Chapter 81: You Don't Belong

By the light of the few fires that were still burning, she could see people running away into the woods, fleeing something that was moving across the field toward her, something that was emitting odd flashes of light and noises like gunfire. Loud jeering, roars of laughter, and drunken yells were drifting toward her; then came a burst of strong green light, which illuminated the scene.

Mr Weasley, Fred, George, Harry and Ron came out from their tent.

"Where's Ginny and Hermione?" Mr Weasley asked as soon as he noticed Chris.

Chris didn't had to answer as Hermione and Ginny came hurrying towards them, pulling coats over their nightdresses.

A crowd of wizards, tightly packed and moving together with wands pointing straight upward, was marching slowly across the field. Their heads were hooded and their faces masked. High above them, floating along in midair, four struggling figures were being contorted into grotesque shapes. It was as though the masked wizards on the ground were puppeteers, and the people above them were marionettes operated by invisible strings that rose from the wands into the air. Two of the figures were very small.

More wizards were joining the marching group, laughing and pointing up at the floating bodies. Tents crumpled and fell as the marching crowd swelled. Once or twice Chris saw one of the marchers blast a tent out of his way with his wand. Several caught fire. The screaming grew louder.

The floating people were suddenly illuminated as they passed over a burning tent and Chris recognized one of them: Mr. Roberts, the campsite manager. The other three looked as though they might be his wife and children.

"We need to help them." Chris said looking horrified.

One of the marchers below flipped Mrs. Roberts upside down with his wand; her nightdress fell down to reveal voluminous drawers and she struggled to cover herself up as the crowd below her screeched and hooted with glee.

"That's sick," Ron muttered, watching the smallest Muggle child, who had begun to spin like a top, sixty feet above the ground, his head flopping limply from side to side. "That is really sick. …"

"Mr Weasley, we need to do something." Chris roared.

At the same moment, Bill, Charlie, and Percy emerged from the boys' tent, fully dressed, with their sleeves rolled up and their wands out.

"We're going to help the Ministry!" Mr. Weasley shouted over all the noise, rolling up his own sleeves. "You lot — get into the woods, and stick together. I'll come and fetch you when we've sorted this out!"

Bill, Charlie, and Percy were already sprinting away toward the oncoming marchers; Mr. Weasley tore after them. Ministry wizards were dashing from every direction toward the source of the trouble. The crowd beneath the Roberts family was coming ever closer.

"But... but..." Chris tried to protest but Fred grabbed her arm.

"C'mon," said Fred, dragging her away.

George also grabbed Ginny and starting to pull her toward the wood. Harry, Ron and Hermione fol­lowed. They all looked back as they reached the trees. The crowd beneath the Roberts family was larger than ever; they could see the Ministry wizards trying to get through it to the hooded wizards in the center, but they were having great difficulty. It looked as though they were scared to perform any spell that might make the Roberts family fall.

The colored lanterns that had lit the path to the stadium had been extinguished. Dark figures were blundering through the trees; children were crying; anxious shouts and panicked voices were re­verberating around them in the cold night air.

Chris felt sick. This was something she never imagined, she felt like every scream, every crying noise was piercing through her heart, and that image of Mr Roberts' family blur her vision.

'Pull yourself together.' A voice roared in her brain.

She realized she was losing focus and it wasn't the right time.

Chris felt herself being pushed hither and thither by people whose faces she could not see.

"Lumos," she whispered holding her wand.

"What happened?" said Hermione anxiously. "Ron, where are you? Oh this is stupid — lumos!"

"George, stop. Ron is missing." Ginny said panicked.

Chris tried to stepped back to look, but heard a loud yell with pain.

Chris hurriedly lowered her wand, Hermione did the same. And Chris realized Ron was lying sprawled on the ground and she just stepped on his back. "What're you doing down there?" Chris said and step away from him

"Tripped over a tree root," he said angrily, getting to his feet again.

"Well, with feet that size, hard not to," said a drawling voice from behind them.

Everyone turned sharply. Flint(the Slytherin Quidditch team captain) and Draco Malfoy was standing nearby, leaning against a tree, looking utterly re­laxed. Flint's arms folded, he seemed to have been watching the scene at the campsite through a gap in the trees. Draco was on the other hand, looked at Chris furiously for a few seconds then looked away.

Ron told them to do something that Chris knew he would never have dared say in front of Mrs. Weasley

"Language, Weasley," said Flint. "Had­n't you better be hurrying along, now? You wouldn't like them spot­ted, would you?"

He nodded at Hermione and Chris, and at the same moment, a blast like a bomb sounded from the campsite, and a flash of green light mo­mentarily lit the trees around them.

"What's that supposed to mean?" said Hermione defiantly.

"Granger, they're after Muggles," said Draco, opening his mouth first time. "D'you want to be showing off your knickers in midair? Because if you do, hang around … they're moving this way, and it would give us all a laugh."

"Hermione's a witch," Harry snarled.

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"Have it your own way, Potter," said Flint, grinning mali­ciously. "If you think they can't spot a Mudblood, stay where you are."

