A/N: Well... There's not much to say since nobody's reviewing =(Thanks for reading! Here's another chapter!

CHAPTER 27

So that Saturday Harry, Ron and Hermione were heading into Hogsmeade with a gaggle of Students. Harry smiled as he watched Dennis Creevy chase after his crimson hat that was blowing about in the wind. He gave a great leap and fell to the ground with the hat clutched firmly in his hand. He grinned at Harry. "Hi, do you know when the quidditch match is? When's the next practise?" Dennis asked them.

"I don't know about the match yet, but we've got a practise tomorrow." Harry said.

"If we win the match, will we win the quidditch cup?" Dennis asked excitedly.

"Erm, I don't know." Harry said, looking at Ron.

"I think Hufflepuff has to play Slytherin first." Ron said and turned to See Malfoy and Piers Polkiss battle their way past them, glaring up at the Weasley's shop. Harry heard Malfoy mutter something under his breath.

"Well, we'd better go," Hermione said checking her watch, "yes, we've got five minutes, come on!"

So they said goodbye to Dennis and several minutes later had arrived outside the pub, the Hogs Head. The same pub they had met the students who had been interested in the Defence against the dark arts club in. Hermione pushed open the thick wooden door. It squeaked as she did so, and they entered. The same smell of goat filled Harry's nostrils as they entered the dark and gloomy bar.

The same old barman was stacking the dusty butter beers up. Hermione was gazing at the Barman with interest, obviously trying to work something out. Several hooded figures sat over in the corner, emerged in deep conversation. "Who d'you reckon they are?" Ron asked, eyeing the figures suspiciously.

"I don't know." Hermione said quietly. "Let's get drinks, er three butter beers please." The barman looked at Hermione, then his eyes travelled to Harry. He grunted and took three very old looking bottles from the top of the stack.

They sat down near the hooded figures, straining their ears to hear what they were saying. Words like 'Dark lord' and 'Petigrew' issued from their table. "Look," Hermione whispered nudging Harry. Harry turned. A group of around six very large wizards had just entered. Hoods pulled up just like the few in the corner. They approached the Barman.

"Ah." Sneered one of the wizards. "Fancy seeing you 'ere."

The Barman frowned at the wizard. "I told yeh, I'm not 'avin' any more sales in this pub! I want yeh out!"

"Oh, really?" Said another wizard, pulling out his wand. Ron's eyes were very wide, while Hermione looked nervous. "We'll have six Fire Whiskeys."

"Yeah, yeah, I'll bring 'em over." The Barman said breathlessly. The wizards turned to sit at the table by Harry, Ron and Hermione. They began to pull up more chairs, even though there were only six of them. Harry watched amazed at the three wizards in the corner got up and strode over to their table. They sat down in the empty chairs, leaving three still empty. Now the wizards' eyes were on Harry, Ron and Hermione.

Hermione got to her feet, pulling Ron and Harry with her. Nervously they edged over to the table and sat down. "Ah, I should've known you three were involved in it somewhere!" Spat the Barman. He fell silent as one of the wizards turned, and continued dusting the counter with the same old rag he had used last time they had been there. Harry, Ron and Hermione sat down. They were directly opposite the dark wizards now, Harry could see their eyes gleaming, feel their hungry stares. They seemed to be waiting for something.

"What yeh got then?" One of the wizards asked impatiently. Hermione looked startled. She obviously hadn't been aware this would happen.

A wizard on his left nudged Harry, he turned. He could just make out Kingsley Shakklebolt's face. He put a finger to his lips and slipped Harry a bottle of something under the table. Harry picked it up and handed what ever it was to one of the dark wizards.

They appeared satisfied and placed it in the centre of the table. "Leprechaun blood." Said the wizard. "How did you know this was exactly what we were looking for?" His eyebrows were raised, and although Harry couldn't see much of his face, he could tell that who ever it was had dark longish hair.

Before Harry could think of something to say, Hermione interrupted. "We've been here a while now," She said pulling up the hood of her cloak. "We are just as interested as you are."

