Chapter 67: World Cup ‘82

In late May, Lily gave birth to not one but two daughters to her and Rick’s surprise. She thought she was done when the first baby was out but Dorea, who knew and said nothing about the second baby, told her it wasn’t over. The whole thing lasted as long as Rose’s birth which was a blessing but Lily was incensed with her mother-in-law for keeping mum about it.

Regardless, Camelia Cassie and Sage Marlene Potter were beautiful and healthy dirty blonde, blue grey eyed babies. Lily, to not repeat the same mistake as the previous year, went back on the potion immediately. She had three daughters and that was enough for her.

Despite being sleep deprived most of the time, Rick was selected for the English National Team as the starting seeker and went on to qualify the country for the World Cup in Japan with his team along with his former Gryffindor teammates Eva and Rhianon.

Just when he got the hang out of dealing with three toddlers with all of them having bouts of accidental magic, Bella gave birth to their very first child. Lyra Druella Virgo Black looked every bit her mother’s daughter. It was even more obvious as the months went by. Her hair grew and turned out to be black and curly. While Bella was happy with her child, she wanted a boy and so went right back at it. By December 81 she was already pregnant again.

There were small mercies in Rick’s life however. Marlene and Amelia's respective family mansion had been rebuilt and they had moved out. That meant Duncan and Susan weren’t at Potter Manor full time anymore, making the weight on Rick’s shoulders lighter. They were just there half the time at best.

Marlene had worked extra hard to get back in shape and entered the duelling circuit professionally. She was training with Bella who agreed to it to fight the boredom. At least until she was heavy with child. She didn’t want a repeat of the punishment Rick had given her when she was five months pregnant with Lyra.

Sirius was allowed to be in his son’s life as much as possible, Marlene having relented to it. He still was nowhere with her however but he wasn’t giving up. It really shocked everyone to see Sirius the horny dog dating no one and focusing on getting Marlene’s back no matter what.

The summer of 81 was also marked by marriages. Remus and Rhianon in early July. At Hogwarts’ quidditch pitch. Lily had once again used her status to ask Dumbledore for permission and the old wizard had agreed.

The whole Holyhead Harpies team was there and a fight nearly broke out when one of the players made a move on Rick. Holding back a hormone-crazed Bella and a furious Lily had been quite difficult. Thankfully Rick had not been alone. Eva, Sirius and James were quick to intervene and nothing else happened. Still, Rick’s girls send nasty glares to the ‘harpy skank’ during the whole celebration. He understood Bella’s possessiveness but not Lily’s.

“I don’t know her, I don’t trust her with my husband. Marlene and Amelia are friends and family.”

She had explained and Rick didn’t dig further, letting sleeping dogs lie.

His marriage to Bella was done on Halloween because of course she wanted it to happen at that specific date. It was the day her former Master got his ass handed to him. Rick agreed because he really didn’t want to argue with this and because Lily pushed him to. All so she could avoid the now annual Ministry Ball to celebrate Voldemort’s defeat on that day.

By summer 82. The whole family went to Japan for the Quidditch World cup. Rick was really excited, not because of the cup but because for the first time he was visiting another country and couldn’t wait to study new magic. While he was staying in an inn reserved for the whole national team, he put his family in a very chic hotel. He thanked Merlin for the existence of a translation spell allowing him and his family to understand and speak Japanese.

“Can you believe it? We’re playing for the national Quidditch team at the World Cup.” Rhiannon said with excitement.

“And we’re only in our early twenties.” remarked Eva, taking a sip of the japanese beer she had bought.

“I feel like I’m twice that age.”

“That’s what you get for having so many children so early. How many does it make now, Rhia? Seventeen?” Eva’s joke made Rhianon laugh while Rick let out a long tired sigh.

“It’s…”

“He doesn’t even know anymore.”

“Haha. I take care of so many of them that I don’t bother to count. What’s between Marlene and Amelia using me and Lily as babysitter?”

“What’s their names? I know about Rose, of course. But the others, I didn’t see anything in the Prophet. I wouldn’t have known about them had Rhia not told me.”

“Camelia and Sage with Lily. Lyra with Bella. And either Lea or Leo for the one who’s coming soon.”

