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CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

Dumbledore was smiling as broadly as anyone had ever seen. "Well done, Ginny."

Ginny glowed slightly, pleased at his approval. "It wasn't just me. I couldn't have done it without Harry and Neville and Hermione. After all, if it hadn't been for Hermione and Neville working out a way to take care of Bellatrix and Crouch, I don't think any of us would have got out of there alive."

Dumbledore's gaze drifted across the other three teens. "Yes, well done, all of you."

Apart from the four youngsters, Sirius and Remus were also present. "I can't say I'm that disappointed to see Cousin Bellatrix crossed off the family tree,"Sirius remarked.

"We didn't really mean to kill them,"Neville said cautiously. "It's just…"

"The choice to use lethal force was theirs,"Dumbledore observed. "They were the victims of their own desire to kill." He picked up the shattered cup. "As, it would seem, was this fragment of Voldemort's soul. Now only two of the horcruxes he created remain."

"And Nagini's one of them,"Ginny concluded. "So the other one…"

"Remember what I said before?"Hermione asked. "Ravenclaw's diadem. It fits the pattern."

"Yes, but where is it?"Harry protested.

"I have an idea there,"Dumbledore replied. "I told you of my theory that Voldemort planned to steal the Sword of Gryffindor during his visit to Hogwarts?"

"You did,"Ginny confirmed. "You thought he was going to make a horcrux out of it."

Dumbledore nodded. "What if he was planning a policy of one out, one in? At the same time he planned to steal something to make a horcrux with, he planned to leave one behind. After all, what more symbolic hiding place for him than the first place he felt at home?"

"You're saying there's a horcrux at Hogwarts?"Remus asked.

"But Snape's there,"Ginny pointed out. "That means it will be guarded."

"Perhaps,"Dumbledore noted. "But we have friends there as well, if you remember."

"But what about the ministry?"Remus pressed. "As it stands, the ministry control Hogwarts and Voldemort controls the ministry."

Dumbledore gave an enigmatic smile. "Perhaps not for long."

Moody looked with a large amount of scepticism at the man standing next to him. "You're sure you're up to this, minister?"

"I assume you, Auror Moody,"Fudge replied testily,"no-one knows the Ministry better than me. I am quite up to whatever you may be attempting."

Moody turned to where Kingsley, Tonks, Viktor, Fleur, Bill, James and Lily were waiting. "What about you lot? Anyone having second thoughts?"

"We're all ready, Alastor,"Kingsley told him.

"We are certain that You-Know-Who himself isn't there though?"Tonks queried.

Bill nodded. "He's still clearing up the mess at Gringotts."

"Good,"Moody replied curtly. "Then let's hope this back door of the minister's lives up to the hype."

"Ministry Atrium, password 'order',"Fudge snapped.

A moment later, the group appeared inside a concealed floo in the ministry atrium. A pair of Death Eaters were present but were quickly taken down by stunners from Tonks and Viktor. But an alarm was already sounding. Moody snorted. "Got to give them one thing. They're quick on the uptake."

Death Eaters and Aurors came bursting out of every door. The Order members exchanged a barrage of spells with them. Fudge spoke in a loud voice. "People of Wizarding Britain, this is the Minister! If there are any here who have opposed the policies of the administration that usurped me, but have been too afraid to speak out, now is your chance to act!"

"You blood traitor!"snarled Nott, who hurled a spell at Fudge.

Fudge somehow managed to duck the curse. "Petrificus totalus,"he snapped and breathed a sigh of relief as Nott froze in place and toppled to the ground.

Seeing him under attack, and how he had responded to it, seemed to galvanise the bystanders into action. Several Ministry workers drew their wands and ran to help the Order. Even some of the aurors switched sides and began battling their one-time Death Eater allies.

Rodolphus Lestrange seemed to have taken charge of the Death Eaters present and he and Yaxley were leading the attack. Rodolphus aimed a curse at Tonks, who went down bleeding heavily. "That is for my wife,"he snarled.

A moment later, a Blasting Curse from Fleur blew a huge chunk out of Rodolphus. "Your wife was a mad chienne,"she noted scornfully. Moody gave her a quizzical look. "I may not have got my translation right."

In the midst of the chaos, Karkaroff was duelling Viktor. "Did you not listen to all I taught you?"he snarled.

"I learned perfectly, Professor,"Viktor replied scornfully. He managed to slip a stunner past the former headmaster's defences and Karkaroff was left sprawled on the floor.

Moody took down Yaxley with an abrupt "Incarcerous!" and looked around. All the Death Eaters had been incapacitated with only a small number of injuries on their side.

An indignant figure swept in. "What is the meaning of this?" Umbridge paused as she saw Fudge. "Cornelius."

"Delores,"Fudge returned. "I don't imagine you were anticipating my return." Ignoring his former associate, he turned to Moody. "In the circumstances, I would like you to take over as acting head of the Auror Department."

Moody tipped his hat. "Most civil of you, Minister." He gestured to Fleur and Bill. "You two, see the wounded are looked after. Theirs too, I suppose." He went over to Umbridge and took her wand from her belt. "Been enjoying your little persecution, have you?"he asked scornfully. He pointed at one of the aurors who had switched sides. "You. Lot of muggleborns been rounded up and put in the cells, I suppose?"

"Er, yes, sir,"the auror replied nervously.

"Give them their wands back…and then put the Under-Secretary in with them."

Dumbledore produced a mirror from within his robes. He tapped it with his wand and then passed it to Ginny. "I think perhaps you should be the one to make contact."

Ginny took the mirror, not sure what she was supposed to do. To her surprise, instead of her own reflection, she saw another girl in it. "Luna?"

Luna smiled politely. "Hello, Ginny. It's good to see you again."

"What's going on? Where are you?"

"At Hogwarts, of course. Professor Dumbledore had us organising and training the students ready for his return. The teachers that are still on our side helped cover for us."

"You've been training the students?"Ginny asked incredulously.

"We have, yes,"Luna confirmed. She glanced out of the frame. "Come and say hello, Cedric."

Cedric suddenly appeared in frame next to Luna. "Hi, Ginny,"he said waving awkwardly.

"Cedric,"Ginny returned. "Or is it Mister Diggory these days?"

"Well, technically you're not a student at the moment so…"

"Did you have a message for us, Ginny?"Luna asked.

Ginny took a deep breath. "The ministry's back on our side. So we're coming for Hogwarts. Be ready for us."

Luna smiled. "All right, Ginny. We'll be there to meet you."

Ginny looked up and took in Dumbledore's benign smile, Sirius and Remus' supportive looks, and the apprehensive expressions of Harry, Neville and Hermione. "We're going to Hogwarts."