A/n: this chapter is brought to you by champagne; I think from this point on, things officially start to go pear shaped in terms of cannon.
Kurt, donned in the green of Ireland, climbed the stairs to the Minister for Magic's box; he hadn't been aware that they were attending at the minister's invitation, Kurt wasn't sure that he would have attended had he been aware due to the man's failure to adequately contain and address the matter pertaining to Sirius Black. Kurt was experiencing a feeling that he had never experienced before; disenchantment with an authority figure. Kurt's respect for the rules and authority were stemmed in his belief that they were in place to protect him and guide him down a prosperous path but the Ministry for Magic had failed to protect him and his friends that day by the lake, it had almost cost them their souls.
"You'd think you would be more excited about watching the Quidditch World Cup at the invitation of the Minister for Magic," Charlie poked and already irritated Kurt, "it's kind of a once in a life time experience."
Kurt quirked an unimpressed brow, "they have one of these every four years."
Hermione chuckled at Charlie's confusion, "Kurt isn't a big quidditch fan nor is he particularly fond of the Minister for Magic."
"Besides," Finn cleared his throat before raising his voice an octave, "if one must get excited about world cups then one should be excited by Rugby World Cups."
"You are getting really good at that," Cedric wagged a disapproving finger in his friend's face, "Too good."
"I can't get the 'R' quite right," Finn crossed his arms angrily.
"You should really consider asking Hermione for lessons," Kurt smiled, pontificating his R's.
"Could someone explain to me why Kurt isn't fond of the Minister for Magic," Mr Weasley raised a curious brow.
Ron held out a hand that told his father to stop, "they nearly died, you will die before Kurt is finished if he starts telling that story now."
"There's a new reason," Finn shuddered in fear.
"Kurt is driven by anger like fuel for a car," Hermione explained.
"Luckily, for Kurt it's a renewable resource," Luna joked, "and it is eco-friendly."
"Burns blue like ice," Ginny added in an airy toe intended to mock Luna.
"Don't get Ron started on the blue flames," Harry interjected with a dismissive shake of his head.
Ron rolled his eyes before turning to Kurt, "What's the minister done to so readily earn your ire this time?"
"Are you sure that's how you want to spend the rest of your life?" Kurt pursed his lips and quirked a brow.
"Let the record reflect that Kurt is my new favourite," Mr Weasley teased.
"Dad," the Weasley children chorused.
"He ruined Christmas," Kurt began to explain to his confused friends, "Because everybody loved Karlovy Vary last Christmas, I was coordinating a skiing trip in Switzerland but now I can't get a magical visa because some witch disappeared in Romania."
"It was Albania," Charlie corrected.
"I didn't think this was possible but my ability to care has hit an all-time low," Kurt gave the young man a saccharine smile.
Harry furrowed his brow, "Why would you need a magical visa to go on vacation with your muggle family?"
"Shopping," Kurt, Finn and Hermione chorused.
"Last year we got the loveliest zhivagos," Hermione wiped away imaginary tears.
Harry furrowed his brow, "What's a zhivago?"
"A hat," Cedric and Finn chorused before Kurt could begin to explain.
"They made the mistake of asking," Hermione chuckled as she spoke.
"And we paid with an hour long lecture on hats," Cedric complained before flashing an ingratiating smile at Kurt, "not that I minded."
When they finally reached their seats at the very top of the grandstands Kurt's disappointment was grown exponentially by the presence of Draco and Mr Malfoy. Beside them sat a vaguely familiar fair haired woman with an unimpressed sneer whom he assumed to be Mrs Malfoy and an elegant elderly woman with hair as fair as snow who looked royally out of place in her too beautiful dress robes. There was a great many empty seats reserved for their large party, at the front of the minister's box stood the man himself, flanked by the Ministers of the respective countries that would be participating in the finale and a man with sandy blond hair who was long past his prime.
