When they returned, no one said anything, or asked Grace if she was okay. They all did notice Grace and Harry's hands when they returned, and their smiling faces. Now they were walking through all the different salesmen that were selling souvenirs and merchandise. There was so much to choose from.
"So, did something change?" Ron asked, leaning closer to Harry.
"What?"
"Between you and Gracie? Did something change?" he asked again. Harry frowned in confusion, and turned to watch Grace hand over some money to Fred begrudgingly.
"Her mood did," he answered, and Ron shook his head.
"No, remember last night, when I asked if something changed..." Ron started slowly, hoping to jog Harry's memory so he wouldn't have to come out and say something. Harry frowned, trying to remember the conversation. Ron thought that he and Grace were more than just friends, but Harry assured that they were and – oh.
"Oh," Harry's eyes widened as he looked away from Grace to Ron, shaking his head. "No, nothing changed. We're still just friends," he nodded. His words left a weird feeling. Were they still just friends? Harry knew that Grace was more than just a regular friend, but he wasn't quite sure how. He didn't know if he could talk to Ron about it, because he felt like Ron would be in the same boat as he was. He didn't know if he could talk to Hermione about it, because well... He looked up and saw Grace, Ginny and Hermione laughing about something. Yeah, he couldn't talk to Hermione about it. He didn't know Ron's brothers well enough to ask for advice.
Harry felt sad, suddenly wishing he had his father or an older brother to talk to about this kind of stuff. He couldn't very well talk to his Uncle Vernon... but he did have Sirius,and Remus. Could he even talk to them about this? Would that be awkward for them? Sirius was Grace's father, and Remus was as good as one. Maybe if he was very vague and didn't mention any names, he'll be able to ask them. Harry decided that when they came back to the Burrow, he was going to write to Sirius and Remus, asking for advice.
"Look!" Grace called, putting on a shimmery, dancing, shamrock hat on her head. "I also got this," she held up a red, Bulgarian scarf that had lions that really roared.
"I thought you were supporting, Ireland?" Harry teased, stopping beside her.
"I am! But well... I got it mostly for Gryffindor," she shrugged sheepishly. "I got this for you!" she pulled out a red and black hat, and put it on his head.
"You didn't have to," Harry said, but he smiled at her anyway.
"I know... I wanted to," she smiled. "Oh! Look! Face paint! Let's get some done!" she took his arm and dragged him to the stall.
"Oh, no," Harry shook his head, but let her drag him along anyway.
"Can I get the two shamrocks on my cheeks, please?" Grace asked, grinning.
"That'll be three sickles," the witch told her. "Have a seat, dear. Anything for you?" she asked, turning to Harry, who shook his head. He reached into his pocket and took out three silver coins and handed them to her before Grace pulled her own out of her purse.
"No thanks, here, for hers," Harry told her and the woman gave him a wink, making him blush.
"I could've gotten that, Harry," Grace frowned as she sat down on the chair.
"I know, but I wanted to," he shrugged and she rolled her eyes.
"There you two are!" Ron shouted as he, Hermione, Fred and George walked up to them. "Of course you're here," he rolled his eyes at Grace who tried not to grin and mess up the witch, who began painting.
"Gracie-Racie with the good ideas!" Fred grinned. "How much for a full face shamrock?" he asked another witch.
"Six sickles," she answered.
"And for two Irish flags?" George asked.
"Three sickles."
"Wicked," Fred and George said together as they pulled out their money.
"How much for the Bulgarian flag?" Ron asked, excitedly and wanting to join in.
"Three sickles," a wizard answered. Ron nodded and went to count his money to see if he had enough.
"Here," Grace pulled out the silver coins from her purse and handed them to Ron.
"But you already got me the Krum figure," Ron said in a small voice.
"So? I brought extra money to share, Ron!" she told him. "Do you still want that Bulgaria scarf?" she asked, and he nodded. "Well, when we're done, we'll go get you one!"
"Are you sure?" Ron asked.
"I wouldn't have offered if I wasn't."
