Harry and Ginny were walking through Hogwarts, side by side, matching each other stride for stride. Neither spoke, and their mouths were set in grim lines. Taking Ginny with him on his errand to fetch Draco was unexpected, but not wholly unwelcome.
Harry had expected his announcement about Draco to meet with some resistance, and he was not disappointed. His friends reacted as strongly to his declaration about Draco as they had when he announced his intent to rescue Mr. Malfoy.
"You can't!" Ron blurted. "He'll turn us in to Umbridge!"
"That's why you're getting the distraction ready now," Harry replied. "If Draco won't help, we'll be too close to leaving for him to stop it."
"And what if he warns You-Know-Who?" Ron asked.
"How?" Harry said. "And, more importantly, why? If Voldemort is actually torturing Lucius, then would be killing his father by stopping me. If Voldemort is trying to lure me out, then he won't want to thwart the Dark Lord's plan." Harry shook his head. "Worst case scenario: Draco chooses not to help. Best case scenario… we add a powerful ally, and an enormous element of surprise." Harry had held his hand up to forestall any further protests. "I've made my decision. I'm going."
"Then I'm going with you," Ginny said. "I'm not letting you talk to the leader of the Inquisitional Squad without backup. Maybe you're sure that you won't get hexed, but I'm not."
"Fine," Harry replied with a frown. "We've wasted enough time already. Let's go. I'll see you all in thirty minutes."
The group had split up, and now Harry was leading Ginny to the caved-in secret passage where he stored the Marauder's Map.
"Whoa," Ginny had asked, peering over Harry's shoulder. "Where'd you get that?"
"It was my father's," Harry had responded distractedly. "But I got it from the twins."
"What?"
"I'll explain later," Harry had said. He had identified Draco's location: Inquisitional Squad Headquarters, on the first floor. "Follow me."
Ultimately, Harry was thankful that Ginny had decided to come along. Draco was not alone in the Inquisitional Squad Headquarters; Pansy was there, as well. Harry wasn't afraid of either of his old friends' magical skill, not alone or as a pair, but the emotional toll of confronting them both in quick succession would be taxing. Having Ginny nearby to offer moral support would make this whole business substantially easier.
When Harry and Ginny arrived at Inquisitional Squad Headquarters, they found the door closed and locked. Normally Harry would be suspicious of the things that Draco and Pansy were doing behind locked doors, but the Marauder's Map showed their dots on opposite sides of the room. Harry knocked loudly, and Pansy's dot moved toward the door.
Pansy opened the door, and her eyes widened in shock when she saw Harry. Before Harry could push past her into the room, Pansy stepped forward and closed the door behind her. In the brief moment that the door had been open, Harry had heard a piano playing.
"I need to talk to Draco," Harry said.
"You don't talk to Draco. Draco talks to you," Pansy said. She turned to Ginny. "I thought you'd have remembered that lesson."
Ginny turned red. "Move over, you bint. This is important."
Pansy drew back and reached for her pocket, but Harry's wand was out before Pansy could reach hers.
"Move over, Pansy," Harry said. "Now."
"You wouldn't curse me," Pansy said. She slowly reached into her pocket and drew her wand, daring Harry to make the first move. When Harry did not, Pansy grinned. She put her left hand on her hip and raised an eyebrow at Harry. "And I'm not letting you talk to Draco."
Harry waited a moment before firing a full-body bind at Pansy. Pansy was shocked, but managed to deflect the curse away with her wand. Harry fired another, and she deflected that charm, as well. Harry suddenly regretted taking the time to teach Pansy spell deflection last winter.
"Is that all you've got, Potter?" Pansy asked. "Why don't you run off and hide in the library with your pathetic mudblood friends?"
Harry frowned. "Pansy, you've got huge tits but little talent. You've never earned anything in your life, and anything you do earn, you'll earn on your back."
