thursday
Two and a half hours into the drive and Mackenzie was more than regretting her offer to drive her classmates to the tournament.
The morning started with Drew apologizing for his previous eavesdropping and a promise to back off moving forward. And she promised, if there was anything serious going on between her and a guy, he’d be the first to know. The conversation warmed her heart just enough that she was in a decent mood as she rolled up to the Godric Academy dorms.
The aforementioned mood did not last long as Hermione, Lavender and the Patil twins piled into her car and immediately commandeered her aux cord. Lavender, who had quite possibly the most unremarkable taste in music known to man, begged to be the resident DJ for the long drive. And to avoid another round of Lav’s grating voice whining about everyone else's song choices, Mackenzie acquiesced.
Hermione, Mackenzie’s lab-partner thankfully managed to claim “shotgun” so at least she had someone tolerable to talk to. That plan was squashed early on as Hermione pulled out flash cards and began quizzing herself for the exams that were still over a month away. The bushy haired girl attempted to involve her lab partner in her study games but was turned down by the flimsy excuse of Mack needing to focus on the road.
Thankfully, now the large bus a few car lengths ahead was pulling into the gas station on their right. The perfect excuse to get out of the car briefly and have a moment to herself, Mackenzie followed suit and parked right beside the Gryffins bus. Hoping to distract her passengers with the boys they’ll be watching compete in just over a day, she got out and loudly greeted her brother.
“Hey, Mack.” Having just stepped off the bus, Drew was waiting expectantly, as he recognized his beige beauty pulling into the parking lot. Noticing the way the tires slid slightly on the turn, the snow was messing with its traction.
“How’s that nap going?” She teased and he shrugged.
“Pretty well, actually. Hogwarts Express has comfy seats, plus wifi on the bus! You’re 0 for 2.” Drew shot back, knowing sometimes the aux cord in his card stopped working and they had shotty service a few times throughout the drive.
“Ugh, I’m jealous.” Mackenzie admitted, dreading the next half of the trip. Bouncing from one foot to another, she made an attempt to keep warm. She hadn’t thought through today’s outfit. Sure, leggings were comfortable for road trips but boy, did they make for a cold greeting every time she stepped out of the car.
“No, you’re not really. I wish I could be the one driving, it’d go by faster. Plus, did you know Potter talks in his sleep? It’s freaky.” Drew revealed, shivering slightly as the wind picked up.
“Oh, if you had to deal with the Elite Prospects Investigation that was happening in your backseat, you’d gladly deal with a little mumbling from Harry.” She complained, after making sure all of the girls were inside the convenience store. She saw them grabbing snacks and elbowing each other when they found a player good looking. “Honestly. It’s like they’re scouting.”
Drew raised his eyebrows and immediately shook his head in understanding. “You did not taxi puck bunnies to the Mythic.”
“In my defense, I only offered Hermione a ride. Her nosy roommates overheard me and then what was I supposed to say, no?” Mackenzie vented, grateful for the chance to share her frustration.
“Fair enough, and I suppose Ron’s grateful his girlfriend could make it up here. Just don’t let ‘em get in your head. No hockey players. You can do better.” Drew coached, patting her parka covered shoulder twice.
“Drew, you’re doing it again.” She chastised, reminding him of their conversation just that morning.
“Right. Sorry. Date whoever. I trust you to make your own choices.” He corrected himself, really making an effort to take the overprotective asshole routine down multiple notches.
“Thanks. Would you get me a RedBull and a bag of chips? I gotta get gas.” She asked him, rounding the front of the car and unlocking the doors.
“No crumbs.” He shouted but she had already shut the door and pretended she hadn't heard him. Honestly, it was a 2009 Subaru, crumbs were the least of his worries.
Drew could’ve grabbed any bag, but he made an intentional choice. He knew they were her least favourite flavour and yet he returned with a large RedBull and jumbo bag of BBQ potato chips. He wanted her to be alert while driving but he’d be damned if she got chip grease on his steering wheel and crumbs on his seat.
“Ass.” Mackenzie swore at him as he passed the chips through her rolled down window. He laughed all the way onto the bus, waving behind him at his sister as she flipped him the bird.
