Fire made the darkness into an orange horror. Aquila remembered feeling as scared as this only once before. She had to get to safety. Oliver clutched her hand, and ran along beside her. They both had their wands clenched tightly in their fists. Everyone was running towards the forest, away from the fire, away from them. She knew it was them. She knew in her heart that this was their work. She hadn't lived long enough to remember their particular brand of horror, but she knew Death Eaters. They were being herded. Aquila snatched a glimpse of the muggles who owned the land floating high above the mob of figures black. Aquila's eyes widened with fright. She knew there was nothing she could do. She couldn't help them. The Ministry would fight them. That was their job. But it had been so long since He Who Must Not Be Named's soldiers had terrorised the world. But there were so many ministry officials here. She pulled on Oliver's hand and turned away, running towards the forest like the rest of them. Herded, like sheep. Her heart was pounding in her chest.
"We can't help them, Oliver. We're only seventeen!" She had no idea what to do, but she knew she had to run. Run hard and fast away from them. Oliver didn't reply, but he was right by her side at all times.
They broke in amongst the trees, into an absolute chaos. Pandemonium reigned. People were running in great flocking numbers, panicked, crushing one another.
"We have to help them!" Aquila cried, as she ran to the people being trampled. No matter how badly injured these people were, once Aquila had helped them to their feet, they bolted, terrified of the fire. Terrified of them. The ones who came towards the forest bathed in fire. The herds of people who had run into the forest stumbled around blindly in the dark, and were quickly gone. "Oliver!" she shouted, hoping he hadn't gotten too far. He was at her back in an instant, taking her hand, and making to move further into the forest.
"Are you okay?" His voice was clipped, stern. She knew he was scared. She gave his hand a squeeze.
"Yeah. I'm fine. We're fine. We're going to be fine."
Oliver lumbered along behind her in the dark, his eyesight wasn't as good as hers. She wouldn't let him cast a light spell, that would make them easily spotted, and it was better that they went unseen. Aquila could see well enough for the two of them. But her mind was filled with dread and worry. Did her friends make it to the forest unscathed? What about Oliver's parents? Were they okay? She felt sick with worry, and with the reality of their situation. They were being terrorised at a beautiful event. She had been so happy earlier. How had it turned to this blind fear?
"There are people up ahead." Aquila, whispered. They stood still together for a moment, peering up ahead, through the thicket of trees. Neither of them could make the people out, but they had to be friendly. The rioters were behind them, razing the camping area to the ground.
"Come into the light, little one. Don't even think of running, either of you. We have you surrounded." Aquila thought she would be sick. She knew that voice. Woodenly, she took her steps forward, Oliver ever at her side, silent. When they came closer, she could make out that the figures were hooded, wearing those awful masks. She stared at the one hooded figure that stood apart from the rest. He was taller, taller even than her. Inhumanly so. That was his blood legacy. He stood as still as stone, staring at her with those wicked eyes.
"Are they mudbloods? I'd like to get my hands on a pair of mudbloods." said a raspy sinister voice, that appeared at her shoulder. She could smell him. He smelled stale, rotten. His fingers brushed her hair back over her shoulder. "Such a pretty little mudblood."
"Hands to yourself. She's pure. She's my blood." he rasped. Aquila stared at him, her chin raised slightly. She would be brave. She would face her worst fear with dignity.
"Brother." she said, calmly, as though she were meeting him on the side of the road.
"Little sis. What's this piece you've got with you? What is he?" Her brother turned his eyes on Oliver. She tried to stand in front of him, to shield him from her brother's gaze, but Oliver would have none of it. She knew he wanted to stand by her side, always.
"Halfblood." she said, immediately, knowing that is what her brother meant.
"I don't believe her." one of the others said.
"You'd question my kin? No. She's speaks truth. The boy is half." Her brother gave Oliver one last once over, before turning those bright blue eyes back on her. "It was lovely seeing you sis. Hope we can spend time together again soon. You can tell me all about your little chew toy." Her brother stepped closer to her, and grabbed her face roughly in one of his large hands, crushing the flesh of her face. He stared down into her eyes. "Tell Mam and Dad I send my love." he said, in that quiet angry tone he had, before he flung her from his grasp, sending her sprawling onto the ground. His little band of terrorists laughed raucously, as they disapparated into the night.
Oliver was on his knees by her side instantly. He took her up into his arms, and held her for a time, trembling.
"I thought we were going to die…" he whispered after a time.
"We were. We would have. But he took kindly to me this time." she whispered back. She stared out into the darkness, petrified. She knew that if her brother Aries was here, then there would be blood. There would be death. "We need to keep moving. There might be people further in that we can help. I'm a healer now. I have to help." She shambled to her feet, and held out a hand to help Oliver up. As Oliver stood, she saw the flash of light in the sky. She looked up in dread, knowing exactly what she would see. The green skull illuminated the sky, the snake erupting from its mouth. The tears came then. She started to gasp for breath. It was happening again. The dark times were coming back. That was what this had to mean. She knew it. Her blood sung the truth of it to her. It told her to run, far. To join her kin in the forest, to stay there forever. Evil was coming.
"What does that mean?" Oliver asked, in a small panicked voice.
"It's the Dark Mark. You Know Who's mark. It means they've killed." Who had they murdered? Had she known them? Had she loved them as family? She stared up at the green mark, made bleary by her tears. Then she folded over and retched. The worry had gotten the better of her. Oliver's parents, Fred and George and all their family, blood traitors. Charlie and Daisy. Cedric. She stood and wiped her mouth.
"We have work to do. Let's find the rest of the people, and see if we can help." She needed to do something. She needed that deadly calm of action to down over her, or she feared she would lose her mind to fear and hysteria. Oliver agreed with her brusquely, clutching up her hand again, and holding it so tightly, she thought she was like to bruise.
Pushing their way through the forest, they eventually found stragglers, lost and frightened children. They flocked to Aquila's stern, but kind voice. She was a leader. She needed to take charge here. She walked with the children through the forest, Oliver holding her hand, and the hand of a particularly small child. They eventually found a large chunk of witches and wizards in a clearing, weeping, and terrified. The children found their parents quickly enough. Oliver and Aquila quietly accepted the weepy gratitude of the parents, before Aquila set about finding any healers in the group. There were five. She was astounded that they hadn't thought to organise themselves. They were more terrified than her, a seventeen year old girl who had just been confronted by a pack of Death Eaters. She didn't dwell on her disappointment. She set about sorting through the people who needed help and healing. Oliver helped her sort through the people. She was glad that there was at least one other person there who had their head screwed on, who was used to being in a leadership role. Aquila, Oliver, and the other healers worked tirelessly through the night trying to help and calm the ever growing crowd. She found the Diggorys who were quietly confused about everything. Some of their other friends turned up, helping to loosen the knot in Aquila's stomach. Eventually, dawn came, and light flooded through the trees. The Ministry had chased them off, but everyone had seen the Dark Mark. Aquila rubbed exhaustion from her face as she waited to find out who had been murdered.