Funestus

Funestus

A/N. There is slight violence in this chapter but not enough for me to rate it PG-13 but if you do feel it should have a higher rating, let me know!!!!! BTW you pronounce Emilio; Eh me le oh!!!!:}

Chapter Eight:

Harry spun round and pointed his wand in the vague direction of where the voice came from, his breathing ragged.

To his relief it was Malfoy. His blonde hair was straggled over his face and his robes were dirty and slightly torn.

'What are you doing here?' Malfoy continued.

'I could ask you the same thing,' said Harry, coldly.

'It was just a stupid rumour, wasn't it?' said Malfoy, looking downcast.

'That's what I thought,' said Harry grimly, 'until I overheard your mother saying the forest was full of Death Eaters. She must have escaped. C'mon, we've got to get back!'

But Malfoy stood his ground.

'You're lying, aren't you?' he said desperately, 'She…she's really safe?'

'Yeah she is,' said Harry as near to kind as he could get, 'Why would I lie to you?'

To Harry's relief Malfoy gave in and began to follow him.

'If you've lied to me, Potter…' he began, 'Why are you out here anyway?'

'What d'you think?'

'To keep me out of danger?' his voice was scornful and disbelieving, 'What have I ever done for you that you would risk your life for me?'

'That's exactly what I asked myself,' muttered Harry, more to himself than Malfoy.

After five minutes of solid walking on the path that could hardly be seen, even with both Harry and Malfoy's wands, the silence was broken.

'So I suppose you think you've got a chance with Jenny?'

Harry swung round, groaning inwardly that Malfoy had momentarily switched back to his old self.

'It that really relevant?' he said, irritably, 'Shouldn't we be more concerned whether we are going to be attacked by hordes of Death Eaters in a minute?'

'There's no one around for miles!' said Malfoy confidently, as he stepped in front of Harry, his blue-grey eyes fixed on him, 'So let's talk.'

'OK,' said Harry, trying not to loose his patience, 'What do you want me to say? That I'm jealous of you because she likes you more than she likes me, is that it?'

'Finally got that out in the open, have we?' sneered Malfoy insolently, 'I can't believe you actually think that she could ever like you! You haven't got the charm! You couldn't get her to go out with you even if…'

WHAM!

Harry's fist struck Malfoy's jaw.

He had finally lost his temper, seeing as Malfoy was saying exactly what he was feeling. And he didn't like it one bit.

Malfoy retaliated and the next moment fists and blood went flying, in a furious and noisy fight.

Suddenly they heard voices over their own shrieks and yells of pain, obviously alerted by the noise they were making.

'Quick!' whispered Harry, panicking and pulling Malfoy roughly to his feet, 'Run!'

They both ran through the dense forest, trying to ignore the voices, now angry, that were gaining on them.

Harry saw flecks of blood from the fight fly past him and his whole body was aching with every step he took. He looked to his side and saw that Malfoy was faring no better. He had a black eye, a scratch down one cheek, and was slowing down, as Harry was. On impulse, Harry grabbed Malfoy and ducked behind a bush. Their breath was coming in short, painful gasps and neither of them spoke as they waited for the voices to pass.

What a stupid thing to do, thought Harry, Fight in the middle of a forest with Death Eaters barely being five hundred meters away.

The voices soon came to a stop in front of them and they crouched lower, so as not to be seen.

'Do you think it was some kids?' said the first voice.

'Did that sound like an animal to you?' said the second voice, 'That was kids alright. They gotta be round here somewhere, we'll find 'em'

And they started to search the bushes.

All Harry and Malfoy could do was tremble. Frozen with fear they listened, as the men got closer and closer to their hiding place.

Harry caught Malfoy's eye and saw that he, too, was terrified.

Suddenly the leaves of their bush parted and the face of one of the voices gaped at them. For a split second nothing happened, they just stared at each other in shock.

'Emilio! I've got them!' roared the Death Eater, as he lunged for them.

The shout seemed to knock the two boys out of their terror and they did the only sensible thing, ran.

'It's flamin' Harry Potter! Grab him you fool!' shrieked the one called Emilio.

Harry felt some sort of spell go whizzing past his ear and he could hear the Death Eaters gaining on them. It's too late, Harry thought, any moment now they're going to grab us and…

With a screech of brakes the Weasly's turquoise Ford Anglia skidded to a halt in from of them, revving its engines impatiently.

'Get in!' yelled Harry, as a door flung open and he shoved Malfoy in. Harry climbed in after him and the door slammed itself shut. Before he had even touched the seat, the car sped off into the trees, leaving the yelling of the angry Death Eaters far behind them.

Harry leaned back on the seat, teeth clenched, he closed his eyes. His heart was still beating painfully fast.

'Pot…uh, I mean, Harry? Are you OK?'

Harry turned to Malfoy, surprised that he had used his first name.

'You look kind of pale.'

Did Malfoy look concerned?

'Pale?' said Harry, trying to keep calm. 'Pale! We could have been killed! We shouldn't have been so stupid as to fight.'

'I know,' said Malfoy. 'And I'm sorry.'

'Really?'

'Yeah.'

'Me too.'

Ten minutes later the car skidded to a halt just outside the forest, in Hogwarts grounds. They both climbed shakily out of the car, and, with a farewell toot, it disappeared back into the forest.

'Never would I have dreamed…' came a steely voice from behind them. They turned around slowly to face Professor McGongall, her nostrils very white and looking very angry. Beside her were Snape, Dumbledore and Jenny. Harry wondered where Sirius was but was then almost glad he wasn't there, not wanting Sirius' temper to be tested again that year. Lupin was probably still teaching, seeing he wasn't the head of Harry or Malfoy's house.

'I don't think here is the place to discuss this, Minerva. Perhaps we should go up to the hospital wing where Mr. Malfoy can see his mother, hmm?' said Dumbledore, looking serious.

'Yes Professor,' she said in a strangled sort of voice.

They started the long trek up to the hospital wing. Harry tried to catch Jenny's eye but she refused to look at him. He realised, with a jolt, that he might have got her into trouble too seeing as she was meant to be keeping a close eye on him.

'Harry!' came Hermione's voice as she ran up to him, closely followed by Ron, 'You're OK! We did what you said, we…'

'Get to your lesson, Miss Granger!'

'But…'

'Now!'

Ron and Hermione, with a final glance at Harry, went back into the Transfiguration room, followed by McGonagall's icy stare.

I'm in trouble, Harry thought.

A/N. Dun dun dunnnnnnn!!!!! Will our favourite Gryffindor be expelled, did he just make the understatement of the year???!!!! Find out soon in the last chapter!!!!:}

Disclaimer: I own Jen and Emilio, JK owns the rest!!!!:}