Chapter 1

Fred let his gaze wander longingly out of the shop window. He was just surrounded by a group of second graders who wanted him to explain exactly how the elongated ears worked.
Meanwhile, George was in the back of the store, where customers weren't allowed in. He'd probably just put his feet up. In the meantime they had hired a saleswoman so that at least they no longer had to worry about it. But there was still a lot to do. And that's why Fred was glad when Weasley's magical jokes closed its doors at six o'clock in the evening.
Fred stepped through the narrow passage to the back of the shop when it banged and flashed above his head and a whole bucket of water spilled over his head.
"Holy sh ***!" He started while George laughed himself sick. "Didn't you have anything to do?"
His twin just grinned. "Good," said Fred, "I have to stretch my feet first!"He stepped out of the shop into the evening sun. Opposite was the Quality for Quidditch store, which had the new racing broom in its shop window: the "White Heron". This new racing broom was really a sky-screaming difference to the Feuerblitz, because the White Heron was adapted directly to the body, i.e. to the weight and size of the player, and was therefore unbeatable in its aero dynamics. But 1200 galleons a piece? That was pretty steep! In fact, with the flourishing business, Fred could have afforded one, but he knew he didn't really need it. The few times he sat on a broomstick to hit Harry, Ron and his other brothers during the summer were really not worth throwing his money out the window. Yes, he missed playing Quidditch. He had met with Ron, Harry, George and Lee a month ago and together they had played behind the Burrow for three days non-stop, but it was kind of not the same.He also didn't know when he had become so melancholy, but somehow life was boring him at the moment.
He got a huge ice cream cone from Florean Fortesques and was about to take another look at the White Heron when he heard voices emanating from the shop.
"So, Miss Johnson, you should soon be on a par with your teammates!"
"Oh yes, I hope so! And thank you!"
"We'll send you the broom in about two weeks, is that okay?"
"Of course, until then I'll be able to train with my Firebolt."
"Yeah, the Firebolt ... a nice broom, but slowly a bit out of fashion, eh?"
"Well, who are you telling that? I've had all my players switched to the Heron in the meantime. At least you get something decent for your money!"
Fred had stocked up. Miss Johnson? And this voice ... it belonged unmistakably -
“Angelina!” He exclaimed her name in surprise when she left the shop in the company of a tall, sporty, middle-aged man.“Fred?” Confused, she looked at her. “What are you doing here?” But then she looked across the street and smiled. "Ah yes, of course. Your shop!"
The man next to her looked interested.
"You are the owner of Weasley's Magic Jokes?"
Fred nodded. "Together with my brother!" He said and shook hands with the man. "Fred Weasley."
"John Tabbington! Pleasant. My son Michael is crazy about your joke articles. But I imagined the owner to be older!"
Fred grinned. "Well, you can be wrong!"
Angelina rolled her eyes. "I was in a class at Hogwarts with Fred and believe me, he and his brother never had anything else on their minds than playing pranks on other people!"
"Well, you do what you can!" Fred smiled, but inside everything revolted. Who was this John Tabbington? He looked somehow familiar. And above all, what did he have to do with Angelina? He was easily over forty and Angelina was just 22. They weren't ... after all, John had talked about a son."So, I'll leave you guys for now, we're still invited tonight!" Said John exuberantly. "But don't forget Angelina, it starts tomorrow at six o'clock!"
“How could I forget that?” Angelina laughed and said goodbye. Then John Disapparated.
Fred looked at Angelina indecisively. "Can I buy you an ice cream, too?" He finally asked. Angelina smiled. "Gladly!", She said and a little later the two were crouching on a bench in front of the ice cream parlor in the warm evening sun.
"Now tell me!" Said Fred. "Who was this John Tabbington? Your - your friend?" He hoped that she didn't notice how strangled the last words sounded. But she just laughed.
"Heavens, no! Where are we going?"
"I don't know, tell me," said the redhead with a grin.
"No, no, John is my trainer. Have you never heard of him?"
"Well, somehow his name rings something in my head, but I don't know exactly what. What is he training you in?"Angelina looked at him now, really almost shocked. "John Tabbington is the coach of the English Quidditch national team!"
Fred hit his forehead with the palm of his hand. "Of course! Now it comes to mind! Oh God, how stupid of me ... I didn't even recognize him!"
Angelina smiled. "Happened a lot," she said with a shrug and licked at her ice cream.
“And what do you have to do with him then?” That got more and more interesting. "Are you still playing?"
She looked at him briefly and then smiled weakly. "Yep, I'm still playing. I will probably never get away from it either. I'm just addicted ..."
She looked kind of sad now. "Well, you'll hear it the day after tomorrow at the latest, so I can tell you. I went to Australia after school and played next to university. And Quidditch was just umpteen times more important to me than the stupid one Uni; that's why I gave up and joined the team there for a starvation wage.And I've worked my way up over the past three years. "She stopped and waited for him to say something.
"And what will I find out the day after tomorrow at the latest?" Fred finally asked. Angelina took a deep breath.
"That I will be the first female player in the English national team for the upcoming World Cup."
"Please ??" Fred was guaranteed to have misheard. He must have misheard!
"It's true!" Said Angelina, looking at him steadily. "There will probably be a huge scandal, I mean a woman on the team. That has never been there! But John wants me there, he saw me play in Australia. I played for the Northern Territory."
Fred was still totally exhausted. He knew Angelina was a good player, no question about it. But so good? He would never have thought that!
"Man ..." he said, inwardly slapping himself for that stupid statement. "That's ... crazy, absolutely crazy! I wouldn't have thought that at all!"
Angelina saw him sideways."I know," she said slowly, staring at her ice cream cone. "Nobody would have thought ..."
Fred hadn't meant to discourage her. He was about to say something when she suddenly turned to him with a big smile and asked: "How are you doing?"
Why did she suddenly change the subject? Fred had no idea but decided to go into it. Even if he found her life a lot more exciting at the moment. He told in a nutshell how it all began, with Harry winning the Triwizard Tournament and the international sale the twins had meanwhile achieved.
"Wow!" Said Angelina honestly. "You see, I wouldn't have thought that of you again. It's really crazy! I didn't believe that you would really pull it off and still be so successful!"
Fred grinned. "Yes, Mum couldn't quite believe it either!"
Angelina laughed.
"But I think she's proud of us now."
"One hundred percent she is!"Angelina looked at him." After all, she was the chaotic par excellence and I think she had given up all hope! "
“And you think we're no longer angry?” Fred gave her a crooked grin.
"I didn't say that!" Laughed Angelina and punched him in the side in a friendly way. Then she looked at her watch.
"Okay, I think I should be on my way. You know I have to get up early tomorrow."
In fact, it was almost eight. How quickly the time had passed!
Angelina got up and smiled at him. He had to say something now. Anything!
"Well, I'll go then," Angelina said slowly. Fred jumped up.
"Um, would you like ... would you ... I mean, would you like to meet me again?" Oh God, what was that? Fred internally kicked his ass. He was acting like a toddler.
But Angelina smiled. Was that a good sign?
"I'm pretty busy right now, with training and everything. I mean, the World Cup is in October.""I see," said Fred quickly, although internally his mood was suddenly at zero.
Angelina turned away and was about to leave when she turned around again.
"But if I think about it ... I'll be able to shovel myself free one evening!" Did he understand her correctly?
"I'll get in touch with you!", She said and kissed him on the cheek with a smile. Then she Disapparated.
But Fred didn't notice anything ... except for the burning spot on his cheek.