I apologize for the shorter chapters - here's another one but I will endeavour to make the next few longer.

I must send a big THANKS to Anna and Jinawee - it's been such a long time since I've received a decent sized review - and then I get two at the same time! It really is such a large incentive to write more - so much so i've managed another 6 pages this evening, though subject to editing and extending before I post!

Thanks to Anna for pointing out my first big mistake - I certainly didn't catch it when writing, and will go back and change it as soon as I get time. For any of those who want to hazard a guess what it was without cheating and reading her review, then I'll give a big sugary bun to anyone who spots it... don't forget to review at the same time though!

Enjoy the chapter. Kit. xxx

Chapter 37:

The narrow stone corridor caused the taller boys a lot more difficulty than the youngest Weasley who often found herself waiting for them on a bend or in a place where the walls had fallen in slightly.

After a good fifteen minutes of squeezing through tight corners and ducking spider webs Ron hit his head and fell back, rubbing a blood smear from the bump that had instantly appeared.

"Where on earth is this corridor taking us?" he asked, examining his fingertips in his wand light.

"There's some light up ahead." Ginny called back from a good distance ahead.

"Good riddance." Harry muttered, feeling Ron's pain as his own head connected with a sharp outcrop of stone that he hadn't seen in the shadows, the physical pain only adding to the pain that flashed from his scar.

Moments later, both boys were accepting Ginny's help as they pulled their way out of the tunnel between two large rocks and into a thick circle of trees.

"Where are we?" Ron asked, catching his breath slightly and trying to see any landmarks in the darkness.

"Quidditch pitch." Ginny said, pointing at a dark shadow that loomed over them. "I guess some one created that passage to make it easier for sneaky practises in."

"I'm surprised we didn't know about it." Ron said.

"You honestly think McGonagall would've kept something like this from us if she knew?" Harry asked. "Or the Marauder's map for that matter?"

Ginny did some quick calculations in her head. "Wouldn't that have been the twin's dorm?" she asked and caused her brother to grin.

"How hacked off would they be if they knew they missed a secret passageway that was right under their noses?" Ron said gleefully.

"They have to be safe to be "hacked off"." Harry gently reminded his friend. He set out into the darkness. "Let's go."

It only took a few minutes of running to reach the school's boundaries after the trio had come to the conclusion that the school gates were too far away. Harry and Ron had to help Ginny get over the tall wall before using the assistance of nearby tree to hoist themselves over.

"Ready?" Harry asked, wrapping his arms around Ginny in order to side-apparate with her.

"Where to?" Ron asked.

Harry thought for a moment before replying. "Just past the corner in Knockturn." he said. "Just before the place where you tripped over that bucket."

"What were you…?" Harry placed a finger over Ginny's enquiring mouth to get a confirmation from his friend.

"Why there?" Ron asked. "Don't you think Knockturn is a little risky considering what's going on?"

"I'm guessing that it'll be empty." Harry pointed out. "Everyone will be fighting in Diagon or too much of a coward to react to our appearance."

Ron shrugged. "Your call." he said, raising his wand in preparation. "Let's go."

Barely a breath later found the three of them standing together in the shadow of a deserted street. Several less confident wizards were running away from the main street, their robes billowing behind them whilst they looked fearfully over their shoulders at the war that raged behind them.

Bright flashes and shouts made it clear that the fight was still ongoing, and the three students cautiously made their way towards the commotion to observe what was going on.

"What can we do?" Ginny asked, her eyes wide with shock at the scene in front of them, but her wand held steady with determination.

Harry frowned as he pulled his two friends down behind some crates in the entrance of Knockturn Alley and looked over the top to safely observe the scene in front of them.

The sheer number of Death Eaters were greater than he ever imagined and they seemed to be swarming all over the brightly coloured cloaks of normal witches and wizards who had wished to celebrate Christmas eve in the company of others.

What was once a gaily decorated street with fairy lights, trees and window decorations had now been changed into a war zone. Two of the three Christmas trees Harry could see were burning. The window of Madam Malkins had been smashed and Harry could see two bodies lying unmoving against the wall to The Leaky Cauldron.

"Let's get to the joke shop." Ron said, glancing nervously between the scene in front of them and his sister who was watching over Harry's shoulder with a strange fire in her eyes. "We should go and make sure they're safe."

"You really think that they're going to be there?" Ginny asked incredulously. "Just look at that." she pointed to wear two Death Eaters held a small girl in the air. "I really don't think that Fred and George would stand back to let something like that happen."

"So why did we come?" Ron asked, jumping slightly as a stray curse hit the wall above his head.

"It was your idea, Ron." Harry reminded him.

Ron's mouth fell open as he fought to think of an argument. "You didn't have to agree." he said feebly. "Besides, since when have you ever stayed on the side lines?"

"Voldemort's here somewhere. I need to be here." Harry looked over his shoulder. "Seeing you're having doubts I think you two should go back to school though."

"No way, Harry," Ginny said, "I'm not about to let anyone get hurt if I can help. Now, what's the plan?"

"Look, there's Bill." Ron said, pointing towards the distance shop front of Weasley Wizarding Whizzes. He was backed up against the shop front, fighting for his life against three wizards that had cornered him.

"Go help your brother." Harry said, his eyes lighting when he spotted another familiar face in the crowd. "If you stay to the shadows, you should be able to stun them before they even realise you're there."

"And where will you be?" Ron asked, hearing Hermione's voice in his head repeatedly tell him not to let Harry run off by himself.

"Right behind you." Harry assured him.

"Liar." Ron muttered, but Ginny just grabbed his hand and pulled him up.

"Stay safe." she said to her boyfriend as she jumped around the crates and ran low against the shop wall, her wand in her hand as she and Ron went to help their brother.

Harry shot a few curses out from behind the crates to cover their journey before refocusing on his new target.

He moved out from behind the crates, moving in the opposite direction from his friends. He stuck to the side of the fighting crowd, ducking into any available shop front and stepping around duelling wizards as he made his way to his goal.

It took him a lot less time than he thought, and he was mildly surprised when he wasn't recognised or approached as he stepped out of his hiding place and aim his wand at the back of the person he most hated.

"Traitor" he hissed, his wand held firm in his hand and his head lowered in slight anticipation of the reaction he was going to get.

He wasn't disappointed. He barely saw his potions professor turned before he had to duck a green beam of light that was aimed at his head.

"I knew you couldn't stay away, Potter." Snape said with a sneer as Harry rolled to one knee and stood, his wand once more aimed at the murderer's face.

"And I hope you know I'm not going to let you leave here alive." Harry said. "I swore that night that I would kill you for what you did."

"You aren't a killer, Potter." Snape said in a quiet voice, but Harry could hear the warning that came with those words.

"More's the pity." An oily voice from behind Harry said.

The world seemed to stand still for a moment. Curses seemed to freeze in mid-air, men seemed to stop what they were doing to look, and Harry failed to feel his heart beat for the next few seconds as he turned, and found himself standing in the bright red gaze of Lord Voldemort.