Did you sign up your child, aged four to six, to take place in the Ministry’s Gobstones lessons? Then you’ve come to the right place! Make sure you sign your child in, then feel free to drop them off where they will be in the capable hands of Ministry workers and some of the top professional Gobstones players.

Children will learn the basics of the game, using a kid-friendly larger gobstone, from correctly holding the shooter stone to practicing game strategy. Once kids have a chance to practice some of the basics, they will get the opportunity to play with the pros on a fun and age-appropriate course, with a few surprises.

SPOILER!!: Gobstones Course

The object of the game is to get the most gobstones out of the ring using your shooter gobstone. But there is a twist. Unbeknownst to you, some of the gobstones might have a surprise, instead of spitting goo at the opponent. When the green ones are hit, they emit a shower of confetti. And when the yellow ones are hit, bubbles come out of them. There are several courses here so that all of the children can play.

Participating Children

• Ethan Denton, 3.5
• Gunnar McCarthy, 4
• Alana Potter, 4
• Elisa Potter, 4
• Juniper Primeaux, 4
• Oliver Meriwether, 5
• Anastasiya "Stasya" Dalgaard-Volkova, 6

Participating Professionals

• Deliah Patton - Gobstones Public Relations
• Milo Jordan - Tinworth Talons
• Magnolia Whitehall - Tinworth Talons
• Zachary Mirams - Ilkley Ironbellies
• Ebenezer Elchman - Ilkley Ironbellies
• Athena Carmichael - Daycare Supervisor

Holding his four year old son's hand in his, Ethan walked through the atrium of the Ministry towards the daycare. He supposed it wasn't much unlike the German Ministry where he worked and he was glad that they had opened this up to the public or he wouldn't have been able to bring Gunnar. Though with his aunt a department head here, maybe they'd make an exception anyway.

Spotting the sign on the door, he led Gunnar over to it and walked in. "Ready to learn about Gobstones, buddy?" He smiled down at the boy before signing him in at the desk. "Then we'll go visit your cousins after this is over." He hadn't seen Alejandro yet, but this was pretty perfect timing to come here then visit the new baby. Looking around, he wondered if this was something he was supposed to stick around for or if he was meant to leave Gunnar here.

Holding his Daddy's hand, Gunnar walked with him through the big Ministry, looking around at everything. He had never been in here, so everything was interesting to him. He really didn't know too much about Gobstones other than it was a game with little balls, so it might be pretty neat. "Okay, Daddy," he said, looking up and smiling when he was asked about the game. "Oh, yay!" Still holding his hand, he jumped a little. Gunnar liked Regina and there was a baby now too!



Milo wasn't a huge kid person, but he certainly didn't mind them and he could appreciate the chance in promoting the game for young people to bring new interest. It was kind of interesting that he'd be working with the little kids today. Maybe his manager thought he had a lot of patience.

Heading in through the Ministry and into the daycare, he took a look at the set-up. Not bad. He could totally do this. But it looked like he was one of the first ones here. Milo knew Maggie and Bryn were coming, but he wondered who else and how many kids.

Juni still wasn't to sure about the gobstones thing. She was excited though to try it out. The little gobstones reminded her of jelly beans. She loading down her pockets full of them before she got here. So this was the big place where persons worked? It looked boring. She'd rather be at home playing dress up or playing house with her baby dolls.

She also liked that she was going to be with other kids. There was one with his daddy she guessed walking up to the boy "Hi." She gave him a little wave. She would have offered him a jelly bean but nah they was hers.

This might be much better than going to mommy to work with the business persons that mommy knew. They were boring. She missed seeing Keely, and uncle Gavin. She loved her family. Benny, her favoritest cousin was going to be there. But he was with the older kids. She would see him she'd make sure of it.

She was put with the cute ones! That was a mean thought. She didn't mean that and she was really glad that no one heard her. She hoped no one could read minds. What she really meant was the litter kids were even more adorable than the older kids. Magnolia made her way over to the four to six year olds lesson area. This was so exciting, she loved kids, she was so far from ready to have any of her own but now thinking about it she didn't know if she wanted kids. She would just keep her two Beagles, Hank and Dolly with her forever. She was thinking about getting a third one...maybe when she actually starts saving money and buys a house and not being stuck in her tiny flat. Magnolia looked around and waved to the little kids that were there so far. She made her way over to where Milo was. "Hey." She said smiling. This was going to be a fun day.

