Romance Americana

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Friday Night

7:00 pm

Gryffindor Common Room

Kate was already in the common room. Jon was set up on a make-shift platform in the corner furthest from the dormitory stairs, testing the tables; the food was set up next to the Tower's entrance. Kate turned around to see Shannon standing in the stairwell.

"Quinn, you look great! Lemme get a good look at you." Kate twirled her hand in the air. "C' mon, turn around."

Shannon did as was requested of her. She was wearing a short, summery purple one piece that fitted her well and showed off some skin, with straw-like sandals; Kate wolf whistled.

"Someone's gonna get some tonight..."

"Shut up, Kate. Hey, Hermione."

"Hey, Shannon. You look nice. You look good in purple."

"You're not looking too bad yourself, Hermione. Do you know where the guys are?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "They're not back yet? I told Harry to have them in by six... when they get in they'll have to shower... grrr..."

"Relax, it's no big. I'm sure we can find guys to dance with until then. And I'm willing to bet that if we let that slip out, Harry and Ron would set new land speed records trying to get down here. Shannon, can you go open the portrait hole? We have people waiting outside."

The fat lady's portrait swung open, and the party began.

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Kate had been right. More than half of the school had been waiting out side the portrait hole to get in. They came in, and Jon started spinning everything he could get his hands on. Kate watched the boy with dreds spin while trying to keep everyone happy. Just when she was headed off of the dance floor to find Ron, she was pulled back from behind.

"You weren't thinking of leaving without giving me a dance, were you?"

Kate smiled and relaxed into the embrace. "Hey, Matt."

"Let's go; I asked Jon to play us a slower song."

Kate gave him a puzzled look. Slower song? But why dance to a slower song? When it started, she understood, and allowed herself to be led out to the dance floor that had been cleared in the middle of the room. She forgot for a moment that she had a boyfriend, that the dance floor could be seen from the landing outside of the dorms, and that she could be caught by anyone. Instead, she turned around, got as close as she could to Matt, and just danced.

She grew up with the children of the stars

In the Hollywood Hills and the boulevard...

His arms went around her waist; her's went around his neck.

She feels safe now

In this bar on Fairfax

And from the stage I can tell

That she can't let go and she can't relax

And just before

She hangs her head to cry

I sing to her a lullaby

I sing

Matt began to sing in her ear. This was their song; he had sung this to her when she felt lost and scared, when the weight of the world felt like it would crush her.

Everything's gonna be all right

Rockabye, rockabye

Everything's gonna be all right

Rockabye, rockabye

Rockabye

"What's wrong, Kate?"

"I'm wondering how the hell we aren't going to get caught."

"We'll be careful."

And she's seen her share of devils

In this angel town...

"We'll keep Malfoy out of the picture; you can break up with Ron at the end of the year, and get off free..."

But, everything's gonna be all right

Rockabye, rockabye

Everything's gonna be all right

Rockabye, rockabye

Rockabye

Seems like everyone's got a plan...

"And then, what do we do, Matt?"

"We do what we've always done. We screw up people's plans. What else would us nosey Americans do?"

That earned him a laugh.

Everything's gonna be all right

Rockabye, rockabye

Everything's gonna be all right

Rockabye, rockabye, rockabye, bye, bye

Bye, bye...

When the song ended, Kate found herself facing Matt, her arms wrapped around his neck, her face buried in his chest. There were some tears on her cheeks; she had left wet spots on Matt's shirt. How had that happened? And oh shit, Ron was here, and he was watching her with Matt. Suddenly self conscious, Kate pulled away. It was time to go see what Ron was thinking.

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Ron had gotten out of the shower in time to see Kate being lead onto the dance floor. He went to grab a butterbeer, and stood by Benny. Ron didn't know Benny very well, but he knew that the kid was a good friend of Kate's; Benny would be able to tell him what was going on. Just before he got to Benny, Ron heard a snippet of conversation between him and a boy he recognized as an Americana Ravenclaw. The stranger started.

"Do you think they're back together?"

Benny glared. "Kate's with Ron."

"Yeah, but Matt's her old boyfriend; do you really think they had a clean break?"

"Yeah."

"She threw her stilettos at him, and he had the Beaters send Buldgers at her head; you call that a clean break?"

"Maybe not. What's your point, Jarrod, other than causing trouble?"

"They're still in love."

"That may be, but we can't mess with anything; we need everything to go right with this."

