In Between Two Worlds (HP/PJO Crossover)

Chapter 125: The Dark Mark.

"Don't tell your mother you've been gambling," Mr. Weasley implored Fred and George as we 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. Which was probably smart.

We were soon caught up in the crowds now flooding out of the stadium and back to their 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 our heads, cackling and waving their lanterns. When we finally reached the tents, none of us 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. We 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 we all go to bed. Hermione, Bailey, Ginny and I went into the next tent. When we got there we all changed into pajamas. From the other side of the campsite, we could still hear much singing and the odd echoing bang.

We all fell asleep pretty quickly. But before I knew it Mr. Weasley was shaking me awake."Karlee. Get the girls up. The Death Eaters are attacking."

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

"What?" I said.

"We have to get out of here," he said.

I listened. 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, Karlee--just grab a jumper and get outside--quickly! Wake the girls up. I have to deal with the boys."

I grabbed my jumper and hurried to wake up the other girls.

"Get up. There are Death Eaters attacking. We gotta go. Get your jumpers." I said once they were all awake. They immediately got up. Once we were ready we ran out. We saw the boys leaving their tent too.

By the light of the few fires that were still burning, I could see people running away into the woods, fleeing something that was moving across the field toward us, something that was emitting odd flashes of light and noises like gunfire. Loud jeering, roars of laughter, and drunken yells were drifting toward us; 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. I squinted at them...They didn't seem to have faces...Then I realized that their heads were hooded and their faces masked. These were the Death Eaters. High above them, floating along in midair, four struggling figures were being contorted into grotesque shapes. It was as though the Death Eaters 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 I 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 I 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.