Disclaimer: I do not own anything of this story. Harry Potter and all of the notable characters belong to J.K. Rowling.

Magnolia Crescent

Chapter Twenty-Two

Sonic Leaguers and Veela

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 422nd World Quidditch Cup. Here we have England vs. Bulgaria. After an amazing game by England's new keeper, Mr. Wood, keeping the Transylvania team from scoring a single point. With the new blood on the block, shall we see how well Viktor Krum and the Bulgaria team fares?" shouted a voice over what Harry assumed was an intercom. He smirked a bit, starting up the stairs, Ron walking next to him. The amount of wizards running around was mind boggling.

It wasn't long before they were passed by a salesmen that kept apparating every few feet.

"I have been saving all my pocket money up for this," Ron smiled, racing off to get a few souvenirs. After a few moments, he returned with an England hat complete with a flag that appeared to wave in the wind, a blue rosette and a mini figure of Krum. Hermione put on a grumpy expression, causing Ron to look a bit dejected in spite of his new toys.

"And now you know why I don't like buying souvenirs," Leo muttered, voicing his opinion on the items Ron had gotten.

"What's wrong?" Hermione asked, giving him a concerned look.

"I just wish I had a bit more pocket money. There was this really cool Omniculars that could slow things down and stuff but I got this hat before I noticed it. It would have been really cool to get one," Ron admitted. Harry looked over at the salemen.

"Four pairs of the Omniculars," Harry shouted over the crowd.

"No, don't bother," Ron said, going red. Leo perked up a bit as Harry held four of the devices and made his way back.

"You won't be getting anything for Christmas," Harry said as he handed the magical item to Hermione. "For about ten years, mind."

"Fair enough," Ron said, grinning.

"Ooh, thanks, Harry," Hermione said. "And I'll get us some programs."

"Here," Leo said, pulling out ten galleons of his own and handing them to Harry. He pushed his hand back. "Look, I am not going to let you pay for my things," Leo said, pushing his hand back.

"How about this?" Sirius interrupted, pouring a handful of galleons into Harry's hand. "I paid for them so pocket your damn money. We need to get going," he all but ordered.

"Yes, sir," Leo chirped out. Sirius gave a small smile. "He scares me," he whispered to Harry. The group moved on, with Mr. Weasley taking the lead of the massive group.

"Prime seats!" said a Ministry witch at the entrance. It was a long walk up but they finally got to the very top.

"Wow," Leo said. "What an amazing view."

"Yeah, the arena looks really amazing. Did you know it took them a year to get everything ready for the cup?" Hermione asked, looking at Leo who was staring dreamily into space. "Are you even listening?" she scolded.

"Something about a year's worth of preparation and spells to keep the Muggles out," Leo repeated. Hermione blinked, surprised that he was in fact listening to her.

"Well, that's a nice change of pace," she murmured, sitting down. Ron and Leo grabbed seats on either side of her. Ron didn't seem as excited to be here as he originally did. Harry just shrugged it off.

They were right at the halfway point between the golden hoops. Harry looked behind him and spotted a house elf.

"I bet it's saving a seat for its master. Best leave it alone, those creatures are so odd," Leo said, following Harry's gaze.

"Yeah, odd," he replied. Sirius and the rest of the group almost took up the entire front row.

"I take it you had a few examples yourself?" Leo asked.

"I still can't believe people treat them like that. The poor thing," Hermione interjected, having pity on the wrinkly creature.

"To be honest, house elves are given something in return," Leo replied, glancing over at Hermione.

"What do you mean?" she asked, looking over at Leo. He bit his lip for a second.

"House elves need magical energy. More specifically, magical energy from a wizarding house to exist. They don't eat, they don't sleep, you know, people things. So, they live in a wizarding house and they earn their keep. It's a beneficial situation under normal circumstances," Leo explained.

"Oh," Hermione said.

"How do you know all of that?" Ron asked.

"I am well read?" Leo replied, shrugging. Hermione opened her mouth but a new set of voices entered the area. It wasn't long before people starting filing in, Percy and Mr. Weasley shaking the hands of important wizards.

A few people tried to shake Sirius's hand but he brushed them off. Harry felt a bit confused at the action; it seemed only friendly. Then the Minister of Magic entered with a few people as well.

"Sirius," Fudge exclaimed, moving past Percy who turned to send Fudge and Sirius a glare. Sirius put on his best face as Fudge shook both his and Harry's hand.

