A/N: Some of the sentences in this chapter were taken from "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire", and were not written by me, but by JK Rowling. They will be in BOLD.
When the sun was nearly behind the horizon, the campsites began to empty out. Pansy noticed that red and green lanterns had blazed into life around the forest. Shouts and laughter were heard, and Pansy heard Lucius' voice.
"Time to go," Lucius said, "Follow me."
Pansy and the three Malfoys started to down the lantern-lit trail toward the stadium. Before long, Pansy was starting to get cold, and she wished that she had put on pants instead of a skirt. She began to shiver, and Draco noticed.
"Cold?" Draco asked.
"A little," Pansy said.
"Here," Draco said, removing his coat, "You can wear this."
"Thank you," Pansy said, as Draco put the coat around her.
Twenty minutes later, Pansy, the Malfoys, and the rest of the crowd had emerged on the other side of the forest. Pansy felt her jaw drop as she looked at the stadium.
"It is enormous!" she squealed.
"Seats about a hundred thousand," Draco said, "Isn't that right, Father?"
"That is correct," Lucius said, "Now, I want you to be on the look-out for the Minister. We have to meet him when we reach the stadium."
"I wish this crowd would hurry," Draco said, "I am getting cold."
"Maybe you should have kept your coat on," Narcissa said.
Draco rolled his eyes.
--------------------------------------------
Soon, Pansy and the Malfoys had arrived at the entrance, and Lucius spoke up when he spotted Cornelius Fudge.
"Ah, good," Fudge said, spotting them, "Here you are. Yes, yes, we are in the Top Box, straight up those stairs. Follow me."
Pansy looked up, and groaned. It was going to be a long walk to the top.
It took about ten minutes to reach the top, and as soon as they were at the top of the staircase, Pansy heard Draco say something.
"Don't tell me that is who Bagman brought!" Draco whispered to Pansy.
Pansy didn't know what Draco was talking about, until she looked over in the direction of where Draco was looking. Finally she found out what Draco was talking about. Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and what looked like most of the Weasley Family, were sitting in the bottom seats of the box, and most of them were staring at Draco and Pansy.
"Lucius," Fudge said, "I would like you to meet Mr. Oblansk -- Obalonsk -- Mr. -- well, he is the Bulgarian Minister of Magic, and he can't understand a word I am saying, so nevermind. Let's see who else -- I daresay you know Arthur Weasley, yes?"
Pansy watched as Lucius stared at Arthur. Arthur had extended his hand, but Lucius ignored it. He had said something to Arthur that Pansy couldn't quite make out, but apparently it had made Arthur quite embarrassed.
Lucius started to walk over to one of the empty seats, so Pansy, as well as Draco and Narcissa, followed him. Pansy sat right behind Hermione, who was looking forward. Pansy smirked. She knew Hermione was trying to ignore her.
"Well, now it looks like everyone is ready," Ludo Bagman said, standing up, "Minister... are you ready?"
"Ready when you are, Ludo," Fudge said.
Ludo whipped out his wand and put it to his throat. "Sonorus", he said, and then spoke over the roar of sound that was now filling the stadium. His voice echoed over them. "Ladies and gentlemen... welcome! Welcome to the..."
As Ludo talked, Pansy felt that same feeling she had in her stomach that she had when she was at her bedroom in her own house. Hoping it would go away, she ignored it. Draco had noticed her wince at the pain, though.
"Something wrong?" Draco asked her.
"No, no," Pansy said, "I am fine. Just a little stomach-ache. Not used to heights like this, I guess."
"Okay," Draco said, turning his attention back to the stadium.
"-- me to introduce... the Bulgarian National Team Mascots!" Pansy heard Ludo say.
Pansy looked at the Pitch, and noticed that over a hundred women were now gliding onto the field. They were beautiful, and Pansy was quite jealous.
"Veela!" Draco gasped.
"What?" Pansy asked.
But for some reason, Draco had ignored her. The veela had begun to dance, and Draco stood up.
"What are you doing?" Pansy asked.
But Draco had continued to ignore her. He put his foot up on the bar in front of him.
"Draco!" Pansy yelled.
Suddenly, the veelas stopped dancing, and Draco looked around. He sat down, apparently unaware that anything had happened.
"What were you doing?" Pansy asked.
"What do you mean?" Draco asked.
"I mean... oh, nevermind!" Pansy said, rolling her eyes.
"And now," roared Ludo Bagman's voice, "kindly put your wands in the air... for the Irish National Team Mascots!"
