Bagman and Crouch
Several people groaned when they heard the title of the chapter. They doubted there would be any quidditch in this chapter either. Barty looked especially displeased. He really didn't want to have to hear about his father.
Harry disentangled himself... though very inexpertly:
Hermione laughed, remembering just how badly some of the wix had been dressed.
The man with the watch ... a kilt and a poncho.
Hermione and Harry exchanged a look.
"Was he Scottish?" young Hermione asked.
"Do you know, I don't know," Harry said with a sigh. "Either way, I don't think the poncho worked."
"It definitely clashed with the kilt," Hermione said with a giggle.
"Morning, Basil," ... ask for Mr. Payne. "
"I really don't understand why they used muggle camp sites," Hermione said, shaking her head. "That was just a recipe for disaster."
"Thanks, Basil," ... only real Muggle for several acres.
"That's how you know wix are rubbish at interacting with muggles," Hermione muttered.
When he heard their footsteps... So this is a five?"
Hermione huffed. Muggle money was far easier than wixen money and yet wix never seemed to understand it. No matter how much you try to explain it to them.
"A twenty," ... returned with the correct notes.
"Foreign?" several people asked.
"From abroad," Hermione explained. "He doesn't understand why you're struggling with the currency. Then again, even foreigners understand British currency. Most muggle currencies are similar. At least the numbers are the same."
"Foreign?" ... great gold coins the size of hubcaps ten minutes ago. "
Madam Bones sighed. It was clear to see that Harry was right. Wizards needed to be better educated about muggles. This was embarrassing.
"Did you really?" ... People usually just turn up. . . . "
"He's going to need obliviating," Moody grumbled.
"I can't imagine his mind is all that good any more," Harry said with a grimace, "with the number of memory charms they used on him."
Thinking back, he wasn't sure he was okay with that. "Wouldn't it have been better to send the muggles on a fully paid holiday for a week or so?" he asked.
Again, the ministry employees all looked surprised. That would have been a much better idea.
"Is that right?" ... a kilt and a poncho. "
Harry laughed. Yep, that had looked weird.
"Shouldn't he?" ... Like a big party. "
"Definitely going to need a memory wipe," Tonks sighed.
At that moment... pointing his wand at Mr. Roberts.
The Grangers glared at the book. "Is that really how you treat muggles?" Mr Granger asked. "Just remove the memories you don't want them to have? That's assault."
The wix in the chamber all looked uncomfortable at that. Harry and Hermione were nodding in agreement.
Instantly, Mr. Roberts's eyes slid out of focus... ten times a day to keep him happy.
"That's not right," Mr Granger said angrily. No wonder his daughter thought it was okay to do that to her own parents if wizards were so willing to remove muggle's memories.
And Ludo Bagman's not helping... anti-Muggle security.
Madam Bones grimaced. She began to make notes. This wouldn't be allowed when the world cup happened in the new timeline.
Blimey, I'll be glad ... He Disapparated.
"Ludo isn't helping," Tonks said, "and what, randomly disapparating here and there, is?"
"I thought Mr. Bagman ... Bludgers near Muggles, shouldn't he?"
"You'd have thought so," Moody growled.
"He should," ... lax about security.
"That's one way of describing it," Moody said. The man was a fool if you asked him.
You couldn't wish for a more enthusiastic ... best Beater the Wimbourne Wasps ever had. "
Moody rolled his eyes.
They trudged up... slipped up by adding chimneys,
The Grangers actually laughed as they tried to picture a tent with a chimney.
or bellpulls, or weather vanes... several live peacocks tethered at the entrance.
Lucius grinned. "That was mine."
A little farther on... several turrets;
"Turrets?" Mrs Granger asked. "It's a tent, not a castle."
and a short way beyond... fountain.
"No wonder that man needed so many memory charms," young Mr Granger huffed.
"Always the same," ... Ah, here we are, look, this is us."
Harry shook his head. The average wix had no idea how to keep the statute of secrecy. It was a bloody miracle their world hadn't been discovered a thousand times.
They had reached the very edge ... we're as close as we could be."
The kids grew excited. Would they finally hear about the match?
He hoisted his backpack from his shoulders... Muggles do it all the time.
Hermione laughed. It wasn't that easy to put up a tent.
Here, Harry, where do you reckon we should start?"
"How do they expect you to know?" young Harry asked. "We've never been camping."
”Muggle raised,” he said with a shrug.
Harry had never been camping in his life... managed to erect a pair of shabby two-man tents.
Mr Weasley blushed. He did get a little over-eager about muggle stuff occasionally.
All of them stood back ... they would be a party of ten.
"That would have been suspicious too," Harry said. "The tents shouldn't have been big enough for all of us. Something Mr Roberts would have noticed."
Hermione seemed to have spotted ... a strong smell of cats.
The Grangers could hardly believe their ears. Magic really was incredible.
