Chapter 465: The Killing Curse
The group, already packed, burst out of the tent at Mr. Weasley's command. The once jubilant camp was now filled with panicked screams and utter chaos. The sky seemed darker than before, as if a thick, oppressive fog had swallowed the stars.
In the distance, people were fleeing toward the forest, chased by a group moving slowly but menacingly behind them. Each of these figures wore a hood and a mask, concealing their faces entirely. There was no mistaking their intent—anyone who prowled around in the middle of the night wearing a mask and torching tents was clearly up to no good. Anything in their path was destroyed without hesitation.
"You—into the forest!" Mr. Weasley shouted. "Bill, keep an eye on them, don't let them get separated—"
But before he could finish, he noticed Bill, Charlie, and Percy running toward the approaching mob, wands drawn.
Mr. Weasley hurried after them, calling over his shoulder, "Go into the forest! The Aurors cleared it; it's safe there. And remember, stay together!"
Nodding, the group dashed into the woods. Once they ducked under the cover of trees, they looked back to see the mob had grown even larger. It wasn't just the hooded figures now; other spectators, including foreign wizards, had joined in, paying no heed to the Ministry's warnings. Many of these new rioters didn't even bother hiding their faces, brazenly looting and causing mayhem.
The mob was so overwhelming that the small number of Ministry staff on-site couldn't keep up. Soon, the riot spiraled out of control, with people storming into empty tents, looting what they found, or dragging the tents away altogether.
"No, we have to help Dad!" Fred and George exclaimed, staring at the growing mob with mounting anxiety. They tried to rush back, but Ginny held them back firmly.
"No way!" she said fiercely. "They're all adult wizards; you'll only get in the way!"
"Who says?" Fred struggled to free himself. "We may not be fully trained, but we've got Dungbombs and Bulbadox powder!"
George nodded in agreement. "Trust us—sometimes these things work better than magic!"