Ch. 3

Mrs. Weasley got everyone but Bill, Charlie and Percy up early the next day. They had a long hike to the location of the Port Key and had to set up their campsite once they got to the World Cup. Bill and his brothers were going to Apparate in to the campsite later in the day, so they were allowed to sleep in.

Ron grumbled about how he wished he knew how to Apparate and Dissapparate, but he wasn't old enough to learn. Harry made a mental note to talk to Tori about training him and Sloane over the summer. Tori had been hinting that she was going to be more serious about their training.

The walk to the Port Key was a test of endurance. Not only did they have to walk out of the village that the Weasleys lived near, but up a huge hill. Ron was laboring for breath by the time they got to the top, but Harry was doing fine. The village of Blackbird Point was built around a huge hill that Harry and Sloane would often climb in their youth. He was used to it.

"Now, we need to find the Port Key," Mr. Weasley said. He started looking around the ground.

"Mr. Weasley, what will it look like?" Harry asked.

"Oh, almost anything, really." Mr. Weasley said. "It has to be something that the Muggles won't think to bother with, sometimes a piece of litter or a broken toy. That kind of thing."

Harry resisted the urge to frown. A piece of litter or a broken toy was just as at risk of a Muggle tampering with it as was something that screamed 'magic'. Some well-meaning Muggle who wanted to clean up the countryside could throw toys and litter away. It would have been safer to make the Port Key something that would look like it belonged out here, or have it hidden in a place that only wizards would know of.

"Arthur! I found it!" A voice rang out, alerting the Weasleys and their guests that the Port Key had been located. Harry followed Mr. Weasley to where a man with a brown beard stood, holding an old, moldy boot.

"Amos, how far did you have to walk to get here?" Mr. Weasley said.

"We had to get up at one in the morning just to make it here on time," the man said.

Mr. Weasley turned to the children behind him. "Well, I'd like to introduce Amos Diggory, from the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, and I believe you already know his son, Cedric."

Cedric Diggory was an extremely handsome seventeen-year-old boy who played for Hufflepuff. He gave his schoolmates a cheerful hi, moving to stand next to his father. Harry gave Cedric a bright wave, but the Weasley children barely gave him a nod. They hadn't forgiven Cedric for beating Harry in Quidditch last year.

"Good heavens, Arthur! Are all of these yours?" Amos cried, looking at the six children.

"Oh, no, only the redheads. Let's see, we have Fred and George, Ron, Ginny, and their friends, Hermione Granger and Harry Potter."

Amos did the customary double look at Harry's name, his eyes sweeping up to look at the scar. Harry was starting to get annoyed with that. No one would take his word that he was Harry Potter without looking for the scar.

"Cedric has told me all about playing against you last year," Amos said, his eyes on Harry. "I told him that that was something he'd be telling his grandchildren . . . You beat Harry Potter."

Harry gave a small smile and shrugged. Fred and George glared, their Quidditch pride wounded, but Cedric looked embarrassed.

"Dad, I told you, he fell off his broom. It was an accident."

"But you didn't fall off, Cedric!" Amos gave his son a hearty slap on the back. Cedric gave Harry a pleading look as his father continued. "Two players on brooms, one falls off and one stays on. You can see who is the better flier!"

Harry merely gave Cedric an embarrassed smile of his own. He could see why Amos was clearly pleased with what his son had done. After all, Harry was famous and had not lost a game since he started playing. He didn't begrudge Cedric his win, or his father's boastings. There would be other games.

"Oh, it's time." Mr. Weasley said. "Everyone, we need to touch the Port Key." It was difficult to huddle around Mr. Weasley with the bulky backpacks. Harry just barely had a finger touching the old boot. It had to have been the strangest sight that any Muggle would have seen, had there been any to witness this. Nine people huddled in a circle, holding a moldy old boot.

When the Port Key was activated, Harry felt a pull from his navel. The ground seemed to vanish and he then felt as if the ground came crashing up to meet him. Rather ungracefully, he fell over, crashing into Ron.

When Harry looked up, he could see two wizards coming to greet them. They were dressed as Muggles, but looking very inept. Harry could see why the Mars Family put such an emphasis on blending in with the Muggles. One wizard was wearing a kilt and poncho while the other was in tweed suit and thigh-high galoshes. Harry didn't even know they made thigh-high galoshes. Maybe he should pick up a pair for his mom.