“How soon? I saw Bellatrix, she is in the last stage of her pregnancy, no?”

“Very soon. I hope she’s not going into labor during a game.”

“...”

“...”

“Gosh, I just jinxed myself, didn’t I?”

““Yes”” they said in all seriousness then had a laughing fit.

“It’s fine. You’re going to catch the snitch in what?”

“One second, then leave the stadium on your broom.”

Rick grunted from the teasing assault of his teammates. “... You girls suck.”

“I never had any complaints from Remus.”

This time Rick laughed too. “What about you? Motherhood in the plans?”

“Nuh-huh. Not as long as I play. Remus and I agreed on that. Besides, while he made progress he still has some problems to deal with.”

“What problems?”

Rhianon gave a look to Eva then shrugged. “Stigma from being a werewolf.”

“Shut up! Remus is a were? Since when?” exclaimed the chaser. There wasn’t any judgment in it, just surprise.

“Since he was four. Bitten by Greyback.”

“Wait! You mean during school…”

“Yep.”

“The shrieking shack? That’s where he went during the full moon. There is a secret underground tunnel right under the Whomping Willow that leads to it.” Rick revealed.

“So that’s why they put that thing there. Smart, nobody approaches that tree. A bit irresponsible of the teaching staff to put him there but hey, there wasn’t any incident so I guess they knew what they were doing.”

“What about you, Eva?”

“Me?” She shook her head in denial. “No children for me. I’m perfectly happy with my niece.”

“Never ever?”

“Right at this moment? No. But who knows in the future? Maybe I'll finally meet the one and change my mind.”

“You can always ask Rick, he seems to collect wives.”

“Oh, nonononono. I’m good. No offence, Eva. You’re beautiful and with a perfect ass but two wives is already difficult to deal with so three…. No, just no.” He shook head in denial.

“No offence taken. Besides, between a redhead and a Black, I don’t think I would survive long all the drama.” she replied with a white smile. “And I knew you were looking at my ass!”

Rhianon gave her a blank look. “The whole world is looking at your ass when you’re on a broom, girl.”

“I remember that Slytherin chaser who hit the goal post because he was more interested in it than the quaffle.” Rick shared the memory.

“Merlin, yes! I remember that! I was about to hit the little shit when he knocked himself out! That was hilarious!”

“You’re both serious?” Eva’s voice transpired in disbelief.

““Yes!””

“If you ever can’t play quidditch anymore, you sure can find a career in modeling.”

They joked and talked a bit more until everyone went to bed. They had a match the day after and they needed to be at their top form.

Having listened to Rick’s advice, Coach Leed made sure that at the beginning of every introduction of the quidditch team, the song ‘we will rock you’ by Queen would be played. Leed hadn’t at first but Rick pointed out the effect on the other team’s morale and showed him his last match against Hufflepuff. That’s how he’d been convinced.

When English fans and many from other countries that were supporting England began to stomp the ground and clap hands, the Uganda quidditch team had felt quite the pressure. The resounding victory 450 - 80 made Coach Leed decide to play the song at every beginning of any English game from now on.

England went against the USA in the quarter-finals (340 - 180), Australia in the semi-finals (200 - 30) and was finally playing Romania in the finals.

“Thank you for inviting me to the finals.”

Minerva McGonagall had dropped everything she was doing when Lily contacted her a week prior. Bella had given birth almost a month early and refused to leave her child’s side until she was sure everything would be alright. Dorea was with her to keep watch on the mother and her new granddaughter.

As such, Lily contacted her quidditch fanatic former head of house and told her she could use Bella’s ticket if she could make the journey for the finals. It had involved multiple international portkey to make her way there but Minerva had come. She was staying at the inn that Rick had reserved for the whole family. Or would be since she had arrived a couple of hours ago and had not yet had the time to familiarize herself with the latest family news.“Think nothing of it, Minerva. You’re basically family at this point.” Lily replied, making the woman smile.

“Is it a boy or a girl? And what’s the name?”

“A girl. Lea Melania Black.”

“Is she…” she didn’t know how to ask if the premature child was doing well.