Pansy suddenly saw a green-and-gold comet zooming over the stadium. It did one circuit around the stadium, then split into two smaller comets, each hurdling toward the goal posts. A rainbow arced suddenly across the field connecting the two balls of light. The crowd oooohed and aaaahed, as though watching a fireworks display. Now the rainbow faded and the two balls of light reunited and merged; they had formed a great shimmering shamrock, which rose up into the sky and began to soar over the stands. Something gold was falling out of the shamrock, and Pansy noticed that the gold was actually coins. Pansy looked up at the shamrock again and noticed that it wasn't a shamrock, but actually thousands of tiny little bearded men with red vests, each carrying a miniature lamp of gold or green.
"Leprechauns!" Draco said.
"Wow," Pansy said, as the shamrock dissolved.
The leprechauns drifted onto the opposite side of the field from the veela, and settled themselves cross-legged on the Pitch.
Ludo's voice roared again, and Pansy heard a swooshing sound above her. One by one, seven blurred scarlet-clad figures shot out onto the field over her head.
"Look, it's Krum!!" Draco said, pointing at one of the players.
Pansy watched as Viktor Krum soared around the stadium as many of the spectators cheered.
Ludo's voice roared over the stadium again, and Pansy heard another swooshing sound, but this time from the opposite side of the stadium. Seven green blurs swept onto the field. Pansy's stomach started to hurt again, and she cringed.
"Draco," she whispered, "I think I should go back to the tent. I am not feeling too well."
"What?" Draco asked, "You don't want to stay?"
"No," Pansy said, "I am sorry."
"I am going to stay up here for a little while," Draco said, "I think Father wants me to stay."
"You don't want to come with me?" Pansy asked.
"I don't think my Father would want me to," Draco said, "I mean... not right now."
"Fine," Pansy said, rolling her eyes.
She stood up, and walked down the aisle. Draco said something, but she couldn't hear it over the roaring crowd. Pansy walked down the stairs, and made her way out of the stadium. It took her thirty minutes to walk back to the tents. When she arrived, she walked into her tent, and laid down. She didn't know what was wrong with her, but she didn't think she should be too worried.
An hour later, she was still awake. Suddenly, she heard a rustling sound, and the tent opened. She sat upright, and sighed as she saw Draco's shadowy figure.
"You startled me," she said.
"Sorry," Draco said, "Ireland was dominating the game when I left, so I wasn't too interested anymore. I am not sure if it is over or not. I decided to come and see how you were doing."
"I feel a little better," Pansy said, "Come sit beside me."
Draco smiled and sat next to Pansy.
"I am sorry about this," Pansy said, "I really did want to see the whole game, and I know you did too, but..."
"Don't worry about it," Draco said.
Pansy smiled and laid her head back down on the pillow. Draco leaned toward her and kissed her cheek, but Pansy moved slightly.
"Draco, not right now," Pansy said, "Just lay with me."
"Okay," Draco said, sighing.
Draco laid next to Pansy, and put his arms around her. Pansy moved in closer, and closed her eyes.
-
Pansy and Draco were asleep for about an hour, when Pansy heard something that sounded like screaming. Draco heard it too and sat upright.
"W-what is that, Draco?" Pansy asked.
"I-I don't know," Draco said, trying to stifle a yawn, "Maybe it is just celebrating. Let me go see."
Draco got out of the bed, and walked to the entrance of the tent.
"Well?" Pansy asked.
"Pansy, get up!" Draco said, turning around, "We have to get going."
"What?" Pansy asked, "Why?"
"We have to go," Draco said, "Get up!"
Pansy got up quickly, and walked over beside Draco. She looked outside and gasped at the site. A few tents had erupted in flames, and people were running around. In fact, it looked as if they were running from something.
"What are we going to do?" Pansy asked.
"We have to go to the forest!" Draco said, "Come on..."
"But what about your parents?" Pansy asked, "Shouldn't we wait for them?"
"No time!" Draco said, grabbing Pansy's arm, "Come on!"
Pansy and Draco ran toward the forest that they had just come from a couple hours before. As they ran, Pansy looked around. She suddenly saw a group of people, all of whom were wearing masks. Each person had their wand out, and were causing mayhem around the campsites. Everywhere she looked, Pansy saw more and more tents on fire. When she got a closer look at the masked figures, she realized who they were.
"Draco!" Pansy yelled, "I know who those are!"
"What?" Draco said.
"Aren't those Death Eaters?" Pansy asked.
Draco said nothing, but continued to run with Pansy toward the forest. Five minutes later, when they were inside the forest, Pansy stopped.
