Harry Potter and the Zodiac Charms

by PulsarDragon

A quiet night after the Chamber of Secrets changes Harry's and Ginny's relationship, mysterious new characters arrive, and a shadowy force strives to bring chaos to the world. starts in canon but will change to an AU story, Ron bashing until a certain point, Harry/Ginny, Neville/Luna, Ron/Hermione, Remus/Tonks, Sirius/Mary

13. Games Afoot

Disclaimer: I do not and will not own Harry Potter that remains in the possession of J.K. Rowling, I just play and expand.

Author's Note: My deepest apologies for how long it took for this to be posted, my beta and I have been super busy with school as finals approach, but anyways hope you all enjoy.

WARNING: This chapter will include elements of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, the Portkey, Bagman and Crouch, the Quidditch World Cup, and the Dark Mark chapters from Goblet of Fire.

Chapter 13: Games Afoot

Harry spun faster and faster, elbows tucked tightly to his sides, blurred fireplaces flashing past, until nausea made him close his eyes. When he felt himself slowing down, he threw his hands out, but it didn't help when he came sliding into the Weasleys' kitchen to raucous laughter.

"As graceful as ever, Harry," Fred said, tears flowing down his face from contained laughter, as he helped Harry to his feet.

"I hate bloody Floo travel," Harry grumbled and the kitchen exploded into laughter again. Harry looked around to see Ron and George sitting at the scrubbed wooden table with two red-headed people Harry had never seen before, though he knew immediately these must be Bill and Charlie.

"How you're doing, Harry?" said the nearer of the two, grinning at him and holding out a large hand, which Harry shook, feeling calluses and blisters under his fingers. This had to be Charlie, who worked with dragons in Romania. Charlie was built like the twins, shorter and stockier than Percy and Ron, who were both long and lanky. He had a broad, good-natured face, which was weather-beaten and so freckly he looked almost tanned; his arms were muscular, and one of them had a large, shiny burn on it.

Bill got to his feet, smiling, and also shook Harry's hand. Bill came as something of a surprise. Harry knew that he worked for Gringotts and that he had been Head Boy at Hogwarts; he had always imagined Bill to be an older version of Percy: fussy about rule-breaking and fond of bossing others around. However, Bill was almost the antithesis of Percy; he was tall, with long hair that he had tied back into a ponytail. He was wearing an earring with what looked like a dragon fang dangling from it. Bill's clothes would not have looked out of place at a rock concert, except Harry suspected they were made of dragon hide and not leather.

"So, the twins were just telling Charlie and myself that you're dating our sister," Bill said and Harry paled a bit as he realized he was surrounded by all of the Weasley brothers minus Percy. "I think it stands to say from all of us, you break her heart, we break you, clear Potter?"

"Absolutely," Harry stuttered out. "I would never do anything to hurt Ginny."

"Of course you wouldn't," a very familiar female voice said, causing the entire cohort of Weasley brothers to pale as well. "You know I'd Bat-Bogey Hex you into next year for being stupid, just like I'll do to these prats when I get a new wand."

"Ah now, Ginny, we're just looking out for your best interests," Bill said with a grin at his favorite sibling. "It's part of our job description to threaten bodily harm on your boyfriends."

"And it's my job to tell you to back off now, or suffer the consequences," Ginny said sweetly. Harry noticed that even in just the month since they had seen each other, Ginny had become more beautiful. Her figure was starting to take shape; her hair was a bit longer and brighter. She also stood a little bit taller, but nowhere near the height of her brothers.

"Message received loud and clear," Charlie said, and the others nodded.

"Good, now please move so I can hug my boyfriend," Ginny said, and her brothers swiftly moved out of the way as she launched herself into Harry's arms and kissed him soundly.

"Hi," she said pulling away from the kiss with a happy smile.

"Hi there," he said, smiling back.

"Oh Harry dear, so good to see you," Mrs. Weasley called, bustling into the kitchen with her husband and Hermione following her.

"Nice to see you too, Mrs. Weasley," Harry replied, still smiling.

"Harry, pleasure as always," Mr. Weasley said with a nod. Hermione came up to Harry and Ginny disentangled herself from his arms so she could hug him in welcome.

"We came to see what all the laughter was about," Mrs. Weasley said, her eyes immediately going to Fred and George. "You weren't talking about that silly idea again, were you boys?"

"No Mum," the twins chorused together, but their eyes shifted a bit and Mrs. Weasley caught that expression.

"Boys, you two stay right where I can see you. Bill, Charlie, can you go set up tables outside? Our kitchen can't hold everyone here." she commanded, starting to lay out tasks.

"We'll show Harry where he's staying," Ron piped up, and Ginny and Hermione quickly agreed to do so as well. They quickly left the kitchen as they heard Mrs. Weasley start interrogating the twins.

"Phew, dodged a curse there," Ron sighed. "Mum's been on the warpath with them lately about their career idea."

"What are they trying to do?" Harry asked as they walked up the rickety stairs.

"Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes," Ginny answered. "They want to open a joke shop, and Mum is not so excited about the idea."

"It might be because they got like three O.W.L.s a piece, Mum wanted them to go into the Ministry and…" Ron started to say before an explosion came from downstairs.

"YOU WERE PLANNING WHAT?!" Mrs. Weasley's voice loudly screeched.

"And there she goes," Ginny said with a sigh.

"Where's Percy? I haven't seen or heard him yet," Harry asked as they passed Percy's room.

"He got called into work early, something about Crouch needing him for something important. He looked rather smug," Ron said with a slight look of disgust.

As Harry, Hermione and Ginny followed Ron up three more flights of stairs, shouts from the kitchen continued to echo up to them.

The room at the top of the house where Ron slept looked much the same as the last time Harry come to stay: the same posters of Ron's favorite Quidditch team, the Chudley Cannons, were whirling and waving on the walls and sloped ceiling, and the fish tank on the windowsill, which had held frog spawn, now contained one large frog. A camp bed was crammed into the space next to the bright orange bed that was Ron's. Harry smiled to himself as he looked around, just as a tiny puffball of feathers collided with his head and started to fly around in an excited orbit.

"Pig! Stop that!" Ron yelled. The small owl just hooted happily and continued to zoom around the room.

"When did you get an owl?" Harry asked. "And why is he named Pig?"

"Bill bought him for me as a welcome home present, and Ginny named him," Ron grumbled.

"His proper name is Pigwidgeon," Ginny huffed. "Ron just calls him Pig when he's being adorable."

"Annoying is more like it," Ron shot back.

"Where's Crookshanks?" Harry questioned.

"Somewhere out in the garden, chasing gnomes I expect. He's never seen them before," Hermione answered.

"Percy enjoying his job?" Harry asked, sitting down on the camp bed, causing a squeak in protest to rise from it.

"Enjoying it?" Ron mumbled darkly. "He wouldn't come home if Dad didn't make him. He's obsessed."

"Never get him started on the subject of his boss," Ginny giggled. "He fawns over the man; we think they might come out with their engagement soon."

"How's living with Sirius been?" Hermione asked.

"It's amazing; he's helping me get in shape and with finishing all my schoolwork," Harry answered with a grin.

"I noticed," Ginny mumbled so only Harry heard her, causing him to flush a bit.

"How have you been doing spellwork? We can't use magic outside of school or the Improper Use of Magic Office comes after us," Hermione pressed.

"Sirius's house has wards on it that stop the Ministry from monitoring any magic happening there," Harry explained, and Hermione huffed in jealousy.

"I think they stopped yelling," Ginny said, cutting through the odd tension. "We should go down and help Mum with dinner."

"Yeah, all right," Ron said, and they moved back downstairs.

"Hermione?" Harry whispered. "If it makes you feel any better, I can lend you some of the books Sirius bought me, they have all kinds of stuff you can learn once we get back to school."

"That would be nice," Hermione said in a mollified voice as they entered the kitchen, only to find Mrs. Weasley in an extremely foul mood.

"Hermione, Ginny, if you wouldn't mind taking those plates outside and if you two" she said, turning to Harry and Ron, "could get the silverware out that would help." She huffed and directed her attention to the knives currently chopping carrots and celery. She pointed her wand at the potatoes next to the chopping block a bit too aggressively; they shot of their skins, bounced against the wall and landed on the floor at her feet.

"Those two," she sighed to herself as Harry and Ron quietly collected the forks and knives. "I don't know what I'm going to do with them. I really don't. No ambition, none at all. A joke shop; honestly, they could put their talents to such better use. If they keep at it they'll wind up in far more trouble than detention."

Harry and Ron shared a glance, and, thinking it might be best to leave Mrs. Weasley to her mutterings, they headed outside into the garden to find Bill and Charlie dueling with the tables while the girls watched and the twins shouted support for one or the other of the brothers.

"Have at thee, William," Charlie yelled with a flourish of his wand. His table collided with his brother's loudly.

"Don't call me William, Charles," Bill yelled and jabbed his wand sharply so his table's leg got around of Charlie's and tore it off.

"I shall call you whatever I wish, sir," Charlie responded. He swished his wand in a complicated pattern and his table smashed Bill's almost to the ground.

"Then you shall feel humiliation as you lose this duel, sir," Bill yelled and brought his wand up like an upper cut. His table flipped Charlie's upside down and smashed it straight to the ground causing its legs to collapse. "Ha, victory."

"You win this round, but I'll win the next," Charlie declared and the brothers laughed together as they fixed the tables. By seven o'clock, the tables groaned under dishes upon dishes of Mrs. Weasley's cooking, and the nine Weasleys, Harry and Hermione were sitting down to eat under a clear, starry sky.

"So what did Barty need you for, son?" Mr. Weasley questioned Percy, who had arrived a few minutes before dinner looking a bit haggard, but pleased.

