The hands gripping the paper were white. Not the normal pinkish-white that is the general skin color associated with that term, but the white that comes from the hands being tensed so tightly that the blood flow is restricted.
The face of the person reading the paper was also white, but the reason this time was pure, unadulterated rage. The white skin contrasted quite spectacularly (and rather grotesquely) with the pink clothing that the person was wearing as the individual in question glared at the headline story of the Daily Prophet.
.
Quidditch World Champions Pick Tegg's Nose
By Rita Skeeter
That's right, my loyal readers, the Quidditch World Cup, the crown
of the Wizarding Sporting World, is having its final match right here
in England at the Tegg's Nose Cavern James Potter Memorial Stadium.
As we are all aware, the JPM Stadium was constructed as part of the
re-opening and expansion of the Tegg's Nose Caverns, a project which
was undertaken by Evans Enterprises, the company founded and owned
by the Boy-Who-Lived himself, Harry Potter. The Stadium itself not only
meets but exceeds the standard regulations of Quidditch Stadiums by
what one official has described as an awe-inspiring degree. Not only is
the Stadium able to hold over five times the number of people that the
next-largest can hold, it does so while still providing them all with seats,
easy access to toilets and since it's located in the Tegg's Nose Caverns,
immunity to any sort of inclement weather.
This does not mean that the players will always play in perfect weather
conditions, though. A link to a Muggle Weather Monitoring Station in
the Tegg's Nose Park combined with special arrays set around the edge
of the Quidditch Pitch means that the weather outside can be replicated
inside, meaning that the players still have to contend with strong winds,
heavy rain and all the other variables that make the game so challenging
while the audience can watch perfectly dry and warm. Already several of
the other nations have expressed an interest in having similar Quidditch
Stadiums constructed for their own teams to use.
In addition to the Stadium itself, no less than five hotels are available to
provide a place for those attending to relax before and after the game.
For those who want to make their own way, an as-yet undeveloped area
at the bottom of the Cavern has been outfitted with water, toilet facilities
and other paraphernalia associated with campsites, meaning that those
fans who prefer canvas to stone will be able to sleep as they prefer.
The links to Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade will see more use than ever, as
will the Floo System serving the area, meaning that those who already
have tickets can simply floo to the Cavern and stroll to take their seats.
When asked for a statement, Lord Potter had this to say.
"While I did not expect that the Caverns would host such a great event,
I am pleased that my efforts have brought happiness to others. I do ask,
though, that those who attend remember where they are and so not do
anything to bring shame upon our wonderful nation."
As you can see, Lord Potter certainly has a way with words. His thoughts
and sentiments were echoed by Minister Cornelius Fudge, who thanked
the youngest member of the Wizengamot for his…
.
Dolores Umbridge ripped the paper apart, then jammed it into her bin and drew her wand. A quick Incendio reduced the simpering trash to ashes and she slumped in her seat, one hand stroking the pommel of the dagger sheathed on her belt as she tried to fight the anger down to the point that she could make rational decisions once more.
She had already lost too many fights to that halfblooded upstart. She would be cautious and plan ahead so that she would emerge victorious the next time that their paths crossed.
.
.
"Only a fortnight until the big match!" Sirius called as he shook his Godson's hand. "Thanks for inviting me to share your box."
"Just make sure you get Dobby to co-ordinate with Jor-El about what food and drink you may need." Harry pointed out. "And no, alcohol is most certainly not a good idea. What sort of example would that set for me and my friends?"
"Heh, who needs alcohol when you have almost two-dozen bottles of Old Abe's Butterbeer." Sirius gloated as he followed Harry's waved invitation and flopped down on the sofa, sprawling out along it.
Harry grinned in appreciation. "Nice. So, aside from Remus, who else are you inviting? I'm inviting Hermione and her family as well as the Longbottoms and the Lovegoods."
"What about the Weasleys?" Sirius asked curiously as Harry finished sitting down on the armchair facing him. "I mean, Sunclaw, for one…"
"Ginny's already going with her family since her dad's got some seats in the Ministry box, although she knows that if she wants, she can join us should her brothers get too rowdy." Harry interrupted his Dogfather. "I had given some thought about inviting the Malfoys… for political reasons… but Narcissa's apparently purchased a Box of her own and will be using it. I think she's using the match to determine which of the allies that Lucius once counted on are still trustworthy and reputable enough to keep."
"'Cissa always was the one with brains." Sirius nodded. "Anyway, I was thinking, could we invite the Tonks family? Nymmie will be on duty that day, but having Ted and 'Drommy could be fun."
"I don't see why not." Harry shrugged. "Professor Tonks is very popular at Hogwarts, it could be seen as quite a coup to have her as a guest at the match. Then again, won't she be in the Hogwarts Box?"
"…I hadn't thought of that." Sirius frowned. "Yeah, she probably would be. I'll check, but I think you're right. I still can't believe you gave Hogwarts its own box."
"Well, it seemed like the thing to do at the time." Harry shrugged slightly. "Just like giving you one."
"Meaning we are the only ones to have a double-sized box." Sirius grinned, briefly remembering how he had overseen the removal of the walls between the two boxes in order to turn them into one big one as well as how doing so had allowed them to block off the newly-unneeded part of the access corridor and turn it into another Switching Room linked to the Diagon flat.
"The media people have a whole tower to themselves." Harry countered. "Plus platforms on the other towers and almost at pitch level for their camera-beings."
