The Cat Who Lived Like a Lord

It was the Twelfth Night, and Professor Blaise Zabini, a short, slender young man with olive skin, black curly hair and black eyes, in crimson robes, was playing hide-and-seek with his cat Macavity, a lean, red, spotted tom Kneazle with tasseled tail, outsize ears, long whiskers and enormous green eyes. Suddenly a head popped out of the fireplace- that of a ruddy, white-haired man. Blaise stopped in his tracks, and so did Macavity, for the man was Walter Lavender, a veterinary wizard from Lincolnshire, whom Blaise met at a conference in Prague.

'What is it, Walter?' Blaise said.

'Blaise, can you come to Lincolnshire at once?' Walter asked.

'Well, these are Christmas holidays,' Blaise said. 'But what's the matter?'

'You see, Blaise, I think I told you I am from the parish of Haxey?'

'Sure.' Blaise nodded.' And....?'

'And we in Haxey have the Haxey Hood celebration each Twelfth Night. It's a kind of rugby, the people from all the parish of Haxey gather and try to roll a large leather sack to one of the pubs of our neighborhood, with great deal of rivalry, for everyone wants to get the thing into their favorite pub. It stays in the pub where it is brought to till the next game, you see,' Walter said. 'The legend says that Lady de Mowbray lost her riding hood as she was in our neighborhood, and thirteen farmers saw that and raced to catch the hood and give it to her. One caught it and gave it to her, and she donated thirteen acres of land on the condition that the chase be reenacted each year. So we people of Haxey do this. But the game naturally needs a referee, who looks that the game is played fair. He is called the Lord and he has eleven Boggins as his assistants. They look that no one is hurt. The game starts at half past twelve in the afternoon with a tour of the pubs and another official, the Fool, making a speech before the church, and then, after a game with twelve Sack Hoods for the children, at three P. M., the game starts. When the Hood is got into a pub, the landlord gives everyone a free drink. And well, today the old Lord, Horace Pratt, quarreled with the Boggins and resigned, he's a warm-blooded sort, old Horace, and no amount of talking can get him to return, and nobody fit to replace him. We were in a state, and then I thought of you. You are a teacher at Hogwarts, and friends that have children say you are capable to hold almost anything in check, surely you can be the referee of our Sway, then, Blaise?'

'Your game sounds just fun,' Blaise said. 'I think I am capable of the role. With all the students, especially the Slytherins, I think I can manage to referee your Sway, Walter, I'm agree.'

'Oh good!' Walter exclaimed.

'I'll pack my things and take my cat with me,' Blaise said. 'I never go anywhere without him, you know, he's an extraordinary cat.'

'I remember the Golem incident,' Walter smiled. 'Take him by all means.'

'Where am I to Floo?' Blaise asked.

'Nine Newbigg, Westwoodside,' Walter explained. 'My house. I'll get the Lord's array to my place.'

'Very good,' Blaise said.

'Good morning,' Walter said.

'Good morning,' Blaise said.

Walter's face disappeared, and Blaise called out for Macavity:

'Hey, I know you're under the sofa, Macavity, get out. We have to pack. We are going to referee a bizarre, but very jolly country rugby game.'

Macavity walked with dignity from under the sofa. Blaise took him in his hands and carried him to put into a crate. Then Blaise packed some necessaries into a trunk, scribbled a note to the Headmaster, went to the fireplace, threw a pinch of sparkling powder from the box on the mantelpiece, said, 'Nine Newbigg, Westwoodside', and stepped into the fireplace, the crate in one hand, the trunk in another. After some whirling he saw a cozy parlor with squashy orange armchairs and sofa, a bright Axminster carpet on the floor, some bookshelves, creamy curtains with large sunflowers on the window, a large crystal luster hanging from the ceiling and a large ancient fireplace. Walter, a stout old man in yellow robes, was sitting in one of the armchairs. Blaise said:

'Good morning, Walter, here I am.'

'Good morning, Blaise, welcome!' the old veterinary exclaimed.

Blaise put the crate on the carpet and let Macavity out.

'Yow!' Macavity said and began to sniff Walter's parlor. Suddenly he leapt to one of the bookshelves and upset a book. Blaise said:

'How very impolite of you, Macavity! I beg your pardon, Walter.'

'It's nothing.' Walter smiled. 'Cats will be cats, I know them.'

Blaise picked the book up and looked at the title. It was 'Twelfth Night, or, What You Will'.

'Want to listen the merry play that was first showed on a Twelfth Night such as this?' Blaise said. 'I'll read it to you.'

