Chapter 15
August, 1994It was still dark when Harry felt someone shake his shoulder. "Seth!" his father whispered. "It is time. Try not to wake your methara. She did not sleep well last night."
Harry sat up, still drowsy, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "I'm up," he whispered, then grabbed his clothes and began to get dressed.
"You do not have to be so quiet," his mother said. "I am not asleep."
Mithrael lit a candle in the tent and knelt down beside his wife. "Do you still feel ill?" he asked, gently stroking her stomach. "I will stay if you need me."
"No," she said, smiling at him. "Go and enjoy the time with our son. He will return to school in two weeks, and you will miss spending time with him while he is gone."
"But I worry about you," Mithrael said, leaning over and kissing her forehead.
She gently stroked his face. "It is not unusual to feel ill when one is carrying a child," she said. "It is new for us, but those who have carried other children do not worry about the illness. Do not worry, my husband. My methara will be with me today, and you will be back tomorrow."
"And your dakara knows how to find me in case I am needed," Mithrael said, taking her hand and kissing it. "If you need me, I will come immediately."
Harry crawled over to his mother and kissed her cheek. "When my sister arrives, I will scold her for making you lose sleep, Metha," he said.
"I do not think so," she said, smiling at him. "By the time she utters her first cry, she will have the two of you wrapped around her little finger. The scolding will be left to me while the two of you spoil her."
Harry shook his head sadly. "Then she will have to go to Elder Kasha to learn the lesson of the spoiled child Kenda."
His mother's eyes widened, but before she could protest, Harry and Mithrael hurried out of the tent laughing.
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Wrapped in their forest green cloaks, dressed in deerskin from neck to toe, and carrying their bows and quivers on their backs, the two elves stepped through the portal and into the woods behind the Burrow.
Arthur, the twins, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny had almost reached the tree when they saw Harry and Mithrael waiting for them.
"Are we late?" Arthur asked, trying to catch up with the children who had run ahead to meet the Elves.
"No," Mithrael said. "We have just arrived."
Mithrael had refused to take a portkey; he had convinced Arthur to allow him to take them through the portal into the woods near the moor where the Quidditch World Cup would be held.
"Where are Sirius and Remus?" Ron asked. "I thought they were coming with you."
"They went yesterday to set up the tent," Harry said. "Uncle Sirius wanted to get there before the others to pick out the best camping spot."
"Are you sure there will be enough room for all of us?" Arthur asked. "We have three other sons who are coming later."
"I have not seen the tent," Mithrael said, "But Remus said there was room for twenty people to stay comfortably, and we are but thirteen." He opened the portal and everyone followed him through.
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Sirius had bought a brand new tent for the occasion. It was, of course, a Wizarding Tent with three stories, 10 bedrooms, and 11 bathrooms. The bedrooms, each with a connecting bathroom, were on the top two floors. The remaining bathroom was located on the main floor, which also contained a large lounge with a fireplace at each end and chairs and sofas to seat 20 people. Gaming tables, complete with drawers holding numerous games, were scattered throughout the room. There was also a large bookcase filled with books for those who preferred to read. A separate dining room housed a table for 20 people, and a full sized kitchen with running water was equipped with food, already cooked and stored in cupboards with heating charms. There was also a cupboard filled with butterbeer and pumpkin juice, which was charmed to keep the drinks cold. A garden was attached to the front of the tent where two trees provided shade for the chairs underneath them.
They had set up the tent directly in front of the forest, far from the entrance to the camp. The Quidditch pitch was just beyond the woods. Sirius and Remus sat outside the tent in comfortable chairs, waiting for the others to arrive so they could serve breakfast.
"I still think you might have overdone it just a bit, Sirius," Remus said. "The tents are supposed to look like Muggle tents."
"The Muggles won't notice, Remus. I put up a Muggle-repellant charm."
"Still. Twenty people? How many times do you think you're going to actually use this tent, Sirius?"
"Who cares? As long as everyone has a good time while they're here."
Remus shook his head. "You have more galleons than sense."
Sirius grinned. "I know. Isn't it great?"
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When the others arrived, they were amazed by Sirius's tent. Harry, Mithrael, nor Hermione had ever seen a Wizarding tent before, but those who had were just as impressed.
"This is a hundred times bigger than your house, Uncle Remus," Harry said. "You and Uncle Sirius should set this up in your woods and live in here."
Sirius grinned and nudged Remus who just shook his head.
When breakfast was over, the adults sat outside under the shade trees while the younger ones went to explore the area. Sirius gave each of them ten galleons to spend on souvenirs. "Only buy fun things," he said. "I've already got each of you a pair of omnioculars for the match."
After thanking Sirius, the teenagers ran off to explore and spend their money.
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By lunch, Bill, Charley, and Percy had arrived. The teenagers returned wearing green rosettes, tall green sequined hats and large shamrock-shaped sunglasses. Hermione mumbled something that sounded like "Elton John concert," but the purebloods had no idea what she was talking about. They had brought several friends with them. Lee Jordan, Oliver Wood, Seamus Finnigan, Dean Thomas, Neville Longbottom, Draco Malfoy, and a girl in Ginny's year, Luna Lovegood, were invited to stay for lunch. The huge table in the dining room was piled high with sandwiches, chips, biscuits, cakes, and butterbeer.
Harry sat down beside his father and grinned up at him, still wearing his souvenirs. Mithrael snorted and shook his head.
"I was going to buy you some, Daka, but I knew you wouldn't wear them."
