The First Great Fan- An Epilogue

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Chapter Thirteen: Quidditch and Muggles

Draco and Duke got along great, considering that the muggle hardly understood half of the things that wizards think of as day-to-day.
Viktor avoided him a bit, but Charlie took to teasing Harry’s cousin in any way he could find.
On Saturday, they all went to Diagon Alley, on brooms, and while Harry was making a stop in Gringotts, Charlie and Draco took Duke to the Weasley and Weasley’s Joke shop.
“Okay, guys. I got six box seats to the game against the Kenmare Kestrels on Wednesday. We take this muggle, right?” George said, pointing to Duke and smiling widely.
“I don’t know if I can go on Wednesday. I have classes and Wednesday is my study night.” Duke said.
“Ah, but this is like studying, Duke. You’re studying the greatest wizarding game ever. Quidditch!” George coaxed, as Draco smirked. “What?”
“Why is this so important to you, George Weasley?” the blond asked.
“I guess I could go, since you went to so much trouble.” Duke managed as he looked at a box full of sweets. “Are these anything like that candy you dropped at my house?” He asked and George went a little pink.
“No, those were ton-tongue toffee, over there. That was Fred’s idea, by the way. These are belly busters, Dragon Alley doosies and Fuzzy Wuzzies, Perfect for playing pranks on your friend, but only if you have the antidote handy. I’m afraid most of these are illegal to sell to muggles, old boy.”
“Oh,” Duke said, walking around some more.
“You aren’t trying to hex my cousin again, are you George?” Harry said from the door.
“No, Harry. Just wanted to get him to come along on Wednesday. You’ll get him there, won’t you?” George asked.
“Of course. We wouldn’t miss it. Duke’s gonna love his first Quidditch game. Even if it’s just the Chuddley Canons.” Harry said, leaning into Draco as the group continued to tease back and forth and joke about Duke’s lack of knowledge on wizarding life.
“I want to go to Florean Fortescue’s for some of their special new flavor and I need to stop at the apothecary.” Harry told Draco and Duke, as the bell jingled announcing a customer and George had hurried over to greet them.
Charlie and Viktor had already headed over to The Leaky Cauldron.
“Sounds like a plan. I need to drop into Ollivander’s. He asked me to stop by, some big secret he wanted to talk to me about.” Draco said with a tight smile.
“Well, let’s tell George goodbye, then head out. Anywhere you’d like to go, Duke?” Harry asked.
“Can we go to a bookstore? I remember you used to get books . . .stacks of them, every year. I thought I could read something, and not look so lame all of the time.” Duke answered causing a small round of chuckles.
“Flourish and Blotts it is.” Draco announced and they were off. “I have a short list that should bring you up to snuff.”
By dinner, they had made all of their stops and quite a few purchases and then they met up with Charlie and Viktor and headed back home

The day of the game was clear and bright and Harry decided to pick up Duke on his broom, fly him to the game, and let him experience one of the wizard’s favorite things about magic.
Duke greeted him at the door and introduced him to his two roommates before he went to get his coat. “So, what game are you going to, again?” asked Danny, the law student with golden blond hair and freckles.
“Actually, it’s mostly like soccer, I’d say.” Harry said
“Really, who’s playing?” Bobby, the English major with darker hair and brown eyes asked.
“OH, the Chuddly Cannons and the Kenmare Kestrels,” Harry responded.
“Never heard of them,” Danny said
Duke returned from his room just as he was about to ask more questions. “They’re amateurs. How would you have heard of them?” he asked of the boy.
“Oh, kay.” Danny said just as Duke held open the door and Harry stepped over.
They laughed until they reached the park where Harry held his broom and smiled at Duke, wickedly. “Climb on, this is going to be great!” he said and his cousin winced.
The Chuddly Cannons had always been a minor league team with no hopes of making the world cup and this was the source of unlimited teasing directed at Ron.
Ron had been ever faithful to his favorite team and now the Cannons had a real chance.
Just last year, the Chuddly Cannons had hired a new keeper in the form of one, Oliver Wood and ever since, they had been climbing in the rankings.
Oliver, well known for having taught Harry Potter everything he knew about Quidditch, had been an inspiration for the team and led them on to victory after victory.
The Kestrels didn’t stand a chance.
Viktor sat next to Charlie, eyes intent and nearly glowing, running a sporadic commentary on the moves made by some of the player. Charlie held his hand and smiled, turning to look at each before returning his eyes to the main action as his fingers squeezed in support.
George and Ron whooped and cheered, as loudly as if Fred were with them, and Harry joined in when the action motivated it.
Draco stayed next to him, smiling in an amused way and lending a cheer every so often. At his elbow, Duke was transfixed.
The muggle had purchased a book on Quidditch and read it, cover to cover, before coming along. And yet, seeing it in action, well the pictures in the book had moved, was a totally different experience.
He was sure he’d never be the same.
The Cannons won, 270 to 150. It had been a grand game.

After the game, George dragged the group to a small tavern called ‘The Wand and The Goblet’ on the promise of buying the first round for everyone. Draco glared at the tall redhead until George squirmed, but Harry pushed them both inside and pulled Duke along behind them.
Charlie and Viktor found a table and the others joined them. The talk went from the more memorable aspects of the game to the praised of the fire whiskey that the pub was serving. Duke even asked Ron why he had thought the muggle should stick to butterbeer when the rest of the group was working on thirds of the stronger drink.
George elbowed his brother and Ron looked away.
Harry noted this and asked, “What?”
“Tell ‘im, Ron.” George prompted and the younger Weasley blushed.
“Mione made me promise to keep it to two, so I kinda hoped someone else would be having the tame stuff.” Ron said glaring at his cup.
“Ah, does poor wittle Wonny want to drink with the big boys?” Charlie teased.
“Shut up, you wanker! This is why she doesn’t like to let me go with you. She says I come home smelling like the floor of the loo and acting like a loo-ser.” Ron griped but his smile kept returning to the corners of his mouth. “She’s been real depressed since we went to St. Mungos. I’m just trying to keep her happy.” he added more seriously.
“Sound like girls are the same, even if they’re muggles.” Duke said watching his drink swirl in his cup. “Had a girl once. Remember her, Harry? She got inta trouble lass year. Can’t no one say much around her now, what she starts at bawling. I’ve always wanted to get ahole a the guy. Ruined a real good girl, he did.”
“Do you know who did it?” George asked, his eyes glinting.
“Yeah, but she won’t tell us fer certain. We figured it out when she just about freezes up whenever he’s around. Don’t take a genius.” Duke said before tipping his cup back and swallowing the rest of his drink.
“Well, we just happen to have a little something that can loosen a tongue,” George said, his voice low.
“Wouldn’t put the girl through it though,” Ron added.
“But, the bloke?” Charlie injected.
“Veritaserum?” Harry asked and the three Weasleys nodded evilly.
“Might be a good form of therapy for the lot of you,” Draco sneered. “Muggle intervention.”
“How are you going to get him to take it?” Duke asked, looking intrigued.
“George has got to have something in the shop, right big brother?” Ron asked.
“Could put it in gum,” the remaining prankster considered.
“Vut is dis gum?” Viktor asked from where he had been dozing over his second fire whiskey.
The rest of the table inhabitants turned a shocked eye on the Bulgarian.
“Finally! Something I know more about than him!” Duke shouted and the group loosed a round of laughter.

I would promise to try to update more often, but I got a lot on my plate and the meat is a bit too chewy.