The girls were settled quickly—almost suspiciously so.
Their own tent look marginally different from the classic wizarding ones, some made the field look like a vagrant site, while some others clearly misunderstood the whole idea behind tenting, having massive tents that would make you think there was a tribal warlord who'd taken up residence here.
Theirs was a muggle purchased tent, and a fairly nice one at that, however when coupled with the enhancement brought about by magic.
The standard two person interrior had become a full fledged studio appartment.
The tent itself was laden with more than an extension charm, it also bore identification restriction, making it only so certain people could enter, muggleato to make the noise from within unable to perceive from outside.
After that was defensive measures, autorepair features, and even temperature control.
Though being a muggle tent did make them stand out compared to the crown, many wizards who had decided to setup the muggle way were amazed to see just how simple the assembly of their popup tent was compared to the older peg and pole models.
Even from afar at the stadium exit, Cassius could see it from clear across the field.
The sharp vibrant color from the nylon, and polyester fabrics were like a lighthouse in the dark of night.
No doubt with the work of setting up complete the girls were either within lounging around, or possibly already wandering the grounds meeting up with classmates or getting glimpses of the other atheletes and teams who'd already arrived.
Cassius had spent a good amount of time inspecting the World Cup stadium, both the pitch, the stands, and even the corridors behind the scenes leading to the player dressing rooms and entrance tunnels.
The stadium was certainly an eyeful, though mostly looking like a OSHA lawsuit waiting to happen as the majority of the stadium just looked like endless amounts of scaffolding stack up high into the sky in an oval shape, but even those sights were mixed with those of the preventative measures taking place.
The ministry of Magic was hard pressed to counter the growing rumors that the Dark lord was still alive or even contemplating his return.
Couple that with the news within that the former Dark Lord, Grindelwald had recently arrived on British soil as well.
Many within were openly declaring the need to cancel the tournament even if it meant losing tremendous face.
But the current minister ever the staunch buerocrat refused to believe his position was so shaky, so weak as to be torn down by the relic of a dark lord, who no doubt was already well into retirement.
Or the present dark lord who couldnt even bring himself to successfull assassinate a baby.
Of course Cornelius was worried about the return of the dark times, but his desire to ignore these tidings overrode all else.
So instead the grounds were absolutely crawling with Aurors.
to the point that aside from the ministry of magic itself, the tournament grounds were now the most heavily fortified location on the isles.
Adding to that the mercenary forces enlisted from Cassius's own Arcanum Institute, the numbers of magical law enforcement present soared to the point that visiting foreigners wondered if Britain was flexing its muscles in a sense.
Showing off their power and number of combatants even after having come out of a civil war only a decade before.
Though from another perspective this was also a way of showing to the world the reach of the Arcanum.
Cassius's institue was based in Britain yes, but his influence and ideology had long since spread across europe seeding new followers with the pursuit of innovation and collaboration with Muggles.
Though the training conducted within the Arcanum was far more rigourous and structured making the security forces deployed far greater in actual strength when compared to the assigned aurors from the ministry.
If one could see a simple projection of influence and power over the british ministry or even just the British isles as a whole one would wonder just which truly was the ruling body over the wizarding world.
As one on the surface was still the recognized ruling body, while the other was the clearly the rising star ready to take over and replace the decrepit institution that had become more and more muddled over the long years since its conception.
The only real question was in this situation with three factions present just which would act first to eliminate the other two?
This of course was not lost on Cassius.
the entire time he was watching the ever growing crowd and the mix of two factions forces he couldnt help but think about the war still to come.
"Enjoying the view?"
Cassius didn't startle.
He turned to find Sirius Black leaning against a reinforced support column, dark hair pulled back, expression casual but eyes sharp.
His long coat a stylish choice all though one that would surely cause persperation in this summer heat.
Clearly from the smug expression on his face he was enjoying his new role as a hired wand.
Sirius thanks to watching Cassius, and getting to pick up a few of his habits, mainly copying his elvish incantations, and near constant dueling practice at the house made Sirius beyond his previous peak, he was one of the foremost wizards in britain now, perhaps even among the top five if he were to compete with the others.
"You're not supposed to be in here," Cassius said mildly. "Figured you'd be trailing Amelia like a good little puppy dog."
Sirius grinned, though his eyes lost their friendly twinkle.
He was a middle-aged man, one who'd spent ten years in Azkaban of all places, and now he was catching flak from the brat for trying to sow some wild oats now that he was free?
"What's it to you? Seeing you with a harem of girls, made me consider making one of my own." He absentmindedly snapped back, but just as the last word fell from his mouth, a shiver raked its way down both of the men's spines.
*Whack*
As one can only see in a slapstick comedy routine, Sirius was blasted away, sailing through the air like a frisbee before connecting with the Stadium scaffolding, ending up like a kite stuck in a tree, limbs going all different directions.
And in his place just slightly behind where he previously stood, was a woman bearing a stern expression, dressed in yellow robes, her wand still out though lowered ever so slightly.
...
...
Glance.
"Greetings Mrs. Bones! Thank you for your undying efforts to provide security for the event so that atheletes like me can provide our fans with a proper show without cause to worry."
Cassius ever the silver tongued devil was quick to abandon Sirius and their previous conversation, instead ingratiating himself to Amelia Bones who stood before him, while also driving home the point that he was in fact a participant of the tournament whom she was meant to protect... not harm.
Even with Sirius being the goofball that he was, their relationship if you could call it that was actually pretty good.
And with both serving and their forces respective commanders, the venue would be safer than it was in canon, though 'innocent' former death eaters were bound to be present interspersed with the crowd and waiting for their chance to strike and make headlines like the old days once more.