"That thing we've been working on after the World Cup; Mr. Crouch and his counterparts in the other Ministries are expanding it, and I've been sending and receiving messages all day. But we aren't getting any help from Ludo on this," Percy explained.

"Expanding it?!" Mr. Weasley said in shock, causing the rest of the table to look at him. "That's unheard of! And I wouldn't say much against Ludo, he's the reason we got such good tickets for the World Cup…"

"Mr. Crouch thinks it will help bring our world together more. It's visionary Dad, and I don't say that to knock Bagman; he is a superb Head of the Department for Magical Games and Sports, even if Bertha was due back from Albania a week ago," Percy said.

"Bagman said he expects her to stumble back into the office sometime in October; she is rather absent-minded," Mr. Weasley said.

"But, didn't we agree to only export three of them?" Charlie asked, cutting into the conversation.

"We're going to need twenty-one more," Percy said reluctantly as his brother's eyes widened.

"Twen…twenty-one more, that going to be hard," Charlie said.

"I'm sorry, Charlie, but Mr. Crouch is adamant," Percy said, but then he noticed the others listening. "Sorry everyone, I shall say no more."

"What is Percy talking about?" Harry whispered to Ginny.

"He's been hinting all summer of some event that's being planned, and he keeps trying to get us all to guess," she answered.

"Well let's all eat, and no more of this talk of Ministry business," Mrs. Weasley said as she started to serve the meal. The conversations drifted between various subjects with Mrs. Weasley, Bill and Ginny commenting on Bill's hair, and Hermione and Percy discussing something she had read in Hogwarts, A History, while Mr. Weasley, Charlie, Ron, Fred and George talked animatedly about the World Cup.

"It's going to be Ireland; they absolutely annihilated Peru in the semifinals," Charlie said.

"Bulgaria has Viktor Krum though," Fred pointed out.

"That's one good player versus seven," Mr. Weasley countered. "A shame about England, so close and yet so far."

"What happened?" Harry asked, regretting that he hadn't been keeping up to date with Quidditch. He had been so focused on getting adjusted to his new life.

"Flattened by Transylvania in the Round of Sixteen, three hundred and ninety to ten," George said with a wince.

"Shocking performance," Charlie said sadly. "And Wales lost to Uganda, and Scotland was slaughtered by Luxembourg, but Ireland is definitely the team to beat."

The night continued on and Mr. Weasley conjured some candles while Mrs. Weasley brought out some homemade strawberry ice cream for all them to enjoy. By the time they finished, moths were fluttering low over the table, the warm air was perfumed by the smells of grass and honeysuckle, and a slight breeze fluttered through causing the candles to splutter. Harry felt over fed, but very content with the world as several gnomes ran by, chased by Crookshanks. Ginny had fallen asleep and was currently resting against his shoulder, and if it were up to him, he wouldn't be anywhere else.

'Is this what the beginnings of love feels like?' he thought with a small smile as he gazed at Ginny's peaceful face.

The following weeks were a blur of non-stop activity for Harry. The next day was Harry's birthday, and they celebrated with another massive dinner in the garden. Harry received several bars of fudge from Mrs. Weasley, a book on stealth techniques from Hermione, and a Chudley Cannons hat from Ron, which Harry pretended to be thrilled about but secretly decided was going to have to transfigure the color. Bill and Charlie apologized that they didn't have any presents for him as they hadn't known about it. Fred and George covertly handed him some brightly wrapped candies and whispered that they would appreciate it if he would test them on someone. Ginny had made him a pair of gloves and matching scarf in Gryffindor red and gold, which she handed over with a slight blush, muttering that she didn't think they were good. Harry disagreed and promptly thanked her with a kiss, to the disgust of Ron and the amusement of the others. Hagrid had sent him a book on creature breeding, which had Harry slightly worried as Hagrid might be hinting at what the fourth years would be doing. Sirius and Remus had sent Harry a matching set of dragon hide gloves and boots, and Daphne had sent a box of fine falcon quills.

Staying at the Weasleys was always an adventure, and this time was even more amazing than the last. Bill and Charlie were always telling interesting tales of their experiences in Egypt and Romania, respectively, and would join in the Weasley Quidditch games, bringing an actual set of Quidditch balls that Charlie had purchased back in Romania. For the first time during the summer, Ginny was actually allowed to join in as well, and she hopped onto the team consisting of Harry, Bill, and Fred against the team of Charlie, George, and Ron. Her brothers who hadn't been at school the last year were shocked by just how good she was at Quidditch, but that didn't stop them from playing their hardest. Harry and Charlie were well matched against each other and would constantly trade between who caught the Snitch more.

August 11th, Ginny's birthday, also brought the arrival of their Hogwarts letters and a need to go to Diagon Alley. They were sitting in the kitchen and Mrs. Weasley was serving breakfast when several owls flew in and dropped letters in front of each child. Ron's letter had come with a notice that, because of his failure in Potions and Dueling, he was being held back a year in each, which set Mrs. Weasley off. She was screaming so loudly she didn't notice the shocked look on Ginny's face, but Harry did.

"What's the matter, Gin?" Harry whispered as Mrs. Weasley berated a terrified Ron.

"I, uh, well, uh," she stammered. Hermione took the letter out of her hands and gasped.

"Ginny?! Is this, what," she said, her face etched into a look of surprise.

"Oh did Ginny get held back as well?" Mrs. Weasley snapped.

"No, she got advanced a year in Charms," Hermione whispered. "She's taking Charms with us; Ginny how did you?"

"I, I, don't know; I mean Professor Flitwick always said I was able to move up, but I brushed it off since you never did Hermione," Ginny said.

"Ginny, I've stayed in my year because I wanted to stay with my friends," Hermione admitted. "Professor McGonagall wanted to move me into the year above, but I said no."

"I never knew that," Harry said.

"Well, I didn't have many friends so I didn't want to leave the ones I had," Hermione said with a smile.

"Guess that means we'll be having two classes together," Harry said with a grin at Ginny. Ginny's face was confused for a moment before it split into a radiant smile.

"Well, no use putting off a trip to Diagon Alley," Mrs. Weasley said. "We'll leave after lunch and Ron, your punishment will be decided when your father gets home from the Ministry."

"Yes Mum," Ron said, head bowed.

After lunch, the Weasleys, Harry, and Hermione gathered around the fireplace to travel to the Leaky Cauldron. Harry skidded out of the fireplace at the pub on his knees and winced as he collided with a chair.

"Why can I not get the hang of this?" he asked to the others who were laughing loudly.

"If you slow yourself down right before you come out of the fireplace, you'll come out fine," Ginny said sweetly.

Harry scowled and muttered, "It would have been nice to know that beforehand."

"Sorry," she said with an innocent smile. "Mum, can we go get my new wand first?"

"Well, it can't be new; we don't have the money right now…" Mrs. Weasley started to say before Harry cut across her.

"Uh, Mrs. Weasley, I'll go with her and pay for it, consider it her birthday gift from me," Harry said with a cheeky smile as Ginny's eyes widened.

"Oh, dear, you don't need to," Mrs. Weasley said.

"But, Mr. Ollivander said the wand chooses the wizard or witch, so if she gets a used wand it won't work as well," Harry argued. "Really it's no trouble."

"Please Mum," Ginny begged. "If I'm going to be learning stronger magic I need a better wand."

"I suppose, but don't use all your money, dear," Mrs. Weasley said. "Ron, you'll be staying with me while we are here; Bill, Charlie keep an eye on the twins."

"I'll go with you and Ron," Hermione said, causing Harry and Ginny to smile conspiratorially.

"We'll meet back here in an hour," Mrs. Weasley ordered, and they all split off to browse the stores. Harry and Ginny made their way to Ollivander's, passing several fellow Hogwarts students bustling about their shopping with their families.

"After you, milady," Harry said, opening the door to the wand maker's shop.

"Why thank you, kind sir." Ginny curtseyed and entered with Harry following. Stepping up to the counter, she rang the bell and asked, "Hello?"

"Ah, Miss Weasley, nice to see you in my shop at last; and Mr. Potter, eleven inches, holly, nice and supple, phoenix feather core," the mysterious shop owner said stepping from behind a shelf and causing the two teenagers to jump.

"Um, I've come to purchase my new wand," Ginny said a bit shakily.

"Of course," Mr. Ollivander said with a nod and whipping out a tape measure. The tape measure started taking measurements of Ginny as he moved about the shelves, pulling a box out here or there. "Let me see, you have a rather fiery personality, so a more relaxed wand is not for you."

"Uh, I guess," Ginny said as the tape measure made her go cross eyed while it measured the bridge of her nose, before snapping back into a roll and landing on the store counter.

"Hmm, powerful, not unlike Mr. Potter here, yes, maybe…" he trailed off, still looking through boxes. Stopping for a moment, Mr. Ollivander pulled out two boxes from a shelf and brought them over to her.

"Here we are, try this, ten and a half inches, maple, springy, with a unicorn hair core," Mr. Ollivander said as he handed her the wand.

Ginny stood there for a moment before giving it a wave. The scales on the counter collapsed into individual parts.

"Well, not that one then," Mr. Ollivander chuckled. Taking the offending wand from her hand, he pulled out the other. "Perhaps this eleven and one quarter inches, chestnut, firm and steady, with a dragon heartstring."

Ginny waved the wand and jumped back as the floor in front of her was transfigured into a swamp.

"Definitely not," Mr. Ollivander said and waved his wand to change the floor back.

"Maybe she needs something special like mine," Harry remarked. The old wand maker turned his pale eyes towards him.

"Yes, perhaps…, your birthday is today, dearie?" he asked. She nodded, although a bit weirded out by Mr. Ollivander calling her dearie.

