The air crackled with the thrill of adventure as Maya, Draco, and Luna received their marching orders. With a spirited discussion about rules and curfews behind them, the adults had given their blessing for the trio to roam the sprawling campsite freely. The consensus had come a bit easier, perhaps swayed by Tonk's decision to join the expedition, which seemed to have softened the parental hearts.

As they ventured out, the campsite was alive with a kaleidoscope of sights and sounds. They meandered past rows of tents where wizards and witches from around the globe had gathered, their conversations a vibrant tapestry of languages and laughter, all infused with palpable excitement for the day ahead.

Suddenly, Maya halted the group with a gesture of excitement. They stood before a cluster of tents proudly displaying a spangled banner that announced, 'The Salem Witches Institute.' It was there they were greeted by a familiar face: Sarah, who dashed over with a beaming smile the moment she spotted Maya.

Despite their few in-person meetings, Maya and Sarah had cultivated a deep bond through letters filled with secrets, dreams, and the mundane details of their daily lives. Over time, they had agreed it was simplest—and sweetest—to consider each other cousins, sidestepping the complicated web of their family ties. Reunited, the pair embraced warmly, their laughter mingling with the bustling energy of the campsite, a testament to the friendships that magic could forge across any distance.

"Hey, meet my cousins from my mum's side—Draco, Luna, and Tonks," Maya introduced them with a wave to Sarah. She then turned to her friends, her smile brightening. "And this is Sarah. Officially, she's Babbo's something great-niece, but we just keep it simple—cousins."

They gathered around, exchanging pleasantries and spirited guesses about who would come out on top in the upcoming events. The conversation was lively, filled with laughter and playful bets, before they eventually bid Sarah farewell to continue their exploration.

They hadn't gone far when Draco paused, blinking rapidly as he surveyed their surroundings.

"Am I hallucinating, or has the world suddenly turned green?"

It wasn't Draco's imagination playing tricks on him; they had indeed stumbled upon a whimsical sight. They found themselves amidst a cluster of tents entirely swathed in thick, lush shamrocks, transforming the canvas into what looked like vibrant, green hillocks dotting the landscape. The campsite buzzed with cheerful chatter, and from tents with open flaps, grinning faces peeked out, basking in the festive atmosphere.

As they took in the scene, a familiar voice cut through the air.

"Maya!"

Her head turned in the direction of the call to see Ronan and Aiden waving enthusiastically from in front of a similar shamrock-covered enclave. Ronan didn't wait for her to make her way over; he jogged up to meet her, enveloping her in a warm, heartfelt hug and planting a soft kiss on her cheek that brought a slight blush to her face. She clasped his hand, feeling a rush of happiness as she re-introduced him to Luna, Draco, and Tonks, before they all ambled towards the lively group gathered around a crackling campfire.

After sharing a hug with Aiden, Maya scanned the familiar faces, recognizing most as Ronan and Aiden's family from past Academy festivals. But among them, two faces from the year she'd spent at Hogwarts caught her off-guard, their expressions mirroring her surprise.

"Maya?" one of them ventured, his brow lifting.

"Hey Seamus, hey Dean," she greeted, her voice warm and inviting.

Seamus turned an accusing look on Ronan and Aiden.

"Neither of you ever said that your Maya was the same as our Maya!"

"We were sworn to secrecy." Ronan replied with an easy grin, "An Irishman's word is his bond, isn't that right Uncle Eoin?"

"True, very true. When an Irishman gives their word, they keep it."

"Seamus is our cousin," Ronan explained to the four of them. "Second-cousin twice removed, or something like that, but we don't tend to count degrees too much when it comes to family in Ireland."

"You could have told him," Maya whispered as Luna inquired about the decorations. "I wouldn't have minded."

"You told me and Aiden in confidence. We gave our word, and neither of us was going to break it."

She grinned at him and brushed a kiss across his cheek, before tuning back into the ongoing conversation.