Pansy's face flushed with anger, and Harry took the opportunity to fire another full-body bind at her. She deflected the body bind, as well as the stinging jinx that Harry sent her way, but the second stinging jinx caught her in the arm, and Harry's disarming charm hit her directly in the chest. Pansy was pushed back into the door and her wand popped into the air. She reached out to grab it, but Harry swatted it away with his left hand. Infuriated, Pansy tried to punch Harry in the nose; Harry darted forward, grabbed her wrist, and slammed it up and back against the door.
Harry placed the point of his wand under Pansy's chin. "I've always been more than you can handle, Parkinson. Now, let me in. Draco and I need to have a conversation about the Dark Lord."
Pansy was breathing heavily, and when she spoke, her voice was low. "Why are you still fighting him, Harry? Don't you realize the kind of power you're up against? My family has seen him. I've seen him. You can't fight him, Harry, you just can't. He's… terrible. Worse than you can imagine."
Harry knew the kind of power that Voldemort had; he had seen it last year, at Godric's Hollow. It didn't matter, though. Harry had no choice. Harry had rejected Voldemort last year, and Voldemort had resolved to kill Harry. There was no longer a decision for Harry to make—Harry could either fight, or be killed. The words were on the tip of his tongue, but Ginny spoke first.
"Harry knows exactly how terrible You-Know-Who is," Ginny said. She had picked Pansy's wand up off the floor and was tucking it into her robes. "That's why Harry's fighting. That's why all of us are fighting. Because if You-Know-Who wins, life will be more terrible than we can imagine. It doesn't matter how powerful You-Know-Who becomes, and it doesn't matter what terrible things he does. It doesn't matter how unlikely we are to win. We fight because he needs to be stopped."
Harry turned and looked into Pansy's eyes. For just a moment, they were a pair of Slytherins, sharing a sardonic glance at the naiveté of a Gryffindor. But the moment passed as quickly as it had come; Pansy was once again a member of the Inquisitional Squad, and Harry was once again a member of Dumbledore's Army. And Harry's wand was still pressed against Pansy's throat.
"Let us in," Harry said coldly.
Pansy reached down with her hand and turned the knob. Harry stepped back, allowing her to open the door, but kept his wand pointed at her the whole time.
Inquisitional Squad Headquarters was lavishly appointed. There were comfortable looking couches and chairs scattered throughout the room, resting atop several large, plush rugs. Someone had constructed a fireplace with an intricate stonework mantle, and a fire was gleefully cracking away. At the opposite end of the room was a beautiful piano. That was where Draco was seated, facing away from the door. When he heard sound of the door opening, Draco stopped playing.
"I said no visitors!" Draco shouted.
"I didn't give Pansy much of a choice," Harry said. Draco spun around on the piano bench, reaching for his pocket, but hesitated when he saw Ginny.
"Ah, ah, ah," Ginny said. Her wand was pointed at Draco's chest. "Keep your hands out."
Draco glanced around, considering his options. Realizing that there was nothing he could do, he slowly moved his hands away from his pockets and placed them on the piano bench.
Harry pointed at a chair near the piano. "Pansy, take a seat." The dark-haired girl flopped into the chair and crossed her arms indignantly. If there was one thing Pansy could do effectively, it was pout.
"What are you doing here?" Draco asked angrily. "What do you want?"
"I come in peace," Harry said, holding out his open left hand. His right hand, of course, still held his wand.
"Yeah, sure looks like it," Draco snapped.
Harry closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. "I don't have time to waste bickering with you. Tonight, I learned that your father has been protecting me from Voldemort this whole year. He's been creating plans that were destined to fail, challenges that he knew I could overcome. Voldemort discovered this, as well, and your father is being tortured as we speak. I am going to save him." Harry held out his left hand. "I want you to come along."
Draco was silent for several seconds. "How do you know all this?"
"It doesn't matter," Harry said. "But I know it's the truth."
