The end of the national tournament went by in a flash.
Quite literally, Cassius was practically seeing stars from how many camera flashes he was forced to endure after becoming the 16 and Under Division, National Champion at the tender age of only 13.
Thanfully the use of spells could alter his appearance outside the contest hall and the three of them were able to escape without further incident.
With their retreat all planned the portkey dumped them back crisp morning air of British summers with a lurch that made Sirius swear and Cassius merely blink.
They'd returned to right where they'd left a week ago.
Standing right before the gateway between platforms 9 and 10.
"HOME SWEET… annoyingly beige HOME," Sirius declared, shaking out his sleeves. "Now! To celebrate your absolutely insane, explosive, borderline-illegal triumph, I say we throw a party! Huge one! Grimmauld Place, full spread, firewhiskey—no that's for me—Butterbeer, and cake for you—music—maybe strippers—"
"No," Cassius said cutting off Sirius's planned bash of the decade.
Sirius froze mid–victory gesture.
"…No? I said strippers, pup. That usually works."
Cassius shook his head. "need i remind you... I'm thirteen? Besides before we do anything i have an appointment i need to get to, down at the Ministry of Magic."
Sirius stared at him.
"An appointment? At the Ministry?" His voice dropped dramatically. "Are you secretly under investigation for blowing up that Romanian kid? Because listen, I will testify loudly that he started everything—"
Cassius was already walking away towards the exit no doubt bound to get himself a cab to head for the Ministry of Magic's visitors entrance.
Sirius scrambled after him. "Hold on—wait—appointment for WHAT?"
Cassius didn't answer.
Which, for Sirius, was the worst possible answer.
~
The trip was fairly quick given the short distance they needed to travel, though an adult and a teenage crammed into a phone booth, not exactly the greatest design for visitors mind you.
After arriving at the ministry, the pair approach the security desk getting their wands checked in, thankfully the ministry on needed to record one, and never questioned if he had more in his bag of hold slung over his shoulder.
Quite lax actually when you think about it, they didnt even bother asking what was in his bag...
What if he was smuggling in a death eater army to overtake the Ministry forces from within?
But sadly none of that was happening yet... wait yet?
The security recognized Sirius as the Lord Black, while Cassius was already recognized for his achievement as a prodigy duelist, causing him to have to shake hands with the man behind the desk.
Once that was all dealt with they could enter the lifts and be on their way, zipping through the ministry to their destination.
Clank.
Shudder.
Whine.
"Department of Magical Games and Sports," The womans voice from the speaker grill announced.
Sirius's eyes widened.
"Pup. Puuuuup. What are you planning? Are you joining a dueling league? Because if you are, I want front-row seats and I want veto power over any opponent over six-foot-four—"
The lift dinged again as the grated door slid open.
They stepped out.
The Games and Sports lobby buzzed with clerks, memos zooming overhead, posters of Quidditch teams lining the walls.
A receptionist looked up. "Name and purpose of visit?"
Cassius stepped forward.
Calm.
Direct.
"They're expecting me. Cassius Snape."
The receptionist blinked.
Sirius's jaw dropped.
"They're WHAT? Cassius—what did you DO? Did you sign something without reading it? Are you actually joining a goblin wrestling team? Are you becoming the face of broomstick safety regulation?!"
Cassius said nothing.
Which somehow made Sirius louder.
"Oh Merlin, did you sign up for an internship? Pup, internships are how they trap you into employment! I barely escaped Auror training because of that!"
The receptionist checked her ledger.
Her brows shot up.
"Oh. Oh! Yes—yes, they're definitely expecting you." She swallowed. "You're… early."
Sirius spun on Cassius. "EARLY FOR WHAT?!"
Cassius kept walking.
Straight into the inner office corridor.
Sirius followed, frothing with curiosity and panic in equal measure.
"Cassius. Pup. kid. Come on. I have the right to know if you're being recruited by a secret dark-wizard-fighting sports cult!"
His mind was racing at the possibilities but for all his guesses they just kept getting more and more outlandish and further from reality, something Cassius was revelling in, as if this was the greatest prank he'd played on the old fox since their war began.
Before long they reached a large oak door.
Which opened before Cassius could knock.
A tall wizard in burgundy robes stepped out, eyes sweeping the hallway before locking onto Cassius with a wide grin.
"Ah! There he is—our newest prodigy!"
Sirius puffed his chest. "Yes, yes, he's very prodigious but dueling has nothing to do with sports so why are we here?"
Seeing Cassius being nonplussed the commisioner chose to overlook Sirius's comment and ushered them into the room.
Leading them to his desk where a velvet cloth was laid atop it covering something up.
As Sirius stood before the cloth, his mind was racing further.
Was the boy being investigated for Quidditch cheating during his hogwarts matches?
Was he about to be banned from the game for life?
But all those thoughts went out the window as the commissioner clasped Cassius's hand warmly.
"Congratulations, Mr. Snape." With a wave of his free hand the velvet was flipped off the desk. "Welcome to the National Team."
Sirius blinked.
"…National… team…?"
Britain doesnt have a national dueling team... does it?
The commissioner continued cheerfully:
"As our NEW National Team Seeker!"
Silence.
Stillness.
Sirius's brain rebooted three separate times before sound finally returned to him.
"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!?"
His yell rattled the windows.
As his eyes were locked on what he was seeing before him.
A British quidditch uniform: Shirt, pants, robe, boots, gloves.
There was even an offer to get him a Firebolt as soon as they came off the line.
Cassius only smirked at Sirius's reaction, he'd been keeping this secret in for days now, waiting for the perfect moment to unleash the news on Sirius all while hoping beyond hope no one would spoil his fun.
Thankfully that never happened and Cassius could enjoy this moment more than he normally would thanks to the repeated reactions given by his godfather as he tried to take this all in.