“Dorea says she’s going to be alright. She was ‘only’ three weeks early. Honestly she’s looking healthy and just like any other baby. A bit on the smaller side but you wouldn’t think she was premature when you look at her. As far as we know there are no complications.”

“That’s a relief.”

“I’m more worried about Rick. He’s been a basket case ever since. I never saw him… be in panic like that.”

“That’s understandable. Will he play or did he chose to-”

“Oh, he will. There was no way he wouldn’t, not when the whole team is counting on him. And the rest of England.”They walked up the stands right to the top where Marlene, Remus, Sirius, Regulus, Andromeda and Nymphadora were seated. Melania and Arcturus had made the journey too, Rick having convinced his uncle to come with his aunt because he had heard that the natural hot springs of Japan were good for the health.

The climate was also hotter than England and would do Melania some good. They were with Dorea, keeping an eye on the children who were still a bit too young for the franzy and the loud crowd of a quidditch match. So far Japan has been good to Melania or it could be the fact that she was surrounded by grandchildren and great grandchildren everywhere. Her complexion had brightened a lot when Regulus had arrived at the inn.

The young man had finished his charm Mastery in France a few weeks earlier before the start of the World Cup and wanted to get as far away as possible from Cassiopeia who had been lodging him the whole time. He loved his great aunt but she was way too crazy by his standards and he was a Black. He was also a very happy uncle. While his relationship with Sirius was still mending, Regulus simply adored Duncan. He was only a year old but he always found the time to visit his nephew.

“Professor! It’s good to see you again.” Remus greeted politely with a tone that was more happy and jovial than usual. A result of years being with Rhianon.

“Likewise, Remus.”

“Come on Minnie! Nympha - OWIE! - What was that for?!” he yelled in sharp pain from the stinging hex that hit his stomach.

“Mister Black, I don’t remember allowing you to call me like that. Since, I can’t take points or give you detention anymore, a simple stinging hex would do to reprimand you, I believe.”

Before Sirius could complain, the nine year old Nymphadora waved Minerva over. The two had bonded over quidditch when they met during Magpies games they could attend. She was wearing a robe in England’s colors with Rick’s name and number on her back. Sirius had helped her by putting on face paint to display England's flag.

“That’s going to be a tough game.” commented Sirius.

“Yes. The Romanians have a good team. Dare I say the best? Perhaps.”

“Rick is going to catch the snitch! He always does!” Nymphadora interjected, making the two adults smile.

Minervalet her inner quidditch nerd free. “There is no doubt about it. The question is, will it be a victory for England or not? Ollay is not as good a keeper as Barbaneagra.”

“What happens if there is a tie? I have never seen one before.”

“That depends on the competition. If it was the league? Nothing because it's the points that would matter. In a cup like this? There is additional time allotted. A quarter of an hour to be exact. A new special snitch is also brought out which has been modified to behave adequately for the time frame. From there… It’s whichever team scores or catches the snitch first.” Minerva answered the little girl.

“And if no one scores or catches the snitch then it’s the penalties. Let’s hope it doesn’t get to that because we’re not going to win it.” added Sirius.

The game started and quickly things became intense. No one had any doubts that they were spectating the two best quidditch teams in the world. After an hour of play the score was only 50 - 70 in Romania's favor. The beaters were particularly good. Stopping most of the chasers attempts on both sides. No one but the keepers were free of bruises.

The seekers were even worse.

Rick had his left shoulder dislocated and couldn’t raise his arm while his right hand was a broken mess of fingers and completely useless. His opponent didn’t fare any better. A very swollen eye and broken nose with a constant ringing in his ear. With a impaired depth perception and his sense of balance severely compromised, flying was difficult for him. Especially with the constant nausea he felt. After three sightings of the golden snitch none of them were able to catch it.“Merlin! I’m really glad I only ever played with Rhia on my team. That wife of yours is a master marksman, Moony. She completely made a Picasso out of Dumitrescu’s face. Does she have eagle eyes or what?”

“Sometimes I wonder.”

“Look!”

