Hermione helped Y/N to his feet and he swayed slightly as he steadied himself. A moment later and Ginny appeared at his other side, looking worried.

'I'm alright Gin,' he said weakly, smiling down at her.

They had landed on what seemed to be a stretch of moorland. Just in front of them were a couple of rather grumpy looking wizards. One holding a golden watch and the other a quill and roll of parchment. The man with the watch was dressed in a tweed-suit with thigh length galoshes, his colleague wore a kilt and a poncho.

'Is that normal muggle wear?' asked Y/N.

'No,' said Hermione, looking as though she was trying to supress a laugh. 'I imagine we're going to be seeing a lot of that today.'

Mr Weasley picked up the boot and walked forward. The rest of the Weasleys, Harry, and the two Diggory's followed on, but Hermione and Ginny stayed with Y/N.

'You sure you're okay?' asked Hermione, looking concerned.

'Yeah. That would have knocked me silly either way. Come on. Let's go.' but Y/N made to step forward and felt his head ripple again.

'Be stubborn again and I'll hex you. They won't stop me here,' said Ginny as she and Hermione each hooked an arm around him and guided Y/N forward.

'Weasley… Weasley…' the kilted wizard was saying as they approached, 'about a quarter of a mile's walk over there, first field you come to. Site Manager's called Mr. Roberts. Diggory, second field, ask for Mr. Payne.'

'Thanks Basil,' said Mr Weasley and he gestured for them all to follow him before catching sight of Y/N. 'Goodness, are you alright Y/N?'

'No he's not,' said Ginny before Y/N could even answer. 'He's almost fallen over twice already.'

'New experiences,' said Y/N, trying and failing to sound casual about it. 'Just a new branch of magic that I'm not quite used to yet.'

'Stop being stubborn,' said Hermione. 'Come on.'

They began the trip across the deserted moor. A thick mist hung low over them making it difficult to see too far ahead, so it took them about twenty minutes before anything came into view, by which point Y/N had managed to pry himself off Ginny and Hermione and was now walking himself.

What swam into view was a gate, behind which were lined hundreds and hundreds of tents which rose slowly up the slope of a field towards a very dense looking wood on the horizon. A small cottage lay next to the gate. They said goodbye to the Diggorys and approached it.

A man was standing in the doorway looking out at the tents. The look on his face was one of slight incredulity. That, coupled with how well he was dressed, told Y/N that he was probably a muggle. He turned his head towards them as they approached.

'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 back a few steps and beckoned Harry forward and began whispering to him about muggle money. Y/N stepped up to the fence and looked out across the tents.

'Don't think I've ever seen this many people in once place,' said Y/N, 'and this is only field number one. I imagine number two is as large and there may be more.'

'There will be the Bulgarian supporters as well,' said Ginny. 'They'll have travelled all the way here. Wouldn't be surprised if they had an area all to themselves. Dad always says wizards can't resist showing off once they get together.'

'It all seems a bit much just for Quidditch,' said Hermione. 'I get for wizards it's a big thing, but I couldn't see myself travelling across the world just for a match.'

'Do muggles not have anything like this?' asked Ginny curiously.

'Well yeah. They've got a sport called football. People will travel across the world for that as well, but I just don't get it.'

'Suppose it's an excuse to get away,' said Y/N. 'If you're going, why not book it for a week and make a holiday out of it.'

'Obliviate!' came a voice from behind them. Y/N span around so fast he almost tripped.

A wizard in plus-fours had materialised out of thin air next to Mr Roberts and had his wand pointed at him. Mr Robert's eyes slid out of focus and a look of dreamy unconcern fell over his face.

'A map of the campsite for you,' Mr. Roberts said placidly to Mr Weasley, 'and your change.'

'Thanks very much,' said Mr Weasley.

The wizard in plus-fours accompanied them toward the gate to the campsite. He looked exhausted: His chin was blue with stubble and there were deep purple shadows under his eyes. Once out of earshot of Mr Roberts, he muttered, 'Been having a lot of trouble with him. Needs a Memory Charm ten times a day to keep him happy. And Ludo Bagman's not helping. Trotting around talking about Bludgers and Quaffles at the top of his voice, not a worry about anti-muggle security. Blimey, I'll be glad when this is over. See you later, Arthur.'

