Tooru Oikawa and the Triwizard Tournament

by Killthespares

The Triwizard tournament has come to Hogwarts! Plus, Noya and Tanaka try their hands at something new, the rest of the Crows suffer, a Quidditch rebellion is staged, and the Wizarding World awaits a champion. Meanwhile, some are still more worried about the Yule Ball. Through everything, Oikawa and Hinata are reminded of the worth of pride. Fourth story in series. Contains Slash.

2. The Quidditch World Cup

5 Years Prior

"Is this really all there is," a boy with sandy blonde hair whispered, frowning out over his future classmates. "I thought there'd be more? Dad's class had over a hundred."

At Oikawa's side, a boy with an oily smile rolled his eyes.

"Typical halfbloods," he muttered under his breath, just loud enough to be overheard by those closest.

"Oi!" Iwaizumi glared. "I'm a halfblood! And do you mean by that?"

The oily boy eyed him, considering, before sighing.

"Absolutely nothing," the boy said, voice condescendingly casual, "only that anyone who really grew up in the wizarding world would know not to expect that many of us. We are still the war child generation, aren't we?"

"War?" A girl with short cropped brown hair frowned.

"The Giant's War." The oily boy sniffed. "Honestly, they should really teach a class for halfbloods and muggleborns before they let you into Hogwarts." His smile went sly. "Though, I suppose you can always ask your dear classmates. Sugawara, anything you'd like to add?"

A boy with bright silver hair blushed, shifting awkwardly in an attempt to appear smaller.

"Oh, for Merlin's sake, Daishou," groaned a boy with the worst bed head Oikawa had ever seen. "Can't you at least wait until the Sorting to show off your sunny personality?"

The oily boy, Daishou huffed; but, didn't get a chance to comment before Deputy Headmaster Takeda swept into the hall.

"Hello there," the petite man smiled warmly at the students in a way that had even the most skittish of the first years relaxing. "Now, I'll be calling you in alphabetical order so just follow me and we'll all get you sorted. Alright?"

Takeda didn't wait for a response before looking down at his scroll. "First off, Asahi Azumane."

"Me?!" There was a high pitched yelp as the larger boy Oikawa recognized from the boat was shuffled and finally all but pushed forward and out into the adjacent hall, feet sliding to stay back the entire way

Once they were alone, Daishou snorted. "Well, there's a Hufflepuff if I ever saw one."

"What's wrong with Hufflepuff," boomed a boy with grey stripped hair.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

The sound echoed in the small chamber, silencing the room.

The bed head boy smirked. "Tell me, Daishou, do you ever get tired of being wrong?"

"Kotaro Bokuto," Takeda called out and the grey haired boy rushed forward eagerly, almost tripping over his feet in his excitement.

A second later and "HUFFLEPUFF" boomed out over the room.

Oikawa rocked back on his heels, looking carefully at Daishou and practically waiting for the other boy to say something.

Instead, the oily boy stayed still, almost looking nervous as Takeda called the next name.

The bed head boy seemed to notice it, too. He smirked. "Almost your turn. Not getting nervous, are you? Not too late to go running off to your uncle. Hmm, Daishou? What if they say you're a squib?"

"As if," Daishou spluttered back. "Like you know anything, Tets-"

"Suguru Daishou," Takeda called out.

The boy drew up his shoulders, pointing up his nose and all but marching out into the next room.

"What a dick," Iwaizumi muttered to Oikawa.

Oikawa smiled, elbowing him on principle. "Iwa-chan, language! What would your mom say?"

"Oh, like you're one to talk," Iwaizumi shot back.

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Figures," Iwaizumi said shortly as Takeda continued to call names. "I'd hate to be in his House."

"Ha, he's really not that bad," the bed head boy drew up next to them before twisting his face into a considering frown, "or at least not always. He's just….him." The boy cocked his head and grinned. "Tetsuro Kuroo."

"Tooru Oikawa." Oikawa smiled, hooking his thumb to the side. "And that's Iwa-chan!"

"Iwaizumi," Iwaizumi knocked his hand down. "Quit telling people that!"

"Nope," Oikawa said happily.

"Hayato Ikejiri," Takeda called.

The boys watched as a mousy boy with freckles quickly made his way to the next chamber.

"Look at that, Iwa-chan, almost up." Oikawa elbowed him. "Ready to fight that troll?"

Iwaizumi rolled his eyes. "You're the worst."

"Haijimi Iwaizumi."

Iwaizumi swallowed, turning back to Oikawa and offering him a slightly nervous grin. "See you on the other side, yeah?"

Oikawa tried to smile back and found it fragile. "Good luck."

And with that, Iwaizumi was gone and Oikawa felt just a little bit more nervous.

"Friends before Hogwarts, then," Kuroo asked.

"Yeah," Oikawa said quietly. "Best friends."

He waited….

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Oikawa let out a breath.

"Well, maybe you'll end up in the same House," Kuroo offered.

Oikawa made a face.

Kuroo laughed. "Okay, fine, not a lion, then. What? Slytherin?"

"I'm a muggleborn."

And even Oikawa knew that there hadn't been a muggleborn Slytherin in centuries, possibly not ever.

"Ah." Kuroo nodded, taking that as the answer it was. "So, badger or eagle?"

He shrugged. "Not sure. You?"

"Ravenclaw," Kuroo said without question.

"That confident?"

"Yes."

"Tetsuro Kuroo," Takeda called.

"Well, good luck then," Oikawa offered.

"Thanks!" Kuroo winked. "Who knows? Maybe we'll be roommates."

Oikawa managed a smile and the other boy left him.

There was a long minute, longer than any of the times previously, before finally….

"RAVENCLAW!"

Well, Oikawa thought to himself, at least some people will end up happy.

"Issei Matsukawa," Takeda called out.

Truthfully, Oikawa didn't know what House he wanted. He'd never known-not in the years since he first learned about Hogwarts, not when he got his letter, not even now as the room around him slowly emptied.

A large part of him wanted to be with Iwa-chan; but, a stronger part thought that bravery and valor were pretty words in a children's story that didn't so neatly apply to him. Hufflepuff would be alright, he supposed. He guessed hard work fit him fine even if it was more the goal than the task he preferred. Ravenclaw would probably be better. It would be fine, it was just….

Any of the three would be fine, he supposed, he just didn't know if any felt right.

Oikawa was eleven years old and he didn't think he was supposed to feel like this.

Like there was something empty beneath his stomach, something larger just out of grasp that he was reaching, reaching, reaching and….

"Tooru Oikawa."

Oikawa stepped forward.

He was at Hogwarts, though. With magic-real, actual magic just waiting at the tips of his fingers. Something so much better than he'd ever thought he could grasp, so much bigger than him that he was almost swallowed by the enormity of it at the same time that he knew it was meant for him.

So maybe that was enough.

….Or at least he could convince himself it was.

Oikawa's first steps into the Great Hall were not remarkable.

The younger students shifted restlessly at the tables, already bored this late into the list, while the kinder of the older students tried to muster up some enthusiasm even as their minds were already on the upcoming feast. Idle conversation was shushed by prefects and even at the teacher's table, most had fixed polite expressions on their face, perfected over years of Sorting Ceremonies.

