Chapter 330 - Night Whispers (1/2)
Flags were waving all over the place as the English national anthem was being blared from all sides. The nymphs seemed rather forlorn as the fairies twinkled happily in the night sky in the form of fireworks. It was quite lovely to watch, actually.
The Norwegian Prime Minister seemed quite cheerful despite the loss. He'd be taking the werewolf formula back home and that was much more of an importance than a mere Quidditch Cup. After all, they'd have plenty of chances the next time around.
The English team flew an honorary lap around the stadium along with the team mascot, before the World Cup is brought into the Top Box. There is a sudden dazzling blinding light as the Top Box is magically illuminated as everyone's eyes are on them. Rowan is momentarily glad she is wearing the earplug as Severus grows rather stiff against her.
Two panting wizards carried in a vast golden cup, which was carefully handed over to the stout female witch, Minister Eugena Jenkins. ”Let's have a real loud hand for the gallant – Norwegians!” The Head of the Department cried out. The crowd wildly cheered as it had been an impressive blood pumping match.
One by one the Norwegian players file into the rows of seats as they are called one by one up as the two Ministers of Magic shake their hands. Helberg looked a bit bad with a bruise on his cheek, but he looked right proud. With a stiff upper lip, he bowed as the entire crowd cheered his name.
And then came the English team led by their captain, McLaggen. The English seeker, Eric Davis was being supported by Ludo Bagman and Anna Taylor, Davis's chaser girlfriend. After the second crash, his leg had been badly sprained, but he still had a grin on his face. With the aid of his teammates, he lifted the cup into the air as the crowd thundered in approval. Even Rowan clapped given the fact that Davis had turned the tables despite the odds being against them. And the fact that everyone was staring at the Top Box.
After the English team let to perform another honorary lap, the Head of the Department pointed his wand at his throat and said, ”Quietus.”
”They'll be talking about this one for years,” Amundsen hoarsely said. With a skip in his step, he shook the minister's hand before hurrying off. He had some earnings to collect.
Reginald made sure to exit the top box first with the children and his sister in tow. All too soon they caught up with the crowds now flooding out of the stadium and back to their campsites. Raucous singing was borne on the night air as they retraced their steps along the lantern-lit path, with fairies shooting over their heads whirling about in amazing shapes.
Tired and sleepy, the four Prince family members promptly went to bed after a quick brushing of their teeth. Thankfully, the tent had soundproof protection or else they might not be able to sleep given the noise outside. But sleep they did in their soft beds.
It was dark and misty outside when Rowan awoke to a gentle whisper that hissed, ”Come.”
Thinking it was just a a dream, Rowan closed her eyes again, when she heard the female voice whisper in her mind again, ”Come, child of the infamous snake speaker, I promise not to harm you.”
Peering into the dark, Rowan slips out of the bed as she puts on her shoes. Wrapping her night robe around her she firmly held her wand, before teleporting away to the source of the whispers. It was an instinct, really as she teleported to the edge of the marsh.
The marsh glowed an eerie green under the misty moonlight. The shadows were long and thick and the silence heavy. There weren't the usual chirps of night crickets nor the sound of croaking frogs. The marsh was utterly and completely silent. Something large and heavy moved within the swamp towards her.
The only sign was the ripples across the marsh waters that grew thicker and thicker by the minute. A large, giant black shape appears in the mist before finally come to a halt high above her. When in comparison to the basilisk of Hogwarts, it was rather small compared to this creature which easily was larger than 100 feet long.
The giant creature snorts as the mist around it blew away to reveal its true form in the moonlight. It's glittering pale white scales glowed under the moonlight as a bright blue gemstone on its forehead began to sparkle and gently light the area around. On top of its head, great large horns curve slight back revealing its species, a Great Horned Serpent also known as the snake from legend Quetzalcoatl.
The rare albino Great Horned Serpent slowly lowers its head more to Rowan's eye level as its blue snake slit eyes easily reflect the entire form of Rowan in them. The Great Horned Serpent unlike a basilisk wasn't venomous and tended to keep to itself. It primarily lived in bodies of water such as the great lakes area of North America to the marshy jungles of South America. Even the natives of those lands including non-wizards revered the shy, majestic creatures.