Hermione could definitely say it was exhilarating to watch a national quidditch match. Even though she was not the biggest fan, she had found herself shouting along with Harry and the Weasleys during the match. Like Fred and George had predicted, Bulgaria had caught the snitch but Ireland was still taking home the Quidditch World Cup.
As Hermione and her group were leaving to head back to their tent, the teams were making their way into the box to meet with the ministers. Hermione's eye was briefly caught by a player in red who stood taller than even the fully grown adults in the top box. The player, who she now recognized as star seeker Viktor Krum, also had a clearly broken nose that was still bleeding sluggishly.
Hermione had to drag Harry and Ron out of the box after they saw the players and began wanting to stop and ask for autographs and pictures. Their group passed by large groups of singing and dancing Irish fans, and heavily drunk and scowling Bulgarian fans. Laughing, Hermione entered their tent and they began to break out butterbeer and the wireless to have a small celebration of their own.
Only a few minutes after the Weasleys, Harry and Hermione had settled into their tent, Mr. Weasley stepped outside at the sound of what seemed to be some more rowdy fans. None of the kids payed any attention to it until Mr. Weasley rushed back into the tent with a grim ook on his face.
"Kids," he stated as he rushed to his rucksack "This is going to have to be cut a little short." Fred and George groaned in unison, only to be cut off as they were slapped on the head by Bill and Charlie who were rising from their seat while unholstering their wands. At seeing the oldest brothers reactions, Hermione slipped her wand from her wrist holster and gripped it tightly
"There are death eaters outside," Mr. Weasley said roughly. Bill and Charlie stood up a little straighter as the seriousness of the situation set in. "Bill and Charlie, you're with me. We are going to go see what's going on. The rest of you, I want you to head to the portkey if you can."
Mr. Weasley handed Fred and George rucksacks, and continued to say "if you cannot make it, head for the woods. This should be over quickly. Fred, George you are in charge of Ginny. You all stick together and stay safe." Mr. Weasley pinned them all with a serious gaze that made something in Hermione's gut churn.
With a nod the group split up. Fred and George took the lead, with Ginny in between them, with Harry, Ron and Hermione right on their tails. As they were heading for the portkey, Harry was shoved by a running passerby, and Ron and Hermione both knelt down to pull him back to his feet. By the time they stood up, Fred, George and Ginny were gone.
"Well," Hermione said breathlessly "does anyone remember where the portkey is?" When both boys shook their heads, she cursed under her breath. "Ok then, plan B, we go for the woods."
The trio turned and went towards the woods that loomed tall over the camp site for the World Cup. People were running and screaming, some tents were even on fire. As they hurried towards the woods, the trio caught a glimpse of a group of people floating a figure above their heads, dressed in black robes, masks and tall pointed dark hats. These were the Death Eaters then.
The Trio made it to the edge of the woods before encountering trouble. (And by trouble, think more of a nuisance). With his striking blonde hair, Draco Malfoy didn't look like the events taking place were effecting him at all.
"Well well," he drawled in his silky voice that he had probably had to practice with for years to perfect. "If it isn't the boy who lived, his blood traitor friend and the mudblood. Isn't it fun to see what happens to those on the wrong side?" Hermione could hear Ron sucking air in to begin a long winded rant, but she acted before he could.
In a move too quick to track Hermione was in Malfoy's face with her wand at his throat. "Isn't it funny," she said quietly as he flinched "that you flinch when the mudblood has her wand on you, because you're scared?" Draco clenched his jaw and refused to answer. Smirking, Hermione stepped back and said "I think we'll be going now. Don't want the aurors to find us with a death eater wannabe." She turned her back on Draco, showing she was distinctly unafraid of him. The boys were staring at her, mouth agape. She started stalking away, calling out "come on boys," to the two behind her.
The trio did not speak until they were far away from Malfoy, though Hermione could feel their eyes on her. She came to a stop in an area far enough into the woods that none of the attackers would wander upon them, before the boys began to talk.
"Hermione," Ron said in awe. Harry carried on "I think you may have made Malfoy piss himself."