Blaise returned the book to the shelf. Walter said:

'I'll bring the Lord's dress.'

He went out and returned with a red hunting coat, a top hat with flowers and badges and a staff of twelve willow wands with one more upside down in the center, bound thirteen times with willow twigs and a red ribbon on the top.

'Your signs of office, Blaise.'

Blaise smiled, took off his robes and donned the red coat and the top hat. They looked just fine with the white shirt and gray trousers he was wearing under his robes. He then took the staff in his right hand, held it at the ready and said:

'Now, how do I look, Walter?'

'Splendid!' Walter said. 'Now let's go. 'Meet the Boggins.'

'With pleasure,' Blaise smiled.

Walter and Blaise went to the door. Macavity said, 'Yow!' and followed them resolutely.

'He won't stay,' Blaise said. 'He always goes outdoors with me. No worries, he's very agile.'

Blaise, Walter and Macavity went out of Walter's little old house, along a street of neat small houses with red roofs and little gardens. On the corner stood twelve men - one dressed like Blaise, but without a staff, one with multi-colored strips of material on his clothes and flowers and rags on his hat, and ten men in red jumpers. The men looked at Blaise with joy on their countenances.

'Gentlemen, this is our new Lord.' Walter announced proudly.

'A substitute one, of course,' Blaise said with a modest smile.

'Very well, very well,' the man dressed like Blaise said. 'I am glad you are willing to help us.'

'My pleasure.' Blaise bowed.

'I am Edward Snell, the Chief Boggin,' the man said. 'Here are the Boggins, Nobby Peake, Bob Venables, Stan Cogan, Luke Boor, Mark Thoday, Will Dean, Robert Cranton, Jack Shipton, Alfred Joyce, Oliver Benson and Bert Mills, and this is our talented Fool, Jerry Lovegood. And you?'

'Blaise Zabini,' the teacher said.

'PROFESSOR Blaise Zabini,' Walter said. 'Blaise teaches zoology at an ancient boarding school in Scotland, with thousand students, four Houses and school matches, if you know what I mean.'

'I know,' Jerry Lovegood said and winked to Blaise. Blaise winked in answer. He knew the name Lovegood very well. He remembered a nice girl at Hogwarts called Luna Lovegood.

'I see you do.' Blaise smiled. 'Glad to meet you, gentlemen. I was sorry to hear your regular referee had a misunderstanding with you, gentlemen. I hope he is back.'

'Aye, he will be, old Horace,' Will Dean said. 'But he's such a spiteful sort, though knows his matter well.'

'I have a colleague like this.' Blaise smiled. 'There is no better chemistry teacher, than he, but what a mordant tongue he's got! More timid students tremble before him, and more brave ones are in constant repartee with him. Yet the ones whom he taught know their substances very well.'

'Such is old Horace,' Will said.' There isn't a better Lord than he. He'll be back for sure, it is just very inconvenient he went ballistic right today. We are awfully lucky Walter found you.'

'It's me who's lucky, to take part in such an ancient and jolly custom as your Hood,' Blaise said.

'I'm very glad to hear this, Professor Zabini,' Will said, but Blaise asked:

'Please, no titles. Call me Blaise.'

'Very well, Blaise,' Will said. 'Welcome to Haxey. Be at home.'

'Thank you Will.' Blaise smiled.

'I feel you will be a good Lord,' Edward Snell said. 'I can see this.'

Blaise only smiled.

'Now, let's go on,' Will said. 'The Hood won't wait for us'.

'True,' Blaise said. 'Let's go. I agreed to be your Lord not to sabotage the match.'

'The Carpenter's Arms first,' Will said. 'My favorite pub too, very good one.'

'For the Carpenter's Arms, then!' Blaise said. Walter, Blaise, Macavity, the Boggins and the Fool headed their steps to the Carpenter's Arms. The pub was cozy, with wooden tables and seats, etchings of hunting scenes on the walls, and a long wooden counter at the far wall. The pub was full of people. An old, stout man with grizzled hair, in a long brown coat, turned as the customers of the pub greeted the Lord, the Boggins and the Fool cheerfully.

'So you found a substitute?' he boomed. 'And who it might be?'

'Blaise Zabini, at your service, Mr. Pratt.' Blaise bowed.

'Blaise Zabini? I've heard your name!' the old man said. 'But how do you know who I am?'

'A lucky guess.' Blaise smiled.

'Well, well,' Mr. Pratt said.

Blaise smiled and said to the elderly gentleman:

'What was your House, then, sir?'

'Ravenclaw,' Mr. Pratt said. 'It was long before your time, of course, but I've heard of you from my friends who have children at the old alma mater.'

