CHAPTER FIVE ─── ❛ portkeys ❜

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𝕿he Dark Mark stared down at them, twisting and writhing in the dark sky. Madge didn't know why, but one part of her expected it to hiss or something, yet it didn't. It just watched and curled, and that made it all the more terrifying.

Faintly, she was aware of Charlie helping her to stand, but her knees gave out, and she fell once more, terror building in her. She may be sixteen, almost seventeen, but all she wanted right now was her mum and dad. 

"Madge." Charlie's voice sounded louder as he held her tightly. He shook her shoulders once more, as Madge's eyes finally focused on him. Her hands trembled, the adrenaline not having worn off, but she managed to nod as best she could. "Hey, you're alright. We're alright, see?"

Charlie pulled her prone form off the floor like she weighed nothing, his hands tentatively hovering near her waist as he set her down.

"Are you alright to apparate?" He asked, as Madge swayed from side to side, still staring at the Dark Mark. Charlie, who was terrified for his siblings and dad, didn't seem to get angry at her lack of response, instead, moving to block the Dark Mark from her vision. Soon, she could not see the night sky, just auburn hair, bright eyes and a nervous grin. "How's your ankle? We can wait for a couple more minutes or go now. Up to you."

"I-" Madge struggled to find her voice, becoming aware that it was freezing and they were in the middle of the forest. "Yeah, sorry, I'm fine. No pain."

"No need to apologise." Charlie grinned. "I'm glad you're alright. Want to go now?"

"Sure." Madge hooked her arm through Charlie's, holding on tightly and screwing her eyes closed as Charlie did one final check and apparated away. The twisting and turning of apparating pulled at her stomach, and she clutched onto Charlie's hand even tighter to try and ground herself.

It finally came to a stop, as Madge took a deep breath of cold air and tried to regain her balance. Charlie caught her quickly, rubbing his hand up and down her back as a hill came into view.

"You're alright." Charlie soothed, before grinning. "You know, when I first apparated, I landed on an elderly muggle woman. Gave her quite a fright."

"You did what?" That drew Madge's focus away as she stared up at the taller man. "Wh-I have questions."

"I don't have answers." Charlie replied, leading her up the hill, towards where their portkey had been. "One minute, Hogwart's hall, next minute, elderly lady's lap."

"And I trusted you to apparate me just now?"

"Harsh." Charlie pretended to wince, shaking his head. "I'll have you know, I'm quite adept at apparating now. How'd you think I get around the dragon sanctuary?"

"On dragon back?"

"Good guess, but no. I value my limbs and life." Charlie managed to get Madge to laugh, a broad grin appearing on his face at the achievement. "Look, there are the others." 

Sure enough, the summit of the hill was coming into view and on the top, were five other ginger haired people, all huddled around each other as they watched and waited.

"Charlie! Madge!" Looking up, Madge barely had time to let go of Charlie before the twins came barrelling down the hill, slamming into her. They clung on tightly, asking her if she was alright, looking for injuries as Madge did the same to them.

"Are you alright?" Fred pulled back, eyes wide. "We couldn't find you. We thought we lost you."

"Well, Fred did. I knew that Charlie would find you." George corrected, keeping a protective arm around her shoulders as he lead her back up the hill towards the others. 

Most of the time, the boys rarely acted like either of their parents, but there were times where their inner-Molly came out. It was sweet.

"I tripped over a guide rope." Madge admitted, motioning to her ankle. Immediately the twins both began to check it, talking in hushed tones. "Charlie's already healed it."

"I am capable of that." Charlie brushed past the trio, holding Ginny in his arms like she weighed nothing. "Work at a dragon sanctuary, remember?"

The twins stuck their tongue out at the man, before hugging Madge again.

"Next time, we'll go with you."

"Or one of us will go."

"We won't ask you to do it again." They swapped who spoke each sentence as Madge squeezed them tighter. They reached the top, as Bill finished hugging his brother to pull Madge into a tight hug.

"You alright?"

"I'm good." Her voice was muffled by his coat, before he released her and let Ginny give her a hug.

"She twisted her ankle, but otherwise all okay." Charlie was telling Arthur and Bill in hushed tones. "We got out quickly but if I hadn't of turned up in time..."

He trailed off, as Madge remembered the glint of the Death Eater's mask, the wand pointed in her face.

"...I don't know what would have happened." Madge's head tilted down as Fred grabbed her hand and squeezed.

