Chatting and joking around, time quickly came to noon.
After lunch, the beaming twins ran out again.
They went to claim their prize and also to place bets on tonight's game.
When English Team plays against Transylvania team, any rational fan knows which team to bet on.
Stadium,
Bagman is writing a script in the studio.
Being a commentator isn't easy either. Although a pre-written script may not be useful, it's still better than having no preparation at all.
Suddenly, the Ministry of Ministry of Magic's special Magical Communicator on his wrist vibrated.
It was a text message from the twins; they'd come to claim their prize.
Bagman opened the drawer and took out the money bag that he had prepared beforehand.
Last night's game actually didn't result in a loss overall; in fact, we even made a small profit.
There are always gamblers who can't resist the temptation of 10 to 1 odds. In addition, the Goblins Hall's influence is spread all over the world. If they make good use of the time difference in tonight's game, they should earn no less than last night.
The twins didn't wait long outside the stadium before Bagman, carrying a money bag, came out with a big smile.
"Congratulations, kids, you've won."
After deducting the house's cut, the total is 114 Gold Galleons.
"You've only won this much..." George pushed the money bag back. "Mr. Bagman, we want to continue betting."
Bagman's smile grew even brighter. "Okay, which team are you planning to buy?"
Fred blurted out, "Transylvania team."
"Huh?" Bagman's expression froze instantly.
He was a player for English Team before retiring, and although the team is no longer as strong as it used to be, they still have a chance to win tonight's game.
"You don't even support your own national team?"
The twins stared intently into his eyes. "Mr. Bagman, support is support, and betting is betting."
English Team has indeed been stronger in each World Cup, but their results have been worse each time.
Compared to them, the Scottish Team and Wales teams, who are also Britain teams, are much better.
Making it to the quarterfinals is already a miracle, Merlin's blessing. Betting on them to win? Putting all your savings into betting on them to win?
The twins aren't die-hard supporters of the English Team, and besides, any fan with a modicum of sense wouldn't be optimistic about them.
Bagman smirked. "Alright, English Team is 1.5 to 1, Transylvania is 1.3 to 1."
Even the bookmakers aren't optimistic, so what else is there to say?
"Kids, are you sure you want to buy the Transylvania team? It's not too late to back out now."
It's the same old trick again; it can only fool a three-year-old.
The twins left after placing their bets, and Bagman had to go back to continue writing his article.
But from afar, he saw someone collapse at the entrance of his studio.
He quickly ran over and squatted down. "Hey! Wake up, are you alright?"
When Bagman turned the other person over, the worry on his face vanished instantly.
Because the man who fell was Barty Crouch, the former Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement who had once tried to send him to Azkaban.
More than a decade ago, after Igor Karkaroff, the current headmaster of Durmstrang Institute, revealed the list of Death Eaters, Bagman was immediately forced to appear in court by the Wizengamot.
He is suspected of providing information to Augustus Luke Wood, a Death Eaters mole within the Ministry of Magic, because Luke Wood was a friend of his father, and he had been in frequent contact with him since he had just retired from the military and was trying to find a job at the Ministry of Magic.
Barty Crouch, with a "better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go free" attitude, insisted that it was he who secretly passed information to Luke Wood, leading to the Ministry of Magic's heavy losses in the fight against the Death Eaters.
Had it not been for the strong protests from many jurors, the charge might have been proven true, and he and Luke Wood would both have been sent to Azkaban.
Although the charges were eventually dropped, the feud between Bagman and Barty Crouch. was now permanent.
The two rarely met in the ministry, and even when they worked together on organizing the World Cup final, they didn't have much interaction.
Now that Barty Crouch is lying dead at the studio door, it's already a miracle that Bagman isn't secretly laughing.
Since we're colleagues, let's check if he's alive or dead first.
Bagman slowly reached out his hand, but Barty Crouch suddenly opened his eyes.
Without any eye contact, the hand that was stretched out in mid-air was firmly grasped.
Bagman pulled his hand back forcefully with extreme impatience.
Since the person is not dead, he has no obligation to stay here.
But Barty Crouch gripped his hand tightly again, his eyes filled with extreme terror, as if something terrible had happened.
Bagman didn't dare to use too much force this time. "Chief Crouch, please let go."
Barty Crouch remained unmoved and continued to hold onto his arm tightly.
"He's back... he's back..."
Bagman tightened his grip slightly. "Never mind who's back, just let go of me first."
He inexplicably fell to the ground and then inexplicably grabbed him and wouldn't let go; he's probably trying to scam someone.
Barty Crouch's hands, which had been pried open, clung tightly to the back of his arms, his lips trembling as he repeated, "He's back."
Bagman was truly at his wit's end.
He simply gave up struggling. "Fine, fine, tell me, who exactly came back?"
Barty Crouch looked up and met his eyes. "He is... he is mine... he is mine..."
The sound grew fainter and fainter, so Bagman had no choice but to lean closer and listen.
He's mine—
Barty Crouch's voice suddenly stopped, and he slowly released his hands.
Bagman was wondering what was going on when he stood up as if nothing had happened.
"Chief Crouch?"
Barty Crouch, his eyes somewhat vacant, reached out his hand to him. "Director Bagman, I didn't cause you any trouble just now, did I?"
Bagman stood up himself. "No."
Barty Crouch, who had no expression, seemed to want to say something, but he left after whispering "thank you".
As Bagman watched his retreating figure, he felt that something was off about him.
He seems to be physically fine, but he definitely has mental health issues.
The boomerang hit him back, resulting in him being sidelined for over a decade. In addition, his wife and children passed away one after another. Recently, he also faced numerous doubts because Sirius Black successfully overturned his conviction.
If it were anyone else, they probably would have gone crazy like Mrs. Pettigrew.
Bagman shook his head violently. "Why should I care about this lunatic..."
What happened back then is what happened. He, who was almost wrongly accused of being an accomplice of the Death Eaters, will not be overflowing with sympathy.
For him, the most important thing right now is to make money, to make a lot of money.
Once the World Cup ends and the debts owed to the "Goblin" are paid off, the once incredibly dashing retired internationally renowned football stars will be able to return in glory.