"Arthur! Molly!" Sirius grinned as he shook the hands of his guests. "Ah, Charlie, I see you managed to get time off your work at the dragon sanctuary. Shame that Bill can't be here today to see his sister play."
"Thank you for inviting us, Lord Black…" Arthur began, only to be interrupted by his host.
"Sirius, Arthur, you can call me Sirius. It's easy to remember, I'm always Sirius!"
Molly rolled her eyes at the overly-repeated joke even as she allowed Sirius to guide her to her seat.
"Dobby, snacks please." Sirius said and a House-elf popped into existance with a tray of various finger-foods.
"Dobby be bringing Master Paddyfoot his snackies and snackies for his friends." Dobby said with a wide smile, putting the tray on the shelf situated for just such a use. Blinking out, he reappeared with three goblets and a couple of bottles before vanishing again.
"I wanted to avoid anything too alcoholic, so I purchased some of Abe's Butterbeer." Sirius commented as he opened one bottle and poured it into the goblets. "Try it."
Molly picked up the goblet and took a careful sip, then her eyes widened. "Wow! This is much better than normal Butterbeer… deeper too. Let's see, I detect a dash of cinammon, a hint of lemongrass… a smidgen of saffron… not sure about the rest, but it certainly makes it taste a lot better."
Arthur took a sip from his own goblet and nodded in agreement. "It certainly does. I know where I'll be buying my Butterbeer from now on."
"The match will be starting soon." Sirius grinned as he picked up his own goblet.
.
"The match will be starting soon." Voldemort said as he accepted the glass of lemonade from Barty. The five children were already crowding round the table, various fizzy drinks in hand, as they waited for the models of the two teams to take flight above the model pitch.
"I'm back." Pettigrew announced as he clambered out of the Vanishing Cabinet. "I did as you commanded, sir. I shrank the Cabinet at the other end and then took it up through the pipes to the rear gatehouse and placed it in the back corner of the rooftop level. You get a good view of the Quidditch pitch from up there."
"But heading there now means we would probably be spotted and our plan derailed." Voldemort noted as several of the children started to give him pleading looks. "When the Snitch is caught, that is when we shall go through. Is everyone wearing their flying devices?"
A series of nods answered him and Voldemort smiled.
"Then let us enjoy this game and see how Draco performs."
As everyone else returned to watching the table, Gellert pulled Voldemort into the corner and cast a brief privacy spell.
"You have the new Wardstone?"
"Shrunken and ready to deploy." Voldemort patted a pouch on his belt. "I have reviewed the fastest route down quite extensively, I do believe that I will be there within a minute of you reaching the Quidditch pitch. I also have what I need to let us learn Potter's most fascinating magic style."
Gellert grinned. "I look forwards to using it."
"Then let us rejoin the others and enjoy the match." Voldemort suggested.
"Indeed."
.
"Here they come!" Molly almost bounced out of her chair as the Ravenclaw team flew out onto the pitch.
.
"Here they come!" Diana cheered as the Ravenclaw models flew onto the pitch, followed by the Slytherin team. Barty reached out and turned on the radio so that they could listen to the commentary as they watched the action.
.
"…nd the captains are shaking hands as Madam Hooch opens
the box, ready to release the balls and begin the game.
"The captains take to the air, moving into their positions and
Madam Hooch releases the Snitch! There it goes, vanishing to
who-knows-where… and the Bludgers are released! The heavy
balls fly up into the air and Madam Hooch grabs the Quaffle as
she mounts her broom. Up she goes… she throws the Quaffle!
"Draco Malfoy darts in as if he's been fired from a crossbow! He
grabs the Quaffle and immediately passes it to Flint who ducks
to let a Bludger struck by Bole pass… excellent timing there, they
must have rehearsed it! Flint follows the Bludger as it forces the
Ravenclaw team to scatter… Oooh! Inglebee slams the Bludger
straight into Flint's gut and he drops the Quaffle as he tries to
stay on his broom! Weasley intercepts, Davies and Gedes move
to flank her as Samuels takes position above to intercept any
Bludgers… what a tactic! Samuels swings below him to deflect
the Bludger fired by Boles, Weasley races forwards, using the
very same tactic Flint tried, but there's no Slytherin Beater there
to counter her… she does a weaving spiral… and Bletchley totally
out of position… Ravenclaw claim the first goal, ten zero!"
.
"Go, Ginny!" Molly shouted, bouncing with excitement.
.
"Nice one, little sister." Percy smiled with pride from where he was sat behind the twins.
.
"Slytherin on the attack! Flint passes to Malfoy who then passes
it to Pucey and back to Malfoy… Malfoy does a roll… and dodges
the Bludger fired by Derrick! Malfoy races in behind the Bludger
as he closes in on the Ravenclaw Hoops… Weasley forced to veer
off due to the second Bludger fired by Bole and Malfoy takes the
shot, but Potter in the perfect position to block it! Malfoy salutes
Potter as he retreats up the field… that is an excellent display of
true sportsmanship, right there!
"Potter passes to Gedes who does a rising spiral, Weasley takes
flanking position… and peels off, racing for the Slytherin goals!
It must have been a Ghost Pass and the Slytherin Chasers are on
an intercept for her… Bole fires a Bludger at her and she evades…
GOAL! They faked a Ghost Pass to open the way for Gedes! What
a brilliant maneuver! Twenty-zero to Ravenclaw and Bletchley is
looking rather miffed. What an amazing move!
.
Hermione smirked as Luna bounced up and down with excitement next to her.