"And the Bulgarian Minister," Sirius said, recognizing the man. The two shook and a third figure appeared behind them. "The President of the Magical States of America," Sirius stated, surprise in his voice. The man was as tall as the Minister but wore a Muggle suit, reminding Harry of a much thinner Uncle Vernon.

"Pleasure," the man said, reaching out and shaking his hand before quickly pulling back. "Prime Minister, there is something I would like to discuss with you."

"Sure, sure," Fudge said, almost waving the President off. He was clearly angered by this action but didn't respond as they moved away.

"Politics," Sirius muttered, noticing a familiar face framed by white blonde hair. His face brightened suddenly.

"Sirius," Lupin warned in a low voice.

"Fine," Sirius muttered, understanding the unsaid. "Mr. Malfoy," he said, standing to greet the presumed Death Eater.

"Sirius and Arthur," Mr. Malfoy drawled. "Good Lord, what did you have to sell to get seats in the top box? Surely your house wouldn't have fetched this much?"

"Holmes, is that you?" the younger Malfoy asked, spotting his fellow Slytherin sitting next to Hermione. Leo didn't respond.

"A friend of yours?" Mr. Malfoy asked.

"A guest of mine," Sirius emphasized in a cold tone. "I would prefer if you didn't insult them," he ordered, stepping up. The two opposites glared at each other. Harry looked at them, noticing that they were almost complete opposites but with a few glaring similarities.

"But of course," Mr. Malfoy said, breaking off the glare to get his own seat. Sirius stood his ground, watching the man and his family sit down. He adjusted his collar, returning to his own seat.

"Slimy git," Ron muttered under his breath.

"Agreed," Leo maintained. Nearly every eye under red hair turned to look at him. "What? He is."

Harry's attention, however, was quickly taken back to the game before him. "Everyone ready?" Ludo bagman shouted.

Harry watched the massive arena, Ludo's voice echoing around. He was barely paying attention as he announced the mascots.

"I wonder what they brought?" Mr. Weasley wondered out loud.

"Looks like veela!" Lupin observed.

"What are veel – " What came next was something Harry never would have guessed as what appeared to be a hundred beautiful women gilded onto the field. He felt his eyelids go heavy, wondering how they could be so beautiful and before he knew it, he wasn't worried about anything at all. Music filled the air and the vela started to dance.

"Harry, what are you doing?" Hermione asked, the music cutting out. Blinking, Harry quickly realized that Ron and Leo were in a similar state as angry yells filled the stadium. Mr. Weasley reached over and pulled on Ron's hat.

"You're going to want to keep that on if England has its way." He smiled as Harry looked over at Leo, now folded into his chair.

"Huh?" Ron asked, a little slack jawed from the veela.

"Honestly," Hermione groaned, shaking her head.

"And now for the England National Team mascots!" Ludo announced. Suddenly there was a massive bang and shock wave as a group of creatures rocketed out of a firework explosion.

"England! England!"

"Incredible, sonic leaguers! They are creatures made entirely out of sound wave and native to England. I am surprised they managed to get them to perform, very unruly creatures," Lupin revealed. Hermione pouted at him. "What?"

"I think she wanted to explain it," Sirius informed, elbowing him in the arm. They started cheering and it seemed even louder than Ludo. The sonic leaguers moved back up and started orbiting around the field.

The Bulgarian team flew onto the field, Ludo naming each one in turn. The scarlet clad figures rose into the air. Lastly, Krum showed up; the man looked like an overgrown bird of prey. Ron rushed to his feet and cheered.

"And now for the HOME team: the England National Quidditch Team!" Ludo shouted, listing off the red striped players as they flew in. "Oliver Wood." The whole front row of the box stood and cheered for the former Gryffindor as he circled the arena, waving to Harry and the others. "Blythe Parkin!" Sirius whistled as the woman passed by. She gave him a slight wave.

"Some things never change," Lupin groaned, everyone turning to look at him. He gave them a relaxed smile.

"Hey, it's been over thirteen years," Sirius replied, an expression of mock hurt on his face.

"And let the games begin!" Ludo shouted as the Quaffle flew into the air. The players raced after it, one of the Bulgarian Chasers heading straight for Wood. He tossed the ball for one of the rings. Wood kept a cool head, knocking the ball away.

Again and again, the Bulgarian team tried to score but not a single shot was made. Wood slammed his fist into the ball, spiking it across the arena. England scored another ten points.