"Grace, how would your mother feel about you spending all this money?" Hermione asked, frowning.
"Don't know, don't care," she answered, "it's not Mums money anyway."
"Whose is it?" Ron asked. Even Harry didn't need Grace to tell him to know that it was money from Sirius' vault, or well... her vault too.
"I got it when I got Snuffles," she said slowly, narrowing her eyes at him. Ron blinked, and Harry nudged him and Ron's eyes widened in realization.
"Oh!"
"Yeah, and he won't care. I think he actually wants me to spend it all, either on myself or on you lot," Grace told them honestly. Her dad told her to take as much gold as she thought she would need for the cup, and for the school year for Hogsmeade trips, and if she needed more, she could always request more via owl. Remus tried to tell him that he should tell her to be a bit more responsible with the money, but her dad just waved Remus off. Then she thought about her conversation with Bill and Charlie, and how they once knew her dad, and her dad was fun and making jokes with them when they were kids. He knew, if he was never imprisoned if the world knew that he was innocent, he'd be here with them and he'd buy anything her, her cousins and friends would want. So, she decided to do just that. Not only because she knew her cousins deserved it more than anyone, but because she knew her dad would do the same.
Once their face paint was done, Ron, Harry, Hermione and Grace started making their way through the stands again. Grace ended up getting Ron the same Bulgarian scarf as her, and got Hermione the green Ireland scarf that had laughing leprechauns on it. She decided to get another Bulgarian scarf for Neville, and one for her dad because she knew her dad would love it. She bought a few more Ireland hats for Fred, George and Ginny, as well some of the laughing scarfs and an Ireland team flag, well she bought two of those – one was for herself.
"Wow, look at these!" Harry gasped, hurrying over to a cart that showcased brass binoculars that were covered in knobs and dials. Grace's eyes widened in awe as she looked at them.
"Omnioculars," the saleswizard told them eagerly. "You can replay action, slow everything down, and they flash up a play-by-play breakdown if you need it. Bargain – ten galleons each!"
"Wow," Grace whispered in amazement, already reaching for her purse. She really hoped she had enough galleons to grab a couple.
"Wish I hadn't bought this now," Ron sighed, gesturing to his hat, looking at the Omnioculars.
"I've go-" Grace started as she fished around in her purse.
"Four pairs," Harry said firmly to the wizard.
"No – don't bother –" Ron started awkwardly, his face turning red. Grace blinked as she stared at Harry as he paid the saleswizard a small fortune, and the wizard handed him four pairs of Omnioculars.
"Harry no!" Grace hissed at him.
"Harry, yes," he told her, handing her a pair.
"I can't accept this, Harry, this is too much-"
"Your necklace was more than this," Harry shrugged nonchalantly. Her eyes widened as she held her necklace in her hand and the Omnioculars in the other. "Really, Grace, don't worry about it."
"But-" She started but Harry shook his head.
"Grace, don't. Let me, please."
"You're not ever allowed to buy me anything this expensive ever again," she glared and he rolled his eyes, then handed Ron his own pair.
"You didn't have to..." Ron muttered awkwardly.
"You won't be getting anything for Christmas," Harry said, handing Hermione her own pair. "For about ten years, mind."
"Fair enough," Ron said grinning. Grace knew that was a lie. Harry would always get Ron gifts for Christmas and his birthday.
"Thank you, Harry!" Hermione said with a smile. "I'll go get us some programs, look-" she exclaimed, pointing at something behind them. Grace turned and saw Hermione drag Ron to another stand.
"You really shouldn't have gotten me this," Grace told him as they followed after Ron and Hermione slowly. "I could've split it with you, at least."
"Really, Gracie," he nudged her gently, smiling at her. "I wanted to... I like getting you things," he added with a shrug. Grace's cheeks went pink as she looped her arm with his.
"You already have Ron's Christmas present picked out, don't you?" she asked, changing the subject and Harry grinned at her.
"And yours," he teased and she scoffed, rolling her eyes.
