––– CHAPTER TEN –––

The Orb of Truth

That night, Harry, Ron and Hermione got all the things they needed and were off. After everyone went to bed, they sneaked into the pen where Hagrid kept the unicorns. It wasn't too deep into the Dark Forest. The pen was eight feet tall, and had wooden planks all over it, with vines growing on them. Hagrid kept seven unicorns locked in the pen. Three were his own, and five were injured. Hagrid was helping to heal them, before he set them free in a wild preserve. The pen was locked with a giant lock. Hermione broke it open with the unlocking charm. It took several tries, but it worked. When the pen was opened, each one of the friends took a unicorn. They put their luggage on the unicorns backs and were ready to leave. The only things that the three of them were bringing were food, and some extra clothing. The ride to the cavern took several hours, but they were prepared for it. When they finally landed, they spent a little while before they found the right cavern.

"There it is." said Harry.

"Are you sure?" whined Ron.

"Yes. I remember there was an old, muggle danger sign right outside. This is definitely the one."

As the three friends tied the unicorns to the old, rusted sign, they went inside. It was very dark in the cavern. Hermione then lit her wand using the Lumose spell. Ron and Harry followed. As they walked down the old, damp, creepy cavern, they could see portraits on the walls. Harry remembered them from his dreams.

"Harry, were these pictures in your dreams?" asked Hermione.

"I think so." said Harry as he placed his hand on one of the portraits.

A screaming face flashed before his eyes. Harry quickly removed his hand.

"Yeah, these are definitely the pictures from my dreams." said Harry.

As they walked down the cavern, Ron noticed something.

"Hey, come look at this." said Ron.

"What is it?" asked Hermione.

"It's Harry's parents." said Ron.

"What?" asked Harry as he walked over.

"Yeah, look. Here's Lilly Potter and James Potter." said Ron, pointing to the pictures "And look, it's Professor Quirrell."

"These must be the people that Voldemort's killed. But why would he have their pictures here?" asked Hermione.

"Maybe to keep track of all the people he's murdered. I mean, he's killed so many that it must be hard keeping track of all of them." said Harry with a look of disgust on his face.

"Um, Harry? You might want to come see this." said Hermione.

As Harry walked over to Hermione, he saw two empty frames on the wall and their name plates read 'Harry Potter' and 'Gwenethia Gryffindor'. Harry was in shock.

"Looks like Voldemort already has a spot saved for the both of you." said Hermione.

"Well, those frames will stay empty if I have anything to do with it!"

As the three of them walked down the cavern, they could see a bright light up ahead. Then, it turned into a blinding flash of light. When they opened their eyes, they were standing in a circular room, with many doors leading in different directions. Harry now remembered what was going to happen. As Harry, Ron and Hermione all walked up to the Ice Room, Harry was waiting for someone to scream, but nothing happened. Harry also noticed something different about the room. There seemed to be less doors and it was brighter, but Harry had more important things to worry about. Harry then opened the door to the Ice Room and they walked in. The room was extremely cold and the three of them were shivering. As they walked a little further, they saw hundreds of shelves. There were rows beyond rows of long shelves, and on each shelf were hundreds of orbs. Each orb had a name plate, like the portraits.

"What are these?" asked Ron.

"There called Orbs of Truth. I remember reading about them. Each Orb holds a witch or wizard's future. Witches and wizards come from all over to find out what there future holds inside, but only the one it belongs to can touch it. But once off the shelf, then anyone can touch it." said Hermione.

"Was there anything else?" asked Harry

"Not much. There was a page missing from the book."

"Well, did the book happen to mention why they have to be kept in such a BLOODYcold place." yelled Ron as he jumped up and down trying to keep warm.

"The book only said that they had to be kept frozen. It helped to protect them. The Orbs have Magical powers and keeping then frozen protects them. It also keeps the futures from being told. Once heated then the witch or wizard that the orb belongs to can find out what they need to know."

While Ron and Hermione were arguing, Harry looked around. There were thousands of orbs. Finally he found something.

"Hey guys, look." yelled Harry.

