I wasn't sure what to call this chapter, so that's why it's just titled Chapter 38.
It turned out that the person who was captured at the game was a wanted Egyptian fugitive, who had started a new life in Gibraltar, and was heavily disguised. Quite why he'd risk coming back to his home country in that manner was beyond me, but nevertheless, that's what happened. The stadium was damaged beyond repair in the subsequent fighting and had to be demolished. My 13th birthday would be during the World Cup, so I was sure that would make up for the quite chaotic nature of my 12th! England were set to host the 1994 tournament, and I very much hoped that dad could sort us some tickets from work. If not, I was sure Ludo could use his connections to that effect. Anyway, that wasn't for a year yet...
We spent a large part of our final week in Egypt playing small sided Quidditch on the pitch behind the hotel. On my new Cleansweep Eleven I was setting chasing standards that had never been seen in our family before, and it got to the point where I had to either sit out or referee games, as I was so much better than everyone else. Charlie hadn't played in a couple years now, so he wasn't the same amazing seeker that he used to be, and I would often score enough goals to negate his snitch catches. He was of course very impressed by my ability, and parroted the same lines from almost everyone now, that I was destined to become a world class professional player.
"You could have done that yourself!" I told Charlie when he said this. "You could have played for England, you could have been competing at our home world cup next year! Why did you waste your talent by looking at dragons instead?"
"Dragons are fascinating creatures. I find their conservation more important than playing a sport"
I rolled my eyes
"Charlie, dragons are the most fearsome creatures known to man. I'm pretty sure they can survive on their own and don't need humans to help them"
"It's my true passion though. Quidditch is fun and all, but I love magical creatures and especially dragons much more. On the other hand, Quidditch is clearly your passion. You love nothing else more, apart from friends and family, so that is what your destiny should be. You can be what I chose not to be"
I had to admit that was a fair point. There was no activity I loved more than Quidditch. The only other thing I was really good at was combat, but that didn't seem like a fun career to have, though I was fully prepared to fight on the side of light if You Know Who ever returned. It wasn't, however, something I wanted to dedicate my whole life to.
Soon though, and despite feeling like it had only just got started, our luxury holiday was over, and we returned to the UK. After some rather non descript days at home, we headed to Diagon Alley, where we would spend the last night before returning to Hogwarts at the Leaky Cauldron. We arrived in the morning, and I bumped in to Demelza and Amy almost straight away. Mum then offered to let me go off with them for a few hours, as long as I promised not to enter Knockturn Alley, while she got all my new second year school supplies. I eagerly accepted, as my best mates looked very excited about something.
They hurried me over to Quality Quidditch Supplies, and I saw what they were so gassed about right away. It was the very latest broom model released, called the Firebolt, the fastest ever made. I read the sign alongside it.
THE FIREBOLT
This state-of-the-art racing broom sports a streamlined, superfine handle of ash, treated with a diamond-hard polish and hand-numbered with its own registration number. Each individually selected birch twig in the broomtail has been honed to aerodynamic perfection, giving the Firebolt unsurpassable balance and pinpoint precision. The Firebolt has an acceleration of 0-150 miles an hour in ten seconds and incorporates an unbreakable braking charm. Price on request.
"Ireland's national team have already ordered these, as have the Harpies" said Demelza. "Hopefully this will help us get back to challenging at the top of the league"
"You're gonna have your work cut out though, the league gifted the Wasps these as an extra reward for winning the title last year" said Amy "we'll definitely be favourites to retain it".
"Ireland's the favourite for the World Cup, aren't they?" I said "They've smashed everyone to bits in qualifying so far. I'll be worried if England have to face them next summer, should they keep their form up"
"I dunno, put Viktor Krum on one of these and he might just be the difference to get Bulgaria over the line" said Demelza
"We really need to improve our form though if we don't want to be embarrassed on home soil next summer" said Amy "we're lucky we're the hosts, cause I'm not convinced we'd have qualified otherwise"
Demelza and I had to agree with her there. England had been in horrible form in recent months, getting beaten by Spain, Russia and Turkey back to back. The most recent win was a narrow 20 point victory over Moldova. It was worrying to say the least.
After a while we returned to the Leaky Cauldron, where we saw Harry, Ron and Hermione enter just ahead of us, and Mum arrived behind us with all the shopping. Harry had a brief conversation with Dad about Black, and I felt pretty awkward not being able to tell him why Black had escaped. It felt exactly like the last school year, having to hide crucial information from people, and I hated it!
Hermione greeted us and we saw that she was holding a large cat in her hands.
"Did you just buy that?" I asked her
"Yeah, isn't she beautiful? No one was interested in her in the shop, and my parents won't let me get an owl, so I thought why not?"
"Why won't they let you have an owl?" asked Amy, but before Hermione could reply, we were distracted by Percy greeting Harry.
He held out his hand solemnly as though he and Harry had never met and said, 'Harry. How nice to see you"
'Hello, Percy,' said Harry, trying not to laugh.
'I hope you're well?' said Percy pompously shaking hands. It was rather like being introduced to the mayor.
'Very well, thanks –'
'Harry!' said Fred, elbowing Percy out of the way and bowing deeply. 'Simply splendid to see you, old boy –'
'Marvellous,' said George, pushing Fred aside and seizing Harry's hand in turn. 'Absolutely spiffing.'
Percy scowled.
'That's enough, now,' said Mum.
'Mum!' said Fred, as though he'd only just spotted her, and seized her hand, too. 'How really corking to see you –'
'I said, that's enough,' said Mrs Weasley, depositing her shopping in an empty chair. 'Hello, Harry, dear. I suppose you've heard our exciting news?'
She pointed at the brand-new silver badge on Percy's chest. 'Second Head Boy in the family!' she said, swelling with pride.
'And last,' Fred muttered under his breath. 'I don't doubt that,' said Mrs Weasley, frowning suddenly. 'I notice they haven't made you two prefects.'
'What do we want to be prefects for?' said George, looking revolted at the very idea. 'It'd take all the fun out of life"
I giggled.
'You want to set a better example to your sister!' snapped Mrs Weasley.
'Ginny's got other brothers to set her an example, Mother,' said Percy loftily. 'I'm going up to change for dinner …' He disappeared.
"Come on, let's go upstairs and catch up" Hermione said to us. "I'm staying here tonight too. I've been in France for a lot of this summer, there's so much I want to tell you!"