Nymphadora’s cry got everyone’s attention. Rick and Dumitrescu were chasing after the snitch. They did a whole lap around the stadium before the snitch made a sudden vertical ascent. Thanks to Rick’s Storm-Breaker being a newer model than Dumitrescu’s (a model not on the market yet) his change of direction was faster and smoother and gave him a consequential advantage. A Bludger came his way but in an outstanding feat of marksmanship, Rhiannon hit it with the other bludger.

Rick was in a bind. Dumitrescu was catching up, he couldn’t catch the snitch with his broken hand nor hold his broom with it in case he somehow managed to lift his left arm. So he did the only thing he could think of and turned into a crow. Using his claw he caught the snitch. A bludger hit him on the side and rendered him unconscious. Eva was fast as lightning on her broom and grabbed her bird friend before he could hit the ground.

“What’s happening?” Nymphadora asked, seeing that England's victory had not yet been announced despite her uncle catching the snitch. The game was effectively on pause.

“I think they’re deli- deciding if Rick’s move is valid or not.” Sirius explained choosing to correct his vocabulary for a simpler word.

“Why? He caught the snitch.”

“As a crow. It’s… never happened before in the history of quidditch. Romania can say that the catch is invalid because Rick was not in his human form.” Minerva explained.

While the members of the International Quidditch Federation were debating. Someone had changed Rick back to normal and the healers of the English team were checking on him. A crow was far from being as sturdy as a human and Rick's condition may be very serious.

The deliberation lasted a whole thirty minutes before the referee whistled the end of the game and England’s victory by 210 - 90. The IQF decided that since catching the golden snitch while in your animagus form was not forbidden in the rules (nor even addressed, really), it couldn’t be considered a foul.

They would however consider seriously if it should be illegal or not during the coming months. While supporters of England were cheering and celebrating, Rick had been evacuated from the field.

“Oh, this is not good.” Remus muttered absentmindedly, forgetting that Nymphadora was here.

“Is Rick going to be alright?”

“We don’t know, Dora but if a Dark Lord couldn’t take him down, I doubt a bludger could.” answered Sirius and gave her back to Andromeda so she could take care of her daughter.

Sirius, Remus, Marlene and Minerva climbed down the stairs of the stands and made their way towards the English’s team area to have some news. Lily was nowhere to be seen but they knew she was already there and had probably left the moment her husband was hit by the bludger. They were stopped from entering the area by security. Rhianon entered the scene and vouched for them, telling the guards that they were Rick’s family. They found Lily in tears, sitting on a chair with Eva next to her trying to comfort her.

“How bad is it, Rhia?” inquired Remus.

“Bad. The right half of his rib cage is completely shattered. He has bones in every organ on this side of the body. Liver, stomach, lung, intestine… They had to call for more healers from Usui Byojin. It’s worse than that time in fifth-year.” Tears began to fall along the witch’s cheeks and Remus took her in his arms.

That hug didn’t last long because the whole English team was called back on the pitch to receive the cup. The team celebrated with their fans but their heart wasn’t in it because of their teammate being worked on. The stadium emptied bit by bit and the whole team stayed behind as an act of solidarity. They finally partied when after three hours, one of the japanese healers got out of infirmary and told everyone that Rick was alright and would make a full recovery. All his bones would be fixed by tomorrow morning but he still needed rest for his organs to finish to heal properly. Lily thanked all the players for their support and asked them to go have fun. They became world champions and there was no more reason for them to stay.Rick was stable but couldn’t use any magical method of travel, like the floo, apparition or portkey. As such it was decided they would transport him via flying carriage to Kyoto, a good hour away. Lily was able to go with him while family and friends went back to the inn. Bella had to be stunned so she couldn’t go out and seek the beater that injured Rick to curse him to death while Dorea made her way to Kyoto too.

In the end the family’s stay in Japan was extended until after the end of August. Between Rick convalescing and Lea not yet strong enough for an international portkey or muggle means, the return to England had to be delayed. In all honesty, Rick was fine with that and so was the whole family.

They were finally able to properly tour the country and discover many things be they muggle or magicals. The wizarding culture was so different from what they knew that they stayed even longer to learn what caught their interest. When they went home, Rick suggested buying a home here for vacation and no one objected to it.