Chapter 45 : Quidditch for Muggles 101

As Draco and Emma climbed the stairs into the stands that ringed the Quidditch Pitch, they could hear the voices of the Weasley grandchildren raised in enthusiastic cheering, as they watched two of their group race each other to one end of the pitch, swing around the goal posts and head for a finish line at the other end.

"Ah, speed races," smiled Draco. "Fun but safe for beginners."

"They really are flying awfully fast!" Emma gasped, as James Potter crossed the line a half a broom length in front of Rose Weasley. "At least Rose has her father's Quidditch skills . . . Hermione is strictly a spectator."

"And speaking of spectators, here come Mother and Father," Draco whispered in her ear, having spotted his parents descending on them.

"Good morning, Draco, darling," Narcissa called. "Good morning, Emma."

"Mother." Draco rose and kissed his mother on the cheek and then looked at his father. "Hello, Father, you two are here early."

"Ah, well, I had a report to drop off to Albus from Kingsley, and we heard about the action down here at the Quidditch Pitch and thought we'd come watch. Good morning, Emma."

Emma and Narcissa had just greeted each other with a hug, but Emma walked over to the tall blond man and gave him a kiss on the cheek . "Good morning, Lucius!"

"Seems the Weasleys have provided an entire squad, with substitutes," Draco laughed, pointing to the collection of children surrounding Arthur down on the infield grass.

"Goodness, that is quite a crowd," exclaimed Cissa.

"Indeed . . . and they all seem to be naturals at flying, too, even to my untrained eyes," agreed Emma.

"Where are your fellow time travelers, Emma?" Lucius asked, as he took a seat.

"They went to see the Thestrals, but I've never seen anyone die, so it was not something I had any desire to do . . . . Draco and I took a walk by the lake instead," she added, smiling sweetly.

"So, you have no interest in Magical creatures?" Lucius questioned.

"Oh, of course I do. I have been introduced to Buckbeak, Fawkes, the House Elves and you'll never guess what I saw in the Forest, while we were visiting Buckbeak."

"What?" Narcissa asked.

"A unicorn! And her baby . . . the cutest little thing, all gold in color, no horn, of course . . . Hagrid explained about that. But then, Hagrid named the little colt Emma! And the mother agreed! Isn't that wonderful!"

"You saw a unicorn! How marvelous . . .they really are a wondrous creature, aren't they?" replied Cissa.

"Actually, Mother, Emma walked right up to the colt and made friends with it before the mother walked out of the Forest . . . she thought it was a horse," Draco informed his mother, watching for her reaction. He wasn't disappointed; Narcissa's eyes flew open, she looked at Emma and then at Lucius, who, Draco noted with a smirk of satisfaction, looked properly gob-smacked.

Narcissa recovered quickly, smiled and then shot Lucius an 'I told you so' look.

"Well, I suppose after meeting a unicorn, the Thestrals would have been a bit anti- climatic, isn't that right, Lucius."

"What . . oh, yes . . .right!" Lucius looked over to his son, smiling weakly.

Emma, whose attention had been diverted by the continuing races down on the field, had missed the looks passing between the Malfoys. Draco was beaming at her when she glanced at him.

"What?"

"Would you like to take a ride with me on a broom?" He wiggled his eyebrow.

"Ah . . . no. I'm not doubting your skill, Draco, but I have a real fear of heights! That's why we didn't visit the Astronomy Tower this morning and why I couldn't wait to get off of those crazy staircases!"

"Hey! Malfoy!" Harry and the rest had arrived. "What do you say to showing this lot how real Quidditch players do it?" Harry waved for Draco to join him and the other former team players on the field.

Draco looked at Emma, who smiled. "Go on, you know you're dying to get out there and relive your glory days!"

Draco barked a laugh, gave Emma a kiss and hurried down the steps to join the growing crowd on the field. Lucius rose and walked down to sit near the railing.

Narcissa leaned over to whisper in Emma's ear. "My son hasn't looked this happy in years, Emma. You seem to have changed his outlook on life."

Emma turned to the stunning woman sitting next to her. "He's told me as much, Cissa. . . . I'm so sorry I can't see him after today, but . . . " Emma's eyes filled with tears. "We've talked . . . a lot . . . and come to grips with the reality of this whole situation . . . and we've made peace with it. I'll not remember all of this or him, of course . . .so the burden will be his to bear . . . I wish I could do something, but that's not possible . . . I'm a real danger to your world, and I accept that it would be foolish to think I wasn't . . . we'll enjoy today and Draco will try to move on with his life tomorrow."