"Ah, why shouldn't we show our colours?" said a sandy-haired woman who had to be Seamus' mum. "You should see what the Bulgarians have got dangling all over their tents. You'll be supporting Ireland, of course?" she added, eyeing the four of them beadily.

"Leave off, Moira." Ronan's mother interjected with a laugh, "it doesn't matter who they're supporting as long as they enjoy themselves."

After exchanging a few more words, and assuring Mrs Finnigan that they would indeed be supporting Ireland, the four of them said their goodbyes, and carried on.

They wandered over to an area of the campsite, where the Bulgarian flag, red, green, and white, was fluttering proudly in the breeze. The tents here hadn't been covered in plant-life, but every single one of them had the same poster attached to it, Victor Krum stared out at them from every angle, blinking and scowling.

"Krum's an absolute genius," Draco declared appreciatively, eyes scanning the imposing images of the renowned Seeker.

"Agreed," Maya responded, her tone thoughtful. "He's a better Seeker than Lynch, no doubt. But Ireland has the stronger team overall. That's why they're bound to win."

Their debate on Quidditch prowess continued as they wove through the colourful maze of tents, pausing occasionally to greet familiar faces—friends from Maya's academy, acquaintances Tonks knew well, and a few of Draco and Luna's Hogwarts classmates. They spent close to an hour with the Weasley's and Hermione, debating the pros and cons of each team, before they returned to their tent for a meal before the match started.


There were so many of them in their party, that rather than accept Madam Bones' offer to join her in the Ministerial Box, Aunt Cissa had arranged for a box of her own. It was directly opposite the Ministerial box, and Maya, Draco, and Luna, were entertaining themselves whilst waiting for the match to begin, by calling out the funniest things they could see people doing in the stands, aided by the Omnioculars they'd all been gifted with.

This came to an abrupt end when booming voice rang out, echoing across the thousands of people packed into the stands.

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

The spectators screamed and clapped. Thousands of flags waved, adding their discordant national anthems to the racket.

"And now, without further ado, allow me to introduce … the Bulgarian Team Mascots!"

The right-hand side of the stands, which was a solid block of scarlet, roared its approval as a hundred Veela glided onto the pitch. As music rang out and the Veela began to dance, Draco stood up and was quickly pulled back into his seat by an exasperated Tonks as Luna and Maya giggled at him.

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

Next moment, what seemed to be a great green-and-gold comet had come zooming into the stadium. It did one circuit of the stadium, then split into two smaller comets, each hurtling towards the goalposts. A rainbow arced suddenly across the pitch, connecting the two balls of light. The crowd 'oooohed' and 'aaaaahed', as though at a firework display. Now the rainbow faded, and the balls of light reunited and merged; they had formed a great shimmering shamrock, which rose up into the sky and began to soar over the stands. Something like golden rain seemed to be falling from it –

"Leprechauns" Aunt Cissa announced, an amused smile on her face as she looked at the many people in the stands who were scrambling to catch some of the gold coins that were raining down. "The gold is fake; it will disappear in an hour or so."

As the leprechauns went to sit opposite the Veela, the commentator began announcing the players, staring with the Bulgarian team. A huge roar went up around the entire stadium, Maya and Draco included, when Krum was announced, both of them ardent admirers of the seeker. The Irish team were introduced next, and then the referee, before the match finally began.

It was a fantastic display of masterful quidditch. As Maya had said earlier, the Irish team were superb, the chasers worked together in flawless partnership, almost as if they could read each other's minds. Within ten minutes Ireland had scored three times, bringing their teams lead to thirty-zero, and causing a thunderous tide of roars and applause from the green-clad supporters.

The pace of the match became even faster, and far more brutal. The Bulgarian Beaters, whacking the bludgers with fierce abandon at the Irish chasers, forcing them to scatter twice, before finally, Ivanova managed to break through the Irish line, dodge the keeper, and score Bulgaria's first goal. Tonks put a gentle but firm hand on Draco's shoulder as the Veela began dancing in celebration.

