**** I'm past the 100 mark. YAY!!! thankyou so much for your kind reviews! I'm sorry this has taken a while, there's been loads of school work to do ( anyway, I don't have time to blabber, so on with the story!****

It was dark in the grove and quiet. Harry stumbled over tree roots and twigs as he ran towards the sound of Ginny's scream.

As he neared the center of the grove, the trees grew more thickly and branches lashed at his face. Suddenly he burst through a thick line of trees and into a clearing.

Across the center of the clearing a stream trickled. It was supported by rocks and the occasional bush grew at the banks. The moon shone on the water and it sparkled, giving off the illusion of a starry sky. To one side of the clearing, next to a pile of dishes, a man in a hooded cape held Ginny with one hand. His wand poking into her side. He was of a medium height, with a slightly bent stance. His face was cast in shadow.

Furious, Harry took a step forward. "What do you want with her?" He shouted.

The man lifted his hood and looked straight at Harry. " To bring you to me."

Before Harry could make out his features, the man pulled his hood back on again. "What do you want with me?" Harry asked, more warily now.

"I can help you." The mans voice was harsh and he sounded tired.

"What do you mean?"

" I can show you where the black knowledge rose grows."

Harry froze, confused. " Why? Anyway, I'm not going to listen to a word you say until you release Ginny."

The man let go of Ginny's arm and stowed his wand in his coat pocket. Ginny ran to Harry and collapsed into his arms, quietly sobbing into his shirt. The shock had obviously got to her. Harry soothed her and looked up at the man.

"Who are you?"

" My identity will remain unknown for the moment. You must follow me into the forest, time is running out." The man spoke impatiently.

Harry felt anger build up inside him. "Why should I trust you? After what you did to Ginny!"

" I am your last hope. Only I know where the black rose of knowledge grows. I held the girl against her wishes because it was the only way I could get you to listen to me."

"How do I know you aren't lying?"

The man sighed deeply. "Because Dumbledore sent me."

Harry reeled, shocked. "DUMBLEDORE sent you?!"

" Look, there's no time, we must leave now." The man said desperately.

"Where IS Dumbledore? Where are all the teachers?" Harry half yelled in annoyance.

" I can't tell you. I'm leaving now, with or without you."

The man beckoned to them. "Follow me."

Harry took a step forward and Ginny grabbed his arm.

"What about Malfoy?" She whispered.

Harry swore. " This is more important. We'll just have to forget about him for the time being and hope he doesn't stab us in the back."

Ginny hesitated and looked back towards the hideout.

The man started to walk out of the clearing.

"Come on." Harry grabbed Ginny's arm and pulled her forward.

Ginny turned back and together they ran after the man in the cloak.

He always kept at least 4 metres ahead of them, for a reason Harry did not know.

They ran past countless elm trees until they burst out of the grove and onto the sloping lawns outside Hogwarts. The moon was shining eerily on the surface of the forbidden lake and in the night, the grass was so dark green that it was almost black. The whole view looked unrealistic, as though it were a well painted picture, although the few owls that flew overhead ruined the scene.

The man in the cloak was well ahead of them now, running full out towards the forbidden forest.

Suddenly Ginny stopped, a half frozen look on her face, and folded onto the ground. Harry ran back to her and yelled at the man to stop, but he continued running and plunged into the forbidden forest as though he hadn't heard him.

Harry shook Ginny but she remained still, her eyes blank and body immobile. Finally, in desperation, he heaved her onto his back and half stumbled towards the forbidden forest.

By the time he had reached the trees he was exhausted and Ginny was still unconscious. He gently laid her on the ground and looked at her. She was staring blankly at the sky.

"COME BACK!!!!" He yelled once more into the forest but his words lacked conviction.

He bent over Ginny and touched her soft pale cheek sadly. She looked beautiful but troubled and the blankness of her eyes unnerved him.

A hand touched his shoulder and he leapt up in fright, only to see the man in the cloak.

"Why didn't you come back when I called!?" He said angrily.

" It was too open, I couldn't let them see that anything was wrong."

"What do you mean by 'them'?" Harry demanded.

The hooded man ignored him and bending over Ginny, stared intently into her eyes.

"She has been possessed." The man said quietly.

"What!!!" Harry grabbed Ginny and shook her. "Wake up Ginny! Fight it!"

The man pulled Harry away. "That won't help. Here." He passed Harry a handful of strange looking purple leaves. "Brush her face with these, but be careful. They are very strong."

Harry carefully swept the leaves over Ginny's face and waited. She suddenly convulsed and her head shot up. Her eyes closed and when they opened again they looked normal. She wearily put a hand to her forehead.

"What happened?" She asked weakly.

The man faced her. "You were possessed." He said quietly.

"WHAT!!?" Ginny yelled.

The man covered her mouth with one gloved hand. "Quiet," He whispered harshly, "They are watching us."

"Who is watching us?" Ginny and Harry asked at the same time.

"Follow me." The man beckoned mysteriously and moved into the forest.

"I hate it when he does that." Harry complained as they walked in after him.

**** Thats it for now! I have to warn you though, it might be while before the next chapter comes up! Homework you see. But if you review I will make an effort to get it in as soon as possible. I promise!****