A/N: I only want to say three things. First, the story has passed two hundred reviews, which is super. Thank you to everyone for your feedback. Second, I changed the phrase "vide et credere" in Chapter 34 to "vide credeque" per Wolfia's suggestion in order to make it mean what I really wanted. I had put an author's note at the end of the chapter to say that it meant "see and believe", but somehow it never made it into the posting and I didn't know until now. Third, brace yourselves. It's not pretty (sorry, Darak!).
Quill: Not such a bad cliffhanger at the end of this chapter. It was just time to end the segment.
LovinsomeElrond: You're really sweet! Thanks for the encouragement!
Darak: I read your new reviews and you have made some excellent points as well. One of the handicaps of the story is that you see everything from Harry's point of view, and while the adults are filling him in more, he doesn't get to hear everything. Perhaps this is something I could partially deal with in the "Back Stories" story. I am also planning to do an overhaul of the story when it is done in an effort to fix loose ends and otherwise improve it. I will have to take your point of view into consideration, because it is valid. On another note, I'm planning to keep the story going beyond 5th year. True, this year has been a lot of "wait and see", but the others won't be like that. The dark and light sides will have their own distinct victories.
Sherry: Hope this is soon enough for you! It's a long chapter, too.
Jedi Buttercup: The Order members that were introduced at the beginning of Phoenix largely remain faceless in this chapter, but that's just because a big fight is not the best time for introductions. :-) Oh, and you're right to be suspicious!
Raphaelle: The Fudge issue gets resolved right here.
Jemma Blackwell: I agree: Percy was never evil. He just made some really bad choices.
Kaye: Yep, I am planning to keep going with a sequel, but I'm going to need some time to fully plan it.
Rob: I did notice all three things that you mentioned, and I hope that my answers make sense. About the short dialogue – it doesn't look quite so odd when the lines are single spaced. You're very right that Barty Crouch gave lengthier, more informative answers, but I never really understood why. Crouch didn't want to tell Dumbledore anything, so I would have thought that he'd limit his answers to the barest truth that he could manage. I thought that Dumbledore would have had to ask very specific questions to get the answers he wanted, which is what I did here. That might change in the rewrite. About Ron and Hermione – I know I left that hanging, but that was only because I didn't feel that it was necessary to get into it. There can be such a thing as too much description, and I thought this fit the bill. About Percy… it didn't seem important to get into that either, but no, they wouldn't leave him in the Gryffindor common room alone. Oh, and they're not going to Hogsmeade. Somehow you managed to infer that, but I never said it. :-)
Lady Pallas: Thank you for the kind words! I'm glad you've enjoyed it, and I'm pleased that you feel it was a worthy use of your time.
mscs3: Welcome to the story! You're coming in right at the tail end.
Chapter 38: Sacrifice
The group of five flew silently in the failing daylight. Harry was the only person who knew where to go; the rest spread out behind him in a v-shape like a flock of geese. Harry focused intently on the awareness in his head that was Professor Thornby's location. Wherever she was, she had stopped moving.
Harry judged that they were more than halfway to their final destination. He quashed the desire to urge his Firebolt on faster. The adults behind him were all on school brooms, save Bellaton, who was riding his own broomstick from his school days. Harry could have easily outstripped them all but Dumbledore had warned him not to do so. "It is dangerous to send you to the very place Fudge wants you to be," he had said. "You must keep your guard with you."
Twilight was falling, but the air of late spring was still warm against Harry's face. It was getting cloudy as they flew on. Harry thought that the brighter stars should be showing by then, but there was no way to tell in the gathering cloud cover. The overcast sky mocked him, making it impossible to know how much time they had left. If they took too long in finding Professor Thornby, Percy would have to use his portkey before time so Fudge wouldn't get suspicious. If he failed in his act, no one would be there to save him from Malfoy's wrath.
Fortunately for Harry, the adults felt similar concerns. "Harry," said Bellaton, coming up beside him, "we need to go faster."
"You can't keep up with me," said Harry.
"Not all of us, no. But I can do a fair job on my Zephyr, as long as you don't fly as fast as you can go. The rest will follow as best they can. They can Apparate to you in the end if need be."