When it was finally time to head to the stadium, they had to, once again, take another hike. Grace huffed as she put her dancing hat in Harry's hands and gathered her hair up to the top of her head, twisting it and then knotting it, then she took her hat again and put it back on, keeping her hair up. "I hate hiking," she muttered, glowering at the back of Fred and George's head. "I hate sweating. I really should've worn my hair up."
"I like your hair down," Harry said. "I mean, I don't dislike it when you wear it up, but you're...more you when it's down..."
"Thanks. I'll remember that for when I'm ready to turn into Ella, my alter ego," she teased and Harry rolled his eyes, and shoved her playfully. "Oh, look!" Grace pointed to the gigantic stadium, even though they could only see a fraction of the gold walls. "It's so huge!"
"Seats a hundred thousand," Arthur told them, grinning at them. "Ministry task force of five hundred have been working on it all year. Muggle-repelling charms on every inch of it. Every time muggles come anywhere near here all year, they've suddenly remembered urgent appointments," he told them and Grace stared in awe. "Bless them, muggles," he smiled fondly. "This way!" he called and motioning for them all to follow him to the nearest entrance.
"Tickets?" a witch asked them eagerly and Arthur handed her the bundle of tickets. "Prime seats! Top Box! Straight upstairs, Arthur, and as high as you can go!"
The climb to the Top Box was exhausting, and Grace already knew that her legs and butt were going to be screaming at her tomorrow. She looked around her in amazement and glee. Everything looked amazing and beautiful, and she suddenly felt the rush of excitement all over again.
After what felt like an eternity of climbing, they finally arrived at a small box that was set at the highest point of the stadium and sat right center field. There was a perfect view of the entire field. Grace took the seat between Harry and Ginny in the front of the box and grinned wildly as she pulled her hat off, shaking her head so her curls would become unbound and cascade around her.
"Now you bring your hair back down?" Harry teased.
"Yes, because now I'm not hiking and climbing and my hair won't get damp from sweat," she answered as she put her hat back on.
"You're such a girl," Harry scoffed playfully.
"Why thank you, Mr. Potter," she grinned. "I was nervous that you couldn't quite tell yet, what gave it away?"
Harry's mouth suddenly felt like he stuffed it with fifty cotton balls, and he wished he had something to drink. He didn't know how to answer that question because he has become hyper aware of the fact that she is a girl. The past few weeks he's tried not to let his eyes linger on her too long, but he couldn't help but notice the way her Snitch necklace laid and dangled on her chest, and the fact that he was now half a head taller than her, and sometimes if he happens to glance over, he has to force himself to not look down her shirt. He's noticed the way her hair smells when she's close, it was soft and floral, just like her perfume. He's noticed the way her grey eyes seem to pop through her lashes, and the way that her lips will have a darker pink and glossy look to them. He noticed that every week her fingers were a different color, but his favorite is when she painted them scarlet. So, yes, Harry has been able to tell that she was very much a girl.
"Your... shampoo," he answered lamely after clearing his throat. Grace frowned in confusion, and Ginny snorted beside her, hiding her lips behind her hand.
"My shampoo?" Grace asked.
"And your... er... skin," he added and she stared at him, and he suddenly realized he was sounding like a nutter. "And your perfume, it smells like flowers and only girls wear flowery perfume..." he nodded.
Ginny leaned on Grace's other side, hiding her face in her shoulder, struggling to contain her laughter. "Oh," Grace nodded slowly. "I-I didn't realize that my perfume bothered-"
"It doesn't," Harry quickly cut her off. "I-I like it, it's nice. Smells... like a girl."
"...Right," Grace nodded, shifting awkwardly and then turned to Ginny who was holding onto her for dear life. "Shove off!"
"Sorry, Gracie, I'm – I'm just, I need to know what shampoo you use," Ginny giggled and Grace rolled her eyes. Harry shifted awkwardly, his cheeks turning pink. "What perfume do you have? I want to smell like a girl too-"
"Okay, you can sod off now, Ginny," Grace shoved Ginny away from her. "Stop being a git."
