Chapter 25:

The Quidditch World Cup

The morning of the Quidditch World Cup, the current four human residents of Malfoy Manor readied to leave. Jessa dressed in her own clothing before meeting her hosts at the fireplace.

Draco, noticing his friend's confusion, grabbed her hand and held it tight as they stood together, flames erupting around them before they stepped out into an "office tent".

Stepping out into the campgrounds, Jessa stared. "It's amazing!"

Draco sometimes forgot she was still getting used to the Wizarding World.

"Come on," he said, grabbing her hand. They would meet back up with his parents an hour before the match was due to start.

They were leaving one of the many vendor booths – this time with fresh "team-inspired" lemonades – when a voice called from behind them.

"Drakey!"

They turned just in time for Pansy Parkinson to fling her arms around him. While he tried to disentangle himself from her grasp, Jessa took a few steps back, eyes narrowed.

"So…Potter actually let his sister out of his sight? During the summer, no less?" someone teased from just behind her. Turning, she couldn't help but grin.

"Yes, Blaise, he did. Him being happy about it is another story, though," she replied. Blaise Zabini snorted. He was one of the few Slytherins who had been welcoming to her…and accepting of her friendship with his longer time friend.

"You've been staying with him for the past few weeks, yeah?"

She nodded, surprised he was aware. She was about to ask how when –

"What?" Pansy screeched. "You let this filthy Mudblood stay with you, but wouldn't even let me visit?"

"She's a half-blood Slytherin, not a Mudblood for one thing, Parkinson. And she needed a place to stay. You didn't," Draco replied, his tone rather sharp and cold. It was clear he wasn't going argue with her – something Jessa was very grateful for. She didn't want anyone else knowing about her home life – especially considering she hadn't wanted Draco to know in the first place.

Jessa changed into her borrowed brown summer dress and followed the Malfoys up the many steps of the bleachers. She was forced to stop short as they were greeted by someone.

She didn't know by whom. What she did know was that behind the unknown greeters stood the Weasley family, along with Hermione and Harry. He wasn't looking at her. None of them were. So she turned her attention forward just in time to hear Mr. Malfoy speak.

"Good lord, Arthur," he said softly. "What did you have to sell to get seats in the Top Box? Surely your house wouldn't have fetched this much?"

Jessa gasped, before her eyes narrowed dangerously. She knew there was animosity between the two families, but hadn't realized how bad it was. Draco noticed her reaction and quickly took her hand, squeezing it. This caused her to glance at him; when she did, he ever so slightly shook his head. He did so again as she began to protest and mouthed the word later.

Swallowing hard, she finally nodded. But as the Malfoys finally began to move away, she let her hand fall from Draco's. He turned to see what was keeping her. She jerked her head towards her brother. He rolled his eyes, but nodded in understanding, before whispering something quickly to his mother. Then, shoving his hands into his trouser pockets, he leaned against the opposite bleachers; close enough to see her, far enough to not be eavesdropping.

Jessa nodded and turned to embrace her brother, who had stepped forward.

"How are you?" she asked, pulling away to look into his face.

"I'm fine. But what about you? Did they treat you alright? Did they hurt you?" he asked in a hurry.

"Harry, slow down. I'm fine! You had nothing to worry about," she replied with a laugh. Ron snorted, clearly not believing her – not that she could quite blame him.

"Did they hurt you?" he repeated.

"No. Certainly not in any of the ways you're probably imagining. I'll tell you on the Express, okay?"

He didn't like it, but he nodded, turning to introduce her to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, and letting her greet the others.

A cough behind them had Jessa turning. Draco held his hand out.

"I'll see you later. Enjoy the match," she said, re-joining her friend.

Harry watched her go, apprehension in the pit of his stomach.

"She'll be fine, Harry. You don't have to like it, but we can all see he'd never hurt her," Hermione said from behind him.

The match and walk back passed in a blur. Unlike most of those in attendance, she wasn't rooting for one team or another in particular. However, seeing Quidditch played at this level, with this type of skill, was incredible. Not to mention being able to almost touch the magic in the air – a different type of magic than at Hogwarts. Here, it was more alive, more in tune with the excitement of it all.

Returning to their tent, Jessa restlessly, changed into sweatpants and a t-shirt, before lying down. Somehow, despite the excitement, she managed to fall asleep.

It was unclear how much time had passed, before she was suddenly woken by the sound of screams outside and a hand on her shoulder. She sat up, putting her glasses on.

"Miss Potter, stay close to Draco," Mrs. Malfoy instructed, shoving robes into their arms and ushing them out of the tent and into the chaos.

Looking around, she could see tall, hooded figures torturing poor souls. Some of the tents were burning, burning brightly in the dark night, lighting the way as people ran, screaming, as the pandemonium spread. She clung closer to her friend, more scared than she wanted to admit as he led them away and to just inside the nearest set of trees.

"Jessa?"

"Who are they?"

He glanced up, but seemed mostly unconcerned. Though he realized sooner or later, she was going to find out.

"They're called 'Death Eaters'. Loyal followers of the Dark Lord."

"What are they doing here?"

"It's a large crowd. Perfect place to stir up trouble."

Jessa's eyes narrowed. He was too calm.

"Draco, please don't tell me your father is one of those men."

He swallowed hard.

"Is that why he hates me so much? Because I'm Harry's sister? Because I'm not a pureblood?"

"It's complicated. But please – you have to stay near to me; they won't hurt me. Not too many people know about you yet; that will keep you safe."

"That's not the reassurance you probably meant," she shot back.

He rolled his eyes, moving to grab her hand when she bent over, muffling a scream as she cradled her left hand.

"Jessa? What's wrong?"

She shook her head, tears springing to her eyes. Her palm – her scarred palm – was burning.

"Shit," she heard him mutter.

Glancing up, she could blurrily make out a green smoky figure in the sky depicting a snake coming out of a skull's mouth.

"It's the Dark Mark. You-Know-Who's sign. We need to move. Now!"

Knowing she was injured, Draco tried to be as gentle as possible as he brought her to the meeting point, hoping they didn't run into anyone on their way back to Malfoy Manor.

Jessa grimaced, leaning against her friend as pain continued to sear through her palm. Perhaps it would have been better after all to have just stayed behind at the Dursleys'.