Chapter 25: The World Reacts and the World Cup Begins
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The summer sun rose high over the magical world, casting its golden light over the towers of Hogwarts and beyond. Newspapers flurried through owls' wings, magical wireless crackled with debate, and across the globe, one name was on every wizard's lips: Harrison Strange Potter.
Revelation of the Founders
The world reeled under the weight of revelations brought forth by Harrison's published book, Truths of the Founders: Gryffindor and Slytherin Unveiled. Translated into more than fifteen languages within the first week of release, the book contained Harrison's personal journey through the memories of Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin—painful, powerful, and vastly divergent from the mainstream historical depictions.
It wasn't just a scholarly account. It was a soul-wrought chronicle that redefined the dichotomy between "light" and "dark" wizards. No longer were Gryffindor and Slytherin reduced to the caricatures of a noble hero and a prejudiced villain.
Instead, readers discovered a Salazar who had loved deeply, fought bravely, and died protecting the balance of magical bloodlines—only to be betrayed by his own adopted son. They saw a Gryffindor shattered by the burning of his beloved family by Muggles, not out of ignorance, but out of hatred. They read his descent into controlled wrath and saw a man whose grief became the fire behind his sword.
The wizarding world responded in waves:
France's Académie des Sorcières Historiques awarded Harrison the Silver Quill of Historical Integrity.
Germany's Confederation of Magical Legacy invited Harrison to speak at the annual Legacy Reclamation Conference.
Hogwarts announced the establishment of a new course titled True Magical History: Beyond the Founders, with Harrison's book as the core text.
In Britain, however, the response was more polarized. The Daily Prophet ran split headlines:
The Brave Truth: Young Potter Sheds Light on Forgotten Heroes — by Bathilda Baggshot II.
Revisionism or Rebellion? Is Potter Undermining British History? — by Rita Skeeter.
Families around kitchen tables debated history. Children asked questions never dared before. Some historians accused Harrison of fabrication, while others hailed him as the greatest scholar of his generation.
Clarissa, curled against Harrison one evening on the couch at Potter Castle, whispered, "You've rewritten history. Are you ready for what comes next?"
Harrison's gaze was far away. "History was never true to begin with. I only corrected the tale."
The World Quidditch Tournament Final
If the world had been shaken by a book, it now held its breath for a sport.
The World Quidditch Cup Final was to be held at a secret, enchanted stadium nestled between ancient Welsh highlands. The match? A fan's dream:
Bulgaria vs. Ireland.
Harrison, flanked by Clarissa and Penelope, along with Sirius, the Weasleys, and his close circle of friends, arrived in style. They'd been offered VIP seats by the Magical Games Committee. Despite the politics swirling around Harrison's historical revelations, few could deny his importance now.
The stands buzzed with magical excitement, each supporter section dressed in robes colored like national flags. Green smoke and gold stars danced above the Irish section. Bulgarian flags shimmered with red and silver enchantments. Chants echoed in various languages, enchanted banners wove themselves in the air, and vendors sold everything from omnioculars to enchanted snacks that sung.
Cedric Diggory waved from a nearby stand, wearing a green scarf but holding a small pin that said "Go Bulgaria"—hedging his bets like a true Hufflepuff.
Ginny Weasley bounced in place beside Luna, both girls wearing glittering Irish robes. Fred and George enchanted miniature fireworks to burst above their heads in emerald and silver.
"This is absolutely insane!" Lee Jordan shouted over the crowd. "You could fill ten Hogwarts Great Halls with this lot!"
Clarissa, sitting beside Penelope and Harrison, leaned in. "Bet you a date that Ireland wins."
"Bet you two kisses they don't," Harrison replied with a smirk.
The match began with thunderous applause. Irish Chasers—Troy, Mullet, and Moran—wove a spectacular aerial dance with the Quaffle, scoring three goals within the first ten minutes.
"Did you see that triple-loop pass?" Fred gasped.
"I've never seen anything like it," Sirius murmured, eyes gleaming.
But then came the Bulgarians. Viktor Krum, seeker of global renown, dove with ferocity that left even veterans breathless. His precision was animalistic—intuitive. He nearly caught the Snitch three times before the stadium collectively held its breath.
One moment, the Snitch was near the Irish goalpost. The next, Krum and the Irish Seeker, Lynch, were locked in a deadly dive.
Lynch blacked out from G-force mid-plummet and was caught by mediwizards before he hit the ground. Krum pulled up just in time, earning thunderous cheers from both sides.
The game lasted for five hours, and by then, the scoreboard read: Ireland 170 – Bulgaria 160.
And then it happened.
Krum saw it.
Like a hawk, he soared forward, past the referee and three startled Irish Chasers, toward the Snitch.
He caught it.
But it was too late.
Final score: Ireland 170 – Bulgaria 150.
Krum, grim-faced, held the Snitch like a trophy and a burden both.
"He knew," Harrison murmured. "He knew Ireland was too far ahead. But he caught it to end it. That's a warrior's dignity."
Even Clarissa wiped her eyes.
As fireworks lit up the skies in a thousand hues, as dancers from both nations took the pitch to perform sky-choreographed spells, the group sat back in awe.
Penelope whispered, "For one moment, it didn't matter who won. It mattered how fiercely they played."
Harrison nodded. "That's the lesson. Power alone doesn't define greatness. Purpose does."
The stars above glittered like diamond tears.
It was a day for sport, but also for unity.
And the world, shaken by truth and humbled by passion, had found something new in its heart: hope.