Harry Potter 06 - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

tried to make a sound, even a grunt, but it was impossible. Then he remembered that some wizards, like Dumbledore, could perform spells without speaking, so he tried to Summon his wand, which had fallen out of his hand, by saying the words Accio wand! over and over again in his head, but nothing happened.
    He thought he could hear the rustling of the trees that surrounded the lake, and the far-off hoot of an owl, but no hint of a search being made, or even (he despised himself slightly for hoping it) panicked voices wondering where Harry Potter had gone. A feeling of hopelessness spread through him as he imagined the convoy of Thestral-drawn carriages trundling up to the school and the muffled yells of laughter issuing from whichever carriage Malfoy was riding in, where he would be recounting his attack on Harry to his fellow Slytherins.
    The train lurched, causing Harry to roll over on to his side. Now he was staring at the dusty underside of the seats instead of the ceiling. The floor began to vibrate as the engine roared into life. The Express was leaving and nobody knew he was still on it …
    Then he felt his Invisibility Cloak fly off him and a voice overhead said, ‘Wotcher, Harry.’
    There was a flash of red light and Harry’s body unfroze; he was able to push himself into a more dignified sitting position, hastily wipe the blood off his bruised face with the back of his hand and raise his head to look up at Tonks, who was holding the Invisibility Cloak she had just pulled away.
    ‘We’d better get out of here, quickly,’ she said, as the train windows became obscured with steam and the train began to move out of the station. ‘Come on, we’ll jump.’
    Harry hurried after her into the corridor. Tonks pulled open the train door and leapt on to the platform, which seemed to be sliding underneath them as the train gathered momentum. Harry followed her, staggered a little on landing, then straightened up in time to see the gleaming scarlet steam engine pick up speed, round the corner and disappear from view.
    The cold night air was soothing on his throbbing nose. Tonks was looking at him; he felt angry and embarrassed that he had been discovered in such a ridiculous position. Silently, she handed him back the Invisibility Cloak.
    ‘Who did it?’
    ‘Draco Malfoy,’ said Harry bitterly. ‘Thanks for … well …’
    ‘No problem,’ said Tonks, without smiling. From what Harry could see in the darkness, she was as mousy-haired and miserable-looking as she had been when he had met her at The Burrow. ‘I can fix your nose if you stand still.’
    Harry did not think much of this idea; he had been intending to visit Madam Pomfrey, the matron, in whom he had a little more confidence when it came to Healing spells, but it seemed rude to say this, so he stayed stock-still and closed his eyes.
    ‘ Episkey ,’ said Tonks.
    Harry’s nose felt very hot, and then very cold. He raised a hand and felt it gingerly. It seemed to be mended.
    ‘Thanks a lot!’
    ‘You’d better put that Cloak back on, and we can walk up to the school,’ said Tonks, still unsmiling. As Harry swung the Cloak back over himself she waved her wand; an immense silvery four-legged creature erupted from it and streaked off into the darkness.
    ‘Was that a Patronus?’ asked Harry, who had seen Dumbledore send messages like this.
    ‘Yes, I’m sending word to the castle that I’ve got you, or they’ll worry. Come on, we’d better not dawdle.’
    They set off towards the lane that led to the school.
    ‘How did you find me?’
    ‘I noticed you hadn’t left the train and I knew you had that Cloak. I thought you might be hiding for some reason. When I saw the blinds were drawn down on that compartment I thought I’d check.’
    ‘But what are you doing here, anyway?’ Harry asked.
    ‘I’m stationed in Hogsmeade now, to give the school extra protection,’ said Tonks.
    ‘Is it just you who’s stationed up here, or –?’
    ‘No, Proudfoot, Savage and Dawlish are here too.’
    ‘Dawlish, that Auror Dumbledore attacked last year?’
    ‘That’s right.’
    They trudged up the dark, deserted lane, following the freshly made carriage tracks. Harry looked sideways at Tonks under his Cloak. Last year she had been inquisitive (to the point of being a little annoying at times), she had laughed easily, she had made jokes. Now she seemed older and much more serious and purposeful. Was this all the effect of what had happened at the