The view at the top of the grandstand more than made up for the unsavoury company, one could see for miles all around the quidditch stadium and the pitch itself was perfectly positioned for their viewing pleasure. Kurt seated himself between Hermione and Cedric, paying the brood of sulking Malfoy's and their 'holier than thou' attitude little mind as he tangled his limbs with those of his dashing boyfriend and chatted avidly with his best friends. Mr Weasley exchange polite pleasantries with them but received lacklustre responses, Kurt was impressed by how he went unaffected by their rudeness; something Draco didn't take kindly.
Draco turned back in his seat, "Enjoy Weasley, this is as good as it gets for you."
"You know Draco," Hermione had a devious smile plastered across her face, it suited her well, "Your obsession with Ron cannot be healthy."
"I think maybe somebody might be pulling pigtails," Kurt let a sinister smile spread across his face as he laughed soft as a silver bell.
"Listen," Ron chuckle, with a self-satisfied smirk on his face, "I'm out of your league."
"Why you-" Draco turned a violent shade of red, his anger blatantly evident as he did nothing to try to hide it, "Having your girlfriend fight your battles is a new low, even for you."
"I'm not sure if you're familiar with the concept of friendship but it's what happens when people like you and enjoy your company as opposed to merely tolerating your existence," Hermione triumphantly pursed her lips.
Draco moved to speak but the snow haired woman stopped him dead with an icy gaze, it was the familiar fair haired woman who spoke in turn, "that's enough Draco."
"But mum-," the elderly woman gave him a second cold look and Draco held his tongue.
"Wasting your energy on these… people," Mr Malfoy sneered, "is beneath you."
"My father sends his regards," Kurt gave a condescending smile, "He said he would love to finish the conversation you were having when you last met, he's not sure whether his point had hit it's mark."
"Your friends are so very funny Draco," the elder woman spoke in a deep breathy voice, her manner was denigrating to the fair haired boy, "much better than those vacant louts you usually keep for company."
"These are not my friends Grandmother," Draco mumbled, "we just go to school together."
"The word you're looking for is peer," Kurt pointed out, impressed by the elegant manner that Draco's grandmother carried herself.
Kurt allowed himself to be pulled out of his seat; leaving Draco with his head bowed, Mr Malfoy silent and the two ladies impressed by his wit. Their party approached the Minister for Magic, each greeting him with a handshake, a smile and an expression of gratitude. When Kurt's turn came he wore a false smile and shook the minister's hand, "Minister Fudge, how lovely to see you without a threat on our lives for a change."
The minister paled slightly, then turned a shade nearer to the green of his bowler hat, before finally settling on a shade of red indicative of his anger, "it's lovely to see you as well Mr Hummel, how was Peru?"
"Lovely," Kurt smiled, "their winter is more like our summer which made for a pleasant trip, so sad for it to be the end of an era."
Kurt gave a small nod before moving on, he shook the Bulgarian Minister for Magic's hand; the man chuckled at how he had made Fudge sweat, "Good evening, today you are supporting my opponent."
"I'm sorry," Kurt blushed, smiling bashfully as he was the first to receive something other than a greeting, "Green is kind of my colour of choice."
"It's a mighty good colour on you," the Irish minister chuckled, shaking Kurt's hand.
"Thank you," Kurt smiled broadly before moving on to the aged sports player, "Good evening."
"Evening to you too," Kurt was taken aback by the smirk that accompanied his salacious tone, "Ludo Bagman, famous beater and ministry official."
Kurt pulled his hand back, "Kurt Elizabeth Hummel."
The man seemed to have lost interest as he was now giving Hermione the same treatment, but it was cut short by words that simply ground Kurt's gears at this point, "Bless my soul, it's Harry Potter."
"That never gets old," Kurt threw himself into a seat and crossed his arms angrily.
"Jealousy is a good colour on you," Charlie teased him.
"If I've said it once, I've said it a hundred times, green is my colour," Kurt tolled his eyes.
"I don't why you allow yourself to get worked up by this," Hermione shrugged, "he's Harry Potter and people can't control themselves around him."
