Aaron and Diana began greeting the officials in the VIP box. The Weasley family, along with Harry and Hermione, were already seated comfortably, having known that Anne would be sharing their box.

As they approached the Malfoys, Lucius Malfoy stood as well. He ignored Aaron, but gave a polite nod to Diana, who returned it with equal courtesy. Anne noticed Draco whispering something to his mother while both of them glanced her way with mildly curious expressions.

Probably nothing good, Anne thought, but she didn't care how the Malfoys saw her. She followed Aaron and Diana to their seats, which were a few chairs away from the Malfoys, and right near the Weasleys.

Sitting between Aaron and Diana, Anne waved back at Fred and George, Harry, Ron, and Hermione, who had cheerfully greeted her with waves of their own.

They hadn’t been seated long when Ludo Bagman burst into the box.

“Everyone ready?” he called, his round face shining like an oversized cheese wheel. “Minister... shall we begin?”

Cornelius Fudge, seated in the center, gave a kindly smile. “Go ahead, Ludo.”

Ludo pulled out his wand, pointed it at his throat, and said, “Sonorus!” His next words boomed like thunder, echoing across the packed stadium and into every corner of the stands.

“Ladies and gentlemen… welcome! Welcome to the 422nd Quidditch World Cup Final!”

Anne felt the excitement surge through Aaron beside her. He sat upright, eyes glued to the field. “It’s starting, Anne! Before the match, they’ll perform the mascots’ showcase!”

Just as he finished speaking, Ludo’s voice rang out again. “Let’s not waste another moment. Please welcome… the Bulgarian National Team mascots!”

A loud cheer erupted from the right side of the stands where a solid block of red supporters waved their flags.

“What’s that?” Anne asked, as a hundred beautiful women glided onto the pitch.

“Veela,” Diana explained softly. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen them…”

As music swelled through the stadium, the Veela began to dance. Anne was instantly mesmerized by their movements. Their snow-white skin shimmered like moonlight, and their long hair flowed behind them with every graceful step.

When the music slowed, Anne finally pulled her gaze away, awe still shining in her eyes. “Diana, are Veela human? Their dancing is… captivating.”

She noticed then that several people around the stands were acting a little wild, as though spellbound. Fred, George, Harry, and Ron had even moved to the very front of the box, with Mr. Weasley standing behind them with a bemused smile.

“Of course not,” Aaron chimed in. “Veela are shape-shifting spirit creatures. When they appear as humans, they look like stunning young women, but when they lose control, their heads turn into bird-like faces with sharp beaks, and wings sprout from their shoulders. They fly at you like fireballs!”

While Aaron explained, Anne sensed someone watching her. She turned her head slightly, just in time to catch Hermione looking her way. Hermione quickly looked away.

Was Hermione watching me? The thought barely registered before another cheer from the crowd pulled Anne’s attention back to the field.

“Now,” Ludo Bagman’s voice rang out again, “wands to the sky… Please welcome the mascots of the Irish National Team!”

With a sharp whoosh, a massive shape streaked into the stadium, a comet of green and gold. It looped around before splitting into two smaller comets that shot toward opposite goalposts. A rainbow arched between them, connecting the glowing orbs midair.

The crowd gasped in awe, like they were watching a fireworks display. Then, the rainbow dissolved, and the two comets merged into one dazzling shape, a giant, radiant shamrock that rose high into the air and began circling the stands. From its spinning leaves, golden coins rained down like sunlight.

The shamrock hovered above them, showering the spectators with coins that clinked off their heads and seats.

Anne caught one and examined it. “Ah! I know, these are Leprechaun gold coins!” She looked at Aaron and Diana with delight.

“That’s right, Anne,” Diana said with a smile, and Aaron ruffled her hair. “Exactly. Coins that vanish after a few hours.”

Anne glanced at the crowd scrambling madly to collect the gold and giggled. She couldn’t wait to see their expressions when the coins disappeared.

“Now, ladies and gentlemen, give it up for… the Bulgarian National Quidditch Team! First up, Dimitrov!”

