𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐦 {𝐡.𝐣.𝐩}

XXXVI- Fight and Flight

Evergreen and Harry had no idea what Hermione was planning, or whether she even had a plan.

They walked half a pace behind her as they headed down the corridor outside Umbridge's office, knowing it would look very suspicious if they appeared not to know where the group was going.

Evergreen did not dare attempt to talk to Harry or Hermione; Umbridge was walking so closely behind them that she 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 Evergreen 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 long dark shadows rippled over the grass behind them like cloaks.

"It's hidden in Hagrid's hut, is it?" said Umbridge eagerly in Evergreen'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. Evergreen felt a strong urge to swing round and seize her by the throat, but resisted. She felt a sick, desperate longing burning in her stomach- she begged any heavenly beings that were watching to help Sirius- she needed him at home, safe...

"Then... where is it?" asked Umbridge, with a hint of 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 three stay ahead of me."

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

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

As they reached the cool shade of the first trees, Evergreen tried to catch Hermione's eye; walking into the Forest without wands seemed, to her, to be foolhardier than anything they 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."

Evergreen's misgivings increased. She had absolutely no clue where they were going, and by the look on Harry's face, neither did he.

"Er- are you sure this is the right way?" Evergreen asked Hermione pointedly.

"Oh yes," she said in a steely voice, crashing through the undergrowth with what Evergreen thought was a wholly unnecessary amount of noise.

Behind them, Umbridge tripped over a fallen sapling. Neither of them 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 them. "You'll see."