Chapter 2: The Finals

Arriving at their destination, Harry, Sirius, the Dursleys and the Weasleys met the Grangers. "Hi, Harry!" Hermione greeted and then extended the cordiality to the others.

"Hi, Hermione." Harry replied. "Hi, Dr. and Dr. Granger."

"Hi, Harry." The Grangers timidly replied. They still felt uneasy with the Wizarding World to the point of finding comfort in paying with muggle money. (The ICWQC rented the land from a muggle who's not allowed to know about the Wizarding World) They paid for their family's admission fees while Sirius paid for him as well as for Harry and the Dursleys. (Harry and his parents were Sirius' guests after all) Arthur Weasley, on the other hand, was so unaccustomed to muggle money (some snobs would add it'd be the same with any sort of money) he needed Vernon's guidance with his paper money. "Thank you, Vernon. Muggle money is so confusing."

"One would have expected you to already have more practice with muggle stuff considering your job." Vernon couldn't help but comment. Of course, both Arthur and Vernon spoke quietly for the sake of the Statute of Secrecy. The land's owner commented on how some obviously foreign guests tried to pay him with some "weird coins". Mr. Weasley was upset over the carelessness of some people. He and Vernon even commented on that once they were no longer under hearing range of anyone who's not supposed to know about the Wizarding World. "Reminds me of the day the Wizarding World was celebrating You-Know-Who's defeat." Vernon said. "Several wizards and witches were behaving as if there were no secrecy rules."

That comment shocked Arthur Weasley. He knew things were bad enough to require mass obliviation but he didn't expect them to have left that sort of impression into muggles who already knew the Wizarding World. "You don't have to worry, Vernon. I'm completely sure the Department of Magical Games and Sports is doing their best to control damages."

"Their best probably isn't good enough, father." Percy Weasley intervened. "Their Head, Ludovic Bagman, is too reckless for anything regarding secrecy and his subordinates are probably having more trouble with him than with anybody else."

"Hello, Arthur!" Bagman suddenly showed up and greeted him. Vernon soon learned Percy Weasley wouldn't let his opinions be known to Bagman. "Is that Harry Potter?" Bagman asked.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Bagman." Harry said. "Is it too hard to make sure the Statute of Secrecy is respected?"

"Not at all." Bagman said while oblivious to his exhausted subordinates behind him. "And that stupid Crouch said I'd be a disaster as a Ministry officer." Sirius hated himself for agreeing with Crouch on something. Either way, he couldn't help but be glad to speak to a professional Quidditch player. "The Department of Magical Games and Sports couldn't have a more enthusiastic Head than you. Don't you miss playing Quidditch as a Beater?"

"Not really, Lord Black." Bagman answered. "I've been hit on the head by too many bludgers."

"He sure has, Harry." Vernon whispered to Harry, who agreed.

After that, Sirius, the Dursleys and the Weasleys set their tents. Mr. Weasley was so inexperienced with camping he asked for Vernon's help. Sirius, on the other hand, merely did things the magical way. "Sirius." Arthur Weasley admonished him. "We should avoid doing magic in front of muggles."

"The Dursleys already know of magic, Arthur." Sirius dismissively replied.

"I meant the muggle family that owns this land." Arthur explained.

"There are so many wizards already exposing themselves there's no point trying to stop any unless secrecy isn't the only reason." Vernon argued. "It'll be easier to just obliviate people not allowed to know at the end."

While Arthur was frowning at the fact Vernon was right about the fact several wizards were being careless, Sirius was glad someone put a good argument on his favor, the latter was shocked the point was made by a muggle (and Vernon of all people). After the tents were all up, Arthur asked to see the inside of the Dursley one. He was dying to see the inside of a muggle tent. His wife came along to prevent him from embarrassing himself. (Good luck with that) "It's so small." Arthur said while giggling at seeing one aspect of muggle camping.

"Your tent doesn't seem to be any bigger." Vernon replied in mild annoyance.

"Wizarding tents are bigger on the inside, Vernon." Arthur explained.

"Like your car?" Vernon maliciously asked.

"Yes, Vernon." Molly answered with a frown and then glared at her husband. "Just like the car."

After that, they went to the Weasleys' tent and Harry and the Dursleys were amazed at the magically generated space. Vernon Dursley then surprised the Weasleys by asking. "Did you ever have a cat, Arthur?"

"No. Why do you ask, Vernon?" Arthur asked in confusion.

"This tent smells like cat hair, Arthur." Vernon explained.

"Oh, we borrowed it from my assistant Perkins." Arthur explained. "He doesn't use it any longer because of his lumbago."

While Vernon accepted that explanation, Harry couldn't help but think of his dotty neighbor and her cats with that smell. Later on, they entered the stadium to watch the game. Somebody showed up trying to sell omnioculars (glasses-like devices that allow the users to review moments from the game. "I don't want any." Vernon grunted. "I'd probably miss later moments while reviewing past ones." Harry didn't mind that and paid ten Galleons for a set. Ron used Vernon's excuse to avoid admitting he didn't have the money to buy his own set. The Irish team brought leprechauns as mascots and they started giving gold coins. Ron was grabbing some until Sirius said. "Don't bother, Ronald. Leprechaun gold vanishes over time." The game ended when Bulgarian Seeker Viktor Krum caught the Golden Snitch, causing Ireland to win 170 to 160. Sirius congratulated Fred and George (they had waged for that outcome against Bagman) for that result. Meanwhile, the Death Eaters attending the event were too wary of the increased security to attempt anything.

Chapter end.