Disclaimer: I am not Timothy Zahn or J.K. Rowling.

In the storage shed, Harry continues using the wires in his prosthetic hand to manipulate the lock.

Harry. Okay, Hedwig. I think we're ready to try it. Cross your fingers.

Hedwig. I don't have any fingers to cross.

Harry. [aside] It's been five years since I've thought of this as a machine attached to my arm, but right now . . . it is really difficult to think of it as anything but.

Hedwig. [impatient]Hurry.

Harry forces his attention away from his hand.

Harry. Right. Here goes.

Using the wires in his prosthetic hand, Harry finally manages to work the door open.

Got it.

Harry leans over and peers outside.

Once seeing that the hallway was deserted, Harry breaks contact with the outlet and dives through the doorway before the door slides closed again. Then the Auror opens the door to Hedwig's cell and steps inside.

Hedwig. [beeps excitedly]

Harry. Quiet, Hedwig. And hold still."

Harry easily removes the simple restraining bolt, freeing Hedwig.

Come on.

Harry and Hedwig slip out of the storage shed.

The broom's around that way. Looks like the best approach would be to circle to the left, keeping inside the trees as much as we can. Can you handle the terrain?

Hedwig scans the area.

Hedwig. [cautious] Affirmative.

Harry. Okay. Keep an eye out for anyone coming out of the buildings.

Harry and Hedwig make their way toward the forest on the Isle of Drear.

Hedwig. [beeps warningly]

Harry turns and notices three men stepping out of the main building.

Harry. Freeze.

Harry and Hedwig freeze.

[aside] My black outfit should make it easy to camouflage myself within the forest. Hedwig, on the other hand, is a different matter. She's too easily recognized.

Never looking in their direction, the three men draw their rifles and disappear into the forest.

Hedwig. [beeps softly]

Harry. I don't like it, either. Let's hope it doesn't have anything to do with us. All clear?

Hedwig. Affirmative.

Harry and Hedwig move on, being careful not to step into the forest.

Look out.

Harry turns and freezes.

Enter Ginny, stepping out of the main building.

After standing there for a moment, Ginny turns off briskly, coming to a decision.

Exit Ginny.

Harry lets out a breath of relief.

Harry. Come on, Hedwig. It's getting too crowded out here. We're going to cut farther into the forest, come up on the brooms from behind."

However, as they do so, they discover that the Firebolt has vanished.

No. I don't know where they've moved it to. Can your sensors pick it up?

Hedwig. Negative. [beeps a technical explanation that goes over Harry's head]

Harry. Well, it doesn't matter. We'd have had to put down somewhere else on the region and find something with a working hyperdrive, anyway. We'll just skip that step and take one of these.

Harry glances around, hoping to find a Firebolt or a Nimbus. Instead, he is forced to choose between two larger broomships.

Got any suggestions?

Hedwig. Affirmative.

Hedwig brings Harry's attention to a group of Cleansweeps, brooms of which he is not as familiar with but are within the size and length of a Firebolt or a Nimbus.

Harry. [doubtful] One of those?

Hedwig. [beeps impatiently]

Harry. Right. We're a little pressed for time.

Harry and Hedwig mount one of the Cleansweeps.

Looks like everything's already on standby. There's an outlet right there. Give everything a quick check while I strap in. With a little luck, maybe we can be out of here before anyone even knows we're gone.

Harry and Hedwig lift off.

Exit all.