AUTHOR'S -- Oh, what the heck. One more before I go. Gives me time to brainstorm details of next plot branch(And it's a rather dark one, I must warn you)
Hagrid could see the confused look on Harry's face, and could not help but smile.
"You've gotta pay attention in Care of Magical Creatures, 'Arry. A Lethifold's a living fold of shadow that feeds on the living, remember?"
Harry finally understood, but it didn't make him feel any better. Malfoy felt the same.
"How do you repel it?" Harry asked.
"Patronus Charm." Hagrid grunted. "But it likes to sneak up on its victims. If you see one, don't try and fight it. Send red sparks up, all righ'? I'll come runnin', don't yeh worry."
Harry and Malfoy both nodded.
***
They split off into two directions, Hagrid one way and Harry and Malfoy in the other.
Harry led the way, not talking. Malfoy hurried to keep up.
"Wait up, Potter! I don't like being alone in this place...blast it." He swore as his robes tore on a protruding tree root.
"Serves you right." Harry said through gritted teeth. His hand was clutched tightly around his wand, and not just because of defending against the Lethifold. He very much wanted to curse Malfoy into a thousand smoking pieces, but he knew that doing so would go out badly for him.
Something moved.
Harry stopped dead. Malfoy crashed into him.
"Watch it, Potter!" Malfoy griped. "I - what?"
Harry threw out his arm to stop Malfoy going any further. He made a throat-slashing gesture, and the latter quickly shut up.
There was sound of movement nearby, but Harry couldn't tell exactly where it was coming from.
Malfoy whimpered.
"Shut up." Harry snarled.
He could feel Malfoy tugging on the back of his robes. Harry whirled around irritably.
"What is it - " he began, but Malfoy was pointing at a shadow.
"Get a grip, Malfoy." Harry whispered angrily. "It's only a sha- "
The "shadow" shifted.
"On my count." Harry said urgently. "One, two - "
Before he could say three, It attacked.
It was fortunate that Harry had lightning reflexes, or they would have both fallen prey. However, Harry shoved Malfoy to one side, and used the momentum to hurl himself backwards.
"RED SPARKS!" He bellowed, trying to track it with his wand.
Malfoy send up his wand and a jet of red sparks flew out of his wand, to rest high into the night air.
Time. They needed time...
The Lethifold lunged again, and nearly touched Harry, who rolled out of the way.
"Expecto patron - "
It lunged again and Harry was forced to abandon the spell. He swore colorfully.
"Expecto patronum!" He yelled, and a gust of silver mist blew against the Lethifold just as it realed back, coil to spring like some bizarre parody of a striking snake.
When the mist touched the Lethifold, it flinched and withdrew as if the mist had stung it.
"Come on, come on..." Harry growled, and raised his wand again.
Summoning all his thought on the prospect of talking to Sirius again, to greet his godfather....
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" he roared.
His silver stag Patronus erupted from the tip of his wand, and bore down on the Lethifold with a vengeance. It gored the Lethifold dead center, and the latter made a horrible squealing noise. It retreated into the bush.
"DON'T LET IT GET AWAY!" Harry shouted urgently to his stag. Of course, it couldn't hear him, but seemed to follow his orders to the letter. With a soundless bound, and went after the Lethifold.
"Stay here," Harry told Malfoy, who was huddled fearfully on the ground. "And tell Hagrid where I went."
Time was running out, and Harry tore after his Patronus, knowing it would disappear if he was too far from it.