Night came and they made their way to the stands. Of course, there had to be a glitch. It came shortly before the match was set to start. People were already gathering around the stadium trying to find a way in.

"This is going to be amazing," Ron grinned.

"Yeah, smashing," Fred and George agreed together.

Megan chuckled and exchanged an amused glance. He slid his hand around hers. She glanced up at him, flushing.

"Don't want to get lost in the crowd," he smiled.

Megan smiled back, her heart fluttering. Eventually they moved forwards. As they were climbing the stairs, they heard:

"Didn't think I'd see you here, Potter. Or you, Weasley. How are you family going to finish the year with the price of the tickets?"

Megan knew that drawling sneer anywhere. She and the others looked down. Malfoy and his parents were climbing the stairs a little lower down. Megan figured the Ministry would offer tickets to them too, since Lucius worked there.

"Father and I were invited by the Minister himself." Draco gloated.

"Don't boast, Draco. There's no need, with these people." Lucius said.

He glanced up unpleasantly at them. Megan held their gaze coolly.

"That's funny, I didn't know being snakes was something to boast about," Megan said smoothly. "Did you?" she added to her friends.

The Malfoys glared at her and Megan and her gang moved on.

"Here we are... top box." Mr Weasley said.

The view was incredible. They could see the goalposts and the sky was alight with stars. The stadium was showered in powerful lights. The stands were filling up slowly. Megan had never seen a stadium so big. It was at least three times the biggest football pitch.

"It's incredible...!" She gasped.

"Boy, would I like to fly out there just once..." Cedric said.

"Yeah, wouldn't it be just smashing?" Fred said beside Megan.

Megan had to admit that really did sound tempting. Wood would probably give both his arms (and maybe his legs too if he had to) to do that.

"It's great that you came," Harry told Megan.

"I know, but it's thanks to you guys."

"Well, a Seeker like you couldn't live without at least watching the final of the Quidditch World Cup once!" Cedric said.

The Weasleys were all wearing green, in support of Ireland. Megan held an Irish flag, but was more interested in the match than who played who.

"But I thought Krum was in the Bulgarian team..." Megan said. "And they're red."

"Oh, only Ron idolises him," Fred said. "We're for Ireland."

"He's a fantastic player!" Ron protested.

"One fantastic player. Ireland have seven." George said.

That made sense. You wanted the best for your team. Eventually, in a lower box opposite theirs, Megan saw the Minister step up. Magically magnifying his voice with his wand, he called out:

"Good evening, Quidditch fans! I am extremely proud to host this four hundred and twenty second Quidditch World Cup Final! Our splendid stadium is ideal for such an epic game, Ireland versus Bulgaria! And without further delay, let the match begin! On to you, Bagman."

"Thank you Minister. Hello, I am Ludo Bagman, and I will be offering commentary on tonight's game. And here comes the Irish team now! Moran, Troy, Conolly, Ryan, Mullet, Quigley and their Seeker Lynch!"

Seven green bullets shot through the air, zooming around the stadium while roars and applause erupted all around Megan. She was able to make them out clearly with her Omniculars. They all had intense looks of concentration. If she had that sort of pressure on her, she probably would too.

"Look at them, soaring around like the wind!" Bagman called. "And let's not forget our proud guests from Bulgaria! Please give a warm welcome to Dimitrov! Zograd! Levski! Ivanova! Vulchanov! Volkov and their prodigy Seeker, Krum!"

An explosion of cheers and applause filled the stadium as seven spots of red and black rocketed into view, speeding around the stadium too. Megan zoomed on Krum. He definitely had a grumpy expression on his face. He looked just a little older than Cedric, but Megan thought he had none of Cedric's gentle good looks.

"Hold on to your flags, everyone! Because in mere moments, ladies and gentlemen, the match will begin as our referee comes onto the pitch."

Sure enough, a few moments later, a loud whistle filled the air, and the game began.

Megan had never seen anything like it, and the Omniculars were also nicely useful to see things, because it was going on so fast it would have been otherwise impossible. She was completely absorbed in the game from the first to the last second. Of course, Cedric told her, one would expect no less for a national team in the world championship finals. The fourteen players were flying on superb Firebolts very much like her own, gift from her godfather which she'd met a few months ago before he'd been forced to run away from Dementors, wrongly accused of mass murder. Megan's endless tactics discussions with Wood for three years had given her the ability to analyse the game, and she could tell the Irish team was definitely excellent. Their unity was indubitable, they seemed to read each other's mind before their team mates signalled for them. The match kept increasing in intensity, speed and brutality. Then, at the climax of the game, Megan saw the two seekers dive.

"Oh, no, that sounds like the Wronski Feint..." Megan heard Fred say.

"The what?" Megan asked, not moving her eyes from the game.

