Chosen & Hated (HP) {Book 2 of the Wild & Free Series}

7. The Dark Mark

"Don't tell your mother you've been gambling," Mr. Weasley implored Fred and George as we all made our 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.

We were soon caught up in the crowds now flooding out of the stadium and back to our campsites. Raucous singing was borne toward us on the night air as we retraced our steps along the lantern-lit path, and leprechauns kept shooting over their heads, cackling and waving their lanterns. When we finally reached the tents, nobody felt like sleeping at all, and given the level of noise around us, Mr. Weasley agreed that we could all have one last cup of cocoa together before turning in. Rowan had decided to stay with us a little longer and soon we were all 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, Ginny, Lucy and I went into the next tent, after we said goodbye to Rowan.

"It was a pleasure, Rowan." I said, holding out my hand for him to shake. He grinned and pulled me into a hug instead.

"Hey, I'm very sentimental." He told me playfully and let go of me. Then, he pulled Lucy into a hug and Ginny and Hermione.

"I hope we'll see each other again." I told him.

"We will," Rowan said, grinning as if he knew something I didn't. "I am going to move to London next year, so I have to move schools, too. Beauxbatons will be too far for me, so I am going to join Hogwarts!" My smile widened when I heard that news.

"That's amazing! See you next year then!" I yelled and the others nodded.

"See you guys next year!" Rowan said and waved as he walked off.

Ginny, Lucy, Hermione and I went into our tent and put our pyjamas on. Then, we went to bed.

From the other side of the campsite I could still hear much singing and the odd echoing

I was on a top bunk above Lucy, staring up at the canvas ceiling of the tent, watching the glow of an occasional leprechaun lantern flying overhead, and picturing again some of the Irish Chasers' more spectacular moves. I was itching to get back on my own broom and try out the Hawkshead Attacking Formation with Angelina and Katie.

Somehow Oliver Wood had never managed to convey with all his wriggling diagrams what that move was supposed to look like... I saw myself in robes that had my name on the back, and imagined the sensation of hearing a hundred-thousand-strong crowd roar, as Ludo Bagman's voice echoed throughout the stadium, "I give you... Potter!"

I never knew whether or not I had actually dropped off to sleep — my fantasies of flying like Krum might well have slipped into actual dreams — all I knew was that, quite suddenly, Mr. Weasley was shouting.

"Get up! Ginny — Lucy — Liana — Hermione —come on now, get up, this is urgent!"

I sat up quickly and the top of my head hit canvas.

" 'S' matter?" I said.

Dimly, I could tell that something was wrong. The noises in the campsite had changed. The singing had stopped. I could hear screams, and the sound of people running. I slipped down from the bunk and reached for my clothes, but Mr. Weasley, who had pulled on his jeans over his own pajamas, said, "No time, Liana — just grab a jacket and get outside — quickly!"