A/N- Sorry I missed updating on Sunday, I was at a music festival. To make up for it I've given you two chapters this week instead! Next update should be Sunday as normal. Hope you enjoy!
Chapter Seven
Once they finally reached the box they took their seats. There was a group of Irish wizards dressed in bright green sitting next to some rather serious looking wizards dressed in red.
"Ah Arthur, Lord and Lady Malfoy." Cornelius Fudge said, coming over and shaking their hands, "Pleasure to have you."
"Thank you." Lucius said smoothly, "You know my son, Draco and his friends, Pansy Parkinson and Daphne Greengrass. They are here as my guests."
"Pleasure!" Fudge beamed, shaking their hands.
"And you know Percy," Arthur smiled, Percy moved forward to shake the Minister's hand.
"Of course. Heard nothing but good things from Crouch! Brilliant work by all accounts." Fudge smiled.
Percy could have exploded with pride, "I try Sir. Thank you."
"And then we have the rest of mine, Bill, Charlie, Fred, George, Ron and Ginny. And this is Hermione Granger and Harry Potter."
Fudge shook all their hands, lingering with Harry, "Pleasure to have you here Harry. Really is."
Harry smiled, he thought he'd be used to all the attention by now but really he just wanted the floor to fall away from him.
They took their seats and the fancy programs, complete with moving pictures of all the players, and waited.
Hermione nudged Harry and pointed to the row behind them. There was two seats there, one was empty but the other was occupied by a house elf with a large nose that looked like a slightly squashed tomato.
She had her hands clamped tightly over her eyes and seemed to be shaking slightly.
"Hello?" Harry asked, turning round.
The elf uncovered one eye, "Hellos."
"You OK?" Hermione asked.
The elf shook her head, "No miss. Winky does not liking heights miss."
"Well, why are you here then?" Hermione asked.
"Saving a seat for my Master, Mr Crouch." Winky said quietly, her hand clamped back over her eye.
"Well..." Hermione started.
Harry tapped her shoulder and shook his head, "House elves are very loyal and have to do whatever they're told. If Mr Crouch wants her here then she has to stay."
"That's terrible." Hermione whispered, "I'd met Kreacher before but I can't imagine you ever making him so afraid."
Harry shrugged and sighed, there was nothing they could do about it now, although he did hate the way some House elves were still treated.
It wasn't long before a smiling Ludo Bagman arrived, "Ah you all found the box up here!"
"It's worth the climb for the view." Mr Weasley smiled.
Ludo nodded, "That's my thinking as well. Right better get started!"
He flicked his wand and the advertisements that had been flicking across a large blackboard on the other side of the pitch stopped. A strange hush fell on the stadium, Harry wasn't sure how so many people could be so quiet.
Harry flicked open his velvet tasselled program and saw there would be a display from the team mascots before the match.
"Wonder what the mascots will be?" He mused.
"It's always worth watching." Mr Weasley smiled, "They bring all sorts of creatures from their countries."
The Bulgarian Minister was muttering quietly to Fudge. Harry couldn't help but admire the splendid robes of black velvet trimmed with gold, it was a sharp contrast to Fudge's purple attire.
Bagman flicked his wand again and the blackboard now read "IRELAND: ZERO/ BULGARIA: ZERO". He pointed the wand at his throat,
"Sonorus!" Ludo Bagman said clearly, "Ladies and gentlemen….welcome! Welcome to the final of the four hundred and twenty second Quidditch World Cup!"
His voice, magically amplified, sounded across the screams and claps of the spectators.
"And now without further ado, allow me to introduce… the Bulgarian Team Mascots!"
The right hand side of the stadium, which was a solid block of red robes, cried their approval.
"I wonder what they've bought." Mr Weasley mused, "Ah Veela."
Harry looked down to see a hundred or more Veela, walking gracefully onto the pitch. He knew them from somewhere, read the name in a book most likely, but nothing could have prepared him for how beautiful the women were.
Their skin gleamed like the moon and their hair, fanning out behind them looked like it was made from spun silver. They had a clear resemblance to the women Danica had met earlier.
Harry felt himself grow very peaceful; didn't care about anything any more, just watching the Veela dance faster and faster around the pitch. They twirled and passed each other with more grace that was possible until the music stopped.
Harry found himself hanging half out of the Minister's box, Narcissa and Hermione holding tightly to the back of his jumper. Ron next to him looked like he was about to jump, until the music stopped, when he moved slowly back into his seat.
Harry booed with the rest of the crowed as the Veela waved to the crowed and moved to the side of the pitch. He didn't want them to go, to ever stop dancing.
He would of course be supporting Bulgaria, he wasn't exactly sure why he had a green shamrock on his chest, Ron was pulling the shamrocks off a large top hat he had.
"You don't want to do that until you've seen what the Irish have to say in a minute." Mr Weasley chuckled.
