Green Light in the Dark

by AStrangeHopefulDreamer

AU in which Sirius Black had a daughter with Marlene McKinnon. Following the death of her mother and godparents and the imprisonment of her father, Aurora Black is moved from home to home with various members of the Black family until she finally arrives at Hogwarts and finds not only new friends, but a true home. (Please keep comments respectful and think before you type.)

73. The World Cup Final

They arrived late in the afternoon, to a sprawling campsite which formed more of a tented city, extravagantly designed lodgings. From one tent made of four stacked towers of violet silk, to something which resembled more of an ice sculpture of a palace, there was no denying that when wizards got together, they liked to show off, and Aurora could only hope that the Muggles remained oblivious enough so as to allow them all to uphold the Statue of Secrecy. The camp owner already looked like he'd been Obliviated a few too many times when they arrived, which Ted was not pleased about at all, and which Dora had to reassure him was for the best, though she didn't look entirely convinced either.

The Tonkses' tent, in comparison to that of their more ostentatious neighbors, was nothing overly extravagant, and appeared as a squat canvas construction upon first glance. Inside, though, it was perfectly roomy. "Aurora, Dora, you two will have to share, I'm afraid," Andromeda told them, though Aurora didn't mind at all.

"I'm sure you can't snore any louder than Gwen does," she told Dora, who huffed. Ted laughed.

Andromeda's lips twitched. "Now, we're meant to do everything the Muggle way this evening, and that includes cooking."

Ted grinned and slung an arm around his wife's shoulder. "Andy's never quite got the hang of Muggle camping."

"I don't particularly enjoy kneeling on the mud in pouring rain and sideways wind, trying to heat up pasta sauce over a tiny gas flame." She sniffed, and Aurora laughed — she had even less experience, and wasn't quite sure how Muggles could conjure a fire outside. They must have some way, she knew, but she'd never really thought about the logistics. "I doubt anyone would notice if I used my wand, it isn't as if there are any actual Muggles wandering around."

Grinning, Dora said, "Yeah, but it's fun to watch you try. And I want to teach Aurora how a matchbox works."

"What's a matchbox?" she asked, and Dora laughed loudly, hugging her shoulders.

"You've got a lot to learn, munchkin. You might want to put on some different clothes."

"These are my best Muggle jeans!" Aurora said, rather offended. Of course, these were also her only Muggle jeans, and technically had belonged to Dora before she had passed them on to her, but they were deep blue and high waisted and she rather liked them with the silver velvety top she was wearing — velour, Dora had called it when she gave it to her. "You said they looked good!"

"They do!" Dora grinned. "But you don't want to get mud on them, do you?"

She pulled a face. "I won't sit in the mud, then."

Andromeda laughed. "See, you two, I'm not the only one averse to dirt. Aurora, you can scout out the water tap if you'd like, while Ted gets this fire going."

"Why me?"

"I can't do it, Aurora can't do it, and Dora will set the tent on fire."

"I will not!" Dora insisted as the rest of them laughed. "This family, honestly!"

"I'm sorry, sweetheart," Andromeda said without a hint of remorse. "You can help your cousin find the tap if you want to make yourself useful."

"And what are you going to do?"

Andromeda grinned, pulling a bottle from her bag. "Wine, I think."

Aurora grinned.

The water tap wasn't too far, but for an Auror, Dora had a remarkable ability to get them lost and wind up in the middle of what seemed at first a field of shamrock and was actually some sort of makeshift Irish supporters' community. Aurora spied Seamus Finnigan, a Gryffindor from her year, with his mother and Dean Thomas, both of whom looked at her with interest. Further along were Aurora's housemates Lewis Stebbins and Apollo Jones, who exchanged stiff nods with her — they had never really spoken often, though Apollo did look at her with a certain curiosity, which made her uncomfortable to remember his connection to Hestia Jones — and then Marcus Flint, looking more cheerful than Aurora had ever seen him and eager to tell her all the details of his signing with the Wimbourne Wasps, and their upcoming match with their arch-rivals, Puddlemere United.

"Slytherin'll need you next year, Black," he said, which was the most praise he had ever afforded her and was likely only given because he was slightly drunk. "You make a half decent Chaser."

"Thanks, Flint," she said drily, but felt rather cheered up as they went on, empty water buckets swinging by their sides.

The queue for the water tap was just in sight when Aurora held a voice calling, "Oi, Black!" and turned around sharply to glare at Robin Oliphant. She wasn't the only one — everyone was staring at her, and she stormed over to him and Gwen.

"Just announce my presence to everyone, why don't you?" she snapped, as Gwen wrapped her in a hug.

"Oh, yeah, sorry."

"Idiot," she muttered, but managed to grin at him as she pulled away from Gwen. Dora caught up to them with an exasperated sigh.

"Hello, Gwendolyn. Robin Oliphant, is it?" Robin's cheeks went pink as he nodded.

"Er, yeah, that's — that's me. You're Aurora's cousin, right?"

"Tonks," Dora said, folding her arms. "You kids looking for the water tap?"

"Yeah," Robin said, grimacing at the queue. "But it looks like we'll be waiting forever."

Dora shrugged. "Eh, it won't take too long. Just as long as that weird bloke in the nightie shifts his arse."

Gwen giggled and then rounded on Aurora as they shifted up the queue. "You'll never guess what we found out yesterday morning."

"What?" Aurora asked, amused. Gwen always had a way of attracting the best kept secrets of their schoolmates, as everybody told her everything and no one expected her to pass the information on — even though she only really ever shared with Robin and Aurora. She rarely did anything with it, but there was always the threat of the gossip leaking, and Aurora rather admired her ability to get people to like her enough that they shared such things.

"Well, we bumped into Tracey and Clarissa right? So, I had no idea, but they're both totally furious with Sally-Anne Perks. They all met up over the Summer, with Leah, and Leah let slip that Sally-Anne got together with Apollo Jones, who, as you know, went out with Clarissa to the last Hogsmeade weekend, and they were basically going out with each other."

Aurora glanced at Robin, who looked just as bored by this information as she was. "So, that's why they're annoyed with Perks?"

"Not even!" Gwen's face lit up as they shifted along the line. "Because when Clarissa confronted Sally-Anne, Sally-Anne shot back that she had seen Tracey with Lewis Stebbins — which Tracey told me is total nonsense, but we're not sure we believe her, are we, Robin?" Robin shrugged. "So Sally-Anne said Tracey didn't have a leg to stand on, and then went on to tell Leah about it, and because Leah fancies Lewis Stebbins... Well, now they're all rather furious with each other."

Aurora stared at her. "You look far too happy about this. I thought you were friends."

"Well, yes, we are, but they all have their own little circle, and way of doing things. So now I'm going to be on all their sides."

Dora raised her eyebrows but didn't pass comment on this plan, as Robin quickly diverted the conversation to Viktor Krum.

"Robin thinks Krum's the best thing since sliced bread," Gwen said, "but I think he's a bit gloomy."

Aurora shrugged. "Who cares if he's gloomy, he's one of the best young Seekers in the world right now."

"Not to mention," Dora put in with a grin, "the Bulgarian girls really seem to go for the gloomy type now."

