The Princess of Light

Chapter 5.36 (Saved by the centaurs)

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 Aurora 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 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, isn't it?" Said Umbridge eagerly in Aurora's ear.

"Of course not," said Hermione scathingly. "Hagrid might have set it off accidently."

"Yes," said Umbridge, whose excitement seemed to be mounting. "Yes, he would have done, of course, the great half-breed oaf." She laughed.

Aurora felt a strong urge to swing around and seize Umbridge by the throat, but resisted.

"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 accidently, 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."

"One of their many flaws." Aurora muttered.

As they reached the cool shade of the first trees, Hermione 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 far in?" Umbridge asked, as her robe ripped on a bramble.

"Oh, yes," said Hermione, "yes, it's well hidden."

Aurora started to get more and more confused. Hermione was not taking the path they had followed to visit Grawp...then where was she going?

"Aragog," Harry whispered in Aurora's ear, answering her questions. Aurora almost paused to look at him with a shocked expression.

Harry and Ron had gone to Aragog's lair three years ago. Hermione had not been with them on that occasion and Aurora doubted Hermione had any idea what danger lay at the end of it.

"Er - are you sure this is the right way?" Aurora asked her pointedly.

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

Behind them, Umbridge tripped over a fallen saplin. None 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..."

They walked on for what seemed a long time, until they were once again so deep into the Forest that the dense tree canopy blocked out all light.

"How much further?" Demanded Umbridge angrily from behind them.