Chapter Twenty-One

Runaways and Runaway Attempts

"Eye spy with my little eye, something beginning with… S."

"Too easy. Straw."

"Damn."

Adelaide pounded the ground in frustration.

"Your turn," she offered, sighing heavily as she tried to ignore the gnawing feeling in her empty stomach.

"Adela, this is stupid," Harry said miserably. "We should be trying to find a way to escape."

"Well, I have no idea. Unless we starve to death, become ghosts and fly out of here," Adelaide suggested mordantly, rising to her feet to stand beside Harry.

"That would be one way," Harry said uncertainly. "But we need a way that won't get us killed."

"But, Harry, you heard what that little Death Eater said. He said if we try to escape, it would be doomed to fail! And I can't really argue with him. Look who's keeping us captive? An insane murderer who has a wand!" Adelaide exclaimed, kicking the mossy wall powerfully.

The force dented the soft stone and shook the wall slightly. Adelaide and Harry's eyes widened in surprise.

"What's going on in there!?"

Adelaide's heart skipped a beat, maybe two.

"We got to cover it!" Harry said in a forceful whisper, getting down on his knees.

Adelaide followed suit and helped pile the smelly straw in front of the dent. The finished that not a second too early. A masked Death Eater peered through the tiny barred opening in the door, looking at the two prisoners suspiciously. Finally satisfied that Adelaide and Harry could be left alone, the Death Eater disappeared.

"This is great!" Adelaide said in a quiet voice, grinning and fighting the urge to clap and dance.

"Yes. But we can't keep kicking the wall and causing attention. There has to be something else that would do the job not as loudly," Harry said, looking around the practically bare cell.

His eyes layed upon the platter of so called 'food'. Two low stone bowls filled with the bubbling grey gook, two mouldy rolls and two rusting teaspoons!

"I've got it!"

~#~#~#~#~#

Hermione, Ron, Kristen, Bryce and Tahnee had thankfully broken out of the school grounds successfully, facing no more interruptions after the encounter with the Azkaban escapee and friendly werewolf. And after a lengthy walk down a cave passage that drove deep into a rocky hill, the five students sat cosily around a small square block of rock, studying a map that Tahnee had skilfully stolen from Millagen's office while all the adults working on searching for Harry and Adelaide were out of the room. The adults had already discovered a brief area of where the two missing people were.

"We're here," Hermione instructed, prodding a place the large map. "This is where Harry and Adela are supposed to be." She pointed at a different spot. It was far away from where they were. "How should we go about getting there?"

"New Zealand! They're in New Zealand!" Kristen cried out with aggravation. "How on earth are we going to get there?!"

"We can't get there! Especially once the professors find out we're gone! They'll be looking everywhere!" Ron said in disdain, throwing his arms up. This action caused him to collide with the low and very solid ceiling. "Far out! That hurt!"

Tahnee laughed softly.

"I remember when Bryce did that. He was swearing up a storm," she said amusedly.

"Hey," Bryce retorted. He turned to Ron with a pitiful look upon his freckled face. "I feel for you, Ron, I do."

It was too much for them. Everyone burst into laughter, despite the situation. But Hermione hadn't even reacted. She was staring hard and long at the map. Her finger travelled to a red dot that symbolised Darwin, the capital city of the Northern Territory and the place that the students went to on certain weekends.

"I think I know a way to get there," Hermione said quietly, squinting down at the map.

Ron, Kristen, Bryce and Tahnee chuckled one last time and turned their full attention to Hermione.

"How?" Tahnee prompted.

"Well, I was thinking that when the professors send some sort of search party for us and Adelaide and Harry, they would only think of looking in the magical world. And probably look for traces of our magic to lead them to us. Well, if we travel to New Zealand the Muggle way, we'd have a less chance of being caught," Hermione explained shrewdly.

"I agree," Bryce said. "But how though? If we were to take a boat or taxi or something, we don't have any money."

"Well, if we do all the magic we need in one place, they'll be lost from there," Hermione replied, sceptically looking around.

"Brilliant, Hermione!" Ron praised loudly.

