Disclaimer: Everything you recognize belongs to J.k. Rowling. The plot is of my own, so please do not plagiarize it. Orla, as I have said, is also one of J.K. Rowling's own characters.

Extended Summary: Harry was captured by Voldemort four years ago, when he was fifteen. Hermione is now Draco's 'toy'. Ron and Remus are dead. Harry has nearly given up hope of being rescued, when a familiar person is captured and suddenly shows up in Harry's cell….when the impossible happens, will Harry have the determination to restart fighting for his freedom…his life?

Dedicated to: To Iggie, who unknowingly gave me the personality of the picture in this next part, thanks to the review she left.

Quick Note!- Things in italics is the conversation between Snape and Harry last chapter. You'll know when I've switched from Snape telling Harry something, to Harry thinking.

Chapter 6

Harry's P.O.V

'Now listen carefully Harry, because what I'm telling you is going to be very important. It may just give you your freedom. This may be our only chance; our last chance, for Voldemort will not be around that night, for the first time in years.'

'Why not?'

'Nevermind that. I will be sending someone down with some supplies that I think you'll need; you must come up with some way that will delay them without arousing any suspicions.'

I eyed both doors at either end of the hall carefully, from the corner of my cell, for Snape had said a servant girl would be coming down. Sirius, I guessed, was half-unconscious, muttering and every so often, flailing about. Snape had told me he had a fever caused by an infection from the wounds that had been inflicted on him when he had been captured. He hadn't said anything coherent since recognising me earlier, which Snape said was a miracle on its own. The sooner we got him out of here, the better.

Wrapped under my blanket, I pretended to be asleep as I normally would have been, so as not to arouse the suspicions of Lucius, who sat on a chair only a few feet away sound asleep. Giving up sleeping in a bed at night. . .now that shows that he takes his guard duty very seriously. But then again, it's all he has now.

A lithe girl, wearing torn robes of brown that marked her as one who worked as a servant came slipping silently down the stairs. She headed straight for Lucius, head bowed as she was taught, and spoke quietly to him. He stretched then sighed in annoyance, got up and shuffled over to his office. He disappeared for a few moments and then came back out and handed her the rubbish bin.

"Now get out of my sight!" He spat angrily after her, for she had indeed woken him up.

She fled, coming my way, and I prepared myself. Just as she was running by, I stuck out my foot, and she, and the rubbish, went flying. She was prepared however, and she managed to discreetly toss me a package from her robes, which I quickly concealed under Sirius's blanket.

'You'll have to make some of your own sacrifices.'

'Sacrifices?'

'You may get beaten. Just take it in stride, no fighting back, j ust remember what you're going to gain by the end of tonight... we need you conscious.'

I braced myself as Lucius stormed over, and prayed that he hadn't seen the package the girl threw me. He didn't even bother to open the cell, he simply picked me up by the neck of my robes, and gave me a swift punch in the face. My head swam, stars danced in front of my eyes, and I could recognize the sharp, coppery taste of blood in my mouth from where I must have bitten myself as my head whipped back. He let go and I crumpled awkwardly to the floor, my legs bent stiffly under me. I didn't pay any attention to that though, I was just thankful that I was conscious.

'I'll handle Lucius, just trust your instincts and you'll know when it'll be safe. Don't do anything to make him suspicious!'

From the floor of the cell, I watched with anticipation as Lucius finished off a third bottle of Fire Whiskey, and began to slowly pass out. His title of belonging in You-Know-Who's most inner circle been stripped of him, his son rising to take his place, and the public humiliation that followed were all of what led up to his alcoholic problems. Lucius was drunk every night, I knew, but this time, Snape had added a little potion of his to make it come quicker, and last a little longer.

'Remember, timing is crucial.'

Lucius had been out for a good hour now, and I watched the hourglass on the table by Lucius' feet like a hawk. When it was five minutes to the time Snape had instructed me to break Sirius and myself out, I reached back into Sirius's cell, and retrieved the package that the girl had dropped.

My eyes widened, and I wasted precious time just staring at the items Snape had packed.

A bar of Honeydukes chocolate.

My glasses.

And my wand.

