Hidden In These Walls

CHAPTER FOUR

 I let out a small burp and pat my round stomach. Molly Weasley's cooking was divine. I had never felt so full in my life! Now I was walking and trekking down a beautiful canopied path in a group with the Weasleys (minus Molly who had stayed behind because she admitted it would have been much too overwhelming for her, and honestly I couldn't blame her), Hermione, who showed up a few minutes before breakfast, and Harry and Ron who trudged behind in the back. Well, more specifically Ron, who was groggy and already complaining about the walk being long.

"Hey, Dad! How far out are we?" He called out, his voice echoing through the trees. Arthur barely turned, power walking with his long walking stick he responded full of liveliness, "Haven't the foggiest, keep up!" I chuckled softly, what a quirky man. I glanced ahead and realized a man was standing in a mustard-yellow outfit and a green cloak. He grinned widely, "Arthur! It's about time son!" He joked with the man who shook his head gazing back at his bunch, "Sorry, Amos. Some of us had a bit of a sleepy start..." He was particularly looking at Ron who yawned great big. From what Hermione told me he wasn't even dressed and ready by the time she showed up.

Arthur stopped for a moment shaking his hand, patting his shoulder heartily, "This is Amos Diggory, everyone! He works with me at the ministry!" I knew I recognized him! Then out of the trees, from above, came a younger man who landed with a thud beside Amos. Arthur chuckled and shook his hand. So many greetings this morning! "And this strapping young lad must be Cedric, am I right?"

The young man bashfully smiled and nodded, "Yes sir.." They did the same, and without realizing Amos turned to me, "Ah, You're Ozwald, am I right?" I smiled at the cheerful man, "Yes, sir I am!"

"Alastor has told me a bit about you! How goes the job?" Ah, more pleasantries, I of course informed him that it was going quite well while we continued our walk. The ground climbing more and more at an incline, giving us all a bit of a strain.

"Moody actually sent me here for the job to join for the World Cup!"

Arthur let out a chuckle, "That doesn't sound half bad to relax for your job!" I couldn't agree more. Arthur gazed ahead and pointed his staff, "That's it, sir, just over there!" There at the top of the hill sat a single, old boot. It looked so old it had moss growing on the damn thing. The twins rush up making it there first, with Ginny in tow. We all gathered around the grungy boot, and poor Harry sat there with confusion written on his face. He leaned over and asked one of the twins why we were standing around it.

"It's not just any manky old boot mate! It's a portkey!" We all began to gather around the boot, putting our hands on the boot. Thankfully the damn thing didn't stink, "Time to go! Ready?" Amos began, "After 3...1...2...." Harry was still kneeling there without touching it.

"Harry!" I called out. Harry saw everyone's hands on it and threw his hand on it at the last moment as Amos yelled out "3!" The kids begin to yell as we are shot up into the air, white swirls around, and we are thrown into a blue portal. The wind whipped around us. It was quite thrilling.

Amos and Arthur seemed to be enjoying themselves as they chuckled full-bellied. Arthur yelled over the roar of the wind and the magic in our ears, "Alright, let go kids!"

"What?!" Hermione called out, shocked almost, is the only way I could describe it.

"Let go!" Harry was the first, then Hermione and Ron, then Ginny and the twins, and lastly were the four of us. I watched from above, floating down and kicking my legs along with the others, and watches as they all fell flat on their faces with loud thuds. I chuckled, they must not have been used to those yet.

"I bet that cleared your sinuses, ey?" Arthur chuckled as we landed safely on the ground. I laughed along with him.

"Yeah, I bet they can smell the 'manky boot' from here!" I joked back, making Amos and Arthur laugh. I walked over with Cedric and helped hoist Hermione and Ron off of the ground, while Cedric helped up Harry.

"What is that...?" Hermione asked, faintly there was noise coming from over the top of the hill, it sounded like music and a bustle of a crowd. We must have been quite close to the grounds outside of the Cup. Truthfully I had only been there once when I was a lad, it had been too long since then. I could only imagine what all had changed.

We all began walking up the hill, which wasn't nearly as steep as the one with the portkey, and it was a much shorter walk up it until we peaked our heads over the top to see a very large crowd of people and tents everywhere.

"Well kids, welcome to the Quidditch World Cup!" Welcome indeed, Arthur. I needed to remember to thank Moody for this, even if it was for a job.