Crimson Ink

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"Fuck." Draco hissed under his breath as he and Vincent just stood frozen at the sight of several large acromantulas scuttling around the treetops ...

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Pair by pair the students entered the forest, but despite being told to observe the surroundings for creatures no one saw what watched them. The many creatures, actually. Dozens of fluffy paws snuck quietly around the forest path and many sharp eyes watched the students like hawks or, to be more precise, kneazles.

Knowing Peter's worries for the Slytherins and that two particular Gryffindors were enemies, two kneazles paid close attention to the first two sets of Slytherins. The Slytherins seemed fine, but it was the known enemies, Ron and Hermione, that acted odd enough to attract the attention of many golden eyes. The weirdest activity being when Hermione paused and, while thinking they weren't being watched, pulled a bag out of her pocket. She shook the bag and a branch, that was way too big for the bag, fell out. As she did this Ron put on some gloves and tossed a green tie on the ground. With a quick spell to make some roots hold the branch the two Gryffindors continued walking down the path as if nothing happened.

One magical feline went after the two Gryffindors. The other kneazle ran ahead. The reason was to check on those first two teams of Slytherins. After quickly confirming the first Slytherins were ok the kneazle returned. After all, someone had to watch the suspicious branch. Unfortunately, there was no time to stop what happened next ...

The kneazle's gold eyes widened as it saw Draco and Vincent touch the branch and suddenly vanish. It took off running and examined the spot. The branch remained, but the boys were gone. There was no doubt it was a trap so the feline laid across the path to stop anyone else from falling for the trap and let out a sharp meow.

"What was that-" the kneazle growled at the two Slytherins, Blaise and Greg, who were the next to walk down the dense forest path. Both young wizards recognized the kneazle and were surprised it was there at all, but the situation soon dawned on them. Something was very wrong. "Draco and Vincent were in front of us ..." Blaise asked, feeling a sinking feeling when more kneazles, one with a rat riding its back, quickly assembled on that spot.

"Yeah ... this isn't good." Greg said as the kneazle that stopped them jumped up and started meowing at the rat.

The rat suddenly shifted into its human form after talking with the kneazles, "Which branch is the portkey?!" Peter exclaimed frantically.

"Portkey?" Blaise gasped not liking the sound of that at all. "What's going on?" He asked as the first kneazle took Peter to a long branch.

Instead of answering he focused on the branch, "Shit ..." he hissed clearly upset at whatever he saw. "You two should double back now! Get all the other Slytherins behind you and follow the kneazles into the forest-"

Greg paled, "What happened to the first teams?"

"It's not them ..." Peter trailed off as a thought occurred to him. "He's separating you guys ... there's no time for this! Go now! I need to help Draco and Vincent!" He snapped making sure the students ran off as ordered. "Please be alive." He whispered as changed a stick into a note saying 'Watch Harry, portkey danger, trap' and gave it to one kneazle. "Make sure Alecto and Amycus get this and watch Harry!" He said before taking off into a run, but with one addition. He removed his shirt and wrapped up the offending branch to take with.

Only seconds passed before he got deep enough into the forest to safely apparate away. Peter nearly knocked Rabastan over as he was racing to the potion room. The thud of something heavy being placed on the counter followed by the clatter of vials shocked the mind healer out of his stunned silence.