Renouncing Magic's Child

Everyone was still talking about the match when they made their way back to the main chamber after lunch. Although that quickly changed when they heard the title of the next chapter.

"The dark mark?" Sirius asked, looking suddenly green.

Severus was busily checking his supply of calming draughts. No doubt, Sirius would need one and perhaps a few of the mothers too.

"Don't tell your mother you've been gambling," ... We don't want it confiscated. "

Mrs Weasley gave her husband a thunderous look.

Mr. Weasley looked for a moment ... he didn't want to know.

Molly tutted loudly, earning a glare from George.

They were soon caught up ... back to their campsites.

Kingsley was on edge. Harry should not be in a crowd. That was a risk not worth taking. Better to wait in the top box for the stadium to empty.

Raucous singing was borne ... shooting over their heads,

Amelia grimaced. This was a statute of secrecy nightmare.

cackling and waving their lanterns... last cup of cocoa together before turning in.

Mrs Weasley's lip tightened. That was good. At least they'd be together when it happened... She was beginning to feel very nervous. She took her husband's hand in her own.

They were soon arguing ... cobbing with Charlie,

Mr Weasley sighed. He still stood by his point that there was no reason for cobbing. Ever. Even if it would mean losing the match. It was important to pay a fair, clean game.

and it was only when Ginny fell asleep ... insisted that everyone go to bed.

Mrs Weasley grimaced. The girls would be alone. That really hadn't been their best idea.

Hermione and Ginny went into the next tent .. singing and the odd echoing bang.

The chamber was tense. Everyone waiting for something bad to happen. The title of the chapter had guaranteed it.

"Oh I am glad I'm not on duty," ... tell the Irish they've got to stop celebrating. "

Arthur's younger self definitely agreed.

Harry, who was on a top bunk ... try out the Wronski Feint...

"Damn Triwizard Tournament," Harry muttered.

Somehow Oliver Wood had never managed... supposed to look like...

"Hey!" Oliver complained. "My diagrams were awesome."

Harry merely laughed.

Harry saw himself ... "I give you. . . . Potter!"

"You'd do well pro," Charlie said and Krum muttered his agreement.

Harry blushed. He'd dreamed about it. Of course he had. But it had never seemed like a real option. Not with Voldemort after him.

Harry never knew ... Mr. Weasley was shouting.

Everyone sat bolt up right, as if ready for a fight.

"Get up! Ron ... "'S' matter?" he said.

Sirius whimpered. Why couldn't things go good for Harry for more than five minutes?

Dimly, he could tell ... He could hear screams, and the sound of people running.

The children all gasped, sitting closer to their parents or guardians, those that had them at least. Those that didn't clung to the side of their older selves. Harry wrapped an arm around his younger self, letting him know that everything would be okay in parsel.

He slipped down...  get outside - quickly!"

Moody groaned. "Make sure you have your wand!"

Perhaps the parents needed a lesson in child safety too.

Harry did as he was told ... drunken yells were drifting toward them;

"What are they? Quidditch hooligans?" Mr Granger asked. "Do you even get Quidditch hooligans?"

Hermione almost laughed. This was much worse than any type of hooligan behaviour she'd ever heard of.

"What's a hooligan?" Draco asked.

"A fan that behaves poorly," Hermione explained.

"Oh. No. That's not what that is," Draco muttered.

then came a burst of strong green light, which illuminated the scene.

"The killing curse?" Moody growled.

A crowd of wizards ... marching slowly across the field.

Lucius stared at his hands, his expression pained. It had been McNair's idea and he hadn't been able to see any way out of it.

Harry squinted at them ... their faces masked.

"Death eaters," Sirius muttered, pulling both his godsons into his side.

High above them ... contorted into grotesque shapes.

"What the...?" Mrs Granger began, looking uncertain. Why didn't Hermione or the Weasleys tell them about this?

It was as though the masked wizards ... Two of the figures were very small.

All four of Hermione's parents looked like they were going to vomit. Harry wondered how much worse they'd feel when they realised that the four people were muggles.