Maya who had been watching Krum gasped in delight , a sound echoed by the hundred thousand other spectators, as Krum followed by Lynch, began to dive. She followed their descent through the Omnioculars, the snitch wasn't there, Krum was feinting, and it worked spectacularly. He pulled out of the dive with seconds to spare, Lynch wasn't so lucky and hit the ground with a dull thud that echoed through the stadium.

Krum used the time-out while Lynch was checked over by the mediwizards to look for the snitch unimpeded. But it wasn't long before the match was back on, Lynch's recovery spurring the Irish to new heights of glory. After fifteen minutes, they were leading One hundred and thirty points to ten, and the Bulgarians had begun to play dirty.

As Mullet shot towards the goalposts yet again, clutching the Quaffle tightly under her arm, the Bulgarian Keeper, Zograf, flew out to meet her. Whatever happened was over so quickly Maya didn't catch it, but a scream of rage from the Irish crowd, and Mostafa's long, shrill whistle blast, told her it had been a foul.

The next few minutes of the match were a whirlwind, from the referee attempting to send off the Bulgarian Mascots, which resulted in another penalty being awarded to the Irish, after the Bulgarian Beaters attempted to argue with him. Both penalties resulted in more points for Ireland, and if Maya had thought they were playing dirty before, it was nothing to how they played now. The Irish were awarded another penalty and a pitched battle between the mascots erupted on the ground far below.

Maya didn't pay much attention to it though, because her focus was on the ferocious game of quidditch being played out in front of them. Moran scored, taking the Irish total up to one hundred and seventy to zero. The crowd roared as Lynch began to dive, and Maya knew it was no feint this time. Could see the snitch fluttering far below. Krum was on his tail. Then drawing level, as the two of them once more hurtled towards the ground.

Lynch hit the ground for a second time and was immediately stampeded by a horde of angry Veela. Meanwhile, Krum rose gently into the air; his fist held high, a glint of gold in his hand.

The scoreboard was flashing BULGARIA: ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY, IRELAND: ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY across the crowd, who didn't seem to have realised what had happened. Then, slowly, as though a great jumbo jet was revving up, the rumbling from the Ireland supporters grew louder and louder and erupted into screams of delight.

"IRELAND WIN!" shouted the commentator. "KRUM GETS THE SNITCH – BUT IRELAND WIN – good Lord, I don't think any of us were expecting that!"


Maya and Draco were still brimming over with the joy of meeting both teams at the Ministry After Party they'd been invited to as they made their way back to the tent. Even Luna, who wasn't as much of a Quidditch Maniac as the two of them was adding a few enthusiastic comments, to their latest verbal replay of the match. They were accompanied by the Tonks's, the rest of the adults were still at the party, but it was late enough that it had been decreed well past time for the three teenagers to be in bed. Andy and Ted had decided to return to the tent as well, as had Dora who had work in the morning. The campsite for the most part was dark and quiet, but they could still hear the sound of singing in the distance, where the Irish contingent was located.

They were almost back to the tent when the first explosion sounded. At first, they thought the Irish were just setting off more celebratory fireworks. Then three more sounded in quick succession, and Dora let out a colourful series of swear words.

"Dor –!" Andy didn't even finish her admonishment aimed at her daughter. Having caught sight of exactly what had made her swear, she let out a curse of her own.

One side of the stadium was consumed by flames, even as they watched another explosion sounded out, and the flames spread even further. Screams began to sound out, as others realised what was happening. Dora let out another curse, and turned back to them.

"Mum, Dad. Portkey them home. I have to go and help."

"I'm going with you." Ted replied instantly. "They might need a healer. Meda, you take the kids."

Andy nodded and gathered the three of them closer, as Ted and Dora took off towards the stadium and the quickly spreading fire. She pulled out the portkey she'd been given by Aunt Cissa, in case of emergencies, that would take them back to Malfoy Manor. Maya put her finger on it a long with Luna and Draco, and braced herself for the tug behind her navel, as Andy uttered the trigger word.

Nothing happened.

