dmims Chapter 183 The Gold and Silver Camp is Attacked at Night
Chapter 183 The Gold and Silver Camp is Attacked at Night
Chapter 184 (4.8k long chapter) The Gold and Silver Camp is Attacked at Night
Just as the Veela were about to pounce on Harry, they crashed into the magical barrier with a loud cracking sound.
At this moment, a group of wizards, riding flying broomsticks like eagles swooping down on swallows, used their magic to bind the Waiwa neatly and escort them away.
Upon seeing this, the wizards on the field immediately began to shout, full of cries of "bad luck" and "no energy," their voices already dampened.
Before their initial dejection could even subside, they all suddenly changed their expressions, clapping and stomping their feet, their cheers surging up even louder than when they had previously expressed their bad luck.
Why, you ask? Well, it's none other than the appearance of the Irish team's mascot!
With a whoosh, a golden-green light, like a comet falling to earth, streaked into the arena.
The light split in two in the air, like two golden pythons pouncing on two goalposts. In an instant, a rainbow spanned the sky, its seven colors shining brightly, forming a flying bridge.
The crowd stared in awe, and from where the rainbow bridge was hidden, two golden lights intertwined and transformed into a three-leaf clover about ten feet in size, its body shimmering with light, hovering freely in the air.
The clover swirled three times, and suddenly a "whoosh" sound was heard, as thousands of coins rained down, hitting people's faces.
Upon seeing the gold, the wizards' eyes turned red with greed, and they all reached out to snatch it.
Some cried out in pain after being hit on the forehead by gold, some lifted their clothes to catch the money, and one was so blinded by the rain of gold that he only looked up and gazed around, while his neighbor had already snatched the money away.
Fred and George could no longer contain themselves; they leaped up and flailed their four hands wildly in mid-air.
Having obtained a coin, George gritted his teeth and immediately cried out in joy:
"It's real gold!"
"When did the Irish become so rich?!"
Upon hearing this, Ron quickly pulled the willow-shaped magic staff from his ear, threw it into the air, and shouted "Long!"
In an instant, hundreds of charred branches emerged like black dragons from their caves, sweeping towards the golden rain as if blotting out the sky.
The onlookers below suddenly felt their vision darken, as the willow trees had blocked out the sunlight. Enraged, they pointed and cursed.
"Hey kid! Don't go too far!"
"How can you be so greedy!"
"You think you're the only one sitting in this audience?!"
The curses were deafening, but Ron ignored them and instead spun the willow stick even faster, weaving the willow branches into a net that stretched from heaven to earth.
Percy was so ashamed of his three brothers' behavior that his face turned purple, and he was secretly glad that Crouch wasn't there.
Stealing a glance at Harry, I saw that the scarred man sat upright as a mountain, not caring about the gold and silver at all, only regretting that he was not his own brother.
Fudge already knew there was something fishy about the gold, and now, wanting to embarrass Harry, he put on a smiling face and feigned concern:
"Harry, aren't you planning to get some gold? I've heard you're always spending quite a bit."
Upon hearing this, Harry turned his head sharply, his eyes wide open like saucers, and said in disbelief:
"What? Could it be that this shower of golden rain is actually real?"
Seeing that he had fallen into his trap, Fudge's smile widened. "Of course, this is indeed real gold."
Upon hearing this, Harry's expression shifted from shock to furious rage, and he roared:
"Damn it! This Ministry of Magic is so incompetent! Even a stray dog chained up at the gate would be better than a bunch of good-for-nothings like you!"
These words struck Arthur like a bolt from the blue, leaving him trembling and his forehead beaded with cold sweat. Fudge, his face flushed and pale, abruptly stood up and roared:
"What do you mean by that!"
Lucius's eyes darted around, and he gently shook his silver cane, advising, "Harry, I think there must be some misunderstanding between you and Cornelius."
"How could a dog possibly do a better job than him?"
The soft knife concealed a poisoned needle, which enraged Fudge so much that the veins on his forehead bulged and his jaw clenched so tightly it made a grinding sound.
"Mr. Potter! I think you may not know this, but insulting the Ministry of Magic is a punishable offense!"
Seeing the two of them about to clash again, Hermione was sweating profusely with anxiety. She whispered in Harry's ear that the time was not yet right.