There was nothing remarkable yet.

The Hall looked to the front; but not at him. They heard his name; but didn't listen past recognizing it as unfamiliar, as other, as muggleborn.

And beneath the Hall's notice, Oikawa sat on a stool and put on an old hat.

Ah, the hat whispered and the voice sounded sad, one of you.

Oikawa jumped on the stool, back straightening. It took him a long second to realize that the voice was coming from his head.

Not quite your head, boy, but close, the Hat answered. Now hush, I'm trying to make a decision.

What kind of decision, Oikawa thought back cautiously.

The kind that I've made wrong before, the Hat said with resignation. Terribly, terribly wrong with too many lives lost in the balance. The kind of decision that brings wars, no matter how small the start may be. And you? I'm not sure if you're any different than the one who sat here before.

Oikawa swallowed, looking out at the Hall that was beginning to look at each other in confusion as the Sorting dragged on.

You know, boy, the Hat continued. I can't see the future so answer this for me: I can give you a great path-friendlier paths and definitely easier. You have a good head, you have determination. I can give you a House filled with friends to support you, with minds that can inspire you, with allies that would fight for you. I believe, with any of these choices, you could be happy.

The Great Hall was staring at him and Oikawa felt his heart beat heavy.

The Hat asked the question. So tell me, child, if I gave you a kinder path, an easier path, even if it was not the path path meant for you….do you think you could be satisfied?

The eyes of the school studied him and Oikawa felt yearning like a hole inside his chest.

No, he answered honestly.

The Hat sounded angry, voice banging against his mind like it was trying to scare him away.

Is your pride really that important, the Hat accused.

Oikawa didn't need to think; but, he did anyway.

Yes, he decided.

A sigh and the anger was gone as if it had never truly been there in the first place.

Then, I hope we won't come to regret this.

Oikawa didn't have time to think before-

"SLYTHERIN!"

The Great Hall was as silent as death.

ooooooo

Oikawa's laugh echoed out over the noise of the crowds as he all but fell over, eyes fixed on Bokuto's bright green, sparkling hair.

"That looks utterly ridiculous," he said, trying and failing to catch his breath.

"It's festive!" Bokuto poked at his hair as a miniaturized leprechaun riding a broom-barely as big as his thumb nail-flew around the tips and threw out tiny fireworks. "Mom gave me some extra! Want me to do yours?"

"Oh, absolutely," Oikawa said, leaning over so Bokuto could smear green paint on his face.

"You two are a monstrosity to the entirety of Ireland," Kuroo said, the red of Bulgaria's team covering half of his face like war paint.

"Jealousy truly is a vicious thing, Kuroo." Oikawa sniffed haughtily, the gesture only slightly ruined by the globs of green glitter now spread thoroughly through his hair. "And here I thought you were better than that."

Kuroo just stuck his tongue out, snickering.

"No, Kuroo's right," Iwaizumi said, also in a Bulgarian jersey. "You guys look like what happens when a Welsh Green Dragon sneezes."

Oikawa's mouth dropped in mock outrage. "Why, Iwa-"

"No wait," Bokuto pulled him back and met his eyes. "Don't let yourself get dragged in by the enemy."

Oikawa nodded seriously. "You're right. We have to stay strong."

Suga laughed, dressed in the completely neutral pale blue of the International Association of Quidditch because he was, to quote Oikawa, absolutely no fun.

Suga threw an arm around Oikawa and Kuroo, letting them support his weight as they continued to be pushed through the crowds. Suga grinned at Bokuto. "I can't imagine Akaashi let you paint his hair green."

Bokuto turned up with wide eyes. "Oh….um, A-Akaashi?"

The group was then treated to the quite entertaining sight of Bokuto going bright red in a blush, looking around nervously, bizarrely slumping in disappointment when he seemed not to find what he was looking for, before finally turning back to the group as if none of the previous had ever happened.

Bokuto shrugged casually. "Akaashi's going for Bulgaria actually."

The rest of them just stared.

"What in Merlin's name was that," Oikawa demanded.

Bokuto tilted his head. "What was what?"

"The-you-," Oikawa gestured to Bokuto's everything before rolling his eyes and looking to Kuroo. "Nevermind, you try."

"Seemed a bit tense there, Bo" Kuroo said, demonstrating his mastery of the understatement.

"Heh?" Bokuto looked down at his shoes as they walked, oddly shy for once. "It's nothing."

"Where is Akaashi," Iwaizumi asked.

"Oh, he's watching the game with my sisters." Bokuto turned on his heel, walking backwards and grinning suddenly with a manic kind of energy-well, more manic than usual. "Anyhow. Hey, Kuroo, where's Kenma? I thought he'd be with you? Is he not coming? How could he not come to the Quidditch World Cup? It's like the most important game on Earth! And it's even in England this year! Everyone's here! Could he not get tickets? I think my parents have extra! Maybe we can owl him or-mrph?"

Bokuto's eyes looked down in stunned bafflement at Iwaizumi's hand now covering his mouth.

"Iwmawumi," he pleaded in a close approximation to the other's name

"No," Iwaizumi ordered, turning him back to face the front and steering him forward.

He removed his hand and Bokuto pouted but mercifully stayed quiet.

Kuroo rolled his eyes. "Kenma's watching the game with Hinata. My dad's here so it's not like I could be seen talking to Kenma anyway." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Dad barely believed I didn't really know him after the mess last year."

"What did you tell him," Suga asked

"I said Yachi got him and he was just there for Hinata and Kageyama." Kuroo grimaced. "Honestly, Dad probably doesn't believe it; but, at least he's too busy with the werewolf law and the new job to bother me about it."

"Ugh, bro, your dad's the worst," Bokuto said.

Kuroo snorted. "I know. I don't know why the Minister thought it was a good idea appointing him Deputy Minister. "

Iwaizumi frowned. "I thought your dad was sitting in the Ministry box."

"He is," Kuroo said before smiling brightly. "Where, with any luck, he'll cause a minor international incident and be far too preoccupied with that to even think of me until I graduate."

"Hope springs eternal," Oikawa agreed.

"But, if he's in the Ministry box all game," Iwaizumi said, "he won't see you and Kenma, right?"

"Not worth the risk," Kuroo replied breezily. "Besides, we leave for Hogwarts next week. I'll see Kenma then."

Iwaizumi was still frowning but eventually shrugged it off.

Oikawa poked at Suga, letting him grab their hands and drag both him and Kuroo though the mob of people. "How much further is this stupid dueling exhibition anyway? If I have to shove through any more of this crowd, I'm going to merge with them permanently and become a giant sentient magical blob that oozes through woods, absorbing people into my blob army."

"You're so weird. You're so, so weird." Kuroo shook his head. "It haunts me nightly that out of all of us, you're the popular one."

Oikawa fluttered his eyelashes. "Aww, you lay awake thinking about me every night. That's so cute; I'm flattered"

"I think about it more like chronic nightmares but sure," Kuroo teased.

Oikawa smiled innocently. "So, that's a no for our spring wedding. I'm devastated, Tetsu-chan, what'll I tell the florists?"

