Catching the Snitch, Losing the Match / Sirius Black Is a Tough Guy

The Bulgarian Team's one hundred Veela glided gracefully onto the rink, immediately captivating the attention of the entire audience upon their appearance.

Veela was a woman, and to most of the people present, she was undoubtedly the most beautiful woman they had ever seen in their lives.

Their skin glowed with a soft light like the moon, and their long, flowing hair swayed behind their heads like waves; they exuded an astonishing allure with every gesture, as if each movement was designed to tantalize the hearts of the male audience members.

Almost all the men fell for it, especially when the Veela started dancing to the music; countless men couldn't help but harbor wicked thoughts.

We must keep an eye on them and not let their dance stop, or something terrible will happen...

How about doing something amazing? As long as it's spectacular enough, it's sure to capture their attention, and eventually...

Of course, Harry wasn't among these crazy guys.

Not to mention that with Harry's current mental strength, the Veela's alluring magic wouldn't have any effect on him at all; even if Harry did have some wicked thoughts, Rowena in his mind would immediately turn him into a cursed doll.

Objectively speaking, however, these Veela are indeed breathtakingly beautiful, even more alluring than Phoebe, whom Harry had seen before, capable of completely captivating any man in an instant.

For example, Lupin, who was severely depleted of magic, and Mr. Granger, who was just an ordinary person, both of them were completely ensnared. Even though Tonks and Mrs. Granger pinched them hard countless times, they still couldn't break free from the desires in their hearts.

Next up was Will, who had unconsciously gotten up from his chair and even stepped one foot over the railing, seemingly wanting to jump directly from the platform into the arena.

Fortunately, Sirius, who was standing nearby, had enough composure to quickly pull him back.

"I never expected... that the Bulgaria would bring such a creature here. This is quite a test for any man." Elder Kong leaned back in his chair, relaxed and content. The allure of the Veela had no effect on him whatsoever.

"Harry, what do you think? Aren't these women beautiful?" Suddenly, he turned to Harry with feigned curiosity, a mischievous smile on his face.

"The Veela are indeed very beautiful," Harry nodded honestly. "They can even drive people mad."

At this point, the music in the stadium had stopped, and the Veela had finished dancing and retreated to the sidelines. However, the audience clearly did not want them to leave, and angry screams continued to fill the entire stadium.

Harry, with his sharp eyes, even noticed that many people tore off the green shamrock badges on their chests and instead raised the Bulgaria flag.

Just as he said these words, an angry little hand reached out to his waist.

"But!" Harry then abruptly changed the subject.

"Those Veela are indeed beautiful, but their beauty is not real, and people are often attracted by their alluring charm and good looks, thus completely ignoring their inner qualities."

Harry appeared particularly serious at this moment, even his tone was full of solemnity. "So... a beautiful appearance is a dime a dozen, but a compatible soul is one in a million; Veela may be beautiful, but they can only be admired from afar. What we really need to care about are always the people most precious to us."

"A beautiful appearance is a dime a dozen, but a compatible soul is one in a million... Well, that does have some philosophical merit, and it is indeed rare."

Elder Kong carefully considered Harry's words, and a hint of admiration flashed in his eyes.

Whether it's his strength, his shrewdness, or even his current level of understanding and insight, Harry is indeed quite different from the average teenager.

After hearing Harry's 'heartfelt' words, the little hand that had been about to pinch his waist quietly changed into a joyful caress.

'Phew~' Harry breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this, thinking to himself that if he were as bad as Will, his back would probably be blue by now.

"Now, please raise your wands into the air... Welcome the Irish National Quidditch Team's mascot!"

Inside the venue, Ludo Bagman's shouts rang out again, and following Bulgarian Team, Ireland also fielded their mascot.

They were a group of Leprechaun. They each carried a small gold or green lantern and formed a giant clover pattern in the air.

After that, countless golden specks of light rained down, creating a golden rain inside the stadium!

The Leprechaun were scattering gold coins around, a move that naturally ignited the stands, causing countless spectators to scramble for them.

Harry accepted it casually as a prize; although the Leprechaun's gold coin looked exactly like gold, it would completely disappear after a few hours and couldn't be considered real money.

However... it seems many people at the scene took it seriously?

Harry observed the crowd's reactions from a distance, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over the Weasley family' location... Hmm, their youngest son was having a blast grabbing things!

"By the way, Elder Kong, did the China Quidditch team bring their mascots over before?"

After witnessing the Veela and the Leprechaun, the entire audience was completely enthralled, and while Harry's eyes were opened, he couldn't help but wonder what the Great Celestial Empire had brought.

"It seems our team didn't bring anything." Elder Kong shook his head. "I did hear before that the China Quidditch team wanted to bring Phoenix and Dragon together, but they later rejected the proposal, probably because they thought it was too much trouble."