"You're the brightest witch of the age and you were simply objectified because your boobs are new," Kurt began to explain, "I'm a Master of the Order of the White Lotus and I got much of the same but Harry was born special, people feel like their existence is affirmed by his presence." Kurt took a deep breath and turned to his friend, "It's not a dig on you but rather an assessment of a fault with the society."
"If I could I would give all this attention to you," Harry shook his head, "God knows you'd deal with it better."
"I don't like the idea of better," Kurt pursed his lips, "Differently rather."
"If it makes you feel any better," George dropped into the seat beside Kurt.
"We're going to beat Bagman in a bet," Fred explained, his voice low.
"And take all his money," they chorused.
Kurt smiled, "my boyfriend and my Hermione are sitting in those seats."
"Don't ever call me 'your' Hermione again," she chuckled playfully, "it'll give potential suitors the wrong idea."
"Wait," Kurt raised a finely sculpted brow, "I have to be Ron's Kurt but you can't be mine."
"The fact that you let Ron take ownership of you is your problem," Hermione smiled.
"I think Ronald shouldn't be claiming ownership of my boyfriend," Cedric threw his arm over Kurt's shoulder, "I don't think I can take the competition."
"If I recall correctly," Finn interjected, "You were dating Cho Chang when he made said claim."
"So maybe you shouldn't be dating Ron's Kurt," Ginny gave a sinister grin.
"I'd forgotten how two dimensional teenagers are," an uptight and nasal voice spoke from behind them, "especially the ones I call family."
"Get over yourself Percy," Charlie shook his head.
"You're still technically a teenager yourself," Bill pointed out.
"I'm a working adult," Percy rebuked his older brother, "a ministry official in some capacities."
"Ron said you were someone's secretary," Kurt pointed out.
"I'm an administrative assistant," Percy corrected.
"Call it what you must," Hermione shrugged, "You still get coffee, type memos and answer mail."
"When you put it that way," Finn guffawed, "he sounds more like an intern."
Percy turned his nose up at them, "I'll have you know that Mr Crouch is very dependent on my assistance, I'm on an errand as we speak."
"Oh," Kurt gave a fake gasp, "an errand?"
"Why didn't you say you were on an errand?" Charlie teased.
"We're so sorry to keep you," Bill shook his head in false remorse.
"He probably needs to get an emergency cup of coffee," Hermione stage whispered in Kurt's ear.
"Play nice," Mr Weasley reprimanded lazily, "That cup of coffee might make the world of difference."
Percy was fuming, "I'll have you know that I'm actually on my way to check that Mr Crouch's house elf is still keeping his seat."
"Oh," Mr Weasley's tone was flat, "that does sound important."
Percy let out a loud squeak before regaining his composure, "And to inform Mr Bagman that we're ready to begin with the world cup finale."
"I want you to know that I'm proud of you," Ginny gave Percy a soft smile.
"Thank you Ginny," Percy gave a self-satisfied smile.
"I mean, not many people could create a career for themselves doing tasks that can be completed by the simplest of enchantments and owls," her smile turned sinister.
"I'm just going to go," Percy stomped off.
"See you at home," Fred and George waved after him.
Ludo Bagman lifted his wand to his neck and began to speak with his voice amplified around the quidditch pitch, "Ladies and Gentleman, welcome to the four hundred and twenty second quidditch world cup final. The teams participating in this match will be twelve time Eastern European Championship winners Bulgaria!"
There was raucous cheering all around the stadium as a group of veela in the red and black of Bulgaria stormed the field, they began to dance and blow kisses into the crowd. Ron was cheering louder than anyone else in the box, he was dressed in red and black to show his support of the eastern European side. Harry had taken off his Irish green top hat and was ripping it apart whilst Finn was attempting to wipe off his green body paint but only succeeding in spreading it. The older Weasleys all had stern looks on their faces as they watched the veela dancing.
"You're not affected by the veela," Bill observed from behind Kurt.