"Oh, Emma, dearest," Narcissa put her arm around the girl and pulled her close. "I'm so sorry that this is so painful, for both of you. But Draco has loved you for a long time." Emma looked at Cissa wide-eyed, making her smile sadly. "I've known since you all came to us that Christmas, all those years ago and changed our lives. But, there was nothing a mother could do or say, we all had to wait until your return and then see what happened. "

"We spent a lot of time together last night and then this morning discussing everything . . . he'll be fine, I think . . . I hope . . . I hate knowing I'll not be able to remember . . . it seems so callus on my part, but it's totally necessary to safe guard all of you . . . why go through everything you have, just to be found out because I selfishly insisted on . . . .No, I won't do that to him or you or your world . . .not if I can help it." Emma said, emphatically.

"You and Draco are two very responsible young adults and you are doing the right thing," Cissa kissed Emma on the cheek and then turned to watch the action on the field. "Better wipe your eyes, dear; if Draco flies by and sees you crying, I'll get called on the carpet for meddling!"

Emma laughed and turned to see what had been happening while she and Cissa were talking. Lucius had been joined by Severus Snape and Professor Flitwick. They were conversing with Arthur Weasley, who had ambled over. The grandkids were getting ready to show off for the visitors, so Emma and Narcissa turned their undivided attention to the proceedings.

X X X

"Why do Draco and Harry have to be so far up?" Emma wondered, clutching Cissa's arm, as she gazed skyward at the minute figures, aloft, that were Draco and Harry.

"They can keep a better lookout for the Snitch from up there," Lucius informed her, having rejoined the two ladies to watch the pick-up game the older, former players had started after the 'young flyer' demonstration had concluded. Tom, Rupert and Dan were seated with Severus, Hermione, Professor Flitwick and the senior Weasleys, just in front of them. Albus and Minerva were just arriving and decided to sit with Fleur and the young Weasley cousins.

Dan looked over his shoulder, "Don't worry Emma, they're old hands at this."

"I know that, Dan, but the Snitch is right over there . . . " Emma pointed toward the far goal posts. "Don't they see it?"

"Good Lord, Emma," Tom gasped, spotting the golden, winged ball. "You should be a Seeker, with your eyesight!"

"I just happened to see the sun glint off of it while everyone else was watching Fred and George get after Sirius and Remus," Emma shot back, but she was grinning.

"OY! HARRY!" Dan jumped up and yelled, waving his arms, trying to attract Harry's attention.

"Oh, no you don't, Daniel Radcliffe!" Emma shouted at him, as she stood and put two fingers to her lips, producing an earsplitting whistle which drew the attention of not only Draco and Harry, but literally everyone in the stands and in the air.

She pointed toward the goal post and then flapped her arms. Draco and Harry both looked down and saw the tiny golden orb flitting through one of the scoring hoops, just behind Ron, who was keeper at that end of the Pitch, Bill being Keeper for the other team.

Both immediately put their brooms into a dive, racing to intercept the Snitch as it circled around the goal posts. Draco had the advantage, being closer to that end of the pitch, but suddenly the Snitch seemed to sense their approach and took off, streaking toward the ground and heading around the edge of the field. Emma squealed in fright, as the two pulled out of their downward trajectory and tore off after the Snitch.

Meanwhile, the twins and Sirius and Remus continued their Beater duties by trying to keep Angelina, Alicia, Ginny or Tonks from scoring. The score was tied, so whoever got the Snitch would have bragging rights until the next family tournament.

All of the grandchildren were screaming for Harry, while the professors, and the Malfoys were cheering Draco. Tom, Rupert and Dan were adding their voices as Harry and Draco drew even, hands outstretched, bumping each other to try and get an advantage.

The Snitch suddenly changed course and flew straight up and it caught both of them off guard, but Draco reacted just a fraction of a second quicker and gained on the fleeing gold, winged ball, with Harry coming up beside him. With a lunge, Draco's fingers closed over the Snitch and he did a barrel roll to bring his broom around, heading to where Emma was jumping up and down cheering and smiling when Draco flew over to show her the Snitch.

"That wasn't cheating, whistling like that, was it?" Emma asked, sheepishly.

"Merlin, no! There are worse ways to bend the rules and/or cheat than someone giving you a heads up on where the Snitch is flying," laughed Draco. "I'll be right back." He turned and headed down to join the throng of adults and children milling around on the grass at the center of the pitch.

