Chapter 1: Quidditch World Cup
Lauren and her friends hit the ground with a thud.
"I'll bet that cleared your sinuses, hey."said Mr. Diggory.
The group helped each other to their feet and made their way over the hill to see an insane sight. There were miles of tents, people flying around on their brooms, people twirling fire, the smell of food hung in the air reaching each of the children's noses.
"Well kids welcome to the Quidditch World Cup." exclaimed Mr. Weasley. The group followed him around the crowd of people and stopped at a small text. "Home sweet home." The children looked at each other in confusion as they filed in.
When Lauren and Harry entered they stared in amazement at the size of the inside. There were beds, on either side enclosed with curtains, a kitchen area, a place for sitting in the front of the tent.
"I love magic." said Harry.
Lauren smiled. "This will be fun."
"Now kids quickly choose a bunk, unpack and freshen up." Mr. Weasley said dropping his bag on a chair in the front of the tent.
A few hours later after the children finished their dinner, and visited the souvenir shop they followed Mr. Weasley through the crowd and up to the arena. The kids stared at the size of the arena. They found themselves going higher and higher up in the arena.
"And I thought the coliseum was huge." said Lauren as her friends laughed her comment.
"Blimey dad, how far up are we?" asked Ron with a smile on his face.
"We'll put this way, if it rains, you'll be the first to know." The smiles disappeared off the children's faces at the sight of Lucius Malfoy and his son Draco on the platform below. The kids turned away and continued their way around the stairs.
"Father and I are in the minister's box, by personal invitation of Cornelius Fudge himself." said Draco as he and his father followed Harry and his friends around the corner.
Lucius stopped, turned around and slammed the end of his cane into Draco's stomach. "Don't boast Draco; there's no need with these people." He looked up at Harry and his friends.
Lauren stepped around Hermione and leaned her elbows on the railing. "You should listen to your father Draco. He knows what he's talking about," she smiled down at them. "You shouldn't boast about something like that."
"And why not?" asked Draco.
"Because the only reason the minister invited you two to sit with him was so that he could keep his eye on the both of you."
Lucius' lips thinned at her comment.
"Lauren! You can't say like that,"replied , "no matter how true it is." his voice a whisper.
"But I was always taught to tell the truth," she looked down at the Malfoy's, "no matter how much it hurts."
"Let's just go." said Ron.
The kids turned away and started to follow to their seats when Lucius snapped his cane up and hooked it to Harry's sleeve. "Do enjoy yourself, won't you, while you can." He smirked, lifted his cane from Harry's sleeve and sneered at Lauren before making his way to the minister's box.
The group climbed the stairs to the top and together they watched as the Irish and the Vulgarians dished it out between them. Fans cheers as each side received more and more points. Lauren and her friends watched from their seats in the arena as each team dished it out on the playing field. When the game was over the group made their way down the millions of stairs to their text to celebrate.
"There's no one like Krum. He's a like a bird the way he rides the wind. He's more than an athlete; he's an artist." said Ron
"I think you're in love Ron." replied Ginny.
"Victor I love you." sang Fred.
"Victor, I do." George sang out.
"When we're apart my heart beats only for you." Harry joined in with the twins.
There was a loud bang outside the text. "Sounds like the irish have got their pride on." said Fred before he playfully attacked Ron.
"Stop it, stop it," exclaimed Mr. Wesley, "It's not the Irish." Everyone exited the text just in time to see a group of figures dressed in dark cloaks and masks coming towards them, leaving a backdrop of fire in their wake. "Get back to the portkey everybody and stay together."
Lauren and Harry turned to the dark figures coming closer to where they were standing.
"Harry! Lauren!" exclaimed Hermione.
Lauren and Harry ran through the crowd trying to catch up with their group. While running towards the portkey Harry got lost in the crowd. Lauren, noticing her cousin was no longer behind her, she went back pushing through the crowd. "Harry!" She called out.
"Lauren!"
She turned around to find Harry running towards her. She tried to meet up with him but was pushed away by a large group of people. "Harry! Harry!" She called again, but this time he did not answer her. She found her way back to the portkey after a long struggle of trying on escape the large crowd of scared people.
"Where's Harry?" asked Ron.
"I don't know. We got separated whilst trying to catch up with you guys. I need to go back and look for him." She turned away and headed in the direction that she just came from.
"No. You must stay here. I will go look for him." said .
"You'll never find him on your own. Besides Harry and I can see into each other's mind if we want to. I'll be able to find using that."
"You can't go alone." replied Hermione. "I'm going with you."
"So am I." said Ron.
"Very well, let's be quick." said Mr. Weasley.
They left the portkey in search of their friend.
"Harry!" called Lauren. They searched the campground, now covered with ash, and dead grass. All the tents were burnt though, nothing seemed to be there was a another loud bang. In the sky a shape started to take form of a skull with a snake coming out of its mouth.
Oh God. No no no. At that moment she hoped her cousin was alright. Then Lauren saw a figure up ahead. "There!" She ran forwards, smiling when she was it was Harry.
"Thank God we found you." replied Lauren in a worried tone.
"What's that?" asked Ron gesturing to the sky.
Harry's head started to hurt. He bent over in pain.
"Harry, what is it?"
Then they were surrounded by people from the ministry. Spells were cast as the children ducked for cover.
"Stop! That's my son." said Mr. Weasley running towards the kids.
"Which one of you conjured it?" You've been discovered in the scene of the crime!" exclaimed the man with a gray mustache and a black hat. It was Barty Crunch.
"Crime?" asked Harry
"Barty they're just kids."
"What crime?"
"It's the dark mark harry." replied Lauren.
"Voldemort. Tonight those people wearing those dark cloaks, they were his followers." said Harry
"Deatheaters." corrected Mr. Weasley.
"Everyone this way." said Barty.
"There was a man standing there, just before you came." Harry gestured with his finger where he saw the man.
"All of you, this way." Barty led the other ministry officials away from the kids to where Harry had just pointed.
"Who was it Harry?" asked Ron.
"I don't know. I didn't see his face.
"So now what?"
"Tomorrow you will all go to school, have fun and forget this whole thing. You'll have more to worry about once you get school, like passing your classes." replied .
"It will be enjoyable if I don't have to see that again." replied Lauren as she took one last look at the dark mark in the sky as she ignored the pain in her head.