"That's enough," said Fred angrily and grabbed Flint and tackled him on the ground.

"Weasley!" Malfoy called furiously and tried to help.

"Don't even try, Malfoy, if you don't want to go home with a broken nose." Chris replied coming forward.

Everybody present knew that 'Mudblood' was a very offensive term for a witch or wizard of Muggle parentage.

"Leave him Fred. We should go. Let's go." said Hermione quickly, pulling Fred from Flint.

Chris looked at Flint with her wand's light and was sure even with magic he was going to remember his injury for at least two weeks.

There came a bang from the other side of the trees that was louder than anything they had heard. Several people nearby screamed. Malfoy chuckled softly.

"Scare easily, don't they?" he said lazily. "I suppose your daddy told you all to hide? What's he up to — trying to rescue the Muggles?"

"Where're your parents?" said Harry, his temper rising. "Out there wearing masks, are they?"

"Oh I'm sure they're," Chris said angrily. "But you know what Draco, I never expected you to be happy about that. Because I hope you know, the person, for who your parents are doing this; he doesn't care about anyone except himself."

Draco fell silent, suddenly the smile vanished from his face.

"Let's go." Hermione said still clutching Fred's arm, who was looking at injured Flint. "Well, with any luck, the Ministry will catch their parents!"

They started to walk again, and only then Fred noticed, "Where's Ginny and George?"

George and Ginny were nowhere to be seen, though the path was packed with plenty of other people, all looking nervously over their shoulders toward the commotion back at the campsite. A huddle of teenagers in pajamas was arguing vociferously a little way along the path. When they saw them, a girl with thick curly hair turned and said quickly, "Où est Madame Maxime? Nous l'avons perdue —"

"nous ne savons pas, nous sommes de Hogwarts(We don't know. We're from Hogwarts)." Chris replied.

"Oh …" The girl who had spoken turned her back on them, and as they walked on they distinctly heard her say, " 'Ogwarts."

"You know French?" Hermione asked surprised.

"A little. Took French classes for few months, you know curiosity." Chris replied, "I think they're from Beauxbatons."

"Sorry?" said Harry.

"You know … Beauxbatons Academy of Magic … I read about it in An Appraisal of Magical Education in Europe." Hermione said.

"Oh … yeah … right," said Harry.

"George and Ginny can't have gone that far," said Fred pulling out his wand, lighting it, and squinting up the path. Ron did the same.

"Ah, no, I don't believe it … I've lost my wand!" Harry said suddenly.

"You're kidding!" Ron said.

Ron and Hermione raised their wands high enough to spread the narrow beams of light farther on the ground; Harry looked all around him, but his wand was nowhere to be seen.

"Maybe it's back in the tent," said Ron.

"Maybe it fell out of your pocket when we were running?" Hermione suggested anxiously.

"Look there is no time for this. George and Ginny are alone somewhere. We need to find them." Fred said walking fast.

A rustling noise nearby made Harry, Ron and Hermione jump. Chris looked around pointing her wand, she was very alert.

A house-elf was fighting It's way out of a clump of bushes nearby.

"Isn't it a house-elf?" Chris asked.

"Yes. It's Winky. Mr Crouch's house-elf." Harry replied.

Winky the house-elf was moving in a most peculiar fashion, apparently with great diffi­culty; it was as though someone invisible were trying to hold her back.

"There is bad wizards about!" she squeaked distractedly as she leaned forward and labored to keep running. "People high — high in the air! Winky is getting out of the way!"

And she disappeared into the trees on the other side of the path, panting and squeaking as she fought the force that was restraining her.

"What's up with her?" said Ron, looking curiously after Winky. "Why can't she run properly?"

"Bet she didn't ask permission to hide," said Harry.

"You know, house-elves get a very raw deal!" said Hermione in­dignantly. "It's slavery, that's what it is! That Mr. Crouch made her go up to the top of the stadium, and she was terrified, and he's got her bewitched so she can't even run when they start trampling tents! Why doesn't anyone do something about it?"

"Really Granger, this is the time to discuss house-elves? Please move fast." Fred said impatiently.

Another loud bang echoed from the edge of the wood. Suddenly Chris got pushed very hard here and there, but luckily Chris got hold of a tree, which prevented her from falling. But there was no voice of Fred, Ron, Harry or Hermione. Chris moved her wand around to see if there was someone around her but there was only unknown faces. She was about to call someone's name when suddenly someone grabbed her and put a hand on her mouth. The wand slipped from her hands or the person made it. Chris struggled in his grip and was about kick him when the person's cold voice whispered in her ear, "What're doing here? You don't belong here." The voice sent a shiver down her spine. "Stop forcing yourself and go back to your previous life.... or else..."

There was a long pause, Chris tried to kick him and free herself from his grip but there was something which was preventing her to do so. The voice didn't sound young, in fact it was very very old. But it can scare anyone, his grip was strong too and it was... full of magic. He wasn't only forcing Chris to listen to him but he did something that Chris couldn't even move her fingers.

"Or else..." he said again with a more dangerous and scary voice. "You'll be dead like, that stupid boy, Harry Potter."

