Chapter 7: The Quidditch Stadium
They all put their Language Listeners on, which took about five minutes longer than it should have done because Ron had to get his off George, and walked up to the nearest entrance to the stadium, in a gate at the bottom of a tower. The queue was short and there were several English people wearing Language Listeners, and they soon got to the wizard checking the tickets. He directed them up the spiral staircase in the tower and down into the third row from the top, seats 1 to 6, Block 9. It was quite a long climb in the darkened tower and they walked out into blazing sunlight. The oval Quidditch pitch was down below and the small figures of the players could be seen warming up in their training cloaks.
"Got your Omnioculars?" asked Fred, sitting down the seat nearest the steps. Everyone held them up or nodded – Omnioculars were just like binoculars with extra functions, and Harry had bought his, Hermione's and Ron's at the last World Cup, the rest had got them cheaply in Diagon Alley.
A man came along selling programmes – they bought one in English between the six of them. A moving picture of the United States Seeker and captain, Maximus Brankovitch III, graced the cover. George spat on his face.
"It'll be interesting to see what robes they're wearing when they come back out," asked Remus as the players jogged back into the changing rooms. "You know, as the colours would normally clash."
"It says on the back of the programme: England will wear red, whilst the USA will wear blue and white stripes," read George. "I'm getting something to drink."
He returned a few minutes later with butterbeers and an ice cream for each of them. "They didn't have anything alcoholic," he said. "So I got this," he motioned to the warming butterbeer, "and the ice creams to cool you down."
"Look," hissed Hermione. "It's starting." She pointed to a small glass box beside the scoreboard, where a wizard in golden robes had just appeared and was welcoming the fans.
"Welcome to this Quidditch World Cup quarter final game between," he shouted, his voice magically magnified to fill the stadium, "the United States of America," the opposite half of the stadium erupted into cheers and the American flag could be seen flying in several places, "and England!" Harry and the rest of the England supporters yelled their approval, although the smaller numbers meant that the noise wasn't as loud as the USA's, but it was a close thing.
"Let's hope you get a good birthday present," said Fred to Remus.
"And now," boomed the announcer. "Please welcome the team's mascots!"
Wizards and witches were leading animals onto the pitch – England had Nifflers, small, black and furry animals, and the US had Clabberts – animals that looked like crosses between monkeys and frogs, with glowing pustules on their heads. The Nifflers were attracted to anything glittery, and had to be kept on leads to stop them gnawing at the three fifty-foot high golden goalposts at each end on the pitch.
"Our referee for today," continued the announcer. "All the way from Australia, please welcome Ricky Herbert!"
A well-built wizard with a long brown beard sped onto the pitch. Harry focused his Omnioculars onto him and saw that he was wearing black robes and a large smile.
"Also, please welcome the lineswizards and witches for today's game," said the announcer. Lineswizards stood around the pitch to stop the balls and players from straying over the boundary line – there were six of them and they all wore black like Ricky Herbert.
"And now," roared the announcer. "The players, the reserves and the trainers! For the United States of America, I give you – Cutler!" A player in blue and white striped robes with a star on the front and back sped onto the pitch.
"Pugh!" A second player flew out into the arena.
"Prestwood! Haden! Russell! Sommerfield! And … BRANKOVITCH!"
The US captain zoomed out – waving to his cheering fans. He was small but muscly, with thick blond hair and a bruise across his face, riding a Firebolt, the American-made broomstick that rivalled the Nimbus 2500.
"Please welcome the England National Quidditch team! I give you – Wood!"
A broad-shoulder player, dressed all in red with his name and white 'K', to show his position to the referee, on the back of his robes flew into the stadium and circled the goalposts.
"Oliver?" said Harry. Oliver Wood had been the Gryffindor House Quidditch captain and Keeper for Harry's first three years at Hogwarts, and played for Puddlemere United.
"Must be," said George, looking equally stunned. "Looks like him," he said, peering through his Omnioculars. "Come on Oliver!"
"Oliver was down as a reserve," said Remus. "The usual Keeper fell off his broom in the last game – the mediwizards saved him, but he's still in shock. That must be why they're playing Wood."
"Cowton!" boomed the announcer. "Ferguson! Jones! Guest! Parry! And … Venables!"
"It shouldn't be any problem for Oliver," said Fred, stopping cheering and resuming his seat. "He's a great Keeper, and America aren't exactly the best team ever."
Herbert, the referee, gave a sharp blast on his whistle and the players landed their brooms around the small central circle of the pitch. He then opened the large crate at his feet at released the Bludgers, black iron balls to knock the players off their brooms, and the Golden Snitch, a tiny winged ball which the Seekers tried to catch to end the game and gain one hundred and fifty points for their team. The Bludgers rose high into the air, and the Snitch flew off so fast it disappeared. The crowd held its breath as the Quaffle, the red leather ball that the three Chasers on each team tried to score goals with, was picked up by the referee. An official hurried forwards and carried away the crate, and Ricky Herbert smiled at each of the players and threw the Quaffle into the air, giving a blast on his whistle. The game had begun!