"I'm strictly same-sex orientated and as such it would make no sense for me to lose my mind over some female veela," Kurt shook his head; turning to Cedric, who was sitting up straight as a pin with his jaw clenched tightly and a vein popping out of his temple, "my boyfriend, on the other hand, knows better than to react."
"You've trained him well," Hermione smirked, "if only you could train the rest of these buffoons."
"I could have sworn I had Finn trained," Kurt pursed his lips.
"I am trained, better trained than Cedric even," Finn shrugged, "those are some fine ladies though and this body paint is kind of itchy."
The veela shot out red sparks to signal the end of their performance; a plume of black smoke began to rise from where they stood, from it emerged the Bulgarian national quidditch team. They wore robes of red and black, flying on broomsticks that resembled Harry's firebolt but in a different colour motif.
"They're all flying on firebolts," Ginny announced, the envy evident in her tone.
"A good quidditch player could kill on any broom," Hermione assured her, "only a fool would allow themselves to fall into the false sense of security that their equipment can carry them." Hermione gave pointed look at Draco, "only a fool."
The veela exited the green, the smoke cleared and the seductive tension that filled the air dissipated, "glad that's over with."
"Amen to that," Ron muttered under his breathe.
Harry gasped, he had a sad expression on his face, "oh no, my hat."
"You sounded just like me for a moment there," Kurt smiled, reaching behind him and extending his wand, "Reparo."
Harry gave a small smile, "you know you're the best, right?"
"I never get tired of hearing it," Kurt smiled broadly as he returned his wand to his pocket. There was a loud explosion followed by a merry tune, the air space was filled by glittering dust that hovered in the air and changed shapes as leprechaun whizzed through the air tossing shiny coins into the crowd. Kurt pulled out his wand and made use of the last summer he would be allowed to use his magic freely to deflect a coin that was headed straight for his head, "that's just dangerous and irresponsible."
The floating glitter swirled into the shape of a dancing leprechaun and from it burst the Irish national quidditch team, they flew on broomsticks that would have been identical to those of the Bulgarian side other than their colour scheme; the Irish donned green and gold, and their broomsticks were recoloured to match.
"With so many Firebolts," Charlie chuckled, "you'd think the tournament was sponsored by them instead of Nimbus 2001s."
"They sponsor the tournament," Kurt shook his head, "not the individual teams."
Charlie shook his head, "'insufferable know-it-all' was the understatement of the century."
"A sentiment shared by many know-nothings," Kurt and Hermione chorused with broad smirks.
"Bless my soul," Ron clutched his chest, his voice rising to high pitched whisper, "that's Victor Krum."
Kurt's attention was drawn to the man whose face appeared to be projected on the glass panes separating the pitch and the lower sections of the grand stand. Before Kurt could speak, he was pre-empted by Harry, "You don't know how refreshing it is for me to hear that and for it not to be followed by 'it is Harry Potter'." There was a string of laughter, "You guys have to tell me who Viktor Krum is."
"He's the number one seeker in the world," Kurt explained, "this is his world cup debut, he's only turning seventeen in the first week of September. Youngest person to ever play for a national quidditch team."
"How do you know that?" Hermione furrowed a brow.
"Magical section of Heathrow, where the international Floo is," Kurt explained, "their bookshop had a sale on this book that told you all about all of the participating teams in this year's world cup. It felt like a good idea to brush up on my knowledge."
Ron shook his head and coughed, "nerd."
"Never been kissed," Kurt coughed back.
Mr Weasley chuckled, "this is why he's my favourite."
"The rules for this match are listed in the International Quidditch Federation handbook," Ludo Bagman announced, "Ready, Let's play ball."
The bludgers, the quaffle and the golden snitch were released and at great speed the match began, professional quidditch players were a spectacle to behold. The quidditch players flew around the quidditch pitch with a grace and flair that Kurt couldn't help but almost envy. Kurt looked on as they performed stunning acrobatics on their broomsticks, he had never been taken by quidditch; he believed the sport to be unnecessarily rough and far too dangerous for school aged children to watch, let alone participate in.
