.: Happy :. Ludo took in a big breath of air as he looked at the letter in his hands. He could do this, things would turn out good, yeah? Why on earth would a Quidditch team contact him if they WEREN'T interested in picking him up for a season--even one as a reserves player. He would take the reserves at that moment, as long as it meant a job as a Quidditch player. Anxiously, he turned the envelope over in his hands before looking carefully around the deserted Hufflepuff common room. If no one saw him open it, there would be no witness to rejection. Then again, no witness to acceptance, either. But he'd be okay with that. The letter would be enough. One last deep breath was inhaled before he ripped the seam of the envelope to shreds and gently grabbed the tri-folded paper, pulling it as carefully as he could from its delicate paper cartridge. Unfolding the letter, his face held a stoic expression before busting out into a grin.

Dear Mr. Bagman,

On behalf of the Falmouth Falcons, I would like to extend an invitation to play on the reserves team as a beater. We pride ourselves in talented and dedicated players--players who aim to win a game at no cost. Over the past few months of Quidditch matches at Hogwarts, our scouts have seen a remarkable amount of talent and note that yours in particular stands out. Again, congratulations to you Mr. Bagman, and we hope to see you on the pitch in June.

Sincerely,
Kelvim Broadmoore
Recruitment
Falmouth Falcons

It was crazy to think, but he--Ludovic Gersham Bagman--would soon be wearing a Quidditch uniform. A real Quidditch uniform, playing for a real Quidditch team. This was better than winning fifty house cups and he was unable to hold back the happy smile and laughter that resulted. This was probably the happiest day of his life so far. return to top .: Angry :. Ludo couldn't believe it; no, there was no way that he'd been cut from the team. He stalked into his room, hitting the lamp that sat on his desk and knocking it across the room. The sound of shattering glass didn't phase him any as he threw himself onto his bed, glaring up at the black and yellow canopy. He'd busted his arse all last season and now this? He'd have to re-tryout to even be considered for a spot that shouldn't have opened up in the bloody first place. Ugh, fucking Gudgeon. This was so ridiculous. It shouldn't matter what happened off the pitch or--well, his reaction to things on the field probably warranted his suspension but that didn't take away from the fact that he was damn good. Probably one of the better players over the past decade. Ugh, it was bloody ridiculous.

He glared at the lamp, the shards of glass scattered over the entire 5th year dormitory. Fletcher and Kole wouldn't be pleased to come back to it, that was for sure. With a loud sigh, he sat up and glared at his reflection. He was so angry he didn't even want to look at himself at the moment. return to top .: Sad :. This wasn't supposed to happen. Really, in wizard terms Emilia Bagman was not at all old. She could have gone another hundred years as far as Ludo was concerned. And of course, the bloody media thought they had every right to stick their big fat noses into his personal business. Sometimes he wondered what life would be like had he gone into the Ministry like he originally planned. At least he could go about his business without everyone making a big deal out of it (LUDO BAGMAN BUYS ORANGES! MORE ON PAGE 5!). The next person that didn't know him and tried to give their condolences was getting a fist in the face in response.

"Ludo," Kalista said softly from behind him. Her hands gently dropped onto his shoulders before she leaned over one and kissed his cheek. "How are you doing?" It was a rare moment of sincerity from her, which he knew meant a lot. Well, at least it was something.

He let out a sigh. "I just can't believe she's gone. She wasn't supposed to die yet. I wasn't ready for her to--it's not fair that she's--," he stopped mid-sentence, knowing that his words weren't making any sense. The weight of a funeral and helping his father and brother were pressing down on him; he didn't even want to think about the Quidditch finals coming up. That would make things even worse. "I should have been there, maybe then--"

"No, Ludo. There's nothing you could have done," Kalista said quickly, interrupting him. He didn't want to hear it, but he knew it was true. He mum had died and there was nothing he could do about it. But that didn't stop him from wishing he'd spent more time with her the past few months, that he'd been there for her when she really needed it instead of on a pitch playing Quidditch. It didn't even feel like it mattered anymore. Nothing really mattered at this point to him.
return to top .: Concerned :. (drabble) return to top .: Scared :. Oh no. No. No no no. This could not be happening. "Wingardium Leviosa!" He said. Nothing. Nada. It wasn't his words: they were perfect. And that flick, how gorgeous was that?! No.