Andy tried again, speaking the word as slowly and clearly as she could, again nothing happened.

"Damn it."

"Maybe it's not working cause we're not in the portkey area the Ministry set up." Luna suggested.

Andy's lips tightened, probably because she knew what Maya knew, an emergency portkey should work anywhere. But with the threat that the fire could spread to the tents and begin to consume the campsite, she nodded.

"We stick together. Follow me."

Understanding the seriousness of the situation, all three stuck close to Andy, as she led them through the campsite towards the Portkey Point. They weren't the only ones, more and more people were waking up, realising the danger, and hurrying in the same direction. They were halfway there, when Andy pulled them to an abrupt halt, and swore viciously as several terrified screams filled the air around them.

A wave of fire, fierce and unyielding, surged across the field in front of them like a living entity. Its tendrils liked the air, a dance of instruction, severing their path with a hungry energy that seemed almost sentient. The portkey point was now barred to them, the field ensnared in a fiery embrace, the air shimmering with heat. The roar of the fire mixed with the panicked screams, cries of children, and anxious shouts that reverberated through the air around them.

"Get your wands out." Andy ordered, "We're going to try to find somewhere safe to wait this out, but if the fire comes near you use the Aguamenti charm. As powerful as you can make it."

Even as she spoke the inferno came roaring towards them. Maya reacted instinctually, allowing her magic to rush through her body. An untempered flood through her veins, mirroring the wave of water that she sent crashing towards the fire that was bearing down on them. It was certainly not a use Professor Song had expected her to put the ability to draw water out of the air to, when she had taught Maya and the rest of the class how to do it. Maya was just thankful that Himiko's lessons had enabled her to send a controlled wave of water at the fire, rather than loosing a hurricane to add to the chaos.

She hadn't acted alone, all around her, witches and wizards, those who hadn't run away in terror at least, were sending water at the fire, battling it together. Andy, Draco and Luna, all had their wands pointed at the fire, using the charm Andy had mentioned to douse the flames.

"Maya. Can you do that again?" Andy asked, not looking away from the flames.

"Yes."

"Do it, as many times as you can."

Maya nodded, thankful she was wearing the amulet Katherine had gifted her, allowing her to draw more magic than she would normally be capable of.

"Maya." Luna glanced at her, "Pull it from the ground, not the air."

Understanding instantly what she meant, Maya sent her magic into the ground, and focused on drawing water upwards through the ground. If she could soak the ground beneath the fire, then it should go out. As her magic poured through the ground, it rushed over several spots that brushed against her senses, and icy-cold sensation, that made her shiver despite the heat of the fire filling the air. Pushing the sensations to one side, she focussed on pulling as much water up through the ground as she could.

What began as a slow trickle, became a flood, especially when others among the crowd had the same idea as Luna, and began aiming streams of fire at the base of the fire, rather than just over the top of it. After about ten minutes the field, had become a sodden expanse of boggy mud, but the fire was out. At least around where they were standing, the stadium was still ablaze, as were some other areas of the field, but more and more witches and wizards were overcoming their initial panicked response and coming together to fight the flames.

"Good job," Andy said, "all three of you."

"What do we do now?" Maya asked, "What about everyone else, babbo and dad, and the others."

"We get a bit further away from the fires and we wait." Andy replied firmly. "Once it's safe, we find out what's going on with the portkeys and we go home."

So, saying she lit her wand and using it as a torch chivvied them away from where fires were still burning."

"They'll be okay, won't they?" Draco asked as they walked, "Mother and father, and everyone else?"

"They were at the Ministry Party." Andy answered honestly, "they're probably much safer than the rest of us."

"What do you think caused the fires?" Maya asked.

"I don't know. Probably someone didn't put out their campfire properly, or a stray firework, something like that." Andy replied, but all three of them could tell from her worried tense tone that she didn't really believe what she was saying.

As they walked, Maya considered the funny ice-cold spots, she'd sensed in the field. She'd never felt anything like that before and she wondered what they were and what had caused her to be able to sense them now.