The match began with a domination by the Irish side, they scored eighty points in the first fifteen minutes and had the Bulgarian side trailing them, trying to get possession so they could score. The first time the Bulgarian side got clear possession, they scored seven consecutive goalss. The game of Cat and mouse went on for the good part of an hour, with the teams taking turns playing each of the different roles.
When they got closer to the two hour mark it was much clearer who the cat was and who was the mouse, as Bulgaria had fallen behind by two hundred points. The Bulgarian team was much more aggressive and were playing a game that reminded Kurt of his house team, for a moment he wished he was supporting them instead. Bulgaria seemed to be working hard to cover the difference and it was working out for the better.
Viktor Krum decided to put his world renown skills to work when his team was only a hundred and forty points down, he flew straight down with the Irish seeker on his tale, just before he flew into the ground he pulled up but his opponent did not. Before his efforts could be rewarded though, one of his team members committed a foul and earned Ireland a penalty; this enraged the veela, who began to fight the leprechauns. Soon after their successful penalty, Ireland followed it up with a second goal.
Kurt watched in horror as a bludger collided with the Bulgarian seeker's face and give him a matching pair of black eyes, this didn't deter the young man as he kept flying in stride. Viktor Krum caught the snitch and ended the match with Ireland ten points ahead.
"Why would he catch the snitch then?" Hermione raised a curious brow, "wouldn't waiting for his team to lessen the gap have been more beneficial."
"It's been a long match, their side is probably tired," Bill explained, "Going on any longer might have made for a worse loss. This way he ended the match on his own terms."
~0~
Kurt sat on the top of the backrest of the white couch he had earlier reprimanded Ron for stepping on it, he swayed merrily with his drink in hand. Kurt ran his fingers through Cedric's hair, they were celebrating, they had planned to celebrate regardless of the match's outcome but this outcome seemed to have pleased most of them. Kurt stood up and jumped onto the coffee table with less grace then usual, he cleared his throat.
"I thought there were no feet on the furniture," Ron complained, Kurt flipped him a bird.
"There's a saying, oh
Say's that love is blind.
Still we're often told,
Seek and yeh shall find.
So, I'm going to seek a certain lad
I've had in mind."
Hermione chuckled, "Kurt, you are drunk."
"And a really good singer," Harry gaped at him, "How did we not know this before?"
"Kurt sings like an angel," Finn bounced in his seat.
"Looking everywhere,
Haven't found him yet.
He's the big affair,
I cannot forget;
Only man I ever think of with regret."
"You're not going to stop, are you?" Ron shook his head.
"Don't stop," Brittany clapped along enthusiastically, "it's so very pretty."
"I think he's acting more drunk than the amount we've drunk," Finn gave Kurt a pointed look.
"Come to think of it," Hermione furrowed her brow, "His inebriation level exceeds out alcohol intake."
"What the fuck is inebriation?" Ron hiccupped on the last word.
Ginny chuckled, "what you are."
"I'd like to add his initial to my monogram,
Tell me, where is the shepherd,
For this lost lamb?"
Kurt jumped down and straddled Cedric's lap, the boy rewarded him a chaste kiss and the girls in the room swooned.
"There's a somebody I'm longing to see,
I hope that he turns out to be,
Someone who'll watch over me.
I'm little lamb who's lost in the wood,
I know I could always be good,
To one who'll watch over me."
"Kurt," Hermione pulled him down onto the couch's seat between her and Cedric, "that is so pretty. Are you just really good at everything?"
"It was really enjoyable," Luna smiled at him, "but one would have been able to deduce Kurt's musical prowess based on his piano playing and the melodic tone of his voice."
"Ella Fitzgerald sings it better," Kurt turned to Cedric and planted an intense, sloppy kiss on the boy's soft lips. Kurt kissed a trail toward the boy's ear and in a low sultry whisper began to croon in his boyfriend's ear, "hi sexy."
