Harry Potter rushed past the milling students in Hogsmead. The October chill did nothing to lessen his coughs as he wove his way towards the Three Broomsticks. He was supposed to meet Ron and Hermonie an hour ago, however, he'd found an important piece of information about Voldemort just a few minutes ago. He pushed open the door of the Three Broomsticks and gratefully stepped into the warm pub.
"Harry!" Hermonie waved him towards a table in a far corner where she and Ron sat. Ron was staring balefully at Madam Rosmerta, who was sitting next to a handsome man in a blue cloak. Harry sat down and helped himself to the extra butterbeer on the table.
"Sorry. I was held up," said Harry apologetically. "I had to take the route to the Honeyduke's cellar. Everyone already left and I had to get past Filch."
"No problem, mate," said Ron. "Find anything interesting?"
"Yeah, I did," conceded Harry. Although he thought he would not return to Hogwarts for his seventh and final year, Harry actually did come back to the enchanted school in order to find out more about Tom Riddle's past. He looked in old school records and editions of the Prophet to find any leads that may help him in his quest. However, Harry knew he'd have to leave soon.
"Listen to this: Tom Riddle, a fifth year student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, disappeared in the Forbidden Forest two days ago and was found today walking out of the forest quite shaken. He was lost on a trek through the forest during a Care of Magical Creatures lesson. The Professor is now being held in question. When asked, Tom stated that he had been staring at a Poisonous Tentacula before he realized that he had been separated from the class. He also denied meeting any other magical creatures in the two-day period and returned unscathed. Turn to page 6 for the full story and an interview with Tom Riddle."
"Blimey, you think You-Know-Who was in the Forbidden Forest for a reason?" asked Ron.
"Well, he certainly didn't get lost because of his love for Poisonous Tentaculas," replied Harry grimly.
Hermonie, who'd been rereading the Prophet article, looked up suddenly. "Harry, do you know what this means? V-Voldemort might have planned to hide a Horcrux there. We know that Voldemort was very attached to Hogwarts, and perhaps he's connected to the Forbidden Forest as well."
"That's what I thought, too," said Harry. "But we've got to be sure."
"The centaurs sure aren't going to tell us anything," said Ron. "Last time I checked, they hated our guts!"
"We've got to try something," said Harry.
"Come on, it's almost time to go," Hermonie reminded them. Together, the three of them headed back to Hogwarts.