I put on my glasses and opened up the chocolate immediately- god I was hungry!- and crammed a big piece into my mouth. I slipped the rest of it into the pocket of my robes and then picked up my wand, gazing at it lovingly, feeling the familiar smooth, slightly worn wood under my fingers. It all hit me then. . .I was getting out! We were getting out, it wasn't just some crazy dream. . .with my wand, I felt capable of doing anything; I was capable of doing anything.

I slipped out from under the blanket, and slowly walked over to the cell door. I stared at it briefly, before raising my wand –oh how I'd love to savor that moment!- and cried, "ALOHOMORA!"

Nothing happened.

I stared at it in shock, and my heart ached. . . No! This can't happen to us. . .it's not fair, we're so close. . .

'Remember Harry, you haven't performed any magic for years. It may not work for you as easily as it used to, not so natural as you remember it. Stop and focus, you are capable of doing this simple spell, if you try hard enough.'

'Why are you doing this?'

'Why are you asking stupid questions when we'rerisking my neck to try to figure out how to save your pathetic life? You'd better not be this distracted when you break out!'

I gave a small smile. . .Snape had planned of everything. I did what he advised me to, I took a deep breath, and attempted to once again focus my mind on unlocking the cell door.

"ALOHOMORA!"

I heard a satisfying click resound from the lock, and with a huge grin stretching from ear to ear, I crept over to Sirius's cell. He was still shivering under his blanket, murmuring incoherently to himself. Snape had tried to do the best he could, but as he told me, (quite snappishly) that he was no healer.

'You're going to have to carry the twit the whole way, I can't do more to help there, it'll be bordering suicidal for all of us if I try to help you anymore in the castle.'

"ALOHOMORA!" I commanded again, and managed on the first time to get the cell to unlock. I hurried over to Sirius, and stared briefly at him, before gently grabbing his arm, and struggling to hoist him up, trying to get his knees to lock under him, so I wouldn't have to support as much weight.

'Go right, and down the corridor, up two flights of stairs and then across the hall. There shouldn't be anyone there that late at night, if you've left at the right time you should have just missed the night sentry. But be quiet!'

I half carried- half dragged him down the corridor, and gazed at the stairs in dismay. I hadn't been mistreated as much as the others here, my body was fairly intact, but I still felt fairly weak, from lack of food among reasons. I chewed on my lip nervously, as I could feel my knees threatening to give way already.

I struggled up one step, trying to find my balance while managing to avoid tripping over Sirius's body. He'd calmed down a little, still shivering and muttering to himself but he'd stopped flailing about, to my relief. Slowly I struggled to get us up the two flights of stairs, and when I finally reached the top I could feel sweat dripping down my face, my calves and thighs burning, my breathing was labored and I felt dizzy. I swayed about for a moment, trying to get my head to clear so I could move and nearly fell back down the stairs. I quickly decided to move away before the muscles in my legs begin to stiffen, and become sore from all the work they were doing that they were not conditioned to do.

I heard footsteps on the marble floor and ducked as quickly as I could while carrying Sirius into another stairway. Watching from the corner, I saw the guard treading wearily across the floor. His wand was lit, but hanging limply by his side. He only paused for a few seconds in the Hall, and then exited into a doorway underneath the grand staircase located in the middle of the room. I waited a few moments to be sure he was actually gone, and then proceeded to drag both myself and Sirius across the room.

'Stand in the middle of the main hall and face the main staircase. If you look closely you should see a large picture of an old man wearing a dark indigo top hat, visible on the far wall. Go towards the picture and pull it away from the wall. It'll reveal a passage way which will lead into the kitchens. You don't have to worry about the people there, they are all on your side and will be aware that you are coming. Find the girl that brought you the package, she'll take you to the door leading out of the castle.'

Facing the main stairs like I was instructed, I glanced hurriedly around, feeling very exposed in the hall. It was dark, I had broken myself and Sirius out at two-fifteen in the early morning, ten minutes before the guard change. I could see the presence of a thick cluster of trees outside the window, but even their branches did little to stop the moon light from streaming in the window, illuminating my presence in the grand room. I had mixed feelings towards the moon tonight, for it would help me find this picture, but it would also help the guards find me.

