The Lovers of Azkaban

Disclaimer: All characters, entities, magic and scenarios associated with the Harry Potter series belong to JK Rowling. Any additions to the foregoing were achieved by my twisted mind.

Summary: Slash Harry/Draco. Sent to Azkaban together, the pair finds themselves immersed in the Adventure of their lives and in something else completely unexpected...

A/N: Thank you all for the wonderful notes!

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Two Too Many Wizards

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It was eight o'clock in the morning, yet Number 12, Grimmauld Place was swarming with members of the Order. Snape, now the nominal head of the Order, had called a general meeting and all trusted members were present. At the meeting, Snape filled in the members who had not been working from the Burrows to clear Harry and Draco's names, giving details about the covert efforts that had been taking place and bringing them up to date with respect to the current situation.

The majority of the members of the Order of the Phoenix had not known that a covert operation to clear Harry and Draco's names had been taking place and were shocked to discover that Snape had organized the effort behind their backs. They were even more surprised that the effort had been successful, most feeling that the people Harry and Draco had killed were upstanding members of the wizard community. However, all of them were relieved to find out that Harry Potter, someone whom they had regarded as a hero for years, was not guilty of any crimes. Some of them were even happy for Draco, but most of them did not know Malfoy well.

Snape went on to explain the careful plans that he and Shacklebolt had made with respect to the capture of the inner group of the Believers, most of whom worked at the Ministry. He gave a general overview of what was to take place and then held a series of meetings with groups of individuals to detail the exact actions they were to take during the effort.

While Snape carried out his group meetings, the rest of the members sat about the house talking with one another and eating from the generous cauldrons of food that had been provided.

Hermione and Blaise left the general meeting together and moved down the hallway toward the front salon. The pictures on the walls, including that of Sirius Black's mother, had been covered, however, when they passed that particular picture, Blaise's arm grazed the covering and it slid from the picture onto the floor.

Mrs. Black's response was immediate and fierce, 'a filthy Mudblood in my home! Get out! Get out at once you mutant creature! How dare you disgrace the hallowed name of my fathers and our sanctified house with your foul presence?'

Blaise frowned at the picture, 'Shut up you old goat,' he cried loudly bending to retrieve the covering that had fallen to the ground.

'And you! You ought to be ashamed of yourself, disgracing your heritage by cavorting with the likes of that shameful, dirty, Mudblood freak!'

Blaise slung the cover over the picture and rapidly put it back into place, quieting the woman. 'Bloody fool woman,' he complained, 'I remember her when I was a child; she was an old fool then and now she is worse, the cankerous, ignorant git.'

Hermione giggled behind him and Blaise turned to her with a scowl which quickly turned into a small smile upon seeing the intelligent, amusement in her face.

'I suppose you figure she sounds like I have in the past,' he said gingerly.

Hermione shrugged a little smiling.

'I suppose you are right,' he sighed and led them to the front salon.

Hermione's amusement faded once they were alone and she looked at Blaise with a small frown, 'I have to speak with Ron, Blaise,' she said softly.

Blaise nodded.

'I spoke to him before…when I was last here. I said some things I shouldn't have and we parted on awful terms. I was acting out of the belief that he had been with Susan…and now…'

Blaise narrowed his eyes, 'well they were snogging, what were you supposed to think?'

'They weren't, Blaise. Ron said that they had jumped apart when they heard you coming down the stairs at the Ministry, but that while it may have looked like they were snogging, they were merely talking.'

'They were snogging, I saw them with my own eyes,' Blaise declared softly, his tone washed in sincerity, 'I know what I saw.'

Hermione frowned. She trusted Blaise now and knew he would not continue to lie to her. She wasn't sure why she knew that, but she did. 'But if they were snogging…well it must have been part of his undercover work. He also didn't tell me about his assignment when we last spoke.'

Blaise nodded, 'I guess so,' he responded, but he didn't sound like he believed it.

'I saw Ron head upstairs after the meeting. Susan is not here today so I imagine that he will be alone. I was thinking of speaking with him now.' Hermione's voice had become hesitant and she didn't meet Blaise's eyes.

Blaise didn't respond; he merely stared at her slightly down turned head.

Hermione finally looked up when he didn't speak and met the intensity in his eyes. 'Will you be here or…?'

'I'll be here,' Blaise confirmed in a tight tone.

Hermione nodded and moved slowly through the door, her head swimming with thoughts and her emotions no less tumultuous.

Hermione checked several of the rooms upstairs and finally located Ron; he was alone in one of the bedrooms. He was seated on the bed staring at the wall in deep contemplation and hadn't noticed that someone had pushed the door open.

'Ron,' Hermione called softly.

Ron jumped, his body jerking a bit wildly as he turned to look at her. 'Hermione,' Ron said in an almost whispered tone.

Ron looked almost relieved to see her and because she thought he would still be very angry, she felt confusion began to move through her. Hermione walked slowly toward the bed and sat down facing him, 'I – I wanted to talk to you. I realize that you must be angry with me.'

Ron, shook his head, 'no I am not angry, Hermione,' he answered before closing his eyes and taking a deep breath.

Hermione felt something twist in her heart at his action and her eyes inexplicably began to fill, 'I have to apologize Ron, I am so sorry for the way I acted…I thought that there was something going on between you and Susan, but Snape told me what you are actually doing.'

Ron nodded and his face creased with pain, but he didn't respond.

Hermione's tears began to spill over; she was staring into the sad blue eyes and she knew she was the cause of the pain she saw there. 'It was all my fa-fault,' she said, her voice a little shaky due to her emotions, 'I understand that you had to be dishonest with me about what you were doing-'

'I think we were both a little dishonest, Hermione' Ron's responded softly. 'I didn't speak of my assignment because Snape said I should not, but I should have trusted you; we've always trusted one another with even the most profound of secrets. You should have trusted me as well.'

Hermione wiped the tears from her face and looked at him with a watery stare, 'you were snogging her…what was I supposed to think? I had no idea you were on an assignment that meant you had to pretend to…like her.'

Ron flushed, 'I told you, we…we weren't snogging.'

Hermione's narrowed her eyes a bit, 'you were Ron, but I do understand why…there is no reason to lie about it now.'

Ron dropped his eyes and began to look somewhat uncomfortable.

Hermione looked down as well, 'I know you felt you had to lie about it at the time. I am just sorry about everything, Ron…sorry about what happened to us and…about…' she took an emotion laden breath.

There was silence between them for a spell and then Ron sighed heavily before he began speaking softly, 'you know, Hermione, the only thing that I really want is for you, Harry and I to be happy.'

Hermione's head popped upward and she met Ron's eyes with a hopeful look in her own. However the sadness she saw there made her hopes collapse once again. She moved suddenly forward and engulfed him into a hug. Ron hugged her back warmly and for some reason that only made her feel worse.

'I'm so sorry, Ron…I don't know…I didn't mean for it to happen. I just developed feelings for him.'

'Hermione,' Ron murmured softly, 'it is ok, it really is…I haven't been honest either…you were right.'

'But I – I am the one w-who caused the p-problem between us.'

'No, you didn't, we both did. It is true…Susan and I were snogging…I…Hermione you aren't the only one who has developed feelings for someone else.'

Hermione jumped back from their embrace and stared intently at Ron, 'what?'

Ron didn't look up, 'I know, Susan is a Believer and has been working against the Order and I've gone and fallen for her anyway…it is like you said…you can't help these things. It came upon me quite suddenly. After you and I spoke the last time, she was comforting me afterwards and in the midst of it I realized how deep my feelings had become for her.'

'But Ron…Snape said that you are to take her to the Ministry this afternoon…we are supposed to capture her by surprise…she will go to Azkaban with the others.'

Ron met her gaze with a look of chagrin, 'I know that…I know everything…I – I don't want her to go to the Ministry,' his eyes filled with determination, 'and I certainly won't allow her to be thrown into Azkaban,' Ron shuddered a little at the thought. 'I won't do it, Hermione…she – she has feelings for me too.'

