saturday
A large patch of sunlight blazed across their pillows, filtering through the curtains they forgot to close the night before. Both young women groaned in annoyance as Mackenzie’s phone lit up, announcing the time.
8:00am.
Mackenzie had set the morning alarm a mere five hours prior. After their sauna, the pair set off to Hogsmeade for provisions. Buying a bag of pretzel sticks and two cases of Butter Beer, the only beer available in the entire town, apparently.
They had retreated to their common room, chatting and laughing until the early hours of the morning.
“Why’d your dad have to fly in so early?” Georgia complained, pulling the blankets up over her head.
Mackenzie was off to the airport to pick up her father, his flight was supposed to touch down in half an hour. She had just enough time to shower, and change into a loose fitting pair of jeans. She stumbled around her now-dark room, Georgia had yanked the curtains shut and gone back to sleep. Mack’s hands closed around soft fabric and she pulled free the first sweater she found.
She made it halfway down the hallway before she glanced at the top she pulled on. With a huff and a stomp of her croc-clad foot, Mackenzie turned back toward her room. Now she’d probably be late and it’d be the fault of that uncommonly comfortable Slytherin sweater.
Despite the wardrobe hold-up, Mackenzie arrived at the Hogsmeade airport in time to watch her fathers plane land. Greeting her father with a hug, she then handed him the coffee she ordered waiting by the baggage claim.
The quick car ride to Hogwarts was a relatively silent affair. Upon his arrival, her father peppered her with questions about how she spent the last few days. Her vague answers were enough to convince him she’d been catching up with Georgia, which wasn’t technically a lie.
She left him in the lobby to check in, having already dealt with Filch enough in the last 24 hours for her liking. Besides, she was due back in her room.
Mackenzie was tasked with waking Georgia in time for the opening match. Puck drop was in less than two hours.
She reviewed the schedule, while Georgia took a leisurely shower.
There were to be three games a day, the first at 11 o’clock, followed by a 2pm game, closing out the evening with a final game at 7pm. The tournament was to be round-robin, the four teams with the best win/loss ratio would be moving onto the semi-finals. Each team having the chance to play each other throughout the course of the weeklong event.
Sporting a thick maroon and gold flannel, Georgia stepped out of the bathroom. Her dark hair was pulled back with a chunky clip and she was in the process of threading a belt through the loops of her pale jeans.
“Nearly ready.” She promised Mackenzie, who had already laced up her beat-up, cherry red Converse. Not that Mack would ever admit it, but she was rather superstitious too, in her own way. Every time she went to one of Drew’s games, she wore the same pair of Chuck Taylor’s, and has done so since he was originally drafted.
She peeked in on her father to see if he too was ready, expecting to walk down with him. Upon finding his room empty, Mackenzie rolled her eyes. She should’ve known that he’d already be at the arena. Checking the time, she hurried Georgia out the door and onto the elevator.
Stopping briefly to pick up other passengers, the elevator slowed to a stop at the fifth floor. A booming laugh carried through the closed door and Mackenzie’s eyes widened, recognizing the sound. She barely had time to frantically tap Georgia’s shoulder, as two young men entered the lift.
“Well, well, well.” Theodore began, interrupted by the dark-skinned gentleman to his left.
“Elevator girl!” Blaise exclaimed, excitedly. “Or girls, plural. I stand corrected.”
“Theo. Blaise. This is my best friend Georgia, surely you remember my mention of her last night.” Mackenzie said by way of introduction, thinking back to their previous conversation.
“Yes well, what you failed to mention was how gorgeous she is.” Theodore extended a silver-adorned hand in greeting. “A pleasure truly.”
“Ah, you must be the penguin.” Georgia teased, earning a stifled laugh from Blaise.
“My reputation precedes me.” Theo elbowed him in jest, sick of the entertainment his friends found in his misfortune. “”Bringing a pen for all those scouting notes you’ll be taking, Kirke?”
“Careful Nott, you’re going to be under the microscope too.” Mackenzie thought back to the schedule she had just checked, their game wasn’t until later this evening.
The group parted ways as they stepped into the lobby. The guys headed outside to the parking lot, as Mackenzie and Georgia began the walk through the castle's many halls, searching for the tunnel to Hogwarts Arena.
Each hallway looked vaguely similar. The walls and floor were a pale beige brick that held up the cathedral ceilings. Intricate swirls and runes were carved into the rafters and the walls held frames upon frames of ancient looking paintings. Luckily, to insulate some of the harsh Canadian cold, long persian rugs were sprawled across the floor as they began trekking deeper into the maze of buildings.
