The Dark Mark Encounters

Harry was awoken by what sounded like different people shouting, but instead of the happy cheering before, they sounded terrified. Quickly he sat up and looked around, observing a panic stricken Mr. Weasley, "Boys, I said get up now!"

"Wha-What is it?" a concerned Ron asked slipping out of bed.

"No time to explain. Just put your jackets on, and move!" Mr. Weasley stuck his head outside of the tent for a moment, quickly whipping back around, "Hurry, Hurry now!" he commanded to everyone still in bed. It was strange for Harry to see Mr. Weasley so upset, something was clearly wrong... Ron and Harry quickly put on their coats and rushed outside. The group of teenagers walked into the night, trying to dodge the panicked witches and wizards running about. The screaming was deafening, and flashes of light were erupting from different locations around the camp, loud blasts following shortly after. Harry could see a group dressed in black, a couple hundred feet from them, cackling and jeering walking in their direction. Floating above them were humanoid figures, the darkness obscuring their identities. One of the hooded wizards shot a spell at a tent igniting it in flames, the orange light illuminating the figures up above. Harry simultaneously had the impulse to gag and shout- a response to the knowledge the people in the air were the camp director and his family. This was bad.

"Bill, Percy, Charlie and I are going to go help the rest of the ministry. You lot make your way to the forest, and stick together," Mr. Weasley warned, looking nervously at his young children, "Be careful." The four Weasleys turned and ran towards the commotion, wands ready to duel. The twins rushed ahead, both with their arms protectively around their younger sister. Fred, George, Ginny, Harry, Ron, and Hermione ran towards the forest.

"What was that? What were they doing to those muggles... and why?" Ron asked, gulping out of fear.

"I've no idea." Harry replied, his eyes falling onto a mother who had just exited her tent, picking up her tiny daughter, she dashed towards the forest with silent tears falling down her cheeks, "This is insane."

"I-I think they were Death Eaters," Hermione whispered, watching the woman as well, wearing a sympathetic look. She broke her gaze and looked at the two boys, seeing their clueless expressions, she added, "Death Eaters are followers of You Know Who." Harry and Ron stared at Hermione with their mouths agape, now understanding the severity of their situation. Hermione shivered, Harry was unsure if it was out of fear or from the cold.

They made it to the forest in good time, thankfully without incident. They passed through the trees, people were scattered around them running for their safety. Letting out a yelp, Ron tripped on a root landing on the cold damp ground.

"Ron, are you okay?" Hermione asked as she and Harry helped him up.

"Yeah, I'm alright. Just can't see a damned thing." He responded wiping the dirt off of his pajama bottoms.

"Are the Weasleys so poor that they can't even afford to walk properly?" Draco Mafloy stepped out from some thicket, his platinum hair luminescent from the light of fire in the campground, "Sad really. Too bad I don't believe in charity, Huh? I'm a sure a days' worth of my spending could buy your family a new dump to live in."

"Bugger off, Malfoy" Ron snapped, his face turning red. Harry placed a hand on his friend's shoulder in an attempt to calm him.

"I'm really enjoying it where I am, quite the view if I don't say so myself," his gazed shifted over towards the chaos. He was clearly enjoying the terror everyone was feeling, "Granger you better lay low, I hear they're not a fan of mudbloods," he warned, his eyes moving back over to the trio, falling upon the female Gryffindor

Ron growled and moved forward, causing Harry to quickly place his other hand around the red head, pulling him back before he could pounce on the Slytherin,

"Malfoy why don't you stop bothering us, go and join your parents perhaps? Or did they not have enough masks for all three of you?" Harry retorted.

Before Draco could respond Hermione pleaded, "Can we just go? I think we've lost the others," she looked over her shoulder, then at Harry and Ron. Harry noticed she seemed more scared than she was before. Maybe Mafloy was right, was Hermione in more danger?

"Yes I think that'd be a good idea." Cedric Diggory said making his way into the forest, eyeing the Slytherin with a serious look. Malfoy looked over at the Hufflepuff, his expression changing from amusement to contemplation.

"Watch your back, Granger" he snapped. Draco, deciding it wasn't the best idea to antagonize an older student, turned around and strutted off into the thicket. Harry watched the blonde disappear into the dark forest, then looked over at the Hufflepuff with raised eyebrows- First Malfoy, now Diggory, who next, Voldemort?

"Thank you" said a blushing Hermione, relief washing over her. Apparently, no matter the situation, good looks were still important. Harry rolled his eyes.

"Don't worry about it, you should get going though- Uh, do you mind if I tag along? Father is helping the ministry and I'd rather not be walking about alone."

Ron and Harry stood there in silence, Hermione smiled, "Of course you can, we can't leave you out here alone."

Cedric returned a smile, "Thank you. You two don't mind do you?" his eyes flashed uncertainly to Ron and Harry.

The two boys paused for a moment, Harry finally responded, "No, no not at all. Let's just get going shall we?" he said, his face adorned with a forced smile.

