Chapter 39-INTERLUDE!
CASSIUS MALFOY
The atmosphere in the Black tent was quite homely and cramped as the Weasley's came to visit, leaving their rather thrifty tent, to enjoy the luxuries and comfort of the place Sirius had arranged.
The space inside the tent was nearly as large as a mansion with it having six rooms, and a dining Hall. They were placed rather close to the Stadium, which had begun to get packed as the hour of the match grew nearer and nearer.
Harry was busy is some mischief or another with Ron and his siblings, and Hermione sat with her parents, explaining to them the rules and history of Quidditch. They had been quite eager to meet him, though Hermione did have to intervene a few times during their meeting as their probing questions moved towards the topic of his family.
So, before heading out he found himself out of the tent, observing the massive clearing and the hoard of the wizards occupying it, as he examined the security condition of the venue.
Despite his rage at his father and his family, he had conveyed the warning to his mother who would definitely pass it along to Lucius Malfoy. He did not know of his intentions, but if they were anything along the line of what they had been in his visions, then it would end quite badly for him.
"You don't seem very excited for the match," and he turned around and saw his cousin walking towards him. And Tonks was dressed in her Auror uniform, wearing those red robes and cap, as she walked towards him.
"What's there to be excited about?" he asked, as she recoiled animatedly.
"Aren't you boys supposed to be Quidditch fanatics, especially one as skilled as you?" she asked, and he shrugged.
"I enjoy the game, but I would never call myself a fanatic," and she gasped.
"A real shame. And here I had hoped that with you, England just might have had a chance in the future," and that made him raise a brow, for he could not remember her witnessing him in a match.
"How can you say that?" he asked, raking his memory.
"You haven't even seen me fly," and she shook her head, as they began to walk through the crowd, and the stalls.
"I have actually. I saw some memories of you flying against Slytherin in the House Cup Finals," and that was a surprise for him.
"Wh..." and before he could ask his question, they were interrupted by a loud and boisterous laugh.
"Tonks, just the person I was looking for," and they both turned around to see a plump blonde man standing behind them. His rosy skin and protruding belly spoke of a person who let go of themselves, and his nose had been broken so many times that it had gone crooked.
"Mr. Bagman," Tonks greeted him, as Cassius recognised the man.
"Tonks. I was looking for you. I have heard that you are in the know about the location of our dear celebrity Mr. Potter," he asked, and it still surprised him how Wizards and Witches twice or thrice their ages fawned over Harry.
"You know that I cannot do tha..."
"What's a little favor between colleagues, eh? I won't forget this little favor when the vote comes up in two weeks. Just a little meeting. I have always wanted to see hi..." but he stopped once his eyes landed on him, as he saw those eyes narrow in recognition.
"You are that Malfoy boy, right? The younger one," he asked as Cassius nodded.
"Yes, Cassius. Cassius Malfoy," he offered his hand, and yet against his expectations, the man's eyes lit up at his name.
"Ohh! I saw how you flew in that final against your brother. It was quite impressive, reminded me of my own time," and by now he was shaking his hand quite aggressively.
"Of course, I was a Beater myself. But still, it caused us all quite a headache," and he was completely oblivious to what the man was saying.
"What do you mean by that?" Cassius asked, and the man finally realised that he was not in the know about this whole situation.
"Ahh! You wouldn't know, of course. But Christenson, the English Seeker, got injured during the qualifications, and so we needed to name a replacement for him for the National Team. Your name came up as well, as a member of my team somehow obtained memories of your match against Slytherin," and that was a surprise.
"I wanted to name you as his replacement, despite your age. But the others, including our Minister, vehemently opposed me, and we ended up going with Taube," and indeed Taube had been the Seeker for the English Team.
"And we all know how that went," added Tonks from the side, as Bagman nodded.
"Yeah. A shame, if only Fudge had listened to me, it would be England in the Finals today," and he had not heard about such a development at all, and so he did not know what to say.
"But don't take it to heart. You have a bright future ahead of you in the sport. Next time, I promise I will get you into the team even if it costs me my job," he said, slapping him on the shoulder.
"Come on, Harry, it's almost time," he heard Sirius's voice from behind, and as Bagman did a one-eighty and turned around to see Harry, Sirius, and Ron coming out of the tent.
"Ahh! Sirius! How have you been, my friend?" and the man leaped towards the brown haired man, moving in to hug him, though he stopped as Sirius backed away, as they began to talk.
"Bagman, you have not answered any of my letters?" Sirius asked with a rather forced smile, as the plump man began to sweat and make excuses.
"Was he telling the truth?" he asked Tonks, who nodded.