"Don't be dramatic," She scoffed "At most, he felt his balls draw so far up into himself he thought he was going to vomit them up." The boys laughed at her statement, and then the three of them settled in to wait the death eaters out.
It was quiet in the woods, one could only vaguely hear the turmoil happening at the campsite, and it was hard to even tell if the death eaters were still running around or not. That made it easy for the three of them to hear footsteps in the brush coming from in front of them. Hermione slowly slid into a crouch, her wand held out in a casting stance in front of her. As the footsteps grew nearer, she could feel her heartbeat increase to a loud thudding in her ears.
The footsteps came to a stop, and there was a soft call of lumos, and light filled this part of the woods. Hermione caught herself in the middle of her stupefy cast, when she realized the Bulgarian national team was standing in front of her with their wands down.
Hermione stood up, with Harry and Ron coming to her side as the two groups stared one another down. Krum was still holding his lightened wand, and looked apprehensive at the British students in front of him.
"You lot a part of the scumbags terrorizing people out there?" Hermione asked bluntly with narrowed eyes.
The team answered with a chorus of loud and venhement 'no.'
Nodding, she said "Well then, should we head back to the campsite?" The team answered with various agreements, and Hermione turned on her heel to head back to the campsite
"Miss?" a deeply accented voice called out. Hermione turned around to see Viktor Krum with his thumb pointed over his shoulder "Campsite is this way," he said smiling.
"Right, of course," she said before stalking past the group of men and ignoring their snickers. As the group got close to the campsite, it was easy to hear that the Death Eaters had fled. The group entered the campsite again.
Hermione was walking purposefully when her wrist was graped and tugged sharply, sending her careening into a solid chest. She went to open her mouth to complain when a large hand quickly covered her mouth. The body behind her used his second hand to point to a figure rummaging around about thirty feet away from them. Hermione nodded her head, and once she was released she turned to see Krum was staring over her head with dark eyes at the person that was now standing with a wand pointed to the sky.
The wizard yelled a spell Hermione didn't recognize, and a skull and snake was formed in the sky made out of a green smoke. Hermione's eyes widened at seeing the Dark Mark in the sky. The wizard turned and began walking away from the group. As they all had their heads turned to the sky, they were startled to hear the distinct pops of apparation quickly followed by a volley of offensive curses. With a yelp Hermione was shoved to the ground, with a body covering her (she could only assume it was the Krum fellow again).
There was a lot of shouting before Arthur Weasley shoved through the wall of aurors and ministry people surrounding the group on the ground. "Stop, they're just children!" He yelled while shoving peoples wand arms away from the group. When the aurors eventually stood down, the body on top of Hermione was lifted away and then arms were under her's, pulling her from the ground.
She turned around to see Viktor Krum staring down at Hermione from his impressive height. "You are alright?" he questioned. Hermione smiled and nodded, responding "Quite. Thank you." He smiled at her before speaking again "May I know you name miss?" Hermione smirked and opened her mouth but before she could respond, Mr. Weasley was grasping her shoulder.
"Hermione love," he said, sparing a quick glance towards the imposing figure of Krum. "We should be going." Hermione nodded and Mr. Weasley turned towards Krum with his hand outstretched "Thank you for taking care of my children Mr. Krum." Krum stood up straighter (how was that possible?) as he took Mr. Weasley's hand. "It was my pleasure sir, though it seemed she was the one taking care of us all sir," Viktor said with a smirk in Hermione's direction. She rolled her eyes as Mr. Weasley laughed and nodded "Yes, that is our Hermione."
Mr. Weasley began to tug Hermione away, and she turned to wave at Viktor as she and Mr. Weasley headed to where Bill, Charlie, Harry and Ron were all looking at her with laughing eyes. She narrowed her eyes and that seemed to do the trick as the boys all rushed to turn and head quickly to the port keys.
With a smile, Hermione began to wonder if she ever would be seeing this Krum fellow again. He had smelled nice, she thought absentmindedly as she grasped onto a stick that would take her home.