However, it wasn’t long before they arrived in the right place. Banners adorned the walkway, carrying the logos of each team. The pair passed a freakishly tall bearded man who was sporting a long red cloak, the image of a snarling gryffin on his back.
They handed their tickets to a skinny older lady that Mackenzie knew to be one of the Tournament Coordinators. Minerva McGonagall was known throughout the league as a hardass, without exception. But Mackenzie’s limited interactions with her were always rather pleasant. She could tell the woman was just trying to keep everything running smoothly, and at times that required an iron fist.
“Welcome to the Mythic, ladies.” Her sharp voice cut over the sounds of the growing crowd as they entered the bustling arena.
Immediately, the smell of overly-salted popcorn wafted towards them, carried by the shouts of fans as they stocked up on snacks. Following suit, Mackenzie stood in line, ordering two slushies before they found their seats.
Their section was on the corner, behind the opposition's goal. It was still early, so there weren’t many people in their row yet, exhaling a sigh of relief, Mackenzie realized they needn’t step around people.
Once seated, they were a mere four rows from the ice. Directly to their left was a brunette wearing a bright yellow sweater and waving a small sign that read “Diggory”.
Georgia, upon collapsing into the plastic chair, reached into her coat pocket for the bottles she grabbed from the mini bar. She couldn’t believe she had managed to sneak them into the arena.
Cracking the seal, she poured the bottle's contents into the cherry slushie she had been sipping.
The girl next to them laughed, having caught Georgia in the act. “Damn, why didn’t I think of that?” She joked, now staring down at the half drunk iced tea in her cup holder.
“Ah, it’s still early. Now you know for tomorrow’s Kenora match.” Mackenzie suggested, knowing there was no shortage of games to see during the upcoming week.
“Forget tomorrow, I’m doing that for the game at 2.” The young woman smiled, her painted pink lips curled upwards. “I’m Margot, by the way.”
“Georgia,” She reached past her friend to offer her hand in greeting. “And this is Mack.”
Margot had long brown hair that was pulled back in two french braids that reached well below her shoulder blades. Her cheeks were flushed, from the cold of the arena, if Mackenzie had to guess. She had deep brown eyes that never stayed in the same place for too long, taking everything in.
“Be prepared for some friendly fire there, Margot. Mack here is a die-hard Gryffins fan.” Georgia warned, having no qualms about watching all six teams play today and then deciding on a favourite. Of course she wanted the Gryffins to do well, but she didn’t have the same loyalty to the team that Mack did.
“Oh, that’s alright.” Margot waved off the newcomers' concern, all but tuning out the fans of the opposition once she arrived. “Being the captain's girlfriend, I’m used to it. Plus, I can give just as good as I get, don’t you worry.”
Mackenzie put the pieces together. Cedric Diggory, star center for the Kenora Hufflepuffs, was this girl's boyfriend. The biggest competition Harry and Cormac faced on the ice today.
She silently hoped one of their defencemen would lay out Cormac on the ice. Nothing terrible or career ending, but something to scare him a touch. She knew however, based on the way Kenora typically played, that it was less than likely.
Margot was in the middle of regaling them with a story of her time on the west coast, when a booming voice echoed through the arena speakers.
“Ladies and Gentleman, welcome to the 76th annual Mythic Cup!” Cheers punctuated the announcer's welcome as the last of the spectators filled in and the referees took the ice. “Today we continue an aging tradition, and commence the ceremonial tournament, honoring our leagues founders Merlin and Morgana Stanley. The historic trophy will once again be lifted by the championing team in one week's time. I wish you all such luck.”
The arena was filled with a stilling silence as all the lights turned off, plunging the building into darkness.
Soon red spotlights began flashing as fog filled the tunnel. Their fans chanted along with the song, in demand. In anticipation.
“Bring the lion out!” They repeated. “Bring the lion out!”
The Gryffins filled out onto the ice as the arena filled with cheers. Skating to center ice and waving at the crowd. Absorbing their contagious, high energy before they skated three synchronized loops.
The Kenora Hufflepuffs skated onto the ice and the yellow clad fans erupted in a series of elaborate, well-rehearsed cheers.
“Let’s go Puffs! Let’s go, Ken-no-Ra! You got the right stuffs!” They melodically rhymed as their players lined up.
The host, Dumbledore, had the two captains approach center ice and shake hands before returning to their lines, in anticipation for the upcoming national anthem.
Oliver nodded once to Cedric Diggory in recognition as their hands met, having played against each other many times.
