The Hidden Half-Blood Prince

Chapter 2: Oops

"Just Apparated, Dad," I said loudly as we came up to the camp site, "Ah, excellent, lunch!" It was more of a breakfast but those are the best kind.

It was almost time for the game to start and I was excited. My first, real Quidditch game. I don't count the ones I watch my brother play. While even I can tell they're good, I know they won't be as good as the people who do it for a living. No offense to my brothers or anything...not that they knew I was thinking that.

I was jolted out of my thoughts when Arthur jumped to his feet. "Aha!" he exclaimed, "the man of the moment, Ludo!"

"Ahoy, there!" Ludo Bagman was dressed quite loudly with thick, horizontal stripes of black and yellow. If all I had done was heard him, I would have thought he was a pirate. However, you would have very poor eyesight if you didn't see him. He was also moving as if he were on a trampoline, he could hardly contain his excitement.

He reminded me of Leo.

That thought made it easy to put on a polite but disapproving smile on. I was still having trouble putting my past behind me at the moment.

"Arthur, old man," Bagman huffed as he reached us, "what a day, eh? What a day! Could we have asked for more perfect weather? A cloudless night coming...and hardly a hiccough on the arrangements...Not much for me to do!"

I raised my brow when not long after he said that, an explosion sparked off in the distance, purple sparks indicating a magical fire had been set. I sighed but ignored the haggard looking wizards who ran off in that direction. Holding out my hand for Bagman to shake, I stepped forward.

"Ah-yes," Arthur said, grinning. He was laughing at me I'm sure, he knew this action was not my style. "This is my son, Percy. He's just started at the Ministry-and this is Fred- no, George, sorry-that's Fred- Bill, Charlie, Ron, my daughter, Ginny-and Ron's friends, Hermione Granger and Harry Potter."

Poor Harry, I saw him shift uncomfortably when Bagman did a double take and looked straight at the scar on his forehead. I remember when I had to go through that. It was aweful.

"Everyone," Arthur continued, completely oblivious, "this is Ludo Bagman, you know who he is, it's thanks to him we've got such good tickets."

Bagman beamed at the praise and waved dismissively. "Fancy a bet on the match, Arthur?" he asked eagerly, jingling a pocket full of coins. "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 Agatha Timons put up half shares in her eel farm on a long match."

"Oh...go on then," Arthur said reluctantly. "Let's see...a Galleon on Ireland to win?"

"A Galleon?" Bagman looked disappointed and I rolled my eyes. I wish I could bet I know I would win quite a bit. I didn't hang out with the Stolls all the time for nothing after all. Alas, it would not go with character. Stupid Percy Weasley.

"Very well, then...any other takers?" Bagman recovered and looked at the other Weasleys eagerly.

"They're a bit young to be gambling," Arthur started, looking at his children helplessly. "Molly wouldn't like-"

"37 Galleons, 15 Sickles, 3 Knuts that Ireland wins- but Victor Krum gets the Snitch. Oh, and we'll throw in a fake want," the twins said as they quickly pooled their money.

I hid a smile, these were one of my favorite tricks they conjured but then hissed at them. "You don't want to go showing Mr. Bagman rubbish like that-"

Stopping, I watched in suppressed fascination as Bagman accepted the wand and smiled widely in excitement as the want gave a loud squawk and turned into a rubber chicken. He exploded into laughter.