The Potter Twins and the Goblet of Fire

Chapter 2: The World Cup!

Clutching their purchases, Mr. Weasley in the lead, they all hurried into the box, following the lantern-lit trail. They could hear the sounds of thousands of people moving, shouting, laughing and singing. All the excitement around them was highly infectious; Michael and Harry couldn't stop grinning. They soon emerged on the other side of the wood and found themselves in the shadow of a gigantic stadium. Though the twins could see only a fraction of the walls surrounding the field, they could tell that you could fit ten buildings within it.

Mr. Weasley, "it seats a hundred thousand. The Ministry task force of five hundred have been working on it all year. Muggle Repelling Charms on every inch of it. Every time Muggles have gotten anywhere near here all year, they've suddenly remembered urgent appointments and had to dash away again…. Bless them."

He leads the way toward the nearest entrance, which was already surrounded by a swarm of shouting witches and wizards.

The stairs into the stadium were covered in a rich purple carpet. They went up with the rest of the crowd, which slowly filtered away through doors into the stands. Mr. Weasley's party kept climbing, and at last they reached the top of the staircase and found themselves in a small box, set at the highest point of the stadium and situated exactly halfway between the golden goal posts. About twenty chairs stood in two rows here, and Harry and Michael, filing into the front seats with the Weasleys, looked down upon a scene the likes of which they never could have imagined.

A hundred thousand witches and wizards were taking their places in the seats, which rose in levels around the long oval field.

Everything was soon covered with a mysterious golden light, which seemed to come from the stadium itself. The field looked as smooth as velvet. At either end of the field stood three goal hoops, fifty feet high.

Harry and Michael looked over their shoulders to see who else was sharing the box with them. So far it was empty, except for a tiny creature sitting in the second from last seat at the end of the row behind them. The creature, whose legs were so short they stuck out in front of it on the chair, was wearing a tea towel draped like a toga, and it had its face hidden in its hands. Yet those long, batlike ears were oddly familiar….

Harry, "Dobby?"

Mochael, "is that you?"

The tiny creature looked up and stretched its fingers, revealing enormous brown eyes and a nose the exact size and shape of a large tomato. It wasn't Dobby, but it was, unmistakably; a house-elf, as Michael and Harry's friend Dobby had been. The twins hoped that wherever the house-elf was, he was happy with his newfound freedom.

The elf squeaked curiously from between its fingers. Its voice was even higher than Dobby's had been.

A teeny, quivering squeak of a voice, "did sir's just call me Dobby?"

Michael and Harry suspected, though it was very hard to tell with a house-elf, that this one might just be female. Ron and Hermione spun around in their seats to look. Though they had heard a lot about Dobby from the brothers, but they had never actually met him. Even Mr. Weasley looked around in interest.

Harry, "sorry, we just thought you were someone we knew."

Michael, "yeah, you look exactly like our friend, Dobby."

The Elf, "but I knows Dobby too, sir's. My name is Winky, sir's, and you, sir's, is surely Harry and Michael Potter!"

Harry, "yeah, we are."

Michael, "you know who we are?"

Winky, "yes. Dobby talks of you all the time, sir's."

She lowered her hands very slightly and looked awestruck.

Harry, "how is he? How's freedom suiting him?"

Winky, "ah, sir's, meaning no dis-respect, sir's, but I is not sure you did Dobby a favor, sir's when you is setting him free."

Michael, "why? What's wrong with him?"

Winky, "freedom is going to Dobby's head, sir. Ideas above his station, sir. Can't get another position, sir."

Harry, "why not?"

Winky lowered her voice by a half-octave and whispered, "he is wanting paying for his work, sir's."

Michael, "paying? Well, why shouldn't he be paid?"

Winky looked quite horrified at the idea and closed her fingers slightly so that her face was half-hidden again.

