InsaneJournal

Tryouts tended to run most of the day, especially these preliminary ones before the pool got whittled down to the ones that had the best shot. Not that Merc found it boring, how could he? It was an entire day of watching promising young quidditch players, he got the best seat in the house, it counted as work but there was really nothing he actually needed to do.

True, he didn’t usually go to the tryout days, workload reasons, preferring to instead attend the Rookie Camp, but Florrie had expressed interest in it and it was an excuse to go. Really what was the point of his position if he couldn’t use it to just sit back and watch quidditch sometimes, even better if he could share that with his sister.

Right now though there was a break in the proceedings, letting players, team management and ministry folk alike get some refreshments and take a breather. The Ministry box seats had been set up with a buffet spread of light assorted snacks and desserts (with a suspicious number of Merc’s favourites) for the management and ministry to partake in during the break. Of course these breaks were wrought with politics and team tensions at times, which he was quite grateful to be mostly out of now that now that he was long out of his days working as a trainer after his injury. After some expected small talk while filling his plate, Merc left the box seats to go outside and back to the stands with Florrie once she’d filled her plate too. There were a few players doing some warmup routines in the air to prepare for the next round as the McGonagalls stood among the mostly empty stands and watched.

“So Florrie, what do you think so far? I must say there’s a disappointing lack of Gryffindors this year, even including some of the returning hopefuls. There’s been some good ones in the past years that went into the league but apparently not much red this time.”

"You'd think there'd be more of them given that they came close to winning the Cup this year." Which was a bit of an exaggeration--Hufflepuff had dominated in the final game--but still, they had come out runners-up and Florrie was loyal to their house side. "They'll field a strong set of contenders next year, I think," Florrie opined with more hope than knowledge. She popped a cube of cheese into her mouth--despite her lectures on good eating, today she was taking a break--and savoured the taste. "Do you think all the ones who are off on holiday or relaxing before they start work have any idea that the summer is so busy for the rest of us because they're finding jobs?"

"Yes, what'd they lose by? Twenty points and the snitch I think? Not a terrible showing by any means." Merc had, of course, hoped his House team would win and that Potter's lad would come away with the snitch, but even games like that got away from the best of them. One didn't win the house cup every year. "Oh I don't imagine they think past themselves too much, not at that age. Speaking of, any mediwitch hopefuls in the graduating class that you'll be seeing? Healers are usually a popular option too from what I gather."

"I know there are at least two Healers in the class. Edgar Bones asked me to look after one of them when she sent in her initial application. She's one of his and the other one I know about is ... a Ravenclaw? Don't know whether either of them is thinking quidditch specialisation." Which was more than Florrie usually knew at this stage of the summer. Usually it was the fall before she had any kind of rundown on the incoming class. "I heard rumours there were going to be a number of potioneers--they say Snape, who's supposed to be one of the better potioneers, has three interns, competing for an apprenticeship. So that's the career gossip from Mungo's." Another cube of cheese found its way into her mouth.

"Who'd have thought the career of a potioneer would be so popular that one gets three interns? Sometimes these things seem so unpredictable..." Merc shook his head at the whole thing as he kept his eyes on the fliers doing some warmups. "I don't know if I should be wishing one of the newbie healers wants to go into mediwitch work or not. Is it any fun for you to have a trainee about or is it too much trouble?" Of course he'd never had any of these career considerations of his own right out of Hogwarts, there'd been no doubt that Merc would go into a professional quidditch career.

"I won't get hold of them until later. You know Angelina Johnson's in training now, right?" Merc would remember her, undoubtedly. Angelina had been a stellar player and Florrie had been sad to see the Harpies release her. But the loss for Quidditch appeared to be the gain of Mungo's now that Angelina was in her second year. "Don't know if she'll go to a quidditch team or not, but she certainly has the background to know what they need."

Merc nodded at the mention of Johnson. “Yes, released her due to injury I remember.” He was a little quieter thinking about it, after all he’d always had a soft spot for the Gryffindor players and especially those stellar ones like Johnson who had led her team to winning the cup in her last year. Career-ending injuries were always tough, but especially when it happened to someone so young and so early in her career. At least when two bludgers had ruined his shoulder he’d had a good decade in the league and a chance to shine. Johnson hadn’t really had that chance. “How’s she doing in training? Alright? I don’t know her well enough to say if she’d go back into a quidditch-related specialty or avoid it altogether, could go either way.”

"I don't know her that well either. I don't see much of the younger trainees." Florrie brightened after a moment, and added. "I need to set up some kind of thing for the new trainees anyway, so I'll encourage her to come out. Maybe she'll talk about her plans then. I think she's still rooming with Bell and Spinnet so she's got to be all right with at least talking about it. Oh, no, wait, was it Bell who got traded to Caerphilly? Maybe not." In the middle of all the talk, bites of cheese and other delicious things were making their way into Florrie's mouth. Apparently it really was a holiday from healthy eating.

