Hogwarts: I will not become the Dark Lord

As Ludo Bagman's voice faded, the audience erupted in a deafening roar of cheers and thunderous applause, coalescing into an unstoppable wave of enthusiasm.

At that moment, the Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans advertisement on the scoreboard opposite Jerry and his friends was wiped away, revealing the score: Ireland: Bulgaria, 0:0.

"And now, I have the distinct pleasure of introducing the mascots of the Bulgarian National Quidditch Team!"

Jerry's gaze shifted to the right side of the stands, where a dazzling sea of crimson stretched out, perfectly uniform. As the Veelas made their entrance, this red phalanx erupted in unprecedented cheers and screams, echoing through the sky.

One hundred genuine Veelas, not wizards with Veela ancestry like Fleur, entered the stadium like a dream, instantly becoming the focus of the entire arena. As the Veelas danced gracefully, an indescribable magic permeated the air, transporting the audience to a dreamlike world where worldly worries were forgotten, and their hearts were filled with pure joy.

Everything in the world became insignificant, with only the dance before them remaining real. Hermione glanced around and noticed that, apart from Jerry, Harry, Ron, Mr. Weasley, and most others were deeply captivated by the Veelas' dance, their eyes vacant and dreamy. Harry even involuntarily raised one leg onto the wall of the box.

The music stopped abruptly, as if time itself had frozen. Harry blinked slowly, his eyes still lingering on the fading light and shadows. Ron, on the other hand, remained frozen in a comical diving pose, as if he had been hit with a Stupefy Charm.

"I…" Harry looked embarrassed. The air in the surrounding stadium was filled with dissatisfied and longing roars. People clearly didn't want the Veelas' magic to dissipate. Actually… Harry's thoughts were the same as everyone else's; he even wanted to support the Bulgarian team.

"Ahem, may I have your attention, please!" Ludo Bagman coughed twice, reminding the audience. "Let us give a warm welcome to the mascots of the Irish National Quidditch Team!"

Before the words could fade, a whooshing sound pierced the sky, and a massive object of green and gold streaks streaked across the horizon like a shooting star, bursting into the stadium with the force of a brilliant comet. It circled gracefully above the arena once before splitting into two smaller, yet equally dazzling, comets, each speeding towards one of the goalposts.

Immediately after, a magnificent rainbow bridge suddenly spanned the field, tightly connecting the two shining orbs. The scene was breathtaking, eliciting gasps of amazement from the audience, as if they were immersed in a dreamlike fireworks extravaganza.

However, the splendor of the rainbow was fleeting. The two radiant orbs began to intertwine and merge, eventually transforming into a large, glittering shamrock that slowly rose until it hovered above the stands.

As the shamrock rotated, countless golden sparkles rained down like fine rain, dazzling and brilliant, like blessings from the heavens.

"It's gold!" Hermione exclaimed excitedly, tugging at Jerry's hand. At that moment, the giant shamrock was hovering above them, constantly showering them with glittering golden coins that landed on their hair and seats. Cheers and applause mingled in the stands as people scrambled to grab them, some even bending down and diving between seats to find the unexpected treasure.

The Bulgarian team members, clad in vibrant red robes, zoomed in on their flying broomsticks like streaks of red lightning from an entrance below, their speed so fast that it was almost impossible to follow.

"And now, let us give the same enthusiasm to the Irish National Quidditch Team!" Bagman's voice remained powerful and resonant.

Seven blurred green figures followed closely behind, cleaving through the sky and flying steadily into the arena.

"Finally, let us offer our warmest applause and respect to the President of the International Quidditch Association, who has traveled all the way from Egypt—the highly esteemed Mr. Hassan Mostafa! He is also the referee for today's match."

As the words fell, a short but energetic wizard strode onto the field, clad in a pure gold robe that complemented the stadium's magnificent atmosphere, his steps steady and dignified.

With a clear whistle that cut through the sky, President Mostafa officially declared the match underway.

"The game has begun! The players are taking off!" Bagman's screams were filled with irrepressible excitement.

Through his omnioculars, Jerry could see every detail of the field. Compared to the Quidditch matches he had seen at Hogwarts, these professional athletes were much faster, especially the Chasers. They coordinated seamlessly, and the Quaffle was passed between them so quickly that Bagman's voice could barely keep up with their movements, only managing to call out their names.

Rows of purple text on the lenses of the omnioculars meticulously analyzed the formations and tactics of the two teams, but Jerry couldn't understand them. All he saw was the Irish team breaking through the defense and scoring first.

"Ireland scores!" Bagman's voice thundered, and the entire stadium erupted, as if even the ground was trembling with excitement. "10-0, Ireland takes the lead!"

As the match continued, the players engaged in an even more intense chase and competition in the air. Jerry's omnioculars slowly scanned the field, and eventually, his gaze involuntarily lingered on the group of Veelas in the opposite stands.

Don't misunderstand; he wasn't lusting after their beauty. He was just curious about the differences between them and ordinary witches, wanting to study their anatomy. He heard they could even grow wings!

