Author's note: This series follows the books but will include details from the movie series for drama. Please note that the major events of the story remain true to the series and will be summarized into small sections to help progress to the story's love interest. I do not want to be claimed for plagiarizing but the original story line is needed to explain the changes in character development.
M rating for sexual content anticipated to start in year 4.
Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Harry Potter series. Thank you to J.K. Rowling for bringing us the wonderful Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
The Doting Rival
Chapter 20
A deep gong sounded beyond the woods. Immediately after, green and red lanterns burst to life creating a path through the woods to the field. Laughter, chatter, and snippets of singing could be heard all round them. The atmosphere was an infectious excitement. They walked for about twenty minutes until they emerged on the other side to a gigantic stadium of gold walls. Adelyn was awe struck.
"Seats a hundred thousand," Mr. Weasley explained. He knew Adelyn was always eager to learn more of the wizarding world. "Ministry task force of five hundred have been working all year on it. Muggle Repelling Charms on every inch."
Once at the entrance, Mr. Weasley showed his tickets. "Prime seats! Top box. Straight up the stairs, Arthur, and as high as it can go."
They ascended rich purple carpeted stairs with the rest of the crowd. It slowly dwindled as the continued their climb until, at last, they reached the top of the staircase. It opened directly into a small box at the highest point of the stadium, right in the middle of both sets of goal posts. There were about twenty beautiful purple gilt chairs lined into two rows. The Weasleys and Hermione and Adelyn filed into the first row.
A hundred thousand witches and wizards filled the seats in the vast stadium below. It was so large Adelyn was sure ten cathedrals could readily fill into it. The field looked as smooth as velvet and three large gold hoops stood at either end. About eye level just opposite the box was a large blackboard. Gold writing kept scribbling across is, as though an invisible hand was writing in real time, advertising the various sponsors for the event.
Adelyn watched over the next half hour as wizards filled the box, many of which Mr. Weasley shook hands readily with. A house elf quietly entered and sat on the opposite end of the back row, obviously saving one seat for his master. When Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, entered, it was the opposite of quiet. He greeted Adelyn as an old friend, shaking her hand and asking how she was. He introduced her to the wizards that entered with him.
"Adelyn Potter, you know," he told the Bulgarian Minister loudly. He didn't seem to understand English well. "ADELYN POTTER . . . oh, come on. You know. . . the girl who survived You-Know-Who. You DO know who she -"
The Bulgarian suddenly spotted the scar on her forehead and started clamoring loudly and pointing excitedly. He shook Adelyn's hand vigorously.
"I knew he'd get it in the end," Fudge whispered to Adelyn. "Ah! I see Barty's house-elf is saving him a seat. Very good. I could use him for this sort of thing. . . And here's Lucius!"
Adelyn, Ron, and Hermione turned quickly. The Malfoy's were making their way to the three empty seats just behind them. Adelyn knew Lucius Malfoy all too well and did not feign any excitement at his entrance. He had with him a tall nice-looking blonde woman, whom she assumed to be his wife. With them, of course, was Draco Malfoy. Had this been only a year prior, he would have sneered at Adelyn. Instead, he gave her a soft smile with a gentle nod of the head.
Adelyn returned the gesture. She thought to herself how debonair he looked. You would assume he were here on business rather than pleasure. He had grown a few inches taller over the summer. His white-blonde hair was a prominent contrast to the all-black peaked lapel suit he wore. His shoulders were broader, filling the jacket out attractively. She didn't realize how thoroughly she was checking him out until she caught his eye. He raised an eyebrow and the other side of his mouth pulled his smirk into a full smile. Adelyn blushed and withdrew her gaze entirely.
Adelyn focused back to Fudge's conversation. He had been making the introductions of everyone to Lucius. "You know Arthur Weasley, I daresay?"
It was a tense moment. The last time Mr. Weasley and Mr. Malfoy had come face-to-face was in Flourish and Blott's bookshop, where they nearly had a fight. Mr. Malfoy's eyes swept down the entire first row.
"Good lord, Arthur!" he said softly, out of ear shot to the Minister. "What did you have to sell to get seats in the Top Box? Surely your house wouldn't have fetched this much?" His eyes rested a moment longer on Hermione. His lips curled. As Fudge continued on his way, Lucius vocalized his aversion quietly to his wife; loud enough for Hermione to hear. "I see standards have decreased around here."
