman – for Hermione – and Neville; and Hermione Twycross had twin siblings named Neville and Harriet, though her youngest brother was Everard after an uncle from whom they had expectations. There was a Rona Kirke and Harriet Bell from Gryffindor families; and the girl who gave her surname as Coote and who asked if she couldn't just be called Harri for short.
"What's wrong with Harriet?" asked Drogo.
"Nothing – if that was my name" said Miss Coote gloomily.
"Well you might as well spill" said Drogo "It'll be read out to have you sorted into a house you know; if it's a really silly name we may as well get all the laughing at it out of the way now, so we can think of you as Harri for the rest of your school life."
"I suppose that makes sense" said Harri Coote "My parents couldn't decide which of the Golden Trio to name me after so they combined all three; I'm Harronione."
"Crumbs! No WONDER you want to be Harri!" said Drogo.
"Actually it's too tragic to want to laugh at" said Richard.
"Thanks. I think" said Harri "My parents think it's all too romantic for words but if you ask me it must have been jolly uncomfortable for the people involved."
"It was" said Richard dryly "My parents were two of them – though they managed to stay enough in the background after the event not to get people named after them; because Harry was my dad's ward. And Drogo and Varjak's brother is Draco Malfoy so he had a job at the sharp end too. That's why it's certain families who Maraud; those of us who grow up knowing about the painful and scary realities of fighting dark wizards uninfected by romance and that sort of crap."
He had to explain Marauding; and Harri said firmly that it sounded way out of her league but that she was ready to be a makeweight with any helping out. They handed her over to Penny.
oOoOo
The only weevil to cause any trouble was a girl named Agatha Montague who started throwing her weight around and barged in on the Marauders and friends and, taking in that Rose was part elf, actually tried to tell the little girl that she might be a fag for her and fulfil her function thus.
"And who died and made YOU Voldemort?" said Rose rudely. "Go fish up a tree, spam-face."
Agatha gaped; elves did not TALK like this.
"You should punish yourself for talking to a human like that!" she said "Because if you don't, I will!"
"Yeah? You and whose army?" said Rose, laconically. The would-be bully drew wand and the others politely let Rose deal with her. They pushed the boneless green thing that exploded maggots from pustules – a jinx courtesy of their Durmstrang counterparts – into the corridor where Bella found her and, having extracted the reasons behind the girl's predicament told her that it served her right for being a prat and a bully but she repeated herself. Bella was lurking about because, as House Head she was one of the four NOT involved in the prefects' meeting to choose the new Head Boy or Girl, being one of the candidates.
oOoOo
The prefects meeting had convened to discuss the rival merits of Bella of Slytherin, Ian Malfoy of Gryffindor, Norman Whytely of Hufflepuff and Avice Crawford of Ravenclaw.
"I was rather hoping" said Maud Hubble-Langstaffe, one of the three of the Belle Marauders who were prefects "That you oiks would choose Bella as Head girl because then she'll have a study to herself; and our study is most awfully cramped even though Mimiwobbles here don't take up much room" – at which Mimi Snape poked her – "Because Bella DOES take up a lot of room because she's both extremely AND suddenly and rather inclined to grow a tiger tail when she's thinking and it twitches."
"I say, if you think we're voting for Bella just to give you types more room you can think again!" declared Miriam Moonshine "You all CHOSE to be together like sardines in your study, including the two of you that aren't prefects and aren't entitled to studies of right!"
"True" said Maud "But Bella is sort of extremely and suddenly in a good way and would make a decent head girl anyway."
"That's a fair reason" said Sampta Patil "You lot are so ruddy talented, why don't you expand your study into wizarding space?"
Mimi and Maud exchanged looks, smote themselves on the foreheads and shouted 'DOH!'
"Too simple a solution for our tortuous Marauding minds I guess" added Mimi. "It's a tough choice actually, going back to the main business in hand; Bella's just Bella which is enough said; Ian, Norman and Avice are all thoroughly good sorts and steady too, which can be an advantage in a head oik."
