A/N - A/N - Another quick update! It's all your doing; you're all so awesome! The reviews just spur me on, even if I'm busy. Anyway, some of you were pretty upset about last chapter, but don't worry! I think your hate will definitely turn into lurve by the end of this chapter, even though it's not that long. But it really had to be done. I introduce my favorite character by far in this story. It's about time he showed up! Seriously!
Much, much thanks to my beta, leprechaun!
Chapter 12: I Shit You Not
Hermione,
Love, it's been too long! How are you? I'm sorry I haven't written in a long time, I've just been so busy. With what, you ask? I'm moving. That is, I'm leaving the country. Australia's getting too boring for me, I need to get out. See the world. I'm leaving my team too. Everyone was plenty disappointed (I mean, hell, they were losing me! ME! They should be sad), and it was probably a huge move on my part, but I have my mind made up.
Congratulations on you're finally getting accepted, by the way! You found yourself a job, but you need to find ME one now.
I'm coming to England! I SHIT YOU NOT! *insert grin here* I'm permanently moving there. Well, unless I don't like it. I need your help, though. I already have my visa and stuff, and I need to tie some loose ends up, but I know nobody there except you. I need a place to stay, could you make reservations at a hotel for me? I'll send you my flight details when everything's fixed, I should be coming around 20-30 September, not long from now. I thought of taking a Portkey, but I thought I'd just do things the muggle way this time. Aren't you proud?
I am so excited to see you! I mean, finally! We've been pen-pals for how long? Five years? That's a really long time, and you shouldn't be too worried whether I could be a psycho-killer or something, aye? I will be very, very disappointed if you decide not to meet me at the airport. But it doesn't matter. I'm going to find you anyway. I mean, I DO have your address. Hehe.
So, take care, love! You'll be hearing from me again soon enough.
Love,
Jerry.
Hermione had a broad grin when she put down the letter.
* * *
It was next week when it all fell apart.
"You-you're what?" Harry gasped, staring at Jess, and then Oliver.
Jess fell silent, looking like she wanted the floor to open up and swallow her, while Oliver had his face in his hands.
Harry glared at Oliver. "How could you have let this happen? We have a match in less than a week, for Merlin's sake!"
"I know, Harry," Oliver sighed, and quickly placed a Silencing Charm over his room. "It's not like we planned this or anything. And anyway, we were going to lose her anyway…she was going to her mother in the States."
"I still am," Jess frowned.
"Don't be absurd," Oliver snapped. "You're pregnant; you can't just leave. Something might happen to the baby."
Adam was leaning against the wall quietly; his head leant on the hard surface, and until then, he hadn't said a word. "I guess this means we're losing two members."
Oliver and Harry looked to him, although Jess seemed to understand.
"I'll have to go if Jess stays here."
"Merlin," Harry rubbed his face, dropping down onto Oliver's desk chair.
"I hope you're happy," Adam sneered before he could stop himself. Harry's head snapped up, and he glared right back at him.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"Now isn't the time to argue," Jess stepped in, shooting them both dirty looks. "For Christ's sake-"
"She's right," her boyfriend sighed. "We need to think of something."
"What's there to think about anyway?" Harry asked impatiently. "We'll have to cancel the stupid match, and find not one, but two new players."
Jess's eyes welled up, and allowed Oliver to wrap his arms around her. "I-I'm sorry, Harry. I didn't mean for this to happen."
"I know," Harry sighed, relaxing a bit. "I just can't believe we're losing both of you in one go."
"Jess," Adam started hesitantly. "You can…you know."
"Don't even think about it," she said angrily.
"I know you don't want to, but-"
"Fuck you. I'm not having an abortion."
Adam shook his head. "I'm going to the ministry for a portkey. I'll leave for the States tomorrow."
After Adam left, the three were left in an awkward silence, before Harry excused himself as well.
"What's going on?" Hermione's voice filled his ears as he shut the door behind him, and saw her standing there with her arms crossed, and her eyes worried. "Adam just stormed out of here without saying a word."
Harry ran his hands through his hair, leaning against the wall. "Everything's going wrong," he said softly, crest-fallen.
"Harry," she touched his arm in concern, her anger at him forgotten for the time-being. "What happened?"
"We won't be playing against Puddlemere."
"What?" Hermione gasped. "But why?"
"We're losing two members," he said, going down the stairs, and Hermione followed him, stunned.
"Who?"
"The twins."
"Both of them?"
Harry nodded, striding out of the house, with Hermione at his heels.
"Harry," she puffed, trying to keep up with him. "Where are you going?"
"My office," he sighed. "I have to write a letter."
"But-"
"I'll tell you," was his only response.
They walked the rest of the way to the pitch in silence. Hermione saw the front desk empty. "Where's Sarah?" She queried of their manager.
