The underlying turmoil seemed to ignite like a pile of dry kindling upon contact with Mars, spreading rapidly. More and more fans joined the chaos, and moreover, the siren brought by Bulgaria fanned the flames further. The employees of the Ministry of Magic who maintained order plunged into the tide, but without raising a single ripple, they surrendered and ceased their efforts.
No, the Bulgarian supporters were angry because they believed their team had been unfairly penalized by the referee during the match.
Harry could understand the reason, but he couldn't understand how the explosion had just happened.
The people in the box were too scared to go out now, who knows if they might be trampled into minced meat by the raging crowd? One by one, they got up from their seats and stood at the railing, stretching their necks to see what was going on below!
"There are a group of people in black robes!" Harry suddenly exclaimed, as he used his telescope to look around, "They're like a crowd, shooting spells!"
"Let me see!"
"Let me see!" Lord Blackpool grabbed the telescope from Harry's hands without a word. The frame was deeply embedded in his eye socket, and after a moment, he put down the telescope and nodded solemnly at Mr. Weasley.
"Harry is right, there are people in black cloaks everywhere on the field, they are causing chaos!"
The Bulgarian Minister of Magic immediately looked at Fudge, hoping for an explanation.
"Puff, puff—"
Fudge wiped away the sweat on his forehead, he looked very anxious but still tried to smile to reassure the people in the box so that they could feel at ease.
"Oh, is this exciting game really touching your heart?"
All eyes were on Fudge, who had a pale face and the fatty flesh on his cheeks was trembling.
"In my opinion, it should be some extremist fan group who is unhappy about the loss of the match. Let me think, we should send someone down to investigate. Who wants to volunteer? Oh, that's great, Arthur. I almost forgot you were here too. Look, isn't that it?"
"Daddy!" Ginny called out in concern, holding onto Weasley's robe, not letting him leave.
"I have to go, Ginny!"
Mr. Weasley's expression was serious, "If there really is a time of chaos, I have to go and stop it. It is my responsibility!"
"I'll go too, dad!"
"Percy spoke up suddenly, delighted to see the Minister of Magic looking at him with grateful eyes. He straightened his chest proudly and said, 'I bet Mr. Crabbe is already down there directing the crowd's evacuation. I must go first to not leave him to face the chaos alone!' "
Mr. Weasley stared at his son's young, fearless face, hesitated for a moment, but eventually nodded his head.
"Alright, Percy, you can follow me, but don't be too aggressive, and also--"
Mr. Weasley's focused gaze landed on the face of Sirius Black.
Sirius Black originally intended to go down himself to check the situation, but since Fudge had given Arthur an order, it indeed needed someone to take care of these young witches and wizards, so he reluctantly nodded his head.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of them."
Mr. Weasley and Percy sprinted out of the box like the wind, while the others anxiously waited inside. Fudge tried to force a smile and reassure everyone not to worry, but at that moment, no one was paying him any attention.
In the dimly lit box, the air was as heavy as lead mercury, and everyone maintained a suppressed silence.
But the sounds below had not ceased; instead, they grew louder.
The air was filled with the continuous roar of explosions, as if someone was setting off fireworks in the Quidditch pitch. Panic-stricken screams and cries echoed from all directions!
Ron clutched his money pouch, staring blankly at the entrance of the box where his dad and Percy had just rushed out. He seemed unable to understand what was happening at the moment.
"Harry!"
Hermione grabbed Harry's sleeve and called out to him. Harry turned his head and saw a frightened look in her eyes.
"It's Malfoy!"
Harry said through gritted teeth, his gaze fixed on the still-watching Sirius.
"It's Lucius Malfoy, he caused the chaos to avoid affecting himself. That's why he took his family and escaped early!"
"Now it's meaningless to seek this out, Harry!" Sirius said solemnly.
