Chapter 79: Quidditch World Cup pt.1 (1/2)
A sense of excitement rose like a palpable cloud over the campsite as the afternoon wore on. By dusk, the still summer air itself seemed to be quivering with anticipation, and as darkness spread like a curtain over the thousands of waiting wizards, the last vestiges of pretence disappeared: the Ministry seemed to have bowed to the inevitable and stopped fighting the signs of blatant magic now breaking out everywhere.
Salesmen were Apparating every few feet, carrying trays and pushing carts full of extraordinary really roared, flags from both countries that played their national anthems as they were waved; there were tiny models of Firebolts that really flew, and collectible figures of famous players, which strolled across the palm of your hand, preening themselves. merchandise. There were luminous rosettes — green for Ireland, red for Bulgaria — which were squealing the names of the players, pointed green hats bedecked with dancing shamrocks, Bulgarian scarves adorned with lions that really roared, flags from both countries that played their national anthems as they were waved; there were tiny models of Firebolts that really flew, and collectible figures of famous players, which strolled across the palm of your hand, preening themselves.
Mr Weasley, Bill, Charlie, Fred, George, Ron, Harry, Hermione, Ginny and Chris; all of them went to buy souvenirs.
”I'll buy a green rosette.” Ginny said grinning.
”Me too.” Charlie said grinning as well. He looked at the twins, ”What about you two?”
Fred and George rolled their eyes.
”We'll buy things when we'll be the winners.” George said smirking.
”Yeah. The bet money is ours.” Fred replied.
”I asked you not to. But..” Mr Weasley sighed.
Bill, Charlie, and Ginny all three brought green rosettes and Mr Weasley brought a Irish flag.
Chris was watching the dancing shamrock hats and the walking figures of the players when she heard a familiar voice near her.
”You know these all are really stupid.”
Chris looked around and saw Jason Fawley, a Slytherin boy in her year with a tall and thin lady with same jet black hair like him.
”Oh hush. These are very beautiful.” The lady said smiling. ”It's not my fault that you don't like Quidditch.”
Jason sighed. ”Exactly, I don't like Quidditch because I feel it's stupid. Then why're we here?” He said with a annoyed tone.
”Because your mother loves Quidditch.” The lady replied. ”I used to watch every single match in Hogwarts in my years.”
”Yeah because Dad was the keeper for Slytherin. Remember?” He said rolling his eyes.
Chris chuckled. Jason spotted her.
”Hey.” Chris said smiling.
”Hi.” Jason replied without any sign of smile. ”You know you shouldn't eavesdrop on peoples talk.”
”I wasn't eavesdropping. I just heard your voice, that's why...” said Chris with innocent face.
”Oh it's alright dear. My son can be very rude sometimes.” The lady interrupted smiling. ”But I guess you know that already if you're his friend?”
”We're not even in same house mom. We just know each other.” Jason replied curtly.
Chris felt very disappointed hearing this, but she didn't let it show on her face. ”Yeah,” she said still smiling. ”I'm in Gryffindor.”
”I see. I'm Mrs Fawley, Jason's mother and what's your name dear?” The lady asked.
”Christina, Mrs Fawley. Christina Norton.”
”Norton?... doesn't ring a bell....” said Mrs Fawley looking confused.
Jason opened his mouth hurriedly but Chris spoke first, ”... umm... maybe because... I'm a muggle-born, Mrs Fawley.”
”A... muggle-born..?” The beautiful smile disappeared from Mrs Fawley's face as she looked back and forth between Jason and Chris.
Jason sighed, ”I think we should go. We had enough shopping mother.” He dragged his mother away but glanced back a little. ”Bye.”
And they disappeared in the crowd.
”You know the Fawleys Chris?” Mr Weasley came behind her.
”Erm... just a little. I know Jason.” She said looking at Mr Weasley.
”Well.. I know it's not my place to say but...” Mr Weasley looked concerned. ”Jonathan Fawley, his father wasn't a very good person. He was an Auror in Minstry but he wasn't working for the Ministry... he was working for....”
Mr Weasley stopped abruptly and looked around. Chris understood what was he trying to say. 'He worked for Voldemort.' She completed the line in her mind. She knew Jason wasn't like that but, there is no need to argue with Mr Weasley, so she simply smiled and said; ”I understand Mr Weasley. I'll be careful.”
Mr Weasley sighed with relif. ”I knew you'll understand. You're a smart girl.” He said with a smile. ”No need to make the surrounding gloomy. What did you brought?”
