The Riot
Diana Diggory was glad to be back in the tent. The camp was a flurry of noise and excitement, everyone celebrating the Irish team's win after a thrilling and suspenseful game. The noise was muffled by the tent walls (Diana was glad of that, as she was hoping to go to bed sometime soon), though her father and brother weren't much better than the revelers outside.
"Can you believe it, Ced?" her dad exclaimed. "I don't think I've seen a more exciting game! Who would've believed Ireland would win after Krum got the Snitch?"
"He's amazing at the Wronski Feint," Cedric replied, sitting down at their small central table. "I really thought he was going to crash a few times!"
"It's a shame Lynch did," her father said. He was busying himself with the tea kettle as he spoke over his shoulder. "He used to be one of the best, but maybe he's losing his touch. Or maybe that's just what happens when someone's up against Krum."
"I'm going to bed," Diana announced. She wasn't really interested in staying up and debating the finer points of the game with Cedric and her father; she wasn't as Quidditch-obsessed as they were, though she could admit the game had been entertaining. And she wasn't much of a night person anyway.
"Are you sure?" her father entreated. "You won't stay up for a little while, talk with Ced and I about the match?"
"Yeah, come on, Di!" her brother added.
"I'm alright," she replied, slightly exaggerating her oncoming yawn. "I bet you'll still have loads to talk about in the morning."
"All right, suit yourself," her father shrugged, as if he couldn't fathom the idea of going to sleep after what had surely been the most exciting night anyone had ever had. He and Cedric turned back to their conversation as Diana headed for the adjoining bedroom.
As she laid in the top half of her and Cedric's bunkbed, trying to ignore the flashing lights and surrounding sounds, memories of the night circled through her head. She smirked in recalling Cedric's reactions to the veela, how he'd tried to subtly unbutton his shirt; she was thankful that her dad had had enough sense to cover his ears, though his eyes had been wide as saucers. Thank god Mum hadn't been there to see that...
She wasn't sure when she'd drifted off to sleep, but the next thing she knew, she was being shaken awake by strong arms. "Diana! Diana, get up, now!"
She blinked her eyes blearily, knowing it couldn't have been morning yet. Her eyes adjusted to the dim light, and the first thing she saw was Cedric's panicked face. That was when she knew something was wrong.
"There's a mob outside- Dad's already gone to sort it out- we have to go, now!"
As Diana climbed down from the top bunk, her ears registered the sounds of shouts and screams outside. She just thought to grab her wand, and Cedric wrapped a coat across her shoulders as the two of them hurried from the tent.
The scene outside was pure madness. People were running past in all directions, spells were flying through the air, and in the distance she thought she could see burning tents. Diana tried to center in on the source of the chaos, but couldn't quite tell until Cedric grabbed her arm and pointed up at the sky a ways ahead of them.
Diana gasped in shock. Four bodies were suspended in the air, two of them small enough to be children, flipping and twisting in grotesque formations. Below them, she could make out a group of people in hooded cloaks, masks covering their faces and wands pointed up.
Cedric was tugging at Diana's arm, and she regained enough sense to run. She headed in the direction of the forest, figuring it would be a better place to hide; but as she made it through the major clump of tents she realized she'd lost Cedric.
"Cedric!" she yelled frantically, spinning every which way to look for him. There was no sign of her tall, dark-haired brother; he could have been any of the dozens of people running from the campsite. There was no point in waiting. She made it to the forest, but changed course when she spotted a distinctive lanky redhead.
"Ron?" she called. He looked like he was searching for someone too, but turned at the sound of her voice. The redheaded boy looked surprised to see her, but not necessarily pleased. Diana shared the sentiment; Ron Weasley wasn't high at all on the list of people she'd like to hide in a forest with, but he was better than a pack of strangers.
"Have you seen Harry and Hermione?" he asked, his voice raised above the clamor from the crowd.
"I haven't. Have you seen Cedric?"
He shook his head. "Doesn't matter. We need to get out of here." Diana could agree with that.
The two of them ventured farther into the forest, keeping their eyes on the ground to keep from tripping on tree roots. "Do you have any idea what's going on out there?" Diana asked.
"They're torturing Muggles," Ron replied. "Mr. Roberts from the guardhouse and his family. It's a bunch of pureblood maniacs."
Diana felt a chill run down her spine. Torturing Muggles? In a public place full of wizards? What were they thinking?
"My dad's trying to settle it down. Your dad too?" Ron asked.
Diana nodded. They were deeper in the woods now, and the sounds from the campsite were muffled. She could see people moving around them, and she kept a tight grip on her wand, just in case.