Harry ignored him, his eyes flashing like lightning as he stared directly at Fudge, and coldly snapped:
"You stupid fool, how did you end up in charge of the Ministry of Magic! Today the Irish can throw away thousands of dollars, tomorrow they can mint millions of coins and flood England."
"If this continues, money will be cheap and goods will be expensive, like a flood bursting its banks. If those Irish people were to suddenly run out of money, they would be like eggs suspended in mid-air!"
"The higher you float, the more your magic will wear off, and the more shattered you'll be when you crash down! When you come back with sacks full of Galleons to buy a piece of cured meat, I'll see if your head is enough for all the wizards to devour!"
These words seemed to freeze him in place, leaving Fudge speechless with astonishment.
The Bulgarian minister, however, could no longer contain himself. He slapped his thigh, doubled over with laughter, and burst into tears, wiping his eyes as he said:
"Don't worry, Mr. Potter, those poor Irish folks can't come up with that much gold."
"Those are the magical coins of Irish goblins. Although they look exactly like gold, they will disappear on their own after a short time."
Fudge, finding himself in an awkward situation, could only sullenly return to his seat and awkwardly say, "I just wanted to play a joke on Harry..."
He tried to save face, but the Bulgarian minister was merciless. "Ha! Fudge, you seem to be underestimating our savior."
"I bet he'd have a much stronger voice than you in England."
These words hit the nail on the head. Fudge was so angry that his chest heaved like a bellows, and he clenched his fists so hard that his palms almost bled, but he couldn't utter a sound.
Blake, sitting next to him, was speechless, his jaw agape.
From whom did Harry inherit this talent?
This is completely unlike James and Lily.
Ron had been enjoying the jeers from below the stage. But when he heard that the gold had vanished like a dream, he was instantly deflated.
Peeking out, he saw the wizards below the stage glaring angrily, their faces flushed red. They stamped their feet in frustration and shouted:
"Sorry, guys! I was too greedy. I'll return the gold to you right now!"
Seeing Ron's youthful appearance and humble demeanor, the crowd's initial anger subsided considerably, and they began to exclaim:
"Since you've already called me 'buddy,' what else can I say?"
"Forget it, forget it, you can keep all this gold for yourself!"
"Is this even possible?!"
However, Ron seemed to let it pass by like an autumn breeze, and with a slight shake of the willow magic stick in his hand, hundreds of branches suddenly curled back.
First, the golden bells that covered the branches fell down as if caught in a gale, with a loud "whoosh" sound, like a golden waterfall hanging down from the sky, or like a rosy robe being torn down from the heavens, causing everyone to stagger and fall from the heavy golden rain.
Although the wizards were bruised and sore from being hit by the gold, none of them complained. Instead, they all smiled broadly and thanked Ron profusely.
Seeing the expressions on everyone's faces and hearing their flattery, Ron felt as refreshed as if he had drunk ice water on a sweltering summer day.
No wonder Harry likes to treat people...giving money away is so satisfying!
After the mascots of both teams finished their performance, three cannon shots were heard, and the team members filed onto the stage.
Each time Ludo sang a name, thunderous applause erupted from the stands.
When the Bulgarian man named Krum appeared, millions shouted in unison, shaking the heavens and obscuring the sun and moon.
The entire venue was a cacophony of noise, but Harry remained calm and composed.
Don't be fooled by the fact that these players are famous far and wide; this scarred man doesn't recognize a single one of them.
"Two penalties for Ireland!" Ludo yelled at the top of his lungs. "Volkov and Vokanov better get on their brooms... alright... they're on... Troy got the Quaffle..."
"Leverski—Dimitrov—Moran—Troy—Malet—Ivanova—Moran again—Moran—Moran scores!"
Although the Irish team won the first point, there was not a single cheer heard on the field.
It turned out that Veela and the goblins were already locked in battle underground.
With a flick of the wrist, magical flames surged like crimson serpents; with a crouching figure, Galleons flew like hailstones.
The two fought fiercely, creating billowing dust and smoke, making it even more exciting than a Quidditch match in the heavens.
Seeing how fiercely they were fighting, Harry quickly picked up the panoramic telescope and peered through it to get a closer look.
Seeing that he was so engrossed in watching, Black assumed that Harry enjoyed the rivalry between women and couldn't help but grin.
