Chapter 514: The Match in Progress 1
Chapter 514: The Match in Progress 1
Wade flipped open the book and once again saw the illustration of the Forbidden Forest.
The menacing black trees blocked out the sky, and the dark wizards casting curses were only tiny figures in the picture.
Thinking carefully, was it really just an association from seeing this image that caused his first dream?
Closing his eyes, he recalled the sound of rain, the splashes of water droplets, the wizard's smile, and the damp, decaying smell of the forest—so vivid, real, and specific.
In the second dream, bodies were everywhere, one hanging upside down from a banyan tree, with fresh red blood dripping down.
In the third dream, there was a desolate scene with broken pine trees.
In all three ominous dreams, there was a common element—it couldn't be a coincidence.
Wade remembered Sirius's words:
"The Ministry will seal all related documents to prevent any foolish person from trying to imitate."
Imitate...
Even if it was just his overthinking... what if his guess came true...
Wade thought and thought, and finally, he picked up the book and walked out.
...
With a loud "thump", a vendor with a cart suddenly appeared, the cart loaded with all sorts of odd items: badges that shouted out players' names, flags that played national anthems, mini player statues that walked around on their own, and various types of Omnioculars.
"Look! Krum!" Harry excitedly grabbed a statue and turned to his friends. "He flies brilliantly, the best Seeker in the world."
Ron had already seen the semifinal on the Mirror of Erised and was a Krum fan. Without hesitation, he took out his pocket money and bought one, then drooled over the Omnioculars.
"Here!" Harry bought one and handed it to him. "Without this, you'll miss a lot of the action."
"No way." Ron's face turned red. "It's too expensive."
"Consider it an early Christmas gift!" Harry said with a smile.
Ron finally accepted it.
...
"Thud."
Wade stepped into the mud, which felt soft and sticky like glue. His expression froze, and he pulled his foot and shoe out of the muck.
"Be careful", Antoine reached out and pulled him. "The forest can be deceptive. Some areas look normal, but there could be deep pits underneath, and you could fall in if you're not careful."
Draen, seeing his struggle, frowned and said, "I remember Mr. Grindelwald mentioned a wandless flight spell in the book he gave you. You should practice it when you have time."
"—Wandless flight dark magic", Wade emphasized. "In Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts, this silent flight spell is considered a hallmark of Voldemort. Even if I knew it, I wouldn't use it casually."
"It's just us here, and you've taken the Polyjuice Potion. Afraid of being discovered?" Antoine said.
"I have a simpler way."
Wade reached into his pocket and pulled out a deep black cloak. He shook it out, and it settled on his shoulders, lifting him slightly off the ground.
His feet didn't fully leave the ground; they just felt as light as a ball. With a gentle step, he could glide a considerable distance.
The cloak could lift Wade, but he felt it would reduce his mobility. This way was more convenient.
He quickly put several meters between himself and Antoine, then turned and waved, signaling them to follow.
Antoine watched Wade's swift speed, elusive figure, and the way he glided along the ground, finding him almost ghostly. The way he waved his hand instantly reminded Antoine of many ghost stories he had read before.
He turned to Draen, "And that kid still dares to say that wandless flight is a mark of dark wizards?"
Draen couldn't help but smile.
...
Cheers and applause echoed throughout the stadium, where nearly ten thousand spectators filled almost every seat.
Since the top-tier box offered a better view, at Harry's invitation, the Ssc members, along with Ron and Ginny Weasley, joined him in Sirius's box.
"Good heavens, you're only a few people, and you get such a large box?" Fred was the first to throw himself into a seat, shaking his head and saying, "If I had known, I would have come a few days ago."
"Didn't Mr. Weasley get tickets for the top-tier box too?" Hermione asked curiously.
"Ah, don't even mention it", George said, sitting on Fred's other side. "That box is filled with Ministry officials, even the Bulgarian Minister of Magic. The Malfoy family is in there too."
"Percy loves it", Ron added sarcastically. "I think he could live in there forever."
Everyone laughed.
Ryan pulled out a bag, "I brought some drinks and snacks. Anyone want some?"
"I do", Michael asked, "Do you have Chocolate Frogs?"
"Of course."
"By the way..." Theo looked around and asked Harry, "When is Wade coming? And Mr. Black and Professor Lupin?"
"Sirius said he has something to do tonight, and Remus ran into an old friend; he'll be here later. Wade sent me a message half an hour ago, saying he doesn't want to watch the match", Harry explained.
"What?" Padma exclaimed, "This is the Quidditch World Cup Final!"
"In the last match, the semifinal between Bulgaria and Egypt, Wade went back to the tent to read a book", Harry said, not surprised. "The view wasn't great, but for him, reading is more interesting than Quidditch."
"Alright, that's Wade for you", Michael said. "At school, he usually doesn't even watch the matches."
"Don't let my grandmother hear that", Neville shivered, "She would have a lot to say about it."
Laughter filled the box as everyone shared snacks and waited for the match to start, the atmosphere was incredibly relaxed.
...
In the forest, a massive spruce stood quietly. Antoine put down his wand and said casually, "Great, nothing unusual. Wade, it seems you were just overthinking it."
"I didn't find any trees cursed either", Draen said, walking over from another direction. "Maybe your prophetic dream refers to a different forest, or perhaps it will come true some other day."
"Or... it was just a dream", Antoine looked back at the stadium, which loomed large in the darkness. "The match should just be starting. We can still make it if we go now."
Wade was speechless, looking up at the spruce in front of him. His pupils showed faint golden patterns and a glow.
The intricate magical patterns were tightly wrapped around the spruce like a spider's web. And this was called "nothing unusual"?
(End of Chapter)
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