Harry Potter and The Heirs of The Founders

Chapter Two

Seeking

Ginny Weasley opened her scrapbook of the European Cup. She had been collecting all the articles about the British Teams. It was a lot different to follow the games when you knew a few people on the teams. And when you got to go to all the games, because your boyfriend had bought you season tickets.

Draw Week One

Ballycastle Bats (UK) vs. Minsk Mermen (RA)

Braga Broomfleet (MT) vs. Schafthausen Schlüssel (GA)

Porsuk Pixies (BS) vs. Warsaw Werewolves (PC)

Ludvika Elves (SC) vs. Nivellles Noctures (FS)

Puddlemere United (UK) vs. Sirgriuil Sunrays (FS)

Heidelberg Harriers (GA) vs. Naples Knights (MT)

Moscow Turmani (RA) vs. Ajka Ants (PC)

Haugesund Hounds (SC) vs. Frunze Fairies (BS)

Knittlefield Kneazles (GA) vs. Nizhniy Gnomes (GA)

Copenhagen Cobblers (SC) vs. Deva Dragons (BS)

Badajoz Bulls (MT) vs. Wimbourne Wasps (UK)

Czestochwoa Acromatula vs. Bigonville Bombers (FS)

Corinth Centuars (MT) vs. Den Haag Harpies (GA)

Veilkiye Vampires (RA) vs. Iceland Icicles (SC)

Grodzisk Goblins (PC) vs. Quafflepunchers (FS)

Pride of Portree (UK) vs. The Vultures (BS)

League Codes

RA Combined Independent States Quidditch League

PC The Polish and Czech Quidditch League

UK The British and Irish Quidditch League

BS The Quidditch League of the Black Sea countries

GA The German and Austrian Quidditch League (includes Holland)

FS The French and Swiss Quidditch League

MT The Quidditch League of the Mediterranean Countries

SC The Quidditch League of Scandinavia

Week One

POTTER CATCHES THE SNITCH IN FIVE SECONDS! IS IT SKILL OR LUCK?

SHORTEST QUIDDITCH GAME IN THE HISTORY OF THE SPORT!

Harry Potter, the boy who lived, made wizard history again today as he caught the Snitch in five seconds in his first professional Quidditch game. The eighteen year old, who is fresh out of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, was drafted by Puddlemere United in the National Quidditch Draft, after their former Seeker Hamish Dalton was tragically killed in an explosion in London. Before the tournament Puddlemere was rated an outside chance, with the hot favourites being the Turmani, the Vultures and the Broomfleet, but the drafting of Potter has left supporters wondering if he can weave anymore magic this cup and give the thirtieth ranked team a chance.

ÀILLE BRINGS THE PRIDES HOME AGAINST BULGARIA!

Bulgarian Quidditch officials were not impressed when Scotland's very own local talent knocked out the only team from Bulgaria to qualify for the European Cup. The Vultures were red-hot favourites for this years Cup, after they demolished every other team in The Black Sea Quidditch League. However, their star player Viktor Krum paled in comparison to Chrystal Àille, the Prides' thirty-six year old Seeker, who grabbed the Snitch from above Krum's head. Krum's performance was very out of character; he is not known to make mistakes like that. Whether luck or skill, the Prides will most certainly grab the chance to go further in this cup, not having won a European Cup since the days Catriona McCormack was a player.

BATS BEAT MERMEN

The premiers of the British League had an easy run today against the Minsk Mermen, beating them by four hundred points. The Mermen scored just once.

WASPS WIN!! FOUR BRITISH TEAMS THROUGH TO THE NEXT ROUND!!

Ludo Bagman appeared very happy today when commentating for his old team. The Badajoz Bulls didn't give them many problems. The Wasps made it look easy as they kept putting the Quaffle through the goals.

Draw Week Two

Ballycastle Bats (UK) vs. Braga Broomfleet (MT)

Porsuk Pixies (BS) vs. Ludvika Elves (SC)

Puddlemere United (UK) vs. Heidelberg Harriers (GA)

Moscow Turmani (RA) vs. Frunze Fairies (BS)

Knittlefield Kneazles (GA) vs. Deva Dragons (BS)

Bigonville Bombers (FS) vs. Wimbourne Wasps (UK)

Corinth Centuars (MT) vs. Iceland Icicles (SC)

Quafflepunchers (FR) vs. Pride of Portree (UK)

Week Two

PUDDLEMERE DEFEATS HEIDELBERG. WOOD SAVES THE DAY!!

