Chapter 4: Escape

Harry hurriedly made his way into the garden. He glanced around. All around him were exotic plants and shrubs. He looked fearfully at a tall flower that appeared to be eating another of its kind before turning to walk briskly along the cobblestone path toward the gate.

When he reached the gate he heard a commotion outside. He cautiously poked his head out. Nobody appeared to be there, so he stepped out onto the street.

Harry made his way around the side of the building. As he walked, the noises grew louder. He glanced around the corner, and saw that the front of the building was crawling with ministry wizards.

"Bullocks," Harry said loudly. He knew it was only a matter of time before the ministry wizards spotted his scruffy head sticking out from behind the wall.

"I must go on the lam!" Harry remarked to himself. "My first task is to find somewhere to hide out. Let's see... who do I know who would be willing to harbour a fugitive?"

His thoughts drifted to the hag of the night before. "Perhaps the hag will welcome me in," Harry mused.

He set off toward the nearest portkey station. The ministry wizards were all preoccupied with moaning and groaning and saying, "This chap is most certainly dangerous, mates! When we find him, take care!"

Harry chuckled to himself. He was evading capture.

At the portkey station, Harry spoke to the station attendant.

"Hello," he said. "I am on the run in lieu of committing an octuple-homicide. Would you please arrange for me a portkey to the house of a hag I know?"

The station attendant, a sweet-looking young thing with limp brown hair and blue eyes, gaped at Harry.

Harry inwardly congratulated himself on having successfully used the word "lieu" in a sentence. It was a term he had always wanted to utilize.

"Are you going to help me or not, she-beast?" Harry asked.

The little girl's eyes filled with tears. She was quivering. "I... er... I..."

Harry gave her a warning look. "Don't make me commit nontuple-homicide," he said. Harry wasn't sure if "nontuple" was a real word. To clarify, he added, "You know, like killing nine people... the ninth being you!"

Next, Harry let out an evil cackle. He couldn't help himself.

The girl was petrified.

Harry pulled out his wind. "Avada!" he shouted.

"GAH!" shrieked the girl.

Harry laughed heartily. "Don't be daft!" he chuckled. "I wouldn't kill you... yet... heheheh... just kidding..."

Harry paused for a moment. "Right... anyway, I didn't say 'Kadavra,' so you're still alive... yet!"

The girl looked at him, obviously confused.

Harry realised he had been less than eloquent. "Shoot... I meant, 'you're still alive... but not for long!'"

The girl still looked puzzled.

Harry frowned in concentration. "Er... look, whatever... just get me a portkey to the hag's house and we'll never mention this little incident again," he commanded.

The girl nodded quickly and scurried over to the counter.

Harry chuckled to himself. "I am so persuasive," he murmured, quite pleased with his performance.

The girl managed to locate the hag's property. She prepared a portkey and handed it to Harry, who grabbed it eagerly. "Thank you for your help, broad!" he shouted.

The portkey, however, took a minute to activate, so after Harry's clever concluding statement he and the girl looked at one another in silence for another forty-five seconds.

Harry felt that he was falling in love with the girl. He noticed her large blue eyes, the mole on her neck, and her scraggly rat-coloured hair.

The girl was completely terrified. She was afraid this deranged lunatic was going to murder her before leaving.

As the girl opened her mouth in a miserable sob of fear, Harry said, "I love you!"

The portkey activated just then, and Harry was carried away, the image of the girl burning brightly in his heart.