'And may I ask what?' Blaise asked, grinning.

'That you, are a resolute, learned, steady young man, Professor Zabini,' Mr. Pratt said.

'Blaise, please,' Blaise said. 'Only students call me Professor Zabini, none of my friends do.'

'Well, Blaise, then,' Mr. Pratt said. 'I see what I heard of you is true. Sit down. You will be a worthy Lord.'

'Thank you, Horace,' Blaise said. He sat down at Horace's table.

'Mrroyaow!?' Macavity said and rubbed himself against Horace's legs. Horace said:

'A fine tom, that, Blaise,'

'Yes,' Blaise smiled. 'Blue blood. He's incredibly graceful and clever, Horace, it's amazing.'

'Yoaow!' Macavity said and leapt to Horace's lap. Horace caressed the cat's silky coat. Will reached to touch the cat too, but Macavity suddenly hissed at him. Will said:

'What's got into him, Blaise?'

'Who knows?' Blaise answered. 'Cats are mysterious creatures.'

Will shrugged his shoulders.

'Now, Len, get the drinks for all the company!' Horace said.

The barkeep hurried to go on Horace's words. Horace said, holding a frothing jug:

'To the young Lord, gentlemen, and let him be what I think he is!'

Blaise just smiled again.

'You and Mr. P went to one school, then?' Snell asked.

'Yes, and now I'm teaching there,' Blaise said. 'Nice, isn't it?'

'Very,' Snell said.

'Now, the second toast I drink will be to this place, the Carpenter's Arms, my favorite pub, and let it win the Sway!' Horace said.

'I second,' Will said suddenly.

'And what's your favorite pub, Blaise?' Snell asked.

'I'm the referee, and it's not fitting for me to take sides,' Blaise said with dignity. 'Besides, my favorite pub isn't in the competition. It's The Three Broomsticks, in the village of Hogsmeade, near the walls of the castle that houses my old school. It's in Scotland, as Walter said.'

'Well said, Blaise!' Horace said.

Blaise smiled yet another time.

Then Snell looked at Will. Will produced a can with ochre and soot from his pocket, and began to paint Jerry's face with ochre and soot. The result was very strange and hilarious. Meanwhile, the people in the pub were singing 'John Barleycorn and other well-known songs. Blaise looked at this all with amusement and mirth.

'I see you like it here, Blaise,' Horace said suddenly.

'Yes, very, Horace,' Blaise smiled.

Meanwhile the people in the pub sang:

'For auld lang syne, my dear,

For auld lang syne,

We'll take a cup of kindness yet

For auld lang syne!'

'This song...' Blaise said. 'One Halloween a friend called me to a village in Northumberland, like Walter here, to replace one of the Guisers at the famous Allendale Tar Barrels Parade. They sing it there too, you know.'

'What a coincidence!' Horace said.

'Yes. Even though my friend in Allendale Town's a chemist, and Walter is a naturalist,' Blaise said. 'Both the fields familiar to me, a teacher of zoology.'

'How do I look, Blaise?' Jerry said.

'Not bad,' Blaise smiled.

'True.' Jerry grinned. 'It's the Fool's array, and some fools were wiser than the kings they served to, you have to know, Blaise.'

'Indeed I do,' Blaise said. 'And some of them were from families as old as the Lovegoods are.'

'And I'm not the first Lovegood who acts a fool, am I?' Jerry said.

'Certainly not,' Blaise said. 'A nice girl that I know bears the same last name as you. She was in school with me, first name Luna. Are you a relation of hers?'

'She's my distant cousin, of the Devonshire Lovegoods,' Jerry said.

'Devonshire, yes!' Blaise said. 'Her folks are neighbors to the Weasleys of Ottery, my friend Ron's family.'

'I know Ronald Weasley,' Jerry said. 'A very good English sportsman, he.'

'Yes, he is,' Blaise said. 'He was since his fifth year and still is.'

'He brought the Chudley Cannons back to their glory,' Jerry said.

''Indeed,' Blaise said, 'And first four years of school nobody would have thought it. But there it is.'

'True,' Jerry said. 'I remember it.'

After some time, all the company rose and went out of the pub. Many people, that were in the pub, including Horace, went with them. They went by old streets, lanes and fields. Macavity ran along with them, tail up, from time to time giving a loud 'Yow!' Blaise led Snell aside and said:

'Edward, will you please instruct me as to the rules. I'm the referee, and the referee must know the rules, but I don't.'

'Of course, Blaise.' Edward smiled. 'I didn't expect otherwise. There are few of them, and you are a teacher, so you will memorize them easily, no doubt. Well...'