Pulling a face, Robin asked, "You two think Bulgaria's going to win, then?"

"I think the Irish team are more experienced as a unit," Aurora said evasively, "but the Seeker really can make or break the match. My money's on Ireland, but it really could go either way. Bulgaria will be very reliant on Krum, though."

"Krum's brilliant, though," Dora admitted. "If anyone could pull off winning the match against Ireland, it's him. He's saved them the match every time — and I mean that, in the group's stage their Chasers only scraped one goal against Australia's twelve."

"So if the Irish keep him from the Snitch long enough," Gwen said slowly, "they take away their chance to win."

Straightening, Aurora nodded to her friend, who at last seemed to understand Quidditch. "Precisely."

"And Ireland's Chasers are amazing," Robin put in, gushing.

"Robin fancies Ireland."

"I'd rather a home team than anyone else won, wouldn't you?"

"I'm not sure many of the supporters would like you calling Ireland a home team, to be honest."

"Well, I'm Scottish, they're Irish, I'd still rather them than the Bulgarians. Where even is Bulgaria?"

Aurora rolled her eyes. "The Balkans, somewhere between Greece and Turkey." She stepped forward. "Honestly, you'd think you'd have looked at a map, Oliphant."

He wrinkled his nose at her and Gwen and Dora laughed. The summer sun was warm on their skin, and made the time easier to pass.

After returning Gwen and Robin to the Oliphants, Dora headed off to find Bill and Charlie Weasley, whom she had spotted up ahead by their distinctive red hair. Aurora followed, swept along in a constantly flowing crowd.

"Miss Black!"

A voice cut through the babble around her, shrill and eager. Aurora turned, already feeling the pressure of dozens of pairs of eyes upon her, to see a tall woman with platinum blonde curls, wearing a lurid bright blue dress with a matching silk jacket, and large tortoise-shell glasses which made her curious eyes appear even larger.

Rita Skeeter.

She plastered on a frosty smile. "Yes?" Aurora looked Skeeter up and down. "Who are you?"

Skeeter's smile faltered. Aurora held back her feeling of spiteful triumph. But the journalist recovered quickly. "Rita Skeeter," she said, holding out her right hand. Aurora shook it gingerly, forcing herself to appear bemused. "Writer for the Daily Prophet."

"Ah. Lovely. Are you covering the final, or are you on duty?"

"Duty, as always." Skeeter gave a shrill little laugh and Aurora reciprocated half-heartedly. "There are always plenty of famous faces at events like this, everything must be covered. Now, I had hoped to see you — how's about an interview, hm?" While Aurora was left to think on the absurdity of the question, Skeeter looked around quickly, searching for someone. "Daddy not with you?"

"No," Aurora said as sweetly as she could manage. This was precisely why he was to stay — he would not handle Skeeter well at all, and she had barely said anything of worth yet. "No, he prefers to stay at home. But he is an avid fan, he'll be listening on the wireless. As for an interview, I'm afraid I really can't comply. I'm far too busy."

"Oh, come now." Skeeter gave her an indulgent smile. "Just us girls, hm?"

Just us girls and the press, Aurora thought bitterly, forcing a smile. She was getting rather tired of having to do that. "I'm afraid not, Miss Skeeter." She stepped away as politely as she could. "I do hope that you enjoy the game."

Skeeter stepped in front of her, smile glimmering colder now. "Come on. Darling young girl like yourself, the public are dying to see you."

"I'm sure they'll cope without my presence," Aurora said drily, and Skeeter laughed.

"I want to know everything. Who are you rooting for — I'm sure a girl like you is very excited to see young Viktor Krum perform, aren't you?"

"I'm excited to watch Quidditch, actually," Aurora said, pleasantness beginning to evaporate. "Though I'm sure Viktor Krum will perform as well as he always does. Thank you."

She turned sharply, searching for Dora among the crowd, but couldn't catch sight of her. There wasn't even the telltale sign of a crowd of red hair to tell her where the Weasleys might all be gathered.

"Good day," she said to Skeeter anyway, but before she could march off, the journalist had taken her arm.

She froze, feeling the instinctual urge to push her off, and stopping herself. It would be awful press — worse than doing an interview — and she simply couldn't, no matter how she itched to.

"Please remove your hand," she said coldly, tensed. "You have no right to touch me, Miss Skeeter."

"Don't be silly," Skeeter gave a girlish laugh, but at least dropped her arm. "You won't even give one small interview, Lady Black? I'm sure everyone wants to know why your father is hiding from the public, even now? Or what he thinks of his old cell mates being released for retrial?

"Or," she said, with an overly sweet smile, twirling a loose strand of blonde hair, "we could talk about you. A column in Witch Weekly would do nicely. I'm sure a girl like you could always do with... Cultivating her image."

A cold weight dropped through her and she smiled tightly, suddenly aware of every aspect of her appearance, from flyaway hairs to upturned nose to her small height and spindly limbs. "My readers would so love to get to know you," Skeeter promised, then raised her eyebrows and slipped a card into Aurora's hand. "Even better, I'm sure they'd love to know about Harry Potter." Any respect she had held for Skeeter — which was really a tiny speck — vanished. She did not speak on behalf of Potter, that was for certain. And she was not a way to reach him.

"I'll consider it," she lied, and slipped the cadr into the deep pocket of her robes, spying Dora up ahead with two redheaded boys. "Excuse me, Miss Skeeter."

She hurried off as fast as she could without appearing rude or overly unnerved, and breathed a sigh of relief when she caught up to Dora.

"Rita Skeeter's here," she explained immediately after casting nervous smiles at the two elder Weasley boys. She tugged Dora's sleeve. "I'm really sorry, but can we move somewhere quieter? I can't escape her twice."

"She's the devil," the boy with the dragon fang earring said, nodding grimly. "You must be Aurora?"

She nodded and he stuck out his hand. "Bill Weasley, cursebreaker."

"And obnoxious about it," the other boy — Charlie, if Aurora remembered right — said, grinning. "Charlie Weasley, dragontamer."

"Almost equally as obnoxious about it," Dora said in a mocking tone, then grinned as she linked her arm through Aurora's. "Come on, Mum wants to see you two anyway. I'll lead the way." She turned to the two boys and winked. "Tonks — just Tonks — Auror. Shift it."

The boys grinned but Aurora couldn't shake her uneasy feeling as they wandered back through the campsite towards the Tonkses' tent with the two brother, to see Ted and Andromeda cooking over a small campfire. "You two took your time," Andromeda said, looking up. "Oh, I see." She grinned at Dora with a knowing smile, then back at Charlie.

"We ran into a few people."

"Everyone," Dora corrected, "we ran into everyone. A load of boys from Aurora's year, her old Quidditch captain, then Gwen and Robin—"

"Oh, how is Gwen?"

"She's alright," Aurora said, "I think she's excited, she seems to get Quidditch now. Robin's supporting Ireland too, but I think that's because he doesn't know where Bulgaria is."

At that, Andromeda laughed. "I suppose it's a good enough reason. Bill, Charlie, it's so lovely to see you again. And not even too sunburnt!"

Bill laughed loudly, and plopped himself down next to Ted. "Yeah, they've got pretty decent potions for sunburn. Even a ginger can't get too hurt. Alright, Ted?"