As he finished Chris felt she was regaining her strength, she thrust her elbow on his ribs, then punched and kicked him at the same tim. He freed her and staggered back. Chris turned sharply to see who it was but there was no one. Chris picked up her wand from the ground and searched around but other than few girls and kids running around there was no adult wizard.

"Help! Help!" A voice called from near.

Chris pointed her wand to the direction from where the voice came and saw a teenage girl, maybe younger than her was sobbing under a tree.

Chris went towards the girl.

"What happened?"

The girl looked at her with tears in her eyes.

"I... me... my leg.. Help!"

Chris looked at her leg and saw her leg was stuck under a tree banch. Chris hurriedly made the branch fly a little and pulled the girl out.

She stood up, still moaning in pain.

"Where's your wand?" Chris asked.

"Oh my wand!" She tried to look down at path.

Chris lowered her wand down the path for her.

"Oh no." The girl picked up a broken wand. "Must be broke when I fell. Thanks for saving me. No one was stopping for me."

Chris sighed, "It's alright. Where are your parents?"

"I was walking with my mom,sister and my friends but I got separated and got stuck here." She answered.

"Fine, stay close. You don't have a wand. Ok?" Chris said seriously.

"Thank you. I'm Astoria Greengrass by the way." She said while walking disballanced beside Chris.

"Christina Norton." Chris replied while looking for others.

"Hey you're the Gryffindor Chaser, aren't you?" Astoria asked surprised.

"Yes." Chris replied.

As they walked a little they heard voices, "Astoria!"

"Astoria!"

"I'm here." Astoria screamed back.

Chris looked around carefully. One voice was very familiar.

And as expected Jason came towards them, pushing the people who were running opposite direction; with a tall and thin boy.

"Astoria, is that you?" Jason said coming close and got a shock to see Chris with her. Chris understood this as his facial expressions changed real quick.

"Yes. Yes. Oh Jason." Saying this Astoria threw her arms around Jason, burried her face on his chest, sobbing.

Jason eyes instantly flickered towards Chris, Chris looked away and turned her wand's light in other direction. Only then Chris noticed the other boy, who was smirking looking at Jason and Astoria. His face can be described as 'rabity'.

He suddenly noticed Chris, smiled a little and noticed her uncomfortable expression.

He coughed, "You know Astoria I also came to find you."

Astoria pulled herself from Jason then looked at the boy, and said with a simple smile, "Thank you."

"What're you doing here? All alone?" Jason asked looking at Chris.

"Same like Astoria, lost the rest in this crowd." Chris replied curtly.

"Thank God for that. If she didn't decided to help me then I would've still stuck under that tree." Astoria said with a smile.

"Really? That's cool." Said the other boy. "Wait, you're that Gryffindor player."

"Yeah, Christina Norton." Chris replied.

"Theodore Nott." He said and shook hands with Chris.

Another bang sounded near them.

"I think we should leave." Jason said and Astoria grabbed his hand.

But it's late the marchers came close.

"We've to hide. They shouldn't see Chris." Jason said hurriedly.

"Why?" Astoria asked innocently.

"Because we all are pure blood. She isn't." Jason replied impatiently.

Chris remembered what Flint and Draco said. "You all go. I'll manage."

"What?" Theodore asked surprised.

"Look, this is not the time to be hero. If they catch you...." Jason stopped abruptly. "Didn't you saw what they were doing with those muggles."

"Yeah. But I'm a witch. If y'all stay with me then you'll be in trouble as well." Chris said looking at the marchers. "Leave."

"Are you kidding me? You want me to leave this kind of thrilling moment? No way." Theodore said grinning. "Jason take Astoria and leave. I'm here."

"I'm not leaving." Jason said as the marchers came in front of them.

"What're you kids doing here, huh?" One of the masked man said.

"Astoria get back." Jason said.

But then suddenly something vast, green, and glittering erupted from the middle of the woods in patch of darkness; it flew up over the treetops and into the sky.

Everyone looked at it. It was a colossal skull, comprised of what looked like emerald stars, with a serpent protruding from its mouth like a tongue. As soon as it completed it's shape the masked wizards disappearated in a second.

"Arresto Momentum" Chris said loudly and stopped the Roberts family from hitting the ground.

She looked at the sky again as the mark rose higher and higher, blazing in a haze of greenish smoke, etched against the black sky like a new constellation.

Suddenly, the wood around them erupted with screams.

"Merlin." Few wizards and witches exclaimed shivering.

"Where are the others, Chris?" Mr Weasley said grabbing Chris.

"I don't know. I lost them." Chris said still looking at the sky.

Mr Weasley's eyes looked around and he noticed Theodore, Jason and Astoria. He was looking very worried and angry at the same time.

"Ok Christina, see you later." Theodore said and then looked at Mr Weasley, "We'll just leave."

And Theodore, Jason and Astoria walked away.

The other wizards left with the Roberts family as Mr Weasley turned towards Chris, "C'mon we need to find them. I hope they're not near that place."

He looked at the direction from where the mark came just now.

"Umm... knowing Harry's luck... I'm sure they're there." Chris replied with a sigh.