Cedric clasped his awkwardly, and gave a weak smile to the Gryffindors. The Hufflepuff was scared. Feeling reluctant, yet obligated after seeing his demeanor, Ron nodded and made a weird grunting noise. The Weasley was still perturbed with how Hermione reacted to the young man, no matter how scared the git may be.

The four turned and walked through the forest, groups of terrified witches and wizards spread out everywhere. Harry went to go feel for his wand, and realized it wasn't in his jacket, "Bollocks, I dropped my wand." He felt sick.

"You lost what?" Hermione asked with an incredulous tone.

"Not a good time to lose your wand, mate." Ron commented, as he stepped over a large branch.

"No kidding, I guess my good luck has at last run out," Harry joked half heartedly, "Hopefully it's back at the tent."

"Hopefully." agreed Cedric, now checking his pocket; he sighed with relief and pulled out his wand.

Not long after the addition of the Diggory, they encountered two Veela surrounded by a large group of men, the Veela's flawless skin emitted a silver glow all around the area. Harry chuckled to himself as the men all boasted about their supposed accomplishments, riches, and whatever else; attempting to impress the gorgeous creatures. Ron impulsively stepped forward looking like he was in a trance, "I play professional Quidditch, but instead of flying a broom, I ride a dragon!" he had glossy eyes, a ridiculous expression forming on his face. Hermione fiercely grabbed Ron's arm pulling him from the scene, Cedric and Harry chuckled quietly.

"You seriously couldn't think of a better lie?" Hermione berated.

They continued on through the dense forest, hoping to find Ginny and the twins. The situation with the Veela left Harry with an interesting thought: Why didn't he react to Veela the same way as Ron did? He couldn't think of an answer to this conundrum himself, and decided to ask Hermione after this ordeal was over.

All of a sudden, Harry's thoughts were interrupted, feeling the presence of someone in front of him. Harry stopped walking, the other three following suit, "Hello? Who is there?" Harry asked. Cedric took another step forward looking towards the area, the thicket was much more cluttered ahead, but he attempted to get a better look. Without warning, a voice shouted 'MORSMORDRE' a plume of green smoke shooting up from the bushes. The gaseous substance rose into the sky above them, Cedric jumped back, losing his balance, and watched the spell with a look of pure horror on his face. It formed into the shape of a skull, not soon after, a snake appearing from the phantom mouth. People in the area screamed, absolutely overwhelmed with fright. The shouting Harry had heard earlier now paled in comparison to the primal fear the people around him currently exuded.

"Bloody hell, let's get going shall we?" Ron suggested. The four teenagers all exchanged equally worried looks. Cedric, Harry, Ron, and Hermione all rushed to get out of the area as quick as possible. Out of nowhere, loud cracking sounds came from every direction, witches and wizards apparrating all around them. The students froze for a moment, taking in what was happening. Harry noticing the people surrounding them all had their wands pointed towards their direction yelled, "Duck!"

"Stupefy!" dozens of voices shouted, Harry felt a spell fly by hi head nearly hitting him.

A look of realization dawned on Arthur Weasleys' face, "Stop, stop! That's my son-"

"And mine!" shouted an enraged Amos Diggory, "Cedric, what in Merlin's beard are you doing here?" Amos demanded walking forward through the brush.

"Father, I, uh, them-with them, the dark mark, someone, someone conjured it over there" Cedric pointed in the direction of where the spell was cast, completely overwhelmed by their situation. Amos and the other ministry workers turned towards where the boy had gestured with their wands raised.

"How convenient boy, someone just happened to be over there?" accused Barty Crouch, walking up and eyeing the four children. Amos Diggory quickly turned around with a murderous expression.

"Are you accusing my boy and Arthur's son, Barty?"

"Now, now, it's alright, Amos. Barty, are you accusing Harry Potter, Hermione: a muggle born, Amos' son: Cedric, and my son: Ron, of being responsible for the dark mark?" asked an anxious Mr. Weasley, attempting for Crouch to see reason, and trying to calm down the elder Diggory.

"Hm, I guess you're right. Well, where is he then? Where is the culprit?" spat Mr. Crouch his bulbous eyes scanning the darkness.

"Well our spells shot passed them, may have hit the person responsible." Amos said walking forward, along with another wizard. They pushed some of the bushes aside, looking around for a few moments. "Found someone!"

"Wh-Who?" demanded Crouch with an insane look. There was a moment of silence, everyone nervously awaited the identity of the accused.

Amos and another wizard walked out of the brush carrying a tiny form. Hermione gasped, causing Harry to take a closer look. To his utter surprise he discerned that the form they were carrying was Winky, Barty Crouch's house elf. "I believe she works for you, Barty," Amos passively informed the severe looking man, "She had a wand." A few witches and wizards made noises of shock, Cedric wore a look of disbelief upon his face.

Barty Crouch stepped forward, his lips pursed, every line in his face much harsher than before. Harry looked at the house elf sympathetically, doubting that she had cast the spell. Regardless, he had the feeling that this wouldn't end well for the poor elf.