World Cup Pt. 2

"What do you suppose they're talking about?" Rose asked, her voice laced with curiosity as she casually tossed another chocolate frog into her mouth. The enchanted sweet gave a satisfying crunch as she bit down, the sound echoing faintly over the hum of chatter around them.

Beside her, Luna squinted thoughtfully, attempting to read Thane's lips from a distance as he engaged in a low but animated conversation with Professor Lupin—their former Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. "Hard to say... maybe something wolf-related?" she offered, shrugging with a kind of dreamy detachment.

Rose tilted her head, glancing at her friend with mild amusement. "Why do you always bring up wolves whenever Professor Lupin's involved?" she asked, her tone teasing but genuinely puzzled.

Luna hugged her knees to her chest and smiled softly, her gaze still fixed on the pair. "Well, he does remind me of one. Loyal, steady, quietly powerful… and a remarkably good judge of character. That's why he's going to trust Thane. I can feel it."

"Sure, but you know loads of people who are loyal and calm and insightful," Rose pointed out as she reached for another chocolate frog. "You don't call them wolves."

Luna didn't miss a beat. "Yes, but none of them attract Fletars like Professor Lupin does," she countered, her voice as matter-of-fact as if she were discussing the weather. Her reasoning, in her mind, was airtight.

Rose let out a sigh, familiar with the futility of arguing with Luna once her invisible magical creatures were part of the equation. "Right. No use debating the Fletars again," she muttered, reaching for her next frog. "I guess we'll just have to ask Thane what they were discussing later."

She went to toss the confection into her mouth—only for it to suddenly spring to life. With a muted ribbit, the bewitched frog launched itself from her hand and leapt over their heads.

Both girls watched in surprised silence as the chocolate creature landed a few rows back and bounded off in a bid for freedom.

"I thought you got the ones that weren't bewitched?" Luna asked, tilting her head to observe the frog's escape route.

"Apparently this little rogue snuck into the wrong batch," Rose grumbled, raising her hand with theatrical resolve. "But I paid five galleons for that bag and I fully intend to get my money's worth."

The frog jumped again, but just as it reached the apex of its arc, a shard of glistening ice hurtled through the air, piercing its body mid-leap and flash-freezing it in an instant. The now lifeless, frosted candy shattered upon hitting the ground.

"Bloody hell!" Rose groaned, throwing her hands up in frustration.

Luna, meanwhile, was stifling laughter. "When are you going to teach me that spell?"

Before Rose could respond, a new voice cut through the moment. "Hope I'm not too late to the party."

They turned to see Ginny Weasley stepping into the Top Box, her fiery hair unmistakable.

"Ginny!" Luna exclaimed, springing to her feet with delight and clapping her hands together.

Rose leaned to the side, scanning the entryway with an arched brow. "Only one Weasley? Where's the rest of your very red entourage?"

Ginny rolled her eyes. "Still fumbling around at the campsite. I got tired of waiting and came on ahead."

Luna giggled knowingly. "Couldn't wait to see Thane, huh?"

A vivid blush bloomed across Ginny's cheeks. "W-what? No! I came to see you two, obviously!"

"Uh huh. Sure you did, Red," Rose said with a smirk. "But you've been trying to get a word in with Thane since last year, don't even try to deny it."

Letting out a long sigh, Ginny sank into the seat beside Rose. "Fine. Maybe I've got a few reasons. But it's not what you think."

Luna and Rose exchanged a look of pure mischief.

Ginny groaned. "You two can go jump off a cliff."

Rose grinned. "And if we did, who would teach you magic?" she asked with exaggerated innocence, popping another frog into her mouth.

"Taught is a strong word," Ginny shot back, lifting her hand. A tiny flame—no bigger than a candle's flicker—sprung to life at her fingertip. But the heat it radiated was intense enough to warp the air around it. "I can barely keep this going for more than a minute before my mana gives out. I need someone to explain what this is and how to control it."

Luna's expression softened, her earlier teasing replaced by gentle sincerity. "We want to help, truly. But Daphne said it's a family secret. Only Thane has the right to tell you."

That made Ginny pause. Her frustration eased slightly as Rose added, "Honestly, that might be why he invited your whole family here today."

Ginny's eyes widened, the hope creeping back into her expression. "You really think so?"

Rose gave a small nod before shifting her gaze back toward Thane. "Though you might have to wait a bit—looks like he's got his hands full playing diplomat today."

Ginny and Luna turned their heads in unison, following Rose's line of sight. There, standing beside Thane, was a young woman with vivid, spiky pink hair that stood out like a flare in a storm.

"Who the hell is that?" Ginny asked, her voice tight with curiosity and just the faintest edge of something sharper.

"No clue," Rose murmured, her eyes narrowing in concentration as she tried to place the girl. "She looks familiar, though. I think she might've been at the engagement party—but I don't remember what her connection was. She wasn't on the guest list I memorized, that's for sure."

Ginny scowled slightly as she watched the easy smile Thane offered the newcomer. It was casual—friendly, even—but something about it made her stomach twist. Her eyes sharpened, trying to decipher his lips as he spoke. "What do you think they're talking about?"

Rose was about to answer when her hand dipped into the now-empty bag of chocolate frogs. She froze, her expression stricken. "Bloody hell. I'm out."

Meanwhile, across the box, Thane offered a polite but genuine smile as he clasped hands with the vibrant-haired witch. "Tonks. It's been a while. I thought Moody would be with you." His smile faltered ever so slightly as he realized she had arrived alone.

Tonks gave a rueful shake of her head, her eyes glinting with mischief. "He couldn't make it. Claims he's sick—though knowing him, he probably thinks someone's poisoned his tea and is currently hiding in an underground bunker with a talking cactus and five decoy hats."

Thane chuckled softly, though there was a flicker of concern beneath it. "Well, that same paranoia is likely the reason he survived the last war."

"Fair point," Tonks said with a smirk. "He's got stories that could curl your toes. But enough about Mad-Eye—spill it, Fae. Why'd you drag me all the way out here?"

Thane's expression grew more serious, thoughtful. "Do you remember when we first met—how I told you I was researching Metamorphmagi?"

Tonks' eyes lit with recognition. "Of course I do. You were the first person who didn't look at me like I was a sideshow attraction."

"Good. Because I've made progress—significant progress," he said, his voice lowering just enough to signal that what he was about to share wasn't idle chit-chat. "But I've reached the limit of what I can test on myself. I need to replicate my experiments to make sure there aren't any flukes that could lead to rather disastrous consequences." 

Tonks raised a brow, interest piqued. "Well… what type of experiments are we talking about."

"As a Metamorphmagus you know that the changes we experience go beyond the physical form, not only are our bodies vastly different, but so are our souls. They are what truly change, our physical characteristics are only a reflection," Thane replied. 

"This sounds dangerously like soul magic, and Mad-eye always warmed be against messing with that stuff," Tonk muttered though after a second a broad smile spread across her face, "Luckily for the both of us that old bat isn't here!"