"Aww, babe." Kuroo winked. "Call me 'Tetsu-chan' again and I'm spiking your meals with puking pastilles for the rest of the year."

"To remind me of you?" Oikawa wiped away a fake tear. "So sweet! And, to think, all my friends thought I could do better than my adorable Tetsu-Tetsu!"

Kuroo faked gagging noises. "I want a divorce!"

"But, think about the children!" Oikawa gasped.

"I'll take them, too," Kuroo said. "We'll go on the road and open up a family music act."

"Fine, but I'm keeping the house." Oikawa blew his hair out of his eyes. "To think, me-a lonely, divorced spinster at only sixteen, abandoned so cruelly by my-" He cut off. "Hey, when did we stop walking?"

"About a minute ago," Suga said, exchanging a look with Iwaizumi and Bokuto. "We wanted to see how long it took before you noticed."

Kuroo blinked, looking up to see the tent. "Oh, so we're here?"

Iwaizumi rolled his eyes, gesturing to the tent flap. "If you two are done…."

"Never," Oikawa said, striding forward dramatically and throwing back the entrance.

Inside, the tent had been expanded to the size of a field, bleachers lining the sides where throngs of people were pressed tightly against each other, filling out the seats. In the middle of the field laid large entirely black dueling mats, marked carefully with set lines for spell protections.

Suga frowned at the sight. "I don't know if we can find seats."

"We'll just stand," Kuroo said, gesturing to the somewhat less crowded room on either side. "Didn't know it was going to be this crowded; wasn't last year. It's just the Junior Dueling Exhibition, anyway. Seniors was earlier this morning."

Bokuto was already bouncing on his feet excitedly. "That's because that big, fancy, smancy dueling prodigy's supposed to be here! "

Kuroo snorted. "What? The Lefty?"

"Ugh, what kind of nickname is Lefty," Oikawa complained. "That's not even intimidating!"

Kuroo smirked. "Supposedly people think he's some kind of miraculous dueling genius just because he can duel left handed. Rumor is he's already being scouted for Youth World."

Oikawa just hummed in acknowledgement; but, he was frowning in a way that said he was considering something far too hard.

"Where's he from," Iwaizumi asked, whacking Oikawa's arm until he looked up.

"Bulgaria," Bokuto answered. "And, apparently, he doesn't leave there like ever which is why it's really, really super cool that he's actually here!"

"Why is he here," Suga asked.

"Who knows?" Kuroo shrugged, elbowing Iwaizumi and Oikawa. "Point is he's never faced us yet either so who can say he's really the champion?"

There was the sharp sound of laughter behind them, the sound prickling against nerves like nails on a chalkboard as a figure twirled out in front of them to reveal a teenage boy with shockingly red hair.

"Such confidence," the teen murmured, clasping his hands to his chest. He nudged his way between them. "I take it you've never seen our Ushiwaka duel before, hmm?"

Iwaizumi frowned at him. "Who are you?"

"Doesn't matter, doesn't matter," the teen waved the question away. "But, shhh, the show's about to start and I'd hate for all of you to miss it. Say," he turned up his lips in a sharp parody of a grin, "do you mind if I stand with you? Just for Ushiwaka's duel, of course, I love to sit with a bunch of dueling enthusiasts and the hopefully naive ones are just the best!"

Kuroo, Oikawa, and Iwaizumi were still glaring at him; but, Suga stepped forward diplomatically.

"Um, of course," Suga said, trying to offer a smile as he took in the slowly boiling tension from his friends, "but, I'm sure everyone here loves dueling. Why us?"

"You guys seem fun!" The teen looked forward, breathing out in a moment of transcendent peace. "I think I'm going to really enjoy listening to your hearts break!"

The lights dimmed in the arena before any of them had time to respond.

Oikawa was still scowling when the announcer's voice boomed over the crowd. "WELCOME, EVERYONE, TO THE WORLD QUIDDITCH CUP'S ANNUAL JUNIOR DUELING EXHIBITION, SPONSORED BY THE INTERNATIONAL DUELING ASSOCIATION!"

A dull roar of applause echoed around the tent and Oikawa, reluctantly, pulled his stare away from the irritating teen to focus on the stage.

"TO START WITH WE HAVE THE 14-17 AGE DIVISION! FIRST UP, TAKING THE RIGHT STAGE IS BRAZIL'S TWO-TIME JUNIOR CHAMPION, SON OF THE RENOWNED DUELING PAIR CHAMPIONS, AND THE RUNNER-UP OF LAST YEAR'S JUNIOR WORLDS, HEITOR SANTANA!"

The crowd cheered as a light raised to show a Latino teen with thick black hair, standing on one end of the mats. A girl waiting on the sidelines blew him a kiss and Heitor blushed, giving her a shy wave back.

"AND HIS OPPONENT, TAKING THE LEFT STAGE, IS DURMSTRANG'S FAMED MIRACLE BOY, THE LEFT-HANDED DUELIST, BULGARIA'S FOUR-TIME JUNIOR CHAMPION, AND THE SON OF THE LATE AND GREAT DUELING CHAMPION TAKASHI UTSUI, FINALLY MAKING HIS INTERNATIONAL DEBUT….WAKATOSHI USHIJIMA!"

Oikawa's head shot up just as the crowd went wild, stomping on the bleachers while chanting the name.

Oikawa took one look at the unreasonably strong teen, standing at the other end of the mat and watching the crowd with a completely blank expression.

"Him?!" Oikawa hissed under his breath.

At his side, Iwaizumi frowned. "What? You know him?"

With the span of a second, Oikawa pulled himself together and shot Iwaizumi a practiced smile. "Of course not! Ha, he's from Durmstrang, how could I? He's just….," He gestured vaguely, "not what I expected."

Iwaizumi was still staring at him suspiciously when there was a whistle, signaling the beginning of the first match.

Oikawa turned back to the duel, breathing out slowly and trying to calm his nervous heart.

It's fine. It's not like I have to talk to him.

"BOMBARDA!" Heitor's first spell was knocked away almost easily, Ushijima's answering strike hitting back before he even had time to dodge.

What followed was a rapid volley of spells-the duelists chaining their spells together in a rush of bright, incantations barely being finished before the next one started.

The crowd applauded, a cacophony of clapping that only increased when Heitor was finally knocked out of bounds on a surprise Freezing Spell, charmed to appear as a simple Shocking Spell.

"Merlin," Bokuto muttered in stunned awe while the teen beside him had a growing smirk, jagged as a knife.

"That was ten chained spells in a row," Suga observed. "Plus, a charm. How did he even have time-"

The whistle blew again as Heitor recovered, standing at the end of the mat and readying for the second round.

A second whistle and the second match started.

Yeah, Oikawa reassured himself, he probably doesn't even know what I look like. Merlin, it's been years. I bet he doesn't even remember me.

The second match was shorter. Heitor was still clearly off balance, his spells coming slower. A simple charm to ice the mat behind him with an offensive directed fire-making spell making him dodge back and Ushijima's Stunning Spell hit him square in the chest.

"Alright, fine, so he might be sort of decent," Kuroo admitted reluctantly. "Still think we could keep him on his toes. Once you have time to adjust to the left hand as the dominant one, you got him."