The anthem began, a tall blonde woman with hair to her waist took hold of the mic. Wrapping her over-accessorized hands around it, as she sang, “O’Canada. Our home and native land.” The crowd joined in proudly. “True patriot love.”
Hufflepuff won the face off, and Cedric Diggory sent the puck careening backwards to Smith and his awaiting stick.
The game was officially underway.
Kenora’s possession of the puck ended quickly as one of the Weasley’s collided with the Hufflepuff. The puck slid away, as a boy clad in a beige jersey was pressed into the glass.
George, Mackenzie realized, skated along the curve of the boards, the puck now controlled by the deft flicks of his wrist. Stopping behind the net, he passed the puck to his right. His twin, exactly where he knew he’d be, rebounded the pass to the awaiting left winger, Andrew Kirke.
Mackenzie hollered in excitement as her brother carried the puck the rest of the way up the ice. Managing to skate around two Hufflepuffs in the process.
Reeling backwards, he took a shot. The puck hit the post and bounced between Potter’s awaiting skates. A bit frantically, he slashed his stick toward the net. A yellow glove covered the puck before it could move any further into the goal crease.
A whistle blew.
The play stopped.
#74, who Mackeznie knew to be Ginny Weasley, skated up to the face off circle. She squatted low, her grip on the stick firm as the referee leaned forward.
Ginny’s stick slammed into the ice and chipped the puck toward Potter. Who spun on contact, dragging the puck upwards and into the top right corner of the net. The goalie’s gloved hand rose to the same spot a second later as a horn sounded throughout the arena. Guelph fans were on their feet instantly, cheering at such an early domination of the ice.
It wasn’t long before the Gryffins were celebrating another goal as the third Weasley took to the ice and sent Seamus Finnegan a diagonal pass.
Seamus carried the breakaway until a metre from the goal line where he slipped the puck under the goalies pads. Henry Fleet remained on his knees, frustrated at himself for allowing such early goals.
“Damn.” Margot muttered disappointedly. And again, minutes later when Hufflepuff continued passing rather than making any real attempts to score.
It was well into the second period, when Kenora, now down three - nothing, managed a goal.
“C’mon, babe.” Margot muttered under her breath, as Diggory slipped the puck past Ron Weasley’s wide reach. Getting closer to the net as he moved the puck from left to right, attempting to distract the goalie as he approached.
He fired a shot and the puck bounced off Oliver’s pads, ricocheting away. Only to be fired once again, almost instantly, by Smith.
This time, Oliver wasn’t fast enough and his stick was mere centimeters from the puck as it sailed over his leg.
“Woo!” Margot whooped, and pumped a fist in the air. “That's the power of teamwork, ladies!”
“Shake it off, Woods!” Georgia ordered, suddenly defensive as Oliver's helmeted head tipped skyward in disappointment.
Mackenzie, noticing her friend's sudden uncharacteristic intensity, laughed to herself.
The Guelph Gryffins entered the third and final period amped. They had the lead, but that was no reason to let up yet.
Oliver had spent the entire intermission with his AirPod Max’s over his ears, his eyes closed and head down.
Everyone on the team knew the song that would be on repeat through the headphones.
Oliver appreciated the frightening intensity of Chop Suey!, it helped him get in the zone. He wanted to beat himself up over the goal he let in, but it wasn’t the time. It would have to wait until the game was over.
For now, he just had to make sure the puck didn’t get past him again.
“Let’s fuckin’ go, b’ys!” He shouted, as he skated in place within the confines of his crease. Slamming his paddle-like stick against the ice.
True to his word. Oliver managed to block every shot that was sent his way during the last 20 minutes. Which, to his credit, was only seven.
Having just snatched the puck, and barely five strides into his breakaway, Drew managed to secure the fourth and final Gryffin goal.
Knowing the young goalie wouldn’t expect a shot from so far away, he sent a shot from the blue line that coasted past poor Henry Fleet.
Kenora opted to pull their goalie for an extra player to join the attack. The time ticked down unceremoniously as they continued to pass the puck from player to player.
In an attempt to find the perfect opportunity, or to assure each player touched the puck at least twice, Mackenzie was not sure. She vocalized this thought and Georgia stifled a laugh, out of respect for Margot.
“Teamwork, eh?” An older fan teased from behind them, having heard Margot’s comment earlier. “If you understood their stats, you’d know they can’t shoot for shit.”
“Oh, piss off. We could stalk Elite Prospects too, old man. That doesn't mean shit about team loyalty.” Mackenzie defended her new acquaintance. She was teasing the girl in jest, but this heckler had no business interjecting.