Draco looked down at the floor. Harry could see that he was gripping the edge of the piano bench tightly, tight enough that his knuckles were going white. Draco spoke without raising his head. "Whatever you think you know, Harry… you're wrong. My father is one of the Dark Lord's most trusted servants."
"You think I'm trying to set you up?" Harry was incredulous; how could Draco be so obtuse? "You think I'm trying to get you in trouble with Umbridge? Or Voldemort? Draco, I'm trying to save your father's life!"
Draco looked up from the floor and fixed Harry with a powerful gaze. His voice was low and intense. "Listen to me, Harry. Listen carefully. My father would never betray the Dark Lord. Never."
"Draco-"
Ginny put a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Harry, we're out of time. We have to go."
Harry glanced down at his watch. The business with Pansy had taken longer than he thought—his half-hour was up. The twins' distraction would begin any minute, and he and Ginny needed to make it halfway across the castle to Umbridge's office. "I'm doing this for your father," Harry said, lowering his watch and looking at Draco. "I can trust you to keep quiet, I hope?"
Draco turned back to the piano. "What you do away from the castle is no concern of mine."
Harry walked to the door and opened it for Ginny, allowing her to pass through before him. Next to the door there was a side table, and Harry placed Pansy's wand there. Harry took a step outside the room and then paused at the threshold. He turned back, unable to leave without one last appeal. "Draco, please…"
Draco did not turn to face Harry. "If you think that my father would betray the Dark Lord, then you're a fool."
Harry felt Ginny's hand tugging on his elbow. "Harry, we have to go now."
Harry gave his oldest friend one last look. Draco sat at the piano, frozen in place like a state. Harry sighed, then stepped into the hallway and shut the door.
*!*!*!*
As Harry and Ginny rushed toward their rendezvous point in the Transfiguration classroom, they began to hear distant noises. Loud noises. Thumping, popping, cracking noises.
"What does that sound like to you?" Harry asked.
"It sounds like… fireworks?"
"I think so, too," Harry said. "I guess the twins took me seriously when I said I needed a distraction."
The booming and banging grew louder as Harry and Ginny approached Umbridge's office, and they began to see flashes of light down side corridors. At one point, out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw what appeared to be an enormous sparkling dragon roar down a side passage, but by the time he turned the blazing rocket was out of sight.
"Umbridge should be out-" Harry stopped speaking as he turned a corner. Standing in the hallway, wands drawn, were Crabbe and Goyle. Behind them was the balance of the Inquisitional Squad: Montague and Warrington, Bulstrode and Greengrass. Harry cursed; in his rush to meet up with his friends, Harry hadn't bothered to use the Marauder's Map.
"Hello, Potter," Crabbe said.
Harry glanced around the hallway. Six against two. Even with his trance, it would be almost impossible to fight their way through. Harry could take on two wizards at once, perhaps three if they were incompetent. But that still left Ginny with three of her own, and although she was good in a duel, she wasn't anywhere near Harry's skill or power. Best to talk their way through, then.
"Get out of my way, Crabbe," Harry said. "You've got no reason to shake me down."
"Listen," Crabbe said, cocking his head to one side. The sound of fireworks was growing louder by the moment. "I think that's plenty of reason to stop you, Potter."
Harry sighed. "I don't have anything to do with this. I've on the other side of the castle when this started."
"And how do you know where this started if you weren't involved?" Crabbe asked.
"I know it wasn't near me," Harry said. "Thus, it was on the other side of the castle."
Crabbe frowned. "I don't care. Any time something like this happens, you're responsible for it. You're coming with me."
"Are you sure that you're brave enough to do something like that without Draco around?" Harry asked. "It didn't turn out well the last time you tried that."
"I never forgot," Crabbe said. "But you're going to wish that I had. Now, put down your wand."
"Tough talk after the thrashing I gave you earlier this year. But then again, it's easy to be tough when you're backed up by five of your closest friends," Harry said. "Too scared to fight me on your own?"
