The Dark Lord's Daughter Book 4: Flight

Camping!

Harry POV

I let go of Notte to take in the ridiculously sized crowd. And the two men that approached us.
"Morning Basil." Mr. Weasley greeted one of the men- who was dressed rather strangely in a kilt and poncho. Notte nudged Harry and gestured at the man's bare legs. Mr. Weasley handed the old boot to the man he called Basil and tossed it into a rubbish box, filled with lots of curious rubbish.
"Hello Arthur, not on duty I eh? It's all right for some... We've been here all night...you'd best 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... " It took the tired man a moment to find what he was looking for.
"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." Mr. Weasley gestured for us to follow behind him. I watched Notte who was absolutely giddy with excitement next to me- it was nice to see her so happy- but I had a sneaking suspicion she had forgotten about our conversation from earlier. But I also think I knew what she was about to say. Which- made me rather happy, and a bit queasy at the same time.
It was fairly misty on the moor, but eventually a small stone cottage came into view. Behind it you could barely make out the thousands of tents you could properly see before.
"Morning!" Mr. Wesley greeted the muggle standing in the doorway of his little cottage.
"Morning." The muggle replied. I glanced at Notte who was eagerly trying to get a better look at the tents.
"Would you be Mr. Robert's?"
"Aye, I would, and who're you?"
"Weasley- two tents, booked a couple of days ago?" Mr. Weasley said with a smile.
"Aye, You've got a space by the wood there. Just the one night?" The muggle asked lazily checking his list tacked to his door.
"That's right!" Mr. Wesley said excitedly.
"You'll be paying now then?" The muggle asked grabbing Notte's attention- she walked back over to me. Her father walked over to us- and gestured us forward. He pulled a thick roll of muggle money out from his pocket.
Notte looked at me helplessly- and I did my best to correct Mr. Weasley with the money. She still had a bit of trouble understanding the money system as well, even though she spent an entire summer being a muggle.
"You foreign?" Mr. Roberts called from his door as Mr. Weasley went back- now with the proper notes.
"Foreign?" He asked curiously.
"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." Mr. Roberts gave us suspicious looks.
"Peculiar." Notte said with a nervous smile. The muggle nodded and rummaged through a tin for change.
"Never been this crowded- usually people just show up..." He didn't pass Mr. Weasley his change, but instead went on.
"Aye, people from all over. Loads of foreigners- not just foreigners, weirdos, you know? There's a man walking 'round in a kilt and a poncho."
Mr. Weasley looked back at us nervously.
"Shouldn't he?" He asked anxiously. Notte bit her lip beside me.
" It's like some sort of...I dunno...like some sort of rally. They all seem to know each other. Like a big party." The muggle said thoughtfully. Notte shivered and then suddenly a man in plus-fours appeared out of thin air.
"Obliviate!" The man pointed his wand at the Muggle, and his eyes immediately slid out of focus. Notte shuddered, as we watched the man's memory being charmed.
"A map of the campsite for you, " The muggle handed Mr. Weasley a piece of parchment,
"And your change."
"Thanks very much." Mr. Weasley said.
The man in plus-fours accompanied us to the gate, he had stubble on his chin and deep eye bags. He had most likely been there all night like the other ministry men had been.
"Been having a lot of trouble with him- needs his memory wiped ten times a day just to keep him happy. And Ludo Bagman's not helping. Trotting about talking about Bludgers and Quaffles and the top of his voice. Not a worry for anti-Muggle security. Blimey- I'll be glad when this is over- See you, Arthur." The man nodded briskly at the rest of us before disapparating. Notte tsked quietly.
"I thought Mr. Bagman was the head of Magical Games and Sports? He should know better than to talk about Bludgers around Muggles- wouldn't he?" Ginny piped up, and Notte nodded furiously to herself.
"He should, but Ludo's always been, well- let's say a bit lax, when it comes to security. You couldn't wish for a better Head though- he played Quidditch for England himself you know. Best Beater for the Wimbourne Wasps we'd ever had!" Mr. Weasley said brightly. And Notte rolled her eyes beside me.
"D'you not like this Bagman?" I asked quietly. She huffed quietly.
"I don'know him well enough to have an opinion." She answered quietly. Her polite way of saying she didn'like him based on first impressions and things she's heard. I couldn't help but chuckle lowly at her.
And then we took in the craziness that wizards consider tents- a few of them looked rather normal but many had gone over the top with chimneys and windows- some even had exotic pets tethered to the lawn. Notte pointed out a tent that looked like a small castle with turrets and a miniature drawbridge.
"We can't resist showing off when we get together- Ah, look here we are, this is us." In the ground was a sign that proudly displayed
"Weezly" Notte read with a giggle-
"More like Wheezing-" I jabbed, Notte smacked my arm. She had a tendency to laugh until she wheezed if I did something cheesy. Which was often- especially when Ms. Figg pressured me into it.