The rest of the trip passed in much of the same fashion. Mackenzie learned, without even needing to ask, that Parvati was partial to blonds. Her twin sister, Padma, preferred dark hair. Lavender claimed that she really didn’t care as long as they were tall. And, well everyone knew Hermione liked gingers, her boyfriend being a Weasley and all.
Conveniently, the hotel most fans were staying at was near the airport. So in a timely manner, once they arrived in Hogsmeade she dropped off her classmates at their home for the next week and set off down the street to meet Georgia, who was just stepping off the plane as the Subaru pulled up.
Perfect timing.
The two friends greeted each other with a scream and a long hug. Georgia had just moved to Nova Scotia for university the summer before and it was the pair's first time seeing each other since.
The two girls didn’t stop talking until they parked the car in their hotel parking lot. She wasn’t sure how he had managed it, but Drew had acquired an extra suite for his family to stay at the same fancy hotel as him. He was in the same boat as Oliver, these were to be his last games as a Gryffin before the next step in his hockey career, the pros. He thought it was a shot in the dark, getting his family a room but Rolanda Hooch, revered Juniors coach, had made a single phone call and it was sorted.
Georgia swore upon arrival she had never stayed anywhere as nice as the Hogwarts Hotel. It was an old stone building with climbing towers and wide cathedral hallways. It looked like a castle from the exterior. The Hogwarts Arena could be reached through a tunnel system the hotel owner had engineered himself. Funnily enough, the same man was also the host of the Mythic Cup. The Renowned, Albus Dumbldore.
Mackenzie had to be the one to check in, only tournament participants and their direct guests were permitted to stay on site for the duration of the tournament. Georgia met her at the check-in counter, a luggage cart full of their bags. The girls were informed that they would not be allowed past the lobby without a tournament badge, so it was important for it to be kept on their person for the duration of their stay.
Their suite was on the seventh floor, and it consisted of one common room, sort of a kitchenette and living room hybrid, and along each wall was a door. Two of the doors opened into bedrooms holding a queen sized and king sized bed respectively. And the final door opened into a bathroom, with a stone floor and large rain shower.
The pair claimed the bedroom closest to the hallway. It was the room with the king sized bed as they were sharing and leaving the other room for Mr. Kirke when he arrived on Saturday. A four poster bed sat in the middle of the room, with wisteria embroidered on the corners of its linens. A large painting, depicting an old black ship caught in a storm, hung at the foot of the bed. There was a large window that, thankfully, was high enough to have a decent view of Hogsmeade’s untouched forests.
“This place is beautiful, it feels like it’s another century here.” Mackenzie gushed, in awe of Dumbledore's concepts, each room was designed differently at Hogwarts. One could stay there a hundred times and have a different experience each visit. A sort of magic, for the tourism world anyways.
“Oh, look at this closet. Look at how much storage space, this is perfect. I’m so unpacking all our stuff.” Georgia wheeled the luggage cart out of the hallway and into their room. She began dropping their bags in various spots around the room. In the closet, in the bathroom, and beside their large chest of drawers.
“Great, you do that.” Mackenzie checked her watch, it was nearly 2pm. She opened the door to the hallway. “I’m going to give Drew back his car keys.” Drew had texted her his room number when he arrived a little over half an hour ago.
Room 533.
Once on the fifth floor, she walked slowly through the stone halls noting the number on every door, determined not to get lost.
After three quick knocks, she heard a conversation from the other side of the door and raised her voice.
“Yo, I have your keys and I have shit to do.” Mackenzie may have still been slightly annoyed that Drew had bought her what was, in her opinion, the worst possible bag of chips.
“If you’re guest services, you should really work on your hellos-” The door swung open to reveal a man, nearly a foot taller than Mackenzie. He had angular features, a sharp nose and hair so blond it was nearly white. He was looking at her so intently and she noticed the peculiar hue of his eyes. They were a gorgeous shade of grey.
