Chapter 4
They rushed back to Headquarters. Sky Lorrel met them at the door, hastily ushered them inside and locked the door. Her crup, Ginger, was running around the old inn, barking and growling. The other Death Eaters were seated around a fireplace that was now just a pile of coals. Draco, Carrie and Amanda joined them.
Amanda ran towards a short woman with red hair that was tied neatly in a bun. Carrie followed her. Draco saw his mother and aunt in the corner of the room. His mother beckoned to him and he sprinted over to her. "What's going on?" he asked. "There's somebody out there," said Narcissa. "Where were you all this time?" "By the lake," said Draco. "Do you know who's out there?" Narcissa shook her head. "It's either an Order member or a Death Eater who's just escaped from Azkaban," said Bellatrix. "Keep your wand out in case you have to duel anyone." "What's the Order?" asked Draco. "I see that your father never told you about the Order," said Bellatrix with a sigh. "Of course, someone like Lucius probably didn't even teach you how to duel."
"Not now, Bella!" snapped Narcissa. She turned to Draco and said, "The Order of the Phoenix is an organization that was created by Albus Dumbledore to oppose the Death Eaters during the first war." "I think that they do a lot more than just 'opposing' us," said Bellatrix. "They're murderers, Draco. They kill Death Eaters and anyone who has any relation to a Death Eater. After the first war, they murdered quite a few people who were friends and family members of Death Eaters. But they've always managed to tell enough lies to stay out of Azkaban."
Draco hoped that whoever was outside wasn't a member of the Order of the Phoenix. He'd never been in a fight with a fully trained wizard or witch before. The only time he'd ever dueled someone was in the Hogwarts Dueling Club during his second year at Hogwarts, and he'd only been using simple hexes and charms. "But if a member of the Order comes and you're alone," said Bellatrix. "You hold them off as long as you can and…"
"EVERYONE BE QUIET!" shouted someone from the window. Draco froze and spotted Barty Crouch, staring out of the window. "You didn't have to scream, Barty." said the short woman with the red hair in a bun, whom Amanda was now sitting next to. She had a very high –pitched voice. "Did you hear that, Alecto?" asked Crouch, still scanning the dry field outside through the window. "Did any of you hear that?" "Hear what?" asked Alecto. She turned to a man who was seated next to her. He was also very short and had black hair and eyes. "Did you hear anything, Amycus?" she asked. "No," said the man in a wheezy voice that sounded similar to Alecto's. "Crouch, what…"
Before Amycus could finish his sentence, Crouch whipped out his wand, pointed it at the window and yelled, "Stupefy!" A bright blue light came out of the tip of his wand. It went right through the window which shattered. "I think I stunned someone." said Crouch quietly, and before anyone could say anything else, he ran outside.