She noticed Vernon twitching slightly in agitation as the Johnson home seemed... well, strange to them. They hadn't been in a wizarding household before. So she didn't quite blame them. "Hey, Dudley? Can you fetch the Dittany in the cabinent? I might cut my finger in the next few slices," Aquila said quietly, biting her lip in concentration as she sliced the boomslang skin into exact slices.

"The one above the sink or in the pantry-"

"Sink," she interrupted, flinching when she felt the knife slice into the soft skin of her finger. She immediately moved it away from the potion area, taking the Dittany from Dudley's offering hand. "Thanks," she said, dropping it a few times on her finger. Once it healed, she cleaned it off and resumed slicing.

Dudley was... well, comfortable, it seemed. He didn't seem freaked out by the self-washing dishes, nor the House-elves currently preparing dinner - that was what was freaking out the elder Dursleys the most. The elves.

"I would have us do this in the potion room, but the twins are using it at the moment, and I don't trust them with whatever's going on in there," Aquila explained, dropping the finished slices of the boomslang skin into the pot. It boiled. She stirred it a few times, before distributing a ladle of it each into a glass. "Now," she said carefully, pulling the hairs out of the plastic bags for dispersal. "Has Dudley been teaching you the Russian accent? It's just in case."

"I don't understand why this is necessary," Vernon ground out. "Changing our appearance? Accents?"

"The Dark Lord will have followers at this match," Aquila told him, sliding a vial in front of him, the hairs already added. "And these followers will look for anyone they can to target. So if we have you blend in, then it's the best shot we've got. The team, the Weasleys, the Johnsons and Harry can keep you safe, but..." She glanced at Potter, fidgiting nervously as well, but for different reasons. "Potter knows the risks. If someone says get down, you get down. If someone grabs your hand, and they're a friend, you go wherever they bloody ask you. If someone that isn't your friend grabs you, you kick them as hard as you can and try to knock their wand out of their hand, before you run and try to find someone you know. The World Cup was... it was a nightmare and we don't need that again. Potter almost died there, and about fifteen people actually did die."

Vernon paled slightly and she slid the final vial in front of Harry. "This is a temporary potion. It will turn you into the person you're set to look like, and from there, we will place strong glamours over your skin... Again, I didn't pick the people. Arthur did, so we're going to have to work with whatever you get. But they were each labeled on who should get who, so..." She nodded. "Drink up."

Vernon wrinkled his nose, sniffing the potion. "You're mental if you think-"

"Drink it, Uncle Vernon," Harry snapped. He raised his glass to Aquila. "Cheers."

"Oh, and try not to throw up," Aquila said as the glasses raised. "Don't want to have to make you drink it a second time."

Harry was used to the concoction, one that the Order always had partially prepared for cases like this. Quick undercover operations mostly. But Aquila managed to sneak a batch. With permission, of course.

Dudley groaned as he swallowed as much as he could, but he didn't seem able to swallow it all, which she suspected. Petunia gagged nearly immediately. Potter held it well, but it was Vernon she was worried about. Slightly green.

"Keep it in," she said warningly. Vernon swallowed, and she exhaled slightly. "Would you like a mirror, or wait first?"

"For what?"

Aquila just grinned. The change took over their bodies quickly, as quickly as she expected, at least, and she grinned at the rather bland four that sat in front of her. "Well this is going to be awkward."

"Why awkward?" Dudley question. Well, his voice was the same, but his body... a scrawney fourteen year old kid. Vernon and Petunia gave a shout of fright and then glanced at each other, shouting again. Aquila conjured a mirror, of which they could look at themselves.

"My boyfriend looks like he's a first year," Aquila said, wrinkling her noise. "Pre-pubescent... oily. Ugh, and Potter... I think Arthur wrote the wrong name down by mistake." Because Potter looked her age, and was at least somewhat nice looking. "I'm a crib-robber. Oh, dear Merlin."

"That's what you're freaking out about?" Vernon demanded. "What's happened to me?"

"As I explained, Vernon," Aquila said soothingly. "It's a temporary alteration to your appearance. It will fade away, chemically, under the hour. But, this is what we're basing your glamours off of so..." She glanced at Dudley, who gave a heavy sigh. "Sorry?" She glanced at the four of them. "I'm going to get Mr. Johnson."

"Here!" Mr. Johnson said pleasantly. She smiled at the man, relaxing in her seat. "Well, look at this. Everyone feeling alright? Nausea? Dizziness?" He glanced at the fourteen year old looking kid, which was Dudley. "How are you, Mr. Potter."

Aquila sighed. "Arthur labeled the wrong hair samples by mistake... That's Dudley."

Mr. Johnson chuckled. "That's going to be weird."

"Tell me about it," Aquila sighed mournfully.

"We could switch them," Mr. Johnson suggested. "The appearances of Mr. Potter and Dudley."

"I'd rather stay like this-" Potter started, but Aquila held up her hand, silencing him. She glanced at Potter, narrowing her eyes. "I'm not kissing a fourteen year old kid in the middle of a Quidditch Pitch, Potter. Could you imagine the press I'd get for that? It would be suspicious, and since Ginny's going, it'd be perfectly acceptable for you to snog a fifteen year old girl, rather than a nineteen year old guy that-"

"Why am I snogging anyone?" Potter yelped. "Bloody hell, Ginny's got a boyfriend!"

Aquila snorted. "Not my fault you couldn't snag her, Potter. If you could switch them, Mr. Johnson, I would appreciate it, and I'm sure Dudley would as well."

