𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗹, draco malfoy

˗ˋ 41

CHAPTER FORTY ONE
✧
-: fourth year :-

── IN WHICH THEY'RE IN
THE TOP BOX

. . .

It took them a little while, but eventually the group of four made it back to the Weasleys' small patch of grass on which the tents were pitched. With them came mostly full pots and pans, althought some of the water had been spilt (the most being when Harry waved to Cho Chang), which they set down in the small area where people were gathered.

"You've been ages." George complained, looking up and attempting to shove Marlie as she was putting down her last pot - it failed miserably, and the Potter girl didn't lose a drop of water.

"Met a few people," Ron explained, letting go of the handles and stretching out his hands, knuckles cracking. "You not got that fire started yet?" 

"Dad's having fun with the matches," Fred nodded towards Mr Weasley, who was crouched around a small arrangement of firewood. He seemed to be finding no success in it at all, but it wasn't for lack of trying; splintered matches littered the ground around him, but he looked as though he was having the time of his life.

 "Oops!" He exclaimed, as he managed to light a match and promptly dropped it in surprise.

"Come here, Mr Weasley." Hermione said kindly as she stepped forward, taking the box from him, and showing him how to do it properly. 

At last they got the fire lit, though it was at least another hour before it was hot enough to cook anything. There was plenty towatch while they waited, so it didn't seem to pass as slowly as expected. Their tent seemed to be pitched right alongside a route to the field, and Ministry members kept hurrying up and down it, greeting the Wealsey man cordially as they passed. Mr Weasley kept up a running commentary, mainly for Marlie, Harry and Hermione's benefit; his own children knew too much about the Ministry to be interested in it at all. 

"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..." Mr Weasley trailed off.

"They're what?"

"From the Department of Mysteries, top secret, no idea what they get up to..."

At long last, the fire had managed to get hot enough, and just as they had began to cook some eggs and sausages when amongst the crowd of Ministry workers, Bill, Charlie and Percy came strolling through.

"Just Apparated, Dad," Percy said loudly, in such a pompous fashion that Fred and George instantly began to mimic him. "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 exclaimed. "The man ofthe moment! Ludo!" 

Ludo Bagman was easily the most noticeable person they had seen so far, even including old Archie in his flowered nigh tdress.He was wearing long Quidditch robes in thick horizontal stripes of bright yellow and black, and a large picture of a wasp was splashed across his chest. He had the look of a well-built man that had given up exercising; the robes were stretched tightly across a large belly he surely had not had in the days when he had played Quidditch for England.