Hogwarts: Even Voldemort Can't Stop Me From Studying

Chapter 629: Chapter 20: Setting Out for the Arena

Vid closed the thick ancient book, its dark red cover looking like congealed blood.

It was a book that recorded various stories from Ancient Greek mythology, and Vid had dug it out to reread it today.

Icarus, a figure from Ancient Greek mythology, was imprisoned with his father, Daedalus, by a king. To gain freedom, his father made wings out of feathers and wax, and they used these wings to escape the island where they were held captive.

Daedalus had warned his son not to fly too high or too low, as both could lead to danger.

But Icarus, too excited and proud, forgot his father’s warning. He flew higher and higher, and eventually, the sun melted the wax, causing him to lose his wings and fall into the Aegean Sea to his death.

Vid wondered what Flamel’s final warning meant to convey?

To not ignore the lessons of the past? To avoid being too arrogant and conceited? That seeking extremes could eventually lead to destruction? Or was knowledge like the sun, always reminding him to remain in awe?

Or was it to remember Daedalus’s lesson? His invention led to the death of his beloved son, and this was never his intention.

”Or perhaps it’s all of it,” Vid thought to himself. ”Exploring and innovating is not wrong, and neither is the pursuit of freedom. The real issue is that Icarus didn’t know how high he could fly.”

He thought about many other things... about balance, about restraint, about the laws of nature, and the unreachable boundaries of fall.

Vid didn’t no longer took these questions to Nicolas Flamel.

Because after that day, Vid returned home, while Flamel and Pernell went to visit the places where they had once met and fallen in love.

In their final days, Vid knew it would be too inconsiderate to bother those two with such trivial matters.

He hadn’t stayed home for a few days before receiving several letters from friends, all urging him to join them to watch the game.

The Wizarding World was closed and conservative, lacking the countless entertainment activities, large-scale competitions, and diverse festival celebrations of the Muggle World. The Quidditch World Cup was the only globally recognized event that all wizards were passionate about, and it only happened once every four years.

So friends seemed to think Vid shouldn’t miss this grand event.

The owl sent to deliver the letters seemed tasked with conveying its owner’s urgency, often standing on the windowsill, tapping at the window with its beak.

After numerous attempts, even Fiona couldn’t help but advise, ”Go, Vid. It’s said to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! If you miss it, you’ll surely regret it later.”

Vid: ”...”

In reality, he wasn’t really interested in the World Cup at all, nor could he quite appreciate the allure of Quidditch. He had initially planned to wait until the finals to go.

After all, so-called Quidditch was basically a bunch of players flying at high speeds of 180 miles per hour in the sky, chasing after several balls that people in the stands couldn’t even see clearly.

It’s important to note that the largest Quaffle was less than half the size of a football, and the smallest Golden Snitch was about the size of a walnut. Even with a magic telescope, it’s difficult to lock onto them.

The fast-flying athletes were equally hard to catch; their figures were more elusive than summer mosquitoes, and only someone gifted like Lee Jordan could see them clearly with the naked eye amidst the rapidly changing situation.

Therefore, apart from his first year out of curiosity, Vid rarely went to watch the games, even when Ravenclaw was playing.

But this time, under people’s urging, Vid finally hesitantly put down his book and set off to watch the game.

Of course, the Greys couldn’t possibly go to such a gathering of wizards, and Vid didn’t know the location of the Quidditch pitch, making Apparition impossible, so Lupin came to fetch him.

Vid took the opportunity to hand over the improved Daydream Quill with its anti-addiction system to him.

”Machioni should be thrilled,” Lupin said with a smile. ”He’s been waiting for you to invent something new, but didn’t want to rush you.”

”Hasn’t the recent earnings report been good?” Vid asked curiously. ”I saw the numbers have been steady, and the sales of Flow Mirror have even increased thanks to the World Cup.”

Lupin said, ”In Machioni’s view, money that wasn’t made is equivalent to a huge loss—because during previous holidays, there were new products released, and if there’s nothing this time, he feels he’s losing.”

Vid joked, ”I bet he bothers you often, right?”

”Yes, but I can manage,” Lupin said. ”The main products have already settled into their market trajectory, so Machioni just feels he’s too idle. When he’s idle, he wants to find something to do.”

”Well, the Daydream Quill is perfect for him,” Vid quipped. ”When he’s bored, he can experience the joy of gold Galleons falling from the sky in his dreams.”

Lupin laughed, imagining Machioni’s eyes turning into the shape of Galleons.

”How are we getting to the pitch?” Vid asked. ”Are we Apparating directly?”

Regardless of whether he could find the time to watch the games, Sirius had generously purchased season tickets for everyone, reportedly in a very good suite.

Lupin had already accompanied that godfather and godson duo to see the games before, so he knew what the match location looked like and could Apparate nearby.

But Lupin said, ”No, Vid. The pitch is too far; I can’t risk taking you—let’s Floo to a nearby village first, then I’ll Apparate us over.”

”Why not use a Portkey?” Vid said. ”I recall the Prophet Daily mentioning that the Ministry of Magic set up plenty of Portkeys to help wizards from all over reach the pitch.”

”They did, but to facilitate wizard gatherings and ensure Muggles don’t notice, there are strict regulations on Portkey usage locations and times,” Lupin explained.

Vid packed his bags, and the two of them went over to Moody’s next door—Old Auror Moody wasn’t planning to watch the games either, since he disliked large crowds.

When Lupin knocked on Moody’s door to request the use of his fireplace, Moody warned:

”Be careful, you never know where the attack will come from! Maybe there’s a Death Eater with ill intentions among the spectators behind you, or it could be a fool who accidentally sets off an explosion with his wand tucked behind his back!”

Vid couldn’t help but laugh at his words.

”I’m not exaggerating, kid!” Moody said sternly. ”You never know how stupid some people can be!”

”Thank you, Alastor,” Lupin said calmly. ”We’ll avoid such fools.”

Moody continued to grumble about how their carelessness would eventually get them in trouble, while he lit the fireplace and took out a jar filled with Floo Powder.

”Go on, be careful,” Moody said sincerely as he tossed a handful of Floo Powder into the fire, ”and come back alive.”