HARRY POTTER Book 4: Chapter 8
Chapter 8
THE QUIDDITCH WORLD CUP
Harry, Ron, Hermione, and the Weasleys walk quickly through the dark trees. Bright lanterns hang from the branches and show the way. They can hear thousands of people. Many voices laugh, sing, shout, and talk with excitement. Harry feels happy too. His heart beats fast. He knows something amazing waits ahead.
After about twenty minutes, they come out of the trees. They see a huge Quidditch stadium in front of them. It is so tall and wide that Harry must stop and stare. The stadium is so big that many cathedrals could fit inside. Its walls are golden, and they shine in the night. Mr. Weasley looks up proudly. “It seats one hundred thousand,” he says. Harry feels small, but also full of wonder.
They show their tickets at the entrance. A witch says kindly, “Top Box. Up the stairs, all the way to the top. Very good seats.” The stairs are covered in soft purple cloth. The group climbs higher and higher until they reach a special box at the very top. There are about twenty seats in the box. The seats are purple and bright with gold trim.
Harry looks down. He sees a sight he cannot believe. There are one hundred thousand wizards and witches in the stadium. The field is large and green like smooth velvet. Golden light shines everywhere. In the row behind them sits a house-elf with large eyes and ears. It wears only a tea-towel as clothes. Harry remembers Dobby, the elf he once helped to freedom.
Harry speaks softly, “Dobby?” The elf jumps. “No, sir. I is Winky.” Her voice is tiny and high. She hides her face, then slowly looks at Harry again. “You is Harry Potter!” Harry nods. “Do you know Dobby?” Winky nods sadly. “Dobby is free now. A free elf wants money and no one wants a house-elf who asks for money.” Harry feels strange hearing this. He thinks freedom is good. But Winky shakes her head. “House-elves do work. We do not ask for fun. We do what our family says.”
Harry feels sorry for her, but Winky keeps her seat. She says she is holding a place for her master, Barty Crouch. Slowly the Top Box fills with many important wizards. The Minister of Magic arrives, Cornelius Fudge. He shakes Harry’s hand like he knows him well. Percy Weasley stands up every time someone enters. He looks very proud. But he is jealous that Fudge recognizes Harry.
Fudge introduces a tall, severe man to everyone. He is wearing long red robes. It is the Bulgarian Minister of Magic. He looks at Harry with curiosity. “Don’t worry,” says Fudge. “He doesn’t speak a word of English. I just point and make noises, and we manage to communicate.”
Then Lucius Malfoy arrives with his son, Draco, and his wife. The air grows tense. Mr. Weasley and Mr. Malfoy look at each other without warmth. Harry remembers they fought once before. Draco looks at Harry, Ron, and Hermione with a cold face. Hermione sits tall and does not look away. She remembers how the Malfoys only like Purebloods.
Soon, Ludo Bagman appears. He is loud, cheerful, and full of energy. He holds his wand to his throat and yells, “Sonorous!” His voice becomes huge. “Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the four hundred and twenty-second Quidditch World Cup Final!” The crowd explodes with cheers. Thousands wave flags of green and red. The scoreboard shows:
Bagman shouts, “Now, the Bulgarian team mascots! The veela!” Beautiful women step onto the field. They move like light and fire. Their hair flows without wind. They begin to dance. The music is soft at first, then stronger. Harry forgets everything. His mind feels light and empty. He thinks only of the dancers. They shine like magic. Ron stands too, his eyes wide. Harry places one foot on the wall, ready to climb over, without knowing why.
Hermione pulls him back. “Stop it! Sit down! Honestly, Harry!” The music ends. Harry blinks. He sits again, confused. His heart is racing. Bagman calls, “And now - the Irish mascots!” A bright green and gold shape flies across the sky like a comet. It splits into two and forms a rainbow.