The teen snorted loudly. "Oh, please, you think the left hand is the only reason Ushiwaka could destroy you?"

The whistle blew to start the third and final match.

Oikawa had his hands clenched tightly in his lap. Definitely doesn't remember you. Won't talk to you. Won't even have to meet him. They'll never have to know.

The third match was the shortest.

Too short.

Heitor came out quick and strong, a spell chain that mixed in charms just as fast and should have had Ushijima forced back.

Ushijima used his wand to pull up a shield, the bright blue rushing out and cocooning around him, absorbing the spells easily.

"That's great," Iwaizumi said. "But, he can't fire anything back if his wand's busy holding the shield. Is he planning on exhausting Heitor's magic? That'll take forever."

The red haired teen just chuckled.

Wand still upholding the shield, Ushijima just calmly regarded his opponent.

"Crescere," he spoke clearly.

A crack! echoed through the tent, as vines flowed out from between the mats, wrapping hard at Heitor's limbs and pulling firm until he was all but shoved out of bounds.

Ushijima dropped his shield and nodded at his opponent.

There was a beat of silence.

Then the crowd went off like the sound of a cannon, people roaring to their feet as the announcer's voice was barely audible over it.

"AMAZING! AMAZING! MIRACLE BOY WAKATOSHI USHIJIMA APPEARS TO HAVE USED WANDLESS MAGIC TO DEFEAT HEITOR WHILE STILL HOLDING UP A SHIELD! UNBELIEVABLE! ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE! WE'RE WITNESSING THE BIRTH OF A DUELING PRODIGY TONIGHT, FOLKS!"

Oikawa stared, jaw dropped open.

"Um, Oikawa," Bokuto poked at him, "you okay? Isn't wandless magic what you were working on-"

"Shh," Suga said quickly, pulling Bokuto back.

Oikawa stared.

Beside them, the teen snickered. "Ahh, and there's the sound I was looking for." He patted Oikawa's back, fake conciliatory. "Trying to do wandless magic, eh? Don't worry! I can't do it either! After all, it takes real talent like Ushiwaka's to-"

"Seriously," Oikawa snapped, "who even are you?!"

"Tendou," a voice called.

The red haired teen beamed and Oikawa felt every hair on his neck stand to attention, turning with a sense of oncoming horror to find….

Wakatoshi Ushijima was walking over to their group.

The teen-Tendou, apparently, waved cheerfully. "Hey, babe! Good match!"

"What are you doing here?" Ushijima frowned. "You should be in the competitors tent, getting ready for your match."

"Awww, but I was so bored there," Tendou whined, standing up and stretching an arm around Ushijima's neck not unlike a snake and a statue, "Besides, I wanted to see your duel! You can't blame me for that, right, Ushiwaka? I would have gotten so bored, I'd die on the spot and blow away into dust."

"That would not have happened," Ushijima said.

Tendou tsked. "And now, we'll never have to know. Besides, I made friends! Look, Wakatoshi!"

Ushijima glanced over to the rest of the group, eyes scanning them until finally his eyes landed on Oikawa and stopped.

Oikawa felt his heart beating out of his chest. Doesn't recognize me. Doesn't know me. Won't say anything.

Ushijima frowned. "You're Tooru Oikawa."

Oikawa's hope took a sudden cliff dive.

"How do you know Oikawa," Iwaizumi asked.

Oikawa's hope made a sudden, brief reassurance as he focused every fiber of his being on mentally pounding the phrase don't say it! don't say it! don't say it! directly into Ushijima's skull.

Ushijima ignored the question, instead focusing entirely on Oikawa.

He nodded once, short like he'd come to a decision.

"You should have come to Durmstrang."

In the ringing silence, a miniaturized leprechaun flew around Oikawa's hair and threw out fireworks.

Fuck, Oikawa thought.

ooooooo

"What about that?" Natsu hopped between the stands, tugging at his arm. "Shouyou! Shouyou! What's that?"

Hinata glanced at where she was pointing.

"It's an Exploding Snap set," he said, leaning down. "If you don't play the cards fast enough, they blow up in your face in a big pile of soot!"

"Wow!" Natsu looked mesmerized. "Can we get it?"

"Nah, no way we can hide that in the orphanage."

"Aww." She frowned for all of a second before moving on to point at the next stand. "What about that?"

Hinata grinned. "Dungbombs!"

"Ewwwww," Natsu scrunched up her nose. "But, that's gross! Magic stuff's supposed to be cool, not gross!"

"It's cool and gross," Hinata said solemnly with all the gravity and wisdom granted by his position as older brother.

Natsu didn't look convinced. "What about those?"

Hinata looked. "That's, um…..also, probably something really awesome and cool!"

"You don't know, do you?" Natsu crossed her arms, looking unfairly judgmental for a nine year old.

"Err…." Hinata looked around helplessly to his friends.

Kageyama rolled his eyes, arms hung with bags containing what looked like a few metric tons of confections. "They're omnioculars."

Hinata turned back to Natsu. "They're omnioculars, Natsu."

"What are omnioculars," Natsu asked.

"Good question." Hinata turned back to Kageyama. "What are omnioculars?"

Kageyama rolled his eyes again. Yachi, a much kinder and gentler soul, giggled and walked over to the stand to lay some coins down.

She returned with a few sets and handed one to Natsu. "Here, press this latch on the side to slow things down, oh, and the little button under it to replay it. You can use it during the game."

Natsu looked down at the omnioculars, holding them delicately in her tiny hands before gazing up at Yachi with an expression of absolute adoration like Yachi was an angel that had just happened to stumble upon Earth for a quick vacation. "Thank you!"

"You're welcome." Yachi smiled back, only to find her waist gripped tightly by sixty pounds of enthusiastic nine year old.

"You're the best person ever!" Natsu sighed happily.

"Hey!" Hinata shouted.

Natsu grinned at him innocently. "You can still be the best brother ever."

Yachi just laughed, ruffling Natsu's hair before smiling up at Hinata. "Your sister's so cute."

"Yeah, yeah," Hinata said, guiding Natsu back through the crowd as she let go of Yachi to grab his hand. "Come on, Lev and Kenma are waiting for us."

"Mom's probably getting worried, too," Yachi agreed.

The four gently threaded their way back to the entrance of the stadium, Hinata keeping Natsu from getting distracted and running off no less than four times.

"Natsu," Hinata whined, "come on, stay close, crowds are dangerous."

Natsu pouted, but obediently clutched her hand in his shirt.

Hinata shook his head. "It's like you're a trouble magnet."

He glanced up to find both Kageyama and Yachi giving him a look.

"What," he asked.

The look intensified.

"Maybe it's genetic," Kageyama said flatly.

"Can't be," Yachi teased, looking at the basically foster siblings, "must be learned behavior."

"Oh, come on," Hinata complained, "I'm not that bad!"

Even Natsu was giving him a look now.

Hinata thumped her on the nose. "You, hush, or I'm not getting you extra candy."

Natsu stuck out her tongue, giggling.

"Don't worry, I'll get you extra if he doesn't," Yachi skipped ahead, winking at Hinata. "Gotta keep my title as 'best person' after all."