“Noted. Luckily for you, I’m not-” She began but was slightly distracted by the fact that the young gentleman before her was not wearing a shirt. He had a broad chest, and what looked to be multiple thin scars peeking over his right shoulder. A tattoo of a fang-bared snake crept up his forearm. She realized that she was indeed staring. “Uh- this is obviously the wrong room.”
“Apologies,” Suddenly aware of his state of undress, the stranger reached beside him and immediately threw on a black crew neck. The Mythic Cup embroidered above his heart and beneath that, what could only be assumed to be the number that sat in the middle of his back while he was on the ice. #7. “Is it anyone I know?”
“Uh, I don’t think so. I know most of his teammates and that you aren’t. So I wouldn’t imagine you’d know what room he was in, sorry for bothering you.” Mackenzie began rambling slightly.
“His teammates? You looking for your booooyfriend?” A disembodied voice from further in the room asked. Mackenzie, however, could not see who the speaker was.
“Whoever, he is.” The blond suggested, drawing her attention back to him. He pointed further down the hall to an access door. “You probably won’t be able to call him from here, I'd suggest walking up one more flight of stairs to get to the roof. Better service up there.”
“Oh. Thanks.” She checked her phone which, sure enough, only had one bar.
“Anytime.” He nodded once before closing the door, effectively ending their conversation.
As she ascended the stairs to the rooftop, the phone in her hand buzzed. Another text from Drew.
Whoops. 335.
Of course he had mistyped the room number.
Sending a quick text to Georgia, she asked her to come meet her at Drew's room. Lest she have another embarrassing encounter while on her own.
It was just her luck, however, that the blond from minutes earlier was stood waiting in the hall, right where she needed to be, having just pressed the elevator button. He turned his head slightly, hearing the door thud closed behind her.
“Fancy meeting you here,” He joked, holding the elevator open until she entered the lift. Mackenzie swiftly reached over and pressed the button for the third floor, the 3 now glowing brightly. “Did you get ahold of who you needed to?”
“Yes, thank you.” Mackenzie would’ve been wandering aimlessly attempting to get a signal, he really did save her a lot of time. The floor numbers ticked down, as the elevator began to move. 5. 4. “In fact, that’s where I’m headed now.” 3. The doors slid open with a ding and she took a step forward, surely that was the end of their conversation.
“Lucky guy.” The stranger flirted as she stepped out of the elevator. Mack was so thrown off she couldn’t explain that the guy she was searching for was not in fact her boyfriend, but her older brother. Before the doors slid closed and the elevator began moving again.
Catching sight of Georgia as Mackenzie rounded the corner, she knew she was heading in the right direction. Her friend was waiting just outside Drew’s door, arms crossed. She was leaning against the wall carefully avoiding the multitude of paintings that seemed to cover every inch of Hogwarts many hallways.
Promising to recount her earlier embarrassment when the pair was alone, Mackenzie knocked twice on the correct door.
“How’d Eleanor run in this cold?” Was Drew’s immediate question, having seen his vehicle slide slightly throughout the trip. The siblings weren’t used to this much snow on the roads.
He took a step back, allowing the two young women to step into his room. Navy blue wallpaper covered three out of four walls, the fourth wasn’t exactly a wall but a giant window. Yet, the only thing to be seen through the panes was blistering snow. The flakes had started falling just as they arrived in Hogsmeade and had yet to stop.
“I dies at you for namin your car after that Beatles song.” Oliver chirped from behind him. Previously having staked his claim on the bed closest to the window, he was sprawled out, eyes closed, in a pair of maroon joggers and wearing nothing above the waist. Mackenzie could admit that objectively speaking, Oliver was attractive. He had sandy brown hair. Which previously been a buzz cut that had now grown out. A button nose and warm brown eyes. Not to mention, he took his physique seriously, spending a considerable amount of time training on and off the ice. But after hearing the stories Drew shared about his captain's sheer intensity and well, some may say, oddity, Mackenzie couldn’t look at Oliver as anything other than her brother’s strange hockey captain.
“She drove alright, don’t worry.” Mackenzie’s focus was momentarily pulled away from surveying the room as she noticed the garish yellow patterned socks Oliver was wearing. “Hey, Woodsy. What’s with the koalas?”
