Chapter Four: A Hard Day's Night
Hermione and Cedric filed out of the Top Box, trailing behind Mr. Weasley and the twins. As they clambered back down the massive stands, they could hear Mr. Weasley warning Fred and George.
"Whatever you do, don't let Molly find out you've been gambling," he groaned worriedly, "Oh, I'd never hear the end of it if she found out I'd let you two gamble away your savings!"
"You seem to be forgetting one small, but important detail, dad…" George said jovially.
"…we won!" the twins rejoined cheerfully, pumping their fists into the air.
Mr. Weasley chuckled a little humorlessly, but couldn't help but smile at their exuberance , "Yes, well, I don't think Molly would be any more pleased about that, so keep it quiet."
"Oh, not to worry, Dad," said Fred mysteriously, a grin permanently painted across his face, "we've got big plans for this. Last thing we want's for it to be confiscated."
Mr. Weasley's mouth opened as though he wanted to ask just what their big plans were, but seemed to decide that it was best he didn't know. Best not become an accomplice, he thought wryly.
The twins shared a conspiratorial look before Fred turned and caught Hermione's eye, shooting her a quick wink.
Hermione chuckled quietly and shook her head in response.
"What on earth was that about?" a bewildered Cedric asked from beside her.
"They've been working on opening their own joke shop since last year, but Mrs. Weasley's dead set against I," Hermione said in an undertone. "She confiscated all their inventions and order forms this morning. They'll probably be able to resurrect Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes with that money. Anyway, I may have offered to help with their scheme."
Cedric groaned.
"What?" Hermione asked curiously.
"Nothing. I'm just thinking of the all traumatized First Years I'm gonna have on my hands for the rest of my Hogwarts career."
Hermione laughed at his miserable expression, "Oh, they'll be alright! The twins are many things, but malicious is not one of them — maybe, a little…misguided sometimes."
Cedric shot her an in incredulous look, but seemed to consider it, "That's fair, I guess."
His companion rolled her eyes and laughed at his petulance.
"You laugh, but just imagine reaching for your wand in Charms only to find a bloody great rat instead!" He cried, gesticulating slightly.
Hermione was unmoved and smirked and shook her head, "Serves you right for leaving your wand unattended."
"Oi! Salt in the wound!" Cedric exclaimed petulantly.
"Because I'm right..." She singsonged at him.
"Yes," Cedric sighed.
"Well, count yourself lucky. I could tell you a story involving a teddy bear and a spider that would rank higher on the trauma scale." She laughed, knocking shoulders with him lightly.
"Merlin, I don't think I want to know."
—-
Once they got caught up in the crowds flooding out of the stadium, boisterous singing wafting toward them on the cool night air as they retraced their steps along the lantern-lit path. It was near midnight by the time they finally reached their tents and nobody felt like sleeping at all, and with the noise of everyone's celebrations on their doorstep, Mr. Weasley agreed that they could all stay up a while longer.
Music was blaring from every direction and laughter echoed through the wood. Cedric happily stayed behind with the Weasley group while his father went off with Crouch on some business of something or other going missing.
They retreated into the relative quiet of the tent, though the celebratory music and cheering was only muffled. Mr. Weasley served them each a large mug of hot chocolate, thick and steaming, and they all spread out around living room and kitchen, talking excitedly about the game. The boys and Ginny began analyzing the players' moves and formations, arguing over which team played more creatively. Hermione smiled sleepily from the couch she had claimed as Ron and Cedric started debating Krum's value to the team. No matter how long she lived in the Wizarding World or how many Quidditch games she attended, she doubted she would ever have enough passion for the game to debate such things.
The lovely fog of sleep that had developed around her broke at the ominous change that had suddenly taken place outside. She sat up, her body rigid, and recognized the familiar feeling of adrenaline rush through her veins, a cold chill running through her in response.
She barely registered that everyone else had fallen silent and was listening as well. The singing had stopped, replaced by screams and heavy footsteps, and it was coming closer, like a tidal wave, until it was at their door.
Hermione grit her teeth and forced a deep breath into her lungs. Suddenly, she was hyper aware of every little thing around her. She could feel Cedric's left hand clasped around her wrist, as if ready to pull her to her feet, wand drawn, his body as tense as hers. She could hear his breath coming in short, quick puffs as he apparently fought off the same fight or flight reaction. She then became aware that she had abandoned her mug of cocoa at some point and drawn her wand as well, while her other hand had reached for her bag. Her mind finally registered that they were not the only ones on alert. The older members of their group had similarly drawn their wands, and Mr. Weasley was moving to the tent's entrance.
