So, January was not a good month for me. I apologise for my absence, but I was working on a scholarship opportunity. And vowed not to write anything for fun until I finished it. Which took all MONTH! Drove me insane.

Also, I was very sick. Half the time I posted I was most likely delirious, and my behavior was probably not the best. So, I will try not to post when I am sick :)

CHAPTER ELEVEN: Into the Woods

Evangeline's lungs drew in a grateful deep breath. She could see light, through her closed eyelids. Yet she wanted to remain where she was. Slowly she opened her blue eyes, taking in the barren-leafed trees above her.

Their spider-like branches swaying in the slight breeze. Then, like a creeping thief, her body began to register pain. It crept up her legs, up her spine, to her head. Pain exploded behind her eyes as she groaned and shut them. Where was this pain coming from?

Moaning she rolled onto her stomach and lifted herself up off the ground. She sat back on her knees and looked at her surroundings.

She was at the base of a hill. A cold wind blowing through the trees and moving the fallen leaves with it. She shivered and hugged the ugly gray robes closer to her body. Wearing them had been a pain. When she had seen the pink ones that Umbridge had worn, she had felt a stab of jealousy. But that was short lived.

What a horrid woman, she thought. In that lifeless courtroom she had felt so much hate towards her. Harry was lucky that he had stopped her. The urge to attack the toad had been great. She shivered again.

Where was she? Why wasn't she back at Grimmauld Place? Where was Hermione, Harry and Ron?

Her mind instantly jumped to the worse possible conclusion.

They had gotten separated while apparating.

Crap.

Evangeline stumbled to her feet, grimacing as her bare feet were stabbed with small dead twigs. Sharp to the touch, on her soft pink feet. She began up the hill, using her hands to help herself climb up the steep slope.

When she came to the top she sighed with relief. Harry and Hermione were on the other side. Evangeline frowned at the sight before her, Ron was on the ground, his shirt ripped open. Tears ran down Hermione's face as she fussed over his prone body.

Evangeline stumbled down the other side, slipping and sliding most of the way down. She crawled to their side, her eyes widening at the sight of Ron's arm.

He'd been splinched.

This was bad, very bad.

"Hermione, what happened?" she asked in a hoarse voice.

"I had to!" said Hermione. "Yaxley had a hold on me, I apparated us to Grimmauld Place, but he knows where it is now, he can get in. I was a secret keeper and I let him in. He knows the secret. It wasn't safe so I just. . . apparated!"

Ron moaned as Hermione used the small vial on Dittany on his wounds.

"Shhh. Shhh. It's okay, I'm sorry Ron, I'm sorry."

As the greenish smoke billowed up from Ron's wounds, new skin stretched over making it look as if he'd been splinched weeks ago. Evangeline swallowed thickly, for once feeling sorry for the pig brained Weasley. Harry tried to reassure Hermione as she fussed over getting them in the woods.

Ron groaned and opened his eyes, his face gray and glistening with sweat.

"How d'you feel?" Hermione whispered.

"Lousy," he croaked, wincing, "where are we?"

"In the woods where they held the Quidditch World Cup," said Hermione.

"Hey!" pipped up Evangeline. "I know where that is, Nathan went on and on about it, he was pretty upset Dad wouldn't let him come." Harry sighed and looked over at her. His look clearly saying, 'not helping!'

Hermione sprang to her feet, walking to the edge of the clearing. Harry watched as Ron began to groan in earnest.

"Where are you going?" asked Harry.

"Protective charms," muttered Hermione. "If we're staying, we should put up some protective enchantments. Ev. . can you help me?"

"Yep!" said Evangeline springing to her feet and wincing as the sharp sticks dug into her feet. As she pulled out her wand, she fished around in her bag and pulled out a pair of slippers. Sliding them onto her feet, she hopped over to Hermione and began to copy what she was saying.

"Salvia Hexia . . . Protego Totalum . . ." she incanted. Both girls created a wide circle around the boys. Evangeline could see the haze forming in the air from their incantations. Almost like they were inside a bubble that a two year would make.

"You could get out the tent, Harry," Hermione said with a huff as he sat open-mouthed.

"Tent?"

"In the bag!"

"In the. . . of course," said Harry. Evangeline shook her head, as she continued her work.

"Repello Muggletum . . . Muffliato . . ." she recited. Suddenly she didn't feel good. It was almost as if some unseen force had punched her in the gut, and decided to make her insides into a nice little nest for its feral hamsters. She winced at the disturbing thought. It really felt like she was going to hurl. Grabbing her head with her free hand she stumbled slightly.

"Ev?" came Hermione's distorted voice. "Are you okay? Ev?"

"M'fine," she muttered, straightening. Hermione gave her an unconvinced look.

When they finally set up the tent, they each helped drag Ron into it and place him on one of the bunk beds. The inside of the tent was plain, and very drab. A stove was in one corner, yet it was also very spacious. Evangeline gratefully sank down into one of the beds, letting her eyes flutter shut.

Sleep took her instantly.

When she woke, Evangeline could hear arguing. She sat bolt upright in the bunk, as she realized that she had fallen asleep. Rubbing her eyes she stood and joined Harry, Hermione and Ron in the main part of the tent. They were silent now. Eyes on her.

"Hey. . . what's going on?"

"Nothing," snapped Hermione with a glare. Evangeline froze, her eyes wide.

"Did I do something. . . ?"

"I saw Gregorovitch," said Harry. "Vol-"

"Don't! Say his name," hissed Ron.

"Sorry, You-Know-Who, found Gregorovitch and tortured him. He wants something from him," explained Harry. Evangeline nodded still not understanding why Hermione was being so cold. Evangeline regretted falling asleep now.

"Harry is letting Vo-You-Know-Who into his mind," Hermione said coldly. "I told him that he needs to apply his Occlumensy-"

"Not this again!" Harry said.

"I said I would take over the watch!" Hermione all but yelled in his face. Evangeline held up her hands.

"Ladies! Ladies! Don't get your knickers in a knot, you're both pretty," she said. This was met with unamused glares, and Evangeline cringing. The same sick feeling from earlier overcame her again, so she looked for a way out.

"Okay, my bad. I'll just take over watch and leave you guys to sort this," she amended hastily. They watched as she made her way to the mouth of the tent and suddenly Hermione lost her cold look, replacing it with horror. She glanced at Harry and dashed forward.

"Ev! Wait, you can't go out!" She yelled.

But the damage was done. The moment Evangeline pulled the tent flap open, the light of the moon washed over her. The sick feeling left, leaving her with a sense of euphoria. All she could see was the glorious light of the beautiful moon.

And then everything went dark.

Yep. I think I lost my mojo. . . need to find it.

The Mysterious E- yay, she's not lost!

xXMizz Alec VolturiXx- I'll try, I'm going to be really busy this month and next month. . . and the next grrr.

wisegirl2772- Ugh finals, I hope you did good!

Nizuna Fujieda- thank you!

indigofrisbee- Awesome! Hopefully the next chapter will be better than this one! (finals. . . what can I say? I probably failed!)

ember505- my bad for the updating part. Life is so BUSY, plus my siblings like to hog the computer :(

Thank you for all your support! January was a rough month, but I'm glad I was able to post this chapter. Even if it is super short, I think I probably could've made it longer but I need to get my thoughts together for the plot and working Ev in here. . . so much work. . . need more CHOCOLATE!

~CHAO