The World Cup
"Kill the spare." The first voice cried sounding thinned
"Avada Kedavra!" The second voice exclaimed, with a swish of his wand.
A green light burst out of the end of his wand in Cedric's direction and Cedric was gone.
"Get up Ced I don't think you want to miss the Quidditch World Cup!" Amos Diggory, a tall bearded plum man with wispy brown hair, said shaking his son Cedric at two in the morning. At first Cedric did not move, still intact with his dreams, but when his father removed the sheets that lay over his body and exposed him to the friendly August air he slowly arose. His brown hair a fiasco all over the top of his head. Cedric nodded for his father to leave the room, and being respectful toward his son, Amos left.Cedric stepped out of his bed and walk toward his drawers and threw on faded blue jeans. Then found a grey shirt that looked, and smelled, freshly clean and pulled it over his face to cover his brawny torso, slipped on shoes and headed to the bathroom. Today was the one day he did not want to be late. For if he did Cedric would miss the chance of a lifetime. England had not hosted the Cup for thirty years before. Cedric turned the faucet on and threw ice cold water in his face. It stung his skin at the touch, like ice piercing his face. Now Cedric was truly awake. He looked up and saw in the mirror his grey eyes, the same grey eyes which all the girls at Hogwarts went head over heals for. His father called him down once more. He quickly ran downstairs with his over night bag in hand and left for Stoatshead Hill.
It was a long walk to the hill and with it being early in the morning the walk seemed longer too. Cedric was tired from the short sleep he had the night before. With the stars swirling over head all looked serene. The moon shone brightly over the forest giving them just enough lite to walk by. Trees draped all around Cedric with a rough dirt path leading the way forward. Cedric and his father reached the hill around four thirty dead tired from the long walk, the orange sun began to ascend against the vivid pink sky, yet a flashlight was needed to find the Portkey hidden in the shadows of the trees. Twenty minuets of searching for a Portkey, they found an old boot beside a rotten stump, this was the Portkey. Not long after Cedric heard voices coming from the bottom of the hill and so did his father. He raised his hand to Cedric to silent him. Cedric's father knew one of the voices.
"Over here, up at the top, we got the Portkey Arthur!" Amos shouted to Arthur Weasley who appeared from the bottom of the hill. Not far behind him was Fred, George, Ginny, Ron (all whom a red hair just like their father), Harry Potter and Hermione Granger. The two friends greeted each other with a firm hand shake and smirks. Amos glanced over Mr. Weasley's shoulder and looked at the group behind him, "Is this all your lot?"
Mr. Weasley only replied, "Nope. Only the ones with red hair, we have kindly taken on two more for this trip. See this is Hermione Granger and Harry Potter both friends of my son, Ron. Everyone this is Amos Diggory, works with me at the Ministry, guessing this lad here must be Cedric?" He gestured toward Cedric. Everyone said their hello in between a long needed yawn. Fred and George merely stood there and nodded toward him, still unable to forgive him about the year before.
His father stood by Harry now talking about the following year when Cedric had beaten him at Quidditch, and Cedric was about to die of embarrassment. "He fell off his broom, dad. Told you it was an accident . . ." Cedric's father did not listen to his son but went on with Harry saying how modest Cedric was and him always acting like a gentleman. Then went on about how to tell a good flyer from a bad one. Then looking at his watch, Mr. Weasley nodded. Cedric reached out his hand and touched the beaten up boot as the others around him did the same. He awaited for the moment to happen when a slight tug would pull them away from Stoatshead Hill and before his would lay the Quidditch World Cup. He looked up to see Harry just placing his fore finger upon the boot and then a slight tug pulled Cedric away.
The whole lot was spinning high above the ground. The force was so pronounced that no one was planing to let go nor could they do it at all. They spun faster and faster as time went on. The wind howled in his ears as he let go of the boot and flew backwards into the air. In a matter of seconds he arrived at the marsh. Mr. Weasley, Cedric and his father glided toward the ground while the others fell to the hard ground. A voice then said, "Stoatshead Hill seven past five, nine people."
The families walked a little way together across the misty moor. The Weasley's departed from the Diggory's at the first field ,as they were informed to do, as Cedric walked a bit longer toward the second field. Payne stood outside of a small cottage as Cedric went up to him, walking behind his father.
"Good day." His father said.
"Good day." The Muggle replied.
"We're looking for a man by the name of . . . Payne. Would you happen to know where we would find him?"
"I'm he."
"We booked a tent a tent for just one night."
"You'll be paying now I expect." Amos pulled out a bundle of brightly colored paper bills and handed some over to Mr. Payne praying it was the right amount. He counted the bills in his hands twice before shoving them inside his pockets and looking up. He then just noticed Cedric standing behind his father and smiled. "Family trip I expect, this way. Here' a map of the campsite. Just go down a bit and your spot should be marked Mr. . . . "
"Diggory."
