Wes and Lucius did not speak to each other. They acted as if they were strangers, their gazes only meeting briefly before they deliberately kept their distance.
The ones who drew the most attention in the VIP box were still the Weasley family, along with Harry and Hermione—ten of them gathered together in one lively group.
Arthur Weasley noticed Wes and immediately broke into a broad smile, enthusiastically beckoning him over.
"Wes! What a surprise to see you here too!"
Wes returned the smile and nodded. "Yes, Arthur. It's great to see you all."
Arthur tugged him to a seat beside them and began recounting what had happened when they went to pick Harry up from his aunt's house.
"You know, Harry's aunt really treats him poorly. Going there this time was a real eye-opener. Those Muggles know absolutely nothing about the wizarding world, and they treat Harry like some kind of freak…"
By the time night fell, the stands were completely packed. Wes estimated there were well over a hundred thousand people present.
Supporters of Bulgaria and Ireland were clearly divided into two sides. They wore their teams' colors, had their faces painted, and waved flags and banners high in the air.
Even before the match began, the fans were already competing, their singing and chanting growing louder and louder, each side determined to outdo the other.
As the sky darkened, bright lights lit up the entire stadium, making it shine as if it were broad daylight.
Suddenly, a melodious tune drifted across the field, drawing everyone's eyes toward the entrance. Bulgaria's mascots—the Veela—had arrived.
They were breathtakingly beautiful, humanoid beings with an innate power of enchantment. Their slender figures and flawless faces shone under the lights. Dressed in flowing gowns, they danced gracefully onto the field, their skirts swaying with each movement, every gesture brimming with irresistible allure.
The moment they appeared, all eyes were locked on them—especially the men. The once-boisterous stadium fell silent as the Veela performed at the center of the pitch, mesmerizing the entire crowd.
Just as their performance was nearing its end, another round of cheers and laughter erupted, shattering the trance. Ireland's mascots had arrived—the mischievous Leprechauns.
Though small in stature, they were incredibly lively and full of charm.
As soon as they appeared, they began hurling gold coins into the crowd. The coins glittered enticingly, though everyone knew they were conjured by magic and would vanish after a short while.
The Leprechauns tumbled and spun through the air, pulling comical stunts that had the audience roaring with laughter.
With the mascots of both teams revealed, the atmosphere reached its peak. Moments later, the players soared out of the tunnel on their broomsticks.
The fans erupted into the loudest cheers yet, the stadium trembling with excitement.
The greatest wave of support was reserved for Bulgaria's Seeker, Viktor Krum.
He had a massive following across the wizarding world, and many of the neutral fans had come for no other reason than to witness his unparalleled flying skills.
The match began quickly.
Players clashed fiercely in the sky, every dazzling pass, catch, and goal sending fresh waves of cheers through the crowd.
At this moment, Wes's attention was not on the thrilling match.
His eyes kept sweeping across the surroundings—Death Eaters could strike at any time. Other than Wes and Lucius, everyone else in the VIP box was completely absorbed in the game.
Dumbledore, Minister Fudge, and other senior Ministry officials were eagerly discussing the highlights of the match.
When Krum finally caught the Golden Snitch, the match was over. Though Bulgaria had lost, Krum's performance still earned him thunderous applause from the entire stadium.
Brilliant fireworks exploded in the sky, painting the night with dazzling colors. Gold coins rained down from above, and the whole stadium was swept up in joyous celebration to mark the grand finale.
Yet, amid the deafening cheers and explosions, Wes caught a different sound—a signal. He instantly realized it was the Death Eaters' cue to act.
He slipped quietly out of the VIP box. No one noticed his departure except Lucius. Pushing through the packed crowd, Wes made his way toward the source of the noise.
When he arrived, he saw a grizzled man with gray hair and a face covered in scars surrounded by over a dozen Death Eaters. The man was missing a chunk of flesh from his nose, one eye was magical, and one leg was a wooden prosthetic.
Such a figure would frighten children into tears—and even adults might flinch at the sight.
But this was none other than the former Auror and Order of the Phoenix member—"Mad-Eye" Moody. A veteran warrior who had fought Voldemort on the front lines, he had personally captured countless criminals and Death Eaters, sending them to Azkaban.
Even now, outnumbered, he still managed to fight back against more than ten assailants, proof of his formidable strength.
Wes wasted no time.
"Bullet Barrage!"
Nearby objects transformed into projectiles, hurtling toward the Death Eaters. Their attention was locked on Moody, and they never expected a new threat.
The sudden ambush caught them off guard—several were struck through on the spot, their lives ended instantly.
Before they could recover, Wes unleashed another spell. "Fiery Serpent!"
A blazing serpent surged forward, devouring several more Death Eaters. Only then did the survivors realize the danger, but it was already too late.
Instead of fighting back, the Death Eaters panicked and fled, Disapparating in a rush while dragging their wounded with them. Wes hadn't expected them to be so cowardly.
The commotion drew attention—several Aurors hurried toward the scene.
Not wanting to be caught up in questioning, Wes gave Moody a brief nod and Disapparated away. Explanations could be left to Moody—he had the authority and credibility of a lifelong Auror, whereas Wes, an unofficial operative, might only invite suspicion if discovered.
He returned to the VIP box as if nothing had happened. News of the attack had just reached the Ministry officials. Fudge muttered a few official-sounding remarks before hastily leading his people away.
"Professor, where did you go?" Fred and George asked eagerly, their faces flushed with excitement. "You missed the award ceremony!"
The twins had correctly predicted the outcome of the match and wagered all their money with Ludo Bagman, head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports. With their winnings, they now had more than enough to start up their joke shop.
Wes was about to answer when—
BOOM!
A massive explosion shook the night sky.
Above the stadium, a gigantic Dark Mark blossomed, looming over the grounds. Every head turned upward to see the terrifying symbol.
°°°
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