"They did a Wraith Rush! That was awesome! It worked just like you said it should!"
"I know." Hermione grinned. "They did good."
.
.
Barty re-entered the room with a bag that clinked as he set it down.
"Twelve more bottles. What did I miss?"
"Ravenclaw are winning fifty/zero." Gellert supplied as Barty pulled the first bottle of Abe's Butterbeer out of the bag and passed it over. "Young Draco almost managed to sneak the Quaffle past Potter, but he did a Bludger Block that brought him just enough time to get into position to block Draco's second shot. I made sure to activate the recording function of the table so we can re-watch it later if we want."
"Cool." Barty passed a second bottle to Pettigrew, who promptly passed it on to Voldemort.
.
"…and Draco evades wildly as Chang and Higgs slice through the
playing area, Chang slightly in the lead but Higgs looking like he's
about to overtake her… and Chang performs a Kaltor Roll, leaving
Higgs flatfooted as he tries to curve round… and Chang has caught
the Snitch! Final score is two hundred points to Ravenclaw and zero
to Slytherin! Once again, Ravenclaw has won! What a display and
although they didn't score any points, the Slytherin Chasers and
Beaters have nothing to be ashamed about, that was the best yet
that they've played, not a single foul or penalty but a true display
of skill and teamwork, making Potter work hard at preventing them
from scoring!"
"Let's see what the Studio thinks of this game..."
.
Gellert switched off the radio as Voldemort made his way to the cabinet.
"Well, children, I believe that it is time to take control of the Wizarding World. Barty, hold down the fort for now. You are my secret ace in the hole should I need it."
"Yes, my Lord." Barty bowed as Voldemort stepped into the cabinet, closing the door behind him.
All five children perked up as Gellert reached for the door that Voldemort had vanished through.
"One at a time, come out as fast as you can and let's go!"
Gellert vanished into the cabinet and as the door swung open to reveal the now-empty interior, James was the first to dive in.
.
"Alert! Alert!" Jor-El's voice echoed from every communication stone in Hogwarts that had someone close enough to hear it. "Intruders detected atop rear gatehouse. Three intruders… four… five… six… Intruders have gained access through a Vanishing Cabinet… Eight intruders in Hogwarts, intruders now airborne. Update, Tom Riddle identified. Update, Peter Pettigrew identified. Tom Riddle entering Hogwarts. All others heading for Quidditch pitch!"
Minerva looked up and her eyes widened as she saw the leading figure swooping down.
"That's Gellert Grindlewald!" She half-shouted. "Albus showed me his memories…"
"Indeed I am he." Gellert said in a sonorus-enhanced voice as he came to a stop just above the edge of the Quidditch pitch, his wand firmly in his hand. Pettigrew flew around to take position on the other side as the children came to a stop, flanking the elderly wizard. "Ladies and gentlemen, please remain calm. As long as you do nothing foolish, no-one need be hurt. Players, please land, if you would. Thank you."
.
The walls of Hogwarts seemed to blur as Voldemort twisted and dived through the corridors, his bracers, belt and greaves helping him attain a maneuverability that most broomsticks would have been unable to match. A twitch of his wand blasted open a door that loomed in front of him and he touched down lightly, one hand reaching into his pouch as the other flickering through a set of movements that any professional curse-breaker would have recognized.
"…and done." Voldemort gloated as the Wardstone's glow started to flicker. A swish of his wand caused the rune-encrusted boulder to roll out of the hollow it normally rested in and Voldemort placed the replacement stone in its stead, unshrinking it as he did so.
"Now to raise the new wards." He smirked.
.
McGonogall jolted, a move which did not escape Gellert's notice.
"Ah, so the Wards were linked to you. Albus really did pass control to you instead of just the title and paperwork."
"What have… you done?" McGonogall gasped.
"I? I merely escorted these five Obscurials here. If you mean the Wards, the new ones should be going up just about…"
A tingling sensation swept over the assembled people and Gellert nodded.
"And there we go. Now, I would advise all of you to refrain from using magic. You see, these new wards are rather reactive and should you try to cast a spell, you will feel quite a bit of pain. Of course, these wards do not affect my wonderful friends. We were very careful about that. James, a demonstration, if you would be so kind?"
James jumped into the air, then seemed to explode outwards into a roiling mass of magic that floated across the pitch until he reformed by Pettigrew's side.
"As you can see, you are now helple…"
A scream of anguish echoed across the pitch and Gellert sighed as he watched a red-headed witch convulse while a wizard frantically tried to tend to her without magic.
"As I was saying, you are all helpless. You cannot leave, the new Wards see to that, and the only way in or out is controlled by myself and Voldemort."
A chorus of gasps and a few screams rose, but Hagrid's voice echoed across the pitch.
"Yer not getting' us with that! 'E's dead an' people have been impersining him!"
"They have not." Gellert countered smugly. "His original body was destroyed by young Potter there, but his soul remained and so he has returned anew. Now, if you would all make your way to the Great Hall, please? Oh, don't expect the House Elves to help you. The Wards knocked them all out. We're not stupid. And Mr Potter, please remain behind. My friend really wants to talk with you about your fascinating magical abilities and don't even think of doing what you did at the Riddle Manor. Hogwarts is held up by magic. You cancel it out… how many people will die as the castle collapses on them, hmmm?"
Harry clenched his fists as he glared at the old man.
"Move along, people. Move along."
Slowly, the crowds started to make their way down the various staircases under the watchful eyes of Gellert and his group, eyes that failed to notice a large white bird flying away from the Quidditch pitch and circling round to the Ravenclaw tower.