Chapter 26

I don't really know what I expected as we entered the room, but it certainly wasn't this.

The room was dark, and so very cold. Eerily quiet, too. There were extraordinarily high shelves all around me, holding thousands of glowing, white orbs. I immediately identified them as Prophecies. Perhaps taking Divination in third year was beneficial after all.

"Light up your wands," muttered Harry. I could barely see him. The only way I saw his face was from the glow of the Prophecies highlighting his features.

"Lumos," everyone murmured in unison. I didn't quite know why we were whispering, as far as we could see there was no one with us. I couldn't hear the painful screams from my dad or the high, cold laugh of Voldemort as I expected. But there was just something creepy about this room that made us all subdued.

Harry and I led the others as we slowly walked down the dark isles in between the shelves of Prophecies. We had our wands held in front of us, ready to fight, even though there was no one else around. I shuddered. Something about this room just screamed 'dangerous.' And imagine how important this room is... I looked at the Prophecies in awe. If this room gave everything away about the future, then no wonder Unspeakables were so tight-lipped.

"Harry, Rosie," came Neville's voice. Harry and I immediately stopped, our heads swivelled towards the Gryffindor. Neville was currently inspecting a Prophecy, his expression baffled.

"What is it?" I whispered. My voice seemed to echo around the room.

"It's got your name on it."

Harry and I immediately walked towards the shelf, reaching out our fingers to touch it. My eyes widened when I read what was on the tag attached to it.

S.P.T to A.P.W.B.D

Dark Lord

and (?) Harry Potter and Rosie Black

I looked at it, dumbfounded. Harry reached out and touched it, making it glow even brighter. He picked it up from the shelf and held it, looking at it curiously. He seemed entranced. However, I was a bit more perceptive.

Death Eaters appeared noiselessly, looming out of the shadows wearing bone white masks and dark robes. They held up their wands threateningly, making all of us apart form Harry point our wands at them in defence.

"Harry," I said urgently. He didn't even seem to realise that the Death Eaters were here.

He shook his head and turned his attention away from the orb, raising his wand and inspecting each masked Death Eater.

"Where's my dad?" I burst out, not being able to wait any longer.

My blood ran cold when I heard a familiar, crazed cackle. She seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, and she was not wearing a mask. Her wild, curly black hair fanned around her pale, gaunt face like electricity. Her teeth were rotten from Azkaban, and she seemed to have lost her good-looks. She still had the same heavy-lidded dark eyes, except there was now a glint of madness and insanity in them. I shivered, knowing that if she never went to Azkaban, I would have looked almost identical to her other than my hair and eye colour.

"Ickle, baby Rosieeee," she cooed in her terrible babyish voice.

"Bellatrix," I almost snarled. I raised my wand an inch higher.

"You know, you really should learn the difference between dreams... and reality," drawled a cold voice. A masked Death Eater stepped forward, and I knew who he was even before he removed his mask revealing the long, platinum blond hair and grey eyes.

Lucius Malfoy continued. "You saw only what the Dark Lord wanted you to see." He turned his attention away from me and looked at Harry. "Now, give me the prophecy."

"If you do anything, I'll break it," threatened Harry.

"Ooooh," laughed Bellatrix. "He knows how to play! Itty, bitty, baby... Potter!"

Her dark, insane eyes swept over each and every one if us, and when they landed on Neville she grinned.

"Bellatrix Lestrange," spat Neville hatefully.

"Neville Longbottom, is it?" she asked. She leaned forward and said mockingly, "How's mum and dad?"

"Better, now they're about to be avenged," he growled, lurching forward with his wand. Ron grabbed him just in time.

"Now, let's all calm down," said Lucius Malfoy, putting his hands up in the air.

Harry ignored him. "Why did Voldemort need Rosie and I to get this?"

"You dare speak his name!" she hissed furiously. "You dare besmirch his name with your dirty mouth?" She shrieked the next words. "You filthy half-blood!"

My eyes hardened. "Watch who you're calling a filthy half-blood, cousin. After all... Voldemort is a half-blood too."

"Liar!" she screamed. "You lying, filthy blood-traitor! You lie! How dare you!"

"Calm down," hissed Lucius at Bellatrix. He turned to Harry and I. "Prophecies can only be retrieved by those about whom they are made. Haven't you always wondered about the connection you two share with the Dark Lord? Why he was unable to kill you just when you were infants? Don't you want to know the secret of your scars? All the answers are there... in Potter's hand... all you have to do is give it to me, and I can show you everything..."

There was a tense moment as Harry looked at the prophecy and back to Lucius again. I must admit, a part of me was most definitely curious, but the only downside is that if we knew, then Voldemort would know as well.

"Rosie and I have waited fourteen years," said Harry.

"I know," sighed Lucius with fake pity.

"I guess I can wait a little longer," said Harry. "Now!"

We all threw stunners at the Death Eaters, the dark room getting lighter with spells being thrown back and forth.

The battle had begun.