Gypsy

Chapter Nineteen

Trees and bushes flew past me, becoming a blur of green as I pushed myself to go faster and faster. It wasn't difficult to do, spells were exploding into the trees around me as I ran, forcing me to speeds I hadn't known I could achieve. The two Wizards casting them were close behind me. I recognized the hexes by the explosions they left behind, so far nothing particularly harmful was being thrown at me, just debilitating. A sharp pain in my ear let me know one had come too close, hissing I pressed my hand to the wound and dodged around a tree. Unfortunately behind that tree was a steeper gully then I had expected. Feet scrambling, and hands flailing, I slid down the hill. Finally I reached the bottom, before I could even assess my injuries the ground opened up underneath me and I fell down. Shrieking in fright, I imagined how deep this hole must be and how splattered I would be when I landed. Two metres later I was on the ground and on my back looking up at the sky. Spitting out a mouthful of dirt, I could tell that whatever adrenaline that had fuelled my escape was gone. The sun was flittering through the trees above and for a moment I forgot I was running from psycho Snakes. My reprieve was shattered suddenly, leaves cracked nearby and I could just make out voices.

"Where the hell is she?!" the unmistakable voice of Malfoy. Good they didn't see my truly spectacular fall down a hole. "Tom, can you still feel her?"

"Obviously not." I shivered and stopped any movement, even breathing, for fear Riddle would somehow hear me.

Somebody growled and then a soft 'thunk', "Shit!"

"Punching trees Abraxas?"

"I'm furious, and at the moment it's punch trees or duel with you, I'd rather the less painful option."

Riddle's soft chuckle came from the edge of the hole, a small breath escaped me and I prayed to every god that he wouldn't hear me. He obviously couldn't see me, or hadn't thought to look down yet. "She can't stay hidden in this forest forever, this is just a last desperate attempt at escape before she accepts the inevitable."

Is not!

"Well where the hell is she then? I can't sense her the way you can, I just feel her bloody emotions."

Good! I focused every part of my being on wishing them dead. It might have been wishful thinking but I liked to believe the obvious sound of Malfoy tripping up was my doing.

"She's close, this way." More twigs snapped as they moved away, a rush of air escaped me in my relief. Only after any unnatural noise was gone did I sit up carefully. My legs felt like jelly and ached like somebody had taken a piece of wood to them. Grunting softly I stood and studied the hole I had fallen into, it was large and from it hung... Spider webs? Frowning in confusion I turned and the hole revealed itself to be a really big tunnel, I couldn't see any light coming from the tunnel so decided against going in. I could try climbing the edge. Accepting the fact that I was going to look like some sort of dirt monster by the end of this, I scrambled up the side of the burrow. Gripping tree roots I pulled myself up and over the edge of it, rolling a little bit and coming to rest against a tree.

Clearly I needed to exercise more, even that small bout of energy was causing me to pant like a dog on a hot day. The laughter of First Years filtered through the trees, which meant I had done a wonderful job escaping all the way to the edge of the Forest... I could almost make out what they were saying, something about 'Owls'.

Focus you idiot!

Right, new plan, get to Hogwarts and hide in Headmasters office. Better make that Dumbledore's office, he'd actually offer me help if I asked.

"Might just go back to the Muggle world, can't be that bad to live without magic." Talking to myself was definitely a bad sign, but what I was saying wasn't a bad idea, at least in the Muggle world those Snakes won't be willing to follow me. Using the tree as leverage I pushed myself up, and quietly made my way through the trees. I could almost make out the shine of the Lake. Excited I shoved a branch away from my face, failing to notice the one in front of it. Pain shot through my head at the impact, I stumbled back for a step before my back touched something decidedly firm and warm. Hands closed around my shoulders and yanked me backwards, deeper into the underbrush and away from prying eyes.