Funestus
A/N. Sorry, this chapter's a bit lame and there are probably gaping plot holes.
Chapter Seven:
A few days later, Harry was walking alone down the corridor. He had just finished a detention for Snape and needed someone to complain to. (A/N. I really make him sound stressy, don't I?)
He was just about to walk round the corner when he heard Jenny's laugh. Then he heard another deeper voice and, although he couldn't hear the words, it didn't take him ten guesses to work out it was Malfoy. An unexplained jealousy arose in Harry's chest as he peered cautiously round the corner, ignoring his conscience telling him not to eavesdrop.
Sure enough Malfoy was standing there, closer than was necessary to Jenny, whilst she was pressed against the wall, laughing uncontrollably. All Harry wanted to do was to turn Malfoy into a slug there and then. He hadn't even realised he had his fists clenched until now.
Harry turned away and walked back down the corridor, going the long way to the common room, unable to watch Malfoy flirt with Jenny much longer.
'You OK, Harry? Snape wasn't that bad was he?' asked a concerned Ron, as Harry collapsed into a chair in the common room, with a scowl on his face.
'I can't stand that slimy git!' growled Harry.
'Relax Harry. Perhaps you'd better try and get on his good side. He is going to be your teacher for the next few years,' said Hermione reasonably.
Harry sighed. Let them think he was talking about Snape.
Jenny walked in five minutes later with a smile on her face. Harry was careful not to meet her eyes but she sat down next to him.
'Why so glum, Haz?' she asked him, still grinning broadly.
'Snape,' he muttered simply.
It was a good cover-up story.
She chuckled.
'Oh yeah, you just finished a DT with him, I forgot.'
Bet you did, thought Harry, bitterly.
'Yeah, that's what I heard,'
'In the forest?'
'No way!'
These were the whispers that greeted them the next morning when they came down to breakfast.
'What's everyone talking about?' asked Jenny.
'Dunno,' said Ron, 'But I'll soon find out,' and he went over to Fred and George.
The other three sat down at the table.
'Guess what!' said Ron excitedly, a few minutes later, as he sat down next to Hermione.
'What?' asked Harry, curiously.
'Apparently,' started Ron, 'there's a rumour going round that You-Know-Who's supporters are lurking around in the Forbidden Forest!'
Jenny snorted.
'What utter rubbish,' she exclaimed, 'I haven't heard a rumour like that and I'd be one of the first to know. Someone must have made it up, after all the killings in the Forest,'
'You must be right,' said Ron, looking crestfallen.
'Uh, where's Malfoy…or Draco…whatever we're calling him now?' pointed out Hermione suddenly.
They all looked over to the Slytherin table where, sure enough, there was no Malfoy.
'You don't think…'
'Surly he's not stupid enough to…'
'That settles it,' said Ron, 'Malfoy obviously heard the rumour, took it seriously and decided to toddle off to the forest to see if his mother's there.'
'The silly little ass!' exclaimed Jenny, 'Should we tell someone?'
'No,' said Harry thoughtfully, 'We don't know for sure whether that's where he's gone, though I suspect he has. If he's not back by lunch then we'll tell someone. You know how much he hates people prying in his business.'
They spent the rest of that day anxiously waiting for any sign of Malfoy but he didn't turn up and they started to feel sure that he was in the forest.
It was at lunch when Hermione had the bright idea of checking the hospital wing. (Jenny was at a detention for Professor Flitwick and she had told them to go without her.)
'He might be hurt and not able to go to lessons,' Hermione explained.
'Why do you care,' muttered Ron, 'I mean, it's not like he ever…'
But Harry never found out what it was Ron was going to say because in front of them, lying on a bed, was Narcissa Malfoy.
She was in a bad way with cuts and bruises all over her. She had lost her sneer and looked very different to when Harry had seen her at the Quidditch World Cup. Madam Pomfrey was bustling around her and Professor McGonagall was in deep conversation with her.
They were just in time to hear Narcissa say; '…the forest's swarming with Death Eaters, no wonder everything's being killed…' before McGonagall spotted them.
'Potter will you get out!' she shrieked.
'But Professor…' started Harry. He needed to tell her about Malfoy.
'Get out NOW!'
They retreated behind the door.
'Now what?' said Ron, sounding panicky, 'Dumbledore's out of school until later so we can't go to him about Malfoy…'
'Listen,' said Harry urgently, 'Malfoy may be in danger. I'm going into forest after him.' He ignored Hermione's gasp,' Tell someone as soon as you can, we can't waste time.' And deaf to his friends cries he practically ran down the corridors, through the main entrance and into the grounds.
It was freezing outside and Harry pulled his cloak around him. He hesitated as he approached the forest. Perhaps he should head back? An hour or so wouldn't make any difference, or would it? But whilst the teachers ummed and ahhed, Malfoy could be in trouble.
Summoning up his remaining courage, he hurried into the forest, only thinking about his former nemesis' safety.
It might have been Harry's imagination but he thought he heard whispering among the trees. He had his wand out and was jumping at any unexpected noise, expecting Voldemort to come creeping out of the shadows, and wishing that Vipereus was with him for company.
'Potter?' came a voice from the darkness of the trees.
A/N. The next chappy will be up soon I hope!!!!!!!:}
Disclaimer: I own Jen and Vipereus.