Ron decided to break in at this point and play the jealous boyfriend.

"Hey guys; who's Kate dancing with?"

Benny silenced Jarrod with a look; he would defuse the situation. "That's her ex."

"Okay, so why is she dancing with him? Why didn't she wait for me?" Ron knew that he sound whipped, but he didn't really care just then. He was watching his girlfriend dance with her friend's twin brother, and she looked like she was closer to him than she should have been.

"This is their song."

"I'm still not getting it."

"Kate had problems a few years ago. She had Muggle and magical reporters all over her; she didn't have a moment of privacy. She was acting, going to school, dodging reporters, and playing Quidditch for Americana. She fit sleep and school work in wherever she could. Then, she started to date Matt. This was about a year and a half ago, maybe. He took care of her. He helped her with her homework, helped her to put up charms that were to complex for Kate alone to keep the media away; and then he would just listen to her problems. There was no judgment; they considered each other to be equal. Then about a month before we found out we were to come here, to Hogwarts, it fell apart. She pushed him away. You could here the screaming coming from their dorm rooms. From what we could hear through the doors and walls, she didn't want him to have to be put in the way of the media; she said she liked him the way he was, that she didn't want him to become jaded by her lifestyle. He would scream back that here was no where else he wanted to be, whether he became jaded or not. Then, she broke it off. The most they would say was a hello if they were both with Shannon; nothing more than that. But I guess they've gotten over it." Benny shrugged. "And that's about it."

"Oh. Okay." Ron finished off his butterbeer as the song wrapped up. Kate headed towards him when she came off the dance floor, giving him a peck on the lips.

"Hey, babe."

"Hey yourself. Can you spare a dance for me?"

"Of course; let's go."

Kate danced with Ron the rest of the night. Jon was as good a DJ as Kate had said. He played non stop, with no breaks in the music. They danced to everything from Hip-hop to rock. Ron thought things were going great; but he didn't notice the smile was missing from his dance partner's face.

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Saturday

Harry was zooming around the Quidditch pitch on his Firebolt 3000; the model had only come out last spring. One of the first brooms had been given to Harry for being such and outstanding customer of the Firebolt line of brooms. The game had been going well so far. Ron had only let two shots go by him, and Ginny had been absolutely brilliant. She had managed to nail both Ravenclaw Beaters, the Keeper, and one Chaser. And it had all been done legally too. Harry prided himself on having a team that played by the rules.

He flew down to the Ravenclaw end of the pitch. He smiled as he listened to Dean Thomas' commentary; he took his inspiration from Lee Jordan.

"And Chaser Terry Boot is on a break way down field-, wait he's stopped by Gryffindor Beater Ginny Weasley. Ginny, following in the footsteps of her older brothers, although I dare to say, at the risk of her brothers beating the crap out of me..."

"DEAN!"

"... that she is much more attractive than either of the Weasley twins."

"Mr. Thomas, I WILL GIVE YOU DETENTION FOR A MONTH IF YOU KEEP THIS UP!"

"Sorry Professor! But you must admit that she looks much better in Quidditch robes."

McGonagall gave him a look. Dean just cleared his throat and got back to announcing the game. Harry tuned him out; Dean was a good announcer, but Lee could never be replaced.

He watched on as Colin made four goals in a row. They were now ahead by an easy 100 points, and Harry found himself day dreaming. He wanted this game to be over, and he just wanted to sit with Hermione and see how well Kate and the other Americans could play Quidditch. Americans weren't supposed to be very good, but the country did have a few promising teams, most of which drafted players from Americana.

Harry spotted a glimmer next to Ron's ear. A rookie seeker wouldn't have seen it. Harry flattened his body on the broomstick, and sped off. Ron looked up to see his best friend shooting at him.

"Harry! What the bloody hell is wrong with you...?" But that was as much as he could say; he had to duck or be knocked out. When he felt it was safe to come back up, Harry was landing with the Snitch. Dean was screaming the score.

"And Gryffindor once again wins, with a score of 300-50."

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The Hogwarts players landed and dismounted just as the Americana players came out. They had been given uniforms of the same design as that of the house teams. Ron noticed with dismay that Kate was once again standing with Matt, talking, while they waited for the pitch to clear.

"She's talking to him again."

Harry snapped out of his daydream and look over at Kate and Matt.

"Ron, if what they're doing means that she cheating on you, then Hermione's been cheating on me from day one."