“Oh. Not this again.” Drew whipped his head around to confirm his suspicions. Recognition flooded him as he saw the sock clad feet. “They’re his lucky socks . He won his first Mythic cup wearing them and now every tournament he refuses to wear anything else.”
“So what, you’re just going to not take them off all week?” Mack inquired, fearing she already knew the answer.
“Dead right.” Oliver scoffed at their disgusted looks and instead wiggled his toes. “I’m after cleaning ‘em when I get clean in the shower.”
“Rank. But I respect the dedication.” Gia exclaimed from her place at the door causing Oliver to do a double take. Not having realized there was another person in his room, he quickly began looking for his shirt.
He stood and once Gia realized just how fit the superstitious guy in front of her was, she nodded once appreciatively. She noticed the immediate flush that bloomed across his cheeks.
“Oliver, this is Gi-” Drew began, finding the humour in his captain's sudden shyness but was cut off.
“Georgia. Hi.” She smiled at him, appreciating the way his eyebrows raised slightly once he found a shirt and finally made eye contact with the young woman. Oliver had a one track mind, and the only track he cared about following was straight to the NHL. Everything else was always on the back burner. But-
“I’m uh-Oliver.” He flashed her a crooked grin after pulling a white shirt over his head. Georgia wasn’t oblivious to the charms of a guy who knew he was good looking and talented. They usually threw it around to get what they wanted, she knew that. But- “Right. Well, we gots a training schedule to keeps. ” Oliver slipped on his sneakers and walked into the hallway. There he stood, staring at Drew expectantly, “Get on the go, b’y.”
“Woodsy, we just got here. Let’s let the lads settle in a bit, eh?” Drew tried to persuade his captain to relax for half a second. He was particularly excited at the prospect of lounging in the hotel’s pool for a while.
“They had five hours to do nothin' on the ride up here. Well we’re here now, so let’s get off our arses and goes to the gym.” Oliver suggested, leaving no room for any argument.
Drew nodded in acceptance and he too began putting on a beat up pair of running shoes. Passing her brother his keyring, complete with his trusty bottle opener, Mackenzie excused herself and her friend, allowing the boys their workout time.
“He’s intense.” Georgia admitted once they were out of earshot. “And cute. But mostly intense.”
“Yeah, that’s Oliver for ya. You shoulda heard his speech the other day, he was all ‘B’ys let’s eat, sleep and breathe this tournament, eh. I is itchin for that trophy.” Mackenzie said, while doing a surprisingly accurate Oliver Wood impression. Her words melding into each other, replacing the "th" sounds with a "d" as he often did. Turning to Georgia, she waggled her eyebrows suggestively. “He’s single, by the way.”
“Duly noted.” Georgia blushed, of course Mack knew that was going to be her next question. “So, tell me about the Wrong Room Guy.”
In Mackenzie’s mind, there wasn’t much to tell yet. She didn’t even know the stranger's name.
“You don’t need to know his name, he’s obviously staying here. You’ll bump into him again, trust me.” Georgia reassured her. Hoping for more details about the mystery guy, she pressed on.
“I did bump into him again actually, in the elevator. He’s under the impression that I’m in a relationship and said that my boyfriend was a ‘lucky guy.’ What am I supposed to do with that?!”
“He said what?!” Georgia’s honey coloured eyes went wide in excitement, she knew there was more to the story. “And why, pray tell, would he be under that impression?”
Mackenzie recounted both interactions, in detail as requested. Georgia walked beside her, nodding along but not saying much until they reached their suite.
Once her feet landed on the plush rug that spanned the majority of the common room, she spun around and exclaimed, “What is it with these hockey boys and traipsing around shirtless, jeez?”
“Oh, like you’re complaining,” Mack reclined on the plush velvet couch in their common room, teasing her friend for ogling Oliver earlier. “I saw the way you looked at Woodsy.”
“Sue me, I’m 18, single and surrounded by fit hockey players. I’m gonna look.” She raised her bracelet adorned hands in surrender. With a shove, she knocked Mack’s legs from the cushion they were resting on, making room for her to take a seat. “Speaking of looking, I’m so finding your mystery guy on the tournament page.”
