Brighter Than the Sun

Chapter Thirty-Seven

"Don't tell your mother you've been gambling," Mr. Weasley told Fred and George as we all made our way slowly down the purple-carpeted stairs.

"Don't worry, Dad," said Fred gleefully, "we've got big plans for this money. We don't want it confiscated. "

Mr. Weasley looked as though he was going to ask what these big plans were, but seemed to decide, upon reflection, that he didn't want to know.

Soon we were caught up in the crowds now flooding out of the stadium and back to the campsites. I could hear loud singing as we retraced our steps along the lantern-lit path. Leprechauns kept shooting over our heads, cackling and waving their lanterns.

When we finally reached the tents, nobody felt like sleeping at all, and given the level of noise around us, Mr. Weasley agreed that we could all have one last cup of cocoa together before turning in.

"There's no one like Krum!" Ron declared. His wide-eyed face looked at each of us as if imploring us to agree with him. I was pretty sure he'd found a way to get drunk on hot chocolate, and this was what it looked like. I couldn't stop snickering at the sight of him. "He's like a bird the way he rides the wind!"

"Pshaw," I scoffed.

"He's more than an athlete!" Ron insisted. "He's an artist."

"I think you're in love, Ron," Ginny announced, looking extremely amused.

"Shut up!"

Fred swooned dramatically. "Viktor, I love you!" He crooned.

"Viktor, I do!" said George, joining in.

"When we're apart, my heart beats only for you!" I sang, with Harry and the twins.

"Hermione, I bet none of our redheaded friends have listened to real Muggle music," I said. "We have to introduce them to modern rock. I'm talking Queen. I'm talking Rolling Stones. And nobody should have to live life without listening to Journey or Bon Jovi."

"I literally have no idea what you're talking about," said Fred.

"Well, that's good," I said. "If you figuratively had no idea what I'm talking about, I couldn't help you. Now, where's the radio?"

While I blasted the classic stuff like "We Will Rock You" and "Living On a Prayer," Mr. Weasley got drawn into a disagreement about cobbing with Charlie, and it was only when Ginny fell asleep right at the tiny table and spilled hot chocolate all over the floor that Mr. Weasley called a halt to the verbal replays and mutual jamming and insisted that everyone go to bed. I went with Hermione and Ginny into the next tent.

Once I lay down, the events of the night set in and I got extremely tired. It wasn't hard after that to fall asleep, dreaming about what it would be like to one day join one of the national Quidditch teams and win glory and fame for my team at the World Cup.

"You fight well for a girl." Atlas laughed. "But you are no match for me."

I looked around for Percy and found him being crushed under the weight of the sky. Thalia and Luke battle spear-on-sword to one side. The sight made my heart ache.

I was growing more and more certain that this was what the future held, but I still didn't know why I was seeing these things. Maybe there was still a chance for me to change it.

I watched as Atlas feinted with the tip of his javelin and Artemis dodged. I saw the trick coming. Atlas's javelin swept around and knocked Artemis's legs off the ground. She fell, and Atlas brought up his javelin tip for the kill.