Chapter Nine
Since he couldn't remember ever attending a quidditch game after the few games he attended in his school years, he had a difficult time following along with it. He knew the players handling the quaffle were the Chasers, and that they had to get the quaffle into the goal hoops to gain points for their teams.
"What's the name of the people who guard the goal hoops?" Rabastan asked Tommy, raising his voice over the noise.
"They're the Keepers," Tommy answered without taking his eyes off the field. "Oh, there's Gustav! He has the quaffle! The Keeper for England is Gustav's boyfriend Oliver. He's still pretty on guard, though. I'm sure he's being watched in case he decides to let Gustav score without trying to stop him."
"Well, that's a bit of a conflict, isn't it? You know, having players from opposite teams who are in a romance?"
"Oh, I wouldn't know. There must not be much wrong with it if they're still allowed to play against each other. As long as neither of them mess up the game, I guess it's fine. There, he scored!"
The game was very fast-paced, but Rabastan soon caught onto everything that was happening. Eventually, Alice Johansson caught the snitch, which brought the game to an end. The points the Nordic Team gained from that put them ahead of England.
If this were any other game, Rabastan probably would have cheered on his home country. But because Tommy acted so enthusiastic and was obviously proud of Gustav and Alice, he gladly applauded the Nordic Team.
When the match was over and people were leaving the stadium, Tommy hung behind to see Gustav and Alice. Rabastan waited along with him, knowing of no other way to get back to Stockholm besides apparating with Tommy. Besides, Tommy obviously wanted Rabastan to officially meet Gustav and Alice.
Soon, three players came up into the stands out of uniform, and Tommy hugged each of them in turn.
"All right, everyone, I brought someone for you to meet," said Tommy. "This is Rabastan Lestrange, a friend of mine. He's from England, but he was touring Stockholm when we met. He's been helping me with some things involving my newest book."
Gustav raised his eyebrows. "A friend? Wasn't expecting it." He shook hands with Rabastan. "Good to meet you, then. I'm glad Tommy's keeping busy while I'm not around."
"Hey, and me," Alice said in an accusing tone. "Tommy's isn't actually my brother," she said to Rabastan, "But I like to think of him as a big brother. I've told him before that he should try making more friends, and I'm glad to see he finally took my advice."
"Well, as you can see, they're definitely related," Tommy said to Rabastan. "This is Oliver, Gustav's boyfriend, probably going to be my brother-in-law soon enough."
Rabastan held out his hand to shake hands with Oliver, but Oliver asked, "I'm sorry, but did you say your name was Rabastan Lestrange?"
Rabastan froze. This was it. Someone recognized his name, and this was how Tommy would find out the truth.
"Yes, that's it," he answered, trying to sound calm. "It's a well-known name, I imagine."
Oliver looked as if he were going to ask another question, but Tommy said, "Why don't you see if Mom and Magnus are here? I know you must have to get ready to leave, and we have to get back to Stockholm, anyway. When the season is over, we should all have dinner at my apartment to celebrate. I'll see you all soon."
Tommy hugged each of them again, and then he and Rabastan apparated back to Stockholm. They said goodnight to each other on the street corner, and Rabastan walked back to his hotel in low spirits. Of course Tommy's brother had an English boyfriend who knew the name Lestrange. He was probably going to tell Gustav all about what he knew, and then Gustav would tell Tommy, and then Rabastan would have to think up a way to explain himself.
Rabastan slept very little that night. He spent most of the night wondering what he would say to Tommy the next morning.
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