”..er...” Chris looked around the shops.
”Nothing? You brought nothing?” Mr Weasley said looking surprised. ”Oh it's my fault. 'Course, you don't have Wizarding money, I should've give you something.”
”No no Mr Weasley. I've money. It's just I was looking for something very nice.” Chris said smiling.
As in cue Harry came towards her, grinning.
”Buy something nice Chris. It's your first Quidditch World cup after all.” Mr Weasley said and went towards Bill and Ginny.
”Here. I brought this for you.” Harry handed Chris, what looked like brass binoculars, except that they were covered with all sorts of weird knobs and dials. ”Omnioculars, You can replay in it … slow everything down … and they flash up a play-by-play breakdown if you need it. Real cool thing.”
”Thanks. You brought this for me?” Chris asked looking surprised.
”Yeah. I was buying for Ron and Hermione, so brought for you as well.” Harry said smiling.
”What else you brought for yourself?” Chris asked smiling.
”Er.. just the Omnioculars.” Harry replied.
”You're supporting Ireland, aren't you? Wait.” Chris looked at the green hats.
”No I'm good.” Harry said hurriedly.
”Wait.” Chris picked up one.
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”Chris I really don't need one.” Harry said defiantly.
”Five. Green ones.” Chris said to the salesman.
Chris chuckled as Harry took the hat from her.
”What?” Harry asked looking confused.
”Malfoy would've been very happy to see you in Slytherin colour.” Chris said laughing.
Harry shook his head laughing a little.
”Chris! Harry! Let's go.” Charlie called and they headed towards their tent.
After returning to the tent, Chris kept one dancing shamrock hat for herself and gave the others to Ginny, Fred and George.
Percy showed some signs of disapproval, when Fred and George took the hats, but he didn't said anything to them.
And then a deep, booming gong sounded somewhere beyond the woods, and at once, green and red lanterns blazed into life in the trees, lighting a path to the field.
”It's time!” said Mr. Weasley, looking as excited as any of them. ”Come on, let's go.”
Clutching their purchases, Mr. Weasley in the lead, they all hurried into the wood, following the lantern-lit trail. They could hear the sounds of thousands of people moving around them, shouts and laughter, snatches of singing. The atmosphere of feverish excitement was highly infectious; Chris and Ginny couldn't stop grinning. They walked through the wood for twenty minutes, talking and joking loudly, until at last they emerged on the other side and found themselves in the shadow of a gigantic stadium. Though Chris could see only a fraction of the immense gold walls surrounding the field, she could tell that ten cathedrals would fit comfortably inside it.
”Seats a hundred thousand,” said Mr. Weasley, spotting the awestruck look on Harry's face. ”Ministry task force of five hundred have been working on it all year. Muggle Repelling Charms on every inch of it. Every time Muggles have got anywhere near here all year, they've suddenly remembered urgent appointments and had to dash away again … bless them,” he added fondly, leading the way toward the nearest entrance, which was already surrounded by a swarm of shouting witches and wizards.
”Prime seats!” said the Ministry witch at the entrance when she checked their tickets. ”Top Box! Straight upstairs, Arthur, and as high as you can go.”
The stairs into the stadium were carpeted in rich purple. They clambered upward with the rest of the crowd, which slowly filtered away through doors into the stands to their left and right. Mr. Weasley's party kept climbing, suddenly Chris stumbled on the steps and her things spilled on the ground.
”Oh no.” Chris get down to pick her things and sign Ginny to go on. Ginny nodded and followed the rest.
Chris collected her things and were collecting few Galleons and Sickles when she heard a man's angry voice, he was scolding someone, she was almost going to ignore them but then she heard the name ”Draco.” She peeked and saw Draco Malfoy, a pale and pointed face, white-blonde haired Slytherin boy, one year senior than Chris; he was with a man who had same pale, pointed face and identical cold, gray eyes and a tall and slim woman. Chris guessed them as his parents.
”I've done so much for your success Draco, can't you even try to achieve something?” The man said fuming. ”But no. You can't even win a Quidditch match, let alone being famous like that Potter.”
”But Dad he got a Firebolt last year, that's why...” Draco protested.
”That's why you need one too?” He snorted. ”Don't think, I forgot that he even beat you with his Nimbus two thousand when you had Nimbus two thousand one.”
Draco simply looked down. Chris never saw Draco looking so vulnerable like that.
”I told you if you can't beat him then at least try to create problems for him so he couldn't succeed but you even failed me in that.”