CHAPTER 7

The Dark Lord began gliding around the cold wall of the castle. Somewhat surprised, Draco and Hermione followed him. The sky was inky black, and the cold in the air pressed down upon them, like clear mist. Hermione felt a wave of goosebumps rise on her arm, despite the protective, warm cloak she had worn. Up above her somewhere, a flash of lightening forked the sky, and a few seconds later, a deep rumbling sounded, touching her gut.

The Dark Lord pulled back his hood, raised his face, and delicately sniffed the air.

'Rain,' he said, in a voice barely above a whisper. 'It will rain tonight- perhaps in the early hour of the dawn. All the better for it will cover our tracks.'

He persisted around the wall. Hermione followed, wanting desperately to know where they were going and about the mysterious traitor, but knowing better than to ask. The Dark Lord would tell her when the time was ripe.

'Here we are,' the Dark Lord said, suddenly. He was standing at the beginning of a large, dense wood that looked doubly frightening in the night. Somewhere inside, an owl hooted.

'My Lord,' Draco began.

'Not now, Draco. Come with me. Within fifteen meters of here, we will find a small clearing…'

He reached forward, but then stopped.

'No. No, of course not. Hermione…in front of me, now. Draco, bring up the rear.'

Hermione obligingly stepped in front. She pushed a few branches out of her way, and held them apart for the Dark Lord. He stepped forward. Hermione didn't stop to see how Draco fared. She pushed past the next branch, but it snapped back, and slapped hard against her temple. She let out a soft cry, as a trickle of blood slid down from the wound.

The Dark Lord hissed. 'You are bleeding. Turn around.'

She obeyed. He raised his hand, and gently pressed his fingers to the wound. Immediately it froze up and became numb.

'Move forth,' he whispered.

Obligingly, Hermione turned, and began to push forward.

At that moment, however, the Dark Lord stopped. His hands reached out, his nose sniffed the air. Then, he turned to Hermione with a fierce malignity on his face.

'Members of the Order!' he hisses, malevolently, 'Run, Hermione! They must not see your face.'

Behind him, Hermione could see fire…strong spells. Her feet felt numb. The traitor had struck again. They were coming…she caught sight of the look of fear on Draco's face.

'Run Hermione!' the Dark Lord cried. 'Get to the clearing, and hide!'

Immediately, she whirled around, and slapped at the branches, frantically pushing forward. She stepped into puddles, and scratched her legs on barbs and thorns, but the only thought in her mind was to get to the clearing. All of a sudden, she saw a bright green light flash through the trees, and heard someone fall. Praying that it wasn't a Death Eater, she ran on, till finally she burst into the clearing. Following the Dark Lord's instructions, she looked about for a place to hide.

Footsteps, thudding on the ground…the sound of voices…desperate cries…

They were getting closer. To her horror, she heard Fred's voice, too close for comfort.

'We have to check the woods, Harry! Come on!'

The footsteps thudded closer. With a feeling of dread, Hermione realized there was no time.

Which was why she turned upon the nearest tree and began climbing up.

It was a pine tree, with several branches. Hermione was a good thirty feet up, by the time Harry and Fred burst into the clearing.

Both were dressed in black robes, holding their wands at ready. A little too enthusiastically, Harry surged forwards, tripped over a root, and fell over with a very of pain.

'Harry!'

Immediately, Fred was at his side. 'Are you okay?'

Harry winced. 'No. no, I can't move my leg. Fred, I can't move!'

'Don't panic…just…get into a sitting position.'

Hermione could see the terror in Harry's eyes.

'We're not safe! Run!'

'I'm not leaving you,' Fred, said, fiercely. 'Sit up, if you can, and hold your wand at ready. I'll put a shield around us, and we'll wait till someone finds us.'

'No, Fred I-.'

'Shut up Harry. Protego!'

Hermione sensed a shimmering shield, created around them. She saw Fred crouch down beside Harry.

'We're stuck,' Harry said glumly.

'Too true. But while we are, you might as well tell me about this tip off.'

'I don't know, actually. Snape did. He's the one whose got all the tip offs. He won't tell who's giving them to him, don't ask me why. But all the tip offs have been useful, so we go with them.'

'I wonder who it could be. It really seems- Harry! Did you just see pink hair passing by over there?'

'Yes I did! Yes it was! Tonks! TONKS!'

'Over here! We're in the clearing! Harry's hurt!'

'Come quick!'

A figure pushed its way into the clearing, and the next minute, Nymphadora Tonks was standing there. Her hair was bright pink, and she had a bloody gash on her cheek. She had a black cloak, thrown haphazardly over black leather pants, and a pink blouse.

'Harry!' she cried. 'You're ankles all swollen!'

'I think I've broken it,' Harry replied, his face white.

'You need a portkey,' Tonks said, abruptly. 'There's nothing you can do here anymore.'

She quickly cast the charm on a rock, and handed it to Harry.

'Take Fred with you! Quick!'

'But-.' Fred began. He never finished, thought, because at that moment Harry grabbed his wrist, and both vanished.

Tonks paused, trying to catch her breath. Her cheek was bleeding even worse. Hermione gazed down at her.

All of a sudden, a jet of green light hit her back. She slumped over.

The next second, The Dark Lord appeared.

'Come out, Hermione,' he said, 'Draco is here. We are leaving.'