The path not taken
It was almost time for the next chapter to begin. Those who were in the hall could hardly complain about what was happening as it was very enlightening. It had shown sides to people that they did not even know existed.
Whilst it was true that there were differences between their own world and the one shown, it was enough for them to err upon the side of caution. This was especially true for those from the other schools. It was also clear that the staff of the ministry were on edge due to what had already occurred. This included the Lords in the room, no matter their allegiance, they were all taking careful note of what was happening.
The potters were not like the others however as this was not just a political matter, it was also a personal one. They were able to see the differences between the alternates but during the time they had been able to get closer to the girl. This however not only caused harry much embarrassment but had also caused a sense of awkwardness for Chloe when she interacted with her male counterpart.
Thus it was that silence fell the moment they noticed that the book had vanished from its plinth and had reappeared within Blancs hands.
Chapter 14: Blitz-ball
Chloe's week went quickly, with her detentions turning into teaching sessions where she attempted to teach her DADA professor the level eight holy arrow spell. It was an odd reversal from the norm of the professor teaching the student, but it was welcome to Chloe since the professor remained civil, and it wasn't as bad as it could've been.
Dumbledore had spoken to Professor Lupin and told him bluntly to tone it down.
This caused a certain werewolf to blush furiously much to the amusement of his friends.
True the potters were annoyed by his alternates behaviour, They understood the circumstances that caused it to happen but it did not mean that they were happy about it.
Harry had been angry but Hermione had talked to him about the domino effect that caused the difference. This caused the boy to simmer still not happy about it.
Sirius was too busy chuckling away to himself to take much note. He could not help but wonder what had happened to his alternate. It should be interesting to find out due to the differences that had already been shown.
Remus had also wasted his first guess. He had guessed that Harry was now Seamus Finnegan, which he automatically knew he was wrong by the fact that Chloe, and her ever present companion, laughed their attractive butts off. He wondered if he was on the right track. He at the end of the last detention managed a weak holy arrow, and it tired him out quickly.
Those sat at the Gryfindor table could not help but giggle away quietly to themselves at the wolves guess. The fact that he had called the girls behinds attractive had gained the poor man some glares from some people that he would rather not be, the fact that Chloe herself seemed to be preening away at the compliment only made things worse in his opinion. The fact that lily was trying to burn a hole through the back of his skull only made things more awkward.
He could not help but wonder why a spell that was considered "low level" could drain him so much, it was a question for another day.
Snape's class, the day after he found out that Harry Potter was dead, and he decided to ignore the reincarnation bit, was treated to a badly hung over professor. He had drank an entire bottle of fire-whisky the day before, in celebration of the ending of the Potter's accursed bloodline. The reincarnation of the Potter brat had an arrogance to her, but she had both earned it, and her position almost demands it.
Severus clamped down upon his mental shielding to keep his stoic expression. It was a well known fact that the potioneer had a great dislike towards the potters with a rare exception but to here him describe it as accursed was a bit much and only lead those listening to wonder what had happened in the past to cause such animosity between them.
Lily could not help but feel hurt and sad at her friends reaction. She knew that he and James were like oil and water but she had hoped that her child hood friend would at least not let his grudge carry over onto her children, both of whom pointedly ignored the interactions between their parents and the potion teacher not wanting to be involved in any way.
James however knew that he could destroy the man at any time both with his political power or with the debt that the man owed him. He never did however as he knew he was responsible for the situation. He knew that he had caused the situation with his teenage behaviour but he also did not act for his wife's sake.
Snape decided to treat the Candidate with the respect any diplomat deserves, and ignore the soul of the Potter brat, and to keep her away from the labs, besides, if the dark lord comes back, maybe he can simply escape to Gameindustry... and now that he thought about it, moving there would get him out of teaching brats.
This caused a small round of snickering. It was well known fact that Snape did not like being a teacher, he only tolerated it. So to hear his thoughts of running away from the job was not surprising.
