❁❁❁

After finishing up their breakfast, the two Mallards went on to do their chores, not without grumbling about it, of course.

Serena was on her last dish when something suddenly crashed into the kitchen window in front of her. The girl snapped her neck to look up, seeing a small tawny owl hovering right outside the window. "Oh, shoot! I forgot about Magnolia's letter!" Quickly washing her hands, Serena opened the window for her friend's owl. "Sorry, Grey, I haven't read Nolie's letter yet, but I'll write my response as fast as possible. Here are some more Owl Treats, I know Mum already gave you some earlier." Finishing up the dishes and feeding the surprisingly patient owl, Serena ran up the stairs.

Picking up the letter from her nightstand, Serena sat at her desk, getting out her own parchment and quill as she read it.

~~~

To Serena Esmae Mallard,

So before I get to the real news, I must address the fact that Ramona and I will be crashing at your place on this fine, Saturday afternoon for reasons you will understand if you are patient and continue reading this well-written letter.

All formal speech aside:

AZALEA GOT THE TICKETS! I REPEAT, SHE GOT THE TICKETS FOR THE FLIPPING QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP!!

FOUR FOR ME, MONA, YOU, AND IYLA. (My brother won't be coming because he's 'too busy at the Ministry.' Git.)

For once my sister's position as seeker on the Appleby Arrows finally paid off.

MAKE SURE YOU GET YOUR SPARE ROOMS AND BUTTERBEER READY (for Mona of course) BECAUSE WE WILL BE IN YOUR FIREPLACE BY 5PM SHARP!

~~~

Dropping the quill she had in her hand, Serena stared at the parchment laid on her desk for five seconds before jumping up, chair crashing to the floor as she did. "OH MY GOSH! WE'RE GOING TO THE FUCKING WORLD CUP!"

Serena ran out of her room, slamming the door to her sister's room down the hall open. Iyla looked up from her notebook in shock, staring at Serena as if she had gone mad. "Er... you look kinda crazed Rena, what's-"

"WE'RE GOING! WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING! OH MY LORD I CAN'T BREATHE!!" Serena was practically bouncing around Iyla's room, which seemed to follow a theme of violet.

Iyla had no idea what her sister was talking about, but she felt excited just watching Serena. "We're going somewhere? Where are we going? Australia? America?"

"NO, YOU IDIOT. WE'RE GOING TO THE QUIDDICTH WORLD CUP!!" That one statement seemed to bring a new round of screams and cheers. Iyla got up from her own bay window, throwing her treasured notebook aside to dance in celebration with her sister.

"NO WAY, NO WAY, NO WAY! I'VE GOT TO TELL HERMIONE AND GINNY!" Iyla squealed, now jumping on her bed.

After a minute of more excited screams, Iyla leaped off her bed as Serena finally stopped jumping to catch her breath. "Wait, wait. Who got the tickets? I thought Mum said she couldn't."

"Oh, Mum didn't get it." Serena laughed. "You know Magnolia's older sister, Azalea?"

"The seeker for the Appleby Arrows?" Iyla smiled brightly.

"Yup! She managed to snag four tickets for you, me, Ramona, and of course, Magnolia."

It was almost as if Iyla completely deflated. "Wait, what about Azalea? Is she not going? And no ticket for Mum? You know won't let us go without herself or someone else with us."

Serena merely shrugged, clearly not fazed by such an issue of parental permission. "Azalea's a professional Quidditch player. She probably got in free. Besides, Mum said it herself that she can't go with us, most likely working at the Ministry as she always is. Either way, she can't stop me from going to only the biggest event of the year! It's the World Cup!"

With a determined nod, Serena skipped out of Iyla's room. The younger Mallard only chuckled, taking out her own parchment to let her two best friends know she was going to the World Cup after all.

Back in her own room, Serena picked up the quill when she dropped it, writing a quick response to Magnolia.

~~~

To Magnolia Emilie Mulberry,

I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO BOTHER WRITING FORMALLY LIKE WE USUALLY DO BECAUSE THIS IS JUST TOO BIG!!

THE FIREPLACE WILL BE OPEN AND (HOPEFULLY) DUST FREE.

I CANNOT WAIT FOR MONDAY!!

P.S. Sorry for the late owl, I'd completely forgotten to respond. :)

~~~

Before Serena could run back downstairs to where Grey was hopefully still waiting, the tiny brown owl appeared right at her window, beside another grayish elf owl. Serena quickly opened the window, letting them in. "Brownie, right? Magnolia's family owl, aren't you?" The owl let out a loud hoot as if to agree, pushing a letter she held in her claws into Serena's hand.

~~~

Dear Serena,

Ramona here! Nolie and I weren't sure if you got her letter earlier (I'm already at her house), and we guessed it was because she sent it to the wrong address. I wouldn't be surprised  :).

So in case you didn't get the news:

MAGNOLIA'S SISTER GOT US ALL TICKETS TO THE QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOHOOOOOOOOOO!

I'm not entirely fond of the sport BUT I'M SPILLING OVER IN EXCITEMENT!

Hurry and send us a letter back if your Mum is alright with us coming over at 5. (Also, don't forget the butterbeer!)

There was a long streak of black ink, the bottom half of the letter all crumpled up, and Serena concluded the two must have fought over the quill.

Magnolia here. Mona is too sweet to barge into someone else's house without an invitation but we'll be there at your house whether we get a response back or not. :)

~~~

Serena laughed loudly. "Those two..." The girl shook her head, making sure to add the fact that they can come over to her original letter. "Alright, because Grey came first, she'll take my letter back." While Grey hooted in delight, Brownie flapped her wings, hurt that Serena would chose the other owl before herself. "Sorry, Brownie!" The girl chuckled as the small elf owl turned its head and took off. Grey pecked Serena's finger affectionately before following the other owl.

Serena laid back onto her bed, staring up at the red and gold stars hanging from hooks on the ceiling with a smile.

'Quidditch World Cup, here we come.'

❁❁❁

Author's note:

My girls Magnolia and Ramona shall make their grand entrance in the next chapter! Also, the first chapter  was rather long, so I decided to shorten this one. Which do you all prefer? Longer chapters, or shorter ones?

Well, hope you lovelies had a great day (or night, depending on where you live)!

With lots of love,

~Lena