The match progressed exactly as expected, with Krum catching the Golden Snitch while Ireland claimed victory.A
Ludo Bagman, witnessing the twins' prediction come true with devastating accuracy, showed a bitter smile of defeat.
Watching Ludo Bagman's pained expression from the stands, Aiden smiled with deep satisfaction.
"Let's go collect our well-earned winnings," George said with excited anticipation.
"Three hundred sixty Galleons, we're absolutely rich!" Fred was equally thrilled by their success.
The group left the massive stadium and returned to the bustling campsite. Arthur went to find Ludo Bagman to settle the substantial bet with the twins.
But when Arthur returned, his expression was extremely grim.
"What happened?" Mrs. Weasley asked with growing concern.
"Ludo Bagman can only pay with leprechaun gold. He claims all his actual Galleons are tied up in other investments," Arthur said with obvious helplessness.
"What! That's outright fraud!" George exploded with righteous fury.
"But he made an Unbreakable Vow with us. Isn't he afraid of dying?" Fred asked with genuine puzzlement.
"Because I deliberately emphasized 'Galleons' when we made the vow, but I didn't specify what kind of Galleons. Leprechaun gold is also called Galleons in certain contexts," Aiden explained, spreading his hands with resignation.
"You knew this would happen?" the twins asked in perfect unison.
"I could smell the distinct scent of a scoundrel from him immediately. People like that usually don't have much real money," Aiden shrugged with cynical wisdom.
The twins looked at the temporary leprechaun gold in their hands with deeply mixed feelings.
At this moment, loud victory singing erupted from the Irish supporters' area. Since they had won decisively, they were naturally celebrating with wild abandon.
"Well, let's go celebrate too. We should be happy that we technically won our bet," Arthur said diplomatically, trying to console his disappointed sons.
Everyone began celebrating around the crackling campfire, with Bill taking out his guitar and Charlie enthusiastically teaching everyone traditional Irish folk songs.
Arthur also approached with foaming butterbeer, and the atmosphere gradually became genuinely lively.
Ludo Bagman also came to their campsite uninvited, took some butterbeer, and tried desperately to get close to Arthur with forced friendliness.
But Sirius and Aiden were both staring at him with distinctly unfriendly expressions, so Ludo Bagman could only leave awkwardly after exchanging a few uncomfortable words.
The celebration continued until very late at night. Mrs. Weasley urged everyone to get some sleep, while she and Arthur stayed by the dying fire to continue their quiet conversation.
Around two in the morning, everyone was violently awakened by Arthur's urgent, panicked shouts.
"Get up! Get up right now! We need to leave immediately!"
Arthur rushed into the tent with obvious alarm, and everyone quickly threw on their clothes.
Outside the tent, they could hear terrified screams and desperate running footsteps everywhere.
"What's happening out there?" Harry asked as he frantically put on his jacket.
"No time to explain, we need to get to the forest!" Arthur said with desperate urgency.
Everyone rushed out of the tent into chaos. The scene outside was absolutely nightmarish. Tents were blazing everywhere, and people were running and screaming in pure terror.
In the dark sky, several sinister figures in black robes and masks were floating ominously, with some people suspended upside down below them, obviously the helpless Muggle campsite managers.
"Death Eaters," Sirius said with grim recognition.
"Are they Voldemort's followers?" Harry asked with growing dread.
"Yes, but Voldemort disappeared thirteen years ago. These are probably just some of his remaining followers causing trouble," Arthur explained while leading everyone toward the protective forest.
"Bill, Charlie, Percy, help the Ministry maintain order. Everyone else, head to the forest immediately!"
Arthur made quick, decisive arrangements. Bill and the others drew their wands and ran toward the chaotic danger zone.
The remaining group ran desperately toward the forest. On the way, they encountered many other fleeing wizards with terrified faces.
"Mr. Weasley, this way!" Someone was shouting and directing panicked people to safety.
They followed the frightened crowd into the forest. Many families with young children had gathered here, all with expressions of pure fear.
"Stay together! Don't get separated," Arthur warned everyone sternly.
But in the overwhelming chaos, Harry, Ron, and Hermione got separated from the group.
The three ran deeper into the protective forest, and behind them came the terrifying sounds of explosions and agonized screams.
"Where are the others?" Hermione asked with mounting anxiety.
"I don't know, we got separated in the crowd," Ron replied breathlessly.
Just then, they heard threatening footsteps nearby. The three quickly hid behind some large trees.
Several dark figures passed dangerously close to them. They were Death Eaters, systematically searching for people to torment.
"Spread out and search thoroughly. There must be Mudbloods hiding around here," one Death Eater said with vicious hatred.
The three held their breath, not daring to make the slightest sound.
After the Death Eaters passed, Harry whispered urgently, "We need to find the others."
"But which direction did they go?" Ron asked with confusion.
"Let's head back toward the campsite. Maybe we can find them there," Hermione suggested logically.
Meanwhile, Aiden was moving through the forest with his enhanced dragon senses, systematically searching for the three who had gotten separated.
"Found them," Aiden announced to Arthur.
"Where are they?" Arthur asked with desperate urgency.
"About two hundred meters northeast. But there are Death Eaters nearby," Aiden replied grimly.
"Then we need to go help them immediately," Sirius said, drawing his wand with determination.
"No, too dangerous for everyone. Let me handle this alone," Aiden said firmly.
Before anyone could stop him, Aiden had already disappeared into the darkness like a shadow.
In the forest, the three were still hiding when they heard someone approaching again with menacing intent.
"Mudbloods... where are you hiding?" came a sinister, threatening voice.
This time it was definitely Death Eaters, and they were getting dangerously closer.
Just when the situation seemed absolutely desperate, a brilliant silver light flashed through the forest.
The Death Eaters' screams echoed briefly before falling into complete silence.
"Harry? Ron? Hermione?" Aiden's familiar voice came from the darkness.
"Aiden!" The three emerged from behind the trees with overwhelming relief.
"Are you hurt?" Aiden asked, checking them over with concern.
"We're fine, but what happened to those Death Eaters?" Harry asked with curiosity.
"Just took a little nap. Come on, the others are worried sick about you," Aiden said, leading them back to safety.
As they walked back through the forest, they could see the chaos at the campsite was gradually subsiding. Ministry officials had arrived in force and were dealing with the remaining Death Eaters.
"Thank Merlin you're all safe," Arthur said when he saw them return unharmed.
"Is everyone else alright?" Hermione asked with concern.
"Everyone's fine. Bill and the others helped the Ministry restore order. It seems the Death Eaters were just causing trouble. They fled when the Aurors arrived in numbers," Arthur explained with relief.
"But why would they attack now?" Harry asked thoughtfully.
"Probably just some bitter former followers trying to relive their glory days," Sirius said darkly. "They've been lying low since Voldemort's fall, but events like this bring out their worst impulses."
As dawn slowly approached, the campsite gradually returned to uneasy calm. Many tents had been completely destroyed, and the Muggle managers would need extensive memory modification.
"Well, so much for a peaceful World Cup," Arthur sighed with exhaustion.
"At least everyone's safe," Mrs. Weasley said, hugging Ron tightly with maternal relief.
But Aiden was deeply troubled. He could sense something more sinister behind this attack, as if it were just the beginning of something much worse to come.