Renouncing Magic's Child

Clutching their purchases... The atmosphere of feverish excitement was highly infectious;

There was excitement in the chamber too. The kids were unable to sit still as they eagerly anticipated the match. And the adults weren't much better.

Harry couldn't stop grinning... ten cathedrals would fit comfortably inside it.

"That's impressive," Mr Granger whistled. He couldn't even begin to imagine what that must have been like. "Can muggles watch quidditch?"

"Technically yes," Lucius said. "You should take your daughter to watch the Holyhead Hapies. They're an all female team and one of the very best teams in the league."

Mr Granger nodded thoughtfully. That did sound like a good idea.

Hermione looked less impressed however. She wasn't really that interested in quidditch and she just knew once her father had seen one match, he'd be hooked for life.

"Seats a hundred thousand," ... Arthur, and as high as you can go. "

Several people looked at the Weasleys, Harry and Hermione in utter jealousy. They couldn't imagine how great it would have been to watch from the top box. Harry frowned. Things would have been a lot simpler if they hadn't been in the top box. Then he wouldn't have lost his bloody wand.

The stairs into the stadium ... halfway between the golden goal posts.

"Best seats in the house," Sirius said with a grin. This was more like it. He wanted to hear more about this sort of thing. Harry having fun with his friends. Doing regular kid stuff. Moments like this were few and far between for Harry but Sirius was sure he could fix that in the new timeline. Harry would experience everything the magical world had to offer. He'd make sure of it.

About twenty purple-and-gilt chairs ... The Bluebottle: A Broom for All the Family -

"Bought one of those," Lucius said. "It's alright. Not the best family broom, but good enough."

Augusta groaned. She wasn't the biggest fan of flying. But she was beginning to wonder if she'd been cruel not to take Neville to watch the match. They weren't wrong when they said it was a once in a life time experience.

safe, reliable, ... Gladrags Wizardwear - London, Paris, Hogsmeade. . .

It still seemed crazy that Hogsmeade was considered just as important as London or Paris. Harry couldn't wrap his head around how few magical places their were. Hogsmeade wasn't much bigger than a muggle village. And yet it was held up there with the capital cities of both England and France.

Harry tore his eyes away ... "Dobby?" said Harry incredulously.

Everyone sat forward. What was the Malfoy's elf doing there? Not that he belonged to the Malfoys anymore.

The tiny creature looked up .... "But I knows Dobby too, sir!" squeaked the elf.

"All the elves know each other," Augusta said. "Honestly, they always have the best gossip."

Her younger self was nodding her head in agreement. Clearly they'd gotten a lot of gossip out of their house elves over the years.

She was shielding her face... "My name is Winky, sir - and you, sir -"

Barty sat forward. What was Winky doing there? She hated heights. That was just like his dad, always forcing Winky to do things she hated. It wasn't right. He might not agree that elves should be paid, but he thought Potter had the right of it. Elves should have better rights.

Her dark brown eyes widened ... "How's freedom suiting him?"

Lucius grimaced. It still hurt that Dobby had left the family. Even if it was probably for the best. He sincerely hoped the elf would find a new family. One that he wouldn't fear. Either that, or perhaps Heir Potter could take him on. The prince would have good use for a house elf and they both obviously cared about one another.

"Ah, sir," ... Can't get another position, sir. "

Hermione glared at the book. If Dobby wanted to be free, he should be free. If he wanted payment, all the better. She didn't seem to notice that she was actively ignoring everything that had been said about house elves needing a family to help them control their magic. Harry, however, had not forgotten.

"Why not?" ...  "Well - why shouldn't he be paid?"

Harry still thought house elves should be paid. Even if they couldn't be free. "What I don't get is the pillow cases," Harry said thoughtfully.

"You can't give them..." Ron began.

"Yeah, I know but why don't more people give them material to make a uniform? If that's an option..."

"Some do," Lucius said. "I don't think you've met the best examples of well-kept elves."

Winky looked quite horrified ...  like some common goblin. "

Harry laughed. Even creatures had their prejudices. Those would probably be just as hard to break as Wixen prejudice.

"Well, it's about time ... "but my master sends me to the Top Box and I comes, sir. "

Barty glared at book, feeling a sudden surge of rage for his father.

"Why's he sent you up here ... Winky is a good house-elf. "

Young Hermione looked scandalised.

She gave the edge of the box... "Weird things, aren't they?"

Several people gave Ron an odd look, even his older brothers. "You've seen house elves before," Bill said. "Aunt Muriel keeps an elf."

"Oh," Ron blushed. "I forgot about old Aggy."

Hermione glared at him.

"Dobby was weirder," ... pick his nose again. . . and again. . . and again. . . "

Mrs Weasley gave a heavy sigh. Just when would Ronald grow up?