And he vanished.

'I thought Mr Bagman was Head of Magical Games and Sports,' said Ginny, looking surprised. 'He should know better than to talk about Bludgers near muggles, shouldn't he?'

'He should,' said Mr Weasley, smiling and leading them through the gates into the campsite, 'but Ludo's always been a bit... well... lax about security. You couldn't wish for a more enthusiastic head of the sports department though. He played Quidditch for England himself, you know. And he was the best Beater the Wimbourne Wasps ever had.'

'Lax is putting it mildly,' Y/N whispered to Hermione. 'From what mum's been saying, he's almost leaked the existence of the tournament several times to outside sources. Even made it so one person had to have a memory charm put on him. Super excitable about everything.'

Hermione made a disapproving sort of noise and whispered, 'If he's the head of a department, he should be more careful about these kinds of things. He could cause an incident.'

Y/N simply chuckled lightly but did not continue the conversation as he spotted Ginny attempting to creep closer to eavesdrop on them.

'But yeah, I totally saw Cedric giving Ginny eyes, it was weird. You'd think he'd-' but Y/N didn't get to finish his sentence as Ginny stomped on his foot.

'He's like 4 years older than me,' said Ginny indignantly.

'Didn't stop you blushing though, did it?' asked Hermione with a slight smirk on her face and Ginny glared at her.

They trudged through the rows and rows of tents. Most looked like they'd tried to be muggle tents but slipped up in many different areas.

'Honestly, if this is what muggles do for their tents, I should have taken Muggle Studies' said Y/N conversationally as they passed a tent supporting three floors and several turrets. 'Muggles live like kings.'

'Ah, here we are!' said Mr Weasley jovially. 'This is us.'

At the very edge of the wood was an empty space with a sign hammered into the ground reading "wezly".

'Oh my Merlin,' said Y/N, his eyes lighting up

'Don't you dare-' began Ginny.

'Wouldn't dream of it, Miss Wezly' said Y/N.

'Couldn't have a better spot!' called Mr Weasley, turning to face the group happily and saving Y/N from Ginny's retaliation. 'The field is just on the other side of the wood there, we're as close as we can be. Right then,' he dropped his backpack from his shoulders, 'no magic allowed, strictly speaking, not when we're out in these numbers on muggle land-' Y/N looked back at the 3-storey tent. 'We'll be putting these tents up by hand! Shouldn't be too difficult. Muggles do it all the time!'

He gestured Harry and Hermione forward. The latter detached from Y/N's arm and moved forward to help whilst Y/N stayed behind, forgetting about Ginny.

'Reckon he'd let us use magic even if we were technically allowed to?' said Y/N, rubbing the spot on his arm that Ginny had just punched.

'You saw the tents coming in, Y/N,' said Ginny, shaking her head slightly. 'We are technically allowed to. He just loves all the muggle stuff.'

'Hey Y/N,' said Ron, wandering over. 'Haven't had a chance to catch up yet. You doing okay? The portkey looked like it shook you a bit.'

'Yeah, I'm fine, courtesy of the girls. Don't think I'd be standing here if they hadn't signed me off.'

'The last thing we need is to miss the world cup because you're too sick to get out of the tent,' smirked Ginny.

'Ah yes, because you'd totally stay with me and wouldn't just heartlessly abandon me for the match.'

'Hermione wouldn't, and then I'd feel obligated.'

'Why? She's my girlfriend. She also doesn't like Quidditch.'

'Yeah but y'know, close friends and all that.'

'Friends ditch each other for Quidditch. Ron will tell you the same.'

Ron looked as though he really did not want to answer that.

'Good choice,' said Ginny.

'Anyway, how are you doing? Heard from-'

Ron shushed him looking alarmed, and Y/N raised an eyebrow. 'Did you really think I wouldn't tell her?'

'Well… I was hoping…' said Ron weakly.

'She didn't even laugh when I did, mate. Bit shocked, same as I was but-'

'I am still your sister, Ron,' said Ginny. 'I do want what's best for you. And if that's Lavender Brown, then so be it.'

'She'd have found out eventually anyway,' added Y/N. 'If you two started hanging out more at Hogwarts, she'd ask questions. And besides, there's that many things that I'm being told in secret at the moment that if I keep them all to myself, she might just kill me.'