Winky, "house-elves is not paid, sir's! No, no, no. I says to Dobby, I says, go find yourself a nice family and settle down, Dobby. He is getting up to all sorts of high jinks, that is unbecoming to a house-elf. You goes racketing around like this, Dobby, I says, and next thing I hear you's up in front of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, like some common goblin."

Harry, "well, it's about time he had a bit of fun."

Michael, "yeah, everyone is entitled to some fun."

Winky, "house-elves is not supposed to have fun, Harry and Michael Potter. House-elves does what they is told. I is not liking heights at all, Harry and Michael Potter. But my master sends me to the Top Box and I comes, sir's."

Michael, "why's he sent you up here, if he knows you don't like heights? That seems like a horrible thing to do."

Winky, "Master wants me to save him a seat, Harry and Michael Potter. He is very busy. Winky is wishing she is back in master's tent, Harry and Michael Potter, but Winky does what she is told. Winky is a good house-elf."

She gave the edge of the box another frightened look and hid her eyes completely again. Michael and Harry turned back to the others.

Ron, "so that's a house-elf? Weird things, aren't they?"

Harry, "Dobby was weirder."

Michael, "indeed he was."

Ron pulled out his Omnioculars and started testing them, staring down into the crowd.

Ron, "wild! I can make that old bloke down there pick his nose again…. And again…. And again…."

Michael cringed at that disgusting detail.

Hermione, meanwhile, was skimming eagerly through her velvet-covered, tasseled program, "a display from the team mascots will precede the match."

Mr. Weasley, "oh, that's always worth watching. National teams bring creatures from their native land, you know, to put on a bit of a show."

Mr. Weasley ended up shaking the hands of various people from the Ministry, including Cornelius Fudge, and the Bulgarian minister, Mr. Oblansk.

And much to the dismay of the twins and their friends, Draco Malfoy and his parents were there.

They finally got to see what Draco's mother, Narcissa, looked like.

His mother was blonde too; tall and slim, she would have been nice-looking if she hadn't been wearing an irritable look.

Michael even had to admit, if she weren't so irritable looking, he'd find her attractive. But then again, what teenage boy doesn't think stuff like that?

It was a tense moment. Mr. Weasley and Mr. Malfoy looked at each other and Harry and Michael vividly recalled the last time they had come face-to-face: It had been in Flourish and Blotts' bookshop, and they had had a fight.

However, under the gaze of the Minister of Magic, Mr. Malfoy didn't dare say anything. He nodded sneeringly to Mr. Weasley and continued down the line to his seats. Draco shot Harry, Michael, Ron, and Hermione one contemptuous look, then settled himself between his mother and father.

Ron, "slimy gits."

He, Michael, Harry, and Hermione turned to face the field again. The next moment, Ludo Bagman charged into the box.

Bagman, "everyone ready? Minister, ready to go?"

Fudge, "ready when you are, Ludo."

Ludo whipped out his wand, directed it at his own throat, and said, "Sonorus", and then spoke over the roar of sound that was now filling the stadium.

"Ladies and gentlemen…. Welcome! Welcome to the final of the four hundred and twenty-second Quidditch World Cup!"

Mr. Wesley leaned forward, "I wonder what they've brought... ahh... Veela!"

Harry and Michael asked, "what are Veel-?"

But a hundred Veela were now gliding out onto the field, and their question was answered for him. Veela were women…. The most beautiful women either of them had ever seen, which made Michael happy that he was bi-sexual…. Except that they weren't human. This puzzled them for a moment while they tried to guess what exactly they could be; what could make their skin shine like the moon, or their white-gold hair fan out behind them without wind…. But then the music started, and the boy's stopped worrying about them not being human, in fact, they stopped worrying about anything at all.

The Veela had started to dance, and their minds had gone blissfully blank. All that mattered in the world was that they kept watching the Veela, because if they stopped dancing, terrible things would happen….

