Chapter 177
Harry sprang to his feet the moment he heard Albert's alarmed shout, his voice trembling with both fear and confusion.
"What? What did you just say really?!"
Mr. Weasley hurriedly pulled his jeans over his pajamas and demanded,
"Where are they, Albert? Are you sure they're Death Eaters?!"
He grabbed Albert's shoulder tightly, panic creeping into his tone as he questioned him again.
Albert seized Mr. Weasley's wrist and replied tensely,
"If not them then who else could it be?!"
He pointed toward the outside of the tent, and both men turned to see a chilling sight: a group of wizards marching together slowly, their wands raised high. When Mr. Weasley tried to get a better look, he realized their faces were hidden behind masks and hoods. Above them, floating helplessly, were people suspended in midair
It looked as though those masked wizards were controlling the floating victims like puppets on invisible strings.
That was all the confirmation Mr. Weasley needed. His expression hardened.
"They really are his followers! Come on quickly, get out of here!"
Ginny and Hermione came rushing out, wearing coats thrown hastily over their pajamas, with Mrs. Weasley following close behind. At that same moment, Bill, Charlie, and Percy burst out of the boys' tent, already fully dressed.
Mr. Weasley barked, "We'll help the Ministry get to the forest, all of you! Stay together, and I'll join you once this is over!"
More and more wizards were joining the masked procession, laughing and pointing at the floating bodies. As they advanced, some flicked their wands at the tents in their way sending canvas bursting into flames. Screams echoed across the camp.
Bill, Charlie, and Percy were already sprinting toward the chaos, and Mr. Weasley followed after them. Harry could see Ministry wizards rushing in from every direction.
Ginny clutched Fred's arm, dragging him toward the forest, with Harry, Ron, Hermione, and George following close behind. When they reached the edge of the woods, they looked back and saw Albert darting between the tents, toward the people.
Hermione's breath caught. Albert was heading straight for the masked wizards.
He was running toward danger.
Fear gripped her. Without thinking, she broke into a run in his direction.
But Ron and Harry caught her before she could get far, tackling her to the ground.
"Where do you think you're going?!" Ron demanded. "Can't you see everyone's running away from there?!"
Hermione pushed herself up, furious. "Didn't you see Albert? He's heading straight into danger! What if something happens to him?!"
Harry spoke quickly, trying to steady her. "Don't worry about Albert he can take care of himself! You know he's the most capable of us all!"
Even though Hermione heard those words, a heavy dread lingered in her chest. Something felt wrong terribly wrong.
Meanwhile, Albert was weaving between the tents, drawn by the sound of a child's scream. He followed it until he reached the source and froze.
It was the same blonde girl he had met not long ago. She was crying, cornered and trembling.
Above them, the night sky glowed with a monstrous green skull, a serpent slithering from its mouth the Dark Mark. Its sickly green light bathed the forest in horror.
But what shocked Albert even more was the man standing before the girl, wand raised at her face.
"Silence!" the stranger snarled. "Your screaming is unbearable!"
Albert's eyes widened. The man's voice he recognized it.
It was Barty Crouch Jr.
Elsewhere, Mr. Weasley was still helping trapped families escape from their burning tents as the masked mob spread terror through the camp.
Fortunately, the Ministry arrived in force. The Death Eaters scattered almost immediately, vanishing into the darkness.
Mr. Weasley and Mr. Crouch Sr. managed to capture one of the masked attackers. They dragged him aside for questioning, but the man refused to speak not even his name.
When words failed, Mr. Crouch raised his wand and muttered a spell to probe the man's mind.
But the moment the spell connected
The captive's head exploded.
A burst of blood and gore sprayed across both Mr. Weasley and Mr. Crouch's robes.
They stood stunned, barely able to process what had just happened when a new sound reached their ears.
From somewhere nearby came the distinct crack and flash of spells two people dueling in the night.
The Ministry wizards turned toward the sound at once.
Someone was fighting someone was defending themselves.
And with that realization, they sprinted toward the flashes of light.
To be continued...