More wizards were joining the marching group ... The screaming grew louder.

"Disgusting behaviour," Augusta said.

The floating people were suddenly illuminated ... Mr. Roberts, the campsite manager.

A sudden realisation hit the Grangers. That group had attacked Mr Roberts. Was it because he was a muggle?

The other three looked as though they might be his wife and children.

"Oh, god!" Mrs Granger cried.

One of the marchers below ... hooted with glee.

"Disgusting," Mr Granger said, hugging his wife. "I hope they were arrested."

No one said anything. That was all the answer he needed.

"That's sick," ... "That is really sick. . . . "

Lucius had tears in his eyes and he couldn't meet anyone's eye. He wasn't proud of this. He didn't like muggles - he thought they were a danger - but that didn't mean he wanted to hurt children. The problem was that once you became a death eater, you had no way out. And some of the death eaters enjoyed that sort of thing. That's not to say he didn't have a vindictive side, he certainly did, but he didn't want to kill all muggles. Quite the opposite. He thought stunts like that actively risked the statute of secrecy and that concerned him just as much as Dumbledore and Lux's position on muggle relations.

Hermione and Ginny came hurrying toward them ... their wands out.

Kingsley nodded. At least they had a good number of adult wix to protect Harry and the other children.

"We're going to help the Ministry!" ... get into the woods, and stick together.

"WHAT?" The younger Mrs Weasley turned on her husband. "Absolutely not!"

And for once, everyone in the chamber agreed with her.

"You're leaving Harry Potter defenseless?" Kingsley demanded. "Not one of age wizard out of the four of you could stay?"

"Bill and Charlie don't even work for the ministry," Molly said crossly. "They could have stayed with the children."

Bill and Charlie looked like they wanted to argue but they actually thought their mum might be right. Someone should have stayed with the kids.

Mr Granger was livid. He was close to losing his cool and he usually prided himself on being able to master his temper. "We entrusted our daughter - our muggleborn daughter - into your care and you just abandoned her? Left her to protect herself?"

His wife was nodding her agreement. "That won't be happening again. Hermione will not be staying with your family again."

Sirius was tempted to say that Harry wouldn't either but he held his tongue. He'd done the same thing once. Going after Pettigrew. Except, he'd left Harry with an adult. Not alone. And all the rationalisation in the world wouldn't change the fact that Arthur had left his pup, his son, alone and defenseless. That wouldn't be easily forgiven.

Arthur looked between everyone and realised that he'd messed up. In the heat of the moment, he hadn't even considered the danger to the children. He'd thought they would be safe enough in the woods.

"We're talking about Harry Potter, Arthur," Kingsley said. "Anyone could have attacked him. And what's more you endangered the other children by leaving them all alone - especially with Harry."

"Hey!" Harry complained.

"It's not your fault, Harry," Kingsley said gently, "but anyone with you is in greater risk, just because they're by your side. You have a target the size of Hogwarts on your back. Especially if there are death eaters about."

I'll come and fetch you when we've sorted this out!"

No one said anything. They were too busy glaring at Arthur.

Bill, Charlie, and Percy were already sprinting away ... coming ever closer.

Sirius glared at Arthur once more before turning back to the book. "Better hurry up and get into the wood. Find somewhere safe and stay there."

"Under the circumstances, if you use magic it will be excused," Amelia said thoughtfully, "so you'd best all get your wands out."

She didn't say that she didn't think there was much a third year, three fourth years and two sixth years could do against death eaters.

"C'mon," ... George followed.

"Don't forget to stay together," Remus said, his eyes flashing amber.

They all looked back ... hooded wizards in the center,

"Stun the lot of them," Amelia growled. "The crowd are supporting the criminal actions of death eaters and impeding DMLE action. I'd arrest them for that."

"Please tell me someone set up anti-apparation wards," Tonks said. She could just imagine them all getting away.

but they were having great difficulty... might make the Roberts family fall.

Moody growled. There were ways of preventing that. Security was clearly too laxed.

The colored lanterns ... people whose faces he could not see.