Hermione looked at the flushed face and intense eyes of her friend and knew that he was truly smitten with the girl. 'How do you know she is not just faking it for her cause, Ron?'

'She's not…I can tell. There are things…times when both of us could have used the other terribly and we didn't, neither of us did because of the feelings that have grown between us.'

Hermione aimed her troubled expression at her friend, 'Ron,' she said gently and then waited until he slowly met her gaze before continuing. 'Ron, I don't mean to tell you how she feels…I don't have an ulterior motive or anything…I mean…I am fond of Blaise, you know that-'

Ron dropped his eyes again and nodded his head.

'I am saying this because I do love you Ron…I always will; I consider you and Harry like brothers to me. I don't want to see you hurt and it is possible that she…is using you Ron, just as you attempted to use her.'

Ron looked up again quickly shaking his head, 'no, it isn't like that, Hermione. We…we have been…that is…we are very close. I know how she feels about me and she knows how I feel about her. I told you, I am certain about this. I am not the ignorant seventeen-year-old I was when the war started.'

Hermione nodded, 'I know you aren't, Ron. But we can all make mistakes.'

'I'm not making one. She really loves me, Hermione. She – she asked me to go away with her. She realized that one day she would have to admit to me that she is a Believer and she just wanted to leave it all behind. I know that is how she felt and still feels; recently she hasn't tried to obtain information from me at all, Hermione. She just keeps asking me to go away with her.'

'Go away where?'

'Anywhere; she just wants to get away. She claims that she hates England, but of course I know what she is running from.'

Hermione wasn't so sure; she didn't trust Susan Bones at all. However, there was little she could say, it sounded as if Ron was completely besotted by the girl just as Harry feared.

'What are you going to do?' Hermione asked tentatively.

'I am going to take her away,' Ron declared boldly.

'Away?'

'Away from all of this; I am going to tell her that I know everything and then take her away. It is what she wants…what we both want.'

'My God!' declared Hermione softly.

Ron met her eyes, his expression laden with pleading, 'you can't tell anyone, Hermione. I am telling you because…because I know that I can trust you. You and Harry are the only people that I can trust with this. If I ever needed you to be a friend, it is now. I need you to help me.'

Hermione's eyes went wide.

'I am going to fetch her just as Snape asked me to do, but I am not taking her to the Ministry. I am taking her to the Alps.'

'The Alps!' Hermione's tone was slightly hysterical.

'Yes; you remember that cabin you and I found when we were sent to chase Aurors…the little abandoned one that looked as if it hadn't been inhabited for years? Well that is where I plan to take her. We will be safe there…I will put wards in place.'

'Ron,' Hermione said, her voice whining a little, 'you can't take-'

'I've made up my mind, Hermione,' Ron interrupted, 'you don't have to help me, but I assume you won't tell anyone.' Ron glared at Hermione as if challenging her to break the bonds of their friendship.

'Of course I won't, Ron,' Hermione said a little angrily, 'and if you have made up your stubborn mind then I will help you. But I hope you know what you are doing, I don't…I don't trust her, Ron.'

'I do and that is what matters, Hermione, you don't know her.'

Hermione nodded a little sadly.

'I need for you to tell Snape that you saw me apparate to fetch her if he asks where I am and that you don't know anything else.'

Hermione nodded, 'Ron…what will you do? You can't stay in the Alps forever…I can't imagine never seeing you.'

'I'll contact you and Harry…I promise,' he looked a little uncomfortable again; 'when I said I need your help…I was actually referring to the future. I don't plan for us to live in the Alps forever.'

Hermione's bewildered expression matched her thoughts. She didn't see how he could live with Susan anywhere except the Alps for the rest of his life. The minute they tried to return to wizards society she would be hunted and likely captured by Aurors.

'Don't worry, Hermione,' Ron said as if reading her thoughts, 'I also don't plan for us to remain on the run for the rest of our lives. We'll talk about it later, for now I just need you to pretend that you don't know anything.'

Hermione nodded slowly. She didn't say anything more although there were hundreds of thoughts she wished to voice. It was clear that Ron did not wish to discuss the matter at the present however, so she merely leaned in and hugged him tightly, 'Harry and I will always there for you, Ron; you know that.'

'I do, Hermione, I do.'

When Hermione descended the stairs from her exchange with Ron, her emotions were not much calmer than they had been when she ascended. She was desperately worried about Ron and the only person in the world that would fully understand how she felt was Harry. However, it was impossible for her to speak with him and so she decided to share everything with Blaise. She knew she could trust him and he was terribly level-headed; perhaps, she thought, he would be able to offer her some kind of advice or solution.

However, the looked for lightening of her burdens was not to occur for a least a short while; when she reached the bottom of the stairs she saw someone standing in the vestibule. A tall rather stocky man with a familiar stance, but his face was hidden in the shadows of the room. However, when she moved closer she recognized him and Hermione sucked in her breath and immediately froze.

It was Viktor Krum; simply the last person on earth she wished to see at the present.

'Hermione!' Viktor cried happily moving forward to embrace the Gryffindor.

Hermione hugged Viktor in return, albeit, somewhat less warmly, 'Viktor, you've come,' she declared.

Viktor released her, 'yes, I said I would go here. Your Professor Snape tell me that today is a grand war and I want help.'

Hermione nodded, 'I am sure he will appreciate your assistance.'

'Yes, but I come for to see Hermione not for to see grand war,' Viktor said brightly.

Hermione tried to smile, but it looked more like a grimace, 'yes, I received the flowers and your note indicating you would come and I thank you…they were lovely.'

'You like!' Viktor looked ecstatic.

'Yes, thank you.'

Viktor smiled, 'Snape tell me that Ron is not together with you now.'

Hermione's smile faded, 'no, I am not with Ron now…however, I am with someone Viktor.'

Viktor frowned, 'with someone? What this mean?'

'I have a…I am with another person now.'

'You have lover now?'

Hermione's eyes swept up to meet his, 'yes Viktor, I am sorry, I am seeing someone else right now.'

Viktor's frown became more pronounced, 'who is this? Snape tell me there is no one now.'

'I am sorry Viktor…I am seeing another man, you don't know him I don't think.'

Viktor looked as if he did not follow what she had said.

'I am with Blaise…another man.'

Viktor understood then and his frown collapsed into dismay. He stared at her for a few moments in silence and then he put the furry hat he held in his hands on his head once more. 'I have see your Professor now, I talk later.'

Hermione nodded and watched him walk rapidly toward the interior of the house. She wondered if he knew where he was going. Someone had obviously let him enter, perhaps they had told him.

Hermione made her way back to the front salon and something told her that Blaise would no longer be there; he was not the type to sit still waiting. She pushed through the half-way open door and to her amazement Blaise remained; he sat on the couch contemplating the floor before him, but he looked up immediately when she entered.

There were several others in the room, but Blaise had kept to himself. He smiled at her with a slightly inquisitive look.

Hermione moved quickly to the sofa and sat down next to him, 'you've been here the whole time?' she asked with a little surprise in her voice.

A small amount of amusement filtered into his eyes, 'yes; waiting for you like I said I would,' he replied, 'I sent a message to Draco and Harry about what is going to take place while I waited.'

Hermione's eyes widened for a moment; she had a strange premonition that Blaise's having done so meant that Harry and Draco would make their way to the Ministry that afternoon. Harry could no more sit still than Blaise.

Hermione told Blaise about her conversation with Ron and of her desire to help him. Blaise's spirits seemed to lift when she finished and his response was quite rational; there was nothing they could do at the present, he stated logically. What Ron was doing, he advised, was likely the best solution for now; they could figure out a way to assist the couple later after the Believers were rounded up.

Hermione had nodded in agreement when he finished speaking; she knew he had the right of it, but she was still terribly worried for her friend. She then tentatively informed Blaise of Viktor's arrival.