"What is it, Harry?" asked Hermione.

"I found your orbs. Here's Ron's and Hermione's." said Harry.

"Cool. Oh look, here's my mum and dad's. Bill and Charlie's. The twin's, and Percy's." said Ron.

"And here's Ginny's." said Hermione.

Harry looked around some more and finally he found what he was looking for. As he walked up to a row of orbs, he could see his and Gwen's orbs sitting right beside each other. Harry was really starting to worry about Gwen and if she was safe or not. Harry then grabbed his orb, and held it in his hands. It was as cold as ice. Harry decided to try to grab Gwen's orb. As he brought his hand closer and closer to the orb, he could fell the icy mist coming from it. His hand finally got close enough to touch the orb...

"Harry don't! No one but the beholder is to touch the orb! You don't know what will happen."

"Well, we'll just have to see." he said grabbing the orb. He held it gently in his hands.

"That's impossible." said Hermione in shock "But now that the orb is taken of the shelf, it can't be put back."

"Hermione, it's okay. It's not like these things have any real importance." said Ron.

"Oh, but that's where you're wrong." came a voice from behind them.

As they turned around, they saw Lucius Malfoy and a few other Death Eaters standing behind them.

"Those orbs have a great deal of importance. You see each orb has a certain amount of magic and say if the two most powerful orbs were to be taken off the shelf, then Lord Voldemort can use the magic to his own wishes, starting with the death of Harry and Gwen. He will be very happy." said Lucius.

"Well, he won't be very happy if, say, I accidentally drop one of the orbs." and Harry let go of Gwen's orb.

When it hit the ground, it shattered into a million pieces. Harry looked down at the broken glass. He could see different colours swirling everywhere. Harry felt like he was in a trance. All the colours were so pretty, that Harry could just star at them. Then suddenly, Harry was awakened from his trance by the scream of Lucius.

"NO..." yelled Lucius "No matter, yours is still in tact."

"And what makes you think I'm going to just hand it over to you?" asked Harry.

Lucius then waved his hand in the air. An image of someone being hung by their hands, behind their back, slowly appeared. Harry then realized that the person hanging in the air, was Gwen.

"GWEN!" yelled Harry "Let her go!"

"Not until you give me the orb." said Lucius.

"Never." Harry then slipped the orb into his pocket, and he and his friends ran for the door.

"Get them!" yelled Lucius.

Once Harry, Ron, and Hermione had exited the room, they closed the door behind them and ran into another room. The room they had entered was called the Battle Dome. As they looked around they couldn't see anything. Suddenly, the room lit up. The room was very big. The walls were made of brick and there were lines painted onto the floor.

"This looks like an arena." said Hermione walking further into the arena.

"It's actually a battle dome." said a voice from behind the friends.

They turned around to see Lucius Malfoy and 5 other Death Eaters.

"Now I'll only say this to you one more time, give me the Orb."

"Never!" shouted Harry, shooting a hex at Lucius. Lucius just dodged it.

"So you want to fight? Well prepare to lose." said Lucius.

Suddenly the walls of the room started to move, and Sirius Black, Tronks, Bobel, Janez and Remus Lupin appeared out of nowhere. They were surrounding the Death Eaters.

"The only way they'll lose is if we die first." said Sirius.

"That can be arranged. Get them!" The battle had started.

Hexes were flying everywhere. Harry, Ron and Hermione couldn't believe their eyes. The three of them tried to stay out of the way, and when one of the hexes had bashed out some of the bricks on the wall, they hid. Harry had to leave the room and go find Gwen, but he had no way out. Most of the Death Eaters were blocking the exit. Then, Harry saw Lupin slip out, undetected.

"Harry, Ron, Hermione... here's your chance. Get out while you still can." said Sirius.

Harry, Ron and Hermione dashed for the door as soon as the path was clear.

"Oh no you don't." said Lucius as he spotted the three friends making a brake for it.

