Disclimer: See previous chapters. Harry Potter is not mine.

A/N: I know, I know, the cliff hanger was horrible. Thanks for reading and especailly for reviews! Here's an action sequence for you! I have not written much action in the past so please remember to tell me what you think!

Chapter 10: Harry's Struggle

Harry barely had time to feel the relief that there was no one awaiting him at the trapdoor. He flung himself towards the staircase and rushed up it-but too fast.

At the top he found Draco, sprawled across the floor, his face contorted in a strange grimace. There was no sign of his friends anywhere; they had not yet arrived. So who was fighting Draco? His eyes swept the room and landed upon a particularly dirty and shadowy corner, where, in dark hooded robes with wand outstretched, stood the victorious figure of someone whose identity he vaguely recognized. He actually gasped!

As the Death Eater stepped forward, he waited, wand poised, breath held expectantly, half hoping it would be who he thought and half praying it wouldn't. As the face became clearer, he could read the familiar expression and be certain it was, however unlikely, exactly who he had assumed. He spat out the name of the enemy before him-"Bellatrix!"

"Hello, little Potter, and how are we, today?" she whined in low, panting voice. Harry's eyes fell on her other hand-clutched tightly in it was a very familiar piece of parchment.

"I believe," growled Harry as smoothly as she, "that is mine. Give it back, now."

"No 'please'?"

"Now." He was surprised at the calm but dangerous tone he had. He had always been one to explode in anger, but now he reminded himself of Dumbledore and he liked the unnerving effect it was having on an already out of breath Bellatrix Lestrange.

"NEVER!" She shrieked at him and sent a hex flying towards him, but she was too slow. Harry's stunning hex was silent, strong, and completely unexpected. She did not even dodge it. She hit the floor with a softer thud than the one he had heard earlier and Harry was surprised at his quick success. He summoned the map without hesitation.

He looked down hatefully at Bellatrix's limp body before him and Malfoys behind him. He was tempted to kill her. So tempted...so simple...but he knew it was wrong. It would be a coward's murder. He would be no better than one of them. A look of great disgust fell across his visage as he thought of how it would dishonor everyone that had died to protect him. He felt his anger boil and then, without thinking, he revived Bellatrix Lestrange.

"Bellatrix," he sighed, taking comfort in his new deeper, threatening voice, "its been too long a wait to deny either of us the chance to kill the other now. The way this war is going, I dare say, we may never get the chance again."

Bellatrix was more than startled by his words coupled with Dumbledore's tone. He now knew it was far more intimidating than a shout in anger and he wondered why he had not used it before. It made him feel empowered. Sure, inside he was still screaming "You killed Sirius! I hate you, I'll kill you!" and he did want to kill her, but most importantly he wanted to do it valiantly.

Lestrange pushed herself from the floor clumsily, looking disoriented and equally infuriated. They pointed their wands at each other. Words would be no use for him now, he knew that no matter what tone he used it was all about skill, but he was ready.

The first spell hit him hard across the face and he poured blood down the front of his robes. He had seen that one used by a Death Eater in the past... In retaliation he instantly shot a spell he had learned to never underestimate- "Expelliarmus!"

Lestrange dodged it, he noted at how she was successful in doing this quite often. He anticipated her next move and the red light of her curse just missed his head. He could tell from her look of disappointment it had been an especially nasty one. This was no time for games or beating around the bush. He wiped blood out his eyes, his anger making him numb to the pain in his bleeding face, and he immediately shot two curses at her in quick succession, in hopes that at least one would find its mark. It did, or so he assumed from the shrill yell of pain he heard from her direction. He ducked out of instinct, just missing a Crutiatus curse that exploded on the wall right over his shoulder.

The wall shuddered and he glanced around at it to see a large hole had been blown into it, dust and fragments going everywhere. 'Bad idea' he realized too late. The next thing he knew his ankle had pulled him up roughly several feet above the floor, his cloak falling down into his face he had to push it up to see her.

To quick for Harry to react in that position, Bellatrix disarmed him and hit him with a Crutiatis curse which burned through his viens, making him scream with all his might, until he felt the terrible pain would overcome him entirely.

She was yelling at him now, but he was barely conscience. 'She must have learned that one from Voldermort himself,' he thought, 'or had a lot of practice.' He knew he was dead now. One second, one turn of the head, and she had gained the upper hand. He concentrated not on her smug and wicked voice, but on silently summoning his wand. It was only a few feet away... He closed his eyes, gritted his teeth, and screwed up his face in concentration. 'Come on...' he willed it 'Come on, please. Accio wand. ACCIO! ACCIO!"

Then there was a brilliant flash of green light and a heavy thud, followed by another and he felt himself fall away...

A/N: Ha ha ha ha. Sorry. I'll up-date soon if you review! How was the action bit?