That seemed to be the signal for everyone. They all moved with him as one, jumping up from their comfortable perches on the stools and chairs throughout the tent. But Mr. Weasley was having none of that.
"Stay here," he said sternly, with an especially sharp look at Hermione, Ron and Harry, "all of you."
As soon as he left the tent an explosion echoed from nearby and Harry made to dash outside.
Hermione was at his side in a second, roughly grabbing his arm and hissed in warning, "Wait!"
Mr. Weasley reentered the tent.
"Everybody outside now!" he said urgently. "Go! Come on!"
The look on his face, fear warring with panic, caused any questions they may have had to evaporate.
The large group of eleven hurried out of the tent. Harry and Mr. Weasley were the first out the door, Ron hot on their heels. Hermione grabbed Ginny's arm, seeing her rooted to the spot, and pulled the petrified younger girl with her leaving Cedric to follow them.
What greeted them was chaos. Absolute chaos. They were being pushed and shoved by the herds of people that were running into the wood. Fleeing, Hermione realized with a shot of cold dread. She clutched Ginny close to her side, and started violently when Cedric wrapped an arm around her to keep from getting separated. There was something steadily moving toward them in the pitch darkness. It was a cloud of green flashes and noises like gunshots. If it weren't for the fearful stampede of people, Hermione might've thought it was just another round of fireworks. She peered into the darkness as loud jeers and roars of drunken laughter drifted toward them. A bright light burst out of the flashing green cloud, illuminating their surroundings. Their shock was complete.
A crowd of tightly packed wizards, their wands pointed skyward, marched towards them as they levitated four bodies above them. The bodies were contorting gruesomely, an unknown spell being cast on them as the others kept them levitated. Hermione narrowed her eyes slightly and then widened in shock as she recognized the bodies as those belonging to the Muggle family that ran the campsite. Her heart quickened as she took in the appearance of the wizards responsible their torment. Silver masks that almost glowed, and hooded with billowing black cloaks.
"It can't be..." Cedric whispered, looking at them disbelievingly from beside her.
"Death Eaters," Hermione finished in horror.
Tents crumpled and fell as the growing crowd approached. The screaming grew louder.
"This is sick," Ron muttered hoarsely, watching the smallest figure, a little girl no more than 7, spinning above them, her head flopping limply from side to side with every turn.
"We're going to help the Ministry!" Mr. Weasley shouted over all the noise, rolling up his sleeves. "Get to the woods and stick together! I'll come find you when we've sorted this out!"
"C'mon," said Cedric, grabbing Hermione's hand and began pulling her toward the wood at a run. Harry, Ron, Ginny and the twins followed. They all looked back when they reached the tree line. They could see the Ministry wizards trying to break through the group of hooded wizards without success.
The lanterns that had lit the wooded path earlier had long been extinguished. Without them, the woods was plunged into an eerie darkness. Hermione could could feel, but not quite see the dark figures blundering in between the trees. She could hear children crying and anxious cries echoing all around them in the frigid night and feel herself being pushed hither and thither by faceless people as she held tight to Cedric's hand. Ginny's hand was torn from her grip, however, and she heard the familiar sound of her voice as she yelped in pain.
"Ginny?" Hermione called out, stopping abruptly.
"What's happened?" Cedric asked.
"Ginny, where are you?" Hermione called. "Oh, this is ridiculous – Lumos Maxima!"
Light sprung form her wand and she directed it's beam down the path. Ginny was lying on her back, clutching at her shoulder.
"Someone knocked into me," she groaned painfully as Hermione helped her up.
"Finally where you belong then, Weasley," said a drawling voice from behind them.
Ginny, Hermione and Cedric turned sharply, wands at the ready. Draco Malfoy was perched alone on a low hanging branch nearby, looking utterly relaxed.
"Fuck off, Malfoy," Ginny spat venomously, holding her sore arm close to her body.
"Language, Weasley," said Malfoy, his sneer growing. "Hadn't you better be hurrying along, now? You wouldn't want her spotted, would you?"
He nodded at Hermione, and at the same moment, a blast like a bomb carried over from the campsite, a flash of red light momentarily lit the trees around them.
"And just what the hell's that supposed to mean?" Cedric growled menacingly.