"Ian's a bit quiet" said Anthony Parkinson.
"My brother might be quiet but it doesn't mean he wouldn't rise to the challenge; and quietly and efficiently get on and do what he had to" said Zajala "And I want to debate it because I am torn between him and Bella; because school comes before house."
"Avice is kind to little ones and ready to help at any time" said Sampta "And I have to say Norman's a really nice boy too and – this isn't an insult – thoroughly inoffensive. Even our er dippier divas have never taken offence at Norman. Though I'm not sure how strict he'd be if we had a problem that needed a Head Boy to leap on it; you Huffers like to give us more insights into your House Head?"
"Norm's a really good type" said Kevin Slugworthy "But I somehow don't see him being able to deal with someone like Fawcett if she put on her parts. And Avice couldn't either; sorry Sampta. I reckon you should have been house head in Ravenclaw, you're the only one who's got the force of personality to swing it. Avice and Venilia deal with things like Fawcett by ignoring them."
"I was offered it; but I asked the Head to give it to someone else" said Sampta "Because I didn't want to give up the position as head of Ravenclaw games; because I NEED to make sure Fawcett doesn't browbeat anyone else into reinstating her on the team."
"That's awfully big of you" said Maud. "And a vote of thanks from the rest of us for you putting the school as well as your house before personal glory. And it does actually prove how much the Headmaster has his finger on the pulse; Avice is a good prefect but I DID wonder why it wasn't you chosen since you lead and Avice and Venilia backed you last year. I don't think she could handle the responsibility of being head of school."
"And you know it" said Jack Murray to Sampta.
Sampta shrugged.
"I have to put forward my head of house; it's sort of obligatory" she said. "I accept the critique. I suppose Norman would be there if a lot of people actually objected to yet another Malfoy as head boy or to Bella Black just because nobody actually passed her any tact when it was being handed round."
"Yes but you DO know where you are with Bella" said Martha Bones.
"Jinxed into a ball" giggled Teela Guffy, her house mate.
"When has Bella ever jinxed you?" demanded Mimi "You're inoffensive, Teela, and about the sweetest natured and gentlest person in the universe; I have to keep checking to make sure you're real because nobody is as downright GOOD as you are."
"Idiot" said Teela cheerfully. "All right, I've never been jinxed by Bella. You Marauders DO wade in and sort things though; isn't it sort of traditional to choose a Marauder over any other contender because they HAVE shown that they wade in and sort things?"
"It's a point" said Roger Blake. "I'm partisan because Ian's a Gryff like me; and I'm inclined to think he'd make as good a job as any just for not being as er, flamboyant as Bella; though I have to admit that Bella will doubtless be a more MEMORABLE head girl."
"I have to admit" said Zajala, unwillingly "That Ian would normally fall in with any of Bella's plans at home; unless he disapproved when he'd dig in his heels and refuse to be pushed like Delaney's Donkey. He has no ambition" she sighed "He's considering being an Auror but that's the sum of his wishes. He's never shown any inclination to take on any of dad's companies to see where he can improve them; or play the stock market, muggle or wizarding; or lead any kind of revolt against anything."
"Unlike you, who are entirely revolting" said Phil Burke.
There was a brief scuffle between the housemates and Phil retrieved his ears, laughing, while Zajala got rid of the purple exploding zits.
"Bella then?" said Tony Parkinson.
"Rather looks like" said Sampta. "Are we ready to cast votes or does anyone else want to make any comment?"
"Not really" said Kevin "I think we're mostly agreed; I wouldn't argue with anyone who voted for Ian but I think Bella's the obvious choice. Like Maud says, she's extremely and suddenly and they are awfully good traits in a head oik so long as they're backed up with compassion, a bit of thought and sensitivity. Which Bella has got now she's learned reticence with her extreme old age of being in the Upper Sixth."
