Chapter 19

A week after Harry's 14th birthday was the Quidditch world cup, which thanks to Sirius and the Weasley's both Ewan and Harry were attending. Harry was going to be staying with Mr. Weasley, Ron, Ginny, Percy and Hermione while Ewan, Fred, George, Charlie and Bill were staying with Sirius.

"No way! Victor Krum WILL catch the snitch!" Charlie argued from the tent's kitchen.

Sirius snorted. "Ireland is going to win for sure!"

"Wanna make a bet on that?" said Charlie.

"Come on! It doesn't matter who wins, as long as we have fun, right guys?" said Bill.

Five pairs of eyes stared at him as if he grew four legs. "Okay, never mind."

"What do you think, Fred, George?" asked Sirius.

"Krum gets the snitch…"started George.

"…but Ireland will win." finished Fred.

"Doubt full." snorted Charlie.

Ewan just shook his head. They've been going at this all morning. Ewan just decided to wait and see when the match started.

When they arrived at the stadium, Mr. Weasley was going on about how much it held, 'A hundred thousand.' and all the extra enchantment that went into the match. Finally, Ludo Bagman stood to make the opening speech.

"Ladies and gentlemen… welcome! Welcome to the final of the four hundred and twenty-second Quidditch World Cup! And with further ado, allow me to introduce… the Bulgarian National Team Mascots!

"Veela!" someone said from their box. Ewan watched in fascination, as the most beautiful women he had ever seen, danced. Then he noticed the strange behavior of Ron and Harry, and all the other males Ewan knew.

Harry looked like he was getting ready to jump out of the box and Ron looked ready to do a dive out of it. Then the veela left. Many males protested. Ewan thought it was odd, he obviously was missing something, he didn't react the same way as anyone else did.

"And now, kindly put your wands in the air… for the Irish National Team Mascots!"

Little tiny leprechauns danced around throwing money at the spectators.

Once they left, Ludo Bagman started speaking again. "And now, ladies and gentlemen, kindly welcome – the Bulgarian National Quidditch Team! I give you – Dimitrov! Ivanova! Zograf! Levski! Vulchanov! Volkov! And – Krum!"

All were on Firebolt's, all were impressive. Ron was excited about Victor Krum. Krum was thin, dark, and shallow- skinned, with as large curved nose and thick black eye brows. 'He's eighteen!?'

"And now please greet – the Irish National Quidditch Team! Presenting – Connoally! Ryan! Troy! Mullet! Moran! Quiqley! And – Lynch!"

The Irish were also on Firebolt's, and seemed as quite impressive as the Bulgarians.

"And here all the way from Egypt, our referee, acclaimed chair wizard of the International Association of quidditch, Hassan Mostafa!"

A small, skinny man wearing pure gold robes strode onto the field; he was carrying a large wooden crate in one hand and his broomstick in the other. He kicked the crate and the four quidditch balls zoomed into the air.

"They're off! And it's Mullet! Troy! Moran! Dimitrov! Back to Mullet! Troy! Levski! Moran!"

'Wicked!' It was flying like Ewan's never seen. He watched in fascination as the quaffle was passed between the chasers. He sat there jawed-dropped watching some moves he never he thought could be done, noting that he would try a few of them for quidditch practices.

"TROY SCORES! Ten zero to Ireland!"

In only ten minutes Ireland scored twice more, bringing the score to thirty- zero. The game got more intense and faster. Finally, Bulgaria was finally able to score.

Veela started dancing; Harry, Ron and the other Weasley men all had their fingers in their ears.

Bulgaria was again in possession of the quaffle. "Dimitrov! Levski! Dimitrov! Ivanova – oh I say!" Krum and Lynch were neck at neck plummeting towards the ground, Hermione screeched, thankfully Krum was able to pull up, however Lynch wasn't so fast. Ewan winced, it hurt just watching it.

"It's a time-out! As trained medi-wizard's hurry onto the field to examine Aidan Lynch!"

