Chapter Four- Bets and New Friends
"Morning, Basil!" I looked towards Mr Weasley who was greeting two very grumpy looking wizards.
"Hello there, Arthur." Replied the wizard, tiredly. "Not on duty, eh? It's all right for some… we've been here all night… you'd better get out of the way; we've got a big party coming in from the Black Forest at five fifteen. Hang on, I'll find your campsite… Weasley… Weasley…" He looked down at a bit of parchment. "About a quarter of a mile's walk over there, first field you come to. Site manager's called Mr Roberts. Diggory… second field… ask for Mr Payne."
"Thanks Basil."
It wasn't a particularly long walk to our field and since it was still so early, all of our surroundings were fairly misty so there wasn't much to look at. We said goodbye to the Diggory's as they headed towards their own campsite, and Mr Weasley walked towards what looked to be the only proper muggle for acres.
I stood bouncing on my heels as Mr Weasley sorted out our tents (asking Harry how muggle money works, much to my amusement).
"Can you ever keep still?" asked George, looking down at me with a smile.
"Nope!" I replied. "I'm excited!"
"And here was us thinking you didn't like quidditch!" said Fred, wrapping his arm around my shoulder.
"I don't dislike it. It just doesn't interest me all that much, generally anyway." I shrugged. The twins never understood how I wasn't interested in the sport. "Don't look so put out! I come to all the games at school, don't I?"
"Yeah, and usually have your nose buried in a book for most of them."
"Most of them." I retorted. "Not all. I actually watch your games, ya know."
"Aww, you hear that Georgie?" cooed Fred. "She actually watches our games!"
"Aren't we the lucky ones?!" grinned George.
"I hate you both." I scowled, ducking away from Fred's arm.
"Nooooo, you don't." Fred sung.
"Trust me, I do. You're both infuriating."
"But that's why you love us!"
"I'm pretty sure it's not." I replied, walking over towards the others.
"You foreign?" I looked towards the muggle that I remembered must be Mr Roberts. He was giving us all a very confused look as Mr Weasley had finally handed him the muggle money.
"Foreign?" asked Mr Weasley.
"You're not the first one who's had trouble with money. I had two try and pay me with great gold coins the size of hubcaps ten minutes ago."
"Did you really?" said Mr Weasley, nervously.
"Mmmm." Said Mr Roberts, rummaging in a small bag for some change. "Never been this crowded. Hundreds of pre-bookings... people usually just turn up."
"Is that right?" Mr Weasley held out his hand for the change, but Mr Roberts continued to just stare into the distance.
"Aye. People from all over. Loads of foreigners. And not just foreigners. Weirdos, you know? There's a bloke walking around in a kilt and a poncho."
"Shouldn't he?" asked Mr Weasley, anxiously. I snorted quietly in response. It sounded like an outfit that would be rather funny to see.
"It's like some sort of… I dunno… like some sort of rally. They all seem to know each other. Like a big party."
I'd barely blinked before a wizard appeared out of nowhere and cast his wand towards Mr Roberts. "Obliviate!" he said sharply. I watched as Mr Roberts eyes slid out of focus and a very dreamy look overcame his face. He'd just had his memory modified.
"A map of the campsite for you." He said, dazed. "And your change."
"Thanks very much." Said Mr Weasley.
"Been having a lot of trouble with him." Said the new wizard as he led us towards the campsite. "Needs a memory charm ten times a day to keep him happy. And Ludo Bagman's not helping. Trotting around talking about bludgers and quaffles at the top of his voice, not a worry about anti-muggle security. Blimey, I'll be glad when this is over. See you later, Arthur!"
"I thought Mr Bagman was Head of Magical Games and Sports?" asked Ginny. "He should know better than to talk about bludgers near muggles, shouldn't he?"