Ron shook his head in confusion, looking at the slightly tattered hat, "What happened?"
"Honestly!" Hermione said shaking her head.
Once all the Veela were neatly lined up, Ludo stepped forward again, clapping loudly, "Wasn't that amazing? And not to be out done, the Irish Mascots!"
It was like a huge green and gold comet had shot into the stadium. It did a lap round before splitting into two, smaller comets. They moved to the goal posts and a large, bright, rainbow appeared between them.
The crowd Oood and Aaad like they were at a fireworks show. Suddenly there was a heavy thunk on the ground in front of Harry. The sky was raining great big gold coins. People cheered and clapped as they scrambled to gather up as much as they could.
Ron was filling his green hat with every coin he could get his hands on. Harry smiled as he could see the tiny leprechauns dancing in the shapes. Each one was dressed in a smart red waistcoat and carrying either a green or gold lantern.
The leprechauns soon settled down and sat, opposite the Veela on the pitch.
Ludo Bagman moved forward again, clapping, "And now, ladies and gentlemen, kindly welcome the Bulgarian National Quidditch Team! I give you… Dimitrov!"
A scarlet clad figure zoomed onto the pitch from a door way far below them, so quickly you could barely see it. The red side of the stadium erupted into cheers.
"Ivanova!"
Another figure entered the pitch and circled round to join her team mate.
"Zograf! Levski! Vulchanov! Volkov! Annnd KRUM!"
"That's him!" Ron yelled pointing, "He's the best player in the world!"
Harry looked over and zoomed in with his Omnioculars. Krum looked slightly smaller than his posters from this distance. He looked a lot older than just eighteen as well, with sullen eyes and a slightly crooked nose.
"And now, please greet...the Irish National Quidditch Team!" Ludo said, he was basically bouncing on the spot with excitement himself, "Presenting… Connolly! Ryan! Troy! Mullet! Moran! Quigley! Annnnd…. LYNCH!"
Harry clapped and cheered at the seven blurs that zoomed into the pitch and lined up to face the Bulgarian team.
"And here, all the way from Egypt, our referee, acclaimed Chair-wizard of the International Association of Quidditch, Hassan Mostafa!"
A completely bald, skinny wizard with a moustache walked onto the pitch. He was wearing a set of black and white stripped robes and had a large whistle around his neck. He was carrying a broom and nodded to each team.
Mostafa mounted his broom and kicked open the chest holding the Quidditch balls. The two bludgers were the first to be released, followed by the tiny golden snitch; Harry was able to follow it for a moment before it vanished.
Mostafa was holding the quaffle now, he looked to the teams to make sure they were ready before throwing the quaffle into the air.
"And they're off!" Ludo shouted as the players zoomed around the pitch, "And it's Mullet! Troy! Moran! Dimitrov! Back to Mullet! Troy! Levski! Moran!"
Harry had expected the game to be some what quicker than what he was used to but nothing like this. Bagman barely had time to call out the players names as they past the ball to one another. Harry looked at his Omnioculars longingly, he knew that it could also slow things down but he would miss things if he did that.
"That's a Hawkshead Attacking Formation!" Draco said leaning forward slightly as the three Irish chasers moved closely together after the quaffle. Narcissa put her hand on his shoulder and pulled him back into his seat.
"TROY SCORES!" Ludo shouted as Troy did a victory lap of the pitch.
Harry was amazed at how good the Irish team were. They moved as if they had one mind controlling them, always knowing where to be and what the other players where doing.
With in a few minutes they had scored twice more leaving the score thirty-zero. However the Bulgarians weren't about to let them win so easily. The game got somehow even faster and more brutal.
It wasn't long before a well aimed bludger from Bulgaria managed to scatter the Irish chasers and let Ivanova get hold of the quaffle, scoring the first points for Bulgaria.
Narcissa reached forward and clapped her hands over Harry's ears as the Veela began to dance again. Harry was grateful as he wanted to focus on the match.
Bulgaria had the quaffle again when the stadium gasped. Krum and Lynch were both plummeting towards the ground.
Harry searched with his Omnioculars for the snitch but he couldn't see it.
"They're going to crash!" Hermione said, covering her eyes.
Krum pulled up at the last minute, however Lynch wasn't so luck and smacked into the ground. There was a collective groan from the Irish supporters and medi-wizards rushed onto the pitch.
Harry looked back through his Omnioculars and saw that Krum had been bluffing all along; Wronski Feint- Dangerous seeker diversion the Omnioculars read.
Mostafa was checking over something and nodded to Bagman as Lynch climbed back on his broom. He seemed perfectly fine and in fact his crash seemed have given Ireland more heart as they scored again.
"And yes that's a penalty to Ireland! Use of elbows!" Bagman called out as an Irish chaser was pushed off course.
