"Goodness! She still hasn't woken up!" the sound of Mr. Haddlowe's voice was recognizable, Florence hearing her surroundings with her eyes still screwed shut.

She could feel the earth and grass underneath her clothes, and she could still smell the air thick with smoke, however it was not enough to scorch her lungs. She felt herself slowly gain consciousness, letting out a violent wheeze before her eyes fluttered open, startling her companions.

"Florence!" Alexander half yelled, causing the others to swarm around her.

"Back up, she needs some air." said Adrianna, as she slowly sat upright, eyes squinted as she continued to blink away whatever was hindering her from opening her eyes fully.

"We were so worried about you. What happened? Nicolai said that you just collapsed when you two were already by the trees."

Florence shook her head, "I have no clue. I—I remember seeing the Death Eaters. Their black robes... and that's it."

"Does anything hurt?" Adrianna asked concernedly, biting hard on her nails, "Merlin, your mum told me to take care of you and I lost you in a bloody stampede—"

"Dri," Alexander cut off, "There's nothing you could have done. No use in blaming yourself. Florence is okay, er, you are, aren't you?"

Florence nodded slowly, "I'm fine. Nothing hurts. My head's a bit doozy though, but nothing other than that. How long was I out for?"

"About two hours." said Mr. Haddlowe, who was struggling with the weight of an exhausted Asher. He was still carried by his father at the age of 11, drool coming down his chin.

"The Dark Mark, Flo. It hovered right above everyone the moment you collapsed." said Nicolai, concerned. "Was that why you fainted? Because you felt the Death Eaters near?"

"It could of have been just a coincidence..." Florence mumbled.

"That's what I told her," said Alexander exasperatedly, "You're overthinking stuff, Nic."

"Well I'm sorry," she retorted, "It's just that I'm not the only one who's feeling a bit jumpy after what had happened."

"No need to fight," said Mr. Haddlowe. They're setting the portkeys back up from where we had landed. I think it's best if we started making our way over there now. I haven't really heard what time it would leave, so better safe than sorry."

The lot agreed on it, trudging back to the green pastures that they had passed early morning, the air cold with a tinge of smoky scent. They were not the only ones, as numerous of other wizards were heading out to their designated portkeys, some depending on Apparation to get out.

Waiting back at the Haddlowe family house for them was Jane, who fled from her night shift at the Ministry the moment she had overheard a bunch of Aurors talking about an attack at the campsite. Other ministry workers were in a frenzy as well, most of them hurrying to get out of the building to disapparate.

Without a word of consent from anyone, she had practically dashed out of the office, Apparating in the dead of the night with one thing in her mind: Florence.

Her Ministry uniform was creased in different places, hair falling out of the neat bun that she usually did. Infront of her was a cup of hot tea that Mrs. Haddlowe had prepared for her, the woman also equally worried.

The Clearwaters were the last ones to respond to the emergency owl that Jane had sent out.

Mrs. Clearwater was half in tears as she sat tensely on the couch, Penelope beside her. The poor girl looked as if she was merely pushed out of bed by her parents and dragged along to come.

She looked terrible. But her concern for her sister's wellbeing stood out from the evident tiredness on her face.

The moment the three mothers heard the doorknob rattle, Jane was already on her feet, charging over to Florence when her eyes had landed on her daughter.

"Are you lot alright?!" Mrs. Haddlowe asked in half hysteria, checking her two older children before coddling Asher—who looked like he wanted nothing more than to go to sleep.

Mr. Haddlowe looked white-faced and distressed as he told Jane about what had happened during the few hours of havoc, repeatedly saying sorry to Jane.

"It's fine, Jay," she said, an arm secured around Florence as she picked out the remaining pieces of dried leaves still stuck in the tangles of her daughter's hair, "You brought her home safely, and that is all that matters."

"Mum, I'm alright, I swear—goodness me, don't cry. I'm fine, seriously." Florence heard Nicolai say to her mum, as she too was being coddled excessively. Penelope also shared a concerned look for her sister, although not showing it physically.

"Who would have known that this would happen—and on a Quidditch event. My, death eaters," breathed Mrs. Haddlowe, who now had damp towelettes for the lot to wipe their faces and arms with, "What possibly is going to happen next?"