"He should." Smiled Mr Weasley, as we finally entered the campsite. "But Ludo's always been a bit… well… lax about security. You couldn't wish for a more enthusiastic Head of the Sports Department, though. He played quidditch for England himself, you know. And he was the best beater the Wimbourne Wasps ever had."
I couldn't help but look around me everywhere as we found where we'd set up our tents. It was incredibly clear that while we were supposed to be blending in with a muggle setting, some wizards hadn't quite obeyed the rules. Some tents had chimneys, others had weathervanes, and I even saw ones that looked like the tent equivalent of a mansion with multiple floors. Honestly, it was hardly surprising that Mr Roberts kept getting suspicious. One of the tent palaces even had peacocks tied up out front in a miniature front garden.
"What're the bets that that's the Malfoy's tent?" I asked, staring at the peacocks in distaste.
"No doubt about it." Replied George. "Looks like the exact kind of stuck up tent those prats would have."
"Watch it, George. I'm technically one of those stuck up prats." I smirked. I said it as a joke, but it was a sore spot in our family. My mother was Andromeda Tonk's twin sister, younger by fifteen minutes and equally as a disgrace to the Black family. While my aunt Andromeda was disowned for marrying a muggle-born, my mother had in fact married a pure-blood wizard. What her family hadn't liked, though, was her sorting into Gryffindor and marrying what they described as 'a disgusting blood-traitor'. I'm fairly sure my mum and aunt had thrown some sort of party after both being disowned. Unfortunately for me, it didn't change the fact that the Malfoy's were technically my cousins. It wasn't a fact I brought up often.
"Yeah right." Scoffed Fred. "The day I believe you're one of them is the day I marry a troll."
"Don't tempt me Fred. If there's anything that would make me consider changing my ways, it might be that." I laughed.
"Uh huh, sure."
"Couldn't have a better spot!" said Mr Weasley, happily. "The pitch is just on the other side of the wood there, we're as close as we could be!" He shrugged his backpack off. "Right, no magic allowed, strictly speaking. Not when we're out in these numbers on muggle land. We'll be putting these tents up by hand! Shouldn't be too difficult… muggles do it all the time… here, Harry, where do you reckon we should start?"
I didn't even bother to offer to help. I'd never been camping before in my life and knew I'd only get in the way. As it was, it took Harry and Hermione long enough to put the tents up, held up mostly by Mr Weasley getting over-excited with the mallet.
"I thought you grew up around muggles. Do you not know how to put a tent up?" asked Ginny.
"Not really." I replied, shrugging. "I mean… one of the main reasons we moved to where we did was to piss off my mum's family, but I do have a few muggle friends from when I was little who are really nice. Never went camping with them though."
"We'll be a bit cramped." Said Mr Weasley, as they made the finishing touches to the tents. "But I think we'll all squeeze in. Come and have a look." The tents were certainly not luxury accommodation, but it'd definitely do. It was a simple, old-fashioned three roomed tent, and I was assuming the second one for the girls would look very similar. "Well, it's not for long. I borrowed this from Perkins at the office. Doesn't camp much anymore, poor fellow, he's got lumbago." He picked up an old kettle. "We'll need water…"
"There's a tap marked on this map the muggle gave us." Said Ron, who was looking around the tent with distaste. "It's on the other side of the field."
"Why don't you go and make yourself useful and get some then?" said Fred, propping his feet up as he sat down.
"Yes, yes…" said Mr Weasley, only half paying attention. "Excellent idea. Why don't you, Harry and Hermione go and get us some water… and the rest of you go get some wood for a fire."
As Fred, George and I left the tent and headed towards the edge of the forest that surrounded our campsite, I gave Fred a worried look.
"What're you looking so worried about, Maisie?" he asked, looking at the ground for twigs.
"Is your dad okay?"
"What? What do you mean? Of course he is!" exclaimed George, suddenly looking panicked. "Why wouldn't he be?!"
"Well… I mean… he said Fred had an excellent idea! He must be losing it!" I watched the gears turn in George's head as he processed what I'd said before he burst out laughing.