"Another thing, I think we should go to Darwin using magic we perform here. Then once we're there, magic some Muggle money (we'll need a lot) and catch a plane to Sydney or Brisbane, then a boat to New Zealand. What do you think?" Hermione clarified, watching her companions thoroughly for a response.

"Perfect! Okay… It'll take a few days to walk to Darwin. Damn," Kristen said a little more sullenly.

"Magic, remember?" Ron said, rolling his eyes. "Maybe we could speed our legs up or something."

"I brought some books with me," Hermione confessed, turning around to dig through her magically enlarged backpack. "I thought they would be useful."

Ron snorted, but didn't comment further as Hermione dumped five outrageously thick books on the map.

"So, we'll need food, water, speedy shoes… What else?" Kristen said, scribbling a list on a piece of parchment.

"Protection," Bryce put in, nodding his head.

"Anti-weariness aswell," Hermione interjected, flicking through 'An Advanced Guide to Unusual Charms and Transfiguration'.

"Ok."

"Maybe a cleanliness spell?" Tahnee said questioningly.

"Nice idea. I'm not going around stinking like Malfoy," Ron snickered.

"Right. A cleanliness spell," Kristen said vaguely, writing away. "There can't be much more we need?"

"I've found a Transfiguration spell for food," Hermione interrupted, looking up from her book. "It looks doable. Probably late fifth year or early sixth year stuff."

"What do you have to do?" Tahnee asked.

"Um… Concentrate on the food you want, point your wand at any object and say 'Makan Tremore'," Hermione tutored.

"Well, who wants to start with the food?" Kristen inquired. "Bryce? You're pretty good at Transfiguration."

"Sure," Bryce obliged, crawling over to a particular rocky corner where there were several piles of rocks.

"Bryce, that food spell will work for water too," Hermione added to Bryce, who nodded. "You three should probably look through these books too for other useful spells."

Ron groaned, but obeyed and began skimming through one of the less bulky books.

Fifteen hurried minutes later, all the spells were cast and they were stuffing the last of the food and water into their backpacks.

"I hope this works," Hermione said shakily, taking a quick sip of water and squeezing it into the bag.

"Oh well. We've got nothing to lose," Tahnee tried to say cheerfully, but failing dreadfully.

"Except our lives," Bryce muttered quietly, exchanging a look with his twin.

"Don't think negatively!" Tahnee piped, wearing a semi-happy grin as she heaved the backpack onto her shoulders. "We'll see part of the world and Adela and Harry will be saved!"

"If we don't die or get caught first," Ron put forward sardonically.

"Come on," Hermione insisted, slowly beginning the long walk through the tunnel. "We want to get far away before daylight."

"Right. Now let's put these speedy shoes into good use!" Ron said rowdily, racing past Hermione with an amazing pace.

The others stared in wonder, and then zoomed after the red headed Ron.

~#~#~#~#~#

"I'm hungry," Adelaide moaned, scooping a teaspoonful of damp stone out of the hole they had made.

"You could always try some of that," Harry said, nodding towards the 'Platter of Indigestible Mush'.

"I'm not that desperate."

Five lingering minutes later, the soggy brick they were digging through became harder and drier.

"Great," Adelaide sniffed. "Our only way of escaping is ruined."

"Not necessarily," Harry said slowly, dragging the platter of so called 'food' over to where Adelaide was staring forlornly into space. "We could dampen the wall with this… stuff."

Adelaide immediately lightened up a tad.

"If there was a class on 'How-to-Escape-Out-of-a-Chamber-Where-You-Are-Being-Held-Captive-By-The-Meanest-Wizard-On-Earth, I bet you would be top of the class!" Adelaide complimented, dipping her teaspoon into the mush and splattering it into their hole.

"Er… Thanks."

~#~#~#~#~#

An icy wind rushed through the open window into the Absurdum Fifth Year Girls' Dorms. Mirabella Marshall, the unlucky girl who had the bed closest to the window, snuggled deeper into the thick, patchwork doona. But it was no use. The unusual chilly breeze still blew directly onto her face. Urging her body to get up, Mirabella sleepily seated herself and looked despondently at the window.

"Why can't you just shut yourself?" she mumbled, rising to her feet and stumbling over to the wide windowsill.

