The Quidditch World Cup!
Rose was overjoyed to be spending the summer with Astoria and her family instead of with Harry and the Weasleys or, more likely, with the Dursleys. Rose observed how Daphne took after her mother in her looks with their blond, daintily-curled locks and beautiful figures, while Astoria largely took after her father with her brown hair and plainer, but still pretty, features. Astoria’s family was very welcoming to her, which surprised Rose. Astoria’s mother took a liking to Rose after Rose offered to help Mrs. Greengrass and the house elves in the kitchen, and when Mr. Greengrass was home from working in the Ministry at the Department of International Magical Cooperation, he would take Rose and Astoria horseback riding.
In fact, the only person in the house that didn’t seem to care was Astoria's older sister, Daphne. Even though Daphne was only a year older than Astoria and Rose, Daphne viewed herself as superior to them and thus barely interacted with the two girls, instead spending most of her time with her own friends. However, Rose saw this attitude as an advantage for herself since it allowed Rose to spend more time with the rest of the Greengrass family.
As days went by at the Greengrass household, Rose found herself thinking less and less about her own brother, which was a positive for her. However, he popped back into her thoughts when the subject of the Quidditch World Cup was brought up.
After dinner the day before the Quidditch World Cup began, Mr. Greengrass informed Astoria and Rose, who along with Mr. Greengrass would be the only ones in the household going, that they would be Apparating to the Quidditch World Cup tomorrow afternoon. “Since we don’t know when the game will end, pack several days worth of clothing and supplies,” Mr. Greengrass advised. “We’ll be staying in our tent, so only bring what you’ll need.”
When Mr. Greengrass left the girls, Astoria turned to Rose. “Do you want the top bunk or the bottom bunk?”
“What?”
“The top or bottom bunk,” Astoria spelled out slowly. “Which do you want to sleep in?”
“Aren’t we sleeping in a tent?” Rose asked.
“Yes. And the bunk beds that we are going to be sharing are in the tent.”
“So the tent has an expansion charm on it?” Rose asked for clarification.
Astoria’s face filled with understanding. “Yeah, the tent is expanded to fit a living room, a kitchen, and two bedrooms. It’s not really that big compared to other wizarding tents.”
“That really clears things up,” Rose said.
“No, it doesn’t,” Astoria disagreed. “Top or bottom bunk?”
After Mr. Greengrass Apparated the girls and himself to the Quidditch World Cup, he gave them some money to spend as he set up the tent. Astoria and Rose gladly went off to explore and buy Quidditch merchandise. Neither Astoria nor Rose strongly supported a specific team; they just enjoyed watching Quidditch. The girls agreed that the Ireland Chasers were great players while Krum was an amazing Seeker.
They each bought dancing shamrock scarves to support Ireland (they wouldn’t be caught dead wearing a red scarf with lions on it) and red flowers that sparkled to wear in their hair to support Bulgaria, though Astoria bought a large flower to tuck behind her ear while Rose bought a hairband with smaller flowers on it. Astoria also bought a poster of the Ireland Chasers (Troy, Mullet, and Muran) to hang on her bedroom wall. With her leftover money, Rose bought Flaming Nachos*, which were super hot nachos. After swallowing a bite, Rose opened her mouth and breathed out a spurt of fire. Rose happily shared her Flaming Nachos with Astoria, and the girls continued to take in the sights.
As Astoria and Rose were exploring, they came across a tent that looked like a miniature striped silk palace and had several live peacocks tethered at the entrance. Just as they were passing it, a familiar blonde boy emerged from the tent and immediately spotted the girls.
He waved and walked up to them. “Isn’t this exciting? The Quidditch World Cup with Krum playing!”
“I know! He’s the youngest and best Quidditch player in the world, and we get to watch him fly tonight!” Rose fangirled.
Draco bragged, “And I’m going to be sitting in the Top Box watching the game! My father gave St. Mungo’s Hospital a large donation, so the Minister invited my family to be his guests in the Top Box.”
Behind Draco, a tall, slim, blonde woman appeared. “Draco, dear, you know that it is not polite to brag. Now, would you mind introducing these beautiful girls to your mother?” Mrs. Malfoy asked Draco, arching an elegant eyebrow.
All three of the children blushed in embarrassment.
Draco introduced, “Mother, this is Miss Astoria Greengrass and Miss Rose Evans. They are a year younger than me in Slytherin. Astoria, Rose, this is my mother.”
Astoria gave a slight curtsy, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Malfoy.”
Rose copied Astoria by also curtsying. “Indeed, I have heard only wonderful things about you from Draco.”
“I don’t recognize the surname Evans,” Mrs. Malfoy stated with an unreadable expression.