"Ah, the chaser trio are rooming together? Well it makes sense, chasers tend to be tight-knit, at least the best combos. Though yes, it was Bell that got traded to Caerphilly. She gets a starting spot out of it but I think they require players to live in team accommodations." Even with the chaos of his job, Merc was still a quidditch fanatic at heart who kept up with all the news. "So what's this new trainee thing you're going to do? Promoting workplace unity or whatever they're saying now?" As he spoke, Merc leaned over to steal one of the sweeter options off her plate, even though he had his own. "Saving you from becoming hypocritical," he teased lightly in explanation before munching and turning back to watch the flyers.

"Moderation in everything, including moderation," Florrie shot back, though she did not exercise herself to restrain her brother's imposition on her prerogatives or her plate. "And this is unofficial. Norah Bones and I were talking about it. It's just nice to get to know the new trainees socially before they're in the program and frazzled and nervous. Edgar actually introduced me to one of the Healer applicants from his lot of Hufflepuffs in the hopes of getting me to mentor her. She doesn't seem to need it but it can't hurt to ask her and her soon-to-be colleagues out for a pint."

"Unofficial still makes for good bonding with colleagues, I did it. Less opportunity as the boss, but the department is famous for its parties for a reason..." Merc popped another snack into his mouth then suddenly seemed to jump to attention, snapping his fingers and pointing out to the pitch with a grin suddenly. "Ha! Yes, that was great! Now if only they pull that off when this break is over so the rest can see. Ah I love it when there's something promising shown during these things." Grin still on, Merc plopped down into one of the seats they'd been standing in front of in the stands, propping his feet up on the seat in front. "Now back to your pint after work idea, which I think is a great one since I do like to do that myself, Jones usually gets dragged along if I'm not heading out with Potter or someone else. It's even more important to do it when things get stressful, give them a chance to relax and blow off steam with you. I do department parties, there will be a massive one after the cup final which you're free to stop by for of course, but something smaller suits your work situation better."

Florrie was still following the action on the pitch after the play that had drawn Merc's attention. "Also we don't want to terrify the poor incoming students. There are plenty of healers and mediwizards who'll do that."

She turned to Merc. "Who are you bringing in for the party? All the British players you can lay your hands on? Or will you know until it's all over? Or should I just be asking Gwenog?"

"No no, the team parties are different. This one I'm talking about is more Ministry-wide. First world cup in charge and after all the chaos in the last two years, just dealing with the other departments alone, I figure once we pull off a stunning final and prove we can...it's cause for celebration." Merc grinned over at her. "Bagman did the last world cup and finished it on the run from goblins, this one is mine and we're going to end it far far better and give the department and all the others something to really celebrate this time. They didn't quite get to last time. Plus...I can do this for them, why ever not? Like taking the newbies out for a pint, something positive in the workplace." He was pointed a carrot stick, one of the few healthy bits on his plate, at her now. "Naturally, you're invited Florrie. I was thinking to host it in the stadium itself, big enough venue and appropriate. Will have to talk to Diggory about it of course but as long as I make it after the cup and say, on a Friday evening, it's a celebration of something positive in the new ministry for him too."

"I'm sure he'll like that." Florrie was still waiting to see whether Diggory was going to be an improvement over Black as Minister, and hadn't had much evidence of that. Of course, they were only three months in. "I'll come if I'm off duty, and see if I can trade shifts if I'm not. I'm not hauling any rowdy drunken twenty-something quidditchers to Mungo's if they get alcohol poisoning. I know how those blokes like to behave at parties." She made a face. "I prefer thirty-something quidditchers who are a bit more restrained, thanks."

Merc couldn't help but laugh. "No Florrie, you'll be hauling ministry employees of all ages to Mungo's if you're hauling anyone. This one is for the employees, gotta give back to them. The players have their parties without my help. Some of your friends will no doubt be there, and you are vaguely familiar with the man running it so...always more than welcome, my favourite sister." He took his feet off the seat in front of him and sat up some. "Which reminds me, pre-emptive apologies for the next month of chaos. It was the Ireland England match recently but regardless of the result, we knew we'd be hosting the final. Just waiting for the next semifinal before we announce officially. So I'm going to be neck deep in the madness and likely a little loopy until that all gets done."

"Between finishing off my first world cup, the quidditch tryouts, and getting Ava ready to start Hogwarts...this is going to be quite the crazy last month of summer..."

"Indeed it is," Florrie agreed. "All the more reason to enjoy it while it lasts."