Chapter 79

There was an unanimous groan from the orange-clad crowd as they watched the Quaffle sail through the middle hoop.

"And… it is now thirty points to zero after three minutes. The Cannons really have not started this game well, have they, after a wonderful three hundred and forty to sixty point victory just last week against the Montrose Magpies. But the Bats are just a little bit better — more experience on the team, more talent, I'd say — and it's showing for the Cannons today."

Ron grimaced as the voice of Simeon Butters spoke the hard reality of what he was witnessing with his own eyes. This was the first game of the Cannons' he'd managed to get to all season, and after the magnificent win they'd managed last week — albeit against the team coming second last in the whole league — his hopes had been high.

Had he ever actually been to a match his team had won or was it their mission to lose whenever he could come and watch them?

Thirty to zero and they hadn't even been in the air for five minutes.

He tossed the Omnioculars on the ground and collapsed into his seat.

Hermione, who had been standing beside him and watching with mild interest, looked down at him. "Oh, Ron," she said, and he could tell she was trying not to laugh. "It's just —"

"It's my birthday," Ron said. "I was hoping they'd actually be useful today."

His words didn't seem to abate Hermione's amusement. For a moment, she turned her gaze back to the players, the Bats with the Quaffle once more, zooming towards the other end of the pitch without a Cannons Chaser in sight.

"You know," Ron said, "I don't even know why they made that switch this year. Swapping Keeper and Seeker. They're two completely different positions, and it's the first time any team has ever done it, because it's a really stupid idea. How do you expect someone whose whole life's training has been based around speed to suddenly sit in front of the hoops and do nothing until the Quaffle is near?"

As if to prove his point, another groan filled the stadium as the Bats moved into a forty point lead.

"And Switch has let in another one," Butters said. "At the rate they're scoring, it won't matter if the Cannons Seeker, Sope, catches the Snitch. She's had some good luck lately — a good move into Seeker from that perspective."

"It's just a game," Hermione said. "And they won last week, didn't they? So it's not like they're losing every game…"

Harry and Ginny slid into the stand then, Harry carrying a bucket full of Fizz Pops while Ginny waddled along behind him, her pregnant belly the size of two Quaffles stitched together these days. Neither bothered to sit, but turned their attention to the match taking place almost at eye level. Despite Ginny having not played in months, she was still considered a player of the British and Irish Quidditch League and was able to get tickets to any games she wished. Good tickets, at that.

"Wow," Harry said, looking at the charmed scoreboard opposite them. He frowned. "We weren't gone that long, were we?"

"No," Ron mumbled. "Five minutes."

"Ouch," Ginny said. "What's the Keeper doing?"

"Nothing," Ron said. "Nothing. She should be the Seeker."

"Yeah, but… Sope is a good Seeker, too," Ginny reasoned. "She's fast. She catches the Snitch more often than not."

"So did Switch," Ron said.

"Well, what are your Beaters doing?" Ginny said. "They're just sitting there looking pretty with those bats of theirs." She gestured vaguely to where the most experienced Beater in the whole of the League, Arty King, was flying lower than the rest and watching the game rather than the Bludgers zooming around his head. "He could hit that right at their Chaser, and she'd be down. The Bats' Beaters are at the other end."

Ron frowned, seeing where Ginny was pointing. She was right — of course she was right, she knew Quidditch better than anyone. The Beater wasn't doing anything.

"Last week he took two players out and they needed to be replaced," Ron said. "See. This is what I mean! They play well and then I come to a game and they suddenly fall apart. I've never seen them win."

"Yeah, and looks like you'll have to wait another few weeks," Harry said as the Bats Chaser managed to sneak the Quaffle past the Cannons Keeper again.

Ron was just about ready to get up and leave and come back another day. He wasn't sure how many more losses he could take. Especially on his birthday.

It had been almost tradition for him and Hermione to attend the Cannons game that fell on or around his birthday. It had started a few years back when she'd bought him a season pass to see them, but he'd not really managed to get to many. Work had been keeping him busy, his shifts seeming to always align with when they were playing. But for some reason, the game near his birthday was always free. Or maybe, they made more of an effort to make time. He didn't know, but it was always an enjoyable experience, win or loss.

