"Good afternoon, Ludo. You look to be in a very good mood," Mr. Weasley said with a smile.
"Of course, old chap." Ludo Bagman laughed heartily. "Just look at this lovely weather. There won't be a cloud tonight. You couldn't ask for better weather for a Quidditch match."
"All the preparations are running like clockwork. I've barely got anything to do."
But the very next moment proved him wrong. A group of haggard-looking Ministry officials hurried past behind him. Not far away, purple flames shot more than twenty feet into the air. Someone was fiddling with magical fire.
Ludo Bagman's expression did not change in the slightest. As though this were perfectly normal, he continued chatting cheerfully with Mr. Weasley.
By then, Percy had returned to Mr. Weasley's side. The embarrassment from being ignored by Ludo Bagman had vanished. He had done a good job of composing himself.
Even though Percy had told Mr. Weasley only the day before that Ludo Bagman was indifferent to an employee's disappearance, and thought little of him, Bagman was still a department head, a senior Ministry official. How could someone as obsessed with officialdom as Percy remain indifferent when meeting him on such an occasion?
"Oh, right, this is Percy, my son. He's working at the Department of International Magical Cooperation now." Mr. Weasley smiled as he introduced Percy to Ludo.
"Oh, hello." Ludo's smile faded considerably, and he gave the hand Percy eagerly offered a perfunctory shake.
"Are all those over there your children, Arthur?"
"Oh, no." Mr. Weasley shook his head. "That's Fred-no, George, sorry, that one's Fred-Bill, a Curse-Breaker at Gringotts, Charlie, who works in Romania, Ron-my daughter Ginny, and these are Ron's friends, Harry Potter, Su Er Bones, and Hermione Granger."
"Bones?" Ludo blinked in surprise. "What's your relationship to