"Oh, you know if it was Ron, you'd be doing the same thing," Ginny told her, rolling her eyes. "Or anyone else for that matter."
"But it's not, it's Harry!" Grace whispered. "Tease me all you want, but don't tease him... please."
"Alright... I'm sorry," Ginny whispered and Grace nodded.
"Did sir just call me Dobby?" a light squeaky voice said, and Grace turned around and saw a little house-elf with large, brown eyes, batlike ears and a tomato shaped nose. Grace thought she was adorable. Grace knew all about house-elves, of course, but had never met one until last year when Remus had taken her to the kitchens and she had the pleasure of meeting the Hogwarts house-elves. She thought they were lovely creatures.
"Sorry," Harry said. "I just thought you were someone I knew."
"But I knows Dobby too, sir!" the house-elf squeaked, shielding her face from the light. "My name is Winky, sir – and you, sir –" her brown eyes widened. "You is surely Harry Potter!"
"Yeah, I am," Harry nodded.
"But Dobby talks of you all the time, sir!" Winky nodded, looking awe struck at him. Grace smiled at her. Yes, she thought Winky was positively adorable.
"How is he? How's freedom suiting him?" Grace frowned at the question. Harry wouldn't know anything about house-elves, because house-elves did not take freedom very well."
"Ah, sir," Winky said, shaking her head, "ah, sir, meaning no disrespect, sir,k but I is not sure you did Dobby a favor, sir, when you is setting him free."
"Why?" he asked. "What's wrong with him?"
"Freedom is going to Dobby's head, sir," Winky told him sadly. "Ideas above his station, sir. Can't get another position, sir."
"Why not?"
"He is wanting paying for his work, sir," Winky whispered as if it was a big secret.
"Paying?" Harry blinked. "Well, why shouldn't he be paid?" Winky's eyes widened in horror at the question, and she hid her face in her hands, shaking her head wildly.
"House-elves is not paid, sir!" she squeaked. '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, sir, what is unbecoming to a house-elf. You goes racketing around like this, Dobby, I says, and next thing I hear yous up in the front of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, like some common goblin."
"Well, it's about time he had a bit of fun," Harry nodded. Grace sighed sadly, and shook her head. Harry surely had no idea about house-elves.
"House-elves is not supposed to have fun, Harry Potter," Winky said firmly. "House-elves does what they is told. I is not liking heights at all, Harry Potter," she started, taking a quick glance at the edge of the box. Grace's heart fell a little for the small thing. "But my master sends me to the Top Box and I comes, sir."
"Why's he sent you up here, if he knows you don't like heights?" Harry asked, frowning. Grace also wondered too, she hoped that maybe Winky had a nice wizard family.
"Master – master wants me to save him a seat, Harry Potter. He is very busy," Winky answered, tilting her head to the empty seat beside her. "Winky is wishing she is back in master's tent, Harry Potter, but Winky does what she is told. Winky is a good house-elf," then she gave the edge of the box another frightened look and hid her eyes again. That was when Harry turned back to Ron and Hermione.
"Is there a way that you could give a message to your master, Winky?" Grace asked softly. "I could sit and save a seat for your master, if that will be acceptable for him. I'd hate for something to happen to you because of your fear of heights, and I hope that he wouldn't want something happening to you either."
Winky's eyes turned to look at her, wide with awe then she started shaking her head. "Oh, no, misses! Winky cannot find master without leaving, and Winky is told to save a seat," she answered. "But thank you, misses, you is very kind."
"Of course, Winky," she smiled. "My name is Grace, but you can call me Gracie. If at any time it gets too much for you up here, I can find your master for you."
"Oh, no, misses! Winky cannot ask-"
"Winky isn't asking," Grace smiled at her. "If you need anything at all, I'm right here, Winky," Grace didn't give Winky any time to protest as she turned around and started playing with her Omnioculars, wanting to get familiar with them before the matched started.
