Chapter 2
The Game
"Wait up!" Mum called after Vanna and I. We slowed down to see two wizards who looked displeased at the very least. One was holding a large golden watch, the other wielding a thick stack of parchment and a quill. Both were oddly dressed, in attempt to pass as muggles, one with a kilt and poncho, the other in rubber galoshes and a nasty colored green suit.
"Good morning, Basil," Mum greeted the kilted wizard. She handed the used portkey to him, where he discarded it into a box.
"Marie Pettinato," Basil acknowledged her, "Gerald," He turned to my father.
"Basil," he gave curt nod.
"Now according to this map," he said, dishing out one, "your campsite-," he tried to make sense of the map.
"Oh good lord, just find an empty spot," he said, "perhaps in, the second field, ask for Mr. Payne,"
"Alright thank you!" Dad thanked the man. He turned to us, "follow me!"
We marched ahead to the first field where a white cottage stood. A man stood there, gazing out at the tents behind him. I hoped that there was some sort of charm on the field, because there was quite a racket going on back there.
"Morning!" Dad exclaimed cheerfully, "are you Mr. Payne?"
"The one and only," he smiled, "and you?"
"Pettinato, just one tent,"
"Yes," he looked down at his list, "ah yes, the space just behind the cottage here," he gestured.
"Sounds good," Mum smiled. She paid the man and we headed onward to our campsite.
"Isn't he suspicious of all of this strange activity?' I whispered to Mum.
"He has memory charms every hour," she shrugged, "as well as muggle protection spells,"
We reached the site, and with of wave of his wand, Dad pitched our navy blue, star angled tent. We entered it, large and spacious with 2 bunk beds and a master bedroom for Mum and Dad.
"Alright everyone, settle in!" Dad said.
"We call that one!" Alicon and Iris called the one next to Mum and Dad's room.
"I call top!" Vanna exclaimed, scurrying up the ladder of the next bunk.
"No fair!" I called up to her, "you had the top last time!"
Vanna stuck out her tongue. I rolled my eyes. It was best not to argue with her. I set my bag down on the bed. Now what do to….
"Dad, did we take the brooms?" I asked. He shook his head.
"Muggle security, Katerina!" he exclaimed. I sighed. All I wanted to do was fly.
"Why don't you girls have a look around?" Mum suggested, "and Cheyenne is here somewhere,"
I grinned at the mention of my friend. We had known her family since before I could remember and she would also be joining me at Hogwarts this year. I glanced up at the top bunk.
"Vanna, come on,"
She slipped down and together we headed out the door.
Outside it was busy, bustling. Tents of every color surrounded us, some looking like muggle tents, others such as ours, bearing almost no resemblance. The Irish flag flew proudly above and I grinned. I couldn't wait for the game to begin!
We kept walking, suddenly blinded by the green tents around.
"The Irish sure got their pride on!" I exclaimed. Vanna nodded furiously. Shamrocks had sprouted everywhere, and many wizards bearing leprechaun hats hurried about. Suddenly a loud pop sounded behind me.
"Rosette?" the salesman asked.
"Yes please," I fished out two sickles, and handed Vanna her rosette.
"What else do you have?" she asked, and the man produced a huge box of all kinds of souvenirs.
"It's Ryan!" Vanna grabbed the mini statuette of the Irish keeper (which was the main position Vanna played in all our games) and placed it into her palm. He immediately began flying about.
"4 sickles for him,"
Vanna paid, and I also bought myself a dancing shamrock hat.
"Thank you sir," Vanna and I bade the man farewell, grinning ear to ear, with our purchases.
"Did you see Cheyenne anywhere?" I asked Vanna. She shook her head. I glanced around. How I was ever going to find her in this sea of people was a mystery.
"Hi Katerina!"
I jumped. Or not such a mystery.
"Cheyenne!" I cried hugging my friend, "it's so good to see you!"
"And you too!" she smiled, "Hi Vanna,"
"Hi,"
"So how have you been?"
I shrugged, Alright, how about you?"
"Just wonderful!" she cried, "I am so ready for the game!"
"I know! It'll be one to remember,"
"Daddy's brought the brooms, and he said we could play a game as long as we stay near the forest,"
"Ok!" Vanna exclaimed.
"But we don't have ours…" I trailed off. Cheyenne smiled, "no worries, you can use Dan and Troy's," They were her brothers.
"Alright!"
We spent the rest of the day playing Quidditch before heading back to the tent.
"Where have you been?" Mum demanded.
"We met Cheyenne," I said weakly.
"Never mind that you should have let me know where you were!"
"But Mum!"
Thankfully, a big booming gong cut her off.
"If we hadn't bought tickets then, mark my words you girls would not be going," she muttered, sighing, "come along, it's time!"
Mum and Dad lead the way through the wood.
"Can you believe it! It's really starting!" I exclaimed. We finally came to a clearing, where the gold walls surrounding the pitch only had me guessing how many people would fit inside.
"Seats a hundred thousand," Dad said, "one of the biggest stadiums in the world!"
"And we're right in the minister's box too!" Alicon boasted. My father worked for the ministry, working closely with the minister, Cornelius Fudge.
We headed to the nearest entrance.
