"Why did Albert come back so quickly!"
"Where's Lee Jordan?"
"Forget about him. Get over here and help move this thing out."
Albert's return caught the Weasley Twins completely off guard, just as they were preparing to surprise him. After gathering their things, they hurried outside the spectator stands and laboriously hauled a cannon-shaped firework from a suitcase, aiming it at the sky—
"One, two, three."
Fred silently counted to three, raised his wand to light the firework, then covered his ears with both hands.
—Bang!
A dazzling firework blossomed in the sky, taking the shape of a winged Griffin. The giant beast raised its head and let out a lion's roar, spread its wings and circled through the heavens, before finally dissolving into a brilliant shower of fireworks.
It would definitely have looked prettier at night.
The two had barely reached shore when they heard a bang from the stands. Looking up at the fireworks overhead, the girl asked curiously, "Was that something you prepared?"
"Definitely not. Otherwise, it should have gone off earlier." Albert looked toward the stands and smiled. "But I can probably guess who prepared this surprise for me."
Beneath a banner reading HOGWARTS WILL WIN, Lee Jordan was organizing the crowd to cheer for Albert. The scattered shouts and applause gradually merged into a single chant: "Albert will win! Hogwarts will win!"
Albert smiled and waved an arm at his supporters in the stands in thanks.
"You really are popular," Isobel said with a smile, linking her arm through Albert's.
"Being too popular isn't necessarily a good thing. Come on, let's rest for a while and have something hot to drink. You need looking after right now, unless you want to catch a cold." Albert led Isobel toward Madam Pomfrey, who was hurrying over. Muttering