"It is rather concerning, isn't it?"
"Oi!" shouted Fred. "Don't know why you're agreeing with her, George! If she's saying it about me, she means it about you, too!"
"Nope!" I replied, popping my lips at the word. "Just you!"
"I always told you she liked me more." George smirked, bending down to pick up some wood.
"Don't get too cocky there, Georgie." I said, throwing away some wet wood I'd just picked up.
"But that's why you love me."
"Oh shut up."
By the time we all got a good handful of firewood, we slowly traipsed back to the tents. By now we were all hungry, tired and my arms were starting to ache.
"M… Maisie!" I turned around at the sound of my name. I smiled softly. It was Jason Russell. He was a Hufflepuff in my year and one of Cedric's best friends. I'd hardly said two words to the guy throughout my entire time at Hogwarts, but he was one of those people you gave an awkward smile to in the corridors. I was surprised he even knew my name to be honest.
"Jason… hi!" I replied, giving him a smile. "I'd wave back, but… well, you know." I gestured down to my full arms.
"Don't worry about it!" he grinned, walking over. "Uh, hi… Fred and George Weasley, right?" He looked uneasily to the side of me where the twins were standing. Fred gave him a tight-lipped smile back as he nodded. George, however, seemed to be glaring at him as he didn't respond. "You, uh… you looking forward to the game then, Maisie?"
"Yeah, it should be good!" I replied. "I'm not really fussed about quidditch, but I couldn't pass this opportunity up!"
"I'd think you were mad if you had!" Jason laughed. "And I'm assuming you're supporting the Irish?" he gestured towards my green top.
"What? Oh! Yeah… and here I was thinking I was being subtle…" I trailed off, awkwardly. I grunted as I shifted the wood in my arms.
"We should get back to the tent." George said, quietly, turning and beginning to walk away.
"Y…yeah, my arms are beginning to ache quite a bit, actually." I agreed. "I'll probably see you at Hogwarts?" I smiled at Jason.
"Yeah, definitely!" he replied, enthusiastically. "Have a good night, Maisie!"
I smiled a final time before turning and following George. "Well that was awkward."
"Didn't know you knew the guy." Said Fred, giving me the side eye.
"I don't. I mean… I've seen him around a fair bit, but I've never actually properly spoken to him. Found that all a bit strange, if I'm being honest."
"You seemed very…friendly." Commented George.
"What was I supposed to do? Ignore him? He called me by name!" I said. "Besides, he seemed nice… and it's not like he didn't speak to you. You just stood there looking at him like he kicked your puppy."
"I just get a vibe from him, that's all." He shrugged, dumping the wood on the floor once we'd reached the tents.
"Uh huh." I shook my arms out once I'd dropped my own pile.
"Oh good, you're back!" greeted Mr Weasley, as he and Ginny exited the tent. "Now we can get the fire started!"
It was quite amusing watching Mr Weasley try and start a fire. He'd stacked the wood, but that's where him knowing what he was doing ended. I thought he was going to do the easy thing and simply use his wand to start a quick flame, quick and inconspicuous so no muggle that might be watching would ever know a thing. I was wrong. I spent the next fifteen minutes sat watching Mr Weasley try and light a match, so when Ron, Harry and Hermione finally made their way back with the pot full of water, he'd gone through most of the pack.
"You've been ages." Said George.
"Met a few people." Replied Ron. "You not got that fire started yet?"
"Dad's having fun with the matches." Said Fred.
"Come here, Mr Weasley." Said Hermione, taking pity on the man.
In the end, they finally got the fire lit, but it was another hour before the water heated up enough to cook anything. Despite our excitement, everyone was relatively quiet as we waited for the food to cook. I'd opted to entertain myself by poking Fred repeatedly which he found extremely annoying much to my amusement.
"Bloody hell, will you stop?!" he snapped, pushing my hand away.
