Okay. I'm going to make this author's note short... IT'S THUNDERING OUTSIDE! RAIN! YESH! I love today :).

Chapter 7: A Not-So-Sneaky Escape

The Keepers were almost out of Dr. Doom's Fear Fall, and Amanda still didn't know who the girl leading them was. It was starting to eat at her. Every opportunity she got, she would crane her neck to get a better look at the girl's face. And every time she couldn't get a good enough look.

Amanda was just about fed up. Why didn't she just ask for the girl's identity? It was because she wanted the satisfaction of the discovery. It just wasn't the same as asking.

"Okay, so we just stay within the shadows and hopefully we'll sneak by unscathed." The girl whispered to the others.

"Unscathed?" Philby said, a twinge of worry in his tone. "What do you mean by that?

The girl pretended not to have heard him. "Let's get moving."

The four inched along a brick wall and out the entrance.

"Why, hello there." A voice said from behind.

Amanda turned to see Draco, a smug grin upon his face. "Out for a midnight stroll, I presume?" He asked.

"No, Draco," The redheaded girl said, "we were just going to meet our good friend, Mad-Eye Moody. You remember him, don't you?"

Draco's grin diminished. He remembered that one day when Moody had transfigured him into a ferret. Every time someone mentioned him, a chill ran down Draco's spine.

"Shut up, Weasley!" He snapped. "At least I can afford a decent haircut."

Amanda looked over at the redheaded girl. Now that they were out of the dark, she could see her face perfectly. The girl had freckles, red hair, and worn-down robes. And beside the fact that Draco was aiming a wand at her face, Amanda was excited with the discovery of Ginny Weasley's identity.

"At least I don't cry when a little birdy dies." Ginny retorted.

"One time! That was one time!" Draco said, defensively. He took a deep breath to calm himself down. "It doesn't matter. The point is, you aren't going anywhere."

"Oh, really?" Ginny said.

"Yeah." Draco said. "In fact, stand against the wall. I'll take care of you one by one."

No one budged, and Draco was getting antsy. He pointed his wand at Philby and shouted, "Stupefy!"

Philby went flying and landed with a thud at the base of a brick wall.

"Philby!"

Draco directed his wand at the others, a sense of power coming over him. "Against the wall." He commanded.

Amanda hesitated, but seeing no use in resisting, she backed up to the wall, where Philby was lying. Jez followed reluctantly. Ginny, however, stood her ground.

"Now." Draco ordered.

"No."

Draco lifted his wand. It was aimed right between Ginny's eyes. The wand shook slightly. Draco's growing nervous, Amanda observed.

"Don't make me do this." He said. Amanda noticed a slight crack in his speech.

"You don't have the guts." Said Ginny.

"I do, too!"

"Then just do it."

Philby let out a groan. Amanda looked over at him. He was pointing at her pocket. He had noticed the sparkly, dark crystal and recognized it. Amanda nodded; she understood.

"Grab my hand, Jez." Amanda whispered.

Jez looked at Amanda questioningly, wondering what she was planning. But Jez found faith in Amanda and grabbed her hand. Amanda then linked arms with Philby.

Amanda slipped a hand into her pocket and threw the Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder onto the ground. The rock spewed out black smoke, making it nearly impossible to see or navigate.

"Run, Ginny!" Amanda called out.

They all took off, Philby being dragged along. The smoke diminished quickly, but it remained long enough for Amanda and the others to sneak away.

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