"Yachi's the coolest," Natsu said firmly.

Hinata nodded. "Yachi is the coolest."

Yachi blushed, ducking her head even as she elbowed him.

"Doesn't matter anyway," Kageyama said, hefting up the bags of sweets in his arms. "At this rate, Lev's going to buy up everything edible in the whole stadium."

The boy in question crowed excitedly, rushing to meet them as soon as they came into view. "Did you get everything?"

"Yes." Kageyama shoved the bags into Lev's arms. "You could have told us you were buying half the concession stand."

"You didn't check the list," Lev answered cheerfully. "Besides, we need all this! We gotta get through the entire game without getting up for stuff even once! What if we leave to, I don't know, do something stupid and pointless like go to the bathroom and Bulgaria catches the Snitch-"

"And Ireland catches the Snitch," Kageyama corrected.

"And Bulgaria, the best Quidditch team ever and way better than those leprechauns, catches the Snitch," Lev continued obstinately, "and we miss it! We need this stuff to be prepared! What if the game goes on for days! I mean that would be awesome; but, what about snacks!"

Kenma sighed in a pointed way. "Yes, awesome."

Hinata handed him his requested water.

"Thanks," he said, giving a small nod to Natsu.

Natsu just stared at him, transfixed. For some reason Hinata had yet to quite pry out of her, Natsu had taken a highly focused interest in the group's quietest member and tended to stare at him heavily as if waiting for something. Come to think of it, Hinata thought it might be because Kenma had acquiesced to show her some basic metamorphmagus abilities the first time they'd met.

"If this game goes on for days and you don't go to the bathroom, I'm calling in Healers," Kenma said, looking up at Lev.

Lev frowned in thought. "What if I-"

"Whatever you're thinking, absolutely not," Kenma said flatly. "Or I'll call Yaku."

Lev paled. "Well, alright, maybe there are some limits."

"Come on, Mom's still waiting by our seats," Yachi said, pulling them forward through the entrance.

Hinata thought there was always something distinctly weird about just watching a Quidditch game. Don't get him wrong, he still loved it but it just felt….not quite right, missing maybe. The need to be on the field, too, still ingrained even if he couldn't. It was one thing watching the other Houses play at Hogwarts but here, where everything was bigger-the highest level, the top point anyone could ever fly. It felt….

It felt like a challenge.

Yachi was still moving them forward, using Lev's height to guide them while Natsu had swapped to hanging onto Kenma's shirt.

Hinata swallowed, sharing a silent glance with Kageyama-a question, seeing if he felt it, seeing if he-

Kageyama caught his eye.

"This is where we'll be playing," Kageyama said, firm not even a hint of a question.

Hinata smiled, relief beating in his veins. "Exactly."

The group continued to make their way through until they saw Madoka Yachi, clothes somehow still elegant and beyond reproach even if entirely in bright Ireland green to match Yachi.

She smiled when she saw her daughter, a pinched line of worry easing between her brow. "Hitoka. Any trouble?"

"No, Mom," Yachi slid into her seat next to her, giving her a small hug. "Just the souvenir and concession stands. I told you we'd be fine."

"Mhm," Madoka's eyes flicked around quickly, checking for people near. She lowered her voice. "It still never hurts to be careful. Just because that idiotic Ministry decided to end the investigation, doesn't mean Kirika isn't still waiting. I'd like to say I'll feel better once you're at Hogwarts but from what I hear about this year-"

"Mom," Yachi interrupted, smile going slightly strained, "come on, I'm alright. It's the World Cup, let's have fun at least for tonight, alright?"

Madoka sighed, but eventually managed a smile in return. "You're right….Besides, it'll do us good to watch Ireland prove who really deserves to be the champion."

Lev puffed up, leaning forward and taking the bait to argue back as Madoka's smile took on a vicious tilt-arguments followed by counter arguments with an edge that only lawyers and those that grew up in Slytherin could manage. Natsu watched eagerly like the debate was the real game.

Yachi glanced around. "I thought the stadium would be more crowded."

"It will be," Kenma said, the slightest hint of regret threading through his normally blank voice, "half the crowd's still busy at the exhibitions."

"What are the exhibitions," Hinata asked.

Kageyama shrugged. "Some of the smaller sports put on demonstrations before the game. Not much, though. It's really just a showcase to see the competition before the real matches next summer."

He paused for another second.

"Nothing Quidditch related though," he added as if that in and of itself should be a disqualifying element for all other activities.

Kenma shook his head. "I think Kuroo went to see the dueling one. Here."

He handed Hinata a small, slightly crumpled pamphlet.

Hinata frowned, flipping through it.

"Wait, there's broom racing," he shouted, causing the people sitting in front of them to wince and shoot them a dirty glare. Hinata winced apologetically and turned to Kageyama, lowering his voice. "There's broom racing? That's a sport!?"

"What? Yeah, not really in England though," Kageyama huffed. "Why do you even care? It's not Quidditch!"

"But, it's flying," Hinata said, emphasizing the last word. "And it's flying fast!" He looked excitedly at Kenma. "Can we go see it?"

"I think it was this morning," Kenma said apologetically.

"Aww." Hinata slumped. "Who won?"

"Why does it matter," Kageyama muttered.

Hinata stuck out his tongue. "Why does it not?"

Kenma just sighed, holding up his wand to the pamphlet until a single name glowed bright gold.

"Korai Hoshiumi from France," Kenma read out.

"Ooooooh! France!" Hinata beamed, crowding over the pamphlet. "Gah! Look, he's almost as short as me! That's so cool!"

Kageyama was glowering beside him and Hinata rolled his eyes, knocking into his shoulder.

"Don't worry, still not as cool as Quidditch," he said.

Kageyama nodded, looking slightly appeased.

Suddenly, there was a gasp and Natsu jumped to her feet, bouncing quickly in front of Hinata and pointing to the field. "Shouyou! Shouyou, look! Look! They're flying!"

The Bulgarian and Ireland team took to the skies, making one loop around the stadium before they landed on the field for warm ups.

Hinata grinned, securing an arm around Natsu so she didn't trip onto the next seat over in her excitement.

Hinata had a second to think that this-watching a Quidditch game with both his friends and his little sister was as close to perfect as he could imagine.

The only way it could possibly be better is if he was on the field, too, with Kageyama right beside him.

He hugged Natsu closer and she smiled up at him.

"I know, right?" His grin grew impossibly brighter. "It's magic!"

ooooooo

"Nao!" Ennoshita shouted. "If you don't stop screaming in my ear, I swear to Merlin, I'm transforming you into a Bludger and throwing you on the field!"

"Ahhh, could you really?" His twelve year old cousin was nearly weeping in his excitement. "That would be so awesome!"

Ennoshita sighed as if the world as a whole had disappointed him.

He pinched his nose. "You two, you're his supposed mentors. You deal with him."

"Hey, now, Nao," Tanaka came forward, kneeling down while Noya patted his back, "come on, there are better things to be than a Bludger."

"Exactly." Noya nodded. "Get Ennoshita to transform you into a Snitch. That way you get wings!"

Ennoshita's eye twitched.

Nao looked up with wide eyes. "Can you really do that?"

