Chapter 29
I felt as though he had barely lain down to sleep in Ron's room when I was being shaken awake by Mrs. Weasley.
"Time to go, dear," she whispered, moving away to wake Ron.
"'S' time already?" said Fred groggily.
We dressed in silence, too sleepy to talk, then, yawning and stretching, the five of us headed downstairs into the kitchen. Mr. Weasley looked up as the boys entered and spread his arms so that they could see his clothes more clearly. He was wearing what appeared to be a golfing sweater and a very old pair of jeans, slightly too big for him and held up with a thick leather belt.
"What d'you think?" he asked anxiously. "We're supposed to go incognito — do I look like a Muggle, Harry?"
"Yeah," said Harry, smiling, "very good."
"Where're Bill and Charlie and Per-Per-Percy?" said George, failing to stifle a huge yawn.
"Well, they're Apparating, aren't they?" said Mrs. Weasley. "So they can have a bit of a lie-in."
"Lucky, bastards" I thought.
"So they're still in bed?" said Fred grumpily, pulling his bowl of porridge toward him. "Why can't we Apparate too?"
"Because you're not of age and you haven't passed your test," snapped Mrs. Weasley. "And where have those girls got to?"
She bustled out of the kitchen and we heard her climbing the stairs.
"You have to pass a test to Apparate?" Harry asked.
"Oh yes," said Mr. Weasley, tucking the tickets safely into the back pocket of his jeans. "The Department of Magical Transportation had to fine a couple of people the other day for Apparating without a license. It's not easy, Apparition, and when it's not done properly it can lead to nasty complications. This pair I'm talking about went and splinched themselves."
Everyone except Harry winced at the thought.
"Er — splinched?" said Harry.
"They left half of themselves behind," said Mr. Weasley, now spooning large amounts of treacle onto his porridge. "So, of course, they were stuck. Couldn't move either way. Had to wait for the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad to sort them out. Meant a fair old bit of paperwork, I can tell you, what with the Muggles who spotted the body parts they'd left behind. . . ."
"Were they okay?" Harry asked, startled.
"Oh yes," said Mr. Weasley matter-of-factly. "But they got a heavy fine, and I don't think they'll be trying it again in a hurry. You don't mess around with Apparition. There are plenty of adult wizards who don't bother with it. Prefer brooms — slower, but safer."
There were footsteps down the passageway and Hermione and Ginny came into the kitchen, both looking pale and drowsy.
"Why do we have to be up so early?" Ginny said, rubbing her eyes and sitting down at the table.
"We've got a bit of a walk," said Mr. Weasley.
"Walk?" said Harry. "What, are we walking to the World Cup?"
"No, no, that's miles away," said Mr. Weasley, smiling. "We only need to walk a short way. It's just that it's very difficult for a large number of wizards to congregate without attracting Muggle attention.
"George!" said Mrs. Weasley sharply, and all of us jumped.
"What?" said George, in an innocent tone that deceived nobody.
"What is that in your pocket?"
"Nothing!"
"Don't you lie to me!"
Mrs. Weasley pointed her wand at George's pocket and said, "Accio!"
Several small, brightly colored objects zoomed out of George's pocket; he made a grab for them but missed, and they sped right into Mrs. Weasley's outstretched hand.
It was an unpleasant scene; the twins had evidently been trying to smuggle as many toffees out of the house as possible, and it was only by using her Summoning Charm that Mrs. Weasley managed to find them all.
All in all, the atmosphere was not very friendly as we took our departure. "Well, have a lovely time," said Mrs. Weasley, "and behave yourselves. " she called after the twins' retreating backs, but they did not look back or answer. "I'll send Bill, Charlie, and Percy along around midday," Mrs. Weasley said to Mr. Weasley, as he, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny and I set off across the dark yard after Fred and George.
Mr. Weasley, Harry and Ron were ahead, while Hermione, Ginny and I stood a few feet back. We didn't have breath to spare for talking as they began to climb Stoatshead Hill, stumbling occasionally in hidden rabbit holes, slipping on thick black tuffets of grass. Each breath I took was sharp in my chest and my legs were starting to seize up. In the middle of the road Ginny gave up and she sat on the ground.
"Leave me here" she panted. "Go on without me."
"We can't leave you here, Ginny" I say. An idea comes to me. "How about a piggyback ride?"
"Yes" she says, standing up.
"I don't think it is a good idea" Hermione says, concerned. I know what she is thinking about. My back.
"It's okay, Hermione" I assure her as Ginny climbs to my back. "I am not seventy years old."