"Minister's box that way!" the witch greeted us, " Have a great time!"
"Thank you!" we chorused, and then headed up. I glanced around in awe. Gold lights seemed to be everywhere, the pitch sparkling. A rush came over me.
"This way!" Dad called and we followed him up to a box with purple chairs in the middle section of the stadium.
"Good day minister!" My father exclaimed.
"Good day to you too, Pettinato. And Marie," he acknowledged Mum. Dad introduced us as well.
"Katerina's starting her first year at Hogwarts. She's our budding beater,"
I blushed, "I try,"
"Well best of luck!" The minister wished me, "I am sure that Hogwarts will be proud of such a fine addition!"
He bid us a good time and scuttled off to speak with the Bulgarian minister.
"Ah Gerald,"
My father spun around.
"Lucius," my father shook hands with the blonde haired man, "splendid to see you," I could tell that there was a hint of force to sound pleasant in my father's voice. I didn't blame him either. When I looked at Lucius, somehow my blood ran cold.
"How are you?" he asked.
"Just wonderful," Dad smiled, "I don't believe you've met my wife, Marie, and my children?"
"No, I haven't. And you've yet to meet my wife Narcissa and my son Draco,"
I saw Iris bite her lip. According to her, Draco Malfoy was definitely not one to mess with. He, as the rest of Slytherin, was unbearably cruel and vile to anyone less then pure blood, or not in their house. And with Alicon, in Hufflepuff, and Iris in Gryffindor, the boundaries were set.
"Yes indeed," Dad said, introducing us one by one.
"Katerina," I mustered a smile, extending my hand in greeting. Following his father's suit, Draco shook it.
"The pleasure is mine," he drawled. Up close he was rather quite attractive and much more polite, at least in comparison to the boys I knew. I blushed.
He let go of my hand and we bade the Malfoys farewell.
"Don't you dare," Iris hissed in my ear as we sat down.
"What?"
"I saw the way you looked at Malfoy. The boy is a snake. Don't you dare fall into his tricks,"
I shrugged. I didn't even know Malfoy. He was polite and attractive to me, that was all. I wasn't one to make judgments based on other people's opinions. He couldn't be all that bad, could he?
"Everyone ready?" Ludo Bagman asked, "Minister, ready to go?"
"Ready when you are, Ludo," Fudge said.
With that, Bagman began the opening speeches and the game began. The Bulgarian team emerged; along with the most beautiful women I had ever seen gliding onto the pitch.
"What are they?" I asked.
"Veela!" Alicon exclaimed as they began to dance. They were hypnotizing, even more to the men, who roared in agony as they left the pitch.
"And now Ireland!"
A great green and gold comet circled the pitch, as a rainbow arched over the sky. Gold coins fell.
"Oh my!" I filled my pockets as fast as I could with the gold galleons.
"Look! Leprechauns!" Vanna exclaimed. The crowd roared louder.
"The Bulgarian team!"
"Look! It's Viktor Krum!" Vanna pointed to the seeker, who demonstrated a spectacular trick.
"He is very good," I said.
"And very handsome!" Alicon swooned. Not as handsome as Draco, I thought privately. I glanced up behind us. Draco had stared straight ahead, not even caring or casting a look down at us. I sighed. I suppose Iris is right. Plus he's way too old for me anyway.
The game went on and became brutal. The Bulgarian beaters gave the Irish a run for their money and there were some moves I was determined to keep in mind when playing. However, this lead to Bulgaria's first goal. The Irish booed.
"He's doing the Wronski Feint!" Mum exclaimed, and I zoomed in with my omnioculars.
"That was the most incredible thing I have ever seen!" I called to Mum, "that takes real talent!" The game continued, and it was the best game of Quidditch I had ever seen, and in the end, Ireland took home the Cup, even though Krum caught the snitch.
"YES!" I screamed, grinning.
After the final remarks we headed back to the campground where the real festivities were unfolding.
"Oh my god, did you see the Wronski Feint?" Cheyenne joined us in our tent along with her parents.
"Blimey yes," I replied, "amazing,"
Outside we started up the fire and roasted marshmallows, something we had never done before as wizards, but muggles often did it on camping trips. It was delicious.
"So ready to head off to Hogwarts?" Cheyenne's father Richard asked.
"I don't know," I answered.
"Ah come on," Cheyenne reassured me, "we'll be fine! And we're both rooting for Ravenclaw so I'm pretty sure we'll end up together!"
"I hope so," I yawned, the day's festivities taking a toll on me.
"You girls better be off to bed," Mum said.
"I'm not tired,"
"Katerina, we have a long journey tomorrow. Don't forget that we need to go to Diagon Alley as well!"
"Okay fine," I grumbled. I bid Cheyenne goodnight and Vanna and I clambered up into our bunks.
"Night Vanna," I said.
"Night Kat,"
My thoughts relived the game. Wow. I couldn't imagine having that kind of glory. Being a professional Quidditch player….it definitely topped my list of careers. My thoughts drifted to school and how different it would be and then finally I found myself smiling at the thought of Draco Malfoy. I couldn't help myself. He was just so gallant, and so damn attractive. I chortled silently to myself. I couldn't help myself. Smiling, I fell asleep, my dreams lying with him.