And Snell explained to Blaise the rules, main of them being not to hurt anyone and not to throw or carry the Hood, only to pull or push it. Blaise listened attentively and memorized.

'I will remember them now, thank you, Edward,' Blaise said at last.

'You speak English very well, Blaise.' Snell remarked.

'That's because I'm in Britain since I was nine years old.' Blaise smiled. 'My father, a bank employee, moved to the British branch of the bank, and I went to high school here.'

'I see now,' Snell said. 'But you are French, or am I mistaken?'

'I'm a Corsican,' Blaise said. 'Hence my surname. I was born in Ajaccio, I think you know it.'

'Yes, I know the name,' Snell said. 'It's a large town in the north Corsica.'

'That's right.' Blaise smiled. 'It's about as far from Paris as Haxey is from London, and it is a pleasant place like Haxey.'

'Thank you, Blaise,' Snell said.

'Not at all, Edward,' Blaise said.

They went for some time yet among the very lovely shrubbery, fields and old houses of Haxey. At last, they reached another pub, the King's Arms, in Low Street, enjoyed the free drinks and greetings there and went on, to the Loco and the Duke William Hotel in Church Street. The Boggins, Jerry and the people that went with them were singing all the way. Blaise sang along with them, not wanting to be out of the proceedings. About half past two they left the Duke William Hotel. Jerry led the procession, and did not miss a chance to kiss any woman met on the way, as Snell said to Blaise the old custom was. They then arrived to the green before the large Gothic parish church. Jerry climbed to an old mounting block lying in the grass, and some people brought wet straw and lit a fire behind Jerry's back. Jerry smiled and began to speak sonorously:

'Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our Haxey Hood Sway! I see there are many people come to see it or maybe even take part in it. It's great. I assure you won't be disappointed. The Sway is a glorious game. And greet our Boggins, who will upheld the order during the game, and, especially, our new, young Lord, Professor Blaise Zabini, a teacher in an ancient boarding school in Scotland, who has kindly agreed to be our Lord for this day's game, on account of our regular Lord, Mr. Horace Pratt, having an instant but very deep misunderstanding with his assistants the Boggins. We welcome Professor Zabini, but hope that Mr. Pratt won't form a new Twelfth Night habit!'

'Hmm! Well said, Jerry!' Horace said.

Blaise smiled. He liked Horace.

'I hope Mr. Pratt enjoys this day's game as a spectator, and good luck to Professor Zabini as a referee!' Jerry said. 'Welcome to our place any time of the year, Professor Zabini, and you, ladies and gentlemen, enjoy the game!'

The people on the green cheered. Jerry then said:

'And, of course, the old words, 'Hoose agen Hoose, toon agen toon, if tha meets a man nok im doon, but doan't 'ot him!'

'House against House, town against town, if you meet a man, knock him down, but don't hurt him.' Snell whispered to Blaise. Blaise said:

'House against House...Very familiar. A lot of knocking down, too, and, alas, hurting, though it's again the rules too. My House, Edward, is made of especially...quick people. Many of them think nothing of any rules. I treat them accordingly, of course. No student will be let off when they don't deserve that because they are of same House as me.'

'Glad to hear.' Snell answered.

Jerry descended from the mounting block and said to Blaise:

'I hope I didn't offend you? Old Horace isn't offended, I see.'

'Not at all, Jerry,' Blaise said. 'Horace could take offence, yes, but he didn't, and I have no reason to be offended.'

'Excellent!' Jerry smiled.

'Now to the field,' Snell said. 'It's not far from here.'

'Good.' Blaise nodded. They headed their steps along the street, to the right. They passed several houses, then fields and lanes, till they turned to a large triangle field. There was a crowd of children waiting there. Blaise, Snell, the Boggins, Jerry and the people that went with them came up. The Boggins formed a large square, the other people stepped aside. Jerry and Snell went aside too and beckoned Blaise with them. Twelve rolled Hessian sacks were carried into the field and thrown. Many children immediately rushed to catch the sacks and there was a struggle. Two boys got into a serious fight over one of the sacks. Blaise cried at the top of his voice:

'Young man, it says 'don't hurt him', doesn't it? Stop this minute!'

The boys ceased to fight.

'And it would be twenty points from Gryffindor, Miles, if it weren't for the holidays,' Blaise said. One of the boys winced. Blaise explained:

'One of my students. Now, behave yourself, Miles. If I see another one, I'll disqualify you.'

'Yes Professor Zabini,' Miles said.

'You have a grip,' Horace said.

'Thank you Horace.' Blaise smiled.