Malfoy sneered in Cedric's direction before returning his cold gaze to Hermione, "I see you've got a new guard dog, Granger."
"Careful Malfoy, I'm getting the strong urge to punch you again," Hermione said coolly.
Malfoy glowered, but backed off, looking over at Cedric as if he were dim, "They're hunting Muggles, Diggory."
"Hermione's a witch! Or do you need a little reminder of that, Malfoy?" Ginny snarled.
"Whatever you say. If you think they don't know a Mudblood when they see one…" Malfoy grinned maliciously.
"What the fuck did you just say?" Cedric growled, stalking towards Malfoy menacingly.
Ginny smirked as she watched Malfoy's eyes widen momentarily in fear.
"Cedric, don't," Hermione hissed only for him to hear, seizing his arm as she stepped in front of him to restrain him. "If we're right about who's out there, we need to get out of here."
Cedric stayed rooted to the spot.
"Come on," said Hermione, with a disgusted look at Malfoy, "let's go find the others."
"Keep that pretty little head of yours down, Granger," sneered Malfoy.
"Come on," Hermione repeated, pulling Cedric and Ginny back up the path again, tugging particularly hard at Cedric's arm when he spun around to face Malfoy again.
—-
Fred, George, Harry and Ron were nowhere to be seen, though the path was packed with plenty of other people, all looking nervously over their shoulders in the pitch dark.
"They can't have gone far," said Cedric, lighting his wand as they squinted up the path. Ginny did the same.
A rustling noise nearby made all three of them jump and Cedric stepped slightly in front of Hermione and Ginny. A familiar looking house-elf was struggling out of a clump of bushes as if some unseen force was pulling her by the scruff of her neck. She disappeared into the trees, panting and squeaking as she fought the force that was restraining her.
Another loud bang echoed from the edge of the wood.
"Let's keep moving," said Cedric, standing tensely beside Hermione, looking ready to pounce.
They followed the dark path deeper into the wood, still keeping an eye out for Harry, Ron and the others. They passed a group of goblins who were cackling over a sack of gold, seemingly unconcerned by the chaos of the night. As they moved down the path they spotted a patch of silvery light, and when they peered through the trees, they saw three tall and beautiful veela standing in a clearing. They were surrounded by a mass of young wizards, all boasting about progressively wild accomplishments very loudly.
As they drew closer they heard a familiar voice yelling, "Did I tell you I've invented a broomstick that'll reach the Moon?"
Hermione peered through the crowd toward its source and heaved a sigh of relief. Standing a little ways away from the veela, were Harry and Ron. The latter still energetically spouting tall tales at the beautiful women.
"Harry, Ron!" shouted Hermione, as they reached them.
Harry turned and launched himself at Hermione, "Finally! Are you all alright? You haven't seen my wand, have you?"
"We're alright, but we should keep moving."
Harry grabbed Ron firmly by the arms, wheeled him around, and marched him away, Cedric and Hermione leading the way.
"Wait, what do you mean have we seen your wand?"
"I've lost it. I must've dropped it somewhere while we were running or something."
"You're kidding!" Cedric exclaimed.
"Oh, Harry! I've told you to be more careful about where you keep it," Hermione moaned.
"I know, I know," they were in the very heart of the woods and seemed to be alone now; everything was much quieter. "I reckon we can just wait here, you know. We'll hear anyone coming a mile off."
Ron, leading the way into the small clearing, sat down on the first patch of dry grass he found.
Hermione wandered over, looking around the clearing cautiously before dropping down beside him while Cedric listened for any noise from the campsite.
"It's so quiet. Maybe it's over," he said, sitting beside Hermione and Ron on the ground.
Silence reigned until Hermione suddenly looked over her shoulder. Cedric, Harry, Ginny and Ron looked around, too. Something was coming toward them. They waited, listening to the sounds of the uneven footfalls behind the dark trees. But the footsteps came to a sudden halt.
"Hello?" called Harry.
There was silence. Cedric, Hermione and Harry got to their feet and peered into the dark. It was too dark to see very far, but they could sense somebody standing just beyond the reach of their vision.
"Who's there?" Cedric shouted.
And then, without warning, the silence was shattered by a voice that uttered what sounded like a spell. Not in a panicked voice, but in a tone almost brutally calm in light of the current situation.
"MORSMORDRE!"
Something green and glittering shot out of the darkness and up into the dark sky.
