AN: And now for the chaoosssss.
Thanks SO much to Katherine my beta.
I own nothing.
Chapter 44
Mia awoke to pounding on her door. She was confused. She'd just fallen asleep. "Mia, Sirius! Wake up!" Mia jumped up and opened the door. "Grab a jacket and let's go," Gabe said, frantic.
"What's wrong?"
"I don't know, dad says to grab a jacket and get outside."
Mia grabbed her jacked and slipped on her shoes. She raced for the living room still confused. She could hear yelling in the distance. Were people still celebrating? No, the screams were of fear.
"Mia, where's your dad?"
Mia looked up at Mr. Adewumi. He had his wand out and pushed Gabe and Alec towards the door with the other hand.
"He went home," she said.
He looked confused for a moment, but shook his head. "No time, out," he said pushing her towards the door.
The screaming was louder outside. Bonfires were still lit everywhere, but no. They weren't just bonfires. The fire spread up one tree, and another tent was on fire. She could see people running between the trees.
"What's happening?"
Something was moving across the field towards them. There were flashes of green light, and sounds like gunfire. She could just make out a group of robed figures walking together, wands pointed in the air. Mia squinted. The robed figures all wore masks. Above them, people hung limp. A small figure was being spun like a top. Hands clutched to their face.
Mia couldn't breathe. It was so terrible. She could see the small figure thrashing in the air. Trying to fight against the bonds before it gave up and went limp again. How could anyone do something like this?
"Disgusting," Alec said.
Mr. Adewumi got in front of her and Gabe. "I'm going to help the Ministry. You need to run into the woods and hide, alright? Stay away from that mess. They're blowing up tents, but you'll be safe in the woods."
"I'm going too," Alec said. Mr. Adewumi nodded to his oldest son, then looked to Gabe and back to Mia. "Keep each other safe, ok? Use magic if you need to."
Mia felt for her wand in her jacket pocket and nodded. Gabe grabbed her hand and nodded to his dad before he pulled her in the opposite direction of the crowd.
They hurried for the treeline and made their way around the trunks. Mia tripped, but Gabe caught her. She sighed and pulled out her wand. "Lumos," she said. The tip of her wand lit and she cast the light low over the ground.
Their progress was still slow and the shouts and green light got closer behind them.
"This is stupid, let's change," Gabe suggested.
"Change into what? Party hats?"
Mia gasped and spun around. Draco leaned against a tree.
She took a few steps towards her cousin. "Why do you look so smug?" she asked. "Aren't you worried?"
"I doubt it," Gabe growled. "His dad is probably one of the guys in the mask."
Mia couldn't believe it. She looked at Draco, who was glaring at Gabe. When she thought about it for a moment, maybe Mia could believe it. Lucius wasn't a good man.
"Why are they doing this?" Mia asked.
"Just a reminder," Draco said smugly. "Remind everyone who's forgotten that they are still here, and to put the muggles in their place."
Mia's stomach turned. "Draco, do you really believe that? Do you really believe you are better than someone else just because you have magic? Just because of who you were born to? You are better than that Draco."
Draco looked down and didn't meet her eyes again. "Whatever. You're just the product of a blood traitor and mudblood."
"If you really think that Draco, look me in the eyes and say it," Mia said, icy anger flowing through her. She took a step towards her cousin, but he didn't meet her eyes.
Gabe grabbed her arm. "Let's get going," he said, pulling her gently. The green flashing lights were getting closer.
Mia followed Gabe deeper into the forest. They passed wide-eyed witches and wizards, and people calling frantically for their friends and family. After the fourth time Mia tripped, Gabe paused and pulled her between some particularly thick trees.
"Come on," Gabe whispered this time. "Let's change."
Mia nodded and closed her eyes. She reached for that place inside of her that lived for the sunlight on her fur and the soil under her paws. A moment later she opened her eyes and blinked. The night was much brighter to her tiger eyes.
Gabe bumped her shoulder with his snout. "Better?" he asked.
She just gave a cat grin and raced into the trees leaving Gabe to catch up. They ran through the woods and the fear and anxiety started to wash off of Mia. Eventually, they came to a stop, and bunkered down, huddled together in the shadow of a large tree to wait out the chaos. Mia almost dozed off when a bright green light filled the sky and she saw a skull formed of dazzling green spots of light. A long green serpent crept out of the mouth, and crawled through the sky. Mia didn't know what it was, but it sent a pulse of fear down her spine.