Hermione, meanwhile ...  to put on a bit of a show. "

Harry frowned. He wasn't really comfortable with calling them creatures. They should be called beings or something. They certainly had human levels of intelligence.

The box filled gradually ... Percy bowed so low that his glasses fell off and shattered.

Percy grimaced. Why did Harry have to notice everything?

Highly embarrassed ... greeted like an old friend.

Harry sighed. He really didn't think that was anything to be jealous about.

They had met before ... you do know who he is -"

Harry frowned. He would have rather the minister hadn't introduced him.

The Bulgarian wizard ... ever since their very first journey to Hogwarts.

Draco considered that. He was beginning to think that might be his fault.

A pale boy with a pointed face ... a nasty smell under her nose.

Narcissa smirked. "The scent in question was odor of Fudge."

Everyone laughed.

"Ah, Fudge," ... Surely your house wouldn't have fetched this much?"

Narcissa gave her husband a pointed look. This was why Draco behaved the way he did.

Fudge, who wasn't listening, ... but stared determinedly back at him.

Lucius chuckled. "It was nice to put a face to the name of the witch that my son said was always top of the class."

Harry knew exactly what was making Mr. Malfoy's lip curl ... like Hermione, second-class.

Lucius sighed. It wasn't completely inaccurate. He didn't really hate muggleborns, just what they represented. The way the ministry had been pandering to muggleborns in recent years, had gradually been eroding away at their traditions until there was next to nothing left.

However, under the gaze of the Minister of Magic... "Slimy gits," Ron muttered

Mrs Weasley tutted.

as he, Harry, and Hermione ... four hundred and twenty-second Quidditch World Cup!"

There were cheers throughout the chamber. This was what they were waiting for!

The spectators screamed and clapped ... BULGARIA: 0, IRELAND: 0.

Sirius grinned. It had been a long time since he saw a game of Quidditch.

"And now, without further ado ... "Veela!"

"I thought you said they were bringing creatures," young Harry said. "Veela aren't creatures. Are they? I thought..."

Harry sighed. "Wixen kind look down on pretty much everyone who isn't a wix."

"Huh. That's sort of stupid," young Harry muttered.

Arthur looked momentarily offended. He hadn't meant it in a derogatory way. "That wasn't what I meant," he tried to explain. "I didn't know what they'd brought. I wouldn't have described them as creatures, if I'd known they'd bring veela."

Harry frowned. He hadn't meant to embarrass Mr Weasley. But it didn't change the fact that most wizards did consider veela creatures. Less than human. And it wasn't right.

"Sorry, Mr Weasley," Harry said quietly.

Arthur waved his apology away with a shrug.

"What are veel -?" ... the most beautiful women Harry had ever seen...

All the girls glared at Harry in exasperation.

Harry merely shrugged. He was pretty sure he wasn't a hundred percent straight... or gay for that matter. But he could certainly appreciate a good looking veela.

except that they weren't... in fact, he stopped worrying about anything at all.

Several people chuckled. Veela would do that to you.

The veela had started to dance ... if they stopped dancing, terrible things would happen.

Hermione rolled her eyes. Boys!

And as the veela danced ... he were about to dive from a springboard.

Sirius messed with Harry's hair, laughing heartily.

Angry yells were filling the stadium... "Honestly!" she said.

Narcissa giggled. Although she couldn't help but make a mental note to make sure Harry knew about his family rings. He'd need the mind magic protection and it would have the added benefit of protecting him from veela allure.

"And now," ... each carrying a minute lamp of gold or green.

"Leprechauns," Remus said. "You rarely see those outside of Ireland."

"Leprechauns!" ... Now you've got to buy me a Christmas present, ha!"

Sirius frowned. How did the boy not know that Leprechaun gold was fake? Did his parents teach him nothing at all growing up?

The great shamrock dissolved ... Dimitrov!"

Krum muttered something under his breath in Bulgarian. He did not like Dimitrov. In Viktor's opinion, he was a terrible captain.

A scarlet-clad figure on a broomstick ... Aaaaaaand - Krum!"

Viktor scowled as everyone looked his way.

"That's him, that's him!"... He looked like an overgrown bird of prey.

Viktor smirked at that description. He liked it.

It was hard to believe ... embroidered in silver, upon their backs.

Seamus cheered loudly for his national team.

"And here, all the way from Egypt, ... Hassan Mostafa!"

Viktor was muttering again, complaining about the terrible referee.

A small and skinny wizard ... the minuscule, winged Golden Snitch.

"How did you even see that, Harry?" Ron asked in awe.

"Seeker," Krum said with a nod of appreciation.

With a sharp blast .... after the balls.

The kids all cheered. The match was about to start.