Rose answered the unasked question with a straight face and steel in her eyes, “My legal surname is Potter, but since I don’t enjoy being associated with my brother and the company he keeps I go by my muggleborn mother’s surname.”
“That is an unfortunate relation,” Mrs. Malfoy responded without specifying which relation she was referring to. She addressed Draco, “We are going to begin dinner soon.”
“We better return to our tent for dinner, also,” Astoria stated. “It was nice to meet you, Mrs. Malfoy.”
“Likewise,” Rose agreed. “We’ll see you on the train, Draco, if not sooner. Enjoy the game!”
Astoria and Rose both curtsied to the Malfoy matriarch before heading back to her tent.
“I don’t think she liked me,” Rose commented to Astoria once they were out of sight.
“I don’t know,” Astoria said with a shrug. “She’s always been impassive whenever I’ve seen her.”
Soon the excitement of the Quidditch World Cup took precedence in their minds, and the Malfoys were pushed to the back.
After Astoria, Rose, and Mr. Greengrass had finished eating dinner in the tent, they heard a deep booming gong sounding beyond the woods. They exited their tent and joined the thousands of people along a lantern-lit trail through the woods. Finally they came upon the gargantuan golden stadium. After showing their tickets, they had to climb up purple-carpeted stairs until they turned a right. As they sat down in their seats, Rose and Astoria took in the scene with amazement. Everything was bathed with a mysterious golden light, which seemed to come from the stadium itself. The girls and Mr. Greengrass were sitting near the center of the field but closer to the Bulgaria team’s fifty feet high goal hoops. Above the girls and on the opposite side of the stadium was a giant blackboard that showed advertisements. Mr. Greengrass handed each girl an Omniocular to watch the game and kept one for himself.
Soon a voice boomed over the packed stadium, “Ladies and gentlemen … welcome! Welcome to the final of the four hundred and twenty-second Quidditch World Cup!” Astoria and Rose clapped and cheered loudly along with the other spectators. The huge blackboard was wiped clear of advertisements and now showed BULGARIA: 0, IRELAND: 0.
“And now,” the announcer echoed, “without further ado, allow me to introduce … the Bulgarian National Team Mascots!”
After the announcer introduced the Bulgarian mascots (veela) and the Irish mascots (leprechauns), he introduced the teams and their players as they entered the field. Rose and Astoria cheered loudly for Krum on the Bulgarian National Quidditch Team and Troy, Mullet, and Moran on the Irish National Quidditch Team.
The game was Quidditch as Rose had never seen it before. The Irish Chasers passed the Quaffle so fast that the announcer didn’t have time to say the name of the player who possessed the Quaffle. The Bulgarian Beaters were brutal, especially when Ireland continuously scored. Rose and Astoria cheered loudly whenever the Irish Chasers scored and also when Krum caused the Irish Seeker to plow into the ground.
As the game continued, Rose noticed that Bulgaria’s victory practically relied solely on Krum. The Bulgarian Beaters were trying to injure the Irish Chasers in hopes that it would slow the Irish down enough so that Krum could catch the Snitch before it was too late. At the pace the Irish Chasers were scoring and with the fact that the Bulgarian Beaters were not deterring the Irish Chasers from scoring, Krum would have to catch the Snitch soon if Bulgaria was going to win.
The girls gasped in horror when Krum got a Bludger right in the face.
“Merlin’s beard! They need to get a time-out to heal him!” Rose shouted to Astoria.
Astoria shouted back, “That stupid referee isn’t even paying attention! Who cares if his broom is on fire? Krum needs help!”
“Lynch saw the Snitch!” Rose cried out.
The girls watched with bated breaths as Krum, with blood flying out behind him, dove after Lynch. Rose and Astoria held hands tightly as they watched Krum draw level with Lynch and then – Lynch crashed with tremendous force into the ground.
“Krum got the Snitch!” Astoria and Rose cheered jumping up and down. The scoreboard displayed the score: BULGARIA: 160, IRELAND: 170. The crowd went wild. The Ireland supporters erupted in cheers at the unbelievable end to the game.
The announcer roared, “IRELAND WINS! KRUM GETS THE SNITCH – BUT IRELAND WINS! And as the Irish team performs a lap of honor, flanked by their mascots, the Quidditch World Cup itself is brought into the Top Box!”
Mr. Greengrass pointed out to the girls the Top Box, which became illuminated for all to see. The three pointed their Omnioculars towards the Top Box.
The announcer shouted, “Let’s have a really loud hand for the gallant losers – Bulgaria!” One by one, the announcer called out the names of the Bulgarian players as they shook hands with the Bulgarian Minister and the British Minister. When Krum’s name was announced, the whole stadium gave him an earsplitting roar.