My shadow stretched out along the floor, making me look like some freakishly tall and thin giant, and seemed to point the way as I looked up and found the picture I was looking for just above my shadow's head. I sighed softly, and threw a quick glance at Sirius' head lolling over my shoulder, before walking towards the picture. How could I not have found the picture sooner, I wondered wryly, he was snoring louder then Ron does.

Did.

I fumbled clumsily around to find the catch that kept it secured to the wall, cursing the scrabbling noises I made, when all of a sudden the picture woke up.

"I say, old chap, you look a bit out of place don't you!" The man bellowed at me with a friendly grin. "Going to have a quick peek at the ladies are we?"

"AH!" I yelped in surprise, jumping back and causing my legs to get tangled up with Sirius' whose were dragging on the ground. Seated on the floor, I slowly gazed up at the picture with wide eyes. He stared back at me with a astonished look on his face, and I glanced away, my eyes darted around nervously into all the nooks and crevices of the large hall, while feverantly hoping the picture hadn't brought any unwanted attention down here.

"Why, whatever did you do that for?" He guffawed loudly.

"Please," I hissed to the man urgently, "be quiet, or you'll bring everyone down here!"

"Ah…" The picture nodded to me knowingly, giving me a roguish wink. I winced; he still wasn't any quieter. "Got a girlfriend down there have you. I see. . . mum's the word and all that."

"Oh?" He started in surprise, having just noticed Sirius. "I say, he doesn't look to good does he? You know, you had better get him to a healer. He looks a bit pale and what not."

I groaned in frustration as I picked myself and Sirius up and resumed my search for the latch.

"It's not over there," the picture supplied helpfully, and then looked around with what I could only guess was bewilderment as his hat fell down over his eyes. "Hallo. . . I say, be a sport and turn the lights back on would you? I don't half much like it in the dark."

I sighed, feeling up and down the back of the picture frame still trying to focus on finding the bloody latch, "It's your hat sir, it's over your eyes."

"My cat? I don't have a cat, don't be ridiculous. . .dreadful things make me sneeze. And what would a cat be doing on my pies?" The hat retorted in a muffled voice.

I blinked. "Not your cat, your HAT!" I whispered to him as loud as I dared.

"I've already told you, I don't have a cat! Are you deaf?"

"Ah ha!" I cried in achievement, ignoring the picture frame, as I felt the latch give way. I swung open the portrait, revealing yet another set of stairs, going down this time to my relief. I adjusted Sirius more comfortably on my shoulders and then stepped down, wincing as I heard Sirius' feet thud repeatedly on the stairs. I just closed the portrait, and had started down the stairs, when I heard a loud voice, the portrait, (who still hadn't noticed I had disappeared).

"I say, my dear boy, it was my hat all this time, didn't you see? Children these days…"

I crept as quietly as I could down the stairs, towards the kitchen, the only sound was Sirius's feet hitting the each step. The passage way smelled horrible, I could guess this was only used for the servants because I concluded any of You-Know-Who's followers would simply turn their noses up; they've gotten too high and mighty with all the power they have seemed to have been given, which also causes many problems between them. The hallway stank of mildew, was damp, and had a cold winter draft blowing down it from somewhere, which combined with the dampness, chilled me to my bones.

I reached the door, and struggling to keep supporting Sirius, I grabbed the handle and pushed it open. A warm crackling fire welcomed me, and even though it was probably about two thirty in the morning by now, there were still a couple of the servant girls rushing around.

One of them saw me struggling, and hurried over to help me. I recognized her to be the one who had helped me earlier.

"Yeh're late, 'Arry Potter." She whispered urgently, as she grabbed Sirius's other arm and together we rushed over to the other door leading outside.

"It's not exactly my fault, I was delayed by the picture frame." I hissed indignantly, and she giggled at me.

"Oh, the Major? You should'av just ignored 'im, if yeh did 'e wouldn't have started babbling ta yeh."

"I wish someone had told me that sooner." I grumbled.

"Oh, 'e's an old sweet'eart really. A bit crazy though…"

"I noticed." I replied sarcastically, and she giggled.

We went down a long corridor, sparely lit with torches in silence until she asked, "So what are yeh planning on doing once yeh get out of the grounds?"

" I dunno." I replied, with a worrid grin. "I'm hoping someone has figured that out for me."

She gave me a confused look, so I decided to change the subject. "What's your name?"