"That's a real pity." Hearing what Elder Kong said, Harry couldn't help but feel a little regretful.

Elder Kong had previously introduced him to the phoenixes and phoenixes of the China, which are among the very few magical creatures that have survived from ancient times. Although they certainly no longer possess the powerful strength they once had, their appearance and habits remain unchanged.

Harry had originally wanted to see for himself just how radiant the legendary phoenix and the phoenix were, the creatures that "only perch on the parasol tree, only eat bamboo seeds, and only drink from the sweet spring."

Chapter 571 Catching the Golden Snitch, Losing the Match

Swoosh!*N

Fourteen brooms streaked across the sky, the Quaffle passed incessantly between the Chaser, dangerous Bludger whistled past every now and then, and the Golden Snitch, which had been elusive since the start of the game, was also present...

Harry had to admit that the Quidditch World Cup final was on a completely different level of excitement compared to any of the school league matches he had ever watched before.

The players who can participate in this kind of competition are absolutely top-notch in terms of individual skills and equipment. The Ireland team even fielded a formation of seven Firebolt!

As they dispersed and hovered in the air, they truly resembled seven rockets piercing the sky.

At this moment, the audience in the VIP box was cheering enthusiastically. Most of them were holding Omnioculars that allowed them to easily see the details of the game. Almost every pass of the Quaffle would elicit enthusiastic waving from the crowd.

The mascots on both sides were equally determined, constantly cheering on their teams. In particular, after Ireland scored three goals in a row, the Leprechaun once again formed a giant, Winky clover, proudly showing off to the Veela on the other side.

Of all the people on Harry's side, Will was definitely the most excited.

"Hawkshead Attacking Formation!" Will shouted excitedly as Ireland's three Chaser closed in and sped towards the ball.

"That's Porskoff Ploy!" Will recognized the Ireland Chaser's tactic immediately when he saw him throw the Quaffle over his shoulder to his teammate behind him.

It's clear this kid is a true Quidditch fan; he's probably spent the entire holiday studying all sorts of tactics and tricks.

The intense and exciting match continued. After Ireland scored 30 points in a row, Bulgarian Team finally showed signs of improvement and successfully scored their first 10 points.

And the Veela, who had been keeping a sullen face, were finally able to display their beautiful dance moves once again.

"Did Viktor Krum discover the Golden Snitch, or... was it Wronski Feint?"

Suddenly, Will started shouting to himself, and everyone noticed that the Seeker from both teams were plummeting from the sky one after the other, as if they had forgotten to open their parachutes when they jumped!

"Oh my god, they're going to fall to the ground!" Hermione screamed at the sight.

A moment later, a loud bang echoed throughout the entire stadium.

However, Hermione was only half right, because the only player to hit the ground was Ireland's Seeker. Viktor Krum narrowly changed direction just before reaching the ground and circled back into the air.

That's the Wronski Feint that Will just mentioned, a decoy technique that requires exceptional flying skills to use.

"That kid's flying skills are indeed excellent, but it's a pity... China wizards are still not very good at using brooms. After all... compared to the history of flying on swords, Flying Broomstick entered the China much later."

Viktor Krum's skills are truly superb; even Elder Kong was full of praise after watching him.

"I remember you said that many wizards in China fly on flying Flying Carpet?" Harry asked curiously.

"Yes, you ride Flying Carpet or Fantastic Beasts. You only use brooms when playing Quidditch." Elder Kong Lao glanced at the referee in the arena, the little old man being the president of the International Quidditch International Confederation of Wizards.

"Those guys at the International Quidditch International Confederation of Wizards only recognize Flying Broomstick as the sole competition equipment; they don't allow wizards from our China to participate using flying swords. Otherwise, we might have won the world championship long ago!"

"Ah..." Harry was taken aback when he heard this. He secretly imagined the scene of China wizards chasing the ball with swords flashing everywhere, and for a moment he was speechless.

Damn, such a dangerous group of opponents, who would be crazy enough to want to play against them?

If you're not careful, losing this during the game won't just be a point, it'll be your head!

The players from both teams continued to tumble and fly around the field, while a well-trained doctor rushed onto the field to begin emergency treatment for the Ireland Chaser had fallen and injured himself.

While he was away, Viktor Krum was able to search for the Golden Snitch without any interference.

Surprisingly, perhaps inspired by Viktor Krum's tactics, the Ireland team became even more formidable after their Seeker was absent. With the superb teamwork of their three Chaser, they scored ten goals in fifteen minutes, giving Bulgarian Team a score of 130-10!

"That's right! This is exactly the Quidditch Match I've always dreamed of!" Will, witnessing this scene, was now beyond excited.

Harry knew that Will had always believed that the Seeker's presence greatly affected the balance of the game, and today he finally got to see a game that was not affected by the Seeker and was a competition of the team's overall strength.

