Percy Jackson and the Triwizard Tournament [Book 4]

12) Ludo Bagman's Worn Robes

Perry hurried towards Bagman with an outstretched hand. His earlier disapproval for the man seemed to have disappeared while he wanted to make a good impression.

"Ah -- yes," Mr. Weasley grinned, "this is my son Perry. He's just started at the Ministry -- and this is Fred -- no, George, sorry -- that's Fred -- Bill, Charlie, Ron -- my daughter, Ginny -- and Ron's friends, you've already met Percy, and those two are Hermione Granger and Harry Potter."

I had met Ludo Bagman at this weird Ministry event. After my first quest, they'd wanted to thank me, Draco, and Grover personally. There had been this big party that we hadn't been allowed to invite friends to.

Bagman did a double take once he heard Harry's name, his eyes flicking up towards his forehead where the scar sat. We were used to this by now.

"Everyone," Mr. Weasley smiled, "this is Ludo Bagman, you know who he is, it's thanks to him we've got such good tickets --"

Bagman smiled and waved his hand dismissively, "Fancy a flutter on the match, Arthur?" He jangled his pockets, and they rang with the sound of coins. "I've already got Roddy Pontner betting me Bulgaria will score first -- I offered him nice odds, considering Ireland's front three are the strongest I've seen in years -- and little Agatha Timms had put up half her shares in her eel farm on a week-long match."

"Oh... go on then," Mr. Weasley said. "Let's see... a Galleon on Ireland to win?"

"A Galleon?" Bagman looked a little disappointed, but he quickly recovered. "Very well, very well... any other takers?"

"They're a bit young to be gambling," Mr. Weasley said. "Molly wouldn't like --"

"We'll bet thirty-seven Galleons, fifteen Sickles, three Knuts," Fred said as he and George pooled their money, "that Ireland wins -- but Viktor Krum gets the Snitch. Oh and we'll throw in a fake wand."

"You don't want to go showing Mr. Bagman rubbish like that --" Perry hissed, but Bagman didn't seem to think the wand was rubbish at all; in fact, he beamed with excitement as he took it from Fred, and when he gave it a wave and it turned into a rubber chiken with a loud squawk, he roared with laughter.

"Excellent! I haven't seen one that convincing in years! I'd pay five Galleons for that!"

Perry was frozen with this weird face of stunned disapproval.

"Boys," Mr. Weasley said under his breath, "I don't want you betting.... That's all your savings.... Your mother --"

"Don't be a spoilsport, Arthur!" Bagman rattled his pockets happily. "They're old enough to know what they want! You reckon Ireland will win but Krum'll get the Snitch? Not a chance, boys, not a chance.... I'll give you excellent odds on that one.... We'll add five Galleons for the funny wand, then, shall we...."

Mr. Weasley watched helplessly as Bagman pulled out a notebook and jotted down the twins' names.

"Cheers," Geroge said, taking the slip of paper Bagman gave him and tucking it into his shirt carefully.

Bagman turned back to Mr. Weasley with a smile, "Couldn't do me a brew, I suppose? I'm keeping an eye out for Barty Crouch. My Bulgarian opposite number's making difficulties, and I can't understand a word he's saying. Barty'll be able to sort it out. He speaks about a hundred and fifty languages."

"Mr. Crouch?" Perry shone with excitement. "He speaks over two hundred! Mermish and Gobbledegook and Troll..."

"Anyone can speak Troll," Fred dismissed. "All you have to do is point and grunt."

Perry threw Fred a nasty look and stoked the fire angrily. I really wanted to laugh at him. To be fair, Troll is fairly easy to learn. They don't have near as many words as other languages. And I already speak Mermish.

"Any news of Bertha Jorkins yet, Ludo?" Mr. Weasley asked as Bagman sat beside us.

"Not a dicky bird," Bagman said with a straight face. "But she'll turn up. Poor old Bertha... memory like a leaky cauldron and no sense of direction. Lost, you take my word for it. She'll wander back into the office sometime in October, thinking it's still July."

"You don't think it might be time to send someone to look for her?" I asked, my face scrunched up with confusion. I never understood why people could just ignore someone who was missing.

"Barty Crouch keeps saying that," Bagman said, his eyes widening with innocence, "but we really can't spare anyone at the moment. Oh -- talk of the devil! Barty!"

A wizard had Apparated right beside our fire, and I could say that he was the exact opposite of Ludo Bagman, sprawled across the grass in his Wasp robes. Barry Crouch was stiff, tall, and elderly, dressed in a crisp suit and tie. The parting in his short hair was almost unnaturally straight, and I'm certain he trimmed his narrow toothbrush mustache with a ruler. I could see my own face staring back at me in his polished shoes. I understood why Perry seemed to like the guy so much. Perry loved following rules, and this guy followed the Muggle dressing rules so thoroughly that Vernon Dursley would have mistaken him for an ordinary bank manager.

"Pull up a bit of grass, Barty," Bagman said happily, patting the grass beside him.

"No thank you, Ludo," Crouch said, the impatience in his voice unmistakable. "I've been looking for you everywhere. The Bulgarians are insisting we add another twelve seats to the Top Box."

"Oh is that what they're after?" Bagman said. "I thought the chap was asking to borrow a pair of tweezers. Bit of a strong accent."

Ahhhhhhhhh. I'm in a bit of a slump. I want to write, but I don't want to write what I need to write. Like I've got to write this certain thing, then I can write what I want to write. So it's kinda annoying. Also, I've got a question I've asked once before, but I want to ask it again. Who should I use as the Oracle? I could add Rachel, but she wouldn't be a wizard. I could do Ginny. I also kind of want to do Ron, cause that'd be spicy. I've also never seen Ron as an Oracle before, and I think it'd be hilarious. But problem is, he's a he. I am willing to break the rules though. I like breaking the rules.

Anyway, I hope you guys have had a wonderful Sunday, and I'll see you on Tuesday. Love ya!