"Sure thing," Mr. Johnson agreed. A flick of his wand, and Dudley's appearance began to shift, taking on that of what Potter looked like. She supposed for having a previous aversion to magic, he held up pretty well, his flinches only when Mr. Johnson's wand was particularly close to his face. He quickly adjusted Potter's appearance, the fourteen year old boy's look still fresh in his mind. "There we are. And now onto you two-"

"Wait," Vernon said suddenly. "I don't know if I'm okay with this part. Drinking that bloody thing, sure, but when you go waving the wand-"

"It won't hurt," Aquila promised. "I know it's... different. A lot to ask, but it is for your safety, in the long run. And... We can stop it just as quickly if you don't like the sensation... but it'll.. well-"

"It tickles," Dudley shrugged. "Not bad at all."

"And if you don't want us to keep going, just tell us," Aquila promised. But she knew it was a single spell and then the appearance was in place - all they had to do was freeze the features. Potter and Dudley's were a bit more intricate magic. So, Mr. Johnson pointed his wand at Vernon and flicked it in a simple motion. Vernon flinched, closing his eyes as if to stop some sort of pain. Aquila smiled, watching as Vernon slowly opened his eyes.

"What the hell are you waiting for?"

"It's already over," Aquila supplied, giggling as Vernon's face turned a little pink. She eyed him a second, before glancing at Petunia, who flinched minimally. They were set.

"Awesome," Aquila grinned. "Ready for a Quidditch match?"

"Do you know who else is going to be by us?" Potter asked.

"Weasleys, Johnsons, some of the team's family, Wood'll be there, Lee, Alicia, Katie..." Aquila bit her lip, thinking if she missed anyone. "Oh! Amos, Miranda, Gavin's going to try to make it, but... he has that project, which is why I'm even playing, and I'm sure there'll be a few more. I contacted Viktor, but haven't heard from him. He might show up. You know him, right?"

Harry nodded, taking off his glasses. "So, basically everyone I know."

Aquila laughed. "Basically. Fuck, even Lovegood might be there. She's a massive Ireland fan, it seems. What can I say? Ravenclaws stick together."

"Yeah, but Ravenclaws don't make better fliers," Harry shot at her.

Aquila gasped, mock-wounded. "But, Potter, didn't you hear? Ravenclaws are eagles. Flying is what we'll always be good at." She hopped off of her stool, grabbing Dudley's hand, and gesturing for them to follow. "Come, come, we can't miss the Portkey to the tent. Amos would have my head if I'm late."

"Amos?" Petunia questioned, following as Mr. Johnson and Aquila led the group towards the ballroom.

"Ireland's owner, coach..." Aquila shrugged. "Wicked man. Pretty much my third father."

"I thought that was me?" Mr. Johnson called behind him.

"You're on the list! It's a pretty long list, Mr. J!" Aquila laughed. Mr. Johnson's strides were long than hers, so he reached the ballroom first. She kicked open the doors dramatically and grinned when she spotted the whole lot. Angelina, Mrs. Johnson, the twins, Alicia, and Katie. She glanced at the portkey and then turned to Vernon and Petunia. "Alright, Potter and Dudley know how to use this, but I'll make the rules simple. Hold on, hold on tight, and when we say let go, you bloody let go or it'll be painful. We'll all hold hands so we won't fall. And don't let go until someone says, got it?"

"Let go?" Vernon asked. "What is this? Some sort of zip-line?"

"You're going to wish it was," Aquila grinned. She turned around, murmuring to Dudley as they all circled around a worn leather journal. "What's a zip-line?"

"I'll explain later," Dudley chuckled. He placed his hand on the journal and Aquila gestured for the other two Muggles to do the same, before she grabbed, linking hands with her other hand. She felt Vernon needed the most assurance so she grabbed his hand tightly, and nodded to him.

"Ready?"

"Got Mrs. Dursley," Mrs. Johnson stated.

"Dudley," Mr. Johnson replied.

"Vernon," Aquila said simply.

"Wilson," Angelina stated and they were whisked away in a bright blue light.

"Oh, bloody hell," Vernon groaned, squeezing his eyes shut. "We're in the middle of the bloody sky."

"This is called a portkey," Aquila called over the wind, her hair whipping around wildly. "It's sort of like teleportation, for large groups. Or, in the case of emergency when you're without your wand."

"You're all bloody mental!" Vernon cried.

Aquila just laughed, feeling the death grip he was giving her hand as he tried not to freak out. Well, he was doing a pretty alright job. "Let go!" Mr. Johnson called.

"You're mad!" Vernon cried.

"Vernon, let go," Aquila said loudly, and she let go herself, jerking his arm away from the book. She kept herself upright, walking calmly. "Just walk like you're in a hallway," she called to him, his legs flailing and making it much more difficult for her to keep a firm grip on his hand. "Calmly, you're not going to fall, Vernon. The magic won't let you."

He began to calm and as they got closer to the ground, they slowed down, until they were standing in front of an obnoxiously green tent, taller than the rest of those around it. "Damnit, Lynch," she sighed. She released Vernon's hand, glancing at the man. "See? That wasn't so bad."

"Bloody hell, it was, too!" Vernon hissed. "Mad, the lot of you."

She grinned. "You get used to it. Been traveling like that since I was three." She ushered him inside of the tent, and all complaints dropped as he stared in awe at the massive tent on the inside. "It's bigger on the inside. Did I mention that?"

