Chapter Six:

Getting Lost and the Kidnapping

Harry stepped forward to get closer to her.

"Are you the- Why have you been running from me. you are real I knew it!" Harry had a hard time getting his words right. He was so awestruck that this woman had stayed put for more than five seconds.

"Well, what are you doing here?" He stepped forward again but she backed away and moved her head to look around. She took a deep breath that sounded a lot like 'Harry.'

He was sure it was 'Harry,' but how did she know his name?

"How do you know my name?"

Then she turned and ran back into the forest. Harry then took off after her.

"Wait.. Please. hold on." Harry's words were separated from his panting.

He continued running after her anyway. His dress robes getting tangled and torn from the branches of the trees. Breathing was getting harder, and Harry's face was a victim to many twigs slashing against him. Harry's feet ached from stepping on uneven ground and from large tree roots. Harry reached out to grab her arm but he lost his balance and tripped on a tree root.

He fell to the ground hard. He quickly pushed himself off the ground but when he looked around to find her, she was gone. There wasn't any sound of the branches breaking or any footprints. it was like he was chasing a ghost.

'Where the bloody hell does she go?'

Harry began to brush the dirt off his robes with his hands, but he stopped when he heard a low growl from behind him. Slowly and carefully, he turned around to face whatever was behind him. It was a werewolf. (A/N: No not Professor Lupin!!)

Harry couldn't move; he was paralyzed by fright. The werewolf came closer to Harry and began to strike at him. Harry grabbed a detached tree branch from the floor of the forest, and began to swing it at the werewolf like it was a baseball bat. The wolf grabbed hold of the branch and broke it into pieces. The wolf had Harry unarmed and cornered in the forest; too far for anyone to hear him. Harry snapped his eyes shut thinking:

'So this is what kills The-Boy-Who-Lived. A werewolf.'

He heard the wolf's feet jump off the ground but Harry didn't feel any pain. Something must have happened. He slowly opened his eyes to see that Aurora was protecting him. She was bashing the wolf with her hooves and horn. Harry watched helplessly as the wolf was getting beat. After a few more good hits by Aurora, the wolf retreated. Harry quickly moved over to Aurora and put his arms around her neck.

"Thank you Aurora. You saved my life." He said as he stroked her mane. She turned her head to look Harry in the eye. Harry saw worry and pride in her eyes. She moved out of Harry's arms and began to walk away from Harry. Once she realized he wasn't following her, she turned back, looking at him in a way telling him that she wanted him to follow her. As Harry started moving towards her, she turned back around and continued to walk.

After minutes of walking in silence, Harry heard branches cracking from behind him. He turned his head to see that Crookshanks was following him. He wondered why Crookshanks would be here.

Harry thought about Crookshanks and Aurora. 'I guess they became good friends.'

He followed Aurora and Crookshanks out of the Dark Forest. Once they were out, Harry turned to Aurora and patted her nose and stroked her mane.

"Thank you again, Aurora." He said again, but this time Aurora licked his cheek. This somehow reminded him of Hermione kissing his cheek. It gave him comfort even though it was a different comfort. Harry laughed at this display of affection that Aurora gave him. Aurora was a wonderful friend, even if she was a unicorn. Before leaving Harry again looked at the weird crescent and star marking over her heart. All the unicorns he saw were pure white but this one had a tan mark over her heart.

"Goodbye Aurora." Harry said, as Aurora made her way back into the forest. Then Harry and Crookshanks made their way up to Hagrid's hut. Harry knocked when they made it up to the large door. A few moments later, Hagrid answered the door with large, wet, puffy eyes.

"Oh.. Harry!!! You're OKAY!!!" He quickly grabbed Harry into a big hug. Harry could barely hear what Hagrid was mumbling but he was sure of these: "I thought I'd never see yeh again!" and "I was so worried."

"Yeah. I am alright Hagrid." These were the only words Harry was able to wheeze out from Hagrid's grip on him. Finally, Hagrid loosened his grip on Harry and wiped his eyes with the back of his hands.

"Come on in Harry." Hagrid said as he turned to let Harry and Crookshanks in. Harry noticed that Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Flitwick, Lupin, and Sprout were all inside Hagrid's hut.

They all noticed his torn dress robes and his cuts on his face right when they saw him.

"Harry, are you okay?"

"Mr. Potter, I think you better go up to the hospital wing."

"What were you doing in the Dark Forest, Potter!" (Snape.who else?)

"I think you better get some rest, Mr. Potter, you look very tired."

"I am okay." Harry replied to everyone. "What is going on?"

There was no answer for Harry. After moments of silence, Dumbledore asked:

"Harry, I believe you attended the ball with Miss Slout, did you not?"