Alana was super excited as she held her mommy's hand and went to the ministry with her like a big girl. As they walked towards all the group of people she felt her stomach flip a little. This was going to be fun and mommy said they were learning Gobstones. She knew what that was because daddy's school played it. Though she stepped behind mommy's legs a little nervous to be there now.

Her brown eyes watched as her mommy gave her a kiss and gave her sister a kiss and then left. She looked around at all the people. Her fingers went to her mouth in a nervous tendency.

Elisa was intrigued as she looked all around taking in every sight as she held her mommy's other hand while they walked through the building. This was so huge, just like daddy's school but with more big people. She knew about the sport of Gobstones from the school and seeing the bigger kids play it was kinda fun. Now she was going to be learning how to play it like all the other big kids. She smiled very excited when they finally arrived.

"..Mommy?" Elisa then blinked up before she realised that it was going to be her and her sis again. Right. She was a big girl now. There were other kids around here, but Elisa only knew one the most, which made her take Alana's hand to hold. Everything always felt better with her. "Wanna sit?" It didn't matter where with her.

Whoa, there were so many people there already. He was late! Was he late?? WAS HE?

Ollie whipped his head around and realised there weren't really that many people there yet, so he wasn't late. YES!

It didn't take the five year-old very long to dismiss his mother and brother and head towards where he was meant to be. Age 4-6, which meant he was right in the middle and wouldn't be neither the youngest nor the oldest. Ollie wasn't exactly sure how he felt about that, because he'd always been the youngest and he wanted to at least be the oldest for a change.

EH. Didn't matter that much. What did matter was that HE was there now and had ZERO expectations. What was Gobstones even? He had NO clue. No one had ever told him about that thing and he was curious to know whattttt was going to happen that day.

Ollie didn't know anyone soooooo... he looked at the adults. They were the ones who would tell them what to do.

Ethan watched Gunnar carefully as more children started coming in and some other adults, including ones he thought were the players. He didn't really follow Gobstones, especially in Britain, but as they didn't come in with children of their own and held an air of importance, he could assume. He knew Gunnar could be a little shy at times, so maybe it would be best to hang around for a little bit until his son was comfortable enough to leave. "I'm just going to wait over here while you play, okay buddy?"

Gunnar was a little nervous for Daddy to leave, especially since he didn't know anyone, but he did see some other kids his age and they seemed nice. "Hi," he smiled shyly at the little girl (Juni) who said hi to him first and also gave her a wave in return. Maybe she would be his new friend and he stayed a little closer to her, keeping his eye on his father who lingered in the doorway watching him.


Milo watched all the little ones start to come in and he gave them all smiles. They were pretty cute, though a lot of them seemed a bit nervous. He could turn that around though. Glancing up at a familiar voice, he gave Magnolia a grin. "Hey, Maggie... Ready to have some fun?" Yeah, they could make this a good time. Was this everyone though or were they waiting on more?

He knew it wasn't just him and Magnolia today, but he wasn't sure how many kids. Brown eyes soon found the sign-in sheet and he noted that there were still maybe two more due to show up. Well, maybe he'd get these little tykes started while they waited for the others to arrive.

"Hey guys!" Milo crouched down a bit in front of the kids, gesturing them to crowd around him. "My name's Milo and I'm one of the Gobstones players from the Tinworth Talons here to have fun with you all today. Who's ready to have fun?" He opened up the drawstring bag that was there with all the equipment and pulled out some larger gobstones. "How about each of you take one of these for yourself.. and tell me your name?" Hopefully that would make it easier for him to remember.

Aha, there he was. The main adult, Ollie thought. The alpha male? Hahaha. The expression made Ollie chuckle, even though he couldn't remember where he had gotten that from and also because he didn't really fully understand what that meant. But it was a funny enough expression and that was now that guy's nickname; only in Ollie's head, but still his nickname.

Alphalpha? OH. Even better! Hahaha.