He then shot a spell at them. Hermione and Ron spotted the spell and dodged it, but that left a clear shot at Harry. Lucius shot another spell and it was headed right for Harry, but before it hit him, Sirius ran to Harry and jumped in front of it. Sirius fell to the floor hard. Harry heard Sirius fall and turned around.

"SIRIUS, NO..." yelled Harry as he watched his godfather die right in front of him.

Harry couldn't believe it. His godfather was dead. He died in a split second. It was impossible. There was still fighting going on, but Harry couldn't hear anything. He just saw his godfather laying on the ground dead. Harry didn't cry, he just became furious.

"Run you three!" yelled Janez.

"Shut up." said one of the Death Eaters and she shot a hex at Janez.

Janez went flying across the room and was killed instantly. Tronks and Bobel both screamed. Bobel ran over to her sister and Tronks became extremely mad.

"You bitch!" and Tronks aimed her wand at the Death Eater that killed her sister.

Suddenly a heavenly voice came out of no where. Harry looked at his pocket, and it was glowing. He was so mad that he had forgotten about his orb. He took the orb out and looked at it. The entire room was just quiet enough for Harry to hear. Most of the song had already been said.

'Life and death comes and goes.

A flower dies and then is reborn,

but the longer you wait for something to stay

the sooner it leaves and is gone in every way.'

Harry didn't understand what the song meant, but he had no time to think. As soon as the orb stopped glowing, Harry ran to the door. Hermione and Ron followed, but when Harry passed through the door way, the door closed behind him. Harry tried to open it, but it was locked. Harry could hear Hermione and Ron screaming from behind the door.

"Hermione, Ron..." screamed Harry.

Harry didn't know what to do. Suddenly, he could hear laughter coming from behind him. As he turned around, slowly, he saw Lord Voldemort standing there. He then look up he saw Gwen hanging from the ceiling by her hands. Her eyes were closed, her robe was burnt and torn, and her face was scarred. Harry had never seen Gwen look like this before.

"Let her go!" yelled Harry.

"Why? If she's up there, then she's out of the way. No, I think I like her up there and besides she's brought you to me once again." He then shot a spell at Gwen. Gwen screamed as an electric shock ran through her body. Her scream was so piercing that Harry had to cover his ears.

"What are you talking about?" yelled Harry.

"You see, the more tense, vulnerable, or happy Gwen made you, the better it was for me to get inside your head. The fact that you two are 'in love', made it so much more easier to play mind games on you. Get inside your dreams. How else would you have found out about the cavern?"

Harry couldn't understand what Voldemort was saying. Wasn't Gwen free from Voldemort. How was he still using her to get to him. Harry then decided to not think about that right now, so he shot a spell at the rope, holding Gwen. She instantly fell to the floor. Voldemort was not happy. Harry started to run over to her, when, he was pulled back. Professor Lupin was standing right beside him. Harry tried to get free and save Gwen, but Lupin wouldn't let him go.

"Harry, you need to stay back." said Lupin.

"But Gwen..."

"She'll be fine. She's not important right now."

Harry looked at him as if he was insane. Gwen meant everything to him, and leaving her there was the same as letting her date Draco Malfoy. Stupid. Harry was scared. He felt like he did when he saw Gwen's dream; like he couldn't do anything. He wanted to stop Voldemort and save Gwen. He wanted to be the hero like he had always been, but it looked like everything was about to change. All of a sudden, Dumbledore appeared. Harry then felt hope. He knew that Dumbledore could defeat Voldemort.

"What a surprise." said Voldemort sarcastically "I was wondering when you would show up, but there was no need to because it's

Potter that I want."

"I know." said Dumbledore.

"Why don't you just stay out of this. Let Potter fight his own battles for once. Let's see if he's as strong as everyone says he is." Both Voldemort and Dumbledore instantly started to fight, but it wasn't long before Dumbledore had Voldemort was trapped. Dumbledore was about to finish off the Dark Lord when a blinding white flash appeared. Harry then started to feel dizzy. He couldn't see straight, but the last thing that he saw was Dumbledore getting ready to kill Voldemort, and the faint image of Gwen laying on the ground, dying.