Apolline had been eating at another table and only came over after Mr. Saron left.
"How does it feel? That's a real big shot. He was the Director of the Sporting Goods Department of the French Ministry of Magic when I was a child," Apolline winked.
"It's fine. I think he's quite amiable, not too strict," Alfrina quickly took a few bites of her food. She had been busy dealing with Mr. Saron, and the dishes on the table had already grown cold.
"He only started changing his personality after his granddaughter was born a couple of years ago. I heard from my seniors that Mr. Saron's roar used to carry from the Director's office all the way to the elevators outside, and employees passing by on the fifth floor could hear his curses," Apolline checked the time. "It's still early. I didn't expect Mr. Saron to leave midway. The next event starts at 4 PM, so everyone can rest for a while."
Kona and Howard cheered. They had gone wild last night, and in the morning, they had taken a tube of mental replenishment potion to maintain their energy for the morning. After dealing with Mr. Bonaparte and Mr. Saron, weariness once again invaded their minds.
After the five of them finished eating, they napped on the table for a while before Apolline led them back to Fuveau Mountain. In just one day, the Quidditch Pitch for the finals had undergone earth-shattering changes.
The previously bare grandstands were now painted with the representative colors of the two finalist teams: the blue, white, and red stripes symbolizing the United States and the yellow and green of Brazil.
The two camps were clearly separated, with the commentator's booth at the center of the stands acting as the dividing line, each camp occupying half of the territory.
There were scattered spectators in the stands, and some vendors had already set up their stalls.
The goalposts on the field were also painted with each team's representative colors, and colored lights from the stands projected the national flags of the two countries onto the Quidditch Pitch.
In the middle of the field, an enormous clock had been set up using magic, displaying the current time and a countdown to the finals.
"Isn't the atmosphere of the finals great?" Apolline said proudly, "We French are absolutely world-class in this aspect."
"It truly makes one's heart surge and blood boil," Lily nodded. They could hear people in the stands singing local folk songs, their emotions grand and sorrowful, like a farewell to warriors about to go to battle.
"Come with me, I'll take you to the two teams' locker rooms," Apolline turned and led them into the player's tunnel. The light suddenly dimmed, and the singing and clamor faded away from them.
Apolline first took them to the United States Team's locker room. As soon as she pushed open the door, they heard a noisy clamor inside, with many reporters holding cameras and taking photos of the players.
Many others had attached recording functions to their wands and were asking the players questions.
"This is the captain of the United States Team, the Beater Steve Rogers, a popular player in this World Cup," Apolline found a young man who had just changed into his uniform in the changing room. He was well-built and wore the United States' blue, white, and red striped uniform.
"These are the members of the organization that compiled the new rules," Apolline introduced both parties.
"Hi, it's a pleasure to meet you. Our team sometimes uses your new rules in internal practice matches, and they're really interesting. I like the rule about scoring points by hitting others with a Bludger," Steve showed a sunny and handsome smile, a row of clean teeth shining even brighter under the lights of the cameras nearby.
Gary also offered a few polite compliments. Kona seemed to really like the handsome, muscular type, and she kept talking to Steve.
"Could you sign something for me, please? Just on my robe, using your wand," Kona didn't bring a notebook, so she simply turned her back and let Steve sign her robe with his wand.
"No problem," Steve gave a standard smile, made an OK gesture, and signed his elegant and flamboyant name on her back with his wand. "What's your name?"
"Kona, Kona Evans. I'm from Britain," Kona's face was flushed with excitement, and she seemed to have successfully transformed into a fangirl.
"Alright, Kona. You're from Hogwarts? Well then… I wish Kona academic progress and all the best," Steve was very patient, writing his good wishes on her robe.
"Thank you so much!" Kona grabbed his hand and shook it, jumping up and down with excitement.
Apolline looked at Kona's reaction, knowing that her strategy had indeed worked.
Feeling happy, a beaming smile appeared on her face.
"Alright, let's not disturb their preparations. Do you still want to go see the Brazil team's locker room next door?" she asked with a smile.
"No thanks, Apolline, I think the United States Team is great," Lily was also collecting autographs. Any talk of not liking Quidditch was thrown to the back of her mind; when she actually met a Quidditch star, she couldn't escape the 'it's so good' outcome.
Alfrina looked at Lily, who was raising her hands high to ask for autographs among a pile of "Stars and Stripes" fans, with a face full of black lines, feeling like her own prized cabbage had been rooted up by a pig.
Of course, the English saying isn't exactly that, but the meaning is the same.
By the time they left the United States Team's locker room, there was less than an hour left until the finals began.
"Follow me!" They returned to the stands. The grandstands were now completely filled with spectators, and the shouts and cheers of over a hundred thousand people were deafening. Coupled with the pre-game warm-up dances and music, Gary and the others couldn't hear what Apolline was saying at all.
"What did you say?" Alfrina asked, puzzled.
Apolline simply pulled out her wand and wrote in the air, "Follow me." Seeing the wisps of silver smoke, the group quickly followed Apolline.
Apolline led them past the small vendors blocking the aisle, climbing higher and higher.
When they reached the middle height of the entire stands, she began to move horizontally. This was the United States Team's section, and many people had the United States flag painted on their faces with watercolors, singing and dancing to American songs.
After pushing through several groups of enthusiastic fans, they arrived at a high ground, which was much quieter. In the center of the high ground was a huge soundproof room, sealed on three sides with brown wooden boards, with only the front made of glass, through which they could see the Quidditch Pitch.
"This is it. Hurry inside and read the words on your tickets in front of the room," Apolline was covered in sweat, and her robe was somewhat torn and deformed from the process of clearing the way.
"Aren't you coming in, Apolline?" Lily asked.
"My ticket is up there," Apolline pointed above her head. "Don't worry about me, Mr. Saron is still waiting for you."
"Alright, goodbye," The group waved and said goodbye to Apolline.
Gary pulled out his finals ticket. Now, above the words "First Class" on the ticket, another row of shimmering words appeared: "Welcome to the Hive."
He read it aloud, and then felt an irresistible suction grab him, pulling him slowly into the room.
"Welcome, Mr. Shafik," Mr. Saron greeted him with a smile.