'Well then, in that case. Yeah I have,' said Ron as he withdrew Pigwidgeon from behind him, who began twittering madly at the sight of them. He passed the note the owl had delivered to Y/N, who opened it and read it with Ginny.

'Hiya Ron!

We're on Campsite 2! Plot 314. I've heard if you ask the Site Manager they'll tell you where it is. If not just show him this letter. Hope I'll see you today?

If you're reading this Mr Payne it's Lavender Brown. He's my friend and I'm okay with you telling him where we're camping.

Thanks!

Lavender.'

'You wanting an armed escort?' asked Y/N as he handed the parchment back.

'More just… moral support.'

'Let 'Mione and Harry finish with the tents and we'll go,' said Y/N. 'Pretty sure Mr Diggory said the Lovegood's are here too, so we can try to find Luna.'

Eventually, between Harry, Hermione and the occasionally step in from a Weasley or Y/N to help out, they had set up both the tents. Mr Weasley dropped to his hands and knees and crawled into the first tent.

'They're a bit small,' muttered Hermione as he vanished from sight.

'Wizards babe,' said Y/N, 'they'll be bigger on the inside.'

'You need to stop throwing these pet names at me,' said Hermione, going pink.

'Do you not like them?'

'Well I didn't say that-'

'Exactly,' smirked Y/N.

'We'll be a bit cramped,' came Mr Weasley's voice, 'but I think we'll all squeeze in. Come and have a look.'

Y/N and Hermione ducked in after Harry, following him inside and Y/N heard Hermione gasp in surprise. The tent looked to have several floors and came fully equipped with a bathroom and a kitchen. The furniture wasn't the prettiest and it had an odd animalistic smell to it, but it was pleasant all the same.

'Well, it's not for long,' said Mr Weasley, peering in at the four bunk beds that stood in the bedroom. 'I borrowed this from Perkins at the office. Doesn't camp much anymore, poor fellow, he's got lumbago.' He picked up the dusty kettle and peered inside it. 'We'll need water...'

'There's a tap marked on this map the muggle gave us,' said Ron. 'It's on the other side of the field.'

'Well, why don't you five go and grab us some water then?' asked Mr Weasley, looking around at Harry, Ron, Hermione, Y/N, and Ginny. 'Bring back a couple of buckets so we've got spare.'

'Who's staying where, Mr Weasley?' asked Hermione, who seemed to be thinking the same as Y/N 'There's only 8 beds in here but 11 of us in total.'

'Y/N will be bunking with you and Ginny in the other tent again, as long as you're alright with that of course?'

'I guess if he really must,' said Ginny exasperatedly before laughing. Hermione was nodding excitedly and attached herself to Y/N's arm.

They did a quick sweep of the tent they'd be staying in, it looked practically the same but was slightly smaller, and then began dropping off some of their stuff before the trip out.

'Really is fascinating seeing all of these people here together, isn't it?' asked Hermione.

'I definitely haven't been to an event this big before,' said Ginny. 'Feels like we could know half the people here and still wouldn't find them in the sheer numbers.'

'We may be able to get a look at some of the different wizarding cultures as well,' said Hermione, 'learn how they live their lives, even if only briefly.'

'You might be wishful thinking there Hermione,' said Ginny. 'I imagine most of them will be either sticking to their tents or being noisy. The most you might learn is how they party.'

'Even dress sense though! I mean, muggles from up and down the world wear different styles of clothing. I imagine wizards must be the same. It'll be incredible, won't it Y/N? Y/N?'

But Y/N wasn't listening, he'd been emptying out his pockets onto his bed when he'd caught sight of something and was now holding up the foe-glass. The figures inside were almost completely solid. He couldn't see a face, but it looked as though there were three of them, just along the outskirts of the mirror.

'What's wrong?' asked Hermione's voice, much quieter now as she stepped up alongside him.

He turned the foe-glass to face her and she gasped. But to his surprise, she then shook her head.

'It can't be right. You sure it's not faulty?'

'What, no, why would it be?'

'Because why would you be my enemy?'

'What? Me?'

'Yes you, I can see you in there.'