Blaise was obviously as surprised as she had been at the news. He frowned 'I thought he was coming in a week, why did he come early?'

'I think Snape informed him of our effort…he wanted to help. But he said he came…to see me.'

'Oh,' replied Blaise, his expression unfathomable.

Hermione smiled inside, but her features remained as impassable as his, 'I told him that I wasn't interested in there being anything between me and him,' she said nonchalantly.

Blaise's eyes moved slowly upward to meet hers, 'and what did he have to say about that?'

'What could he say? He didn't really say anything…he claimed he had to speak to Snape and marched off.'

Blaise's smile made its appearance once again across his face and he reached down and pulled Hermione's hand into his own. He didn't say another word, but merely sat back and relaxed comfortably against the sofa.

Hermione too rested against the cushions; when he had taken her hand in his firm grip, a wave of tranquility began flowing through her. She was reminded of Blaise's manner of confronting problems head on with a mind to solving them, and he successfully did so. In that way he was much like Harry. She began to feel certain that between the two of them, they would figure out a way to assist Ron and everything would turn out fine in the end.

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Harry and Draco were lounging in bed when Blaise's coin message arrived. The coin, which Harry had placed on the bedside table, began to vibrate and Harry turned immediately to snatch it up, slipping his glasses on before reading it. Harry perused the message and then turned to Draco excitedly.

'They are going to move today at four o'clock at the Ministry! They are going to take down the Believers.'

Draco frowned, 'that was fast,' he said slowly. He had a sinking feeling what the next words uttered from his boyfriends lips would be.

'And we are going to be there!' declared Harry, confirming Draco's beliefs.

'Harry, Snape and Lupin both said it would be dangerous for us to go…anywhere. I don't know if it would be wise. They will handle it; I doubt that they will require our help.'

'I have a feeling they will need our help. I saw Bertram in action, Draco…even Snape would have difficultly handling him as brilliant of a wizard as he is. The man moved almost as fast as Voldemort against me. His stunning spell was terrifically violent; when it ricocheted back at him, it knocked him out instantly…there was not the usual fainting, it was a very powerful curse.'

Draco sighed; he had a feeling that Harry would find an excuse to involve them even if there was not a supposedly powerful wizard among the mix. Harry was almost as bad as Blaise when it came to chasing danger…almost because Blaise chased it without being nearly as well equipped as Harry in combating it.

'Blaise said that they are meeting in an anti-office of the Minister's main office at four…you and I must be there as well. We can go early and hide and then when they come we will know everything going on.'

Draco nodded, he didn't try to talk Harry out of it; it would be useless. He smiled a little when he thought of the evening before when he and Harry had once again found themselves in the heat of passion in the warmth of their bed. He had made love to Harry again and the Gryffindor had been terribly loving and submissive to him…so entirely different than the lithe, aggressive person that sat before him at the present. He supposed the same thing could be said about him. He was much more aggressive in battle than in the bedroom…

Harry leaned over to give Draco a quick kiss before hopping out of bed and then heading for the stairs, 'I will prepare the potions for us…I believe I have figured out how the hairs for the polyjuice were arranged, hopefully I can pull two men this time. I pray to god that they are both in top form.'

Draco frowned watching his boyfriend move up the stairs. If they were not in top form, he would demand that Harry forget about going to the Ministry. This was to be far too serious of a battle for either of them to go into it as an overweight, bumbling person.

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Severus Snape was the only recognizable man in the medium-sized private meeting room at the Ministry. The numerous other people gathered, all members of the Order, had taken Polyjuice Potion prepared by Snape himself. He and Shacklebolt were the only people who knew who each individual was, although the group was milling about the room re-introducing themselves and giving in to muffled bursts of laughter at one another's new forms.

Snape walked up to a tall, bony girl with lank silver hair who stood speaking with a short, squat gentlemen that was perhaps the most unattractive man in the room. The two were Hermione and Blaise, respectively, and neither was particularly fond of the new bodies they inhabited.

'Hermione,' Snape said sharply, have you seen Ron? He has yet to take his potion and I haven't seen him at all since we left from the Burrows. He was supposed to retrieve Susan and leave her in the Auror's office and then return here immediately.'

Hermione shook her head while looking around, 'I saw him apparate from the Burrows, but I have not seen him since.'

Snape frowned deeply and nodded.

'Do you think something has happened to him?' Hermione said, trying to infuse worry into her voice.

'I'll see to it, don't worry; just prepare yourself for what you must do.' Snape turned and walked away from Hermione, a frown still riddling his features.

The Professor moved to the middle of the room and stood looking at a couple that stood speaking in the corner. He was joined a few moments later by the Minister, Kingsley Shacklebolt, who had entered the room through a small door on the opposite side of the main door to the room. The Minister's office gave direct access to the anti-room where the members had gathered and had been chosen specifically for that reason.

Shacklebolt followed Snape's gaze as he approached and noticed him looking at the couple in the corner.

'Everything is prepared,' Shacklebolt declared when he stood before the Professor.

Snape's head snapped around suddenly; he obviously had not noticed the Minister's approach. 'Kingsley,' he said distractedly, 'everything must go forward just as we planned; I do not want any injuries…or fatalities today.'

Kingsley nodded, 'I will to do my best Severus,' he said in a tired tone; 'I would like for Remus and Tonks to handle the running of the operation from my office,' he added.

Snape's eyes flickered quickly upward and met the Minister's. He opened his mouth to speak and then closed it again and nodded sharply.

'It is an important part of our plan and I need good people in place to man the operation. I believe they will do a very efficient job.'

Snape didn't respond, but his eyes had begun moving about the room once more.

Shacklebolt placed a hand on Severus' back, 'we need everyone to start moving to their assigned places, one or two at a time.'

Snape nodded, 'I'll start sending them; Remus is the tall, blonde gentleman and Tonks is the shorter, tawny head man he is speaking with there in the corner. Take them up and I will start sending the others to their posts.'

Shacklebolt looked at the pair and a small smile creased his features, 'yes, I will take them up now,' he looked at Snape, 'be careful Severus and advise the Order members to do likewise. This is not the time for heroics. I don't want any life-risking actions taking place. We'll round everyone up…if not today, eventually.'

Snape scowled lightly, 'if all goes as planned we should round everyone up today with no risk of life involved.'

Shacklebolt's brow creased into a frown, 'they will know you are behind this the moment you are seen, Severus; I really wish you would reconsider taking a dose of the potion yourself.'

Snape cocked a brow at Shacklebolt, 'I appreciate your concern, Kingsley; however, it is misplaced. I have no intention of dying today.'

Shacklebolt's gaze did not bear any levity whatsoever, 'I hope you are not underestimating the prowess of these people, Severus. They are very dangerous…exceedingly so,' he said solemnly, 'Bertram in particular is an extremely talented wizard; I selected him for the position of Head Auror based on his incredible skill. Misjudging his ability could prove fatal.' He waited for Snape's answering nod before moving away toward Remus and Tonks.

Shacklebolt explained to Remus and Tonks that they were to serve as the parties of control from his offices and guided them through the small door that led to his office.

Remus followed the Minister and Tonks with heavy footsteps and the moment they began climbing the staircase, he started to complain.

'We are going to need our most talented people working on the outside, Kingsley. I don't understand why you have decided that we should act as controllers. I don't mean to be immodest, however I have had a lot of experience going up against the Death Eaters and the Believers,' Remus said in a very agitated tone.

'That is precisely why I want you and Tonks at the controls. The coordination and control of the effort are crucial to its success, Remus. In addition, everyone will be bringing the captives back here and I need to ensure that there is someone here who can oversee their sequestration.'

Remus sighed, 'I understand that and I agree that the control function is essential; however, the duties Tonks and I were given were very important and dangerous. Who is going to take our place?'

'Severus has that all worked out; I explained to him that I needed the best people for this position, Remus.'