"You are drunk," Cedric chuckled, planting a chaste kiss on Kurt's lips.
"I'm feeling a little brave," Kurt crooned and fiddled with the hem of Cedric's oxford, "the alcohol is bringing out my inner Gryffindor."
"You two need to get a room," Harry sniggered.
"Is that so?" Cedric chuckled, swatting Kurt's hand from where it was fiddling with his buttons, "And what is your 'inner Gryffindor' saying?"
"He says that he's lonely, kind of make me want some Hufflepuff in there too to keep him company," Kurt giggled seductively. Cedric slipped out from under Kurt and stood awkwardly beside the couch, "look who's tempted."
"I'll speak to you when you're sober," Cedric leaned down and planted a chaste kiss on his forehead.
"Fine," Kurt groaned and rolled his eyes, "I was under the dire misconception that my boyfriend, who will show affection at the drop of a hat, might be interested in feeling me up some but clearly you're more concerned with keeping my honour intact and having my brother respect you." Kurt passed Cedric his coat, "you can go, I'll speak to you when I'm sober."
Everyone in the room watched Cedric leave, Ron turned to Kurt in awe, "you're even brilliant at fighting."
"I…" Kurt took a deep breath, "uh…"
"I'd just like to put it out there that I might just respect Cedric more if he banged you," Finn shrugged with a lopsided smirk.
"I think that was one first respectable things Cedric has done," Ron nodded rigorously, "not bad for a guy who's always touching on one of my best friends."
"Wow," Hermione rolled her eyes, "I'm sure you'd feel differently if it was Mandy Brocklehurst feeling up Harry; that would be hot, wouldn't it Ron?"
"Sounds hot to me," Brittany nodded, "I don't even know this many girl."
"It's because you all view us as sexual others," Hermione explained shaking her head, "something to be pursued but unable pursue, as if our loins don't get warm."
"As if we don't look at Finn and want to eat his face," Luna let out a deep breath, "Kurt sometimes just wants to be a sexy beast."
"And it would have been so good to watch," Brittany smiled broadly.
"So, shut up Ron," Ginny smirked, she let out a hiccup.
"Yes," Hermione crossed her arms, "Shut up Ron."
"As sweet as you may think you're being, you're not helping," Kurt got to his feet, "so might you leave the intimate details of my relationship between my love and I. As well-meaning as you are right now; Ron protecting my virtue, ladies for accepting that I might very well be a sexual being, Finn- I'm not sure what you did- but you too. This is the part where you take a page out Harry's book and say nothing."
"You called him your love," Hermione squealed excitedly.
"Ah fuck," Kurt rolled his eyes, "I guess I did." Kurt rubbed his eyes, "maybe I should have opened with that rather than the unfettered access to my body." There was loud roaring from outside the tent, "At least somebody is having a good time."
Hermione hugged him close, "Maybe in another time."
"Maybe in another country," Kurt chuckled.
Their laughter was halted by Mr Weasley and Mr Lovegood storming into the tent with Bill, Charlie, Fred and George in tow, "they're torching the tents, there's a riot out there and the anti-apparition enchantment means we all need to make a run for the trees and the portkeys." Mr Weasely turned Bill and Charlie, "take care of the young ones, I have to see what can be done."
Kurt pulled on his boots and forced a jacket over Hermione's shoulders, He kissed Finn, "You have to go find Cedric, he's your ride home but promise me you'll be careful."
Kurt grabbed Hermione's hand, "No matter what, don't let go of my hand." They exited his tent and Kurt watched as Ginny was whisked away by Bill, Ron by Charlie, Luna by her father, Fred and George went off in one direction, and Finn pulled Harry along with him, "Let's go."
As he was running for his life Kurt caught a glimpse of the cloaked figures that had caused the farce, they wore long black robes that ended in point above their heads and had their faces hidden behind silver masks. Kurt stopped dead in his tracks when he realised that they had the muggle family that managed the camping grounds levitating over their heads.