And as the Veela danced faster and faster, wild, half-formed thoughts started chasing through their dazed minds. They wanted to do something very impressive, right now. Jumping from the box into the stadium seemed a good idea…. But would it be good enough?

Hermione, "Michael, Harry, what are you two doing?"

The music stopped. The twins blinked. They were standing up, and one of Harry's legs was resting on the wall of the box.

Michael was leaning against the railing! Next to them, Ron was frozen in an attitude that looked as though he were about to dive from a springboard.

Angry yells were filling the stadium. The crowd didn't want the Veela to go.

But as the Veela left, their thoughts thankfully began to clear.

The next mascot to show up was what looked like a flying green and gold colored comet, taking the shape of a large shamrock.

It turns out, they were leprechauns!

And the fireworks were gold coins scattering into the stands.

Ron had managed to get two huge handfuls to give to Harry and Michael for some Omnioculars! And he said they owed him a Christmas present.

Soon, the mascots finished up entertaining the guests.

"And now, ladies and gentlemen, kindly welcome, the Bulgarian National Quidditch Team! I give you; Dimitrov!"

A scarlet-clad figure on a broomstick, moving so fast it , shot out onto the field from an entrance far below, to wild applause from the Bulgarian supporters.

"Ivanova!"

A second scarlet-robed player zoomed out.

"Zograf! Levski! Vulchanov! Volkov! Aaaaaaand; Krum!"

Ron, "that's him, that's him!"

He followed Krum with his Omnioculars. Harry and Michael quickly focused their own Omnioculars.

Viktor Krum was thin, dark, and sallow-skinned, with a large curved nose and thick black eyebrows. He looked like an overgrown bird of prey. It was hard to believe he was only eighteen.

Bagman, "and now, please greet the Irish National Quidditch Team! Presenting; Connolly! Ryan! Troy! Mullet! Moran! Quigley! Aaaaaand; Lynch!"

Seven green blurs swept onto the field; Harry and Michael both spun a small dial on the side of their Omnioculars and slowed the players down enough to read the word "Firebolt" on each of their brooms and see their names, embroidered in silver, upon their backs.

Soon, the match began!

It was quite the sight, to say the least. It made the Quidditch games at Hogwarts look like playing in a sandbox!

Eventually, the mascots started fighting viciously against one another as the match grew more and more intense!

After quite an exciting match, the Irish team was able to win, even after Krum was able to catch the snitch!

"KRUM GETS THE SNITCH! BUT IRELAND WINS! Good lord, I don't think any of us were expecting that!"

Ron bellowed, even as he jumped up and down, applauding with his hands over his head, "what did he catch the Snitch for? He ended it when Ireland were a hundred and sixty points ahead, the idiot!"

Harry, "he knew they were never going to catch up, the Irish Chasers were too good…. He wanted to end it on his terms, that's all…."

Hermione said as she leaned forward to watch Krum land as a swarm of medi-wizards blasted a path through the battling leprechauns and Veela to get to him, "he was very brave, wasn't he? He looks a terrible mess…."

Michael shrugged and said, "he was rather impressive. Even I'll admit it."

Harry put his Omnioculars to his eyes again. It was hard to see what was happening below, because leprechauns were zooming delightedly all over the field, but he could just make out Krum, surrounded by medi-wizards. He looked surlier than ever and refused to let them mop him up. His team members were around him, shaking their heads and looking dejected; a short way away, the Irish players were dancing gleefully in a shower of gold descending from their mascots. Flags were waving all over the stadium, the Irish national anthem blared from all sides; the Veela were shrinking back into their usual, beautiful selves now, though looking dispirited and forlorn.

"Vell, ve fought bravely."

Harry looked around; it was the Bulgarian Minister of Magic.

Fudge, "you can speak English! And you've been letting me mime everything all day!"

The Bulgarian Minidyer, "well, it vos very funny."

Michael couldn't help but laugh as Fudge was made to look like a fool.

