"You did what?" I asked the twins as we walked towards the stands.
George had just admitted that he and Fred had gambled their entire savings on a bet with Ludo Bagman, the Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports.
"Don't worry about it, Marnie," George said confidently.
I looked at him with an exasperated look. I hadn't minded before, investing in their prank products, but now I was worried I would be the sole sponsor. I knew they would never expect anything like that from me, but I also had faith that they would make something of themselves with these ideas.
"Don't you trust us?" Fred asked simply.
His demeanor took me off guard and for a moment I felt that he had said us only on principle.
"Of course," I said defensively.
Fred shrugged off whatever look had been on his face and proceeded to put his arm over my shoulder.
"Here you go Marnie!" Harry caught up to me as we approached the stadium and proceeded to ascend the stairs.
Harry handed me a pair of omnioculars. I thanked him and took the opportunity of climbing the stairs to try and catch up with him. Obviously, we had been sending letters back and forth during the summer and we didn't dare mention anything about Sirius when we were in the open. Looking at my god-brother now, I pushed the irritating thought out of my head that was telling me he wasn't a young boy anymore that probably needed my guidance. He was only turning 14, but two square-offs with Voldemort in the last three years had hyper-driven his need for maturity.
Before I could dwell too much on Harry, we finally reached the peak of the stands, obviously where we had been headed.
"This is incredible!" I said in awe as I looked out over the stadium.
"One hundred thousand people," Mr. Weasley said as joined me with all the others from our party.
I continued to look out in amazement until I heard a clatter on the platform floor. I looked over to see Percy oddly bowing to an older looking man. Percy had bent over so low that his glasses had fallen off and made the sound which had averted my attention.
I looked up at the man who had Percy so enthralled and realized after a moment that this was the Minster for Magic, Cornelius Fudge. The minister was now extending his hand towards Harry who took it and greeted the man heartily. I knew they had met last year when Harry had blown up his aunt and the ministry had wanted to protect Harry from Sirius Black; thankfully saving him from any reprimand for underage magic.
I continued to look at the minister skeptically since I knew he was the one still hunting down Sirius when I knew the truth about what happened to Harry's parents. My stomach dropped even further at the arrival of the Malfoy's. Mr. Fudge was going on about some big donation Draco's father had given to St. Mungo's and I had to force myself not to gag. My mother didn't need any of his tainted money.
Unfortunately, I didn't completely stifle myself and a small noise escaped from my lips. Mr. Malfoy turned his attention and stared at me with contempt. I knew how people like him regarded those such as my father. I even remembered the disturbing memory I had seen about him stopping my mother in the Slytherin corridor and threatening to kill her and my father.
I met his malevolent look with my own determined stare and noticed that Fred moved his body, so I was now behind his shoulder. Mr. Malfoy soon drew his look away and went to sit on the other side of Mr. Fudge. This was only after he had an uncomfortable exchange with Mr. Weasley, who I remembered had had a heated discussion with Mr. Malfoy in Flourish and Blotts two years ago.
Thankfully, everyone's attention was averted as Ludo Bagman arrived to commentate the game.
Once he was in his spot, he put his wand to his throat so to amplify his voice. He welcomed everyone to the game and wasted no time in introducing the mascots. With this prompt, I watched as one hundred veela entered the field. I rolled my eyes, having read all about the creatures who had similar enchanting properties as sea maidens who lured men to do their bidding. I looked over to see Hermione growing impatient with both Harry and Ron who looked as if they were trying to look macho. Unfortunately, George and Fred were in no better shape as they wore expressions akin to drooling. Once the veela were directed off the field, I could hear the adamant protests. I kept staring at Fred as I watched him go from complete awestruck, to frustrated, to slowly aware of faculties.
"You have a little something," I said, pointing to the crook of my mouth to indicate he had saliva running down his face.
His face turned beet red as he hastily wiped his hand across his face while using the other one to nudge my shoulder in annoyance. I just laughed at his embarrassment before turning my attention back to the field in time to see a rainbow appear.
"Leprechauns!" I shouted excitedly as I watched the little creatures throwing gold coins into the stands.
I had also read all about the creatures known for their luck and had admittedly once gone looking for them after one rainy afternoon. My adventure had ended when my father came stalking out in his rain boots to find me running across some of the farther foot hills. I had not been allowed to go looking for leprechauns again.
