Before Harry could react, Augusta conjured a slab of rock in front of her grandson. The rock shattered sending chips everywhere and one nicked Neville's forehead despite his hastily flinging his arms up in front of his face.
The Auror snarled and gestured towards Bill. "One Weasley down! Tick-tock, tick-tock." He wagged his finger. "Time's running out for the rest of them!" He laughed and ran out.
For a second, there was silence.
"Drop the bloody shield!" demanded Ron, heatedly.
Harry dropped the shield hastily.
Ron ran to his brother along with Alicia Doge.
Harry glanced across the tent but went to check on Minerva. Narcissa hurried over with him.
"She's breathing." Narcissa said with relief. "She's just knocked out."
Harry swallowed hard. He noticed Jeremy hovering and gestured at him. "Someone needs to go and find a real Auror."
"I'll go." Jeremy agreed instantly.
"I'll go with him," Susan offered, "Uncle Rufus will listen to me because of my Aunt."
Harry nodded and the pair left quickly.
"I'll take care of Minerva, Harry." Narcissa promised, shooing him away.
He went over to Ron who stood over his brother as Alicia's wand worked to save him. "How is he?"
"Bad. Alicia says…says it's really bad." Ron grabbed Harry's arm; his blue eyes wide with horror and fear. "Harry, that maniac said time was running out for the rest of my family! I have to go and check on them! Warn them!"
"Ron, we should wait for the Aurors! They'll check everyone's OK! We can't just run out…it's not safe." Hermione countered.
Harry knew Hermione was right. Following after their attacker to check on the Weasleys was probably what the guy wanted. But he was torn. He didn't want any more of the Weasleys to be hurt and didn't he owe it to Bill and Ron to make sure they were OK?
"Please, Harry!" Ron begged him.
Harry took a look around the tent; most people, surprisingly Nott and Zabini among them, were focused on comforting the younger children; Narcissa and Karen were taking care of Minerva; Alicia was healing Bill; Augusta was handling Neville's cut face…
"OK, Ron," Harry said, beginning to move towards the exit.
"Wait!" ordered Hermione desperately, grabbing hold of his and Ron's arms. "You can't just leave!"
"Either come with us or get out of the way!" Ron snapped. He tore out of her grip and ran out.
Harry gave her an apologetic look, slipped out of her hold, and followed after Ron.
The smell of smoke hit him as he ran out into the fresh air. He wrinkled his nose and charged after Ron, his best friend's signature hair allowing him to track him as they ran through the rows of tents to get to the Weasleys. They dodged around people leaving, people staring at the alight stadium which blazed like a beacon as the sun went down.
Ron stopped abruptly at the outer edge of the campsite and when Harry caught up with him, Ron tugged him towards the trees.
"We can cut through here!" Ron said.
"Ron…" panted Harry, wanting to protest but Ron was already off and running again.
Harry ran. His breaths sounded harshly in his ears; the trees seemed foreboding in the fading light. He raised his hands against the backslap of branches that flew into his face; he leaped over fallen logs and stumps, felt the brush of nettles and blackberry bushes grab at his jeans; felt the wind against his face.
Ron curved to the left and Harry followed him, wand in his hand and almost barrelled into Ron who'd come to a complete stop.
Harry was about to ask why the flash of a spell had him ducking and yanking Ron down and to the side. He peeped over the bush he'd flung them behind and stared in horror at the two figures in black, their faces obscured with white masks, dangling a muggle family in the air…
o-O-o
Sirius swore under his breath as another flame shot out of the stadium wall and sent debris flying towards the team of volunteers.
Bugger, bugger, bugger, thought Sirius madly. Why couldn't the damn fire go out? No matter how much water they threw at it, the fire continued to rage. They needed a Magical Fire Unit and Sirius was furious that there wasn't one on hand. How stupid was Bagman to authorise the building of a stadium without ensuring fire safety? The man was an idiot.
An idiot who would be fired if Sirius got his way.
"Send more water over the top!" Sirius ordered. He shook off his dismay that he was the only one of the volunteers who'd experienced a magical fire before and so had landed himself with being put in charge.
Rufus had pointed out that Sirius was the only one with the proper training – he had been a Hit Wizard and knew the protocols. The Aurors were busy trying to handle the main fire at the East stand and Sirius hadn't been able to refuse.
He should never have left the bloody tent, Sirius sighed as he directed Richard Bones and Carl Branstone to take a step back.
Another small explosion sounded to his left and Sirius yelled for everyone to shield. The stadium wall cracked ominously as the magical fire raced along it, sparking yellow and red flames that danced in Sirius's vision.
"Where the hell is that bloody Fire Unit?" asked Richard wearily. His face was damp with sweat and streaked with soot. Sirius knew he must look the same.
"There are anti-transport wards up." Sirius said shortly. Remus had gone to track down the source and disable them; Sirius missed Remus's stalwart presence beside him. "They should be here soon. Keep the water above the crack in the wall."
Rufus's last patronus had indicated that the stadium fire was probably a diversion for other activities. Sirius knew setting fires had been the LeStranges diversionary tactic during the war. Maybe the Death Eaters had decided to copy or imitate them as a sign of their anger at their former colleagues' deaths.
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