Chapter Sixteen: The World Cup and Dark Mark:
It was a bright summer day, perfect as it could get and Harry was sitting outside the boys tent at the Quidditch world cup enjoying a large chocolate ice cream cone. Sirius Black was seated by him, clad much as his godson in jeans and tee shirt, however where Harry was wearing shoes Sirius was barefoot sitting on the warm grass. He too was enjoying an ice cream cone, his chocolate and coconut. Remus had finished his and had gone for another and came back enjoying his second of the day from Florean Fortescue who was making a lot of money at the world cup. Percy was off talking with the head of International Magic Rufus Scrimgeour, (he had been head of the Aurors and wanted a challenge and so he had taken over after the death of Barty Crouch). He was a likeable man with long grizzled tawny hair and yellow eyes behind small glasses that gave him a lion-like look.
Harry had never seen so many witches and wizards in one place before. He was grateful that they were deep in the mountains of the Cairngorms National Park as there were no muggles around for miles. The deep valley they were in was safe from prying muggle eyes and Harry loved the craggy forested mountains around another type of forest, that of tents as far as the eye could see. Most were normal as they could be, just plan muggle army issue type tents, the kind that could be found in many a WWI era encampment. Many of these had slipped up and put up a chimney or weather vein on them. Then there were those that were so obviously magical Harry just had to grin at them. He loved being here with the Weasleys and his uncles and godfather, the Weasleys had won seats in club level of boxes right at the top of the stadium, in the very top box. Bill came striding back from getting his own ice cream, his long red hair tied back and apart from his dragon skin boots his clothes would not have been out of place at a rock concert.
"What flavor did you get?" Harry asked him.
"Vanilla." Bill said, "with cinnamon in it."
"Sounds good, I think I may go for one more." Remus said.
"No ye will no' we do no' need ye getting hyper today Remus." Moody said slumping up.
"Hi uncle Al!" Fred said walking up with George both boys grinning.
"Having a good summer sir?" George asked.
"What did ye boys do?" Moody asked.
"Brother why does he think we did anything?" Fred said.
"I mean really we are the best boys ever!" George added.
"Fred George you wait until I get my hands on you!" Hermione shouted storming out of the girls' tent with brilliant green hair.
"Oh you did not!" Remus said nearly crying he was laughing so hard.
"It was not meant for you Hermione. "Fred said backing from the angry witch.
"Yea, um that was meant for Percy and no way was it to get into your things!" George added.
"Boys that is not nice!" Moody said raising his wand and turning Hermione's hair back to her normal color. "Ye should be very careful w' those kinds of pranks." Moody said.
"Yea make sure they get someone like oh Snape." Sirius said.
"No not him mate." Fred said.
"Yea, we like him, he would explode in rage if we did that to him." George said.
"Then we would explode from mum's wrath."
"Yea I like living thanks." George finished.
Harry laughed and realized how lucky he was to have the Weasley twins as friends. They of course knew who the Marauders were now and were awed mostly by Remus who was the nicest (and really only) werewolf they knew. These smart but mischievous boys had a secret of sorts that only Harry, Hermione, the Weasley family and of course Sirius and Remus knew, they were Animagmus, red foxes of course. They liked to accompany Remus once a month on his change and now that Sirius was free they would take to roaming the forest when allowed by McGonagall. They did not do too many more pranks that day and the day went on pleasantly, fading to a deep purple twilight before the gong sounded that alerted everyone they could head for the stadium.
Harry followed the lanterns bobbing a few feet above him lighting the path he followed with the other witches and wizards. He came to a large tunnel that was one of three that lead into the large cave where the stadium had been built into. It was large and built very similarly Harry noted to muggle soccer stadiums he had seen at his muggle school only this was much, much larger. He walked to an escalator (magically operated) that took him up to the middle seats then showing his ticket he took the upper deck escalator to the concourse that was just below their seats. He stopped at a concession stand where he got a roasted turkey leg and corn on the cob and a large Coke as wizards and witches like this drink as much as muggles do. Ron and Hermione got pretty much the same has Harry, Fred and George got fish and chips, Sirius a hamburger, Arthur, Bill, Charlie and Percy got Cockles, Ginny was daring and got the nachos that had jalapeños on them. Fred and George teased her about this until she sat in her seat and ate them as if they were not hot. She offered Fred one and he nearly died at the heat of it.
"That was unkind." Remus smirked behind her.
"He did ask for it." Harry said.
"You want one Harry?" Ginny asked Harry.