"Hi." Ollie greeted the man back as he eyed him with a somewhat neutral look. He didn't know what to expect, so he wasn't exactly excited about it yet. He hoped it would be fun, though.

Milo? Hahahaha! Funny name! Ollie had to tell Matt about this when this was over. But ohh, he was a Gobstones player! Whatever that meant. "Me!" Ollie raised his hand almost enthusiastically. He WAS ready to have fun, alright, and he really hoped this WOULD be fun. Because fun was FUN and he was ready to have fun.

...

HAHAHAHAHA SMILEY MARBLES!! MERLIN, Ollie wished his brother was there. He would've LOVED them smiley marbles, hahahahahaha!

Laughing, the 5 year-old reached and got one for himself and carried on chuckling as he looked at it while stepping back to his place. Oh, he wanted their names too. "I'm Ollie." Smiley marbles, HAHAHA!

Juni pulled out a few jelly beans out of her pocket and ate them. She looked around for her daddy. Where did he get to? Did he see her and her pockets of jellybeans? Was he going to stay? More importantly WHERE WAS HE?

She smiled at the boy. "Want a jellybean?" She held her hand out which which full of them. She noticed more kids were here now more friends. But only this friend could have jelly beans. And those two girls. Girls should stick together.

The four year old looked up when she heard the adults around. She moved closer when the boy player spoke, making sure she kept her new friend where she could see him. She waved happily at the player and put the rest of her jelly beans back in her pocket for later. Ohhhhhh "Meeeee. Meeeee I'm ready, Milo." Raising her hand and bouncing in place.

Juniper skipped over to the gobstones stones. Smiling as she took one she introduced herself. "Hey, Milo. I'm juniper Primeaux." She's offer him a jelly bean but adults often got annoyed by offering them candy.

She heard her sister and grabbed on to her hand nodding about the sitting. Would they sit right there? So she plopped down on the ground and crossed her legs all crisscross applesauce like. "I sat Lisa" She did what her sister told her too. Her big brown eyes moved around the playing area and landed on the girl with the jelly beans. She wanted a jellybean, so scooting on her bottom she moved closer to the little girl (Juni) and boy (Gunnar) "lisa look" She pointed at the candy.

Her thoughts changed when she heard the man talk, "Are there purple ones?I want a purple one." She wanted the prettiest in the bag. She glanced around pulling her finger to her nose, mommy wasn't around so she wouldn't ever know.

Her eyes followed the Milo man with the bag.

Mama had been running late, but that hadn’t bothered Stasya. She was a big girl, so she hadn’t needed to be worried. Besides, she knew her mama was okay. It was probably nervousness about having to teach, even though she’d taught Stasya a few things over the years. That and the six-year-old had picked up things from the few times she’d gotten to go to her mama’s practice sessions instead of being babysat by Mrs. Trevelyan at her house. It gave her confidence, and as she’d walked in nearly at the same time as gobstones wer being handed out, she got even braver. Even though she felt kind of weird being in the baby group, being the oldest there aside from a boy who kinda looked like he might be her age. Close enough, anyway, and she headed over there after picking up a gobstone from Milo.

“I’m Stasya,” she said clearly. “You play on the same team as my mama.” So did Magnolia, who was also there. See? She was fine. She knew people. Mama didn’t have to worry, just had to focus on teaching the big kids. If she’d made it over wherever those lessons were happening. She just remembered she was supposed to wait there after the lessons were over, or to wait in that area with the food and everything. Not to leave the floor they were on until mama found her again, even though she kinda wanted to explore.

Was she ready? She was getting a little nervous. She never really taught anyone how to play Gobstones and she knows how everyone learns things differently and at their own speed. "I'm ready!" She said to Milo as she looked around at all the little kids and smiled at them. She let Milo talk first. She was just a little nervous but that was to be expected when a person tries something new. "Hi everyone." Magnolia said excitingly. They were so cute. "I'm Magnolia Whitehall also a player from the Tinworth Talons." She smiled warmly at them. Then she turned back to Milo as he started moving forward.

