Broomsticks on Fire

Chapter Fourteen

Harry was in the common room, reading Quidditch Throughout the Ages, when a girl burst into the room, her black robes billowing behind her. "You're Harry, right?" she demanded in her American accent.

Harry realized that this was Rose, the girl Jake had a very big crush on. He himself hadn't talked to her much since she had come to Hogwarts, but had seen her in classes and the common room some. "Yes. What's wrong?"

"It's Jake!" Rose puffed, trying without success to catch her breath. "Something horrible's happened!"

Harry was on his feet at once. "What? What happened?"

Rose was near tears, but Harry was too anxious to notice. "Rose, tell me!"

"I was walking near Hagrid's place, and I heard voices coming from inside. Very loud voices. Hagrid and Lao Shi were cornered by a man in furs—his face was masked."

"The Huntsman," Harry muttered.

Rose looked confused, but didn't voice it. She continued, "Hagrid was unconscious—and bleeding." Harry felt a large knot begin to form in the pit of his stomach.

"And…?"

"Lao Shi was trapped in a net. I was about to run for help when I saw Jake coming. Before I could yell out a warning, he went inside and got hit with a bolt of green light. Then the robed man, Lao Shi, and Jake all disappeared."

Harry was already hurrying toward the portrait hole. "And Hagrid?" he asked. "What about him?"

"He was left there, as well as his dog. I let Professor Sprout know that he was knocked out—I saw her on my way up here—and I came up here to tell you."

As they exited the common room together, Harry stopped short and asked, "Wait a minute. Why did you come to me? And why not tell a professor what happened to Jake?"

Rose faltered. "Um…well…I knew you and Jake are good friends, so I…" she broke off, tears in her eyes.

"Rose, tell me the truth," Harry said fiercely.

Rose shook her head. "I…I can't."

"Yes, yes you can," Harry insisted.

"No. If I do, I'll be killed. Just…just come on! I know where Jake is." Without another word, Rose darted down the corridor and out of site.

Harry, bewildered, followed her. Little did he know, things were only about to get worse.

~Emachinescat ^..^