"Yeah.. I did until we got in an argument and she left. Why do you ask?"

"Well, Harry, she has disappeared." Lupin answered.

"She was kidnapped, Harry," Dumbledore corrected.

"What? By Voldemort?"

Dumbledore only nodded. Harry felt sick. He saw her less than two hours ago.

"Why her? She wasn't a muggleborn."

"That is none of your business, Potter!" Snape snapped at him.

"I think it is time for you to go back up to the Gryffindor Tower, Mr. Potter." McGonagall said.

Harry nodded and made his way to the Gryffindor Tower.

"He's getting closer Dumbledore, he knows she is here."

"Who is this we are speaking of, Minerva?"

"Well..both of them."

"I know."

~*~Three weeks before Christmas~*~

Over the next month, the weather began to change. It was getting a lot colder and the lake began to freeze. It was getting even more closer to Christmas break and there has been no sign of Allison Slout. Students were starting to get worried and scared. Ron, however, was still very angry with Harry. (A/N: You will figure out more about this next chapter.) He blamed Harry for Allison's disappearance and how the Gryffindor Team needed a new Chaser. Ron stayed away from Harry until one day after Care for Magical Creatures.

"Hey Ron! We need to talk." Harry called out after Ron.

"Too bad Harry." Ron kept walking until Harry grabbed his arm. Ron pushed Harry to the ground.

"Don't touch me Harry! You shouldn't have left Allison alone, you stupid git!!"

"She shouldn't have treated me like I am a bloody trophy."

"Don't get too full of yourself Harry!"

"Well, you shouldn't have asked Allison to the ball for me!" Harry said after a few moments.

"Well, I was trying to be a good friend. but the famous Harry Potter doesn't need any friends."

"Take that back!" Harry yelled at Ron.

"No!" Ron pushed Harry then Harry pushed back. Instead of pushing back, Ron hit Harry right in the nose causing it to bleed. Harry punched Ron's eye in return. Suddenly, they both kept hitting each other. The fight got so hardcore that Ron and Harry were soon on the ground rolling around still hitting and kicking each other. Ron kicked Harry and Harry grabbed Ron's arm as Harry began rolling down heading straight into the lake. They both ended up heading right off a tiny cliff. Ron and Harry fell seven feet on top of the ice of the lake.

It hurt to move, and Harry was having trouble breathing. He clearly had the wind knocked out of him.

"Ron.. are you okay?" Harry managed to breathe out.

"I think so, Harry." Ron winced in pain.

"Are you okay?" Ron was able to ask.

"I think I broke my wrist, but I think I will get over it," Harry let out a tiny laugh.

Harry and Ron tried to get up but they heard the sound of cracking. The ice was breaking!

"Ron! Don't make any sudden movements, we are standing on thin ice."

Ron slowly and carefully pushed himself up off of the ice. He started to make his way toward the end of the lake. Harry followed Ron's movement. He too slowly pushed himself off of the ice but his hand slipped, causing him to fall back onto the ice. This time the lake was cracking even faster. Within seconds, Harry fell through the ice and Ron's feet were in the icy water.

Harry's body felt as if a thousand knives were jabbing into his body. The water was so cold that Harry found it hard to breathe and move. He felt like his was made of stone. Moments felt like days, and then he felt some arms grab him. He was being dragged up to the ground. He tried hard to open his eyes, but he couldn't.

Then he heard a soft voice say, "Enervate!"

He slowly opened his eyes a little bit to see a blurry image of a woman's face above him. She had a white cloak on and long sleek brown hair. He couldn't make out a face since it was both blurry and the wind was blowing her hair into her face.

"Ron..." He tried to speak.

"Sshh.. It's okay, Harry. Ron's going be fine. You will be okay Harry. I am here.. everything will be okay." Harry felt a tiny, but warm sensation on his scar. Harry thought it could be a kiss but he was too tired to keep thinking about it. Harry was finally beginning to relax as he felt the warmth of her arms around him. Then he fell asleep. A few moments later, Hagrid came and picked up a sleeping Harry and an in-and-out of conscious Ron.

"Ah think yeh better leave now, Aurora."

"I know."

"Be careful."

"I'll try to be." She turned around, lifted the hood over her face and disappeared into the Dark Forest.

*~* End of Chapter 6 *~*

A/N: So how did you like Chapter 6? Things will be getting better from here on.

Okay as I promised...here is your clue..

The Princess is a very powerful witch with extraordinary powers. Can one of those powers be bringing people back from the dead?

I know it is a very lame clue but at least I gave you something to think about.

I wrote something very, very interesting in this chapter. it is a foreshadow. Hope you caught on to it. (

Jenna