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tes ago。〃
〃Did you really？〃 said Mr。 Weasley nervously。
Mr。 Roberts rummaged around in a tin for some change。
〃Never been this crowded；〃 he said suddenly； looking out over the misty field again。 〃Hundreds of pre…bookings。 People usually just turn up。。。〃
〃Is that right？〃 said Mr。 Weasley； his hand held out for his change； but Mr。 Roberts didn't give it to him。
〃Aye；〃 he said thoughtfully。 〃People from all over。 Loads of foreigners。 And not just foreigners。 Weirdos； you know？ There's a bloke walking 'round in a kilt and a poncho。〃
〃Shouldn't he？〃 said Mr。 Weasley anxiously
〃It's like some sort of。。。 I dunno 。。。like some sort of rally；〃 said Mr。 Roberts。 〃They all seem to know each other。 Like a big party。〃
At that moment； a wizard in plus…fours appeared out of thin air next to Mr。 Roberts's front door。
〃Obliviate！〃 he said sharply； pointing his wand at Mr。 Roberts。
Instantly； Mr。 Roberts's eyes slid out of focus； his brows unknitted； and a took of dreamy unconcern fell over his face。 Harry recognized the symptoms of one who had just had his memory modified。
〃A map of the campsite for you；〃 Mr。 Roberts said placidly to Mr。 Weasley。 〃And your change。〃
〃Thanks very much；〃 said Mr。 Weasley。
The wizard in plus…fours acpanied them toward the gate to the campsite。 He looked exhausted： His chin was blue with stubble and there were deep purple shadows under his eyes。 Once out of earshot of Mr。 Roberts； he muttered to Mr。 Weasley； 〃Been having a lot of trouble with him。 Needs a Memory Charm ten times a day to keep him happy。 And Ludo Bagman's not helping。 Trotting around talking about Bludgers and Quaffles at the top of his voice； not a worry about anti…Muggle security Blimey； I'll be glad when this is over。 See you later； Arthur。〃
He Disapparated。
〃I thought Mr。 Bagman was Head of Magical Games and Sports；〃 said Ginny； looking surprised。 〃He should know better than to talk about Bludgers near Muggles； shouldn't he？〃
〃He should；〃 said Mr。 Weasley； smiling； and leading them through the gates into the campsite； 〃but Ludo's always been a bit 。。。well。。。 lax about security。 You couldn't wish for a more enthusiastic head of the sports department though。 He played Quidditch for England himself； you know。 And he was the best Beater the Wimbourne Wasps ever had。〃
They trudged up the misty field between long rows of tents。 Most looked almost ordinary； their owners had clearly tried to make them as Muggle…like as possible； but had slipped up by adding chimneys； or bellpulls； or weather vanes。 However； here and there was a tent so obviously magical that Harry could hardly be surprised that Mr。 Roberts was getting suspicious。 Halfway up the field stood an extravagant confection of striped silk like a miniature palace； with several live peacocks tethered at the entrance。 A little farther on they passed a tent that had three floors and several turrets； and a short way beyond that was a tent that had a front garden attached； plete with birdbath； sundial； and fountain。
〃Always the same；〃 said Mr。 Weasley； smiling。 〃We can't resist showing off when we get together。 Ah； here we are； look； this is us。〃
They had reached the very edge of the wood at the top of the field； and here was an empty space； with a small sign hammered into the ground that read WEEZLY。
〃Couldn't have a better spot！〃 said Mr。 Weasley happily。 〃The field is just on the other side of the wood there； we're as close as we could be。〃 He hoisted his backpack from his shoulders。 〃Right；〃 he said excitedly； 〃no magic allowed； strictly speaking； not when we're out in these numbers on Muggle land。 We'll be putting these tents up by hand！ Shouldn't be too difficult。。。 Muggles do it all the time。。。 Here； Harry； where do you reckon we should start？〃
Harry had never been camping in his life； the Dursleys had never taken him on any kind of holiday； preferring to leave him with Mrs。 Figg； an old neighbor。 However； he and Hermione worked out where most of the poles and pegs should go； and though Mr。 Weasley was more of a hindrance than a help； because he got thoroughly overexcited when it came to using the mallet； they finally managed to erect a pair of shabby two…man tents。
All of them stood back to admire their handiwork。 Nobody looking at these tents would guess they belonged to wizards； Harry thought； but the trouble was that once Bill； Charlie； and Percy arrived； they would be a party of ten。 Hermione seemed to have spotted this problem too； she gave Harry a quizzical look as Mr。 Weasley dropped to his hands and knees and entered the first tent。
〃We'll be a bit cramped；〃 he called； 〃but I think we'll all squeeze in。 e and have a look。〃
Harry bent down； ducked under the tent flap； and felt his jaw drop。 He had walked into what looked like an old…fashioned； three room flat； plete with bathroom and kitchen。 Oddly enough； it was furnished in exactly the same sort of style as Mrs。 Figg's house： There were crocheted covers on the mismatched chairs and a strong smell of cats。
〃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 and seemed pletely unimpressed by its extraordinary inner proportions。 〃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！〃
After a quick tour of the girls' tent； which was slightly smaller than the boys'； though without the smell of cats； Harry； Ron； and Hermione set off across the campsite with the kettle and saucepans。
Now； with the sun newly risen and the mist lifting； they could see the city of tents that stretched in every direction。 They made their way slowly through the rows； staring eagerly around。 It was only just dawning on Harry how many witches and wizards there must be in the world； he had never really thought much about those in other countries。
Their fellow campers were starting to wake up。 First to stir were the families with small children； Harry had never seen witches and wizards this young before。 A tiny boy no older than two was crouched outside a large pyramid…shaped tent； holding a wand and poking happily at a slug in the grass； which was swelling slowly to the size of a salami。 As they drew level with him； his mother came hurrying out of the tent。
〃How many times； Kevin？ You don't…touch…Daddy's…wand…yecchh！ 〃
She had trodden on the giant slug； which burst。 Her scolding carried after them on the still air； mingling with the little boy's yells…〃You bust slug！ You bust slug！〃