"Father, really, there is no need – oof." Draco's words were abruptly halted from a cane jab to the stomach.
"Do NOT dare correct me." Lucius seethed the words between his teeth to avoid unwanted attention. "I am the adult. Do well to remember it." He continued to his seat, leaving Draco at the end.
At this point, Ron was facing forward comforting Hermione. "Slimy git. Don't pay him no mind."
But Draco's word did not go unnoticed by Adelyn. She mouthed to him so no one would hear. "Are you alright?"
He nodded yes in reply and took his seat behind her.
"Everyone ready?" Ludo Bagman said as he charged into the box. "Sonorus!" he cast with his wand at his throat. His next words roared into the stadium. "Ladies and gentlemen. . .welcome! Welcome to the final of the four hundred and twenty-second Quidditch World Cup!"
The stadium erupted in cheers and applause. "And now, without further ado, allow me to introduce the Bulgarian National Quidditch Team!" Veela danced preceding the introduction of each player being announced.
"That's him! That's him!" Ron exclaimed as Viktor Krum flew onto the field. He was thin and dark, with a crooked nose and large black eyebrows. It was hard to believe he was only eighteen.
"And now," continued Ludo, "the Irish National Quidditch Team!" Two leprechauns shot into the stadium, creating a rainbow raining gold coins. Once they settled across the field from the Veela, green blurs swept onto the field.
"And here from Egypt, our esteemed referee, Chairwizard of the International Association of Quidditch, Hassan Mostafa!" A bald, thin wizard strode onto the field, a silver whistle in his mouth and a large wooden crate under one arm. He mounted his broom, kicked open the crate, and blew his whistle.
"Theeeeeeeey're off!" screamed Bagman. "And it's Mullet with the Quaffle. Troy! Moran! Dimitrov! Back to Mullet!"
It was Quidditch Adelyn had never seen before. She was completely engrossed. She went between her Omnioculars to watching in real time. Each play formation was written across it the lens whenever she played in back. This would come in handy for Quidditch practice this year.
The Irish were superb, working as a seamless team, so coordinated. Within ten minutes, Ireland had scored twice. Score was thirty to zero. As the match continued, it became more brutal, with Bludgers preventing Chasers from using some of their best moves. Anytime the Blugarians made a goal, Mr. Weasley would instruct the boys to cover the ears; the Veela would dance in celebration, distracting any men watching.
Thousands of wizards gasped as the two Seekers, Krum and Lynch, plummeted through the center of the Chasers. Adelyn watched through her Omnioculars, squinting to find the Snitch ahead.
"They're going to crash!" Hermione yelled next to Adelyn.
She was almost right. Krum pulled up at the last moment. Lynch, however, hit the ground with a dull thud that echoed through the stadium.
"Time-out!" yelled Bagman, "as trained mediwizards hurry onto the field to examine Aidan Lynch."
"It's alright," Percy comforted Ginny. "He only got ploughed." She was hanging over the side of the box, looking horror stuck.
"Ginny," Adelyn called. "Care to tag along with me to refill our refreshments? You can use my Omniocular to watch a replay."
"Yes, thank you!"
They weren't the only ones taking advantage of the time out. "Stick close to me," Adelyn instructed.
"Wronski Defensive Feint," Ginny ready from the lens of the Omnioculars. "Dangerous Seeker Diversion. He didn't even see the Snitch!"
Adelyn chuckled in reply. "It can be very handy, when executed properly. Ah – this way." She guided Ginny to the corner. "The loo is straight there. I will wait here for you." Adelyn returned to reviewing the last play in slow motion as she waited.
"You seem to be enjoying yourself immensely." The voice was familiar, but different. Deeper than she recalled. She looked up to the smooth, sculpted face of Draco Malfoy.
"I am, actually. Aren't you?"
"I would more, if not for being stuck with my parents." He rolled his eyes in annoyance.
"As we are on that subject, thank you. . . for speaking against your father on Hermione's behalf. It didn't go unnoticed."
"Then it was worth it."
Adelyn blushed. Was he implying he did it for her attention?
"What was worth it?" Ginny suddenly appeared at their sides.
"N - nothing." Adelyn answered quickly. "Come now. We don't want the queue to get too long."