Y/N flipped it back around to look into it, the three figures still moved along the outskirts. He turned it to face Ginny, who looked slightly shocked but said, 'Yeah, I see you as well Y/N.'

'Well I don't see me,' said Y/N. 'I see three people. No faces, but they're almost solid.'

'What does it mean?' asked Hermione.

'That someone's after me, and that being near me is going to get you two in trouble,' said Y/N. 'We-'

'Need to stick together,' said Hermione firmly. 'I am not letting anyone attack you whilst we're around.'

'Damn right we aren't,' said Ginny flatly as she extracted her wand from her belongings. 'You've taught me enough now, Y/N. We'll help.'

'Alright,' said Y/N, 'but I hardly doubt anyone's going to attack us going to get water, come on.'

The three of them stepped outside where they met up with Harry and Ron and began their trek along the campsite towards the field up the far end.

'I think the field connects to field 2,' said Y/N as he looked at the map. 'We may be able to make a trip up there and see what's going on.'

He was trying to be subtle about it, but Ron shook his head.

'Harry already knows that I want to go up there,' said Ron. 'Told him whilst we were putting our stuff away.'

'Well then yes, we can wait nearby in case things with Lavender go wrong,' said Y/N, folding the map away into his pocket.

'What's got you two so nervous?' asked Harry, looking at Hermione and Ginny. Both their heads were scanning every nearby opening or person extensively.

'Not nervous,' said Ginny at once. 'Just curious, so many people here and so many different cultures. Even just from different parts of England.'

'You hang out with Y/N and Hermione too much,' said Ron. 'It's not that interesting.'

'And that is why I hang out with Y/N and Hermione,' said Ginny pointedly. Everyone but Ron laughed, who just looked confused.

Y/N felt a wave of euphoria sweep over him; his feet came slowly to a halt. It was as though he was floating, every concern, thought or worry had been slowly swept away and now he just felt happy. He wasn't sure why, but also didn't care. He was just happy.

Then a voice came through into his head. A deep, low, male voice.

'Strike them down.'

He squeezed his hand and his wand shot out of his holster.

'Y/N?' came a voice from very far away.

'Strike them down.'

He levelled his wand, pointing it at the bushy haired girl who had now turned back to look at him curiously. Her eyes widened and she said something, the other three there turned around, drawing their wands.

Something was wrong. They were his friends, weren't they? His closest friends and his girlfriend. Why would he attack them?

'Strike them down now!' came the voice, more urgently this time. He didn't know the voice. Why would he just listen to a random voice? Then he felt it, like a tether connecting him somewhere. He followed it.

'KILL THEM!' shrieked the voice.

'GET OUT OF MY HEAD!' bellowed Y/N, spinning around and levelling his wand. 'Depulso!'

The spell definitely hit something, he heard a noise of exhalation and saw the spell impact something. All at once the elated, empty, brainwashed feeling he'd held had left to be replaced by burning rage.

'How dare you,' he snarled, levelling his wand at the point on the grass he'd just shot at 'Dep-' but he was interrupted as a jet of red light soared from one of the nearby tents.

'Protego!' came a voice from behind him and Hermione's shield charm sprang up between Y/N and the red light, which ricocheted off into the distance.

Unlike their counterpart however, the figure that stepped out of the tent was completely visible. It was a tall man with shoulder length pale white hair, a gash along one eye which rested colourless and unseeing and a rather thick build. As he stepped out, the tent flickered and faded out of view.

'Well, well, well,' said the man looking directly at Y/N. 'Y/N L/N. A pleasure to meet you at last.'

'You've got me at a disadvantage,' said Y/N, his eyes still watching the point where the other figure had been previously.

'I know I do. That was the point,' said the man as he stepped around into Y/N's sightline. 'And yet still you resist. Perfectly positioned, hit with the perfect Imperius curse, and yet you throw it off as if we were nothing more than schoolboys.'

'Cheap tricks and underhanded unforgiveables seems like the work of schoolboys,' snarled Y/N, his eyes finally turning to rest on the white-haired man, 'or the work of Voldemort's followers. So, which one's are you, so I know whether I'm taking you in to Dumbledore or Fudge.'

'Take us in to Fudge if you must,' said the man, 'we'll be out again within the week. Fudge may not like to admit it, but we have him under our thumb. Have done for years.'