"Interesting, yes I have just the wand," he said, turning to walk into the back room of his shop.

"Did it take this many for you to get yours?" Ginny asked her boyfriend.

"I tried dozens, Gin," Harry replied. "Didn't you do this the first time?"

"No, we couldn't afford a new wand for me, so Mum gave me her mother's wand," Ginny sighed as Mr. Ollivander bustled back with a narrow box.

"This wand was just crafted earlier in the week. Eleven inches, hazel, flexible, excellent for charms, with a golden unicorn hair as its core," the old man said, handing Ginny the light brown wand.

Immediately, a rush of magic became tangible and Ginny smiled a pleasant smile.

"This is the one," she said.

"It is fitting I presume to say," the wand maker said in his quiet way. "That will be eight Galleons."

"Here you go sir," Harry said, opening his money pouch and handing the coins over.

"Hmmm curious, very curious. Something has changed," Mr. Ollivander muttered to himself. "Hmm. Enjoy your day." With that the wand maker disappeared into his back room.

"What did he mean by 'something has changed'?" Ginny asked as they exited the shop and made their way to Flourish and Blotts.

"I'm not sure Gin, who knows with Mr. Ollivander," Harry answered with a shrug.

They quickly purchased all of their schoolbooks, including the new required text for Dueling, The Healing Arts, by Curatio Redfield, and stopped by the other shops to pick up odds and ends. An hour later they had grouped up with everyone back at the Leaky Cauldron, had an early supper and made their way back to the Burrow. When Mr. Weasley got home, Mrs. Weasley dragged Ron into the sitting room, silenced the entire space and told her husband about his two failures and what the letter said. Mr. Weasley was more disappointed with his son than angry, but he and his wife decided the best punishment for Ron would be he was forced to stay inside and revise while everyone else went outside to enjoy the summer weather, and he was required to have all his chores done by the end of the day or risk his mother's wrath. Ron was just thankful that they hadn't said he wouldn't be allowed to go to the Quidditch World Cup and so did what was asked of him without a fuss.

The night before they all would leave for the World Cup Mrs. Weasley made them go over their knapsacks to make sure they had everything, and suggested it would be best for them to get to bed early as they would be up at the crack of dawn. Harry bid Ginny a good night, headed up to Ron's room and packed the remaining items he was taking to the World Cup before going to bed.

Harry felt as though he had barely lain down to sleep before Mrs. Weasley shook him awake.

"Time to go, Harry dear. Breakfast is ready downstairs," she whispered, moving over to wake Ron.

"'S' time already," Ron said groggily.

"Yes, now no falling back asleep," Mrs. Weasley said and left the room. Ron promptly thumped back onto his pillow for a few extra minutes of sleep, but Harry put his glasses on, dressed quietly and made his way downstairs to the kitchen. Stifling a yawn, Harry sat down at the table next to a sleepy eyed Ginny and Hermione while Fred and George dragged themselves in and sat down next to their father.

"Where are Bill, Charlie and Percy?" Ginny mumbled sleepily as she spooned oatmeal into her mouth.

"We're letting them have a bit of lie in as they can Apparate to the campsite later," Mr. Weasley explained as he shuffled the tickets. "The Ministry was very lucky to find a moor that was on the land of a family of Squibs so we don't have to worry about showing off magic what a nightmare that would have been."

"Did Ron fall asleep again? Honestly that boy…" Mrs. Weasley grumbled as she headed back upstairs.

"How is everyone getting there without the Muggles noticing?" Hermione asked Mr. Weasley.

"It's been a massive organizational problem," he started to explain. "The trouble is, about a hundred thousand witches and wizards from all across the world turn up at the World Cup, and of course there isn't a sight large enough to have that many congregate without Muggles noticing. The Departments of Magical Games and Sports, Magical Cooperation, and Law Enforcement have been working non-stop these past few months to prepare everything. We have some arriving by Muggle means, mainly Muggleborns, and Apparation to fixed arrival points. Brooms of course are a popular method for locals and of course we have Portkeys set up all over Britain and the continent. There's actually a Portkey nearby on Stoatshead Hill just on the other side of Ottery St. Catchpole, and that's what we will be taking."

"So…" Harry started to say before Mrs. Weasley's angry voice floated down from upstairs, interrupting him. A minute or so later, she entered the kitchen with a thoroughly exhausted looking Ron. Ron only had time to grab some toast to nibble on before Mr. Weasley whisked them out of the house into the still dark morning.

The group trudged their way through the village silently, the sky lightening as they went. Harry walked hand in hand with Ginny. The cool morning dew started to form as the first rays of sunlight crested the horizon, making the grass slippery as they started to ascend Stoatshead Hill. Ron was struggling in the back as he was still tired and failed to see a small dip in the path up the hill, causing him to lose his balance and fall face first into the wet grass. Harry helped him up as he spluttered and they continued up the hill. Though the chilly air made it difficult to breathe, and the occasional slick patch of grass almost made them slip, the group finally crested the hill, Hermione holding a stich in her side as she was the least in shape of the group.

"That's the last time I exercise just my brain," she gasped.

"We made excellent time though; got a whole ten minutes before the Portkey activates," Mr. Weasley said happily. "Now we just need to find it."

They were about to split up and search when a shout split the air.

"Arthur!" a merry voice called out. "It's about time, son."

"Sorry Amos, some of us had a sleepy start," Mr. Weasley said with a grin, raising his hand in greeting. "This is Amos Diggory," he told the rest of the Weasley troop, "he works with me at the Ministry."

Suddenly someone dropped down from a tree.

"And this must be Cedric, am I right?" Mr. Weasley said.

"That's right, sir," Cedric said shaking his hand. "Great to see everyone again, Fred, George, Harry."

"Nice to see you too, Cedric," Harry said, shaking his hand.

"Merlin's Beard, it can't be Harry Potter," Amos said shaking Harry's hand.

"Yes, sir," Harry stated.

"Great, great pleasure," Amos said amiably.

"Portkey is over here, Dad," Cedric called out and the group moved to where he was standing.

"Long walk Arthur?" Amos asked.

"Not at all, we live just on the other side of the village. You?"

"Been up since two, quite a ways to go," Amos chuckled.

"Anyone else in the area coming?" Mr. Weasley asked.

"No, the Lovegoods have been there for a week already and the Fawcetts couldn't get tickets in time," Amos said. "There is isn't anyone else in the area that I know of."

"Me either," Mr. Weasley said. "Must be nearly time; yes, just a minute off. Everyone put a finger on this." He held up an old, beaten-up boot and, with some difficulty because of their backpacks, they all put a finger on it.

"Three…two…and one," Mr. Weasley muttered.

It happened immediately: Harry felt as though a hook just behind his navel had been suddenly jerked irresistibly forward. His feet left the ground; he could feel Ginny and Hermione on either side of him, their shoulders banging into his. They were all speeding forward in a howl of wind and swirling color; his index finger stuck to the boot as if by a magnet…

His feet slammed into the ground; Ron staggered into Fred and knocked everyone over but Mr. Weasley, Mr. Diggory and Cedric, but they did look very windswept.

"Seven past five from Stoatshead Hill," a weedy voice said as they disentangled themselves and got to their feet. In front of them stood a pair of grumpy-looking wizards, one of whom held a large gold watch, the other a thick roll of parchment and a quill. Both wore the long robes Harry associated with adult wizards and had a small MoM symbol on their collars showing they worked for the Ministry.

"Morning, Basil, Winston" Mr. Weasley said, picking up the boot and handing it to one of the wizards, who threw it into a large box of used Portkeys beside him; Harry noticed an old newspaper, an empty drinks can, and a punctured football.

"Hello there, Arthur," the wizard known as Basil sighed wearily. "Must be nice not being on duty, been here all night we have. Best get out of the way Arthur, we've got a large group coming in from Germany's Black Forest at quarter past."

"Right, well just over the hill, kids," Mr. Weasley said, grinning, and the teens scrambled to crest the small hill to find a huge multitude of tents spread out over the moor. Even though it was just barely past five, there were a lot of wizards and witches already milling about, loud music playing on a multitude of instruments and wizards on brooms racing through the air.

"Remarkable sight," Amos said clapping a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Parting of the ways old chap, our tent's this way; see you at the match."

"See you at the match," Mr. Weasley said and they shook hands. Cedric followed his father, waving good-bye to the group while they called out they would see him later. "Alright everyone follow me and keep up."

Mr. Weasley led the group through the large maze of tents and people. The tents were obviously magical as their owners had added chimneys and other features to the outside, such as flags of their nationality. Campfires of all colors were being lit as more people emerged from their tents for the day, cooking breakfast. Vendors were already popping up with all sorts of food from different countries, the smells varying between enticing and revolting to Harry. Official World Cup merchants were opening stalls up to sell wares based on the two teams playing later that night. Many of those in the crowds were already sporting Bulgarian or Irish flags, hats, scarves and other memorabilia. All the different languages bombarded Harry, but he thought it just added to experience as they passed several wizards speaking in loud Russian, gesturing at some pieces of parchment. Two Italian witches were arguing over something or other that a third witch had done; two American teenage wizards were struggling to communicate with a pretty German witch. Several Spanish children rushed by, chased by a clearly older sibling who looked exasperated and was muttering to himself in rapid Spanish.

"Ah, home sweet home," Mr. Weasley said as they got to a small plot of land with a tent and the name Weezly scrawled on a sign. Bending down, he entered the tent and the teenagers followed him inside. Harry wasn't too terribly surprised to find that inside the tent looked like a three-bedroom flat with a bathroom and kitchen. Oddly enough, the place did remind him of Mrs. Figgs' house, but without the smell of cabbage or cats.