"That should be confirmed after the chaos is resolved, Harry. If the chaos spreads here, you and your friends must not be overconfident. Remember to stay behind me. The outside is not Hogwarts, understand?"
"What's going on, Harry?" Hermione asked urgently, "Why do you think it was Malfoy?"
So, Harry recounted the entire incident with the Malfoys and how he noticed them leaving halfway through. Ron leaped up as if he had just woken from a dream, "It has to be them!"
Ron shouted, "All those in that family are rotten to the core. I'm going to tell your dad and let him...oh, the Minister of Magic is here, Harry. Should we--"
"Without evidence, Ron!"
The sounds below the stadium were no longer just frightening explosions and cries; it seemed that the Ministry of Magic was engaged in a confrontation with the troublemakers, and the icy colorful lights were blindingly bright!
Hermione trembled slightly, her thin frame shook. The sounds coming from below were constantly tormenting her nerves, making her heart ache. While she indeed suspected the Malfoys of being suspicious, she still stopped Ron's suggestion.
"Unless you can find any evidence, Ron. I don't see how the Minister of Magic would believe a guess from a young wizard. Especially when, uh, oh my god, all the wizards in the world are here. I can't even imagine what they would think of us..."
Mr. Weasley had been gone for a while now, and no messages had come through. The fear of the unknown is the most torturous, and Fudge was comforting those gathered around him under great psychological pressure, but the handkerchief he used to wipe sweat was already soaked through.
"Ludo, do you think you should also go down and ask Rufus to send some help over?"
The escalating chaos below had left Fudge in a state of panic. He looked at Ludo Bagman, who was hiding behind the door, and quivered as he spoke.
This suggestion was warmly praised by most people. These dignitaries, using Fudge's command, pressured Ludo to go and ask the Chief of the Aurors to bring his most capable men to guard them. Before Ludo could speak, a shadow suddenly burst into view from the corridor leading to the box and appeared in everyone's line of sight.
It's Remus!
He was sweating profusely, his pupils contracted to the extreme, his pale face that had been in St. Mungo's for half a year was even paler now, and the wand in his hand was freshly charred, indicating that he had just been in a fight with someone.
"Remus... Remus Lupin, is that... it's you..."
Remus couldn't catch his breath. Before he could speak, Fudge panic-strickenly exclaimed,
"What happened, how did you get here, I mean, you are not allowed to be here..."
Remus had no time to pay attention to Fudge's incoherent words. The moment he caught his breath, he shouted at Sirius, who was shielding Harry and the others,
"Get Harry away quickly, Sirius, it's a Death Eater!"
Time seemed to freeze for ten seconds. During these ten seconds, no one in the box made a sound, including the Minister of Magic Connelly Fudge and his VIP guests, including Sirius Black and Harry behind him, including Shine, as well as various stars from all walks of life in the magic world.
Fear was accumulating, brewing, and then, it erupted!
The panic and screams that erupted in the box in that instant were like a dam bursting after being filled to the brim, suddenly and violently!
The cries, the sound of falling chairs, the cries of injured witches and wizards who fell down the stairs, everyone was scrambling to rush out of the box towards the entrance. At this moment, Fudge's title as Minister of Magic was no longer effective. He was pushed to the back by witches and wizards who were trying to escape, knocking over Shine and its chair!
Remus wanted to rush into the box, but he was engulfed by the crowd of wizards desperate to escape. He quickly disappeared from view.
"Everyone pull out your wand and follow me. If anyone casts a spell on you, use your most powerful spell to overpower them!"
Sirius Black, who was emanating intense heat, had pulled out his wand without anyone noticing and roared for the kids to follow him out of danger, but at that moment——
CRASH!
The side wall of the box door suddenly exploded, and many wizards were blasted back by the blast, crashing into the ceiling and other walls of the box. As the dust settled, three terrifying figures dressed in black robes, emanating an ominous aura like smoke, appeared in front of Sirius Black and Harry!
(End of Chapter)
