How It Started

Chapter 54 - Vesper Malfoy.

I regained my balance a lot quicker than last time, obviously after travelling like this for some time, it became easier. I looked around us and noticed we weren't surrounded by the red-bricked apartment anymore, but a large mass of trees.

" Okay are we all ok- " I began but was cut off by an ear-pricing yell, I looked over to see Ron, lying on the floor, his arm entirely coated in a thick layer of blood. Hermione was already by his side, apologising profoundly.

" Harry - in my bag. " She commanded, he seemed dazed for a short moment but began searching through the bag immediately.

" Essence of dittany. " She informed him, he nodded at her before searching once more. After about five seconds of searching, Hermione began to become quite panicked, that much was obvious.

" Harry! " She yelled, I bent by the bag, helping him to search, finally he uncovered the small bottle and threw it to Hermione. She glared at his recklessness, of throwing such an important bottle but began pouring the contents over Ron's arms nonetheless. We all sat back and watched, as Ron's yelling came to a stop, he remained lying on the floor however.

" Phew. " Hermione muttered, leaning back into the, what I assumed was, very cold ground.

" Will he be okay? " Fred inquired, a look of concern embedded into his eyebrows and forehead. Hermione turned his way, smiling at this worry and nodding.

" Soon enough. We won't be apparating for a short while, I would imagine. " She informed us all, we all nodded in understanding, however Harry seemed slightly put off by this idea. Hermione nodded at his expression, reaching inside her very over-sized pockets and handing him the locket. He smiled politely, wrapping it around his neck.

I realised, I was still wearing my persons clothing. Which had very high-up sleeves, I twisted my arms slightly at the cold. Holding my right hand, against my left wrist.

I searched in Hermione's bag with my free hand, producing the large green sweater I had purchased previously, I slipped it on quickly, flexing my arms out.

" Okay. I'll get started on protective charms, someone want to set up camp? " She asked, I nodded her way, searching through the profusely large bag and looking for a tent. I found one easy enough and as I began trying to set it up, I heard Hermione mumbling charms under her breath as she drew symbols in the air.

" Some help? " I asked and Harry, Selina and Fred walked over and willingly help me set up the tent. After a few laughs as Fred got stuck inside certain parts of the tent, we finally got it set up. I walked inside and admired the space we had been given from a very clever Hermione.

There was a large room in the middle, with a table already set up, two bedrooms lead off from this large area as well as one other room that had a large table set up in the middle. Each ' bedroom ' room had a small flap over it, as if for privacy.

" Hermione, you're brilliant! " I yelled out, I heard a small laugh as Hermione continued on with the charms she was using around the area.

" Shall we bring Ron in? " Selina asked, eyeing the camp slightly, I nodded, remembering our friend in need, we both walked out and found him in the same lying position from before. I picked up his feet as Selina grabbed his shoulders and we moved him roughly inside, dropping him on one of the pre-set up beds in one of the rooms, he grunted as he was practically thrown onto it.

" Couldn't of put me down any more rough? " He questioned, grumbly. I laughed as well as Selina, at least he was speaking normally now and not just yelling out in pain. I walked out, zipping up that bedroom so he could have some privacy.

" She's truely too smart. " Fred said, observing the bag he must've brought inside while we were collecting Ron, I nodded in response and shared a humorous glance with Harry.

" That's our 'Mione. " I said jokingly, Fred looked at me, slightly bemused as he dropped the bag onto the small table in the middle of the room. Rough footsteps approached the tent as Hermione walked inside, wiping her forehead as she did so.

" We won't be seen from the outside. " She told us, I nodded smiling gratefully she smiled back, picking a book out of her seemingly large bag before sitting down beside the large table and reading.

" Yep, That's our Hermione. " I whispered, everyone laughed lightly as we all walked separately away to observe the tent that Hermione had been so clever to think of before leaving, the whole tent smelt like freshly-baked bread and was quite warm, sheltering us from the cold-ish weather outside.

A loud thud could be heard outside, I turned to look at Harry in alarm he looked quite panicked as well. No one else had seemed to be close enough to the front door to of heard, I held up my wand, walking outside slowly and close to the ground.

I whipped open the tent door and held my wand up to whatever was outside, there was nothing there.

I turned my head from side-to-side however saw nothing, from Harrys confused expression I assumed he couldn't see what had made the noise either.

" Must've been an animal of some sort. " I said, comfortingly, however the thud had been quite loud, perhaps a larger animal of sorts?

" Yes I'm sure- " He began, but stopped talking as a figure came into view. He had long hair and was dressed in a fine suit, he looked remarkably familiar, so much so that I didn't bother raising my wand as he walked over to us.

" Minister? " I said questionably, he nodded as he continued his walk over to us. Harry's wand never fell as he came in five feet of us.

" Isn't the dark lord now in control- " I began, but he cut me off with a simple nod. I backed up, now slightly alarmed he seemed to sense this and shook his head with a simple smile.

" I don't care how much he believes I work for him, I work for myself and myself only. " He answered, I looked at him up and down and something about his stance and expression told me he was telling the truth.

" Okay - how may we help you? " Harry said, pronouncing each word, remarkably slowly, still obviously a little suspicious of the man at our ' door '.

" I have some things.. Dumbledore requested I give them to you. " He informed us both, my jaw went slack at the reminder of our previous Principal. I stood back, as did Harry, both of us now intrigued, he walked inside giving us both appreciative smiles.

" It's the minister. " I told everyone, they all turned appointed glances at him, raising their wands.

" He's comes bearing gifts. " I told them all, they eyed me and then him, not dropping their wands. Selina looked most concerned out of them all.

" From Dumbledore. " I continued, Selina's hard-set expression, faltered and she lowered the wand slowly, Hermione's hand dropped immediately at the mention as did Fred's.