The Day Before the Tournament
Manus and his group spent a few days thoroughly enjoying Australia, and among the things that satisfied them the most was probably the Wizard market here, which offered plenty of local Australian specialties and yielded a rich harvest for Manus.
However, the market they visited belonged to the Australian version of Diagon Alley, and although there were many specialty goods, it was... far too proper.
Safety was certainly guaranteed, and the quality of the commodities was also quite reliable, but by the same token, they could not find any delightful little accidents, failing to provide Manus with the kind of experience he had previously had at the Eagle's Nest in Albania.
Manus had no complaints about this; that sort of thing relied primarily upon the element of pleasant surprise, and actively searching for it would only leave one empty-handed, or perhaps harbor hidden, extra costs.
As the day before the Quidditch World Cup arrived, they stopped going out and instead stayed quietly in the campsite to prepare for tomorrow's match-watching.
Not going out, however, did not mean there was no entertainment, and besides chatting and eating pastries inside the tent, as batches of spectator Wizards arrived at the campsite, one after another small peddler pushing carts appeared as well.
"That side seems to be discussing a protest, planning to forcibly carry wands into the venue tomorrow."
Barty Jr. glanced not far away, where a middle-aged Wizard waving a small flag was attracting the attention of those around him.
"Pay no attention to them; the protest is real, but forcibly carrying wands into the venue--they wouldn't dare, at most they'll sneak them in."
Severus looked natural, gazing at the eclectic variety of Quidditch team peripheral merchandise on the cart in front of him.
"Why do you