"Harry, we have to get to shelter," I said urgently, a new fear rushing through me. He stood up and began running. Not knowing the area, I followed him. Rain poured down like heavy buckets of water, soaking my clothes and dragging me back. My feet pounded on the matted grass, now soiled with puddles and mud. It was becoming more and more difficult to run, my clothes slapping against me.
"Hurry, Jenny," Harry reached for my hand, pulling me along. Well that definitely got me running.
We finally reached shelter under some train tracks. It wasn't my first choice, but it was dry and safe from the storm. I slowed my pace once I was under the cement ceiling and stopped to catch my breath.
"Harry…" the lights flickered above us, and I wondered if the power was going to go out. Then, I reasoned that something was making all of this happen. I felt the air become cold and heavy, as if death itself were present. "Let's go," I had a feeling that we shouldn't be hanging out here, no matter how dry it was. I pulled out my broom and began to fly, that is, until a dark cloaked figure swooped in and passed by me, missing me by inches, but taking me with it.
"Harry…" the lights flickered above us, and I wondered if the power was going to go out. The air had suddenly gotten cold and heavy, as if death itself was present. I tried to run, but my feet seemed to be glued to the floor. A large cloaked figure flew from the sky, heading straight towards us.
"Get behind me!" Harry shouted, but I couldn't move. Before it could reach me, Harry leapt between us. I watched as it wrapped its long skeletal fingers around his neck, holding him against the wall. It seemed to be sucking the life out of him. "Jenny… run," he gasped. The whole world seemed to be collapsed, as if I would never feel happy again.
Didn't Harry understand? I couldn't run away. Not because I was scared or not, but because he was in trouble. I couldn't just leave him behind to die.
The problem was: what could I do? Surely any spell I cast would go straight through it. It seemed sort of transparent, in an almost ghostly sort of way. I decided there was only one thing I could do.
Run.
"Don't you think they'd be lovely, Vernon? Oh, here, she's waking up!" the words seemed to vary in pitch and volume. Within moments the pain in my head came back, and I tried to open my eyes. My vision was blurry and I struggled to sit up. I was successful, with the help of a thin woman kneeling next the couch.
"Get some water, Potter!" A large man ordered harshly.
"Where-" I began, holding my head and leaning forward while the room steadied itself.
"You hit your head and my darling son Dudley, here, carried you back home so we could tend to your wounds," the woman smiled. I looked around, taking in the environment. I was sitting on a couch in the Dursley's home. Mrs. Dursley was kneeling next to me, holding a wet cloth and antiseptic. Dudley sat on an armchair, holding a steak against his eye. Mr. Dursley stood near the doorway, huffing from yelling at Harry.
Mrs. Dursley turned to look at her son, who dropped the steak and stuttered, "yeah, Potter pushed you and you fell"
"We do apologize for our nephew's behavior"
At that moment, Harry walked in with a glass of water and a bar of chocolate. I looked at him, not caring to hide my confusion. He set down my drink and, with plenty of glares from his uncle, apologized for pushing me.
"Sorry for pushing you. I'm a rather unstable and deranged boy. It's a good thing my cousin was there to put a stop to my madness, though it didn't go without sacrifice," his lip twitched and I nearly broke into laughter. Just picturing Harry take out a big guy like Dudley was enough to make me go insane. Though, I recalled, I was the one to give Dudley a black eye. That was even better!
"Are you alright, dear?" Mrs. Dursley inquired, holding out the glass of water for me.
"Oh, yes, I'm just a bit… dizzy" I covered my face by taking a large swallow of water.
"Have some chocolate, it will help" I didn't understand how it would help, but I obliged. At that moment, an owl flew out from behind me and hit the ceiling, dropping a letter in the process. The letter flew into the air, turning around until it faced Harry.
"Dear Mr. Potter, the Ministry has received intelligence that at 6:23 this evening you performed the patronus charm. As a clear violation of the decree of the reasonable restriction of underage wizardry, you are hereby expelled from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Hoping you are well, Mafalda Hopkirk" it spoke diplomatically.
I dropped my chocolate.