"It is good that you did not waste the galleons Sirius gave you," Mithrael said grinning. "Of course, we could have taken them home to your methara and told her they were the newest style in Wizard wear. She could have worn them to your Quidditch matches."
Harry laughed, imagining his mother wearing the ridiculous hat and glasses.
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The Quidditch match was the most exciting thing that Harry had ever seen. Ireland won the match, but Victor Krum, the Bulgarian seeker, had caught the snitch. Krum had twice performed a move called the Wronski Feint, which had twice sent the Irish seeker plowing into the ground. Harry replayed the move over and over on his omnioculars, determined to use it when he played at Hogwarts this year. He hoped that Draco didn't have the same idea, but knowing him, they would be trying to run each other into the ground for the next 4 years.
After the match, they headed back to the tent to celebrate the Irish victory. Remus and Sirius decorated the lounge with green streamers. A constant sprinkle of confetti fell from overhead, and tiny bubbles blew across the room. There was butterbeer and snacks on all the tables. Music was playing on the wireless, and everyone was dancing and singing, not bothering with partners. The adults sat near the tent opening, watching the fun.
There was a sudden loud bank outside the tent. Mr. Weasley and Mithrael went out to investigate. When they returned, Mr. Weasley's face had gone very pale. Mithrael went over to Harry and took him by the arm. "Get your bow and quiver, and take the others through the woods to the portal," he said. "Get them safely back to the Burrow. There is trouble here. We will meet you there when it is over."
Harry nodded. "Be careful, Daka," he said, sliding his quiver on his back and grabbing his bow. "Ron, Hermione, Everyone! Get your wands and follow me!"
Outside the tent, people were running toward the gate in the opposite direction of the woods. Harry glanced into the forest and saw that there were no longer any lights leading through the forest. He turned to the others. "Ron, hold on to the back of my belt and don't let go. Everyone, take someone's hand, and we'll go into the forest in a straight line." As Harry removed an arrow from his quiver and notched it into his bow, Ron grabbed his belt with one hand and Hermione's hand with the other. Hermione grabbed George's hand, who clasped Ginny's, and she held onto Fred's. "All right. Let's go."
Harry led the small group into the dark forest, and then lit his wand to look for the tree that was the portal. Suddenly they heard the pop of apparition. "Nox," Harry whispered, and the group moved quietly into the bushes.
A black-robed man with a white mask appeared in the forest. He pointed his wand skyward and shouted, "MORSMORDRE!" and a green light lit the forest.
"It's a Death Eater," whispered Ron. "He just conjured the Dark Mark!"
Harry raised his bow and let the arrow fly. The man screamed as the arrow hit his thigh. He fell on the ground, writhing in pain. Harry waved his hand, and the man's wand leapt out of his hand and into Harry's. He waved it again, and the man was bound from his shoulders to his ankles with thick ropes.
Harry stepped from behind the bushes and moved cautiously toward the man. A second pop made him hesitate. There, beside the Death Eater, stood a female house-elf.
"What are you doing, Little Sister?" Harry asked.
She turned around, startled. When she saw Harry, she fell on her knees and began to cry. "Y-you is Harry Potter," she said. "The Child of Prophecy."
He nodded. "I am. And what is your name, Little Sister?" he asked as he walked slowly toward her.
"I-I is Winky, Master Crouch's house-elf. I is come to take Little Master home."
"Is this your Little Master?" he asked, nodding to the bound Death Eater.
"Yes, Harry Potter, sir," she said, trembling with emotion.
Harry approached her and knelt down in front of her, reaching out and placing his hand on her shoulder. "Do you know the Prophecy of El, Winky?" he asked.
She nodded, tears streaming down her face.
"Do you see what your Little Master is wearing?"
Again she nodded miserably.
"I cannot allow you to take him away, Winky," he said gently. "You must leave him here with me."
She began to sob. "Please don't hurt him, Harry Potter, sir."
"I promise I won't hurt him, Winky. Now, go home before Master Crouch finds you here."
She popped away, leaving the Death Eater behind.
Harry stood, torn about what to do. He had promised his father to get the Weasleys home safely, and yet he had captured this Death Eater and did not want to leave him. He looked up at the others. "Should we leave him here or take him with us?" he asked.
Suddenly, the air was filled with popping, and they found themselves surrounded by wizards. "Who conjured that mark?" one of them asked.
"He did," they all said, pointing to the Death Eater on the ground.
"And this is his wand," Harry added, giving it to the man who seemed to be in charge.
"And who are you?" the man asked.
"I am Harry Potter, and these are my friends, Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny Weasley, and Hermione Granger."
"Who are you?" Ron asked. "Are you aurors?"
"Yes," the man said. "I am Kingsley Shacklebolt of the auror division."
Suddenly, Mr. Weasley, Sirius, Remus, and Mithrael ran into the area.
"Stop! Stop!" Mr. Weasley cried. "Those are my children!"
"Well, Arthur, your children have captured a Death Eater," Shacklebolt said, grinning at Mr. Weasley.
Harry went to his father. "I'm sorry, Daka, but he appeared before we got to the portal."
His father placed his hand on his son's shoulder. "You did well, Sethrael. I am proud of you."
One of the aurors bent over the prisoner and removed his mask. "Bloody hell! I thought you were dead!"
Auror Shacklebolt went over to take a look at the Death Eater. "Barty Crouch?" he asked in amazement.
"Are we free to leave, Kingsley?" Arthur asked.
"I just need to ask a couple of questions, but I suppose that can wait until tomorrow. Yeah, Arthur, go ahead and take your kids home. I'll come by sometime tomorrow."