Alana kept her finger up her nose as she watched everyone, her finger was forgotten about as her little mind was distracted by all the people around. Sitting closer to her twin she watched the others get the stones and introduce themselves. A girl named Stasya looked fun and she slipped her finger away to wave at the girl. "Hi" She said in a quiet hush.

Where they suppose to say their names, "I'm Alana Potter and this is sissy lisa. My mommy works in widditch. So does my Godmommy Mariel." She gave a big grin until she heard another adult talk, she was pretty and Alana followed her with her eyes. "ou play together does that mean your married?" She pointed at the two adults.

Gunnar watched with wide blue eyes as the man started talking to them and handing out small balls. Some of the other kids started going to get them, but he first turned to the little girl next to him who offered him candy. His face lit up and he reached for the jelly beans in her hand. "Okay! Thanks!" He remembered to have good manners, and he shoved the candy into his mouth before walking over to the grown up man.

"My name's Gunnar," he smiled at the Milo man before picking out a green smiley face ball. Cool! He looked at it, turning it over and over in his hand until he heard one of the girls say his auntie's name. "My daddy says Auntie Mariel works here," he said, looking at the girl with his big blue eyes. Is that what she was talking about? Was Auntie Mariel here? He looked around a minute.


Alright, they were ready to get started and the kids seemed somewhat excited enough, which was good. Milo gave Magnolia a smile as she introduced herself, then turned to the kids who started approaching him to get their stones. These smiley faces seemed to be a good idea.

"Hi, Ollie," he grinned at the jubilant boy as he laughed over his gobstone. Good mood, that was great. He looked over to the next kid coming over, a happy little girl. "Hello, Juniper Primeaux. What color of gobstone would you like?" Hopefully one of the ones he had was her favorite.

Oh, sisters. Well, he hoped he could remember everyone's names and keep them all straight. They really should have had nametags or something. "Sure, we have purple. Did you both want purple?" Maybe it would be easier to keep the sisters clear if they had different colors. "Here you go Alana." Milo handed her the purple one. She was the one who asked for that, right? "Hi, Lisa," he smiled at the other little girl. "What color would you like?"

He didn't know all that much about Quidditch, to be honest, so he didn't have a comment on that, but he offered a smiley face gobstone to the newest girl to come over. Oh, sure, he kind of knew this one and had seen her around. "Right.. your mama's Bryn. So I bet you know all about Gobstones already," he grinned at her. "We'll have fun though, right? What color would you like?" He held out the bag for her and glanced over at the sisters before laughing a bit. "Nope, we're not married." He gave Magnolia a wink, certain she'd get a kick out of that, before looking at the girls again. "I play with a lot of pretty ladies on my team, but I'm not married to any of them."

Now.. did Magnolia want to show them hold to hold their gobstones the right way and how to properly aim them?

Magnolia looked and listened to everything that was going on. She felt some eyes on here and looked over to a little girl that was talking to Milo. She listed a bit until she asked if her and Milo were married. What? O____________________O Married? To Milo? What? No. Magnolia just stood there blinking for a moment. What? Maggie looked over at Milo, her cheeks turned a little red. There he was winking. She didn't have to say anything. "No....w-we're not married." And so she answered anyway. Was it her turn to do something? She felt like it was. But first she needed to get rid of her nerves. She knew what she was doing but still nerves for no reason. Maggie looked at him. "Would you like me to teach them how to hold the Gobstone?" She whispered.

She gave a shy smile to the boy, "Hi Gunnar, I'm Alana. Your aunt is Mariel? That's my Godmommy. She's wonderful." Alana beamed. "She works with my mommy here." Though where did her mommy run off to? She looked around wishing she was here or daddy. Why did they just leave her and Elisa here for this?

She beamed up at the man as she was given a purple stone, "Thank you" Looking at it she beamed, it was exciting. "Look lisa, I got purple." She couldn't help but giggle at the no married thing. "My mommy and daddy worked together, but they don't anymore and my mommy got me another daddy so now I have two." She put two fingers up to show them.