"Good catch, there, Draco," Harry remarked, sticking out his hand to shake Draco's. "Next time, however, we'll bring our own brooms, then I'll give you a real challenge."

"Oh, well, that would be refreshing, Potter!" smirked Draco, then he threw his arm around Harry's shoulder, as they walked toward the stands. "Truthfully, it was a close thing, my legs are killing me . . . I'm getting too old for this!"

Harry roared with laughter, as he shouldered the school broom and walked away with his friend.

X X X

Lunch was a lively affair, with the retelling of the races and the Quidditch match to Hagrid, Professors Sprout and Trelawney and Madam Pomfrey. Also, the naming of the unicorn foal was announced, much to the delight of the children, who insisted they be taken to see the little colt after lunch.

"Well, maybe if you all get bored with our story telling, Hagrid will take you all down for a look at Emma," said the Headmaster. "You all know the story of how Voldemort met his end, so we'll see who wants to go and who wants to stay when we get to that part of the tale, eh?"

When the meal was concluded and the dishes vanished, Dan, Tom, Emma and Rupert returned to their seats in front of the teachers table, facing the crowd.

"Now, where were we?" Albus pondered, walking in a small circle. "Ah, yes, the 'Gringott's Caper', as it became known. Harry, Ron and Hermione had relocated to the Room of Requirement and were making trips to certain students houses; Dean Thomas and the Creevey brothers come to mind, to get them out of sight so they wouldn't be caught by the 'Snatchers'. Ted Tonks was heading up a group of adults who were using your idea for camping out around the country to avoid capture, but were in touch with us through Aberforth. "

Dan, Rupert and Tom were on the edge of their seats, but Emma was sitting back, a thoughtful look on her face. She sat up and impaled the 'Trio' with a gaze that caused them to raise their eyebrows.

"What?" Ron asked.

"And you three were doing what, exactly?" she asked, crossing her arms.

"AH, perhaps I should let Harry continue the story, then," Albus conceded, as he sat down next to Minerva.

Harry stood, running his hand through his hair, looking for a good place to start this portion of the story.

"Well," he began. "This is where everything goes in the opposite way that it was the first time . . . we got inventive and were the aggressors, instead of being the hunted. Commando magic, if you will."

Tom, Rupert and Dan got big grins on their faces while Emma rolled her eyes.

"Why am I not surprised." she muttered, glancing at Draco, who was trying to hide the fact that he was enjoying this a bit too much. Emma stuck her tongue out at him, which caused him to snort and cover his mouth, turning to hide behind Neville's shoulder.

"We didn't do anything too crazy, Emma, as we couldn't afford to be caught. It was more of a 'intervention' type raid. We had connections through the underground wireless network . . . oh, and by the way, we used Muggle CB radios to communicate with each other, and that way, we couldn't be traced magically, as the Ministry never suspected that we'd resort to Muggle technology. We'd hear news on the Wizarding Wireless and then get in touch with the others by CB."

"That's brilliant!" Rupert exclaimed, then looked over at Mr. Weasley. "Figured out what all those radios were for, then, Arthur?"

"Oh yes!" beamed the head of the family. "I had lots of different bits, but then we just went to the Muggle stores and picked up what we needed to make the sets complete. Got a few more books on radios and walker-talkers and got to work! I did use a bit of magic to expand the receiving range, but we used batteries and everything!"

Dan and Tom were beaming at Arthur's enthusiastic description, but Rupert had a worried look on his brow.

"Didn't the Ministry keep tabs on you, Arthur? You were not in their good graces, and I should think they'd have raided your garage at some point."

"Spot on, Rupert!" Ron injected. "We left most of Dad's 'stuff' as it was, dusty and piled up, so if and when they 'raided' his garage it was just a pile of untouched junk. We had a 'safe house', with a 'Fidelious Charm' on it, where Dad would go to work on his new equipment and he had easy access, from there, to the Muggle stores. Harry had transferred some Muggle money into a bogus account at Gringott's right after the raid on the Ministry, with Dad being on the account, so when the time came, he could just charge the account instead of going to Gringott's and taking money out . . . that might have raised suspicions."

"Charge?" Emma questioned. "Gringott's knows about credit cards?"

"They do now! Makes dealing with Muggle money so much easier for them and only a select few know about that option for their accounts. It was a little known secret, for a few years . . . and most magical folk don't need it, but it does make Muggle born students lives a bit easier when they're shopping, too." Hermione informed them.

"Okay," Tom turned back to Ron. "So, what kind of raids did you all pull off?"

