Quidditch is Awesome

[Athena Calathes]

Athena didn't understand. Not that not understanding was a new thing to her, but this was a new type of not understanding. Why had they called the event the 'return to Hogsmeade' social? Most people here had been stuck in Hogsmeade for months and they would hardly then celebrate returning there. If anything, Athena was quite sure most people she knew were celebrating being able to leave.

If the social had been held anywhere else, the seeker would not have gone. However in the past months the park had been her place of true solace. She could walk there alone and think about all that had happened. The walks had done her good and two months after the tragedies had struck, Athena was actually feeling a bit more positive about everything. Though maybe that was because the quidditch season was returning soon. While Athena was much less passionate about playing the sport professionally, it was still her most favourite pastime and she loved nothing more.

Speaking of sports, Athena spotted the badminton, croquet and lawn tennis. While they were all tolerable, and she supposed that they were all a part of being athletic and active, they were just all a bit crap compared to the brilliance that was quidditch. She wandered over to the general direction and watched people play for a few minutes. Idly to the person next to her - who too was spectating - Athena said "I've never understood why anyone would want to play any sport other than quidditch."

  

[Mathias Beaumont]

Mathias enjoyed a lot of sports, both magical and muggle, though he only enjoyed to watch wizards and witches play. After having escaped the quarantine back in July, he had returned to Hogsmeade for a few nights to be reunited with his mother and sisters for the time being. Anais was now off to Pendergast's School for Young Roses, but Oceane was well and at home for the time being.

Hearing a voice beside him, Mathias turned down to look at the petite woman who stood next to him. He recognized her immediately as the seeker for the team he was sponsoring, though he wasn't aware if she knew who he was. "I can agree, but when quidditch isn't around there has to be something to keep others active and occupied," he said with a nod, his eyes trailing back towards the badminton players.

"Miss Calathes, isn't it?" he asked curiously. "Seeker for the Holyhead Harpies."

  

[Athena Calathes]

Athena looked up at the tall man - though most men were tall to Athena - from who the response had come. She shrugged in agreement at his words, they were probably true. While she herself had eternal patience for the quidditch season to begin and needed to more entertaining, others who weren't quite so fanatic perhaps needed a bit of sport to keep them going.

"Yes!" Athena answered, always pleased to speak to fans (of quidditch as a whole, Athena's self-esteem was far too low to assume that she herself had fans) "Was on Puddlemere for a year, but my heart always belonged to the Harpies. When Miss Dobbs retired to get married, I simply had to transfer back. Especially since Miss Gallagher - Mrs Grimm, I mean - wrote to me about it."

Then Athena asked, "And you are?" Her tone was a curious one, with only the phrasing of the question being borderline rude. Athena liked knowing the names of people who knew hers. It was only polite.

  

[Mathias Beaumont]

Mathias would never approve of his sisters or future daughters to play quidditch themselves, but he had no problem with women playing in general—especially if they were lower or middle class. He listened to her speak and nodded his head as she went on, already aware of her previous position at Puddlemere. It did amuse him when she asked him name, though. He had to tell himself that, no, not everyone knew who he was, even if he'd did his best to partake in social activities.

Fighting back a smile, Mathias nodded his head. "I'm Mathias Beaumont, sponsor of the Holyhead Harpies," he said, finally letting his slip slip onto his lips. "I don't really expect you to know who I am. I've only been sponsoring the team for a few months now," he explained, his eyes wandering back to the people who were playing on the courts. "I've always supported the Holyhead Harpies, probably because it impresses me how athletic some women can be."

  

[Athena Calathes]

"Oh," Athena replied, "So you're the famous Mr Beaumont." Obviously, Mr Beaumont was not actually famous - or perhaps he was, Athena didn't really know or care - but Athena did actually pay attention when it came to quidditch things and had found out who the new sponsor of the Harpies was. After all, it was he who paid her wages, so it was only practical to take an interest anyway.

Still, she knew the sponsors of all the quidditch teams. Of course she knew, it interested her.

"And people always underestimate the abilities women have," the seeker continued, without a break "Yes, we may lack the physical strength, but anyone who says we lack the ability - well, they're just liars and fools." After a brief second she went onto say with a smile (for it made her quite happy) "I love how you support women playing quidditch. Sometimes I feel like anyone who sponsors the Harpies only does so because of the rather large pool of possible fans and is only in it for the money. I mean, of course you're in it for the money, but I mean for the Harpies specifically, not sponsoring as a whole."