"Bloody hell," he breathed. Aquila glanced at Petunia, noticing that she too was in awe. "This is how you camp?"

"Pretty much," Aquila grinned. "We had to get a bigger tent. More people staying with us this time." She gestured around them. "Welcome to Ireland's Team Tent."

"Home to friends, family, and players," A new voice greeted them. She glanced towards the doors to a few bedrooms. "Just the teammate I've been looking for. We gotta talk strategy, Ells Bells."

"Ugh, I hate it when you call me that," Aquila muttered. She punched his arm as he stopped in front of her and Vernon. "We just got here... Can't we... I don't know, get our designated beds first?"

Lynch's eyes swiveled to the forty-something year old man beside her. "I must say, your boyfriend's looking... older than I remember."

She rolled her eyes. "This is Vernon, Dudley's dad. You idiot." She pulled her bag off of her shoulder, throwing it on o the table stretched in the middle of the tent. "Right, Petunia's bag," Aquila called, holding up a purse. Petunia snatched it easily enough. "Vernon's," Aquila said, holding it to the man, who was still staring at the tent in shock. "And... there we are, Dudley's." Dudley grabbed it, slinging it over his shoulder.

"I'll take you to your beds," Lynch offered. "Right this way, sirs, ma'am."

"And who are you, exactly?" Petunia questioned.

"Oh, Aidan Lynch, captain of the team, taught Aquila everything she knows about everything ever-"

"Lynch!" Aquila cried. "Quidditch. Just Quidditch."

"Just Quidditch," Lynch ammended. "And wickedly handsome man that's looking for a lady lover. Hey, Ells Bells, know if your brother's wife has a hot sister?"

Aquila sighed in despair. "Please, no more Ells Bells. You know I hate it. And no. Rosa is an only child. Hence why she's in charge of the Spanish Order when her dad passes." Lynch stopped abruptly. "Right, this is Mr. and Mrs. Dursley's room. We did our best with our tent upgrade to make sure each couple had their own private section. Not much, but it's got a bed, at least... Or double cot."

"With comforting charms so that it feels just like a normal bed," Aquila explained, seeing the look on Vernon's face.

"Of course," Lynch said smoothly. "But if it's not good enough, we can transfigure it into a real bed easily enough." He grinned, glancing at Aquila. "Got a special room for you and Lover boy... who looks different. Hello? I don't believe we've met-"

"Did you listen to anything I told you?" Aquila questioned. "They're all in disguise...?"

"Oh!" Lynch cried. "Right. Sorry. Pre-game plans running through my head. Which reminds me, we should get back to-"

Aquila slapped him, silencing him immediately. "Better?" she questioned, ignoring the gasp from Petunia.

Lynch rubbed his jaw, nodding. "Thanks."

Aquila rolled her eyes. "Our room, please?"

"Er, right," Lynch said, spinning around and speeding off. "Just a few doors down, er, flaps, but you get the idea." They stopped precisely two doors down. "You got the twins between you and your parents, kid. I say go hog-wild."

"Lynch!" Aquila cried.

"What?" Lynch asked defensively. "Honestly, you're worse than mum. Who is on your other side, so don't go too wild." She sighed. He wasn't going to stop, was he? "Right, set your things down, bring your gear. Let's go, let's go. Lots of plans, little time."

"Lynch, you're freaking out," Aquila said gently. "We'll be fine. Spain's got nothing compared to us, you know that. We're beating them in points, even if we lose this match. We'll still qualify to keep playing for the European."

"You're right," Lynch sighed. "This is a big match, and we haven't had practice as much as usual and I'm just a bit worried-"

"Don't be," Aquila insisted. "We're Ireland. We kick ass. That's who we are."

They began to walk back towards the center of the tent, Dudley following. "Good, because... well, Tara may be out," Lynch said, as though warning her... breaking it to her gently.

"What?" Aquila whispered, her heart beating fast. If she was out... if she was out, then they were screwed! Aquila couldn't get injured, yet this was a Cup match, she was bound to break at least an arm.

"Her back's been killing her, with all the practices we've been running to get her back in shape, and... she doesn't think she can play. We've got Healer's on her, but it's not looking good."

"But she's okay, right?" Dudley questioned. "Like, walking and stuff?"

"Oh, yeah," Lynch said immediately. "She just doesn't think she can take much of a blow. So if we lose you... Fuck, Ella, we're going to be shit out of luck for protecting my left."

She knew it. "So, that's why... the emergency plays. Of course."

"Gotta change a lot if we're going to play it safe."

"No," Aquila said firmly as they made it to the communal area, Dudley's parents trailing as they spotted them walking past their room. "We keep the plays the same." She spotted the team watching her, and she swallowed. "Plays stay the same," she repeated firmly, glancing at them all. "If I go down... I'm down, but I'm going to play until I physically can't play anymore. I played the last Cup with a broken arm, and pretty much shattered ribs, I can do it again."

"I'd advise against this," Amos said softly. She smiled slightly at him, in greeting. "We need safer plays-"

"Lynch, it's your call," Miranda said gently. "Aquila or Amos?"

"If I get demoted for this," Lynch muttered to her, "I want you to pay for whatever I lose."

"Deal," Aquila murmured.

"We keep the plays," Lynch said firmly. "Aquila's right. We know the plays, she knows them. If Tara's out, then we're going to have to play without her. Aquila can take care of herself. I want a Healer ready with the bone healing potion, and anything else, just in the locker room. If she goes down, I want her right back up immediately." Lynch glanced at her. "Got it?"

