"Potter!" spat Malfoy. Albus groaned. His dad hadn't lied. The Whomping Willow really hit hard! Malfoy smiled maliciously. "Seen your brother around lately?"
"What have you done to James?" screamed Albus. Malfoy just laughed. Crabbe and Goyle sniggered stupidly behind him. Just then Rose and Dana fell from the tree with two piercing screams. Apparently not liking even numbers Malfoy began backing up. "See you around Potter" he he, Crabbe and Goyle turned and fled, laughing all the way to the castle. "Where's Howard?" asked Rose in alarm. Albus looked around a panic building up inside him. Where had Howard gone? The trio began looking for Howard around the tree, Dana constantly pressing the knot in the tree to keep it frozen. "You're bleeding!" said Albus to Dana. She blushed and indicated that he bleeding too. Rose poked her head around the thick trunk of the tree. "When you two love birds are finished maybe we could keep looking for Howard?" Albus and Dana looked away from each other and blushed. They both busied themselves for the next ten minutes, looking for Howard. It's no use! Dana scratched into the tree trunk. "We'll keep looking! We have to find him!" said Rose desperately.
"Rose, Dana's right. We need a teachers help. Come on!"
"Accio Howard!" yelled Rose futiley.
"I don't think the summoning charm works on humans" said Albus quietly. The dejected trio walked slowly back to the castle. Rose screamed and Albus' heart skipped a beat. He has felt a soft, fleshy something under his foot. Dana gripped around for something and triumphantly pulled off Albus' invisibility cloak. Underneath was Howard. Blood covered his face and he wasn't moving. Rose screamed again.
"BEWARE POTTER! MY SON HAS EVIL PLANS. HE PLANS TO RESURRECT THE DARK LORD. YOU MUST HELP HIM. YOU MUST STOP HIM BEFORE HE DOES BECAUSE THE DARK LORD WILL KILL HIM. DRACO THINKS THE DARK LORD WILL BE HAPPY WITH HIM BUT THE DARK LORD IS ANGRY WITH US MALFOYS FOR BETRAYING HIM AT THE BATTLE OF HOGWARTS. HELP HIM PLEASE!" screeched the voice of...
"Narcissa Malfoy?" asked Hermione shrilly. By this time, Hugo and Lily had returned to investigate the source of all the screaming.
"It seems so" said Harry
"You've got your work cut out for you mate! Bloody hell! How does she think you'll be able to talk to Malfoy. He hates you."
"Thanks for the optimism Ron! And see, Hermione, I was right! Malfoy is involved!"
"Harry what are you going to do?" Harry looked inot Ginny's frightened brown eyes and sighed.
"Anyone up for a trip of camping?"
"He'll be alright won't he Hagrid?" asked Rose anxiously
"Yeh he will. He on'y hit his head. Do you know who did it?" asked Hagrid gruffly
"Yeah Malfoy" said Albus bitterly.
"No way! The Malfoys turned to the good side after the battle! You got it wrong Albus! An' who's she" Hagird asked, indicating Dana "Don' talk much does she."
"It was Malfoy. That's Dana. She can't talked because Malfoy cursed her. She an only talk if he raises the curse." replied Albus absently, preoccupied with Howard.
"Hagrid," squeaked Rose "What's that?" She pointed a shaking finger towards a corner of Hagrid's hut. Albus whirled around and Dana's eyes widened.
"Tha' there is a Hydra! Beau'iful isn't he?" said Hagrid his eye starry. Albus stared appalled at the seven headed snake. It's eyes were red and it's seven heads were all hissing.
"Hagrid they're illegal. It could kill you!" squeaked Rose while Dana nodded fervently.
"Fifi would never hurt me!" said Hagrid shocked. Before Albus could explain to Hagrid that Fifi looked like he wanted to them all Howard coughed and everyone's attention was drawn to him.
"I'm going to kill Malfoy!" swore Howard weakly. "He thought I was coming to steal your glory or something and then he punched me in the nose!"
"What glory? I don't have any glory!" said Albus
"Bes' you four return to the castle" said Hagrid hastily. Albus saw he was trying to control Fifi who was now spitting purple venom. Albus wanted to stay and help Hagrid but Rose and Dana pulled him out and they all ran towards the castle. They made their way to dinner all wondering if Hagrid was ok down in his hut. Albus soon forgot about Hagrid though.
"James!" he screamed with delight. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine but Albus, you're in grave danger. I heard Malfoy talking about something. He was talking about your glory or something."
"Can you remember anything else?" asked Howard
"No" said James
"What's this about my glory?" asked Albus in frustration.
"I don't know Al but it doesn't sound good if it's coming from Malfoy" said Rose. Albus looked over to Malfoy who was miming something that looked suspiciously like someone being hit by a tree. Albus frowned. What glory could be Malfoy be planning for him?
"CAMPING!?" shouted Lily and Hugo. "YES YES YES!"
"Absolutely not!" said Hermione. The two children groaned. "Harry you can't expect to bring the children with you!" said Hermione indignantly.
"Of course not Hermione! They can stay at their grandpa Weasly's house. I don't expect you three to come either."
"Of course we're coming mate! We love camping don't we Hermone!" Hermione looked pale.
"Why exactly are we camping Harry?" she asked tentatively.
"Malfoy is resurrecting the Dark Lord so we have to find his body first. Do you guys know where he's buried?"
"No-one knows" piped up Ginny
"Well camping it is then" said Hermione briskly.
"I'm coming this time!" said Ginny and Harry knew no amount of arguing would change her mind. Hermione took Hugo and Lily by floo powder to the Burrow while Ginny apparated to go and pack while Harry helped Ron pack. Soon the four were back together and ready to go.
"You don't think they burned his body. do you?" asked Hermione
"Burn a body? " said Ron appalled.
"Wizards don't cremate bodies Hermione" said Harry in response to her quizzical look.
"If a body is burned that means that they'll become a dementor!" said Ron, still appalled.
"WHAT!" said Hermione and Harry together.
Ron nodded solemnly "A magical being that's burned will become a dementor because his soul has been stripped of his magic. So he is left with only sorrow and despair. Two ingredients to make a dementor. How did you think the first dementors were made? They breed now of course. That's how they're not extinct. No wizard will burn his body. Who wants him as a dementor?" Ron shuddered while Harry's mind worked frantically.
"We have to find his body, NOW!" said Harry. Hermione and Ginny's eyes both widened in fear as they understood.
"What?" said Ron. At that moment, there was a sound, like a gunshot, and Harry was thrown off his feet. He could hear screaming and yelling around him. Dust clogged his mouth and nose, making it difficult to breathe. His glasses had flown off him and everything was a blur. He looked up to see a man leaning over a limp body with red hair. He yelled something hoarsely but the next moment someone knocked him on the head and everything went black.