Life and Love After Voldemort

jdvalk2

Story Summary:
H/G, R/Hr story focusing on how career paths are finalized, life choices are made, and rings are exchanged. There's a goodly amount of romance, humor, action, adventure and mystery, as the quartet find that the post-Voldemort world holds its fair share of challenges.

Chapter 16 - Chapter 16

Chapter Summary:
Harry's 1st match with the Cannons
Posted:
02/26/2009
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252


The atmosphere was electric at Old Chudleighton Stadium for Harry's first match, which was to be played against the Montrose Magpies, a perennial league power. The stadium had sold out for the first time since the 19th century, which had sent the cleaning crew into a frenzy clearing out crows' nests and an entire village of gnomes who had taken up residence in the upper tiers of the cavernous structure. The facelift extended far and wide, even to the canning of the old mascot 'Hoops,' a long-derided symbol of franchise futility whose ambiguous appearance gave the impression that a Quaffle had gotten stuck in a windsock. The new mascot 'Chudders,' which was basically a walking cannonball, at least brought some excitement to the game after each Chudley score by flinging himself into a giant cannon and then exploding above the pitch. (George had lent his talents to the enterprise, especially in enabling quick Reparo jobs on Chudders after each cannon blast.)

However, the biggest facelift had occurred on the field. Clara Ivanova was on the verge of approving a transfer to the Cannons, and Connolly and Quigley had already signed on as Beaters. After the duo spent their first few encounters with Harry praising him to the hilt for what he'd done to defeat Voldemort, they worked themselves seamlessly into the lineup with each successive practice. Ludo seemed less of a strategist and more of a cheerleader when it came to match preparation, so Harry started initiating game plan discussions and soliciting input from the team veterans. He made it clear that his initiative was not part of a ploy to become team captain and that the responsibility and honor would remain with Ron.

On the day of Harry's first match with the team, Ron's game prep consisted mainly of fighting against the swarms of butterflies that had returned to his stomach as he was serenaded by chants of "KING! KING! KING! C'MON AND DO YOUR THING!" from the Cannon Fodder section. With Ron's pregame routine back to normal, Harry knew his Keeper was ready to do battle.

Play started at a faster pace than Harry was used to, and Harry stuck to the recommendation of his Beaters to continually mark their positions and shadow one of them at all times as he waited for the Golden Snitch to be released. This turned out to be excellent advice, as it was clear that he was in the midst of four of the best and toughest Beaters in the world, all of whom were intent on disrupting the other side as brutally as possible. Staying in the wake of Connolly and Quigley in alternate spurts kept Harry from being a sitting duck as he scanned for the Snitch. Meanwhile, Ron had his hands full with the top-flight Magpie Chasers. They bombarded Ron with shots on goal while only Chucky Farkas seemed to be able to make any headway against Montrose's Keeper.

By the time the Snitch was released, the Magpies had a 120-30 advantage and were looking stronger with each assault on the Chudley defenses. Harry soon noticed that the Magpies had concentrated their resources on stopping him by sending a Beater to spy on him from below, set to disrupt any attempt by Harry to capture the Snitch.

When Harry was closing in on the Snitch, the Magpie Beater tailing him signaled his counterpart to divert Bludgers his way so they could be swatted en masse at Harry. I need help, Harry thought and screamed out: "Quigley! Down under!!!"

Quigley quickly directed a Bludger at the Montrose spy, who was caught off-guard and knocked off his broomstick. Harry fought off the Montrose Seeker and snared the Snitch to clinch a Cannons victory, 180-140.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When the final cannon sounded and Chudders exploded into an orange fireball, the hometown fans erupted while the Montrose faithful wore expressions of disbelief. No one in the stadium could ever remember seeing the Cannons come close to beating the Magpies. The Cannons zipped around the stadium on their broomsticks in a perpetual victory lap, joined by Ludo and his dazzling rows of teeth, which shone brighter than the hailstorm of photo bulb flashes. Harry grabbed Ron by his jersey and they headed towards the VIP section to greet the Weasley throng including Hermione.

After another Weasley-patented session of hugging, back-slapping and cheek-pinching amidst a sea of orange, black and red, Harry zeroed in on Ginny and snatched her up in his arms, raining kisses on her. "Harry, you were great! You better hope Ivanova gets here quick, though. Even she might not be enough against the likes of Tutshill and Ballycastle if you can't field a competent Right Chaser. Without that, every attack formation is going to be unbalanced and subject to breakdown."

Another team analysis, Ginny? That'll teach me to come up for air when I've got her in perfect snogging position... "Honey, I'm going to take it one game at a time and enjoy the win. I'm just glad I didn't end up eating turf my first time out."

"Yeah, your Beaters are tops; you worked fantastically well with them. If you could get that Right Chaser spot filled..."

Harry was amused by the intense look on Ginny's face. "Do you have anyone in mind, darling? Someone who might be available for the stretch run since she'll have graduated before the playoffs start?"

"Wow, I really could, couldn't I! No, no, I couldn't, they wouldn't want me... But anyone's better than that shrew you've got in there now..."

Harry couldn't contain himself any longer. "I suggested to Ludo when I signed that we could fill our hole at that spot with a Hogwarts legend who wouldn't cost too much and would make a great story for the marketing department to work with, as I fight alongside my betrothed towards victory. He promised to discuss the possibility with you when the time was right."

"That I did, m'boy, and I'd say that time is now!" boomed Ludo, who had flown up to Harry and Ginny. "Let's talk about this over at your penthouse; the rest of the team and your family's already Apparating over there."

"Sounds great, Ludo," Harry replied enthusiastically. "I'll be over right after I change."

"Nonsense, m'boy! You can change when you get to the penthouse. I want to get in a few photos of the team together in uniform, anyway, so let's be off!" Ludo flew out of sight, and Ginny joined Harry on his Firebolt 3G, which took off towards the Chudleighton Hotel and Casino.