She took a deep breath. It was a lot of pressure. "Got it."

"If you know, you know that you can't go on, you say so. We'll get another reserve to cover. It's better than having absolutely no one, but... only if you know for sure that you absolutely can't go on," Lynch continued.

She nodded, understanding. This was a match. And even though they'd still make it to the European Cup, winning it would give them even better chances for the World. She couldn't blow it. "For the team."

"For the team," Lynch repeated, quiet. He glanced at everyone. "Let's go."

"Exactly how violent is this sport?" Vernon questioned Aquila, when she slung her bag over her shoulder and checked to make sure everything was inside.

She swallowed, appreciating the concern. "Well, let's put it this way. Tara, she used to play full time for the team. Last year, at the match I took Dudley too, a bludger... uh, this ball that flies itself, hit her in the back, breaking it. She's still not fully recovered... And same match, a bludger hit me in the rib and arm, breaking it and I still played fifteen minutes after the fact so... it's pretty brutal. I mean, people die sometimes. Lynch almost died two years ago-" She winced. "Partially his fault, but yeah... nothing to worry about. Wicked pay if you're injured though."

She smiled brightly, to try to assure him, and Petunia, who seemed to be breathing oddly, and took Dudley's hand. "Ready for a match, Duds?"

He grinned. "Break a leg."

"I knew I liked you," Aquila smirked. She took a deep breath and glanced at the others around her. Petunia and Vernon. "Let's go. Stay close. The others will circle, just in case." She glanced down at Dudley's hand... "I can't hold it... but I would be, if I could. Safety precautions." He understood. She squeezed his hand before releasing it. "You're my entourage."

"Ready?" Lynch called. She got into position, grabbing her broom, squaring her shoulders, and then they exited the tent. For this match, well... you sort of get a party outside of your tent, waiting for you to exit. Though they were one member short, no one seemed to take notice. Not yet, anyway.

The cheers were deafening, the cries called out to every team mate, including her. It was a welcome that she'd never received before. Other matches, they got ready in the locker room, they didn't require a camp. But this was big. And the loyal fans sporting green around them all, they were there for all of them. To support them. To fight for them.

They made it to the stands, and the rest of the team headed to the underground passage to the lockers. Aquila hesitated, glancing at Dudley.

"I'll walk you to your seats," she told them

She gripped his arm tightly, keeping him close to her as she mounted the stairs to lead him to his seat. The twins and Angelina and Angelina's parents would protect him, and his parents. And if anything happened, she knew they'd get them out. "Don't make eye contact with anyone around you," she told him quietly. "And don't let anyone pick a fight with you. Keep your accent if you say something. Remember the words I taught you-"

"Da, spasiba, tsel," Dudley repeated. She nodded.

"I know you don't like it, but it's safer... It's so much safer to let them believe you're a foreigner than to let them know who you really are, okay?"

He nodded once and they were about to turn onto the steps for the next level when a figure appeared, a cane blocking their path. Aquila froze, staring at the cane inches from her midsection, the edge of it on the rail next to her. Dudley almost stumbled into her, but she tightened her grip on his arm. The entourage behind her stopped.

"How strange to see you in the stands, Aquila."

"I was just heading to put my things in the VIP box, Lucius," Aquila said gracefully. Her voice turned light and just as haughty as his. "You know how tedious these things are. So little time to get ready for warm ups."

"Indeed," Lucius said deeply. His gray eyes flitted to Dudley, who was tense. "And who is this? Simon Otterburn?" She supposed he did have some similar coloring to Simon, especially in this altered form.

Aquila swallowed. "This is Vladimir Borisinov. He's homeschooled in Russia. He'll be attending university in the fall."

"Oh, how interesting," Lucius said with a dark smirk touching his lips. "For all the time I've seen you, I would have never have guessed a Russian. You look... much too English."

"My parents are British," Dudley said curtly.

"Interesting." Lucius glanced at Aquila as if he knew the secret. "I'd watch yourself in Britain, Vladimir. There's rumor that a war is going on."

Aquila offered him a single laugh, but he didn't seem to notice her lack of response. "I'll see you at your trial, Lucius. What is it, now? Eighteen counts of murder? Or am I behind a few issues of the Prophet?"

His lip curled and he pulled his wand from the cane, aiming it at her. She heard those behind her pull out their wands as well, to defend her. She didn't have her own. In the middle of a match? It would get snapped. "Don't speak to your elders that way, girl."

"Then I'll speak to family that way." Lucius snarled and flicked his wand up and down her form.

"Such a shame you'll be marrying Otterburn by term's end, isn't it? Because then you can't keep stringing Vladimir along."

She offered a single smirk. "Yes, well, you know how those contracts work. I don't know anything about it. Mother cancelled that contract last summer."

"Has she?" Lucius smirked. "I'd ask to be sure." The twinkle in his eye made her stomach turn and she grabbed Dudley's arm, pushing past the blonde man. The rest of her group followed, increasing the distance the fast her pace was.

"Who was that?" Dudley asked quietly once they were out of earshot.

"Estranged cousin," Aquila admitted. "He's one of the bad guys. His wife... she's my father's cousin. And my mother's – it's complicated. She's alright, I think. She doesn't really do much, so no one knows what side she's on, but what I have seen of her, she's hovering between good and bad."

"So stay away from anyone in your family, then."