Krum raced over the stadium, moving as fast as possible. England was now, thanks to Wood, a defensive team. Wood was almost impossible to score against. Blythe was keeping on Krum's tail but she wasn't as fast as the bird-like Seeker.

Harry kept his eyes peeled, noticing that the England team was working in a very familiar pattern. In fact, a few of the moves seemed right out of Wood's playbook from back home.

"Fool, Krum feigned!" Mr. Weasley shouted. Both Lupin and Sirius were on their feet shouting the word as well. Harry soon spotted everyone next to him live with excitement. Even Hermione, who was normally calm during a game, was shouting as well.

Wood leaped off his broom, knocking the Quaffle out of the air. He fell back, grabbing onto the broom handle and dangled for a second before swinging back on like a monkey. The Quaffle came back around and he leaped up, swinging the broom like a bat. He knocked the ball halfway across the field.

"And what a return with England Chaser Avery snatching the Quaffle clean out of the air. Another ten points for England!" shouted Ludo. The score was gradually rising as Wood kept up a level of defense unheard of. The Bulgarian team couldn't get a single point on the board.

"Shut out! Shut out!" Leo cried, pumping his fist in the air as the score slowly rose. Soon, the entire crowd was chanting, all wanting to see a shut out. The pressure was now all on the Seekers – Krum and Parkin.

The two seemed to have spotted gold as they were now racing down the arena, moving neck and neck. The crowd was roaring as the points lined up. One hundred and forty. Krum needed that Snitch if his team was going to win. Harry watched with a critical eye. Krum seemed like he wasn't even on a broom when a sudden thought entered his head.

"If you ever want to play in the big leagues, there is your competition." Harry shook the thought off as he watched the two move up and down as the random ball of gold entered his vision. Now that he had it in his eyes, he would never let it out of his sight.

"One hundred and fifty!" Ludo shouted. Everyone was so focused on the Seekers that they weren't even watching the Chasers. "One hundred and sixty!" Harry kept his eyes focused as Krum started to close in on it. Sirius had a similar look on his face, having spotted the golden ball himself.

"Blast! I lost it," Sirius cursed.

"It just zipped around the tower. They just looped around it," Harry called back.

"Got it!" Sirius shouted, picking back up on the ball. Krum reached out, grasping the ball and suddenly raised his hand. The screens at both ends of the arena showed Krum holding the Snitch above his head.

"And that is the game! England wins!" Ludo shouted. Hermione leapt out of her seat, throwing her arms around both Ron and Leo, nearly knocking their heads together in the process. Fred and George hooked arms and started dancing.

"Why did he end it?" Hermione asked.

"Wood was too strong a goal tender. It was only a matter of time. He wanted to end it on his terms," Harry explained. Hermione nodded.

"Ah, who cares? That sod may have got the Snitch but England gets the Cup!" Leo exclaimed, breaking up their conversation. The sonic leaguers started to roar a victory siren while the English team picked Wood up and literally carried him off the field.

"I got a feeling he is on top of the world right now," Lupin chuckled. Harry was surprised that he could even hear the man.

"Yeah, I bet he is," Harry agreed, looking down at the field. He watched as the teams did a quick round of handshaking with the Ministers. Wood waved at Harry. They gave each other a silent nod. Parkin was the last to round off as she left.

Harry glanced over to see the twins reaching for Ludo Bagman. The spectators began filing out and heading back down the stairs to camp.

Not too much later, they were back at Sirius's tent where Ron was shouting Krum's praises from the table. Leo was in all but a shouting match with the redheaded teen. In the middle of it, two more people entered the celebration.

"Tell your mother – " Mr. Weasley started, talking to the twins, when the party stopped.

"Well, bet you didn't think I would be paying you a visit, did you, Potter?" Wood said, standing the middle of the tent. "To the Seeker who me a big break!" Wood grabbed Harry in a massive hug. "I owe you one, big time, Potter," he whispered. Harry gave a small smirk as Wood pulled away.

"Well, all the same, I took a chance and it paid off, Wood. Thank you, Harry," Blythe Parkin said causally. In the brief silence, Harry heard something outside.

"The singing's stopped," Lupin observed, fear dawning on his face. The party quickly scattered to the front of the tent. People were running past, away from a group wearing tightly pointed hoods and their wands held high. Above them, Harry saw people floating in the nighttime air.

"Death Eaters," Sirius hissed.

So, we have invented our own creatures. The sonic leaguer. I'm interested in knowing what you think of this new creature. Leave a note in a review? BTW, loving the number of reviews we've been getting! Keep
'em coming!

~LE