"Well it will do for now," Mr. Weasley said placing his bag on chair. "Girls, pick a bunk and unpack, Ron get out of the kitchen."

"I love magic," Harry said with a grin as someone knocked on the tent post.

"Anyone home?" a voice asked with a bark of a laugh, and Sirius entered followed closely by Remus.

"Sirius! How was your trip?" Harry asked his godfather after giving him a hug in greeting.

"It went very well pup," Sirius said with a grin. "Nice to see you all again, Ron, Hermione, Ginny."

"Padfoot, perhaps we should help Arthur unpack everything?" Remus said with a grin.

"Ah yes, Moony, we strapping adults will do that while the children go fetch some water for tea," Sirius said with a teasing grin.

"An excellent idea," Mr. Weasley said. "Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny if you wouldn't mind, I think one of those Americans said a tap was somewhere in this part of camp for fresh water."

"Sure thing Dad," Ginny nodded and took Harry's hand in hers. Exiting the tent, the four teens started to slowly move through the city of tents and the crowds, eagerly glancing around at the multitude of sights. Three African wizards in long white robes were in deep conversation while a rabbit roasted over a purple fire, and a few American witches were gossiping under a banner that stretched between their tents and read: The Salem Witches' Institute. Harry caught snatches of conversations in more languages, and though he could hardly understand anything, the general tone was one of excitement.

"Er, is it just me or did everything turn green?" Ron asked.

It wasn't just Ron's eyes. They had walked into a section of tents that were all covered in a thick growth of shamrocks, so that it looked like each tent was a small hill with a door in it. Grinning faces were seen everywhere on the people in this area. Then, from behind them, they heard their names.

"Harry! Ron! Hermione! Ginny!"

It was Seamus Finnigan, their fellow Gryffindor. He was sitting in front of his own shamrock-covered tent, with a sandy-haired woman who had to be his mother, and his best friend Dean Thomas, also of Gryffindor.

"Like the decorations? The Bulgarians aren't too happy," Seamus said, grinning.

"Ah, why shouldn't we show our colors?" Mrs. Finnigan said in a rather thick Irish accent, just like her son. "You should see what the Bulgarians have plastered over their tents. You're supporting Ireland I assume," she added with a fierce look in her eye. When they assured her that they were, they set off again, though Ron muttered so only they could hear, "not that we would say anything else around them."

"Speak for yourself, I'm rooting for Ireland," Ginny said pushing her brother playfully in the shoulder. "Their Chasers are amazing."

"But Bulgaria has Viktor-bloody-Krum," Ron argued.

"One good player versus seven, I like those odds," Ginny smirked.

"I wonder what the Bulgarians have all over their tents?" Hermione asked to head off a sibling argument.

"Let's take a look, it's on our way after all," Harry said, pointing to a large patch of tents up ahead with the Bulgarian flag flapping in the breeze above them.

The tents here had not been covered by plant life, but each and every one of them had the same poster attached to it, a poster of a very surly, but handsome face with dark eyebrows. The picture was, of course, moving, but all it did was blink and scowl.

"Krum," Ron said quietly.

"What?" Hermione asked.

"Krum!" Ron said exasperatedly. "Viktor Krum, the Bulgarian Seeker!"

"He looks rather grumpy," Hermione said examining the many blinking and scowling posters.

"Rather grumpy?" Ron said, jaw dropping. "Who cares what he looks like? He's unbelievable. He's really young too, just eighteen or something. He's a genius, you wait until tonight, you'll see."

"Maybe he's not so fond of his fame," Harry muttered to himself. He knew he would be scowling too if he was in Krum's position.

"I don't know why not, it would be great to be famous," Ron said wistfully, completely missing the look on Harry's face or the withering glares from the girls.

There was a small queue for the tap in the corner of the field. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny joined it, right behind two almost identical Spanish siblings who were arguing in accented English.

"Maria, be reasonable," the boy said to his irate sister. He looked to be about fourteen, while the girl appeared to be two years older. Each had sleek black hair, the girl's reaching down to the middle of her back and her brother's to his shoulders, and the tan skin that came from long days spent in the Spanish sun. The girl was obviously a local beauty; she was tall, her light brown eyes danced with an inner light in her flawless face, and she had a very curvy figure, but she appeared very light on her feet. The boy would grow into a handsome man, muscles already evident in his exposed arms, but his face held incredibly piercing gray eyes and high cheek bones.

"I will not Miguel, you promised not to do that while we were here," Maria said hitting her brother over the head with a small book she was holding.

"Come on, Hermana, it was a joke," the brother said putting his arms to protect himself.

"Oh really? Idiota, we were told not to prance around and attract attention, but no, my hermano must be the hombreton everywhere he goes," Maria said in a huff.

Their conversation changed into all Spanish after that, and the pair collected their water and moved away, still bickering.

"Wonder what that was about?" Ginny asked.

"Who knows?" Ron said shrugging as Harry and he filled the buckets.

Moving more slowly as they now had the added weight of the water, they made their way back through the campsite. Here and there, they saw more familiar faces: other Hogwarts students and their families. Oliver Wood, the old captain of Gryffindor's Quidditch team, who had just left Hogwarts, dragged Harry and Ginny over to meet his parents, and told them excitedly that he had just been signed to the reserve squad for Puddlemere United. Next they were hailed by Ernie Macmillan and Hannah Abbott, both Hufflepuff fourth years, and a little farther on they saw Cho Chang, a very pretty Ravenclaw fifth year who played as Seeker on the Ravenclaw team. She waved and smiled radiantly at Harry, causing Ginny to glare at the girl and making Harry a little uncomfortable from the unseen, but not unnoticeable, tension between the two girls.

"Have a nice summer?" Cho asked.

"Yeah, I always have a great time when I'm at the Weasleys," Harry answered.

"Oh good, I'm glad to hear it, would you like to meet my parents?" she asked but Ginny butted into the conversation.

"Sorry, but we need to get this water back to our tent Cho," she said, her eyes glaring daggers at her opponent. Cho's eyes narrowed for the briefest second before they were back to normal.

"That's okay, maybe another time; see you around Harry," Cho said with another radiant smile. The group moved away, with Ginny throwing one last glare at the Ravenclaw and receiving one in return. Continuing on their way, they crossed the path of Demelza Robbins and her family, making Ginny stop and say hello. They encountered several more foreign wizards their ages, but couldn't understand the Greek they were speaking.

"I never realized more schools existed in the Wizarding world," Harry said, shaking his head at his own stupidity.

"Don't worry Harry, you've been isolated for so long it's going to take a while to learn common knowledge," Hermione said. "I only knew about the other schools because I got curious and read about them."

"What are some of the other schools?" Harry asked.

"Beauxbatons in France, Durmstrang somewhere in Eastern Europe, um," Ginny started to list before Hermione joined in.

"There's the Wronki Academy in Poland, Luiana Castle in Romania, the Heidelberg Institute for Magic in Germany, the village of Pedrina in Spain which also is Portugal's school, the Ravenna School of Magic in Italy, the Delphi Magic Academy in Greece, and Loki's Hall somewhere in Scandanavia," Hermione listed.

"Is that all of them?" Harry asked, amazed at how many schools were in Europe.

"Well no there are a few other's but regardless, Hogwarts, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang are the largest schools of magic in Europe, but no one knows exactly where any of the other schools are as secrets are guarded jealously so we only meet other students at major events or as exchange programs," Hermione said as they reached the campsite.

"Took you long enough, sheesh," George said, emerging from the tent.

"Met a couple of people," Ron explained as he and Harry set the water down.

"Dad has been trying to get a fire started by Muggle means, but well," and George gestured at the ground and the several broken matches scattered about.

"It's been amusing though," Sirius said laughing as Mr. Weasley finally got a match to light, but dropped it in his surprise.

"Here," Hermione said kindly, and showed him how to properly light a match.

At last they got the fire lit, though it was at least another hour before it was hot enough to do anything with it. They passed the time by trying to get Sirius and Remus to tell them about their trip, but they were silent on the issue, and then just speculating on what the two Marauders had gotten up to.

"No, we didn't have a crazy shag party in Dublin, though not a bad idea," Sirius said laughing as Fred suggested that.

"Can you at least say where you went?" Ginny asked innocently.

"Sorry, but no; let's just say we were asked to hunt for some things and found two," Remus said mysteriously and that was the end of that subject.

With that form of entertainment exhausted, they watched the people bustling past. Their tent seemed to be on the thoroughfare to the field and Ministry officials kept hurrying up and down it. Mr. Weasley, Sirius and Remus kept a running commentary for Harry and Hermione as they weren't all that familiar with Ministry employees, while the Weasley kids were.

"That was Cuthbert Mockridge, Head of the Goblin Liaison Office, wouldn't want his job even if you offered me the world," Sirius said with a barking laugh.

"Here comes Gilbert Wimple, he's with the Committee of Experimental Charms; he's had those horns for a while now," Mr. Weasley said as the horned wizard hurried past raising a hand in greeting.

"Arnie, take a breath, then keep going," Sirius said at an anxious looking wizard who followed the advice and kept moving. "Arnold Peasegood, Obliviator on the Accidental Magical Reversal Squad, he actually responded to what you did to Marge last summer, or so he told me when I was at the Ministry a few weeks ago."

"That's Bode and Croaker, Unspeakables, I think," Mr. Weasley said.

"They're what?" Harry asked.

"Part of the Department of Mysteries. Top secret, no idea what they get up to," Mr. Weasley responded.

At last the fire was ready, and they had just started to cook up some eggs and sausage when Bill, Charlie and Percy came strolling out of the woods towards them.

"Just Apparated in," Percy said smugly.