Mirabella snapped the glass shutters shut and went back to bed. But she couldn't sleep. Adelaide seemed to have invaded her mind yet again. Ever since news of Adelaide and Harry's disappearance, Mirabella couldn't help but think of them both. Her lost gaze at Adelaide's bed, unslept in and neat, moved to Tahnee's bed. The hangings were drawn on Tahnee's bed and the covers were pulled up. There was a piece of parchment placed on the pillow. Mirabella thought this only a little strange. She strolled over and reached for the parchment. But then wished she hadn't.

People-

We've gone to find Adelaide and Harry. Don't worry! We know exactly where they are. So don't get your knickers in a knot. But whoever is reading this, you CAN'T tell the teachers where we've gone!!!!! They'll freak and come after us! We promise to bring Harry and Adelaide back safely.

LuvULotz,

-Tahnee, Hermione, Ron, Kristen, Bryce.

Mirabella gaped. She glanced at Hermione's bed to find it too empty.

"Tori! Yasmine! Maddy!" Mirabella squealed, jumping to her feet and shaking each of the slumbering girls.

"Ugh… 'Bella," Yasmine groaned, trying to shoo her frantic friend away. "Go away…"

"Tahnee's gone! 'Mione's gone! They're all gone!" Mirabella shouted, attempting to pull Madison to her feet. "Get up!"

"What do you mean 'they're all gone'?" Tori asked curiously, the first to actually get up, despite the time of 2:46AM.

"Look at the note! They left!" Mirabella cried. "Right under our noses!"

Tori skimmed through the letter with wide, frightened eyes. She passed it to Yasmine, then to Madison.

"We should tell Millagen," Yasmine said straight away. "Who knows what dangers they're putting themselves in."

"But the note said not to," Tori said doubtfully, frowning.

"I know. I think we should tell Millagen, but that would be like breaking a promise," Madison whined. "Why did they go after them?"

"They're going to get themselves killed for Merlin's sake!" Mirabella cried out.

"I think we should tell Millagen now," Yasmine insisted on. "Before they get cursed into oblivion."

"Mm… I agree, I really do," Madison said. "It's just… I don't know… I think we should've gone with them or something. Or someone that could look after them."

"Yeah, well, no one did. So we have to tell the teachers," Tori said. "Come on. They're all in Millagen's office. They've been working 24/7 since Adela and Harry were taken."

The four girls agreed and descended down the trapdoor and the rickety staircase into the Common Room. There was a weak fire still burning. The flickering flames casting a ghostly light upon the walls.

"What if someone catches us on our way?" Tori whispered, straightening the folds in her flannelette PJ top as they exited the Common Room via a stained glass door.

"We'll just tell them we need to see Millagen," Mirabella answered simply.

They walked down a narrow hall that was carpeted and painted with a bright pinkie purple colour. It came to an end, except for another wooden trapdoor on the ground. The four climbed down that and began wandering through the eerie halls towards Millagen's office. They reached their destination without any run-ins.

Yasmine stopped and faced a wall. She powerfully prodded a button in the shape of Ayers Rock, causing a small speaker to appear.

"Professor Millagen?" she said hesitantly into the speaker.

"Miss Sawyer? What on earth are you doing here at 3:04 in the morning?" came the reply in Millagen's exhausted and worn voice.

"Um… We need to see you and Professor Dumbledore," Mirabella put in, tapping her foot. "It's important."

"Very well. Come right up."

Miraculously, the speaker vanished and an outline of a giant door appeared, complete with a door handle. Mirabella, Yasmine, Tori and Madison opened the door and ascended the slender staircase. The steps were carpeted with a tender, springy carpet in the shade of royal red. The stairway led up to a small landing covered in the same carpet. Yasmine banged the gleaming gold doorknocker politely and waited patiently. The marble double doors were slowly opened and Dumbledore with his dazzling, sweeping beard invited the four girls in. But he didn't look his happiest.

"Come in, young ladies," he said graciously. "Please have a seat. Professor Millagen will be with you in a second."