"Damned with faint praise" laughed Mimi.
oOoOo
Zephyra, newly a lower sixth prefect this year, had said nothing but had followed the debate keenly. Being a prefect was something of a surprise to her; she might have wished her cousin Storm had been chosen too, but she knew that Storm was likely to put her schoolwork well before any duties as a prefect rather than finding a way to compromise and fit in work around the fairly unonerous task of sitting prep and prowling passageways to sort out disputes. Zephyra was fiercely loyal to any and all of the Malfoy family – which included Bella – for their kindness to her and Storm and their mothers; and though she would make up her own mind on issues she was inclined to follow her friend Zajala's lead and took on board what she had said about Ian as a leader, though personally she thought him rather splendid. This voting for a head girl or boy was training too for anyone who stood for one of the elective places on the Council; or indeed anyone who stood to inherit a place on it. And Zephyra was certainly considering politics as a career, perhaps after a few years in the Quaestorium. She and Storm were taking just four NEWTs, not enough to be aurors – even if they had wanted to be – and the Quaestorium would be a good place to gain all sorts of training in law. Zephyra's other thought about a career was as a curse breaker because she was good at Arithmancy and Ancient Runes; and her ultimate aim was to be working for the Society for the Aid of Marginalised Women that made no difference between any race. And besides, the Madams Malfoys were such splendid people, working for them would be wonderful. And Erica Malfoy had too asked her to take on the mantle of president of the junior branch in Hogwarts now she had left; and Zephyra had been pleased to accept. Yes, she could do a lot of good by entering politics when she had a bit more life experience.
oOoOo
It may be said that most of the rest of the school were less interested than the deliberations of the prefects – old hands trusted their prefects to make a good choice and new weevils had either fairly set ideas about who was going to be elected – all those attached to Snape or Malfoy households were certain it would be Bella – or had insufficient knowledge about who was who to care much. The politics that affected them was the determined canvassing to join the MSHG run by the Hunting Marauders and their cronies and the already convinced – those with siblings already in the club. The younger Fawcett twins were keen though only Persis of the older pair had joined; which if either of them ended up in Ravenclaw was reckoned a victory as getting Ravers to join anything was, as Richard said, rather like getting literature out of a troll's brain. The MSHG tended to be heavy on Slytherin and Gryffindors; those prepared to put themselves out or with a modicum of more generalised ambition with common sense attached rather than all academe and no actual working brains – Richard's description. Hufflepuffs tended to view excess work in the early morning as a bit outlandish, save for those like the Slugworthys or the Templetons – Stephen was ready to take his brother's recommendation and join – who already knew something about it for having siblings in the school. Alexander Bones had heard all about the beginning of the MSHG from his big sister Susan; and was very keen to be a part of something that had been so important, thrilled as he was to have a sister who had actually been at school with the great Harry Potter. He was a little deflated to find that Drogo, Penny and Varjak had a big brother in the same boat who was also the almost equally famous Draco Malfoy but the friendliness of the Malfoy children made him forget any slight huff.
There was some slight hubbub when Xanthia Fawcett came looking for her youngest twin siblings – Habbuk Kordach, Kordach's oldest legitimate son, came flying down the corridor to tell the marauders, poking small Fawcett twins at them – and when Xanthia came into the compartment there were not two identical little girls but four, since Teddy was already a metamorphagus and Richard drew heavily on his blood brother to find the ability in himself that he carried from his mother. Xanthia had hysterics.
"That was helluva good thinking to bring them to us, Habbuk" said Teddy "Hold up you right hand and say 'I solemnly swear I am up to no good and will always support fellow marauders."
"I say! Are you inviting me to be a Marauder? WOW!" said Habbuk and promptly held up his hand to swear.
"He should have warned you that it comes with the price of being prepared to give up your childhood for others" said Drogo "Like Harry and Draco and Ron and Hermione and the others did."
"My dad's on the council now" said Habbuk "Doesn't that kind of make that my responsibility? Because if volunteers don't, the ruddy ministry certainly won't."
"He'll do" said Drogo. "Now all we need to know is what kind of animal he's going to be."
