Read up to 15 chapters ahead on Patreon - patreon.com/Dark_sym
-----
The camp buzzed with energy, unlike anything Ethan had ever seen. Wizards filled every corner, laughing and strolling through the lively grounds.
Hawkers pushed carts brimming with goods, weaving their way through the crowd. Their wares added to the excitement—most of it themed around the Quidditch World Cup.
Glowing badges in emerald green for Ireland and crimson red for Bulgaria shouted the names of star players.
Tall, green hats adorned with dancing clovers swayed in the wind, while Bulgarian belts, complete with roaring lion emblems, caught everyone's attention.
National flags of both countries waved high, playing their respective anthems with every flourish. Miniature models of the Firebolt—pocket-sized and airborne—zipped around unpredictably, captivating onlookers.
It wasn't long before Ethan encountered the Weasleys.
Their lively group stood out, even in the bustling crowd of wizards. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, George, Fred, Percy, Ginny, Ron, Harry, and Hermione were gathered, deep in animated discussion.
Hermione spotted Ethan first. Her eyes lit up, and she instinctively moved to greet him. But then, as if remembering something, she hesitated. Glancing cautiously around, she relaxed only after ensuring no one suspicious was nearby. With a bright smile, she waved vigorously to Ethan.
The rest of the Weasleys quickly noticed him as well, and they surrounded him with warm enthusiasm.
"Professor Ethan, you're here for the World Cup too!" Hermione exclaimed happily. A green clover hat perched atop her head spun its cloverleaf energetically.
Ethan opened his mouth to respond, but Percy stepped forward, cutting him off.
"Professor Ethan! Thank you for recommending me to Director Amelia Bones! She's hired me as her assistant!" Percy said, his tone unusually sycophantic.
He bowed so deeply that his glasses nearly slipped off his nose. Fortunately, he managed to adjust them in time.
Ethan chuckled. A few days earlier, Percy had sent him an internship application. Recognizing that Percy's talents were better suited to administrative work, Ethan had recommended him to Director Bones.
"No need to thank me, Percy. Your talent and hard work earned you the position," Ethan said with a kind smile.
Despite Ethan's gracious reply, the atmosphere turned slightly awkward. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley exchanged embarrassed glances at Percy's overt display.
Breaking the tension, Mr. Weasley said with a laugh, "Haha, yes, Ethan, please don't be modest! You've done so much for our family!"
Ethan was about to downplay his role when George and Fred bounded forward, their excitement palpable.
"Professor Ethan, thank you! Thanks to your help, our Weasley's Wizard Wheezes now has loads of new creations!" they exclaimed in unison.
Their gratitude was short-lived, however, as Mrs. Weasley's stern voice cut through.
"Enough, you two! How dare you talk about that in front of the professor! I'm taking every Galleon you've made!" she scolded.
The twins winced but couldn't suppress their mischievous grins. Their recent venture into selling Gwent cards had proven lucrative—though their mother remained both proud and exasperated by their entrepreneurial antics.
A portion of the twins' income was appropriated by Mrs. Weasley under the reasoning that everyone in the family should contribute.
This extra money had finally brought some financial relief to the Weasleys, allowing them to indulge a little for the Quidditch World Cup.
Almost everyone in the family wore World Cup-themed decorations. Even a pair of enchanted Omnioculars—costing a steep ten Galleons—had been bought and now hung proudly around their necks.
"Professor Ethan, we encountered something during patrols," came a familiar voice from behind him.
Penelope Clearwater had approached quietly, looking as though she had something important to report.
Her words faltered when she noticed the Weasleys.
Penelope had changed remarkably since her Hogwarts days. Once known for her studious and demure appearance, she now exuded confidence.
Her pale blond hair was cropped into a sleek short style, a bold contrast to her old self. She wore striking red lipstick, and her black leather work jacket added a touch of glamour to her polished look.
The Weasley family couldn't help but stare in surprise.
Percy, however, looked utterly mortified. He edged behind his younger siblings in a futile attempt to hide himself.
His discomfort was understandable—the two had broken up just before graduation, and meeting Penelope again under these circumstances was clearly awkward.
Penelope's expression betrayed a moment of unease before she composed herself.
"I'm here, Penelope," Ethan said, stepping forward to greet her.
At his approach, Penelope quickly collected her thoughts. "Professor Ethan, Ludo Bagman has been organizing bets near the campsite. Should we intervene?" she asked cautiously.
Ethan considered this for a moment.
"My advice is to leave him be," he said.
"But the regulations—" Penelope began, clearly trying to make her case.
"The Ministry hasn't explicitly banned such activities," Ethan interrupted gently.
"Let people enjoy themselves for now."
Though hesitant, Penelope nodded and left to resume her patrol.
Ethan returned to the Weasleys, where Mr. Weasley greeted him warmly.
"Ethan, would you like to join us in our tent?"
"That sounds lovely," Ethan replied with a smile.
The group made their way to the Weasley tent—a crooked, two-person canvas structure that looked far too small to fit everyone. But Ethan knew better. Thanks to a Traceless Extension Charm, the interior would be far larger than it appeared.
As they approached, Ethan felt the Witcher badge on his chest vibrate softly—a confirmation of the magical space ahead.
He noticed Hermione's owl-shaped badge also react. She caught his eye, smiled, and shook the small silver charm around her neck in acknowledgment.
Bending low, the group entered the tent, and as expected, the interior revealed a spacious setup. It contained three bedrooms, a kitchen, and a bathroom, all furnished, though the place was thick with dust and carried a faint, unpleasant scent of cat.
"Alright, kids! Get moving! Clean this place up!" Mr. Weasley barked with a grin.
The Weasley children sprang into action. Ginny dusted furniture, Ron fetched water with a kettle and stew pot, while George and Fred loudly argued over who would chop wood for the fire.
Meanwhile, Mr. Weasley found two reclining chairs and gestured for Ethan to join him.
The two sat down, quickly falling into a lighthearted conversation. Mr. Weasley delighted in regaling Ethan with embarrassing tales from Ron's childhood, and their shared laughter filled the tent, a welcome echo of camaraderie amid the excitement of the World Cup.