"I'm glad you're safe." George muttered, both twins sitting on either side of her like a protective barrier. "We were worried."

"For little old me?"

"Absolutely." Fred confirmed.

"Were Harry, Hermione and Ron not with you?" Charlie and Madge's eyebrows furrowed, both looking up before at each other.

"No. I found Madge and then got us out." Charlie explained. "I didn't see those three."

"Did they not go with you guys?" Madge piped up. Arthur looked around, panic written on his face. Madge started to get nervous. It was well known that wherever the trio went, one (or all) of them ended up in a life threatening situation.

"No." Arthur shook his head. "Bill, let's go."

"But-" Bill pressed a kiss to Ginny's head, stopping her protests.

"Charlie, look after everyone."

"Course." Charlie nodded, his face sour. Despite the tough exterior he was putting on, it was clear that he was scared and for him to be scared, so was everyone else.

Arthur and Bill apparated away, and Charlie sat down by the other four. Almost immediately, Ginny leapt into his arms, as everyone huddled together to watch the Dark Mark in the sky.

"What's gonna happen now, Charlie?" Fred asked, still holding onto Madge and George. 

"I don't know kid." He reached over to ruffle the twins hair, before forcing a smile. "But it's going to be all right."

"Is You-Know-Who back?" Ginny whispered, as Charlie hushed her and pressed a kiss to the girl's head.

"Of course not," The five of them huddled even further together in the cool night air. "He's dead. He can't hurt us."

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They managed to reach the Burrows early the next morning, after managing to get away from the Ministry's questioning. Molly was waiting in the doorway, her eyebrows furrowed, tapping her foot as they all appeared from the woods.

Madge looked up, watching as Molly hurried towards them, her arms outstretched. It took a minute for Ginny to fly into them, Fred and George also clinging onto their mother. Madge hung back, standing between Bill and Charlie before spotting familiar figures also leaving the Burrow.

Breaking away from them, she hurried across the trodden earth to throw herself into her parent's arms. 

"Mum." Her mum was quiet, probably internally raging as she pressed a kiss to her daughter's hair. Cynthia Findley may have been small, but her rage was not, and despite not possessing any magical power, she was more than ready to storm the Ministry and yell at them for their incompetence.

Michael Findley was mildly more laid back. But even that was not by much.

Madge could already tell that they were busy preparing a letter to be sent, expressing their annoyance and disgust at the ministry. 

"We'll sue them." Cynthia proposed, pulling back. "Are you hurt?"

"I'm good." Madge smiled, "and you're not allowed."

"You magic lot have bullshit rules." Cynthia replied, before smiling. "Are you sure, baby?"

"I twisted my ankle, but Charlie healed it. We got out quickly." Madge felt no need to push the matter further by telling them that a Death Eater almost killed them. "Don't you have work tomorrow? Why are you here?"

"I think my clients will understand why I'm postponing their meetings so that I can spend some time with you." Michael muttered, waving his wand quickly as Madge tried to bat her aura away. Her father's speciality was in aura reading, and whilst Madge knew he was doing it to make sure she wasn't hurt, she also did not want him knowing that she was actually really shaken. "What about everyone else?"

"We all got out alright, apart from Harry, Hermione and Ron."

"Surprise me." Her dad finally stopped trying to read her aura, looking down at his daughter. "I'm sure I'll hear about it soon."

"Tell the Minister that I don't like him." Cynthia muttered.

"I'm not scaring off my client." Michael shot back. "I'll express my disappointment. Then I'll see what I can do."

"You're such a puppet master." Madge scoffed. "You're not supposed to manipulate the Minister."

"Who said anything about manipulating?" Michael pretended to look offended before grinning. "I'm just reading his aura. If he asks for my advice on the situation, then I'll give it. Simple as."

"Puppet master." Madge and her mum shared knowing looks before Cynthia glanced back at the Burrows. 

"Do you want to stay here or come home?" Madge paused, before looking back at the Burrows as well.

"I think I'll stay. Just for the last few days."

"Then we'll see you on the Platform." Michael pressed another kiss to her head. "But don't worry, Madge. We're going to deal with this."

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Hiya,

So, I do like this chapter. Charlie and Bill are such good older siblings and Madge and the twins are adorable. Also, Madge's parents are chaotic. Cynthia has no clue about the magic world, but just wants to fight everyone, and Michael does have a clue and is more than down to manipulate the Minister of Magic.

Let me know what you think,

Love Li xx