Chapter Ten- The Guardian
KNOCK! KNOCK!
Harry sat up in his beat, his heart beating very fast. There was someone knocking at his door and he jumped out of bed, and felt terrified. He looked at his watch and saw that it was four o'clock.
He opened it and saw Kat standing there, her nose bleeding and her injured arm dangling helplessly by her side. "Harry…" she panted. "I tried…I couldn't…"
Harry held her just before she hit the floor, and carried her to the couch. "What happened?" Harry asked in alarm.
"I was outside… Remarque… He took her…" Kat gasped and sucked air noisily. Harry pointed the wand at Kat's nose and it stopped bleeding.
"He took Hermione?" Harry blurted.
"I'm so sorry…" Kat started, but Harry interrupted her.
"We have to go to the Ministry," Harry said. "Now."
One hour later, at the Ministry"I'll need all of you to go with me," Harry said as he looked around the meeting room. Luna, Neville, Justin, Colin, Kat and a very-battered looking Malfoy were staring at him.
"We are heading to Loch Ness," Harry said. "I want you all to apparate in the woods next to it. We have already lost valuable time, but the ritual might not be completed, so move, people, MOVE!"
Everyone started disapparating, and when Harry was ready to do it, the door opened violently.
"Mr. Weasley, you can't…!" A tall wizard was trying to stop Ron, who looked murderous.
"So it was you all the bloody time!" Ron yelled. "You were the one she was in love with and YOU DIDN'T TELL ME!"
"Ron, I can't…" Harry pleaded.
"YOU TRAITOR!" Ron bellowed. "SCUMBAG! YOU DESERVE NOTHING BUT DEATH! AND I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"
Ron directed his fist at Harry, but Harry disapparated just in time. He appeared next to a tree, and everybody was waiting for him.
"What took you so long, Potter?" Malfoy snapped.
"Personal issues," Harry said. "Any sign of them?"
"No," Kat said. "They haven't arrived, or the middle of the lake would be an eerie yellow."
"Great, I want you to…" Harry started.
"Why, hello, Potter." Remarque was standing there, followed by a group of twenty people heavily cloaked and…
"Hermione!" Harry gasped. Hermione was tied with ropes, her mouth covered by a piece of fabric; Harry saw that there was a deep gash on her left arm.
"Let her go!" Harry yelled at Remarque.
"Um, I don't think so," Remarque grinned. "ATTACK!"
The Aurors and the SDTMB started sending spells to each other; yells piercing the forest. Remarque dragged Hermione and Harry ran after them.
"Impedimenta!" Harry bellowed, but the spells seemed to bounce off Remarque's body. "IMPEDIMENTA!IMPEDIMENTA!"
Remarque arrived to the shore and pointed his wand at the lake. "Aparecieum Crearatus!"
Harry felt rooted to the spot; he couldn't move his arms, and Hermione's screams were muffled.
A enormous monster with a big head and a long neck emerged from the lake. It was black mixed with green, it's yellow eyes were terrible, its mouth revealed thousands of teeth. It was the Loch Ness monster.
Remarque took a glass bottle out of his pocket and held it with his free hand. Harry tried to move, but it was impossible; it was like his feet were stuck in mud. Hermione stared terrified at the monster and she struggled with the ropes.
The monster dived to attack Remarque, and Harry's feet suddenly seemed to move a little. Remarque opened the bottle quickly and elevated until he was face to face with the monster.
The monster opened his jaw at Remarque, ready to attack… But Remarque was faster. Remarque poured the contents of the bottle into the monsters mouth, and the monster stared twitching and roaring horribly. Remarque pointed his wand at Hermione, and Hermione levitated to Remarque's arms.
Hermione struggled, but Remarque was very strong. The monster finally stopped twitching and started falling. Harry tried to move, since the monster was falling in his direction.
Remarque laughed as the middle of the lake started turning yellow. Harry saw the monster falling… It was going to break every single one of Harry's bones… And Hermione was going to die.
Suddenly, he felt someone pulling him and the monster fell in the spot where Harry had been. Harry turned around and saw Malfoy glaring at him.
"You owe me," Malfoy said coldly. "Now let's go and rescue that Mud- I mean, that stupid girl."
Harry and Malfoy got into the lake and started swimming to the middle. They floated there for a while and Harry started getting desperate.
"How are we supposed to get in there?" Harry said angrily.
"I hate Magical Creatures!" Malfoy yelled and nothing happened. Harry glared at him and Malfoy shrugged.
"Do you have a better idea?" Malfoy snapped. "Cracking your head open this time won't hel-"
Malfoy suddenly submerged and Harry blinked. Then he understood. "I hate Magical Creatures!" Harry yelled and waited.
An invisible force seemed to pull him to the bottom of the lake. Harry felt his lungs aching for oxygen, he was getting dizzy, he needed air… air…
Harry hit the ground hard, and gulped air hungrily. He was in some sort of chamber, and Malfoy was standing in front of what it seemed an endless tunnel.
"This looks just like the Chamber of Secrets," Harry muttered.
"I suppose that we have to go down that tunnel," Malfoy said. "Get up, Potty."
Harry stood up and walked over to Malfoy, who looked away and walked into the tunnel. Then they heard a scream and Harry's heart stopped. It was Hermione.