The wizard eyed Ron and Harry who both pulled up their hoods too. The wizard appeared satisfied. "I see." He muttered. "So you also are in searching for Harry Potter?" Harry quickly flattened his hair over his scar, though it was so dark they could not see any difference.

"Yes." Hermione lied. "But we would like something in return for the leprechaun blood."

"Anything we have." Said the wizard. The others nodded in agreement. "You see, this blood is exactly what we need to destroy Harry Potter, this and the rest of our ingredients."

"What!" Ron spluttered. The wizards looked at him. "I mean, what an excellent plan."

The wizards did not seem entirely convinced so Hermione said. "Werewolf blood, freshly slain werewolf blood."

"Ah yes, we have quite a quantity." Said another wizard. "Here," he pulled out a large jar of thick red blood. "Slain today." He added.

"Thank you." Hermione said. "We'll be going now." She pushed the leprechaun blood towards the wizard. "Good luck." She said. They turned to leave but the wizard on Harry's left also stood up.

"I'll be going too." He said. "Good luck with your plan." The four of them left the Hogs Head. They took off their hoods, Kingsley also and headed away from the Hogs Head, over to an empty space behind the stationary shop.

"Thanks," Harry said to Kingsley. "Who were those wizards?"

"Dark wizards, all in league with You-know-who." Kingsley explained.

"Does Dumbledore know? About them trying to destroy me?" Harry asked nervously.

"Yes, I always report to him, he knows, nothing will happen to you Harry."

With that Kingsley turned and began walking out of Hogsmeade, Harry, Ron and Hermione staring after him.

"It really was very dangerous, if Kingsley hadn't been there..." Hermione said in a whisper that appeared to be not soft enough. They were in the Gryffindor common room and Gretchen came bouncing over.

"What was dangerous?" She asked them. She was clutching a book that was entitled, 'Charms for the advanced'. "I'm in the process of revising for my test. It's going to be fun!"

When no one spoke Gretchen frowned in frustration. "I want to hear!" She moaned. "I've been informed by Ingrid that if I stop talking to her, you'll talk to me!"

"Well we wont!" Ron snapped scowling over at Ingrid who smiled inncoently. "We've got... homework. Here." He pulled from his bag a large book and grabbed a quill, scratching Hermione on the arm in his hurry. Hermione gave him a disgruntled look and began talking to Gretchen, leaving Ron and Harry free to slip away to another table before Hermione rejoined them.

"She's not that bad really," Hermione said. "Once you actually talk to her."

Ron didn't seem convinced. "So, when shall we go back into the forest?"

"Well I think it had better be quite late, but as soon as possible. How about tomorrow night? After your quidditch training."

Harry though about it for the whole of the rest of the evening, even in the dormitories as he fell asleep. What would the centaurs tell them? Should they believe it? Will tomorrow be too late? But he eventually fell asleep. When he did so, he heard the same now grimly familiar voice echoing from darkness. "Harry Potter..." Came the voice. "If you do indeed do what you are planning tomorrow, you will be in grave danger. You must not do it... I will not allow it..." Harry's scar was burning, he was aware of nothing but this and the voice. "I am giving you one last chance Harry Potter, DO NOT GO INTO THE FOREST TOMORROW NIGHT." Harry sat bolt upright. Beads of sweat were glistening on his forehead; his scar was still searing with pain, but ever less so now. To his surprise, he found himself vaguely wondering if he should obey the voice, but that meant obeying Voldermort and if Voldermort didn't want him to go into the forest, then why should he not? He didn't go back to sleep but lay awake for the last few hours of the night. The result was unmistakable.

"Potter, what are you doing?" It was Transfiguration. Harry was absentmindedly prodding the spider he was supposed to be vanishing with his wand. It was now a violent shade of purple and was inflating so it rose above his head, Ron nervously watching it, Harry knew that one of Ron's greatest fears was a spider. "You're not paying attention!" Snapped McGonnagal flicking her wand so the spider fell to Harry's desk again and returned to its natural colour. Ron's spider was as far away from him as possible and instead of vanishing had sprouted a new set of eight hairy legs. Ron pushed the container still further away. "Well no wonder you can't get it right if you won't take the lid of the container off!" Snapped Professor McGonnagal. Harry tried again with the spider, but for all the effect it had, he might just as well have told it to vanish itself.