"Thank you so much. I think I am in love with you." Ginny tells me. Then she looks over to Hermione, who is frowning. "Just kidding, Hermione." Her face slowly goes back to normal. Wait a minute. Is she disgusted by the idea of Ginny liking me? I'm hallucinating, right? Did she like me? I think the fatigue is affecting my senses.
"So tell me Ginny" I say, as we continue walking. "How is the mission seducing Potter going? Any results, yet?"
"Nope. It's all a failure." she tells me disappointed. "He will never like me."
"He will like you. Just give him some time. Meanwhile, you can date other guys."
"What kind of advice is that?" Hermione asks.
"It's the kind of advice a brother would tell her sister. Anyway, as I was telling before Hermione interrupted, you can date other guys to make him notice you. When he realizes other guys are interested in you, he will get interested and that would lead to jealousy. In other words, date someone else and he will notice you more."
"Have you been jealous before?" Ginny asks me. I think for a moment. I was jealous when I saw Hermione hugging Ron… but that's not something I am blurting out, especially in front of Hermione.
"Yeah, I have been jealous."
"Of who?" Hermione says.
"That my friend is classified information." I smirk.
"Really?" Hermione and Ginny ask at unison.
"I'm sorry but my mouth is sealed." I say, as my feet found level ground.
"Whew," panted Mr. Weasley, taking off his glasses and wiping them on his sweater. "Well, we've made good time — we've got ten minutes. . . ."
We all hit the ground, trying to breathe normally again.
"Over here, Arthur! Over here, son, we've got it!" someone yells. Two tall figures were silhouetted against the starry sky on the other side of the hilltop.
"Amos!" said Mr. Weasley, smiling as he strode over to the man who had shouted. Mr. Weasley was shaking hands with a ruddy-faced wizard with a scrubby brown beard, who was holding a moldy-looking old boot in his other hand.
"This is Amos Diggory, everyone," said Mr. Weasley. "He works for the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. And I think you know his son, Cedric?"
"Hi," said Cedric, looking around at them all.
Everybody said hi back except Fred and George, who merely nodded. They had never quite forgiven Cedric for beating their team, Gryffindor, in the first Quidditch match of the previous year.
"Long walk, Arthur?" Cedric's father asked.
"Not too bad," said Mr. Weasley. "We live just on the other side of the village there. You?"
"Had to get up at two, didn't we, Ced? I tell you, I'll be glad when he's got his Apparition test. Still . . . not complaining . . . Quidditch World Cup, wouldn't miss it for a sackful of Galleons and the tickets cost about that. Mind you, looks like I got off easy. . . ." Amos Diggory peered good-naturedly around at the three Weasley boys, Harry, Hermione, Ginny and I. "All these yours, Arthur?"
"Oh no, only the redheads," said Mr. Weasley, pointing out his children. "This is Hermione, friend of Ron's, Anthony, another friend of Ron's — and Harry, other friend —"
"Merlin's beard," said Amos Diggory, his eyes widening. "Harry? Harry Potter?"
"Er — yeah," said Harry.
I could tell he was uncomfortable. He was used to people staring at him, but it didn't mean he was comfortable with it.
"Ced's talked about you, of course," said Amos Diggory. "Told us all about playing against you last year. . . . I said to him, I said — Ced, that'll be something to tell your grandchildren, that will. . . . You beat Harry Potter!"
I scowl. He didn't just say that. Cedric looked slightly embarrassed.
"Harry fell off his broom, Dad," he muttered. "I told you . . . it was an accident. . . ."
"Yes, but you didn't fall off, did you?" roared Amos genially, slapping his son on his back.
"We should get going." I suddenly yell. I don't like the way the conversation is going, and it's probably ending worse.
"Must be nearly time," said Mr. Weasley quickly, pulling out his watch me a 'thank you' look. "Do you know whether we're waiting for any more, Amos?"
"No, the Lovegoods have been there for a week already and the Fawcetts couldn't get tickets," said Mr. Diggory. "There aren't any more of us in this area, are there?"
"Not that I know of," said Mr. Weasley. "Yes, it's a minute off. . . . We'd better get ready. . . ."
He looked around at Harry and Hermione.
"You just need to touch the Portkey, that's all, a finger will do —"
"Three . . ." muttered Mr. Weasley, one eye still on his watch, "two . . . one . . ."
Then it happened. I felt the hook just behind my navel had been suddenly jerked irresistibly forward. My feet left the ground; I could feel Ginny and Harry on either side of me, their shoulders banging into mine.