Albus however frowned at the thought of his spy. He had saved the boy from prison as a way to gain leverage over him. The fact that he had manoeuvred it so that he had to be at the castle under his ' observations' was an unsaid fact. Every one knew the leash that was upon the potions professor they just were polite enough not to say anything about it.
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Ron's week was becoming horrible. With the fact that his head of house 'turned' on him, and at a house meeting she told the entire house that she saw the memory of the incident, and while the Candidate was rather violent in her reprisals, his actions made the violence justified.
He still didn't think he did anything wrong. Professor Dumbledore had said at one point that he would arrange the girl to marry him, giving the boy all the wealth and prestige he felt he deserved. The fact that Dumbledore was going against his word, made Ronald Weasley angry, but there was nothing he could do.
He felt that three weeks of detention was way too much, but he was unable to argue with his head of house.
He would find some way to have his revenge, he swore it.
Noire was the one to burst the bubbles of any who had been thinking of following this line of thought. "Being a matriarchal society, The head of the house would be Vert. The person of authority though in such a relationship however would not be the husband, but would be Chloe in the eyes of the law. This would be exacerbated due to her being a CPU and a public figure.
There were obvious nods of understanding though there were still looks of confusion within the hall not grasping what was said.
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Chloe's week was going slightly better, as her house was calming down about the Bogart issue, not enough to invite her to join the bi-daily game nights, but enough to stop actively snubbing her. Again, her head of house had called a meeting, because she felt that people have a right to privacy, and in fact had been pissed at the DADA professor for using a live Bogart, no matter how 'harmless' and 'easily dealt with' they are.
She had to deal with at least three of her students reliving trauma, and was happy that at least one student was smart enough to decline rather than relive trauma, or encounter something to make a past trauma worse.
Chloe had a few ideas about games to bring, the top of her list was one called "Cards Against Humanity."
There were other games she was thinking of bringing, many that don't exist on earth, like Atmosphere.
The heads of house nodded in agreement with the reading as they had also had to deal with such things. This was the reason it was why they tended to deal with live creatures in the older years. They also understand why Lupin had done it though, The fact that there had not been a stable teacher for DADA in years had made it that he needed to get as much done as he could as there was no guarantee that the subject would even be covered by the next teachers.
At the mention of the card game a loud whoop was heard followed by a loud thudding. Looking over at the guests to their dimension they could see the purple haired girl grinning madly whilst the black haired girl was softly banging her head on the table.
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Soon enough it was Friday again, and Chloe was heading back home. She had the first blitz-ball game of the season on Saturday.
She was looking forward to the grudge match.
She was glad that she didn't have to deal with the woman from last time.
An unfamiliar phoenix grabbed her and flamed her home.
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Chloe, now standing in front of the basilicom was glaring at the new bird.
"And you are?" Chirp! "OK I don't speak bird, where's Fawkes?" Chirpy Chirp. "sigh, let me guess, he got tired of bringing me back and fourth, so he conned you into doing so?" A birdy nod. "Great... well lets go in."
This caused the hall to start laughing at the interaction between the phoenix and candidate. Albus however just looked at his feathery companion who just sat there regally whilst pointedly avoiding eye contact with those in the hall.
the confusion of a Candidate walking in with a bird was squashed as Chloe explained, and had the kitchens bring up some fruits for her new companion.
Catching up with her sisters, Chloe relaxed, and made her schedule for the next day, which included the thirty minute blitz-ball game. One of two that take place that day, one is a legendary grudge match, and the second only a little behind.
The night passed peacefully, and the next day dawned warm and clear.
After an hour of monster hunting, Chloe headed to the arena, and began to get ready. Donning her Green and White skin tight Blitz-ball uniform, she allowed the magic that allowed the players to breath underwater for the game to to be cast upon her.
It was time.
The image of her in her uniform was shown causing said girl to once again burrow into her sister in embarrassment. She was able to play as the crowd could not be heard in the water. This allowed her to have a form of tunnel vision in which she could blatantly ignore them and focus on the game, it was similar to how Lyrica could perform despite her crippling shyness.