Their box gradually began to fill with it's other occupants. Grace noticed that her uncle was continuously shaking hands with wizards that entered, and every time she saw Percy suck up, she knew that these wizards were important. She used every bit of strength she had to not laugh at Percy, who had broken his glasses frown bowing so low when the Minister of Magic arrived with some other important wizards. Her eyes narrowed at the man as he shook Harry's hand and talked to him fondly. Then his eyes shifted to Grace, and he suddenly looked uncomfortable.
"Hello, Miss Black," he greeted her politely, yet coldly.
"Hello, Minister," she replied back shortly.
"Hope all is well," he nodded, forcing a smile on his face.
"As well as well can be," she answered, her grey eyes narrowing slightly at him and he suddenly felt fidgety. "I hope that you haven't sentenced any innocent magical creatures to death, recently."
"Gracia!" she heard her uncle hiss at her. "Minister, I am sorry about my niece. She sometimes has a problem with thinking before speaking-"
"Ah, it's alright, Arthur," Fudge chuckled awkwardly, "no offense is taken. Last time I had the... pleasure of speaking to Miss Black, she had gotten very passionate about the hippogriff case. You should be proud, Arthur, that you have a niece that is so passionate, I dare say that is something that most people lack," he added, smiling at her uncle. Grace narrowed her eyes at Fudge, knowing he was flat-out lying. The last time they talked, she begged for him to listen that her father was innocent and he pushed her off like a deranged, insolent child who knew nothing. "Ah! And here's Lucius!"
Grace's face soured at the mention of Malfoy, and she turned to see not only Lucius Malfoy, but his wife and Draco. Draco's mother was pretty, Grace hated to admit, with long blonde hair, and blue eyes, but the look of a stink up her nose greatly took away from her beauty. Narcissa Malfoy's blue eyes locked with her own grey ones, and the woman stared at her intensely, as if she knew exactly who Grace was.
"Ah, Fudge," Mr. Malfoy greeted, holding out his hand to Fudge. "How are you? I don't think you've met my wife, Narcissa? Or our son, Draco?"
"How do you do, how do you do?" Fudge smiled, and bowed to Mrs. Malfoy. "And allow me to introduce you to Mr. Oblansk – Obalonsk – Mr – well, he's the Bulgarian Minister of Magic, and he can't understand a word I'm saying anyway, so nevermind," Grace rolled her eyes at Fudge. "And let's see who else, you know Arthur Weasley, I daresay?"
Grace remembered the last time Uncle Arthur and Lucius Malfoy met, it was the summer before second year in Flourish and Blotts, and they fought. She was so proud of her Uncle.
"Good lord, Arthur," Lucius said softly, his lips curling. "What did you have to sell to get seats in the Top Box? Surely your house wouldn't have fetched this much?"
"Uncle Arthur works hard with diligence, kindness, and integrity for his things. My Uncle doesn't need to buy his way through life, unlike you, Mr. Malfoy," Grace hissed, glaring at coldly. "It's amazing how hard work and integrity brings you further in life than money." She wasn't going to let anyone, talk down to her Weasley family, because she knew – unbiasedly – that they were a hundred times the wizards that Malfoy would ever be.
"Grace," she heard Arthur whisper dangerously low.
"Integrity?" Mr. Malfoy scoffed, smirking at her with amusement. "What does a child of a murderer know of integrity?"
"I don't know," Grace answered, glaring at him, "Hey Draco, what do you know of integrity?" she asked, shifting her glare to the blond boy, who glared at her. She heard stories from her mother, Remus, and recently her father about how disgusting Lucius Malfoy is. She knew he was once a death eater, and what he had done to innocent people.
There was a tense, cold, silence that filled the Top Box, as Grace glared at the Malfoys. They gave the line of them a look of disdain before finding their seats.
"Gracia, you are going to get yourself into trouble one day if you do not get your impulsive comments under control," Arthur hissed quietly as he narrowed his eyes at her. "I'm disappointed in you, I thought you'd have grown up a little."
"I'm sorry that I've disappointed you, Uncle Arthur," Grace apologized and he nodded. "But I'm not sorry for what I said," she added and then turned to face the Quidditch pitch.