Tonks laughed a little as they alighted from the staircase and moved into the Minister's office, 'Remus, you have been crying for three years about how much you wanted nothing more than to lead a life of quiet solitude. You went on and on about how much you dislike battle and all of the danger involved and now look at you! I never believed you then and it seems as if I was right! You are thrilled by action!'

Remus looked at Tonks and scowled, but then his face broke into a smile and he inclined his head in surrender to her point.

Kingsley laughed with Tonks for a moment before showing the two exactly what they would be doing.

By the time Shacklebolt made his way back down stairs, all but one of the members of the Order had left the room, singly or in pairs. Only Molly Weasley and Snape remained.

'Okay Molly, go ahead,' ordered Snape moments after Shacklebolt arrived and Mrs. Weasley left the room to go to her arranged post.

'We are all set, Kingsley,' Snape said looking at the approaching Minister.

Shacklebolt nodded, 'how long will the Polyjuice last?'

'It is a slightly potent version, it should last a couple of hours at least.'

'Good,' responded Shacklebolt and then stood staring at Snape contemplatively.

Snape's face crumbled into a sneer under Shacklebolt's regard, but he reached quickly into the pocket of his robe and pulled out a vial filled with potion. He uncorked it and drank deeply until it was empty and moments later evolved into a tremendously handsome man; far better looking than Snape could ever dream of being.

'Pretty enough for you now?' Snape asked coldly.

Shacklebolt grinned, 'I prefer the old look…it goes much better with your personality. However, I appreciate your taking my advice in this.'

Snape scowled and turned rapidly away, heading for his preplanned position.

Shacklebolt stood alone for a moment in the tranquility of the empty room and sighed. He felt his stomach twist a little at the thought that in a matter of minutes the Ministry was going to be anything but a tranquil place. He loved his job, but it did not control him as it had so many of the Ministers in the past. He truly loved the work, not the power and that made a big difference in his decisions.

This particular decision was going to tear the Ministry apart and place him in a very bad light. He didn't care about that at all; if he was later ousted for having appointed Believers to posts, albeit unknowingly, it would be worth it. The Ministry would be cleaned up and that was what was most important. Without quite knowing why, he suddenly began thinking about Dumbledore; he abruptly felt his spirits lighten. What he was doing was exactly what the great wizard would have done in his shoes; he was certain of it.

He turned with determined steps toward the door and stepped outside before closing it upon the empty, serene room. He began moving again along the long corridor that would shortly become the sight of the most outlandish ruckus that had been seen in the office of the Ministry since Potter had come seeking Sirius Black…and Voldemort had come seeking Potter.

However, Shacklebolt was mistaken; the room he had just departed was not empty. The moment the Minister left, Harry and Draco moved from their hiding place and quickly through the room to the door, pressing their ears against it.

'I don't hear anything,' murmured Harry.

'Nor do I,' Draco whispered.

'Let's go,' Harry said opening the door and peering outside.

The hallway was empty, and Harry slipped out of the room with Draco on his heels. The two moved rapidly down the corridor until they reached the elevators and Draco called the elevator. A pair of men came around one corner and began walking toward the elevators, but they didn't seem to take special note of the pair of strangers standing before it.

Both Draco and Harry were tall and slim, the Slytherin dark haired and the Gryffindor blonde. They nodded at the two men who reached the elevators just as one opened to admit everyone. The four men stepped inside and Harry pressed the level on which the Auror's offices were located. The two men seemed satisfied with the choice and the elevator doors closed and began to descend.

Harry and Draco were a little surprised to find the men follow them into the Auror's waiting room. There was a small crowd waiting as usual. Although Harry and Draco had not checked in, they figured the Auror in reception wouldn't note that fact. He just called the names of those who had checked in and assumed everyone seated was on the list. There were not seats together so Harry sat between a tall woman with silver hair, and a short, stout, rather ugly man. Draco sat at the end of the row next to a man who to Harry resembled a muggle movie star. He was extraordinarily beautiful and seemed to radiate power.

The two men who had entered behind Draco and Harry went to the desk where the Auror in reception sat and began speaking with the man. Harry recognized the man at the desk as the same one who had been there before; he was frowning and suddenly stood up, telling the men to be seated while he 'checked' for them.

Harry's head swung around as the handsome gentleman, who had been seated next to Draco, abruptly stood up and strode rapidly in the wake of the Auror in reception into the main office of the Aurors.

Harry looked quickly at Draco and meeting the Slytherin's eye he sent a concept, 'Order member.'

Draco gave a small inclination of the head and then looked quickly toward the room again. A great thud sounded within and moments later someone began shouting.

The Head Auror's assistant, the man Harry recalled Bertram calling Smithers, came running out moments later and headed toward the door. The squat, unattractive man sitting next to Harry stood while whipping his wand out and sent a hex at the fleeing figure.

The hex went wide and the reaction in the waiting room was thunderous. Several of the women screamed and the group stood almost as one, moving backward toward the wall of the office and knocking over chairs in the process.

Loud cries and screams were issued once again from the group when Smithers sent a curse flying back in the direction of the squat man and he ducked to evade it. The curse flew over his head and nearly hit one of the witches who stood with her back against the wall. The woman fainted and was seen to immediately by the man standing next to her.

Smithers had made it to the door by that time and was on the point of escaping, but the door suddenly slammed shut and he found he could not open it. There were so many individuals with their wands in hand in the room, it was impossible to tell who had been responsible for closing the Assistant inside. Harry had sent energy, but even he was not certain he had acted alone. He remained seated and watched as the tall silver headed woman suddenly ran forward toward the Assistant who was sending spells at the door in an attempt to open it.

Hermione drew her wand and pointed it at the man, but he was faster and his curse struck her seconds before she would have issued a curse of her own and she fell heavily to the ground. Two witches along the wall screamed as the squat man ran suddenly forward to tend to the fallen silver head woman. A red headed man who had been among the crowd joined the squat man a moment later on the ground beside the woman.

The assistant meanwhile was standing with his back to the door, his wand before him as if threatening to use it against anyone else who tried to attack him.

Harry suddenly stood up and moved slowly toward the assistant.

'Don't come any closer or I will hex you,' declared the man, his eyes wide and a little maniacal.

Harry had a wand in hand, but he didn't use it. He sent power with the Expelliamus spell and the man's wand suddenly flew from his hand toward Harry. Harry didn't catch it, but instead raced forward intending to capture the Assistant.

However, in that moment another figure came fleeing from the Head Auror's office. It was Bertram and he was almost past Harry before the Gryffindor realized that the man was intending to escape the room. Harry lunged to capture the fleeing man, but Bertram evaded him and Harry fell to the ground.

The assistant Auror standing near Harry, now wandless, kicked Harry hard in the ribs, while he lay sprawled on the floor. Harry yelped and scrunched in pain.'

'Harry!' cried Draco, jumping up suddenly and running toward his fallen boyfriend.

Blaise, still trying to revive Hermione, whipped his head around to stare at the downed man upon hearing Draco's voice coming out of the stranger and crying the Gryffindor's name. Snape, who had come running out of the office at that moment had also heard Draco's call and froze staring at the tall, blonde who was attempting to lift himself from the ground.

Bertram had also heard the call, but he ignored it; he used those seconds to try and open the door; finding it locked he sent a spell and it burst open allowing him to run through.

Snape sent a spell quickly at Harry, and then ran from the room behind the Assistant Head Auror who had taken the time to flee behind his boss. Snape had obviously failed to note that Hermione too was down; she was obscured from his vision by the two men that hovered about her.

Draco helped a now recovered Harry to his feet again.

'The assistant Auror,' Harry yelled to Draco as he ran quickly from the office. He had had to yell over the ongoing screams and cries of the witches and wizards tucked neatly against the wall trying to stay out of harms way.

Draco nodded and ran behind him and seeing the tail end of a robe passing around a corner he flew down the corridor after the fleeing figure. Muffled crashing sounds and screams reached his ears from different points in the building as he moved, but he kept his mind on his prey. Draco rounded the corner a few seconds after the figure he was chasing and skidded to a sudden stop; he was amazed to find himself face to face with Peter Pettigrew.