"Diggory." Cedric took the map from Mr. Payne's hands and walked ahead of his father to the spot marked DIGGORY. All around him there were tents that looked like houses, tents with gardens, and even small palaces. The sun was no risen and the mist slowly disappearing. People stared to appear from their tents as Cedric went inside theirs to place his bags down. He lay down on a cot and closed his eyes falling asleep in moments. He awoke when the sun was high over head in the cloudless blue sky and yawned loudly. Still, tired from the early hours. Outside young wizards were throwing a Quaffle and flying on broom sticks, while Ministry officials ran around barking, "In broad day light. Parents sleeping!" Everywhere Cedric's eyes rested there were wizards cooking breakfast. His father handed him a map and a bucket.
"You go and get water Ced, while I get the fire started. Okay?" Cedric nodded and looked at the map in his hands. The tap did not look that far away from the map but it was a walk to get there. Along the way he met a few people from school. Cho Chang, a Ravenclaw fifth year and Seeker on the House Team. Roger Davies, captain of the Ravenclaw team and his best friend, not even two tents away. Cedric spent a whole lot of time there out side of the Davies tent discussing which team was better, Ireland or Bulgaria. Roger's mom walked out of the tent before Cedric left and handed Roger a bucket too. Both of them walked on toward the water.
"Bulgaria has Krum, so they'll of course beat measly Ireland." Roger stated.
" Measly? Ireland? You're mad! They've got the best Chasers in the World. They'll out score Bulgaria that the Snitch won't matter."
"Really? 'Cause I bet Krum will catch the Snitch in an instant, Ced. An instant."
"Whatever you say Davies. Whatever you say." Cedric filled his bucket with water and turned around leaving Roger behind to find his own way back behind him a another familiar voice appeared.
Cedric turned around to see Oliver Wood. Cedric took his free hand and shook Oliver's. He chuckled a bit and told Cedric he was going to play Quidditch and had already gotten a job. Cedric began to think about what he was going to do exactly after he graduated Hogwarts in two years. He knew his father would want him to work in the Ministry like him but, Cedric began to wonder if he wanted to peruse a career in the sport like Oliver. His words interrupted Cedric's thoughts, "Gonna miss it." Oliver gave a sigh.
"Miss what?"
"Hogwarts and all, though playing Quidditch mostly." Oliver strode past Cedric after that and he Cedric turned and went back to the tent.
By the time Cedric had come back his father, Amos, and himself left for their seats, to the Quidditch World Cup. Inside the stadium it was amazing. The place was filled with thousands of people all of different ethnic groups, in one arena just to see the World Cup. Looking around people were either sporting red for Bulgaria or green as the fields of Ireland to support their teams. Cedric adjusted his green top hat with a clover coming off the side. In the back of his mind, though, he though Victor Krum the Bulgarian Seeker was the worlds greatest. He looked at the advertising sign changing into the score board for the up coming match and cheered loud and clear, "Ireland!". Ludo Baghman's voice filled the stadium and the crowd went into an uproar of cheers. He announced the Bulgarian team Mascot. Veela's filled the stadium, glided onto the field and Cedric's mind cleared of everything and everything. Their beauty caught his eye and he would not let them out of his site. Theirs bodies started to move, dancing in the moonlight, he never wanted them to stop. The veela's moved faster and then stopped. Angry yells filled the arena, no one had even wanted them to stop, Cedric agreed. Ludo's voice filled the stadium again announcing the Irish Team Mascot. A rainbow appeared over the stadium, Cedric chanted long with many others in the stadium, "Ireland!" Gold Coins fell from the rainbow a in disappeared into the night sky. Leprechauns floated down onto the field and sat down opposite of the Veela's to watch the match.
The Bulgarian team flew into the stadium with the bright red cloaks flapping in the wind as the brooms flew around the stadium. Cedric yearned to play the game once more. His eyes pressed against the Omnioculars as the last player of the Bulgarian National Quidditch Team soared into the arena, Krum. Cedric focused his Omnioculars on him. Krum looked nothing like a seeker, but nor did Cedric. Victor Krum was no sight either but all the girls swooned at him. He was thin, dark, with a large curved nose and thick black eyebrows, and only eighteen years of age. Krum flew his firebolt with grace and elegance, like nothing Cedric had ever seen before it was perfection on a broom.