"Basically," Aquila laughed. "We're wrecks, honestly." She pulled him to the box and left her bag with him. Her uniform was already in the locker room. She clutched her broom tightly, balancing it between her arms. She made sure Petunia and Vernon were settled in the middle, the others seated around them protectively, as they practiced. She grinned at a few friends - but they were too busy being excited. Digging in her bag, which was in his lap, she pulled out a tube of paint. Bright green.

"What do you say?" she asked Dudley.

"Paint me," he grinned. She laughed, liking his complete faith in her, and she squirted some green paint onto her hands, rubbing them together before she had him close his eyes and then she coated his face in it. She waited until her hands were dry before she grabbed the white. "Alright, and... my number." Six. She glanced towards Petunia and Vernon, waving the paint around in what she hoped was a tempting manner.

"You know you want to," Aquila taunted.

"Oh, what the hell," Petunia sighed. "Live a little." Aquila liked it. She did the same to her face as she did Dudley's, and then she glanced at Vernon. "Oh, Vernon, do it!"

Vernon sighed. "Very well. But this better not be some mojo-"

"It washes off," Aquila giggled. She painted his face as well and then leaned back, throwing her paint into her bag, and then made sure her hands were dry before she pulled out her scarf. She wrapped it around Dudley's neck, biting her lip. "Keep it safe, yeah?" He nodded. "Alright, I got to get to the locker room. You'll be fine?"

"Yeah."

She glanced towards the twins, who were having a heated discussion. "Stay with them. Don't talk to strangers-"

"I know, Aquila." She nodded and was itching to give him a kiss – he could see the effort she was putting forth to hold it back. "I know," he repeated, though the meaning was entirely different. She climbed down the stands, grabbing Mr. Johnson and Mr. Weasley's arms.

"Hey! I'm about to head out... Keep an eye on the glamours, yeah?"

"Got it, lass," Arthur saluted.

"Give 'em hell," Mr. Johnson encouraged.

"Wouldn't waste the chance," Aquila grinned. She climb the rail, turning with her back to the expansive fall behind her, and grinned at the absolutely horrified expression Petunia had on her face. Aquila gaved a salute with her fingers to her forehead and then she tipped backwards, hearing Petunia shout in alarm. Mid-fall, she slid her broom between her legs and took off like a rocket.

Dudley sat heavily into the chair, one of the twins to his left, and his mum to his right. Beside the twin, was Angelina, making Dudley strongly suspect it was George. Besides Angelina was Alicia, and then who he assumed was Fred. In the row behind him, were some of Aquila's friends, he could tell by their enthusiastic rundown of Aquila's heart-attack inducing exit. If he hadn't seen her flying off, he would have assumed she plummeted all the way down, and she once told him it was about five hundred feet. He didn't imagine it would be too pleasant of a landing.

He didn't know who was behind him, but by the red hair, he guessed they were related to Fred and George, and Potter's friend - Raol or something. Potter was seated directly behind him, a mousy brunette talking so fast about something he couldn't even make it out. He took the most comfort in the group in front of him. Mr. Johnson, Mrs. Johnson, who he assumed were Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, and other parents, friends of the four mentioned. And then there were teens seated beside his father, one with dark skin, a rather small, but fierce girl beside him, and beside her, an animated, intense fellow that was watching the field like a hawk.

Dudley couldn't make out a word in the roars of the crowd.

"That's Lee Jordan, Katie Bell, and Oliver Wood," Mrs. Johnson spoke up suddenly. Dudley glanced at her, and noticed his mother's attention had been caught. "Gryffindors as well. Aquila's the odd bird of the bunch, being Ravenclaw. Oliver's just about obsessed with Quidditch as Aquila is, though I think she's got him beat on a few memorized fouls than he. He plays for Puddlemere United." Dudley nodded. He had heard him mentioned before. "And Lee Jordan is the same year as the twins, a prankster as well. He's dating Katie, a year below them. Nice lass, and he's a good lad." He could recall Jordan's name as well.

Aquila must have been good friends with anyone related to Quidditch. She certainly knew a lot of people.

"Aquila's mentioned them, but I've never met them," Dudley informed the woman.

Mrs. Johnson nodded, as if expecting this. "Well, once the match starts, you no doubt won't have a chance until the snitch is caught or there's a time out. Oh, and do excuse Oliver's language. He gets very into the game." The last part was said more for his mother's benefit than Dudley's own.

It took a long time for the match to actually start. Aquila glanced at Tara worriedly, who was having cooling spells being placed on her back muscles, laying on a bench in the middle of the locker room. She was in absolutely no condition to play. Aquila had to survive the whole match. She had to.

"Let the games... BEGIN!" The Spanish Minister called in heavily accented English. She stared at the other players, swallowing her nerves. She could do this. It was Quidditch. Quidditch was her thing. Flying was what she was good at.

"My right!" Lynch called. She dove underneath him, barrel rolling and came out on his right, whacking the bludger before it could even get close to him. It sailed into the goal, scoring them the first points of the match. "Nice hit!"

She flew off, going as fast as she could towards the bludger in her sights. She aimed and just as she was about to hit, it changed direction, plowing into her arm.

"BLACK'S BEEN HIT!" The announcer called in English, before repeating in Spanish. Aquila glanced at her arm, cursing. Broken. She'd have to get the potion. She couldn't make worse damage. "IT LOOKS LIKE SHE'S RECEIVING MEDICAL TREATMENT!" Aquila landed in front of the locker room, and the Healer was already there, giving her a disposable cup full of the potion she needed to drink, and she took Aquila's broom before grabbing Aquila's forearm, setting it. It was excruciating, but she doubted this would be the last.