Harry shrugged, holding the door to his office open for her before walking in and sitting on the couch. "I think she went to finalize things with Puddlemere, imagine what they'll think when we have to cancel…"
"Okay, what's going on?" She asked, sitting down beside him.
Harry pursed his lips. "The twins' mother has cancer."
Hermione gaped at him, but Harry didn't give her a chance to reply as he continued.
"So Jess was leaving for the States. But now, Adam has to go."
Hermione furrowed her eyebrows. "I don't understand."
"Jess is pregnant."
Hermione looked very taken aback, before her face fell. "Oh my god," she whispered. "We're short of two players."
Harry nodded. "We have no choice but to cancel with Puddlemere."
The brunette hesitated, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Listen, I know someone who can play for us. Beater. I don't know about the substitute Chaser though…"
"Who is it?"
"A friend from Australia. He's supposed to come next week, but maybe I can get him to come earlier than that…" she trailed off.
"I'm willing to do anything to avoid canceling this." This for certain was a situation which could make or break their reputation. "I mean, it'll be absurd…refunding tickets and all of that…it's too much pain. The pitch is almost completely booked."
"I know," Hermione nodded, going over to his desk and grabbing some parchment and a quill. "I'll owl him right away. But what about the other player?"
"I was thinking of sending an advertisement to the Prophet, but it'll cause too much ruckus," he muttered. "Hermione, I don't know what to do…"
Hermione sank back down into the couch, trying to think of something. "Why does Adam have to leave so soon anyway?" She frowned. "I mean, can't he wait until after the match?"
"His mother's undergoing a dangerous operation," Harry explained. "And besides, I don't think he'll be able to concentrate on the game anyway."
"Harry," she said helplessly. "I can get Jerry, but what about our third chaser?"
"I don't know. I just don't know."
"Do you…Do you think Ron and I can pull it off?"
Harry stared at her. "Six players? It'll be a huge advantage for them, Hermione."
"I know, and we'll probably have to work extra hard to make up for our seventh player…but I think we can pull it off. Especially if you manage to get the snitch early."
"Hermione, I'm not so sure about this idea…"
Hermione eyed him owlishly. "I don't think we have any other choice."
"If we don't find a substitute by the end of this week," he responded tentatively. "I suppose we'll have to go with that."
She nodded. "The media will completely flip."
"Tell me about it."
"What about Adam and Jess?"
Harry shrugged. "If Adam decides to stay longer, I'll have to terminate his contract; especially if I like this Jerry bloke. And Jess…well, she's like my sister, we can't just kick her out. So I don't really know."
Hermione shook her head and got to work on the letter. With a fast owl and a couple of charms, the letter could be in Jerry's lap by morning.
* * *
In Sydney, Craig O'Leary, a man of twenty-five, was leisurely sitting at a dining table, reading the newspaper and munching on some toast.
"Bloody oath," he muttered, shaking his head at the page he was reading.
"Quit reading that bodgy newspaper and you'll be happier," his best friend, Jerry Steel called out cheerfully, coming into the kitchen.
"Put a lid on it," Craig rolled his eyes, and lowered his newspaper a bit so he could look at him. "You being so bloody cheerful in the morning gets me even more depressed."
Jerry just grinned, grabbing a carton of juice from the refrigerator and chugged it down his throat.
"Allie chuck you out again?" He asked, sitting down.
"As usual."
"I don't know how you keep up with her. Don't get me wrong, I love her like a sister, and you know I don't mind seeing you on my couch at least once a week, but…" He shook his head, getting a grin out of his friend.
"Yeah, I know," Craig snorted. "You'll be gone and I'll be left to rot in the streets."
Jerry laughed. "Maybe that'll teach you not to get on her bad side often."
He shrugged. "I don't know how I manage to piss her off so easily."
"It'll blow over, it always does."
"Uh-huh," Craig rubbed his eyes. "Hey, look. You have an owl." He nodded his chin toward the window.
Jerry got up and let the bird in before untying the letter. "It's Hermione," he announced, opening it. As he read, his eyebrows furrowed. When he finished he looked up with a disbelieving grin.
"She's threatening me with bodily harm if I don't get there within this week."
"She's what?" Craig stared at him. "You're supposed to leave next week, though, right?"
"They have a crisis," Jerry explained, his eyes wide as he skimmed over her letter once more. "They want me to play on this match they have, on Saturday."
"You must be shitting me."
"I shit you not, mate," he replied solemnly.
Jerry shook his head slowly, a grin spreading over his boyishly charming features.
"You're going to England," Craig said blankly.
"I'm going to England."
* * *
Australian slang translation:
Bloody oath: Bloody hell
Bodgy: of inferior quality
Chuck: throw
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