"I'm guessing you're not being deliberately offensive old boy" said Habbuk.
"We're planning on being animagi" said Richard "I managed to pull metamorphagus out of the bag over this little stunt, and I was already a snake animagus; Teddy's a metamorphagus and favours wolf and everyone else has discussed the forms they want to aim for."
"I thought human transfiguration was frightfully difficult and dangerous" said Habbuk.
"It is if you don't do it right" said Teddy "Which is why you'll probably want to wait to make your form until you've gone through a joining ritual that will probably be in a year or two unless they need us to support over something. But there's no harm starting to research your form you know."
"I could rather fancy being a fox I think" said Habbuk.
"I'm going to be a fox too" said Glasbhinn.
"And I thought being an animagus was rare!" said Habbuk.
"It is" said Drogo "Only marauders sort of got at the skill; and because we learn to cast non verbal and wandless anyway, it's less risky. The number of registered animagi over the last ten years is something like twice that of the previous century. It's as well to register though once we're adult. Not registering means you're subject to all sorts of penalties; but y'know, because of certain things you'll be able to er, massage the form to be less distinctive."
"Neat" said Habbuk. "Marauders kind of have a tendency to a larcenous mind set then?"
"Rather" said Richard "We have to be prepared to be outlaws if anyone tries to take over who's a git and a dictator; or run undercover in other countries to help them out."
"Cool" said Habbuk nodding. "Reckon my dad will be well chuffed and dead proud of me if I'm a Marauder; because it DOES stand for standing up for people."
"We're arithmantically better now too" said Richard "Being nine; and I know it's a large number but the class intake's almost twice what it has been. Voldy being mouldy had people going into paroxysms of breeding in celebration, and I shouldn't mind betting there'll be even more next year. It's a good job David – uh, Professor Fraser I mean – is splitting up the classes the way he is. And we still get tasters in everything which is neat" and he explained how things were to work.
"Suppose we enjoy two things that clash?" asked Rose
"I guess we talk VERY fast to organise doing both" shrugged Richard "Dad would be flexible that way and he DID have a lot of the training of Professor Fraser. He'll be flexible about people interested in both care of beasts and Herbology from a potioneer's point of view I'm sure; but y'know, there's Hagrid, so you go and have your care of beasts lessons over tea in his cottage one evening a week. I shan't weep to lose muggle studies for Ancient Runes; I already know a lot more about muggles than most people who take the exam. Astronomy for potioneers I can study out of books so I don't miss Comparative Magic; it's the clash of Enchanting and Geomancy in case I'm good at both because they DO both seem rather interesting. And I like history too, but Arithmancy as a choice is a no brainer. I can read history in my spare time too."
"He'll somehow manage to do all seventeen subjects" laughed Rose "He's a Snape."
"I could care less about Divination" said Richard "And Muggle Studies is basically there to make lame-brained pure-bloods who've never talked to muggles a bit more aware about them. And I play rounders with the muggle kids that live near me and I can use a computer and navigate the web, and find my way about on the tube and use a public telephone booth and switch channels on the TV and all that sort of thing and I know what groups the muggle kids listen to and so on."
"Most of which might as well be in Ancient Greek to me" said Habbuk.
"Yeah" said Glasbhinn.
"Me too" said Jala.
"Dad makes sure we can function in the muggle world" said Varjak "And Mother Charlotte grew up as a muggle too so we have her views and insights."
"And I knock around with the Snapes" said Rose "And so does Teddy."
"Among others" said Teddy. "I'm not as lost at sea as some of you but I couldn't pass myself off as a muggle the way I bet Richard and Drogo and Varjak could. And Lucy of course has been reared as a muggle."
"Oh I thought you were a spare Snape I hadn't met" said Habbuk.
"Close" said Lucy "I got sired by Uncle Severus' wicked uncle. And I got discovered in the nick of time to go to school; I've known about the wizarding world nearly two whole days so I feel about it a bit like you feel about muggles."