The office was quite impressive. It was carpeted with a rich purple and spongy rug with the walls painted a precious, glimmering white. There were four mauve, sturdily cushioned chairs with thin, polished wooden legs. A splendid oak desk littered with paperwork and inkwells was varnished to perfection. There was a massive bookcase behind the desk overloaded with books of all shape, colour and size. Several picture frames held images of Millagen's well-loved family.

"Um… How's the search for Adela and Harry going?" Mirabella said, trying to make conversation as she swang her legs from side to side. Her toes weren't even touching the ground! The chairs were huge!

"Yes and no," Dumbledore answered thoughtfully as he itched his chin.

"What do you mean, Professor?" Tori inquired, drumming her fingers on the side of the chair.

"We found a brief location and began a force to get them back," Dumbledore said, leaning on the desk with an old and wrinkled hand.

"Well, then what's the problem?" Madison interjected a little sharply. "You know where they are!"

"Our map has been stolen."

At that moment, Millagen chose to stroll in and slam the door behind him. He sat heavily behind the desk and faced the girls, ignoring Dumbledore for the time being.

"Ladies, now what is this important matter you decided to treat me with at three in the morning?" Millagen asked hoarsely, sounding much different than through the speaker system.

"It's about Tahnee, Kristen, Bryce, Hermione and Ron," Yasmine began explaining in a serious tone with narrowed eyes. "They've gone to find Adela and Harry on their own. They might have your missing map too."

Whatever Millagen and Dumbledore were expecting, it most certainly wasn't that.

"P - Pardon?" Millagen stuttered, blinking furiously.

"They're gone," Mirabella said plainly. "They left this note."

Millagen read the note swiftly with Dumbledore scanning the note over his shoulder.

"When was the last time you saw them?" Millagen questioned, pacing the room and shaking his hands nervously.

"When they went to bed. That was about ten," Tori put in. "They were all sitting by themselves before that."

"They couldn't have gotten too far," Millagen soothed. "Especially on foot. If they've used magic, we could track them by that too."

Dumbledore, nonetheless, looked a lot more doubtful as Millagen ushered the four girls to their dorms, making them promise not to go after their friends.

~#~#~#~#~#

"How thick can a single wall be?" Adelaide demanded to know breathlessly as she and Harry continued to dig through the never-ending stone with teaspoons.

"Very thick?" Harry said.

"Hey, you kids!"

Adelaide and Harry, startled by the booming voice from outside the cell, frantically filled the holed will straw and piled the straw in front of it, hoping that the guard wouldn't notice their sheepish faces. The head of the masked man with the deafening voice appeared in the small window in the door wearing a merciless smirk.

"Master is coming to visit you," the Death Eater taunted, watching for a reaction, then disappeared.

Adelaide's eyes widened in fear and her brown skin turned a few shades paler. Her heart sank to the ground in fear. She had grown quite afraid of Voldemort ever since he performed the curse that affected her arm.

"You okay?" Harry asked, concerned.

"Fine," Adelaide murmured. "Voldemort's just not my most favourite person right now."

"Was he ever?"

The two captives separated and sat against different walls to avoid suspicion. All too soon, a key was jabbed into the lock and the door creaked open.

Voldemort gazed at his prisoners with amusement. So helpless and innocent, not to mention skinny. They hadn't eaten anything for days.

"I see you've eaten," Voldemort sneered, eyeing the half-full bowls of grey goo.

Adelaide and Harry didn't reply. There was nothing much to say. They weren't stupid enough to admit they hadn't eaten anything and had been using it for their hopeful escape.

"Have you grown to like your new room?" Voldemort inquired silkily, his skeletal fingers entwining round his wand.

Adelaide and Harry still said nothing.

"What fun you are today," Voldemort snarled, eyes flashing. "But that shall change! Crucio!"

The curse, aimed directly at Harry, struck him unaware. As the yellow light collided with him, Harry fell forward, trembling. His screams and hollers filled with pain and terror rang throughout the cell and beyond.

"Harry!" Adelaide squealed, crawling forward to comfort the boy.

She banged her fist against the floor in irritation, clueless of what to do. But suddenly the yells stopped and Harry just layed in front of her, attempting to sit up with aching limbs.

