A few doors down from the Hall of Mirrors, a rather impressive arched entry way breaks between two black stoned walls. Considering the importance of Quidditch as a sport, it should be no surprise that one of the more grandiose exhibition rooms houses it's extensive collection. Circular in shape, banners from each and every professional team in the British and Irish League are hung around it's perimeter, giving life to large room.

The organization lies in where the banners are specifically placed. Vintage and modern quidditch robes and gear are on display beneath their team insignia. On carefully placed shelves, the more memorable players, along with game snitches, signed quaffles and worn beater's bats, sit in heavy silver frames, bowing, blowing kisses, and waving frantically. (One Falmouth player had been giving a rude gesture in his.) Occupying more open spaces on the walls are massive portrait-size frames containing action shots or winning snitch catches. The mascots had even found their places among the many photos.

In impenetrable glass casing, directly in the center of the room, nearly a hundred broomsticks, all refurbished and restored to their superficial glory, are neatly suspended off the ground at varying degrees and heights. Come a bit closer. Is that the original Firebolt?...with it's clean polish ebony handle and birch twigs?

Come in and take a look around. Enjoy quidditch at it's finest!

It was that time of year once again and John has fallen in love with his job. This gala was something else! It was incredible, unable to bring his wife he decided to bring one of the strongest women he knows...his mom. Dressed in vintage attire, John proudly roamed with his mother. He owed her so much and not to mention even at the age of 23, the man still needed his mother from time to time. That and he knew how much Marisca enjoyed history, both muggle and wizard history.

Having had family in the Quidditch industry he and his mother decided to check out the exhibition, surely there were going to be stories told tonight.

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This was definitely one of the sweetest things her eldest and only son has done for her! Marisca loved history so much, not to mention vintage. Dressing the part was something she did on a daily basis. As soon as she heard about this gala, she quickly accepted her son'a invitation.

Strolling down the Quidditch exhibition, nostalgia set in as she admired what her eyes were seeing.

"This is all so breathtaking, a part of history we have forgotten." The Pureblood admired from afar. Marisca's muggle husband, John's father wasn't fond of the magical aspect of his wife. Or anything magical, though he was loosening up a bit, Mr. Walker still disapproved.

"Thank you sweetheart, this is so amazing." Marisca hugged her son as they continued to glanced around.
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"You're welcome mom." John smiled, hugging his mother back and continuing with the exhibit and listening to his mother's stories.

Lots of impressive things, like from the banners to the quaffles! Hmm. Maybe someday we'll see Xavier Baltazar incorporated in all of this.

Victoria had been walking around checking out the museum since she had gotten to the Gala. Alone for the evening she wasn't feeling up to being too horribly social. Though if anyone felt the need to speak to her she was always willing to talk. She never liked to be rude, but there were just moments when she felt quieter than others and today she was having one of those moments. Finding herself in the quiddich exhibit she chuckled. You would think being a part of the department that dealt with all quidditch things that she would get to the point of not wanting to see the sport for awhile, but that just wasn't the case.

So she walked quietly through the exhibit. Stopping and checking out the artifacts. Noticing two people up ahead of her she smiled a bit. That was very sweet. He had called the woman mom. It was always nice to see a man treating his mother so wonderfully. "Magnificent displays aren't they?" She wasn't going to speak, but since she had found herself close to where they were looking, she took the chance to at least make some small talk.

Hand in hand with her husband, Evelyn Carter curiously peered into the area framed with the magnificent arched entry, and was surprised to see the various items related to quidditch of all things. Normally, these ministry orientations bored her to tears, but, she was happily enjoying herself. Perhaps due to this being a night she at last got to spend with Josh in what seemed like months. Ironic that quidditch was the cause of his absence from home in the first place.

"How poetic." she muttered, looking at all the merchandise.

Josh Carter was kind of oblivious to his whereabouts as he followed wherever his wife's hand took him. Yes, this was a nice a place, a museum, with lots of interesting displays and stuff but the man seemed to be more interested in his beautiful wife than the museum displays for it had been quite a while since they had been together properly.

He took a quick glance around at the quidditch section in the museum, it was still a wonder to him why the ministry would choose a museum for this event to take place, just to be aware of where he was. Then he kept staring at Evelyn's beauty. Yes, she was right beside him but staring at her up close was another pleasure to his eyes.

Then she said something.

Poetic?