"Ladie's and Gentlemen, welcome!" Ludo Bagman's voice echoed all around them. Grace's face broke out into a grin as she started to bounce from excitement. It was starting. "Welcome to the final of the Four Hundred and Twenty-second Quidditch World Cup!" The magical advertisement board cleared it's candy ad and was replaced with the score board. "And now, without further ado, allow me to introduce the Bulgarian National Team Mascots!"
"I wonder what they've brought," Arthur asked, leaning forward. "Aaah," he suddenly whipped off his glasses and polished them hurriedly. "Veela!"
"Veela?" Grace asked, frowning. She watched as a hundred women were gliding out into the field, they were absolutely gorgeous, and she instantly started feeling self-concious. She didn't have skin that shined like theirs, and her hair was dark and definitely not the same white-gold color, now she wished it was. She huffed as she forced her eyes away and turned to look at Harry, who had a blank expression and was standing from his seat, resting one of his legs on the wall of the of the box. Her eyes widened as she took hold of Harry's arm. "Harry! What are you doing?!" she hissed. The music stopped and he blinked, shaking his head out of whatever fever dream he was in and looked at her.
Ron huffed, tearing his Ireland hat from his head and started to try and shred the shamrocks off.
"You'll be wanting that," Arthur said, smiling, "once Ireland have had their say."
"Huh?" Ron and Harry asked, blinking and staring open mouthed at the veela, who were now lined up on one side of the field.
Grace scoffed, and Hermione tutted, at the boys. Hermione pulled Ron back to his seat and scowled at him. Grace glared at Harry and yanked on him really hard, forcing him to tumble back into his chair. "Honestly," she huffed, crossing her arms over her chest.
"What is it?" Harry asked her, he still had a strange glazed look in his eyes, and she glowered at him.
"Why don't you ask the veela," she hissed at him, "since you seem so in love with them."
"Are you upset?" Harry asked, frowning, leaning closer to her. "Why are you upset?"
"I wish I was beautiful enough to have a boy nearly fling himself out of a box," she muttered bitterly, glaring at the Bulgarian Mascots.
"But you are," Harry told her, frowning. How could she not think she was pretty? Did she not know that was why Cedric Diggory tried talking to earlier that day? Or why Justin Finch-Fletchy fancied her and wanted to keep talking to her? Grace was one of the more popular students, not just in their house, but in their year. Neville had said she was the nicest person in their year, and he was right. She was nice to everyone, and everyone generally liked her. Remus had told them stories about their parents in Hogwarts and mentioned that Sirius was very handsome and it made him very popular with the girls in school. Grace looked like a younger, more feminine version of Sirius, so of course she was pretty and would be well liked.
"What?"
"You are pretty," Harry told her with a smile. "You shouldn't let them make you think you aren't..." he said, glancing back at the veela. They were still beautiful, but now that they weren't dancing, his judgement wasn't as clouded. "Their beauty comes from magic, right?" he asked, turning back to her and she nodded. "Yours doesn't."
"Really?" she whispered, smiling at him with red cheeks and he nodded. "Thanks, Harry."
"And now," Ludo Bagman's voice roared around them, and Harry's attention turned back to the field. "Kindly put your wands in the air for the Irish National Team Mascots!"
Grace gasped as a great green and gold comet came zooming into the stadium, circling around it once before splitting into smaller comments and hurling to the goalposts. A rainbow arced suddenly across the field, connecting two balls of light. Her eyes widened in amazement as she watched the beautiful, magical light show. The rainbow had faded and the balls of light reunited and merged together to form a great shimmering shamrock which rose up into the sky and began soaring over the stands. Golden rain started falling from the sky and Grace's smile widened, watching the leprechaun gold fall all around them. Remus had told her about leprechauns and their gold before, telling her that their gold always eventually disappeared. She wished it wouldn't, because then the Weasley's could fill up their hats with the money that they deserved, and so she could fill up her own hat with the gold and give it to Remus.
