You Wouldn't Know

Chapter 2: The Forbidden Forest

Hermione raced down the halls, past groups of bewildered students, past Professor McGonagall and Snape, through the Entrance Hall, not stopping until she reached the doors to the castle. She breathed harshly, trying to catch her breath, double over. Then she remembered why she came and started running full speed towards the Forbidden Forest. When she got to the edge, she took a deep breath, pulled out her wand and plunged in.

* * *

Malfoy stood in the outskirts of the Forest in a small clearing, pacing back and forth, waiting for his father.

"Hello Draco," a cold, sneering voice said behind him. Draco spun around quickly and saw his father, standing there, smirking.

"Somehow, I knew you'd show up, Draco, because you never do let me down. Well, lately you have but tonight we are going to change that. Draco, you will join the Dark Lord! I know that you chose not to, but I know you will reconsider," Lucius said.

"Father, I have told before and I will tell you again. I will not join him," Draco said with utter disgust.

"Like I said, I am going to help you reconsider your decision," Lucius said, his voice full of hate. He pulled out his wand and pointed it right at Draco, and Draco knew exactly what was going to happen.

"Crucio!"

Draco writhed on the ground, his head screaming. He knew he mustn't scream, he must not show his father weakness, but his whole body was aching and he felt as if every bone in his body was collapsing. He felt every muscle in his body died off immediately and he could hold in his no longer. He screamed, hoping that his father would stop hoping that someone would hear him. Upon, hearing his scream, Lucius withdrew the spell, leaving Draco lying on the ground, barely conscious.

"Let me know when you decide to join us Draco. We will have another meeting soon," Lucius said before departing through the trees. Draco tried to get up, but upon even trying to move his arm, he lost consciousness.

* * *

Hermione walked through the forest her wand tip alight, searching for Malfoy. She still did not know why she was out in the Forbidden Forest at sunset all alone looking for Malfoy. Now she wondered why she came all alone instead of telling a teacher. What was I thinking? And where exactly am I? she thought. She turned around and looked behind her. All she could she were dark shadows of trees.

Suddenly, she heard a piercing scream. She looked around frantically. Strangely, she knew who that scream belonged to. Malfoy. She tried to remember what direction the scream came from, but she couldn't. Out of panic, she turned around again, and ran. She didn't know where she was going. She ran for about ten minutes, having no idea where she was going. She felt like she was running in circles. She stopped running, her leg tired and continued her search walking. She pushed past a couple of trees and found herself in a small clearing. Malfoy was lying on the ground covered in scratches and bruises. His usually slicked back hair was messy and it had little pieces of twigs in it. She ran over to him gently trying to wake him.

"Granger?"

"Malfoy," Hermione said, wiping her eyes. She hurried over to him and kneeled down beside. "Bloody hell, what happened to you? Anyways, we really have got to go. That Harmertan is loose in the grounds and it is getting dark. Come on!"

Hermione started to walk away, and then she noticed that Malfoy was not walking behind her. She turned around and found him trying to boost himself up into a sitting position.

"Malfoy, I am very serious about this. We have got to go and get out of here and get you to the hospital wing," Hermione said.

"Bloody hell Granger. Just leave without me. I don't even know why you came. I can take care of myself, Mudblood," Malfoy said, trying to as smug as he could, even through all his pain. Every move he took cause pain to flood his body.

"Malfoy, I tried to come and help you, risking my bum, and all you can do is to insult me," Hermione said with disgust. Then she turned to find her way out, but she never got that far. Out of the bushes emerged the Harmertan. Its eyes were red, and its long teeth were bloodstained. First, it growled at Hermione, but then it noticed Malfoy, who was bleeding freely from his scratches. Its eyes shined and it started walking towards Malfoy. It stopped about three feet from Malfoy, and glared at him. His hind legs were going into a pouncing position and Hermione knew that the creature was going to jump and attack Malfoy.

Quickly, she whipped put her wand, and pointed it at the Harmertan and yelled, "Stupefy!"

The spell hit the Harmertan right in the side and it growled loudly and turned away from Malfoy and turned away from Malfoy and instead came at Hermione. It jumped, the Harmertan headed right for Hermione. Its front paws hit Hermione right on the chest and Hermione fell back, the Harmertan landing on top of her. With a force of power, she pushed the Harmertan off of her and started running towards Malfoy, who was and watching with terror.

