Albus and the others entered the forest. Flynn had said that the first Horcrux would be You-Know-Who's old wand, in an old Oak tree. Albus saw hundreds of Oak trees, and had no idea which one would be the right one. The tears on his cheeks had dried slightly, but Winky was still sobbing. "First Dobby... Now poor Micky..."

"Flynn says the tree is far at the end of the forest. But we're all weak. We need some sleep. However, we need to protect ourselves from the creepy beasts that are here." Quinn said, and they walked just a little bit further before stopping on a slight clearing that was about big enough for a small tent. Which, thanks to Aunt Hermione, they had with them. "Al, Tyler, can you put up the tent? It's in the bag."

Albus and Tyler pulled the tent from the bag and popped it up. When they entered the tent however it turned out to be much larger than they expected, as it was like the tents of the Quidditch World Cup. There was enough room for all of them. Albus shared a room with Tyler. Quinn and Flynn had their own and Winky slept on the couch. But, since they were in the Forbidden Forest, two at the same time had to keep watch. Quinn would sleep first and Tyler and Albus would stay up.

Albus didn't expect it to be so hard. Spiders and other creatures kept attacking. At some point, Albus and Tyler stood with their backs to the tent, circling around it.

"Reducto!" Albus yelled. One spider exploded, splashing out into spider-goo. It made Albus feel nauseous, even more than before. He aimed his wand at the next spider, which looked like it had rabies or something. It approached slowly, and Albus focused on his spell. However, before he could aim it he stepped back and tripped, then hit his head. Tyler aimed a spell at it.

"Al! Are you okay?" Tyler yelled. Around Albus, everything was spinning. He tried to yell back that he was fine. Sound died out, and three Tylers appeared above him, and they mouthed all sorts of things. The three Tylers looked away and aimed their wands, before turning to Albus again. The Tylers mouthed loads of things, then all came closer, and three became one. One Tyler was really close to Albus and pressed his lips to Albus, who wasn't sure how he should react. When the Tyler sat up again Albus tried his voice.

"I'm. Fine." He gasped, the sound - which wasn't as loud - returned, and out of happiness Tyler leaned in and kissed Albus again. Tyler broke off again and Albus sat up. "Why did you kiss me?" He asked, and Tyler's face turned red.

"I-err. I thought maybe... If I kissed you... Maybe you'd come back to life." He said.

Albus nodded slowly. Then, as soon as he'd said it, he regretted it. "I'm not gay, Tyler. Stop trying, we will never happen." He said, and he jumped up again. Tyler looked hurt and Albus wished he could take back what he'd said.

"Okay." Tyler said. He got up too and entered the tent to get Quinn. The next shift would be Quinn and Tyler.

Albus couldn't sleep. Maybe because of Tyler, or because of Micky, but he just couldn't. After hours of rolling around Tyler came in again and didn't say anything. Albus went outside to Quinn, to help her stand guard. She too didn't say anything. So Albus did. "I didn't mean it." He said.

"You really hurt him, Al. He was afraid you'd died, Al. You can't tell him off for liking you. Just as I couldn't tell you off for liking me." She said, before making a spider explode. Albus wanted to say something. Did she know Albus liked her? But she'd used it as an example, maybe she didn't know. She continued talking. "Well, whatever you were thinking when you said it, you should apologize. Say you were just shocked that he kissed you, but do say he's a good kisser. Apparently boys like to hear that because it boosts their self-esteem." She said. Albus stunned a spider.

"You're right. I will. But before I do that, I want to tell you something." Albus was about to confess he liked her. And he would, if Tyler and Winky, while supporting Flynn, didn't come out.

"There are people here. I think I recognized Ginny's voice." Tyler said, and Albus panicked. He pointed his wand at the tent and it folded itself. He stuck it in Aunt Hermione's bag, then all five of them ran on. They had to walk quite a while, but Albus didn't care. If his mother found them, she'd take all of them with her and would never let them go. On their way Albus warded off some creatures, and they ran as if their lives depended on it.

***

They managed to lose them and slowed down slightly as they reached another clearing.

They had to catch their breaths from the run and Albus suggested they put up the tent again, but Quinn said it'd be better if they'd just go and find that 'stupid tree'. So they continued walking, stopping here or there to eat a granola bar and hold a break. During one of those Albus decided to apologize to Tyler.

"Tyler, can I talk to you?" He said, and he pulled Tyler with him so they could talk. "I wanted to say I'm sorry. I shouldn't have scolded at you for maybe liking me." He said.

Tyler nodded slowly. "You don't have to apologize. I do like you, a lot. You know, when you kissed me at the ball, I knew it the first time. And to be honest, I've liked you ever since but you made clear you weren't... like... Me." Tyler muttered. Albus smiled.

He didn't know what to say. "Well, it's not that I didn't like the kiss, it's just that-"

"You like Quinn." Tyler finished. "She likes you, too, Al." Albus shook his head.

"She totally doesn't." He said, and both chuckled. "But I am very much flattered that you have a crush on me." Albus said

Both returned to the group, and they continued their walk. Around lunch time they reached the oak tree, and Flynn said the wand would be there. Albus, being his usual not intended rude self, asked how he knew all this and if he wasn't secretly a Death Eater. Flynn answered with "No. But when you're stuck in a not-glass jar you hear stuff."

Albus reached for the tree and looked for holes of some kind. No luck, however. Then Albus noticed two a little too straight lines in the bark of the tree. He pushed it, but nothing happened. Then, he reached in his pocket for a paperclip. He poked it in one of the lines and started wriggling it. With luck, because the bark between the lines gave way and Albus could pull it away. When he saw what was inside he sighed. It was merely a bone.

***

Hi guys! Sorry I didn't update and I will seriously update and I will update again today.

I'm back in my sweet cold the Netherlands and I hope you enjoyed my chapter once more.

Please tell me what you think and feel free to give any suggestions.

Love,

Florence