"No," Daichi answered, returning from behind them. "And we generally frown on turning people into inanimate objects, even for Quidditch purposes."

Noya looked up and then took one long look at the pale blue sweater of the International Quidditch Association now covering Daichi's shirt. "Seriously?! You're not even choosing a team! Daichi, that's so lame!"

"Suga gave me this," Daichi defended.

Noya and Tanaka pouted in unison, hair both streaked in red.

"And you're really choosing your boyfriend over your Bulgarian pride," Tanaka pressed.

"Yes," Daichi said immediately. "And considering none of us are Bulgarian or even have Bulgarian pride, doubly yes."

"Not to mention they'll lose," Tsukishima taunted, mockingly waving his Ireland flag just close enough to hit Tanaka in the nose.

Ennoshita meanwhile raised an eyebrow, still looking at Daichi's top. "They're not matching sweaters, are they?"

There was a long pause where the rest of the group stared at him

"No," Daichi said hotly which absolutely meant 'yes' because Daichi was a terrible, terrible liar.

Noya sighed, shaking his head regretfully even as he threaded his arm through Asahi's and leaned on his shoulder. "See, at least we know not to let relationships dictate Quidditch preferences."

Asahi frowned, looking down at his all red jersey. "Noya, you gave me this."

"Because I knew you'd love it!" Noya beamed up at him with a wink. "And you look great, trust me!"

"Oh, um, thanks," Asahi trailed off with a small smile and a blush to match his jersey, "you, too. But, ah, really?...I do?"

"Totally," Noya leaned even closer while Asahi's blush could possibly be seen from space.

Tsukishima rolled his eyes. "It's times like this I'm reminded why one of you idiots didn't realize you were dating for three years."

"Tsuki, don't be mean until at least we find our seat" Yamaguchi warned halfheartedly, starting up to the stands.

"We both know that's a hopeless goal," Tsukishima said.

Yamaguchi tilted his head before nodding and conceding the point.

"Though I guess there is some sense in not giving them any more reasons to get distracted," Tsukishima said, watching as Noya and Tanaka were trying to coax a gently sobbing Nao out of shock from his first glimpse of the field.

Ennoshita gave up and just pulled him away. "Come on, the view's even better from our seats."

"Really?!" Nao's eyes lit up and he swapped his grip on his cousin's arm, nearly dragging him up the step. "Hurry up, then, this is the best day of my entire life!"

Noya wiped a probably fake tear from his eyes. "Yeah, I remember my first World Cup! Ah, the true joys of youth! We truly don't realize what we have until it's gone, do we?"

"You're only three years older than him." Tsukishima rolled his eyes.

Tanaka took on a thousand yard stare. "Yeah, but those last three years have aged us, bro."

"That's….," Asahi frowned, "that's remarkably true." He looked oddly panicked at the thought.

Daichi nodded. "Don't worry, it scares me, too, when Tanaka or Noya seem to be making sense."

Asahi smothered a laugh.

Yamaguchi bumped his shoulder into Tsukishima. "How do you think the game will be?"

"Bulgaria has the better Seeker," Tsukishima said promptly. "But, since it's professional rules rather than junior league, the Snitch only means thirty points rather than a hundred so that's not quite as much of a deal breaker. He'll still probably catch it; but, only if he thinks Bulgaria is close enough to win and with the new Chaser formation that Ireland keeps talking up in interviews that's not going to happen. Not to mention, Ireland's Keeper has five years advantage; Bulgaria's is too new, especially when it comes to international matches where he can't predict the players as well." He shook his head. "Bulgaria's team is too focused on individual strengths rather than team strategy; Ireland will crush them even with their star Seeker."

Yamaguchi hummed, taking this in before they noticed the rest of the group staring.

"But, you don't even like Quidditch," Noya complained, looking like he'd suddenly stepped into an alternate universe.

"Tsuki loves Quidditch." Yamaguchi laughed. "He plays with Akiteru every summer."

"Shut up, Yamaguchi," Tsukishima muttered.

"Then, why don't you try out for Slytherin's team?" Tanaka frowned. "Well, I mean maybe not this year because those guys are assholes. But, they're graduating this year, right? You can play next year!"

Tsukishima glared. "No."

"Aww, why not," Nao looked up with big eyes, "Quidditch is the best thing ever!"

Tsukishima sighed, pointedly looking away, not quite mean enough to yell at a twelve year old….or at least not when Yamaguchi was close enough to frown at him.

"It's just a hobby," he said stiffly.

Nao was still frowning. "But-"

"Move it," Ennoshita said, pushing him forward and averting any possible explosions, "Hurry up, I thought you wanted to see our seats."

Nao allowed himself to be pressed forward before he abruptly came to a complete halt, gazing at the stands with utter adulation. "Hinata?"

A mop of very recognizable orange hair glanced up before excitedly waving.

"Hey, guys" Hinata shouted back, pulling at his seat companions and scrambling out to greet them. "Are your seats close to ours? That's great!"

"Merlin," Tsukishima said, low enough that only Yamaguchi could hear, "that's just great. With his luck, the entire stadium will probably collapse."

Yamaguchi hid a snicker.

"I think we're a section up, actually," Asahi said, giving him a soft smile. "How's your summer been?"

"So boring," Hinata complained, leaning dramatically against Kageyama. "I couldn't even play Quidditch!"

Nao gasped as if his hero not playing Quidditch for a few months was the worst possible fate in the entirety of existence.

Hinata nodded fervently. "The only good thing is I get to see-"

"Shouyou?" A small hand pulled on his shirt and the rest of the group looked down to see that Hinata had somehow duplicated, gotten even shorter, and become a girl.

Daichi blinked. "Oh, is this…"

"Yep," Hinata pulled his sister forward and into a hug. "This is my little sister, Natsu! Isn't she awesome?!"

Said sister was still frowning as if deciding what to make of them. Eventually, she grinned, giving them a cheerful wave, and Asahi breathed out like he'd passed some kind of test.

"Wow," Yamaguchi said, looking between identical bright orange hair, brown eyes, and even the same grin. "And, you're sure you're not…."

He trailed off, unsure of how to phrase the question.

Hinata and Natsu both glanced at each other before shrugging in unison with the ease of familiarity.

"Not that we know of," Hinata answered easily, "I mean I guess we don't really know anything about either of our families, so we could be, but, it's probably not really likely so….."

"Brother," Natsu finished clearly, squeezing his hand.

Hinata beamed. "Exactly."

"That's so cool," Nao enthused, looking between Hinata and Natsu. "So, you're sister's a Muggleborn, too?!"

Hinata's smile dropped into a wince.

"No," Natsu said, looking down at her shoes, "I'm a Muggle."

"Oh, um," Nao fumbled. "….that's so awesome, too! My parents are Muggles and my mom's a chemist! She makes stuff blow up! That's like the coolest thing ever, even without magic!"

Natsu gave him a small toothy grin. "Yeah?"

"Definitely," Nao said, looking relieved before he turned back to Hinata. "Who do you guys think's going to win the game?"

"Ireland," Hinata and Kageyama answered as one.

"Bulgaria," Lev shouted, still in his seat.