The small, impossibly ugly man quickly drew his wand upon seeing Draco, 'traitor!' he cried and sent a hex that missed Draco by less than a centimeter. Draco had his wand in hand and returned fire on Pettigrew, but the little man jumped sideways to avoid the curse and then a moment later shrank into his Animagi form of a rat and began racing away. Draco aimed a stunning curse at the scrambling creature, but missed and he realized he was going to lose sight of the rat at any moment. The Slytherin looked about him, and seeing no one, he quickly took on his eagle form and began to give chase.

The operation had called for the Ministry to attack on a normal business day and had not stopped people from coming; there were a number of workers and visitors milling about the building. However, a number of Order members had been assigned to immediately round up the witches and wizards who were not involved the moment the operation began. They were led to rooms that had been prepared to safeguard them from danger. Four o'clock was the least busy hour, but there were still a good number of people about.

Harry had run in the opposite direction Draco had taken along the corridor outside of the Auror's offices. He was certain that Bertram would try to gain the staircase and flee from the building.

Harry's deduction had been correct; when he gained the stairwell, he caught sight of Bertram fleeing up the stairs several staircases above him. He leaped up the stairs three at a time and continued to give chase.

Bertram flew through a door a level above where Harry was traversing the steps and Harry quickly ran through behind him. He saw Bertram ahead, nearly at the other end of a long corridor and he began racing toward him.

Suddenly Shacklebolt appeared; he'd come from a hallway that ran vertical to the one Harry was running along. Kingsley saw Bertram ahead and the strange tall blond giving chase. He didn't recognize the tall Blonde and in the few seconds he stood watching he determined that the man might be helping the Head Auror escape. He whipped out his wand and sent a curse at Harry and then another at the fleeing figure of Bertram.

Both hexes missed their marks, but it stalled Harry's progress. Harry stopped suddenly and issued a surge of power at Bertram who was in the process of whipping around a corner. The man flew backward, slamming into a wall before falling heavily to the ground.

Shacklebolt knew then that Harry Potter was the man giving chase, 'sorry' he muttered as he began running with Harry toward the downed figure.

Meanwhile, in the Auror's office, Blaise was still sending spells at Hermione's limp frame trying to bring her around, but she was not responding at all. The red-headed man who had joined Blaise at her side was scowling.

'Let me do it!' the red head demanded in a heavy Russian accent.

Blaise glared at the man, 'go help the others, I will take care of her, Viktor.'

'You do poor job!' he raged.

Blaise looked as if he might hex Viktor in any moment and the Russian wasn't looking much more pleasant.

'Viktor, they need your help! Go, now!'

Viktor narrowed his eyes at Blaise, 'you go!' he yelled back over the still loud murmuring of the crowd of witches and wizards now loudly asking one another what was taking place. Sounds of scuffling, yelling and crashing filtered into the office through the open door.

Blaise gave the Russian a withering look and turned his attention to Hermione again. He sent another series of spells and frowned worriedly when she still did not respond. He grudgingly allowed Viktor to try a few spells, but those didn't serve to bring her around either. The two young men looked at one another a bit anxiously before turning their attention back to Hermione.

Draco was not in a much better situation. He had easily kept up with the fleeing Pettigrew in eagle form and had chased the rat until it moved into a small corridor near the main reception area of the Ministry. The rat, thinking he had evaded his pursuer changed back into human form and Draco swooped down, changing form as he landed and collapsed on top of the surprised Pettigrew.

However, Pettigrew's wand was still in hand and he quickly sent a curse at Draco which the Slytherin had no means of evading. Draco cried out loudly and mournfully in pain as the Cruciatus curse began coursing through his body. He fell sideways and lay crunched in a ball, writhing on the ground. Pettigrew quickly stood and aimed his wand again, 'now you will pay for your betrayal,' he declared angrily in his whiny voice, 'Avada Kedavra' he cried.

Some life preserving force inside of Draco surge up and when Pettigrew had lifted his wand, he forced his body to roll sideways and the curse missed him by less than two centimeters. He felt the great force of power as it struck the wall above him and caused the ground to shake beneath him. However, his body hit the side wall of the corridor and his eyes opened to find Pettigrew's smiling face and triumph gleaming from his small beady eyes.

Pettigrew was lifting his wand again and there was no way for Draco to evade it this time.

Cries and screams could be heard in the distance, but Draco wasn't conscious of them. His body was gripped with pain and he knew that within seconds Pettigrew would be issuing the killing curse. Despite his pain, images began flashing through his mind; his mother and father; Blaise and then Harry. It was the image he wanted to hold with him as he traveled through death. He could feel and smell the woodsy scent of his lover and in those last few moments before Pettigrew issued the curse that would take his life, he sent out a wild but fierce concept of love to Harry, not knowing if the Gryffindor would be able to receive it…but there was something warm in his heart nonetheless; Harry, he knew, was well aware of how much he loved him so it didn't really matter if it reached him or not. There was a smile on his face as the malevolent words of the killing curse began spilling from Pettigrew's lips.

On the other side of the building, Harry and Kingsley had reached Bertram and Shacklebolt was holding the stunned Auror to the ground. It was at that moment that Harry suddenly felt a forceful concept of pain come to him. He knew at once it was Draco that was feeling the pain and the fact that there was no cry for help made the situation seem even worse. The Slytherin was somewhere being hurt, quite possibly in mortal peril! Harry suddenly took off running, leaving a stunned Kingsley staring after him.

Harry flew along a series of hallways and saw a few stunned faces staring at him as he moved. Clearly some of the innocent workers and visitors had still not yet been removed from danger. He heard small disturbances taking place in various offices that he passed, but he didn't pause; he knew exactly where the pain was calling from and he headed directly for the location where Draco was.

Harry whipped around a corner and came face to face with Smithers, the assistant Head Auror, but he didn't stop, he let the man run by and kept running himself. The concept of pain began to fade and Harry suddenly felt a fervent concept of love pass through him. It frightened the hell out of him, he knew exactly what that would mean; he redoubled his speed. He could fell the concepts fading as he moved and he sent a hefty one of his own, 'hold on, I'm coming!' There was no reply and his heart felt as if it was going to burst from his chest, half due to the fear that was coursing through him and half because of the extraordinary amount of energy he was using to run.

Harry suddenly stopped running and instantly took on his Animagi form…he flew as fast as he could through the corridors toward Draco. He felt another concept as he flew, if was of great relief and serenity and under normal circumstances would have reassured him that Draco was fine. However, he realized with increasing horror that it was the same feeling that one felt when they were welcoming death following crucial pain. 'Draco…Draco…Draco…' he called over and over conceptually, begging for a response, but there was none. He flew faster, his little wings grossly overworked; he wouldn't accept the dawning horror in his gut…the one that insisted he was too late.

Peter Pettigrew had not felt so much happiness in a long while; he was avenging his master at last. He lifted his wand at the figured of Draco Malfoy curled up against the wall and his voice was almost gleeful as he spoke, 'well you gave it your best shot, but in the end, Voldemort's men will always be the victors. His force of power will remain about us until his return.' It didn't seem to matter to Pettigrew that Draco was paying him no attention whatsoever. With a maniacal light shining from his eyes, he lifted his wand and shouted his curse. 'Avada-'

However that was as far as he got before he himself was struck by a green ray of light and in the last second of his life, his eyes fell upon the figure of one of the two other men he wanted to kill more than Draco Malfoy. He knew the beautiful man before him was Snape, as the professor had not altered his voice when he cried out the words of doom.

Severus Snape had come running around the corner still in pursuit of Bertram and his assistant. He heard the words of the killing curse racing through Pettigrew's mind before the little rat-man had began uttering them. His wand was in hand and it was an easy matter to be the first to issue the curse.