Ginny always managed to get them the best seats, but this was the first time she'd actually come with them since she was still on leave. In the past, she'd been off with her team either playing herself or training. One year, the Cannons had even played the Harpies, which had been very conflicting for everyone but Ron.

"I don't care if she hit my sister; that was a good hit from Ravenclaw. It got us ten more points!"

Harry always joined them, and the day reminded Ron of the old times, when it was just the three of them having fun together. As much as he loved his life now — spending every day with the most amazing and beautiful person in the world — he also appreciated the three of them spending time together, too, and he was almost certain Harry and Hermione felt the same way.

"At least no one's spotted the Snitch yet," Hermione said, peering through her Omnioculars to get a better view of the Seekers on the other side of the pitch to them. "There's still hope." She sat back in her seat beside Ron and smiled at him. "Are you even having the smallest amount of fun?" she asked teasingly.

Ron turned his attention to his wife. The brisk wind had blown her hair across her face, wisps flying in all directions. She'd done her best to tie it up, but as usual, it fell free of its containment, instead preferring to maintain its naturally wild state.

It was in that moment that Ron realised, just maybe, how unappreciative he sounded. Days like these were hard to come by. Birthday or not, their plates were always filled with other things that it was so infrequent they got to enjoy themselves by being out with friends — or even just together.

They did make special efforts for birthdays or their anniversary that was coming up in a few weeks, but they were about the only times. Not that he didn't enjoy the nights spent at home with her. Those were his favourites, but these… these were nice, too.

"I'm having fun," he said. "I love being up here with you, them —" he jabbed a thumb at Harry and Ginny on the other side of him, "— one day I'd just love to actually be present for a victory, you know?"

Hermione patted his knee comfortingly, letting him know she at least wanted to understand. He knew she didn't, because she had never understood the importance he and Ginny — and a lot of his other siblings — put on the sport. It was just a game to her and nothing more. He suspected she supported the Cannons purely because he did, but she didn't actually care if they won or not.

She just liked being with him.

Ron sunk deeper into his seat and placed an arm across Hermione's shoulders, drawing her towards him. "I always have a great birthday," he said. "You know I do."

She leaned her head against his shoulder, and while Harry and Ginny stood and watched the players above them, he and Hermione watched from their seats.

It was seventy to zero by the time one of the Seekers made a move.

"And it looks like the Cannons Seeker, Hannah Sope, has caught sight of the Snitch. She's off, her opponent no match for the Firebolt Six Sope is flying. It does look beautiful in the air, doesn't it?"

Ron withdrew his arm from Hermione and they were both on their feet again. He could see the little gold blur diving to the ground. Everyone was cheering, Hermione included, as the Cannons Seeker angled her broom down in order to reach the Snitch first. The Bats Seeker was very far behind, doing their best to catch Sope.

"And while you were all watching that spectacular dive," Butters said, "Cannons Chaser, Autumn Clever, has just stolen the Quaffle from Meet on the Bats. She's flying down towards the other end of the pitch — we really haven't seen much action so far, have we? — and she dodges Henry, passes to her fellow Chaser, Evermore. He dodges Henry, too, passes to Bookworm, who passes back to Clever. She dodges a Bludger speeding towards her and — yes — the Cannons have finally scored. Seventy to ten."

Ron punched his fist into the air, a sudden thrill creeping over him. He searched the pitch for the Seeker, his attention momentarily distracted by the first Cannons' goal of the game, but saw with disappointment that both Seekers had drawn steady again. Their heads whipped around as they attempted to search for the Snitch, but they'd quite obviously lost sight of it once more.

"Oh, here we go," Butters said, excitement edging into his voice. "Cannons with the Quaffle again. What was that from Meet? He's been the Bats' best player today, but that was a clean drop. They won't be happy.

"Bookworm is on her way again, always off to a slow start, but when she gets going… yes, she's zooming down the other end, not a soul in sight. She looks around, but she seems to have even outflown her fellow Chasers. Oh, there's Gregory, the Bats' Beater. Nope, his aim is off. He misses her entirely. Bookworm is at the posts now, she aims, she… yes, she scores!"

A cheer erupted, every spectator on their feet now.