He'd done it. He'd wanked all the magic out of him, just like Otto told him he would. And now he'd have to go to some muggle school and learn boring things like chemistry and french, all because he was curious. And that terrified him. How on earth would he tell his mum that he wasn't a wizard anymore? That he'd vanquished himself into the world of squibdom? That he was DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMED.

He was now frantically waving his wand, trying to get something--anything to happen. This seemed to get Professor Flitwick's attention. "Is there a problem, Mr. Bagman?"

"I--I think I'm a squib, Mr. Professor Flitwick, sir," he mumbled, now prodding his feather with the end of his wand.

"Oh, I hardly doubt that's the case, Mr. Bagman. May I see your wand?"

This was it--his wand was going to be snapped in half, he was going to be sent to his dormitory to pack his bag and he'd be sent back on the train first thing in the morning.

SNAP. WHAT????? He wasn't actually serious about that! "There seems to be a practical joker, Mr. Bagman. You see, no core at all. You've been waving a twig around all class period."

Ludo had just had a heart attack. "Just a...so I didn't...you mean I'm still a...I AM SO GOING TO KILL OTTO." return to top .: Crying :. (drabble) return to top .: Giddy :. Ludo could hardly believe his eyes. This was such an unexpected shock for him. He'd tried out for the Quidditch team on a bet, just to see what the process was like so he would know for the next year, or perhaps the year after that. But he had made it. And--and--Ludo was only a third year! How often did that happen? He was so elated--so excited that he could hardly contain it. He was bouncing off the walls and some of his housemates were glaring at him because he was quite distracting (or because they had also auditioned and did not get the spot), but he didn't really care. Ludo was going to be a beater. He was going to play Quidditch for Hufflepuff and bring glory and a good name to the house. He was so excited for the opportunity, his entire body ached to be out on the pitch at that exact moment. Gathering up his equipment, Ludo made his way to the pitch, a bounce in his step that he was quite sure would become a permanent trait. return to top .: First Crush :. "Watch where you're going," she said gruffly, pushing past tiny eleven year old Ludo Bagman. He had his owl Tiberius clutched tightly underneath his arm, a bag of things to do on the train slung over his shoulder. It felt like time was slowing down, the noise around him was gone as if some giant muggle had pressed the mute button on his telly.

"Oi, you'd do good not to get on Rhea Yaxley's bad side," an older dark haired bespectacled boy told him, giving Ludo a look of confusion.

"I think when she bumped me...she stole my heart..." Ludo could hardly feel the throbbing in his head where she'd rammed him into a support beam. Love was pain...pain was love. He could handle this. She was a challenge...a big, scary, I-will-beat-the-living-shit-out-of-you-if-you-even-think-about-looking-at-me challenge. But he was willing to take that risk. It was in the name of love, after all.

The other boy let out a low whistle, shaking his head and muttering something about first years as he walked off.

"She will be mine, oh yes, she will be mine," Ludo said to no one in particular...most likely his owl. return to top .: Yule Ball :. Dates were overrated--so overrated that Ludo neglected to even search for one. Not as if anyone would fancy to go with him. He was loud mouthed, annoying, and no matter what he did nothing seemed to stick. He'd like to ask Miranda Dodderidge to it, but she probably hated him. No, going stag was the best option. Think of all the wall flowers that just dream of dancing with someone--ANYONE! This was perfect. Ludo would get to dance with many girls that night, not just one. Monogamy was so 19th century. He was ready to kick it with all the groovy foxes.

