Hermione shuddered and took a step backward. Harry shook his head.

“We just need to wipe their memories,” said Harry. “It’s better like that, it’ll

throw them off the scent. If we killed them it’d be obvious we were here.”

“You’re the boss,” said Ron, sounding profoundly relieved. “But I’ve never down

a Memory Charm.”

“Nor have I,” said Hermione, “but I know the theory.”

She took a deep, calming breath, then pointed her wand at Dolohov’s forehead

and said, “Obliviate.”

At once, Dolohov’s eyes became unfocused and dreamy.

“Brilliant!” said Harry, clapping her on the back. “Take care of the other one and

the waitress while Ron and I clear up.”

“Clear up?” said Ron, looking around at the partly destroyed café. “Why?”

“Don’t you think they might wonder what’s happened if they wake up and find

themselves in a place that looks like it’s just been bombed?”

“Oh right, yeah . . .”

Ron struggled for a moment before managing to extract his wand from his pocket.

“It’s no wonder I can’t get it out, Hermione, you packed my old jeans, they’re

tight.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” hissed Hermione, and as she dragged the waitress out of sight

Of the windows, Harry heard her mutter a suggestion as to where Ron could stick his

Wand instead.

Once the café was restored to its previous condition, they heaved the Death Eaters

back into their booth and propped them up facing each other. “But how did they find us?”

Hermione asked, looking from one inert man to the other. “How did they know where we

were?”

She turned to Harry.

“You – you don’t think you’ve still got your Trace on you, do you, Harry?”

“He can’t have,” said Ron. “The Trace breaks at seventeen, that’s Wizarding law,

you can’t put it on an adult.”

“As far as you know,” said Hermione. “What if the Death Eaters have found a

way to put it on a seventeen-year-old?”

“But Harry hasn’t been near a Death Eater in the last twenty-four hours. Who’s

supposed to have put a Trace back on him?”

Hermione did not reply. Harry felt contaminated, tainted: Was that really how the

Death Eaters had found them?

“If I can’t use magic, and you can’t use magic near me, without us giving away

our position – “ he began.

“We’re not splitting up!” said Hermione firmly.

“We need a safe place to hide,” said Ron. “Give us time to think things through.”

“Grimmauld Place,” said Harry.

The other two gaped.

“Don’t be silly, Harry, Snape can get in there!”

“Ron’s dad said they’ve put up jinxes against him – and even if they haven’t

worked,” he pressed on as Hermione began to argue “so what? I swear, I’d like nothing

better than to meet Snape!”

“But –“

“Hermione, where else is there? It’s the best chance we’ve got. Snape’s only one

Death Eater. If I’ve still got the Trace on me, we’ll have whole crowds of them on us

wherever else we go.”

She could not argue, though she looked as if she would have liked to. While she

unlocked the café door, Ron clicked the Deluminator to release the café’s light. Then, on

Harry’s count of three, they reversed the spells upon their three victims, and before the

Waitress or either of the Death Eaters could do more than stir sleepily, Harry, Ron and

Hermione had turned on the spot and vanished into the compressing darkness once more.

Seconds later Harry’s lungs expanded gratefully and he opened his eyes: They

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 729