Chapter 12

Harry Disappears

Harry, Draco and Druscilla were hurrying over the rocky ground, heading towards the Tower. Harry was setting a tremendous pace. Draco guessed he was haunted by the fear that temporal instability would set in again before he could complete his task. It must be very worrying, he thought, wondering if you were suddenly going to fade away.

Druscilla was struggling on bravely. After years of quiet, domestic life she found she was enjoying the adventure. I'm finding this quite exhilarating!'

Draco had had more than his fair share of advenĀ­ture in recent years. Oh, are you? I wish I was!'

The. ground was beginning to fall away a little before them, descending into a kind of shallow valley which ran between them and the Tower, when a familiar black-clad figure appeared at the foot of the path ahead.

Tom Riddle!' gasped Draco.

Wait here,' ordered Harry.

He began moving down the path towards Tom Riddle. They met in the centre of the little valley. Harry stopped when he felt he was near enough to talk, but still far enough from Tom Riddle for safety.

He stood waiting, forcing Tom Riddle to speak first. Tom