'Can't say I'm surprised,' said Y/N, 'but you still haven't told me your name.'

'Dainton Snow,' said Snow.

'Ah, cause of the white hair, I get it,' said Y/N deadpan.

'A clever deduction, but no. The hair is simply through age and your mother's doing.'

'So that's why you don't like me,' said Y/N. 'Getting really sick of people trying to kill me because they can't find her. If she's your target, then go for her.'

'Ah, you see, if it were that easy, Master L/N, we'd have done it already,' said Snow. 'No, we need you to draw her out. She's watching you, even if you can't see it. She's constantly keeping tabs on you. Has been ever since you began at Hogwarts.'

'Well then she'll be here to watch as I take your other eye from you,' snarled Y/N.

'Go ahead, I hardly need it,' said Snow casually. 'You may do as you wish, this encounter alone has been a good gauge of your abilities. But why not show me what you can really do, in front of all these witnesses?'

Y/N glanced around, the tents nearby all had at least one face poking out of them to see what was going on, many wearing looks of shock.

'You just admitted to all these people that you have the Minister under your thumb.'

'What are they going to do? Besides, I could just as well have been lying. It's what we do, isn't it? This whole bad guy thing is kind of new to me.'

'Well, your first jobs a failure, couldn't even down a fourteen-year-old boy. Now where are both of your friends?'

'Both?' asked Snow curiously.

'Yes. I know there are three of you. I've already hit one.'

Snow sighed and clicked his fingers. As he did two figures materialised out of thin air behind him. Y/N recognised disillusionment charms being removed.

One was a shortish man. He was bald seemed to be missing a few teeth and was leering at Y/N. The other was a woman who looked as though she belonged in high society. She wore rings, bracelets, necklaces, and all sorts of other jewellery around her. Her robes looked more akin to a dress, but her eyes bore an anger Y/N had rarely seen before.

'Meet Mr Dracius Potley and Ms Caroline Daughtery,' said Snow, gesturing behind him, 'and remember our faces, Y/N, 'cause whilst you may be safe in Hogwarts, you are not in Hogwarts right now. Let us see how well you match up against us when Dumbledore can't protect you.'

'Dumbledore didn't protect me just then. My friends did,' said Y/N and he heard the four behind him ready themselves. All 5 called out:

'Stupefy!' yelled Hermione.

'Expelliarmus!' called Harry.

'Flipendo!' bellowed Ginny.

'Diffindo!' shouted Ron.

'Depulso!' shrieked Y/N.

All 5 spells soared towards the three figures standing away from them. Snow flicked his wand lazily and a barrier appeared in front of him. But Y/N simply grinned. All five spells connected. Ginny's, Harry's, and Ron's all dispelled-on impact, but Hermione and Y/N's both contested, pushing against the barrier. Snow's eyes widened, but he wasn't quick enough as the shield shattered.

The jet of red light missed Daughtery by inches, but the banishment charm hit its mark. Snow was sent soaring backwards and landed hard on the floor. They did not have time to celebrate however, as both Daughtery and Potley raised their wands.

'Protego!' said Y/N and he heard his sentiment be echoed twice-fold behind him. The three-way shield charm sprang up between them and both of the opponent's spells sped away. Y/N nodded back to Ginny and Hermione just as Harry and Ron stepped forward.

'Expelliarmus!' the duo called. Both jets of red light hit the remaining two figures, and both had their wands go soaring out of their hands. Harry and Ron caught them.

'Three fully grown wizards can't even take down five school children. You should be embarrassed,' jeered Y/N.

'Your arrogance will be your undoing, L/N,' said Potley in that same low deep voice.

'We know all we need to. We shall take our leave,' said Daughtery. Y/N raised his wand, but too late. Before the jet of red light could hit either, both had disapparated. Snow staggered to his feet, looking amused.

'It's been a while since I've seen them get defeated that decidedly,' he said, dusting himself off. 'Perhaps you are more like your mother than I thought. Very well. But we will not underestimate your capabilities next time. Until we meet again, Mr L/N.'

'I look forward to it, Snow,' snarled Y/N and with a crack Snow vanished.

'Are you okay?' said Hermione at once, rushing to Y/N's side.