"Worried, were you?" Voldemort said with delight as Adelaide helped Harry sit against the wall again. "You shall have a share, don't worry. Crucio!"

Without warning, Adelaide was knocked with the excruciating spell. It was terrible. Every single square inch of her body was on fire. Blunt knives were digging into her skin. Everything imaginable was happening. Until it stopped.

Adelaide's body was still sore when Harry helped her into a seating position.

"Where's Voldemort?" Adelaide asked huskily, noticing her was no where in sight and the door was shut.

"He left."

"We should do the hole again. We should be over halfway," Adelaide suggested, trying to forget her throbbing body.

"Sure. There has to be something good on the other side."

It didn't take them long to dig through to the other side.

"We're nearly there!" Adelaide muttered excitedly, scooping out damp stone frantically.

A tiny hole appeared. It only revealed another cell. Their hearts fell.

"All this for nothing," Adelaide moaned, peering into the opening.

Suddenly, the chamber view was blocked off by a deep blue eye, examining Adelaide's own eye from the other side.

"Harry!" she yelped, jumping back. "There's someone in there!"

The two fifth years picked up their teaspoons and began widening the hole. In the cell beside them, there was a tall, slim Asian girl. She was clad in a torn and tattered robe smeared with dirt. Her very long midnight hair was oily and scraggly. She had a pale face that was mysteriously clean, unlike the rest of her body.

"Who are you?"

~#~#~#~#~#

Twenty-three hours, forty-three minutes after Hermione, Ron, Tahnee, Kristen and Bryce left for Darwin.

"Our water is running out," Tahnee confessed, eyeing the only bottle left of water. "Hermione, how long til we get to Darwin?"

"I estimate about two hours," Hermione replied adeptly, studying the stolen map yet again. "But the Speedy Shoe Spell is already beginning to wear off. So it could be a little longer. How's our food supply?"

"Okay. We've got one packet of Salt and Vinegar chips each. After that, we starve," Ron answered, zipping up his backpack.

"Should be enough," Bryce said. "Well, let's go!"

Each of them threw their backpacks onto the backs and faced the north horizon defiantly. Though their spirits were confident, the view of the path they were to take was bleak. The sky was black, highlighted with millions of tiny stars and a glowing crescent moon. The ground was covered in spinifex, red dirt and small, twisted, dying trees. But they continued on their way.

Another four hours went by of walking; two in which were done without the aid of speedy shoes. But part of their quest was done. They were in Darwin at last. It was early morning and the sky was still fairly dark and the stars still shone brightly. The five teenagers had arrived at a petrol station and 24-hour diner attached to it. It was deserted, but the light in the windows and the 'Open' sign at the door showed that it was indeed open.

"We'll go in there," Hermione instructed, pointing to the station from across the road in the trees. "Then we'll decide what to do next over a decent meal. I'm starved."

Instantly, the others agreed and came from behind the trees and walked across the road. A tiny tinkling sounded deep within the shop. A short, stout lady waddled out of the kitchen and stood behind the counter, looking expectantly at the teenagers.

"Can I help you?" she offered, eyeing them a little suspiciously.

"Not just yet," Hermione declined gently. "But thank you anyway."

They expected the lady to return to the kitchen, but she stood her ground, watching them intently.

"What are you young children doing out at this time?" she asked inquisitively. "Surely you're not alone?"

"Ah…" was all Tahnee could say, looking a tad puzzled and guilty.

Ron and Kristen wore looks much like hers, not knowing what to say. But Bryce improvised quickly.

"We're supposed to meet our uncle later. So we're just going to hang around til then. Hope you don't mind."

The lady shook her head and smiled.

"Not at all. Just call me when you need something. I'll just be through this door."

She entered the kitchen and shut the door.

"Good quick thinking, Bryce," Hermione praised, leading the way to a corner booth.

Each of them piled their bags beside the booth and seated themselves on the yellow plastic cushions. Kristen cleared away the menu and salt and pepper shakers and Hermione layed out the map on the table with a Muggle pen in hand to avoid question.