Madoka smirked, sharing a grin with her daughter. "Ireland."

Ennoshita laughed. "That's what Tsukishima said, too."

Tsukishima, Hinata, and Kageyama all looked instantly disgusted to do anything even close to sharing opinions on Quidditch teams.

On the field, there was a shot of red fireworks bursting into the sky to form the number thirty.

"Don't have long to the Opening Ceremony," Daichi said, watching the sparks fall.

Noya grimaced. "But, the Opening Ceremony's so boring."

Madoka hummed, brows pinching back together. "Well, you never know."

"Come on," Daichi said, urging them onward.

Hinata grinned, throwing them a farewell wave. "See you back at Hogwarts!"

"Hopefully for a quiet year," Ennoshita muttered as they continued up to the next section.

To this, Noya and Tanaka stayed suspiciously silent.

The rest of the group stared at them, well familiar by now with the signs of their own personal apocalypse.

Tsukishima groaned, hanging his head as they finally found their seats. "No, no, we're not even at school yet! I don't care! I absolutely refuse to care how you're planning to kill us until we at least get to Hogwarts!"

"What is it," Nao asked, already distracted from his new and improved view of the field by the possibility of future excitement.

"Sorry, Nao," Tanaka patted his head. "Our plan for this year might be a bit much for a second year! Don't worry, we'll try to find something cool for you, too!"

"No fair," Nao said, not noticing how everyone else had taken on looks of extreme terror.

Ennoshita had gone pale white. "You….you think it's dangerous."

"Well, I wouldn't say dangerous," Noya reassured, leaning into Asahi's side and turning to Tanaka for agreement.

"Yeah," Tanaka nodded. "More unique than dangerous."

Noya grinned. "Relax, you guys will like this one. We promise!"

The number of people reassured by this was absolutely zero.

"Actually, we've been working on this for a long time." Tanaka rubbed the back of his neck. "Bit of a dream project, really."

The number of people reassured by this stayed at absolutely zero. If anything, it went into the negatives.

"Yeah." Noya let out a small laugh. "Gotta admit, it's still pretty experimental, even for creatures.

"Oh, Merlin," Asahi said. Or more like he meant to say, what actually came out was a whistling hiss that symbolized the struggle as his soul physically fought to leave his body.

Unminding, Noya snuggled in closer to his side. Asahi let out another wheezing sound that moderately seemed pleased.

"Anyway," Noya continued, "don't ask us anything else. We've decided we're not telling you until the castle. It's going to be a surprise!"

Yamaguchi hummed, sounding entirely too reasonable as he asked, "I wonder if my will is up to date."

"Legally I don't think you need one until you control your own assets," Tsukishima answered.

"Well….I suppose that's good, then." Yamaguchi nodded.

Daichi sighed, firmly and quickly shutting down his internal panic...at least for now.

"Let's just…..," he massaged his temples, "let's just watch the game. We'll deal with the rest when we get back to Hogwarts."

ooooooo

Everything had stopped.

There was probably something going on outside of this, the next match being called up, the crowd cheering; but, right now, everything seemed frozen on a stretched thin chord.

It was silent.

Ushijima stared at Oikawa, Oikawa stared directly back, and everyone else stood in watch.

Bokuto was the first to react, letting out an awkward laugh. "Ha! Why would Oikawa go to Durmstrang? We're in England. Did you….," he trailed off, uncertain, "did you, um, forget we were in England."

Ushijima didn't bother responding, still centered on Oikawa.

"Oh." Tendou snapped his fingers. "I know you! The Slytherin Muggleborn! Well, well, who would have thought I'd sit next to a local celebrity-

"Tendou," Ushijima said and the other teen fell silent. Ushijima didn't move his gaze from Oikawa. "You applied. Why didn't you accept the offer?"

The group fell silent once again, the attention now shifted to Oikawa.

"What offer….," Suga asked.

"What are you talking about," Iwaizumi demanded. "Oikawa never applied to Durmstrang. Why would he?"

Oikawa winced, the motion not going unnoticed by anyone

Iwaizumi turned, suddenly frowning. "Oikawa…"

"Well, that's not…," Oikawa started, "that's not quite accurate."

"What," Kuroo asked, brow drawing up in confusion, "Wait, you actually did apply-"

"It's not important," Oikawa interrupted.

Tendou let out a sharp giggle. "Heh, oh, this is hilarious!"

Oikawa glared at him before turning back to Ushijima.

"The point is I didn't accept the offer," he said flatly. "I'm happy at Hogwarts."

Ushijima hummed before continuing in that absolutely certain tone that Oikawa was already finding annoying. "I've read the news. I've seen the troubles your school has had these past years. With their own professors, even, the ones entrusted to protect students." His gaze narrowed. "I've seen what your country has said about Muggleborns, still said a dozen years after the Giant's War has ended. I have read what they've said about you."

"What's your point," Oikawa asked through gritted teeth.

"You chose the wrong path," Ushijima said simply.

Oikawa felt cold.

At first, he thought that the cold was shock….

"What's that supposed to mean," Iwaizumi growled out.

Ushijima continued as if he hadn't even spoken. "Durmstrang is a place that could have helped you reach your full potential. But, you didn't choose it. You chose a place where you couldn't grow. Why?"

But, the cold was not shock. It was fury.

Oikawa smiled. "So, what you're telling me is that I should have left Hogwarts for Durmstrang?"

"The decision would have obviously been the better choice." Ushijima nodded. "Why didn't you accept the offer?"

"No school is ever guaranteed superiority," Oikawa said, casual enough to sound lazy.

"Perhaps," Ushijima agreed. "But, as of now, I can say with certainty that between us, I am stronger."

Oikawa's smile was a dagger dipped in poison. Any wise man would retreat; but, he was beginning to suspect that Ushijima was not a very wise man.

"Well, aren't you confident," Oikawa teased, the words dancing merrily and off in the air.

"I am," Ushijima said. "Now, please answer my question. Why didn't you accept your offer to Durmstrang?"

Oikawa's smile never wavered, chiseled into his cheeks with the work of years.

He stepped forward, leaning in until he could whisper the words right into Ushijima's ear.

"Because of something you'll never understand."

Ushijima was frowning when Oikawa leaned back, the expression pressed hard with confusion, and it made Oikawa laugh, viciously delighted.

He clapped his hands, purposefully turning his back on Ushijima. "Ah, would you look at that time. Guess we better go find our seats for the game. I'd love to say it was great meeting you in person; but, well, it wasn't and let's never do this again. Sound good? Great. And with that, we're already late."

Tendou's arms were crossed, looking far less amused than he'd been a few moments ago. "The opening ceremony doesn't even start for another twenty minutes. You're fine."

"Maybe if you hate punctuality," Oikawa winked. He inclined his head to his friends. "Ready?"

"Yeah," Kuroo said slowly, still scowling at Ushijima. "I think we'd better."

Oikawa made his way out of the tent, his friends trailing heavily beside them. He whistled easily under his breath, still smiling, as he threaded his way between the concession stands and towards the small crop of woods that laid beyond.

"Oikawa, the stadium's the other way," Suga said quietly.

"I'm sure it is," Oikawa agreed cheerfully.