"Aww, come on Freddie, you know you like it!" I said, poking his cheek. "Besides, I'm bored!"
"Annoy George then."
"He doesn't get annoyed like you do, though." I pouted.
"He has more patience than I do."
"Exactly. It's not as fun."
I was spared a response as Bill, Charlie and Percy came walking up to the tents. "Just apparated, dad." Said Percy, very loudly. "Ah, excellent, lunch!"
I grinned as Mr Weasley handed me a plate of sausage and egg. I was starving!
"How was the walk down here?" asked Charlie, who'd sat between me and Fred (much to Fred's insistence).
"It was alright." I replied through a mouthful of egg. "Not as bad as I thought it would be."
"You're only saying that because you were carried most of the way." Said Ginny.
"Carried?" asked Charlie, giving me a quizzical look.
"George carried me…" I mumbled. "Don't ask why."
"Well wasn't that nice of him?" Charlie smirked, looking over at George who glared in return.
"Am I missing something?" I asked, looking at George.
"What? No, don't worry about it. Just Charlie being a git."
I nodded, taking another bite of my food, jumping in surprise as Mr Weasley suddenly jumped to his feet. "Aha!" he said. "The man of the moment! Ludo!"
Ludo Bagman was obviously not a man that cared about anti-muggle security. He was wearing his old quidditch robes, which were bright yellow and black, and had the picture of a giant wasp across the chest. If any muggle had seen him, they probably thought he was some sort of lunatic when you paired the robes with the huge grin that adorned his face.
"Ahoy there!" he called back. "Arthur, old man, what a day, eh? Could we have asked for more perfect weather? A cloudless night coming… and hardly a hiccough in the arrangements… not much for me to do!"
The rest of the us remained seated, all but Percy who, despite his obvious dislike of the man, shot up with his arm outstretched.
"Ah, yes… this is my son Percy, he's just started at the ministry… and this is Fred- no George, sorry, that's Fred… and their friend Maisie. Bill, Charlie, Ron… my daughter Ginny… and Ron's friends Hermione Granger and Harry Potter… Everyone, this is Ludo Bagman, you know who he is, it's thanks to him we've got such good tickets."
Bagman gave a bashful look and a wave of his hand. "Fancy a flutter on the match, Arthur? I've already got Roddy Pontner betting me Bulgaria will score first… I offered him nice odds, considering Ireland's front three are the strongest I've seen in years… and little Agatha Timms has put up half shares in her eel farm on a week-long match."
"Oh… go on then." Said Mr Weasley. "Let's see… a galleon on Ireland to win?"
"A galleon?" Bagman sounded rather disappointed. "Very well, very well… any other takers?"
"They're a bit young to be gambling… Molly wouldn't like-"
"We'll bet thirty-seven galleons, fifteen sickles, three knuts" said Fred, gathering all his money with George. "That Ireland win, but Viktor Krum gets the snitch. Oh, and we'll throw in a fake wand."
"You can't be serious." I hissed, grabbing their arms as Bagman marvelled over their fake wand, much to Percy's disbelief. "That's all your savings! It'll take you months and months to get that money back again if you lose it!"
"We're not going to lose it." Said Fred, confidently.
"Trust us, Maise." Said George, with a soft smile. "We know what we're doing."
"I doubt it." I muttered inaudibly.
"Boys…" said Mr Weasley. "I don't want you betting… that's all your savings… your mother-"
"Don't be a spoilsport Arthur!" said Bagman, loudly. "They're old enough to know what they want! You reckon Ireland will win but Krum'll get the snitch? Not a chance boys, not a chance… I'll give you excellent odds on that one… we'll add five galleons for the funny wand, then, shall we?"
I swallowed thickly as the twins handed over their money.
"Cheers!" said George, cheerfully, carefully tucking away the slip of parchment Bagman had handed him.