"Yes, I heard about it myself a few days ago from a friend in his department. She was the one who showed me your flying as well," and though he had never considered playing Quidditch professionally, he was still a bit angry at Fudge for getting in his way.
"Though, don't fall for his words. Bagman's as slimy as they come," Tonks warned him, not that she really needed to, as he saw the man sweat in front of Sirius.
"He did not speak up for you at all against Fudge. He says that he will vote for Amelia in the upcoming election, but she has warned us all that we cannot count on his vote. The man's quite a character, and I have heard that he has built up quite a big debt," and that made him shake his head, as he heard the man whisper to Sirius, as he pulled him to the side.
"Perhaps I can interest you in a wager...."
0000
HARRY POTTER
The Final was as exciting as he had hoped, and he jumped up and down the stands, and watched the Irish players race through the skies, playing with a pace that the normal eye could barely process.
"ANOTHER GOAL BY THE IRISH WHO EXTEND THEIR LEAD TO A HUNDRED AND THIRTY POINTS. IF THIS GOES ON ANY LONGER, THE SEEKERS WILL BECOME ENTIRELY USELESS."
And the commentators were right, as Harry focused on the Bulgarian seeker with his binoculars, and could see his frustration with his team. It would not be wrong to say that Krum had carried the Bulgarian team to the finals, but even as skilled as he was, he proved no equal to a rather talented and well prepared Irish team.
"NOOOO! YOU HAVE TO GET THE SNITCH KRUM!" Ron shouted from beside him, while Hermione, beside them remained conflicted in her choice of enjoying the match, or explaining it to her parents.
Cassius Malfoy was here as well, devoid of any merchandise at all, he simply stood there watching the match with little interest, though Harry had not missed him glancing towards the box to their side, where his brother Draco stood watching the match.
The adults all sat beside them, the Ministers of both countries and other Ministry workers, including the Head of the DMLE, Amelia Bones, who seemed rather friendly with Sirius, unlike their current Minister, whose face had swollen up at the sight of his godfather.
And he could hardly compare his life before Sirius to the one with him, for there was such a contrast in between them. And for the first time in his life, Harry could understand what it meant to have parents in his life, as he realised that he was not alone in this world.
"I WOULDN'T SAY THAT!" and it was Bagman who added as the Irish scored another point, extending their lead to a hundred and forty.
"SAY WHAT YOU WILL BUT LYNCH'S BEEN INVOLVED PLENTY IN THE MATCH! THE IRISH MAN HAS SHOWN HIMSELF TO BE A MODERN SEEKER WITH HIS UNIQUE TACTICS!" And indeed, Lynch was an average Seeker on the International stage. He was good, but it was well known that he was no match for Krum and his talent.
So, the Irish Seeker had taken a rather different approach, and their team had taken a page out of their Ravenclaw team and was playing as a disruptor just like Cassius Malfoy did for his team.
"LYNCH HAS BASICALLY KILLED WHAT LITTLE OFFENSE THE BULGARIANS HAVE TRIED TO MUSTER! WE ARE SEEING A ROUTE HERE! GOAL!" and now the difference was a hundred and fifty points, with the Irish team at 170 and the Bulgarians at 20 only.
"NOW THE MATCH IS DONE AND DUSTED UNLESS THE BULGARIAN TEAM CAN MOUNT A HISTORIC COMEBACK!" which seemed highly improbable, given that they were all quite demotivated, including Krum, who was now shouting furiously at his teammates.
"AND HE IS OFF! LYNCH HAS SUDDENLY TAKEN OFF!" and the Irish Seeker suddenly whipped through the air, as Krum made to chase him.
"HE HAS SEEN IT! LYNCH'S SEEN THE SNITCH....."
.
.
And the match ended with the favourite team taking it all. Krum, for all his brilliance, could not overcome the Irish's trickery, who lifted the World Cup, much to the dismay of his friend Ron.
"I cannot believe it that Ireland won," Ron complained, even though it was not really a surprise. They were the favourites and had the better team. It was just that everyone was too mesmerised by the brilliance of Viktor Krum, that they thought he might be able to turn away the odds in their favor.
"We can," the Twins chirped from the side as they danced in the tent, as noise from people shouting, chanting, and using explosions shook the entire ground.
"But it was Krum. They basically pushed him out the entire match," Ron complained, folding his arms.
"Well, their strategy was very good," similar to the one that the Ravenclaw team had used against the Slytherins.
"And how the hell did they use the same thing as those Ravencalws?" and he had the same question.
"It's cuz of Boot, right?" one of the Twins asked the other, who nodded.
"Yeah, that was definitely him," and both he and Ron perked up at that.
"What do you mean by that?" he asked.
