Ok guys, my New Year's resolution is to update this story much more often. Hope you've all had good holidays. :) Enjoy.

Lyra and the Doctor pelted down the corridors, aware of how much noise each footstep created. Lyra's chest was numb with pain. She knew Pan was in trouble, but even worse that he must have been touched by somebody. The last time she had been in such intense pain was at Bolvangar, when those cruel theologians had wrenched Pantalaimon away from her and had separated them. However, she could not allow the pain to slow her down. They needed to find Pan.

The Doctor could feel Lyra slowing up, but tugged her along anyway. Without invisibility, they were even more vulnerable now. At one point, he had thought about going back to the Gryffindor Common room. However, he had not wanted to drag Harry, Ron and Hermione into any more trouble. The last thing he wanted was for them to risk anything for himself and Lyra. They had already done so much. Instead, he slowed to a stop to allow Lyra to recover while he attempted to work the walkie-talky.

"Harry? Harry, are you there?" All he received was the monotonous buzzing of the device. Sighing, he put it away and turned to Lyra. What he saw made his blood run cold. Lyra was slumped against the wall, breathing deeply and she tried to keep her balance. She was shivering uncontrollably, as she shook her head sideways, as if trying to make sense of her surroundings. She looked as if all joy had disappeared from her life.

"Lyra? Are you all right?" The Doctor grabbed Lyra by the shoulders, and looked imploringly into her eyes. Her eyes were glazed over, and she had broken out in a cold sweat. However, she managed to meet his gaze.

"I..I dunno. It… hurts…so much." She rasped.

"What hurts Lyra? Is it Pantalaimon? Has something happened to him?" The Doctor asked desperately. Lyra nodded, and pointed to her chest. She had barely enough energy to make this simple gesture, but she managed it. It was enough for the Doctor to piece together what had happened.

"Oh… no no no! Ok, Lyra listen to me. You're going to be all right. We're going to find Pantalaimon, and then we're going to get you home. To safety. But first, you're going to need to be brave for me. Just for a little bit longer. Can you do that?"

Lyra nodded, exhausted. The Doctor picked her up and held her in a fireman's lift over his shoulder, and began to run.

"Harry! Harry! Where are we going?" Harry turned to find both Ron and Hermione had followed him out. "We'll need to split up . Hermione, you go with Ron to Umbridge's office, while I'll go to the dungeons and -"

"Hang on, Snape could take you out if you go on your own. Hermione, you go with Harry to Umbridge's office and I'll go to the dungeons." Ron stated.

"But then you'll be on your -" Harry began before he was cut off by Hermione.

"This is ridiculous. I will go to Umbridge's office and rescue Pan, and you two go and save the Doctor and Lyra."

"But…"

"No Buts Ron. Just go. I'll be fine." She gave Ron a small smile, before giving a generic wave and disappearing into the shadows.