"Kurt," Hermione grabbed his hand in both of hers, concern riddled all over her face, "we have to run."
"Those muggles," Kurt shook his head, "we have to help them."
Hermione strained her eyesight for a moment before a horrified expression joined her concern and amalgamated into a decisive expression, "what's the plan?"
"Bad assery?" Kurt shrugged.
"Sounds like a plan," Hermione nodded stood planted in her spot as Kurt ran ahead, "but I can't do magic outside of school."
Kurt turned back to her with a small smile, "I got you." They changed direction and pulled out their wands as they ran to the aid of the defenceless muggles. There was a group of five or so wizards, all adults judging from their height and they had the family of four levitated as they spread carnage, "if you wanted to play with fire then you should have just said so, ignis."
"You children have no business here," a man's voice growled deeply with a silent flick of his wand.
"Protego duo," Hermione's wand snapped at lightning speed, "you picked the wrong place to start a riot, Expilliarmus."
"Aro," Kurt purred the words and out of one hand shot blue flames, he flicked his wand, "Aculeus."
"Crucio," A familiar voice called out from behind them, Kurt was familiar with this one and knew to break the caster's concentration. Kurt turned to the cloaked figure and directed the blue flames toward the man.
"Protego Maximus," Finn's voice rang through the clearing, cutting off a curse before it could hit its mark, "have either of you seen Harry?"
"He ran off with you," Hermione scolded as she moved into a triangular formation, back to back with Finn and Kurt.
"I kind of lost him," Finn gritted his teeth, "Verdimillious. He was behind me but when I found Cedric he wasn't behind me anymore, Cedric's also looking."
"We need to find Harry," Kurt announced, "which means we need to get rid of these clowns."
"Finn," Hermione's voice was firm, "Get the muggles out of here and we'll get rid of these fools."
Finn nodded, "Wingardium leviosa." He levitated the muggles who were, at this point, lying unconscious on the ground; he ran off with them floating ahead of him.
"Let's do this," Hermione smiled, "ignis."
The tip of her wand lit up as brightly as Kurt's right hand, "turbine sphaeram." A fiery sphere exploded around Kurt and Hermione in a swirl of blue and red flames, before their flames could reach the men they turned into black pillars of smoke and disappeared.
"What is this?" The Minister of Magic appeared from behind the wall of flames as it fell, "are you responsible for this?"
"We had to help those muggles," Hermione explained.
Kurt shook his head, "you and I both know that Hermione and I didn't do this."
"Then who did?" a dark haired man with a weathered face asked, "it's rather suspicious to find a pair of under aged wizards performing magic outside of school."
"Has this man seriously got Hitler moustache?" Kurt turned to Hermione with a quizzical brow raised, "I have permission to use magic over the summer and also we were fighting for our lives." Kurt began to wrack the plethora of facts in his memory, "They wore black robes, silver masks and they dissapparited in a plume of black smoke, they were-"
There was a bright flash and the sky lit up, a skull shaped cloud appeared and a serpent slithered out of its slack jaw, "Oh my god, no." He and Hermione chorused in utter horror, "the dark mark, they were Death Eaters."
The adults lost interest in Hermione and Kurt running instead toward the spot where the curse had originated, Kurt and Hermione followed closely. When they reached the clearing they found a groggy Harry and a house elf, Kurt and Hermione shot out ahead of the adults embracing Harry from either side.
"Harry, are you alright?" Hermione checked him for injuries as she spoke, "Finn told us you two got separated."
"He's in so much trouble for that," Kurt reassured the boy as he kissed him on the forehead.
"Let it be remembered that you have all been discovered at the scene of the crime," the man with the Hitler moustache spoke, "what do you have to say for yourselves?"
Kurt rose to his full height with fire in his eyes, "I don't know where you were whilst the carnage of innocence was taking place but I was kicking butt and taking names."
"You know who did this?" The minister turned to them in bewilderment.
"It's an idiom," Hermione explained, "but they were Death Eaters."