"Grand," Ted replied, "teaching the ladies how to cook, as usual."

Andromeda swatted him with a tea towel. "Mum'll be gutted she isn't here to see you, Andy. Though I'd be way too scared to watch her try and cook like a muggle, she'd drive herself and all of us mad within five minutes."

"I'll tell Molly you said that," Dora told Bill.

"Me too," Charlie put in.

"I'll still be the favourite," Bill sang, and Charlie kicked at his angle, earning a bumped shoulder in return. Aurora watched the scene with amusement as the two brothers bickered through their conversation with the Tonkses, talking about their work.

Bill was indeed a cursebreaker for Gringotts, and when Aurora finally worked up the courage to ask him about it - feeling slightly intimidated by his cool demeanor and admittedly handsome face - he was only too happy to share about all the expeditions he'd been on, and the sort of studies it required.

"Course, there's all sorts of different paths into cursebreaking," he told her, "and it's a pretty broad field. Most of my friends work at base, on the theoretical side of things, but I'm always up for a bit of adventure."

"I think I'd prefer the base work," Aurora told him - the thought of trawling through mud and potentially being maimed was not all that appealing to her. "But I don't really know if it's something I'd like to go into. It's very interesting, though." She considered briefly, asking him about the cursed Black family ring, but decided against it. He had no right to know, and she didn't want anyone to know who didn't need to. "I've been reading a bit about runic stone curses," she told him instead, and listened as he went on about the study into hieroglyphs which he had undertaken while in Egypt, and the ancient curses they had helped him to unravel, until his brother finally broke him out of his 'nerding' and they headed back to their own family.

He had been so polite, Aurora thought, feeling rather embarrassed, that she had almost forgotten he was a Weasley.

The match began shortly after sunset, by which time Aurora was excited beyond belief. She hadn't seen many professional matches, other than those of the Harpies, and this would be a whole other level. She and Dora got themselves Omnioculars before the match, and Dora morphed her hair half emerald green, and half scarlet red.

"I'm neutral," she said, but in the next moment had picked up an Irish green rosette for herself, too, and winked.

The stadium itself was massive, big enough to hold a hundred thousand, and was nestled deep between two hills. It burst with silver lights which guided spectators to their seats — Aurora and the Tonkses were high up, with one of the best views outside of the Minister's box. The whole pitch was spread out before her and the stands were alive with magic and giddy excitement.

They managed to get near to the front, and Aurora stared over the railings with her Omnioculars, searching the stands. Omnioculars were so strange — they captured the actions of their subjects in time, almost like a photograph, and could play them over and over again, in precisely the same manner unless one decided otherwise. Aurora regarded them as an extraordinary feat of magic, though Ted said it wasn't too different from Muggle videographing. She didn't know about that — she didn't know films, like the ones Gwen talked about, could be turned back in time, but she supposed they had to, because the same moment was happening so many times anyway.

She directed her Omnioculars towards the Top Box, where Fudge was settled with the Bulgarian team's representatives and a number of Ministry officials. Ludo Bagman was there, of course, as the Head of the Department of Magical Sport, as was one Mr. Barty Crouch, looking deeply uncomfortable and bored by the whole affair. He had been pointedly ignoring any correspondence Aurora sent his way for the last fortnight, even though it was marked with the Black seal which she thought ought to garner far more respect. It was getting rather rude, actually, and she had half a mind to complain — but that wasn't what tonight was about. Crouch did look extremely shifty, though, looking as though he would rather be in the office than attending something so vulgar and base as a Quidditch match. He was constantly looking around himself, wringing his hands, and though she thought perhaps it was an effect of the Omnioculars, he looked rather pale and nauseous.

Looking away from him, when he seemed to catch on that he was being watched, Aurora managed to spy Potter sitting with the Weasleys and Granger, too, all seeming just as giddy as she was. Aurora focused on Potter for just a moment before seeing the Malfoys come in behind them. She could already sense the altercation brewing from across the pitch, so turned away and let her Omnioculars hang down around her neck again.

Behind them, people chattered in all languages from French to Mandarin. Aurora could pick only the barest hints of what the French speakers were saying amid the crowd, and nothing of anything else, but Dora was speaking loudly in her ear, talking about the last cup she had seen.

"Dad took me out to India for the final," she said, "but Mum didn't want to travel all that way. It was amazing, they really put on a show, and I bet we'll do the same."

"You mean the Irish and Bulgarians will," Aurora said with a grin, "I want to see a leprechaun, they're their team mascots, aren't they?"

"Oh, yeah." Andromeda smirked. "And Bulgaria has Veela. You'll want to keep an eye on some of the men around here, I'm sure it'll be quite amusing."

The Veela, she knew, were like sirens. Beautiful and enchanting when they wanted to be, and downright monstrous if they wanted to tear someone's throat out. She supposed they would go for the enchanting option tonight, at least until they started losing.

"Ludo Bagman looks like he's getting ready," Dora said, clearly directing her Omnioculars towards the Top Box. "Crouch looks like he's going to combust. He hates Quidditch, you know, thinks it's a frivolous waste of time, but mind you, I don't think there's anything he does like. Bill's wearing that shark-tooth necklace again, him and Charlie look like they're going to get into a wrestling match if this doesn't get a move on, and — oh, Christ, there's the Malfoys." Beside her, Andromeda stiffened. She looked up, lips pursed.

"How lovely for them," she said tightly, and Dora took off the Omnioculars with an apologetic look.

"She doesn't look very pleased, if it's any consolation." She, Aurora presumed, meant Narcissa. She stared down at the pitch awkwardly.

"I don't think I've seen my sister look pleased in decades," said Andromeda breezily. "It's hardly surprising, Dora."

Ted put an arm around her shoulders and Aurora looked at the ground, unsure how to respond to the situation.

And then, before she had time to worry about it, Ludo Bagman's voice was booming across the stadium, "Welcome, one and all! Welcome, to the final of the four hundred and twenty-second Quidditch World Cup!"

The crowd burst into applause and yelling. A chant behind her went up of, "Ireland, Ireland, Ireland!" as the screens around the stadium moved to show the score, nil-nil.

Aurora watched, intrigued, as the Veela came out dancing, and the people in the stands went wild. Some men, like Ted, had put their fingers in their ears and weren't listening to the beckoning cries of the Veela, but others, including, Aurora noticed, a lot of teenage boys, were being absolutely ridiculous, attempting to climb over chairs, setting fire to the Irish Team Merchandise, yelling outlandish claims. They were beautiful, Aurora noted, seeming to glow from way down on the pitch, but they were not worth making a fool of oneself for.

When the music stopped, angry yells went up all around the stadium. "What are you doing?" bellowed one man, while someone with a distinct Galway accent yelled, "Come on, Bulgaria!"

Andromeda pursed her lips while Aurora and Dora giggled, and Ted looked sheepish, presumably on behalf of the sudden abundance of idiots in the crowd.

"Veela," Andromeda said with an air of poised distaste, "turn lust into plain foolishness."

