Chapter 10: Working together
The crowd dispersed and ran away, trying to escape from the flies that Zak described as 'flesh-eating flies'. Hermione backed away slowly, in case the flies notice her. Zon had flown away right out of the window for safety whereas Komodo had turned himself into invisible. Fiskerton was still beside Zak, Harry, Ron and Hermione, but his face had twisted into horror. The flies were still flying in mid-air, not moving an inch. It was the same for Malfoy.
Malfoy sneered. "Flesh-eating flies? Are you joking? They look like normal flies to me! Don't you try to change the subject Zak Saturday! I'm not a fool!"
"Does it look like Zak jokes under these circumstances?" Harry retorted.
"Well I am not afraid of a bunch of little insects!"
"Uh...Malfoy," Ron trembled as he pointed at the flies that were flying closer to Malfoy.
"What? Weasley?" A fly landed on Malfoy's arm. It seemed innocent to eat flesh, but suddenly it showed a pair of sharp pincers and dug into his soft skin. As blood streamed down his arm, he shouted in pain.
Other flies smelled and tasted fresh blood scent coming from Malfoy's arm and swarmed towards him. He couldn't escape from the swarm. Suddenly something leaped onto him and pushed him down to the ground. The big green lizard named Komodo by Zak became visible again and was standing on Malfoy. Komodo opened his mouth as big as a python could open its mouth and ate every single fly that was flying before him.
"Way a go, Komodo!" cheered Zak.
Agitated, Malfoy pushed the huge lizard creature off him and squished the little fly that was devouring his flesh. "I-I don't care whatever those flies are, don't let them get any closer to me again!"
"Why? Those little flies scare you? Or they just like to eat your flesh?" Ron snickered.
Komodo hasn't swallowed the flies yet. The flies were swarming in his mouth, finding an exit. Komodo couldn't care less. He was going to swallow them soon. The flies had given up on finding an exit and settled down. But suddenly Komodo felt a surge of pain in his mouth. The flies did give up on finding an exit; now they were feasting on the interior of his mouth. He quickly spit them out without hesitation. And the flies were free.
He swore he never will eat flesh-eating flies again.
Danger wasn't over as the flies were freed from their 'prison'. Now they were starving; they thirst for flesh and blood.
"Oh great," Zak said sarcastically.
"I thought your brother eats everything!" Ron shouted.
"Now's not the time to argue, Ronald!" Hermione shouted back at him. "Any bright ideas, Harry?"
"Umm... we can try to trap them in a bottle," Harry replied.
"Easier said than done," Ron retorted.
"Ronald!"
"What do bugs hate most?" Zak asked.
"Suish?" Fisk replied in gibberish.
"Squishing doesn't help much," Ron stated as he backed away.
"Frogs?" Even Hermione was out of ideas.
"That's it!" Harry was struck by a brilliant idea.
"What's it?" Zak pointed his Claw at the flies as a warning to stay back. But the flies were still hungry for them.
"Spill it quick, POTTER! I don't want to die yet!" Malfoy pressed the bug bite on his arm to stop the blood from flowing.
"Plants! Venus-flytrap! The huge one in the greenhouse! The one Hermione accidentally cast an Enlargement Spell on!"
"So you are the one who enlarged that plant! Nice," Ron said.
"Now's not the time for praises!" Zak shouted.
"We have to lure it there!"
"But it's faraway in the other wing! I am not going to turn myself into bug bait!" Malfoy stated. "And I am not working with you bunch of losers! If you want to kill it, do it yourself!"
"Listen here Malfoy," Zak glared at him. "If we don't get those flies killed, those flies will just fly all over the school until they had eaten every living flesh available, and that includes YOU. You don't want those flies devour your soft flesh and kill yourself in such early age, right?"
Malfoy wiped away the perspiration on his forehead. "What do you want me to do?" the words came out from his mouth forcibly.
"Okay, part one of the plan," Ron said. "What is it anyway?"
"RUN!" yelled Zak with all the strength of his lungs. Harry led the way towards the greenhouse, followed by Hermione, Ron, Malfoy, Zak and Fiskerton with Komodo in his arms. The trail of Malfoy's blood scent had drawn the flies' attention and the swarm pursued them.
"Are the flies following us?" Harry asked as he took a left turn. Zak looked behind. Yes, the flies were still following them.
As Harry ran as fast as he could, he suddenly halted. Hermione stopped just before she crashed onto Harry. Ron has trouble pressing the brakes and he tripped and fell with his face on the ground. He stood up, cursing. "Why in the world did you stopped?"
