Chapter eleven: joust

This wasn't exactly what I had in mind, Harry thought, gritting his teeth. "What is this," he shouted behind him, to Hermione. She was seated behind him on the broom, her arms strung tightly around his waist.

"They must have put some kind of locking spell on the broom," she replied, "just so people like us wouldn't be able to escape with it, like we're doing right now."

"Can you remove it?"

"Maybe, but not while we're moving."

Harry groaned.

He and Hermione had been able to use the broom, but it was fighting them every step of the way. It shook and wrestled erratically, it refused to move over thirty mph, and it wouldn't elevate over five feet. Harry was feeling it would be wiser just to abandon the thing and travel to Turkey by foot.

At least it wasn't raining, though Harry still felt the moisture in the morning chill.

"Um, Harry," Hermione shouted over the air rushing past.

"What now."

"You aren't going to like this, but look up."

Harry followed her instructions, and groaned again. High above, and gaining quickly, we're four dark-clad men on broomsticks that were not at all handicapped. The Death Eaters had discovered their escape. Harry wasn't surprised; they hadn't been very subtle, what with the fire, which he had decided to blame solely on Hermione.

"You're right," he replied. "I don't like it."

They had been following a deserted road. Ahead, it forked, the main road sloping downward, a higher trail leading up onto the hillside. Harry, flying low enough that it made a difference, chose the left, and plunged down, the broom vibrating beneath him.

Above, three of the Death Eaters dove, speeding toward their prey. The fourth speed foreword, hoping to block of their escape ahead. This would be easier than they had expected.

Meanwhile, a gate came into view, blocking the road ahead of Harry and Hermione. It was made of metal, and was so tall, that their handicapped broom couldn't clear. A sign on it proclaimed in three different languages that they were now leaving Austrian territory.

Harry risked taking on hand away from the head of the broom, and seized his wand.

"Bombardre!"

The spell hit the gate, and tore through it. He metal gate was hurled across the tarmac, raising sparks, until it came to rest, crumpled. Harry sped over it without a second glance.

A spell shot past their left, and Harry looked back to see that three of the Death Eaters had pulled down level with him, racing a few feet above the road.

He took a sharp turn, onto a flat starch of road. He saw the fourth Death Eater speeding toward him, on a direct collision course. Harry gritted his teeth, and raised his wand.

"Stupefy!"

"Protego!"

Harry's spell was easily knocked away. The brooms sped toward each other. The breath was forced from Harry as Hermione's grip tightened. Within seconds they would run head on into each other. The Death Eater could handle it, but Harry knew he wouldn't be able to fight these opponents on the ground, assuming he survived. He cast his mind about for another spell, one that could not be blocked.

Death Eaters. The dark mark. Snakes.

"Serpensortia!"

A long emerald serpant exploded from the tip of Harry's wand. it shot foreward, Harry heard its scream of horror and confusion, as it collided with the Death Eater. The man screamed as the snake sank its fangs into his arm, and he lost control of his broom, tumbling off it to road, wrestling with the serpent.

The rider-less broom shot over Harry's head, colliding with one of the pursuing Death Eaters. He was knocked from his broom, and grabbed the man beside him for support, pulling them both down.

Harry looked back at Hermione, allowing himself a small smirk of triumph. It wasn't everyday he dispatched three opponents with a single spell. Hermione said nothing, but appeared a little green.

Harry turned back just in time to make a wide turn, heading uphill. He was jolted up as something slammed into the broom. He looked over to see the last Death Eater; the man had just rammed into their broom, and now pulled up along side. Harry tried to swerve away, but with their broom fighting as it was, it was impossible.

The man swung back toward them, he grabbed Hermione by the collar of her shirt, and swerved away, trying to pull her off. He screamed as she dug her teeth into his arm, but kept hold.

Harry knew he had to do something, and shouted the first spell that came to mind.

"Obscuro!"

A black blindfold materialized over the Death Eaters eyes. Letting go of Hermione, he tore at it, and veered away, off of the road. His broom collided with a tree, and he was thrown to the ground.

He was quickly left behind, as Harry and Hermione sped away, their broom as bothersome as ever. After navigating a few more turns, the road forked, a sign advertised that one way led to Berlin, the other to Venedig.

Harry made to head toward Venedig, but Hermione shouted, "Stop!" in his ear. Harry was all too happy to oblige, anything to get of the irksome broom. They dismounted, and he tossed in into the grass beside the road.

Now that the castle was far behind, Harry realized that his whole body ached. He was tired, not having slept for over a day, and just as hungry. He could still taste smoke at the back of his throat, and wanted water most of all. Still, he had accomplished what he had hope too by this shortcut. Hermione was alive and well. And he had discovered his enemies. All of them.

He turned back to Hermione. "I figured we'd go to Venedig, there we can get a flight to Turkey. We may even make it there before the Death Eaters."

"No," said Hermione. "We need to go to Berlin."

"Why? Neville has the map in turkey."

"But we still need the diary."

"But why?"

"Do you think the cup of Christ is just sitting there waiting for anyone to claim it? There's more to finding the Grail then just following the map. Much more."

Harry groaned. "Can't you remember?" he said, not caring that he was whining.

She crossed her arms across her chest, knowing she had won. "I wrote them down so I wouldn't have to remember."

Harry sighed. I looked up at the signpost. BERLIN it read, almost invitingly. "Before we start, can you please take that stupid blocking jinx of this broomstick?"

Hermione smirked. "I would love to."