Bagman, "they'll be talking about this one for years. A really unexpected twist, that…. A shame it couldn't have lasted longer…. Ah yes…. Yes, I owe you…. How much?"

For Fred and George had just scrambled over the backs of their seats and were standing in front of Ludo Bagman with broad grins on their faces, their hands outstretched.

….

Mr. Weasley, "don't tell your mother you've been gambling."

They all made their way slowly down the purple-carpeted stairs.

Fred, "don't worry, Dad. We've got big plans for this money. We don't want it confiscated."

Mr. Weasley looked for a moment as though he was going to ask what these big plans were, but seemed to decide, upon reflection, that he didn't want to know.

They were soon caught up in the crowds now flooding out of the stadium and back to their campsites. Boisterous singing was heard as they retraced their steps along the lantern-lit path, and leprechauns kept shooting over their heads, cackling and waving their lanterns. When they finally reached the tents, nobody felt like sleeping at all, and given the level of noise around them, Mr. Weasley agreed that they could all have one last cup of cocoa together before turning in for the night. They were soon arguing enjoyably about the match; Mr. Weasley got drawn into a disagreement about cobbing with Charlie, and it was only when Ginny fell asleep right at the tiny table and spilled hot chocolate on the floor that Mr. Weasley insisted that everyone go to bed. Hermione and Ginny went into the next tent, and Harry and the rest of the Weasleys changed into pajamas and clambered into their bunks. From the other side of the campsite they could still hear much singing and the odd echoing bang.

Mr. Weasley, "I am glad I'm not on duty. I wouldn't fancy having to go and tell the Irish they've got to stop celebrating."

Harry, who was on a top bunk above Ron, lay staring up at the canvas ceiling of the tent, watching the glow of an occasional leprechaun lantern flying overhead, and picturing some more of Krum's more spectacular moves. He was itching to get back on his own Firebolt and try out the Wronski Feint.

Somehow, Oliver Wood had never managed to convey with all his wriggling diagrams what that move was supposed to look like…. Harry saw himself in robes that had his name on the back, and imagined the sensation of hearing a hundred-thousand-strong crowd roar, as Ludo Bagman's voice echoed throughout the stadium, "I give you…. Potter!"

Michael, meanwhile, was looking over the book Sirius had given him. With the letters he had kept getting from him, he was hoping Sirius could help him in becoming an Animagus as he lived in hiding near Hogwarts. And with Dumbledore being happy to fill out the registry, this only encouraged and excited Michael even more!

Michael was also excited to see more strange creatures while studying at the magical school.

Ron, meanwhile, was gushing over how cool he thought Victor Krum was, while all five of his brothers mocked him over it.

Ginny and Hermione were happy to be in their own section of the tent, away from the boys.

….

Harry never knew whether or not he had actually drifted off to sleep, his fantasies of flying like Krum might well have slipped into actual dreams, all he knew was that, quite suddenly, Mr. Weasley was shouting.

Michael woke up alongside him, both boys with wide-eyed and worried looks.

"Get up! Ron! Michael! Harry! Come on now, get up, this is urgent!"

The brothers could instantly tell something was wrong by the tone of his voice….

….

Reviews:

Guest: huh? Why'd you only send the name Gwen?

Canadude2029: thank you. Glad you're excited for more of this story.

….

Uh oh something's going wrong outside! Let's hope it goes well...

On another note:

I have yet another Ben 10 story in the works. Omnitrix: UAF. A retelling of the entire series with a massive change. An OC named Trix is the AI/Avatar of the Omnitrix. He completely replaces Ben. Ben's parents aren't in this story. When Max and his granddaughter find the watch, it's avatar is locked in a human form as it wields full control over their abilities. Think if Eunice was a man and was the Omnitrix. As time goes on, Trix becomes more human, even gaining his own real body in Secret of the Ommitrix. Up on my profile is a poll is to help decide who Trix's love interest/interests will be... please vote for seven choices.