After a few minutes Lynch arose, which gave many Ireland fans a new heart. Fifteen minutes later the score was 130-10, the game only got dirtier.

"And Mostafafa takes the Bulgarian Keeper to task for cobbing – excessive use of elbows! And – yes it's a penalty to Ireland!"

The veela were angry and started dancing again. Harry plugged his ears, Ewan watched as the referee started strutting in front of the veela, flexing his muscles and playing with his mustache.

"Now, we can't have that! Somebody slap the referee!" A medi-wizard kicked the referee in the shin. Mostafa then got angry at the veela.

"And unless I'm much mistaken, Mostafa is actually attempting to send off the Bulgarian team mascots! Now there's something you haven't seen before… oh this could turn nasty…."

The Bulgarian beaters protested angrily towards it earning Ireland two more penalties. The ferocity of the game was beyond anything they had seen before. Bulgaria fouled again. Then a fight broke out between the veela and the leprechauns while Ireland scored again. Krum got his nose broken, and then the seekers went for another dive. Lynch crashed again but Krum caught the snitch!

BULGARIA: 160, IRELAND: 170

"IRELAND WINS!" bagman shouted. "KRUM GETS THE SNITCH – BUT IRELAND WINS – good lord, I don't think any of us were expecting that!"

Both teams came up to the top box where they were all sitting. Everyone was clapping as both teams were introduced.

Everyone was back at their tents. Charlie, Bill, and Sirius were arguing over cobbing, while Fred and George were in the corner of the tent secretly talking to themselves. Everything seemed to go quiet, even the outside, then suddenly screaming broke out, they could hear people running. Thankfully, everyone was still dressed; Ewan grabbed his wand and ran out of the tent.

Ewan watched as a group of masked wizards came towards his tent. They were laughing, yelling, green light was coming from their wands.

Mr. Weasley soon arrived with Harry, Ron, Hermione, Percy and Ginny.

Sirius, Mr. Weasley, Bill, Charlie, and Percy all ran to help out with the ministry. Fred and George made sure Ginny stayed with them, while Ewan, Harry, Ron, and Hermione ran towards the woods. As they were all running Ewan lost sight of Ron, Harry and Hermione. The men in masks were getting closer.

"HARRY!?" Ewan yelled, "HARRY, WHERE ARE YOU!?"

"Harry! Harry! Oh look little Ewan Potter is out of hiding!" mocked a woman wearing a mask.

"Who are you?" asked Ewan, his breathing hitched.

"We, child, are The Dark Lords most trusted! His inner circle!"

"Death Eaters?"

"Oh yes." answered the woman.

"But Voldemort is gone!"

"For your information Potter, The Dark Lord may have fallen but he will be back!"

"Seems to me, he's kind of weak." said Ewan. "Making you pick on kids that are the age of your own children!"

"Don't antagonize us, boy!"

"Let's kill him!" shouted a man from the back.

"Kill him now!" said another person.

"Time to die, boy!" said the man, pointing his wand at Ewan. "Avad -"

Suddenly popping noises surrounded Ewan, twenty people all pointing wands at the death eaters appeared. All shouting varies of curses and spells. The Death Eaters retreated appariting away before a single person could be hit.

"EWAN!" shouted Sirius, "Are you okay?"

Ewan swallowed, taking deep breaths. "Yeah…"

"Are you sure? You're not hurt?"

"…no."

"Sirius, let's get him out of here." said Mr. Weasley.

Sirius grabbed Ewan arms and pulled him up to his feet.

"Can you walk?"

"Yeah."

With Mr. Weasley and Sirius, Ewan walked towards the woods. They caught up with Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fred, and George.

"Look!" said Ginny pointing to the sky, where a skull with a snake coming out of the mouth, it was blazing in a haze of greenish smoke.

"What is that?" asked Harry.

"That's the Dark Mark, his mark." answered Hermione.

* * *

Back at the Burrow, everyone seemed to be talking about what happened at the World Cup.

"The ministry is highly upset…"

"Do you blame them, Death Eaters at the World Cup!"

