Chapter 7

“This should be a good match. Both the Finches and the All-Stars are having good seasons.”

“That Maximus Brankovitch III sure keeps his opponents on their toes.”

“Quidditch is in his blood. His dad was a Seeker, as well as his grandfather.”

“Yeah, and he's passing it to his son. Word is that Maximus Brankovitch IV is going out for his team this year.”

“No big surprise there.”

Harry listened with great interest to the conversation going on around him. He recognized the name of Maximus Brankovitch, of course, from the book Quidditch Through the Ages. The fact that Maximus' father and grandfather had also played Quidditch made him think of his own father and how nice it would have been to play Quidditch with his dad.

Suddenly, he realized that Ron had spoken to him. “What was that? Sorry, must have missed it.”

“Oh, I was just saying that this is comparing Maximus to Viktor Krum.” Ron rolled his eyes and started wadding up the brochure, but then Harry held out his hand.

”Well, you used to idolize him,” Harry said with a shrug, looking at the brochure that Ron handed him.

“Used to,” Ron said loudly. “Then I found out what he was really like.” He cast a glance at Hermione, who appeared to be engrossed in her book and didn't respond. “Wonder how long it takes to get to the stadium?”

“Won't be long now,” said a man across the aisle. “Maybe another ten minutes or so. Is this your first time going to see the Fitchburg Finches?”

“Yeah. We're from the United Kingdom and we're here on holiday. I'm Ron Weasley, this is Hermione Granger,” he said, pointing to Hermione, “and this is Harry... ”

“Harry Potter!” the man reached across and shook Harry's hand, then shook the hand of Ron and Hermione as well.“But, of course, I know all about you. Those who follow the Quidditch world as closely as I do know your name. Youngest player in your school in a century, weren't you?”

Harry grinned, glad to be remembered for something other than being the Boy Who Lived or the Boy who Defeated Voldemort. “Erm, yes, I have been playing Quidditch since my first year at Hogwarts.”

“I'm Patrick O'Donnell. I have a box seat in the stands. Would you three like to sit with me?”

“Yeah, that would be great, thanks!” Harry replied, looking at his friends, who nodded.

A few minutes later, the trolley pulled up in front of the Quidditch stadium, which was enormous and arguably as large as the one that had been used for the championship.

“This way,” Patrick said, leading them to his box and offering them seats. “Are you hungry? You three are my guests; anything you want to eat or drink is on me.”

“You sure?” Harry asked, incredulous. “I don't mind paying, and I am sure my friends don't either.”

“Positive. Now, what do you want?” Patrick asked with a smile.

It wasn't long before the four of them were sitting, enjoying hotdogs, nachos and beer.

“Are the three of you here long?” Patrick asked after taking a swig of beer.

“About a week and a half, then we are going to New Orleans,” Hermione said with a smile.

“Are you enjoying Salem?”

“Yes, it's great. Enchanter's Way reminds us of our own Diagon Alley back home, and even the history is kinda interesting,” Ron said after he had finished eating some nachos.

Harry was about to say that he was glad that they were able to have fun and not have to worry about Voldemort, but he didn't want to bring that up. “It's cool to see another culture in the Wizarding world.”

“I agree. Most of the influence that we have gotten is from the European area,” Hermione interjected.

Just then, the referee entered the stadium and announced the teams. First came the Sweetwater All-Stars and then came the Fitchburg Finches. It was obvious that Brankovitch was a favourite from the cheer that went through the crowd. The Fitchburg Finches wore uniforms that were black with the picture of a bird on the front, and the All-Stars wore uniforms that were a blue with a shooting star on the front.

The game started, and it was incredible. It had been so many years since the World Quidditch match that the three of them had almost forgotten how exciting it was, but even Hermione got into the spirit. The score was tied up when Brankovitch caught the Snitch and a cheer went up through the crowd.

“That was a wicked game!” Ron said, standing up and cheering. He glanced over at Hermione, who was cheering in spite of herself. “So, you enjoyed that, did you?”

Hermione nodded. “As much as you enjoyed the museum,” she said with a self-satisfied look.

Harry hardly noticed the exchange between his two friends. He was thinking about what Patrick had just said to him.

“So, will you join me for dinner?” Patrick asked, looking at him.

Harry glanced at his friends. Ron now had his arm around Hermione and they seemed to be in their own world. “I don't think they are gonna miss me. Okay, I'll join you.”

“Great. Why don't I meet you at the entrance to Enchanter's Way at seven?”

“That sounds good.”

Later, when the three of them were back in their hotel, they sat talking about their afternoon.

“That was a great game, wasn't it?” Harry said, lying back on his bed with his hands behind his head. He had been trying to figure out how he was going to tell his friends about going out with Patrick.

“Yeah. That Patrick was something else, wasn't he? I mean, asking us to sit in his box and everything. We had a great view of the game.”

“Speaking of Patrick,” Harry said, knowing that it was the time to tell them since Ron had brought him up, “he asked me to have dinner with him. Do you guys mind?”

Hermione looked at Harry and smiled. “I don't mind.”

Ron looked at Harry and then at Hermione. “No, reckon I don't mind either.”

“Well, I'm supposed to meet him in half an hour so I'd better go get ready.” Harry grabbed a clean set of robes from his rucksack and headed into the bathroom. Once he stood under the spray of the shower, he found himself surprised at Ron's response. He had half expected Ron to argue. Maybe he was doing the two of them a favour by giving them a chance to be alone together. Who knew what the evening would bring?