"Krum's best move." Ron said. "Watch."

Megan looked carefully. Krum and Lynch were diving, but Krum pulled up just before the ground while Lynch hit the floor hard.

"Ouch...!" Megan said. "That's going to leave a mark..."

"Yeah, it's a very dangerous move," Cedric said beside her. "Only very good players manage it, and even then it's rarely used."

The medical team were already there, examining him.

"A nice demonstration of the Wronski Feint by Krum!" Bagman said.

"What about Lynch, d'you think he'll be okay?" Megan asked.

"Yes, he'll be all right, look, he's already getting up." Mr Weasley said.

Indeed, Lynch was on his feet, sporting a bloody nose.

"Professionals are taught to land without making too much damage when the landing's brutal like that." Ron explained.

The game went on at a terrific pace, much more intense and faster than anything she'd ever experienced in her school team, where she played Seeker too.

"Nothing like our little Quidditch Cup, is it?" Cedric asked beside her.

"Nothing at all," she agreed.

They watched as Irish and Bulgarian fought for the Quaffle, chasing each other faster than hares from one end of the pitch to the other. Megan thought of Wood, who loved the game even more than she did, and she'd loved Quidditch ever since she'd first come into contact with it. She would have bet her Firebolt right then that Wood would be showing them similar tactics to what he would have seen at the World Cup. Megan was just as enthralled as the thousands of other spectators, watching every second of the match with the same excitement. With the Omniculars, she could see every detail with crystal clarity. The score kept changing every few moments. Megan didn't think she'd have been able to see a thing without help at the speed the players were going. One thing was clear: they were terrific flyers. She didn't know how she compared, but she knew if she ever ended up against them, she would have her work cut out for her.

"You thinking what I'm thinking?" Cedric asked her.

"What's that?" she asked.

"Imagining what it would be like playing against one of these guys."

"It would be one heck of a challenge, right?"

"You bet it would... but it would be so amazing to do it just once..."

Megan and he glanced at each other briefly before turning back to the game. But Megan couldn't help picturing herself up there, on her Firebolt, her hair tightly bound at the back of her neck, her game robes floating around her. She was soaring around at top speed, avoiding the other players as they streaked past her. But as much as she enjoyed Quidditch, she wasn't sure it was the career path she had envisioned for herself. Though, now that she came to think about it, she had never really considered what she'd do after she left Hogwarts. After all, it was still several years from now, but she supposed it couldn't hurt to think about it early on. But not now. After the game.

The Weasleys, Megan, Cedric and Harry were back in the tent rejoicing, having woven their way through the cheering crowd. The Irish had won by ten points, because Krum had caught the Snitch but they had reached only a hundred and sixty against a hundred and seventy. It had been a breathtaking game and Megan was sure she would remember it for a long time. Ron and the twins were arguing about Krum, the prior idolising him while the others called him "Dumb Krum".

"He's an artist!"

"In love, are you, Ronniekins?" Fred teased.

"No! I just appreciate talent, unlike you!"

Fred and George exchanged mock expressions of shock.

"What? Us? I'll have you know we predicted Ireland would win! If that's not recognising talent...!"

"Lucky guess. Krum was having an off day, but he would have flattened the whole team!"

"What d'you reckon Georgie?"

"Definitely more than he's letting on!"

"I am not in love with Krum, I'm a fan!" Ron retorted, redenning.

They all laughed heartily. Megan sat next to Cedric, who had been invited to stay a little while. They were cheerfully discussing the match.

"I didn't even know one could do that kind of thing on a broom!" she said.

They were referring to one of the Irish players crossing half the pitch (which was much bigger than the one Megan was used to at Hogwarts) upside down.

"It was a gutsy move, but it paid off," Cedric smiled.

Charlie was also interested in their Quidditch skills.

"I hear you're quite the player, Megan?"

"Even better than you, Charlie," Fred grinned.

"Oh yeah? How d'you like a match, one of these days?" he asked Megan.

"What, against you?" Megan asked, surprised.

"Sure, how about it?" he asked.

Megan barely hesitated.

"You're on," she smiled. "We can have a go when we're back at the Burrow."

"It's a deal. How about you, Cedric?" Charlie asked.

"I won't even go there, I'd be flattened." Cedric grinned.

"Chicken," Megan teased, nudging his elbow.

They laughed. Just then, they heard loud noises from outside.

"Probably the Irish keeping the party going," Fred grinned.

"You bet they are, they'll be talking about this one for years!" George said.

"Yeah, I'd like to see Krum's face right now!"

"Ah, we already saw it, he's going to look as grumpy as ever!"

They all laughed heartily. All except for Ron, of course.

Arthur suddenly came striding out and glanced outside.

"No... It's not the Irish. Come on, everyone out!"