Mischievous Glint | George Weasley

Chapter 14

We all got outside, seeing everyone running around in total chaos. George quickly grabbed my hand tightly, holding on as if his life depended on it.

"Get back to the Portkey, everybody, and stick together! Fred, Ginny is your responsibility! George! You take care of Y/N!" Arthur yelled over the din. George nodded firmly, tightening his grip on my fingers, and then we all started running.

Through the thick smoke, I saw several figures dressed in pointed hoods and masks, carrying flaming torches as they walked across the campsite chanting ominous noises. The crowd panicked, rushing all over the place in a mad scramble to escape.

In the rush of the terrified crowd, we were separated. By the time the madness cleared and the crowds were all gone, we couldn't find Harry. Terrified, I went off with Ron and Hermione to search the smoking ruins of the campsite for him. After a few minutes, I spotted a familiar silhouette hiding behind some torn canvas.

"He's there!" I said, pointing frantically at him.

"Been looking for you for ages! Thought we lost you!" Ron said breathlessly as we approached him.

"What is that?" Harry asked, his voice trembling as he pointed up at the sky.

We looked up at the monstrous, green, glowing shape in the dark sky, a massive skull with a snake protruding from its mouth like a tongue. Harry suddenly held his head, groaning in pain as his scar flared. Before we could even process it, multiple red light flashes streaks toward us. We were fired on by several wizards.

"Stop! That's my son!" Arthur yelled, rushing forward with other Ministry officials to lower their wands.

"Ron, Harry, Y/N, Hermione, are you alright?" Arthur asked anxiously, checking over us. We all nodded, still shaken.

"Which of you conjured this?" Barty Crouch demanded, stepping forward with his wand still drawn, his eyes narrow and suspicious.

"You can't possibly—" Arthur started to defend us, but he was harshly cut off.

"Do not lie! You have been discovered at the scene of the crime!" Barty Crouch said coldly.

"Crime?" Harry asked, looking completely quizzical.

"Barty, they're just kids." Arthur defended fiercely.

"What crime?" Harry asked again, looking between the adults.

"Harry, it's his mark." I explained quietly, my throat tight as I stared at the green glow. "The Dark Mark."

"Those people tonight, in the masks... they're his too, aren't they? They're his followers." Harry said, realizing the truth.

"Follow me." Barty Crouch ordered his men, completely ignoring our presence now.

"There was a man. Before. There." Harry spoke up, pointing toward the bushes where he had been lying.

"All of you, this way." Barty Crouch barked to his team, ignoring Harry's words.

"Harry, who?" Arthur asked, leaning down slightly.

"I dunno. I didn't see his face." Harry replied, shaking his head.

Later, the chaos of the World Cup was behind us, and we were sitting in a carriage on the Hogwarts Express back to school. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and I were seated together, watching the rain pelt the windows. The compartment door slid open, and the trolley lady appeared.

"Anything from the trolley, dears?"

"Packet of Droobles and a Licorice Wand." Ron said eagerly, before digging into his pockets. He pulled out a few lonely copper coins, his face falling as he realized he didn't have enough money. "On second thought, just the Droobles."