Chapter 203 : A Quidditch Extravaganza

HI GUYS IF YOU WANT READ 300 + CHAPTERS THEN VISIT

patreon.com/Benzoid

She sighed as her eyes slid from Severus's form to her husband. She missed him, she thought to herself for the umpteenth time. She missed them as they used to be. Back in the beginning when they were still happy and really together even through the war and the prophecy and all the early training of Adrian. They had drifted apart, hadn't they? Lily wondered if James would realize that eventually; she hoped if and when he did wouldn't be too late.

The large group walked further into the forest, guided by the lanterns that had been placed there to create a clear path for them to follow to reach the stadium. It wasn't the first game Harry would be attending of course, but it was the finals and the teen knew the Ministry had gone all out to create a new stadium that would be used just this once to house the imminent game. Having worked on sensing magic with Severus, he immediately felt it when they walked out of the unprotected area of the forest and into the wards that protected the stadium before he could even see it. He wasn't yet experienced enough to discern the different wards but he could tell a great deal of work had gone in their creation. He thought back at how the magic of the wards felt at Hogwarts every time he had tried to seek it out; the wards of the school were older, without a doubt, and much stronger than the ones here. It wasn't difficult to see why it was considered the safest building in the country. Should the need arise, Harry thought, the castle could probably withstand a magical siege, should there be people defending it from the inside.

All thoughts of magical sieges left his mind when they actually walked out of the trees and into the large clearing where the stadium had been set up. It was huge, much larger than any of the stadiums he had been before and Harry was certain the Ministry officials had gone to great lengths in their effort to surpass the grandeur of any World Championship held before. The walls of the stadium were painted gold -really subtle, the green eyed wizard thought sarcastically- and glittered under the morning sun while colourful banners swayed in the breeze; the crowds were already gathering and Harry could feel his excitement mounting.

"Wow." Neville stated eloquently next to him, looking up. "Rather ostentatious, isn't it?"

"Now why would you say that?" Harry wondered with mock surprise colouring his voice.

"It's the sparkling that did it for me." Neville informed his best friend, trying to keep a serious façade. "Yep, definitely the sparkling." The two boys chuckled for a while before an amused potions master urged them to keep moving.

"We'd better get inside." Severus cautioned. "I fear staring at these walls for an extended period of time might be harmful for my eyesight." That quip easily prompted another round of laughter but got the two teens moving nonetheless. Harry could faintly hear Mr. Weasley commenting on the stadium; apparently it could seat a hundred thousand people and Harry wouldn't be surprised should someone tell him they could fit ten cathedrals in there.

Their seats were at the Top Box, as it turned out and far higher up than the rest boxes of the stadium. It was an excited and slightly out of breath group that entered the box. They were seated in the plush purple chairs in the front row and proceeded chatting as animatedly as before while the rest of spectators meant to watch the match from their box filled in. Fudge, Ludo Bagman, the Bulgarian Minister of Magic, some more ministry officials Severus greeted by name, shocking the assorted crowd who was under the impression he had no other connections with society.

"Whatever." The potions master mumbled at their reaction and Harry exchanged an amused glance with Neville as the last three people missing entered the box. It was hard to not notice the Malfoys, Harry admitted, as the three members of the house walked in and took their place in the front line, passing a house elf -Winky Harry believed her name was- that was supposed to be keeping a seat for her master even though she was terribly afraid of heights. Their silvery blond hair shone almost white in the morning light, their dark blue robes contrasted with their pale skin and their haughty expressions remained unchanged -well, if one excepted the disdainful glare one Lucius Malfoy spared the Weasley patriarch once their eyes met- as they took their seats, exchanging pleasantries with the Minister.

Harry rolled his eyes and was about to make an appropriate comment to Neville when Draco turned to look at them. Harry could in no certain way be certain, but he felt as if the blond teen had waited till his parents were absorbed in a conversation with a Bulgarian dignitary before turning to face him and Severus. From Draco's reaction it was quite clear that he hadn't expected Harry would be looking at him at the time. So there was a definite shock when their gazes locked and the cold sneer and contempt slipped over his characteristics before Harry had the time to blink. Still, the green eyed teen could almost swear that he had caught a glimpse of something else there. For a moment Draco Malfoy had looked… sad? Why on earth would he feel sad for?

It wasn't as if Harry believed Draco incapable of feelings; it was that the Slytherin had never shown anything other than disinterest and the occasional ire. Haughtiness perhaps with some smug satisfaction here and there. Harry hadn't spent much time in the ash blonde's presence to know with certainty -definitely less than his brother had even if they were in one more class together; students tended to be much too focused on their task at hand during Arithmology to do much else- but he had never known Draco to look sad of all things. Harry internally chastised himself and shrugged his thoughts off. He was over-thinking again, probably over something that existed only in his imagination.

Ludo Bagman chose that moment to announce the beginning of the game, his voice echoing through the stadium, magically magnified with a Sonorus charm. The advertisements' board on the other side of the field -both the Firebolt and the Memory Sphere's had featured in passing- was replaced with the score of the game and then the mascots' entrance was announced. First to go was Bulgaria and they had brought;

"Veela?" Severus's surprised voice sounded over the sudden silence in the Top Box.

"Oh dear." Harry muttered and immediately closed his eyes, motioning Neville to do the same. He would be the first to admit that veela dancing was a sight worth seeing and something he would have definitely enjoyed were the circumstances different. But seated as he was on the highest box of the stadium he would rather not take a swan dive towards the pit if he could avoid it. Ron and Adrian seemed to be prepared to do just that, Harry noted when he opened his eyes again, once the music had stopped.

"So, Sev." He said, turning towards his father. "Veela." The man rolled his eyes as Neville chuckled at the display.

"Hello pot, this is kettle. Guess what; we're black!" Was the potions master response, at which both teens burst into uncontrollable laughter, one that Sirius's completely disgruntled and slightly disgusted look only helped in prolonging. They all cheered at Ireland's mascots as the leprechauns showered them with fool's gold and then cheered some more as the teams were announced and entered the field. When Bagman called Krum's name, the crowds went wild.

HI GUYS IF YOU WANT READ 300 + CHAPTERS THEN VISIT

patreon.com/Benzoid