Their tent was set up in the shape of a four-story building, with several corner towers and a garden in front of the door, complete with bird baths, sundials, fountains, and more.

"What are those for?" Hermione pointed to the Corner Tower.

"The defenses, which were added during the civil war in our family. Phoenix looked indifferent, and Hermione looked very embarrassed. "The family is big and the number of people is large, and there will always be conflicts. ”

After walking some way, they saw two little witches, young and young, riding on two toy broomsticks, flying low, their feet gently skimming the dew-stained grass. A wizard working in the ministry had seen them, and he hurried past Phoenix and Hermione.

Every now and then, adult wizards can be seen emerging from their tents and starting to make breakfast. Some were sneakily looking around and lighting the fire with their wands, while others were smearing matches, with a look of suspicion on their faces, as if they were not working. Three African male wizards sat there talking solemnly, all dressed in long white robes, roasting something like a hare on a purple fire.

"Is that true? Is there really a wizard who has ever been king?" Hermione asked, looking at him with suspicion.

"Their motto is that the winner is king, and the loser is the thief. Thankfully, they were infighting. ”

"There's a record in that book, and I didn't talk about other sorcerers until the third century. ”

"The history of B.C. is rarely recorded. Or maybe only some families with a wide range of rules will record the history in detail, and when the World Cup is over, we can go and find it, my family's private library is very messy-"

They walked over to a group of middle-aged American male wizards, and between their tents hung a gleaming banner: Salem Wizarding Academy. There was a whisper of conversation in their tent, all in strange language, and although they couldn't understand a word, everyone's voices were excited.

Hermione didn't want him to remember that night, so she hurriedly pulled him to the other side and turned the conversation to the World Cup.

A large tent in front of it, where the Bulgarian flag - white, green and red - fluttered in the breeze. The same poster is affixed to each tent here, with a very gloomy face and thick black eyebrows. The painting is moving, but the face is frowning except for the blink.

"He's so gloomy. Hermione said, blinking and frowning at the countless krums around her.

"He's like a Seeker—"

"Hermione, Phoenix. "It's Harry and Ron. They ran towards them with buckets and saucepans.

"Hermione, you-" Ron suddenly frowned, "your hair." ”

"I just want to- well, a different image. How's the summer vacation? Harry. Hermione shifted the subject slightly unnaturally.

"All was fine, but as I was leaving, Fred swollen Dudley's tongue. Hermione looked at him incredulously, "Something they invented - you know, a candy. If you eat it, your tongue will swell. ”

"How are you? Phoenix. Harry asked.

"All the best, I've been looking forward to this year's Hogwarts event, and I'd love to skip the Quidditch Final. ”

"You're crazy, and what's at Hogwarts this year?" Ron looked at him in disbelief. A red feather appeared out of thin air on Phoenix's hand, exuding an astonishing amount of heat on his hand.

"Oh—we have to go back. See you later. ”

"See you later!"

"Wait--Hogwarts this year-" Ron's voice drowned out by the crowd.

"What's in Hogwarts this year?" asked the two as they quickly walked through the camp, Hermione behind her.

"Triwizard Tournament, a traditional tournament, a cup competition between the three most prestigious universities in Europe. Cancelled due to the death toll and resuming the event this year, I would say that this kind of tournament is more interesting than Quidditch or something. ”

"Death count?" Hermione looked at him in amazement, as a group of Ministry of Magic officials ran past them with low curses.

"Don't worry, they've done a lot of preparation for this competition. ”

"You're going to participate. Hermione's tone was affirmative.

"Of course, it's important. I'll talk about it later. Phoenix said.

They returned to the tent to find that there was one more young lady.

"It's finally back, boy. The middle-aged man sat in the middle of the living room and saw Phoenix beckoning him to come over. "This is Daphne, I think you know - a grade boy, isn't it?"

"You can say that you know. Phoenix wondered how she could be here, and looked at Mr. Bobin, who seemed not to see it.

