𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗹, draco malfoy

˗ˋ 43

CHAPTER FORTY THREE
✧
-: fourth year :-

── IN WHICH CHAOS ENSUES

. . .

It took a while for them to descend down the purple-carpeted stairs, and even longer to make their way through the bustling crowd of spectators leaving the stadium. Most were in high spirits, even those who had been supporting Bulgaria.

But of course, none were as happy as the Irish. Raucous singing was could be heard in 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 as people celebrated, Mr Weasley agreed that they could all have one last cup of cocoa together before turning in.

The night of enjoyment came to an end when Ginny fell asleep in her chair, slumping on the table and consequently spilt her hot chocolate everywhere. Mr Weasley had cleaned it up with a wave of his wand and insisted that everyone went to bed, interrupting Charlie and Marlie's discussion on whether it was worth going into professional Quidditch. 

With a ruffle of Marlene's hair, the older Weasley brother rounded up his siblings and sent her, Ginny and Hermione on their way, taking the short journey between the two tents. Despite the excitement, they really were exhausted, and in no time at all had they changed into their pajamas and settled into each of their beds, slipping into a blissful, happily tired sleep. 

Only to be shaken awake in what seemed to be no time at all by Mr Weasley. 

"Come on - you've got to get up. This is urgent!" His voice was far too loud and Marlie winced, sitting up in her bed and hurrying to pull her shoes on. A thudding in her stomach told her something was wrong; the singing had stopped instead replaced by shouting and even - to Marlie's horror - screams. 

She tugged a coat over the thin vest and pajamas bottoms she had been sleeping in, laces on her battered shoes done up only loosely, pulling Ginny and Hermione towards the entrance. They left first, dipping under the open flaps and Marlie had been just about to follow them. Before hesitating and rushing back to her bag, rifling through the contents until she found the pair of long school socks she kept her wand in. 

Dumping the socks she tucked the wand into the hole in the lining of her coat, finally exiting the tent and looking around widly, eyes widening at the scene.

By the light of the few fires that were still burning, she 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. They didn't seem to have faces, then she realised that their heads were hooded and their faces masked. High above them, floating along in mid-air, 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.