"Well, it's not for long," ... he's got lumbago. "
"They should have forced everyone to camp like actual muggles," Hermione said with a sigh.
He picked up the dusty kettle ... "- and the rest of us will get some wood for a fire?"
Kingsley wasn't impressed. Yet again, no one was considering Heir Potter's security.
"But we've got an oven," ... I've seen them at it!"
"Well, sometimes," Mr Granger said. "Mostly they take oil burners or portable bbqs."
"BBQ?" Mr Weasley asked.
"A tray with coal in it," Mr Granger tried to explain.
After a quick tour of the girls' tent... the kettle and saucepans.
"So, wait," Mrs Granger said, "the girls were in a tent on their own?"
She didn't like the sound of that.
"Er, yes," Arthur said.
Now, with the sun newly risen ... much about those in other countries.
Harry frowned. There was a lot he hadn't thought about.
Their fellow campers ... his mother came hurrying out of the tent.
Madam Bones groaned in perfect unison with Ollivander.
"How many times, ... "You bust slug! You bust slug!"
"Yuck!" several people cried.
A short way farther on ... Parents having a lie-in, I suppose -"
"Why did they even have brooms with them?" Moody growled. "Utter fools."
Here and there adult wizards ... conjured fires with their wands;
Several people tutted.
others were striking matches ... a bright purple fire,
"This will all need better planning," Amelia said, jotting something down.
while a group of middle-aged ... THE SALEM WITCHES' INSTITUTE.
"Ridiculous!" Tonks grimaced. "They're not even trying to be incognito."
Harry caught snatches ... sprouted out of the earth.
"That's it," Madam Bones said, "I think I might just vote against hosting the final."
Susan looked highly offended. "But auntie!"
Grinning faces could be seen... "The Ministry's not too happy. "
Seamus shrugged. His mother didn't give a flying toad what the ministry thought.
"Ah, why shouldn't we show our colors?" ... "Like we'd say anything else surrounded by that lot. "
Seamus glared at Ron momentarily.
"I wonder what the Bulgarians ... "Krum," said Ron quietly.
Viktor grimaced. He hadn't liked those posters.
"What?" ... scowling at them.
Viktor grinned at Hermione.
"'Really grumpy?" ... He's a genius, you wait until tonight, you'll see. "
Viktor looked slightly abashed at the praise, especially since it was coming from Ron. He'd always suspected he didn't like him. Although, he thought that might have been because of Hermione.
There was already a small queue ... a long flowery nightgown.
The muggleborns all laughed.
The other was clearly a Ministry wizard... "Muggles wear them. "
"Yeah, muggle grannies," Dean Thomas said with a smirk.
"Muggle women wear them... "I like a healthy breeze 'round my privates, thanks. "
Several children giggled at that.
Hermione was overcome ... Puddlemere United reserve team.
Percy smiled. Ollie was always brilliant. It wouldn't be long before he was on the first string team.
Next they were hailed by Ernie Macmillan... played Seeker on the Ravenclaw team.
Luna grimaced. She didn't really like Cho. She'd been one of the ones that bullied her.
She waved and smiled at Harry ... he waved back.
Harry blushed, feeling embarrassed. He'd had a bit of a crush on her for a while. It really hadn't ended well though.
More to stop Ron ... Bill had a penfriend at a school in Brazil.
Bill grimaced. He still hadn't forgiven that idiot.
this was years and years ago... It made his ears shrivel up. "
Young Bill glared at Ron. He didn't want everyone knowing about that.
Harry laughed ... some book or other.
Hermione rolled her eyes. She had indeed read about the other schools in a book. But the information had also been in the muggleborn induction pack she received before starting Hogwarts.
"You've been ages," ... promptly dropped it in surprise.
Dean Thomas rolled his eyes. Most wix wouldn't survive a week in the muggle world.
"Come here, Mr. Weasley," ... they're Unspeakables... "
Young Hermione sat forward. Ever since Rookwood's first lecture, she'd been desperate to learn more about the department of mysteries.
"They're what?" ... "Just Apparated, Dad," said Percy loudly.
"Show off," George muttered.
"Ah, excellent, lunch!" ... made him look like a very overgrown schoolboy.
"No sense," Moody complained, crossing his arms.
"Ahoy there!" ... Not much for me to do!"
Amelia tutted.
Behind him ... wanting to make a good impression.
Percy frowned at that.
"Brown nosing idiot," Fred muttered.
"Ah - yes," ... that's Fred -
"You got it right the first time," Harry said quietly, suprising everyone except George.
George sighed. It still hurt that his parents had never been able to tell them apart. But at least, Harry did.
Bill, Charlie, Ron ... the scar on Harry's forehead.
Harry rolled his eyes.
"Everyone," ... a Galleon on Ireland to win?"
Mrs Weasley side eyed her husband.