X X X

"Boltseeker! This is Hambone! Come in!" Dean Thomas' voice was calling over the CB.

"Hambone, this is Boltseeker! Go ahead!" Harry grabbed the hand piece and keyed in to answer.

"Boltseeker, there's to be a picnic at Ted's place later tonight. Think you need to crash the party! Haven't been in touch with that lot in a couple of weeks, so need to touch base, anyway. Send my love!"

"Right, will take provisions and make it a lively picnic! Thanks, Hambone! Boltseeker out!" Harry turned to Aberforth and grinned. "I think Arthur created a new monster with these CB radios."

"That he did . . . Muggle nonsense, but . . . if it saves some of our lot, then more power to him!" Aberforth replied, as he shifted a box of supplies in the corner.

Harry smiled, nodding agreement and then opened the portrait doorway leading to the Room of Requirement. As he reached the other end, he heard the members of the DA practicing their spells, so he carefully opened the entrance to the tunnel and made sure they knew it was just him coming through . . .no need getting hexed by an overzealous member of the group.

"Harry! What's up?" Neville asked, as Harry climbed down the ladder. "News from the outside?"

"Yeah, there is." Harry jumped the last bit and landed facing his friend. "Dean just passed on the news that the Snatchers are going to make a raid on Ted Tonk's camp tonight, so we're going to have to warn them and intercept the Snatchers."

"I thought Ted had been in Tarn Gill Wood a bit longer than was advisable," Neville replied, nodding. "How many do we need?"

"Well, let's see, about eight should do it . . . Fred and George are too far away, and Mad-eye is watching Malfoy Manor, so he's not going to give up that assignment. Sirius is busy tracking some of the Death Eaters, but knowing him, he might join us when he gets a free hour or two. That leaves you, me, Luna, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Seamus and Tonks. "

"I'll alert Draco, so he can pass the word to Severus that we'll be sneaking out. What time are we leaving?"

"Right after dinner, better be there before dark, to warn Ted and his group and to get in place for our ambush," Harry answered, calculating in his head the distance and speed of the Thestrals.

"Good thing it's Saturday," Neville said over his shoulder, as he made to leave. "Weeknight excursions are a lot trickier to pull off! See you down at Hagrid's."

"Right! See you in a bit!" Harry called after him, and then turned to the other members of the DA, who had stopped to listen to the exchange between the two. "Okay, what spells do you all think would be best for our little adventure tonight? Also, let's talk strategy . . . Ron, that's your area," Harry deferred to his best friend.

"Well, let's think this through . . ." Ron started, as he sat on the floor, the others following suit, eager to hear the plans being formulated.

X X X

Draco knocked on the Headmaster's door.

"Enter," came the command, in Severus' unmistakable baritone. "And to what do I owe the pleasure of a visit from you, Draco, on this lovely Autumn Saturday afternoon? Hogsmeade not enticing you with its myriad pleasures?" Severus asked, as he lay down his quill, pushing his paperwork aside.

"Just talked to Neville . . . there's going to be a raid, tonight & the DA are going to intercept . . . it's Ted Tonks group . . . they've overstayed at their present location," Draco reported, as he sauntered over and sat down in a chair by the side of the Headmaster's desk.

"I wish Harry would just show up and warn them to move . . why he risks fighting the Snatchers . . ." Severus sat back, shaking his head.

"It's the Gryffindor in him, with a smidge of Slytherin that Tom's Horcrux puts into the mix . . .a bit of 'take that, Tom!' showboating!" Draco laughed.

"It's no laughing matter . . . this isn't part of our history, and something could go badly wrong! What if Harry gets hurt, or worse, killed!"

"You and Albus both have talked to him about this . . . has it done any good?"

"No, but I still don't have to like it OR condone it!" Severus grumped. "I imagine the others cover him, so he's relatively safe . . . nothing for it, in any case, he's free to come and go as he pleases." Severus shrugged. "Who else is going?"

"Ron, Hermione, Luna, Ginny, Seamus and Tonks." Draco ticked off the list on his fingers. "I'll have to make sure no one sees them heading to Hagrid's, or at least, wave it off as no big deal."

"Perhaps you could suggest a pick-up game of Quidditch; that way your cronies focus would be at the other side of the castle," offered Severus, smirk on his face.

"I do believe Sirius has rubbed off on you, sir," Draco offered, as he stood to leave.

"You don't have to be insulting about it, Draco," chided Severus, "That was purely a Slytherin notion, not a Marauder idea."

"Right, if you say so," Draco laughed.

"OUT!"