Irish National Quidditch Team swept onto the field in blurs of green. He pressed the Omnioculars closer to his face, zooming in on the team. They rode Firebolts the newest and greatest brooms Cedric had ever seem in his life. It was something he always wanted but he was perfectly fine with his Comet Two-Sixty. A bold man walked onto the field with his broom and a box under his arm. The announcer said he was Hassan Mostafa the referee and acclaimed Chairwizard of the International Association of Quidditch. He kicked the crate open and the four balls every wizard knew went into the air and the match begun. The game went by fast and was played as Cedric had never seen nor played before. The Quaffle moved so fast between the chaser that Ludo Baghman had only enough time to say the Chaser's names before it left the hands and went to another. Within the first twenty minuets Ireland was far ahead of Bulgaria and the Irish supporters were wild and thousand of Ireland flags flew all over the place. Cedric truly did not care about the score or as a matter of fact the game itself. His eyes rested mainly on Krum and Lynch.
Ireland was one hundred and seventy points to ten when Lynch (Irish Seeker) spotted the Snitch. He dived for it with Krum right on his tail. There were screams as Lynch hit the ground for the second time. Krum's bloody face rose as his fist went high into the air with a hint of gold gleaming in his hand. Cedric was silent as his Omnioculars focused on the score board but there was no need to look. A voice bellowed around the stadium, "IRELAND WINS 170 TO BULGARIA 160!" The stadium slowly emptied after a few victory laps and to their tents to celebrate.
The night seemed full of life near the Irish tents. Shadows danced across the side of his tent in the moon light as he watched the game again on his Omnioculars. Music was playing loud and clear, that Cedric could hear it from inside his tent. Life was wonderful and good in the night. Screams slowly started to take place of the music from the rejoicing Irish. His father ran inside the tent with out the Butterbeer he was sent for and cried as he threw his belonging into his bag, "Cedric get back to the Portkey and when you get home tell your mother I had to go on duty."
"Dad why would I need . . ." Cedric spoke as he too threw his belonging into his bag, before his father interrupted.
"Death Eaters." Cedric then understood what his father had meant. He ran outside into the crowd of people all heading toward the Portkey to head home. He was pushed and pulled in every direction as the rest of the wizarding families. Tents blew up in flames and hooded people walked around. Cedric turned left and right barely missing them at all. Burst of green lights jeered at the others around him as Cedric moved forward and did not stop. Buy the time Cedric had got his hands on a Portkey to Stoatshead Hill half the tents at the camp were burned down and more were up in flames.
When he got home he opened the Daily Prophet to see a picture of the Dark Mark above the deserted fields of the World Cup. Cedric looked toward his mother at the kitchen table looking pale and tired. She was already dressed for work and clutched a cup of tea in her hands shaking. He was afraid to ask about his father, and the previous night. For the Prophet could only tell a person so much.
"Cedric dear. Your trunk is by the door and your father is going to take you to the station. Is that okay?" He looked at his mother and nodded as she placed a kiss upon his forehead. "You have a good year alright. Enjoy your self." Cedric stood up and gave her a hug before she left the room and appearated to St. Mungo's. He placed down the Prophet and ate a bowl of cereal looking at the Mark. Cedric still could not believe what had happened not even twelve hours ago, still lingering in his mind.
Cedric took his last spoonful and walked over to the sink and began to clean out the bowls milky contents. He knew that there was extensive security at the Quidditch World Cup so then how could all of that happen. Muggles floating in that air, house Elves at the scene of the crime, and Death Eaters roaming free after fourteen years of lost power. Cedric was almost four when He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named lost his power but he still knew a lot. How could that all happen that was his question, how? He felt a hand pat him on the shoulder, he looked over to met their eye. "Hi dad. Late night."
"Later than yours, yes. Where's the milk?" Cedric took the milk and hand it to his dad. He turned around a began to read the paper once again. "Cedric you might want to get ready, it is nine thirty so we're going to leave in a half hour.
"Ok, dad." Cedric placed down the paper and ran back up to his room making sure everything was packed as his mother had said. It was odd that this year he did not pack his suitcase, nor did he buy his books. The World Cup had cut both those things out and was left to his mother at home who willing offered to do so. Cedric then got dressed and raced down a flight of stairs ready to do. Amos told his son to slow down a bit, so they could at least get his trunks into the car. They drove off to king cross station.
X X X X X X X
Cedric stood on Platform 9 3/4 at ten forty. His belongings were already on the train. The platform was busy as parents hugged and kissed their children. It was more crowed than usual though, which was odd. Parents were holding their kids close and wishing them a good year. On the other side faces poked out of the red train called the Hogwarts Express.
"Cedric your mother got you dress robes."
"Dad why would I need dress robes."
"You'll find out soon enough."
Cedric gave a laugh, it was the same saying he had telling Ced all summer long. Cedric gave his father a hug and walked on board the Hogwarts Express. "Can You tell me?" Cedric questioned from his compartment window.
"Enjoy yourself Ced! Enjoy You self and have fun my boy!"