My feet slammed into the ground; Harry staggered into me and he fell over; the Portkey hit the ground near my head with a heavy thud.
"Get off me" I mumbled. Harry landed on me right on me. He looked down and smirked.
"I don't think so. I think I will stay here, you are so comfortable." He says, trying to squish me more.
"Damn it, Potter." I snapped. I rolled on the grass, making him fall to the ground with a heavy thud. I grinned and got up. We walked until we found a muggle.
"Morning!" said Mr. Weasley brightly.
"Morning," said the Muggle.
"Would you be Mr. Roberts?"
"Aye, I would," said Mr. Roberts. "And who're you?"
"Weasley — two tents, booked a couple of days ago?"
"Aye," said Mr. Roberts, consulting a list tacked to the door. "You've got a space up by the wood there. Just the one night?"
"That's it," said Mr. Weasley.
"You'll be paying now, then?" said Mr. Roberts.
"Ah — right — certainly —" said Mr. Weasley. He retreated a short distance from the cottage and beckoned Harry toward him. He pulled a roll of Muggle money from his pocket and starting to peel the notes apart. He paid the muggle and we walked to the tent.
When we reached the tent, we saw it was very small. I looked like it could only fit one person. "We'll be a bit cramped," Mr. Weasley called, "but I think we'll all squeeze in. Come and have a look."
I gave Harry a confused look, which he returned. Fred and George went first and I went next. I felt my jaw dropped when I came in. It was huge from inside. It looked like an old-fashioned, three-room flat, complete with bathroom and kitchen.
Soon after that Bill, Percy and Charlie showed up, we ate dinner and then headed to the stadium.
"Prime seats!" said the Ministry witch at the entrance when she checked their tickets. "Top Box! Straight upstairs, Arthur, and as high as you can go."
"Blimely, dad. How far up are we?" Fred asked.
"Well, lets out it this way." Came the voice of I men I knew too well for my liking. Lucius Malfoy. "If it rains you will be the first to know." I saw Draco walking behind him.
"Father and I are in the Minister Box. Invited by Cornelius Fudge himself." said Draco. His dad hit him with his walking stick.
"Hush up, Draco" he hissed. I gave a look of pity to Draco. He worked so hard to please her father. His father was so hard with him that his mother babied him. All he wanted to do was to be like his father, even when he is not a very likable person. " Ahhh, if it isn't Black Jr. I thought you knew better than hanging out with blood traitors."
"There is something funny about your family, Mr. Malfoy. You can't mind your own business. And it's a shame. Nobody likes gossipy people." I snapped, climbing up the stairs.
"Are you okay?" Hermione asks me once we are on the box.
"I'm fine. Like I care what Lucius Malfoy thinks." I say. He doesn't like me and I don't like him, our relationship can't be better.
"Dobby?" said Harry incredulously. I tuned to see what he was looking at. There I saw a tiny house elf who turned out not to be Dobby.
"Did sir just call me Dobby?" squeaked the elf.
"Sorry," Harry told the elf, "I just thought you were someone I knew."
"But I knows Dobby too, sir!" squeaked the elf. "My name is Winky, sir — and you, sir —" Her dark brown eyes widened to the size of side plates as they rested upon Harry's scar. "You are surely Harry Potter!"
I roll my eyes. Of course. Harry is famous even among house elves. They continued talking about I don't know what until the match started.
"Ladies and gentlemen . . . welcome! Welcome to the final of the four hundred and twenty-second Quidditch World Cup!" the minister yelled. The spectators screamed and clapped. "And now, without further ado, allow me to introduce . . . the Bulgarian National Team Mascots!"
"I wonder what they've brought," said Mr. Weasley, leaning forward in his seat. . "Aaah!" He suddenly whipped off his glasses and polished them hurriedly on his robes. "Veela!"
"What are veel — ?" Harry started to ask but he stopped.
Veela were women . . . the most beautiful women I had ever seen . . . except that they weren't — they couldn't be — human. The veela had started to dance, and I mind had gone completely and blissfully blank. I close my eyes and shook my head. "Stop looking at them, before you do something stupid." I thought to myself. I turned my back to Veela and look for something to look at meanwhile. Hermione was staring at me.
"What?" I asked.
"Why aren't you trying to jump off the edge to get the Veela like Harry or Ron?"
"I don't know…" I shrug.
"And now," roared Ludo Bagman's voice, "kindly put your wands in the air . . . for the Irish National Team Mascots!"
"Excellent!" yelled Ron.
