The fat official in front of Barty Crouch hurriedly patted himself, repeatedly saying, "My binoculars... where are my binoculars?"
A group of Veela had already slid into the arena, their skin glowing with a pearlescent radiance, immaculate and bright; their long, silver-white hair moved without wind, like soft silk smoke.
Lightly tapping their toes, stretching their arms, their beautiful dance seemed like a flowing illusion, like elves from another realm, mesmerizing everyone.
People in the box watched intently, some frozen still, some grinning foolishly, some undoing their robes, and others spreading their arms as if to embrace.
Even the official who lost his binoculars no longer searched for them, rushing to the railing, sparkling drool trailing from his mouth.
Except for the frightened Winky, only Barty completely ignored the Veela; he held up binoculars scanning, suddenly pausing slightly.
In a distant box, Harry Potter was watching the Veela's performance with a foolish grin, dazed, with one leg resting on the railing, seemingly wanting to rush out, but was pulled back by an adult wizard beside him.
Barty adjusted the lens, clearly seeing the box number and location, then sneered disdainfully, gently placing the binoculars beside Winky.
The house-elf, small in stature, occupied only a tiny part of the chair, completely unnoticed that something had been put beside them.
The music stopped, roars of anger echoed everywhere, people didn't want the Veela to leave.
But soon, the Ireland National Team's mascot appeared, a giant shamrock spinning in the sky, continuously sprinkling countless gold coins, causing people to scramble for them, quickly forgetting the allure of the Veela.
The officials in the box naturally wouldn't embarrass themselves by scrambling for the gold coins; they wiped their drool, tidied their robes, and exchanged awkward yet polite smiles.
But when the fat official turned around, he found his binoculars by the house-elf's feet, instantly furious as he lifted her from the seat.
"Thief! So it was you who stole my binoculars!"
— causing him to miss so many wonderful scenes!
Winky, taken by surprise, screamed in panic, "Winky did not! Winky is a good elf! Winky never steals!"
Before she finished, her face suddenly turned deathly pale—Winky felt Barty slipping out of her control, not only that, but he had also taken back the magic wand.
"Still dare to say you didn't steal, look at the binoculars beside you before you speak!" the fat official threw Winky back onto the chair, snatching back his binoculars, saying, "Get out of this box, I'll have to ask Crouch why he keeps a thieving elf!"
The door behind the box opened first, Winky knew Barty was seizing the opportunity to leave, screaming, "No—no—Master will kill me—"
She desperately stretched out her hand, trying to tether Barty again, but was then kicked out!
"That's what you deserve, you thief!" the fat official said angrily, then slammed the door shut with force.
"Don't be so rash, Curry, that's Crouch's elf after all."
Only then did another official in the box advise, "Maybe you just placed the binoculars wrong in a hurry."
Winky fell outside the door, her eyes rolling fearfully, unable to move. Because as she was kicked out, a Petrification Spell hit her.
The elf's ears pressed against the ground, listening to familiar footsteps growing further away, tears the size of beans rolling from her lightbulb-like eyes.
...
Grindelwald touched the rough tree bark with his slender fingers, chanting in an ancient and strange language, only after a while did he lower his hand.
Like Dumbledore, he used no special instruments, nor were there any dazzling lights; everything was plain and simple, as if he hadn't used any magic spell at all, yet had already investigated all problems thoroughly.
In front of Grindelwald, Vid didn't use his special vision, so he, like Delaine and others beside him, saw nothing.
"A very interesting spell." Grindelwald exhibited a smile between admiration and mockery, saying, "You were right not to act impulsively; our big friends have already been awakened, and the reason they haven't moved is simply because they are in a 'light sleep' right now."
"So... even without orders, if they are attacked, they would immediately awaken?" Vid said.
"Exactly."
Grindelwald looked up at the towering oak, his eyes deep, silver hair fluttering, no one knew what he was thinking.
Everyone quietly waited, and after a moment, the elder turned around and said, "Everyone exit the forest, lay a Defensive Spell as a barrier at the periphery, then deal with these trees."
Delaine nodded, pressed the Communication Pea, issuing orders. Members of the Witch Pure Party, originally spread throughout the forest confirming the giant trees' locations, apparated in an instant to the forest edge.
Vid likewise apparated to the periphery, not far away were stretches of tents, but in the dark, they couldn't be seen clearly, only the stadium's lights were exceptionally noticeable.
"When did you learn Apparition, kid?" Antoine came next to him, casually draping an arm around Vid's shoulder and shook him twice, said, "I was worried about you last time! Afraid you'd be caught up in the battle between those two!"
Vid asked, "To set up a protective barrier, do you have enough people?"
"Surrounding the entire forest is certainly impossible, but as long as we block the direction of the camp, isn't that enough?" Antoine casually said, "The Dark Wizard can't possibly have the wilderness and swamps as targets for attack."
Wizards successively apparated, spaced several meters apart, each drew their magic wands, looking solemn and silent.
—Like a fragile yet resilient wall defending against outsiders.
Vid unconsciously drew such a comparison in his heart, faintly feeling something amiss.
Perhaps it was because the group "Witch Pure Party" was hard to associate with the identity of "Guardian," was it?
Even though their way of doing things had already changed a lot.
"I'm worried that with the size of those giant trees, even the protective barrier won't hold for long." Vid frowned, "Unless it can be done in a matter of seconds, just..."
He hadn't finished speaking when a voice ahead said, "Braun, come to me."
It was Grindelwald.
Vid pauses, remembering that "Braun" was his alias within the Witch Pure Party.
Feeling the gazes from all directions focusing on him, Vid slowly walked toward Grindelwald.
Antoine beckoned to another young wizard, saying, "Come, come, remember the technique I taught you? Make sure to capture our heroic figures saving the Magic World, make us look dashing!"