'I'm fine,' said Y/N. His blood was still pumping, adrenaline coursing through his system. 'Thanks,' he added, looking around at the four gathered around him. 'You guys being here really helped.'

'Come on,' said Harry, looking around. 'We can't talk about this here.'

The five of them rushed away, still heading on towards the tap. Whilst it felt a little bit of a low priority now given everything that had happened, it gave them time to talk.

'What's the Imperius curse?' asked Harry, the moment they were out of prying earshot. 'Why did he say you got hit by it, Y/N?'

'Because I did. The Imperius curse is one of the unforgiveable curses. Same as Crucio. It's a controlling spell. The person under the effect of it will follow your word and law to the letter. It's meant to be near irresistible.'

'And yet you managed it?' asked Ron, sounding impressed.

'He told me to hurt you guys,' said Y/N matter-of-factly. 'Like I was ever going to willingly do that.'

'That must be why we saw you in the Foe-Glass,' said Ginny. 'It knew they were going to try and use you against us.'

'Weird that it can see that, but I suppose it's weird that it knows when you're going to get attacked as well,' said Y/N.

'So wait, you shrugged off the Imperius curse because he told you to hurt us?' asked Hermione.

'Well, yeah? I'm not going to willingly hurt you, am I? I love you. The rest of you are alright I guess,' said Y/N smugly. Hermione pulled Y/N down and kissed him fiercely which made the other three groan and look away pointedly. Hermione held out her middle finger to them.

'So they were after you for your mother?' asked Harry.

'Yeah, seems to be a theme, doesn't it? Also why do I always learn more after I've been hit with an unforgiveable? Quirrell Crucio's me then gives me a monologue. They imperius me and then tell me she's still watching what I do. Might need advice on how to survive the killing curse next, Harry.'

'What are the unforgiveable curses?' asked Harry.

'There's three of them in total,' said Hermione 'Imperio, the mind controlling charm. Crucio, the pain-inflicting curse, and Avada Kedavra, the killing curse.'

'The killing curse is the green light, Harry. The one that got my dad and your parents,' said Y/N and Harry's face went stony.

'But why is this all happening now? They just announced in the middle of a crowded campsite that they control the minster and want to kill you. What does that even gain?' asked Ginny.

'To be fair if I'm not out in public, I'm somewhere that's heavily enchanted. Whether it be mums, the Burrow or Hogwarts. Suppose this was the best place for them to try and get the drop on me. Dunno why they announced the bit about Fudge though, probably just trying to sow chaos and distrust,' said Y/N. The adrenaline was finally leaving his system now, he felt drained.

Hermione tugged Y/N back slightly so they were out of earshot of the others and whispered, 'Are you sure you're okay?'

'Yeah, I'm okay 'Mione. It's a weird feeling, but I know how to stop it now. Weird that I managed it first time, but I'm hardly complaining.'

'I love you Y/N. A lot.'

'I love you too honey,' said Y/N wrapping his arms around her. 'What's brought this on?'

'Seeing you raise your wand at us, it scared me. I knew full well that even between the four of us, we'd have a hard time taking you. Then you span around and fired away. I knew you'd done something and I just felt this rush. I felt a thousand times more confident knowing that you were standing with us.'

'The four of you could have taken me easily,' said Y/N. 'You by yourself could take me easily.'

'Don't be silly, Y/N. You're far better at duelling and duelling spells than I am. I definitely only broke that shield charm with you because of the rush I was just talking about.'

'Well keep that feeling whenever I'm fighting with you then,' said Y/N. 'You're an incredible witch, Hermione. We don't call you the best in our year for nothing. You put all of us to shame. And when it counts you step up. You showed that today. No prior warning, no set up, a spell coming flying out of nowhere and it's your shield charm that saved me.'

'Well yeah, I wasn't going to let you get stunned now, was I?' she asked, smirking slightly. Y/N smiled back and pulled her into another kiss. They stayed there for a while, neither pulling away until finally a voice came from behind Y/N.

'Are you done yet or do I need to go with the other two to get the water?'

'Yes yes alright, sorry for having a loving relationship,' said Y/N as he and Hermione interlocked hands and turned to follow Ginny.

