Chapter 78: Ludo Bagman (1/2)
”Er.. Mr Weasley, I think we've to use magic, or else we all are not going to fit in here.” Chris said to Mr Weasley, who was appreciating the two small tents, which they just managed to erect.
”Oh. Nothing to worry. We'll be a bit cramped,” said Mr Weasley smiling, ”but I think we'll all squeeze in. Let's have a look.”
Mr Weasley dropped his hands and knees and entered the first tent. Chris followed him and duck under the tent flap. The inside looked like as an old-fashioned, three-room flat, complete with bathroom and kitchen. There were crocheted covers on the mismatched chairs and a strong smell of cats. Chris smirked.
”Well, it's not for long,” said Mr. Weasley, mopping his bald patch with a handkerchief and peering in at the four bunk beds that stood in the bedroom. ”I borrowed this from Perkins at the office. Doesn't camp much anymore, poor fellow, he's got lumbago.”
He picked up the dusty kettle and peered
inside it. ”We'll need water. …”
”There's a tap marked on this map the Muggle gave us,” said Ron, who had followed Harry inside the tent. ”It's on the other side of the field.”
”Well, why don't you, Harry, and Hermione go and get us some water then” — Mr. Weasley handed over the kettle and a couple of saucepans — ”and the rest of us will get some wood for a fire?”
”But we've got an oven,” said Ron. ”Why can't we just —”
”Ron, anti-Muggle security!” said Mr. Weasley, his face shining with anticipation. ”When real Muggles camp, they cook on fires outdoors. I've seen them at it!”
Hearing this Chris chukled. Mr Weasley's enthusiasm for 'living a day like muggles' was truly inspiring.
Mr Weasley turned to Chris. ”Girls are in the other tent. Go and have a look, hope you'll like it.”
As he finished, Chris, Ginny and Hermione went to the second tent. It was a bit smaller than the first one but enough for three girls to live. It had a two bunk bed and a single one; few chairs and a bathroom.
Hermione dropped her bag on the single bed and left with Harry and Ron to bring water.
Chris put her bag down and collapsed on a chair.
”That Portkey is super exhausting.”
”Yeah. I know.” Ginny replied distracted.
”Ginny I'll take the lower one..” Chris pointed at the bunk beds.
”No... please let me take the lower one. Can you take the upper one?” Ginny said hurriedly.
”Ok ok. Take it. I'll take the upper one.” Chris said slightly surprised. ”Ginny I don't think you're afaird of heights or something. I mean you're a Gryffindor team Chaser.”
”Er... I'm not afaird of heights it's just... when I was a kid, I slept in bunk bed. It was three bunk bed, .... and at night.... Fred and George bursted something near my ear, when I was asleep and hearing that noise I fell off the bed.” Ginny said getting embarrassed. ”Literally I hit the ground face flat. That almost broke my nose.... Mom made both of them sleep in the attic for a week.”
Chris laughed hearing this and in few seconds Ginny joined her as well.
”Don't laugh. It hurts.” Ginny said sitting beside Chris.
”I never thought I'll see you chickening out over a small fall.” Chris replied laughing.
”Enough. Let's help Dad a bit. Or else don't know what he'll do with the fire.” Ginny said still grinning.
”I've to say he had took this anti-muggle security very seriously.”
”Nah... I know my Dad, he's just trying to enjoy a day by living like a actual muggle. He's always fond of muggle things and technics.”
”I know. The last time he went to our house, Dad gave him a full bag of batteries. He said he collect them.” Chris replied grinning.
”He even collect plugs. Where do you think the toaster went which your Dad gave us?” Ginny said, laughing.
”What? No...” Chris said surprised.
”Yes. He opened it with some muggle machine. It's in the attic I guess.” Ginny said and both of them burst into laughter.
Collecting firewoods was not a difficult task, Mr Weasley, Fred, George, and Chris brought enough firewoods to cook. The difficult task was teaching Mr Weasley, how to lit the fire with matches. Everytime Chris showed him how to do it, and everytime he managed to light a match and promptly dropped it in surprise.
”Dad please do it fast. Even I can do it now.” Ginny said. ”Chris showed it almost hundred of times.”
”Yes. Yes. Oopss.” He dropped it again.
”Dad stop playing with it.” Fred said grinning.
Finally they lit the fire.
”It's going to take time to heat up.” Chris said checking the fire.
A blonde haired girl with extremely pale eyebrows approached them.
”Hullo everyone.”
Chris looked up, ”Luna!”