"I'm not scared," Crabbe said. "But I'm also not stupid. I'd rather be a winner than brave."
Harry sighed. "I have bigger things to do than argue with you, Crabbe," Harry said. "Voldemort is expecting me tonight, and I don't want to disappoint him." Every member of the Inquisitional Squad flinched at the mention of Voldemort's name.
"I don't care what you think you're doing," Crabbe said. "Put down your wand. We're taking you to Umbridge; it's time for some Inquisition."
Harry started glancing around the group. Goyle would be the most vulnerable, followed by Bulstrode. Greengrass was a wild card; Harry had never seen her duel. The greatest threats, because they were older and probably more powerful than the rest, would be Warrington and Montague. If he eliminated one of them quickly, Harry and Ginny might have a chance.
And then Harry realized that he knew exactly how to eliminate Montague. He let his roving eyes settle on the older boy. "You're not going to take me to Umbridge," Harry said firmly.
"Yes we are," Crabbe said. "Or can't you count?"
"That wasn't a question," Harry said. Again, he allowed his eyes to roam around the group, but they settled on Montague when he spoke. "You aren't going to stop us."
"We already stopped you," Crabbe said.
"You are going to let us pass," Harry said, still staring at Montague.
Crabbe rolled his shoulders. "So, you're not going to come quietly? Good. I was looking forward to having a little fun."
"Do you know why you're going to let us pass?" Harry asked, still staring intensely at Montague. "Because you owe me."
For the first time, Crabbe realized that Harry might not be speaking directly to him. "What?"
"You are going to put a stop to this," Harry said. "NOW!"
Harry raised his wand and fired a stunner at Crabbe. A split-second later, Ginny fired a stunner at Goyle. Both Crabbe and Goyle managed to erect shields, stopping Harry and Ginny's spells.
Goyle dropped to the ground unconscious. His shield had done nothing to protect him from the stunner that Montague fired into his back.
The hallway erupted into absolute chaos. Warrington fired a hex at Harry, and Harry deflected the spell back at Crabbe. Crabbe managed to block the deflected hex, but Ginny's stunner caught him from the side. Montague directed his next stunner at Warrington, who was caught unawares and joined Goyle on the ground. Bulstrode hit the floor a second later.
As suddenly as the duel had begun, it was over. Four members of the Inquisitional Squad were stunned on the ground, and Montague was staring at his wand in astonishment. Harry hadn't been sure what would happen when he invoked Montague's debt, but Dumbledore had not been joking when he said that a bond was created when one wizard saved another wizard's life. Harry had caught a glimpse of Montague during the duel; it was as if he had no control over his wand or his actions when he had stunned Goyle and Warrington.
More interesting than Montague, however, was the fact that he had not been the one to stun Millicent Bulstrode. Nor had she been stunned by Harry or Ginny. Bulstrode had been stunned by Daphne Greengrass, who, along with Montague, was looking at her wand in astonishment. Unlike Montague, Harry was certain that he had not saved Daphne's life at any time in the past.
Montague looked up from his wand, glaring at Harry. "Now we're even," he said.
"I know," Harry replied. His stunner struck the larger boy in the chest, and Montague dropped to the ground. Harry stepped forward and crouched over Montague's head. "Obliviate."
"What just happened?" Ginny said loudly. "What are you doing?"
"A favor," Harry said. "I'm erasing Montague's memory of the duel. When he wakes up, he'll think that he was attacked from behind—the first one stunned. Montague owed me a debt and I just called it due, but he shouldn't suffer for that." As the charm excised the duel from Montague's memory, Harry turned to look at Daphne. "I could do the same for you, if you'd like."
"Please," Daphne said. Then, a moment later: "You can't tell anybody about this."
"We won't," Harry said calmly. "I know why you're part of the Inquisitional Squad—you have a family to protect. But I have to admit, it's nice to know that you haven't gone dark. Tracey and I have been wondering all year." Harry raised his wand. "This will go easier if I stun you, first."