Then came the Irish team, with Lynch being supported by Moran and Connolly. As Troy and Quigley lifted the Cup in the air, Rose, Astoria, and the rest of the crowd (excluding Bulgarian supporters) screamed and clapped as loud as they could. Then the Irish team left the Top Box to perform another lap of honor on their brooms, though Lynch was on the back of Connolly’s broom.
Back at their tent, Mr. Greengrass made them all tea to drink as they excitedly discussed the game. “Drink up your tea,” Mr. Greengrass advised. “I added honey to it to help to soothe our throats. I know that your throats are as raw as mine by how hoarse your voices are,” Mr. Greengrass commented with a grin.
“Thank you, Mr. Greengrass,” Rose said as she took a sip of her tea.
“That ending though!” Astoria continued the previous discussion. “Krum getting the Snitch, but Ireland winning! And the close score! And – everything!”
“Lynch crashing the second time was kind of stupid, though,” Rose inserted. “He had nothing to lose by letting Krum catch the Snitch since they were going to win in any case. Lynch now has some sort of damage to his head now; did you see how unsteady he was after the game?”
“Maybe Lynch didn’t realize that Ireland was going to win anyway,” Mr. Greengrass contributed. “The score was extremely close at the end, and Lynch probably wasn’t going to take time to calculate the final score after adding a hundred fifty points onto the Bulgarian score.”
“Also,” Astoria added, “Lynch’s job is to catch the Snitch, not just watch the other team’s Seeker catch it. It’s probably a pride thing too. You know, wanting to be the person who caused your team to win.”
Rose continued, “And, if Lynch succeeded in catching the Snitch, Ireland would have completely decimated Bulgaria: the score would have been 320 to 10. That would have been embarrassing for Bulgaria.”
“If you put it that way,” Astoria provided, “Krum is really Bulgaria’s hero, saving them from that humiliation.”
As Mr. Greengrass and the girls reflected on that thought, they noticed that the commotion outside was shifting tones. The singing by the Ireland supporters had stopped, and they could hear people running and screaming.
Mr. Greengrass shot out of his seat. “Come quickly, girls,” he ordered.
Without a second thought, Rose and Astoria followed Mr. Greengrass out of the tent. By the light of the fires that were still burning, they could see people running away into the woods. Mr. Greengrass swiftly used a spell to collapse the tent, grabbed the girls by their hands, and Apparated them back home.
Back at the Greengrass’s house, Mr. Greengrass told the girls, “I’ll inform your mother what happened. Go straight up to bed. We’ll know more in the morning. There’s no use of worrying about it now that we’re safe at home.”
Astoria and Rose shared worried looks as they did as they were told.
The next morning, the Daily Prophet’s headline was SCENES OF TERROR AT THE QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP, and the newspaper had a picture of the Dark Mark over the treetops. The Greengrass family quietly took turns reading the article, which basically said, “Dark wizards were running unchecked” because of the Ministry’s “lax security,” which is a “national disgrace.” The article also alluded to several people being injured or killed in the woods where the Dark Mark appeared. The subject was not broached in the Greengrass household any further.
However, Mr. Greengrass presented another topic at dinner that night to get everyone’s minds off the Dark Mark incident. Mr. Greengrass announced, “As you know, for the past year I’ve been increasingly busy at work. That is because of what is taking place at Hogwarts this year. The students were not to be informed of the event until they reach Hogwarts, but because you three are Slytherins, you understand that information is critical in how you will further yourselves. For that reason, I am informing you that this year Hogwarts will be hosting the Triwizard Tournnament. One champion who is at least seventeen years of age will be chosen from each of the three schools: Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang. Students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be present at Hogwarts for the tournament, so I assume you know how imperative it is to behave and use this as a way to make ties and gain favors. I have books about the Triwizard Tournament in the library so you can do your research.”
After dinner, Astoria and Rose went straight to the library to read up on the Triwizard Tournament. Several books in, Rose commented to Astoria in a joking tone but completely serious, “Knowing my brother, Harry would probably be chosen as a champion if it wasn’t for the age limit.”
Astoria responded, “Yeah, especially with all the danger and the fame associated with it.”
Then Rose and Astoria laughed at the absurdness and yet trueness of it all.
When the Goblet flamed up for the fourth time and shot another name out, Rose muttered, “Are you kidding me? Please don’t say what I think it does.”
“Harry Potter,” Dumbledore announced. Astoria and Rose both looked at each other wide-eyed and unbelieving, before doing what everyone else in the room was doing: staring at Harry Potter.
Once Harry disappeared into the room with the other champions, Rose started ranting to Astoria, “Of all the foolish, crazy, idiotic, stupid, outrageous, . . . .”