Coverup

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The chaos in the camp continued to spiral out of control.

Tents were engulfed in flames, burning fiercely like enormous torches in the open space.

Even with Aurors attempting to restore order, the pandemonium showed no signs of abating.

Lucius moved swiftly, shedding his black robe and mask and tossing them into one of the blazing tents.

He watched intently as the robe disintegrated into ash before turning and striding purposefully toward his family's tent.

Thanks to his involvement in the plan, the Death Eaters had spared the Malfoy tent from destruction.

As Lucius entered, he found his wife, Narcissa, and their son, Draco, huddled together, their faces pale with fear.

The tension in the air eased slightly when they realized it was Lucius.

"Father, what's happening outside?" Draco asked nervously.

"Nothing to worry about," Lucius replied, his tone measured.

"Just a skirmish among some unruly people."

Turning to his wife, he added seriously, "Narcissa, pack everything. We're leaving immediately."

Narcissa nodded, her expression shifting to one of grim determination.

She hurriedly began gathering their belongings, stuffing them into a large bag with practiced efficiency.

In moments, the tent was cleared, and Lucius prepared to lead his family away.

The Ministry's forces could no longer guarantee safety, and Hogwarts seemed the only secure refuge now.

But just as they were about to leave, the tent flap was abruptly pushed aside.

A wiry wizard with a pointed nose and a large pimple on it peered in. His eyes quickly landed on the Malfoys.

"Lucius! What are you doing here? Everyone's been looking for you! The Aurors are going mad. We've already killed plenty! Come on!" the wizard demanded impatiently.

Lucius's expression tightened.

"I'll be out in a moment," he replied, his voice strained.

The wizard's gaze shifted to the duffel bag in Narcissa's hands. His suspicion was immediate.

"Why are you packing? What are you up to, Lucius?" he started, but before he could finish, Lucius acted.

"Avada Kedavra!"

A flash of green light erupted from Lucius's wand, striking the wizard squarely in the chest. The spell hit with such precision and suddenness that the Death Eater had no time to react. His body crumpled to the ground, lifeless.

The shock of the moment froze Narcissa and Draco in place. For Draco, this was the first time he had witnessed death so vividly—and caused by his father. His face turned ashen, his mouth agape in silent horror.

Narcissa recovered first, stepping forward to block Draco's view of the fallen body. She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder and spoke softly, her voice trembling but comforting.

"It's alright, Draco. Don't look. Your father did what he had to—to protect us."

Draco stared at her, his terror slowly giving way to confusion.

Lucius, meanwhile, stood motionless, staring at the body on the ground. His wand hand trembled slightly, and his face was pale. Even he seemed unable to process what he had just done.

It had been an instinctive act, driven by the need to protect his family.

The realization that the wizard might have jeopardized Narcissa and Draco left no room for hesitation. Lucius knew there could be no witnesses.

The silence stretched for a moment longer before Narcissa's voice broke through.

"Lucius, we need to leave. Now."

Her calm resolve brought him back to the present. Nodding stiffly, Lucius turned to his family.

"Stay close," he instructed his tone firm once more.

Together, they stepped into the chaos outside, leaving the dark deed behind but carrying its weight with them.

But now that Lucius had calmed down, the corpse presented an undeniable problem before him.

It was a harbinger of something far greater: at this moment, Lucius and the Malfoy family had severed ties with the Death Eaters—and Voldemort himself.

This was no time for hesitation. Lucius took two deep breaths, forcing himself to stay composed.

"Narcissa, take Draco and leave immediately. I'll handle things here," Lucius said firmly, his voice steady despite the turmoil.

With purpose in his stride, he stepped forward, dragging the wizard's lifeless body out of the tent. Ensuring no one was watching, he hauled the corpse toward a large, burning tent in the distance and tossed it into the flames.

By now, Narcissa and Draco had moved outside the tent, nervously scanning their surroundings. After ensuring the body was destroyed, Lucius quickly joined them.

He raised his wand and pointed it at their luxurious tent.

"Incendio," he muttered softly.

Bright flames erupted from the tip of his wand, engulfing the tent in seconds. He didn't spare it another glance, turning swiftly to lead his family through the chaos.

The camp was in utter disarray. Tents burned brightly, casting ominous shadows across the grounds. Harry, Hermione, and Ron were caught in the throng of panicked wizards stumbling through the dark.

Mr. Weasley was busy assisting the Aurors in restoring order and had been separated from the group. Meanwhile, George and Fred had vanished in the confusion, prompting Mrs. Weasley to leave in search of her sons.

This left Sirius as the trio's sole protector.

Sirius gripped his wand tightly, his movements tense and deliberate. He shielded Harry, Ron, and Hermione with his arms, his instincts screaming danger as he herded them through the chaos like a protective lion guarding its cubs.

The way to the stadium, once brightly illuminated, was now plunged into darkness. Figures stumbled through the woods, their shapes barely discernible in the gloom.

The cries of frightened children and frantic calls for loved ones echoed through the chilly night air.

The trio struggled to see, jostled relentlessly by the crowd. Harry felt the press of unfamiliar bodies around him, unable to make out their faces. Suddenly, Ron yelped in pain.

"What happened? Are you alright?" Sirius's voice cut through the darkness, sharp with worry.

"I tripped over a tree root!" Ron groaned from the ground.

"It's too dark!" Hermione exclaimed, raising her wand.

"Lumos!"

A soft glow spread from her wand, piercing the oppressive darkness. They could now see Ron lying on the forest floor, curled up in pain. Sirius quickly hauled him to his feet.

"Come on, kids. We need to move!"

Hermione's voice trembled as she urged, "We have to get out of here! Things are getting worse by the second!"

As they prepared to move, the sound of heavy footsteps froze them in place. The tension was palpable as the group instinctively held their breath.

Sirius's hand tightened on his wand, his eyes darting in every direction for signs of danger.

From the shadows, two dark-robed figures emerged. The sight made Harry, Ron, and Hermione gasp involuntarily.

Death Eaters.

Sirius immediately pushed the trio behind him, his stance defensive.

The figures stepped into the dim light cast by Hermione's wand. One was a wiry wizard with bulging eyes, and the other a sharp-faced witch with a pointed chin. Their identities became apparent at once.

"Carrows Siblings," Sirius muttered under his breath, his voice laced with disdain.

"Black?" the brother exclaimed, clearly startled. But their surprise quickly morphed into suspicion as their sharp eyes darted past Sirius.

Then the sister's expression changed, her lips curling into a wicked grin.

"Harry Potter," she hissed with glee.

"Is Potter with you?"

Her voice rose to an ecstatic shriek as her gaze fixated on the trio behind Sirius.