"'Kay, we walked all that way," she began, marking the path they had just travelled. "I reckon we should take some sort of Muggle transport to say… Sydney, which is here. Then more Muggle transport to New Zealand. What do you say?"

"Great. I suggest plane. Get a plane from here to Sydney. It'll take a few hours, six at most I think," Kristen said.

"Sounds like a plan?" Ron said as everyone nodded their heads in approval.

"Where'll we do the magic we need?" Tahnee inquired in a low voice.

"I say the toilets," Ron said. Everyone scrunched up their noses. "Nobody's here but us!" he retorted. "It'll give us a little privacy too."

"Very well. The toilets it is," Tahnee agreed regretfully. "But one or two of us should stay here."

"Me and Ron will stay," Bryce volunteered instantaneously. "You guys are better at Transfiguration and that's the magic you'll be using most."

It was logical, so Hermione, Tahnee and Kristen went down the hall where the toilets appeared to be, taking Hermione's backpack with them as it contained all the books.

Twenty minutes later, they returned with Hermione's bag a whole lot heavier than it was before. Bryce and Ron, it seemed, where still seated at the booth, but were talking casually to the small lady that they had seen earlier.

"Hello there," the lady greeted, smiling warmly. "These boys were just telling me where you were from! England is a long way away! And hitchhiking all over Australia to meet with your uncle!"

"Yes," Tahnee muttered, forcing a smile and a weak English accent. "Australia is a beautiful place."

"Indeed! I myself went travelling around when I was younger with my husband!" the lady yarned on. "I had a marvellous time!"

"I'm sure you did," Hermione said kindly. "How about we talk about it another time? We're kind of hungry, so we'll decide what to order and come to you."

"Of course! I'll just be in the kitchen."

The lady toddled off absently and Hermione, Kristen and Tahnee sat down.

"What did you tell her?" Tahnee hissed, shooting a glare at Bryce and Ron. "We're supposed to be lying low."

"Only what she told you," Bryce snapped. "Anyway, have you got some Muggle money? I'm starved."

"Yeah. We should get a quick, decent meal," Hermione said.

In turns, the five runaways scrutinised the menu and chose on something to order. Hermione scribbled the meals down on a napkin with her pen, then went up to the counter to get drinks and tell the lady of their food.

Fifteen minutes later she returned with two trays. On the trays were their meals, drinks and a pamphlet.

"What's that?" Kristen asked, pointing to the pamphlet as he gulped down a forkful of greasy bacon.

"It's about the airport here. It also has the listed flight times to where and prices and stuff," Hermione replied, sipping her orange juice.

Tahnee picked the pamphlet up and flicked through, searching.

"Aha! Next flight to Sydney… Uh oh."

Everyone paused eating and laid their eyes on Tahnee.

"The next flight to Sydney is in an hour and a half!"

"Hurry up and eat!" Bryce commanded, beginning to wolf down his food.

They finished their meals in record time and left before the lady could object.

"Er… Where to now?" Ron murmured, looking round in bewilderment.

They were standing just outside the petrol station. The sun was just coming up, so the sky was a purple colour. The sounds of car engines had began within the city.

"There's a map here," Hermione said. "We're actually not that far. We could walk."

Ron groaned and rolled his eyes.

"More walking. Brilliant," he said quite droopily.

"It's only a couple of blocks away," Hermione said. "We better walk fast too, otherwise we won't get any tickets."

After half an hour of more walking, much to their displeasure, they arrived at the airport. Thankfully, there were tickets left for the morning flight to Sydney, and they were able to purchase some with the Transfigured money.

"We're actually doing it!" Tahnee squealed softly, gripping the sides of the chair. (They were seated in the plane, ready for take off.)

The engines began and shook the plane slightly. There was a rumbling and the plane, after a little bit, began travelling up the runway. Soon enough, it was soaring through the air towards Sydney.

A/N: Wow. The twenty-first chapter. By gosh. Thank you to EVERYONE who has reviewed. You are the very, very best! Give yourselves a pat on the back and a triple choc ice-cream. Yum. Anywayz, my sister has begun an account here and her name is Jelli Baby. She stole my Jelli! Bah! Thank you for reading this. I'm so sorry I took so long with this chapter. Bye!