Then the window shattered.

The shards burst outwards in a burst of reflecting shards of light.

A dark object followed them down, pulled rapidly to the earth by gravity.

Harry shot off after it, and Ron followed after a moment of shock.

Harry got there first -Ron heard Harry grunt at the impact of the person. He winced as he watched his friend get thrown off his broom and slammed into the ground. Harry's broom hit the side of the house, making a dent, then fell after them.

Ron was indecisive for a moment. Go after Harry or check out what was happening above?

Despite his fierce loyalty he knew that Harry would probably be alright, whereas the rest might need help. He'd better be all right. Ron flew upwards, and sucked in a breath at what he saw through the window.

Inside, was a large, dark room in which Sirius, Arabella, and Maya were exchanging spells with a group of men. Their spells created brief flashes of colored light, illuminating the room. He called out to Sirius to let him know that he was there, and received a glance in confirmation. A half a second later he had to duck a curse, causing him to fly downwards out of sight.

He flew back up, with Harry joining him -somehow having recovered his broom. They could see curses and hexes flying between the two groups as each jockeyed for the upper hand. This was not going as planned. Ron's mind turned with each second as he speculated. His team had good cover -but they could not stay there indefinitely.

Harry flew inside and made a pass over the assailants, startling them; He was recklessly fast considering the small confines. Ron winced and considered falling; Unfortunately, that would probably end badly.

Arabella, Sirius and Maya seized the opportunity and ran for the window, leaving their makeshift cover.

One of the men cast a killing curse that struck home. In a flash of green light, Arabella fell. Her wand and the other two she was holding rolled away from her. Ron was stunned, disbelieving.

The blond who had caste the spell grabbed the small box that had flown out her arms. He passed it to another with words that Ron could not hear, and the other man ran out of the room.

The other two had reached the window, and Maya jumped onto Ron's broom behind him; He could heard her moan with pain from a wound on her shoulder. Sirius cried out and ran back to Arabella.

Ron saw Sirius was hit with a curse, slumping to the floor. "Avad–" started Malfoy. Harry shot a spell at Malfoy, and Ron his own curse. The light from the curses shimmered around the blond and faded.

The redhead gasped, horrified.

Malfoy paused, smirking. "Finally realizing that you are on the losing side?" A Malfoy would pause to gloat. Bastard.

"Avada Ke-" This time Malfoy was cut off by another killing curse, said so fast it was nearly incomprehensible.

It had been Harry. Who was now stumbling towards his godfather, using his broom to help him.

Maya, while still in pain, continued to fire off curses, and Ron followed suit. Despite their distraction Harry was hit with the cruciatus while grabbing onto Sirius.

Ron felt such an anger at his friend's screams that, without thinking, he sent a spell at the caster. The figure screamed as he erupted in flames.

Soon Harry was flying out of the window, with an unconscious Sirius in front of him.

They flew to where Hermione and Mundungus were waiting. Brian was leaning against Mundungus, unable to stand on his own; That's when Ron realized that he must have been the person flying out the window.

Ron and Maya landed somewhat clumsily; Harry all but collapsed off his broom, along with Sirius. Mundungus took measure of the group and asked in a grim tone, "Where is Arabella?"

Maya shook her head.

"Damn," the light brown haired man cursed with feeling.

They heard a shout and spun to see a man yelling to a group.

"We need to go," he added. He clutched Brian as he grabbed his portkey.

Ron made saw Harry portkey away with Sirius. He made sure that Hermione had left as well before he grabbed his own amulet. The world shifted.