Beta: None [everyone seems busy]
Original Release Date: 11/27/16
Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the canon Harry Potter universe or any other universe. Now AU.
Chapter Fifty Four – The World Cup
"Hello there, Harry, Ron, and Hermione, it is quite wonderful to see you", comes a familiar and dreamy voice from their right.
Turning to the side, the trio finds themselves an oddly decorated tent with the owner of the voice sitting just outside of it.
"Hello Luna, it's good to see you too. How are you doing?" answers Harry leaving the pathway between the sectioned off lots of tents clear for others to walk.
"Arriving so very early to the world cup is very bothersome" answers Luna as she stares off into space.
Several minutes later after engaging in some polite but somewhat confusing conversation with Luna, the trio head back off towards the marked source of water on the map. Peering around at the sheer amount of witches and wizards outside of Hogwarts, Hermione asks clearly flummoxed, "How haven't any muggles not noticed this mass organization of clearly magic tents and owners?"
"You have been paying attention in class, have you not? 'Notice Me Not' charms, amongst other anti-muggle charms, just layered upon top of each other. And probably several memory charms" answers Harry.
"I know that, but who performs the charms? Is there a dedicated group of witches and wizards who do—" begins Hermione before getting interrupted by a male voice from a short distance in front of them.
"Archie, listen to me, muggle men don't wear nightgowns, muggle women do" exclaims a man in a green and black plaid kilt, clearly exasperated.
"But I have such a wonderful breeze 'round my privates, so I'm keeping it on" announces an older wizard wearing a floral patterned nightgown determinedly before striding off away from the kilt wearing man.
"ARCHIE! COME BACK HERE!" shouts the unnamed and kilt wearing man, dashing after the man wearing the nightgown.
Filling their kettles from the tap, the trio make their way back to their campsite, slower than before and switching hands that carry the heavy kettles. Looking around the vast amount of tents, occupants lumbering to life, animating the world around them. Seeing fellow and former classmates as plod forward, the trio make frequent stops every so often to briefly visit before continuing on their way.
Finally arriving back at their campsite, the trio spot Mr. Weasley sitting next to a stone circle with logs haphazardly placed inside, before setting their kettles down and watching Mr. Weasley attempt to light the fire. Several attempts later, Harry moves over beside Mr. Weasley and suggests, "You know that you need have some kindling to help build a small flame that will begin burning the larger logs."
"Kindling? Hmm, that does sound like a better way to go about things than what is happening now…" muses Mr. Weasley softly, before asking louder, "What kind of items make up, 'kindling'?"
"Easily flammable items such as lint, twigs, leaves, the sort" answers Hermione eagerly, piping up from her position on one of the conjured chairs that Mr. Weasley had provided.
"Flame-able?" mispronounces Mr. Weasley, testing out the newest word in his vocabulary.
Sighing, Hermione gets up from her chair and walks over to Mr. Weasley before saying, "Harry, can you help gather some kindling for me while I explain to Mr. Weasley about flammability, how to start a fire and the rest?"
"Sure" answers Harry getting up from his crouching position and heading towards the nearby forest.
Several minutes later a growing flame licks at the dry kindling of twigs and leaves, consuming the kindling, growing ever larger and more powerful before finally evolving into a crackling fire, able to heat food and water up. Gathering food from their refrigerator, Mr. Weasley, alongside Harry and Hermione, begin preparing and cooking the midday meal for everyone and begin to serve food from inside the men's tent as three more individuals join them.
"'bout time you 'rrive" remarks Ron, mouth full of food as Percy, Bill, and Charlie grab dishware and begin to help themselves to the makeshift buffet of campfire cooked food.
Rolling his eyes but not uttering a single word, Percy adds a few sausages in addition to some filleted flounder to his plate before moving onto the table in the middle of the kitchen.
"When does the match start?" inquiries Hermione curiously.
"At twilight or so" answers Mr. Weasley before returning to his conversation with Charlie.
Several hours later as day begins to slowly fade into night, salespeople begin apparating short distances peddling their ware before the match begins. With the last dregs of sunlight being swallowed up by the horizon finally, a deep and booming gong reverberates around the vast array of campsites that house the thousands of World Cup goers.
