Twothingshappenedsimultaneouslyafterthat.
ApurplebolteruptedoutofBertrie’shestandstrukthekneazle,followedbyaredboltgoingfromtheanimaltothegirl.TheforeoftheenergiesrippedthereaturefromLovegood’shandsandsentbothheranditflying.Lovegoodrolledarossthegrass.
Atthesametime,therewasaloudPOPandamanappearedinthemiddleofthefield.Igorasquintedinthedimlightandwassureshehadseenhimsomewherebefore.Shereognizedhisbk-opsrobes.HewasfromtheDepartmentofMysteriesops-team.
WhentheboltsbetweenthekneazleandBertriedisappeared,everyoneoutonthefieldlookedstunnedandstaredaroundateahother.
ThenGrangersreamedsomethingatthemanwho’djustappearedandBertriethrewherselfatPansyParkinson’sfeet.Theyounggirlrolledaroundfeelingforsomethingonthegrounduntilshepikeduponeofthedisardedwandsandturnedbaktowardheraptors.
“Youkilledmyfather!”shesreamedandast,“IMPEDIMENTA!”attheleaderofthegroupwhohadmadeherdrinkfromthevial.Lovegoodlookedupfromthegrass,grabbedargesilverbellfromherpoketandrangitrepeatedly.
TothesideofIgora,Felixshouted,“Expelliarmus!”andoneofthetwofiguresthathadhungbakfromtheexhangelosttheirwand.Felixadded,“Stupefy!”andthefigurefelltotheground.BeforeIgoraouldgetaspellout,theotherfigureimmediatelydisapparated.
Shedidn’thavetimetodwellonitbeauseassoonasshelookedbaktotheenterofthefield,shedroppedherwandinshok.Hundredsofshining,silverylightsasendedfromthegrassandbeganswarminganyonewhowasn’twearingaholidayjumper.ParkinsonhadthrownherselftothegroundandpulledBertrieinsidetheoversizedjumper.
IgorawathedinhorrorastheotherfigurestriedtoswattheFae,listenedastheysreamedinagony.Afteronlyafewseonds,thethreekidnappershadfallentothefloor,writhing,whilethemanwho’dapparatedintothesenetesreamedatHermioneGrangerforhelp.
“Yousaidyouknewwhatyouweredoing!”shereplied.GrangermotionedtoLovegoodafterthatandtheblonderangthebellagain.TheFaepulledbakandunitedinaswirloftinylightssinkingbakintotheground.
IgoraandFelixrusheddowntothefieldandtookstokofeveryone.HermioneGrangerwasbindingthekidnappersandtakingtheirwands,LunaLovegoodhadgoneafterthekneazle,andPansyParkinsonstillhadBertrieZivantusinatightembrae,rokingbakandforthandwhisperingintheyounggirl’sear.
“Everyone’salright?”Igoraapproahed.FelixwenttohelpGrangerwiththekidnappers.Igoragazedaroundinasethefigurewhohaddisapparatedmightomebak.
Thebk-opsmanrolledaroundinthegrassandgroaned.“Iamnotalright.”
“Everythingwillbefine,”Grangernodded,igntheman.
Afewfeetaway,thergegreenpntburstintofmes.
Grangerontinuednodding,“Thisisfine.”
“Malfoy,”Harrylookedaroundthealleyasthesunfilteredinoverthebuildingssurroundingit.“It’sdaylight.”
MalfoytookastepbakfromhimandlookedattheTimepieeinhishand.Heblinked,shookit,andthensowled.“Idon’tbelievethis!”
“Whatisit?Where—Imeanwhenarewe?”Harry’sheartpounded.