There was a lot of boos from the Bulgarian supporters which only got worse as the Leprechauns formed a large HA HA HA facing the Veela. The Veela flicked their hair and started dancing again. Harry covered his ears but was soon laughing.
Mostafa was standing in front of the Veela, flexing his muscles.
"Now now we can't have that! Someone slap the ref!" Ludo laughed.
A medi-wizard rushed onto the pitch, his fingers in his ears, and kicked Mostafa hard in the shin.
Mostafa blinked a few times and looked around angrily at the Veela. He was pointing to them and motioning wildly.
"I think he's trying to send them off." Hermione laughed.
The Veela looked angrily at him and spat back. The Bulgarian beaters, Volkov and Vulchanov had also landed to join in the disagreement. They were shouting at the ref while he was ordering them back onto their brooms.
He blew his whistle twice sharply.
"And TWO penalties to Ireland!" Bagman shouted and the Bulgarians got back on their brooms and kicked off.
There were two more fouls in close succession as the Bulgarians got more and more annoyed. The Leprechauns jumped up and formed a hand, making a very rude sign at the Veela.
That was a step too far for the Veela though, they stretched up and started throwing handfuls of fire at the leprechauns. Harry looked through his Omnioculars and saw that their beautiful faces had started to turn into terrifying elongated bird like faces, with large, sharp beaks like birds of prey. Large scaly wings were also starting to bust from their shoulder blades.
"Wow." Ron said, leaning back in his seat and looking shocked.
"And that is why you should never go just for looks boys!" Mr Weasley laughed.
Several wizards had rushed onto the pitch now and were shooting spells at the attacking Veela. The game was still being played like nothing was happening on the pitch below them.
The Irish beater Quigley had seen an opportunity, he swung hard at a bludger and smacked Krum hard in the nose. There was blood everywhere and it was clearly broken. Mostafa didn't stop the game though, he was distracted as a ball of fire from one of the Veela had set his broom alight and it was struggling to stay up.
Harry was wondering how to get them to stop the game, Krum couldn't play with a face full of blood, but Lynch had spotted something and was diving towards the ground.
Krum didn't think twice and dived after him quickly catching up. This wasn't a faint this time, they really were chasing the snitch and it zoomed towards the ground.
Harry wondered if they were going to crash again, Lynch did, making another horrible sound as he hit the ground. Krum however righted himself holding the snitch proudly over his head.
There were cheers from both sides as Ludo stepped forward.
The board flashed up the final scores 'BULGARIA: ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY/ IRELAND ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY'
"And it's over! The game is done, Krum has the snitch!" Ludo said, "Ireland win but Bulgaria has the snitch! I don't think many of us saw that coming!"
The Irish side were making so much noise Harry could hardly think.
"Why did he go catch the snitch?" Ron huffed, "The idiot."
"They were never going to catch up." Harry shouted about the crowd, "The Irish chasers were too good, he just wanted to end the game on his terms."
Hermione looked over to him, "He was awfully brave wasn't he? He looks a right mess now though."
Harry couldn't really see what was happening any more as the Leprechauns were flying madly around the pitch.
"Vell, ve fought bravely." said a gloomy voice behind them.
Harry turned to see it was the Bulgarian Minister for magic standing up slowly. Fudge looked in shock, his round face going slightly red around the edges.
"You can speak English!" Fudge said, furiously, "And you've been letting me make a fool of myself miming all day!"
"Vell, it vas very funny." The Bulgarian Minister shrugged.
Harry sniggered behind his hand as quietly as he could. He saw that Winky was still sitting along in the chair, still covering her eyes.
Ludo composed himself and stepped forward, "And as the Irish team do a lap of honour the Quidditch Cup is brought to the Minister's box!"
Harry blinked as the box was suddenly filled with a bright white light as it was magically lit up so everyone in the stands could see Fudge putting a large trophy on display.
"Lets have a really big hand for our gallant losers, Bulgaria!" Ludo Bagman shouted as the Bulgarian team trudged into the box.
Ludo called out their names as they went up one by one to shake hands with Fudge. Krum looked a real mess. He had two large black eyes and was far less graceful on the land, slightly duck footed and clumsy looking.
"And the Irish team!" Ludo bellowed.
A very happy looking Irish team came into the box, Lynch being supported by two of his team mates, the last crash seemed to have left him a bit dazed. They held up the cup as the stadium cheered for them before they also left the box.
"Quietus." Ludo said, pointing his wand as his throat again, "Well wasn't that exciting?" he said hoarsely, his voice at it's normal volume, "I think they'll be speaking about this one for years to come, what a twist! Shame it couldn't have lasted longer though I think it was well worth it." he looked over to Fred and George, "Ah yes. How much do I owe you?"
Fred and George grinned and climbed over the backs of the seats, hands out stretched.