"The Bats lead Seventy to twenty now. Still a long way to the end, especially with the Snitch disappearing again, but this looks more promising for the Cannons."

Another cheer broke out, and Ron whipped his head around to try and find what was happening.

"Over there," Hermione said, gripping his arm and turning him slightly. She was pointing to a huddle of players near the end the Bats were scoring at. Ron grabbed the Omnioculars from Hermione — his own still discarded on the ground — and zoomed in to get a better look.

There seemed to be some kind of argument ensuing. King, his pink hair blinding close up, seemed to be getting threatened by a Bats Beater.

"What's happening?" Hermione asked. There were jeers coming from the crowd, some shouting for a penalty. Ron turned a dial and writing appeared at the bottom of his vision.

"It was a perfectly legal hit," King was saying to the Bats Beater.

"Her arm is broken!" the Bats Beater replied.

"So?" King said. "Bones are broken in almost every game. It's the nature of Quidditch."

"Ron?" Hermione said.

"Er, I think King hit MacLerie or something," Ron said slowly. "They're arguing over whether it was legal or not."

"Where is MacLerie?" It was Ginny.

"On the ground," Harry said, shoving a handful of Fizz Pops into his mouth, and Ron directed his Omnioculars down. Sure enough, there on the ground near the hoops was the petite, writhing figure of Electra MacLerie — one player already picked to be selected for Scotland come the next world cup.

"She's fine," Ron said immediately. "They're complaining about nothing." He returned his gaze back to the argument breaking out, the referee now coming over to intervene.

"He's entitled to direct the Bludger at an opposing player," the referee was saying. "It's part of Quidditch."

"At a Beater!" the second Beater argued.

"Any player is at risk of being hit," the referee continued. "MacLerie had a bat, she is a professional, she should have been watching. It's play on, no penalty, Cannons have the Quaffle."

Another loud cheer from those who'd been 'listening' in like Ron, erupted.

"And Evermore has the Quaffle for the Cannons," Butters voice said. "The Bats are still coming to terms with not receiving what they considered a well-earned penalty."

A groan from the crowd.

"Oh, that was nasty," Hermione said.

"What was?" Ron asked.

"The other Beater… Ravenclaw… they just took out a Bats Chaser and it looks like it hurt."

Ron didn't bother to look. He was still following Evermore, the newest and youngest team member who had really come to himself this season, finding his broom and proving to be one of the best out there.

"Come on," Ron muttered, zooming in even closer as he followed Evermore towards the posts. "Come on…"

"Evermore passes to Clever just for fun, I think, and she passes back to him, he dodges to the left as Earl goes right, and… he scores. That is a goal from every Chaser now. Seventy to thirty. Only four more goals and we're even."

"Yes!" Ron cried, passing the Omnioculars back to Hermione and bending down to retrieve his own. "Oh, this is great. This is really good, Hermione. They might just do this. Sope has already proven herself to be the faster Seeker, so as long as it doesn't fly right in front of Maric, we might just do this."

"I'm glad you're having fun!" Hermione said brightly, and she leaned over to kiss his cheek. For a moment, Ron revelled in the warmth of her lips against his cold skin, feeling the coolness of her nose pressing against him. The only downside to being so high up was that it got cold, and they eventually had to cast warming charms around their box.

Ron hugged her tight, his mood lifting with every pass the Chasers now made between themselves, suddenly making it look easy. A few moments ago, they were being outflown in speed and skill, and now… now they were at their best again.

Just a slow start, he thought cheerfully as Clever managed to intercept a lousy pass between two Bats' Chasers and was speeding down the pitch again, everyone else trailing behind her.

"Oh, Sope has caught sight of the Snitch again!" Butters boomed as Clever scored her second goal in the space of a few minutes. "That's seventy to forty now, and Sope is on her way once more. Yes, she's well and truly in the lead of Maric, him falling far behind the speed of the Firebolt Six. This range has always been based on speed. It's why they're still the sort-after broom many years after the first was released."

"Oh, Merlin, please," Ron said quietly. "Please get it." He watched the Seeker intently, all the while keeping his other eye on the Chasers and what they were doing. Bookworm had misread Evermore's position and a pass had been intercepted by the Bats, but that didn't matter at all if they could get the Snitch.