As red and green torches burst to life, lighting the many pathways to the stadium, the massive Weasley person party exits their tents and begins their journey when Fred speaks up, "Dad, George and I have tickets to be in the top box, courtesy of the Marauders Emporium, so we'll be sitting there during the match", revealing his badge with his face and name.
"Right, you coming Harry?" inquiries George as he and Fred break free from the group and begin to head in a different direction.
As several pairs of eyes turn and stare at him, Harry sighs and withdraws his badge saying, "I do have a ticket as well, but honestly I'd rather sit with friends than use my badge or prestige to get special perks or anything. I'll pass on it, George, Fred. I'm here with your family and would rather enjoy it with them and Hermione."
"Alright then, see you all afterwards" answers George as he and Fred disappear into the growing crowd of fans.
"You have a ticket to the Top Box but aren't using it?!" exclaims Ron to Harry and Hermione.
"Why should I? While I'm interested in Quidditch, I'm not interested in running off from my friends to merely watch a match. I want the experience of enjoying it with friends" answers Harry offhandedly.
Shaking his head but saying nothing, Mr. Weasley leads everyone else to a line and shows the couple of pages of tickets to the ministry witch who smiles and says, "Top box Arthur. Lucky you, it beats pulling ticket duty. Anyways, enjoy the match."
Taking back the tickets, Mr. Weasley begins to lead the way up towards the Top Box before turning around and uncharacteristically smirking, "I figure the twins might be flabbergasted to see us so soon" before turning back around and resuming the trek.
As witches and wizards begin to disappear through the several doorways on the journey to the highest set of seats in the stadium. Reaching the final level, Mr. Weasley grasps the doorknob of the opulent and gold trimmed door and opens it, the door swinging inwards. Filing quietly into the room with three dozen or so purple velvet lined chairs with gold trim divided into four rows, the group look up at the row above them and see a bemused looking Sirius and Remus, alongside clearly confused Fred and George.
"In the end you arrived at the Top Box, no matter which seating ticket you used" remarks Sirius with a smile.
"At least we are together" adds Remus also smiling.
Hearing other voices just outside of the door, the room quiets as several important individuals enter the room and take their seats. Several minutes later, an unexpected trio enters the room, causing Ron to mutter under his breath.
"Lucius, what a pleasure to meet you and your family" greets Sirius coolly, shaking hands tersely with the elder Malfoy.
"A pleasure indeed" remarks Mr. Malfoy with a hint of anger ever so slightly detectable.
"Are we just about ready to begin the match?" inquiries a male's voice from the other side of the door.
"Just about. I believe the ministry wishes to do a brief message before the match officially begins" remarks a second male voice.
Standing in a lone corner, overlooked by most a wheeled camera begins to move slowly on its own as the door opens and a handful of distinguished individuals enter and take their seats.
"The Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, Ludo Bagman, head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports, and I figure the Bulgarian Minister of Magic" whispers Sirius to the students.
Casting 'Sonorus' on himself, Mr. Bagman announces as lights dim in the Top Box and the wheeled camera arrives in front of the Marauders Emporium workers, "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the four hundred and twenty second Quidditch World Cup. This year is special as, ", the camera begins to stream video, "the match is able to be viewed through a purchase of a…can you please explain Mr. Black or Mr. Lupin?"
Quietly and quickly clearing his throat, Sirius speaks up without magically increasing his voice's volume, "Witches and wizards in certain countries are able to purchase a 'streaming ticket' to today's match, which allows them to sit at home and watch the match without actually having to come here. However, to entice fans to actually come to the game, the streamed version contains advertisements on the side of their screens."
"Fascinating, simply fascinating. You alone couldn't have managed such a feat, could you?" inquiries Ludo, voice still being projected around the stadium, the video stream from inside the Top Box appearing around the stadium on designated screens.
"Of course not. My fellow business partner, Remus Lupin has helped, alongside three of our most helpful and future executives, Fred Weasley, George Weasley, and my godson, Harry Potter" answers Sirius, with lights appearing over each person illuminating them as they stand and are announced.
"Wonderful! With a completely sold out match with one hundred thousand tickets sold world wide, how many of these 'streaming tickets' have been sold, if I may ask?" asks Ludo energetically.
"Over fifteen thousand streaming tickets have been purchased since the declaration just a month or two ago" answers Sirius with a smile.