She turned a scathing look on the cluster of men near them, who were yelling obscenities Aurora did not want to be privy to at all, but all of a sudden there was a burst of green light. Aurora jumped, heart leaping in fright, but it was a ball of light, which split into two and rushed to ether set of goalposts. Leprechaun magic, Aurora realised with a grin. It was a sight to behold; a rainbow arced between the two balls of lights, shimmering with light, before the two balls merged again and formed a glistening emerald shamrock which soared over the stadium, dropping golden coins into the crowd. People scrambled to pick them up, Aurora included, but she was cautious.

"Leprechaun gold disappears, doesn't it?" Andromeda nodded. "It's pretty anyway, I suppose." When she turned it, it caught the light, forming a rainbow from its centre.

"And now," Bagman's voice blared, "I give you, the Bulgarian National Team! Dimitrov! Ivanova! Zograf! Levski! Vulchanov! Volkov! And... Krum!"

On the last name, the crowd went wild, screaming in excitement. Aurora cheered for the Bulgarian team as they did their laps, eating up the praise and adoration from their fans, but when the Irish team shot out in green, she was beaming.

"Connolly! Ryan! Troy! Mullen! Moran! Quigley! And... Lynch!"

At this, she cheered as loud as she could — she was counting on them so she could get her ten galleons from Draco, after all. She cheered loudly, too, when the referee came on and started the match.

It was the most thrilling thing she had ever watched. The Irish Chasers were a perfect trio combining tactics, speed, and precision of aim that the Bulgarians simply could not penetrate. She followed their movements with the Omnioculars, entranced by their skill and the frankly beautiful way they worked together.

They used brilliant combinations and pulled them off effortlessly — the Hawkshead Attacking Formation, in which they formed a tight triangle to rush through the Bulgarian players, the Porskoff Play as Troy feigned a move towards goal and dropped the Quaffle down to a now unguarded Moran. The Quaffle was passed quickly but the Irish were experts in regaining control, and soon enough Troy scored the first goal, and Aurora yelled her appreciation.

"Go, Ireland!" she cried, thrilled by the ripples of emerald on the pitch.

They scored twice more, but the Bulgarian Beaters were getting fierce, forcing the Chasers to hold back and scatter, breaking their cohesion and finally allowing the first Bulgarian goal. Aurora bit down nervously on their lip, but her interest was pulling again as the two Seekers rushed towards the ground, streams of colour. She strained to see the glinting Snitch, but couldn't spot it through the Omnioculars — and when Krum pulled up at the last second, allowing Lynch to crash into the ground, she realised why.

"He was feinting!" she cried to Andromeda. "Lynch looks hurt — what an idiot!"

It took some time to get Lynch revived and back in the air — time, of course, which Krum was using to search for the Snitch. "Come on," Aurora murmured, "don't give up the game, Ireland."

But Lynch got back on his broom, still looking somewhat dazed. As though spurred on by the truck pulled against their Seeker, Ireland turned up their power too, and quickly pulled further and further ahead, scoring goal after goal. It got dirtier from there, and the Bulgarian Keeper was pulled up for Cobbing the Irish Chaser, Mullet. A fight ensued between the Veela and the referee, which did not look pretty at all.

"Just get on with the match," Aurora muttered irately, not impressed by the referee's attempt to send of the Bulgarian mascots.

He did not succeed, but the match just kept getting more and more dangerous as it wore on, and, with the Bulgarian players growing desperate, Ireland were given more and more penalties, all of which were pulled off flawlessly.

"Bulgaria are losing it," Dora said. "And so are the Veela, look, they're going to get in trouble with the Ministry!"

"You sound cheerful for someone who's going to have to deal with paperwork if the Veela start fighting with your colleagues," Ted pointed out, and Dora huffed.

"Come on, you can tell me that's not exciting, look, they're all just gearing up for a fight—"

"Lynch is diving!" Aurora screamed, breaking the two of them up. "I think he's seen the Snitch, but Krum's right behind him — look!"

The rest of the crowd seemed to have noticed too, as a roar went up all around them. Aurora peered closely through the Omnioculars, watching Lynch plummet towards the ground, arm outstretched — and then crash for the second time.

"No!" she cried, as Krum took his place and snatched the Snitch up. "What are you doing? Krum's gotten the Snitch!"

But, she realised when she turned her eyes to the scoreboard, it didn't matter.

Krum has caught the Snitch, but Ireland were a hundred and sixty points ahead already. They had won.

The crowd went wild and Aurora did too.

"Draco owes me now," Aurora told Dora happily as they headed back to the tent, the latter sprinkling brilliant green confetti around them and their little procession. "He was so convinced Bulgaria would win just because of their Seeker, but I knew it — I was right!" She was beaming, caught up in the excitement. "I couldn't believe Krum did that — his opponent was injured, he couldn't know, they might well have brought a win back."

"Inexperienced," Ted said, shrugging. "And likely he wanted to make sure the loss didn't get worse. It was a tactical play."

"It was stupid," she said, and Andromeda laughed, "they still lost! If he'd waited, they could have caught up! I would never have done that! Flint would have killed me if I'd done that against Gryffindor!"

"Anyone would think you're disappointed that your team won," Andromeda chuckled, and Dora ruffled her hair, earning a short glare.

"I'm not, I just think if Krum wasn't playing to win, he shouldn't have been playing!"

"Don't let the Bulgarian fans hear you saying that," Ted laughed. "They all love Krum."

"Even after that?" Aurora scoffed. "He gave up on the competitive spirit. It's ridiculous. I wouldn't be a fan."

Dora just grinned and pulled her in for a one-armed hug. "Maybe you should go pro, Aurora. Show Krum what he's doing wrong."

"I would!" she scoffed. "If the Slytherin team ever let me get off the alternates' bench! I still don't know who's going to be captain this year, it had better be Warrington." At that, Dora, Ted and Andromeda all traded strange looks, half-smiling, like they knew something she didn't. "What?" Aurora asked, frowning between them. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing, dear," Andromeda said, amused.

"What do you know that I don't?"

"None of your business, munchkin," Dora said.

"Well, why are you laughing?" That only made Dora grin further.

"I'll tell you if you split your winnings with me."

"No you won't — what's so funny?"

"You'll find out soon," Ted told her, also laughing, as they drew nearer to their tent plot. The stars were out, but largely concealed by the flares and plumes of green smoke that the Irish supporters were already starting to set off.

"Well, why can't you tell me now then?"

"It's a secret," Dora teased, pressing her finger to her lips. She then proceeded to try and open the tent with flourish, but instead stumbled in between the two flaps and nearly brought the whole thing folding in around her. Ted scrambled to right it, and Aurora couldn't help but laugh.

"Nice one, Dora."

She flushed, and her hair turned red from the roots. "Like you've never done that."

"Absolutely not," Aurora said chipperly, and pulled the ropes on the side of the tent taut again. She raised her eyebrows at Dora, who was standing up now with her arms folded. "I have far more elegance."

Andromeda laughed and swept past her daughter, who was going more red from her efforts in not laughing. "Come on in then, all of you. It'll start getting chilly once the excitement of the match dies down for you and you're probably freezing already. I've got some wine and such in the fridge, in anticipation — Aurora, there's butterbeer for you."