Aaron hurriedly raised his Omnioculars, and Anne followed suit. She was determined to see if Viktor Krum looked any different in person, maybe he just wasn’t photogenic.

Krum was the last to take the field for Bulgaria, and the stands erupted in cheers the moment he appeared.

Through her Omnioculars, Anne saw that Viktor Krum was dark-haired, lean, with sallow skin, a prominent hooked nose, and heavy black eyebrows; he looked just like an enormous bird of prey. No different from the photos.

“Now, please welcome… the Irish National Quidditch Team!” Bagman bellowed. “Here they are, Connolly! Ryan! Troy! Mullet! Moran! Quigley! And, Lynch!”

Seven green-clad figures streaked into the sky. Anne turned her Omnioculars to them again. All of them were flying identical Firebolts, and their names were stitched in silver thread on their backs.

Ludo went on to introduce the referee, and the match officially began. Compared to the Hogwarts matches, the World Cup was in a league of its own. The players moved at dizzying speeds with daring and dangerous maneuvers. The Chasers passed the Quaffle so fast that Ludo barely had time to shout their names. Each team had unique formations and strategies. Ireland took the lead quickly and kept scoring goal after goal.

In the end, Krum caught the Golden Snitch, but the final score was 160 to 170. Bulgaria lost by ten points despite Krum’s impressive Snitch catch.

“They must’ve known the gap would widen even more, so they ended the game early,” Aaron speculated, explaining the surprising outcome.

In the VIP box, Fudge beamed as he handed the trophy to the Irish team captain, who raised it high amid thunderous cheers from the stadium.

By the time they returned to the tent, Anne collapsed onto her bed claiming she was exhausted. But the moment Lekko brought out a tray of delicious pudding, she perked right up. Munching on dessert, she and Aaron discussed the match in detail, while Diana explained more about Leprechaun gold. It wasn’t until very late that Anne finally said goodnight and went to bed.

Anne fell asleep the instant her head hit the pillow. But in the middle of the night, a flurry of shouting and Diana’s voice stirred her awake.

“Anne? Anne? Wake up…” Diana sat beside her, gently shaking her shoulder.

Blinking herself awake, Anne saw the calm, serious look Diana wore when something had gone wrong. The cheers and singing from earlier were gone, now replaced with frantic shouting and the sound of people running.

Something had happened.

Anne bit her tongue hard and immediately snapped to alertness.

“Diana, what’s going on?” She jumped out of bed. Diana helped her into a coat.

“Where’s Aaron?” Anne asked, stepping into the living room and glancing around.

“He’s on the late-night patrol… We need to get out first,” Diana explained, gripping Anne’s hand tightly with one hand and holding her wand firmly in the other. Lekko stood in the center of the room clutching what looked like a giant rolling pin.

“Don’t worry, little mistress! Lekko will protect you along with the master!” he said loudly, hurrying to Anne’s side.

Anne nearly laughed at the ridiculous sight of the serious-faced house-elf with his makeshift club, but now wasn’t the time.

Outside, the camp was ablaze with firelight. In the distance, a group of hooded, masked figures were gathering. Above them floated four struggling human figures, suspended in midair.

Diana glanced in their direction, then dragged Anne the other way, likely toward the parking area.

For the World Cup, most foreign witches and wizards had arrived via Portkeys spread across five continents. British wizards used Apparition or Muggle transport, and those from Muggle households often drove themselves. All cars were parked a good distance away.

When they reached the lot, it was still nearly empty.

“It’s safe here. Diana, you still have time to Apparate back...” Anne said. She knew Diana, a workaholic, was probably itching to return and help.

“Diana, it’s not just British witches and wizards tonight. There are European officials too. How many people at the Ministry speak as many languages as you? The scene’s obviously out of control, if anything happens to a foreign official, it’ll be a disaster,” Anne reasoned. “I’m safe here. I’m practically a fourth-year, and I’m third in my year. Besides, Lekko will protect me, won’t you?”

“Of course, mistress! Lekko will protect you!” Lekko stood tall, gripping his club-like rolling pin with serious determination.