"Hello Arthur. You lot are located about a quarter of a mile over there, first field you come to. Ask for Mr. Roberts. Diggory, you're over in the second field, ask for Mr. Payne," the kilted wizard said. "You might want to move along. We're expecting a huge party of fifteen to show up soon, right where you're standing."

Mr. Weasley smiled and hurried the children away. After a while, they came to a stone cottage with a man staring off into the mist. Harry could tell he was the only real Muggle for miles, and his clothes were normal. Even Mr. Weasley's clothes, a lumpy golfing sweater and old jeans, marked him as someone not up-to-date on current fashions. Only the kids looked Muggle.

"Mr. Roberts?" Mr. Weasley said timidly, trying to get the man's attention. The Muggle finally turned to look at them.

"Who are you folks?" Mr. Roberts asked, eyeing them suspiciously.

"Weasley - two tents booked yesterday."

Mr. Roberts nodded. "You're down by the wood. Will you be paying now?"

Mr. Weasley nodded and then pulled Harry aside. "Help me out here. Which ones do I need to pay him?"

Harry pointed out the notes needed as Mr. Roberts watched. He could tell that the man was highly suspicious of them, but didn't ask very many questions. Harry prayed that Sloane was having an easier time, though, if his knowledge of the Malfoy family was correct, then they were as much of a fish out of water as the Weasley family.

As they walked to their campsite, Harry noted several tents already up. Some of them actually tried to look Muggle, but the wizards had added their own touches that made them stand out. A few of the tents had chimneys or weather vanes, but then there were the ones that were painfully obviously wizard-owned. One tent looked like a miniature palace with real peacocks strutting around, another tent had three floors and another had a front garden with birdbath and sundial.

Once they reached their spot, Harry and Hermione had to help set up the tent since Mr. Weasley had no idea where to begin, and wanted to do everything the Muggle way. Before Mr. Weasley sent Harry, Ron and Hermione to fetch some water, Harry showed Mr. Weasley how to use the campfire lighter he brought from home. If anything, it would save some time since all Mr. Weasley brought were matches.

All around Harry were witches and wizards. He could see a few children playing with magic, causing a havoc with the security. A few were cooking breakfast, either lighting the fires with their wands or staring at the matches with an expression that clearly read, "You have to be kidding!"

At first, no one took any notice to them, but all that changed when they passed by a group of American witches under the banner of THE SALEM WITCHES' INSTITUTE.

"Daniel! Aspetta!"

Harry turned to see a short, portly man, dressed in a dark suit and looking like he had just stepped out of a Muggle movie on the Mafia, walking towards them.

Harry smiled. "Zio Clive! Come sta?"

"Bene, e lei?"

"Molto bene, grazie."

"Harry, mate, you lost me." Ron said, looking from the man to Harry.

"Oh, sorry. Zio Clive, questo e Ron Weasley e questa e Hermione Granger. Guys, I'd like you to meet my Uncle Clive from New York."

"It is a pleasure to meet any friend of Daniel's." Clive said, his accent thick.

"Please, Zio Clive, when in England, I'm Harry."

Clive waved the comment off. "You will always be Daniel in the family. After all, what name causes your blood to freeze faster when coming from your mother's lips; Harry Potter or Daniel Mars?"

Harry grinned. "Both."

Clive laughed, ruffling his great-nephew's hair. "I was surprised to see you. I didn't know that you would be here, though I believe Tori did mention something to this effect."

"Ron's father got the tickets and they invited me." Harry said. "Sloane's running around somewhere as well. We're giving mom some quiet time before she starts training Cugino Victor."

Clive nodded somberly. "Si, it came as a shock when we got the news that she was retiring. Her duties to Hayden are taking up too much of her time."

Ron tapped Harry on his shoulder. "OK, I didn't just hear you say that Sloane was here too, did I?"

Harry shrugged. "We might not even see him. It's a huge field."

"Oh, Daniel, before you go, I have some news for you. Your mother contacted us a few days ago about your scar." Clive said.

"Si? Any news?"

"Not at the moment. I left as the research started. However, Patricia is in charge of the investigation, so be sure to write her a letter giving a detailed report on what you know."

Harry nodded. "I will. Grazie Zio Clive. Ciao!"

"Ciao!"

Harry motioned for his friends to follow him as he left, his uncle going back to the group he had been talking to before he saw his great-nephew.

"What was that all about?" Hermione asked.