"Bloody hell, where are they..." Ron muttered. Diana assumed he was talking about his friends; she was still keeping an eye out for Cedric. She wished she were with him right now. The situation was tense enough without the awkward air between her and Ron.
She didn't hate Ron Weasley, but he certainly wasn't someone she wanted as a friend. From what she'd seen over the last three years, he was brash, loud, and a bit of a slack-off in class. Not to mention that he had no semblance of etiquette or propriety. He didn't seem to like her very much either, though, so they were equally matched.
They found a small clearing that seemed to be near the heart of the wood, and Ron cried out with relief when they spotted Harry and Hermione a little ways off. "Ron!" Hermione exclaimed, running over to him. "Thank Merlin, we were so worried!"
He assured them that he was alright, before turning to acknowledge Diana. "She lost Cedric," he explained, and Diana felt a slight flare of annoyance that he hadn't let her talk for herself.
"I lost my wand, mate," Harry told Ron. Diana winced; that had to be the worst thing a wizard could do in a situation like this.
"Where?" Ron asked. "In the campsite or in the woods?"
"I don't know. Hey, did you know that Malfoy's folks are in that crowd? We saw him at the edge of the forest and he as good as told us."
Ron grimaced spitefully. "Go figure. I'm surprised the git isn't in there with them. Eh, probably too afraid to risk his stupid hide."
Diana jumped at the sound of a crack, and the four of them spun around to see Ludo Bagman appearing from behind a tree at the edge of the clearing. His face looked white and strained; Diana wondered what he was doing here instead of at the camp like the other Ministry officials.
"Who's that?" he asked, blinking as though he couldn't see them properly. "What are you doing in here, all alone?"
Diana exchanged confused looks with the other teens.
"Well- there's sort of a riot going on," Ron said.
Bagman stared at him. "What?"
"At the campsite... some people have got hold of a family of Muggles..."
"Damn them!" Bagman swore. He Disapparated without another word.
"Not very on top of things, Mr. Bagman, is he?" Hermione commented.
"Apparently not," Diana added. "Where has he been?"
"Who knows?" Ron sat down at the foot of a tree, pulling a small figurine out of his pocket. Diana recognized it as one of the Krum miniatures they'd been selling before the match. "He was a great Beater, though. The Wimbourne Wasps won the league three times in a row while he was with them."
Like that has anything to do with it. Honestly, Diana thought, was Quidditch all boys talked about?
Tired of standing around, she sat on a tree stump next to Hermione, who said, "I hope the others are okay. Ron's family and your brother," she told Diana. She gave the girl a small, grateful smile.
"They'll be fine," Ron replied, watching his figurine slouch across the fallen leaves.
"Imagine if your dad catches Lucius Malfoy," Harry told Ron. "He's always said he'd like to get something on him."
Ron chuckled. "That'd wipe the smirk off old Draco's face, all right."
"Those poor Muggles, though," Hermione added nervously. "What if they can't get them down?"
"They will," Ron said. "They'll find a way."
"Mad, though, to do something like that when the whole Ministry of Magic's out here tonight!" Hermione responded, voicing Diana's own thoughts. "I mean, do they expect to get away with it? Do you think they've been drinking, or are they just-"
She broke off abruptly and looked over her shoulder. Diana followed her gaze and heard the sound of someone- or something- staggering through the forest in their direction. Diana reached unconsciously reached for her wand, thankful that she, unlike Harry, hadn't lost hers. But the footsteps stopped abruptly, a few yard away from the clearing.
"Hello?" Harry called.
Diana strained her eyes to try to make out whoever it was; the undergrowth wasn't tall enough to cover them, but she couldn't see anyone beyond the trees.
"Who's there?" Harry said.
A sudden shout cut through the silence, startling them. "MORSMORDRE!"
Something green and glittering erupted from the darkness, soaring over their heads into the sky. The clearing was illuminated in a green glow, and Diana craned her neck back to see what had happened.
"What the-" Ron gasped.
A formation of what looked like green stars had appeared in the sky, creating the shape of a skull with a snake winding through its jaws. The forest around them erupted with screams. Diana felt movement beside her and saw Hermione pulling Harry away from the patch of darkness he'd been staring into.
"Harry, come on, move!" she demanded, pulling him back by the collar of his jacket.
"What's the matter?" he asked cluelessly. Diana and Ron were already making to leave the clearing.
Hermione's voice was frantic. "It's the Dark Mark, Harry! It's You-Know-Who's sign!"
"Voldemort's-"
"Harry, come on!"
But before they took another step, a series of pops sounded around them, and they were surrounded by at least twenty wizards, all pointing their wands at the four of them. Diana hit the ground right before the roar of "Stupefy!" sent a stream of red lights directly over their heads.