FINITE | Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire [4]

𝘅𝗶 | 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗵

'What's going to happen to Winky?' said Hermione, the moment they had left the clearing.

  'I don't know,' said Mr Weasley.

  'The way they were treating her!' said Hermione furiously. 'Mr Diggory, calling her "elf" all the time... and Mr Crouch! He knows she didn't do it and he's still going to sack her! He didn't care how frightened she had been, or how upset she was-- it was like she wasn't even human!'

  'Well,' she's not,' said Ron.

  Hermione rounded on him.

  'That doesn't mean she hasn't got feelings, Ron! It's disgusting, the way--'

  'Hermione, I agree with you,' said Mr Weasley, quickly beckoning her on, 'but now is not the time to discuss elf rights. I want to get back to the tent as fast as we can. What happened to the others?'

  'We lost them in the dark,' Gwen said, her voice shakier than she had intended. She still had the image of Winky sobbing at Mr Crouch's feet etched into her mind.

  'Dad, why was everyone so uptight about that skull thing?' Ron said.

  'I'll explain everything back at the tent,' said Mr Weasley.

  But when they reached the edge of the tent, their progress was halted. A large crowd of frightened looking wizards and witches had congregated there, and when they saw Mr Weasley coming toward them, many of them surged forward.

  'What's going on?'

  'Did you find who conjured it?'

  'Arthur-- it's not-- Him?'

  'Of course it's not Him,' said Mr Weasley impatiently. 'We don't know who it was, it looks like they Disapparated. Now excuse me, please, I want to get to bed.'

  He led Gwen, Harry, Ron and Hermione through the crowd and back to the campsite. All was quiet now. There was no sign of the masked wizards, though several ruined tents were still smoking.

  Charlie's head was pointing out of the boys' tent as they approached.

  'Dad, what's going on?' he called through the dark. 'Fred, George and Ginny got back OK, but the others--'

  'I've got them here,' said Mr Weasley, bending down and entering the tent. Gwen, Harry, Ron and Hermione entered after him.

  Bill was sitting at the small kitchen table, holding a bedsheet to his arm which was bleeding profusely. Charlie had a large rip in his shirt and Percy was sporting a bloody nose. Fred, George and Ginny looked unhurt, though shaken.

  'Did you get them, Dad?' said Bill sharply. 'The person who conjured the Dark Mark?'

  'No,' said Mr Weasley. 'We found Barty Crouch's elf holding Harry's wand, but none the wiser about who actually conjured the Mark.