Ludo Bagman once again started announcing to the entire stadium once all of the mascots had cleared to the sidelines. Once Bagman had announced both team players, I inched closer to the edge of my seat. The players were very small in the distance, but everyone seemed to be animated over Viktor Krum, the Bulgarian seeker.
I brought up my omnioculars for a closer look at the players and felt a hand press on my stomach and gently nudged me back in my seat. I looked over to see Fred with an anxious look on his face.
"It's a much farther drop if you pass out up here," he said seriously.
I just rolled my eyes but didn't argue the point. I knew I had really scared everyone last year after passing out at the quidditch game from the dementors and falling off the stands.
"They're off!" I heard Ludo Bagman announce which caused me to whip my head back around.
I brought my omnioculars back up to my face and was enthralled by how close it brought me to the action. If the players hadn't been whipping about, I might have actually been able to see the expressions on their face.
It was extraordinary how fast the players were flying around and in no time at all Ireland had scored the first goal. I could hear the wild applause all around me as 100,000 people all stared intently at the players.
"What are they doing?!" I asked when I saw Viktor Krum instantly take-off in a vertical path headed straight for the ground.
The fact that he was going faster than I had ever seen anyone else on a broom was also terrifying.
"Ah, what's he following him for?" Fred said in frustration as I noticed Ireland's seeker Aidan Lynch following close on Krum's trail.
Before I could ask my next question, I stood up in shock and horror as Krum lifted his broom inches from the ground, but Lynch was not so lucky. I could hear his body smack against the ground with an audible thump.
Fred once again put his hands on both of my sides and pulled me back down into a seated position.
"It's called the Wronski Feint," George explained wearily as he looked towards Lynch who was now being attended to by the onsite healers.
"What's that?" I asked, using my omnioculars to zoom onto Lynch who was now somehow returning to his feet.
"It's a very difficult maneuver some pro-seeker players use to throw off their opponent," Fred responded now that he felt sure I would stay in my seat.
I had already heard the twins both assure Ginny that Lynch would recover quickly so I turned my attention back to the players who were all positioned to restart.
Once the game recommenced, it started to resemble a match between Gryffindor and Slytherin, but on a much more intense level. The plays were almost ferocious, and Ireland was awarded the first penalty.
I watched as the angry looking veela all stormed to the field and started moving their bodies in some sort of malicious portraying dance. The once beautiful looking creatures now wore looks of revenge as they squared off against the rambunctious leprechauns. I looked over to see the twins with their hands over their ears to prevent themselves from being smitten again. However, this didn't stop the referee from heading out onto the field and trying to demonstrate his own athletic ability. He was flexing his muscles when Bagman announced for someone to knock some sense into him.
I shook my head before returning my attention back to the match. The sheer finesse of all the players made all of their complex strategies look effortless. The game was getting more ruthless however and the referee still didn't have his wits about him. Ron and Harry were angrily shouting for a time out since it looked like Krum was injured. However, this didn't stop Lynch from descending down the pitch at another alarming rate.
"He sees it!" I heard Ginny squeal.
From the omnioculars I could barely make out the glint of gold that the Irish keeper was obviously chasing after. But, despite his injuries Viktor Krum had easily closed the distance between himself and Lynch.
"Oh no!" I shrieked seconds before I realized Lynch was going to hit the ground again.
I flinched when I saw his body crumple as it had the first time.
"He has it!" I heard Fred announce which made me take my gaze off the very still seeker on the ground being attended to by healers.
Sure enough, Viktor Krum had the snitch raised above his head with something almost resembling pride behind his stoic demeanor.
I was grabbed into a celebratory group hug by the twins and Ginny as they all happily jumped in the air joyously. I easily followed their lead and celebrated in the win for Ireland. I also felt relief wash over me as I realized, in blatant awe, that the twins had won their bet against Bagman.
Ginny didn't let go of my arm as we all walked back to the campsite. Her excitement was palpable as she had both of her hands latched onto my arm and practically pulled me along. When we got back to the campsite, we all sat outside the tents where we had spent the afternoon eating lunch and crowd watching. Mr. Weasley doled out each of us a cup of hot cocoa as everyone went over every exciting detail of the match.
