"Harry, what's going on?" Ron asked as Harry hurried back up to the box. "They just announced that the match is canceled. Does that have anything to do with-"
"Yes," Harry muttered so Lily and Hugo couldn't hear him. "Go down to the front of the stadium with Kingsley. I'll take Lil and Hugo back to Ginny, since I'm assuming Hermione's gotten wind of this and is probably on her way over here now."
"Gotten wind of what, exactly?" Ron frowned.
"Kingsley will explain everything to you," Harry told him.
Ron nodded and rushed out of the box.
"We don't get to see the game?" Lily asked, looking up at her father.
"Afraid not, sweetheart," Harry said, taking her and Hugo's hands in his.
"How come, Uncle Harry?" Hugo asked.
"There were a few…complications," Harry said vaguely. "Don't worry; they're going to reschedule it, but right now I'm going to take you two home."
With a loud pop, Harry apperated back into his living room.
"The game can't be over already," Ginny said, coming out of the kitchen, still wearing her dressing gown. "Why are you home so soon? Where's Ron?"
"Lily, Hugo, why don't you go play those new gobstones I bought last week," Harry said to the two children. "They're upstairs on my dresser."
"Harry, what's going on?" Ginny frowned as the kids rushed upstairs.
"The game was canceled," Harry said. "They think-they think they just caught one of Claridina's followers coming into the stadium."
"And you think it was the plan she's been working on?" Ginny asked, her eyes growing wide.
"It looks like it," Harry nodded. "I've got to get back there. I'll probably be home late tonight too."
"Okay," Ginny said. "Be careful out there, Harry."
….
"Check this out," James said, rushing over to the Gryffindor table. He slammed a copy of the Daily Prophet onto the table.
"What is it?" Fred asked, swallowing his bacon.
"My dad just sent it to me," James replied. "Go on then, read it."
Fred picked up the paper. Alexandra and Alanna, who were sitting on both sides of him, looked over his shoulder as well.
"Mayhem struck at yesterday's Cannons vs. Knights match," Fred read. "When a middle-aged wizard was caught trying to smuggle a large vile of Athrimo potion into the stadium."
"I've read about that!" Alanna exclaimed. "It's considered one of the most deadly potions in existence! It's very, very complicated to make, though. I doubt even Slughorn could get it just right."
"What's so deadly about it?" Alexandra asked.
"It kills if it's inhaled," she explained. "And a single drop of it can take out a whole room filled with people. I don't even want to think about how much damage a whole vile could do."
"Keep reading," James told Fred.
"The name of the suspect has not yet been released," Fred continued. "But it has been confirmed that he is in custody and is currently being interrogated at the Ministry. It is also suspected that this man is a worker of the wanted witch Claridina Wretermoust, although she herself was not spotted at the stadium. 'The Ministry of Magic has not yet linked these two individuals together,' said Hermione Granger, a representative from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. 'Until we have more proof, we can not confirm any such conclusions.'. The Cannons vs. Knights match was of course canceled, and will be rescheduled for a further date."
"They're lucky they caught him," Alanna said once Fred had finished reading.
"Claridina had to have sent him," Fred said firmly.
"Exactly what I said," James nodded. "She couldn't risk showing her own face so she sent one of her followers to do the deed."
"They haven't confirmed that yet," Alanna reminded them.
"Oh come on, Alanna," Fred said. "How many other wizards or witches do you think would want to take out an entire stadium?"
"Well, maybe-"
"Look over at her son," James said, interrupting the two. "Doesn't seem too upset that they're accusing him mother."
Alexandra looked over at Wretermoust, who was sitting at the Slytherin table, eating his eggs, looking rather unruffled at the many whispers and glances he was getting from students all around the hall who had the Prophet open in front of them. Quite the contrary, actually, he seemed rather pleased.
"I think I'd be a bit upset if one of my mum's evil plans had gone south," Fred muttered under his breath.
"He's probably fuming inside," James said. "I'm going to go find Rose and Louis and show them this. I'll see you lot later."
Alexandra looked back over at Wretermoust, with his calm, cool expression. Something didn't seem right…she couldn't place exactly what it was, but something about the way he was acting gave her an eerie feeling.