Maurise and Kyle found a random empty patch of grass and began setting up their tent. Kyle had clearly practiced this beforehand; he had the tent pitched and secured in no time flat.
From the outside, it looked like a completely ordinary blue tent, but upon stepping inside, Maurise realized it had been enchanted with an Undetectable Extension Charm. There was a spacious little living room furnished with several comfortable armchairs, which connected directly to a kitchen next door.
"It even has two bedrooms," Kyle said, nodding in satisfaction as he looked at Maurise. "The one on the left is mine, and you can take the one on the right. I am going to rest for a bit."
"This place is not bad at all." Maurise looked around, impressed. The Undetectable Extension Charm was a strictly regulated piece of magic, but obtaining permission to use it on a temporary dwelling like a tent was surprisingly easy.
Kyle stifled a yawn and headed into his bedroom. Maurise, on the other hand, decided to go for a stroll. It was rare to see a spectacle with so many wizards gathered in one place.
Maurise wandered around the vicinity of the campsite. In just a short amount of time, the crowd had grown significantly. Numerous vendors had popped up, peddling strange souvenirs amidst a sea of excited chatter and laughter.
Oddly enough, there were actually Muggles mixed in among the wizards. Maurise spotted a middle-aged man staring wide-eyed at the sky as two children on toy broomsticks zoomed right over his head. A moment later, a Ministry wizard in uniform swooped down from nowhere and hit the man with a Memory Charm.
The man's expression instantly turned vacant and groggy.
'Poor fellow', Maurise thought, shaking his head. Judging by the man's hazy state, he had likely been subjected to more than just one Obliviate today.
He could not help but wonder why the Ministry of Magic even bothered keeping these Muggles around. Would it not be much easier to just clear the area completely?
"Maurise!"
Suddenly, Maurise heard a familiar voice calling his name. He turned around to see Harry, Ron, and Hermione squeezing their way through the bustling crowd.
"I never expected to see you here," Ron said, looking genuinely surprised. "How did you get here?"
"Someone gave me a ticket," Maurise replied.
What could be better than running into friends at the Quidditch World Cup? Harry and the other two looked incredibly excited.
Maurise, however, fell into deep thought. Wait a minute. Since Harry Potter, the protagonist, was here... was something terrible going to happen at this World Cup?
"Our tent is just over there!" Ron pointed behind him. "Want to come over and sit for a bit?"
Maurise agreed and followed them north.
Upon arriving, he found a large, lively group of people. The entire Weasley family was present, gathered around a crackling campfire, eating and chatting merrily.
Arthur noticed them and immediately waved with a warm smile. "Over here, kids! Oh, Maurise, hello!"
This was likely Maurise's first time meeting Bill and Charlie. Bill was a Curse-Breaker for Gringotts, while Charlie worked as a dragonologist in Romania. Like the rest of the Weasleys, both brothers were exceedingly friendly.
After brief introductions, Maurise took a seat by the fire. Mrs. Weasley immediately pressed a plate into his hands, piled high with a large chunk of bread and a sizzling, greasy sausage.
"We just Apparated here," Percy announced in a pompous tone. "But I must say, the designated Apparition point is entirely too far away."
"Give it a rest, Percy," Fred said, rolling his eyes. "You have done nothing but show off ever since you passed your Apparition test."
Bill and Charlie shared a good-natured laugh. They had acted exactly the same way when they first learned the spell.
"You need a license to Apparate?" Harry asked, looking bewildered.
"Of course you do," Arthur replied, setting down his plate to explain patiently. "Once you turn seventeen, you can take the Apparition test. The Ministry keeps a very strict watch on that particular branch of magic."
"Seventeen?" Harry repeated in confusion. "But Maurise already knows how to do it."
He distinctly remembered Maurise using the spell to take him to a deserted island and showing him the Ship in a Bottle.
The moment the words left his mouth, a sudden hush fell over the campfire. Everyone turned to stare at Maurise in unison. Harry instantly realized he had said the wrong thing.
Maurise took a bite of his sausage and spoke with utter nonchalance. "I do know it. Figured it out on my own. Let us keep that a secret, shall we?"
"Oh!" Fred and George immediately leapt up and rushed over to Maurise's side. "Teach us, oh great master!"
Arthur stared blankly for a moment before speaking slowly. "You absolutely must not tell anyone else about this, Maurise."
Maurise nodded. He wasn't stupid.
At that moment, Molly suddenly realized something, her expression turning stern. "But Apparition is forbidden on Hogwarts grounds. Maurise, you haven't been performing magic outside of school, have you?"
Maurise offered a faint smile. "That is a secret."
His tone was light, but his meaning was crystal clear.
'Let us drop this sensitive topic.' Any more probing, and he would have to make a run for it.
Molly opened her mouth to press the issue, but Mr. Weasley suddenly stood up. His gaze drifted past the campfire, locking onto something in the crowd.
"Ludo!" he called out. "Over here!"
A man wearing Quidditch robes strode briskly toward them. His face was alarmingly red, either from sheer excitement or perhaps a bit too much alcohol. Ludo Bagman. Maurise recognized him immediately, considering he had gotten his ticket straight from the man's hands.
"Hello there, Arthur!" Ludo boomed. "Wonderful to see you all! What a glorious day it is! Just look at this weather, not a drop of rain in sight for tonight!"
"Indeed it is," Arthur smiled, stepping forward to greet him. "I really must thank you again for your help."
"Think nothing of it!" Ludo waved a hand magnanimously.
Percy stood up, straightened his collar, puffed out his chest, and prepared to step forward. Ludo, however, did not even glance in his direction.
Instead, Ludo practically skipped over to Maurise and plopped down beside him, giving him a hearty slap on the shoulder. "Maurise! So this is where you are! Well, how about it? Looking forward to the match?"
"It should be fine." Maurise subtly shifted away from him. He had a strong suspicion that Ludo was about to drag him into a wager. After all, the man surely knew he had made a fortune selling broomsticks.
Sure enough, Ludo's very next words were right on the money. "Maurise, fancy a little wager? The odds for the Irish National Team are absolutely brilliant right now..."
"I decline," Maurise said without blinking.
Percy quietly sat back down, a look of profound awkwardness on his face.
"We will not be participating in any gambling," Molly's voice rang out from across the fire, her tone firm.
"Fair enough!" Ludo stood up and brushed off his robes. "If you happen to change your minds..."
He let the sentence trail off, instead offering a conspicuous wink to all the males gathered around the fire. The message was obvious. If they wanted to place a bet, they knew who to find.
Fred and George immediately exchanged knowing grins, and even Arthur looked noticeably tempted. Molly, sharp-eyed as ever, instantly shot her husband a withering glare.
Right at that moment, a voice sounded from nearby. "How about I get in on the action?"
Maurise turned his head and was surprised to see a man wearing Muggle sunglasses approaching them.
"Sirius!" Harry cried out in delight. "You finally made it!"