Harry Potter and the Order Of the Phoenix [111]
“I’m going to perform the counter curse on you,” whispered Ron. “The second I do, both of us need to stun Wormtail.”
“Why both of us?” asked Harry.
“Harry,” said Ron lazily, “he’s a full grown Animagus wizard… he’s extremely powerful. Just one of us doing the stunning spell probably wouldn’t do much, we need twice the power for it to take full effect.”
“Alright,” said Harry. He felt a wand tap him on the back, and Ron mutter something. Harry felt as though he were a snowman that was melting… very quickly. The feeling in his body parts was returning, and the second he could feel his arms, he grabbed his wand from his pocket, and pointed it at Wormtail who was bent over, looking under a rock for Ron.
“Stupefy!” yelled Harry and Ron together. Two blue beams shot out of their wands, and into the dark night. They both hit Wormtail at the same time. He froze where he was, bent over, and then collapsed to the ground with a shocked expression on his face.
Ron ran over to Hermione, and performed the counter curse on her. She spun round, and gave Ron a hug, then a kiss on the cheek.
“You saved us, Ron,” she said, going slightly red.
“Oh….” said Ron, touching his cheek where Hermione had kissed him. “No problem… none at all.”
“Alright you lovebirds,” said Harry, folding his arms, “we still have to get this box back to the giants, and do something with… him, Wormtail.”
“Well, even though he’s gone,” said Hermione, “the box is still going to be heavy, there’s no way we’re going to be able to carry it all the way back to the giants.”
“Almost wish that black phoenix was here… maybe we could enlist his help and get him to carry it back,” said Ron.
“What happened to the phoenix?” wondered Harry.
“It was probably assisting Wormtail with this assignment,” said Ron. “It probably flew away when it saw he got stunned.”
“But why wasn’t it with him when he was trying to recruit me…” asked Harry. Ron and Hermione shrugged.
“Come on,” said Hermione. “We have more pressing matters than that.”
“That box is too heavy for any person to carry,” said Ron.
“And it must have enchantments on it so that no one can use spells on it,” said Hermione.
“Too heavy for a person, eh?” said Harry, stroking his chin. “Well, I know one thing it’s not too heavy for!”
“A phoenix?” suggested Ron.
“Well- yes and… okay… I know TWO things it’s not too heavy for… a phoenix… and a gryffin!” said Harry excitedly. Hermione and Ron’s eyes widened.
“Of course…” said Hermione.
Harry smiled, and clenched his fists, and closed his eyes. Wings popped out of his back, and his arms transformed into gryffin’s paws. He soared over to the top of the box, and gripped the sides with his paws. He picked it up into the air, it felt extremely light.
“You guys carry Wormtail,” said Harry from above. Hermione and Ron walked over to Peter; Ron gripped his legs, and Hermione gripped his head. They dragged him across the forest, not taking much notice or care if he hit a stump or a bush. It wasn’t too long before they reached the place where the giants live. When they arrived, Fridwulfa came running up to them.
“Oh ‘Arry! Fank goodness yer ‘live!” she grunted loudly. “Th’ centaurs came on ov’r afta’ youse left an’ they said a’ summat ’bout a phoenix comin’ ter get ya! I wuz ’bout to come over when you is here, an’… oh my goodness! Youse got wings!”
“Shh!” said Harry, setting the box down. “No one except for me, Ron, and Hermione is supposed to know that I can transform like that!” Fridwulfa put her fingers up to her mouth, and imitated zipping her lips.
“Don’ worry now ’Arry, I won’ tell a soul,” she belched.
“Now we need to ask another favor of you,” said Ron, throwing his side of Wormtail to the ground.
“Wut is it?”
“We need you to watch this blue box again,” said Harry. “Keep a very close eye on it Fridwulfa! It is… something very important.”
“Wut is it?” she asked again.
“It’s a… it’s… something that will defeat Voldemort,” said Harry.