Chapter 8
Meetings
Letting go of Romulus' arm, The Scar looked round for a weapon. To his delight he spotted a chunk of metal piping half buried in the mud. Wrenching it free, he used it as a club, smashing again and again at the wrist of the unseen attacker. The great hand was jarred open, and the Colonel was free. The Scar tossed the length of piping aside and yelled
'Run, Romy!'
They ran, stumbling across the rough ground, away from the threat behind the wall and the menacing shapes that lurked in the mist.
In the castle on the banks of Wizard's End, young Harry Potter staggered towards the window.
Signal,' he muttered. Must send signal ...'
He reeled, and Draco caught him just in time.
'Harry, darling, please wake up! We need you to get us out of here.' murmured Draco into Harry's hair.
Gently Hermione came over and shook Harry's shoulder. What signal, Harry?'
Harry opened his eyes and stared blankly up at them
"Must send signal... find them. Must be... whole.' He stared at her in anguish.
"Help Me!"
The tall man with the shock of white hair drove cautiously through the drifting mists. It was considerate of his unknown kidnapper to hijack Scar as well, he thought. Thanks to Herme's many modifications, the little roadster was making good progress, even over this rough ground. Suddenly the fog thickened. Professor Granger stopped the car for a moment.
"Now what?" He thought out loud.
He peered ahead, pulling his cloak collar up around his ears.
It was a bleak and barren landscape, churned and broken, and the road was little more than a rough track. There were mountains ahead, and the looming shape of some kind of tower.
Grim Suspicions were beginning to form in Hermes's mind. He narrowed his eyes. Had he seen something moving in the dense patch of fog ahead?
Harmony Jane Malfoy stumbled miserably through the fog, picking her way through rough ground, broken up only by the occasional stunted tree. Black clouds rolled overhead, and lightning bolts seared across the sky. It was, thought Harmony, the most unattractive a piece of landscape as she had ever seen. Oh, Dobby, why didn't I listen to you?' she moaned.
The fog pressed in on her threateningly. Somehow Harmony was convinced that there was something waiting in ambush, out there in the fog. She tripped over a chunk of broken branch and snatched it up, thinking it might serve as a weapon. Clutching her club, she took a cautious step forwards - and suddenly the ground vanished from beneath her feet. She had stepped clean over the edge of a ravine.
Harmony screamed, dropping the stick, and flailed out desperately in an attempt to regain her balance, but it was too late. She hurtled over the edge, scrabbling desperately for some kind of handhold. She managed to arrest her fall by clutching at a shrub growing from the cliff edge. But it was too slight to bear her weight. She felt it beginning to pull away. Harmony looked below. The ravine appeared to be bottomless, a deep fissure in the earth. If she fell she would probably be killed. Even if she survived, she would never get out again.
The roots began to tear...
Then as if from nowhere a voice called, Hang on a minute. Catch hold of this!' and something dropped past her face. It was a rope!
Harmony grabbed it, saving herself just as the roots pulled free.
She looked up and saw a tall, white-haired figure looking down at her from the cliff edge. Hang on!'
Harmony heard the growl of an engine, and then came a steady pull on the rope, miraculously drawing her upwards.
She scrambled over the cliff edge, and fell into the arms of Professor Granger.
I've never been so pleased to see anyone!'
Me too,' said the familiar voice. But I really think we should move away from the edge!'
He drew her back towards safety. Harmony saw that Hemes had tied the rope to Scar and used the car to pull her up. He unfastened the rope and began coiling it neatly.
Harmony stared unbelievingly at him. Wait a minute - it's you!'
Of course it's me. Hello, Harmony.'
No, but it's the you you!'
'That's right!'
Suddenly Harmony could feel herself becoming very angry. I see. No, I don't – but never mind. Well, thanks very much for rescuing me, Professor. Now maybe you'll explain just why I'm here to need rescuing?'
Hermes smiled, thinking that Harmony hadn't changed. She had never been ready to accept the traditional role of the maiden in distress. Steady on Harmony. I'm not exactly here by choice myself.'
She gaped at him. You're not? Then what are we both doing here?'
I'm not sure, yet,' said Hermes darkly, though I have my suspicions.'
He tossed the coiled rope into the back of the car.
Come along Harmony, get in the car. we'll try to explain on the way.'
Supported by Draco and Ron, young Harry stared out the castle window as if he had never seen it before in all his life. I've got to... got to...' He looked almost indignantly at Hermione and Ron - as if it was their entire fault. What is it I've got to do?'
Hermione said, You were going on about some kind of signal.'
And about being whole,' added Ron.
The signal. Yes, of course!'
What's the signal for, Harry?' asked Draco concerned. Who is it to?
Recall signal,' said Harry with almost pathetic eagerness. They'll hear it. Yes, that'll bring them...
He staggered again, clutching at the windowsill for support and staring vaguely at the maze of corridors in front of him. It was all too obvious that Harry didn't have the slightest idea what to do next.
Ron spoke urgently. Listen, Harry, tell us where we send the signal to for you.
Harry stared wildly at him. It's... it's...
His hands groped blindly through his pockets for a moment, then he crashed to the floor.
