CHAPTER 3

"Potter," Malfoy spat as he stepped into the kitchen. Everyone had filled the room by now. Harry just stood there with amazement. No one would have guessed that Malfoy would ever show his face so willingly here, not to mention that he even knew where here was.

"Malfoy. What are you doing here?" Ron hissed, "Where's your dad and his awesome cane?"

"Oh, you haven't heard? He's dead! You-know-who killed him. And I hope you're next Weasley!" Malfoy started to draw his wand but dropped it when he saw the others do the same.

"Draco, what do you want?" Mr. Weasley whispered sternly.

" I want revenge," Draco hissed.

"I don't think we can trust you Malfoy," Ron spat.

"Would you if I told you the Death Eaters are coming here as we speak?" Draco said.

"What are you on about?" Ron asked.

"Well how else do you think I found this place? I've heard them talk about attacking here for a while now," Malfoy replied.

"What are you talking about Malfoy? Are you saying they're going to attack at any moment?" Harry asked.

"Exactly," Draco responded.

"Everyone, OUT!" Mr. Weasley said. Everyone ran from the house. They all got on their broomsticks and flew away in a rush except for those who apparated. Mr. Weasley stayed with the ones on their brooms. Harry and Ginny hurried to Buckbeak who was tied outside.

"Harry, we're not going to ride him are we?" Ginny asked.

"Well of course we are. We can't just leave him here," Harry said. Ginny eyed him nervously.

"So, both of us are?" she asked. Harry hesitated for a moment, and then replied, "Well, you'll have to. We don't have enough time to go get your broom now do we? Have you learned to apparate yet?"

"Well no," she said

"Then looks like you're stuck with me and ol' Buckbeak here," Harry replied, "Now, the first thing you have to do is bow to him. Never approach without bowing. They don't like that. They're very….mannerly creatures." Ginny did as she was told and Buckbeak accepted her. Harry pulled her on Buckbeak's back. He kicked his sides and Buckbeak took off.

It was a wonderful sensation. The summer air blew through Harry's already untidy hair. Ginny seemed to hang on for dear life. Harry saw out of the corner of his eye Malfoy approaching them on his broom. Harry pulled out his wand carefully where Malfoy couldn't see it just in case he tried anything. They eventually caught up with the others on brooms. Harry could see Ron at the end, looking back. Harry waved and Ron waved back. He looked behind him and noticed Ginny had her eyes closed.

Finally Mr. Weasley led the others to a large well-hidden cave.

"We'll wait for the others in here. They'll find us eventually," Mr. Weasley reassured.

"Well Weasley, you should feel cozy here. Just like home eh?" Malfoy sneered at Ron.

"Shut up Malfoy, at least I have a home!" Ron fired. Draco's smirk unraveled. He began to frown. He started to reach for his wand. Harry ran up and took it from him.

"Is this what you do when you get angry? Always use magic to shut it all up?" Harry spat as he waved the wand in Malfoy's face. Draco turned and walked deeper in the cave. Harry slid Malfoy's wand in the pocket without his own.

"Why is he still with us? Obviously he's going to go call the death eaters over here!" Ron whispered.

"I don't know about that Ron. He seems pretty upset. I can't believe I'm saying this but, I think we can trust him," Harry whispered back.

"And I think you've gone mental!" Ron said. Hermione looked at them uneasily.

"So what are we going to do about him?" she asked pointing toward the direction Malfoy had gone.

"Well I think we have to stay with him so we can keep an eye on him," Ginny said as she came up behind them. She had obviously been eavesdropping.

"All right. Fine. But all three of us need to do it," Ron said as he looked around at Harry and Hermione.

"Hey! What about me? I want to help too!" Ginny whined. She could still be a bit of a child when she wanted to be.

"Fine! Whatever! As long as he doesn't do anything," Ron said.

"Well then what are we waiting for?" Harry asked. They all looked at each other and started in the direction of where Malfoy had gone.