As the seven appeared in the large room, Remus, who had been waiting, moved to help them all into various chairs.

As Harry collapsed into a particularly cushy chair, ignoring the pain, he heard Remus ask, "Where is Arabella?"

His godfather, who had regained consciousness, answered. "She's gone Moony."

Remus closed his eyes. When he opened them he moved to the fire to summon Dumbledore. "They are back, Albus. Arabella- I think you should come."

Harry watched Remus leave the room and come back with various healing potions they had in stock here. He himself was the recipient of numbing and pepper up potions, as well as several more.

Hermione moved to help Remus, giving Ron a quick hug before she moved to examine Harry's leg. "It's broken."

As Hermione was binding his leg Dumbledore stepped out of the fire. He looked around and noted the Arabella wasn't with them. "Arabella?"

It was Maya who answered. "Killing curse."

Harry watched Dumbledore sit down, sorrow lining the old man's face. Harry knew that it couldn't be easy having to do all that he had to, to think of everything. The headmaster visibly pushed his grief away. "The rest of you?"

Remus handed Mundungus a potion and answered. "Sirius, Brian, and Maya have all been cursed. Harry seems to have the worst of it."

Brian, who was still not entirely awake, asked, "Didn't I fall out a window?"

Ron grinned, "Well, Harry here saw the need to dive under you and get smashed into the ground with you."

Harry gave a weak smile.

"Why don't you all tell me what happened?" asked Dumbledore.

Maya gave an account of what had happened inside. They found documents and letters indicating who the contacts were -also a sheet of names and addresses from the Norwegian wizarding government, and another of prominent witches and wizards. Presumably hit lists.

They had been leaving when they'd seen Malfoy. They knew he was an important Death Eater and had to be there for something important. So they followed him.

Turned out that he was there to pick up something important for his master "We don't know what it was, he just said it was going to be 'extremely useful.'" So they had tried to steal it. Arabella had been holding onto it when their potions had worn off; The fight had ensued and she was killed.

Here harry spoke up, "McNair took off with it."

Maya looked at him curiously, "How'd you know it was him -it was so dark that even I couldn't see."

"I'm -more familiar with all the Death Eaters now." Most of them knew what he meant.

"What do mean?" asked Mundungus, not understanding.

He answered tiredly "You know I have visions of what Voldemort is doing. Well, I also get to see what some Death Eaters are doing sometimes -he puts part of himself into the Dark Mark."

"Oh," breathed Maya.

Ron kicked in with what they had seen. As he described what happened with Malfoy, the shielding he had, Dumbledore and Remus grew alarmed.

"Arthur needs to know this as soon as possible."

"Everyone does -this is bad."

Sirius asked, "How am I still alive then?"

There was a silence in which Maya and Ron looked and Harry. He sat up a bit. "The killing curse got past the shield."

Eyes widened. Hermione said, "Harry-"

"I wasn't going to loose my godfather!" he pronounced vehemently. Losing Sirius was *not* an option.

"I understand Harry." Said Dumbledore, looking ancient. "In any case, the Ministry was on the brink of authorizing the killing curse against Death Eaters. With these new shields, it will probably be announced in the papers tomorrow."

The group was silent.

"I will ask Snape inquire as to what was in that box." He got up and moved to Sirius, putting a hand on his shoulder. "I will miss her too."

Sirius nodded and stood. "Harry, can you get up?" He asked the dark aired boy, who was now slumped into cushions of his chair.

"Probably not."

Ron looked at him apprehensively, "He was hit with the Cruciatus."

Sirius went over to him to help Harry up, then exclaimed, "Harry!" There was a small knife embedded in his side, red seeping out from it.

Remus crossed the room to them, helping to keep Harry upright as Dumbledore looked at the knife.

"Albus?"

The headmaster looked up sharply, "It's poisoned. We need to get him to Hogwarts."

Harry heard something else said, but he couldn't distinguish the voice.

He had the impression of flames before he lost consciousness.

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Hmm. I was intending to focus on the younger Harry in this story -do you think I should change that?