She stepped out from her sisters side not feeling as shy anymore, "I'd like you to teach me something fun." *beamy innocent smile*

Umm, huh? The smile that Gunnar gave Alana faded slightly to give her a sort of confused look. "What's a Godmommy?" He shook his head. "No, Aunt Mariel is Regina's mommy and the baby's mommy." He looked behind him for his daddy, he would know. But where was he now? He wanted to show him the green smiley face ball. Gunnar started to get a little upset and looked back to the grown up people as they started talking again.

Alright, did all the little kiddos have a shooter stone to start with? He thought so, but he wasn't keeping track all that well. Milo glanced at Magnolia as she whispered to him and gave her an odd look. What was her deal? She wasn't seriously nervous in front of a few little kids? They were going to be here all day if she was going to ask him about every little thing they needed to do and, as it seemed, some of the other players flaked out and it was just going to be him and Magnolia.

"Alright, how about I show them how to hold it properly and you can show them how to aim and shoot at other gobstones." Then they would have to take turns in teaching them different things or how to use that obstacle course he had been told about. Hopefully they'd enjoy it. He turned back just in time to hear one of the girls.. was it Alana? tell him about her many daddies. Well, that was interesting and her gave her a little chuckle, soon nodding as she asked about him teaching her something.

"Sure, I'm going to teach you all something," he smiled. Then he looked to the collective group of children. They'd likely not know much of anything being as young as they were. "Okay, everyone! Take your gobstone.." He pulled out one of the smiley ones that were left in his bag, a bright pink one. "I'm going to show you the right way to hold it. Whichever hand you use most, make a loose fist with your thumb at the top." He showed them all with his right hand. "Then you are going to balance your gobstone on your thumb in this space between your thumb and first finger." Again, he showed them using his pink gobstone.

Perhaps he pushed a little too far with Gobstones lessons but Dominic was sure his son would love the game once he learned about it. He had heard him saying 'stones' the other day... repeatedly. For some reason though his son didn't want to get up on the first day of the lessons and thus he was late. "C'mon Ethan. Just think of the pretty girls you'll get to meet," he grinned, his toddler clutching his hand. "Kidding." Or well he probably wasn't.

Kneeling down in front of his son, he smiled. "It'll be okay." He kissed his son's forehead, before leading him into the room. "Sorry, morning mishap. I'm here with Ethan Denton." He addressed to the teacher(s). And was he supposed to leave now? He just stood watching ...

Although scared, Ethan released his father's hand and went over to join some others who were small like him and picked up one of the large green stones. "Geen"

She looked at Gunnar not sure how to answer, "I know no. I just know she is my Godmommy. She brings me presents and gives me hugs." She loved her Godmommy and everyone else that gave her hugs. She beamed when he said Regina, "I know her! Mommy says the baby's name is Alidandro." Yep that was his name and she tried very hard to remember it.

Looking to the man as he chuckled, "What's so funny? Do you have two daddies?" She didn't know anything different so she couldn't figure out what she said that was funny. He was going to show them something, Alana got excited and clapped her hands losing the stone. "I dropped my stone." Her lip wibbled as she went chasing after it. She didn't want to get in trouble. "I'msorry"

Moving back behind a Elisa a bit to hopefully hide from trouble she watched as he made a fist and she made a small one until someone else joined their group. (Ethan) got a small wave from her.

Juni giggled when the boy took the candy. Hehe she stoved what was left in her hand in mouth. She had plenty more where that came from. "what's your name?" They were jelly bean friends so she had to know his name now.

Magnolia Whitehall was a pretty lady. Juni's jaw dropped and a few unchewed jellybeans fell out. Opppps. She gave the adults an innocent look. Nothing to see here just wet jelly beans on the floor. Giggling madly when one of the girls asked if the adults where married. "I wanna a pink one." They had pink ones right? Or could she use a pink jelly bean?

She stuck her hand in her pocket to get more jelly beans out. She slipped over to the girl (Alana) pull her hand out and held her hand at the girls eye level. "You can have a jelly bean. You're funny." She looked at the girls sister (Elsa) "Do you want jelly bean too?" Just because her sister was funny and Juni wanted more friends. Jelly beans equals friends. Yep.

"How do you play gobberstones?" No wait it was gobstones. Time to insert jelly beans in mouth. She did. Then another boy showed up with his daddy. "I'm a pretty girl." Or at least that's what her daddy told her.