"It was just lucky no one was killed…"

Harry sighed. "I don't understand… why Death Eaters would be at the World Cup, why would they be anywhere if Voldemort is missing!"

"Probably to make everyone scared. They might even have an agenda…"

"The Dark Lord may have fallen but he will be back …"

"Well, don't mind us…" said Fred

"…we have work to do." finished George.

"I wonder what those two are up too." said Mrs. Weasley, after the twins left.

"Getting into trouble." said Charlie, with a laugh.

"Like always." agreed Bill.

After a few hours everyone started heading off to bed. Hermione and Ginny first, then Percy, Charlie, and Bill. When Ron and Harry started to head off, Ewan got up himself.

"Harry." He called.

"I'll be right up Ron." said Harry. "Hey."

"You okay?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Those Death Eaters… something is going on. Something with Voldemort..."

"Is that what they told you?"

"That's what I know..."

"Oh…"

"Don't do anything stupid this year… promise?"

"I promise."

"Alright, good night."

"Night."

* * *

September first came too soon for the two families. While at Platform 9 ¾, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Sirius, and Bill kept dropping hints about something going on at Hogwarts.

Ewan laughed, he find out soon enough. Then went off to find Cedric and go to the Prefects Compartment. After a short meeting, Ewan finally found Harry and the others after he heard glass shattering.

"What happened here?"

"Malfoy!" snapped Ron.

"Oh. So this year is going to be fun." Ewan said with a smirk.

"Not you too!" complained Ron.

"You know what's going on at Hogwarts?" asked Harry.

"Maybe I do… Maybe I don't, you're just going to have to wait and find out."

Ron didn't like that. He crossed his arms and sighed. Ewan just smiled.

* * *

Professor McGonagall had enlisted Ewan and a few other prefects to help dry the Great Hall, which had became drenched due to the downpour of rain and mud tracks that the students led in.

After that was done, Professor McGonagall left to meet the new first years, while Ewan, Cedric, and the other prefects went to their house tables.

A thousand years or more ago,

When I was newly sewn,

There lived four wizards of renown,

Whose names are still well known:

Bold Gryffindor, from wild moor,

Fair Ravenclaw, from glen,

Sweet Hufflepuff, from valley broad,

Shrewd Slytherin, from fen.

They shared a wish, a hope, a dream,

They hatched a daring plan

To educate young sorcerers

Thus Hogwarts School began.

Now each of these four founders

Formed their own house, for each

Did value different virtues

In the ones they had to teach.

By Gryffindor, the bravest were

Prized far beyond the rest;

For Ravenclaw, the cleverest

Would always be the best;

For Hufflepuff, hard workers were

Most worthy of admission;

And power-hungry Slytherin

Loved those of great ambition.

While still alive they did divide

Their favourites from the throng,

Yet how to pick the worthy ones

When they were dead and gone?

'Twas Gryffindor who found the way,

He whipped me off his head

The founders put some brains in me

So I could choose instead!

Now slip me snug about your ears,

I've never yet been wrong,

I'll have a look inside your mind

And tell where you belong!

The hall rang with applause. Once everyone was quieted down, Professor McGonagall started reading the names from the list.

"Ackerley, Stewart!"

"RAVENCLAW!" The Ravenclaw table burst into applause.

"Baddock, Malcolm!"

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Branstone, Eleanor!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Cauldwell, Owen!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Creevy, Dennis!" A small boy wearing Hagrid's coat stumbled forward. "GRYFFINDOR!"

"Dobbs, Emma!"

"Pst! Ewan!" Ewan looked over to see Roger, fellow sixth year Ravenclaw and Ravenclaw team captain.

"What?" he whispered across the table. "I heard a rumor! Is quidditch cancelled this year?"

"Unfortunately."

"What!? Damn, thanks."

"Madley, Laura!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"McDonald, Natalie!"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

The sorting continued all the way to "Whitley, Kevin", who became a Hufflepuff. Headmaster Albus Dumbledore rose to his feet. "I only have two words to say to you. Tuck in."