Their box was silent as they all watched in anticipation. Even Hermione had her hands clasped together, wringing them nervously in front of her. Her eyes were fixated on the Seeker along with everyone else's.

If they win this, Ron thought, they're on top of the ladder. They would be clear leaders, because the Falcons — the ones previously in front — had lost their first game just two days before. If Sope caught the Snitch now, they'd win by one hundred and twenty points and the Cannons would be leading.

They hadn't been anywhere near the top in twenty-eight years, let alone on the top. The drought had been longer than Ron was old. But they were a good team now… the best… the best the Cannons had ever been.

"The Snitch makes a dive, Sope goes with it — and if you all weren't watching, Switch just made the greatest save of her career to date. Wow, that was incredible to see. I hope some of you were watching — Maric has made a horrendous error. Oh no… oh no, no, no. Sope reaches out — it's a stretch, but she can do it. We've seen it before…"

Ron quickly snapped his gaze up to Switch, who'd just dived to stop the Quaffle entering the posts again. She managed to catch it single-handed and lob it over the three Bats Chasers to Evermore, who was clear of opposing Chasers.

He looked back to the Seeker who had pulled up suddenly and was now chasing the Snitch back up after almost reaching the ground.

"It's a mischievous Snitch, this one," Butters laughed. "Maric stands no chance. I think the Cannons have this, everyone. Yes… she reaches again, and… YES! Her hands close over the Snitch. And if you're looking up, you'll see that Evermore just sunk the Quaffle through the middle hoop seconds before. I think it counts! Just waiting for clarification… YES, Evermore scores for the Cannons, making it seventy to fifty, and then Sope catches the Snitch moments later. Two hundred to seventy, the Chudley Cannons win after thirty-three minutes of action. Short game, but entertaining nonetheless."

Ron felt tears spring to his eyes. He wasn't stupid; he didn't let them fall. But he was internally crying with happiness.

Hermione turned to him, beaming, as the loudest cheer Ron had ever heard spread throughout the stadium. Strangers were hugging one another as the thrill of such a comeback — not just by catching the Snitch, but the Chasers, too — sunk in.

Even Ginny was smiling and applauding the victory, and Harry, who'd remained fairly neutral in regards to his favourite team over the years, seemed very pleased by the result.

He hugged Hermione, then he hugged his sister, though that was getting more difficult by the day as she was two months away from giving birth. Then Harry clapped him on the back, and Ron felt sheer joy. Not like he'd felt when he'd married Hermione, but it was damn close.

Butters' voice was still echoing through the crowd, but it was drowned out from the cheering. The Cannons were doing a lap of the pitch, arms raised, Sope in the centre, clutching the Golden Snitch like it was the most precious gem in the world.

Ron hugged Hermione again as the players zoomed around. The Bats had landed, looking rather defeated over what had happened.

"We should celebrate!" Ginny shouted over the noise. "Leaky Cauldron?"

Ron nodded. His jaw ached from all the smiling he'd been doing. He grabbed Hermione's hand and followed Harry and Ginny from the box, descending the stairs slowly, pushing his way through everyone.

Heads turned as diehard Quidditch fans seemed to spot Ginny, and everyone else saw Harry. Their eyes widened in shock upon being so close to two celebrities, probably even more so upon seeing a pregnant Ginny.

They couple had never taken Hermione's advice about going public on their own accord. They'd just stepped out into the public eye, which had sent everyone into a frenzy for a few days. But Ron supposed not everyone read the Prophet or the gossip magazines, and it was clear, a vast majority of the crowd was learning this news for the first time.

He saw people begin to whisper, eying Ginny and pointing. Ginny did a better job at ignoring it than Ron could have.

"It's like they've never seen a pregnant person before," Hermione scoffed. She sounded appalled by the people's behaviour.

"How long have you known Harry?" Ron asked, holding her hand still. "And you're still surprised that people point and stare?"

"As you said, Hermione," Harry said over his shoulder, "we can't hide away all the time."

"Yeah, all they do is point," Ginny said. "It's easy to ignore."

Hermione still looked disgusted, but she didn't say anything as they continued descending the stairs with the crowd.

