Author's Note: Some of the dialogue and descriptions in this chapter are very similar to Harry's experience in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Chapter 7, "Bagman and Crouch."

The three Malfoys suddenly found themselves on a deserted stretch of misty moor.

Draco leaned slightly on his father for support, but he otherwise managed to stay on his feet.

Lucius and Narcissa both looked a little windswept, but they were standing steadily on their feet without any problem.

Draco released his grip on Lucius's arm, but Narcissa did not. In fact, she linked her arm around his. Lucius didn't seem to mind, though. He gave her a slight smile.

"I do hate traveling by Portkey," Narcissa commented. "I can't wait until Draco is old enough to Apparate."

"He'll learn in his sixth year," Lucius said soothingly.

"I can't wait," Draco remarked excitingly. His parents just smiled at him.

The Malfoys then began to make their way over to two tired, grumpy-looking wizards. Both were dressed like Muggles, but their clothes were badly mismatched.

Lucius's lips curled slightly, and out of the corner of his eye he noticed that Narcissa's lips had done the same. There was no way that either Lucius or Narcissa Malfoy would ever be caught attempting to dress like a Muggle.

"Why are they dressed so funny, Father?" Draco asked, not even attempting to keep his voice low.

The two wizards frowned slightly at Draco, but a glare from Lucius was enough to convince them not to say anything.

"The Ministry wanted us to come dressed as Muggles," Lucius explained to his son.

"Why?" Draco asked in confusion. "Surely there aren't going to be any Muggles at a wizarding event."

"I can't always explain the Ministry's reasoning, Draco," Lucius sighed.

"So why didn't we dress as Muggles?" Draco asked.

"Because we are Malfoys," Lucius smirked.

Draco smirked back in understanding.

"Morning, Basil," Lucius greeted one of the wizards, handing him the goblet.

"Lucius," Basil nodded back as he threw the goblet into a large box, which only had a few used Portkeys in it, including an old newspaper.

"I was hoping to speak with the Minister," Lucius said. "Is he here yet?"

"No," Basil answered, "but Crouch is."

"Of course he would be here," Lucius muttered. "Well, as soon as you see the Minister, Basil, will you kindly let him know that I inquired about him?"

"Of course," Basil responded, "even though I expect he will be kept very busy up until it's time for the match to start."

"But not too busy that he can't take a minute to speak with my father," Draco spoke up.

"Now, now, Draco," Lucius chided, "the Minister is indeed a very busy man with lots of responsibilities. It would not be fair for me to expect him to drop everything just to exchange pleasantries with me."

As Lucius was speaking, though, he gave Draco a smirk to let him know that the lecture was just for show and that he really was pleased by his son's words.

Draco smirked back at his father, even though he was careful to not let Basil and the other wizard see.

"My business with the Minister does concern St. Mungo's, though," Lucius told Basil.

"I understand," Basil replied. "But until the Minister arrives, you and your family would probably like to get settled at your campsite. Give me a moment and I'll find it for you."

Basil looked down at his parchment list. "It's about a quarter of a mile away. It will be the first field you come to. You will want to speak with Mr. Roberts."

"Thank you," Lucius returned. He then motioned for Draco to follow him and Narcissa.

They began to walk across the moor. They weren't able to see much, however, because of the mist.

"At least it feels nice," Lucius muttered to Narcissa.

"Indeed it does," Narcissa smiled at her husband. "We need to start going for walks in different places."

"Do you have anywhere in particular in mind?" Lucius smiled.

"Not at the moment," Narcissa smiled back, "but whatever you come up with will be just fine with me."

"Could you two stop with all the flirting?" Draco complained. "I'm starting to feel nauseous."

"One day you will understand, sweetie," Narcissa laughed slightly.

"You keep saying that," Draco muttered, "but I keep doubting it."

"You should never doubt your mother, Draco," Lucius said.

"Yes, Father. Sorry, Mother."

"It's quite all right, Draco."

After a brief period of time, the Malfoys came upon a small stone cottage next to a gate. Beyond the gate, there were the shapes of hundreds of tents.

A man was standing in the doorway of the cottage.

Draco stopped in his tracks and stiffened.

"Is that a Muggle?" he asked in disbelief. "What is a Muggle doing at a wizarding event? And do all Muggles dress funny?"

"Not so loud," Lucius warned his son.

Draco noted that neither of his parents seemed surprised by the sight of the Muggle, even though they clearly weren't pleased by it.

"I had been hoping that the Ministry would have ended up having more sense than this," Narcissa hissed in a low voice.

"With Fudge as the Minister?" Lucius remarked, his voice also low.

"Good point," Narcissa returned. "Fudge is going to be the downfall of the Ministry. He just doesn't know it yet."

By this point, the Muggle had turned to look at the Malfoys.

"Morning," the Muggle said.

"Are you Mr. Roberts?" Lucius asked, his lips curling.

"I am," Roberts answered. "And who are you?"

"Malfoy."

Roberts looked at a list tacked to his cottage door. "Aye, I see where you got your spot. It's just for one night, right?"

"That's right," Lucius replied.

"Will you be paying now?" Roberts asked.

Lucius pulled some slips of paper out of his pocket.

Draco stared at him. Lucius gave him a look that warned him to keep quiet.

Lucius handed Roberts the strange-looking paper.

Roberts reached into a tin for change.

"I still can't get over how crowded it is," Roberts commented. "It's not usually this way. And there's a lot of weirdos around, dressed all funny."

Roberts unconsciously looked the Malfoys up and down as he spoke.

Lucius's eyes narrowed dangerously.

Roberts flushed slightly in embarrassment. "I meant no offense. You're clearly a foreigner. I spoke without thinking."

"I'm not the one who's the foreigner here," Lucius snapped. "Just give me my change and a map of my campsite, and we'll be on my way."

"Of course, of course," Roberts spoke. "What's going on anyways? Some sort of rally?"

A wizard in plus-fours suddenly Apparated next to Roberts.

"Obliviate," the wizard said.

Roberts's eyes slid out of focus and a dreamy expression appeared on his face.

"Here is your change and a map of your campsite," Roberts said to Lucius.

"Thank you," Lucius drawled sarcastically.

Roberts, however, didn't seem to notice Lucius's sarcasm. He just nodded the Malfoys on their way.

The wizard in plus-fours walked with the Malfoys towards the gate.

"Were you surprised by the Muggle, Lucius?" the wizard asked.

"No," Lucius answered. "The Minister had told me about him, even though I still don't understand why a Muggle had to be involved in all this. Our worlds are kept separate for a reason."

"Tell me about it," the wizard replied, his voice clearly reflecting his exhaustion. "I've lost track of how many Memory Charms I've already performed on him. Anyways, have a good day."

"You as well," Lucius returned.

The wizard Disapparated.

"You knew there was going to be a Muggle here?" Draco hissed at his father. "Why didn't you tell me? And how is it that you know about Muggle money?"

"We have money in the Muggle world," Lucius explained.

"Why?" Draco pressed, his voice now curious.

"Just in case," Lucius answered simply. "Now, let's get going. I want to find our tent. You must be thirsty and hungry after that walk."

Draco's eyes brightened, and he completely forgot about all the other questions that he had wanted to ask his father.