RP: The British National Pastime

[shh_cedric]

Date: 17 March 2005
Characters: Katie Bell, Cedric Diggory
Location: St. James' Park, Exeter, then dinner
Status: Private (albeit in a public place)
Summary: Cedric & Katie go to a football game, rather than a pub, for St. Patrick's Day.
Completion: Complete

Comments

[shh_katie]

Katie was already nodding when Cedric explained what was going on, "I think I've heard of that happening about once in Quidditch. I mean with the snitch ties are incredibly rare. But, I think there was a game back in the early 1900's, maybe Puddlemere vs Holyhead? Anyway, the Harpies had been massacring United, goals left and right, but when the seeker for United caught the snitch, they ended in a tie. They contemplated giving it to United since they had caught the snitch, and this was a bit unprecedented, but the Harpies were upset to say the least."

"The decided on ten minutes of game time - base it on goals - and if it was a still a tie after that they'd release the snitch and whoever caught that would win," Katie broke off when the overtime ended in a tie, going to penalty shots, only adding, "and that is my history lesson of the day.

When Exeter won by scoring the last goal of the penalty shots, the place erupted, and she found herself as jubilant as the rest of the crowd, getting caught up in the atmosphere of it all. She knew nothing about this team, but she was as excited as she had always been when the Canons won. Gleeful, she returned Cedric's quick hug enthusiastically, and was about to go back to cheering with the rest of the crowd when he hugged her again, kissing the top of her head. It meant nothing, but for a minute the crowd noise seemed to recede. For her part, she held on a little longer than was neccessary, and blushed slightly when they pulled apart.

"Yes, let's get out of here before the rush starts," she told him - the crowd was still celebrating. "Maybe food before football? I'd feel odd carrying that ball into a restaurant."

They were walking up to the exit when things began to die down. Katie was slightly startled when a song began to play, but watched in amusement as some members of the crowd sang enthusiastically along as they began to make their way out of the stadium. With people pressed in close around her, she couldn't understand most of the words they were singing, but she could make out the chorus easy enough.

Three lions on a shirt
Jules Rimet still gleaming
Thirty years of hurt
Never stopped me dreaming

When the man walking beside her broke into a baritone version, she could pick out part of one of the verses.

So many jokes, so many sneers
And all those 'oh so near's
Wear you down, through the years

It sounded more like a song for England than Exeter itself, and part of it made little sense to her, like the names of the players, and exactly what three lions on a shirt meant - although she was willing to assume it was their logo. "Thirty years?" she raised her eyebrows at Cedric, "They have it easy. They should have been a Canons fan. Jokes, and sneers, I'd heard them all when I joined." Over a hundred years, and no championship. She'd had expectations for her last season playing for them, but then the attack had happened and the Quidditch league had been shut down.

Once they were out of the stadium, they paused, getting bumped a few times by the crowd piling out around them. "Where would you prefer?" Katie asked, zipping her sweater up agains the chill, "That Ethiopian place you mentioned - or something a little more casual."