Aurora ducked inside, followed by Ted and, pressing her luck, said, "I'm nearly fifteen, Andromeda. I can try wine!"

"Do you know Nymphadora said the same at Christmas when she was your age—"

"Mum," a look of horror dawned on Dora's face "—don't—"

"And then, that uncle of hers said she could try whatever she wanted—"

"—she's already exaggerating—"

"—and the next thing I know, my dear daughter is being sick into the upstairs toilet—"

"I was just a bit queasy!"

"Tell that to the bog," Ted said, with an exaggerated shudder.

Aurora grinned. "I promise I won't embarrass myself like that, Andromeda."

"I repeat, that's a total exaggeration and I wasn't that bad, Dan thought it was funny—"

"Dan was eleven, and, might I add, a very impressionable young boy!"

"And he thought it was funny and knew never to accept vodka from his dad, no harm done!"

Spluttering, Aurora slipped into the seat beside Dora. "I'd have liked to have seen that," she said.

Dora shook her head, taking the glass of sparkling white wine her mother handed her. "My hair was green for a week."

"Really? Deliberately?"

She shook her head. "Nope. Was still too affected by my feelings back then. I felt sick at first, then I just had a bit of a pity party. Although..." She screwed up her face and then, a moment later, her hair was a bright green that matched almost exactly the colour on Aurora's shamrock hat. "There! Now green's the colour of victory instead!"

"Green's always the colour of victory," Aurora said.

Smiling, Andromeda handed her a glass with a very small amount of white wine in the bottom. "Since you are almost fifteen," she said, "and if I know Slytherin House, you'll be introduced to alcohol soon enough anyway. But it's a special occasion only."

Aurora grinned and took the glass. She knocked it against Dora's. "Cheers, Andromeda. And thank you for bringing me."

Andromeda tutted. "As if we wouldn't, Aurora! It's the sporting event of the decade. Well..." She got that smile again and gave Ted and Dora that same knowing look. "I say that..."

"What do you know?" Aurora asked again, pleadingly, but this still just made them laugh. "I don't understand!"

"All in good time, Aurora," Ted laughed, tapping his wine glass against hers with a wink. "Go on, drink up."

One small glass turned to one large glass for Aurora, who decided that she did rather like this wine, and it turned to many glasses for the others. "Just glad I'm not on duty," Dora said, hiccuping. Her cheeks had taken on a flush and her hair now seemed to sparkle. Her eyes were the same colour of green, too. "Poor blighters, the Irish fans'll be partying on into the night, and there's certainly plenty of them."

"I remember the last time England got to the finals," Ted said, staring mournfully at his glass. "It was the cup of seventy-two, played in Brazil. We really thought we'd make it too, into the proper final, we made the semis, remember Andi, what a night we had then?"

Andromeda went pink. "It was rather... Dramatic."

"Oh, It was brilliant. Everybody singing, having a laugh! Then, of course, we just had to go down to France, of all countries!" Aurora giggled. "Still, at least we made it! We'll be back one of these days, girls, mark my words! Nineteen-ninety eight, we could really do it!" He took a long drink of his wine. Andromeda tutted fondly. "Yes, nineteen-ninety eight. That'll be our year, just you wait and see!"

Dora laughed and leaned over to say to Aurora, "Dad says that every year. It never is."

"Never say never, Dora," Ted told her sagely. "We can't give up hope."

Aurora caught Andromeda's eye and snickered. "Just as long as we don't have someone like Krum who blows it completely in the final," she said, shaking her head. "I mean, honestly — Dora, don't laugh at me, it's an awful thing to do to your team and supporters who have worked so hard and come so far to cheer for their country and—"

She was cut off by a flash of light from outside the tent, illuminating the canvas, and then, a scream that pierced the air. Aurora turned around sharply, the sound jolting her. "What was that?" she asked.

"Probably just people celebrating, getting a bit out of hand." She glanced to Dora, who frowned. "I'll just go and see what's going on, the Irish really shouldn't be celebrating so loudly in front of the Muggles, but who can blame them..."

But when Dora left the tent and Aurora glanced back to Ted and Andromeda, she saw they both had gone pale. "What?" she asked again, stomach dropping.

"Nothing. I'm sure it is just people celebrating, Aurora. Speaking of, we've been up far too long, you'll be exhausted tomorrow. We all ought to get to bed, knowing Dora she'll splinch herself if she doesn't get enough sleep—"

Dora launched herself through the flaps at the front of the tent, face pale, hair dark. "Dad," she said quickly. "It's — I have to go. It's not the Irish. There's... People. In masks."

"No." Andromeda's voice was brittle. "Dora, let me see—"

"Mum, you don't want to — they're... levitating the Muggles, I have to go."

She spurred herself into action and grabbed a jacket and boots just as Aurora heard screams starting up again, saw more lights. "You're not going anywhere!" Andromeda said shrilly, withdrawing her head from outside of the tent flaps. "I know exactly what that is — you're not going out there, you can't face them—"

"It's my job, Mum!"

"You're just barely qualified!"

"People need me." She yanked her boots on and Aurora just stared between the two of them. She got slowly to her feet; there was a horrible feeling in her stomach. "They're out there —" There was another scream. Ted's hand was on Aurora's shoulder, moving her over to where they'd left their shoes.

"I don't understand," she said quickly, turning to Dora. "What's going on? What do you mean, it isn't the Irish? Where are you going?"

"Death Eaters," Dora said shortly, and the phrase struck Aurora to her very core.

"What do you mean, Death Eaters?" Her voice was shrill. "What are they — they can't be here!"

"They can and they are." Dora stuck her head out and Aurora caught a glimpse of firelight, streaming up towards the sky. "We'll need all the Aurors we can get, Kingsley'll be there already but I have to do my bit—"

"You will do no such thing!" Andromeda retaliated, pulling her back inside. "You have no idea what they're capable of, Dora, no idea!"

"I'm an Auror, Mum! This is what I'm trained to do, you can't stop me! I have to fight!"

"Dora, you don't remember the war, those people—"

"Are Dark wizards," she said sharply. "Currently playing with a family of Muggles like they're nothing and if you think—" A booming sound rattled the tent and Aurora jumped, grabbing onto Ted's arm. "Look, get Dad and Aurora out of here. I'll be fine."

"You're twenty-one!" Andromeda cried, indignant. "You can't run out there! I'm not going to let my daughter run into danger, right towards a group of Death Eaters—"

"I'm not asking for permission!" Dora shouted, tearing the tent flaps open. The scene was exposed to Aurora in its entirety suddenly and her eyes burned from the excess of lights, from the fires on the tents before them: she saw shadows moving, heard people screaming, running past them, fleeing to safety.

"Nymphadora—" But Dora was already running. "Nymphadora!" Andromeda cried out again, but the sound was lost to the screaming of the panicked crowd.

Someone bumped into them, breaking from their own group. "It's them," said the panicked wizard, panting, white hair sticking up all over the place, "the Death Eaters! They're back! They're back!"

He lurched back into the crowd and panic seized Aurora. "We have to get out," she said. "Ted — you — they might—"

"Aurora," Ted said, voice shaking as they pulled on boots and cloaks. Someone else screamed. A tent nearby went up in flames and a baby wailed. "You need to get to the woods."