"Uncle Clive is from our New York branch. His group in charge of curses and such. After my scar hurt me, mom wrote to them to see if they might know anything on cursed scars." Harry explained. "Uncle Clive doesn't like speaking much English, so I was really grateful when he willingly spoke it around you two. Normally, I'd have to translate anything he said to you."

"How are you two related? He doesn't look anything like Tori or Sloane." Hermione said.

Harry grinned. "He's my grandfather's brother. Nonno Richard was one of seven boys who came to America to create the branches of the Mars Family. We also have a huge grouping in Italy, where the Mars Family started. I believe that makes him my great-uncle."

Ron frowned. "He isn't really related to you, Harry. You're the son of James Potter and Lily Evans, remember?"

Harry declined to answer. Instead, he tried to steer the topic away from his family and back to safer grounds. It only happened once they walked into the encampment of the Irish, who were whole-heartedly supporting their team with an array of green shamrocks. Seamus Finnigan, a fellow Gryffindor from their year, greeted them and excitedly dragged them over to meet his mother.

It took a while for them to leave and get the water. On the way back, they were hailed by several other classmates, including their old captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team, Oliver Wood, a fourth year Hufflepuff named Ernie Macmillan, Harry's secret crush, Cho Chang, and a Slytherian student by the name of Blaise Zabini, who let Harry know that Sloane wanted to talk to him, but didn't know where Sloane was at the moment. Harry promised that if he didn't see Sloane during the World Cup, he'd owl his brother first thing the next day.

"That was weird," Ron commented.

"What was?" Harry asked.

"That Slytherian was actually being nice. He didn't try to start a fight or anything."

Harry shrugged. "Maybe not all Slytherians are bad," he said. At Ron's look of shock, Harry decided to not venture further into his theory that the House doesn't dictate who you will always be. After all, not all Gryffindors were brave and loyal and good. Peter Pettigrew was in Gryffindor, and he had betrayed Harry's parents to Voldemort. His godfather, Surius Black, had been in Gryffidor, too, and almost everyone in England, if not the whole world, believed him capable of great evil.

"You three took long enough," Fred commented when they had returned.

"Met a few people," Harry said, setting down his bucket.

Ron set his stuff down and looked at his father, who was currently clicking the campfire-lighter on and off in amazement. "Guess who is also here for the World Cup," Ron snarled.

Harry rolled his eyes and started helping with the preparation of breakfast. He watched from the corner of his eye as Mr. Weasley turned to his son.

"Malfoy is here! Harry let that little detail slip while we were talking to Sloane's uncle." Ron spat out.

"Well, it's a big field. Maybe we won't run into them?" Mr. Weasely said, but Harry could hear the tinges of anger and depression in his voice. Anger over the fact that Malfoy would dare to come to an event that Mr. Weasley had thought would be safe, and depression because there was nothing he could do about it.

As they ate breakfast, both Mr. Barty Crounch and Ludo Bagman stopped by to see how they were getting along. Bagman was in his old Quidditch robes, though they were a little snug from the weight he had put on since a Bludger had ended his career. Mr. Crounch, on the other hand, looked like banker in his stiff suit and tie. Percy Weasley nearly fell over himself trying to serve Mr. Crounch.

As the afternoon wore on, the excitement in the air only seemed to multiply. By dusk, the security wizards had given up trying to stop any signs of magic. Salesmen were Apparating every few feet to sell their wares. Harry, remembering that he had promised Roger a souvenir, strolled over to the nearest one, followed by Ron and Hermione.

"What will it be, my fine friends?" The salesman asked.

Ron eagerly bought a dancing shamrock hat and a small figure of the Bulgarian Seeker, Victor Krum, which walked around on the palm of his hand. Hermione didn't seem really interested in any of his wares, but Harry bought a Krum figure for Roger and a nice silk Bulgarian scarf for his mother. He was about to leave when he saw Clive walking over, carrying something in his hands.

"Daniel, I thought you and your little friends would like these." Clive said, handing them each a pair of omnioculars. "I already gave Sloane and his little friend one as well. Think of it as a birthday gift."

"Grazie Zio Clive. You didn't have to do this." Harry said.

"Think nothing of it. It's not every day I get to see my dearest Tori's sons. You must come up to New York to visit." Clive said and walked off.

"That was nice of him," Hermione commented, looking at her omnioculars.