"Jerry, your omnioculars seem to be pointing in the wrong direction?" Hermione gently tugged at Jerry's sleeve, a hint of dissatisfaction in her eyes.

"No, I'm watching the game, Hermione," Jerry replied with feigned composure, his face showing no sign of panic. At that moment, the Irish team once again unleashed their power on the field, scoring two more goals in just ten minutes, further extending their lead to 30-0.

"Really?" Hermione muttered, rolling her eyes at Jerry. She had clearly seen Jerry using the omnioculars to look at the Veelas on the opposite side. She was beginning to dislike Veelas as a species!

The intensity of the match suddenly escalated, almost reaching a fever pitch. The air was thick with tension and anxiety. The two Beaters from Bulgaria coordinated with each other and finally scored a goal.

Ireland: Bulgaria, 30:10, Ireland leads!

"Quick, cover your ears, use your fingers!" Mr. Weasley warned everyone loudly. "Don't listen to the Veelas' singing, and don't watch them dance."

Jerry didn't care. He hadn't been affected at all when he was with Fleur before, and it was the same today.

The Veelas quickly stopped dancing, the game continued, and the Quaffle was back in the hands of the Bulgarian team.

"Don't worry," Jerry said to Hermione with a smile. "I'm different from other people!"

Hermione was also a little surprised. Everyone was more or less affected by the Veelas, but Jerry wasn't affected at all. Could it be that he… didn't like girls? Hermione was startled by her own thoughts.

"What are you thinking about!" Jerry felt a little uneasy under Hermione's strange gaze. He pinched Hermione's fair cheek and said with some annoyance, "Do you think I would stare at those Veelas like a ferret? Sorry, the education I received since I was a child doesn't support me doing such a thing!"

Harry and Ron turned their heads and gave Jerry a depressed look when they heard his words. How did he drag them into it too!

Hermione breathed a sigh of relief when she heard Jerry's words, but at the same time, a hint of vigilance rose in her heart, after all, the situation in Britain…

On the field, hundreds of thousands of wizarding eyes were fixed on the game, every slight change tugging at their heartstrings. The Irish Seeker Lynch and the Bulgarian Seeker Viktor Krum became the focus of this duel.

Krum chased the Golden Snitch like a cunning hawk, while Lynch relentlessly pursued him, weaving through the Chasers. Their speed was so great that it was as if fearless warriors were leaping from ten thousand meters without parachutes, dazzling to watch.

Not only the audience, but also Ludo Bagman's heart was in his throat. If Krum caught the Golden Snitch and ended the game with a score of 30:160, Bulgaria would win, and he'd lose his shirt!

"They're about to lose control and crash!" Harry's cry of alarm rang out in the crowd. But fate always seemed to show its unpredictability at crucial moments.

Just when everyone thought they were about to witness a tragedy, Viktor Krum miraculously regained his balance at the last moment, climbed back up, and circled away. But Lynch was not as lucky as Krum; he fell heavily to the ground. The loud "thud" struck every Irish spectator's heart like a hammer, and the entire stadium echoed with this heavy lament.

"Time out!" Bagman shouted almost immediately upon seeing this. The stadium doctors rushed onto the field and surrounded Lynch to treat him. With the help of the doctors, Lynch slowly recovered his strength, while Krum circled in the air, using this time to search for the Golden Snitch that would determine the outcome of the match.

Finally, amidst deafening cheers, Lynch stood up again, and his green-clad supporters gave him the warmest applause. He quickly mounted his Firebolt, tapped his toes lightly, and instantly transformed into a bolt of lightning, soaring straight into the sky.

Referee Mustafa blew his whistle again, and the game reignited with fierce fighting after a brief pause.

The next fifteen minutes became a stage for the Irish team to display their extraordinary strength. They launched wave after wave of attacks like a tide, scoring ten consecutive goals and changing the score to an astonishing 130:10. The atmosphere of the game became increasingly tense and fierce, even taking on a bit of unscrupulousness.

When an Irish player carried the Quaffle and charged towards the goal with unstoppable momentum, the Bulgarian goalkeeper made a highly controversial move—he suddenly flew out and used his elbow as a weapon to slam into the Irish player, blocking the certain goal.

This sudden change instantly froze the atmosphere at the scene. A roar of anger erupted from the Irish stands, expressing strong dissatisfaction with this unsportsmanlike behavior. Referee Mustafa unhesitatingly blew a piercing whistle for several seconds to show his stern penalty for the Bulgarian goalkeeper's foul.

"According to Referee Mustafa's ruling, Ireland will be awarded a valuable penalty shot!" Bagman's voice cut through the noise of the scene, explaining to the audience.

At this moment, the Irish team's mascots—the leprechauns—seemed to be inspired to fight as well. Like a swarm of angry hornets, they quickly changed formations in the air, forming taunting words to express their dissatisfaction to the Bulgarian team.

On the other side of the field, the Veelas looked at the leprechauns with gloomy faces. They angrily swung their long hair and danced again.

