The three of them emerged from the tent two minutes later. Harry and Ron were already outside, looking bewildered and sleepy as they gazed up at the sky not far away.
In midair, Mr. Roberts, the campsite manager they had met that morning, floated with his limbs twisted askew. Beside him were a woman with a contorted face and two children. The screams they had heard in the tent had come from the woman, while the two children hung with their heads drooping, their limp limbs being manipulated at will, now to the left, now up and down.
It did not look good.
"They're completely deranged," Su Er could not help saying.
Beneath the floating Roberts family, a sizable group of masked wizards in black robes held their wands high as they advanced toward Su Er and the others.
Quite a few people in the crowd thought this was part of the festivities and joined in with shrieks of laughter.
Ministry of Magic officials were struggling to get close to the masked figures, trying to stop this absurd procession.
"We have to help!" Mr. Weasley rolled up his sleeves, wand in hand. "You lot-get into the woods, quickly. Stay together. I'll come and find you once this is sorted out."
Bill, Charlie, and Percy were already running toward the approaching procession.
Mr. Weasley hurried after them. People were running toward the scene from every direction.
"Come on." Fred and George seized Ginny's hands, flanking her protectively as they dragged her toward the woods.
Su Er and the other three followed close behind. He held Hermione's hand tightly, afraid the crowd would separate them.
Just then, another huge explosion went off somewhere. The blast woke even more people, and the screams grew shriller.
The lanterns that had lit the path to