The Forgotten Olympian |BOOK 1| PJO X HP | Alexandra Marine

Chapter 171 - Percy - Into the Dark Forest

Alex, Harry and I walked half a pace behind her as we headed down the corridor outside Umbridge's office, knowing it would look very suspicious if we appeared not to know where we were going. He did not dare attempt to talk to her; Umbridge was walking so closely behind them that he could hear her ragged breathing.

Hermione led the way down the stairs into the Entrance Hall. The din of loud voices and the clatter of cutlery on plates echoed from out of the double doors to the Great Hall--it seemed incredible to that twenty feet away were people who were enjoying dinner, celebrating the end of exams, not a care in the world. 

Hermione walked straight out of the oak front doors and down the stone steps into the balmy evening air. The sun was falling towards the tops of the trees in the Forbidden Forest now, and as Hermione marched purposefully across the grass--Umbridge jogging to keep up--their our dark shadows rippled over the grass behind them like cloaks.

"It's hidden in Hagrid's hut, is it?" said Umbridge eagerly in Harry's ear.

"Of course not," said Hermione scathingly. "Hagrid might have set it off accidentally."

"Yes," said Umbridge, whose excitement seemed to be mounting. "Yes, he would have done, of course, the great half-breed oaf."

She laughed.  "Then... where is it?" asked Umbridge, with a hint or uncertainty in her voice as Hermione continued to stride towards the Forest.

"In there, of course," said Hermione, pointing into the dark trees. "It had to be somewhere that students weren't going to find it accidentally, didn't it?"

"Of course," said Umbridge, though she sounded a little apprehensive now. "Of course... very well, then... you four stay ahead of me."

"Can we have your wand, then, if we're going first?" Alex asked her.

"No, I don't think so, Ms. Marine," said Umbridge sweetly, poking her in the back with it. "The Ministry places a rather higher value on my life than yours, I'm afraid."

As we reached the cool shade of the first trees, Harry tried to catch Hermione's eye; walking into the Forest without wands seemed to him to be more foolhardy than anything we had done so far this evening. She, however, merely gave Umbridge a contemptuous glance and plunged straight into the trees, moving at such a pace that Umbridge, with her shorter legs, had difficulty in keeping up.

"Is it very far in?" Umbridge asked, as her robe ripped on a bramble.

"Oh yes," said Hermione, "yes, it's well hidden."

"Er--are you sure this is the right way?" Harry asked her pointedly.

"Oh yes," she said in a steely voice, crashing through the undergrowth with a wholly unnecessary amount of noise. Behind us , Umbridge tripped over a fallen sapling. No one paused to help her up again; Hermione merely strode on, calling loudly over her shoulder, "It's a bit further in!"

"Hermione, keep your voice down," Harry muttered, hurrying to catch up with her. "Anything could be listening in here--"

"I want us heard," she answered quietly, as Umbridge jogged noisily after us. "You'll see..."

We walked on for what seemed a long time, until we were once again so deep into the Forest that the dense tree canopy blocked out all light.

"How much further?" demanded Umbridge angrily from behind him.

"Not far now!" shouted Hermione, as we emerged into a dim, dank clearing. "Just a little bit --"

Hair stood on my shoulders. "Duck!"

An arrow flew through the air and landed with a menacing thud in the tree just over Umbridge's head. The air was suddenly full of the sound of hooves; I could feel the Forest floor trembling; Umbridge gave a little scream and pushed Harry in front of her like a shield--