The Twelve Hoods, as Snell explained to Blaise they were called, were gradually got out of the field by the boys, not without several more fights and reprimands. Then an expectant silence reigned. Some strong lads brought an enormous leather pipe.

'Our Hood,' Snell said. 'Ain't easy to move it, you see.'

'Indeed,' Blaise wondered.

The Hood was then thrown in the air and landed with a heavy thump. And then all the people around darted to it, each trying to get hold of it first. Blaise saw a real skirmish. Men, women, boys, girls, even old Horace, elbowed each other and shouted loudly. Snell said:

'See how old Horace tries!? The King's Arms won the Sway for seven previous years, and the year before that it was the Carpenter's Arms. Nat'rally, they want it back.'

'Understandable,' Blaise said.

Horace, who was certainly trying his best to get to the Hood, captured it and pushed it forward with his feet, running. But then a very tall red-haired young man in blue coat intercepted the Hood, seized it in his hand and ran.

'TOWERING GENTLEMAN WITH RED HAIR!' Blaise cried to out-loud the shouts of the players. 'YOU ARE VIOLATING THE RULES! DON'T USE YOUR HANDS! PUT THE HOOD ON THE GROUND, OR YOU WILL BE OUT OF THE GAME!'

The fiery-haired young man dropped the Hood, intimidated.

'Got you, Matt!' somebody said.

'E-excuse me,' Matt said.

'That's all right!' Blaise said.

'Matt Fletcher,' Snell said. 'A bit on the tricky side.'

'Indeed?' Blaise said.

The Sway went on. It quickly reached the edge of the field, and then it got really chaotic. People dragged it in opposite directions, tripping and pushing each other. Blaise never stopped to shout. Some shrubbery on the side of the road was downtrodden by the Sway, and the Boggins had to push very hardly to prevent the destruction of two hedges. Blaise bid several people out of the game for throwing the Hood. The crowd, like tide, headed eastwards.

'Seems like Carpenter's Arms is out of it again,' Blaise said.

But some Carpenter's Arms supporters dragged the Hood into the fields and tried to pull it towards Westwoodside. They didn't succeed, however. The Sway was now heading along the Main Street. The Carpenter's Arms supporters didn't give up, and the whole thing was completely crazy. Blaise watched it with interest.

'Like it, Blaise?' Snell said.

'Thoroughly,' Blaise said.

The Loco supporters now tried very hard to pull the Hood further towards the Loco, while the Duke William supporters tried to drag it to Duke William.

'And what House were you in, Will?' Blaise asked.

'Ravenclaw, too,' Will said. 'I remember you, you were several years younger. You were very good at Potions, Care of the Magical Creatures, Herbology and Defense against the Dark Arts, and very bad at Charms.'

'Yes.' Blaise smiled. 'I had to study day and night to get an E in Charms. You know, it was absolutely necessary for the trade I wanted. But I just haven't got the talent for Charms, you see.'

'I see,' Will said. 'Now me, I am especially good at charms. It's funny how these things are.'

'Indeed,' Blaise said.

'Seems old Carpenter's Arms is out now,' Will said. 'It's a pity.'

'Bad luck,' Blaise said.

The scrum went on. Macavity was sliding among the players with excited yeaows. Snell said:

'He won't get hurt, Blaise?'

'No,' Blaise said. 'He's very agile, Edward, all his breed is, and he's the best of them.'

'A fine tom,' Snell said.

'Yes.' Blaise smiled.

Meanwhile, a Duke William supporter took the Hood in his hands and was about to throw it to the threshold of the Duke William Hotel, but then Macavity jumped and seized the man by one hand. The man yelped and let the Hood go.

'Yaoaow!' Macavity said.

The rule-breaker looked at his scratched hand and resumed running. The Hood was taken by someone else and Snell said:

'How amazing!'

'Yes.' Blaise smiled. 'That's Macavity for you. He's very intelligent. He heard the rules and understood them, and now he stops the rule-breakers, like a true Lord's cat.'

'Indeed.' Snell nodded. 'He's some Oriental breed, isn't he? They are clever and agile, those Oriental cats, I know.'

'Yes, he's an Oriental cat.' Blaise smiled. 'Very ancient breed.'

'Like a Lord,' Snell said.

'Yes, like a Lord,' Blaise smiled.

The Duke William people and the Loco people were fighting frantically. A group of five Loco supporters and seven Duke William supporters seized the Hood, and both groups pulled it where they wanted.

'They won't tear the Hood apiece?' Blaise said, anxious.

'Nah, it's hard,' Edward said.