"Wait," Daphne said, holding up her hand. "Are you actually going to confront the Dark Lord?" Daphne asked.
Harry nodded. "We are."
"Whatever it is you have to do tonight… please don't let anything happen to Tracey." Daphne looked down at the ground. "If she died thinking that I had abandoned her…"
"I'm not going to get anybody killed," Harry said confidently. He nodded toward his wand. "Ready?"
"Ready," Daphne said. She closed her eyes, and a moment later Harry's stunner struck her in the chest. Harry kneeled next to Daphne's head and immediately began a memory charm.
"We're running out of time," Ginny said tensely. Harry could hear that the fireworks were exploding less frequently, now.
"I'm done," Harry said, rising from the ground. Both Daphne and Montague would remember the same thing—they were in the hall with Crabbe, confronting Harry Potter, then, suddenly, nothing. The Inquisitional Squad members whose memories lasted a little longer would remember the telltale red flashes of stunning spells, and that would be enough to explain the sudden end to Montague and Daphne's memories.
Harry reached into his pocket and removed the Marauder's Map. A quick check showed that Ron, Hermione, Luna and Tracey were in the Transfiguration classroom, and there was nobody between Harry and his friends. Nobody between Harry and the Ministry.
Nobody between Harry and Voldemort.
*!*!*!*
"I'll go first," Harry said to his friends. He was standing in Dumbledore's office, although it was almost unrecognizable after Umbridge had covered it in cat knickknacks and bric-a-bracs. Harry was holding the jar of floo powder in his hand. "It needs to be me, in case Voldemort is on the other side of the floo. Once everybody is through, we'll go together to the Department of Mysteries."
Harry's friends nodded. Seeing no dissent, Harry opened the jar and seized a handful of floo powder. He tossed it into the fireplace, and the flames turned from orange to green. Harry drew his wand, took a deep breath, and stepped into the flames. "The Ministry of Magic!" Harry said loudly.
The green flames flared again, and Harry found himself being spun into the atrium at the Ministry of Magic. The building was unnaturally silent, and Harry's footsteps echoed off the building's marble floors. Harry stepped to one side, and a moment later Ron spun out of the fireplace, wand already drawn. He glanced around and, seeing no immediate threat, took a place next to Harry. Hermione was next, followed by Luna and Ginny.
"Something's wrong," Ginny said, once she had emerged from the fire.
"What is it?" Harry asked.
"I don't know," Ginny said. "Theo said something, just as I was leaving, but I couldn't make out the words."
Several seconds passed, and Harry cast a nervous glance at his friends. This was longer than any of them had taken to get through the floo, and he was starting to become worried. Then the fire flared green once again, and Tracey emerged.
"It's Umbridge," Tracey gasped. "Theo heard the gargoyle move, just as Ginny was leaving. He went back to the stairs to hold her off, and told me to go on ahead."
"He what?" Harry said.
"We couldn't risk her overhearing us using floo powder!" Tracey said. "She'd know where we were going! If Theo manages to stun Umbridge, he'll follow us. If not…"
Harry shook his head. He was furious with himself; if he hadn't wasted time trying to bring Draco along, everybody would have made it through the floo long before Umbridge had returned. This was his fault.
"We can't wait for him," Harry said. "If Theo makes it through, he'll be our backup. But the rest of us have to go." Harry began walking quickly toward the heart of the Ministry, trusting his friends to follow him.
A/N: Last week had so many thoughtful reviews. I really enjoyed the rampant speculation about upcoming chapters. Some people might even have been right about some things! Maybe.
Also, I've been strongly considering a bonus chapter next week, because, why not, right? (And the fact that I'm even posting this here suggests that yes, there will be a bonus chapter.) If I do, however, it won't be a "three chapters in three weeks" bonus. I'll post next week's chapter, then take a week off, then post again, then week off, etc.