"Wonderful! And with that, let's introduce the team mascots" roars Ludo with enthusiasm as the lighting in the Top Box returns to normal, and the screens show 'Bulgaria: 0' and 'Ireland: 0'.
"Beginning with the Bulgarian National Team Mascots…Veela!" announces Ludo excitedly as the Bulgarian fans, a solid block of the color scarlet, roaring their approval.
A well-choreographed group of Veela descend upon the field and begin to dance, making all thoughts and worries to simply disappear. Minutes later Harry feels a tug on each of his arms, bringing him out of his confused state.
"Oy, what's that for?" he stammers confused to Ginny and Hermione pulling his arms back, a foot placed on the railing preventing people from falling out of the box.
"Look at what you were about to do, Harry" chastises Hermione, pulling Harry's arm again.
Looking at Hermione and Ginny in turn, Harry says apologetically, "I'm sorry and thanks."
As the music and the dancing of the Veela had stopped, with loud booing from the crowd. "And now to the Irish National Team Mascots" booms Ludo's voice over the crowd as a deluge of miniature green individuals rain down upon the stadium as a rainbow appears in the sky, eliciting oohs and ahhs from the crowd. Flashes of gold begin falling from the sky and George remarks astounded, "Leprechauns?"
"Is…is that gold?" wonders Ron catching several of the flashes of gold, and turning them over in his hands.
"Leprechaun gold that is, and it is worthless gold. In a few days, if that, it will simply disappear" remarks Remus to Ron.
"Oh…I thought for a moment that it might worth something" answers Ron dejectedly.
"Ron, you might want to pay attention to the match" remarks Mr. Weasley as an individual wearing black and white stripes steps out onto the field, a wooden crate under one arm and a broom in the other arm.
Placing the crate upon the ground, the stripped uniform referee kicks the crate before blowing his whistle and taking to the sky with the rest of the players.
"And Ireland has taken the lead, 10-0!" announces Ludo energetically.
Half an hour later as Ireland's extends further ahead of the Bulgarians, a shrill whistle echoes around the stadium quickly followed by Ludo's announcement of, "And a foul is awarded to Bulgaria for intentional bodily contact to Ireland's Chaser, Mullet."
Large sections of the crowd loudly boo the referee while the Leprechauns form the words in the air, 'HEHEHE!"
Sighing, Mr. Weasley remarked to his party quietly, as to not be heard but the rest of the room's occupants, "I have a feeling that this match is just going to end up getting even dirtier…"
Several minutes more and several more shrill blasts later, Ludo's voice rings out, "In a first time ever, our referee Mostafa is communicating with us. Hold a minute…and he wants a video replay of a confrontation between Dimitrov and Moran. We shall wait as a replay is procured for review", with Sirius bolting out of the Top Box like a dog dashing out of the house when it's owner/family arrives home after several hours, eager to do its business.
Minutes later, Ludo's voice announces, "And Mostafa has ruled that Dimitrov has collided intentionally into Moran. At least the match has finally resumed", not mentioning the growing battle on the ground below between the team mascots and the ministry wizards creating an awkward triangle of magic being thrown about.
"This is just getting very ugly" remarks Harry to no one in particular.
A low roar begins and soon grows as more and more spectators finally catch a glimpse of a green blur being closely followed by a red blur. Several long seconds later and a sickening crunch later as the green blur collides with the ground, the red blur pulls up from the dive and thrusts their fist into the air, a tint of gold visible. Seconds later all of the screens flash up an image of Victor Krum, snitch clasped neatly in his hand.
"I don't believe it! Ireland wins 210 to Bulgaria's 180! Ireland wins the cup but Krum caught the snitch! I'm sure none of us were expecting such a fascinating outcome! And here comes the World Cup alongside the entire Bulgarian team" announces Ludo ecstatically, bouncing on the soles of his shoes as the lights in the Top Box are raised, brightening enough for everyone to view the proceedings.
Filing in one by one, the Bulgarians shake hands with the Bulgarian Minister of Magic and with Cornelius Fudge before filing back out. Thunderous applause reverbates throughout the stadium as the Irish file in one by one shaking hands with the ministers of magic before hoisting the trophy high and then filing out.