Margot sent her a closed mouth smile, in thanks. But suddenly, she was uncomfortable with the thought of potential confrontation.
The clock wound down to the final seconds. The buzzer rang through the crowd’s ears as the game ended, announcing the win for the Guelph Gryffins.
The Gryffin’s skated up to Oliver’s crease and joined in a group hug around their skilled goalie.
“Deadly!” The captain exclaimed, in reference to his team's performance on the ice. “Wayta go, b’ys!”
They raised their sticks in unison and skated a lap around the ice as the crowd continued their cheers, clapping and whistling through the stands.
Mackenzie stood, cupping her hands around her mouth as she shouted. “Wooo!”
---
After his mandatory post game interview with The Daily Prophet, the Leagues news outlet, Drew showered and then resurfaced outside the arena.
Having the rest of the day to themselves, with little instructions beyond meeting back in the Hogwarts Training Facility for 8pm HIIT Drew decided to enjoy some peace and quiet. He opted to join his sister and Georgia in exploring the famous Hogwarts Library.
But first Drew had to find his father and debrief what his playing looked like from a 3rd perspective. Not that he really took all his fathers advice to heart, but he knew his old man liked to feel included so he always asked anyway.
All three youngsters managed to find a book that interested them before Georgia and Mackenzie were due back at the arena for the next game. Drew bid the pair farewell as he headed back to his room to take a nap.
---
The Drummondville Durmstrang won in a shutout against the Bathurst Beauxbaton, with a total score of 6-0. The teal clad team having no memorable players to note, she decided Bathurst probably wasn’t going to be the Gryffin’s biggest threat.
The Durmstrang however, had quite the presence on the ice.
Many of their players, beefier and heavy footed, were a near immovable force against the lean agile skaters of Bathurst. Their left-wing, Victor Krum, towered over the competition. And the star-covered jersey's of Durmstrang were commonly found behind the glass of the penalty box, the players choosing brute physicality over skill.
As much as she would refrain from admitting out loud, Mackenzie was rather excited to watch the next match-up.
She was interested to see how the guys she met would play. Slytherin was always a force to be reckoned with, and she had a somewhat vested interest in their Captain’s performance.
Not that she wanted to give the blond the satisfaction of revealing such a thing.
Having exchanged numbers with Margot during the game, the brunette promised to reconvene for refreshments in their suite before the last game of the day.
The girls traded stories of how they spent their summers, all three of them living in different provinces.
Margot had visited her family in Gaspé, Quebec and spent the summer on the ocean. Tanning and watching Cedric run up and down along the shoreline.
Georgia, had remained in Nova Scotia for the majority of the summer, getting a job with a Lighthouse Historical Society.
Mackenzie spent the summer camping across Northern Ontario with her cousins, as they did every year.
Having finished the last of the Butter Beers, the trio returned to the arena, once again.
------
A familiar bass echoed through the speakers above them, the familiar gong of Hells Bells thrumming in time with the green strobe lights, as the Saginaw Slytherin took the ice.
Draco Malfoy led the charge, the white #7 stark against his forest green jersey as he skated across the ice.
Mackenzie knew then why she'd hadn't recognized him off the ice right away. The dancing lights were casting harsh shadows across his sharp features, a menacing smirk fell into place as he stared down the opposition.
He looked like a different person entirely.
Someone threatening, more severe.
Mackenzie couldn't help it, she found this side of him equally as enticing.
The Saginaw Slytherin were playing the Sarnia Ravens, a regional rivalry of its own amplified by the tensions of such a monumental tournament. Not to mention, the Leagues two best goalies were pit up against each other.
The same singer from the past two games took to the ice to once again to sing the anthem, a young woman named Luna Lovegood. As far as stage names went, Mackenzie could admit, it wasn’t very believable.
Unsurprisingly, Slytherin got hold of the puck first and Pucey took off with it, sliding it to Theodore Nott as he stopped in the red circle of the face off zone.
Malfoy positioned himself in front of the crease, as his teammates passed the puck between themselves. Pucey, with possession once more, sent the puck flying toward the goal. The goalies glove absorbed the puck with practiced ease.
Mackenzie noticed the loud cheers from the row in front of her. A mother and her two daughters were clapping animatedly, cheering on the player in net. She soon learned his name, Roger Davies. A thin #1 embroidered on the back of his white jersey.
The Ravens sported their alternates that evening, their shoulders and forearms striped with a sky blue. A large bird, wings extended, was in flight across his chest.
She overheard the youngest of the three gasp as Theo skated up close to the glass.