She smiled as Chris and Ginny hugged her. As usual her wand was resting on the upper part of her left ear, a pair of reddish earrings were hanging from her ears and a butterbeer cork necklace dangling on her neck.
”We heard you came two weeks ago?” Ginny asked.
”Yeah, it wasn't crowded that time.” Luna replied smiling. ”I'm roaming around here for days, but it's nice to see so many people today. You two want to join? We can look around a bit.”
”We?” Chris said uncertainty looking at Mr Weasley. Ginny looked at him as well.
”Why not. Just don't get lost.” Mr Weasley said smiling as he noticed the girls' eyes on him. ”And if you do, then ask any Ministry Wizard to show you the way. Alright?”
”Ok.” Ginny grinned. ”Let's go.”
”And what about us?” George asked.
”You two are going to stay with me. I need help.” Mr Weasley answered.
”For what?” Fred asked surprised. ”Watching the fire?”
”Now now boys, your mother asked me to keep an eye on you two, so I'm going to do that.” He said putting an end of the conversation.
Fred and George looking more grumpy sat near the fire.
Chris, Ginny and Luna set off across the campsite. Now, with the sun risen and the mist lifting, they could see the city of tents that stretched in every direction. It was a beautiful site, many Wizards and Witches were cooking outside their tents, some wizard kids were riding toy broomsticks which rose only high enough for the kids' toes to skim the dewy grass. Some little witches were running here and there chased by their parents. Chris noticed a few Wizards in weird dresses. It was like they had no idea what's normal in Muggle world. Some witches, with furtive looks around them, conjured fires with their wands; others were striking matches with dubious looks on their faces, as though sure this couldn't work.
As they were walking, eagerly watching the surroundings, a boy collided with Chris.
”Sorry. Sorry.” The boy said nervously.
”It's alright.” Chris looked up and saw...
”Neville?” Ginny said surprised.
”Oh hi Ginny.” He said and tried to smile.
Neville Longbottom was a boy in Harry's year.
”Why're you looking so nervous Neville? Did you lost your map or something?” Chris asked looking at his nervous face and saw his pink face went scarlet. Chris understood she guessed right.
”With whom you came Neville?” Ginny asked, also realising the fact.
”I came with my few Aunts and Uncles. I was just looking around with the map. But then I don't know how I lost it.” Neville answered.
”Where's the tent? If you can tell me a bit. I think I can help.” Luna said.
”Really?” Neville asked surprised.
”Yes, we'll help you.” Ginny said smiling.
”But I don't remember where the tent was.” Neville said, panicking a bit.
”Relax Neville relax. You forgot things because you got nervous.” Chris said seriously. ”Took a deep breath... Relax a little bit... think...”
After hesitating a little, he did it.
”I think our tent was at... the second field.... is it a thing?” Neville answered thinking.
”Yes it is. Let's go.” Luna said and started walking.
Chris, Ginny and Neville followed her.
On the way they saw few muggle shops, the wizards and witches were examining curiously the things and the muggle sellers were selling them, thinking they're foreigners.
Chris noticed a chocolate stall, ”hey let's go over their. I'll buy some chocolates.”
Chris brought many chocolates and other normal muggle toffees and sweets. She gave some to Luna, Ginny and Neville; and also took some for others.
”You know they're really different from our sweets.” Ginny said eating one caramel candy.
”Yeah, they don't jump in our stomach, you see.” Chris said smiling.
”Yes they're really good.” Neville said eating a big bar of chocolate.
Soon Neville was completely normal, he wasn't getting nervous or stumbling on people.
Suddenly he pointed out a large group of teenagers whom Chris had never seen before.
”Who d'you reckon they are?” he said. ”They don't go to Hogwarts, do they?”
”I think they're from foreign schools.” Luna said. ”I met one boy a year ago, when me and father went out for adventure. He was from a foreign school, though I don't remember the name.”
At last after almost rounding the entire second field Neville spotted his Aunt, thanked Chris, Ginny and Luna and left.
On the way back to their tent, they met few other people, one of them was Melvin Catterick, a Hufflepuff boy in same year as them.
”Hi Chris!” He shouted as he came running towards them.
Ginny and Luna giggled as Chris sighed.
”Hey Melvin.” Luna said.
”O hey Luna, and Ginny... and Chris.” Melvin said smiling.
”Hello Melvin.” Ginny replied, suppressing her grin.
”Hi.” Chris replied dryly.
”How are you Chris?” Melvin asked blushing. ”Enjoying the Quidditch World cup?”