Courage

-43-

Book: Courage
Chapter 43
Word Count: 7108

"Don't tell your mother you've been gambling," Mr Weasley implored 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, and 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, Layla, and Ginny went into the next tent.

Layla was way too tired to talk to Hermione or Ginny as they got changed. Besides, she didn't think that either girl would be able to reply. They were all obviously exhausted. Layla got onto the bottom of the bunk that she shared with Ginny, and Hermione was lucky enough to have a single bed for herself after calling it first. It had been a long day and Layla was looking forward to a long night of rest.

However, she was denied the privilege.

She was pretty sure that it was around midnight when Mr Weasley was shaking the three girls awake.

"Girls, wake up! Come on, this is urgent!"

"Wos goin' on?" Ginny murmured sleepily from the top bunk.

"No time to explain, we have to get going! No, don't get changed, there's no time!"

Hermione, Layla, and Ginny pulled coats over their pyjamas and ran outside to a horrifying scene. The singing had stopped. People were screaming, people were running...

By the light of the few fires that were still burning, Layla 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. Layla squinted at them. They didn't seem to have faces. Then she realized that their heads were hooded and their faces masked. 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.

More wizards were joining the marching group, laughing and pointing up at the floating bodies. Tents crumpled and fell as the marching crowd swelled. Once or twice Layla saw one of the marchers blast a tent out of his way with his wand. Several caught fire. The screaming grew louder.

The floating people were suddenly illuminated as they passed over a burning tent and Layla recognized one of them: Mr Roberts, the campsite manager. The other three looked as though they might be his wife and children. One of the marchers below flipped Mrs Roberts upside down with his wand; her nightdress fell down to reveal voluminous drawers and she struggled to cover herself up as the crowd below her screeched and hooted with glee.