"Terry Boot. His father's the assistant coach for the Irish Team, he may have passed along the idea to his father," and he did not know that.
"You are telling me that nerd's father is a Quidditch Coach," Ron gasped, as they nodded.
"Yeah, we found out because he got Angelina an offer for a Harpy tryout," and Harry had no idea that teams even recruited out of the school.
"Angelina is going to play for the Harpies," and this day seemed to be full of surprises, and just before Ron could realise that shock.
"Ron, it's time to go," Arthur Weasley said, coming to get him.
"Why? It's far nicer here than our little tent," Ron complained, and if the older Weasley minded that he did not show, as he asked.
"We have to pack up and go back, Ron. I have just managed to convince Dan here to help me out with my car," and Hermione's father smiled nervously, and his involvement seemed more forced than voluntary.
"So get ready, we are going," and Ron sighed as he pushed himself off of the couch.
"It seems I must go now," and with Sirius busy talking with a few of his past colleagues, and Cassius busy with his own friends, Harry realised that he might find himself all alone.
"Sirius," he called out as he ran towards his godfather.
"Sirius, can I go with Ron and Hermione, and spend the night at the Burrow?" he asked, and he saw Ron's mood brighten immediately as he turned towards the Weasley matriarch.
"Is it fine with you?" he asked.
"Of course. Harry's always welcome at the Burrow. It wouldn't be a bother at all," she smiled, as Sirius seemed to think about it for a second.
"Promise me that you will be careful," and Harry smiled as he agreed.
"Thank you," he said, hugging Sirius as Ron jumped up in joy.
"Yes, with Charlie and Bill back, we can even play a full game of Quidditch...."
0000
DAPHNE GREENGRASS
The Final was over, and Ireland had won. It was a result that surprised no one, though the dominance of the Irish side may have come as a surprise to many, including perhaps even her best friend.
"Don't tell me you were rooting for the Bulgarians?" she asked Cassius, who was sulking in his room, too lost in his own mind to pay her any attention.
"What?" he asked, bouncing out of his trance.
"If you are not interested in talking, then I can leave," and it had been quite a headache making her father agree to let her stay at Grimmauld Place once more, but in the end, the Black name and heritage were too good a prize for him to defy her.
"I am sorry," he apologised, yet it was clear that he was distracted.
"Something is bothering you," she repeated, not letting him off this time.
"Tell me what it is? No secrets this time," for she was done with him and his secrets. He was not even a damned Slytherin and he had more secrets than all of them combined.
"It's nothing, really. I am just feeling rather odd for some reason," and that was strange.
"Odd in what way?" she asked.
"Odd in a bad way, like something bad is about to happen," and she looked around, and saw no indication to support his reasoning. The people outside were being rather loud and overt with their celebrations, and would cause a major headache for the Ministry in keeping this all hidden from the Muggles.
"I don't feel it," she whispered back, as his lips thinned.
"And please don't tell me that you are a Seer," she chimed in, as he raised a brow.
"Maybe I am," and she shook her.
"Then I do hope..." but suddenly she stopped as the shouts from outside turned to screams in an instant.
"What the..." she gasped, and perhaps it might just have been her misconception if not for how Cassius had reacted, with him jumping to his feet and taking out his wand.
"Get your wand out," he told her, and she reached into her bag and summoned her wand as they both rushed out of the room.
"Sirius! Sirius!" Cassius was shouting, and as they came to the Hall, Sirius was just leaving the tent.
"You two stay in! I am going after Harry and the rest!" and Cassius was left shouting.
"What's happening!" he asked.
"I don't know, but stay put!" he ordered, and suddenly she remembered one thing she had entirely forgotten.
"Tracey and Astoria," she whispered to Cassius as Sirius ran out of the tent, leaving them alone. Cassius gritted his teeth for a second as he rushed out of the tent and saw the chaos outside.
"Where were they the last time you saw them?" he asked, and she pointed towards the edge of the field, where Astoria and Tracey had gone to meet their friends.
"Stay behind me, and stay alert. We cannot get separated!" and with that he broke into a stride towards the edge of the field, cutting through the rampaging crowd as he continued to look around.
"Look there," she whispered as she saw a spell racing into the skies, the clouds beginning to shift, and a massive green skull with a snake coiling around it beginning to take form.
"Impossible," she whispered, recognising the mark at once.
"Daphne!" Cassius called out to her, motioning for her to follow him as they reached the edge of the clearing.
"There is no sign of them," he shouted, as suddenly she remembered something rather crucial and reached for the necklace around her neck and pulled it out, breaking the chain.
"What are you doing?" he asked, gasping.
"This necklace. Our mother left this for us. It's a pair, and the light in it shines brighter when they are close to one another," and as she opened the locket, she saw that the light was glimmering slightly, as her heart leaped with hope and joy.