Puddlemere United' Oliver Wood showed the Wizarding World that there's much more to Quidditch than simply catching the Snitch. In a competition that has been largely dominated by the ability of each teams Seeker to catch the Snitch before the other teams, Oliver Wood showed that you don't need to catch the Snitch to win the game. Wood did not allow the Harriers to score once and despite their Seeker beating Potter to the Snitch, it was all to no avail, with the Puddlemere Chaser, Ebony Fraser put the Quaffle through the hoop making the score one hundred and sixty to one hundred and fifty.

CATRIONA MCCORMACK SHOWS HER COACHING SKILLS!!

There is only one explanation for the Pride of Portree's convincing win today over the Quafflepunchers. That is teamwork and it can only be attributed to the amazing skills of coach and former captain Catriona McCormack. The former Chaser, who led the Prides to victory in two league finals in the sixties, has come to show her finesse in coaching with the wonders she has worked with the Prides in recent years. Daughter, Meagan is an almost unbeatable Keeper, the three Chasers work together as one in a fashion that would suggest that they had only ever played together and Seeker Chrystal Àille rarely fails to catch the Snitch.

BRITAIN MOURNS! TWO BRITISH TEAMS KNOACKED OUT IN ONE DAY!

Both the Wasps and the Bats have been knocked out of the European Cup today......

Draw Week Three - Quarter Finals

Braga Broomfleet (MT) vs. Porsuk Pixies (BS)

Puddlemere United (UK) vs. Moscow Turmani (RA)

Deva Dragons (BS) vs. Bigonville Bombers (FS)

Pride of Portree (UK) vs. Iceland Icicles (SC)

Week Three

NOT EVEN POTTER CAN STOP THE RAIN.

The Russian Turmani today again demonstrated why they are the hot favourites for the European Cup. The fourth ranked British Team had no chance today as they were pounded by the team from Moscow. Seeker, Harry Potter had several chances to catch the Snitch, however catching it would have guaranteed victory for the Turmani. In the end the Turmani Seeker managed to beat Potter to the Snitch, sealing victory for the favourites.

PRIDES HEAT MELTS THE ICE!

Once again the Prides showed that teamwork is the key to a Quidditch victory as they applied the heat to the Icicles in a convincing victory. Now the only British Team left in the competition, and playing on home soil, now carry the hopes of Britain on their shoulders.

Draw Week Four - Semi Finals

Moscow Turmani (RA) vs. Braga Broomfleet (MT)

Bigonville Bombers (FS) vs. Pride of Portree (UK)

Week Four

PRIDES THROUGH TO THEIR FIRST FINAL IN THIRTY YEARS!

McCormack and Àille saved the day for the Prides today against the Bombers, in a repeat of their performance against the Quafflepunchers.

Final

Moscow Turmani (RA) vs. Pride of Portree (UK)

*~*

The end of the week drew near.

He had spent the last week searching, and was still no closer than he had been three months ago to attaining his goal. He had searched every part of the wood, but he could not say with any certainty

The sun set and he was reminded once again that he had failed in his goal. When the sun had disappeared, so did he.

Sirius appeared in the foyer of Dunvegan Castle. Alasdair McLeod was waiting for him.

'Sirius,' he said. 'I see you have returned once again unsuccessful.'

Sirius nodded.

'Do not let it worry you,' he said. 'If the creature is to be found, you will find him eventually. Chrystal is waiting for you in the drawing room.'

Sirius made his way slowly into the drawing room. He hadn't been sure about the decision that he and Chrystal had made about staying at Dunvegan Castle, but when they were going to be at Hogwarts for most of the year, it didn't seem worth staying elsewhere. Also, they had offered either of their houses to Harry and Hermione. They didn't know whether or not they had accepted, and didn't want to know. But they had to have a starting point. The money in Harry's vault would not last forever. Especially now that Lily and possibly James were alive and that Rose exists.

He entered the room.

'No luck Sirius?' Chrystal asked.

'None at all,' he replied. 'I just wish I could be sure we hadn't missed him. Anyway, how come you're waiting up for me? I thought you were supposed to be resting for tomorrow's big game.'

Chrystal was playing in the finals of the world cup early the next morning.

'I know, I know,' she replied. 'I just couldn't sleep. I feel a need to find him. I just wish I could be helping.'

'You are helping,' he replied. 'Trust me, you need to keep up your public profile. People would wonder if you suddenly stopped playing, unless you were pregnant. You're at the peak of your career Chrys, enjoy it while you can, because I dare say that my godson will soon be a Quidditch legend in his own right and nobody will care about you anymore.'

