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Quidditch Pre-League Frstival
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Extreme popping and whistling could be heard for miles in a stadium exclusively stationed for wizards kind. The location was in the barren landscapes of Scotland, which was where the Quidditch World Cup is usually held. Rebuilt from the ashes of the Death Eater attack years back, flags were effected high brandishing orange, purple, green and yellow. Each with an iconic star studded 'W' at the center and cut in a wild jagged shape. The fireworks overhead danced lightly in the shape of various animals -- anywhere from cats and dogs to swirling Chinese dragons. All the while regular pop off bursts littered the sky just as the orange of the sky was starting to set in.
Young crowds gathered for a large scale event hosted by CEOs Fred and George Weasley of Weasley Wizard Wheezes. The two were offered a large chance to showcase products as long as they also sponsored a Quidditch team -- which they gladly did. Despite growing into young adults the two were still very much into sports and had many friends who became Quidditch players. With the rising success of the joke shop and the assistance the product lends to the newly formed Ministry of Magic they were allowed the means to sponsor two teams -- not just one. The twins blissfully chose Scotland's Montrose Magpies and Pride of Portee. The charity proceeds for the promotional event would be split three ways. Between the British and Irish Quidditch League and the two teams. All the while the Weasley twins get the food profit and the propaganda benefits of spreading the word about their products. Rather than a whole stadium use for a full game, it was a festival of sorts. Half of the large scale Quidditch field was used as an amusement area to teach young children how to fly or throw a quaffle -- along with older teens learning how to keep a hoop, guard against a bludger or catch a snitch. The rest was food concessions for easy made country dishes and fast food. At the most north point of the field was a stage setting where Fred and George stood with Minister Shacklebolt. All smiles as the three watched young people come and go. "This really was a good idea, fellas. After such a long dark time it's good to see people smiling," Shacklebolt said lightly. "It's always there. Just gotta dig it out," Fred said as he could even see a few familiar faces from where they were. He reached out to give his brother a light tap at his middle chest. "Oi, have a look. Ginny still has her Pigmy Puff," he added with a light gesture to their little sister in the crowd. Her red hair sticking out among her friends but also sporting a little magenta puffy animal on her shoulder. "She really made that last. It's been what? Two years?" George replied. "Two years!" Fred repeated in complete astonishment. With a light chuckle he stuffed his hands into his brown suit pockets. "I think we should make Petite Parakeets next." "Oohhhhh, that's perfect!" "Sirs!!" A young girl's voice caught their attention from behind and the twins seemed to turn in unison. A blonde teenager wearing a knee length purple robe with the iconic star studded 'W' on the back ran up to where the three stood along the stage. "It's almost time. Verety and I got the product displayed on the stage. We're ready when you are," she said with a smile. "Show time!" Fred said as he drew out his wand from inside his jacket pocket and made his way toward the curtain opening. The twins had their marketing swagger about them, and each one was just as important as the other. Many times it was George who thought of marketing slogans and display pieces. Always having a plan at least two steps ahead. Fred, on the other hand practically lived in the moment and so he didn't mind being the hype man when the occasion called for it. At the moment the fireworks died down a bit as the sun started to really set. There were lights shining to illuminate the stadium and stage torches specifically for this area. When the red curtain opened Fred and George stepped out along the center stage. Children and young teenagers started to cheer which made them smile widely. "Thank you!! Thank you!! And welcome to the first ever Quidditch Pre-League Festival!!" Fred said, using a charm from his wand to amplify his voice through the crowd. There was loud cheers and clapping which the two enjoyed for a moment before Fred waved a hand and gave a casual motion to start a calm. "Alright! Thank you, and this is amazing. Look at all of you! Young and old! New and nimble to elderly and admirable! This really is fantastic! It's been two years since the opening of Weasley Wizard Wheezes, which we would like to solely thank our investor for. Mr. Harry Potter -- where's he at..... uhhhh -- AH! There he is!!" Fred finally found the skinny young man just a couple years younger than himself with his dark unruly hair and seemingly always smudged face. The lightning scar plain as day upon his forehead. "Speaking of him though, we can also take a moment. I mean a real moment.... to thank him for putting an end to the darkness over the past two or three decades. It's been hard. This arena here and the surrounding settlement was a battleground once. The Quidditch World Cup. It was an unforgettable game -- but also unforgettable times. Now we can look at this arena again and to each other and smile. BECAUSE ITS BLOODY OVER!! Thanks to him!" Fred said as the cheers began again and accented by just one more grateful gesture in Harry's direction. The energy was fantastic! Fred smiled back toward his twin, who seemed to be beaming in the same excitement. This was usually contained to a small collection of customers inside their shop on Diagon Alley -- but this time was a whole stadium. With a little urging from George, Fred waved a hand just to