"I'll see if I could get anything out from work tomorrow. Those Aurors must have answers as to why they attacked." Jane said, helping her daughter with ridding her skin of the thin layer of grime.

"Will you inform us about it when you do?" Mr. Haddlowe asked, Jane nodding, "I will send out an owl as soon as possible."

After exchanging of brief goodbye's, Florence and her mum had apparated home, landing exactly two blocks away from their house, which puzzled the girl. Usually, they were able to land right infront of the doorstep.

"Safety precautions. I figured that we needed them with Sirius and Remus around," Jane said, even before Florence could say anything as the two started walking towards the house.

"But Adrianna was able to apparate and disapparate closer when she picked me up," she said, her brows drawn together in confusion.

"Well," Jane breathed out, "Truth is I had Remus put the anti-apparation wards just recently when I had heard of the death eaters—" Jane paused to look at her daughter, the words managing to flush away the color from her cheeks.

"Nicolai said you saw them, in black robes," she started carefully, and went on as Florence remained stoic—a sign she took as an indication that she was okay with the subject.

"I did," Florence nodded, staring down at her shoe-cladded feet slapping against the concrete sidewalk as if it suddenly was the most interesting thing in the world.

"I felt the chills—running down my spine... like trickles of sweat after a lap around the Quidditch pitch, except it was cold and unwelcoming...." she admitted in a small voice, not daring to look up, knowing that her mum was staring intently at her.

"I thought of dad when I saw them..." she continued, "I don't know why but it was the last thing I thought about before I blacked out."

"Your father," said Jane, "He fought hard to lock them in Azkaban. And knowing about their assembly makes me so sick. Your dad died for that cause. And now they're back."

"But it won't be like last time," said Florence, a bit unsure, "It won't, right?"

Jane stared into her daughter's eyes, and wished that she could promise her that it won't, wished that she could guarantee it. But Jane knew what was coming their way, and all she could manage then was a light pat on her daughter's shoulder and a ghost of a smile.

They were immediately bombarded with multiple questions as they had walked into their home, both Sirius and Remus bolting up from the couch where they sat restlessly on.

It was evident in the way that they looked, that they had not gotten a wink of sleep. It was currently midday, and the sun was going to go up in a few good hours.

"What happened?" Sirius had spoken first, "Is she alright? Any broken bones?"

Remus gave out a light snort, "She's right there, Sirius. Ask her."

Sirius' eyes landed on Florence, all filled with genuine concern that was visible to anyone who had eyes. Sort of when Jane had expressed her worry when she came home one summer morning with a busted lip. She had just bitten down on it hard, no big deal, but a parent's eyes held the most genuine concern there was.

Sort of how her dad would have looked at her, if he was still alive.

Sirius was barely given the opportunity to speak, as Florence wrapped her arms around the man, clinging to him lightly as she let a tear fall.

He was startled during the few seconds, but regained his composure quite quickly, before wrapping his arms around the girl's much smaller frame.

"Are you alright, dear? Anything broken?" he mumbled into her ear, feeling her head shake no. He sighed, stroking her hair gently as they stayed like that for quite awhile.

"Florence, dear," said Jane, "Why don't you wash up and get a bit of rest, yeah? You must be tired. Sirius, Remus and I have some...matters to discuss."

Florence complied, although a bit reluctant—took her duffle bag and trudged up the stairs quietly.

The three watched as her door room opened, only did they start talking when they heard the door close.

"What happened?" Remus began, "You were quite vague with the details when you came home briefly."

Florence is in trouble, was the only thing that Jane managed to say coherently when she had stopped by to alert both Sirius and Remus, before quickly apparating to the Haddlowe's residence.

Jane let her hand run through her hair in a distressed manner, kicking off her work shoes. She did not notice the blisters that formed on her feet until that very moment, wincing at the sight of them.

"Death Eaters attacked the campsite. Plenty of them, Sirius... They're back, someone evoked the Dark Mark, Jay told me."

"Well did he know who did it?"

Jane shook her head, "He didn't stick around long enough to find out—everything was a havoc. And he had to get the children out as soon as Florence was conscious..."

"Then it means,"

Remus' voice lingered in the air as the atmosphere in the room started to tighten, and Florence kept her ear pressed down against the door, carefully listening to what came out of her mother's mouth next.

"It means that a war is coming, just like before."