Chapter 10: The White Horse
Harry whipped his wand out and cried, 'Reducto!' and knocked the wolf off of its feet, but as he spoke another one tumbled into sight and knocked Hermione to the ground, her wand flew from her hand and she screamed.
'Hermione!' Ron yelled as she fell to the ground, he pulled his own wand out and jinxed the second werewolf, it cried out in pain as it was blinded and fell to the ground whimpering. Ron then stunned the wolf easily.
As he moved Harry spotted figures running towards them from behind their camp, 'Death eaters!' Harry shouted.
'There he is!' a death eater screamed taking sight of Harry. Ana shot a stunning spell at him and he keeled over. 'Thanks!' Harry muttered, Ana nodded and barely dodged a stunner herself, as another death eaters rushed forward. There was at least four death eaters closing in on them.
Harry sent a jinx towards a death eater and found himself staring directly into the eyes of one of the Carrows. She cackled evilly at him and threw him off his balance.
'Blast these buggers!' Alecto shouted. She took aim at him and fired a curse. Harry flipped himself over and rolled below a gigantic root of the nearest tree. She screamed and sent curse after curse blasting away at the tree.
Suddenly he heard Ron's cry and Alecto's shriek of pain. He stood wand high and faced the battle. Ron was now battling against a tall and lean death eater left, while Ana took the third death eater. Meanwhile a werewolf edge near him, licking her lips as she went.
'Tasty.' She said and leaped at him, he aimed a stunner but she dodged it easily, she grabbed him by the legs and pulled him down to the ground. As he did his wand hand grew lose and she twisted his wrist, knocking the wand out and breaking it.
'Argh!' Ron shouted as the death took him down. He laid on the ground and spoke or moved no more. Ana continued fighting against her death eater. Harry meanwhile kicked the werewolf as she bite his leg, he howled in pain and she laughed.
'It will take more then that boy!' she screeched. Her eyes however widened as suddenly a giant branch from the oak tree above them, swung down and hit her around the middle; she flew off into the distant and Harry heard the creaking of the trees, moving.
'They're angry!' Ana screamed, she had winded the death eater, but he had easily stood again. Harry stood and grabbed his wand, Ana flung her wand towards both Ron and Hermione screaming a spell that awoke both of them. They stood as the final death eater was swept off his feet by another branch. The tree swung him further then ever and it seemed the trees were cackling with delight.
'They don't care who we are, just run!' Ana said loudly. Ron pulled Hermione upwards and the two began to run. Harry tried to follow with Ana beside him. The trees began to stretch and move themselves and come after them violently. At one point he heard Hermione shout his name, but the wind and forest coming to life drowned her. He suddenly felt a root come up from below his foot and trip him. He fell and yelped as he did. Ana turned and stopped to help him. As he did, a thin branch fell from above and wrapped around her so fast she had no time to react. Her wand slipped from her as well as her back pack and she was pulled above their heads into the treetops.
'Ana!' Harry shouted. She yelled back but it was incoherent to him. He aimed his wand and tried to figure out where she was. But he could not use magic for fear he might hit her. He took a step backwards and another root came up and tripped him. He fell backwards and right into a pool of water he had not noticed before. It was a pond that seemed small but turned out to be very deep.
Harry sunk right into the water and his glasses slipped from his nose. The coldness brought sheer terror through his bones, and his mind seemed to have frozen. He fell deeper into the lake as the others rushed forward; he then came closer to the glowing light. However his lungs began to fill with water as his air depleted. The others attempted to save him, using spells and hands, but they seemed blocked by some unknown force beneath the water's surface. Soon Harry fell so deep he disappeared. His ears filled with the screams of those above him that turned into a hymn of death's calling. Suddenly his eyes snapped open down in the water and he came face to face with a glowing light. The light took over his sight and senses and his head grew empty and light.
He did not know how long he had been out for, or under the water, but suddenly he was then pulled from the water by a large being with a oddly shaped mouth. It took hold of him with its teeth careful not to bite him too hard. The being dragged him out of the water, with only a little trouble pulling him to the shore side. It dropped him and he spluttered to breath again.
When he regained consciousness he opened his eyes softly to the calmness of the forest. It seemed there was no movement as he sat up gently and rubbed his eyes. His vision was blurry and his glasses were gone.
As he sat there perplexed on how he survived, he called out, 'Ron? Hermione?'
There was no answer. Instead he heard a noise of something stepping closer. He tried to see it, but soon felt something drop onto his lap. He felt for it and soon took hold of his glasses. He jammed them onto his face and blinked several times. It was daytime now and the sun was brightly shining.
He looked beside him to see a beautiful and gleaming horse standing before him. It was pure white and had dark eyes. It was the horse from his dreams.
It stared deeply into his eyes for a moment then trotted away. He scrambled trying to follow it as it began to move through the forest.