"Any one of them could have kidnapped the prince," Kingsley said crossly.

Then he heard Ron yell with pain.

"What happened?" Mrs Weasley demanded anxiously.

"What happened?" ... Oh this is stupid - lumos!"

Moody nodded his consent. This was an emergency and the magic used was perfectly reasonable.

She illuminated her wand ... getting to his feet again.

Sirius and several others let out sighs of relief. Although they were short lived as it now meant one of them was potentially injured. Not ideal if they needed to run for their lives.

"Well, with feet that size, hard not to," ... looking utterly relaxed.

Narcissa glared at her son. He was not supposed to be there. He had told them he was going to stay at Theo's house. They would be having words about this.

His arms folded ... dared say in front of Mrs. Weasley.

Molly didn't look like she cared that her youngest son had just sworn. She was more interested in ensuring their safety.

"Language, Weasley," ... You wouldn't like her spotted, would you?"

Harry glanced at Draco. That almost sounded like a warning.

He nodded at Hermione ... lit the trees around them.

"With all those killing curses flying about," Kingsley said, "I'm surprised there wasn't any casualties."

"What's that supposed to mean?" ... and it would give us all a laugh. "

Several people glared at Draco. Lucius, however, was eyeing him with respect. A hidden warning. That might be the first sign of a true Slytherin Draco had ever offered.

"Hermione's a witch," ... stay where you are. "

Severus raised an eyebrow at his godson and he knew Draco knew they'd be having words.

"You watch your mouth!" ... he took a step toward Malfoy.

"Not the time for fighting," Moody growled. "The lad's right. It's not safe where you are."

"Where are the others?" Charlie asked, feeling responsible. He shouldn't have left them to go alone into the woods.

There came a bang ... trying to rescue the Muggles?"

Lucius sighed. Just when he thought Draco was showing some sense.

"Where're your parents?" ... would I, Potter?"

"For the record," Lucius sighed. "I was there. Narcissa wasn't. Draco was supposed to be at a friend's house. It was McNair's idea and he wouldn't really take no for an answer. He and Nott were drunk and... Well, they can't be reasoned with when sober. I'm sorry for my part in it, for what little it is worth. I didn't cast a single spell on the Roberts. But I did set a few tents alight."

"Why didn't you report it?" Hermione asked angrily.

"And say what?" Lucius asked. "Oh, sorry. You know when I lied and said I wasn't a death eater... yeah, well, I am. And some of my stupid death eater acquaintances are drunk and want to attack muggles tonight. That would see me in Azkaban quicker than you can say quidditch. And I'm not sure what would have been gained. The others would still be at large and they would have still attacked the muggles. And to be honest, if I'd even looked like I was going to turn on them, they'd have AK'd me before I had the chance to report them. As I said, nothing gained."

Hermione scowled at him.

"At least this way, I could cast cushioning charms below the Roberts whenever I feared they might fall," Lucius said softly. "I'm not trying to excuse my behaviour, but once you're a death eater - something many of us didn't have a choice in - there's no escaping."

"What do you mean you had no choice?" Ron asked angrily.

"My father," Lucius said, "he was friends - of sorts - with the Dark Lord in school. He insisted I take the mark. It was that or be disowned. And at that time, I had no idea what it actually meant. As I said before, his manifesto was sound. I never expected..."

"Oh come on," ... one of that masked lot!" said Ron hotly.

Ron glared at the book, feeling vindicated. Harry might be falling for this redeemed bullshit but Ron wasn't having any of it. Once a death eater, always a death eater, in his book.

"Well, with any luck, ... nowhere to be seen,

Arthur grimaced. They were supposed to stay together.

though the path was packed ... "'Ogwarts. "

Draco sneered. Why didn't the Weasleys know French. He thought all pure bloods knew French.

"Beauxbatons," ... An Appraisal of Magical Education in Europe. "

"Now is not the time," Moody growled.

"Oh ... I've lost my wand!"

"Buggering hell," Sirius groaned, accepting a calming draught from Severus.

"When did you last have it?" Tonks asked.

