𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕕 | ℙ𝕒𝕣𝕥 𝟚 𝕠𝕗 ' 𝕙𝕠𝕨 𝕔𝕝𝕚𝕔𝕙𝕖 ' HIATUS

xvii

There was plenty to watch while they waited. Their tent seemed to be pitched right alongside a kind of thoroughfare to the field, and Ministry members kept hurrying up and down it, greeting Mr. Weasley cordially as they passed. Mr. Weasley kept up a running commentary, mainly for Harry's and Hermione's benefit; his own children knew too much about the Ministry to be greatly interested.

"That was Cuthbert Mockridge, Head of the Goblin Liaison Office. . . . Here comes Gilbert Wimple; he's with the Committee on Experimental Charms; he's had those horns for a while now. . . . Hello, Arnie . . . Arnold Peasegood, he's an Obliviator — member of the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad, you know. . . . and that's Bode and Croaker . . . they're Unspeakables. . . ."

"They're what?"

"From the Department of Mysteries, top secret, no idea what they get up to. . . ."  he said offhandedly, still looking around, though I am surprised I don't see one of the heads of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement..."

Harry perked up slightly and glanced at Hermione who looked back at him with a small smile, " Do you mean Samson Truelove?" he asked unsurely, wondering if he got the name right.

Mr. Weasley almost looked startled that Harry knew who he was, " Er- yes actually, how-?"

" Oh," he said, " I'm friends with his granddaughter, Eurielle Black,"

This caught the attention of the rest of the Weasley children, making them turn to their father and Harry. Mr. Weasley looked slightly uncomfortable, " Ah! And you are aware-?"

" That she's Sirius Black's daughter?" he asked, " I am,"

But this time Ginny spoke up, her cheeks slightly pink, " W-Wait you're friends with her? Or are you friends with her?"

Fred and George smiled at each other before leaning in towards Harry, " Yes, we'd like to know that too," said Geoorge seriously.

Fred nodded, " We'll have to keep an eye on him, huh, Georgie?" he asked.

Harry turned red, " Wh-What! No! We're just friends!"

The twins looked at each other doubtfully, " Of course, of course," they said in unison, hiding their grins behind their drinks. Ginny merely frowned and looked down at her plate, obviously not totally sure if Harry had been telling the truth.

Hermione rolled her eyes and that was when Percy, Bill, and Charlie came strolling out of the woods. "Just Apparated, Dad," said Percy loudly. "Ah, excellent, lunch!" They were halfway through their plates of eggs and sausages when Mr. Weasley jumped to his feet, waving and grinning at a man who was striding toward them. "Aha!" he said. "The man of the moment! Ludo!"

Ludo Bagman was easily the most noticeable person Harry had seen so far, even including old Archie in his flowered nightdress. He was wearing long Quidditch robes in thick horizontal stripes of bright yellow and black. An enormous picture of a wasp was splashed across his chest. He had the look of a powerfully built man gone slightly to seed; the robes were stretched tightly across a large belly he surely had not had in the days when he had played Quidditch for England. His nose was squashed (probably broken by a stray Bludger, Harry thought), but his round blue eyes, short blond hair, and rosy complexion made him look like a very overgrown schoolboy.

"Ahoy there!" Bagman called happily. He was walking as though he had springs attached to the balls of his feet and was plainly in a state of wild excitement.

Bagman talked excitedly with Arthur about the match and then asked if anyone wanted to wager on the match- which Fred and George did so eagerly. They bet their savings, much to Mr. Weasley's horror, " Boys," he said quietly, " Think-,"