"What is it?" she asked Gabe.
"I thinkā¦" He trailed off, the green light reflecting in his eyes. "I think it's the dark mark. "You-know-who's symbol."
Mia snuggled closer to the large wolf, and they stayed hidden for a time longer until the woods had grown silent around them. The green mark continued to glow in the air.
When everything was quiet, they decided to leave their hiding place and make their way back to the campsite. Tents still burned and people wandered calling out for friends and family. When they reached the still glowing walkway, lit by lamps, they changed back behind a large tent and continued towards their campsite. Alec stood in front of the tent hands on his hips looking worried. When he saw them he sagged with relief.
"Good, I'll tell dad." He raised his wand and a silver mist rushed out of the tip and into the darkness. "Go pack up, dad wants to get out of here as soon as possible."
Mia went into the tent and packed her things back into her backpack. Gabe appeared with his bag just as she was swinging her's onto her shoulder. They made their way back outside just as Mr. Adewumi appeared. Relief broke out on his face at the sight of them.
"Good, let's get going."
Alec waved his wand and the tent folded its self up and stored its self in a bag. Alec picked it up and threw it over a shoulder.
"Mia, your dad, what happened exactly?" Mr. Adewumi asked.
Mia winced. She'd hoped they forgot to ask. "He doesn't sleep well," she said.
Understanding flashed in Mr. Adewumi's eyes. "Of course. Let's get going."
"Dad, did they catch any of them?" Gabe asked.
Mr. Adewumi frowned. "No, as soon as they saw their masters sign the cowards all took off."
"So they really were death eaters?" Mia asked.
Mr. Adewumi didn't say anything but lead the way to the field where they had arrived.
There was a long line of worried half dressed people waiting to get a portkey home. Mr. Adewumi left them in line and went to the front of the queue. He returned a moment later and gestured them forward. A ministry worker cast a spell over an old shoe and handed it to Mr. Adewumi with a nod. Being a diplomat did have perks.
Alec, Gabe and Mia all grabbed part of the shoe and a few moments later Mia felt a hook grab her behind her belly button and pull her through the air. It was just as terrible this time, except the exhaustion and adrenaline made the ride that much worse. When they landed, Mia reached out and put her hand against the trunk of a tree to keep from falling. After she was sure she wouldn't puke, she helped Gabe stand, and they all made their way slowly back to his house.
Mrs. Adewumi woke when they arrived, her face worried. Mr. Adewumi told her what happened while Alec sunk into the couch, and almost immediately fell asleep.
"Mia, do you want to stay here for the night?" she asked kindly.
Mia sighed. "I think I just want to be home," she said. She was exhausted and just wanted to curl up on her bed.
Mrs. Adewumi nodded. "We'll have to plan dinner then one of these nights", she said kindly. "Let me get you the floo powder."
"You'll be ok?" Gabe asked.
"Yeah, this way Sirius won't have to apparate all over the country looking for me."
Gabe grinned at the thought.
Mrs. Adewumi returned with the Floo powder and Mia took a pinch. "Thanks again, for everything," she said to the Adewumi's before she threw the powder into the fire and said the name of her home.
The green flames were a warm comforting embrace as she spun and spun. When she came to a stop she took a step and almost stepped on two dark figures huddled on the thick carpet in front of the fire. A large black dog, and a werewolf blinked up at her.
The dog let out a soft wuff.
Mia sighed. "I don't want to talk about it." She stepped around the two bodies and threw her bag onto the couch. Then she reached inside of herself again for the other part of her, and slipped between the dog and the werewolf joining their pile on the floor with an intimacy she could never manage as a human. The werewolf whined. Mia butted her soft tiger head against his neck until he stopped and relaxed against her side. They both new with the wolfsbane potion he wouldn't hurt her, and as she was an animagus, he couldn't infect her even by accident. Knowing that, Remus had still refused when Mia suggested keeping him company over the summer. Mia thought it was something about his pride, and hadn't pressed the issue. But they couldn't complain tonight. Mia relaxed against the warm fuzzy bodies at her sides and drifted off into a peaceful sleep.
AN: Dog/cat/wolf piles are my fave.
If you have any interest in learning more about the Young Adult Fantasy book I am in the process of publishing, check it out at hmwrites {{dot}} com /misplacedchild
