Grindelwald's Burden (Books 1-7)

51. The Dark Mark

"Don't tell your mother you've been gambling." Mr. Weasley implored to Fred and George as they all made their way slowly down the purple-carpeted stairs.

"Don't worry, Dad." said Fred gleefully. "We've got big plans for this money. We don't want it confiscated."

Mr. Weasley looked for a moment as though he was going to ask what these big plans were, but seemed to decide, upon reflection, that he didn't want to know.

They were soon caught up in the crowds now flooding out of the stadium and back to their campsites. Raucous singing was borne toward them on the night air as they retraced their steps along the lantern-lit path, and leprechauns kept shooting over their heads, cackling and waving their lanterns.

When they finally reached the tents, nobody felt like sleeping at all, and given the level of noise around them, Mr. Weasley agreed that they could all have one last cup of cocoa together before turning in.

They were soon arguing enjoyably about the match. Mr. Weasley got drawn into a disagreement about cobbing with Charlie, while Y/n and Ron debated if what Krum did was the honorable thing to do.

It was only when Ginny fell asleep right at the tiny table and spilled hot chocolate all over the floor that Mr. Weasley called a halt to the verbal replays and insisted that everyone go to bed.

Hermione and Ginny went into the next tent, and Y/n, Harry and the rest of the Weasleys changed into pajamas and clambered into their bunks. Given the odd number of boys Y/n was able to have a bunk all to himself.

From the other side of the campsite they could still hear much singing and the odd echoing bang. "Oh I am glad I'm not on duty." muttered Mr. Weasley sleepily. "I wouldn't fancy having to go and tell the Irish they've got to stop celebrating."

Y/n just let out a tired yawn now as he lay staring up at the bed above his. His eyes slowly began to grow heavy as he replayed the match over in his mind. It truly had been a wonderful experience in itself but it was made better by the fact he had able to share it with his friends. A small smile lingered on his face as he finally drifted off.

It was the early hours of the morning and Y/n's eyes twitched with disturbance as quite suddenly, Mr. Weasley was shouting. "Get up! Ron! Harry! Y/n! Come on now, get up, this is urgent!"

Y/n's eyes finally opened and he slowly sat up ducking his head to not hit it on the bed above.

"Was' matter?" he heard Harry sleepily ask wondering the same thing.

Y/n looked around as he listened. The noises in the campsite had changed. The singing had stopped. He could hear screams and the sound of people running. Y/n climbed out of bed now and reached for a shirt to put on but Mr. Weasley, who had pulled on his jeans over his own pajamas said. "No time, Y/n...just grab a jacket and get outside quickly!"

Y/n did as he was told and hurried out of the tent with Harry and Ron at his heels.

By the light of the few fires that were still burning, they could see people running away into the woods, fleeing something that was moving across the field toward them, something that was emitting odd flashes of light and noises like gunfire. Loud jeering, roars of laughter, and drunken yells were drifting toward them, then came a burst of strong green light, which illuminated the scene.

A crowd of wizards, tightly packed and moving together with wands pointing straight upward, was marching slowly across the field. Y/n squinted at them...They didn't seem to have faces... Then he realized that their heads were hooded and their faces masked.

"No...It cannot be!" Y/n said angrily as he gritted his teeth.

High above them, floating along in midair, four struggling figures were being contorted into grotesque shapes. It was as though the masked wizards on the ground were puppeteers, and the people above them were marionettes operated by invisible strings that rose from the wands into the air. Two of the figures were very small.