Chapter 516: The Match Continues 3
Chapter 516: The Match Continues 3
The match hadn’t started yet, but the stadium was already buzzing with excitement. A massive stream mirror displayed a series of advertisements before rolling through highlights from the preliminary and semi-final matches.
The stands erupted in cheers from time to time as spectators applauded and cheered for their favorite players.
While Harry and the others were discussing the athletes’ performances, an argument was unfolding in the hallway behind the Top Box.
“Master Barty, Master Barty, what are you doing?”
A brown-eyed house-elf tugged at the robes of the wizard in front of her, pleading, “Your master has been looking for you. Why won’t you go home?”
“Home?” Barty Crouch Jr. said resentfully, “What for? To be locked away for life? Or sent back to Azkaban?”
“Please, don’t say that, Master Barty. Your master wouldn’t do that to you,” the house-elf said, pulling him. “Come home with Winky, Master Barty! Your master loves you; he’s your father!”
“I don’t need a father like him! Get away, Winky!” Barty shouted angrily, “Don’t interfere with me!”
He kicked the house-elf and tried to leave, but after just a few steps, he felt something tighten around his waist, as if a rope had latched onto him.
“Winky!” Barty turned around, his face contorted with rage.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Master Barty,” Winky sobbed. “Master Barty is a bad boy, and Winky can’t let you leave like this! Winky has to bring Master Barty home! Otherwise, Master will be in trouble!”
The house-elf sobbed, her tears streaming down her cheeks, her small body trembling as if she were about to break down. But she kept one hand firmly clamped around Barty, preventing him from leaving. Even his wand flew into her hand.
Barty roared and struggled, thrashing like a wild animal, but he couldn’t break free from Winky’s grip. She dragged him down the stairs.
The loud cheers and applause from the stadium completely drowned out his cries, and no one noticed the struggling figure.
“Wait, wait, Winky!”
After being dragged down two flights of stairs, Barty finally stopped struggling. He forced himself to calm down and said, “Alright, I understand. I’ll go with you! Just let go!”
He ended with a final, furious shout.
Winky turned to look at Barty, her eyes filled with a mix of relief and doubt. “Really? Master Barty is willing to go home?”
“I can go with you, but I have one condition… no, a request,” Barty said, taking a deep breath. “Let me watch this match, alright?”
Winky bit her lip, looking at him pitifully, unsure what to do.
“You know, Winky, if I go back, my father will keep me locked away for life… so just this once! Let me watch the World Cup Final!”
Barty lowered his head. “You know how much I love Quidditch… If my mother were still here, she wouldn’t let me live like this. She would give me everything I want!”
Winky wavered, thinking for a moment before saying, “So… you’ll come home with Winky after the match?”
“Yes, I promise,” Barty said softly. “But how can I go? I don’t have a ticket… and I can’t show my face in public.”
Winky quickly came up with an idea: "Master's tent still has your Invisibility Cloak, and a seat has been reserved for him in the Top Box..."
"But he might not have time to come. You can take me there to watch the match", young Barty continued.
"O-Okay", Winky bit her finger, suppressing her unease, treating this as an order from her young master.
Young Barty looked at Winky, a slight smile curling at the corner of his lips. "Thank you, Winky. I know you are the one who cares about me the most in this house."
Winky used the Summoning Charm to bring the Invisibility Cloak from the tent. Then, she mustered her courage, put the cloak on young Barty, and pushed open the door to the Top Box.
As soon as the scene outside came into view, Winky covered her eyes in fright. Young Barty felt the invisible bindings loosen and disappear.
Winky quickly regained her senses and used house-elf magic to bind young Barty again. However, this time, young Barty didn't rush to free himself. Instead, he quickly scanned the room and then frowned tightly.
The Top Box was filled with people: Minister of Magic Fudge, some officials, the Malfoys, and a few red-haired Weasleys.
Young Barty's eyes were filled with murderous intent. Most of the people in the box made him want to cast the Killing Curse.
But no, they weren't his targets.
Lucius Malfoy suddenly felt a chill on the back of his neck. He turned around and saw the house-elf who had just entered.
"Well, even these things have tickets now?" Malfoy said with displeasure.
"My name is Winky, sir", Winky said timidly, covering one eye. "My master is Barty Crouch, and he sent me to the Top Box to reserve a seat for him."
Draco Malfoy also turned to look at the ugly house-elf, remembering Dobby who had escaped from their home. He clicked his tongue in annoyance and asked arrogantly, "Why are you covering your eyes?"
"Winky has a fear of heights..." Winky said fearfully, finding an empty seat in the back row and huddling into it.
For some reason, there were several empty seats in the box, so young Barty sat down next to Winky.
He looked ahead and saw two officials whispering. One of them casually placed his telescope next to his seat. Young Barty reached out and quietly stole it, hiding it under the Invisibility Cloak.
Winky, still covering her eyes due to her fear of heights, didn't notice the theft.
Young Barty held the telescope, adjusted the focus, and scanned the other boxes.
Using the Imperius Curse, he had learned from the ticket inspector that Harry Potter was in the Top Box, but the foolish inspector hadn't paid attention to their box number. Young Barty had to patiently search each box one by one.
Suddenly, Ludo Bagman burst into the box and asked, "Minister, can we start?"
"Go ahead, Ludo", Fudge said.
Bagman pointed his wand at his throat and said, "Sonorus!"
Then, a thunderous voice echoed throughout the stadium—
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome! Allow me to introduce the mascots of the Bulgarian National Team!"
The crowd supporting Bulgaria erupted in loud cheers. Arthur Weasley leaned forward from his seat, exclaiming, "Veelas!"
(End of Chapter)
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