"Couldn't do me a brew, I suppose?" asked Bagman. "I'm keeping an eye out for Barty Crouch. My Bulgarian opposite number's making difficulties, and I can't understand a word he's saying. Barty'll be able to sort it out. He speaks about a hundred and fifty languages."
"Mr Crouch?" asked Percy, his face completely lighting up. "He speaks over two hundred! Mermish and Gobbledegook and Troll…"
"Anyone can speak Troll." Fred scoffed. "All you have to do is point and grunt."
"You'd know, Fred." I said. "You speak it often enough."
Percy glared viciously at the two of us as he stoked the fire to get the kettle back to boil.
"Any news of Bertha Jorkins yet, Ludo?" asked Mr Weasley. I'd heard about her. She was a ministry employee that had apparently gone missing, and from what I gathered from the Daily Prophet, not a lot of effort was going in to try and find her.
"Not a dicky bird. But she'll turn up. Poor old Bertha… memory like a leaky cauldron and no sense of direction. Lost, you take my word for it. She'll wander back into the office sometime in October, thinking it's still July." I frowned at Bagman's words. So they were doing nothing to find this woman?
"You don't think it might be time to send someone to look for her?" Mr Weasley suggested, looking concerned.
"Barty Crouch keeps saying that. But we really can't spare anyone at the moment. Oh- talk of the devil! Barty!" I turned to look at the new wizard who had just apparated to our fire. He was tall, stiff, rather elderly, and looked thoroughly unimpressed with everything that was going on around him. I could see why Percy idolised him so much. He looked equally as boring and uptight as him. "Pull up a bit of grass, Barty!"
"No thank you, Ludo." Replied Mr Crouch. "I've been looking for you everywhere. The Bulgarians are insisting we add another twelve seats to the top box."
"Oh, is that what they're after? I thought the chap was asking to borrow a pair of tweezers. Bit of a strong accent."
"Mr Crouch?" The twins and I had to stifle a laugh as Percy almost ran up to Mr Crouch, and sunk into a weird sort of half bow. "Would you like a cup of tea?"
"Oh." Replied Mr Crouch. "Yes- thank you, Weatherby." I chocked on my tea as Percy shuffled over to the kettle, looking rather embarrassed. "Oh, and I've been wanting a word with you too, Arthur. Ali Bashir's on the warpath. He wants a word with you about your embargo on flying carpets."
"You alright, Maise?" George asked, rubbing my back as I continued to choke on my tea.
"Uh…" I coughed again. "…huh. Peachy."
"I expect you'll be glad when this is all over." I heard Mr Weasley say as I recovered.
"Glad!" said Bagman, looking shocked. "Don't know when I've had more fun… still, it's not as though we haven't got anything to look forward to, eh, Barry? Eh? Plenty left to organise, eh?"
"We agreed not to make the announcement until all the details…"
"The details!" Bagman cut Mr Crouch off. "They've signed, haven't they? They've agreed, haven't they? I bet you anything these kids'll know soon enough anyway. I mean, it's happening at Hogwarts…"
"Ludo, we need to meet the Bulgarians, you know." Said Mr Crouch, sharply. I didn't think it possible for him to look sterner, but he'd just proved me wrong. "Thank you for the tea, Weatherby."
Percy looked deflated as Mr Crouch handed him back his untouched cup. If he wasn't such a git, I'd have almost felt bad for him.
"See you all later!" waved Bagman, jingling his pocket full of Galleons (I gave him a small glare at the gesture). "You'll be up in the top box with me, I'm commentating!"
"What's happening at Hogwarts, dad?" asked Fred as soon as the two had disapparated. I stared at Mr Weasley as well.
"You'll find out soon enough." Mr Weasley replied, smiling.
"It's classified information, until such time as the ministry decides to release it." Said Percy, his nose high in the air. "Mr Crouch was quite right not to disclose it."
"Oh, shut up Weatherby." Said Fred.
A/N: So, quite a bit of actual book content in this chapter, but I tried to not put toooo much in! Hope you all enjoyed!