Unable to contain Ireland's offensive onslaught, the Bulgaria resorted to fouling tactics, but this had little effect on their opponents, who instead extended their lead through free throws.

At 170-10, Ireland's mascot Leprechaun, had completely gone berserk, while Bulgarian Team's Veela was so angry that she revealed her true form.

Their faces began to grow long and thin, like bird heads with sharp beaks, and they grew wings covered in scales on their backs... They looked just like the legendary harpies.

Of course, the battle between the mascots isn't important; what's important is... in this match, the Seeker is completely unable to help his team make a comeback!

A Golden Snitch is worth 150 points. If the current point difference remains unchanged, even if the Bulgarian Team catches the Golden Snitch, they will still lose the game.

So in this situation, trying to catch up is definitely the best option... but Bulgarian Team's star player Viktor Krum, doesn't seem to think so.

He relentlessly pursued the Golden Snitch through the air, not stopping even when hit head-on by the Bludger, enduring the excruciating pain and a bleeding nose.

Meanwhile, the Ireland Seeker who had received brief treatment once again clung to Viktor Krum, chasing him down in mid-air once more!

The scene seemed to repeat itself; the Ireland player Seeker fell heavily to the ground again, but unlike before...

Viktor Krum has caught the Golden Snitch!

"The game is over!!" Ludo Bagman shouted at the top of his lungs. "Ireland has won! Viktor Krum caught the Golden Snitch, but Ireland has won! Good heavens, I don't think anyone would have guessed this outcome!!"

Did nobody really guess this ending...? Harry remained noncommittal.

Ludo Bagman had told him personally that the Weasley Brothers had bet on this outcome, and they apparently bet over ninety Galleon and a toy wand that was counted as five Galleon?

So, if the odds are 1 to 10, Ludo would have to pay the Weasley Brothers 1,000 Galleon!

Harry had done some research beforehand; Ludo Bagman's odds were always quite unpredictable...

This time, he might have to hand over his pants to pay off the debt.

Chapter 572 Sirius is a Ruthless Man

The match is over, Ireland has won, but Viktor Krum caught the Golden Snitch, a result that surprised many.

"But why?" Hermione asked, puzzled. "Why would he go and catch the Golden Snitch at a time like this?"

"Because he felt his teammates would never catch up!" Will said in a deep voice. "Ireland is a team known for its defense and teamwork; all their points come from tactical coordination, while Bulgarian Team placed all their hopes on their own Seeker. So in the end, their star player ended the game according to his own will!"

"Indeed..." Harry nodded in agreement. "Viktor Krum is indeed brave and courageous, but his individual strength cannot ultimately represent the strength of the entire team."

"That's true. That's why they say a single tree can't make a forest, and a few feathers can sink a boat. In fact, life is like playing a game; no matter what, you must have partners by your side who can walk with you to the end."

"Thank you, Elder Kong." Harry nodded gratefully. The old man always managed to give Harry a few pointers without him even realizing it. Although they hadn't known each other for long, Harry had indeed benefited greatly from his advice.

"I think we fought very bravely." Just then, a heavy voice came from behind Harry. He quickly turned around and saw that it was the Bulgaria Minister for Magic.

"Mr. Oblansk... so you can speak English?" Harry was taken aback.

"Of course I will," the Bulgaria Minister for Magic shrugged playfully. "But don't you think it's fun to have Cornelius Fudge constantly gesturing and comparing things to others for me?"

"That minister was rather comical." Harry gave a knowing smile and shook hands with the man again.

It seems that his discord with Fudge is an open conflict that has already spread overseas.

Especially in Bulgaria, a magical world that reveres individual heroism and is determined to fight against dark wizards, Harry, as the Boy Who Lived who survived a great calamity, is obviously much more famous Fudge, the Minister of Ministry of Magic in Britain.

Harry has always accepted these political resources that are offered to him without hesitation.

Don't think he's betraying his own side. If the Britain Ministry of Magic were any better, Harry wouldn't be going against them like this.

Besides... given how cowardly Fudge and his gang are, how dare they represent the whole of Britain?

The stadium remained noisy as Ludo Bagman began presiding over the awards ceremony. The Ireland players raised the gleaming gold championship trophy high, and the entire audience erupted in thunderous applause once again.

Finally, they left the podium, rode brooms around the field, and declared themselves victors in this way.

At the same time, it was also a farewell to all the spectators who came to watch the game.

The spectators in the stadium had already gotten up and left their seats, preparing to return to their tents to spend this exciting and unforgettable night.

They walked back along the lantern-lit path, with rough, loud singing echoing in the night sky, and cheerful Leprechaun flitting about above their heads.

During this time, Harry also ran into many acquaintances, such as the Weasley Brothers, who excitedly told Harry... Ludo Bagman generously compensated them with over a thousand gold coins, all paid on the spot!

He also spotted those treacherous Pure-blood Wizard in the distance, quickly departing with their children...