"You're kidding!" ... "Maybe it's back in the tent," said Ron.

"Doesn't matter now," Kingsley said. "What matters is that you're still too close to the edge of the woods. You need to move deeper in."

"Maybe it fell out ... "maybe. . . "

Kingsley felt like these books might give him a nervous breakdown. He was normally so calm and calculated. But seeing Harry constantly endangered like this was actually fraying his nerves.

He usually kept his wand ... made him feel very vulnerable.

"Understandable," Moody said, nodding. He'd have felt the same way."

A rustling noise nearby ... someone invisible were trying to hold her back.

"That's odd," Tonks murmured.

"There is bad wizards about!" ... Winky is getting out of the way!"

Barty suddenly sat a little taller. Was he with Winky? But that can't be. His dad hadn't let him out of the house in... well, ever.

And she disappeared ... "Why can't she run properly?"

"Good question," Moody muttered. He'd seen house elves when they broke their master's orders and it didn't look like that. Close but not quite.

"Bet she didn't ask permission to hide," ... start beating himself up.

That was more like it, Moody thought. Punishment. Whatever that looked like for the family the elf belonged to.

"You know, house-elves get a very raw deal!" ... "It's slavery, that's what it is!

"No. It's not," Rookwood said. "At least, for most it isn't. You'll get some that are badly treated. But most house elves are family. My family elves even ate with us when I was growing up. They weren't paid but everything they could possibly need was provided for them and if they wanted something, they knew they only needed to ask for it. Father insisted on regular appointments with the elves to ensure they were still happy with their situation and to find out if there was anything he could do for them."

That Mr. Crouch made her go up ... Why doesn't anyone do something about it?"

"That's speculation," Moody growled. "I don't like Crouch but we don't know he bewitched the elf."

Hermione looked mutinous. Why didn't they understand that it was wrong to keep elves as slaves?

"The bond between family and elf is the only thing keeping them alive and sane," Neville said. "Sure, I think everyone in this chamber would agree there should be greater protections but that bond is not a slavery bond."

"How can you say that?" Hermione demanded.

"Because I've performed the ritual," Neville said seriously. "I am Heir Longbottom and master of the Longbottom elves. I had to perform the ritual to bond with them when I was eleven. Their bond with my father was too weak to sustain them. Nowhere in the oath I took, or the oaths my elves took, did it demand enslavement."

"What was the ritual?" Hermione asked. She hadn't found anything about a ritual in the library.

"It's a spoken oath," Neville said with a sigh. "I vowed to protect them, cherish them, treat them as kin and they vowed to honour me and mine and treat us as kin. That's all. Technically, they don't even have to work. That's a choice. They choose to serve because it is how they choose to honour their wixen kin. Just the same way they would choose to show their elven kin their love through acts of service. There are those that will break their oaths and treat house elves poorly but to do so is a sin against Mother Magic. She gave us the elves to protect."

Lucius nodded his agreement. He couldn't have put it better himself.

Amos frowned. He actually couldn't believe he was about to say this. But it was the truth, even if he didn't like it. "I will say that you tend to see more light wix break their oaths to their elves than dark wix. Dark wix seem to respect their oaths better than their light counterparts. I am pleased to see that you are an exception, Heir Longbottom."

Neville blushed heavily at the praise.

"Well, the elves are happy, aren't they?" ... that's what she likes, being bossed around... "

Harry and Neville both sighed. That was not a good argument. It was no wonder Hermione got on her high horse sometimes.

"It's people like you, Ron," ... just because they're too lazy to -"

Ron glared at her. "I'm not lazy! Just because I don't agree that all elves need to be freed."

Another loud bang echoed from the edge of the wood.

"This really isn't the time to argue about elf rights," Remus sighed.

"Let's just keep moving, shall we?" ... Hermione was in more danger than they were.

"I'd say you're both in significant danger," Tonks said.

They set off again ... unperturbed by the trouble at the campsite.

"Goblins rarely interest themselves in wixen issues," young Bill said.