“He’s fine.” She exclaimed and Mackenzie couldn’t help but stifle a laugh. Knowing Theodore would preen under such praise.
His eyebrows were knit together in concentration as he tracked his teammate, and the pucks, movements.
Draco clocked the traffic piling up in front of the net and instead he skated wide. He then banked right to allow his teammates time to reset.
Having positioned himself at a high point, Theo rapped his stick on the ice a few times, signaling to Draco. Theo received the puck and wound up for a shot.
Unable to hear him, Mackenzie could still read the curse that formed on his lips as he shot the puck wide. The rubber collided with the boards, a punctuational thud.
The trio in front of her grimaced at his misfire.
Chambers, a Raven, collected the rebound and skated back down the ice, only to be hammered into the boards by #27.
A tall, intimidating boy named Goyle. He had a partly healed black eye painting the right side of his face.
Pucey collected the puck from Goyle’s stoppage, and turned on the spot, passing it back over the center line. Dropping his shoulder down as he approached the opposing defenders. He did not manage to take the player off his feet, but he shoved one Raven out of the way before once again receiving the puck and firing a shot on net.
The puck bounced off Davies’ chest and landed in the crease.
Draco knew exactly where he needed to be, and regardless of who currently occupied the space, he skated furiously toward the net. Arriving just in time to tip the puck away from the goalies mitt and to the blade of Notty’s stick.
Theodore took the puck with him as he skated backwards, reassessing the current configuration of players. Across the ice, he could hear Blaise slamming his stick, emphasizing urgency.
He had no time to think, he reared back and let loose a shout as the puck sailed toward the next.
Davies was there, on the puck quicker than Theo would have thought possible. His glove closed around the puck in one fell swoop.
The first period passed in much the same fashion, Saginaw had ample opportunity to score.
Retrieving the puck from their competition with ease. But Roger Davies was a force to be reckoned with. His team's success thus far could be directly attributed to his ability to see a play before it happens.
Perhaps Mackenzie’s opinion of him was skewed slightly by the sheer positivity from his personal fanclub in front of her.
The daughters went so far as to stand after a particularly impressive save. Breaking his name down into syllables, they chanted. “Da-vies! Da-vies!”
Mackenzie gripped Margot’s hand in anticipation as Draco took another shot on net.
Unable to see clearly through the screen of navy clad players between him and the net, Draco blindly snapped his stick forwards. The puck rising with the motion.
Roger Davies was a moment too slow and his gloved hand grasped at nothing but air, as the puck flew past his head.
The rubber disk made a satisfying switch against the back of the net.
The easily recognizable goal horn sounded and Draco pumped his stick once in the air, in celebration.
Mackenzie, Georgia and Margot were on their feet instantly. Margot, against her will, as she was hauled to her feet by the motion of the girls beside her.
Nevertheless, the trio cheered as the player’s skated up to their captain, patting his back in congratulations.
The blond center taking a quick scan of the arena, his eyes skipping over Mack’s section clumsily.
She pretended like it didn’t hurt. Like for a split second, she hadn’t assumed it was her he was looking for in the crowd.
The game was once again in motion, and in a play that surprised everyone, Jeremy Stretton of the Sarnia Ravens took possession of the puck and began skating forcefully towards Blaise and the awaiting net.
Knowing it was one of their only breakaway’s and potentially their only opportunity to score, Roger Davies banged his stick against the ice in solidarity. Shouting encouragement as the Ravens passed the puck between themselves.
Narrowly avoiding the steal from Warrington, a Slytherin defender, the Raven’s winger reeled his stick backwards.
The puck slammed into Blaise’s chest as he slid in front of the incoming shot.
“Yes, Beans!” Theo hollered from the bench, having held his breath in worry, hoping their first goal remained unanswered.
Theodore got his wish, as the final minute wound down to nothing. The score remained a stiff 1-0 for Saginaw.
Their first win tucked safely under their belt as they basked in the cheers from the green-wearing viewers. The players skated a full lap around the ice, waving to fans as they went.
It wasn't until Draco rounded his own net once more, that he caught a glimpse of the girl he was subconsciously seeking out through the mass of people. The roar of the crowd dulled with the realization. Mackenzie was on her feet, a large smile took over her flushed face as she cheered along. Her hands a blur as she clapped enthusiastically.
She hadn’t noticed him staring, so he took another couple seconds to take her in like this.
Unaware. Carefree. Happy.
He noticed the way her arms moved to wrap around the girls standing next to her. Sharing in the moment.
“Malfoy!” His coach shouted from the tunnel, pulling him from his thoughts, once again reminding him of his priorities. “Interview time.”