"A Galleon?" ... "that Ireland wins - but Viktor Krum gets the Snitch.
"ABSOLUTELY NOT!" Mrs Weasley screeched.
George just glared at her and she quickly quietened down. She still hadn't worked out how she was supposed to talk to the twins about what had happened yesterday and she really didn't want to make matters worse.
Oh and we'll throw in a fake wand." ... Mr. Bagman rubbish like that," Percy hissed,
George glared at Percy.
"It's not rubbish," Ollivander said crossly.
but Bagman didn't seem to think the wand was rubbish ... I'd pay five Galleons for that!"
George frowned. Ludo Bagman never had given them their winnings.
Percy froze in an attitude of stunned disapproval.
Percy grimaced. He might have been a bit over the top. He should have told the twins he was proud of them. Maybe then, things might have been better between them.
"Boys," ... "Don't be a spoilsport, Arthur!" boomed Ludo Bagman,
All the parents in the room stared at the book disapprovingly.
rattling his pockets excitedly... began jotting down the twins' names.
Mrs Weasley still looked unimpressed but she didn't say anything.
"Cheers," ... Mermish and Gobbledegook and Troll. . . . "
George rolled his eyes.
"Anyone can speak Troll," said Fred dismissively. "All you have to do is point and grunt. "
Quite a few people laughed at that. Barty Crouch Junior included.
Percy threw Fred an extremely nasty look ... thinking it's still July. "
More disapproving glances.
"You don't think it might be time ... Percy was a great believer in rigidly following rules,
Percy grimaced.
and Mr. Crouch had complied ... spotted him for what he really was.
Sirius threw his head back, laughing.
"Pull up a bit of grass, Barty," ... Bit of a strong accent. "
Tonks rolled her eyes. No one noticed the way Barty Crouch Junior tensed.
"Mr. Crouch!" ... thank you, Weatherby."
The Weasley children all laughed as Percy went pink around his ears.
Fred and George choked ... your embargo on flying carpets. "
"I still don't get that one," Hermione said. "They're no more dangerous to the statute of secrecy than broomsticks."
Mr. Weasley heaved a deep sigh... Registry of Proscribed Charmable Objects, but will he listen?"
"The rules seem so random," Hermione said with a sigh.
"I doubt it," ... all his ancestors had abided strictly by the law.
Moody looked impressed. "You sure got the measure of him quickly."
"So, been keeping busy, Barty?" ... five continents is no mean feat, Ludo."
"I think we know which department was doing the heavy lifting," Amelia said crossly. She didn't particularly like Crouch but she had to admit the man was hardworking.
"I expect you'll both ... make the announcement until all the details -"
Several people sat forward. What were they talking about?
"Oh details!" ... I mean, it's happening at Hogwarts -"
Sirius had a foreboding feeling.
"Ludo, we need to meet the Bulgarians... "You'll be up in the Top Box with me -
"The top box?" the Weasleys all stared at the book in awe.
I'm commentating!" ... both of them Disapparated.
"You'd think Mr Crouch would have more sense than to disapparate in a muggle area like that," Hermione huffed. So much for being a stickler for the rules. Percy looked like he really wanted to argue with her.
"What's happening at Hogwarts, Dad?" ... "Mr. Crouch was quite right not to disclose it. "
Everyone rolled their eyes.
"Oh shut up, Weatherby," said Fred.
That got several laughs.
A sense of excitement rose ... signs of blatant magic now breaking out everywhere.
The ministry officials in the chamber all sighed in exasperation.
Salesmen were Apparating every few feet ... "Omnioculars," said the saleswizard eagerly.
"Now that's a good purchase," Remus said. "The spells will wear off everything else pretty quickly, but Omnioculars are always useful. Plus, you'll be able to watch the match over and over again. Slow it down too."
"You can replay action... ten Galleons each. "
"That's not a bad price," Sirius said.
Mrs Weasley looked ready to disagree.
"Wish I hadn't bought this now," ... had much more money than he did.
Ron went pink. He hadn't realised he was that obvious.
"You won't be getting anything for Christmas," ... "Fair enough," said Ron, grinning.
Sirius smiled. Harry was a good friend.
"Oooh, thanks, Harry," ... they had given Bagman all their gold.
Mrs Weasley scowled.
And then a deep, ... lighting a path to the field.
"FINALLY!" Fred cried excitably.
"It's time!" ... "Come on, let's go!"
"Time to stop for your lessons," Minerva said, struggling to hide her smirk.
"WHAT!" several children complained.
She let them continue for a couple of minutes before letting out a long suffering sigh. "Oh, I suppose, we could let you read one more chapter," she said eventually, "but it means double lessons this afternoon."
Everyone quickly agreed. They wanted to hear about the match. They didn't notice that the teachers all exchanged a look. Harry saw it though. The kids had fallen into their trap perfectly.