"Draco... we need to stop," Pansy said, breathing hard, "I am tired."
"Okay," said Draco, who was breathing hard as well, "But just for a few minutes."
"You didn't answer my question back there, Draco," Pansy said, "Those people out there. The ones in masks. Those were Death Eaters, weren't they?"
"I-I think so," Draco said, nodding.
"What would they be doing here?" Pansy asked.
"They were causing chaos out there, Pansy," Draco said, "Couldn't you tell?"
"Of course, I could!" Pansy said, "But why? Voldemort is gone, isn't he? Why would they be here?"
"How am I supposed to know?" Draco asked, "We have to get going."
"We need to find your parents, Draco," Pansy said, "Where could they be?"
"I am sure we will run into them soon," Draco said, "Come on."
Pansy took Draco's hand, and they started to run farther into the forest. Ten minutes later, they stopped.
"I think we are far in enough," Draco said, "We should be safe."
"Shouldn't we look for your parents?" Pansy asked, "We have to find them before we can find a Portkey."
"I told you," Draco said, "I am sure we will find them. Don't worry."
"I am worried, Draco!" Pansy said, "Don't tell me not to be..."
Draco hugged Pansy.
"It is okay," he said, "I understand."
"I just don't know why this is happening," Pansy said, tears beginning to come down her cheeks.
Suddenly, Pansy heard something about twenty-five feet behind them, in the direction they had come.
"Hide, Pansy!" Draco said.
Pansy hid behind a tree, and then heard a voice.
"Tripped over a tree root," the voice said.
Pansy knew who that voice was. It was Ron Weasley. And if Ron was there, Harry Potter and Hermione Granger couldn't be far behind.
"Well, with feet that size, hard not to," Pansy heard Draco say.
"Shut up, asshole!" Pansy heard Ron say.
"Language, Weasley," Draco said, "Hadn't you better be hurrying along, now? You wouldn't like her spotted, would you?"
"What is that supposed to mean?" Hermione said.
"Granger, they're after Muggles," Draco said, "D'you want to be showing off your knickers in midair? Because if you do, hang around... they're moving this way, and it would give us all a laugh."
"Hermione's a witch," Harry snarled.
"Have it your own way, Potter," Draco said, "If you think they can't spot a Mudblood, stay where you are."
"You watch your mouth!" Ron shouted.
"Never mind, Ron," Hermione said.
Pansy smirked. Typical Hermione, she thought, always trying to ignore the fact that her blood was dirty.
A bang came from somewhere on the other side of the trees. Several people nearby screamed. Draco chuckled softly.
"Scare easily, don't they?" he said, "I suppose your daddy told you all to hide? What's he up to -- trying to rescue the Muggles?"
"Where's your parents?" Harry said, "Out there wearing masks, are they?"
Pansy's eyes narrowed. How dare they accuse Draco's parents of such?!
"Well, if they were," Draco said, "I wouldn't be likely to tell you, would I, Potter?"
"Oh, come on," Hermione said, "let's go and find the others."
"Keep that big bushy head down, Granger," sneered Draco.
"Come on," Hermione repeated.
Pansy heard feet shuffling, and began to walk back toward Draco.
"I can't believe they would accuse your parents like that!" Pansy said, "How dare they... your parents would never be the kind of people doing all that out there!"
Draco didn't respond.
"Right, Draco?" Pansy asked, looking into Draco's eyes.
"Yes, of course they wouldn't," Draco said.
"Where are your parents, anyway?" Pansy asked, walking over to a tree and sitting at the trunk, "Shouldn't we have seen them?"
"We will wait for a little longer," Draco said, "Then we will search for them."
"Okay," Pansy said.
Draco walked over to Pansy and sat next to her.
"How could this happen, Draco?" Pansy asked, "Wasn't there good security here? Didn't your own father go with Fudge to make sure of that earlier today?"
"Yeah, those guys just must have been smarter then the Ministry," Draco said.
"Aren't you even worried about your parents?" Pansy asked, "What if we can't find them? What if they were hurt or... or...?"
"They weren't," Draco said, "Trust me. I know they are safe."
"All right," Pansy said, "I guess I..."
"MORSMORDRE!"a voice roared from somewhere in the forest.
"What was that?!" Pansy said, "Where did it come from?"
Draco was about to answer, but Pansy suddenly heard rustling. She gasped as she saw movement a few feet ahead of them.
"Draco, over there!" Pansy said.
Pansy nearly screamed as she saw a figure come out from the shadow of the trees. The figure was in a cloak, and was wearing a mask.