"Umbridge," Harry replied in whispers. "12 o'clock."
A stubby-looking lady in pink with a bearded old man in robes was just in front of them. They were walking towards them, a few meters away from Harry. And the greenhouse was still far away.
Harry couldn't afford lead the team into detention. With Umbridge in this school, they'll suffer 'blood quill detention'. Blood quills aren't nice to play or use with.
"We'll take a detour," Hermione murmured. "We'll take a huge round around west wing and then straight to the greenhouse. Now back away slowly."
Zak and the others also reached to Harry. "Turn back," Harry gestured at Zak and Malfoy.
"Too late," Zak replied as the flies were only a few inches away.
"Any bright ideas, POTTER? If I'm killed, I'll haunt you for the rest of your life!" Malfoy threatened Harry.
"I'll distract Umbridge and Professor Dumbledore," Hermione quickly stepped forward to Umbridge, blocking her sight from spotting Harry and the others. Harry quickly took a detour to west wing but then Malfoy stopped him, saying that they should head to east wing where there's a better shortcut. A new debate—or argument—started.
"Good morning, Miss Umbridge and Professor Dumbledore," Hermione crossed her fingers behind her back. "What a nice day today. The sky is pleasant."
"Yes good morning, Miss Granger. Now could you please excuse me? I'm in a hurry to get lunch," Umbridge glared at her and moved to the left. Hermione quickly moved to the right to prevent Umbridge from seeing anything behind her.
"Hehe... I have something to ask, Miss Umbridge,"
"What is it? Could you hurry up?"
Professor Dumbledore noticed the weirdness in Hermione. He looked straight up at the end of the corridor, where Harry and Malfoy were still arguing. Then Zak and Fiskerton pushed the two straight passed the corridor, with the big green lizard crawling desperately behind them. The weirdest thing was a huge swarm of flies was tailing them. Dumbledore had no idea what was going on, but it smelled like trouble.
"Umm... it's about the... err... homework that err..." Hermione grumbled.
"Ahh, did you mean the homework I gave you, Hermione?" Dumbledore asked.
"Huh? Err... yes; it is about the work that you gave me, Professor. I'm not sure about the Animagus chapter that you told me to find info on. Could you give me some tips?"
"You should look for answers in the library, Miss Granger, you know that. Now excuse ME!" Umbridge pushed Hermione out of her way. Hermione tried to stop Umbridge but Harry and the others were long gone. Umbridge didn't spot anything unusual.
"Phew..." Hermione wiped the sweat on her. "Now to find them..."
The gang was still running from corridor to corridor with the flesh-eating flies tailing them. Finally the reached the greenhouse and entered it. The huge Venus flytrap was before them, opening its tremendously huge mouth. As soon as it spotted the gang before them, it snapped its mouth and bent down to eat them.
"WHOA!" Zak dodged quickly. "We're not your target!"
Harry, Ron and Malfoy ran to hide behind the flytrap so that it wouldn't notice them. Komodo turned invisible and Fiskerton carried Zak with him and the hung from the ceiling of the greenhouse. As they were done hiding, the flies swarmed into the greenhouse, searching for their prey. Instead of being the predators, they became prey. In a flash the huge plant ate the flies up and swallowed the flies into their doom.
"YES!" Zak cheered as Fiskerton placed him on the ground. Harry, Ron and Malfoy came out from their hiding place. Komodo turned visible once more and grinned.
"Finally," Ron murmured. Harry had a big grin hanging from his face. Malfoy, however still looked annoyed but impressed by Harry's plan.
"Good job, Potter. You didn't get me killed," said Malfoy.
"WE did a good job," Harry corrected.
"Whatever. Don't tell ANYONE what happened today. I don't want to let anyone know that I had worked with you losers just to kill a bunch of insects," he left in a hurry.
"What?" Zak showed his fists.
"Let him be, Zak. I'm glad we destroyed those flies," said Harry.
The huge Venus flytrap gave a loud burp after digesting its meal. The gang laughed.
Hermione came barging in, grasping for air after running non-stop. "Are you guys alright? Did the flies were destroyed?"
"Calm down, Hermione," said Ron. "The main point is, did Umbridge notice us?"
"No,"
"Phew... Or else we'll be in a heap of trouble," said Zak.
"She didn't, but I did," Dumbledore appeared right before them, with a smile on his face. "You are going to explain everything in my office, right away."