Snapping out of his enamored moment, Josh looked at the displays to see what she was talking about. Quidditch robes, portraits, snitches, quaffles, beaters' bats...yeah? All quidditch stuff. Looking at these displays gave one ideas about what quidditch was like years ago yet...

"What's poetic with it?"

Yeah, he didn't get it. Perhaps because his mind was elsewhere.

Oh? Did she say that out loud?

Eyebrows raising slightly, she glanced towards Josh, momentarily forgetting what she was just thinking about. "I was just thinking, the reason for your absence from home and current threat against Hogwarts is on a grand display for the everyone to enjoy." Looking at one of the very vintage broomsticks, her lips twitched into a smirk like smile. "Has kinda a dark poetic vibe to it, doesn't it?"

Or maybe that was just her. She couldn't deny though, the display had captured her attention.

Yeah...why did she think it was poetic?

Josh blinked at the displayed stuff then turned back to his wife when she started to explain. Oh...right. People were threatened to be killed unless they drop playing quidditch and one of those black mails was even sent to the ministry and here the ministry had a huge quidditch stuff display place where they were holding this event.

Momentarily deep in thoughts, the Auror stared at the old but well kept brooms. And yeah, this threat was the reason he was away from his home, his love and his sons lately. "Well...maybe it's the ministry way to express defiance." he said with a small smile and shrugged a bit. "I see your point though." That he did...once she had explained, of course.

But still his mind was elsewhere.

"Are you busy tonight?"

Her gaze settled on one particular piece, yet she stared at nothing. The ministry's way of expressing defiance? "Didn't think of that." she murmured, blinking at last. Perhaps there was something she actually sided with the ministry. The whole threat was ridiculous.

A light chuckle escaped her as she squeezed her husband's hand gently, glancing up to him. "Gosh no. Apart from this event, my night is completely clear."

Apparently he was trying to look at it the positive way, though, it seemed kind of unlikely to him that his assumption about it being a sign of defiance could be true. Nope. Probably the quidditch displays had always been there and no one ever thought of how it might look or feel with the current situation at hand while working on organising this event.

Anyway. He didn't care about them since he was with his beautiful wife now. A wide grin appeared on his face when he heard her answer to his question. "That's great news." yeah. And quite relieving. He knew how busy she was during some nights...and days. He had no idea what she worked on during those times but it was not his thing to know as she was an unspeakable. He understood that so it didn't disturb him.

Sudden happiness and excitement came to him and he realised he started to feel like his younger self at Hogwarts when she had agreed to spend time with him for the first time. Thinking of that, he just looked at her pretty face and smiled.

It wasn't weird or anything that since Genevieve had managed to lose her date first thing into the museum, the place she went looking for him was the Quidditch exhibit. Was it weird? Did it presuppose a lack of depth of interest on his part, or maybe a lack of knowledge about him on hers?

Or maybe this was where he'd think to find her. Who knew?

She perched on a bench in front of a diorama of Queerditch Marsh, and she waited. It just so happened this Branxton was great at being patient and waiting. The best, maybe.

Sometimes, a guy had to use the restroom.

Maximus James thought he could slip off to use the facilities quickly while Vivi was occupied making small talk with someone, but by the time he got back, she had disappeared. Which was... terrifying, really, and he tried not to show it on his face as he stood where she had been and surveyed the crowd for her. Hmm... so if he was Vivi, where would he be? If she was worried that he had wandered off on him, he assumed she would be where she thought he would be, so without further thought, he was heading for the Quidditch exhibit, offering people polite smiles as he went but not engaging in conversation with any familiar faces. Too much effort.

He just wanted his Vivi.

And there she was, a picture of elegance and beauty. "Sorry," was his way of greeting her, extending a hand for her to take as he approached. "I snuck off to the loo. Thought I'd be back by the time you were done talking." At least she didn't look terribly peeved.

Max appeared, and she couldn't hide her relief at the sight of him. She willingly took his hand and let him pull her to her feet, and then, in spite of the fact that her co-workers were around (MLE ones in particular), Genevieve gave him a brief cuddle before stepping back again. Still held his hand, though.

This one was prone to wandering off.

"I didn't see anyone I really wanted to talk to, and then I thought maybe you got tired of waiting. Have you been to see this exhibition yet when the museum is actually open? I've heard it's pretty good. Vintage Arrows stuff, too." For her modern Quidditch pro boyfriend.