Minutes later as the stadium begins to empty, the Top Box empties slowly and the Weasley group makes their way slowly down the many stairwells before finally making it out to the forest below, cheerful singing filling the air as the spectators make their way back to their tents. Entering the men's tent, the group sip at hot chocolate as groups of twos and threes verbally replay sections of the match, discussing strategy. An hour or so later, Mr. Weasley declares loudly, "Bed time", ending all conversation and having the ladies return to their own tent.
A few hours later, a vibrating sensation from his bed awakens Harry, who groggily moves his hands around the small bed to find the source, to discover an incoming video call from Sirius on his Omni Play.
"What is it?" mutters Harry stifling a yawn.
Sirius's face, uncharacteristically pale, answers, "Get everyone and get out of the tents and somewhere safe. Amelia has informed me that there is a group of trouble making wizards on the march in your direction, and that she is having issues getting anyone to go that direction. Grab everyone and go!" before cutting out.
Quickly arousing everyone in the room, they grab their robes and wands and begin to exit the room into the main portion of the tent when Mr. Weasley catches them and nods his acknowledgement of them being ready before saying, "Get the girls and head towards the woods. Bill, Charlie, Percy, with me."
Entering the girls tent, Harry, Ron, George, and Fred awaken the ladies before exiting the tent, smoke drifting into view on the horizon. Hurrying, the group finds Luna on their way to the nearby woods, sitting on the ground.
"Luna, what's wrong?" asks Ginny concerned.
"Oh, hello Ginny, everyone. I think I've broken my ankle" remarks Luna without the normal dreaminess in her voice.
Looking behind him, Harry sees the smoke growing in volume and closing the distance, asks, "Can you walk?"
Shaking her head, Luna answers, "I don't think so."
"Climb on" states Harry crouching to help get Luna on his back.
"Do you need any help, Harry?" asks Ron uncertain what to do.
Some close screams cause Harry to answer, "I'm fine, go on ahead and get to the woods. I'll get Luna there safely."
"I'm sticking with you" states Ginny staring at Ron.
"Fine" answers Ron jogging ahead with the twins, with Hermione staying behind as well.
A minute or two later with Luna on his back, her arms around his neck and legs around his midsection, Harry begins to move towards the woods with Hermione on his right and Ginny on his left. Reaching the woods, the quartet look through the darkened woods for any sign of their friends and family, moving deeper and deeper slowly.
"Harry Potter…carrying a girl on his back. Simply fascinating" comes a feminine voice from the woods in a neutral tone.
Within seconds Hermione and Ginny withdraw their wands, looking around for the source of the voice.
"Ladies, I'm not your enemy" states the same voice as before, as a blonde haired girl steps out from the cover of darkness and into the light provided by Luna's wand.
"Who are you then, if I may ask?" asks Harry keeping his tone neutral.
"One should give their own name before requesting another's" answers the girl with a hint of superiority.
"I thought providing my name would be a waste, since you stated my name previously" answers Harry shifting Luna around a bit.
"True, but formalities should be observed" answers the girl, crossing her arms.
"My name is Harry Potter, and yours is…?" inquiries Harry hiding his growing ire.
"My name is…Greengrass, Daphne Greengrass" answers the blonde now identified as Daphne.
Author note: Thanks for reading, reviewing, favoriting, and following! And thanks for an awesome three years and welcome to the third anniversary. I have also briefly made some cover art to make a more interesting following than a picture of me in a Guy Fawkes mask, and will be working on getting it up (if it scales correctly however).
-Nanchih – Thanks for pointing out that my math was off. I have since corrected it and it is now live.
- Jim Red Hawk and MastrDragn – Thanks for pairing of Harry and Daphne. While I won't say that is the final outcome, she'll make a few appearances (much more so than originally planned, so you've helped change the series in an interesting and hopefully good way). :)
-Guest – BellatrixPotter – You make a point on communication between Harry and Susan. I'll mark that down to improve on, as you make a valid point. While I don't want to make excuses, and I definitely will say that this isn't one of them, I'm an only child and tend to stick to playing video games, reading books, and general not communicating with people, which has probably bled over into this. I thank you for your review and dedication to picking up from chapter twenty one and finishing all the way to here. Noted for your call for Daphne (seems like a very popular choice honestly) and Harry. :)
-Asma20 – Thank you for your reviews. More interaction between siblings, even as Harry and Susan are, has been noted and appreciated. Astoria, Luna, or Daphne. I won't comment on the baby portion of your review, but will let my original plan fall out as it does.