"Time for bed girls," Mr. Weasley said so he could watch that the three of us got safely into our tent.
As I changed into my pajamas, I could hear the boys filter into the adjacent tent. Ginny was asleep by the time her head hit the pillow and I wasn't that far behind her.
Oddly enough I woke up standing in a bathroom stall. I unlatched the door and came out into a large, stone-walled lavatory with a row of porcelain sinks. I was at Hogwarts in the Charms hallway, one of the cleaner washrooms in the school. I walked over to one of the sinks and gasped when I noticed my hair was about five inches shorter than I currently had it. Other than that, however, my eyes were the same colour of orange, my face was the same angular shape, and I could even see the same line of freckles dusting my cheeks. But I wasn't me, and the yellow robes gave it away.
I sighed in annoyance, but unsurprisingly nothing audible escaped my lips.
"Cissy, I spy an itsy-bitsy squib lover," an older girl said in a voice that sounded as sweet as acid.
I looked over to see two girls who looked as if they must be in their sixth and seventh years of school and who were also probably sisters. Sickeningly, I knew the one who had spoken was Bellatrix Black since I would recognize those blood-thirsty eyes anywhere. Presumably, the blond girl beside her was Narcissa Black, her sister.
I stared at Narcissa, dubbed Cissy, and could see the similarities to her son Draco. As well, since I had just seen her current self only hours ago at the quidditch world cup, she honestly hadn't changed much in the last twenty years. She was a beautiful woman who was obviously raised to eat poise and demure for breakfast.
"Hello Lena," Narcissa said in an eerily calm voice.
Her voice was devoid of all emotion and yet it sent icicles up my spine.
"What can I do for you Narcissa?" my mother answered in an almost bored tone.
I couldn't help but be proud that my mother wasn't afraid of these girls, when I had known they were almost as horrible as students as they were Death Eaters.
"I have heard that you have caught the eye of Lucius Malfoy," Narcissa answered in a tone which can only be described as pins and needles.
"I couldn't care less what that boy thinks of me. He is a vile coward and I pity the woman who becomes his pet," my mother retorted almost angrily.
I grinned devilishly at my mother's answer, full well knowing how far her insult reached.
Narcissa took a step closer to my mother with precision and purpose, however this was decidedly all the permission Bellatrix needed.
The darker haired sister who had been uncharacteristically quiet was not inches from my mother's face with her wand drawn to her chest.
My mother and Narcissa stayed in their positions. I could feel my mother's pulse elevate but she remained cool and collected.
She turned her head slowly to meet Bellatrix's stare.
"Step away from me Bellatrix. I am a Head Girl and I will make sure you see the inside of a detention room until you graduate," my mother replied evenly.
Considering Bellatrix Black eventually got in cahoots with Voldemort himself I didn't feel like detention was much of a threat. Surprisingly however, Bellatrix took half a step back before Narcissa raised her hand, beckoning her sister away.
Obediently, Bellatrix retreated, and the two sisters left the lavatory in silence, although not without looks of loathing thrown back at my mother.
"Ginny, Hermione, Marnie!" I was startled at the sound of Mr. Weasley's urgent voice.
I opened my eyes and felt relief to be back in the tent, not face-to-face with the Black sisters.
"Put your coats on, quickly!" Mr. Weasley ordered, and my initial relief turned to anxiety.
I helped Ginny find her coat before we both followed Hermione out of the tent.
I looked around and saw that everyone was fleeing their campsites and headed towards the woods. I turned around to see what everyone was running from and noticed a group of people dressed up in long cloaks and white masks. The costumes were eerie, as if I were looking at a soulless phantom. My anxiety heightened again as I noticed them getting closer, which also meant the screams I hadn't noticed before were getting louder.
I looked up into the air and saw the family of muggles who we had met earlier when they assigned us the campsite. They were being controlled and, most unfortunately, tortured and humiliated. I flinched when I saw the children being spun around in the air and heard their screams for it to stop.
Ginny was latched onto my arm and I brought her face to my chest, so I could try and protect her from the ghastly sight. I stroked her hair as we waited for everyone to come out of the boys' tent. I gave Harry a meaningful look who returned it with his own look of worry.