This time, Hassan Mustafa was also affected. He was captivated by the Veelas' charm and couldn't help but land in front of them. In front of a hundred thousand spectators, he exaggeratedly stretched his limbs and showed off his muscular physique, while excitedly stroking his beard.

"Good heavens, this won't do!" Ludo Bagman's voice was full of戏谑, saying to the audience below: "Someone go up and give Mustafa a slap!"

At this moment, a stadium doctor rushed onto the field with lightning speed and unhesitatingly kicked him hard in the buttocks a few times before Mustafa slowly came back to his senses.

Mustafa was instantly extremely embarrassed. After realizing that he had just committed a socially awkward act in front of wizards all over the world, he hurriedly shouted angrily at the Veelas. Although the Veelas stopped dancing, the dissatisfaction and disdain on their faces were obvious.

The two Bulgarian beaters were equally furious about the referee's penalty. They quickly landed on either side of Mustafa and began to argue and protest with him excitedly. Mustafa raised a finger high, pointing to the sky, signaling the players to refocus on the game.

But the Bulgarian beaters obviously didn't buy it; they refused to obey the command. Faced with such a stalemate, Mustafa finally made a decision. He decisively blew two short, forceful whistles as a response to the Bulgarian team's protest, and mercilessly awarded two more penalty shots to the Irish team.

The game had now reached an unprecedented level of ferocity and intensity, far exceeding everyone's imagination. The beaters' bats in their hands were no longer simple tools, but had become weapons in their hands. Every swing was mixed with a reckless ruthlessness. Whether it was the Quaffle or the figures of their opponents, they were no longer important in their eyes; only the desire for victory burned fiercely in their chests.

"Foul!" The Irish supporters erupted in a deafening shout almost simultaneously. They all stood up, and their green clothing converged into a surging wave, as if to submerge the entire stadium.

"Foul!" Ludo Bagman also repeated these two words, cheering for the Irish supporters.

At this time, the leprechauns rose into the air again and gave the Veelas on the opposite side of the field the middle finger. Upon seeing this, the Veelas instantly lost control. They did not continue dancing, but transformed into streaks of light, crossed the field, and threw handfuls of fiery things at the leprechauns.

Even more surprisingly, the Veelas' faces underwent an astonishing change at this moment. Their features lengthened and turned into sharp bird beaks, and a pair of wings covered with shiny scales grew out of their shoulders.

The Ministry of Magic people wanted to separate the leprechauns and Veelas, but their efforts did not seem to be effective, and even the spectators on both sides of the stands joined the battle together.

The game continued, but the wizards in the sky and on the ground were fighting their own battles, and the field was in chaos.

Soon the score reached 170:10, Ireland leading!

Now even if Bulgaria caught the Golden Snitch to end the game, it would be useless.

The Irish beater did his best to smash a Bludger hurtling towards them hard at the Bulgarian Seeker, Krum. Krum couldn't dodge in time and was hit squarely in the face by this sudden ball.

However, Referee Hassan Mustafa failed to blow the whistle in time, because his broom had been lit by the Veelas, and his attention was entirely on this matter!

"He saw the Golden Snitch!" Harry's voice cut through the crowd's noise.

This cry of alarm instantly attracted the attention of half the audience. The Irish supporters once again stood up, the green wave surged again, and the deafening cheers were only for their Chaser, Lynch. But Krum did not give up; he gritted his teeth and chased hard, keeping pace with Lynch, and the two of them dove towards the ground together.

"Aren't they slowing down? They're about to crash into the ground!" Mr. Weasley said nervously.

Ron retorted confidently: "No way!"

Harry shouted even more firmly: "Lynch will win!"

But unexpectedly, Lynch lost control again at the crucial moment and fell heavily to the ground, stirring up a cloud of dust.

"The Golden Snitch, who caught the Golden Snitch? Did Lynch catch the Snitch?" Charlie shouted anxiously.

"Look, Krum caught the Golden Snitch! The game is over!"

On Krum's crimson robes, spots of blood from his nose sparkled dazzlingly in the light. He rode his broom into the air, his fist raised high, and the golden light leaking from between his fingers illuminated everyone's eyes.

The numbers on the scoreboard flashed quickly, and finally froze: Ireland: Bulgaria, 170:160, Ireland wins!

At this time, the two sides of the audience who were originally entangled on the ground finally withdrew from the fierce battle. After a brief moment of astonishment, the Irish supporters' discussions gradually gathered into a sea, and finally erupted into deafening cheers.

"Ireland wins! We are the champions!" Bagman's voice trembled with excitement.

"Krum shouldn't have caught the Golden Snitch when he was so far behind." Ron happily raised his hands and jumped off the ground with the Irish audience, but there was still a trace of regret in his heart.

"That's because he knew that no matter how hard Bulgaria tried, they couldn't catch up with the difference!" Harry also shouted excitedly, "The Irish players are all too amazing. Krum chose to end the battle in his own way, at the most appropriate time!"