"Dell. Dell Ondrea."

"How long have you been here? How did you get caught?"

"Believe it or not, I got caught 'ere only four months ago when I was on a mission for Dumbledore."

"A mission for Dumbledore?" I replied slowly. . .Professor Dumbledore was using children on missions?

She nodded. "Didn't let that stop me though, I'av still been a spy for Dumbledore ever since. Snape is one of Dumbledore's people, I tell 'im any information I, uh. . .'appen to over 'ear and 'elp 'im out when ever I'm able. Most of the other girls are too afraid ta do anyfing, but Snape's forced to trust me now, I can give 'im a lot of useful information, and I know if I continue ta help him, one day it'll help us all be rescued.

"That's brave of you." I commented. I knew the consequences of disobeying, and Dell wasn't just disobeying, she would have been seen as a traitor, even though she wasn't here of her own choice.

"Voldemort's started this war, if we want it ta be over, we got ta be brave." Was all she said.

She led me down a maze of corridors and then helped me carry Sirius up another flight of stairs. Soon we were at a large wooden door and I could feel a cold draft emanating from.

"Yeh're going out there in that?" She protested loudly as she suddenly focused on the thin robes I was wearing, and my bare feet. "Don't be ridiculous! Yeh'll freeze afore yeh can even get ta the edge of the grounds! 'Ang on, I'll go get yeh summat else ta wear."

She hurried back down the stairs and returned only moments later with a thick woolen travelling cloak, a pair of warm-looking boots and a pair of equally warm-looking gloves.

"These are mine," she told me, and she held Sirius while I put them on. "They'll be a bit short, but it's better then nufing. And don't yeh bother coming back ta return 'em either!" She called out jokingly as I ventured out into the thin sheet of snow covering the ground. I chuckled to myself.

'I'll handle the outside guards as well-'

'How? And what about the dementors?'

'For once in your life Harry, just trust me , and you shouldn't have to worry about any of them as long as you are on time. I'll say it again Harry, timing is of the essence. Once you leave the castle, go straight through the woods. There will be nothing able to harm you in there. Stay alert! Once you enter the woods, look for a worn path—it should be visible under the little bit of snow. That should lead you to the edge of the grounds. There are thick bushes there; thorn bushes. Use the Reductor curse if you can managed it, otherwise you are just going to have to tough it out.'

'Hang on! Why should I trust you? You killed Ron!'

'I did no such thing. Are you sure you really saw what you saw?'

I stumbled slowly through the trees, now after all those sets of stairs about ready to collapse. I could feel the cold on my face even more now, despite, or maybe perhaps because of the sweat that was still streaming off my face and down my neck. My head was also starting to pound now, thanks to the punch I had received earlier from Lucius.

Ssstrange. . .

I glanced around quickly as I heard the voice. "Who's there?" I hissed quietly into the darkness.

My dear boy. . .where ever are you goooing?

I looked down as I felt something wrap itself around my leg. I was shocked to find a snake there, slowly coiling itself around my ankle, using my leg to climb up, and then wrapping itself around my waist like a belt, bringing its head eye level with me.

"I'm getting out of here." I replied to it, not realizing I had automatically switched to parseltongue.

But hoooow? The snake pressed. I tried to ignore the absurbity of the conversation

"I'm not quite sure," I replied, gazing passed snake nervously, "I'm looking for the border of the grounds."

The snake hissed loudly of a sudden, and I looked at it nervously, until I realized. . .it was laughing at me!

"What?" I protested.

The booorder, boooy? Well, if you're loooooking for that, you're gooooing the wrong way! The snake gave another loud hiss. Keep gooooing the way yooou are, and you'll find the guardssss. Not that theeeey would give you many problemsss. Theeeey sssseem to be ssssleeping.

"Well, where do I go then?" I asked it cautiously.

To yooour right, the snake replied simply, and before I could say or do anything to stop him, he slithered back down and away out of sight.

I shuffled along slowly in the direction the snake had pointed me, for what seemed like hours. There was no sound, nothing apart from my feet crunching over the meager layer of snow that had managed to stay on the ground and the leaves from the trees still buried underneath it. I struggled ahead, glancing up every so often, until to my relief, I saw the rows of thorn bushes that Snape had mentioned looming up in front of me.