Ron grinned. "I'm so sorry that you had to find out this way, Harry."

"Shut up. Let's go find Hermione and get our seats."

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Kate stood at the end of the pitch, watching as Jon pushed Dean out of the announcer's seat. Jon announced all of the Americana matches, and Kate always won when he was announcing. Why mess with a good thing? Harry and Ron walked past them to leave the pitch.

"Hey, how about a good luck kiss?" Kate got her wish.

"What, I don't get to give you one?"

"Shut up, Harry."

"I'll shut up when I see that Americans can play Quidditch, and not just whatever the hell you play across the Pond."

"Hey, Quodpot's a bitch to play. I'd like to see you play with an exploding Quaffle."

"We have; Seamus jinxed the Quaffle by accident one year. It was a nightmare and almost cost us the Cup."

Kate laughed. "We have to go; its time to start."

"Good luck."

As Kate and Matt marched out, and as the teams became air born, Jon announced them.

"For Ravenclaw today, we have the Smith triplets playing in the Chasers' spots, Matthew Quinnlin and Patrick O'Leary playing Beater, Maggie Brentton playing the Keep, and Kelli Preston Seeking. And now for Gryffindor..."

The crowd seemed evenly divided between cheering and booing. Jon continued.

"Kate Morgan, Shannon Quinnlin, and Chris Jordan are Chasing, Mike Hennigan and Aeneas Nike Beating, Sara Mitchell in the Keep, and Krystyna Maloney seeking the little gold ball. The Quaffle is out, and play begins."

Harry and Ron were quick about showering and changing. They were out in their seats next to Hermione before the first points were scored.

"Smith to Smith; stolen by Quinnlin on a beautiful hit of the Bludger by Nike... the pass is off to Jordan before the Bludger hits her; hit that way by her own brother I believe..."

Kate went zooming by Matt. "Didn't your mother tell you not to pick on your sister?"

"Nope."

"Morgan ducks before the Bludger hits her... Matt Quinnlin on a streak with his bat, going after the girls, it seems; Jordan to Morgan to Quinnlin, back to Morgan, the shot... Morgan beats out Brentton for the points. Quaffle thrown out to Smith... Thomas to Reed, back to Thomas, Becky, shoots, and Mitchell blocks. Thrown to Morgan, passes up field to Jordan, the Quaffle is thrown to the end of the pitch to Quinnlin; she dodges her brother, O'Leary, shot on goal- SCORE!"

Cheers went up from the stands. Ron looked over at Harry, whose mouth was open in shock.

"So, Captain, can Americans play Quidditch?"

"They're certainly better than the Cannons, Ron."

"Cheap shot, Potter."

"Thank you, Weasley. Now pay attention; wouldn't want your girlfriend pissed because you weren't watching her."

"Preston throws the ball to Thomas Smith, pass to Becky, looks like Jordan's going for the Quaffle, he's blocked by O'Leary. I'll tell you, this is the most aggressive I've ever seen this team play. Becky to brother Reed, back to Thomas, shot, SCORE! Score is now 20-10, Gryffindor. Quinnlin has position of the Quaffle, loses it to Becky Smith, Nike winds up, hits, and the Quaffle is back in Gryffindor possession. Jordan streaks down field, coming up to the scoring area, and yes, here it comes, the Woollongong Shimmy! Chris Jordan has perfected this move... shot on Brentton, and he SCORES!"

"Holy shit! Harry, did you see that? He just pulled off one of the most dangerous moves I've ever seen!"

"I saw, Ron, and I'm wondering why Kate would let him do that. If he had gone the wrong way, his head would've been bashed in."

Ron was sure Harry would have said more had not Hermione chosen to kiss him right then.

"Brentton clears the scoring area; Reed Smith appears to be going for the score... but he is DENIED by Nike. Aeneas is all over the pitch today. Quaffle is now in Morgan's possession, she's going for the goal... Wait, it seems as though Maloney and Preston have spotted the Snitch... this could be a fake folks; Krystyna is known for her excellent Wronski Feint... Morgan's going for the goal... Maloney still in a dive, getting awfully close to the field... Morgan scores and... Maloney pulls out of the dive WITH THE SNITCH!"

Madame Hooch blew her whistle.

"That's it, Gryffindor wins, 180-10. This is Jon, signing out."

"Harry?"

"Yes, Ron?"

"What do we do if we have to play them in the final?"

Harry swallowed. "We play to win, Ron; that's all we can do."

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