Oh, who was he kidding? He looked a goofy, gawky, awkward mess (read: 16 years old). He'd be lucky to get one dance at all. He pouted as he stared into his mirror and tried fruitlessly to smooth down his curly messy hair. "Try some slickeez, maybe the girls can fawn over the product you use instead of how ridiculous you look," he heard from behind him.

Turning, he rolled his eyes. "Just because you'll have a bird on your arm all night doesn't mean you've got the right to poke and prod at everyone else," he said sourly to Otto.

"I'm not poking or prodding. Just telling my ickle brother how proud of him I am that he grew a set and asked a girl to the dance." Ludo ignored him and tried one last time to smooth down his hair before giving up. Girls liked their men wind-swept, right? Made it look as if he was cool but didn't really give a shit at the same time.

Ludo sighed. "Do I really have to go?" He'd much rather sit upstairs in his room and sulk to be honest.

"Yes, you do. Because I've got a bird to agree to going with you." Ludo perked up when he heard his brother mention this, which of course elicited a chuckle from Otto. "Don't worry about it, she's waiting for us down in the hall. You better hurry up with your hair, though...the girl's the one that's allowed to be fashionably late...not you." return to top .: Innocent :. It had been a long day of practice on the pitch when Ludo received the letter from the Ministry. And as soon as he opened it he felt a deep sense of dread wash over him, its physical appearance being his immediate loss of color in his face. What in the name of Merlin did the Wizengamot need with him? He'd done nothing wrong, right?

The pit in his stomach didn't die down shortly thereafter. No, of course not. He could feel the dread building up inside him as he waited for his late afternoon appointment. And it was taking all he had to not freak out and fret about this. He needed his mum or Otto or someone to be there and tell him that things were going to be okay. But instead, he was pacing the holding cell--back and forth, back and forth. He'd done nothing. He was an innocent man. Unless..no, surely not. They couldn't know about the debt he owed, it wasn't even that much. And he and the other individual in question had an agreement set up. No, it wasn't his gambling that got him landed here. Bugger.

Just when he felt himself start to calm, he was summoned into the chamber. It was just like he imagined it to be, all the members sitting up in their benches, quietly watching...probably already assuming something, condemning him to Azkaban for life. Oh, and there was that chair--that awful, dreaded chair. But he had to sit, didn't he? If he didn't sit, they would think something was up (even though there wasn't anything at all). And words couldn't describe the weight lifted from his shoulders when the chair did not bind him to the seat. Good. So he wasn't the only one in the room who believed himself to be innocent. Hey, at least it was a start. return to top .: Betrayed :. "Hey, hey! What are you--where's all my stuff?!" Ludo growled angrily as he spotted some janitorial bloke scrubbing feverishly at Ludo's locker. His locker in the Falcon's room.

"Eh? Fuck off, kid. I'm just doin' my job," the man grunted back, not even turning around to acknowledge Ludo's existence.

Sodding man...Ludo was pissed and needed to get some answers. It'd do no good to ask his teammates, as they probably had less of an idea as to what was going on than Ludo did. No, to get what he wanted he would have to talk to their manager.

"Oi, Parkins! What gives, where the fuck did my stuff go???" Ludo growled as he approached the older gentleman.

"Didn't you hear?" He questioned, scribbling something on a clipboard. "You've been moved. Traded, over to Wimbourne. Your shit's been owled to your house." The stocky man tore the paper he was writing on in half before handing Ludo the piece. "Here's the name of your new manager. I would start asking him questions instead." Thank god he didn't have to listen to this needy ass child anymore. Parkins was ready to be rid of Ludo Bagman for good.

Ludo felt hurt, confused...he didn't know why Falmouth decided to give him up. He'd done his best on the team, he had worked his ass off each and every stinking day. And for what? To be traded away to some other team? Absolute bullocks. He was betrayed in the worst sense of it, by a team that could use some extra help, and in the prime of his career. If this trade backfired, so help him... return to top .: Baby :. Ludo looked nervously down at the thing in his arms. Wow...that's all he could think, just...wow. "He's not going to bite you, you know," he heard Marissa drawl; when he looked up, the smirk on her face was quite obvious.