"No, I don't want to die thanks." Harry said.
"They are not that hot." Fred said.
"Is that why you ordered another Coke?" George teased his brother.
"Yea one ickle jalapeno get to you brother dear?" Bill teased Fred and would have got hit with something if not for a glare from his father. "I am going to get a beer."
"Raise you a firewhisky." Charlie said.
"Good lord Arthur what did you have to sell to get these seats?" Came the voice of Lucius Malfoy.
Harry turned and saw Lucius Malfoy standing there with his wife Narcissa Black Malfoy and of course Draco. Narcissa Malfoy was stunning in a gown of dark green that complemented the dark blue her husband was wearing. Draco was clad in near muggle attire and he looked as arrogant as ever. Sirius saw his cousin and at once he was up and facing her, Harry dreaded what was coming as Sirius waked up to her. He gently took her hand and kissed it as if she were the queen and he a courtier.
"My dear cousin your beauty has grown over the years." Sirius said. "You sir are very lucky to have a brilliant and beautiful witch for your wife."
"Yes, I got the better part of the Black line." Lucius said coldly.
"I quite agree," Sirius said and he turned to look at Draco. "Ah you Draco, I hear you are quite the seeker, though not as good as Harry of course, then again I am his godfather as you know."
"Yes I know." Draco said glaring at his insane one removed cousin. "But I am better looking than even you!"
"He got you there Sirius." Remus said smiling at his old friend.
"What who's side you on Moony?" Sirius said.
"Draco is one of my smartest students, naturally I am on the side of brains you know." Remus said.
"What does that mean?" Sirius said as Remus took his leave of the Malfoy's. "Remus what does that mean?"
Harry laughed and realized his godfather though strong, capable wizard was really not all that bright at times, still he was family and much loved by all. Harry took a seat and the match began. It was way more exciting than any Quidditch match he had ever seen. Everyone one of the players was flying the new Firebolt and Harry's favorite player by far was Victor Krum. He out flew the Irish seeker and was the best player on his whole team. He got hit in the face with a bludger but bravely refused care by the medi-wizards. He went back into the game and Harry saw, with his Omnioculars the snitch the same time Krum did. Krum dove for it and in a spectacular manner caught it and pulled up with inches to spare form plowing into the ground. Harry rose up and cheered with the rest of the crowd at the spectacular catch even though the Bulgarians lost 160-170 to Ireland.
Harry walked back to the boys tent happy and elated about the match. He thought he would not get to sleep that night but he did fall asleep and slept well. He woke to the sound of shouts and raised voices and got up quickly to see Remus drawing on his cloak and rolling up his sleeves. Harry was herded outside with Ron and the twins and away from the camp by Moody. There was no time to discuss this and Harry knew something bad was going on now. He was lead into the woods and Moody stayed with him and the others and Harry knew he wanted to be in the fight. His love for Harry kept him here keeping watch over the teens. There was a flash of red light and Harry screamed out a warning but it was too late, Moody went down and did not move again.
"Not good." Ron stammered, "not good at all."
"Wands out everyone!" Hermione said.
"A very good idea little girl." Came a muffled voice. "But it will not do any of you any good, I can kill you with ease."
"Show yourself." Harry said his wand out, "or are you too much of a coward to do so?"
"You know me boy, come with me and the others will live." The owner of the voice stepped from the shadows, he was tall, thin and clad in black robes, hood and bone white mask. "All I want is you Harry Potter."
"You death eater scum!" Ginny shouted, "go back to the hell that spawned you!"
Before Harry could move an inch someone grabbed him and Apparated him away from the others. When he could breath again he turned on his abductor and attacked him hitting him with his fists and trying to get out of the stronger man's grip. He heard a laugh and turned and saw he was hitting his godfather Sirius. He stopped and realized they were not alone, someone had Apparated with them and he turned to see Snape lowering Moody to the ground. Harry gasped as he saw a horrible gash on the old Auror, Snape was chanting over the wound and slowly it stopped bleeding and Snape was able to wake the old Auror up.
"What happened?" Moody asked.
"We were ambushed." Harry said, "as you were taking care of us a death eater snuck up on us."
"Death eater?" Moody growled, "eh, not expecting that really, not there must be getting old."
"No, you had much to worry about." Snape said. "Harry was your main concern, as were the other children, you helped stall their attacker long enough so we could get there."
"Not my way of stalling anyone boy." Moody said grunting as he slowly got up.
"Well Snape is good for something." Sirius said. "Glad you were there, why were you there anyway?"