He stopped, the lights of the World Cup twinkling a few meters away; but, out here it was still dark and quiet.

"Hey, Iwa-chan," he said. "Do you mind setting up a shield? Just in case."

Iwaizumi was still frowning, but dutifully raised his wand and muttered a basic shield charm.

"Thanks." Oikawa's smile dropped. "BOMBARDA!"

A boulder the size of his body cracked apart, half of it disintegrating into small pieces of rubble.

"That bloody bastard," Oikawa cursed. "Who does he think he is?!"

He pinched his nose, looking up into the sky and breathing out slowly.

"Okay," he said in a much calmer voice, now lacking the cutting cheerfulness, "I feel better now. Ask away."

"You applied to Durmstrang," Iwaizumi demanded immediately. "When? Why?"

Oikawa took the last question. "Does it matter? I didn't go there, clearly."

"You wanted to leave Hogwarts," Kuroo asked next.

"No," Oikawa said adamantly before groaning. "No, I didn't. Which is why I didn't accept the offer."

"When?" was Suga's question.

Oikawa's eyes slid to the side. "First year."

The other Slytherin nodded, frowning but not looking surprised.

Kuroo meanwhile was looking at him sharply. "Was it because of-"

"But," Bokuto interrupted, a thought striking him, "that was before you became friends with us. We wouldn't even be friends!"

"Okay, so, some positives," Oikawa said brightly.

Bokuto gave a wounded whimper like he'd been punched in the gut.

Oikawa deflated.

"I was kidding," he said lamely. He sighed, looking up at all of them. "Look, I never mentioned it to you guys because it didn't matter. It still doesn't. It was just a vague idea I had in first year to look at what other schools were offering. You know me. I like to be prepared. That doesn't mean I was ever going to ditch Hogwarts for a bloody, arctic fortress like Durmstrang."

Kuroo and Bokuto looked between each other and slowly relaxed, Bokuto finally managing a smile in return.

"Idiot." Kuroo punched Oikawa in the shoulder. "Why Durmstrang of all places? You'd freeze to death your first year."

Oikawa grinned. "Ugh, I know. I don't know what I was thinking."

"That Ushijima guy didn't know what he was talking about," Bokuto agreed, slinging an arm on Oikawa's other side. "Hogwarts is obviously the best!"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

The question cut Oikawa's grin in half and he looked over to find Iwaizumi still staring at him.

Oikawa pulled up a smile. "Like I said, Iwa-chan, just a split second idea. Didn't even consider it-not really."

Iwaizumi's eyes narrowed for another second before nodding, rolling his shoulders as the tension slid off of him.

"Come on," he said to the rest of them, "I want to find our seats before everything's too crowded."

"Good idea." Kuroo said, walking behind them. "Especially since the exhibitions were clearly a bust."

The group started back, Oikawa waiting just a second behind them.

Suga stood beside him, lowering his voice. "So, which parts of that were true?"

This time, Oikawa didn't even try to lie in return.

That doesn't mean he answered.

"Does it matter," he asked back. He met Suga's eyes. "I don't regret my decision, Koushi. Not any of them. The only thing I regret is that I didn't make it sooner."

Suga reached down and squeezed his hand.

"Hurry up," Oikawa said. "Before they leave us behind."

Suga just smiled warmly. "They wouldn't."

By the time, they got back to the stadium, the stands were already getting packed-people hurrying to their seats in a mass of green and red chaos.

"Why are there so many people even here," Bokuto complained when they finally reached their seats, barely dodging being trampled a couple of times. "It's just the Opening Ceremony."

Kuroo shrugged, looking up at the stage. "Looks like the Minister's about to say something."

"It's the Ministry." Oikawa sniffed. "How important could it actually be?"

Iwaizumi snorted. "Maybe Kuroo's dad really did make an international incident."

Kuroo held up crossed fingers.

"You don't think." Suga lowered his voice. "You don't think they finally found something about, um, 'Rezei', do you?"

"And announcing at a Quidditch game, no way," Kuroo answered.

"Besides, that would make the Ministry actually useful," Oikawa added.

Bokuto waved a hand at them. "Shh, shh, I wanna hear what he says."

Oikawa and Kuroo both rolled their eyes; but, respectfully shut up.

"WELCOME, EVERYONE! I'M SO GLAD TO SEE YOU ALL!" Minister Masaru Daishou took the stage, the genial man waving at the crowd like he could see each of them personally. "AS YOU KNOW, ENGLAND HAS ALWAYS HAD A ENDEARING LOVE FOR THE COMPETITIVE SPIRIT SO IT BRINGS ME NO GREATER PLEASURE THAN TO INTRODUCE THE FINE TEAMS PLAYING FOR YOU TODAY!"

The crowd let out a polite echoing of applause, half of them still working on finding their sections or handing off snacks to their fellow seat mates.

Masaru smiled. "HOWEVER, THIS YEAR BOTH MY FELLOW MINISTERS AND OUR DEAR, BELOVED HOGWARTS HEADMASTER, IKKEI UKAI, HAVE GIVEN ME ANOTHER HONOR." The smile grew as the crowd shifted in confusion. "THIS YEAR, HOGWARTS IS PLEASED TO WELCOME ALL UPPER YEARS OF THE RESPECTED INSTITUTIONS OF BEAUXBATONS AND DURMSTRANG TO COMPETE IN A VERY SPECIAL EVENT!"

Whispering broke out across the crowd, turning to their neighbors.

Oikawa frowned, looking to his own friends to find Suga's jaw had dropped and both Kuroo and Bokuto were watching the stage with wide eyes.

"No way…," Kuroo breathed out, starting to grin, "they can't be…."

"They can't be what," Iwaizumi asked.

"THIS YEAR….," Masaru paused for emphasis. "WITH THE HELP OF DURMSTRANG AND BEAUXBATONS, HOGWARTS WILL BE REVIVING AND HOSTING THE TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT!"

Oikawa blinked. "The what?"

ooooooo

A/N:

First, wow! Thank you, guys, so incredibly much for all the wonderful support you've given this series. I seriously cannot thank you enough, you wonderful people, but please know that I appreciate you all!

Second...so, remember, how in the previous stories, I was, er, "creative" about the history of the Founders, boggarts, basilisks, etc. Anyway, this one I will fully admit I'm messing with Quidditch and the Triwizard Tournament a bit. Triwizard Tournament is mainly adding history and explanations for the Quidditch Cup plus changing the tasks a bit. For Quidditch. I'm...okay, I'll just admit it, why the heck is catching the Snitch worth 150 points! That's 15 regular goals! That's basically the entire game! The other team would have to be like pretty terrible to lose and still get the Snitch. I get Harry's the protagonist and the Seeker but whyyyyyy. Alright, end of small rant, so I'm making pro Quidditch rules a bit different from school Quidditch rules and having the Snitch only worth 30 points in pro games. For logic, I'm basing this distinction on the assumption that schools would want shorter games (like not multiple days long) which might not happen if people weren't catching the Snitch because their side was 30 points behind. Quidditch is a pretty important part of this book so I'm making the distinction here.

Thank you all again and hope you enjoyed!

Next Chapter: What?
Post Date: June 27-28