At last he escaped to the quidditch pitch. Katie was in a good mood because of the weather. "It's nice and springy," she said pushing down on the ground. "Not a perfect choice, but the weather is great, no need to worry about getting wet. We're not playing for a while now. There's going to be just one more match then it's us."

Her good mood was quickly evaporating during the practise. Dennis and William were having a broomstick fight, bashing the front of their brooms together until Katie had had enough. "Will you two stop messing around!" She roared down their end. "We have got to practise and if you continue to - "

"It doesn't matter, I've got a comet." William said as he and Dennis bashed their clubs together instead.

"It's not about the broomsticks!" Katie snapped, swooping over. "It's about the fact that we need to practise and we can't under these circumstances." Harry watched as Ginny and Emily flew over to Dennis and handed him something orange that he popped into his mouth.

They continued flying, but were distracted by Dennis Creevy who was flying round and round in circles singing at the top of his voice. "Can you stop that?" Katie shouted over, trying not to laugh.

"I – can't – help –it!" Dennis panted and continued singing. Ginny and Emily were in hysterics.

"Fred and George gave them to me." Ginny whispered, but unluckily, Katie overheard. By the time they landed she was in a very bad mood, despite the weather now.

Harry and Ron saw Hermione in the stands and made their way over to her. "Lets go." She muttered and they headed towards the forest. It was not very dark, although it was eight- thirty. But the moment they set foot in the forest, it at once seemed much darker. They tiptoed through, although quite familiarised with the path to take; it still came as a shock when once again Ron's foot got caught in Devil's Snare.

First they headed towards Luna's clearing. They arrived at the group of trees in about five minutes. Luckily Luna wasn't there. The umbrella's had gone. Maybe she had chosen to leave. Harry picked a Gilly Weed from the bush and stuffed it in his pocket. It felt horribly slimy and seemed alive, like snakes. After 10 minutes walking, they heard distant hooves. They were in the heart of the forest now, everywhere dark, except the tips of their wands. "Ah. We trust you have out ingredients." Came a loud voice. They spun round to see a group of around 12 centaurs. Baine and Firenze amongst them.

"Yes, we have them." Said Hermione as Harry handed her the Gilly Weed.

"Very well." Said an old centaur. "What would you like to know?"

"Where's Vol- You-know-who?" He amended.

The centaur raised his head. "Sharing Cross. But he is soon to move near Hogwarts." He said at once.

"What's he doing?" Harry asked.

"Gathering Death-eaters, sending messages, he's after you- watch out. He wants revenge. He's plotting, but you are safe. Wait! Danger, danger looms in many places. Sharing cross, Hogwarts and somewhere else, it's not clear though. There are hidden identities amongst Hogwarts. Many hidden identities, oh yes. Be careful at Hogwarts. Many people may be watching you carefully. Many who you will not know about. It seems there are many relatives in Hogwarts, many indeed. They do not know about it. Wait! More danger! Danger... here!"

Harry felt his blood freeze. There was a loud menacing growl. Hermione screamed, Ron was standing like stone, gazing at something right behind Harry. From the look of terror in his eyes, Harry knew it was not something good, he turned just to see a large shaggy grey animal with a very long snout. It was too late to run. Teeth sunk into his arm. He staggered weakly to identify his attacker. A werewolf. A dead animal grasped in its mouth. It snarled in a satisfactory way and left, growling as it did so. Harry looked down at the two punctures in his arm. Blood spurting from them. Pain seared from the wound, but he was determined to remain conscious. He felt dizzy and shocked. Of all the animals that could have bitten him. He knew what happened when a werewolf bit you, he couldn't believe it, he could only just make out Ron, Hermione and the Centaurs. He gasped like a fish out of water and collapsed.