“Can you just leave it ? I’ll know his name when I see him next.” Mackenzie pleaded, not needing to search him up online, he was two floors above for pete’s sake. Besides she already knew his Number. There was only a few players in the league that sported the #7.
“Oh, really? You, Mackenzie Kirke, are going to make the first move and talk to a cute boy you don’t know?” Georgia tilted her head to the side, expectantly. She knew her best friend, and Mack wasn’t exactly known for her way with guys. Drew and Mr. Kirke kept her a bit sheltered on that front, not trusting the guys her age to treat her how she deserved. Honestly, if Georgia was honest, they were probably right.
“Maybe. I dunno.” Mackenzie shrugged, suddenly embarrassed. She knew Georgia wasn’t being mean on purpose but Mack was aware of her own limited history with boyfriends and it was a sore spot everyone seemed to be bringing up casually. “Or maybe not. That’s all anyone has talked about today. I just came to watch my brother’s team win his last tournament.”
“Ah, you’re right.” Georgia patted her friend's legs comfortingly. “Let’s see if Drew feels like hanging out after his grueling workout with Oliver.”
A few texts were exchanged and a plan was set in motion. Their captain had implemented a super early curfew. So after he fell asleep, Drew was going to sneak out of their shared room and up to the rec room on the sixth floor. Where the pair of girls and a select few teammates would be waiting to spend some time together before Drew and the Gryffins parted ways forever.
The communal space on the sixth floor contained two couches, a brown leather armchair and a cabinet full of board games. A pool table and wooden card table sat in opposite corners, the latter being occupied by the guys Drew invited who had begun a game of Texas Hold ‘Em. The pair arrived, with Mackenzie recognizing most of the guys instantly and making introductions for her friend.
“Gents, this is Georgia.” She cleared her throat, alerting the cardholders to their presence. “Georgia, this is Lee.” Mack pointed to a dark-skinned boy, about 18 who was currently staring intently at the hand he was just dealt. He raised two fingers, acknowledging the greeting. “Fred and George.” Beside Lee, sat the identical twins. Both boys were lanky, covered in freckles, and had the same open smile. George was currently growing out his red hair, so it hung considerably lower than his twins, nearly reaching his chin. “And, that’s Seamus.” Pointing to a considerably shorter brunet who sat at the table with a frown.
The grumpy looking 17 year old slammed his cards onto the table, “I fold.”
“A pleasure.” Georgia waved and moved to claim the couch closest to the makeshift poker table for her and Mackenzie. So they were still able to be a part of the conversation but having no interest in their card game. It wasn’t long before Drew joined the group and evening was well and truly underway.
“Hey, Kirky.” George greeted his classmate, causing both siblings to turn at the use of their shared nickname. He dropped down onto the couch opposite Mackenzie and inclined his head toward the pool table, suggesting a game. “Wanna play doubles?”
Neither Georgia nor Mackenzie were any good at the game, but they agreed regardless of their ability. Happy to have something to do.
Fred passed a cue to each of the ladies before reaching for the chalk.
“You can break.” Mackenzie offered, mainly because she knew she was bound to do it poorly.
The friends wound up doing way better than expected and, though they would never admit it, only cheated twice. Mackenzie pulled a flask from her purse and offered it to her competitors. Distracting them long enough for Georgia to push a striped ball into the nearest pocket.
“Another game?” George suggested after sinking the eight ball.
“Only if we can be a team. George squared!” Georgia suggested, quickly recounting the story of Drew eavesdropping yesterday.
“Yes!” The twin loved the idea, finding Drew’s mix-up the day before quite funny. “DK buddy, ease up.”
“I’m working on it, Weasley. But really, imagine your sister dating a hockey player.” Drew attempted to defend his actions but was shushed by Fred pointing out the obvious.
“Our sister is the hockey player.” He chuckled, racking the balls for another game. “Ready to kick some ass, Macker?”
She wasn’t sure where it stemmed from, but most hockey players had a tendency to develop nicknames for everyone. Not always ones that made sense or sounded nice but nicknames nonetheless.