()()()()()()

They continued moving through the campsites, possibly a little bit slower than previously, but all five were caught off guard when they arrived at what was practically a sea of green. They had walked into a patch of tents that were all covered with a thick growth of shamrocks, so that it looked as though small, oddly shaped hillocks had sprouted out of the earth. Grinning faces could be seen under those that had their flaps open.

Then a voice called out from behind them and the five of them turned to Seamus Finnigan beckoning to them from one of the green tents alongside a sandy-haired woman, who was definitely his mother, and Dean Thomas.

'Like the decorations?' said Seamus, grinning. 'The Ministry's not too happy.'

'Ah, why shouldn't we show our colours?' said Mrs Finnigan. 'You should see what the Bulgarians have got dangling all over their tents. You'll be supporting Ireland, of course?' she added, eyeing them all beadily. When they had assured her that they were indeed supporting Ireland, they set off again, though, as Ron said, 'Like we'd say anything else surrounded by that lot.'

'I wonder what the Bulgarians have got dangling all over their tents?' said Hermione.

'Let's go and have a look,' said Harry, pointing to a large patch of tents upheld, where the Bulgarian flag, white, green, and red, was fluttering in the breeze.

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

'Krum,' said Ron quietly.

'They're obsessed with him,' hissed Y/N.

'What?' said Hermione.

'Krum!' said Ron. 'Viktor Krum, the Bulgarian Seeker!'

'Ron's got a massive crush on him,' whispered Ginny, making Y/N snort with laughter.

'He looks really grumpy,' said Hermione, looking around at the many Krum's blinking and scowling at them.

'"Really grumpy"?' Ron raised his eyes to the heavens. 'Who cares what he looks like? He's unbelievable. He's really young too. Only just eighteen or something. He's a genius, you wait until tonight, you'll see.'

'I think sometimes Ron forgets you aren't interested in Quidditch,' whispered Y/N.

'Chasers are far more handsome than Seekers anyway,' said Hermione smirking slightly, making Y/N go red but smile back.

'Such a charmer.'

There was already a small queue for the tap in the corner of the field. They all joined it, right behind a pair of men who were having a heated argument. One of them was a very old wizard who was wearing a long flowery nightgown. The other was clearly a Ministry wizard; he was holding out a pair of pinstriped trousers and almost crying with exasperation.

'Just put them on, Archie, there's a good chap. You can't walk around like that, the muggle at the gate's already getting suspicious-'

'I bought this in a muggle shop,' said the old wizard stubbornly. 'Muggles wear them.'

'Muggle women wear them, Archie, not the men, they wear these,' said the Ministry wizard, and he brandished the pinstriped trousers.

'I'm not putting them on,' said old Archie in indignation. 'I like a healthy breeze 'round my privates, thanks.'

Hermione almost collapsed onto Y/N in a fit of giggling to the point where Y/N had to pull her out of the line and away from Archie.

'You alright?' he asked, slightly amused as Hermione did her best to compose herself. But this simply sent her into another fit of giggling. And the more she did it, the harder Y/N found it to resist joining in. Eventually he was laughing just over how much she was.

'Is she alright?' asked Ginny with a raised eyebrow as Archie moved off and Y/N and Hermione re-joined them.

'It was just a nice change of pace from a while ago,' said Hermione, wiping a tear from her eye and wiggling her jaw slightly. 'My face hurts,' she added quietly to Y/N.

'Yeah so does mine, you nutcase,' said Y/N affectionately as he pulled her into a hug and she beamed.

They began to make their way back across the campsite, balancing two buckets of water between them. Y/N had put forward the suggestion of telling Mr Weasley what about the interruption before going to see Lavender and Ron had agreed without hesitation.

Here and there, they saw more familiar faces: other Hogwarts students with their families. Oliver Wood, who had just left Hogwarts, dragged Harry and Y/N over to his parents' tent to introduce them, and told them excitedly that he had just been signed to the Puddlemere United reserve team. Next they were hailed by Ernie Macmillan, and a little farther on they saw Cho Chang. She waved and smiled at Harry, who slopped quite a lot of water down his front as he waved back. This unfortunately sent Y/N into another laughing fit, by the end of which he couldn't feel his face and he had a stabbing pain in his chest.

Harry gestured towards a group of teenagers. 'Who d'you reckon they are?' he said pointedly. No doubt to stop Y/N laughing again. 'They don't go to Hogwarts, do they?'

