The Fifth Champion, Harry Potter Year 4

9. The Dark Mark

Lilly's POV
Mr. Weasley implored to Fred and George, "Don't tell your mother you've been gambling!"
Fred said gleefully, "Don't worry dad, we've got big plans for this money. We don't want it confiscated."
As we walked back I ran up the hill and looked at the tents everywhere. I smiled gleefully and said to everyone, "Let's take a picture!!!"
They all smiled and it was a picture of all of us with the tents in the background. It was magical and no one could take that moment away from me... We got back to the tent and I got in full uniform before Arthur came back. I was in my Ministry robes. Then, right on time, Arthur came bursting in and we all had to leave. Mr. Weasley said to everyone, "We're going to help the Ministry, you lot, get to the woods and stick together!"
I said to Fred, "Stay safe!" I flew towards the oncoming marchers and fought like never before!
Then later on, I saw Harry, Hermione and Ron, Harry yelled duck and Arthur yelled, "Stop! STOP! That's my son!"
He went up to them and made sure they were all right. Then Barty went up to them and they found Winky and Mr. Diggory mistreated Winky and I stepped up and said, "She broke a law yes, but that doesn't give you the right to abuse her, if you abuse her so much she won't talk, so as the best investigator at the Ministry I suggest you kindly back off, Amos, and let me do the talking." My stare was cold, I don't like people being mistreated, or anyone really. He backed up with a flash of fear in his eyes. I went to Winky kindly and asked, "Now sweetie, you were discover under the Dark Mark, how did that happen?" She was a stuttering mess until Harry recognized the wand, it was his!
Amos said, "Excuse me?"
To Harry and Harry replied, "That's my wand! I dropped it!"
Amos replied, "You dropped it? Is this a confession? You threw it aside after you conjured the Mark?"
Mr. Weasley said very angrily, "Amos, think who you're talking to! Is Harry Potter likely to conjured the Dark Mark?"
"Er -- of course not," mumbled Amos, "Sorry... carried away..." Amos still tried to blame Winky, Hermionie tried to defend her, and Amos said it was Winky...
Mr. Weasley said very loudly, "Amos, think about it... precious few wizards know how to do that spell... Where would she have learned it?"
Amos said, "Lilly could have done it! Why else would she have defended the creature?"
I was furious! I grabbed his collar and shouted in his face, "Because, you blimin' idiot, she didn't do it, you abused her, and if I hear one more stupid word out of your mouth that has to do with questioning me and my loyalties I will personally hex you!"
Mr. Crouch said, "Perhaps Amos is suggesting that I routinely teach me servants to conjure the Dark Mark?" Amos uncomfortably replied no and Mr. Crouch barked back, "You have now come very close to accusing the three people in this clearing who are least likely to conjure that Mark! Harry Potter, Lilly Black, and myself! I suppose you are familiar with the boy's story, Amos?"
Amos said, "Everyone knows..."
Mr. Crouch said sternly, "Lilly Black, our top auror, had singlehandedly put majority of the people in Azkaban now, in there over her time in the Ministry! Do you not remember that?" He shook his head and Barty shouted with his eyes bulging, "And I trust you remember the many proofs I have given, over a long career, that I despise and detest the Dark Arts and those who practice them?"
Amos muttering with his face red, "Mr. Crouch, I - I never suggested you had anything to do with it!"
"If you accuse my elf, you accuse me, Diggory!" shouted Mr. Crouch. "Where else would she have learned to conjure it?"
"She- she might've picked it up anywhere-"
Mr. Weasley said, "Percisely, Amos, she might have picked it up anywhere... Winky? Where exactly did you find Harry's wand?"
She found it in the trees and Mr. Weasley continued. "You see, Amos? Whoever conjured the Mark could have Disapparated right after they'd done it, leaving Harry's want behind. A clever thing to do, not using their own wand, which could have betray them. And Winky here had the misfortune to come across the wand moments later and pick it up."
I said, "Let's see for sure, Winky, I need you to take both of my hands and stare into my eyes. I need to look at your past ten minutes." I knelt down and our faces went slack. Meanwhile Mr. Diggory suggest that she saw someone and I said, "She didn't see anyone! She happened to pick up a wand because she was dragging her feet and she kicked it and picked it up."
Mr. Crouch replied curtly, "Amos, I am fully aware that, in ordinary course of events, you would want to take Winky into your department for questioning. I asked you, however to allow me to deal with her."
Amos wanted a punishment and Winky was getting clothes. She was being set free and Hermionie didn't like it.

We went back to the tent in silence, Charlie poked his head out of the tent and said, "Dad, what's going on? Fred, George, and Ginny got back okay, but the others-"
Mr. Weasley replied, "I've got them here." Mr. Weasley explain what happened while I attended to the boys, Charlie had a big rip in his shirt, Bill was bleeding badly, and Percy had a bloody nose. I fixed up Bill's wound as Hermionie and Percy had an argument. I said to Bill, "This is really going to sting, so try to relax, just a tiny bit..." He nodded and I brought out my special healing paste, it will fix the wound to make it a flesh wound... His knuckles turned white and then I brought some water over to try to ease the pain. After about five more seconds he was almost fully healed. I put a bandage over it and said, "I'll tend to it in the morning..." He said, "Thank you..." I smiled and then looked at Charlie and then Percy last, once he stopped talking. Mr. Weasley explained the Dark Mark and why the Muggles were levitated into the air...
I sighed and muttered, "Why can't things just be normal?"
Arthur made everyone go to bed and made sure that everyone could sleep. I just sat at the tent's entrance just looking up at the stars wishing tonight could have just been like the photograph after the match. Happy...

Thanks for reading! Vote please! :)
-Lilly :)