When I finally reached it, I set Sirius gently on the ground, before suddenly, I froze. I heard faint rustling sounds getting louder by the second, coming from the bushes. It was too late for me to even bother trying to hide myself and Sirius, so I raised my wand, and tried not to look how I feltas if I could keel over at any second.

A young girl scrambled out, and dusted the snow and leaves off of herself, before she noticed me. She stared at me in horror, (I suppose I did look a sight) but it then became apparent that she knew me, knew I wasn't supposed to be running around You-Know-Who's castle grounds at three in the morning, and wasn't here to help me.

"Harry Pot…" she trailed off, "what are you doing out here! Ruin myYou're not supposed to get out!"

My eyes widened.

And then they managed to widen some more as she reached into her pocket, pulled out her wand and aimed it at me threateningly.

"Stupefy!" She yelled, and I tried to dodge it, tripping over Sirius in the process and landing hard on the ground. I could feel the curse brushing right over my head.

She advanced on me, and I tried to back up when she suddenly stopped for no reason. I glanced at her curiously and then I heard a strangely familiar male voice yell out two consecutive curses right behind me.

"Stupefy! Accio wand!"

I glanced around hastily, and found myself staring into the knee caps of a robed figure. The first spell the managed to dodge as I had, but the second caught her off guard and her wand flew straight into his hand.

She stared at her empty hand amazement and then back at the figure.

"Who are you?" She demanded loudly, determined not to let her fear show. "What do you think you are you doing? It's Harry Potter! He's escaped you fool, give me back my wand so we can catch him for the Master!"

"My girl," the figure replied in a low voice, "it's you who are the fool. Do you really think you could catch the famous Harry Potter? The one who has thwarted our Master time and time again? Even after so many years, even when he is like this. . .you are no match for him."

"Oh? I was trained by Dumbledore's finest. . .I don't suppose you're a match for him?" She laughed nervously.

"But of course." The figure replied simply, and I could tell from his voice that he was smiling. "Wingardium Leviosa!"

The spell took her by surprise, and she was suddenly flung upside down, her robes fell down covering her face as she struggled to get free. Pausing a few seconds, the figure muttered and dropped his wand, evidently causing the spell to break as she fell to the ground with a resounding thump.

"And you say you were trained by one of Dumbledore's amazing followers? You're lucky you're actually on our side, or you wouldn't have lasted this long." He laughed at her as she got up, trying to keep what pride she had left. The figure then sighed. "I sadly don't have time to deal with the likes of you. . .Stupefy!"

I watched as the girl crumpled to the ground like a load of bricks.

The robes ruffled as the figure looked at me, though I still couldn't see his face.

"Well, well, well, Harry Potter, what are we going to do with you?" He sneered and raised his wand once again…

'But what ever you do; whatever happens, you cannot get caught. If you are , and are tortured so they can find information on how you escaped. . .if you reveal that I am one of Dumbledore's spies, then we won't have a single hope of ever winning this war. You can't let that happen. Remember that Harry, for it is the most important thing I'm going to say to you. You must.not.get.caught.'

Fairytale: You don't understand the whole Snape-spy thing? Mm, neither do I. Sadly I'm the author too. I'm just praying that I'm not writing myself into a corner here.

Googlepuss: Thanks for finding this. grins Hope you enjoy the rest of the story.

Iggie: Hope this is a bit sooner for you. I even have four pages of the next chapter done. Hopefully this all ties together, because I'm as clueless as the next person as how it's going to end…

(Long) Author's note:

And yet another man who wants to kill Harry…who do you think he is?

Yet another chapter, easily the longest one so far! (nearly ten pages) I'm almost positive this is going to be the longest, so please don't be disappointed with the length of the next chapter.

Well, I'm guessing. . .only two or three chapters to the end. Which is quite a bit considering this was only going to be a three chaptered ficlet in the first place.

Next chapter to be up shortly, I hope this little cliffie isn't as bad as the last. pauses, then muses to self 'Course, I still haven't resolved the last have I? Just wait and see, and hopefully, you won't be disappointed. Please review, especially all you silent folk, it won't kill you. Also, in your reviews would you please include any questions you have? Just so I make sure I don't miss answering them in further chapters.

Dalamar