"I had a ticket for the world cup." Snape said, "and thanks to a bit of luck I made money as well."
"Yea I bet you brewed it." Sirius muttered.
"Liquid Luck is banned at any gaming or sporting event you should know this." Snape said, "the goblins have ways of detecting that sort of thing and you do not survive if you are found out. It is one of the only times a murder by a goblin of a human is overlooked."
"He is right." Moody said. "Now I see we are at Hogwarts, Poppy is no' going t' be happy t' see me."
"Well as long as you go now she will not be too upset." Snape said, "however you keep her waiting and she will be very upset."
"I better get Harry back to the camp." Sirius said.
"I will go up to the castle with Alastor, I have work to do." Snape said.
Moody grunted and knew Snape was just going to make sure he was alright, but he would not say that as Moody had a reputation to uphold. Harry watched Moody and Snape walk up to the castle and then took Sirius's arm and Apparated back to the camp. He was greeted by a very worried Weasley family and Hermione back at the tent. They were relieved to see he was alright though when Sirius told them about the death eater attack Arthur packed up the tent at once and had everyone who could Apparate help him get the children home. He told Molly what had happened and then he was gone with Sirius, Remus, Charlie and Bill back to the camp to restore order. Mr. Diggory and Cedric came to keep watch on the house and the children stayed huddled in the family room waiting for news.
"Will uncle Al be alright?" Hermione asked Harry.
"Professor Snape did a spell that stopped the bleeding." Harry said, "he walked up to the school on his own power."
"Wonder why the death eaters were at the cup." Ron asked.
"Probably to stir up trouble." Fred said.
"Yea but one of them did try to take Harry." George said.
"Didn't work." Ginny said.
"Thank God for that." Molly said from where she sat. "I am grateful you are alright."
The teens went to bed and woke up the next morning and trooped into the kitchen to find Arthur, Remus, Bill and Sirius sitting by the table. Bill had a black eye, Charlie was nursing a freshly mended wrist, Sirius looked as if he had been in a major fight and Remus looked unscratched though Harry knew he probably was deepest in the fight. He sat down by Remus and began to eat waiting for the news that everyone had. Hermione came in and saw everyone and took a seat next to Ginny who looked as if she had not slept well at all.
"What happened?" Hermione asked.
"Some death eaters got a hold of some muggles and were torturing them." Arthur said wearily.
"While this was going on others were creating a distraction to try and get you." Remus said. "No way was any of this not connected, someone wants you."
"Voldemort." Harry said evenly. "He is back."
"We don't know that yet." Sirius said.
"I had a dream, I saw him in it." Harry said, "well not him, I heard his voice, he was talking to a young man with light blond hair, not Malfoy blond a bit darker and he was very pale and there was a snake and Voldemort was talking to it. He said he looked forward to feeding me to it."
"I am going to tell the headmaster." Remus said. "Though I think he suspected this."
"He wanted to feed you to his snake?" Ron said.
"That is horrible!" Ginny said.
"Not really as I want to feed him to Norbert." Harry said taking some more toast and munching on it.
"That would not be nice at all." Sirius said, "you would give that poor dragon indigestion."
Harry grinned and knew that even if Voldemort was back (and he was sure he was) life was still good. True he had many challenges, his parents had been murdered, he was famous for surviving and if Voldemort came back he would try to kill him again. Harry knew he was not alone and would get through this with his very large family. He was looking forward his fourth year as he knew what was coming, the Triwizard tournament that he knew was coming this year as did the rest of the teens. It was going to be a great school year…
Oh yes a bit of fun with the World Cup! As for Voldemort, I think he really should just quit while he is ahead. Harry is gonna make him dragon food if he does not leave Harry alone. As for Snape at the world cup, he would see a chance to make money. That and I am sure he was sent by Dumbledore to watch over Harry as he saw the signs even if no-one else did.
As always, I want to thank all who have reviewed so far: Tumshie, The Geeky Quill, graypheonix, Lady Clark-Weasley of Books, JWOHPfan, AllMightyPen, DeliaDee, Rainbow2007, Charcoal Hunter Winston, danielle72679, HarrySirius Fan, Auralia Mortimer, world peace, kloette, excessivelyperky, Blueowl, Tristan Cartier, Frost Merry Darkness Luver, miss sophie potter, Black Dragin, jabarber69, murdrax, panther73110, tlfsjs. Thank you all you rock! Oh and thank you all who have read and enjoyed this story too! You rock as well!