When they reached flat ground, they gathered in a small corner of the stadium near the exit. Despite Harry's previous nonchalance over people staring, Ron did notice Harry stood at an angle that shielded Ginny from prying eyes. Ron once again found himself not envying Harry and his sister.

"Should we go?" Ron suggested.

The others nodded their agreement.

Ron reached for Hermione's hand again, ready to Disapparate them to the Leaky Cauldron, but Hermione shook her head. She turned to Harry and Ginny. "Do you want us to ride the Knight Bus with you?"

"You don't have to," Ginny said. "Not the most pleasant ride."

"Yeah, but if we Apparate and you don't, then we'll be waiting around for some time for you to get there," Ron reasoned. "Come on, we'll get the Knight Bus back."

Ginny seemed grateful for the offer despite another protest that they didn't have to. Being pregnant in the wizarding world, Ron had come to realise, was a real pain in the arse. Pregnant people were recommended not to use Portkeys, Apparition was off the cards in case one accidentally and horribly Splinched themself and/or their unborn child. Floo travel was okay if one was travelling domestically, but they didn't have fireplaces at a Quidditch stadium, so Ginny and Harry were forced to ride the Knight Bus if they wished to go anywhere further than walking distance from their home in Holyhead.

Ron had once suggested they move back into Grimmauld Place briefly so they were at least closer to London, but Harry had point blank refused to do such a thing. He still wished to be rid of the place, but no one seemed to want to deal with all of the permanently stuck Dark artifacts that would forever be part of the place's decor.

"I'm not raising my kid in that place."

They walked to the designated Knight Bus pick up zone that was established by the nearest off-road from the hidden stadium. There were a few people also gathered — mostly elderly or people without their Apparition license — and as the bus came to a screeching halt before them, whipping their hair every which way, Ron couldn't help but laugh.

"And they call this the safest form of travel when you're pregnant," he commented.

After getting their tickets, they found a set of four seats on the top floor, away from prying and curious eyes. Ginny sat against the window, Harry beside her, while Ron and Hermione took two seats on the other side of the aisle.

"It was a great win," Harry said after the bus lurched forward, causing all of them to instinctively reach out to grab support. "You know… I think I'm quite a fan of the Cannons. I think it's your influence, Ron."

Ron grinned.

"Oh, nevermind the team your wife plays for," Ginny said.

Harry shrugged. "I never said I was a fan of just the Cannons. Just that… I am."

Ginny huffed mockingly, but she didn't seem too perturbed by Harry's confession.

As the bus lurched and stopped, dropping people off and picking more up, the discussion of game specifics took place. Ron, still filled with so much pride over having finally seen his team win — especially on his birthday — couldn't help but gush over every player on the team.

"And, you know what?" Ron said as they were one stop away from London, "I think the Seeker and Keeper switch was a good move."

"When they were losing, it wasn't," Ginny teased.

"No, but… well, they made the right call. It's a different call, but it's a good one. They're both brilliant at their original positions, and they're brilliant at their new ones, too. It just means if one of them were to ever get hurt, then we have a good back-up, you know?"

Hermione rested her hand on his knee, looking happy about something. "I'm glad you had a good time," she said.

"It's been a great day," Ron assured her. "Thanks."

Hermione smiled again as the bus shot forward one last time and announced that they'd be reaching London in one minute.

Once safely off, they entered the pub from the Muggle side and found a table in the corner with four chairs.

Harry went and got them all drinks, and when he returned, he lifted his glass, beaming at Ron. "Happy birthday, mate," he said.

Ron grinned.

Hermione leaned across and kissed his cheek again. "Happy birthday," she said.

Ron drew her against him as best he could from where they sat. Right then, he couldn't stop smiling. He was filled with so much happiness to be spending the evening with them — the Cannons winning an added, wonderful bonus.

It was days like this that he found himself wishing that nothing would ever change. Things were perfect just the way they were.

I'd like to dedicate this chapter to the wonderful friends I've made over the past few years through the Quidditch League. We have played together as the Cannons for 2 seasons and even though we are all over the world, I honestly love every single one of you. After much discussion of our actual Quidditch characters, I hope you all like what I've done to add you to this story. Even though I don't know if the Quidditch League will exist any longer, I hope we will remain friends for many many years, because you all hold a special place in my heart 3.