Peter Pettigrew vanished without a trace after his escape from Azkaban, a disappearance that was starkly different from Sirius Black's. During a period when the Ministry of Magic was without a clear leader, Pettigrew's escape caused considerable unrest. Pierce, head of the Auror Office, was particularly concerned that this incident might jeopardize his position. However, after receiving reassurance from Johnny Silverhand, Pierce felt somewhat relieved. After all, the responsibility for Pettigrew's escape lay primarily with Azkaban and its dementor guards, not with the Auror Office.
The Ministry of Magic, already under scrutiny for previous dementor-related incidents, faced increased pressure to reevaluate the dementors' role in guarding Azkaban. This scrutiny intensified when Pettigrew managed to escape, prompting a widespread reexamination of the dementors' effectiveness. In response, the Ministry directed public outrage towards the dementors, with Rita Skeeter, newly appointed editor-in-chief of the Daily Prophet, leading the charge. Her articles, which questioned the necessity of dementors, fueled public debate and led to a flood of letters to the Ministry calling for the dementors' removal.
Amidst this controversy, the announcement of the Quidditch World Cup served as a welcome distraction. Barty Crouch, responsible for the announcement, found himself back in the public eye as he negotiated with various international Ministries of Magic for favorable seating arrangements. His visibility contrasted sharply with the relative obscurity of other departments, such as the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, which received little attention during this time.
Meanwhile, Heinrich visited Johnny Silverhand's shop, looking decidedly gloomy. John, sensing his mood, cautiously inquired about Heinrich's interactions with Jin Ludisley. Heinrich's immediate reaction made it clear that he harbored a strong dislike for Jin, describing him as his antithesis. Jin's sunny disposition and constant presence irked Heinrich, a vampire who naturally shunned the light.
John was surprised by the animosity between Heinrich and Jin, especially since Jin's letter to John painted a picture of friendship and good times. Curious about the nature of their relationship, John asked if their differences had led to a duel. Indeed, Heinrich and Jin had clashed, their opposing natures making conflict inevitable. Heinrich, skilled in curses and dark arts, found Jin's approach and personality to be in stark contrast to his own.
This chapter of their story highlighted the complexities of relationships within the wizarding world, where alliances and enmities were often not as they seemed. As the narrative unfolded, it became clear that the events surrounding Pettigrew's escape and the Quidditch World Cup were merely the backdrop to deeper, more personal stories of rivalry, friendship, and the struggle for acceptance and understanding. The study of dark arts had always fascinated Heinrich, but it was Kim Ledisley who excelled in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Heinrich's mastery lay in casting powerful fire spells, while Kim was unparalleled in conjuring quenching spells to counter them. This dynamic made their confrontations particularly intense, with Heinrich often feeling at a disadvantage against Kim's defensive prowess. This only fueled his determination to train even harder.
One day, amidst Heinrich's rigorous training, John approached him with an offer. "I've got tickets to the Quidditch World Cup. Would you like to join me?" John asked, hoping to provide Heinrich with a much-needed break. However, Heinrich, struggling to mask his disdain, replied curtly, "I've already received a ticket from someone else."
John, slightly taken aback by Heinrich's response, realized that finding someone to give his extra ticket to might be more challenging than he thought. He considered his acquaintances: Fleur was attending with Beauxbatons, Hermione and Harry had plans with the Weasleys, Luna was going with her father, Neville was spending time with his parents in the hospital, and Cedric Diggory was attending with his father. Draco Malfoy, ever the braggart, had already boasted about his ticket to anyone who would listen. After some thought, John's mind settled on Daphne Greengrass.
Removing his badge, John tapped it lightly, and eight names appeared. Selecting Daphne's name, he sent her a message. Shortly after, Daphne replied, her handwriting betraying her excitement, "That's wonderful, John! I'd love to go. Thank you for the invitation. See you at the Quidditch World Cup."
Upon reading John's message, Daphne couldn't contain her excitement, tossing and turning in her bed, her feet playfully kicking in the air. Her younger sister, Astoria, entered the room to find Daphne in a state of girlish delight. "Sister, Mom and Dad also have tickets to the Quidditch World Cup," Astoria announced. Daphne, momentarily pausing her jubilant movements, responded with a mischievous grin, "Tear theirs up!"
Meanwhile, Percy Weasley had recently started his career at the Ministry of Magic, working under Barty Crouch. Initially skeptical of the young graduate, Crouch quickly grew to appreciate Percy's diligence and ability to complete tasks ahead of schedule. For the upcoming Quidditch World Cup, Crouch planned to have Percy work alongside him, an opportunity that filled Percy with pride. He eagerly shared the news with his parents, Molly and Arthur Weasley.
Molly, while affixing stamps to an envelope—one more than necessary, as was her habit—expressed concern about Percy's availability for the World Cup. Percy reassured her, "Don't worry, Mom. Mr. Crouch has assigned me easy tasks, so I'll be able to enjoy the game as well." Arthur smiled at this, pleased that Percy would be able to join them.
The Weasley household buzzed with excitement, though Ron and the twins couldn't help but roll their eyes at their mother's doting on Percy. Ginny, caught up in a daydream about living in the same house as Harry, blushed at the thought.
The envelope, now overly adorned with stamps, was addressed to the Dursleys. Arthur planned to pick up Harry for the World Cup, sending a letter in advance to notify them. Sirius Black had initially wanted to fetch Harry himself, but due to his still-conspicuous appearance, he decided to attend the World Cup in secret instead.
Arthur, hoping to make use of the extra ticket, mentioned inviting John Wick, Ron's classmate who lived near Harry. Ron hesitated, pointing out that John, known for his wealth, likely already had a ticket. Percy confirmed this, adding that John was indeed planning to attend.
Regretfully, Arthur conceded, "That's a shame. I heard he was quite interested in my car." At the mention of the car, Molly's expression turned stern, prompting Arthur to wisely change the subject. Mentioning the car had diverted their attention, but it was Percy's familiarity with John that truly puzzled them. "Percy, how well do you know John?" Ron asked, his curiosity piqued. Given the significant difference in their school years, it was surprising to hear Percy speak of John with such familiarity. Ron wasn't the only one taken aback; he couldn't recall any previous interaction between Percy and John that would explain their apparent closeness. The twins shared a look of disbelief, their eyes fixed on Percy, waiting for an explanation.
Percy, sensing their curiosity, straightened up, a hint of pride in his posture. "He and I are members of the same society," he declared, a sense of importance in his voice. "And mark my words, John is destined for greatness."
A society? This was news to Ron, who listened intently as Percy continued. With a touch of reverence, Percy gestured to the badge he wore—a badge that Ron now realized was not just any ordinary school emblem but a symbol of something more prestigious. "The Star Club," Percy announced, his voice carrying a weight that suggested this was no ordinary club.
The revelation left Ron and the twins with more questions than answers. The Star Club was not something they had heard of before, and Percy's involvement with John, a student from a different year, hinted at layers of Hogwarts they had yet to uncover.
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https://www.youtube.com/@NovelAudioForge/featured
Direct Link to playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Hg-qsW4rM&list=PLKskshYG-OcPTR4-Nw7IWFEBZm07D8pBV&ab_channel=NovelAudioForge