"We are off to help the ministry, stay together and keep each other safe," Mr. Weasley instructed hastily before he ran off with Charlie, Bill and Percy.
It was my turn to grab Ginny's arm and pull her with me as we followed Fred and George into the thrall of people.
I saw Fred and George alternate every twenty seconds as they took turns to check that Ginny and I were still close at their heels. They finally slowed down out of necessity when we entered the wooded area at the perimeter of the field.
I took the moment to turn around and check on Harry and the others.
"Dammit!" I said, probably too loud when we were trying to stay away from the costumed freaks.
"What's wrong?" Fred looked back in alarm.
"We lost our younger brothers and Hermione," I said worriedly.
"They'll be fine, they have each other," George reassured, but I knew just as much as he did how the younger three seemed to constantly draw unwanted attention and risk.
Ginny had been silent since we left the tent, but I knew she was trying to keep a brave face.
"You look lost little squib," I heard a voice from a familiar and unwanted source.
I turned around again to see Marcus Flint walking behind us.
"Well, we can't all look at home like you do in a mass hysteria," I replied coolly.
Flint smirked at my comment.
"What do you want Flint?" Fred asked seething as he came to stand on my other side.
"Well, I was trying to stall you long enough for the Death Eaters to catch up and take O'Hara here as a hostage," he replied evenly.
I fought back the shiver that ran up my spine as he stared at me provokingly.
"They can't have her," Ginny spoke up as I saw her draw her shoulders and raise her head more confidently.
Flint chuckled but continued to look me dead in the eyes.
"It's only a matter of time squib before they come for you and rid Britain of all the mudbloods and squibs. And I want a front row seat when your day comes," he responded menacingly.
I could see all three of the Weasley's gearing up to take Flint on, but I didn't want to start a brawl that would bring the attention of the now confirmed Death Eaters.
Thankfully, we were interrupted when we heard several screams which also diverted Flint's attention. I planned to use the interruption as a way to draw the Weasley's away, however Flint got a panicked look on his face and ran off towards where we had last seen the hooded figures.
I looked up where Flint had been staring and saw a green, cloudy image drawn in the air. It was a picture of a floating skull with a snake running through it.
"Merlin, it's his mark," I whispered with an icy chill.
"What mark?" Ginny asked worriedly again as she took my arm.
"The Dark Mark," I replied.
"Let's go find our dad," George suggested, not able to disguise the worry from his voice.
We quickly headed back towards our campsite. It didn't take long to find it and thankfully neither of our tents had been destroyed or torn down like some of the rest.
"Fred, George, Ginny, Marnie!" Charlie ran out when he heard our approach.
He held the tent flap open and urged us all inside. Bill and Percy were also back but I was extremely worried to see the others hadn't returned.
However, before I could get too caught up in my head, we heard several sets of footsteps approaching the tent. Charlie went back out to investigate and came back with a look of relief. Mr. Weasley entered the tent followed by Harry, Ron and Hermione. I stood up and rushed over to Harry. He returned my familial embrace and I could tell how anxious he had been.
"What happened?" I asked as I guided him to sit down with the rest of us.
Mr. Weasley started while Harry and the others filled in the blanks. If I wasn't familiar with the level of unbelievable that constantly hovers around Harry, I would have struggled to comprehend the story they told.
Afterwards, I had a million questions about this house elf Winky who somehow got a hold of Harry's wand but didn't cast the spell for the dark mark that had scared Flint away; but I was interrupted by Percy and Hermione who were having an increasingly heated discussion about the treatment of house elves.
"Alright, time for bed," Mr. Weasley interrupted with a rare air of absolute authority.
No one argued as we returned to our tent and inched our sleeping bags and cots as close as they could together with Ginny in the middle. I lay my head back down on my pillow and gazed up at the tent's ceiling as I replayed my dream in my head. I had briefly pushed it out of my head in the adrenaline of getting out of the tent and fleeing from the Death Eaters, but now that everything was relatively quiet, and I could only hear Ginny's rhythmic breathing, I couldn't help but think of what my dream meant.
Unfortunately, this one seemed more straight forward than all the others; the Death Eaters weren't afraid to make themselves known and if Flint was right, my family was no longer safe.