Chapter Fourteen
Harry, Hermione, James, Draco, Luna, Neville, and Ginny all trekked into the forbidden forest, despite its name. They all knew that it was forbidden, but they also knew that the fate of the world may rest in its creaking branches.
The walk into the heart of the forest didn't take long. With all seven of their wands alight, they had a small dome of light. Every other time that Harry had been into the forest, he had been alone, or with sparse company. This time though, it almost seemed pleasant...almost. The pending fate of everything he held dear was lurking behind him like a shadow.
Harry led the party, and followed the map to a fault. He took as many steps as it said, and he turned where it said. He did everything perfect, not one mistake. But when they came to the end of the trail, there wasn't anything. Nothing, absolutely nothing. Just a few trees that didn't look different from any of the others.
"Where are they???" Draco asked
"I don't know..." Harry said. "...The map says that they should be right here." Harry said pointing to a stump on the ground.
They all spread out among the small clearing, all searching for something, although they didn't know what that was. Surprisingly enough it was Neville who found it.
"Hey Harry, look at this." Neville called from the center of the clearing. He pointed at the stump. "See that carving? I think that might be something."
Harry looked at it more closely. It was a small carving of a big 'M' inside a big 'P'. Harry guessed that it was the ancient sign of the Marauders. Assuming that, he pointed his wand at it and said the words that his father had used many times before.
"I solemnly swear I am up to no good." Harry said.
The carving glowed blue for a split second. Then it died away.
"That didn't work, maybe there are more of these?" Ginny said.
So, the search began again. Searching high and low for something they weren't sure was there. After around ten minutes, they found one more, then another and another. It wasn't long before they had found eight inscriptions.
Now they had another problem. There were only seven of them.
"What are we going to do now?" James asked showing his intelligence by being the first person to notice.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"There are eight carvings, and seven of us." James said logically.
Harry swore violently.
Harry stood there thinking about what they should do when the answer came crashing through the woods.
"Hiya Harry, wotcha doin?" Ron's voice called out from behind a nearby bush.
"RON!!!" Seven voices yelled at once.
"Hey everyone! I finally got released, but when I got to the school none of you were there. Dumbledore seemed to know what was going on, and he sent me here. Looks like I got here just in time..." Ron said in the cheery way only he could.
"Excellent, everyone to your positions." Harry said. He led Ron over to a boulder where a carving had been chiseled away.
"On the count of three we say 'I solemnly swear I am up to no good!' Ok?" Harry called out.
"Got it"
"Yes sir"
"Lets get this show on the road"
"One!" Harry called
"Two!"
"Three!"
"I solemnly swear I am up to no good!" eight voices called.
A bright blue light erupted from the carvings and filled the small clearing. After the initial flash of light, it was gone. When it disappeared, and everyone's eyes were working properly, the stump which Harry was standing in front of a moment before was gone. Now a triangular stone held its place. Neatly sheathed in the stone were two magnificent swords, one blade glowing blue, and the other glowing gold.
Harry stepped forward and reached out for the golden one when a voice behind him stopped him.
Harry, Hermione, James, Draco, Luna, Neville, and Ginny all trekked into the forbidden forest, despite its name. They all knew that it was forbidden, but they also knew that the fate of the world may rest in its creaking branches.
The walk into the heart of the forest didn't take long. With all seven of their wands alight, they had a small dome of light. Every other time that Harry had been into the forest, he had been alone, or with sparse company. This time though, it almost seemed pleasant...almost. The pending fate of everything he held dear was lurking behind him like a shadow.
Harry led the party, and followed the map to a fault. He took as many steps as it said, and he turned where it said. He did everything perfect, not one mistake. But when they came to the end of the trail, there wasn't anything. Nothing, absolutely nothing. Just a few trees that didn't look different from any of the others.
"Where are they???" Draco asked
"I don't know..." Harry said. "...The map says that they should be right here." Harry said pointing to a stump on the ground.
They all spread out among the small clearing, all searching for something, although they didn't know what that was. Surprisingly enough it was Neville who found it.
"Hey Harry, look at this." Neville called from the center of the clearing. He pointed at the stump. "See that carving? I think that might be something."
Harry looked at it more closely. It was a small carving of a big 'M' inside a big 'P'. Harry guessed that it was the ancient sign of the Marauders. Assuming that, he pointed his wand at it and said the words that his father had used many times before.
"I solemnly swear I am up to no good." Harry said.
The carving glowed blue for a split second. Then it died away.
"That didn't work, maybe there are more of these?" Ginny said.
So, the search began again. Searching high and low for something they weren't sure was there. After around ten minutes, they found one more, then another and another. It wasn't long before they had found eight inscriptions.
Now they had another problem. There were only seven of them.
"What are we going to do now?" James asked showing his intelligence by being the first person to notice.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"There are eight carvings, and seven of us." James said logically.
Harry swore violently.
Harry stood there thinking about what they should do when the answer came crashing through the woods.
"Hiya Harry, wotcha doin?" Ron's voice called out from behind a nearby bush.
"RON!!!" Seven voices yelled at once.
"Hey everyone! I finally got released, but when I got to the school none of you were there. Dumbledore seemed to know what was going on, and he sent me here. Looks like I got here just in time..." Ron said in the cheery way only he could.
"Excellent, everyone to your positions." Harry said. He led Ron over to a boulder where a carving had been chiseled away.
"On the count of three we say 'I solemnly swear I am up to no good!' Ok?" Harry called out.
"Got it"
"Yes sir"
"Lets get this show on the road"
"One!" Harry called
"Two!"
"Three!"
"I solemnly swear I am up to no good!" eight voices called.
A bright blue light erupted from the carvings and filled the small clearing. After the initial flash of light, it was gone. When it disappeared, and everyone's eyes were working properly, the stump which Harry was standing in front of a moment before was gone. Now a triangular stone held its place. Neatly sheathed in the stone were two magnificent swords, one blade glowing blue, and the other glowing gold.
Harry stepped forward and reached out for the golden one when a voice behind him stopped him.