Swinging her hands gently between them like a schoolboy, Max couldn't help but be visibly elated. PUBLIC CUDDLES. He loved that - everyone knowing he was Vivi's choice and she was his and they were an adorable power couple, obviously.

"Nah. I'd wait for you forever." He grinned the cheesiest of grins and pressed on, "I haven't. Wanna look around as long as we're here?" It was a casual question, but if he hadn't tried to make it sound so smooth, he probably would've sounded pleading. How could she let her pro-Quidditch boyfriend walk into a Quidditch exhibit and walk right back out, right? She couldn't.

John and his mother turned to the person speaking, at a close range to them. Smiling as always he nodded. Johnathan was always open to talking to people.

"Yeah, it's really impressive." He beamed, glancing over at the displays.

Unaware if he's met this young woman before, John gallantly introduced himself.

"I'm John and this is my mother, Marisca." Johnathan smiled and stretched his hand out for her to shake. Yup his mother was his date for the night but no shame! He was proud to have her here with him, she gave him life and honored it everyday of his life.

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Marisca continued to awe the displays, they definitely deserved mounds of compliments.

"Certainly! Feels like just yesterday I was on the bleachers watching these games in action." She replied. It had been exactly 23 years since she's been to any Quidditch games. After her son's birth, everything changed and John became the sole focus of her life.

Hearing her son introduce themselves to this young woman, Marisca continued to smile and also stretched her hand out for the woman to shake.

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This night continued to get better and better.

He was being cute. Did he know it? Genevieve bit back a grin and tried to look as posh and refined as she was meant to be in the dress she'd chosen for today's event. It had been a gift from her mother, meant for some charity ball or other, but she wanted to pretend to be a grown up at this event instead.

This was the year she graduated to full Auror, and she very much hoped Emily would spot her and be proud that Genevieve was one of hers.

Almost as proud as Max looked at that moment. She squeezed his hand. "Please. I've been meaning to come down, just to see if I can figure out more about who would be targeting the student athletes at Hogwarts. Plus did you see all those brooms?"

Cora wandered around the museum area a bit before this exhibition caught her eye. She was more of a Quodpot fan than a Quidditch one, having grown up mainly in America, but she knew some things about it and liked it okay. Brooms at least were something they had in common. And there looked to be loads of brooms on display here.

Even the original Firebolt? She moved quickly over to that display to admire it.

Oooo. Very nice.

Was the staring awkward? Kinda sorta. Did she enjoy it? Completely. "Come on. One hour and we can leave this place." she smiled, moving to hook her arm with her very handsome husband, unable to part for more than a few seconds as she gently tugged him further into the exhibit. A walk around the exhibit should crush at least ten of those standard waiting time minutes, however excruciatingly long it may have seemed that night.

Squeezing her hand back, Max was still swinging their hands happily, grinning all the while. "Yeah? Y'got any hunches so far? Any leads?" Could she tell him even if she DID have any? Probably not, he gandered. Or, at least, not in the presence of a bunch of her co-workers. Maybe in the safety of their flats. He was going to ask anyway, though.

He did NOT see the brooms, and he looked up at all the displays to see what she was talking about - oh Merlin. Wordlessly, Max led Vivi over to the biggest display of vintage brooms. A content smile played upon his lips, he hummed, "Mmm." Yes. This was a good place to be. "I'd love to have one of these. Would you let-" me hang one of those in our house ????? "Wouldn't it be cool to have one of these on display? ... And would it be awful if I really wanted to ride one?" They were VINTAGE ANTIQUES, a lot of them, but golly, how cool would it be to play on one? Just to say he did it?

"No leads, no. But no one is hurt or scared or worried, so that's a good trade off," Genevieve tugged him along towards the brooms, although Max seemed to have spotted them too and was soon leading the way. He was an easy read, and she knew how to read him. That was sort of a relief, actually, since she'd been dwelling so hard on the idea that their relationship might be to shallow.

It was sweet to watch Max's face light up with little boy delight over the brooms, and Genevieve rather wished that 1) she hadn't already given him his Christmas present and 2) she could afford a broom of this caliber. Maybe if she picked up part time work with Ellerby and Spudmore? They were always nice to her, and Max really deserved it. "Which one would you choose? Your favorite all time vintage broom? To fly or to own or whichever."

