Chapter Ten: The Dark Mark

Harry paced round the tent, his stomach constricting with fear. He knew his Godfather wouldn't want him to worry about him, but Harry couldn't help it. Sirius was the father he had never had. And someone is trying to tear us apart.

Harry swallowed. Retrieving his wand, he ran out into the camp, but as he stared round at his surroundings, he realised he had bigger problems then he had initially thought.

"Ron! Ginny! Fred! George! Hermione!"

Hermione glanced up from talking to Ginny as Arthur Weasley came rushing into the tent, his face red and his wand held at the ready. She could see fear in his eyes.

"Everyone out! Now! Quickly!"

"What's happened, dad?" Charlie asked, stepping forward, pulling out his own wand as he did so.

Arthur nodded at the closed tent opening. From beyond the fabric they could hear screams and chants. "We have to get out, as quickly as possible."

Without even waiting for another answer he yelled at them to move again. Grabbing Ginny's hand, Hermione pulled her out of the tent; her face fell as she saw the commotion outside. Tents were on fire. The Muggles that had been collecting tickets were floating up, down, side-to-side in the air, as figures, dressed in black with masks obscuring their faces, laughed gleefully. Hermione swallowed the sick feeling that had gathered in her stomach.

"RUN! Get to the Portkey!" Ron's father shouted again, as he, Charlie, Bill and Percy ran off to engage the masked figures.

Even as Hermione, Ginny, Ron, Fred and George ran she spied Harry lunging out of his own tent, his eyes widening at what he saw. Catching his eye she tried to beckon to him, but instead he headed towards the forest yelling his Godfather's name.

Before she could pursue, Hermione felt George grabbing her. "Come on!"

She could only watch as Harry's silhouette vanished amongst the trees, yelling one name.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!"

Green light flashed, but Sirius flung himself to the side, rolling into a crouch as he did so. I need my bloody wand! Where the fuck is it? His hands scrambled around on the floor even as he kept his eyes on his attacker. And he shouldn't even be here…let alone alive! He had to get answers. And he had to survive.

"CRUCIO!"the man bellowed again, grinning against the darkness.

Sirius fell to the ground writhing in pain. He hadn't had enough time to move - he felt his body jerking crazily. And then it was gone. The man approached him, kneeling down placing his wand against Sirius' temple.

"It's a shame that your Godson won't be here to see your death."

Glaring at the man, Sirius tried to push himself up but failed to do so as a fist flew into his face, breaking his nose. His head slammed back onto the ground.

"Give up, Black!" the man taunted. "I'm going to kill you anyway."

"Then why don't you stop messing around and do it!" baited Sirius.

"Are you so willing to die?"

But before Sirius could reply someone leapt from the trees, pulling the man away from him. Cursing, the man shouted the killing curse, aiming for Sirius but the man's attacker pulled back his wand arm and the curse went wide. Sirius scrambled to his knees, his right hand coming into contact with his wand. Picking it up, he aimed a curse at the man, but missed.

Suddenly the man swept out an arm sending his own attacker into the trees. But it wasn't quiet. Staring at each other, Sirius realised he could hear people screaming from the campsite and the smell of burning filled his nostrils.

"I'll be back for you," the man hissed. "Mark my words."

Raising his wand high in the sky, the man screamed: "MORSMORDE!" And then he Apparated, leaving Sirius standing in the darkness, his eyes focused on the glaring symbol of Lord Voldemort above him.

Groaning, Harry opened his eyes. His head had smashed hard against the ground when the man he had attacked had sent him flying. He didn't know how long he had been under but by the looks of things it hadn't been long. High above him he could see the distinct outline of a symbol: a skull with a snake emerging from its mouth. He had never seen the symbol before, but even seeing it above him in the sky, Harry knew it was bad. He shivered slightly, rubbing the back of his head.

It was then he noticed his Godfather standing just to the side of him, his eyes focused upon the sky. Scrambling to his feet Harry ran forward and enveloped Sirius in a hug. "Sirius! I'm so glad you're alright!"

Sirius almost jumped out of his skin but regained control before he could do anything stupid. "Harry!" He grabbed his Godson's shoulders. "I didn't know you were there."

Harry grinned, despite the pain in his head. "You didn't know I was the one who pulled that man away from you?"

Sirius shook his head. "It was a bit dark. I should've realised you would do something rash like that."

Harry shrugged. "My dad wouldn't have wanted you to take a stupid risk like that and run off towards a danger you were forewarned about."

"True," smiled Sirius slightly. "I'm just a bit battered. Come on, we'd better get back to the camp, make sure everyone is safe."

When they emerged from the forest, Sirius noticed that Aurors were gathering witches and wizards around, ensuring that they were okay. His eyes ran over the burnt out shells of the tents. "What happened?"

"I don't know. When I came out of our tent I saw these figures marching along, chanting. They were dressed in black. They were hurting the Muggles, laughing as they did so, as if they didn't have a care in the world. Everyone was fleeing for their lives. I saw Ron and Hermione and the others, but I didn't stop. My main concern was you. I couldn't risk losing you," explained Harry.

"I know." Sirius wrapped an arm round his Godson. "And I can't lose you either which is why I didn't want you in the line of fire. I'm just glad you're safe."

"HARRY!"

Sirius focused his eyes on a bushy-haired girl running towards them. It was Hermione.

"You're okay."

Harry nodded. "You didn't think I would do anything stupid did you?"

Hermione laughed. "No, but I did see you running into the forest. I was worried."

"Good thing he did. He saved my life," interrupted Sirius. "If he hadn't done I would be dead now." It was true. If Harry hadn't intervened at that crucial moment he would be dead. And Harry would have lost the only thing he knew to a father. "Hermione, do you know where Mr. Weasley is?"

She nodded.

"Good. Harry, go with Hermione. I need to speak to the Aurors. Let them know who that man was," instructed Sirius. "I'll come and collect you from the Burrow, Harry."

"But I want to stay with you."

"I know, but no one will be trying to hurt me now, not with all these Aurors around. I promise Harry, nothing will happen."

Harry nodded. "Okay."

Sirius gave Harry a hug and ruffled his hair. "I'll see you later, alright?" He tilted Harry's head up by the chin.

Harry nodded and then walked away with Hermione; Sirius watched until his Godson had disappeared into the throng of people, before he, himself, started looking round for the right Auror to talk to.

Hidden high in the trees, obscured beneath an Invisibility Cloak, Barty Crouch Junior watched his prey move away. He had been so close to completing his goal, but no matter. He had tried. If Potter hadn't gotten in the way, Black would've been dead.

Still, he thought, there will be other opportunities to carry out my task.

And with that, he Disapparated back to his master, to report his mission failure.

Tonight will be a painful one, he mused.

To be continued...