"What?"

"It's like Dora said, they need all hands on deck. People are scared, panicked, the Ministry need all their workers to help calm things."

"You can't—"

"You have your wand?" Andromeda asked, clasping her shoulders. Aurora nodded sharply.

"You can't — you can't make me—"

"Get to safety. Hide in the forest."

"I'm not hiding if you and Dora are—"

"Use your wand if you must. Do whatever you must if someone attacks you. You need to go, now, this is no place for you."

"It's no place for you!" She could feel the panic taking root. "What if you get hurt?"

"Then we will get hurt helping people," Ted said.

"You have to go. We'll be fine, I promise, but there are people here who won't and we need to be there for them."

She wanted to scream. But people were still panicking, still running, there was a never ending stream of them. "It's not far. Get in the treeline, there will be people there. Find someone you know, stick with them — that Oliphant boy, or Bill and Charlie's brothers, their tents aren't far from us."

"But I don't..."

"Be brave. Follow the crowd." Andromeda hugged her tightly.

"But Ted—"

"Go!" Andromeda urged, as the tent next to them burst into flame and Ted ran off to help extinguish it.

"They'll hurt him! He'll be a target!"

"He knows," Andromeda said solemnly, grasping Aurora tightly and pressing a small coin into her hand. She started to usher her quickly in the direction of the woods, caught up in the jostling crowd. "This is to let us know when you're safe. Press it once in ten minutes and my copy will light up amber. If you're safe by then, press it again twice, quickly, and it'll go green. If you can, if you get out of all the Ministry wards, call for a house elf to take you home to Sirius, and tell them to get a message to us, alright?"

Ted had disappeared now, just another shadow against the flame. Aurora nodded, swallowing her fear. "Good girl," Andromeda said, running with her. "We're lucky we're getting away from the action, but hurry on. Keep to the forest. Be safe, don't be afraid to use your wand if you need it. You know the shield charm?" She nodded again, already running over it in her mind, wishing she had more duelling practice, and terrified in case she had to implement what little she did know. "Don't stop until you're safe, alright? Don't stop for anyone. Now, go!"

Her heart pounded so loudly she could hardly hear herself think, as she retreated into the crowd, running. Andromeda split in the other direction, soon lost to the haze of smoke, and Aurora forced herself to look away, to head for the forest as she was told to do. What were Andromeda and Ted thinking? If those were Death Eaters then they shouldn't be running towards them, especially not Ted. She understood Dora's position but she was trained for this sort of thing, they shouldn't have gone off — they shouldn't have left her.

Frustration welled in her even if she knew it wasn't fair. She could take care of herself and she knew she was hardly a prime target, but the crowd was so panicked she was terrified of being trampled. On every side, people jostled each other and her, and it was all she could do to keep her grip on her wand, to hold it tightly to her chest and try to run over the limited Duelling spells she knew. Heat rushed over her head and she ducked down, as a ball of fire went crashing into another tent, as people shoved suddenly past her, as she stumbled.

Through the fire she could see a figure standing in dark robes. The crowd faded for a second, and in place of the screaming she heard her mother's voice, her begging. Her heart felt like it was going to tear out of her chest, and she couldn't look away even as her eyes smarted and burned — until someone shoved roughly into her and she went flying, shoving into another group of people, stumbling to her feet and then running as fast as she could carry herself, towards the hazy darkness that marked the edge of the forest.

The Tonkses' faces kept appearing in her head. She wanted to turn right back around and drag them back to safety, with her, but she couldn't — not only because they would refuse and she had no idea where they were, but because if she tried to go against the crowd she knew she would be crushed. But her isolation grew so startlingly obvious as she ran, spying groups of people clutching each other, being knocked about and jostled but sticking together. There were other loners too, that she saw, people terrified, mostly older teenagers.

Earlier she had said she was fifteen, practically a grown up.

She didn't feel so grown up now.

The sounds of shouting from the campsite were growing lower but the crowd was still loud, everyone terrible. As they reached the last of the tents, they fanned out, running in all directions. Aurora turned to the right, where fewer people were running, up towards the quieter end of the campsite. That person in the mask — the Death Eater — was that someone her parents had once fought? Had they seen her mother die? Were they here to restore their master, to finish what they started, and were they going to take even more of her family?

She stopped in her tracks, breath short. Her head was faint and her eyes burned. People were still running into the treeline, and when she turned she could see the campsite, awash with light. Somewhere in the centre, three bodies were illuminated by clashing lights of spellfire. Somewhere there was Dora and Andromeda and Ted. She shouldn't have left them, she thought, awash with shame. They were family, if anything happened she could never forgive herself. They had told her to run; she should have forced them to run with her.

The whole scene unfolded before her and turned her stomach. Somewhere in the centre there were Aurors but there were Death Eaters, too. They had been biding their time. For thirteen years. Why now — why tonight?

"Black?"

At the sound of her name, she jumped, pulling her wand out immediately, ready to hex someone until she came to her senses and recognised the trio standing before her. "Potter," she said, trying to steady her breathing. "Granger. Weasley."

"What are you doing here?" Weasley demanded.

"Same as everyone else." She took a step backwards as the sky lit up again. "Trying to get away."

"You're on your own?" Potter asked, an odd expression on his face.

"I'm fine," she said quickly, even though she wasn't. "Dora and Andromeda and Ted — they're sticking around to help." To get themselves killed. "I — we need to head into the forest. That's what Ted said. They told me to find someone I know, I suppose you'll have to do."

"Oh, charming," Weasley muttered, but Potter shushed him. They fell into step, hurrying towards the forest. Aurora's mind kept going backwards but she forced herself to keep step with the others. She would be useless in a fight and she knew that, knew she had to keep herself safe first and foremost, but she couldn't stand not knowing what was happening.

"Are you alright?" Potter asked her. "You look... Worried."

She let out a strangled laugh. "Oh I wonder why, Potter! Nothing to do with the Death Eaters on the loose!"

Potter frowned at her. "Death Eaters?"

"Yes." She stared at him, at his confusion. "Don't be dim, Potter, who else do you think it could be?" Her voice was breaking over the words, too thin and shaky and breathless. "My cousin Dora's an Auror, she's fighting, Ted works for the Ministry—" Nausea gnawed at her and she hurried on forward, hoping Potter couldn't see the look on her face.

"But who — who are they? Death Eaters?"

"Don't be — what do you mean, who are they? You know who they are!" He blinked. "They're... His supporters. The Dark Lord."

"Oh." Potter's face cleared and then paled. "Oh." He turned around, and reached out his arm quickly to Granger. "Hermione, shouldn't we pick up the pace?"

"I'm trying as fast as I can, Harry, I'm wearing slippers—" She broke off with a short gasp and Aurora turned around again, wand out.

Pale face, pale hair, glinting silver eyes. "Draco."

He stared between them. "Hanging out with the riff-raff, Aurora? Tut-tut." His smile seemed forced. There was something uncertain in it, teetering.

"Draco," she said lowly, running towards him. "What are you doing, loitering, we have to get as far away from the action as we can."

"We'll be fine," he drawled, rolling his eyes. "They're going after Muggles, Aurora, not purebloods. And no one's going to hurt me, are they?"