'Good,' Blaise said. 'For, as fun it is to watch them, one is afraid for your ancient game equipment.

'It's made to bear the Sway,' Edward said. 'Or what's the use?'

'You're right, Edward,' Blaise said. 'I bow to your superior knowledge.'

Meanwhile, the Loco supporters tugged hard, and the Duke William supporters fell upside down in the snow. The Sway moved resolutely in the direction of the Loco and the King's Arms.

'Good job,' Blaise said. 'If you translate 'the Loco supporters', you get 'the crazy supporters'. 'Loco' means 'crazy' in Spanish. Fitting, isn't it?'

'Very,' Edward laughed. 'It's very fitting. I know 'em very well.'

'You know, when I was at school, one of the House teams had a Captain named Oliver Wood,' Blaise said. 'Wode means 'mad' in old English, and Oliver Wood was about as mad about sports as these Loco people. Funny, isn't it?'

'Yes, very, those coincidences are,' Edward said. 'What did you play, and what position he had?'

'Football,' Blaise said. 'He was a Keeper. He was five years my senior, finished when I was a third year. He was very good.'

'Was he in your House?' Edward asked.

'No, but my four best friends were in the same House as him,' Blaise said. 'They told me he used to give an awesome pep talk.'

'And were you on your House team?' Edward asked.

'No,' Blaise said shortly. 'I did not see eye to eye with the crowd that formed the team. They were all cowering before one Draco Malfoy, a rich, snobby, nasty kid from an old family. I couldn't stand him and still can't. Thankfully, I don't see him often these days. He's inherited his father's lands in Wiltshire. His son is his carbon copy, but he's one of my students, and I can keep him firmly in check.'

'I see,' Edward said. 'He's a very unpleasant person, this Malfoy senior, isn't he?'

'Yes,' Blaise said emphatically. 'He used to insult one of my best friends for his being an orphan, another two for them being from 'wrong' families, and fourth for his folks being poor. Me he teased for my sympathy for the 'wrong' sort. I used to snarl at him all the time, and once we had a big fight. I won, and he looked humbler since.'

'That taught him,' Edward nodded.

'Yes. Taught him is right. No teacher can teach THAT, if one went to school with such notions.'

Meanwhile, the Duke William supporters didn't lose the hope to win. They tried, but all their efforts were in vain - the Loco supporters and the King's Arms supporters were stronger and more resolute. The Hood crawled slowly further along the Church Street. Not a single car, naturally, was parked there, for no one wants their car to be swept away by the Sway.

'That's very amusing!' Blaise said.

'Yes, isn't it?' Edward said. 'Love it.'

Macavity jumped among the players, and seemed very pleased.

'He enjoys it too,' Edward said.

'I see he does.' Blaise smiled. 'I know he does.'

'And well he may,' Edward said.

'Yes,' Blaise said. 'Not only the Loco people, but all the people in the Sway show a remarkable sporting spirit. This is admirable.'

'I'm glad you think so,' Edward said.

'I wouldn't agree to referee the Sway if I didn't,' Blaise smiled.

Now the Loco supporters and the King's Arms supporters overpowered the disgruntled Carpenter's Arms and Duke William supporters and were resolutely dragging the Hood eastwards.

'Seems the odds that your side wins are very small now, Horace, Will,' Blaise said.

'We'll see yet,' Horace grumbled. 'And if we lose, I hope it's not the King's Arms.'

'Yes,' Will nodded emphatically. 'We lost to them seven years in a row. Not another year!'

'A House in my school had the same bad luck, when I was a student,' Blaise said. 'And they had been losing to my House, all those times, but I wished the other House to turn the tide, not to my House to win for the eighth time. That was because the awful people in my House were cheating to get the victory, and I wax very glad when the other House got a very talented player and won at last. They deserved it. And the boy was really good, a natural, and most brave, and only a first-year he was, too. I became friends with him later.'

'What does he do now?' Edward asked.

'He's in the law enforcement. Very fitting for him, too,' Blaise said.

'Yes, very,' Horace said. 'Nothing so fitting for him.'

'You know him?' Edward asked.

'I heard of him,' Horace said. 'He was long after my time, 'course.'

'He's done some very brave deeds,' Blaise said.

'That's the understatement of the century,' Jerry said.

'Yeah, but you caught it, didn't you?' Blaise said.

'Sure, who wouldn't,' Jerry said.

'All right, then,' Blaise smiled.

By that time, they reached the Loco, and a severe wrangle between the Loco people and the King's Arms people started. The Loco people were, as Blaise said, just that, loco, and the King's Arms people apparently wanted to get the Hood for the eighth year in a row, Blaise whistled, looking at the free-for-all. Horace said:

'Boy, some fight, it is!'

