Sarah Potter (Book 4)

Ch4: The Campground

I disentangle myself from Draco and get to my feet, brushing loose grass off my clothes. I look around to see that we've arrived to a deserted and misty moor.

Standing in front of our large group, is a pair of grumpy-looking wizard, one holding a large golden stopwatch and the other a long roll of parchment. I notice the two wizards' attempt at dressing as Muggle's, and it isn't good; The man holding the watch is wearing tweed suit with high galoshes, and his colleague, a poncho and a kilt.

"Mr Malfoy," the wizard with the parchment says, suddenly becoming very formal, straightening his back. "Always a pleasure. Ah, Madam Zabini and Madam Nott, wonderful to see you as well." He looks down at the piece of parchment for a moment, as if looking for something very important. "Nott...field three - look for Mr Coote. Zabini...Zabini...field three also."

Blaise, Theo and their mothers say their goodbyes - telling us they will meet us again soon - and walk off toward field three, leaving the Malfoy's and I.

"Now, Mr Malfoy, were you not just here two days ago?" the wizard with the parchment says.

"Yes, yes I was," Lucius responds in a bored tone. "I was here fixing up the tents for myself and my wife, as well my son - Draco, and his friend here."

"Tents?" I whisper to Draco. Does this mean we are sharing a tent - alone?

"Yes," Draco whispers back with a slight chuckle, "tents. Father told me that we will be putting up our own tent - without magic."

"Without magic?" I say, raising an eyebrow.

"I know," Draco say, looking annoyed at the thought. "Father and I had a small dispute over it until I finally agreed to it."

I chuckle, before glancing to Mr Malfoy, who looks as proper as ever.

"Okay then, Mr Malfoy," the wizard says, "you know where you are."

"Thank you, Basil," Lucius says, and nudges Draco and I to follow him and Narcissa.

We walk for at least twenty minutes up the deserted moor, unable to see anything through the thick mist, before a small stone cottage swims into our view, followed by hundreds of tents. I look between the many rows of tents. Some are decorated extravagantly, while some have tried to look as Muggle-like as possible.

The three of us continue to trudge up the misty moor, between rows and rows of tents, each getting more extravagant as we pass; some with simple chimney's and weather vanes, and some with front lawns with birth baths, and brilliantly coloured flags protruding from the tops. One tent even had three storey's and several turrets.

"It's always the same," Narcissa says, shaking her head slightly. "We can never resist showing off, even with a little as tents."

We walk a little farther, before reaching a jet black tent, with a space for an extra tent next to it with a piece of black canvas in the middle. It doesn't even look remotely magical, apart from the Malfoy crest above it, and a pristine welcome mat at the foot of the entrance.

"Ah, here we are," Lucius says. He turns around to face Draco and I. "You will need to put up your tent, and I am sure Draco has told you that you will not be using magic. We can't have these Muggle's seeing, with myself being a valuable member of the Ministry of Magic."

Lucius then turns on his heel and strides into the already put up tent.

Narcissa then leans closer to Draco and I. "I believe you are meant to put those pegs into the ground, to keep the tent up. Once you are finished, feel free to walk around - but remember, no magic."