Her cheeks heated. "And I'm not — Ted's a muggleborn, Draco. They're in there now!"

That stopped him for a second. His eyes flicked over Aurora's shoulder, where she could practically feel Granger trembling and then he said, "Granger had better get into that forest, then, hadn't she?"

Out the corner of her eye, Aurora saw Potter look to her, as though for guidance. She gave a small nod, breathless, and watched as the three of them scarpered into the forest. Then she strode forward and grasped Draco tightly. "You idiot," she muttered, "you still can't just hang around out here, you don't know what they might do!"

"Oh, come on, Aurora. I'm as pure as they come."

The words turned her stomach and she had to release him. She glared. "Draco, that isn't funny. People are being hurt."

"They're only Muggles, someone'll obliviate them. It's just a bit of..." He seemed to struggle for the words, voice fading when he caught her fiery gaze.

"It's cruel. And dangerous and it doesn't matter that they're Muggles! They shouldn't be doing that! They're Death Eaters, Draco!" She saw that strike him, saw the paling of his cheeks. "You can't be alright with this!"

Draco shifted uncomfortably under her gaze and her stomach squirmed. His silence said it all and she hardly dared to breathe from the anger that washed over her. "I don't understand you," she snapped. "Andromeda and Dora and Ted are going to get hurt, but they're out trying to help people!"

"I know, I'm not saying—"

"It's what you're not saying!" she shouted. Blood rushed in her ears but she was all too aware of the people near them, of the watchful eyes. They wouldn't have this conversation here, now. "Come on," she muttered, and grabbed him by the wrist.

"Ow, Aurora! What are you doing?"

"We need to go deeper in the forest. We could still be caught up in a crush by that crowd, and I don't care what you think about you being a Malfoy, I am not taking the risk of you getting hurt unintentionally by someone who can't keep their hexes straight just because you want to hang about and make a joke out of that violence, alright?"

Not waiting for his answer, she pulled him along with her as they went further into the trees. She held out her wand and whispered, "Lumos," so that bright light shone from its tip and she could see her cousin's face properly.

"You — you know I don't want you to get to hurt, don't you? Or any of those Tonkses." He swallowed with a wince, like the words pained his throat. "Or Ted."

"You don't care about the Muggles, though. Or the other Muggleborns. Or the fact that those are literal Death Eaters!"

"It's... Different," Draco whispered. He was holding tightly onto her arm now, as the sounds from the campsite started to die down.

"In what way, different?" Aurora asked as politely as she could manage, eyes scouring the ground around them for signs of anyone hurt, or anyone lying in wait. It was eerie in here. She was glad she had Draco at her side.

"It just is," Draco insisted, struggling.

Aurora made a humming noise and didn't reply. This was not the time to get into a confrontation. She needed to stick with her cousin and stick close. Whatever he believed, Aurora knew he would never let her get hurt. "I don't know if we're better nearer other people or further away," she murmured. "I assume you've been told to stay out of the way, rather than go home?" Swallowing tightly, Draco nodded. "My only way home is an elf and I don't even know if I can with all these wards, it's so protected to stop people going in and out." And she didn't want to leave anyway. Not while there was still danger to hurt the people she cared about. She swallowed tightly, stomach a bundle of nerves. "We should find somewhere to settle. If we go too deep we'll get lost. I — I don't even know how I'm meant to find them. Our tent just has a big T on it but it might well have fallen down."

"Right." Draco squeezed her arm. "Somewhere around here? You can still see the general direction of the campsite, but it's still quiet."

Aurora followed the direction of his gaze and nodded. She kept her wand out, but sank against a tree and sat, staring at the hazy amber glow that only just permeated the thick line of trees. Draco sat by her and they were both silent for a long time. The amber glow grew and grew and Aurora held her knees to her chest. It seemed to burn for hours.

"Did you see what Krum pulled at the end?" Draco asked at last, in a feeble attempt to make conversation.

"I think everyone saw it, Draco," Aurora said tiredly, feeling cold.

"Yeah, but what did you think?"

"I think he's an idiot," she said honestly, and watched him gape. "He lost the match!"

"Yes, but he did it so well! He's amazing, you must have noticed that!"

"I don't care how amazing he is if he's going to give up on a match! Can you imagine what Flint would have done if that had been one of us?"

Draco's cheeks went pink. "He would have shouted all day, wouldn't he?"

"He'd never have shut up about it. Just because he's a professional doesn't mean Krum can get away with it — if anyone, It makes it worse! It's cowardice or glory hunting, I haven't decided yet, but it's completely ridiculous!"

Draco laughed. "He's still the best Seeker in the world."

"It doesn't matter," Aurora told him shortly, "What's the point in being a great Seeker if you're not a great team player? If you don't trust your team! He didn't even lose graciously and I don't think the Chasers got any say — it was downright embarrassing to be honest, the lack of faith—"

Bright green light broke through the glow of amber from the horizon. Aurora jumped, staring up through the canopy of trees. The light was moving across the sky, and she stood up to get a better look. "What is that?" she asked, making out the rounded edge of something, and then a shifting serpent, twisting between the stars. It struck unexplainable fear into her, as though the light itself was causing that feeling to rain down.

"It's the mark," Draco said suddenly from behind. When Aurora turned, she saw him staring at his left arm, having gone quite pale.

"What do you mean?" she asked, certain that she would not like the answer.

"The Dark Mark." Draco met Aurora's eyes and it came back to her. She had never really seen the mark before, but she knew what it was supposed to represent.

"They've killed someone," she said, and took Draco's hand instinctively. "Merlin, Draco..."

His mouth had fallen open in shock. "No," he said shakily. "No they wouldn't — they can't have — no one's been killed! I'm sure they weren't trying to kill anyone!"

"Then explain that," Aurora said, feeling empty. It had definitely come from the campsite, she thought. It writhed above smoking tents, winding its way between the stars. She leaned on a tree for balance, head ringing. "I have to go back. I have to find Dora and Ted and—"

"But if they've killed someone," Draco said, putting his arm around her as though to hold her back, "they might hurt you, too." He was shaking too. "We have to stay back!"

"I have to find the Tonkses!"

The screams around them were getting louder and louder. Aurora could hear people running again, rustling the trees, away from the campsite.

"It's them!" someone screamed. "It's him! It's the Mark! They've killed the Muggle!"

Aurora shrank back against a tree, heart hammering. Potter's dream from the other night came back to her suddenly — but it couldn't be, no, it simply couldn't.

But they were there. Death Eaters were there. They had killed before, after all.

All of a sudden, Aurora got the horrible feeling of her throat clogging up, and a ringing in her ears she normally associated with the Dementors.

The spell was snapped suddenly out of the sky and another scream went up, but all Aurora could do was to stand, rooted to the spot, watching as the amber firelight turned to hazy purple smoke.

"They wouldn't kill someone," Draco kept saying. "They — that's not what this is." She found she didn't care what Draco thought this was meant to be. It could be Dora, or Andromeda, or Ted, or any other innocent person. Aurora fought to keep down the sick feeling that rose, burning, in the back of her throat. "They wouldn't."

"Wouldn't they?"