Victoria’s eyes glittered in the dim room from the display lights. She looked at the display a second as he agreed. Extending her hand the thirty five year old smiled at them both, “I hope you are enjoying yourselves. Victoria, I’m very pleased to meet you.” She loved meeting new people and ones that loved her passion were alright in her book.

Glancing at Marisca she smiled, “I’ve been to my fair share of matches, though I love going. I’m not sure it ever gets old. Take tonight all the things that are going on and I’m walking around in the quiddtich exhibit. You would think working with the sport all day would turn you off a bit, but no it only makes me want to be a bigger part of it.” Though she wasn’t sure how. She was already the division manager and spent most of her time there if she didn’t have the kids.

“Have you been anywhere else? There is a photobooth that would be just perfect to capture the special time you are having together.” She loved seeing a son take his mother as his date, it was sweet on many levels. She had thought about bringing Bart with her, but he was thirteen and didn’t want to hang with his mommy.

Looking back at her company “Did either of you play?” It was always interesting to see if others played and which position.

Both John and Marisca smiled and nodded, indeed they were having a great time.

John loved sports though Quidditch wasn't particularly on the top of his list like muggle American football was.
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Marisca was definitely pleased to someone around her age range, who also happens to be a magical human being. Ever since she was disowned as a teenager, she hasn't had much contact with many witches and wizards unless they were the Baltazar's or her disowned nephew's maternal side of the family.

"It's a lovely sport, the last time I went to one was when I was thirteen." She smiled. "You work for the sports department?" Marie curiously asked. "My son here is a Ministry security officer." She proudly showed off her 23 year old son. Some habits die hard.

Victoria seemed like a very pleasant person to be around with.

Picture time? I think yes! She loved taking pictures, saving memories was the absolute best.

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Nope neither of them ever played the sport, they were just spectators.

"Nah. But my step-father played for the Falmouth Falcons. He's the owner now." John beamed. Marisca and Xavier remain close friends and family. There was such an amazing family dynamic and bond between the Baltazar's and the Walker's.

BLUSH! Thanks mom.

John chuckled and looked down at his mom with a smile.

"Ah geez mom." He laughed but loved the pride his mother had on having a MoM security officer for a son.

Photo booth? There's a photo booth?! Yes please!

"Yeah that sounds like fun!" John agreed, his slight Italian/southern accent always sounded prominent when he was excited.

Having his mother agree she intertwined her arm around, John elbow.

"Care to join us, Victoria?" John and Marisca smiled. Johnathan offered Victoria his other arm, to escort them to the photo booth.

This was just too adorable for words. The two of them goodness. “Thirteen? Wow, maybe you should go to a game again soon?” She looked towards John, “A great gift for your mother maybe.” She might be promoting the sport just a tad, but with the recent canceling of it at the school how couldn’t she be. She wanted people to know they weren’t canceling Pro that’s for sure. “I do, I’m the Division Manager for the Quidditch Department actually. All quidditch gets passed down from the department head to me.” She took pride in that title.

“Xavier Baltazar, hmm yes I’ve never officially met him, but I know the name well.” She dealt with more of the managers, coaches, scouts, but some of the owners she knew a bit. If the step father owned them she wondered why they hadn’t been to a game recently.

He was security, Victoria gave him a smile. “It’s alright let her brag. Security is a big job. I know Emily well, she probably keeps you all on your toes.” Her friend was an amazing leader who she knew didn’t take crap from anyone. Her smile grew as they talked about the photobooth, but then a bit of surprise washed over her. “Me? Oh you don’t want me imposing on your family time. This is so sweet to have this time together. I can only hope my children can be this sweet to me when they are older.”

"Mmm, yeah, I'll take that. Glad your job's been pretty easy to deal with so far." In the sense that she hadn't had to wage a war with some crazy Quidditch-hater or fight a fierce battle to save the lives of the students of Hogwarts. He did think that if Vivi had to be stationed anywhere to patrol all the time, Hogwarts was the coolest place for her to be for sure.

"Hmmm.... I think it'd be fun to ride the first Firebolt. S'like a hundred years old or whatever. Ninety," he corrected after a moment, doing the math in his head. "D'be cool to see what that's like and how it compares to today's models." Though he sort of wanted them all, even the rubbish ones that were never the 'top' model to begin with. Just to SEE what it was like to ride on brooms from so long ago. "What about you?" Did she have a favorite?