Snape hopped over Pettigrew's dead body without giving it a second thought and quickly sent a spell at the thrashing figure of the tall, dark-haired man he believed to be Draco Malfoy. He recognized and reversed the Cruciatus curse affecting the young man and didn't wait for him to recover, but continued running through the corridor.

Seconds later, Harry flew into the small corridor from the other side of the Hallway. When he gained the corridor where the concept had originated he saw two men lying on the ground, but his subconscious barely took in the knowledge; his eyes were trained on Draco and the Slytherin was rising! He landed beside the Slytherin and changed to human form in the same instant and then reached out and grabbed Draco into his embrace.

'You're alright!' Harry cried, on almost a sob.

'Yes…I was attacked by Pettigrew,' Draco murmured. Snape's spell had left him fully recovered, but his heart was still racing with ebbing fear.

Harry followed Draco's eyes and noted Pettigrew lying some meters away on the ground.

'He's dead…Snape killed him,' Draco said softly, 'that handsome man sitting next to me in the Auror's office…remember him? He was Snape, it had to of been him, no one else could have taken Pettigrew out and reversed the Cruciatus so rapidly.'

Harry nodded and slowly released Draco, 'I felt a concept of pain from you Draco. Then other concepts and then nothing…I was scared to death, I thought…'

Draco nodded, 'I didn't send the pain concept, but I sent…another…I guess I sent most of them without knowing. Pettigrew issued the Cruciatus curse and I was in dire pain and then he tried to send the killing curse, but that is when Snape arrived and killed him before he could complete it.'

'Thank god,' breathed Harry, a flutter of fear moving through him. He suddenly began wishing that Draco had not come, but he knew the Slytherin would have never allowed him to come alone. The Believers had obvious sent out a warning to all of their members and that meant that it was not only those that were working for the Ministry that they would have to confront that day. Harry knew Draco was a great warrior, but anything could happen. He determined to keep Draco at his side.

'Come with me,' Harry said to a recovered Draco and began moving quickly back the way he had come.

However, when they reached the empty corridor where Harry had left Shacklebolt and the Auror, there was no sign of Bertram and Shacklebolt lay as if dead on the ground. Harry ran forward and quickly checked Shacklebolt for signs of life. To his relief, the man was not dead, but he needed attention right away. He met Draco's eyes; with a sinking feeling he realized he was going to have to leave the Slytherin again; he had no choice.

'He is alive,' Harry said quickly, 'can you take him into an office and try to revive him, Draco?'

Draco frowned a little, but nodded.

'Stay with him and don't leave the office…okay?'

'What are you going to do?' Draco asked a little anxiously. Sounds of battle could be heard throughout the castle and he had a feeling Harry planned to go leaping into the midst of it.

'He had Bertram captive' Harry replied, his eyes filling with determination, 'I've got to find him before he gets away.'

Draco nodded again, 'be careful,' he called as Harry turned from him. He watched as the Gryffindor began running down the corridor, whipping around a corner and out of sight.

Harry didn't know where he was going; he only knew that he had to find Bertram. He ran quickly through a large room where several men were subduing others with stunning curses and being attacked by still others. Harry evaded two passing hexes and ran quickly through the area…Bertram had not been among those in the group.

Harry came to another corridor, once again empty and took off to the right running past a line of offices and snapping them open as he passed to see if Bertram where inside. He reached the last office and seeing no sign of the Head Auror he paused a moment to catch his breath and think. Suddenly he heard a small sound over head and looking up, he saw the answer to his prayers; a beautiful Phoenix was flying toward him and as it passed it dipped a little and then continued. Harry immediately took off after the bird.

The Phoenix flew to the end of the hallway and began pecking at the doorway to the staircase. Harry raced forward and opened the door and flew through after the bird. The bird descended rapidly ahead of him, leading him down a multitude of staircases until finally stopping before the door to a lower level of the building. Harry quickly opened the door and moved through behind the bird. He recognized the level; it was the level where the Department of Mysteries was located.

Something told Harry that he was once again going to have to enter that multi-door room, but to his surprise the bird flew past it and stopped before another room a few doors down.

Harry pulled on the handle of the door but it would not open; he jerked on it forcefully, but it was evidently locked. The bird fluttered behind him as if in laughter and Harry looked up wryly before staring intensely at the door. A moment later it popped open before his power and he looked up at the bird again. The bird twittered a little and then flew back down along the hallway. Harry knew he was no longer supposed to follow the bird…he also knew that inside of the semi-dark room he would find his prey…Aubrey Bertram was in there somewhere; he could feel his presence. Harry felt a wave of trepidation pass over him; nearly as great as he'd felt before he'd faced Voldemort and realized that it had come down to just the two of them. But in the next moment a wave of warmth followed; a billowing flow of strength filled his body and Harry recognized it, just as he had in the cavern facing Voldemort. 'Dad', he whispered. He knew his parents lived and watched from the Wizard afterworld and in those times when he'd needed them most, he could feel their strength, their love, moving through him. He felt Lily's strenth of compassion and gentleness in a myriad of moments; but when the warrior was needed, it was his father's spirit that filled him; all of the bravery and intelligence of a soldier that was a part of his soul was called forth from within himself; but it was as if he became a dual entity, strongly feeling the presence of his beloved father, James.

Filled with courage, Harry moved forward slowly and upon entering the obscurely lit room, he stopped suddenly and reflexively crouched; there was a person facing him! He widened his eyes at the unrecognizable figure and it took a moment or two for him to figure out that he was looking at himself…at his polyjuice form. It was a mirror and as he broadened the range of his vision he saw that the room appeared to be full of them. A sequence of tall and wide mirrors had been placed one next to one another, making a kind of maze of mirrors within the room. There were several points of entry and Harry began walking slowly forward entering at the opening nearest him.

Harry's form was multiplied before his eyes; every where he looked his polyjuice face stared back at him and as he moved so did his figure in the mirrors. It was uncanny and at the same time kept him jumpy; he kept thinking that his own figure was that of Bertram. He was almost unprepared when he finally saw a different figure than the unfamiliar one that was his own moving before him. It was Bertram! Harry quickly sent a burst of energy at the moving figure together with a stunning curse and a second later one of the mirrors splintered loudly and then crashed in pieces to the ground.

It had been a mirror, not Bertram! He spun quickly around looking for the man who had been reflected in the glass, but there was no sign of the Head Auror. Harry stood staring at the broken mirror pieces and noted that the broken glass merely gave way to more glass; there was another mirror behind it. Suddenly a mirror burst in front of Harry and the glass flew rapidly out at him, several shards slamming into his face and cutting through his skin. Harry reflexively stooped at the loud sound of the exploding glass and began pulling the shards from his face; his glasses had thankfully saved his eyes. But he saw a little blood on his fingers as he pulled the glass away that was embedded in the skin of his face. All the while he continued to look warily about himself; Bertram was on the attack.

Harry stood after a few moments and began moving slowly again, searching the mirrors for a figure other than his own.

'You'll never capture me here, Potter,' declared the deep voice of Aubrey Bertram, 'this is my terrain, only I know every curve of the glass, every turn of the ground in this place. Today is the day you will be defeated Potter. The Dark Lord did not leave us without resource and I have expanded on his great knowledge…I have the key to your downfall.'

Harry didn't respond; his heart had begun racing as he continued to move in the direction of the voice. He tried to ignore the words that had been spoken; he knew the man was trying to intimidate him.

'You shouldn't have returned, Potter. You should have left well enough alone; the bungling fools from the Order are no match for the Believers. Outside they are defeating the members of the Order as we speak. It will only be a matter of time before that is accomplished and we are in control here. But I am terribly glad you followed me here…I had thought I would have to induce you to come to this place at another time. However I am prepared for you Potter, everything is ready.'