"We can clearly see that," Sirius said with another bark like laugh. "Relax son, not everything needs to be about showing off. Sit down and have some lunch."

Percy nodded a bit stiffly at the Marauder, but his eyes did hold a thoughtful look in them as he considered the man's words. They were halfway through their meal when Mr. Weasley jumped to his feet and exclaimed, "Ah the man of the hour! Ludo!"

Ludo Bagman was easily the most noticeable person Harry had seen today. He was wearing long Quidditch robes in thick horizontal stripes of bright yellow and black. An enormous picture of a wasp was splashed across his chest. He had the look of a very powerfully built man gone slightly to seed; the robes were stretched tightly across a large belly he surely had not had in his Quidditch career. His nose was squashed, possibly from a Bludger back in the day, but his round blue eyes, short blond hair, and rosy complexion made him look like an over-grown schoolboy.

"Ahoy there!" Bagman called happily as he almost bounced up to the tent, his step being that springy. "Arthur, old man, what a day eh? What a day! Could we have asked for more perfect weather? A cloudless night coming and hardly a hiccough in the arrangements, not much for me to do but wait for the main event."

Bagman jovially shook everyone's hands as Mr. Weasley gave introductions for his children.

"Let's see here's Percy, Bill, Charlie, this is Fred, no George, no definitely Fred, Ron, my daughter Ginny and their friends Hermione Granger and Harry Potter."

Bagman did the smallest of double takes when he heard Harry's name and did the tried and true thing of glancing at the scar on his head.

"Everyone this is Ludo Bagman, he's the reason we got such good tickets," Mr. Weasley said.

"Oh pish posh, all in thanks for helping my brother with that lawnmower," Bagman said sitting down with the group. "Anyone fancy a flutter on the match?" he said as he jangled a bag of coins on his belt.

"A Galleon on Ireland winning," Mr. Weasley said causing Bagman to have a slightly crestfallen look.

"Anyone else?" he asked.

"They're a bit young to be gambling…" Mr. Weasley was saying before Fred cut in.

"We'll wager thirty-seven Galleons, fifteen Sickles, and three Knuts on Ireland winning, but Krum catches the Snitch," Fred said, and his twin handed Bagman the money.

"Boys, that's your savings…" Mr. Weasley muttered under his breath.

"Don't be a spoilsport Arthur," Bagman boomed exuberantly. "Cheers boys, and may the odds be in your favor or mine."

"Hopefully ours," George said taking a slip of parchment from Bagman.

"Ah, yes, I meant to ask if you had seen Barty Crouch anywhere, my opposite number is trying to ask me something but can't understand a word the bloke is saying, and Barty knows at least a hundred and fifty different languages," Bagman said as he accepted a cup of tea from Remus.

"Haven't seen him yet, but I'd imagine he will pass by sooner or later," Mr. Weasley said as Percy perked up at the mention of his boss.

"Mr. Crouch can speak over two hundred, including Mermish, Gobbledgook and Troll," Percy almost preened.

"And I'm learning more, as always, Mr. Weasley," a curt voice said from behind the group.

"Barty, come on then, pull up some grass," Bagman said to Mr. Crouch. Barty Crouch was a stiff, upright, elderly man, dressed in impeccable robes of gray and a black tie. The parting in his short gray hair was almost unnaturally straight and his narrow mustache looked as though he trimmed it with a slide rule. His shoes were very highly polished and the ornate ebony cane he carried had a beautifully crafted handle almost like the pommel of a sword.

"I don't have the time right now, the Bulgarians are asking for us to add another twelve seats to the Top Box," Crouch said curtly.

"So that's what he was asking for; chap had such a thick accent couldn't make a word out," Bagman boomed.

"Would you like a quick cup of tea, sir?" Percy asked his boss.

"Oh, yes, Percy if you wouldn't mind," Crouch said and Percy quickly poured a cup and handed it to his boss. "I've been meaning to speak with you as well Arthur, Ali Bashir is trying to import carpets again."

"I've told him a hundred times at least, carpets fall into the category of Proscribed Charmable Objects, but will he listen?" Mr. Weasley said.

"I doubt it, but I thought I should pass that along, I've been busy with other business so this was the first chance I had to speak with you Arthur," Crouch said sipping his tea. Harry noticed that Crouch's cane continued to stand even though he wasn't holding it currently.

"Glad for when this is all over?" Sirius asked. While he didn't like Crouch for what he did to him during the first war, he did respect the man's ability.

"I've never had more fun, thankfully this isn't the only fun for the year," Bagman said with a grin.

"No thanks to you I might add, it's been taxing my department handling the expansion while you brushed it off until this was done," Crouch coolly said to Bagman.

"Come now Barty, that's all your department, like I said I'll help as soon as the World Cup is over," Bagman said with nervous chuckle at the look in Crouch's eye. "Anyways, I thought all the details were sorted, they all signed after all."

"Yes, quite, now we should meet with the Bulgarians about the seats," Crouch said stiffly as he finished his tea and handed the cup back to Percy, taking up his cane again.

Bagman struggled to his feet, swigging down the last of his tea, the gold in his pockets and belt pouch chinking merrily.

"See you all later!" he said jovially. "You'll be in the Top Box with me as your humble commentator!" Bagman waved and Crouch nodded curtly, then both Disapparated.

A sense of excitement rose like a palpable cloud over the camp site as the afternoon wore on. By dusk, the still summer air itself seemed to be quivering with anticipation, and as darkness spread across the sky like ink into parchment, the thousands of wizard and witches present started to show off their excitement with their magic.

The Ministry approved merchants began to walk amongst the crowd, carrying trays or pushing carts full of extraordinary merchandise. Ron purchased a dancing shamrock hat and a large green rosette, but he also bought a miniature figurine of Krum. The mini-Krum walked back and forth on Ron's hand, scowling up at the green rosette. Sirius purchased Omnioculars for everyone, while Harry and Ginny bought a green rosette each and also two Irish flags. Hermione got everyone programs while Remus had taken pity of the twins and purchased each a shamrock hat. Bill, Charlie and Percy were all sporting green rosettes as well and Mr. Weasley was carrying a large Irish flag.

A deep, booming gong sounded somewhere beyond the woods, and at once, green and red lanterns blazed into life in the trees, lighting a path to the field.

"Well kids, it's time, let's go," Mr. Weasley said leading the group into the trees and looking as excited as everyone else.

Clutching their purchases, with Mr. Weasley, Sirius, and Remus in the lead, they all hurried into the wood, following the lantern-lit trail. They could hear the sounds of thousands of people moving around them, shouts and laughter, snatches of singing in all of the different languages of those attending. The atmosphere of feverish excitement was highly infectious; Harry couldn't stop grinning. They walked through the wood for twenty minutes, talking and joking loudly, occasionally catching sight of the silhouettes of other large groups of people. Finally emerging from the woods into the shadow of a gigantic stadium, Harry just had to stop and marvel at the immense scale of the place. People were already streaming through every available entrance into it, the large gold walls glittering in the moonlight.

"Impressive, eh pup," Sirius said with a wide grin.

"A Ministry task force of five hundred has been working on this all year," Mr. Weasley said, providing some background. "Muggle Repelling Charms on every inch, a Barrier Charm over the top and around the stands to stop players or the balls from going where they aren't supposed to."

Joining the shouting crowd of spectators, they pushed their way through to the entrance.

"Prime seats there, Arthur," the Ministry witch at the entrance said checking their tickets. "Top Box, straight up the stairs all the way to the top."

"Thanks Victoria," Mr. Weasley said as their party made their way up the purple carpeted stairs. They clambered upward with the rest of the crowd, which slowly filtered through doors into the stands on their left and right. They kept climbing, and at last reached the top of the staircase and found themselves in a roomy box, set at the highest point of the stadium and situated exactly halfway between the golden goal posts. About thirty purple and gold chairs stood in two rows here, and Harry, filing into the front seats with the Weasleys, Sirius and Remus, looked down upon a scene the likes of which he could never have imagined.

A hundred thousand witches and wizards were taking their places in the seats, which rose in levels around the oval field. Everything was suffused with a mysterious gold light, which seemed to come from the stadium itself. The field looked smooth as green velvet from their lofty position. At either end of the field stood three goal hoops, fifty feet high; directly opposite the Top Box was an enormous blackboard that had various wizard advertisements appearing and disappearing on it. The noise from the crowd was deafening as shouts of excitement roared through the stadium and various flashes of red or green sparks were being lit by those attending.

Harry tore his eyes away from watching the crowds and looked over his shoulder to see who else was sharing the box with them. So far it was empty, but he knew that wouldn't last long.

Ron was looking through his Omnioculars and started testing them, staring down into the crowd on the other side of the stadium.

"Wild!" he said, twiddling the replay knob on the side. "I can make that old bloke down there pick his nose again…and again…and again…"

"That's revolting," Ginny said as she cuddled to Harry's arm. "Honestly Ron, grow up a bit."

Hermione, meanwhile, was skimming eagerly through her velvet-covered, tasseled program.

"A display from the team mascots will precede the match," she read aloud.

"Always worth watching," Mr. Weasley said. "National teams bring creatures from their native land, you know, to put on a bit of a show."

"I hope the Bulgarians brought veela," Sirius said with a chuckle which Remus just groaned at.

"You stinking goat in a waistcoat, control yourself," Remus scolded Sirius.

"Sir, I'm a dog not a goat," Sirius said with a cheeky grin. The rest of the group just laughed, but Harry was curious.

"What's a veela?" he asked his godfather.

"You'll see, pup," Sirius said smirking.

The door to the box opened and a large group of important looking wizards in very formal robes filed in with Minister Fudge and Barty Crouch. Percy jumped to his feet and bowed so low that his glasses fell off and shattered on the floor. Highly embarrassed, he repaired them with his wand and thereafter remained in his seat, throwing jealous looks at Harry, whom Fudge greeted like an old friend.