"You're doing awfully well" said Habbuk, impressed "You didn't turn a HAIR at Rick and Ted doing impossible magic."
"It's only impossible if you're not a metamorphagus" said Teddy serenely. "Besides, how does she know what's impossible and what isn't? I wasn't going to tell her anything about impossibilities; Krait Malfoy Snape came to the wizarding world at fifteen, ridiculously powerful, and without any preconceived ideas and proceeded to do heaps of things that are impossible because she's like that. And as Lucylastic IS a Snape she's probably quite capable of of…."
"Believing six impossible things before breakfast?" said Lucy helpfully.
"Exactly, Alice!" grinned Teddy. "It's a muggle cultural reference" he added as Habbuk opened his mouth to ask why he had called Lucy 'Alice'."
They played exploding snap for large portions of the rest of the journey and gave Lucy more background to the wizarding world so that by the time they pulled into the station she almost felt as though she had always known about it! Travelling by horseless carriages – that some of her friends explained were drawn by Thestrals, invisible until you had seen death – was for older ones; and Lucy hoped she would not disgrace herself being seasick in the boats after eating too many wizarding sweets from Ethel Portree's sweetie trolley.
She was fine; and Hagrid was big and ought to be scary but his eyes twinkled so kindly that it was as if she had always known him!
oOoOo
The Sorting Hat sang its usual doggerel to explain about the houses and then it was time for the new weevils to be sorted into their houses.
First on the alphabet were two 'A's; first, Daniel Abercrombie who went into Gryffindor. The Gryffindors yelled; there was a minor superstition – Richard whispered to Lucy – that the house to have the first pupil would have good luck. Ronalda Ackerly went into Ravenclaw, some of whom managed to be snippy that there should be a Gryffindor brat who beat 'Ac' on the register. There were a large number of 'B's; Meadbh Brown and Cassandra Bode into Ravenclaw to the cry of 'oh WHAT?' from the latter's Gryffindor brother; the Black-Weasley triplets and Alexander Bones sorted into Hufflepuff – no surprises there – Harriet Bell and Leonard Blake into Gryffindor; Oswald Beamish, Darius Burke and a sneering looking boy called Pascoe Broadmoor into Slytherin. Gondoline Goyle whispered to Penny that she really would hope for Slytherin then as she really liked Oswald.
Ramsey Corbin, fairly certain that his father expected him to be Ravenclaw was delighted when his fervent wishes to be with his new friends fetched HIM up in Slytherin and caused more noises of outrage from the Ravenclaw table who had rather expected an old Ravenclaw family like Corbin to come to them. The arrival at their table of Blanche Crawford did NOT seem to mollify them. True Ravenclaw also got one Crispin Ellis and the first Fawcett twin, Danae, in short order; but when the Hat declared 'HUFFLEPUFF!' for Daphne Fawcett, Xanthia actually stood up and screeched,
"NOOO! Tell them it's wrong, brat, you can't go to the DUFFER house, we can't have THAT shame in the family!"
Madam Sprout used a sonorous spell.
"Miss Fawcett I do not consider there to be ANY shame to a child who comes to my house" she said coldly "And it might just suggest that your little sister is a hard worker – qualities we Hufflepuffs value – rather than a lazy, self-opinionated little time waster like you who can barely make any academic grade in any subject beyond whining, moaning and vanity. Sit down or you will find yourself in detention."
"And fifty points from Ravenclaw for an overall rather poor showing of which Miss Fawcett is but the final straw" said David grimly. "Dear me, there had been such a lot of improvement in the house – as a whole – last year; I was hoping not to have to cancel all your lessons and have in kindergarten teachers to teach you to tie your shoe laces, have nice table manners and use potties nicely but I'm beginning to wonder if I shall have to."
The decent members of Ravenclaw were wincing. The Headmaster rarely degenerated to sarcasm; but when he did it hurt. He had learned it from Severus Snape after all, still celebrated in song as 'the famous sneering agalast'. Fawcett received several looks that promised retribution to her later.
