It's a Rough Game Quidditch

RATED M

Disclaimer: By now you should have these memorized.

A/N: Two Words: QUIDDITCH CUP!!! 'Nuff said.

Chapter Nineteen

Quidditch Cup

"They just did the toss up for the pregame matches," Gioni groaned, walking into his apartment. Everyone from the team, along with the Potter family, Wood's wife, Gioni's father, and Mary's parents had gathered there to wait out the information for the matches the next day. They were all taking a Portkey over to the field's grounds tonight. "Aussie and France, Germany against the Japs, and the Nordic region is paired with Spain." Harry Potter let out a noise of frustration.

"England didn't get in again," he muttered. Coach Wood laughed.

"What time are they sending for us?" Mary asked, noticing the beads of sweat on his forehead. He had been in several meetings all day, and that didn't help the fact that he was nervous. Losing this match meant losing the Cup, and not only was this his first Cup but Bulgaria was the only team they had lost to.

"They're thinking near seven, but it could be later," Gioni announced. "Deb, Cuy, Fred, Brandon, what do your family arrangements look like?"

"Mine are meeting up with me after the match is over," Debbie said.

"Same," Fred chimed in.

"I'm meeting Ma during the first prematch," Brandon said.

"Called the 'rents. They'll check in with me in the morning," Cuyler told them.

Gioni knew enough not to ask Robert. When he pursued Quidditch, his father practically kicked him out of the family.

"You alright, son?" Mr. Frederli asked. "You look tired."

"Oh, believe me, I am," Gioni replied. "If we don't win this game, I may die." Mary shot him a look before turning to her parents. As far as Gioni knew, only the couple knew about the little one growing inside Mary.

"So, now we just wait?" Robert asked.

"Nah, of course not," Coach Wood said. "Now is when you get pumped. We're all sitting around like this is a funeral. Why don't we all go seperate ways for now and meet back here in time to get the Portkey information? I'm dying to show Candice around the town." His small, mousy wife let out an embarassed giggle.

"Come on, Gioni, let's take Mary's family out to dinner like we did when you were in school." Mr. Frederli nudged his son. "And calm yourself the fuck down."

"Yeah," Gioni said. "Wait, Mr. and Mrs. Singleton, can I talk to you for a sec? Mare, you and Dad don't have to wait up..."

QCQCQCQCQCQCQCQCQCQC

"Cuyler, wait up!" Debbie called as she spotted him on the other side of their abandoned field. "What are you doing here alone?"

"Thinking," Cuyler replied, his pace slow and steady.

"About what?" Debbie asked.

"Just, this whole Cup thing is making me nervous... I mean, I've never done anything this important. If I don't block the goals, I let everyone down."

"Do you ever remember when we used to just fly because it was fun, and not to catch a quaffle?" Debbie asked, snaking her arm around his.

"Yeah," Cuyler said. "Yeah, I do."

QCQCQCQCQCQCQCQCQCQC

Robert met Sarah at Bruce's, an Italian resteraunt near her place. He automatically took her by the hand and brought her in. He knew the owner briefly, so he automatically got one of the best seats along with the best wine and food.

"You didn't have to go through all this just to thank me," Sarah laughed as they polished off their desserts.

"Oh, but it wasn't just to thank you," Robert replied. "I'd like to get to know you. Other than a school fling. If you'd let me." Sarah laughed and kissed his cheek.

"You can take that as a yes," she giggled. "So, what are your plans before the game tomorrow?"

"No plans," Robert said. "Unless you'll come see me. Then, maybe we can have some great plans."

QCQCQCQCQCQCQCQCQCQC

"We weren't sure if you guys were going to make it," Mary laughed as her boyfriend and her parents sat down at their favorite booth at the local Thai resteraunt. Her parents seemed rather happy, and she wondered what in the world Gioni had to talk to them about. He sat down between her and Mr. Frederli and grabbed her hand under the table.

"So, what is everyone having?" Mrs. Singleton asked.

QCQCQCQCQCQCQCQCQCQC

"Harry, these heathens make me so tired sometimes," Ginny Potter said, settling on the hotel bed with her son and her husband. "I miss changing diapers and waking up at two, compared to all this yelling and analyzing." James tugged at the end of her hair, and she smiled.

"If you aren't happy, why do you do it?" Harry asked her. Her eyes glanced up at the lightening bolt on his head.

"The adventure," she said.

QCQCQCQCQCQCQCQCQCQC

"The bludgers are released, followed by the golden snitch. Remember that the snitch is worth 150 points when caught. The referee now has the quaffle. The quaffle has been released... and the game BEGINS!"

Gioni flew high into the air, his mind for once a hundred percent on the game. He could no longer hear Ludo Bagman Jr. or see anyone other than the players on the field.

"Frederli scores again! the score is 100 to 80..."

"Nice block by Smith! Bulgaria denied of another goal, and Montz picks up the quaffle..."

"...Nice bludger delivered to Victor Krum by Smith..."

"Greene passes, Montz passes, intercepted by Borga... Gioni Frederli intercepts the quaffle! The score is still 200 to 80..."

"...and Lee stops the bludger from hitting Greene..."

"She catches the snitch! After a full two hours of blood, sweat, and tears, the United States has won the Quidditch World Cup!"

QCQCQCQCQCQCQCQCQCQC

Three hours after the match, the USA team and assets were still partying. Even the elders of the group had managed to slip in with a few butterbeers.

Mr. and Mrs. Singleton were engaged in a conversation with Robert when Mary saw Gioni pull his father aside. After watching them talk for a few minutes, she saw Mr. Frederli clap his boy on the back.

"What was that about?" Mary asked, catching Gioni around the shoulders. To her surprise, the music stopped and everything grew quiet.

"Mare, I want you to know that you are the most special person in my life," he whispered into her ear. Oh, no! He's leaving me... "And I want to make you mine forever." He dropped down on one knee, and Mary went from fearful to crying in a matter of seconds. Her mother was crying, Debbie was crying, even Ginny Potter was in tears. "Will you, please, please marry me, Mary?"

"Yes!" Mary cried, and as he slid on the ring, she nearly passed out. She dropped down beside him and wrapped her arms around his neck. She wanted to stay that way forever.

QUIDDITCH CUP MATCHES

1. Australia vs. France (30, 160)

2. Germany vs. Japan (10, 190)

3. Nordic vs. Spain (150, 20)

CUP GAME-USA vs. Bulgaria (500, 80)

STANDINGS

1. USA 5890

2. Japan 2980

3. Bulgaria 2790

4. England 2610

5. France 2390

6. Spain 2120

7. Germany 1950

8. Australia 1920

9. Nordic 1700