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In Hogwarts, Dumbledore had set up a projector in the great hall, as he had gotten requests to show what the sport Chloe was going to play, to be shown. Upon finding out that there was to be a 'live stream' he decided to just set it up in the great hall using a projection TV.
He had finished setting it up just in time.
This gained some excited talking about such an idea being implemented within the school. It was not likely to be done but the idea was fun to play with.
XX Bombastic music plays XX.
Huge jets of water were sent into the air, the jets curved majestically, until it hit the inside of what appeared to be an invisible sphere, which caused the water to slowly fill up a sphere, one bigger in diameter than an American football field.
"Welcome to the new Blitz-ball season!" the excessively flashy announcer declared. "today's First match is the Grudge match of the season! The most amazing thing about these two teams clashing, is the fact that there hasn't been a foul called in the last fifty years! That's right folks, not a single foul in fifty years despite the grudge. Now let's introduce today's teams.
In the red zone, from the land of White serenity, are the Lowee Berserkers! This team has undergone some restructuring since the last time they played, but will it be enough to secure victory? The new team manager, and offensive Player Tidus, as well as the new offensive player Wakka, have recently joined up, and have good records in training.
In the blue zone are the Leanbox Knights the team is the same as last year, so we will see whether it's still a winning combination. The goddess candidate of Leanbox has once again taken the field.
Now that the the field is full, and the holographic markers are set, let the match... BEGIN!
Leanbox wins the toss-up, and they head towards the goal, ooh, nice venom tackle by the defence, Lowee now has the ball. The ball is passed to Tidus whom is in the clear, and he now has the perfect setup, and he shoots! Nice catch by Candidate Chloe, she fires an invisible shot from her position at the goal! The shot, as expected vanishes midway to the goal, wait for it, will the goalie be able to guess where it will end up? He lunges to the upper left, and... SCORE the ball flies through the goalie's original position unimpeded!
The score is now 1-0 in Leanbox's favour!
By the look in the eyes of Lowee they won't take that lying down!
The match is heating up! Tidus uses a sphere shot, and he SCORES! Tie game!
Leanbox, Lowee, ouch, that tackle sent Wakka strait out of the water, he's okay, and coming back in!
Things are heating up. Lowee scores again! With the infamous Jecht shot knocking two of his blockers out of the way!
Leanbox blitzes the defensive positions... and scores! Tie game again 2-2!
Lowee Wins the toss-up, and they start passing the ball around... Wakka Scores!
Lowee, no Leanbox, no Lowee, nice catch by Chloe! Another invisible shot! SCORE! 3-3.
Half-time folks, we will see what happens in the next half!"
Those from gameindustri were watching the game with snacks having appeared upon their table, it was only one of many that they had in the nations but was also known to be one of the fastest paced ones. At the other tables however a silence had fallen over the hall. Most of them were trying to process what they were seeing, it was nothing like quiditch whilst also resembling it at the same time, the clear use of magic in the game fascinated some.
The watchers at Hogwarts had WTF expressions on their faces. That was a CLEAN game? The special tricks, the physical contact, with poison, draining, and temp paralysis effects? Vanishing balls? How are those considered legal?
They were interrupted from their thoughts when the music started again, showing that the game was about to resume.
"Welcome back! The second half of the game is about to begin, and here's the toss up! Ooh, brutal take-down by Leanbox, Tidus will feel that in the morning! He also seems to be shaking off the paralysis effect.
This is one of the most brutal games I have ever seen. Each side has scored twice more in ten minutes, and both sides are getting rather battered.
An equally brutal take-down by Lowee sends an offensive member of team Leanbox out of the field, and knocks the man out with five minutes left in the game.
A time out is called by both sides. And it looks like a substitution has occurred on Lowee's side, replacing Wakka, whom by the way he has been clutching his side for the last two minutes indicate that he might've damaged them, and it looks like on Leanbox's side there was a combination of a substitution and reshuffle. Chloe has been moved up to offence and the spare goalie has been called in.
Wait, that form, it looks like the Goddess of Lowee has taken the field herself in a bold move! What effect will the goddess being on the field have?