'Yaaow!' Macavity cried, leaping among the fighters.

The King's Arms people made one gigantic effort, and the Hood went their way.

'Damn it all!' Horace said.

'Blazes!' Will exclaimed.

'Seems you really lost, guys,' Blaise said. 'I am sorry.'

'Thankee, Blaise,' Horace said.

Now, though the supporters of the other pubs didn't give up, the Hood slithered rapidly along the Low Street, in the direction of the King's Arms.

'Damn, damn, damn!' Horace said.

'At least, you'll get free drinks, like everyone else,' Blaise said.

'That's true.' Horace grunted.

The King's Arms definitely won. The Low Street dwellers cheered loudly as the Hood moved on. Horace and Will looked miserable. At last, the Hood was pulled to the door of the King's Arms. The tall, stout man in charge came out and touched the Hood with his large red right hand and carried the Hood inside.

'We've officially lost now,' Will said. Horace nodded gloomily.

'Well, that's it,' Blaise said. 'I guess the King's Arms has won the match, gentlemen.'

'That's for sure!' the King's Arms barkeep grinned.

'Yes,' Edward said. 'Martin Blundell, the King's Arms owner - Professor Blaise Zabini, the Lord.'

'Old Horace's quarreled with Edward and the rest again,' Jerry explained. 'This time really gross.'

'Yeah, and I'm not happy with you people still,' Horace said. 'Especially after the King's Arms won for the eighth time, I ask you!'

'Well, there's nothing between, Horace.' Mr. Blundell smiled. 'But you get a free drink. Come in, gentlemen, and be welcome.'

'Whatever,' Horace grumbled, but came inside along with Blaise, Jerry, Edward, Will and the other participants. Macavity slid in too. Mr. Blundell attached the Hood to the two hooks behind the counter. Blaise took a table near the fireplace, Edward, Will and Jerry with him. Jerry said:

'You have done well, Blaise.'

'Thank you, Jerry,' Blaise smiled.

Mr. Blundell brought each of them a frothing jug of beer.

'To Haxey and its ancient Hood game, gentlemen!' Blaise said.

'That's a smart toast,' Jerry said. 'Horace wouldn't say this.'

'Yeah, sure, with the King's having won the thing for the bloody eighth time!' Horace said.

'There, there, Horace,' Will said.

'Gentlemen, King's or Carpenter's, it is still Haxey,' Blaise said.

'The most wise thing said here,' Jerry said. 'Blaise is right.'

'Please, gentlemen, Blaise said. 'I know a very funny story I am going to tell you. Please?'

'All right,' Horace grumbled. 'Tell.'

Blaise started to tell them a story about one of his colleagues at Hogwarts, but adapting the facts slightly, of course. When he finished, Edward laughed heartily:

'That's a good 'un! I trust Professor Snape is all right now?'

'Oh, he is,' Blaise grinned. 'But very disgruntled, naturally.'

'And when he isn't?' Jerry said.

'True. You can't teach the old dog new tricks,' Blaise said.

'Not likely,' Jerry said.

'Yes,' Blaise smiled. 'Now want to hear another one?'

'Sure,' his companions said.

Blaise started to tell another story. Then it was followed by another story and another.

Late in the night, Blaise said:

'Er, Mr. Blundell, I think I'll stay at your place for the night.'

'You're welcome, Professor Zabini,' Mr. Blundell said.

'I think I'll stay too,' Will said.

'Me too,' Horace said.

'And me,' Edward added.

'Be at home, gentlemen,' Mr. Blundell said. 'I'll show you your rooms. You'll be comfortable at my inn, don't you worry.'

'Thank you Mr. Blundell,' Blaise said.

'Follow me, Professor Zabini,' Mr. Blundell said. Blaise obeyed. Macavity followed him, naturally.

'My cat,' Blaise said. 'You don't object to cats, do you? I refuse to part with him.

'No, no, I don't object,' Mr. Blundell said. 'And he's a fine cat, he is.'

'Yes, so.' Blaise smiled.

Mr. Blundell led Blaise and Macavity up old wooden stairs and along a corridor into a big room furnished with a nice large bed with yellow cover, a chest of drawers, several chairs and one armchair, yellow curtains on the windows and a yellow carpet on the floor.

'Be comfortable, Professor Zabini,' Mr. Blundell said. 'I liked how you refereed the game, really.'

'Thank you, Mr. Blundell,' Blaise said.

