The Lost One: Harry Potter x Fem!reader

23

Harry had no idea what Hermione was planning, or evenwhether she had a plan. He walked half a pace behind her asthey headed down the corridor outside Umbridge's office, knowing itwould look very suspicious if he appeared not to know where theywere going. He did not dare attempt to talk to her; Umbridge waswalking so closely behind them that he could hear her raggedbreathing.Hermione led the way down the stairs into the entrance hall. Thedin of loud voices and the clatter of cutlery on plates echoed from outof the double doors to the Great Hall. It seemed incredible to Harrythat 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 thestone steps into the balmy evening air. The sun was falling toward thetops of the trees in the Forbidden Forest now as Hermione marchedpurposefully across the grass, Umbridge jogging to keep up. Theirlong dark shadows rippled over the grass behind them like cloaks.

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

'Of course not,' said Hermione scathingly. 'Hagrid might have setit 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. Harry felt a strong urge to swing around and seize herby the throat, but resisted. His scar was throbbing in the soft eveningair but it had not yet burned white-hot, as he knew it would if Voldemort had moved in for the kill. . . . 'Then . . . where is it?' asked Umbridge, with a hint of uncertaintyin her voice as Hermione continued to stride toward 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 two stay ahead ofme.'

'Can we have your wand, then, if we're going first?' Harry askedher.

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

As they reached the cool shade of the first trees, Harry tried to catchHermione's eye; walking into the forest without wands seemed to himto be more foolhardy than anything they had done so far this evening.She, however, merely gave Umbridge a contemptuous glance andplunged 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.'

Harry's misgivings increased. Hermione was not taking the path  they had followed to visit Grawp, but the one he had followed threeyears ago to the lair of the monster Aragog. Hermione had not beenwith him on that occasion; he doubted she had any idea what dangerlay at the end of it. 

'Er — are you sure this is the right way?'he asked her pointedly. 

'Oh yes,' she said in a steely voice, crashing through the undergrowth with what he thought was a wholly unnecessary amount ofnoise. Behind them, Umbridge tripped over a fallen sapling. Neitherof 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 tocatch 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. . . .'

 They walked on for what seemed a long time, until they were onceagain so deep into the forest that the dense tree canopy blocked out alllight. Harry had the feeling he had had before in the forest, one of being watched by unseen eyes. . . . 

'How much further?' demanded Umbridge angrily from behindhim. 

'Not far now!' shouted Hermione, as they emerged into a dim,dank clearing. 'Just a little bit —'