"Thanks," she called to the Healer, grabbing her broom and taking back off into the sky. "I DON'T BELIEVE IT! BLACK'S BACK UP AND FLYING, EVEN THOUGH THAT LOOKED LIKE A COMPOUND FRACTURE!" Aquila wished he would shut up. Her arm was going to take a while to heal, but if she took an easy for the next few minutes, she'd be fine. She flew past the Keeper for Spain and while he wasn't looking, scored another bludger through the hoop. Another ten points. If they got a big enough lead... they could risk pulling another World Cup. Not catch the snitch, but win by points. She wondered what the twins were betting.

"ANOTHER TEN POINTS! IRELAND 20-0." She kept glancing around at her team, knowing where she should be, but keeping an eye on everyone else in case something changed. She didn't want any complications.

"Black!" she spun, catching the Quaffle being thrown at her. She may not have been a Chaser, but she knew how to handle one just as well. Three Spain players were in hot pursuit and Aquila dived, gaining speed as she aimed her entire body towards the goals. The Keeper was watching her, eyes wide, as he didn't seem to think she was going to slow down. She saw one of her teammates hit a bludger, sailing it towards the goals. The Keeper had a choice. And she knew which one he was going to take. He was going to block her. She grinned, and just as she was about to hit, the announcer screaming now in absolute excitement, she dropped the Quaffle and a teammate underneath her caught it, ducking around and throwing it through the hoop, towards Aquila again.

She ducked out of the way, letting Spain catch it, before she began to trail them.

"TWO GOALS SCORED IN THREE SECONDS! I DON'T BELIEVE IT! IRELAND'S UP 40-0!"

Within three minutes, she was down at the lockers, getting her arm healed once more. Merlin, how many hits exactly was she going to take? Spain seemed to realize that she was pretty much the only beater for her position, and there was no one to replace her.

It made her the target.

With the score of a hundred to sixty, Spain making a comeback in the second hour, it was tight. Anyone's game, really. She hit more bludgers than she ever remembered hitting in any single match. Her body was sweating, her arms ached, but she felt the adrenaline. Oh, she was going to hurt tomorrow. A nice soak in the tub sounded wonderful.

Her eyes darted to a bludger coming her way, and she raced to meet it, and hit it as hard as she could, hearing the sound of the goal dinging as she tried to find another.

That was when it happened. She didn't know what hit her, but she knew it wasn't a bludger. It barrelled into her side and Aquila didn't see any of it coming, so the grip on her broom was loose at best. And she didn't have time to tighten it. She fell off, her broom falling just a few seconds behind her, and she wasn't slowing down.

Oh, bloody hell. This is how she was going to die wasn't it? Not in the bloody war, or the bloody- All she wanted to do was play in the World Cup. Was that so difficult to ask for?

Halfway down, a bludger pummeled into her stomach and she began to spiral, blacking out as she heard the whooshing of someone diving to save her.

"IT LOOKS LIKE BLACK IS BEGINNING TO COME TO! NASTY FALL, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN AT HOME. AT LEAST THREE HUNDRED FEET!" Aquila groaned, finding she was laying in the sand at the bottom of the pitch, near the goals, and someone was standing over her, worried.

"Bloody hell, Lynch, go catch the snitch," Aquila groaned. She held up a hand and he grabbed it, hauling her to her feet. "I'm fine... Maybe a few ribs, but I'm fine."

"You could bloody say thank you for catching you!" he laughed. He patted her on the back. "Can't loose you yet. When we're winning for sure, yes, but not now."

She appreciated his value on her condition. He took back off to the sky, though, as the Healers approached, and she winced slightly, clutching her ribs. Definitely broken.

"I'd advise sitting out-"

"Not an option," Aquila interrupted. She grabbed her broom from another Healer, surprised she had two tending to her. They checked her ribs, declaring she was bruised, and maybe one was broken, and she had a scrapes, but nothing she couldn't handle. She drank more bone healing potion, and then was back up in the sky.

"They better have called foul for whoever hit me!" Aquila screamed at Lynch.

"Oh, they did! Gave us a free shot!"

"How long was I out?"

"Maybe five minutes?"

She groaned. When the next goal was made, she learned that they were nearing two hundred, and Spain was at ninety. They were winning, at least. She spotted the bludger she wanted. She began flying towards the announcers box, towards where the Dursleys were. She hit the bludger, and grunts at the force, as it was pretty strong. But as she's turning, a player ran into her.

That's it! "Foul!" Aquila cried to the ref. "This bloody fuck can't play worth a damn!" she screamed, gesturing towards the Spain player. A woman that had her hair down, and her goggles were glaring holes at Aquila. So she understood English? Good. "The eighth time she's ran into me!" So maybe she was exaggerating. "If she can't fucking fly a broom, she shouldn't fucking be here!"

So maybe Aquila had a bit of a temper problem. "Miss Verde!" The ref called. He blew his whistle and the players all halted immediately.

"IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A PERSONAL VENDETTA GOING ON AT THE MOMENT, FOLKS. VERDE HAS CRASHED INTO BLACK FOR THE THIRD TIME THIS MATCH!" Third? Aquila only counted two, if she was the same woman that ran into her when she plummeted to her death.

"Verde, what the hell is going on?" the referee demanded, Aquila on one side of him and Verde on the other. Verde glared at Aquila.

"Just a little team rivalry." Good so she spoke English too.

