The last Goblin Rebellion had taken place two hundred years ago. To humans, it had become part of "history," something young wizards only heard about in Professor Binns's dreary fourth-year History of Magic class. Since no career required an OWLs certificate in History, nearly all the students in that class slept through it.
Convinced that the goblins would never rebel again, Fudge had agreed that the head of the Goblin Liaison Office did not need to work on the day Cuthbert Mockridge attended the Quidditch World Cup final. Staff from other departments and offices were likewise allowed to take the day off and attend the grand event. Still, someone had to be assigned to remain on duty, and Amos Diggory was the "unlucky" unfortunate one. But after doing Bagman a small favor, he had obtained a World Cup ticket after ticket sales had already ended. The entire Ministry of Magic was busy with the Quidditch World Cup final, and even the department heads had gone off to have fun. What was Amos still standing watch for?
Besides frequently borrowing money and never repaying it, as well as committing fraud, Ludo Bagman had once been prosecuted as a Death Eater. Yet, so that his son could enjoy a wonderful holiday, Amos accepted Ludo Bagman's ticket despite Cedric's objections.
Ludo Bagman had escaped trial mainly because he claimed to know nothing about any of it and insisted he had not known Augustus Rookwood was a Death Eater. Coupled with his outstanding performances in previous matches, the charges against him had been dropped.
Pomona had never understood people's enthusiasm for Quidditch, but what Severus had just said reminded her that Hufflepuff would need a new Seeker after Cedric graduated. As she ate, her gaze occasionally swept over the Hufflepuff table, searching for someone