"What the — ?" gasped Ron as he sprang to his feet, staring up at the thing that had appeared.
They watched it rise higher and higher before finally taking the shape of a sickly green skull, a snake slithering out of its mouth.
Suddenly, the woods all around them erupted with shouts of renewed fear. Cedric and Hermione inhaled sharply and swore.
"Who's there?" Harry called.
"Harry, come on, move!" Hermione had seized the collar of his jacket and was tugging him backward. Cedric was trying to tug her and Ginny along in turn.
"What's the matter?" Harry said, startled to see that they were both terrified.
"It's the Dark Mark, Harry," Hermione said, pulling him as hard as she could. "It's Voldemort's sign!"
"Voldemort's — ?"
"Harry, move!"
Harry finally turned and the five of them started across the clearing, but before they had taken a few hurried steps, a series of popping noises announced the arrival of twenty wizards, appearing from thin air, surrounding them.
Cedric whirled around and registered one fact: Each of these wizards had his wand out, and every wand was pointing right at himself, Hermione, Harry, Ron and Ginny.
Without pausing to think, he yelled, "DOWN!"
Hermione seized Ginny and yanked her down. Cedric did the same to Harry and did his best to shield Hermione, tucking her against his chest protectively, nearly lying atop her on the damp ground.
The roared of twenty voices casting a stunning spell echoed in their ears. There was a blinding series of flashes and it felt as though a powerful wind had swept the clearing. Raising her head a fraction of an inch, Hermione saw jets of fiery red light flying over them from the wizards' wands, crossing one another, bouncing off tree trunks, rebounding into the darkness —
"Stop!" someone yelled. "STOP! That's my son!"
The quasi-wind stopped, and they all raised their heads cautiously. The wizard in front of them had lowered his wand. Hermione rolled over and saw Mr. Diggory running toward them, looking terrified, Mr. Weasley not far behind.
"Cedric — Hermione," his voice sounded shaky, "Ron — Harry — Ginny are you all right?"
"Out of the way, Amos," said a cold, curt voice.
It was Mr. Crouch. He and the other Ministry wizards were closing in on them. They all got to their feet to face them. Crouch's face looked sharper somehow, the planes of his face harshened by rage.
"Which of you did it?" he snapped, his dark eyes darting between them. "Which of you conjured the Dark Mark?"
"We didn't do that!" said Harry, gesturing up at the skull, still completely bemused at the situation.
"We didn't do anything!" said Cedric, looking indignantly at his father. "What did you go and attack us for?"
"Do not lie!" shouted Mr. Crouch. His wand was pointing directly at Cedric, and his eyes were bulging. He looked almost mad. "You have been discovered at the scene of the crime!"
Hermione's patience snapped and she glared angrily Mr. Crouch, taking a step closer to Cedric's side, "He's not lying! None of us conjure it!"
"Where did the Mark come from, you lot?" Mr. Weasley asked breathlessly, still trying to recover from their sprint.
"Over there," said Hermione, pointing at the place where they had heard the voice.
"We heard someone moving behind the trees...they shouted something - couldn't see who though." Cedric added.
"Our Stunners went right through there. Maybe we got them." Mr. Diggory said.
"Dad, be careful!" Cedric shouted as Mr. Diggory squared his shoulders, raised his wand, marched across the clearing, and disappeared into the darkness.
Mr. Crouch, however, still had his wand trained on him and Hermione, and he was looking mad as ever, veins protruding on his neck, a wild look in his eyes. Ron, Harry and Ginny were eyeing his unsteady wand hand apprehensively, but Hermione and Cedric stood their ground, regarding him coldly.
"Oh, for Merlin's sake! Lower your bloody wand before you take someone's eye out," Cedric snapped irritably.
At that moment, they heard Mr. Diggory shout.
"What – who? Who is it?" shouted Mr. Crouch, disbelieving.
They heard Mr. Diggory's footsteps as they all reemerged from behind the trees. He was carrying a tiny, limp figure in his arms. A house-elf. The same terrified house-elf they had encountered in the Top Box and then later in the wood.
"N-no, can't —," Crouch ground out haltingly. "No —" He brushed past Mr. Diggory to inspect the woods himself.
Mr. Diggory looked over at Mr. Weasley, "Oh, if this makes the front pages on top of everything else," Mr. Diggory groaned grimly, shaking his head. "Barty Crouch's house-elf. I mean, really...And with his – his family history..."