He leaned closer and lowered his voice, saying, "Harry, you like this?"
Harry, eyes glued to his glasses and without turning his head, said, "What a fierce battle! It's just a pity that such a rabble is fighting in disarray and lacks a strategist."
"If I were in command, just ten beauties would be enough to send those short, ugly bastards fleeing in disarray!"
The game was in full swing in mid-air. Although the Irish team was leading by 100 points, they were still like a pack of wolves fighting a tiger, using all sorts of methods to entangle Krum.
Unexpectedly, the melee between Veela and the imp below the stage spilled over into his flight. A flame suddenly shot up from the end of his broom, causing him to stumble and be bumped by the bouncy ball two or three times.
What a man! Though he swayed like a candle in the wind, he still gripped the broom like iron clamps.
Harry, watching from the stage, couldn't help but bang on the railing and cheer, "What a magnificent sight! Truly a hero of iron will!"
Before he could finish speaking, the two Irish batters raised their bats together, and two Quakes, like shooting stars, slammed into Krum's chest and back, one after the other.
But then, as the tough guy staggered, he suddenly reached out with his claws and caught a glimpse of gold through his fingers!
Ludo's hair and beard bristled, and he roared hoarsely;
"Match over! Krum caught the Golden Snitch! Congratulations to Team Ireland?!"
As he shouted the last sentence, Ludo suddenly felt as if he had swallowed a bitter pill; all the color drained from his face, and his body swayed like a reed in the wind.
As the match was about to end, the fans from both sides and the mascots became even more unruly, with the crowd in the stands roaring and pushing and shoving.
Fudge glanced sideways at the Bulgarian minister and sneered, "Unfortunately, it seems I can only congratulate Ireland on winning the championship today."
"Ha~ Don't worry about me, Fudge."
"I still have a lot of prestige in Bulgaria and can reassure people."
Fudge's expression turned cold again, and he turned his head away without saying another word.
The Bulgarian minister was about to leave when he suddenly heard a clear voice behind him, "Minister, please wait!"
He and Fudge turned around, only to see Harry striding forward and bowing to him.
Seeing this, Fudge could not bear it any longer. He suddenly stood up, flicked his sleeves, and left, his footsteps making a thud on the ground.
The Bulgarian minister glanced at his retreating figure with a disdainful smile, but turned around with a beaming smile.
"Is there anything I can help you with, Mr. Potter?"
Harry didn't answer, but simply waved his wand lightly.
Suddenly, the bluestone slabs on the ground floated into the air and were sculpted into the shape of stone discs by invisible sharp blades. Immediately afterward, stacks of gold gallons flew out from his bosom with a "whoosh," landing neatly on the stone discs like a flock of geese in flight.
Harry pushed the stone plate forward and said loudly:
"Please have the minister pass on these five hundred Galleons to Nakrum."
"I saw him charging left and right through the clouds, fighting to the death even when surrounded on all sides. He is truly a man of iron will!"
"Although we suffered a defeat today, the hero has not lost his prestige. These little treasures are just to warm his chest."
The Bulgarian minister paused for a moment, then smiled again and patted Harry on the shoulder repeatedly.
"Of course, no problem!"
"If you'd like, you could even give it to him in person. How about I take you to the Bulgarian team's locker room?"
Harry waved his hand. "As the ancients said, 'Those destined to meet will find each other even from a thousand miles away, while those not destined will find it difficult to meet even face to face.' If Tete were to bring gold and silver to see him, it would be beneath him."
"I'll wait until we meet again in the martial world, then I'll certainly host a feast and drink three rounds with that hero!"
The Bulgarian minister remained silent, only pressing his hand repeatedly on Harry's shoulder before finally letting out a long sigh.
"I think I understand why Fudge doesn't like you."
Then he smiled mysteriously, "But don't worry, Harry, you and Krum will definitely meet someday."
Having said that, he picked up the plate full of golden light and strode away.
After the dignitaries and celebrities had all left, Fred and George jumped in front of Ludo.
Fred spread his hands, beaming, "Mr. Bagman, I suppose you've already got the money ready, haven't you?"
Ludo's face turned ashen, as if he had aged ten years in an instant, and he said in a hoarse voice:
"Ah, of course... I am indeed ready..."
He shakily reached into his robes, took out a deflated money pouch, and counted out the money for Galon and Fred.
