ermione as Ron caught up to the Horcrux and Harry pulled out the Invisibility Cloak again。 〃We can't just go； we haven't got a plan； we need to …〃 〃We need to get going；〃 said Harry firmly。 He had been hoping to sleep； looking forward to getting into the new tent； but that was impossible now； 〃Can you imagine what he's going to do once he realizes the ring and the locket are gone？ What if he moves the Hogwarts Horcrux； decides it isn't safe enough？ 〃But how are we going to get in？〃 〃We'll go to Hogsmeade；〃 said Harry； 〃and try to work something out once we see what the protection around the school's like。 Get under the Cloak； Hermione； I want to stick together this time。〃 〃But we don't really fit …〃 〃It'll be dark； no one's going to notice our feet。〃 The flapping of enormous wings echoed across the black water。 The dragon had drunk its fill and risen into the air。 They paused in their preparations to watch it climb higher and higher； now black against the rapidly darkening sky； until it vanished over a nearby mountain。 Then Hermione walked forward and took her place between the other two； Harry pulled the Cloak down as far as it would go； and together they turned on the spot into the crushing darkness。
pC0=〃Chapter Twenty…Eight： The Missing Mirror〃
bChapter Twenty…Eight
iThe Missing Mirrorib
Harry's feet touched the road。 He saw the achingly familiar Hogsmeade High Street： dark shop
fronts； and the mist line of black mountains beyond the village and the curve in the road ahead that
led off toward Hogwarts； and light spilling from the windows of the Three Broomsticks； and with a
lurch of the hear； he remembered with piercing accuracy； how he had landed here nearly a year before；
supporting a desperately weak Dumbledore； all this in a second； upon landing a150a150 and then； even as he
relaxed his grip upon Ron's and Hermione's arms； it happened。
The air was rent by a scream that sounded like Voldemort's when he had realized the cup had
been stolen： It tore at every nerve in Harry's body； and he knew that their appearance had caused it。
Even as he looked at the other two beneath the Cloak； the door of the Three Broomsticks burst open
and a dozen cloaked and hooded Death Eaters dashed into the streets； their wands aloft。
Harry seized Ron's wrist as he raised his wand； there were too many of them to run。 Even
attempting it would have give away their position。 One of the Death Eaters raised his wand； and the
scream stopped； still echoing around the distant mountains。
〃iAccio Cloak！〃i roared one of the Death Eaters
Harry seized his folds； but it made no attempt to escape。 The Summoning Charm had not
worked on it。
〃Not under your wrapper； then； Potter？〃 yelled the Death Eater who had tried the charm and
then to his fellows。 〃Spread now。 He's here。〃
Six of the Death Eaters ran toward them： Harry； Ron and Hermione backed as quickly as
possible down the nearest side street； and the Death Eaters missed them by inches。 They waited
in the darkness； listening to the footsteps running up and down； beams of light flying along the street
from the Death Eaters' searching wands。
〃Let's just leave！〃 Hermione whispered。 〃Disapparate now！〃
〃Great idea；〃 said Ron； but before Harry could reply； a Death Eater shouted；
〃We know you are here； Potter； and there's no getting away！ We'll find you！〃
〃They were ready for us；〃 whispered Harry。 〃They set up that spell to tell them we'd e。
I reckon they've done something to keep us here； trap us … 〃
〃What about dementors？〃 called another Death Eater。 〃Let'em have free rein； they'd find him
quick enough！〃
〃The Dark Lord wants Potter dead by no hands but his … 〃
〃 'an dementors won't kill him！ The Dark Lord wants Potter's life； nor his soul。 He'll be easier to
kill if he's been Kissed first！〃
There were noises of agreement。 Dread filled Harry： To repel dementors they would have to produce
Patronuses which would give them away immediately。
〃We're going to have to try to Disapparate； Harry！〃 Hermione whispered。
Even as she said it； he felt the unnatural cold being spread over the street。 Light was sucked from
the environment right up to the stars； which vanished。 In the pitch blackness； he felt Hermione take hold
of his arm and together； they turned on the spot。
The air through which they needed to move； seemed to have bee solid： They could not
Disapparate； the Death Eaters had cast their charms well。 The cold was biting deeper and deeper
into Harry's flesh。 He； Ron and Hermione retreated down the side street； groping their way along the wall
trying not to make a sound。 Then； around the corner； gliding noiselessly； came dementors； ten or more
of them； visible because they were of a denser darkness than their surroundings； with their black cloaks
and their scabbed and rotting hands。 Could they sense fear in the vicinity？ Harry was sure of it： They
seemed to be ing more quickly now； taking those dragging； rattling breaths he detested； tasting
despair in the air； closing in …
He raised his wand： He could not； would not suffer the Dementor's Kiss； whatever happened afterward。
It was of Ron and Hermione that he thought as he whispered 〃iExpecto Patronum！i〃
The silver stag burst from his wand and charged： The Dementors scattered and there was a triumphant
yell from somewhere out of sight
〃It's him； down there； down there； I saw his Patronus； it was a stag！〃
The Dementors have retreated； the stars were popping out again and the footsteps of the Death Eaters
were being louder； but before Harry in his panic could decide what to do； there was a grinding of bolts
nearby； a door opened on the left…side of the narrow street； and a rough voice said： 〃Potter； in here； quick！〃
He obeyed without hesitation； the three of them hurried through the open doorway。
〃Upstairs； keep the Cloak on； keep quiet！〃 muttered a tall figure； passing them on his way into the street
and slammed the door behind him。
Harry had had no idea where they were； but now he saw； by the stuttering light of a single candle；
the grubby； sawdust bar of the Hog's Head Inn。 They ran behind the counter and through a second doorway；
which led to a trickery wooden staircase； that they climbed as fast as they could。 The stairs opened into
a sitting room with a durable carpet and a small fireplace； above which hung a single large oil painting of a blonde
girl who gazed out at the room with a kind of a vacant sweetness。
Shouts reached from the streets below。 Still wearing the Invisibility Cloak on； they hurried toward the
grimy window and looked down。 Their savior； whom Harry now recognized as the Hog's Head's barman； was
the only person not wearing a hood。
〃So what？〃 he was bellowing into one of the hooded faces。 〃So what？ You send dementors down my street；
I'll send a Patronus back at'em！ I'm not having'em near me； I've told you that。 I'm not having it！〃
〃That wasn't your Patronus；〃 said a Death Eater。 〃That was a stag。 It was Potter's！〃
〃Stag！〃 roared the barman； and he pulled out a wand。 〃Stag！ You idiot … iExpecto Patronum！i〃
Something huge and horned erupted from the wand。 Head down； it charged toward the High Street； and
out of sight。
〃That's not what I saw〃 said the Death Eater； t