This caused everyone to look at Blanc who just shifted quietly in her seat. She was a competative person, she also enjoyed a game every now and then so it was easy to imagine herself doing this. Especially when her rivals sister was on the field.
Here's the toss-up! Chloe manages to get it, and she rockets down toward the goal. She is tackled by Blanc! Managing to hold on the ball, Chloe uses sphere shot! And she scores! 6-5!
Blanc counter attacks, and after seven passes through various members of her team, she manages to slip a shot past the Leanbox Goalie! 6-6, with one minute on the clock. Remember folks, there are no ties, if a tie game is in place when the clock hits zero, the game will continue until the next score!
Lowee wins the toss-up, and Blanc gets tackled from behind, causing her to loose the ball, Leanbox recovers the ball, and kicks it over to Chloe. Whom in a surprising move boots it higher! It looks like she's going for something flashy!
Chloe starts swimming upward, end hits the ball up with her full strength! This caused the ball to leave the water! Chloe swims after it!"
"Get back here!" Blanc screams as she swims after the candidate.
"No Lady Blanc! Let me take care of it!" Tidus shouted to deaf ears.
Chloe broke the surface first followed by Blanc.
It should be noted at this point, that in combat Blanc would smush Chloe like a bug, but in Blitz-ball, Chloe was much higher level, and more skilled. So the results should be obvious as Chloe met the ball coming down in perfect position for her sphere shot, while Blanc's timing was off.
"Chloe is starting her shot, and so is Blanc! Chloe's foot hits the ball! Blanc's foot hit's Chloe, sending her rocketing towards the ground in a blatantly illegal maneuver! Chloe's shot... it has re-entered the water, and is rocketing towards the goal with three seconds left on the clock!
Two!
One!
Zero and SCORE! Leanbox wins! 7-6!
It looks like Chloe is okay as well, if a little dazed. We have a message from the candidate."
"What happened was the result of an amateur attempting an advanced maneuver. I was up there so I can tell she was trying to hit the ball, but her timing was off."
"Well it looks like the fifty year streak of being clean games continue! Next up is the Lastation Punks vs the Planatune Pirates! The game will start in half an hour.(EN2)
Vert was clearly glaring at the highly embarrassed blanc. Chloe herself was chuckling into her sisters shoulder. The hall however was silent at what was being considered a clean game.
The potters were in a panic at what they were watching. The magicals however had no room to talk as they played quiditch.
The watchers were wincing at the battered players, when one unlucky student mentioned at least they didn't have iron cannon balls hitting them.
The student would wake up in the infirmary two days later, after being beaten by rabid Quidditch fans.
This caused the room to burst out laughing, it was a well known fact that quiditch was a love/hate sport. So all pomfrey could do was sigh at what was said.
But who cares about him.
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In the Infirmary under the blitz-ball stadium, Chloe was getting patched up. She had a headache where her head had destroyed a section of bleachers. Then a visitor came in.
Blanc shuffled her feet before opening her mouth and saying, "Sorry about the kick."
"No problem, first time you try something, you tend to make mistakes, just promise that you'll practice more before retrying that particular trick," Chloe replied with a lopsided grin, her bare torso being treated for the large amount of bruising. Much of them would go away after a Nepbull, but others she'd have to deal with for the rest of the day.
There wouldn't be any monster hunting for the rest of the day.
So she spent it with her sisters playing some games, and ordering some overnight delivery of some games for the game room at Hogwarts.
Soon enough it was Sunday evening, and Chloe had to take the new phoenix express to Hogwarts.
She was dropped off literally in the middle of the head table, during dinner.
Looking at the mashed potatoes oozing over her boot, she and CC jumped off the table, and made their way to their own, completely ignoring the mutters and snickers.
After dinner, as she was heading through the common room, when she encountered the rest of her house.
"Explain!" a student said much to Chloe's confusion.
It would be a long night for the Candidate.
Chloe had to face palm, that phoenix caused her so many issues with its so called 'jokes'. Despite her love for the game being asked to answer questions on every little aspect of it was not her idea of fun. Playing it? Sure talking about it? Not so much.