Nowhere Left to Run
YAY! I gots two reviews! Ok, u promised myself not to obsess about review anymore, but oh well! ^_^ I'm really, really sorry that this chapter took so long, buy if you read my profile then you knew that I had sooooooooooooooo many major projects at school! Mean teachers! Well, on with the next chappie!
Disclaimer: Will someone please tell me whether I need to say this stupid disclaimer thingie every time? It's really annoying. Well, for the THIRD time, I don't own Harry Potter(isn't it kinda obvious?)
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Chapter 3: Creatures of the Night
"Whew, I'm really glad you guys came. For some reason my aunt and uncle seem more unbearable than ever this year!" Harry sighed.
"Well, now that you're here, you can forget about all o' them for another year," Ron replied, feeding his owl, Pig, some Owl Treats.
The day had been pretty uneventful. For once, the Weasleys had actually managed to pick up Harry in a normal way. Mr. Weasley had borrowed some ministry cars, and had driven over, unlike last year's incident of when they tried to pick Harry up using floo powder and blown out the fireplace. They were up in Ron's room now, where Harry was unpacking his clothes and other things. It felt good to be back in the Weasley's house. It always felt very cheerful here. It was late afternoon right now, and Fred and George were currently in their room, Ginny and Hermione, who had also come, helping Mrs. Weasley prepare dinner, and Percy and Mr. Weasley at the ministry. Bill and Charlie had been able to make it back home again this year and were out in the backyard setting up the tables for an outside dinner.
Harry was reminded vividly of a similar scene last year, when he was here, the same carefree, relaxed feelings. They went downstairs, it would be dinnertime soon, and Mr. Weasley and Percy would be coming home. And then, just as they walked into the kitchen, Mr. Weasley and Percy could be heard coming in. "Arthur!" Mrs. Weasely called, "We're in the kitchen!"
Mr. Weasley and Percy both walked in; they had the usual family trait of the Weasleys, flaming red hair, though Mr. Weasley was slightly balding. Mr. Weasley brightened as he saw Harry, "Oh, hello Harry!"
"Hi, Mr. Weasley," Harry replied, smiling back. "Hi, Percy."
"Hello," Percy said stiffly, then turning to Mrs. Weasley said, "I'll be up in my room. Call me when it's time for dinner." And with that, he strolled up the stairs and into his room. Harry stared.
"What's with him?" he asked.
"Oh, don't mind Percy," Ron said, "He's just a bit loaded down at the ministry, you know, ever since Mr.Crouch died, he's been under a lot of pressure from everyone basically. They're assuming that since he was Crouch's personal assistant, he knew a lot about him and his job. He's really overworked." Harry nodded silently. He could still remember as clear as ever last year when he had met the crazed Mr. Crouch in the Forbidden Forest.
"Well," said Mrs. Weasley briskly, "dinner will be ready in about ten minutes. Why don't you go freshen up a bit Arthur?" Mr. Weasley complied, seeming a bit worn out himself.
"I think I will Molly," he replied and walked up the stairs after Percy. Dinner began ten minutes later. The tables were all set up and soft candles illuminated the table; it was almost dark outside. They ate merrily, the food was delicious! Different conversations sprouted along the table. Percy and was talking to Mrs. Weasley about work at the ministry, Ginny and Bill were conversing with Mr. Weasley, and Fred, George, Hermione, Ron, and Harry were trying to pry the "big secret" out of Charlie. It seemed that something else was going to be happening at Hogwarts this year. Not another Triwizard Tournament for sure, or else everyone wouldn't have been so secretive.
"Oh, come on Charlie! We're going to find out later anyways! What's gonna happen at Hogwarts this year?" Fred pleaded.
"Well, if you're going to find out later, then there's no need for me to tell you." Charlie said, avoiding Fred's question smoothly.
"Why would they be having something at Hogwarts this year anyways? I mean, after last year—" Hermione broke off, leaving everyone in silence. No one liked to think about last year, when Lord Voldemort, yes, Lord Voldemort, had killed Cedric Diggory, a Hufflepuff.
"Anyways," said Ron, continuing the conversation, "just tell us Charlie. It's not gonna hurt you!" But Charlie wouldn't tell.
All that he said was, "You'll see, you'll see." Dinner was a very happy affair that night. Only when it became so dark that the candles no longer gave a sufficient light to be outside anymore, did they pack up everything and begin going in. As Harry began to go in, a garden gnome, up out of nowhere, snatched his watch, which he had been wearing just out of habit, and scampered away into the dark with it. Harry sighed in frustration, telling Ron and Hermione, "You guys go on in, I'll be right there as soon as I get my watch back." They filed in and Harry began searching for the gnome by the dim light of the remaining candles.
The attack came so suddenly, out of nowhere. Harry had no time to think. Feeling a chill in the back of his neck, he rubbed it and continued searching. He felt the chill again but ignored it. But suddenly, he felt a sense of coldness unlike anything he had ever felt before. Born out of his Quidditch training, he threw himself to one side, just as a knife landed in the spot where he had just been. He stared at it, lying on the ground, trying to figure out what it meant. But before he could, he heard footsteps. Feeling the cold again, he jumped up and dodged aside.
He didn't even have a chance to scream. Another throwing knife had landed where he had been. Crouched in the dark, he could make out figure. Then suddenly, the figure jumped up and came at him with what looked like—a sword? Harry barely had time to dodge out of the way. He knew right away two things: for one, he was dealing with an experienced swordsmaster here. For another, he knew that soon he would be hit; the unknown person was too experienced, too quick.
Frantically, he pulled out his wand and shouted, "Stupefy!" The spell shot right at the unknown identity, but to Harry's astonishment, it seemed to bounce of something, coming right back at him. He quickly threw himself aside again, accidentally knocking over a chair and tripping over it. He heard the assassin coming, and tried feebly to get up, but he couldn't. His limbs felt as if they weighed a million pounds each, his mind was foggy. Is this some kind of spell? Harry thought vaguely in his fuzzy mind. The assassin had almost reached him! He couldn't move! This is the end, Harry thought weakly, he couldn't seem to yell for help either. He's going to kill me. After surviving Lord Voldemort three times, this is how I'm going to die. In the Weasley's backyard! It was almost funny.
But just as he was waiting for the swish of the cold blade to end everything, he heard the backdoor open. "What's going on out here?" Mrs. Weasley's familiar voice called out, "Is that you, Harry?" He tried to answer but couldn't. The assassin had frozen. Then he heard Mrs. Weasley loud gasp as she spotted the unknown killer standing over Harry. She fired a spell at him, a freezing charm, from the sounds of it. But it just bounced off the same shield that Harry had hit. Trying a different tactic, she screamed, "Accio Harry!" trying to move him if not kill the assassin, but Harry was shielded too. So that must be part of the spell, Harry thought sleepily.
"Arthur!" he heard her yell, "Arthur! Come,quick! Someone is trying to kill Harry!" Mrs. Weasley began running toward him. He heard the assassin moving, knew he must be thinking that he had better get the job done quick, before help came. He heard the sword come swishing down. With the last of his strength, he just managed to turn slightly, but not enough. He felt the sword sink into him, the pain lacerating his body in waves, before everything went black.
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I'm done with the third chappie!!!!! YAY YAY YAY!!!!!!!!!!! It was like, three pages! I'm so proud of myself! This chapter kinda sucks, but I'm hoping I'll be able to write better ones as I go on. REVIEW PLEASE!!!!!
~Lady of Dreams~