"Finally!" exclaimed Reginald Ashbourne, Earl of Heavenbrook, as Thess stepped into the private box. "Here comes our top-selling jersey star!"
Thess glanced around, wondering who he was talking about, but quickly realized she was at the end of the line.
"Of course, I mean you, Miss Wyrmwood." He clasped her hand, leaving no room for doubt that he was speaking of no other Miss Wyrmwood. "A pleasure to finally meet you."
"Is it?"
"Thess, this is—" Ginny began.
"The boss, I know."
"I prefer 'Lord,' but I rather like the ring of 'boss.' Feel free to keep calling me that, if you wish."
The Earl was exactly as she'd seen him on screen, with one exception—he smelled exceptionally good. Given that she was an athlete accustomed to locker rooms, perhaps her sense of smell had dulled somewhat, but even so, the man before her was impeccably groomed.
"Reginald has offered to be our financial consultant," Ginny explained.
The Earl smirked at Ginny's complete disregard for his titles and formalities, addressing him simply by his first name. Then, he turned his gaze on Thess, curious to see if she would do the same.
"I thought you—I mean… the Earl—didn't like owning a Quidditch team."
"Ah, don't get me wrong. This team is a financial sinkhole, and I can't wait for all of you to vacate my property. But I've realized the best way to make that happen without incurring losses is by helping you."
"Such generosity, boss," Orion drawled, letting the sarcasm drip like venom from a snake's fangs.
His sudden interjection took both Ginny and Thess by surprise. The Chaser had appeared behind the Earl as if deliberately cornering him.
"Ah, I recall you being far more… docile, Mr. Graves," the Earl mused. "Looks like someone finally decided to be a man. Your father must be proud. Send him my regards when you see him."
No special vision talent was required to see the invisible curses exchanged between them. Fortunately, neither was carrying a wand.
"Gentlemen," Amara interjected, her tone sharp. "Might I remind you that we're all on the same team?"
"Yes, of course," the Earl said smoothly. "It's fascinating how sport truly brings out the hooligan in even the most refined gentlemen," he added with a wolfish smile. "As for you, Miss Wyrmwood, I'd very much like an opportunity to discuss business and your role on this team."
"I'll schedule a meeting for later this week," Ginny stated.
"Perfect," the Earl said, turning his attention back to the pitch. "For today, please, enjoy the match."
He took a seat in the highest row of the box, alongside a few aristocratic acquaintances, leaving the front rows for the Angels.
Thess settled into the second row between Orion and Anaya, just behind two empty seats beside their coach.
"Excuse me," Sean said to Orion. "I think you're in my seat."
"I don't see your name on it," Orion replied coolly.
Sean merely gave him a condescending look and gestured toward Thess.
"I need him to narrate the game for me," she explained.
Orion studied them both, as if deciding whether they were serious. He likely thought up an argument or two, but in the end, he merely sighed, stood up in silence, and moved to the empty seat beside Damon.
"What's with him today?" Sean asked.
"I don't know what you mean," Thess replied. "He's been grumpy since the day I met him."
"True. These last few days when he was actually social were the exception. Maybe you're having some impact on him after all."
"Yeah," Anaya added. "Right in the nose."
"Can we let that go already?" Thess groaned.
"Never," Sean grinned.
"But seriously now—he doesn't seem to like the Earl much. How do they know each other?"
"Same way I do—the aristocracy."
"Wouldn't surprise me if they were related," Anaya mused.
"All of Europe's nobility is related in some way."
Finally, the stadium gates opened, and witches and wizards from all over England began flooding in, some apparating directly into the stands. The massive omni-screens displayed various VIP guests while the teams prepared to take the field. The camera lingered on Ginny for a considerable time, and a round of applause rippled through the crowd when people recognized her—until the cameraman noticed someone sitting a row above her.
Even those who had never seen her before easily recognized the scar across her nose, made all the more pronounced under the close-up lens.
"Oh, bloody hell," Thess muttered, seeing her own face blown up on screens all around the stadium. Then, realizing what she'd said, she slapped both hands over her mouth.
"Good thing omni-screens don't transmit sound," Anaya quipped, waving at the crowd.
"Oh, don't worry. I'm sure everyone understood anyway," Sean said from the other side, looking annoyingly photogenic.
"Have they seriously got no one else to show?" Thess grumbled through a forced, awkward smile.
"Captain," Sean called to Estela, seated in the row above them. "Can you help out our shy little Seeker here?"
Estela rolled her eyes but then casually removed her hat and tossed her hair.
The crowd went wild.
"How does she do that?" Anaya wondered aloud.
"Let her be," Thess sighed. "We all have our talents."
That was when a very tall, very red-haired boy blocked her view of the pitch.
"Hey, Thess," said James Potter.
But this time, before she could deliver her usual flat "no," he promptly turned to the friend sitting beside her.
"Hey, Anaya."
"Hey, James," Anaya replied, smiling. "Glad you came."
"Sit down, James," Ginny instructed, tugging him by the sleeve.
He plopped down, but not before shooting a wink at the Keeper.
The noise in the stadium was deafening, and the match hadn't even begun yet. Thess felt the ground vibrating beneath her feet as the stands filled. The private box had a fantastic view—not too close, not too far—especially for Thess, who had an empty seat directly in front of her, between James and his mother.
"Hey, James," she said, curiosity getting the better of her. "Is Albus coming too?"
"Are you kidding?" he replied simply before turning back toward the field.
Thess stared at the vacant chair, trying to push away an intrusive thought that she found particularly irritating. She shook her head as if swatting away a fly.
"What is it?" Anaya asked.
"Nothing."
But then Anaya's expression suddenly shifted in surprise as something appeared on the omni-screen.
Thess turned to her in alarm, expecting to see some kind of accident—but no, it was just the team lineup.
"Did he tell you?" Anaya asked.
"Who? Tell me what?"
The Keeper simply pointed at the screen, just as it displayed the number 2 jersey for the Silvercliff Hawks.
Rob Howard.