"She is close to us," she whispered and walked in a few directions, and saw it brighten up as she moved forward.
"Forwards," she called out, now taking the lead as Cassius ran beside her, as they rushed into the dark and damp woods.
"Just her..." but before she could say anything more, she felt an arm pull her back, and as she tried to scream, she felt a hand cover her face.
"Stop!" and it was Cassius who had stopped her, and as she looked to the side where he was pointing, she saw four girls standing there, including Ginny, Tracey, Luna, and her younger sister, all huddled together as four men circled them laughing, and wagging their tongues as Tracey screamed.
"Get away from us!" she screamed.
"That's Fenrir Greyback!" he whispered, and her heart sank as he slid off her mouth, as she saw his grey eyes glint.
"A shame that we couldn't find the boy and the other girl! But we will have to make do with this one!" Greyback laughed as he looked straight at Tracey.
And she wondered which boy they were talking about.
"Silver," he whispered to her, and she saw him transfigure a few branches into silver blades as he prompted her to do the same, and she remembered their lesson from last year.
"I am going to make you an opening! Take Tracey and the rest and run! I will come in just behind you," and she nodded, as she transfigured a few branches into blades of silver as well, as Greyback dropped to his knees.
"Let's get this over with. We don't have much time to waste!"
And Cassius and her moved together, coming out as they aimed all the blades they had transfigured towards the four werewolves and screamed.
"Expulso!" "Expulso!"
The blades rushed towards the four werewolves, and she saw two of them tear into the necks of two of these men, while Fenrir was quick to jump, yet the blade still tore away at his neck.
"Tracey! Astoria! RUN!" she screamed, and they all looked towards her and broke into a stride, as Cassius began to cast a slew of spells behind them, as he ran behind them.
"Ahh! And to think we wasted all that time looking for you! And now you are here," she heard Greyback scream, as he ran after them, his eyes a menacing yellow.
"I will have quite fun tearing into you. You blood traitor!" She glanced back and saw the man transform into a werewolf right behind her. He closed the distance in a few jumps.
"Icendio!" and a blast of fire hit the wolf as it tried to jump at them, throwing it back into the woods, as she saw Cassius come to a halt. Her feet slowed down, yet he glanced back and ordered.
"GO! GET HELP! DON'T STOP!" and despite her better judgement.
"Listen to what he says...." she ordered and the werewolf tried to jump towards them once again, ignoring Cassius het she saw him conjure up a chain, as he pulled him back to the ground, before she saw him spin his wand around him, as she heard but a whisper of his spell.
"Protego Diabolica...." and the fire around him roared at his command, and formed a circle around him, enclosing them both in a circle of fire, as Greyback got back up and glared at him.
"HELP!" "HELP!" she screamed as she saw the red Auror robes, and as the Auror turned back to face her heart eased up.
"Tonks! Tonks! It's Cassius," she screamed, and it was none other than his cousin who quickly recognised her and rushed towards them.
"Daphne! What are you guys doing here?" but she did not let her finish.
"Back there. Greyback and Cassius," and that was enough, as she saw her pale.
"Dawlish, take them away! I am going after my idiotic cousin!" and another Auror rushed towards them, as Tonks broke out in a stride.
"Tracey! Keep an eye on Astoria," and she ran after her, even as her sister and the Auror screamed her name.
"Where do you think you are..." but she was not listening as she ran towards the massive fire she had left behind, and as she came closer she stopped at the scenes infront of her, as she saw Cassius standing there with green flames coming out of his wand, as the woods were filled with the screams and screeches of a werewolf.
Despite its tough and resistant hide, she saw those flames eat away at it, and she saw Fenrir turn back into a human and fall to his knees.
"Spare me! I beg you! Spare me!" he whispered, but Cassius was unrelenting, and she saw those eyes narrow as he refused to loosen his grip on his wand.
"Cassius! Cassius Stop!' Tonks shouted and tried to move in, but the ring of fire around him refused to let her enter, and even her water charm proved itself to be useless as the woods were filled with screams of Fenrir Greyback as Cassius simply stood there, and refused to lower his wand.
"AHHHHH!" and then the screams died down, and she watched as Fenrir Greyback was turned to nothing but a charred husk in front of her.
And as the screams stopped, so did the spell, as Cassius finally looked up towards them, as he raised his head.
"What have you done! He was beaten!" Tonks screamed at her cousin as Cassius reacted.
"Do you know who he is? What has he done?" he asked.
"Of course I know, but you went too far..." But before she could finish, the entire clearing stilled as one scream tore through the grounds.
.
.
.
"HARRRRRY!"
00000
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