"Ha ha," he replied, looking once again down at his nephew. He always knew that Otto would be the first one to have a kid. And he was well--he didn't want to call the baby beautiful because he wasn't a girl but...it was amazing. He had Otto's eyes...Marissa's hair. "Congratulations," he murmured softly as he readjusted the tiny child in his arms. "Really, I can't believe that you're..." Ludo shook his head quickly, letting his words trail off. He handed the boy over to Marissa before slowly sitting down, slumping a bit in his seat. He scratched the back of his head, thinking. How was it that Ludo was in his late 20s and he'd not even found a girl to settle down with, but here was Otto with Marissa (oi, it seemed like they'd been together forever) and they had a bloody kid.

He felt someone sit down on the couch next to him before gently nudging him with their shoulder. "Buck up," came Otto's cheerful voice.

Ludo looked up at his older brother, smiling. "He's ace, Otto. I suspect he'll be on the Hufflepuff Quidditch team and kick everyone's arse." Would he ever have children of his own? He'd never publicly shown his care for kids, but secretly...he did. Not that he could ever say anything about it; no, that would just make him look jealous of big brother. But maybe that was okay, maybe that was what he needed. "I'm just glad you didn't give him an insufferable name," Ludo said with a grin, "Like Ludovic...or Othello..." return to top .: Best Friend :. Ludo slowly turned the knob and instantaneously was engulfed by a stream of scalding hot water, just what his sore muscles needed after playing all day. It had been one year to the day since Ludo received his promotion to first string with the Wimbourne Wasps. Since then, his life was always busy; photos, autographs, practices, matches, community service. It felt like everything was rushing past him in a blur. But the showers were always good after a long practice or a long game, and the steam and heat helped to clear his mind a little. It'd been a long time since he'd talked to his family--probably too long, now that he thought about it. He used to be so close to his brother, but now things felt like they were slipping out of his grasp.

With one last sigh, he finished washing off the last remnants of soap and turned off the water. Quickly changing into street clothes, Ludo made a quick decision to apparate to his brother's flat rather than home. His bag slung over his shoulder, Ludo took one more look around the locker room before popping over to his brother's place. It was chilly outside, and the chilly wind was attracted to his wet mane of hair, sending shivers through his body. Knocking on the door, Ludo began to blow into his hands, trying to keep them warm.

"Hey!" he heard, Otto's voice mixed with excitement and surprise.

Ludo grinned, scratching his head. "I haven't seen you lately, mate. Figured it'd be good to stop by and see how things were going." return to top .: Working :. "Ten galleons says she laughs in your face," Nicholas Mulligan said crossly, his arms folded over his chest, one eyebrow cocked up.

"Har har, Mulligan, everyone knows that I'm one of the most recognized professional Quidditch players in England. She'll practically throw her knickers at me if I go say hi. You're on." Ludo knew he was loved. The signs and posters and shirts he saw at Wasp games was proof enough of that. Mulligan was just jealous that girls don't fancy keepers as much as beaters.

Standing up, Ludo made his way over to where the young girl sat, deeply absorbed in a book. He pulled up a seat across from the table, studying her for half a minute before he realized that she wasn't giving him a lick of attention. Clearing his throat, he gave his best smile. "It must've hurt..."

She looked at him from above her glasses, the skepticism practically slapping him in the face already. "What must have hurt?"

"When you fell from heaven." Ludo Bagman: King of the Pickup Line.

"HAH! Are you really serious?" The girl removed her glasses, placing them on top of her book before folding her hands. "First of all, I really think you should work on your originality; do you know how many times I've heard that one before? Secondly, don't assume that your charms or good looks will automatically get you what you want. Because it won't." She picked up her glasses and placed them back on. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got some more reading to do."