"Don't be absurd," the minister chuckled, "there haven't been Death Eaters for years."
"Funny, because there hadn't been a basilisk sighting in over five hundred years," Kurt began to explain, "but that didn't stop one from climbing out of the fictitious Chamber of Secrets and terrorising the school, and then it nearly killed us."
"Or how there had never been a break out from Azkaban," Hermione went on, "but that didn't stop us from nearly dying on the Black Lake at the hands dementors pursuing the escapee."
"Don't forget about Quirreldemort," Harry muttered, clutching the lightning shaped gash on his forehead.
"You'll be wise to watch your tone when speaking to two of the highest ranking ministry officials," Percy scolded, "Minister Fudge and Mr Crouch deserve nothing less than your utmost respect."
"I find your obsequent nature nausea inducing," Kurt rolled his eyes, "bottom line is we're innocent of all crimes unless curbing criminal activity is now illegal."
"Then who did it?" Mr Crouch asked again, "Who conjured the dark mark?"
"There was a man over there, near where that house elf is," Harry pointed over his shoulder dismissively, "Hermione, you can let go of me now."
"Sorry," Hermione took a step back, they watched as the group of adults headed over to where the lost looking house elf was standing.
"Harry, Hermione, Kurt," Bill came up behind them, he turned back and shouted over his shoulder, "Dad, I found them."
"Thank Merlin's beard," Mr Weasley boomed across the ruins of what had been the camp grounds, "I can just imagine explaining this to their parents."
"We're all fine Mr Weasley," Hermione assured the panicking man, "Harry's got a small cut above his eyebrow, that's all."
"Not a cut," Harry corrected in a whisper, "it's my scar."
"Forget your parents," Mr Weasley wiped a bead of sweat from his brow, "Molly would have killed me, dead. But here you are with the minister."
"Let the record reflect that we stopped the rampaging Death Eaters," Kurt shot a sideways glance at the Minister for Magic, "before somebody rewards themselves for our work."
"Has anyone seen my wand?" Harry furrowed his brow as he frisked himself.
"It's not here in the periphery," Kurt searched the ground around him.
"There it is," Harry pointed to a wand in Mr Diggory's hand.
"You have really good night vision," Kurt looked at Harry in awe.
"It's a given with all the enchantments Hermione keeps putting on my spectacles," Harry shrugged.
"You called them spectacles instead of glasses," Kurt clutched his chest, "I feel so proud whenever I've managed to teach you something, it's like I've overcome the laws of nature."
"Sometimes you make me feel so stupid," Harry chuckled as they walked over to where Mr Diggory was standing with the remainder of the adults, "hi, can I have my wand back."
"This is the wand that was used to conjure the dark mark," Mr Crouch turned to the pair, "How did it come to be in the possession of my house elf?"
"House elves are forbidden from breaking the law," Hermione explain, "Part of their enslavement is that they cannot disobey an order, it is illegal for a house elf to take the wand of a wizard which means this wand was handed to this poor unsuspecting elf."
"What are you insinuating young lady?" the man tried to use his height to intimidate Hermione but her recent growth spurt made this attempt futile.
"That it was a wizard who stole Harry's wand, a wizard who conjured the dark mark and a wizard who gave this wand to this defenceless, lost house elf," Hermione explained.
Kurt smiled, "She's the brightest witch of the age you know, and you'd do well to heed her warning."
"You'd do well to hold your tongue in the presence of adults who know better," Percy warned.
"Thank you," Kurt gave a cold smile, "when I'm in the company of such adults, I'll be sure to take that to heart."
Percy's face screwed in anger, "Why you insubordinate little-"
"That's enough," Mr Weasley's voice was firm.
"But dad-"
"That's enough young Mr Weasley," Mr Crouch silenced him, "you are tasked with finding clothes for Winky so I might set her free."
"Master," the house elf pleaded in a feminine voice, "please, what of yo-"
"I forbid you to say anymore," Mr Couch shook his head, "You have shamed me enough as it is."
Hope you liked it.