“See? Diana, go on. If anything happens, I’ll send up a red flare with my wand.”

After some hesitation, Diana finally agreed. She drew a glowing silver circle around Anne with her wand, which sank into the grass and vanished with a shimmer.

“Don’t leave the circle. Signal if anything happens,” she said twice before Disapparating.

Anne yawned as she sat within the circle, fiddling with a silver Sickle. Lekko stood beside her, alert and tense, scanning the moonlit surroundings.

Whenever a car passed with its headlights on, Lekko would leap in front of her like a bodyguard. Just as Anne was about to drift off, a green flash exploded in the sky, a massive skull made of glowing green starlight, with a serpent protruding from its mouth like a tongue.

The fires flared brighter, and the screams and cries grew louder.

The Dark Mark.

This was bad. The British Ministry was going to have its hands full. Tomorrow’s headlines in every magical newspaper would be about this, no doubt.

The symbol had barely hovered for five seconds when pop, a sharp crack split the air, and Aaron Apparated into view in front of them.

Lekko immediately jumped into action, shouting “Protect the mistress!” and raising his club, only to stop mid-charge and slap his ears in embarrassment. “Oh, it’s Mr. Hall! Mistress is safe now! More protection for the little mistress!”

Aaron looked relieved to see Anne unharmed. “Anne, quick, get in the car! We’re going home!”

The fires behind them raged higher, the skull glowing ominously above.

“Is Diana not coming with us?” Anne asked while fastening her seatbelt. Lekko sat stiffly in the backseat, afraid to touch anything.

“She’s got her hands full tonight,” Aaron replied, turning the car around. “She told me to get you home first, she’ll come after she finishes up.”

“Lekko will stay with the master!” the elf shrieked from the back.

Aaron looked at Anne, who understood immediately. “Lekko, your job now is to protect me. You’re a good Lekko, right?”

Lekko straightened up, clutching his makeshift club, ears flapping. “Good Lekko! Good Lekko! The mistress said to protect the little mistress!”

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Morocco Side Story (Part 1)

Anne held a stack of papers, smiling and greeting everyone as she passed through the Ministry corridors. She stopped at one door and knocked twice.

“Come in!”

Pushing open the door, her smile softened even more upon seeing the woman behind the desk, hard at work.

The nameplate on the door read: Department of Magical Law Enforcement.

“Hermione? Got a minute?”

Hermione glanced up but didn’t stop writing. “What is it, Anne?”

Anne puffed out her cheeks in mock annoyance and waved the documents. “Evidence of illicit magical goods trafficking with France. It needs urgent processing.”

“Alright. Let me just finish this one,” Hermione said, still not looking up.

Anne placed the files on the desk and sat across from her. Hermione soon closed her document, signed Anne’s papers with her usual efficiency, then grabbed the next file from her towering stack and resumed working.

Anne didn’t pick up the file. Instead, she walked around the desk, picked up a photo frame, and sighed.

Hermione looked up, puzzled.

“How can someone in a wedding dress look this beautiful?” Anne asked with a straight face.

Hermione chuckled and turned her chair to face Anne. “Alright. What’s really going on?”

“Oh, I definitely have business.” Anne smirked and set down the photo. “Work talk’s done. Now let’s talk personally.”

“Personal?” Hermione frowned, until Anne leaned in and kissed her, one arm snaking behind her neck to hold her close.

When they finally pulled apart, Anne rested her forehead against Hermione’s and whispered teasingly, “We’re going to Morocco this weekend. I already bought the tickets.”

“But, ” Hermione began.

“Nope.” Anne kissed her again. Hermione was breathless when they parted. “It’s been thirty-two days since we’ve spent a full day together. Work never ends, but your wife is about to die of neglect.”

“…Fine.”

“That’s better.” Anne grinned triumphantly, grabbed her file, and skipped to the door. “Bye!”

After Anne left, Hermione shook her head with a smile. “Still such a brat…” She absentmindedly rubbed her lips, then grabbed her quill. Better finish these documents, vacation is coming.

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