casually call for calm again. His smile never fading for a second, the redhead stepped closer toward the edge of the stage. Just to take in the faces of the young people and their parents. He then raised his wand along his vocal cords again to continue. "As the new age starts, we chose to really put the shadows behind us and invited you to join us. It's not just the founders of Weasley Wizard Wheezes here today. We have Minister Kingsley Shacklebolt coordinating the charity division, and the representatives for the British and Irish Quidditch League as well. Specifically in this location just to make it KNOWN that it's been repaired. Our favorite sport is back and ready for action again! So! Come one, come all -- as we show off five new products, all directly linked to the profit of the league. One sponsored by the Ministry of Magic and all to make life a little brighter. Ready!?" Fred asked. "REAAAAADY!!" The crowd shouted happily with more applause. And so the show began and the festival continued right along with it. Two new prank snack foods to start with called the Caniption Cookies and Chameleon Truffles. the cookies came in three flavors with three different functions. Chocolate chip made the eater laugh hysterically, Oatmeal and blueberry for weeping tears and sugar and funfetti for extreme blushing. All without actually pressing the feelings -- just the actions for no real reason at all. The truffles came in pink peach, green apple and orange mandarin flavor and the eater could shape shift by thought. The tester here went from a cute bunny to a wolf and then went wild by turning herself into a great gust of wind! Then returning to normal within a matter of minutes. Then two new toys called Weasley Whizz-bees and Haphazard on a String. The twins had fun showing these two off themselves! The Whizz-bee was much like the Weasley wrist rocket as it was a large ring that was flicked into motion. Burn resistant sparklers surged from the sphere with a beaming tail as the brothers tossed it back and forth. Then took up one of their own each to throw to the open air. The toy had a beautiful streaming tail and would always come back to it's thrower -- no matter what it had to bounce off of or how many times to get there. The Haphazard on a String was presented as a common Muggle yo-yo until the twins started to play with them. Each extension and return made a whirling wheeeee noise. Not only that but the glowing neon toy would have light streaming off of it -- the toy and string becoming bigger, louder and longer the harder they played with it. Before long both were doing tricks with the toy easily over the base front of the crowd with the whirling toy about the size of their head and singing as Fred and George mingled about a round-the-world trick. "Last and not least -- a little more on the serious side is one for our Dark Arts Defense department. We call them Mood Moons," Fred said as he approached a standing display with many little necklaces with moon shaped pendants of different colors. Six in all and carried by a young employee for them to easily reach. "Under cover work is hard -- sometimes needing a little Polyjuice help. Right? What makes it harder is when the target is a real challenge to act -- not just look. That's where these help with that little extra edge. Wearing these will give you the posture and demeanor for a mood -- without actually being in that mood." "Wait... seriously?" Kingsley Shacklebolt asked as he was seated on a stool nearby to observe. "You two actually think something like that is needed?" "Let me put it to you this way......" Fred said with a smile and wink toward the Minister. "If you Polyjuice into Delores Umbridge are you gunna be able to keep up that super giddy act?" There was a light chuckle but Fred wasn't done. Gently taking up the pastel pink moon necklace he slipped it on over his head and a light chuckle escaped his throat far higher than his normal laugh. "Now! Now! I will have order, dear children!" he chimed with a toothy smile. Then slipped it off to return to the display. "That was scary, mate," George said with a light smile. "I know! Remind me never to do that again," Fred said. "But!! That's not the only use for the Moons!" the young employee said. Both twins looked back to her over their shoulder and she gave a light smile. "I was in my graduating year when the Battle of Hogwarts happened. So... I have dreams. But when I wear the calming moon the magic seems to dull that down a bit..." Taking up the glossy white moon necklace she carefully passed the hand held display to Fred -- who stepped aside closer to his brother. He had no idea about this particular effect, and didn't even think about it when the two crafted them in the first place. Taking a long look toward George, he received a shrug of the shoulders so the twin had no idea about this either. The girl, who's name was Monica Harris, slipped the moon on over her head and a sigh slipped through her lips. A soft expression leaving her face and she let her arms hug herself around the torso. "I wear mine while I read... and I fell asleep with it on about a month ago. When I'm awake it's just a surface mood -- but when I'm asleep there's this.... distant feeling and the dreams aren't so terrible," she said. "......This is going to need more testing, mate," Fred said lightly to his brother who almost instantly nodded in agreement. Still, the objects were amazing to show off and the twins continued to demonstrate with guests throughout the night. All while fireworks lightly danced across the sky and activities still buzzed about the entire field. The festival itself was a huge hit and a great nod to the sport that the Wizarding World loved so much. The world needed a laugh, and they would be able to find it again. It just needed a little digging.
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