7. Alone in the Forbidden Forest
Harry lay in bed, listening to the sounds of his sleeping roommates. Looking at the clock, he knew it was time to go. Despite trying to come up with a plan, Harry had nothing; he only knew his invisibility cloak would be useless. Harry was somewhat comforted by the fact that he had never had a plan in the past when going into danger. Hopefully he could improvise his way out of danger yet again. Pulling out the Maurader's Map, he recited the incantation and saw his way to the front doors was clear. He also noticed the dots representing Hermione and Eddie were awfully close together in another hallway. Securing his wand in his holster, Harry reread his letter one last time. Harry knew that if he failed in his attempt and didn't return the next day, people would wonder what happened. He spent his time waiting for midnight by writing the letter.
To whom it may concern,
Voldemort contacted me through my scar. He let me know that he has Hagrid captured, and would kill him unless I met him tonight alone in the Forbidden Forest. I am going to do so. If you are reading this, then I have most likely failed in my attempt to rescue Hagrid and am probably dead.
You may wonder why I'm doing this alone. I refuse to let another person I love die because for me. I'm not sure if you'll understand how it feels to be the cause of your own parents' death or the death of your own godfather. I look back on the life I've led, the choices I've made, and there are more times than I can count where I've made the wrong choice and gotten someone killed. And, in the end, every person that Voldemort kills is partially my fault, since Voldemort has returned because of me, because of my blood, because of my choice that ultimately freed Wormtail.
I know I cannot count on my professors for assistance; they are all too willing to sacrifice Hagrid die. And if they had any plans to do anything, they have, as always, kept it from me. I also leave my friends out of this, as they should have the opportunity to live a normal life and have their greatest worry be tests, not facing death. I now take control of my own life; after all, it is mine to do as I please. If I do die, then at least I will die doing what I feel is right, not what other people think is "best" for me.
- Harry
Harry sealed the parchment with an enchanted wax seal (it could not be removed nor repaired once broken) and addressed it to Professors Dumbledore and McGonnagal. He placed the letter on his bed, and then charmed the curtains to remain closed until at least morning. Stealing one last glance at his map, Harry muttered the phrase to return the map to appear as a blank scrap of parchment and crept down the stairs and out the common room.
Harry managed to make his way outside of the castle without incident. As Harry crossed the school grounds and approached the Forbidden Forest, he pulled his wand and held it tightly. Only then did he notice something wrong. The usual indentations where he normally gripped his wand were different. He stopped and examined it closely. It was the same wood and the same length; it looked the same but felt different. Then it hit him. Colin! This is Colin's wand. When they ran into each other, their wands must have been switched. Harry cursed himself, berating himself for not checking earlier. He knew he would need his own wand if he were to battle Death Eaters, but at the same time he knew he didn't have the time to sneak back into the castle and retrieve his wand. Steeling his resolve and squaring shoulders, Harry resumed his trek towards the Forbidden Forest, praying that the wand in his hand wouldn't fail him.
As Harry approached the edge of the forest, he felt every sense come alive; his brain seemed to record and catalog every sight and sound, automatically categorizing them either as either suspicious or normal. He thanked Moody for the hours and hours of training, as he felt a sense of calm overtake him as his mind and body switched to danger mode. Looking around, Harry sensed, rather than consciously observed, something amiss near Hagrid's hut. As Harry got closer, he noticed something reflecting moonlight on the ground, approximately twenty meters from the Forbidden Forest. Approaching the hut carefully, his wand poised to strike, he identified the object as an arrow, pointing deeper into the forest. Peering in the direction the arrow indicated, he saw another shiny object, this time attached to a tree. Harry paused to think. He knew it was a trap, that the arrows would be pointing deeper and deeper into the Forbidden Forest. Harry knew that with each step into the Forest, he was taking one step away from the protections of Hogwarts. And yet, Harry could think of no other option. With one last look around at the grounds and a last look at the castle (hoping he would live to see it again), he entered the forest and followed the trail left for him.
Harry followed the arrows for several minutes until he arrived at a clearing, deep within the forest. He immediately spotted Hagrid's enormous form lying on the ground, and rushed into the clearing towards him.
"Expelliarmus!" he heard someone cry out, just as he reached Hagrid. But Harry was ready for it, reacting on instinct only.
"Protego!" he cried, deflecting the spell away. Facing the source of the spell, Harry immediately fired back ("Stupify!") into the dark forest. After a moment, his ears buzzing, Harry saw six hooded figures emerge slowly from the forest, forming a semi-circle around him and Hagrid. Harry quickly glanced behind him and saw no one behind him.
"Ruuuu Haeee" Hagrid cried, his voice obscured by a gag.
"Impressive Mr. Potter, but I'm afraid not nearly good enough," called a cold voice. Harry looked at the Death Eater in fury and hatred; it was Bellatrix Lestrange. Harry looked around at the Death Eaters. "Looks like you've got the reserves and alternates out, eh Lestrange?" Harry said, with a confidence he did not feel. "After all, what with Lucius and the others in Azkaban, I'm guessing all the second-string Death Eaters got a chance to play."
Harry heard murmurs from the Death Eaters; apparently they did not appreciate being called second-best. Bellatrix's face contorted with anger. "Get him!" she cried.
Harry immediately ducked behind Hagrid's massive form. He had remembered how the half-giant was able to shrug off stunners from Ministry officials last year during his astronomy OWLs. He hoped that Hagrid would be able to hold up, given his weakened condition. Harry saw movement out the corner of his eye as the Death Eaters were attempting to surround him.
"Stupify!" Harry cried, hitting one Death Eater squarely in the chest. He ducked a curse and returned fire, striking another Death Eater with a full body bind curse. Harry was still vastly outnumbered, but he hoped his luck would hold out. All of a sudden, Harry felt another Death Eater approaching, and he huddled as close as he could to Hagrid's prone form as another Death Eater leapt over the half-giant, hoping to take Harry by surprise.
"Stupify!" the Death Eater shouted.
"Protego!" Harry cried, reflecting the stunning spell back at this attacker. The Death Eater was unprepared for the block, expecting Harry to be caught unaware. Rather than feel triumphant over being the one to incapacitate Harry, the Death Eater only felt shock before being thrown backwards by the force of his own spell.
Unfortunately, as Harry took out another Death Eater who was trying to maneuver around Hagrid's massive form, he failed to notice a large, heavy branch being levitated above him. Bellatrix released her spell, allowing the branch to strike Harry on the head. Harry collapsed to all fours, dazed, and dropped his wand. The remaining Death Eaters swarmed around him and grabbed his arms, immobilizing him.
"Stand him up!" Bellatrix ordered. Harry looked at her, blood slowly dripping into his face from the cut on his head. Bellatrix looked at him with a glint in her eyes.
"Now you shall know what happens to those who oppose the Dark Lord," she triumphantly. Pointing her wand at Hagrid, she cried, "Avada Kedavra!"
"Nooooo!" Harry screamed. He struggled against his captors, but was helpless to prevent Hagrid from dying. Harry watched as Hagrid's eyes widened in fear when Bellatrix point her wand and him, then watched as the life left them when the stream of green light hit him. Harry sobbed uncontrollably, as he watched yet another person die because of him, this time the gentle half-giant who rescued him from the Dursleys, who gave him his first birthday cake, who gave him his prized photo album, and who he loved as a part of his dwindling family.
Bellatrix only laughed at his misery, and then pointed her wand at Harry. Harry heard her say "Stupify!" and his world lapsed into darkness.