"And now, ladies and gentlemen, kindly welcome – the Bulgarian National Quidditch Team! I give you – Dimitrov! Ivanova! Zograf! Levski! Vulchanov! Volkov! Aaaaaaaand KRUM!"
"That's him, that's him!" Ron shouted. Grace brought up her Omnioculars, and followed the Bulgarian seeker. It was hard to believe he was only a handful of years older than her.
"And now, please greet – the Irish National Quidditch Team! Presenting – Connolly! Ryan! Troy! Mullet! Moran! Quigley! Aaaaand LYNCH!"Grace cheered excitedly as she watched Barry Ryan and Aiden Lynch soar through the sky on their brooms. "And here, all the way from Egypt, our referee, acclaimed Chairwizard of the International Association of Quidditch, Hassan Mostafa!" Grace cheered as Mostafa mounted his broom, kicked the crate open and four balls burst into the air. "Theeeeeeeeey're OFF!" Bagman screamed excitedly.
Grace quickly pressed the play-by-play button on her Omniocular's, and tried to catch up. She wanted to slow the speed down just a smidge, but was afraid if she did, then she would miss everything. She's never seen Quidditch played like this before, it was on a whole different level than Hogwarts. She had only been to one professional league game once in her life. It was a birthday gift from her mother when she was younger; her mother couldn't go to the match so Remus was the one that took her. It was the day that she truly fell in love with the game, she had liked it before mostly due to the influence of her cousins, but that match created a love for the game she never knew she could have.
She gasped as she watched Krum and Lynch plummet through the center of the chasers so fast. She held her breath, waiting for impact, expecting the two Seekers to crash into each other or the ground. However, at the very last second Krum pulled out of the dive, but Lynch wasn't so lucky. She screamed in protest. As upset as she was about Lynch's injury, she was also very impressed by Krum using the Wronski Defensive Feint.
The match continued, and Grace was bouncing in excitement. Cheering for Ireland, and cursing when things went wrong. She had cursed so loud, and so foul that even the twins were surprised at her language.
"And that, boys," yelled Arthur, pointing to the veela, who had turned into harpy-like creatures out of anger to the Leprechauns, "is why you should never go for looks alone!"
Grace laughed as Ministry wizards flooded the field to stop the leprechauns and the veelas from fighting. She turned her attention back to the players and started bouncing and screaming in excitement.
"Look at Lynch!" Grace screamed, zooming her Omniocular's to the Irish seeker, watching him dive. She held her breath, watching as the Irish Seeker flew after the snitch with Krum hot on his tail. "Come on, come on, come on, COME ON!" she shouted, and gasped when Lynch hit the ground the second time.
"The Snitch, where's the Snitch?" Charlie bellowed.
"He's got it! Krum's got it! It's all over!" Harry shouted and Grace moved and watched Krum hold up the snitch in the air, with a bloody nose. She had to give it to Krum, he was one hell of a seeker.
"IRELAND WINS!" Bagman shouted. "KRUM GETS THE SNITHCH – BUT IRELAND WINDS!"
A/N:Happy Friday! God, I really am glad it's Friday!
Here is the 3 of 4 of the Quidditch World Cup! Well, the match is over, but the next chapter will be the rest of of the night! You know what that means! And honestly ch. 57 is one of my favorite chapters that I've written over all. I got back to read 57 and ch. 18 often because they're pivotal moments in Grace's growth as a person :)
I think we can all agree with Arthur that Grace's impulsive mouth will most likely get her into trouble (... hint hint ;) ) and Yes. Narcissa knows EXACTLY who Grace is (it's hard not to tbh) and this will not be the first time we see Narcissa and Grace sharing a space (also hint hint to a later chapter).
Meanwhile Harry and Grace are out here being the most, absolute cutest pair! Harry does notice her as a girl, and a blossoming young woman, it's hard for him NOT to notice. But it's the little things that he is noticing that he doesn't quite understand why he notices them yet, but they're all the little things that really start forming his feelings for her :) And he is very hyperaware of how feminine Grace really is, and honestly it's funny how much of a girly-girl Grace is.
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! And get ready for the next one... :) Heee heee.