"Harry, my boy, how are you?" Fudge said jovially.

"I'm fine sir," Harry said.

"May I introduce you to Leonid Obalansk, the Bulgarian Minister of Magic, Killiard O'Shawn, the Irish Minister of Magic, Andreas Doukas, the Greek Minister of Magic and his son Zephyr, and also the American Secretary of Magic, Neal Richardson," Fudge said pointing out each wizard to Harry. Zephyr Doukas just regarded Harry with a look of disinterest in his cold gray eyes. The teenage wizard had pale skin that stood out against his father's tan, but his brown hair was cut short just like the older wizard.

"And you already know Barty here. Ah, and here's Lucius and Harold," Fudge said happily.

Harry and the Weasleys whipped around in their seats to see Lucius Malfoy, his wife Narcissa and Draco, and Harold and Julia Greengrass with their daughters edging along the top row. Daphne and Astoria looked with pretend disgust at the Weasleys and Harry and Hermione, but the younger girl winked stealthily at them. Harold regarded them with a cold formality that belied the warmth he had shown before, but Harry knew all of this was an act for the Malfoys.

"Good lord, Arthur, what did you have to sell to get these seats?" Lucius asked softly. "Surely your house did not fetch enough."

"Come now Lucius, it would clearly take his house, his pets and perhaps his best clothing just to get one ticket up here," Harold said, but his eyes let Arthur know he didn't truly mean it.

Fudge, who hadn't been listening because he had been speaking with Crouch, said, "Lucius and Harold have both just given very generous donations to St. Mungo's toward the Wolfsbane Potion as Lord Black here suggested they should do."

Sirius nodded curtly at Fudge while Mr. Weasley muttered, "How nice for them."

Lucius turned his eyes to Hermione, who flushed a bit but started determinedly back at him. Harry knew exactly what was making Mr. Malfoy's lip curl like that.

"Bloody elitist purebloods," Sirius muttered as he caught the look Mr. Malfoy was giving Hermione.

"You shouldn't reject your roots, Lord Black," Harold pretended to reprimand Sirius.

"I will always have a problem with people who think themselves better based on blood alone," Sirius countered.

The corner of Daphne's lips turned up ever so slightly and Astoria snickered quietly but covered it with a cough, while Harry shut his mouth quickly to stop any laughter. Before the adults could banter anymore, Bagman rushed into the box.

"Everybody ready?" he asked, his round face shining with barely contained euphoria. "Minister, if you would."

"Of course," Fudge said standing up and placing his wand to his throat and said, 'Sonorus.'

"Good evening, one and all! As Minister of Magic for this great country, it gives me great pleasure to welcome each and every one of you, to the final of the 422nd Quidditch World Cup," he said over the roar of the crowd. "This match showcases how through international partnership and friendly competition, we can build stronger ties between us and come together as a world. I now turn things over to your humble commentator to begin."

Fudge sat back down and the crowd applauded loudly at his brief speech and started to roar even louder as Bagman did the same spell and his voice filled the stadium.

"As the Minister has already said, welcome one and all to this final match of the Quidditch Championship series between Ireland and Bulgaria!" Bagman boomed and the crowd exploded as each side was announced. "And without further ado, allow me the great pleasure to introduce the Irish National Team and their mascots!"

At his words, various violins and cellos started playing over the crowd from some unseen area and the seven emerald clad team members shot out of the sky flanked by shimmering specks of green and gold. Irish supporters started dancing jigs in the stands as the music played, releasing emerald balloons and sparks in celebration, unfurling banners with different Irish phrases. The green and gold specks flanking the Irish team broke off and formed into several comet shaped formations that consisted of little men with green or gold lanterns and red beards. The leprechauns formed a giant version of themselves and started to dance a jig to the music and the Irish supporters cheered even louder as their team raced around the pitch with a few more leprechauns raining gold down on them.

Ron had a look of glee as he pocketed the gold before Sirius leaned over and whispered, "It's not real son, it disappears in twenty-four hours."

Ron's look of glee collapsed into an angry look, he huffed gruffly and fell back into the seat as the others enjoyed the Irish mascots and team.

"Presenting Connelly! Ryan! Troy! Mullet! Moran! Quigley! And last but certainly not least, Lynch!" Bagman yelled and the crowd erupted as each name was read off. As their names were read, each team member did some trick on their broom such as Troy flipping over Mullet or Lynch, Connelly and Ryan racing above the crowd leaving rainbows with leprechaun gold falling through them into the stands.

"Here come the Bulgarians!" Fred yelled as seven scarlet clad figures smashed through the leprechaun formation and drums and brass instruments overtook the violins and cellos. The Bulgarian supporters exploded in cheers, red sparks flying everywhere. Mist erupted onto the field and a hundred beautiful female beings appeared in it. Harry was confused by their appearance as they couldn't be human, they had long white-gold hair flowing behind them as if lifted by some invisible breeze and their skin seemed to shine in the moonlight. He stopped caring about this as they started to dance to the drums and brass, as his mind had gone completely blank. All that mattered was watching the veela, and wild plots to get closer to them started racing through his head. Ginny noticed this, and scowling, hit Harry over the head with his Omnioculars, knocking him out of the trance.

"Sorry Gin," Harry apologized. He did notice Ron looked about ready to jump from the box, but Hermione was holding him back while the twins seemed to have blown something up as they were covered in soot. The older wizards wore smirks and had their ears covered as they watched the younger kids, and Sirius mouthed "told ya I'd get you back" at Harry, who just scowled and turned his attention back to the grandiose performance.

One of the Bulgarian players accelerated out from his fellows and started doing insanely complex tricks and the crowd started flipping posters into a moving flash portrait of the wizard and chanting, "KRUM! KRUM! KRUM!"

Viktor Krum spun out of his last trick and started pumping his fist in triumph at the Bulgarian supporters while his poster self did the same.

"Welcome to the Bulgarian National Team! Dimitriov! Ivanova! Zograf! Levski! Vulchanov! Volkov! And…" Bagman boomed and the crowd finished for him with more shouts of Krum.

"And all the way from Egypt, our referee, acclaimed Chairwizard of the International Association of Quidditch, Hassan Mostafa!" A small skinny wizard, completely bald except for an enormous mustache, in robes of white and black strode onto the field. A silver whistle glinted against his chest, and he was carrying a box under one arm and a broom under the other. Mostafa set the box down, mounted his broom and kicked the box open. Four balls burst into the air: the scarlet Quaffle, the two black Bludgers, and the small Golden Snitch, which Harry followed with his eyes for a brief moment before it disappeared. With a sharp blast of his whistle, Mostafa shot into the air after the balls and Harry focused completely on the match through his Omnioculars.

"THEEEEEEEEEY'RE OFF!" screamed Bagman. "And it's Mullet, to Troy, to Moran, taken by Dimitriov, stolen by Mullet! To Troy, Levski intercpets, taken away by Moran! Bludger shot by Volkov, dodged by Moran! Back pass to Mullet, slides under Ivanova, drop pass to Moran, pass to Troy SCORE TEN NOTHING IRELAND!"

It was Quidditch on a whole other level. Harry could tell right off the bat that the Irish Chasers were absolutely superb. They had worked as a seamless team on that drive, their movements so well coordinated that they appeared able to read one another's minds.

"Zograf retrieves and passes to Ivanova, who speeds forward in the classic Winter Sweep formation with his fellow Chasers Dimitriov and Levski, switch pass to Levski, back to Ivanova, to Dimitriov and INTERCEPTED BY MORAN, who speeds forwards, quick pass to Mullet, shoots and SCORES TWENTY NOTHING IRELAND!"

"Zograf retrieves yet again, passes to Levski, he's flanked by Volkov and Dimitriov, rushes forward and A BLUDGER HIT FROM QUIGLEY DISRUPTS AND THE QUAFFLE IS RECOVERED BY MULLET WHO STREAKS FORWARD AND SCORES THIRTY NOTHING IRELAND!"

A thunderous roar was coming from the Irish supporters at the early lead their Chasers had won; the leprechauns raising up into a glittering shamrock while the veela across the field sulked. It took another five minutes before the Bulgarians finally scored when Ivanova was able to slip through putting the score thirty to ten.

"Cover your ears!" Remus yelled as the veela got up to dance a small celebratory dance. Harry quickly covered them, but didn't take his eyes of the game.

The match was becoming faster and even more brutal, the Bulgarian beaters Volkov and Vulchanov were blasting the Bludgers as fast as possible at the Irish Chasers, disrupting their flow a little bit.

"An excellent example of Dopplebeater Defense there, for those unfamiliar, both Beaters hit the same Bludger," Bagman said as the Bulgarians slammed a Bludger at Troy who had to reverse pass to Mullet and roll to avoid it. It still didn't help as Mullet was able to get a shot off and score on Zograf.

"I'm not sure what's going on, but BY MERLIN LOOK!" Bagman shouted.

A hundred thousand people gasped as one as the two Seekers plummeted through the Chasers towards the ground, neck and neck, going so fast it looked like they had jumped from a great distance.

"Looks like they're about to crash, I've never seen such a dive," Bagman was yelling, but he was only half right. Krum was able to pull out of the dive at the last second while Lynch slammed into the ground with a dull thud. A group of mediwizards converged on the stunned Seeker while Krum floated above, his eyes constantly moving.

"Well I never expected to see a Wronski Feint today, ladies and gentlemen but that was an absolute class case of one," Bagman said as the Irish waited on bated breath to see if their Seeker would rise.

"He did that deliberately so he had time to search for the Snitch unopposed," Harry muttered to Ginny who was on tenterhooks as Lynch was being force fed potions.