Rose and Gondoline both went into Slytherin in short order, Glasbhinn into Gryffindor where Jala joined her. They were both grinned at by Harri Coote who was already there and glad to know there would be nice girls in her dormitory who had not even sniggered at her name as some – mostly Ravenclaws – had done. Teddy too was a Gryffindor, following Habbuk.
oOoOo
The alphabet progressed, hung up for a while on 'Malfoy' and processing Avice and Alienora into Gryffindor, Drogo and Penny into Slytherin, and then Varjak into Gryffindor with the twins. Lucy, under the name of Prince, was just so delighted to be there that the only thing she cared about was that she should NOT be a Ravenclaw as they seemed to have some very silly people there; and went happily to sit with Jala and Glasbhinn when the hat proclaimed her into Gryffindor. It was no surprise that Richard ended up in Slytherin and if he was offered Ravenclaw he never said. Drax MacNair was there too. Tiarella Yaxley ended up in Slytherin too, under the wing of Penny and discussing why people were people seriously with Gondoline; a girl called Philomela Harper who looked jolly enough and, unfortunately, both Deirdre Tremlett and Agatha Montague.
Varjak, Teddy and Habbuk found themselves with Leonard Blake, Lysander Weasley and two other boys; the Daniel Abercrombie whose sorting had started the Ravenclaw silliness, who was a down to earth seeming little boy; and a lad called Octavian Spinnet. The girls had Lilac Wood as well as the two others of Gryffindor families, Harriet Bell and Rona Kirke.
And it was the Hufflepuff table that created the next excitement as the alphabet was drawing to a close when shrieks erupted because of the large and hairy spider emerging from the collar of a boy called Fidippus Webbe who had just been sorted into the house.
"Oh for goodness sake, it's only a SPIDER" said Daphne Fawcett in disgust "AREN'T some of you big ones a bit too old to get hysterical? Anyone would think you were Ravenclaws!"
That insult did more than cold logic to restore if not order at least offended silence at the Hufflepuff table!
oOoOo
"So MacNair, are you a relation of that big fellow who brought us across by boat?" asked Pascoe Broadmoor.
"Not so far as I know" said Drax "You any relation to the grindylows in the lake?"
He received a sardonic half smile.
"Well you can look out for yourself all right" said Broadmoor.
"You share a name with the brothers who got banned from Quidditch" said Drogo "The first string beaters of the Falmouth Falcons. I hope you don't play like them?"
"No" said Broadmoor shortly "My uncles bring the beautiful game into disrepute."
"Well so long as you feel that way about it we'll back you if the games pree is at all dubious about playing you" said Drogo "Because those of us who love the game want to see it played clean. And also want to make sure that a name isn't picked up on any more than race. MacNair is half giant and it wasn't his mother's idea; she's a real heroine to survive and carry on loving him after some bad experiences. I hope it's not going to be an issue?"
Broadmoor shrugged.
"Not for me" he said "Only it's a little tempting to make big jokes."
"You make big jokes and I'll make weedy jokes and we'll be even" said Drax equably.
Broadmoor shrugged again.
"Fair enough" he said.
oOoOo
The Slytherin girls who knew each other nodded to Philomela.
"You come up this end with us, Harper" said Penny "Tremlett is a racist and Montague would like to be a bully only she hasn't got the ability. Let them have the displeasure of each other's company."
"Thanks" said Philomela. Deirdre scowled; she would have liked to have had the cachet of a friendship with a Malfoy girl; and indeed would have liked to have some of the adulation she should be due for being the daughter of a famous rock musician. But she had grown up loathing and despising goblins; which had probably, had she but known it, stemmed from the role goblins tended to play in the betting world surrounding the quidditch her father loved; and had more than likely come for a chance remark made when he thought himself stiffed. But having no obvious and discernible root was not something readily cast out, and she hated these goblin lovers with a passion she did not understand or even care to analyse.
Which, when all was said and done, was her loss.