Chapter 458: Interrupting the Bet
As more people filled the grounds, the tents began to show more unified support for their teams. Once the first Bulgarian flag appeared on a tent, it set off a chain reaction—soon, other tents were adorned with flags and symbols supporting either Ireland or Bulgaria, giving the venue a divided but festive atmosphere. Occasionally, a lone Bulgarian fan would wander into the Irish camp and, after a few tense glances, hurriedly pack up and move to the opposite side. The Ministry members overseeing the event discreetly ignored these migrations.
The Weasley family, however, stayed neutral. With so many family members cheering for different teams, they couldn't settle on one side, so they watched from the sidelines, enjoying the spectacle.
"I've never seen so many foreign wizards before," Harry said, coming back to the tent with a bucket of water as they waited for lunch. This was his second trip, and he was enjoying every minute of it. Each trip gave him a chance to spot new wizards with unfamiliar customs and styles. Near their tent, three African wizards, their faces painted with vibrant patterns, were cooking by the fire without using wands. Instead, they simply moved their fingers to make the food flip and sizzle.
"They're incredible," Harry whispered to Ron. "Professor Flitwick once mentioned that wandless magic is a really advanced skill—not even seventh-year students can typically manage it. And they only look about fifteen or sixteen, not much older than us."
"No, Harry," Bill said, overhearing. "Those are students from Uagadou, the Wizarding School in Africa. They don't rely on wands and often use older, traditional magic."
"Uagadou...?" Harry repeated, intrigued.
"Yes," Bill replied. "It's located in the Mountains of the Moon and is as old as Hogwarts. Over there, wands are considered optional rather than essential."
Harry nodded, trying not to look too surprised. Watching so many wizards from around the world, he suddenly felt a bit foolish for never realizing that Hogwarts wasn't the only wizarding school.
Soon, Kreacher announced that lunch was ready. With so many people, it would've been too cramped to eat inside the tent, so Mr. Weasley had set up a large table outside. They all gathered around, eating and talking eagerly about the upcoming matches.