“Nah, I’ve had my fill of balls, thanks." She joked, causing Fred to laugh into the red solo cup he was sipping on. "Get Lee to be your partner.” See, Mackenzie didn’t enjoy things she wasn’t good at. One game of pool was plenty. “Anyone in the mood for Drunk Battleship? You take a drink whenever your boat gets hit.” The brunet, Seamus, who had yet to move from his spot at the card table put a hand in the air.
“Sounds like my kind of Battleship!” He agreed and Mackenzie crossed the room to retrieve the game from the hulking cabinet. But before she could pull it free from the stack of boxes, someone behind her swore.
“Shit. It’s Coach.” Drew panicked after seeing a flash of familiar white hair through the small square window on the room’s only door. Lee, about to take his shot on ball 11, slapped his hand over the light switch blanketing the room in darkness.
------
In the hall, a sudden flick of light drew the attention of the passerby.
The door to the hallway opened slowly and the room was once again filled with light, revealing all its occupants.
“Well. Isn’t this interesting.” The passerby laughed, recognizing some of the Gryffins. “Curfew just a suggestion, is it?”
As they stepped into the room, the twins groaned and Mackenzie spun so her back was no longer to the door, getting a good look at who caught them. Wearing the same black crew neck as earlier, the blond from room 533 now stood in front of her brother and his teammates. She knew he was tall, but standing by Fred he clearly had an inch of height on the twins.
“Are you going to run and tell daddy that you caught us?" George hissed at him, familiar with the young man in front of him. The captain of their rivals, the Saginaw Slytherin. Everyone in the league knew his father was his coach and many believed that’s why he was named captain.
“Better muzzle it, Weasley, or I just might. Drinking too,” he pointed to the red solo cups on the coffee table behind which Mackenzie stood. It took him a second to recognize her, as his gaze rose to her face. But when he did, he winked and then let his eyes drift past her and further into the room. “And sneaking girls into Hogwarts. Well, aren't you just breaking all the rules?”
“Must have lost your invite in the mail, eh?” Drew fired back, having played against the guy multiple times, he knew things could get ugly quite quickly.
“Must have.” He flashed them a smile that was more of a smirk. “Better get to bed soon, boys. If your team is anything like it was last year, you guys need the rest.” He turned and pulled the door closed behind him as he walked out. The room once more plunged into darkness.
“Who was that?!” From the shadows, Georgia giggled. “And why was he looking at you like that, Mack?”
“He wasn’t looking at me like anything, Gia.” Mackenzie attempted to ease her friend's sudden excitement. It was not the time for her to be making jokes.
“Dude, Draco Malfoy was so making eyes at your sister.” George laughed, adopting Georgia’s cadence. Mackenzie immediately thought of the overtime loss the previous year, the last time she had heard the name mentioned. On the loud speaker, announcing the goal that sealed the fate of the game. He was her mystery guy.
A resounding thud was heard followed by a pained exclamation from Lee.
“Ow. What the hell?”
“Sorry, I was aiming for George.” Drew apologized, having thrown a fist into the wrong teammate's arm.
“Well, you missed.” Lee flicked the lights back on, and rubbed his shoulder.
“Hate to say it, boys, but Malfoys right about one thing.” Seamus flipped his phone so they could all see the screen, the clock read 1:47am. "We should get some shut-eye.”
They took five minutes to clean up their mess, stacking cups and packing the cards and chips into their silver case.
Surprising no one, after returning to their room and getting ready for bed the girls remained awake for another hour, talking.
Georgia, having ignored Mackenzie’s request, found Malfoy online and was reading all about him. “I found his stats, but these acronyms mean nothing to me. The numbers are high though, that’s gotta mean something.”
With a huff, Mackenzie rolled over in their plush bed, pulling the comforters with her.
“Okay, you can refuse to acknowledge that this cute, talented guy winked at you but you cannot hog all the covers.” Georgia scolded and tugged more blankets onto herself. “That’s where I draw the line. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Gia.” Mackenzie released her vice grip on the blankets, allowing for her friend to restore balance to their sheets. She was busy grappling with her thoughts, unable to connect the man from the hallway to the detached monster the boys described playing against.