"True. True." Sirius nodded in agreement. "Your company must be raking in the profits like anything."
"We are." Harry grinned. "Jor-El? Financial chart, please."
Sirius looked at the chart that materialised and whistled in awe. "Wow, cub. That's… that's just… wow. But what's with this line?"
"That's the profit we're making… and expecting to make." Harry supplied, noting the sudden look of confusion on the older wizard's face. "The line you were looking at is turnover, or the amount of money we expect to take before paying taxes, rents, resupply, wages and so on and so forth."
"Still pretty amazing." Sirius reached out to trace the profit forecast. "Hey, you heard that the Malfoys are shifting their wealth into actual business instead of just loans and property?"
"I think I remember reading that in the weekly updates, but I'm not sure." Harry mused. "Jor-El?"
"The memo delivered three weeks ago contains that information." Jor-El replied as an image of the message in question formed in front of Harry, who quickly read it, then made a wiping motion with his hand to dispel it.
"That's… going to be interesting." Harry concluded. "They seem to be funding almost a quarter of the shops in Tegg's Nose. They'll be making quite a bit of money from that."
"They're funding half of the ones closest to the campsite." Sirius pointed out. "Jorel, plan of the caverns please? Thank you."
Moving round, Sirius poked at several of the shops, Jor-El highlighting them and adding tags as he did so. "There… I think there is another, but I can't remember offhand. So, these are the Malfoy Alliance shops."
"Two shops for camping stuff, three restaurants, three clothes shops… for different social strata… very clever." Harry walked round the image, scrutinising it and reading the tags. "One hotel, Quidditch shop… attached to a Broomstick store? Someone's been thinking things through. I wonder how much of this was Mrs Malfoy and how much was Draco."
"Good point, cub." Sirius looked at the image with new appreciation. "Young Draco has been getting more and more cunning recently."
For a long moment, both wizards stared thoughtfully at the map, then Sirius duplicated the hand-movement that Harry had used to dispel the memo earlier. The image vanished and Sirius flung himself into a nearby chair.
"So, changing the subject, your birthday."
"It'll be pretty much the same setup as two years ago." Harry stretched, then relaxed. "I think alternating between here and Longbottom Manor will become a tradition at this rate."
"This is the Wizarding World." Sirius scoffed. "A tradition is something that's been done three times. Unless you're a Pureblood Supermacist, in which case it's something you've done twice. I assume the setup will the the same as the previous time?"
"Yes and no." Harry rose from his chair. "I've already had the marquee set up. Want to see?"
"Sure." Sirius grinned as he followed his godson towards the door. "By the way, is that a bruise I see on your arm?"
"It is." Harry confirmed. "Nev and I are learning how to staff-fight using one of the styles Jor-El had in his memory banks."
"Sounds fun." Sirius chuckled.
.
"You've made it taller. " Sirius noted as they walked along the canvas-roofed path towards the tent with its ten-foot-high walls. "And the roof is at a shallower angle."
"I have." Harry said slowly. "Sirius… you weren't here the last time I held a ball, so how…?"
"Filius was kind enough to show me his memories of it." Sirius replied with a carefree shrug as they reached the main entrance. "Having Celestina Warbeck as your singer? I had a crush on her when I was younger… heck. I think almost everyone did." Sirius frowned thoughtfully. "Well, the chaps, anyway. Maybe even some of the ladies, now that I think… about… huh?"
Sirius came to a stop as he looked around at the cavernous three-storey tent they were in, then he retraced his steps to outside, looking bemused. Harry simply leaned against one of the supporting pillars as Sirius transformed into Padfoot and vanished to one side, briefly appearing at the other entrances as he lolloped round before repeating the process inside the tent.
"Ooooookay." Sirius drawled as he transformed back and rejoined Harry. "It's at least twice as high on the inside as the outside and the sides are three times longer. Yet it has multiple entrances, so… how?"
Harry tapped the pillar that he was leaning against and Sirius leaned in closer to examine it, his eyes noting the thin crystalline sheathing before fixing on the metal core. A moment later, he barked with laughter.
"Runic arrays on the pillars. Nice one!"
"Gilligan and Herriet will be helping with the serving, as will the Longbottom's two elves, thanks to Frank."
"I'm sure that Dobby will be happy to help too." Sirius offered. "Kreacher's… He's still teaching Dobby how the House of Black prefers to do things, but he's old enough that I've got him on minimal duties so that he doesn't work himself to death. I'm not sure how much magic he has left. Odd. As a child, I hated him because dear old mother used him to punish me. Now? I… I pity him."
The duo stood in silence for a long moment, then Sirius shook himself.
"So, three stories. Broomsticks to get up?"
Harry shook his head, then laughed as a pair of broomsticks floated in, stopping at just the right height for them to take. "Thanks, Jor-El. Okay, come on."
Putting deeds to words, Harry swung himself onto the broomstick and kicked off, rising into the air. As Sirius joined him, he began pointing out the features of the tent.
"As you can see, we have a spiral staircase at each corner and at the midpoints of the long sides. We also have ramps at the end furthest away from the stage for those who cannot cope with stairs. The kitchen is located through that door under the ramps, the gathering would strain even the kitchen in the Pottery, so the extra capacity was pretty much required. The stage has a changing area behind it…"
Sirius nodded approvingly as Harry explained what he had done to make the Ball as successful as possible.