When he turned to Harry, he suddenly broke into a fawning smile, like an old gambler in a gambling den who had lost a lot of money, and rubbed his hands together, saying:
"Harry, your money... um... could you give me some time?"
"You know, that's no small sum..."
Before the words were even finished, Harry was already seething with rage. His eyes blazed with fury, his killing intent palpable, and he roared:
"You scoundrel, are you trying to cheat your grandpa Harry out of his gambling debts?! Everyone knows that if the bookmaker can't pay out the winnings, he should have his hands chopped off and displayed to the public!"
Ludo's thunderous rebuke startled him so much that he took a half-step back, every pore on his body screaming in terror.
This isn't right. Shouldn't he be easy to talk to?
Upon hearing this, Blake spat, rolled up his black robe sleeves, and rushed forward, his nose touching Ludo's pen tip.
"You want to owe money?!"
"Do you think Harry is easy to bully, or do you think I, his godfather, am a coward!"
Narudo's back was soaked with cold sweat through three layers of clothing, as if he had been splashed with well water on a hot summer day.
He mumbled, his tongue stiff, and stammered:
"This, this, Harry bet too much! Even if I didn't eat or drink for fifty years, I might not be able to pay it off!"
"Besides, this is just a personal betting platform; not many people bet here. Most people bet at Gringotts!"
Upon hearing the word "Gringotts," Harry narrowed his eyes and thought to himself:
This fairy is adept at manipulating money, and has become deeply entrenched in the magical world, like a malignant tumor that will surely cause trouble in the future.
In a flash of thought, he suddenly smiled and said:
"Why must you put on such an embarrassing act, Director? Do you think I'm the kind of villain who relentlessly demands payment?"
Ludo's face twitched, and he managed to force a dry, lifeless smile.
Black shook his head and said earnestly, "Harry, don't deceive yourself."
Harry ignored him, took out paper and pen from his pocket, and handed them over.
"Let's sign a magical document as proof, and I'll waive the interest for you and the director as well."
"I only hope that when someone asks for my help in the future, I won't make excuses."
Lu Duo heard that he was exempted from interest payments, just like a prisoner receiving a pardon. He didn't care about future fortune or misfortune, only about the present.
He nodded vigorously, like pounding rice and crushing garlic, and signed the document and affixed his seal with trembling hands.
Seeing that Ludo was distraught and staggering away, Harry was satisfied and returned to the camp with Black and his group.
At that time, the sun was setting in the west, and campfires lit up the fields like stars. Most of the shamans were still drinking and laughing in their tents.
Halfway there, Arthur hesitated and said, "Harry, actually, the Ludodians aren't so bad."
Harry laughed and said, "Director, please don't worry, I'm not one to take lives."
"But how can we deter someone so addicted to gambling without resorting to drastic measures?"
Upon hearing this, Arthur nodded and remained silent.
Upon arriving at the camp, they found Fred and George throwing a grand feast, using the money they had won to buy fine wine and meat.
Everyone ate large chunks of meat and drank large bowls of wine until almost 7 PM, when they finally returned to their tents to rest.
Harry had been lying in bed for less than an hour when he suddenly heard cries and screams outside the tent, like the wailing of ghosts and howls of wolves.
Upon closer listening, one could hear only fearful cries, but not a trace of anger or quarreling, clearly not the sound of fans fighting.
Harry heard something was wrong outside and did a somersault to stand upright on the ground.
After tidying up, he concealed himself and quietly peeked out of the tent.
Looking up, they saw flames shooting into the sky, and wizards fleeing in all directions.
Four or five Muggles were suspended in mid-air. The one in the lead was none other than Roberts, who had been showing off his tent in front of the camp a few days ago. The others beside him were his wife and children.
But their faces were contorted, tears streaming down their faces, and their wails were incessant.
Seeing such torturous methods, Harry was filled with rage and malice.
Looking down again, I saw five or six wizards with iron armor on their faces and wearing black robes, each casting evil spells.
The woman at the head of the group was not armored and was laughing maniacally to the sky.
"Hahahaha! You despicable thing!"
"Cry! Keep crying!"
"Speak louder!"
Harry stared intently, and his pupils instantly contracted.
It was none other than the alluring woman who had appeared in front of the camp the day before yesterday!
(End of this chapter)