Harry hoped that Bertram would keep talking; the voice was growing nearer as he continued to creep around the curving path of the mirrors. Harry turned another corner and suddenly the mirror in front of him a few meters ahead flashed and then a great green light worked its way up the mirror from the foot of it. It flowed up the mirror like a green flame, reflecting a brilliant kaleidoscope of colors as it continued to flash before Harry's eyes.

Harry had stood frozen when he'd seen the flash and watched the growing green ember; however when it was at its full strength, he found his feet slowly moving toward it as if of their own accord.

He moved slowly, but surely; the sight was entrancing and it was calling to something within him, something deep within his soul. It was beautiful, peaceful; perfectly beautiful…it was…love. It was the essence of his power, the very substance that flowed through him and filled him with extraordinary ability. He recognized it instantly and was…enchanted; he wanted to touch and feel its potency intermingle with his own. He instinctively knew that it would be overpowering and yet his desire to intensify the love that moved so vibrantly through his soul evoked a craving within him that was greater than he had ever experienced before.

No, he thought, that wasn't true…there was something that he had desired even more, but he let the thought slip from his mind. The green light of the fiery substance was calling him, drawing him to its power…its love. He finally reached the substance and reached out to touch it, but his hand hit something hard and firm; it was not the substance, it was a mirror! Harry felt anger course suddenly through him; he turned quickly and to his delight, the actual substance, warm and pulsating, was behind him. It was suspended in the air and he knew now that he could feel its essence at last.

'I'm coming,' Harry said repeatedly as he moved eagerly toward the substance. His steps were slow however; something in his mind was putting up a great resistance, slowing his progress. Each step he took he had to first overcome a familiar force trying to hold him back; but he was stronger than that force, he was going to reach the loving substance…touch it.

'I'm coming,' he continued to intone.

Draco had finally managed to bring Shacklebolt back to life; it had taken numerous innervate spells to do so and the Minister was groggy and disoriented when he arose from the ground.

'He…got…away,' Shacklebolt murmured trying to rise, but failing miserably.

Draco ran and placed a hand on Kingsley's shoulder, 'don't try to get up, you were hit with a very powerful stunner, sir. There are people looking for Bertram, don't worry.'

Shacklebolt nodded and rubbed his forehead, 'where is Sn-Snape?' he asked looking at Draco for the first time, 'and who are you?'

'Snape is after Bertram I think and I am a member of the Order. If you think you will be alright, I better go and help the others.'

Kingsley Shacklebolt narrowed his eyes at the stranger, 'I don't recall seeing you in the room…you wouldn't happen to be Draco Malfoy would you? I know Harry Potter is here.'

Draco took a deep breath and met the Minister's eyes, 'yes I am. Are you going to be alright?'

'You two shouldn't be here…although…' Shacklebolt was trying to rise again and it didn't seem that he could talk and do so at the same time.

Suddenly a small pecking sound was heard at the closed door to the office where Draco had taken Shacklebolt; it sounded as if someone was tentatively knocking on the door, but the sound was repeated and sounded almost urgent in its consistency.

Draco's head flew around to look at the door; he had helped the Minister to his feet and was trying to ensure he was stable before letting go.

Shacklebolt was frowning at the door as he tried to overcome the dizziness he felt, 'draw your wand and see what that noise is.'

Draco hesitantly released the Minister and was happy to note that Shacklebolt didn't instantly fall to the ground again; he looked terribly unsteady on his feet.

Draco moved quickly to the door, drawing his wand as he moved and abruptly whipped it open, aiming his wand with a curse in mind. However he saw nothing at first and bemusedly began looking around and then out into the hall. He heard a twittering sound above him then and he looked up; it was a phoenix and he instantly knew that he was dealing with Dumbledore in some form or another.

The bird flew down the hall and Draco watched, but did not move. The bird twittered and flew back to him and then down the hall again and Draco finally realized he was to follow it.

Draco looked back at the Minister who hadn't seen the bird, 'I must go…you will be alright?'

'What is it? What is at the door?'

'A Phoenix, sir.'

Shacklebolt's eyes widened perceptibly and he nodded.

Draco took off after the bird and it rounded the corner ahead of him. 'Wait', he called conceptually without realizing what he was doing. It dawned on him as he ran that he had called to the bird thinking as an eagle; the common animal form had triggered the reflexive action. But the Phoenix didn't seem to capture his concept; it flew ahead and did not conceptually respond.

Draco followed the bird to a staircase and moved through and began to descend behind the twittering creature. The bird led him to the room just next to the Department of Mysteries where it had led Harry earlier. However, the door was open and Draco looked inside the semi-darkened room and determined on the instant that he did not wish to go inside.

The bird twittered madly about his head as if urging him onward, but his feet were frozen at the entrance; his bravery came out of necessity, he was not one to walk headfirst into danger – and he could smell, feel and taste the danger that exuded from the room.

The bird was relentless, but its insistence that he enter was not what ultimately caused the Slytherin to start moving forward; it was the small voice that suddenly came to his ears. A voice he knew almost as well as his own. It was Harry's voice and he sounded as if he were in a trance, 'I'm coming' Harry was saying, over and over.

Draco suddenly strode into the room with determined steps; his bravery suddenly knew no bounds – Harry sounded as if he was in danger! He raced through the mirror maze, a little confused at first by the sight of his polyjuice form moving along the mirrors, but he became quickly accustomed to it and moved rapidly in the direction of the voice.

It didn't take long for him to encounter Harry's polyjuice form and when he did he looked on in horror. Harry was inches away from a green, fiery substance that to him looked as if it might envelope the Gryffindor if he got anywhere near it…and Harry looked as if he intended to embrace it. His hands were stretched before him and he walked like a zombie toward the substance, murmuring all the while.

Draco pulled his eyes quickly away from the substance; he had begun to feel some type of weird attraction for it and knew at once that it had Harry entranced. He re-focused his attention on the Gryffindor.

'HARRY DON'T TOUCH IT' he cried out, but his voice came out in a choked cry, broken and almost inaudible. Harry was now only centimeters away from the glowing matter and Draco ran forward a few steps intending to grab the Gryffindor away, but the warmth of the substance began to draw on his soul and he quickly leaped backward again. His heart began to race; he realized he had no way to get to Harry without being affected by the substance himself; he tried to cry out again, but his voice seemed to have grown even weaker.

All at once his brain snapped into action and he repeated his command, but this time in the most powerful concept he had ever sent in his life. 'HARRY DON'T TOUCH IT!'

Harry stopped suddenly and looked about himself feeling slightly confused. He was certain he had heard it…the voice of that thought he had let slip away, the thing he desired even more than the loving substance before him. He floundered a moment and looked back at the desirous fire before him, 'but it is good' Harry murmured, 'it is love, like the love I carry inside.' He started to reach toward the substance once more, but then he heard it again, 'DON'T TOUCH IT!' This time the command flew directly to his heart; his head jerked sideways and his body followed and slowly his feet began to turn toward the greater desire that was commanding him from a distance.

The flame increased behind Harry and Draco noting it continued to send strong commanding messages to the Gryffindor. Harry continued to move toward Draco and after a few moments he was close enough for Draco to grab a hold of.

Harry's mouth curved into a stupid, soppy smile and he embraced Draco and fell against him. 'Draco,' he murmured dully.

Draco knew he was still entranced and in the same moment he heard a sudden sound from one side of the room. He instinctively knew that they were facing Bertram; the powerful wizard had set this trap for Harry and was obviously controlling the substance. He had no idea how to get Harry back to his senses, but he knew he had to act fast. 'Sorry,' he murmured to the Gryffindor before sending a light stunning curse at his body. Harry fell like a heavy weight against him and Draco assisted him to the ground.

The Slytherin jerked his body suddenly downward as the mirror in front of him crashed; Bertram was sending curses! The Shards of glass blew outward, slamming into various parts of Draco's face and body, and he quickly began pulling them away while looking about him for signs of the mad Head Auror.