Harry smiled. "Yea. I'll have to talk to mom about Sloane and me visiting New York next summer."

"Why? Is it just because he gave you these?" Ron asked, looking up from his omnioculars.

"Yeah, partly. Both Sloane and I both want to work in our family when we graduate and I might see an oppertunity in New York. Sloane wants to study in Florida with potions, but since I picked the role of a teacher, I have the option to travel and stay with other family members. Besides, Zio Clive wouldn't have hinted about me visiting if he didn't really want us up there."

"What kind of stuff can Sloane do with potions in the Mars family," Hermione asked.

Harry shrugged. "Once Sloane gets the basics of potions down, he has the option of going to New Mexico and studying there. You know the Wolfsbane potion that Professor Lupin has to drink? That was discovered by my second or third cousins in New Mexico."

Hermione smiled. "That's really cool, Harry. I remember you mentioning something about that last year."

Mr. Weasley walked up to where they were standing. "It's time. We have to hurry to get to our seats."

Mr. Weasley had gotten prime seating at the top box, courtesy of Ludo Bagman. The stairs leading up to their seats were carpeted in purple. The seats of the top box were purple-and-gilt, set in two rows of ten each. Harry and the Weasleys eagerly sat down in the first row.

Harry turned, feeling eyes on him. He scanned the box to see who else was in there with them, but could see no one besides a tiny creature in the second to last seat of the back row. The creature had its hands covering its eyes, so the feeling of being watched couldn't be coming from it.

Harry squinted slightly, staring at the creature. The longer he stared, the more familiar it became until he was able to recall where he had seen such a creature.

"Dobby?"

The creature moved its fingers from over its eyes. It wasn't Dobby, but it was definitely a House Elf. Harry had set Dobby free in his second year after Dobby had disobeyed his owners, the Malfoys, to warn Harry about a threat on his life.

"Did sir just call me Dobby?" the House Elf squeaked. It was female, if the voice was any indication. Ron and Hermione both turned to watch, curious after hearing about Dobby from Harry and Sloane.

"Sorry," Harry said. "I thought you were someone I knew." Harry felt as if he should have known better. Dobby now worked for Uncle Henry and there was no reason for Uncle Henry to be at the Quidditch World Cup. Dobby had used to work for the Malfoys but Harry had convinced Mr. Malfoy to give him to Tori as a gift, thus freeing Dobby from a horrible family.

"But, I knows Dobby too, sir!" The House Elf shielded her face, trembling. She tried to keep eye contact with Harry, but was apparently too scared of something. At least, Harry mused, she wasn't punishing herself. "MY name is Winky, sir. And you, sir, you is surely Harry Potter!"

"I am." Harry said. "Do you want me to tell Dobby we saw you?"

"Oh, sir, that would be kind of you, sir."

Harry turned back to his friends and gave a slight shrug. Ron was currently testing his omnioculars. He proudly proclaimed that he could now make some guy pick his nose again . . . and again . . . and again. Hermione quietly read the program, commenting on what will be happening before and after the game.

During the next half-hour, several important people filed in to take their seats. Mr. Weasley shook their hands and made introductions and Percy kept jumping up to greet them that it looked like he was trying to sit on a porcupine. Percy gave Harry a cold glare when the Ministry of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, greeted Harry like an old friend.

Fudge was in the middle of his own introductions when Harry heard him say, "Ah, so glad to see that you've arrived Lucius!"

Harry turned to see Lucius Malfoy edging along to the four empty seats behind him. Draco Malfoy, his mother, and Sloane had accompanied him. Sloane gave Harry a cheery wave, taking the seat directly behind him.

Translations:

"Daniel! Aspetta!" - "Daniel! Wait!"

"Zio Clive! Come sta?" - "Uncle Clive! How are you?"

"Bene, e lei?" - "Well, and you?"

"Molto bene, grazie." - "Very well, thank you."

"Zio Clive, questo e Ron Weasley e questa e Hermione Granger." - "Uncle Clive, this is Ron Weasley and this is Hermione Granger." (Note that the first part of the introduction is changed. One is for introducing a male, and one for introducing a female)

A/N: sorry for not updating in a long time. I can't update at my home computer and I can't use my work computer. Right now I"m updating on a friends. Also, on a note, I know in the sixth book, the actual person who made the Wolfsbane Potion is someone else, but this was written long before the sixth book and it's my AU. So there. :-P