"Amos, you don't seriously think it was the elf?" said Mr. Weasley quietly, "The Dark Mark's a wizards' spell, it requires a wand."
"Yeah," said Mr. Diggory, "and she had a wand, look. But no – no I don't believe she would have conjured it. Lets hear what she's got to say, shall we?"
He raised his own wand and pointed it at the house-elf to revive her.
The creature's huge round eyes blinked slowly, in a confused sort of way. Seeing the group of silent and imposing wizards surrounding her was enough to elicit the beginnings of tears as she sat up shakily.
"Winky, the Dark Mark was conjured here a short while ago, as you can see," said Mr. Diggory. "You were found moments later, beneath it. An explanation, if you please!"
"No – I – no, Winky is good elf, sir!" Winky gasped.
"You were found with a wand in your hand!" shouted Mr. Diggory, brandishing it in front of her. The unnatural green light from above caught the wand.
"That's my wand!" Harry suddenly shouted in surprise.
Everyone in the clearing looked at him.
"Excuse me?" said Mr. Diggory, clearly thrown by the sudden interruption.
"That's my wand!" said Harry. "I thought I lost it earlier when we left the tent."
"So then," said Mr. Diggory, his eyes hardening as he turned to look at Winky. "You found a wand and thought you'd have some fun, eh?"
"I's not doing magic, sir!" squealed Winky, tears streaming down the sides of her face.
"It wasn't her, dad!" Cedric suddenly burst, feeling terribly sorry for the obviously frightened, shaking house-elf in front of them.
"Cedric's right. Winky's got a squeaky little voice and the voice we heard in the wood definitely belonged to a man. It didn't sound anything like Winky," Hermione said with certainty, feeling just as awful for the strange little creature.
"Yeah, it was a human voice," said Ron.
"Well, we can find out easily enough," Mr. Diggory said easily. He was inclined to believe his son and his friends, but he wouldn't be doing his job if he didn't investigate thoroughly. He raised his own wand again and placed it tip to tip with Harry's. "Prior Incantato!"
Several of the Ministry officials flinched as a miniature version of the Dark Mark erupted from the point where the two wands met, but it was only a shade of the skull above them.
"Well," Mr. Diggory sighed, looking unimpressed. "As the kids said, it wasn't Winky's voice they heard out there. And I for one believe them. Arthur?"
"Quite right, Amos. She might've picked it up anywhere..."
"Amos," said Mr. Crouch curtly interrupted , "I ask that you to allow me to deal with Winky. You may be assured that she will be punished," Mr. Crouch added coldly.
Mr. Diggory assented grudgingly, looking as though he didn't think much of the idea at all, thank you very much.
Winky's bulbous eyes blinked up wetly at Crouch, pleading, "P-p-please..."
"This means clothes." Mr. Crouch stared back coldly, not an ounce of pity in his gaze, grasping Winky by the arm and Disapparating away, the sound of her sobs abruptly silenced.
There was a very nasty silence, which was ended by Mr. Weasley, who said quietly, "Well, I think I'll take my lot back to the campsite, if nobody's got any objections. Amos, that wand's told us all it can. If Harry could have it back, please..."
"Ah, of course," Mr. Diggory handed Harry his wand, who immediately pocketed it, avoiding Hermione's rather pointed look. "Arthur, I've got to stick 'round here, help get things under control. Would you mind terribly taking Cedric back with you? I won't be done for hours and he must be about ready to drop, poor lad. They probably all are."
"Of course, Amos. No problem at all. We've got plenty of room," Mr. Weasley said without hesitation.
Mr. Diggory nodded his thanks and put on a hand on Cedric's arm, "Ced, why don't you head back to the campsite with Hermione and the others? I'm going to be here a while," he said quietly.
Cedric nodded sleepily, "Right. I'll see in the morning, dad."
"Come along, you lot. Fast as we can, now," Mr. Weasley said quietly, leading them out of the clearing. "What happened to the twins?"
"Duuno know, we lost them in the dark," said Ron. "Dad, what's going on? Why was everyone so worried about that skull thing?"
"Later," said Mr. Weasley tensely.
But when they reached the edge of the woods, their path was blocked. A crowd of frightened-looking witches and wizards was gathered there. When they saw Mr. Weasley approaching, they surged forward.
"What's happened?"
"Who conjured it?"
"We don't know who it was; it looks like they Disapparated. Now, please, excuse me, we want to get to bed."
