HEATHENS - Harry Potter ✔

CHAPTER TWENTY

The screaming of an alarm pierced through the previously so quiet May night. The calm and still streets of Hogsmeade Village seemed to suddenly be crowded as the door of the Three Broomsticks burst open and men in cloaks ran out, frantically looking up and down the dark street. Each Death Eater had their wand at the ready, one of them raised it and the scream stopped, only an echo remaining.

"Accio Cloak," another one said, but nothing happened. "Not under your wrapper, then, Potter?" he yelled. Then he turned to the others, and said, "Spread now. He's here."

"Let's just leave!" Hermione whispered anxiously, as six Death Eaters began toward them. "Disapparate now!"

"Great idea," agreed Ron, but before Harry could argue, a Death Eater spoke again. "We know you're here, Potter. And there's no getting away! We'll find you!"

"They were ready for us," Harry whispered to the two once a cloaked man had missed them by mere inches. "They set up that spell to tell them we'd come. I reckon they've done something to keep us here, trap us -"

"What about dementors?" they heard a Death Eater yell. "Let them have free rain, they'd find him quick enough!"

"The Dark Lord wants Potter dead by no hands but his-" began another.

"Dementors won't kill him," interrupted the first. "The Dark Lord wants Potter's life, not his soul. He'll be easier to kill if he's been Kissed first!"

They heard the other Death Eaters agree, a few still seemed unsure, but none protested. "We're going to have to try to Disapparate, Harry," Hermione whispered, fear evident in her tone, but the unnatural eerie cold was already spreading over them. All light seemed to vanish, the very stars became invisible. In the dark, Harry felt Hermione grab his hand and turn on the spot. But the air seemed to have become sold, they couldn't Disapparate. And then they were there, at least ten Dementors came gliding down the street. He did it on impulse, he would not be Kissed, anything but that. It was of Kiera, of Ron and Hermione that he thought as he whispered, "Expecto Patronum!"

The silver stag materialised in front of them in seconds. It charged at the Dementors and they scattered. Relief washed over the trio, though it was quick to vanish when then heard a triumphant yell somewhere nearby. "It's him, down there, I saw his Patronus, it was a stag!"

Panic froze them on the spot, there was nowhere to go.

But then, a door opened with a squeak and a rough voice spoke, "Potter, in here, quick!" Without hesitation or second thought, the three hurried through the open doorway. "Upstairs, keep the Cloak on, keep quiet!" muttered the tall man, stepping into the cold street and slamming the door.

They had no idea where they were, though Harry now recognised the man as the barman of the Hogs Head Pub. He was arguing with the Death Eaters, claiming it was his Patronus; a goat. Then Harry noticed something; a small, rectangular mirror right beneath the portrait of a girl.

"You bloody fools," a gruff voice said; the barman had entered the room. "What were you thinking, coming here?"

"Thank you," Harry said, ignoring the question. "We can't thank you enough, you saved our lives."

The barman only grunted. He had a long, stringy, wire-grey beard, and he wore spectacles. Behind the dirty lenses, Harry saw a piercing, blue eyes.

"It's your eye I've been seeing in the mirror." He didn't reply, only looked at Harry, who looked back. "You sent Dobby."

Then the man nodded and said, "Thought he'd be with you. Where've you left him?"

"He's dead," said Harry. "Bellatrix Lestrange killed him."