''Spect they go to some foreign school,' said Ron. 'I know there are others. Never met anyone who went to one, though. Bill had a penfriend at a school in Brazil... this was years and years ago... and he wanted to go on an exchange trip, but Mum and Dad couldn't afford it. His penfriend got all offended when he said he wasn't going and sent him a cursed hat. It made his ears shrivel up.'

'Sounds like something you'd do if I didn't come to see you,' whispered Y/N to Hermione.

'Just come and see me then, problem solved,' Hermione said.

'You've been ages,' said George when they finally got back to the Weasleys' tents.

'Ran into some trouble,' said Ron, setting the water down. 'Hey dad?'

Mr Weasley looked up at their arrival. His face was that of a kid in a toy shop and splintered wood littered the ground around him from his unsuccessful attempts to light the fire. Hermione stepped forward to light it for him whilst Y/N gestured him off to the side.

'Do the names Dracius Potley, Caroline Daughtery or Dainton Snow mean anything to you?'

'Two of them do,' said Mr Weasley darkly. 'Caroline and Dracius. Why?'

'They attacked us whilst we wandered the campsite. Dracius used the Imperius curse on me. I managed to resist it and we fought them off. Harry and Ron still have their wands.'

'Here? In the campsite?' asked Mr Weasley, sounding alarmed, and Y/N nodded.

'Potley and Daughtery were disillusioned. Snow came out of an illusionary tent. They were trying to get me to attack the others, then said they were after me because of my biological mum.'

Mr Weasley bit his lip, looking concerned. 'Stay in the tent until I return, then please make sure you're never far away from me, Bill, Charlie or Percy once they arrive,' he said. 'We can't take any risks. I'll seal you in the tent whilst I go and hail someone.'

'Who are Dracius and Caroline, Mr Weasley?'

'They are You-Know-Who's elites,' said Mr Weasley, 'the best witches and wizards he had under his command. Your mother was one of them as well I believe, until she left. The fact that you even defeated them means they underestimated you, but do not take it as a sure-fire thing. They'll be ready next time.'

'Did they never get caught when he fell?'

'The moment You-Know-Who fell, they vanished. They've no doubt been hunting for your mother as she betrayed them the same way she did You-Know-Who. Now that they can't find her, they're after you, which is cause for concern. Not least of all because if they're here there's no telling what havoc they could cause. But this is the first we've heard about them in almost 15 years. You must be careful, Y/N.'

Y/N nodded. He followed Mr Weasley back to the tent and stepped inside. A moment later however and Hermione slipped in after him.

'Mr Weasley-'

'Is about to seal you in. I know. I asked to come in before he did. The rest are going to stay outside and keep an eye out.'

Y/N sank down onto the bed he'd dropped his stuff on. Hermione sat alongside him and Y/N explained everything Mr Weasley had just told him.

'Voldemort's elite forces? I didn't think he had anything like that.'

'I didn't think he did either,' said Y/N. 'I just assumed all his Death Eaters were equal, but apparently there were some that were a cut above the rest.'

'I mean. It's no wonder we beat them,' said Hermione.

'Wait, what?'

'You've beaten Voldemort twice now. I think his elites are kind of child's play after that,' and Hermione smirked.

'Oh my good lord Fred and George were right. I really have converted you.'

'A wise person has shown me that over stressing about something isn't going to help. We just need to make sure we're ready. If I've done everything I can to prepare, then they don't stand a chance. Also, I'm getting sick of worrying about you.'

'I love it when you're confident,' said Y/N.

Hermione placed a hand to his chest and pushed him down before leaping over the top of him so she now rested on his stomach. She leant down and kissed him. Teasing at first, pulling away every time Y/N lifted himself up before eventually he grabbed the back of her head and kissed her forcefully. Hermione responded in kind.

The kissing grew more and more passionate, Hermione ran a tongue along Y/N's bottom lip asking for entry which he was happy to provide. It wasn't until a few minutes had passed that the two finally separated, both gasping for breath.

'If this is my reward for getting attacked, I need to have it happen more often,' said Y/N teasingly.

'Do that and I'll be the one attacking you,' said Hermione.

'I think I could live with that,' said Y/N, leaning back up to catch her lips against his once again.