"Listen, bint," Aquila snapped. "Learn to fly your broom. You were nowhere near me, and suddenly you're plowing into me. If you can't fly safely, maybe you should have your reserve teach you how to fly, got it? If it was team rivalry, then it would have happened once, and not just to me. So back the fuck off."

"Miss Black, I'll ask you to calm down," the ref said calmly. "Verde, penalty box for ten minutes. It's a safety hazard and we play Quidditch the safest way possible - not nearly killing our opponents." Aquila's gaze was liquid fire as she glared at Verde, who glared back.

"Yes, ref."

"VERDE SEEMS TO BE GETTING THE PENALTY BOX! AND THERE'S THE WHISTLE. GAME IS RESUMING." Aquila wished he'd stop screaming into the microphone. Her eyes swiveled to her friends, particularly Dudley, and she winked, pulling her goggles back on, before zooming off.

But there was one thing she noticed. Oliver Wood was having an absolute field day shouting at the players that couldn't hear him. She knew there was a reason Wood was invited.

By the fifth hour, she was exhausted. Her arm hurt, her muscles were straining, and despite getting her fifth broken arm, she wasn't going to stop now. Lynch said until she absolutely couldn't go any further. And she would honor that. But they were losing. By ten points. And that meant that whoever got the snitch... whoever got the snitch would win. And by such a big point lead - five hundred to four ninety, it could royally screw up their points for the European Cup.

A flash of gold caught her eye, hovering over the pitch. She glanced at Spain's seeker, noticing that he was looking dow, trying to find it below him, but... but it was above. She had to find Lynch. She lapped the field, before spotting him, doing the same but below her.

"Lynch!" she called. She flew up next to him, rolling her arm to try to loosen the muscles. He slowed, and they began to ride side by side. "You shouldn't be looking down. Look up. Middle of the field, about three hundred feet. Spain's not even paying attention to what the game is doing anymore-"

"Bloody fuck, what would I do without you?"

Aquila snorted. "Get piss drunk somewhere, no doubt." He flashed her a quick grin and was off, and before anyone really noticed he was intent on a path, he was more than halfway to the snitch, obviously spotting it too.

"LYNCH IS IN HOT PURSUIT OF THE SNITCH. LOOKS LIKE THIS IS GOING TO BE CLOSE. SPAIN'S CLOSING IN BEHIND HIM, AND HERNANDEZ IS LOOKING PRETY BLOODY FURIOUS AT THE MOMENT!" She had to break up their point gap. Ten points. She could do ten bloody points.

She nearly hit the ground as she flew as low as possible, and the bludger was getting into the perfect position. She put everything she had into the blow, so much power, that the blinding pain that came after it made her think she had broken her arm. But it wasn't coming from her forearm, it was coming from her shoulders.

Oh, Merlin, it was on fire, and with a panic in her stomach she prayed she didn't tear anything. If she did... oh, bloody hell. She was screwed.

"BLACK'S TAKEN A HIT! SHE'S CLUTCHING HER SHOULDER-I DIDN'T SEE A BLUDGER DID YOU? BUT HER HIT HAS MADE IT TO THE GOAL! IRELAND AND SPAIN ARE TIED 500 POINTS EACH." She slid off of her broom, standing at the bottom of the pitch, taking deep breaths through her nose to keep from crying. Merlin, it hurt sooooo bad.

She could see Healer's flying over to her and she moved her hand just as they approached, letting them inspect it.

"Please, tell me it'll be good and I can keep going."

"Torn," a Healer she was only vaguely familiar with remarked. "Looks like a torn muscle. These take more time to heal. And you'll need to sit down for it-"

"I have to keep going," Aquila insisted.

"You could cause some serious, permanent damage if you play on this," the Healer snapped.

"And we have a match to win!" Aquila shouted. "I'm it. No one's able to replace me-"

"It'll take about a half hour to heal your shoulder," the Healer interrupted. "You can get back to it afterwards."

"Absolutely not," Aquila said firmly. "Legal adult stating that I'm still playing. We'll heal it later. Lynch almost has the snitch." She prayed he did. Because it bloody hurt. And she wasn't going to be able to fly for much longer.

"Miss Black, you better not-"

She threw her leg over her broom, switching arms so that she was now playing left hand. "Scream at me later."

And scream, she knew, they would. She ignored their protests as she flew off, dodging what she knew would be a firestorm.

"What happened?" she heard somsone from her team shout. Mullet. She flew along side him, wincing slightly as it jarred her shoulder.

"Torn shoulder muscles," she responded. "I'm playing left for the rest of the game."

"You sure you don't need to sit down? You look a bit ... in pain."

"Hurts like a bitch, Mullet, but I'm playing."

"Amos is going to throw a fit."

"Let him!"

It wasn't even a minute later that the crowd absolutely roared and the announcer screamed louder than ever, "LYNCH HAS CAUGHT THE SNITCH! LYNCH HAS CAUGHT THE SNITCH! IRELAND WINS 680-510! BLOODY GOOD GAME!"

She couldn't help the absolute relief that flooded her system, the fact that she didn't have to hit any bludgers with her left arm, and the fact that they had won. It certainly made up for the fact that she lost the Hogwarts Cup. Made up for it a lot.

She did the victory lap and then hesitated as she shook hands with the players. Verde was back, and she was near the end of the line. Maybe Aquila could just skip her? But that would be horrible sportsmanship- Aquila extended her right hand to her, and the other players had been gentle, seeming to know she had an injury. Verde grabbed her right hand, and shook it hard, making Aquila cry out and clutch her shoulder.