"A brilliant maneuver, but I hope Lynch is alright," Ginny whispered.

"He'll be fine, he just got ploughed," Charlie reassured his sister and sure enough Lynch was standing up to loud cheers from the green-clad supporters. Lynch mounted his Firebolt, and kicked off into the air and it seemed to give new heart to the Irish players.

"Excellent to see Lynch is back and ready for more," Bagman yelled over the cheering Irish supporters. "And we're off again and the Irish Chasers seem to have awoken to the level we saw in the semi-finals against Peru."

After another fifteen minutes of fast and intense play, in which Krum tried his darn best to help his teammates by disrupting the Irish plays and also looking for the Snitch, Ireland had pulled ahead by another ten goals, setting the score at one hundred and thirty to ten, and the game started to get dirtier.

"Mullet goes for the goal again, and MY GOSH!" Bagman yelled as Zograf flew forward and smashed his elbow into Mullet's face and wrestled the Quaffle away as Mullet was stunned for a moment. Mostafa's whistle sounded and the Irish supporters started screaming, "FOUL."

"And it's a violation for cobbing, excessive use of elbows, penalty to Ireland," Bagman said as the leprechauns rose up and formed a giant HA HA HA in the air. The veela on the opposing side tossed their hair angrily and started to dance.

Harry and the rest of the Top Box attendees quickly threw their hands up to cover their ears, but Hermione giggled and pointed at the referee. Mostafa had landed and was flexing his arms at the veela.

"Now we can't have that, someone go slap some sense into him," Bagman chuckled. A mediwizard ran out onto the field, his fingers in his ears, and kicked Mostafa hard in the shins. The pain seemed to jar Mostafa from his trance and he started yelling at the veela.

"If I'm not mistaken, the referee is attempting to remove the Bulgarian mascots from the field; now that is unheard of ladies and gentlemen," Bagman said. "This could turn downright nasty."

It did: Volkov and Vulchanov landed on either side of Mostafa and started to argue with him, gesturing at the leprechauns that kept displaying taunting images. Mostafa, unimpressed with their arguments, started gesturing for them to get back in the air and when they refused he blew his whistle again.

"Two penalties for Ireland, oh my," Bagman shouted as the Bulgarians howled and booed in anger. "Those Beaters get back on…yes there they go….and it's Troy for the penalties….that's one….and there's the other. Score is hundred and fifty to ten for Ireland."

"Play resumes and it looks like both sets of Beaters are furious and out for blood, Volkov and Vulchanov are swinging their bats willy-nilly," Bagman said as the Irish Chasers moved on the offensive yet again, bowling through the Bulgarian Chasers. Moran was in possession when Dimitriov flew out of nowhere and ploughed into him.

"FOUL," the Irish screamed and the whistle was sounded.

"And it's a foul for deliberate attempt at collision," Bagman announced and the leprechauns launched into the air yet again and formed a hand giving the bird to the veela. The veela, instead of dancing, screeched loudly and handfuls of fire erupted in their hands. Their beautiful faces were melting into wicked looking bird faces and large gray wings were sprouting from their shoulders.

"And that boys is why you never go for looks alone," Mr. Weasley said as the veela and leprechauns started fighting and Ministry Aurors and Hit Wizards flooded onto the field to separate the two. The fight going on beneath was nothing compared to the pitched battle happening amongst the players.

"Levski, Dimitriov, taken by Moran, Troy, Mullet, brutally intercepted by Ivanova, Moran counters, Ivanova will be feeling that for a bit, MORAN SCORES!" Bagman yelled over the ongoing shrieks of the veela, the bangs from the spells flying and the Irish supporters' cheers. "Zograf to Levski, to Dimitriov, and that is going to hurt."

The Bulgarians groaned as their champion Krum got smashed in the face by a Bludger sent by Quigley and his nose started to gush blood and looked horribly broken. Mostafa didn't blow his whistle though, as he had become a bit distracted by the tail of his broom being lit on fire from a random veela toss.

Harry wanted someone to notice the state Krum was in, but suddenly Lynch dived and Harry knew he wasn't going for a Wronski Feint he had seen the real thing. Following his trajectory, Harry saw the fleck of gold floating just above the melee on the field. Krum was hot on Lynch's heels; how he could see through all the blood blowing into his face no one could say, but half the crowd did seem to notice what was happening with the Seekers. Krum was drawing level with Lynch now, both smashing into the other to divert their course and give them the clear shot.

"They're going to crash!" Hermione screamed as the two Seekers kept plummeting.

"No, Lynch is," Harry said, and as he had just predicted Lynch smashed into the ground again, but Krum pulled out of the dive right above the head of a screeching veela, his fist in the air and tiny wings protruding from it.

"IRELAND WINS, KRUM CATCHES THE SNITCH BUT IRELAND WINS, WHO EVER SAW THAT COMING!" Bagman yelled and the crowd went silent for a moment as his words sunk in. Slowly, a huge explosion of sound erupted from the Irish as they realized they had won.

"Why did Krum catch the Snitch?" Ron huffed.

"Ireland's Chasers were exceptionally good and it was the smart move," a cold voice said in slightly accented English. Ron whipped around to see the boy Zephyr looking at him as if he was an idiot. Before Ron could retort, the Bulgarian Minister sighed.

"Vell, ve fought bravely," he said gloomily as Krum was attended to by a mediwizard and the creatures had at last been separated and contained.

"Aye, lad, but we'll be takin' the Cup," the Irish Minister said with a grin as the trophy was brought into the Top Box. "A fine game."

"Oh yes, I'll be sure to inform the President, he does enjoy to hear such stories," the American Secretary of Magic agreed, and the Greek Minister nodded.

"As the Irish team takes a lap of honor, allow me to draw your attention to the Top Box as Minister Fudge presents the Irish Minister of Magic with the World Cup trophy," Bagman yelled and the green-clad crowd cheered as lights were shone into the box.

"Let's have a hand for gallant losers, Bulgaria," Bagman shouted. One by one the Bulgarian team filed into the box to shake hands with each government official. Krum, who was last in line, looked an absolute mess. He was sporting two black eyes, blood was still dripping from his newly set nose, but the young man held himself with dignity and squared his broad shoulders. For one instant, Harry's eyes connected with Krum's and he briefly nodded his acknowledgement of Harry before continuing down the line. When his name was announced though, the entire stadium cheered earsplittingly loudly.

"And now your victors of the 422nd Quidditch World Cup, Ireland," Bagman shouted to widespread applause. Aidan Lynch looked incredibly dazed as he was brought into the box, supported by Moran and Connelly, but he grinned happily as Troy and Quigley lifted the Cup into the air to thunderous applause. At last, when the Irish team had left the box to fly one more honor lap, Bagman pointed his wand at his throat and muttered, "Quietus."

"They'll be talking about this one for some time," he said jovially. "A nice twist ending, shame it didn't last longer but such is the magnificent game of Quidditch. Ah yes, I believe I owe you two some money," he said to a grinning Fred and George.

A few hours later, the sounds of raucous laughter still filled the air, the occasional boom reverberating through the campsite. No one felt like sleeping so they all stayed up, hot cocoa all around, as they swapped what they thought about the match. Mr. Weasley got dragged into an argument over cobbing with Charlie, Sirius and Remus; Percy and Bill were discussing how much better the next tournament would be organized.

Ron was racing around the tent with a banner of Krum wrapped his shoulders, espousing Krum's abilities while Fred and George danced what they thought was an Irish jig.

"There's no one like Krum!" the youngest Weasley boy said.

"What? Dumb Krum," Fred said in a gruff voice.

"He's like a bird, he flies," Ron argued back while the twins continued to say "Dumb Krum," and flapping their arms like wings.

"He's more than an athlete; he's an artist," Ron declared.

"I think you're in love Ron," Ginny said with an innocent smirk.

"Shut up," Ron grumbled as Fred and George came up and flanked him.

"Viktor, I love you, Viktor I do," the twins sang.

"When we're apart my heart beats only for you," Harry and Ginny joined in with the twins. Suddenly a loud explosion sounded out somewhere in the crowd and screaming could be heard.

"Sounds like the Irish have got their pride on," George commented as they heard another explosion a little closer.

A frantic pounding came at their tent flap and Mr. Weasley got up to see what was going on. He opened the tent flap and an Auror with purple hair tumbled in.

"Thank god I found you!" the Auror yelled. "We need help, it's the Death Eaters!"

"Tonks, calm down, what's going on?" Sirius said, coming up to his cousin.

"We were patrolling the camp, trying to keep the Irish from being too boisterous, when suddenly several black robed individuals in skull masks appeared out of the shadows and started launching fireballs," Tonks explained in a rushed flow of words. "We were about to engage them, but more started flooding out of tents and we were outnumbered; I yelled for everyone to run and we booked out of there."

"Alright then, Arthur, Bill, Charlie, Percy, Remus, we need to go help the Ministry capture the Death Eaters; kids go hide in the woods and one of us will come get you when everything is sorted," Sirius said in a commanding tone.

"There's one other thing Sirius, they captured the family that owns the field, the Roberts. We need to rescue them," Tonks said as the adults dashed out of the tent.

"Then let's go capture some Death Eaters," Sirius grinned as the small group of adults pushed through the fleeing, hysteric crowd along with other Ministry employees.

Harry and the others ran as fast as they could into the woods, trying not to let the push of the crowd separate them. Reaching the tree line, the group turned around to see four silhouettes floating over a black mass of people that more and more wizards and witches were joining. The figures in black were blasting apart any tent in their path while Ministry officials tried to start breaching the tightly packed group of people. Flashes of red lights impacting on shields could be seen and Harry could tell the Ministry would take forever to break through.

