Chapter 312 - The Easiest Part (1/2)

It was already dark outside. Chris left the Hogwarts grounds without getting noticed by anyone not even Harry and Dumbledore. Lights twinkled from windows over shops on the deserted Hogsmeade lane. Harry and Dumbledore turned the corner into the side street, a minute after Chris. The Hog's Head's sign creaked a little, though there was no breeze. In contrast to the Three Broomsticks, the pub appeared to be completely empty.

”It will not be necessary for us to enter,” muttered Dumbledore, glancing around. ”Christina?”

Chris was already in her human form waiting. As soon as she heard Dumbledore calling her name she walked out from the shadows.

”Harry can Apparate now, Christina, but you can't. So take my right arm and hold on tightly,” Dumbledore looked around one more time as Chris held his right forearm. ”On the count of three . . . One . . . two . . . three . . .”

Chris felt Dumbledore's arm twist away from her and redoubled her grip; the next thing she knew, everything went black; she was being pressed very hard from all directions; she could not breathe, there were iron bands tightening around her stomach; her eyeballs were being forced back into her head; her eardrums were being pushed deeper into her skull and then —

Chris gulped great lungfuls of cold night air and opened her streaming eyes. She felt as though she had just been forced through a very tight rubber tube.

”It was a lot worse than. . . Portkey,” Chris panted bending down supporting her hands on her knees. She felt like she was going to throw up.

”Christina, are you all right?” asked Dumbledore, looking down at her solicitously. ”I should have warned you before. The sensation does take some getting used to.”

”I will be fine,” said Chris after making sure she wasn't going to throw up. Her stomach was empty. She had left for the kitchen to eat something but now it was long away from the Hogwarts kitchen. She straightened up and saw they were standing on a rocky ground beside a huge rushing river. The only light was coming from the full moon and the cold breeze was flapping her hair all around her face. Chris looked behind her and saw tall big trees casting shadows, making difficult to see anything other than darkness. Chris also heard a roaring sound ahead of them. It felt like the river was crashing into something.

”What do you think?” asked Dumbledore. He might have been asking their opinion on whether it was a good site for a picnic.

”What is this place?” asked Chris.

”Griffin forest,” said Dumbledore. ”I don't think this place has any significance in Tom Riddle's life but I have felt the magical signatures around here and I have my reasons to believe that Voldemort has relocated one of his Horcruxes here. . . on Malgino's saying.”

”How do you know that?” Harry asked.

”Well, for one thing, I know now that Malgino is a seer and he can see glimpses of the future,” Dumbledore said and started walking along the shore. ”So he knew we will be looking for the Horcruxes — our final destination lies a little farther. Watch your steps and come.”

”Malgino is a seer?” Chris exclaimed walking carefully after Dumbledore.

”Yes, and that is why he knows a lot of things which we don't,” said Dumbledore calmly stepping over a boulder. ”Watch that left rock, it is a bit slippery.”

”So he knows what's going to happen in the future?” Harry jumped over the rock Dumbledore had pointed out.

”Not entirely. The future is always changing. No one can say what is going to happen in it, not even seers,” said Dumbledore. ”But yes, they do have a few advantages. However, I don't think Voldemort is getting full advantage of his friend being a seer. I am sure Malgino is not being honest with him about everything and neither is Voldemort himself. That is the hardship with the people who want to rule, you can not befriend them — here we are.”

Chris was so occupied by Dumbledore's shocking information that she didn't notice the river which all of a sudden had fallen down from the cliff, creating a big dangerous almost fifty-foot waterfall.

”You will not object to getting a little wet?” asked Dumbledore and Chris' mouth fell open.