Ed could see that Al was angry. He was way too silent and still in his actions, almost like he had gone back to the days when his body didn’t show any emotions. Ed couldn’t fault him. He too was disgusted at the way those wizards had handled this whole farce.

“What’s going to happen to Winky?” said Hermione, the moment they had left the clearing.

“I don’t know,” said Mr. Weasley.

“The way they were treating her!” said Hermione furiously. “Mr. Diggory, calling her ‘elf’ all the time… and Mr. Crouch! He knows she didn’t do it, and he’s still going to sack her! He didn’t care how frightened she’d been, or how upset she was - it was like she wasn’t even human!”

“Well, she’s not,” said Ron.

Hermione rounded on him but before she could yell at him Al had already started.

“That does not mean she doesn’t have feelings. What, so she looks different you can treat her anyway you want? Is that it?” he screamed, scaring Ron and even the others. Between the brothers Al seemed the mild one, so to hear him scream was a scary experience.

“Alphonse, Hermione, I agree with you,” said Mr. Weasley quickly, beckoning both of them on, “but now is not the time to discuss elf rights. I want to get back to the tent as fast as we can. What happened to the others?”

“They’re safe in the woods. I think Charlie and Bill went to go get them.” Ed said. “Mr. Weasley, why was everyone so uptight about that green skull?”

“I’ll explain everything back at the tent,” said Mr. Weasley tensely.

After somewhat comforting the crowd of panicked wizards waiting for them outside the woods, Mr. Weasley led them through the crowd and back into the campsite. All was quiet now; there was no sign of the masked wizards, though several ruined tents were still smoking. Charlie’s head was poking out of the boys’ tent.

“Dad, what’s going on?” he called through the dark. “Fred, George, and Ginny got back okay, but the others — ”

“I’ve got them here,” said Mr. Weasley, bending down and entering the tent, everyone following after him.

Bill was sitting at the small kitchen table, holding a bedsheet to his arm, which was bleeding profusely. Charlie had a large rip in his shirt, and Percy was sporting a bloody nose. Fred, George, and Ginny looked unhurt, though shaken.

“Did you get them, Dad?” said Bill sharply. “The person who conjured the Mark?”

“No,” said Mr. Weasley. “We found Barty Crouch’s elf holding Harry’s wand, but we’re none the wiser about who actually conjured the Mark.”

“What?” said Bill, Charlie, and Percy together.

“Harry’s wand?” said Fred.

“Mr. Crouch’s elf?” said Percy, sounding thunderstruck.

With some help from Harry, Ron, and Hermione, Mr. Weasley explained what had happened in the woods. Ed listened to their side, filling in the missing pieces. By the time he and his brother had come to the clearing, they were already blaming the elf for everything. When they had finished their story, Percy swelled indignantly.

“Well, Mr. Crouch is quite right to get rid of an elf like that!” he said. “Running away when he’d expressly told her not to… embarrassing him in front of the whole Ministry… how would that have looked, if she’d been brought up in front of the Department for the Regulation and Control-”

“She didn’t do anything - she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time!” Hermione snapped at Percy, who looked very taken aback. Considering all that Ed knew about the girl, he figured she usually took Percy’s side rather than the others.

“Hermione, a wizard in Mr. Crouch’s position can’t afford a house-elf who’s going to run amok with a wand!” said Percy pompously, recovering himself.

“That doesn’t give him the right to treat another life like that.” Al said darkly. The ones who weren’t there during the blame game looked shocked at the usually mild boy.

“Besides, she didn’t run amok!” shouted Hermione. “She just picked it up off the ground!”

“Look, can someone just explain what that skull thing was?” said Ron impatiently. “It wasn’t hurting anyone… Why’s it such a big deal?” Secretly Ed agreed with him but he didn’t say that out loud. He didn’t like that he didn’t know something about his mission. Colonel Bastard was going to have some words from him.

“I told you, it’s You-Know-Who’s symbol, Ron,” said Hermione, before anyone else could answer. “I read about it in The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts.”

“And it hasn’t been seen for thirteen years,” said Mr. Weasley quietly. “Of course people panicked… it was almost like seeing You-Know-Who back again.”

