Beat the devil's tattoo

Chapter IX. "Seven Nation Army"

"Seven Nation Army"

Marla rushed in the room gathering clothes and throwing them in the first bag she saw.

"What? Marla wait a sec."

"No no, we can't wait, they're here. We need to go."

Charlie got up at her distressed state.

"Who's here?"

"I don't know Voldemort, the ministry? Point is, they have been following us since yesterday." She raised her head after closing the bag. "And we need to move."

No other arguments were heard from Charlie who put the bag Marla had managed to put all their belongings in over his shoulder, following her out of the room.

They went out by the kitchen doors which gave a bit further on the street than the main entrance. Upon reaching the street, Marla glanced at the main front door. Three cloaked figures were standing at the door and she felt her stomach drop. She felt Charlie tug her wrist and then she was running with him down the streets.

"What do we do?" He asked, slightly shouting over the wind. He shouldn't have, the noise attracted the three figures and a moment later, they had took after them.

Slaloming between the crowd, Marla secured her hold on Charlie's hand.

"We need to apparate, try to find a small street." He nodded to her and she felt herself being pulled on the right in a small passage practically empty. They stopped, catching their breath before focusing on apparating. Before they could, they heard footsteps coming their way.

The three figures advanced on them. "Well well, look who we have here. Who's your little friend Weasley?"

Neither of them responded but they drew their wand in a protective stance. One of the cloak glanced at the two others. "Don't kill her."

"What about him?"

"You can kill him."

And chaos ensued. Marla was the first to fire a spell, catching them by surprise and sending one of them tumbling a few feet away. Then, spells were shot from both side. They were good and Marla and Charlie were tired, soon they were loosing. She realised they would be disarmed. In a last attempt she felt her eyes flash a brilliant green and the mist of white magic flew from her fingers. With a movement of her arms the three figures were sent down, losing their footing. She grabbed Charlie's arm and apparated on the spot.

They arrived in another part of Paris, away from the three figures.

As soon as they landed Marla turned to Charlie, inspecting him. Not seeing any particular wound she let out a breath of relief.

"Are you alright?" She asked him.

"Yeah, I'm okay. Are you?"

She nodded.

"We should go, we need to go back to the Headquarters."

"Yeah, yeah you're right."

Marla was about to transform a stick of wood into a Portkey when Charlie caught her arm.

"Thank you," he said and she looked up at him questioningly. "For getting us out of there.."

"Of course, Charlie. You wouldn't have been in that mess at all if it wasn't for me."

He looked at her, hurt painted on his face at her words.

"I don't care about what mess I'm in as long as I'm with you Marla."

Before she could answer, he swept his arm around her waist, grabbed the Portkey and transported them back to London.

They arrived in the street and Charlie detached himself from Marla before walking towards the house which had appeared upon their arrival.