"We should get under cover, come on," he said taking Ginny's hand and leading the group further into the woods. Dark figures of frightened wizards could be seen darting here or there amongst the trees, panicked voices sounding harsh in the cold night air. The lamps from earlier had been extinguished, casting the woods into a creepy stillness. The occasional explosion could be heard from what was going on at the camp site. Ron was running right behind Harry and Ginny when he tripped over an exposed tree root and rolled into a heap.

"Ouch, what the hell?" he gasped, holding his foot.

"Clearly you need to learn to walk, Weasley," a cold, drawling voice said from behind the group.

Harry and the rest whipped around to find Draco Malfoy lounging against a tree alone. His arms folded, he seemed to be watching the chaos back at camp through a gap in the trees.

"Bugger off, Malfoy," Ron hissed.

"Language Weasley," Malfoy smirked. "You best be moving on, don't want the Mudblood here being caught, they aren't particularly picky between Mudbloods, blood traitors, Muggles and Squibs."

"We don't have time for this, come on," Harry said dragging Ron away with the rest.

Malfoy couldn't resist one last parting comment, "I always knew cowards when I saw them."

Ron was scowling as the group moved further into the woods, the people around them looking over their shoulders nervously at the continued explosions from the camp site. A huddle of teenagers in pajamas was arguing vociferously a little way along the path. When they saw Harry, Ron, Hermione and the others, a girl of about fourteen with long brunette hair and sparkling green eyes turned and said quickly, "Ou est Madame Maxime? Nous l'avons perdue…"

"What?" Ron said totally lost.

"Oh, my apologies, thought you were from Beauxbatons, didn't realize you were Hogwarts," the girl said in perfectly good English. Getting a closer look at her, the girl, even at fourteen, was a beauty. Her long hair was incredibly shiny, her eyes shone with an inner light, her figure was drop dead gorgeous, even in her pajamas, and was rendering Ron, Fred, and George a bit speechless and her voice reminded Harry a lot of the melody in Abygail's laugh.

"You speak English fairly well for someone from France," Hermione commented, her eyes a bit narrowed at the girl.

"I live in Caen, so right across the Channel," the girl explained. "I should introduce myself, Adrienne Convain, soon to be a fourth year at Beauxbatons Academy of Magic."

"I'm Ginny, this is Hermione, my brothers Ron, Fred, George and my boyfriend Harry," Ginny replied for the group.

"Nice to meet you all," Adrienne said with a pleasant smile as the rest of her little group of friends scowled. "Sorry, my friends don't like the English much, no idea why though, oh well. We should probably keep moving, perhaps we will see each other again."

The group of French students then moved further down the path, Adrienne leading them and talking in rapid French again.

"She was…" Ron started to say before Ginny glared him down.

"Don't even start," she warned, and Harry had to stifle a snicker.

The group continued deeper into the woods, sounds from the campsite no longer echoing to them. The woods had also gone quiet as the people hiding in it wanted to not draw attention to themselves. Harry, Hermione and the Weasleys found a small clearing and decided to settle down and wait there.

"What do you think is happening back at the camp?" Hermione asked now that they had stopped moving.

"Hopefully, the people from the Ministry are apprehending those people even now and are helping that family down," Ginny said.

The others started to discuss what they thought might be going on, but Harry didn't join in. He had the sense that someone was standing nearby, watching them.

"Hello?" Harry asked into the darkness, straining his eyes for any movement.

"Harry? Is something wrong?" Ginny asked.

"I think someone is watching us, right over there," Harry muttered. He was finally able to make out a silhouette half hidden by the trees. The silhouette seemed to be wearing a long leather coat and had well-styled hair from the shape of the head.

"Who's there?" he called again. Silence was all that met his question for a few heartbeats before the silhouette raised an arm and a male voice yelled, "MORSMORDRE!"

A jet of green light arced up into the sky and exploded into a huge green skull with a serpent protruding from its mouth like a tongue. In the light of the spell, Harry could just make out the caster's features. He noticed the man's tongue dart out of his mouth like a nervous twitch, but then the figure ran as fast he could into the darkness before Harry could place where he seen the man before. His attention was drawn to the skull in the sky as screams rent the night at the very sight of it, and somehow he knew that the skull was the mark of Voldemort.

World Cup Campsite Three Minutes Ago

Sirius gave a grunt of frustration as his Stunning Spell failed to breach the barrier around the Death Eaters. The Ministry Aurors and employees had been trying every spell they could think of to breach it and stop the rampage, but nothing was working. Death Eaters had taken advantage of this by performing cruel tricks to the floating Roberts family, such as making the daughter and Mrs. Roberts hang up side down so their nightdresses fell, revealing their undergarments. The son was spinning like a top and had grown increasingly pale, while Mr. Roberts could only look on, having been placed under a Silencing Charm.

"Where did they bloody learn this spell?" Tonks said in anger as her own Stunner bounced off and the Death Eaters laughed at her attempt.

"I suspect from its structure and strength that Voldemort himself designed this spell so only those bearing the Dark Mark could send spells and people through it," Remus said, a pair of enchanted wire-framed glasses resting on the bridge of his nose as he examined the barrier

"So one of the Inner Circle is casting it?" Sirius asked.

"I would imagine so, only they ever received knowledge from Voldemort," Remus replied.

"So do you know how we break it?" a tall, dark Auror asked nearby as his Blasting Hex bounced back and destroyed a tent.

"Unfortunately, Kingsley," Remus sighed, "I would need to know what the spell actually is to know the way to break it."

"Shame Ryan and the girls are traveling in Asia right now," Sirius mumbled in an undertone to Remus. "Bet they could break this barrier.

"Possibly, but like I said they would need to know about the spell before knowing how to counter it," Remus mumbled back.

"Sirius, any luck on this end?" Mary asked striding up to Sirius, Remus, Kinglsey and Tonks.

"None; did Bill Weasley make any head way?" Sirius asked taking in the sight of a disheveled Mary Macdonald, which in his opinion just made her more beautiful.

"He's tried everything, along with our own Curse-Breakers, and nothing," Mary sighed.

"We need to rescue that family at least, so time to start being creative," Sirius said rubbing his hands together. "I've just gotten an idea."

"Do share," Mary said sarcastically while Tonks giggled.

"If we can't break through the barrier, then let's go under it," Sirius said with his best Marauder smirk.

"That's plain ol' mad, but brilliant at the same time," Mary said admiringly and the two just looked into the other's eyes before Remus cleared his throat.

"Death Eaters essentially torturing a family here, focus on that you two," he said.

"Right, now let's see," Sirius said, shaking his head as Mary flushed a bit. Directing his wand at the ground, he yelled, 'Terramortus,' and the ground started to heave and split. The others quickly joined in, but before they could make much headway, a green light streaked into the sky from the direction of the forest. They all whipped around in time to see the green light explode into something that hadn't been seen in fourteen years.

"That's impossible," Mary whispered, her eyes not leaving the glittering green skull with a serpent for a tongue.

"No, the nightmare can't be starting again," Remus said horrified.

Behind them, the Death Eaters exclaimed in alarm and started to Apparate away in fear, the barrier having dropped as the caster must have fled. Kingsley spun around when he heard the commotion from the Death Eaters fleeing the sight of their old master's mark.

"Get them, now!" Kingsley shouted as the Aurors and Ministry employees broke from their daze and rushed in from all sides.

Before they could do anything though, four voices yelled out a curse that no one wanted to hear, 'AVADA KEDAVRA.' The streaks of green death raced into the sky and hit each of the Roberts.

"NO!" Sirius yelled as the bodies dropped to the ground and the last of the Death Eaters disappeared before they could be apprehended.

Back in the woods

"We have to move now!" Hermione yelled, and as the group scrambled to their feet, several soft pops occurred around them. Harry yelled, "DUCK," as several voices yelled, "Stupefy!"

Several jets of red light shot out from their wands and rushed over the heads of the teenagers.

"Wait, those are my sons," Mr. Weasley yelled as the Ministry employees advanced into the clearing.

"Out of the way Arthur, one of these children just caused a great deal of panic by conjuring the Mark," Crouch said.

"Barty, they're just kids, how could they know that spell?" a woman said and Crouch stopped and turned thoughtful.

"We didn't do it sir, a man over there did," Harry said. "He shot the spell and ran that away."

"All of you follow me," Crouch ordered and the Ministry employees except Mr. Weasley headed off into the trees in that direction.

"Could you tell who it was?" Mr. Weasley asked.

"No. I could swear I've seen him somewhere, but it was too dark," Harry regretfully said. "What's going on at the campsite?"

"I'm not sure myself; some of us broke off from the main group trying to breach the Death Eater's shields to try and get around them, but then the Mark appeared and we rushed here to deal with that," Mr. Weasley answered.

"We should go find Sirius then," Ginny said. "He would know."

"I'm right here," Sirius's voice said as he Apparated into the clearing. "The campsite is clear now, but we didn't apprehend a single Death Eater."

"And the Roberts?" Hermione asked.

Sirius was wearing a hard look on his face Harry had never seen, and he realized this was the man who had been one of the Ministry's best Aurors alongside his father.

"When the Dark Mark appeared, those bastards broke ranks and fled, but not before they…killed that family," Sirius said, his voice devoid of any emotion but anger. Hermione looked horrified and Ginny matched her expression, while the rest of the Weasleys looked shocked.

"How?" Harry asked.

"The thing only one person has survived, the Killing Curse," Sirius said, his eyes boring into Harry's, who realized the Roberts had died seeing the flash of green light that haunted his nightmares.

"We need to get back to the camp, rest and head home in the morning," Mr. Weasley said. "This is not going to go over well at all."