Agreed, wit the sole proviso that their next move took them within reach of a bacon

Sandwich. Hermione therefore removed the enchantments she had placed around the

Clearing, while Harry and Ron obliterated all the marks and impressions on the ground

That might show they had camped there. Then they Disapparated to the outskirts of a

Small market town.

Once they had pitched the tent in the shelter of a small copse of trees and

Surrounded it with freshly cast defensive enchantments. Harry ventured out under the

Invisibility Cloak to find sustenance. This, however, did not go as planned. He had barely

Entered the town when an unnatural chill, a descending mist, and a sudden darkening of

The skies made him freeze where he stood.

"But you can make a brilliant Patronus!" protested Ron, when Harry arrived back at the

Tent empty handed, out of breath, and mouthing the single word, dementors.

"I couldn't . . . make one." he panted, clutching the stitch in his side. "Wouldn't . . .

come."

Their expressions of consternation and disappointment made Harry feel ashamed. It had

Been a nightmarish experience, seeing the dementors gliding out of the must in the

Distance and realizing, as the paralyzing cold choked his lungs and a distant screaming

filled his ears, that he was not going to be able to protect himself. It had taken all Harry's

Willpower to uproot himself from the spot and run, leaving the eyeless dementors to glide

Amongst the Muggles who might not be able to see them, but would assuredly feel the

Despair they cast wherever they went.

"So we still haven't got any food."

"Shut up, Ron," snapped Hermione. "Harry, what happened? Why do you think

you couldn't make your Patronus? You managed perfectly yesterday!"

"I don't know."

He sat low in one of Perkins's old armchairs, feeling more humiliated by the

Moment. He was afraid that something had gone wrong inside him. Yesterday seemed a

long time ago: Today me might have been thirteen years old again, the only one who

Collapsed on the Hogwarts Express.

Ron kicked a chair leg.

"What?" he snarled at Hermione. "I'm starving! All I've had since I bled half to

death is a couple of toadstools!"

"You go and fight your way through the dementors, then," said Harry, stung.

"I would, but my arm's in a sling, in case you hadn't noticed!"

"That's convenient."

"And what's that supposed to — ?"

"Of course!" cried Hermione, clapping a hand to her forehead and startling both

of them into silence. "Harry, give me the locket! Come on," she said impatiently, clicking

her fingers at him when he did not react," to Horcrux, Harry, you're still wearing it!"

She held out her hands, and Harry lifted the golden chain over his head. The

moment it parted contact with Harry's skin he free and oddly light. He had not even

Realized that he was clammy or that there was a heavy weight pressing on his stomach

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 737