He looked down and sent an innervate spell at Harry's still body and then looked about him again and listened, but there was no sign of Bertram. Harry began to show signs of life and Draco sent another spell. Harry finally opened his eyes and after a moment he began to rise. He blinked a few times and then seemed to realize where he was, he arose to stoop next to Draco.

'Are you alright?' Draco whispered.

Harry nodded, 'I was entranced,' he murmured looking at little anxiously at the small cuts about Draco's face.

'I know, don't look at the substance,' the Slytherin whispered back.

Harry narrowed his eyes, 'no, now I can…I know exactly how to defeat it.'

'It is powerful, Harry, it affected me as well.'

'Just think about me when you look at it Draco; think of me as hard as you can and it won't affect you.'

Draco furrowed his brow, but he wasn't given a chance to respond again; Harry had risen and was moving back toward the substance. He watched Harry march boldly to the substance and stare at it once more. He was so nervous at the action he forgot Harry's advice and began to feel the pull of attraction the substance was capable of. He forced his mind to think of Harry and to his surprise the pull started to wane. He anxiously watched the Gryffindor confronting the substance, and a few moments later he noted the substance suddenly begin to lose its power; the green light flickered several times and then all of the sudden there was a great flash about the entire form and when it dissipated, the substance had completely vanished.

Harry turned back and looked at the Slytherin, 'come on,' he whispered.

The pair had only moved a few steps however, when the deep voice of Bertram once again sounded, 'you will never find me Potter; I can't destroy you, but I can evade you. You will never live in peace, because I will be working to destroy you and I will find you and do so.'

The words were meant to instill fear, but they merely pushed anger through Harry's heart, 'who in the hell do you think you are?' Harry asked with something close to amusement in his voice, 'Voldemort? Well you are not Voldemort and not even close. I destroyed him and I will do the same to you and all you represent,' Harry finished roundly.

'The bold baby Potter-' began Bertram

'The baby has become a man and your mistake is that you failed to realize I grew up.' Harry cut in, whipping out his statement and then striding rapidly forward. Draco followed Harry through the maze and to his surprise; Harry began causing the mirrors to move as they walked. The mirrors twisted as if they were on a swivel and allowed them to walk almost in a straight line.

Suddenly and without warning, a white light flashed by the Gryffindor's head and a split second later he heard Draco cry out and then fall behind him. Harry spun around rapidly, dropping next to the Slytherin who lay unconscious. He sent an Innervate spell, this time sure of his power to aid others and Draco began to move slightly. Harry turned from his recovering friend and stood up, his face filled with determination; his wrath had become unspeakable.

Harry strode forward again and instead of moving the mirrors he began busting all of the mirrors that stood in his way. Mirror after mirror splintered and then crashed to the ground before his rapid progress; the sound was loud and ominous. Harry heard footsteps fleeing rapidly before him, twisting through the mirror maze. He continuing destroying all of the mirrors that confronted him and it was not long before he saw the fleeing figure of Bertram before him. He moved even faster, exploding mirrors and jumping over the broken glass as he went until he evidently reached the end of the maze. There was suddenly nothing between him and his foe and Bertram was running toward a door on the far side of the room.

Harry caused the door to swing quickly open as the man approached it and it knocked Bertram backwards onto the ground. Bertram recovered quickly and was up in a flash, his wand before him, now facing the still advancing form of Harry Potter.

Bertram sent the killing curse, not one, but several in succession and recalling Harry's ability to shield himself, he jumped nimbly from side to side before issuing them, planning to catch the Gryffindor off guard. However, his efforts failed; the Gryffindor's shield seemed to cover him from every angle and not one of them hit him. They did not rebound however; they merely seemed to be absorbed into thin air before Harry's lithe figure.

Bertram's eyes grew wide with amazement as Harry continued to approach him. He looked around, his eyes shifting madly and then ran rapidly for the door, but Harry sent a burst of energy and slammed it shut again and Bertram found himself crashing full force into the heavy wooded door. Harry was upon the frantic Head Auror by then and he grabbed the man and snatched his wand from his loose hold. He threw it across the room and then sent a quick spell and ropes formed from thin air and whipped themselves snake-like around the body of the nearly hysterical Auror.

Harry shoved Bertram roughly to the ground and Bertram began thrashing wildly on the floor trying to free his body from the bonds. He was uttering madly, a series of unintelligible phrases, each a little more frantic than the last. Harry regarded him for a moment to ensure that the binds would hold and then turned back to look where he had left Draco. To his surprise the Slytherin was no longer laying where he had left him. There were no longer mirrors blocking his view and his heart fluttered a little as the thought passed through his mind that the Slytherin might have walked back into the maze completely disoriented.

'I am here,' Draco said moments after noting Harry looking for him.

Harry whipped around and saw that Draco stood behind him, supporting himself against a side wall.

Harry ran quickly forward, 'are you alright?'

'I'm fine, just…a little groggy.'

Harry moved to where Draco stood and placed a hand on his shoulder, 'sit down; Bertram's curses are fierce. I am going to call for help.' Harry pulled the coin he had placed in his pocket free and quickly inscribed a message on it.

Draco re-seated himself on the floor, resting his back against the wall.

Harry looked with concerned at Draco and then turned back to looked at the struggling, maniacal, Head Auror. The man was frothing at the mouth and still muttering, but he was completely restrained by the binds that Harry had placed against him.

Harry moved and knelt before Draco, pressing his hair back from his head and sending healing energy toward him. The curse the Slytherin had received had been issued with an incredible force and the energy didn't appear to be assisting his recovery. Harry finally stood again when he heard noises at the front entrance to the room, 'who is there?' he demanded.

'It is me, Blaise and Lupin is with me,' Blaise answered.

Harry breathed a sigh of relief, he wanted to get help for Draco, 'we are here at the back,' called the Gryffindor and used his energy to shoot off a small red flare into the air.

The footsteps grew nearer, the sound of crunching glass growing louder as they approached and soon Harry saw a short squat man and a tall blonde man heading toward him.

Harry looked from one to the other with a bit of confusion written across his features.

'I'm Blaise,' the short squat man muttered a little grumpily.

Despite everything that had happened, Harry felt a wave of amusement shoot through him, but he restrained his mirth.

Harry looked at Blaise, 'Draco was stunned; can you two help him back? I have to deal with Bertram.'

Lupin and Blaise followed Harry's gaze and saw the struggling form of the Head Auror on the ground.

'Bertram!' declared Lupin, a small smile creasing his features, 'you got him, good work, Harry; we thought he had gotten away.'

Blaise had already begun moving toward Draco and he began to help him rise.

Harry nodded in acceptance of Lupin's praise and then moved to where he had left the Head Auror on the ground. He levitated the man using his innate power and caused the body to move around before him.

Lupin gasped at the sight and stared at Harry with amazement on his face. However, Harry had already started to set Bertram's figure in motion. The body floated along as if it were being carried by invisible hands and looked a little odd; the Head Auror continued to struggle quite violently. Lupin hurriedly moved to assist Blaise with the injured Slytherin. Draco seemed to be growing weaker rather than stronger as the moments passed.

The group began walking slowly back toward the anti-office where Lupin told Harry all of the captives were being gathered. Snape was there, he informed the younger Gryffindor, healing those who had been injured during the operation and seeing to the captives. He would be able to revive Draco, Lupin assured a worried looking Harry.

Harry was not terribly relieved by Lupin's words. He glanced at Draco's unsteady progress and his frown deepened; he hoped Lupin was right and that Snape would be able to quickly heal the Slytherin. He began looking at the mountains of broken glass about him and wondered what type of research had been taking place in the room. Somebody, he thought, was not going to be very happy when they returned to work in the room and found all of the carefully placed mirrors either out of position or destroyed.

Harry's thoughts were distracting him as he guided the figure through the door of the room and he miscalculated the turn a little; the Head Aurors head cracked against the doorway before his body passed through and the man screamed out as if in mortal pain.

'Whoops,' murmured Harry, perhaps a little too cheerfully as he repositioned the body and continued down the Hallway.