"Was heading that way myself. Care if I escort you?" Draco asked as the girls made their way towards the tap booth.
"Sure. Thank you."
"Fred won't like that much," Ginny said matter-of-factly.
"Why do you say that?" Draco asked quickly. He then looked to Adelyn. "Are you two dating?"
"What?" Adelyn was surprised by the question and it was evident on her face. "No! No, what gave you that impression?" Fortunately, the line was moving readily; the conversation would not have to last long.
"Well, you two are quite close." He then pointed at Ginny. "And her comment alludes to it."
"I'm just saying what I know, that's all." Ginny turned to the saleswizard and put in an order of refreshments.
"As I said. No. We are not dating." Adelyn continued with a mumble, a bit lost in thought, "I'm not dating anyone, actually."
"Then, there's nothing for him to be upset about, is there?" Draco turned to the saleswizard, ordered his own drink in addition, and paid for it all. Her readily accepted the tray in return. "Shall we?"
Ginny grabbed her own drink and warned him, "It's your funeral, I suppose." She stepped ahead of Adelyn to lead the way back to the Top Box.
"Ginny!" Adelyn scolded. She looked back to Draco. "Sorry. Someone is a bit bold for her age."
"No worries. It was quite. . . illuminating, actually."
"You didn't have to pay for us, you know."
"Is that your way of saying thank you?" Draco teased.
Adelyn half scoffed and half laughed. "No. . . thank you."
"There. Wasn't too difficult, was it?"
"Do you enjoy teasing me?"
"Well, yes, I suppose I do." He smiled mischievously at her.
"I'll remember that."
"I'm sure you will."
The trio made it back to the box just in time. Mostafa blew his whistle again to indicate the start of another round. Adelyn ushered Ginny quickly back to her seat. "Is he alright?" she asked Ron.
"Yes. Lynch just got back to his feet," he answered.
After fifteen more minutes, Ireland pulled ahead by ten more goals. They were now leading by one hundred and thirty points to ten. The game was starting to get dirtier. "Penalty to Ireland!" yelled Bagman. "Cobbing - excessive use of elbows."
Play now reached a severe ferocity. The beaters were acting without mercy. The Bulgarian Beaters didn't seem to care if their clubs made contact with Bludger or human. Dimitrov shot straight at Moran with the Quaffle, nearly knocking him off his broom.
"Foul!" Irish supports roared in unison.
"Foul!" echoed Bagman. "There's the whistle. Another penalty."
This escalated the jeers from the mascots. The leprechauns formed a giant hand and made a rude gesture to the veela across the field. The veela were furious and launched towards them throwing fireballs. They no longer looked beautiful; their faces morphed into beak-like heads and long, scaly wings burst from their shoulders. Ministry wizards flooded onto the field to separate the mascots.
Meanwhile, the game continued above. "Levski - Dimitrov – Moran – Troy – Mullet – Moran again – MORAN SCORES!"
"Look at Lynch!" Adelyn yelled! The Irish Seeker suddenly dove. "He's found the Snitch! Look at him go!" She was at the edge of her seat in anticipation.
Krum was quick on his tail. "They're going to crash!" Hermione screamed.
"Lynch is!" Adelyn replied. And she was right – he hit the ground with severe force and was immediately stampeded by angry veela.
"The Snitch – where's the Snitch?" Ron bellowed.
"He's got it – Krum's got it!" shouted Adelyn.
"IRELAND WINS!" Bagman shouted. The score board read Bulgaria: 160, Ireland: 170. "KRUM GETS THE SNITCH – BUT IRELAND WINS! Don't think any of us were expecting that!" He pointed this wand to his throat and muttered "Quietus."
"Why would he DO that?" Ron exclaimed. "Ireland was a hundred and sixty points ahead!"
"He knew they were never going to catch up," Adelyn defended. "He ended it on his terms, that's all."
"Vell, ve fought bravely," said the exotic voice of the Bulgarian Minister of magic.
"You can speak English!" Fudge said outraged. "And you've been letting me mime everything all day!"
"Vell, it vos very funny," he said shrugging.
"They'll be talking about this one for years!" Bagman continued, hoarsely. "Really unexpected. Ah... yes. I owe you two. How much?"
Fred and George had scrambled to the front of their seats, hands outstretched with wide grins on their faces.