"Oi!" Mullet cried. "Fuck off, Verde."

She felt Mullet's hand on her left shoulder, as if to make sure she was okay, but she winced and shook her head. She wasn't okay but she had two more people's hands to shake. She stuck it out for the next player, her temper flaring, but the man reached for her other arm, shaking it firmly, with a small wink. The last player just lightly tapped the palm of her hand, like a low high five. Okay.

"Let's get you taken care of," Mullet said gently and she agreed. She flew down to the locker room, the Healers giving her a good glare, but she did her best to ignore it. Pulling off her robes with her left hand, she stood there in her sports bra and shorts, as the healers inspected her shoulder.

"You bloody idiot," Lynch told her.

"Not that bloody, but I will admit, I was an idiot. Also, who the fuck does Verde think she is? She nearly killed me!"

"Yeah, well, tell that to her coach. He absolutely hated you. No idea why, but I could hear the plays he was calling out to her," Amos's voice spoke up. "Get Black, mostly. My Spanish was a little rusty."

Aquila groaned and hissed as the Healer started to rotate her arm slowly. "Bloody hell, woman!"

"If you would have taken the potion, you would have been healed by now."

"Can't you just do a spell and I'll take the potion after I snog my boyfriend?"

The Healer glared at her, but gave her a potion, which she drank, and then created a sling for her. Aquila grinned, telling the others she'd be back. She had a boyfriend to snog. And it was going to be one of the best snogs of her life.

She mounted her broom and took off, seeing the crowd clearing, all except for the Owner's Box, which was standing, talking to each other, laughing. She landed as Dudley was talking to Oliver.

"Nice to meet you, my name's-"

"Dudley!" Aquila grinned, shoving Wood out of the way and and handing him her broom. Her good arm grabbed Dudley's shirt and she pulled him down for a kiss. She figured it was pretty safe. There weren't too many people around. She probably was awful looking and she was sweaty, so she didn't smell that great either. But she leaned into his side as she pulled away, smiling and glanced at Oliver. "So, Wood, what'd you think?"

"Sort of a wide turn, near the end," Oliver informed her, gesturing towards the opposite side of the field. "Could have saved a lot of time getting the last bludger if you'd made a sharper turn.. Probably wouldn't have hurt herself either."

"That's why we invite you," she smiled brightly. She glanced at Dudley, who was looking at her sling with a small frown.

"What'd you do?"

"Tore a few muscles in my shoulder," Aquila shrugged. She winced, cursing. "Ouch, dammit. Okay, no movements to the shoulders. Right, this is Oliver Wood, wicked Keeper for Puddlemere. Taught Potter everything he knows about Quidditch, and that's a lot." She glanced at Oliver. "Dudley Dursley. Potter's cousin and a wicked, wicked rugby player."

"Rugby?" Oliver questioned, his brogue thick. "Oh! Right! That sport with the-" He enthusiastically shook Dudley's hand, making Aquila giggle. "That's bloody brilliant! I don't know my ass from my hand in a rugby match, but they're brilliant to watch!"

"He uses the word brilliant a lot when he's excited," she murmured to Dudley, giggling. Dudley chuckled, seeming to agree. She manuevered around him, grinning as Petunia and Vernon glanced at her. "Well, what'd you think?"

"I had about eight heart attacks, and I think my lungs collapsed when you started to fall," Petunia admitted. She gasped at the sling, "Oh! What happened?"

"Tore some muscles," Aquila admitted. "It'll be right as rain in a few." She glanced to Vernon. "What about you? Like it? Hate it? Honest."

"Way more exciting than a football match, I'll give you that. Exactly how many balls are played at once?"

"Four," Aquila answered. "A quaffle, which is a bit like a football, and is thrown between players. Two bludgers, which are what I deal with. Fly themselves, and hurt like Hades when they hit you. Do the most damage. And then there's the Snitch, which Lynch deals with. Basically, a tiny gold ball that has wings and it flies around, super fast, and whoever catches that ends the match. There's a lot going on."

"Don't know how you keep your head straight out there," Vernon admitted. "Couldn't do it."

"That's why I'm the professional player," Aquila grinned. "Glad you liked it." She gasped, seeing who was beside him. "Lee! Merlin, look at you! Haven't see you in about two weeks, but you're already different!" Not really. He laughed it off and she greeted Katie, who was her year, and then started on the row of gingers behind the Dursleys. "Charlie!" she squealed. She hugged the Dragon tamer tightly, with one arm, relieved to see him. "I thought you were in Romania!"

"Came back for a few days, and Dad got tickets to this so-" He shrugged, as if that explained it. "Wicked match."

"We try," she winked. She tackled the next Weasley, and his girlfriend, who Dudley spotted at that precise moment. "Fleur, Bill. Oh, it's so good to see you. Fleur, how's your family? Gabby?"

They were cousins... through Aquila's Veela side. "Oh, fantastique," Fleur declared. "Maman wants you to visite soon, oui?"

"Soon," Aquila promised. When she got through everyone, she climbed over the seat to get back next to Dudley, noticing her broom lodged in the seats from where Oliver had discarded it. She rolled her eyes. "Come on, let's get back to the tent," she grinned. "Free alcohol and some wicked celebration." She met Dudley's eyes, and he spotted the look. The look that promised a lot of personal time, as well. She took his hand, and he grabbed her bag and broom. "Come on."