'Not at all,' Mr. Blundell said and went away. Blaise undressed, put his things into the chest of drawers and went to sleep. Macavity curled up at his feet.

The next morning, Blaise was awoken by a hard knocking on the door of his room.

'Whassamatter?' Blaise asked.

'Professor Zabini, it's me, Martin Blundell. The Hood's disappeared.'

'What do you mean, disappeared?' Blaise asked in amazement.

'Disappeared. Vanished. Not here,' Mr. Blundell said. 'Stolen.'

'Stolen!?' Blaise exclaimed. His shout waked Macavity.

'Yooaw!?' he asked.

'Yes, Macavity, stolen,' Blaise said. 'A new case for us.'

'Yow!' Macavity said.

'Yes, mon cher. Let's get up,' Blaise said. 'I'm coming with you, Mr. Blundell. Let me just dress.'

'Alright, Professor,' Mr. Blundell said.

Blaise got up and dressed quickly. Macavity with a loud 'yaow' leapt to the floor too.

'Good morning, Professor Zabini,' Mr. Blundell said apologetically.

'Good morning, Mr. Blundell.' Blaise smiled friendly.

'Yaoaow,' Macavity said. Blaise and Macavity followed Mr. Blundell downstairs. The two hooks behind the counter were empty, Hood-less. Blaise stepped behind the counter and looked at the place where the Hood had been. Macavity ran up to Blaise and began to sniff the place. At length he said, 'Yoaw!'

'You think?' Blaise said. He searched the place, knelt, took out his wand under the counter and whispered, 'Detego magiam!', pointing the wand to the floor. He saw a red light. 'Finite incantatem,' he whispered, put his wand back into his pocket, resumed his standing position and called out to Mr. Blundell:

'Mr. Blundell, call Messrs. Lovegood, Snell, Pratt and Dean here.'

'As you wish, Professor Zabini,' Mr. Blundell said and went out. Somme time before he returned with Jerry, Horace, Will and Edward.

'Now, gentlemen, the Hood was stolen, and I need your help,' Blaise said. 'I hope you understand.'

Jerry, Horace, Will and Edward nodded.

'Then let's go to some private place,' Blaise said. 'I'll speak to you there.'

'Yaaow!?' Macavity asked.

'Yes, Macavity, of course you can go with us,' Blaise said. 'I've got no secrets from you, you know.'

'Yaow,' Macavity said demurely.

'I'll show you a nice little room, gentlemen,' Mr. Blundell said.

'Please,' Blaise said.

Mr. Blundell led them to a small quiet room with some chairs and armchairs, a carpet and curtains, all of pale rose hue. The five men and the cat came in, and Blaise closed the door. Horace, Will, Jerry, and Edward settled down in the chairs and armchairs, Macavity sat down on the carpet, and Blaise took a stand in the middle of the room.

'Well?' Edward Snell asked.

'Well,' Blaise said. 'I know one would suspect Horace firstly. But I don't think so. Remember what I said about Severus? You, Horace, are much like him, and I know it's not you.'

'Who then?' Horace asked.

'A good question,' Blaise said. 'Who was disgruntled by the King's victory even more than you, though didn't show it much? Who was very good at Charms in Hogwarts and still is? Who could shrink the thing and put it in his pocket?'

'Wha...!?' Will exclaimed.

'A nice how-do-you-do, Will! And you call yourself a Ravenclaw!' Horace boomed. 'For shame!'

'There, Horace,' Blaise said calmly. 'Will, if you return the thing back to its place of your own accord, I won't tell the authorities. You know I have a say with them, don't you?'

'Yes,' Will said and went out.

'So that's it,' Blaise said.

'Yaaow!' Macavity said.

'Well!' Edward said.

'Now, gentlemen, can I have your word that you won't reveal to anyone the events that took place in this room?' Blaise said.

'Yes.' Horace grumbled.

'You can.' Jerry smiled.

'My word,' Edward said resolutely.

'Thank you, gentlemen,' Blaise said. 'Thank you in particular, Edward.'

'Are you...wizards!?' Edward asked.

'Yes,' Blaise said. 'I'm the Care of the Magical Creatures teacher in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the school for all witches and wizards in Britain and Ireland. Horace, Will and Jerry went to one of the four Houses of Hogwarts, called Ravenclaw, and me to another, - Slytherin. Walter is a vet wizard, we met at a conference in Prague. And my cat's a magic kind of cat, they're called Kneazles. They're very smart and can feel a suspicious person at once.'

'I see now,' Edward said.

'Now let's go, gentlemen,' Blaise said. 'Will compensated for his deed, and he won't repeat it. Let's be generous, gentlemen.'