“I don’t get it,” said Ron, frowning. “I mean… it’s still only a shape in the sky…”

“Ron, You-Know-Who and his followers sent the Dark Mark into the air whenever they killed,” said Mr. Weasley. “The terror it inspired… you have no idea, you’re too young. Just picture coming home and finding the Dark Mark hovering over your house, and knowing what you’re about to find inside…” Mr. Weasley winced. “Everyone’s worst fear… the very worst…”

There was silence for a moment. Then Bill, removing the sheet from his arm to check on his cut, said, “Well, it didn’t help us tonight, whoever conjured it. It scared the Death Eaters away the moment they saw it. They all Disapparated before we’d got near enough to unmask any of them. Ed and Al had taken care of them, so we let our guard down. At least the Robertses are safe.”

“Death Eaters?” said Harry. “What are Death Eaters?”

“It’s what You-Know-Who’s supporters called themselves,” said Bill. “I think we saw what’s left of them tonight - the ones who managed to keep themselves out of Azkaban, anyway.”

“We can’t prove it was them, Bill,” said Mr. Weasley. “Though it probably was,” he added hopelessly.

“Yeah, I bet it was!” said Ron suddenly. “Dad, we met Draco Malfoy in the woods, and he as good as told us his dad was one of those nutters in masks! And we all know the Malfoys were right in with You-Know-Who!”

“But what were Voldemort’s supporters-” Harry began. Every body flinched and the Amestrian trio looked alarmed at that. Why was there such a visceral reaction to that name? “Sorry,” said Harry quickly. “What were You-Know-Who’s supporters up to, levitating Muggles? I mean, what was the point?”

“The point?” said Mr. Weasley with a hollow laugh. “Harry, that’s their idea of fun. Half the Muggle killings back when You-Know-Who was in power were done for fun. I suppose they had a few drinks tonight and couldn’t resist reminding us all that lots of them are still at large. A nice little reunion for them,” he finished disgustedly.

“Wait, so this you know who guy is Moldywart or something?” Ed asked suddenly. Now it made sense. Colonel Bastard had given him the information. The data just didn’t sink up with the current scenario.

His butchering of the guy’s name caused everyone except Harry and the Amestrian trio to flinch. He did notice the slight smirk on the twins' face though.

“Edward, I understand you don’t understand the history of our community, but please do not take it lightly.” Mr. Weasley said his tone disappointed. But that doesn’t stop Ed.

“It’s a name. You’re fearing a name.” he deadpanned, but Winry’s hand on his knee stopped him from saying too much.

“What I don’t understand is if they were the Death Eaters, why did they Disapparate when they saw the Dark Mark?” said Ron. “They’d have been pleased to see it, wouldn’t they?”

“Use your brains, Ron,” said Bill. “If they really were Death Eaters, they worked very hard to keep out of Azkaban when You-Know-Who lost power, and told all sorts of lies about him forcing them to kill and torture people. I bet they’d be even more frightened than the rest of us to see him come back. They denied they’d ever been involved with him when he lost his powers and went back to their daily lives... I don’t reckon he’d be over-pleased with them, do you?”

“So… whoever conjured the Dark Mark…” said Hermione slowly, “were they doing it to show support for the Death Eaters, or to scare them away?”

“Your guess is as good as ours, Hermione,” said Mr. Weasley. "But I’ll tell you this… it was only the Death Eaters who ever knew how to conjure it. I’d be very surprised if the person who did it hadn’t been a Death Eater once, even if they’re not now…”

Ed raised an eyebrow at that. Doesn’t that basically mean it was a Dead Eater?

“Listen, it’s very late, and if your mother hears what’s happened, she’ll be worried sick. We’ll get a few more hours sleep and then try and get an early Portkey out of here.” Mr. Weasley said taking the three girls back to their tent.

Ed got into his bunk with all the information, old and new. The enemy this time is a mass-murdering wizard with a ridiculous name. His name itself seemed to bring fear to the wizarding community. 'Have to check on that.'

His followers are numerous but very easy to take down. No, they were easy to take down this time because of the surprise of an unusual fighting technique and the fact that this attack could have just been a drunken choice of twisted “fun”.

There are people in the Ministry of Magic who have eyes on him. Mr. Malfoy’s interest in him was proof of that. Whatever Fuhrer had told these wizards had made him a man of importance here, too. ‘Might have use for that.'

The restlessness was still felt in the tent, even after his mental assessment. He finally closed his eyes, making a note to write to Mustang soon.

I know it's been a while but I did say I might be slow from now on. I'll try my best to update fast.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Bye!