The Quidditch was fun, but afterward, it was straight to bed. Neville had not even fallen asleep yet when the noises from outside changed.

Mr. Lovegood sat up and looked around the tent. Without a word, he opened the door to the tent. He looked outside, and then got up and went out.

Neville and Mr. Clements got up and followed.

Mr. Lovegood was outside the girl's tent, speaking to Mrs. Birtch. Mrs. Birtch soon exited the tent. Hermione, Luna, and Jane soon followed.

Neville looked around, noticing people running into the woods as if fleeing. There was strange green light and laughter. A pack of people soon came into view, all pointing their wands upwards. Some things, or worse some people or creatures, were being held up by wand magic.

Mrs. Birtch put her fingers at Jane's eye level and snapped them. This was how she sometimes signaled to Jane to take out an ear plug, so she could tell her something.

Jane did as she was told.

"Run into the woods, as fast as you can, we'll follow you."

Jane put her earplug back in and began running. Everybody followed.

Neville was able to keep up alright until he tripped. He let out a little scream. The adults did not hear him.

Hermione heard him, and she stopped to help him up.

"Thanks," he said, quickly getting up.

Something was saying something, but he couldn't understand who or what.

They looked around and realized that they could not see the others anymore. Their gazes soon turned to the sky, where the dark mark was. They started to move again but were soon stopped.

Several people, stood in front of them, pointing their wands at them.

The wizard formally known as Professor Lupin, ran up to them, from near the crowd. He stood in front of Neville and Hermione. "Surely they couldn't have done this," he addressed the crowd, "they're children."

A man, Neville didn't recognize, followed some rustling in the woods. He came back carrying a house elf and set the elf down in front of Mr. Crouch. He pulled a wand out of the house-elf's hands.

Mr. Bagman soon showed up. "Where have you been Barty? Why weren't you at the match? Your elf was saving you a seat?" He suddenly looked up at the dark mark. "Who did this? Did you get them? Barty! What's going on?"

The man held the wand up to him. "I found her holding one."

Mr. Crouch pointed his wand at the elf. "Rennervate," he said.

The elf sat up, looked around, and burst into sobs.

The man holding the wand introduced himself as the Head of the Department of the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures and explained what she was being accused of.

"I-I-I do not do it, sir," she said. "I is just picking it up."

"It wasn't her," Hermione said. "She's a got a squeaky little voice, and the voice we heard doing the incantation was much deeper."

Neville nodded.

"You must rest assured that she will be punished," said Mr. Crouch.

"M-m-master," the elf stammered, in tears, "please."

"Winky has behaved in a manner that I would not have believed possible. I told her to remain in the tent. She disobeyed me. This means clothes."

"No!"

"But she was probably just frightened," Hermione cried. "You can't blame her for wanting to get out of the way."

"I have no use for a house-elf who disobeys me," he said, coldly.

A scoops owl patronus came out and found them. "Neville, Hermione, this is Mr. Lovegood. Follow me, to the others."

"I'll walk you guys over there," Lupin offered.

Neville started to follow Lupin, and Mr. Lovegood's patronus. He soon stopped and turned to Hermione, who didn't want to leave.

"Hermione," Lupin urged, and this time she followed.

Sirius Black, who Neville recognized from having seen his picture in the daily prophet, had been standing a little ways away. He soon joined them.

"What's going to happen to Winkey?" Hermione asked.

"I don't know," Lupin replied.

"The way they were treating her. It's as if she wasn't even human."

"I see your point, but she's not really," Sirius said.

"That doesn't mean she hasn't got feelings."

"I agree with you," Lupin said, "but now is not the time to discuss this."

Eventually, they reached Mr. Lovegood. "I am so sorry," he said.

Neville's eyes searched for Jane, and he found her melting down on the ground, while Mrs. Birtch attempted to comfort her.

Neville quickly got into Jane's line of vision.