If jaws could drop to the floor, Ludo's would have been there a minute ago. No one ever turned him down. "See, I knew you'd be the type to dislike those sorts of things. You'd rather go for a coffee sometime, we can discuss...literature, or politics, or..." he trailed off. This had always been his plan B, but he'd never actually needed it.

"Or you could go back to your table and leave me be," she replied, idly flipping to the next page of her reading.

"That's the problem. I can't leave until I'm sure I've got a date with you." Ludo said, trying to coax some sort of agreement out of her.

"You'll be sitting here for a while, then," she replied. And with that, she stood and exited the shop. His head hung in defeat, Ludo walked back to Mulligan, pulling the bet money out of his pocket to begrudgingly hand it over. return to top .: Traumatized :. Oh. God. No. This was not happening to Ludo Bagman. No way was this happening to Ludo Bagman. Ludo was all man; he wasn't supposed to deal with this. No. That was a nurse's job, not his. Why why WHY did they have to go to a bloody field for a picnic this far into her pregnancy???

"Ludovic Gersham Bagman, I am going to kill you when this is over," his girlfriend growled angrily through gritted teeth before letting out a loud scream of pain. It was taking all the strength he had to not run away, to not curl up into the fetal position, to not quit right then and there.

"Please don't kill me," he said, the fear in his voice very palpable.

"You're already dead," she retorted, her head slumping back as the contraction passed.

"There's no way we're getting a healer out here now. This is going to have to be done without," he said, making sure he was standing far enough away that she couldn't take a swipe and hit him.

"What do you MEAN, we're going to have to do without???? I NEED MY ANTI-PAIN POTIONS, DAMN IT LUDO. WHY ARE YOU SUCH AN ASS?!"

Ludo gulped loudly as he grabbed her legs gingerly and set them where they needed to go. Oh god, was he really going to deliver a baby? Was that even legal?????? He almost snickered as he slowly removed her underwear, thinking about how this was probably how the poor kid got conceived in the first place, but he held that back (she had mighty strong legs and he didn't want to get kicked in his beautiful face). "Okay, okay. OH MY GOD THERE'S A THING AND IT'S HUGE AND--OH WOW, YOU DO NOT WANT TO SEE THIS VIEW IT'S NOT PRETTY. AT. ALL."

Looking back in later years, it was at this point in time that Ludo lost any speck of innocence that was left in him, surely something that would haunt him in his later years. return to top .: Wary :. (drabble) return to top .: Drunk :. There has never been a point in history when Ludo has let Otto get the better of him. And he wasn't going to start now. "There's no way you can drink all of that, little brother," Otto told him, feeling very skeptical.

"Pssssssh. I'm going to, you'll see," Ludo replied, cracking open his first of many beers. He wasn't a lightweight by any means, but he also didn't drink that often. Hangovers weren't fun for Quidditch practices, and it was rare to have a day off in his line of work.

-------

Six beers later, Ludo was completely gone. "Otto, you know, you're a fucking bastard. I don't know if I've ever told you..." He said, his words running together as he wagged a finger at his older brother. "You're also jealousssss. Cause alllll the girls want me. An' not you. Cause I'm fucking famous." He was probably going off on an inappropriate tangent, but he was too drunk to care. He would've been decked too, if it weren't the pretty blonde that walked by at that time. Because let's face it, anything wearing a short skirt with a nice rack could grab Ludo's interest in a heartbeat. He stood and followed her for a bit before she entered the loo.

His face had a devious grin plastered on while he walked back to the table. "Nice bit'a fluff there." He explained to Otto, as if it weren't obvious why he'd gotten up. "I think I'll be gettin' some of that. Ta!" he said cheerily, stumbling as he walked over to the recently emerging blonde and zig zagging with her to the door. return to top .: Flustered :. (drabble) return to top .: Bitchy :. (drabble) return to top .: Paternal Love :. (drabble) return to top .: First Year :. (drabble) return to top .: Prompt :. (drabble) return to top .: Graduating :. (drabble) return to top .: Prompt :. (drabble) return to top .: Prompt :. (drabble) return to top