𝐍𝐨 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭

11. Godric's Hollow

Mattheo

I had acquired a rucksack for myself from a nearby village. It seemed that I had a skill for stealing. I wore a baseball style cap on my head that I had taken from a kid on a skateboard and three wands (only one of them being mine) sat in my pocket. It had been days since I had killed the pair of death eaters in the woods and I found myself walking through village after village, field after field, and forest after forest. Last night I had curled up under a bridge, taking shelter from the rain. I lit a fire with my wand, holding my hands out in front of it to keep warm. But with the rain pouring, the floor damp and the air ice cold, I still shivered continuously.

I thought back to everything that happened to me back at Malfoy Manner as I hopped over a stye and into another field. They'd be looking for me now. If not me, then they'd be looking for Gnash and Knotley. Forty-eight hours my father had said. It had been a hundred and twenty. Five days. I wondered if anyone had found their bodies. They would have decayed by now- they'd hardly be recognizable. I almost felt bad. Nevertheless, I had to stay hidden. Out of sight. I just needed to find Harry and his friends. However, I have absolutely no clue where he is. The last place he was spotted was at the ministry with Ron, Hermione and... Cordelia.

She can't be with them. She wouldn't be that stupid... would she? Hell, she probably thinks she's being brave but honestly, now is not the time for that. She's going to end up dead at this point. Call me pessimistic, but I don't see this ending well for any of us. God, I hope she's not with Harry. I hope she's safe at Hogwarts with the others. Not that Hogwarts is safe now, with Snape in charge. But she'd be safer there then out in the open ready for a death eater to snatch her up and deliver her to my father. He wouldn't hesitate anymore. Not after all the disruption she's caused him. It's not her fault, it's mine. But nonetheless, she'll get punished for my carelessness, my stupidity, my naivety for bringing her into my life. He wouldn't hesitate in killing her.

I continued to walk. I should probably find shelter soon. Dark clouds formed causing the daisies that brushed my legs to shy away, yearning for sunlight. An opening to a wood was just in view, and I desperately strode towards it. A crash and rumble sounded loudly from above and I anxiously looked skyward as rain started to fall loose. It trickled down my forehead and onto my cheeks. The hat on my head provided little protection and soon my shirt was clinging to my body, and I was soaked through. The wood was a few steps in front of me now and I began to run, sighing in relief as I reached a large Oak tree with a vast canopy of leaves.

I fell down, sitting on wet leaves and twigs. The rucksack that was on my back now lay in front of me. I rummaged through it to find something to eat. I hadn't realized just how hungry I was until I was staring at a cereal bar in my hands. The wrapper was discarded far too quickly as I shoveled the oaty-syrupy-goodness down my throat. I let out a sigh of content after swallowing and then brushed my hands on my jeans. I took off my cap, running a hand through my hair. My head fell back against the tree trunk, and I looked up. A squirrel was sat on the nearest branch to my head. The creature stared down at me, an acorn clutched greedily in its paws. I moved ever so slightly, and the small grey mammal shot up the rest of the way, disappearing within the many branches and leaves.