They walked through the forest for ages it seemed until they came upon another set of campers. Harry hid among the bushes with the horse behind a tree. He looked down in the grassy valley below them to see a group of wizards chattering about a fire.
'Percy!' Harry cried out suddenly. He leapt down the valley side to where one of the wizards' was sitting. The man looked up shocked and gasped, 'Harry Potter!'
'What happened?' Harry asked coming forward, the horse quietly followed him. Along with Percy were two others, Perkins who worked with Mr. Weasley, and a young girl around Percy's age.
'Well we escaped the attack on the Ministry.' Percy explained, 'and we ended up here in the forest trying to find a safe spot to hide out. We got ambushed by some Death Eaters but managed to get away.'
'Have you seen Ron of Hermione?' Harry quickly asked, 'We were together but got attacked by Death Eaters, probably the same ones, and got separated.'
Percy shook his head, 'No, I hope my brother and Hermione is safe.' He said hopefully.
'Have you heard from your family?' Harry asked.
'No…' Percy said miserably.
'Let's stick together.' Harry said firmly and Perkins nodded. They offered some food they had made to Harry. He ate silently trying to figure out where Hermione or Ron could be.
'Where did you find the horse?' Percy asked softly, 'She saved me actually.' Harry said and he explained the attack on them.
'Ana?' Percy asked, 'Yeah, she joined us and helped us on our… journey. But she disappeared during the fight as well.' Harry said frowning. Percy nodded and they fell silent again.
Finally after eating the horse nudged Harry. He looked into its eyes and seemed to understand it meant for them to leave. He quickly suggested it to the other three and they agreed as it was now getting closer to dusk and would be more dangerous. They packed up and marched onwards following the horse as it led the way through the forest.
Finally Harry noticed the edge of the forest ending and felt relieved. They kept their pace up only slowing when Perkins grew tired. They took a break every half hour for him to catch his breath. The horse seemed to see his strain and would often pause before they noticed Perkins was out of breath.
'There's a few houses!' Harry exclaimed. He turned to the others and noticed the horse was gone, 'Where'd the horse go?' he asked.
'No clue, it was just there a moment ago… maybe it went back into the forest.' Percy suggested. They entered the town to find it mostly empty.
'Harry!' cried a voice, Harry spun to see a mass of red collide with him. He heard Percy laugh as someone smaller struck him in the middle and hug him.
'Ginny!' Harry choked, she let go and he grinned at the youngest Weasley. She then turned to hug Percy, who looked shocked.
'You're alive! Mum and dad will be so happy!' she said.
'Where are they?' Percy asked eagerly.
'Dad is hiding with Figg in another town, mum and I made it out and landed here by side-apparation.' Ginny said. She then took them inside a small house. When they walked inside she turned on the lamp and called for her mother.
'Harry!' Molly said hoarsely catching sight of him, she gave him a hug then spotted the others, 'Percy! You're alive!' she nearly screamed rushing to hug him next. After a bone breaking hug she turned and said hello to Perkins.
'This is Sandra Cameron. We worked together.' Percy said introducing the girl with him. Molly nodded and then said, 'I take it you are all hungry?'
'Please!' they cried out and she began to cook up some meat stew and cut some bread. They sat down at a rickety table and took a moment to rest and relax.
'So you haven't seen Ron and Hermione?' Harry asked, both Weasley's shook their head. Molly looked very worried.
'Don't worry, I'll go out and look for them later.' Percy assured, Harry nodded, 'So will I.' he said firmly. Molly tried to wave his help off but he remained adamant. Finally she served the food and they ate with a gusto.
'So what department did you work in?' Molly asked Sandra. She finished chewing her bread and replied, 'I became an assistant to Madam Bones for Law Enforcement.'
'That sounds great.' Molly said. They finished eating and Harry grabbed a cloak with Percy to look for Ron and Hermione, and of course Ana. Ginny also followed them as Molly spoke in another room with Perkins.
'You shouldn't come!' Percy whispered, but Ginny shook her head and followed them anyways. They left the house and walked silently down the street and out of the town.
As they walked through the edge of the forest, they lit their wands and tried to find the others. Percy called for his brother while Harry called for Hermione and Ana.
'Anyone?' he asked finally, feeling frustrated. Then he heard the snap of a branch behind him. He spun around and heard a scream break through the night.
Ginny had screamed as a wizard apparated behind her and took hold of her. She dropped her wand as he laughed, it was the Death Eater Lucius Malfoy.
'Say goodbye to your girlfriend Potter!' he cackled and dissapparated away with her. Percy had sent a spell right at him but missed by a seconds' fraction.
'GINNY COME BACK!' Harry shouted into the night. A wolf howled and Percy seemed in tears. Harry stood there silent, realizing he had lost not only his friends to the forest, but now Ginny to Voldemort.