He led the group through the crowd and back to the campsite. Everything was too quiet now. Some of the demolished tents were still smoking and only one of their tents made it through the commotion intact. The other, incinerated and reduced to a pile of ashes. Hermione was suddenly immensely grateful she had had the presence of mind to take her bag with her when they had fled earlier.
Bill's head poked out of the remaining tent.
"Dad, what's going on?" he called through the dark. "Fred and George made it back, but the others —"
"They're alright. They're here," said Mr. Weasley, bending down and entering the tent. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Cedric entered after him.
"Did you get them, Dad?" said Bill sharply. "The person that conjured the Mark?"
"No," said Mr. Weasley. "We found Crouch's elf holding Harry's wand nearby, but we don't know who conjured the Mark."
"What?
"Harry's wand?"
"Mr. Crouch's elf?" said Percy, sounding scandalized.
With some help from Harry, Ron, Ginny, Hermione and Cedric, Mr. Weasley explained what had happened in the woods.
"Look, can someone just explain the skull?" said Ron impatiently. "It wasn't doing anything or hurting anyone…What's the big deal?"
"I told you, Ron, it's Voldemort's symbol," said Hermione, before anyone else could answer, and all but she and Harry flinched at the name.
"And it hasn't been seen in nearly thirteen years," said Mr. Weasley quietly. "Of course people panicked...like seeing You-Know-Who himself."
"I don't understand," Harry said, frowning. "It's still only a shape in the sky, isn't it?"
"You-Know-Who and his Death Eaters only sent up the Dark Mark when they killed," Mr. Weasley all but whispered. "The terror it inspired – you've no idea. Just imagine coming home and seeing the Dark Mark hovering over your house, knowing without doubt what you'll find inside..." Mr. Weasley winced.
"Death Eaters?" said Harry. "Hermione and Cedric said that earlier. What are Death Eaters?"
"You-Know-Who's supporters, his followers. What's left of them that avoided Azkaban, anyway," said Bill.
"We don't know that it was them, Bill," said Mr. Weasley. "But it probably was," he added hopelessly.
"If they were Death Eaters, why'd they Disapparate when they saw the Dark Mark?" said Ron. "They'd have been happy to see it, wouldn't they?"
"Well, just think about it," Hermione said, "if they really were Death Eaters then they'd have managed to keep themselves out of Azkaban after Voldemort's fall by telling all sorts of lies about him forcing them to kill and torture all those people. I can't imagine he'd be impressed with them."
"So...whoever conjured the Dark Mark..." Cedric said slowly, "were they showing support for the Death Eaters, or trying to scare them away?"
"That's the question," Mr. Weasley said. "But I'll tell you this...only Death Eaters ever knew how to conjure it...Listen, it's very late, and if Molly hears what's happened before we get home, she'll be worried sick. So, we'll get a few hours sleep and then an early Portkey home."
Nobody moved. They looked around the tent and back at Mr. Weasley expectantly.
"Ah, right!" he said, looking around as well, "Yes, well, this could be a problem."
"We could try an Expanding charm, add another bedroom," Charlie suggested, "Conjure up a few cots."
"No, no those cots wouldn't last through the night!" Percy exclaimed pompously. "We could cast an Expanding charm on the living room," he suggested, "Move all the furniture-"
"And where will they sleep, Wetherby? On the floor, I suppose?" Fred said mockingly.
"Now, boys, don't start," Mr. Weasley tiredly. "Perhaps one of the other tents has a spare cot or two we can borrow-"
"What other tents? There's hardly anyone left!" George exclaimed.
"And they're not likely to have spare cots, are they?" Fred put in.
Hermione sighed and leaned against the kitchen table wearily.
"Or, Ginny and I can sleep in the living room," she said loudly. Everybody looked at her questioningly and she explained, "there're two sofas and it's only for a few hours anyhow," she looked over at Ginny for her opinion and found she was nodding vigorously in agreement.
"And Cedric can share with me and Ron," added Harry, and after the night they'd had, Ron wasn't arguing.
"Perfect! Are there any extra pillows and blankets?"
"Er, there might be some in the linen cupboard in the hallway," said Bill looking dumbstruck.
"Well that's that settled then," Mr. Weasley said, relieved and a little in taken aback by her quick solution.
"Right, well, let's go make up the sofas, Ginny," Hermione said uncomfortably, bemused by everybody's strange reaction to her non-magic solution. Fascinating, she thought with a laugh.