Draco didn't answer.

The fire didn't die down for a long time, by which point Ministry members were scouring the woods, searching for people. When a group of three of them, clad in maroon robes, came across Aurora and Draco, still clinging tightly to a tree, they appeared deeply cautious.

The tallest said, "I'm Auror Dawlish. This is Mr Boot and Ms Clarence." An Auror. Aurora's head was buzzing, and a question about Dora on the tip of her tongue.

"Names and ages?" the tallest asked.

"Aurora Black, fourteen."

Draco's eyes skittered to hers. "D-Draco Malfoy. I'm fourteen, too."

"Both British then?" They nodded, as if he didn't recognise both their names. His eyes landed on Draco for too long. "A Muggle man has been killed. The campsite owner. His wife and children are gravely injured." Aurora's heart blocked her throat. It was real. This felt real. She had no idea how to reply. "What are you doing in the forest on your own?"

Draco answered first, and Aurora knew she must look frightful, but all that was running through her head was her father's words about what happened to the McKinnons, the fire that had killed them all and their street of Muggle neighbours. Burning, just like this.

"My parents and I were trying to get away," Draco lied, "but we — we got separated and they said that if that happened to find someone I knew and to stay with them until someone safe found us."

She knew that wasn't true. The Ministry members looked dubious too. She cut in, not in the mood to directly defend Lucius Malfoy, nor to throw Draco to the dogs, "My cousin, Dora Tonks, she's an Auror and she went to help when it all started, is she alright? Her mum and dad went too, that's why I'm on my own, they told me to get somewhere safe and find someone to stay with until they found me."

"Auror Tonks took a nasty cut to her arm, but nothing worse," Dawlish said, voice still firm but slightly kinder. "As far as I know, the other Tonkses are unharmed." She breathed a sigh of relief.

"Okay."

"Now, we'll take you two back down to the campsite." His eyes fell harshly on Draco, but Aurora had no idea what to do to help him, if anything. He looked paler and more sickly than she had ever seen him. Auror Dawlish conjured a Patronus which sped through the trees. "Letting Tonks know you're alright," he told Aurora.

He said nothing to Draco, who only looked worse as they made their way back through the forest.

The sun was starting to come up when Aurora caught sight of Ted and Andromeda through the treeline and made a run towards them. Andromeda hugged her tighter than she ever had, brushing down her hair.

"Thank Merlin you're alright," she whispered. "You are alright? Nymphadora's still doing her duties, but she got a message to us."

Aurora nodded. For once, she really didn't want to let go of this hug, but she twisted around anyway, seeing Draco, still pale and shaking. Andromeda saw him too, of course, and she and Draco shared a long moment of mutual uncertainty before Ted cleared his throat.

"Do you know where your parents are then?" Dawlish asked Draco, who shook his head. Aurora hadn't been able to see it in the forest, but his eyes were slightly puffy, pink.

The adults all exchanged nervous looks. Aurora clung tighter to Andromeda than she would have liked to admit. Mr. Boot and Ms. Cadence whispered something, and Cadence waved her wand to send out another Patronus.

"We've set up a little base for stragglers," Boot explained nervously. "We'll take you along there."

Aurora caught Draco's pleading look, but she had no idea what to do. "You'll be alright," she said quietly. "It's safe now."

But that wasn't his concern and they both knew it.

"Come on." Dawlish clapped a hand onto Draco's shoulder. "I'll let Tonks know you're all back together and safe if when see her."

Aurora nodded hastily, offered her cousin a last, shaky look of encouragement, and then clasped Andromeda's hand tightly.

"Someone was killed?" she asked hollowly as the Ministry members moved away with her cousin.

"The camp manager," Ted said. "That's who... They were levitating them. Toying with them." His jaw was tight, and he looked steadfastly ahead. His fists trembled. "We were trying to break it up, but it was chaos. I don't know if they intended to kill him, but — well, I couldn't say I think any of them would regret it. They sent their mark up all the same, but there were a few that scattered. Everyone was preoccupied with the Muggles, seeing if he was..."

He trailed off and Andromeda reached to clasp his hand tightly. "They're still trying to catch people," she told Aurora, turning her around and starting to guide her towards their tent. "Whether they will... That poor family."

Aurora's stomach was a tight coil of fear. How would the Ministry explain the Muggle man's death to his family? How would they ever be able to move forward if they didn't even know what truly happened to him — because the Statute dictated that they would have to be Obliviated, even in such a situation as this. She didn't know if that would be a blessing or a curse.

They all sat up in the tent for what felt like hours as dawn broke over the horizon. Dora finally stumbled in at half past six, hair slightly faded, with dark bags beneath her eyes.

"There's an emergency Portkey waiting for you," she told them, sinking onto the edge of the couch. Andromeda leapt up to wrap her in a hug. "Fuck — sorry, Mum. We couldn't get any of them. Slippery bastards."

"What happened to his family?" Aurora asked in a small voice.

"Obliviated." Dora's voice was hoarse. "It's what we have to do but... It feels so wrong." Silence fell between them all. "They've given them memories of a freak accident. That he fell down the stairs, cut his arm..." She sounded empty. "I've been told to get some sleep and report at ten. They're evacuating the campsite. It's a crime scene now. Don't know how we're going to manage it, but... You lot have to get back home, alright? I'll let you know when I can get home."

Andromeda looked like she wanted to argue, but knew that she couldn't. They packed up in stifled, nervous silence. Was this what the world had been like last time, Aurora wondered. She thought of Draco and her skin crawled. She was near certain his father would have been involved — had he been one to kill Mr. Roberts? Perhaps she shouldn't think like that, but she couldn't help it. Draco had laughed at first, though he wasn't laughing now. It had been like a joke, or a game. She thought back to second year, the atmosphere of the common room, insults about Muggles and Muggleborn traded so easily, and it made her feel sick.

Even the motion sickness of taking the Portkey didn't compare to the pale, cold ill that Aurora felt taking over her body. She went straight to her room, mind reeling.

Her father appeared at eight o'clock in the morning, right as the Daily Prophet arrived. Andromeda called Aurora down, but she was in something of a haze as she did so. He ran to her immediately and held her tightly in his arms.

"You're safe?"

"I am, I'm fine, I'm just—" Terrified. "Rattled."

Her father didn't let go. "I was so scared when I got Andromeda's message."

"I know," she mumbled, glancing over his shoulder to see Andromeda and Ted whispering. Her eyes burned. "I know but I — I'm fine."

When at last he let her go, Aurora turned to Andromeda and Ted. "Sorry for running off into my room. Is there any word from Dora yet?"

Andromeda shook her head. "She's likely still asleep, or else swept off her feet dealing with this."

"Right." It was still unsteadying. She wanted her cousin to be with her right now, but that was selfish, and it was Dora's job to deal with this. To reassure people and help them. Aurora sank down onto the edge of the couch and Andromeda came over to put an arm around her. She and Ted were both still awfully pale. They had lived this before, after all.

"The Prophet said the Ministry thinks it's a one-off occasion," Ted told her, though he didn't sound like he believed a word of it. "Not a permanent resurgence."

But, Aurora thought bitterly, what the hell did the Ministry know about anything?