"His father is very busy, so he asked me to show her the game,-" Mr. Bobin said with a nonchalant expression as if he didn't think anything was wrong, and the atmosphere in the tent was indescribable for a moment. It seems that things have started to change. The Dark Lord began to grow stronger, and the Greengrass family immediately changed their attitude.

Thankfully, they were on a tight schedule, and they couldn't say a few words before heading off for the pitch. At dusk, even the silent summer air seems to tremble in anticipation. As the night shrouded hundreds of eagerly waiting wizards like a curtain, the last vestiges of camouflage vanished: the Ministry seemed to succumb to the inevitable tendency to stop working against the people, allowing the obvious signs of magic to pop up everywhere.

Every few steps, a phantom hawker descends from the sky, holding a sign and pushing a cart, filled with strange gadgets. There are glowing rose-shaped badges - green for Ireland and red for Bulgaria - and the names of the team members can be screamed, there are green hats decorated with clovers dancing in the wind, there are Bulgarian belts on which the lion of the mackerel really roars, there are flags of the two countries that play their respective anthems when they are waved, there are small models of firebolts that can actually fly, and there are collectible statues of famous team members who can walk around in the palm of your hand with a triumphant look.

"The panoramic telescope," the wizard peddler enthusiastically pitched, "you can replay the footage - in slow motion - and it can quickly flash an analysis of the game if you want." Let's make a deal - ten Galleons each. ”

"Looks good. "Philip bought one for each of them. Hermione and Melinda buy a green sports badge and look absent-minded.

Everyone walked briskly into the woods along the lantern-lit passageway. They could hear hundreds of people walking around, shouting, laughing, and staccato singing. This frenzied euphoria is contagious. They walked in the woods for twenty minutes before finally coming out on the other side of the woods, at which point they found themselves in the shadow of a huge gymnasium.

The staircase leading to the gymnasium is covered with a fuchsia carpet. They climbed the stairs with the crowd, and slowly the flow of people entered the stands on the left and right. The group led by Mr. Bobin and Phoenix went up until they reached the top of the stairs. They found themselves in a small box, located at the top of the gymnasium, and facing the golden goalposts. There are about forty purple and gilded chairs, divided into two rows.

The box they were in was almost full. Seeing them coming, Cornelius Fudge immediately rushed over and greeted Phoenix like an old friend. There were also the Weasleys and Harry in the box, and he waved his hand in greeting.

"You know, Phoenix, Peverell," he said aloud to the Bulgarian Minister of Magic, who was dressed in a magnificent black velvet robe trimmed with gold trim, and seemed to not understand a word of English. "This is the Minister of Magic of Bulgaria, Mr. Obalonsk. ”

"Minister, it looks like you're playing him around. Phoenix greeted the Bulgarian minister in Russian, shook his hand. The whole looks like a greeting.

"Yes, it's fun. With a smile on his face, he replied in the same Russian, having met them a few years ago at a birthday party at his aunt's castle and knowing that he actually spoke English.

"I knew it was going to make him understand. "I'm not very good at languages," said Fudge, tiredly to Mr. Bobyn, and for this kind of thing, I need Barty Crouch." Ah, Lucius is here!"

Lucius came with his wife and son, and most of the people in the box knew each other, and every time someone came, they were inevitably polite. When everyone had arrived, Ludo Bagman rushed into the box. He had round blue eyes, short blond hair, and a flushed face that made him look like an oversized boy. is the director of the Department of Magical Sports.

"Are you all ready?" he said, his round face shining like a giant spherical cheese, "Minister—can we begin?"

"You say let's get started, Ludo. Fudge said kindly.

Ludo drew his wand, pointed it at his throat and said, "Loud!" and his words resounded like thunder throughout the packed gymnasium. His voice echoed over their heads, resounding to every corner of the stands.

"Ladies and gentlemen - welcome to the 422nd Quidditch World Cup Final!"

The audience erupted in cheers and applause. Thousands of flags were waved at the same time, accompanied by the chaotic sound of the national anthem, and the scene was really lively. On the blackboard across from them, the last line of advertisements (Bibi Duo Beans - Every Bite is an Adventure!) was erased and now read: Bulgaria: 0, Ireland: 0.