She had almost reached him where she felt a sharp pain rise in her right leg. She heard a crack and felt her leg break. She twisted her body to get away from it but instead the beast jumped on her again, on her chest, she heard several more cracks. Suddenly, a voice shouted out, "Stupefy!" She looked up. Malfoy had gotten a hold of her wand and tried to stun the beast, but the Harmertan came for Malfoy's arm. The pain in her leg and her chest took toll and Hermione gave a moan of pain and fell back down. She hit her head hard on the ground and she watched the trees swirl before her eyes. The next thing she saw was black.

* * *

Meanwhile, Malfoy was still fighting the Harmertan. He saw Hermione fall over and she didn't move. But he didn't have very long to look because the Harmertan once again tried to attack. Malfoy's arm was searing with pain and his good arm was holding Hermione's wand. For the last time, the beast jumped up and tried to jump on Malfoy, but Malfoy had time to mutter one last spell before he fell backwards.

* * *

Back in the common room, Harry and Ron waited anxiously for Hermione to return.

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"Hermione has been at the library for over three hours," Harry said, looking at his watch.

"Yeah, let's go and get her," Ron said. The two boys walked down to the library and walked back to Hermione's usual table. Getting slightly worried, Harry decided to go and ask Madame Pince, the grumpy old librarian.

"Excuse me," said Harry kindly, "but did you see where Hermione went?"

"No," Madame Pince answered in a wheezy voice, "I have not seen Ms. Granger all day."

Harry thanked her and hurried over to tell Ron, who was scanning the different aisles.

"Ron, Hermione hasn't been here all day, let's go search the school," Harry said worriedly. So, Harry and Ron set out to look all over the school. An hour later, they returned to the common room having found nothing.

Ron asked, "Harry where could she be?"

Harry had been thinking this the whole time. Finally, he decided, "Let's go and ask Professor Dumbledore."

Ron and Harry ran down to the Headmaster's office, stopping only for breath at the stone gargoyle.

"Password?" it asked lazily.

"Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans," Ron answered happily.

"How did you know the password?" asked Harry as they rushed up the spiral staircase.

"Let's just say that it comes in handy to have Fred and George as brothers sometimes," Ron said with a smirk. They stopped in front of

the Headmaster's door and Harry lifted the large gold knocker that was in the shape of a lion's head and knocked three times.

"Come in," Professor Dumbledore called out.

Harry and Ron ran in breathlessly and they both started talking at the same time.

"Hermione is missing..."

"We thought she was going to the library..."

"Checked there..."

"Wasn't there, checked the school..."

"Boys, please sit down and calmly explain this to me," Professor Dumbledore said, his face grim. "Hermione is missing?"

"Yes, she ran out a few hours ago and we thought she was going to the library, so we didn't worry, but she wasn't there and hasn't been there all day, which is very unusual by the way, and we checked the whole school and she isn't there," Harry said, breathlessly.

"I see," Dumbledore said gravely. "I have something that will help us to find Ms. Granger."

Then, from his desk he pulled out the Marauder's Map. "Harry, I believe it is yours, but is it possible I could borrow it for a while?"

Harry just nodded his head. Just then Pansy Parkinson ran in the room sobbing into her hands.

"P-Professor, M-Malfoy is gone! I-I saw him c-crumple up a note and th-throw it in the fire a-and then he j-just ran away and he h-hasn't come b-back!" Pansy wailed. She was definitely in a state of panic.

"I see. How long ago did he leave?" Dumbledore asked.

"I t-think it was a f-few hours a-ago!" Pansy cried.

"Do not worry Ms. Parkinson, we will find him. I must ask you to return to your common room and try to relax. We will find him," Dumbledore answered confidently. Pansy nodded and left the room. Her sobbing could be heard another few seconds and then they disappeared completely.

"Ms. Granger and Mr. Malfoy seem to be in the same situation. I might assume that they are together. Thank you for your help Harry, Ron. But I am going to ask you to please return to your common room and I will alert you when we find them," Dumbledore said.

"Professor, I would like to help," Harry said.

"Yeah, me too," Ron said nodding.

"I understand, but I am afraid that I cannot allow any students to be a part of this. The second that they return to the castle, you will be notified," Dumbledore said. With that, Harry and Ron left Dumbledore's office and walked slowly down to the common room.