2 II. Riot

As Rowen emerged from her tent late in the night she could still hear people singing and celebrating the Irish victory. She started to make her way to where the party was happening when she heard a loud bang and a scream. The mood around the camp instantly changed from celebratory and happy to fear and uncertainty. A hand seized her arm and started hauling her away from the commotion.

She looked up to see Barry Ryan with his wand out and a concerned look on his face. "Are you alright?" He asked stopping to examine the girl.

Rowen nodded. "What's going on?"

"Death Eaters are attacking the camp. Your dad requested that I get you to safety."

"Is he alright? Where is he?"

Barry's face fell. "You know where he is." He stated briefly.

Rowen's entire body went numb. She did know where he was. He was among the attackers. Rowen knew that her mother and father were mixed up in the Dark Lord's mess. However, she never expected that her father would attack a place with innocent children. The people at the cup had done nothing to deserve this. Rowen knew of the prejudice her father held against muggle-borns. She was bred to think the same way, and for a long time, she did.

It wasn't until her third year when she was partnered with Fred Weasley in Herbology, that she realised that the hate her family threw at those they viewed as lesser was ridiculous. She was told growing up that the Weasley's were blood traitors and muggle sympathisers. But as she talked to the Weasley boy, she actually found him quite funny. And although she would never admit it to her parents, she was rather fond of some muggle inventions, particularly their music. She was snapped out of her thoughts as the tent she and Barry were hiding behind burst into flames. Rowen quickly pulled her wand from its place in her jacket and disarmed a Death Eater before they could attack an unarmed couple. The Death Eater whipped around to face Rowen but disapparated upon realising who she was.

"You need to make it to the woods," Barry shouted over the screams as they were running to hide behind another tent.

Rowen shook her head furiously. "What about you?"

"Don't worry about me." He pulled her into a quick hug. "Now go." Barry gave her a light shove towards the woods before taking off in the opposite direction.

Rowen began to run furiously, the gap between her and the woods becoming shorter and shorter. She finally made it to the trees but tripped over a root that was sticking out of the ground. Pain shot through her ankle and she guessed it must be sprained.

"Need a hand?" Two voices asked simultaneously before Rowen was lifted to her feet.

"Can you run?" One of the Weasley twins asked. Unlike Rowen who was dressed for the party, he merely wore a knitted sweater with a large 'F' across the chest over his pyjamas.

"Yeah, I'm good." She lied. Her ankle burned with pain, but she was more concerned with getting away from the Death Eaters, though she knew they wouldn't hurt her. She began to run alongside the Weasley twins, and who she assumed was their little sister. A loud bang sounded from the campsite and the trees were illuminated by green momentarily.

"Where are Harry, Ron, and Hermione?" The girl asked in a panicked voice.

Both of the twins glanced behind them and looked at each other. "Bollocks." One said.

"Dad is gonna kill us." Finished the other.

Suddenly a figure appeared in front of them. A hood was pulled over their head, and a mask covered their face. Rowen instantly knew who it was. Lucius Malfoy. The only Death Eater that would dare go after the Bishop girl. He pointed his wand towards the small group, but Rowen was quicker, "Everte Statum!"She yelled, and the man flew backwards hitting a tree with a loud thump.

"Take that you git!" Fred yelled before grabbing Rowen's hand and continuing to run through the forest.

They finally emerged on the other side of the trees. The group slowed to a walk and turned around to face the trees. The three Weasley kids seemed to be watching, hoping that someone would emerge from the woods.

The twin that was holding Rowen's hand pulled away suddenly as if just realising their intertwined fingers. "Sorry." He mumbled.

Rowen limped closer to the boy. "It's alright."She sat on the ground hoping to relieve some of the pain radiating from her ankle. The three Weasley's sat as well, so the four children were sitting in a row facing the woods. "What were they thinking?"Rowen wondered out loud. "The whole ministry is here. Why would they attack tonight?"

Fred shrugged next to her. "Probably drunk of their asses."

The group of four all chuckle at this sarcastic response, but Rowen knew that wasn't true. Her father didn't drink. Suddenly a green light shot into the dark air and something appeared in the sky. It took Rowen's eyes a moment to adjust to the newfound light, but once they did her heart dropped and her breath hitched in her throat. A huge skull with a writhing serpent protruding from its mouth glistened in the night sky. All around them people screamed horribly. Rowen stood, willfully ignoring the sudden pain from her ankle.

The ginger boy that was sitting next to her stood as well. "Are you alright?"

Rowen shook her head slowly still staring at the symbol lighting up the sky. A single tear slid down her cheek, but she quickly wiped it away, not wanting the Weasleys to see. Fred pulled her into a tight hug and awkwardly held her head into his chest. His face was ghostly white as he stared anxiously at the terrible mark in the sky.

"What's it mean?" Ginny asked nervously.

George pulled his little sister into a side hug. "It's the dark mark," he stated, "It's the symbol of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named." A small gasp escaped Ginny's lips.

Fred's heart was pounding furiously, and he desperately hoped Rowen hadn't noticed. As he held onto the frightened girl, he couldn't help but realise how she smelled of ginger and roses. He knew this was a weird thing to notice at a time like this but he couldn't help it. She was so beautiful, and all the feelings Fred had for the girl in their third-year came flooding back. Rowen wrapped her arms around Fred's waist suddenly and he felt her shudder as if she was crying. Fred had no idea what to do, so he just squeezed her tighter.

"There you are!" A man's voice yelled as he walked briskly towards the kids. Rowen pulled away from Fred and furtively wiped her eyes. She didn't recognise the man, but she could tell by his red hair that he was a Weasley. She could see, even in the darkness, that a great many freckles covered his face. There was a large burn on one of his muscled arms along with a rip in his shirt, exposing part of his chest.

"Charlie!" The youngest Weasley yelled, running towards her older brother and wrapping him in a hug.

"Dad said to meet at the tent," Charlie said. He merely glanced at Rowen and gave her a small nod before turning around and starting to walk back towards the campground, closely followed by Ginny.

Barry Ryan emerged from the woods and spotted Rowen, who was again looking at the sky. He noticed two identical redheads standing next to her. He didn't like the way that one of them was staring at the girl. He quickly approached Rowen and ran his thumb across her cheek, which was red from crying. "Are you alright?" Rowen only nodded. Barry could feel the twins looking at him, and he wanted them to know that Rowen was his. He placed a kiss on her forehead and started leading her back to the campground, an arm around her waist.

Fred stared at Barry Ryan dumbfounded as he walked away. Barry was one of his Quidditch idols, but at that moment, he didn't care. All he cared about was the girl whom Barry was walking away with.