Farther still along the path ... Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures. "

"Dragon killer?" Amos laughed. "We don't hire dragon killers. If we find a dragon, we call in one of the reserves to take it off our hands."

"No, you're not!" ... but I'm a vampire hunter, I've killed about ninety so far -"

"Ridiculous," Hermione muttered.

Fleur laughed. "I vould really love to see how you would handle a male veela, Hermione."

"Male veela don't exist," Hermione said crossly, folding her hands.

Fleur sighed. Why would Hermione argue with her about Veela. Obviously, she knew more about them as she was part Veela herself. "Of course, they do. They are just very rare. And highly protected by veela kind."

"Which is why you should not be talking about them Fleur," her grandmother chastised.

"Je suis désolée," Fleur said, suddenly abashed.

A third young wizard ... youngest ever Minister of Magic, I am. "

This got several rounds of laughter, easing some of the tension in the main chamber.

Harry snorted with laughter... a broomstick that'll reach Jupiter?"

Ron's ears went pink but he had to admit that would be amazing.

"Honestly!" ... everything was much quieter.

"Good," Tonks said. "You should be safe there."

"But don't let your guard down," Moody growled.

Harry looked around...  We'll hear anyone coming a mile off. "

Moody nodded his agreement. That was a reasonable assessment.

The words were hardly out of his mouth ... "What are you doing in here, all alone?"

"What's he up to?" Moody asked, eyeing the book suspiciously.

They looked at one another ... got hold of a family of Muggles... "

"Didn't he know?" Fleur asked.

Bagman swore loudly...  he Disapparated with a small pop!

"I guess that answers the question about anti-apparation wards," Tonks muttered.

"Not exactly on top of things ... while he was with them. "

"That doesn't excuse his incompetence as a ministry official," Hermione said sharply.

"Didn't say it did," Ron said, raising his hands in surrender.

He took his small figure of Krum out of his pocket ... perhaps the riot was over.

"Doubtful," Amelia murmured. "It didn't sound like the DMLE were leading the operation to extract the muggles."

"I hope the others are okay," ... he'd like to get something on him. "

Arthur and Lucius both grimaced. They'd really done a number on these kids with their dislike for one another.

"That'd wipe the smirk off ... "They'll find a way. "

Hermione's parents didn't look convinced.

"Mad, though, to do something like that ... they've been drinking, or are they just -"

"They're not scared of Fudge's ministry," Lucius said. "But yes, alcohol played a part too."

But she broke off abruptly ... But the footsteps came to a sudden halt.

"Get low to the ground," Moody growled, "and train your wands on where the sound came from."

"Hello?" called Harry.

"Don't do that!" Moody shouted.

There was silence... standing just beyond the range of his vision.

"Don't go towards the danger, pup," Sirius groaned. "You don't even have a wand."

"Who's there?" ... "MORSMORDRE!"

Severus's eyes widened as did Lucius's. Everyone else frowned. They didn't know that spell.

And something vast, green, ... it flew up over the treetops and into the sky.

"Do you know we never did learn what the spell for the dark mark was in the first war," Amelia said thoughtfully.

"You three need to get out of there and fast," Sirius said, gripping his godsons tightly.

"What the -?" ... its mouth like a tongue.

"I'm guessing that is bad," young Mrs Granger said to her husband.

As they watched, ... like a new constellation.

"Don't just stand there," Sirius said, sounding panicked.

Suddenly, the wood all around them erupted with screams... but he couldn't see anyone.

"Never mind that now," Moody said. "You need to leave."

"They've just witnessed a crime," Amelia countered. "They can't just leave."

"They're about to be blamed for that crime, Amelia."

"Who's there?" ...  "You-Know-Who's sign!"

A couple of the younger ones screamed. They hadn't known that.

"Voldemort's - ?" ... surrounding them.

"Great and in the meantime, the deatheaters at the camp site will all get away," Amelia said bitterly.

Harry whirled around ... "DUCK!"

Moody nodded. The boy had good instincts.

He seized the other two and pulled them down onto the ground.

And quick reflexes, Moody thought.