'Thanks, darling,' she said with a slight smile upon her face. 'I constantly need to be reminded of that fact. And let me remind you, I'm not past my prime yet. I think I will go to bed now. I do need some rest.'

Sirius watched as his wife made her way upstairs. She seemed so detached in some sense, like she was losing inspiration to live. Sirius felt that she was willing herself to die, because she believed with such conviction that if Voldemort fell she would be the one to die. Sirius didn't honestly believe that her character was the same as Voldemort's, it just simply wasn't a possibility. What could he do? How could he help her? He had thought and thought about this the entire time he had been searching.

*~*

ÀILLE VS. KORVA

THE SHOWDOWN OF THE CUP!

Lavender looked at the headline.

Even after the three months that the cup had been going on, she still couldn't get used to the headlines including people she knew. She had never really enjoyed Quidditch at school, but had gone to all the games because Parvati had dragged her along.

And now her home had been invaded with continued games.

The other thing that bothered her were the constant mentions of both Harry's and Chrystal's names. Harry was okay; she could deal with that, despite not having really gotten over him. But her old Professor was different. There was something about her that Lavender just couldn't put her finger on. There was something she didn't like about her.

It wasn't because a lot of the boys thought she was pretty. Lavender personally couldn't see it, but she could see a few features that may cause eyes to turn. It wasn't because she was a good professor, and Lavender herself was unsure of how well she would be able to teach Divination. There was just something about her that made Lavender uncomfortable. She had noticed it the first time she had met her, at Harry's seventeenth birthday.

Lavender didn't want to be bonded to her in such away. But that was unavoidable; they were part of the same prophecy. Still, she would have preferred to be bonded to Hermione Granger, and given that Hermione had stolen her boyfriend that was saying a lot.

She sighed as she put down the paper. Only one more game of Quidditch before life could resume a kind of normalcy.

*~*

Scotland had certainly come alive for the final of the Cup.

The village of Hogsmeade was decked out to the fullest, banners in all the store windows and the Three Broomsticks had taken on an entirely new appearance.

Most places were decked out mainly in purple and gold, but a few rebel houses sported the Russian colours. It seemed like the entire British wizarding community was making there way to Hogwarts for the final. Fred and George Weasley had been up since sunrise, hoping that customers would fill their pockets with their products before the match, as it was expected that the match could literally last for days. Their prediction had paid off. They had pulled in more money that morning than they had for the rest of the year, (well, excepting the previous two months during which the cup had been on).

George looked at his watch.

'Time to go up?' he asked his twin.

'I think so,' he replied. 'The match begins in twenty minutes and we need to go through security. You okay here, Dean?' Fred asked Dean Thomas, who had been working for the twins over the break. It had worked quite well, as Dean who was not to start his job at the Ministry until September, was not really that interested in Quidditch, despite having a brief stint on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. It meant that Fred and George could go to most of the games and leave the store in the hands of someone they knew they could trust.

'Yes,' Dean replied. 'I'll be here until Ernie comes is that right?'

'Yes,' George replied. 'Best be off now.'

He and Fred walked out the door. Just before they reached Hogwarts, Fred noticed his twin was looking a little off colour.

'What's up?' he asked.

'It's just that,' George started before biting his tongue.

'What?'

'Don't worry,' he said.

'Hang on a minute,' Fred said as they stood in the queue to make their way into the stands. 'I'm your twin. Do you know what that means? It means you are obliged to tell me everything.'

'It's just that, well I promised Katie I'd ask her to marry me if the Prides win,' he replied. 'It was in a moment of insanity. But now that the time is approaching, I'm not sure I can go through with it.'

Fred looked long and hard at his twin. Then he finally asked what he believed to be true.

'You've got stronger feelings for her than you've ever had for anyone, don't you?' he said. 'It's obvious George. The question is do you want to spend the rest of your life with her?'

It wasn't hard for George to quickly nod in reply.

'Then you should ask her George,' Fred said. 'Regardless of whether or not the Prides win. You and Katie have a chemistry that is obvious, you simply belong together. Whereas Angelina and I don't have quite the same bond. You're the more sensitive one George, I always knew you would be the first.'

George looked at his twin very solemnly.

'So did I,' he replied.

*~*

Chrystal Àille was pacing the Quidditch change room. Deep down she knew this could possibly be one of her last matches. Catriona had been addressing the team and she had tuned out. It was now evident that she had finished. People were about to disperse for a couple of minutes before the match began.