"Leprechauns!" said Mr. Weasley over the tumultuous applause. Once the Leprechauns left, each member of both teams were presented and then match was started.
The speed of the players was incredible — the Chasers were throwing the Quaffle to one another so fast that Bagman only had time to say their names. The match became still faster, but more brutal. Volkov and Vulchanov, the Bulgarian Beaters, were whacking the Bludgers as fiercely as possible at the Irish Chasers, and were starting to prevent them from using some of their best moves; twice they were forced to scatter, and then, finally, Ivanova managed to break through their ranks; dodge the Keeper, Ryan; and score Bulgaria's first goal.
When the match was over I couldn't believe it. It was amazing. Ireland won even though Krum caught the Snitch. Fred and George had huge grins on their faces. That was exactly what they bet.
When they finally reached the tents, nobody felt like sleeping at all, and given the level of noise around them, Mr. Weasley agreed that we could all have one last cup of cocoa together before turning in.
"There is no one like Krum." Ron said. "Not only he is a seeker, he is an artist." He continued saying. I give a glance at Harry and the both of us start laughing.
"I think you are in love Ron." Ginny joked. Fred then got on his knee and held Ron's left hand while George held the right.
"Krum I love you"
"Krum I do"
"My heart only beats for you." We all sang while Ron stood there and looked disgruntled. Then there was a loud noise.
"Sound like the Irish's are having fun". George said.
"It's not the Irish." said Mr. Weasley as he walked into the tent. Then he said in a severe tone. "We have to get out of here."
When we walked outside there was fire everywhere. By the light of the few fires that were still burning, I could see people running away into the woods, fleeing something that was moving across the field toward them, something that was emitting odd flashes of light and noises like gunfire.
A crowd of wizards tightly packed and moving together with wands pointing straight upward was marching slowly across the field. Then I realized that their heads were hooded and their faces masked. It was impossible… they were Death Eaters.
At the same moment, Bill, Charlie, and Percy emerged from the boys' tent, fully dressed, with their sleeves rolled up and their wands out. "We're going to help the Ministry!" Mr. Weasley shouted over all the noise, rolling up his own sleeves. "You lot — get into the woods, and stick together. I'll come and fetch you when we've sorted this out!"
Bill, Charlie, and Percy were already sprinting away toward the oncoming marchers; Mr. Weasley tore after them.
"C'mon," said Fred, grabbing Ginny's hand and starting to pull her toward the wood. Harry, Ron, Hermione, George and I followed. Dark figures were blundering through the trees; children were crying; anxious shouts and panicked voices were reverberating around them in the cold night air. I felt myself being pushed hither and thither by people whose faces I could not see.
Suddenly, someone grabs me by the arm and drags me away from the rest of the group. I tried to shout, but he put his other hand on my mouth. I looked up and saw that it was Draco.
"Draco, what is going on?" I said, taking his hand out of my mouth.
"No time to explain. Just follow me." he said as we marched towards the woods.
"No I have to go back. The rest…"
"They will be fine, come on" he dragged me into some part of the woods I have never been. We were close to the campsite, though. I could see the fire some meters away. It was maybe too close to my liking.
"Don't you think we are close?" I ask him when we finally stop walking.
"Exactly, they won't look for us here."
"Where is your father? Your family?"
He doesn't respond. He looks to the campsite with sadness. Did they attack them? I don't thinks so. I think it for a moment… Does he mean what I think he means?
"Is he one of them?" He nods. We are in silence for a few minutes.
"Don't tell anyone." Draco hisses, trying to sound harsh but it sounded more like a pleading.
"I won't." I was going to say something else when suddenly Draco shouted: "Get down!"
Something in his voice made me obey him; he raised his wand and yelled "Expelliarmus!" I turned around and saw a black figure behind me who then dissaperated. His spell had shot a wooden structure above and then came crashing down. I took steps back to avoid getting my head split in two.
"Run, Cyguns, Run!" I hear Draco yell from the other side of the trees and I did as he said. I began to run down the woods, until I my legs hurt. I stopped to catch my breath, when suddenly someone hits my head with a branch, knocking me out.
Pam, pam, pam, pam. A cliffhanger. I am sorry, I meant to update this yestarday but I sadly I couldnt. Did you like this chapter? I personally liked the part where Tony and Ginny talk about Harry and dating other guys. You will now probably wonder who knocked out Tony... and its really no one in particular... or that is what I want you to think... I changed it to make it different from the original story. Tell me what you think in a review, i love to hear (in this case read) your opinions. See you later,
-Lobo Sombra