'Hang on,' Chrys said. Everyone turned around surprised. Chrystal never really had much to say about the team's tactics. There was a good reason she was a Seeker and it wasn't just because she won games. Even though she did have a personality that most people on the team couldn't resist.

'What is it Chrystal?' Catriona asked.

'I think everyone here knows that this will probably be my last chance at winning the European Cup,' she began. Most people in the room nodded. There had been a secret bet on how long Chrystal would last as a Quidditch player once she and Sirius Black had married. Everyone knew that she wanted children, and pregnancy wasn't exactly the best state for your body to be in while playing Quidditch. 'It's the only trophy I haven't got yet, and it's one that I would very much like for my wall. But I think that most of those trophy's are due to Cat's great coaching. If we play by her tactics we should win today. I promise you I will not catch the Snitch today unless we are guaranteed the game. But I'd really like you to help me to finally have that trophy on my wall, and on yours as well. However, I want it done for Cat, not for me. And then when we win, I will throw us all a big party at Dunvegan Castle.'

At that moment Ludo Bagman's voice resounded through the rooms. He was announcing the Moscow Team. The Pride's assembled at the door. The team members were checking their purple and gold robes, several members were nervous at the prospect of playing their first European Cup final. Chrystal waited until she heard "ÀILLE" then she made her way out to the pitch and mounted her broom. The crowd noise was overwhelming.

The umpire blew the whistle and the game had begun.

Chrystal immediately began scanning the sky, searching for the Snitch. She knew that this Russian team was tough, and their best chance of winning would be catching the Snitch early. She managed to tune out all the sound, so she could concentrate on the game. She knew that her team was ahead by one goal.

She began to circle around the ground, looking for a glimpse of flickering gold. It was hard to concentrate with all the supporters dressed in purple and gold. Finally out of the corner of her eye, she saw the glittering. Immediately she turned around and headed towards the shining. The other Seeker had seen it too. If the Prides were to win, Chrys was going to have to catch it before the other Seeker.

The other Seeker, Korva was diving towards the Snitch. Chrystal was gaining on him as she sneaked a look to the left of her. She pulled up quickly hoping that the other Seeker hadn't seen the Bludger heading their way and that he didn't catch the Snitch. Then she dived somewhat suddenly straight towards the ground. The crowd was yelling in a confused manner. Thankfully, that confounded with he actions had made the other Seeker look around and he hadn't seen her dive. She spiralled closer and closer towards the ground.

She felt the cool metal in her hand as she pulled up and breathed a sigh of relief. She'd done it. They'd done it. The final frontier had been overcome. Now all she had left was the immense feeling of joy that came with it. She landed on the ground were her teammates embraced her as they were all cheering.

The rest of the afternoon was a blur. She was exhausted and her home became invaded with Quidditch players and friends.

She finally spied Sirius and Harry among the crowd.

'Thanks for the pointers Harry,' she called out to her husband's godson. 'Couldn't have done it without you. Celebrate a while, but don't hang around too long. As much as I'd love you to stay.'

'We'll talk later,' she mouthed at him as she walked towards the door.

There were photos to be taken, interviews to perform and general celebrations to be had. Chrystal's entire afternoon was filled, with her having almost no time to even contemplate their victory.

After what seemed like hours, there was just Sirius and her father left. She was lying on a couch contemplating the game. That was it.

The end had come.

She hadn't really been thinking about it before the game, but she just felt that now was the time. She had achieved all her dreams in the area of Quidditch. And to tell you the truth, her heart just wasn't in it anymore.

*~*

George Weasley and Katie Bell were walking around the lake at Hogwarts.

George was extremely nervous. It was a while before he spoke.

'Katie, I, um,' he stuttered.

'Look George,' she said interrupting him. There was a tone of disappointment there. 'You don't have to propose you know. You shouldn't do that just because you said you would after one too many Butterbeers.'

'No Katie,' he said quickly. 'It's not that I don't want to. In fact, I was thinking about it earlier. I have something I want to say, and I was going to say it regardless of the outcome of the match. ' He gazed longingly into the eyes of the girl he had grown to love. 'I want you to be my wife Kathryn Bell. I want to be with you everyday for the rest of my life.' George reached into his pocket and pulled out a tear shaped diamond ring. 'Please say you will.'

His heart stopped beating in the time it took for Katie to look at the ring and then reply in the affirmative.

Yes, life goes on. Take that Voldemort!

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