Harry needed no further permission. He leaned forward and the Firebolt punched through the air. After a minute he looked to his left and was barely able to discern Bellaton's form. In the gathering darkness, the older man faded almost perfectly into the gray sky.
Professor Thornby was looming larger and larger in Harry's head. After a few minutes at his faster speed, he dropped his broom closer to the ground. Beside him, Bellaton did the same.
They were very close now. Harry had learned to block out the sensations that came from the link between himself and Professor Thornby while they were at Hogwarts. If he focused on them too much they became a distraction. Now, however, he welcomed the feeling of proximity. He drank it in, willing it to get stronger and stronger.
Harry and Bellaton flew around the edge of a small wood. Harry suddenly pulled his Firebolt to a stop. In the near distance he saw a cluster of torches illuminating a number of figures standing about. They had arrived.
Neither Harry nor Bellaton said anything. They dropped very low to the ground and flew forward as quickly as they dared. When they reached a small stand of trees about thirty feet from the torches, they dismounted. The earth beneath their feet was moist and grassy, muffling the sound of their feet. Thunder rumbled nearby. From the smell of things, it had rained recently, and it was going to rain again soon.
Harry sat down on the ground next to one of the trees. He rested his cheek against the trunk, using his hand to cushion his face from the rough bark, and took his first good look at the torchlit gathering. His heart suddenly crawled into his throat. There were stone slabs and oddly shaped monuments sticking up here and there. As Harry looked, the memories of a dead compatriot and a horrible ritual came floating back to him.
"This is it," he whispered.
"What?" said Bellaton.
"It's the graveyard that Cedric and I came to last year," he replied softly.
"Are you sure?" said Bellaton.
"I'll never forget this place."
Bellaton nodded.
Harry wondered at the choice of location. Percy had said that Fudge wasn't officially in league with Voldemort, and he had been unable to lie. Most likely Malfoy or Macnair had suggested the spot. Harry thought he could almost hear them convincing Fudge. "It's secluded; it's quiet; it's unexpected. No one will ever think to look there. No one will know what happened." Whether Fudge knew it or not, his path was crossing Voldemort's in more ways than one.
There was a muted crunch behind them. "Wotcher, Harry," a voice whispered.
"Tonks?" Harry whispered back.
"In the flesh," she replied.
"We're all here," said Sirius' voice.
"The rest should be Apparating at any moment," Bellaton said softly. No sooner had he finished speaking than there was a pop nearby followed by several others. A few moments of silence passed, and then a rustling sound became audible. Someone was walking toward them through the trees.
"Severus?" Bellaton whispered.
"It is I," Snape replied, stepping out from behind a tree. Unlike Harry's escort, he was fully visible, but the unrelieved black of his clothing still made him hard to see.
"And the others?" whispered Kingsley.
"Everyone who is coming has already arrived," Snape said softly. "Where is Black?"
"Right here," Sirius said tersely.
Snape didn't reply, for which Harry was grateful. He wasn't too thrilled about having to watch the rescue while being accompanied by two people that couldn't hate each other more. The longer it took for an argument to break out, the better.
No further communication was necessary, so the group grew quiet. Harry settled himself back against the tree and returned to scrutinizing the graveyard. He was surprised to see very few people; he had been expecting more. Fudge was easily visible, pacing back and forth in the center. Lucius Malfoy and Walden Macnair were standing close by. Two other people were standing several feet from them, one of whom was very short, but they weren't in the light and Harry couldn't make out their faces. Even farther away were two figures that were too tall to be human. Dementors, thought Harry. He wasn't sure, but there seemed to be a smaller figure between them. Professor Thornby.
"Where is he?" Fudge suddenly said in an irritated tone. "What's taking so long?"
Malfoy and Macnair exchanged significant glances. "Perhaps something has gone amiss," said Malfoy.
"Yes, well, we always have our backup plan," said one of the two nearby figures, stepping up to stand beside Malfoy. Harry didn't recognize him, but the other adults did. Sirius hissed softly, and Snape was frowning.
"Fergus Blake," Bellaton said in Harry's ear.
Harry took a good look at the man who had poisoned him. He was of middling height and was rather heavyset. His hands were pale and fleshy, as if they had never before performed manual labor. At that distance Harry couldn't be quite sure, but it seemed as if there was a long scar above one of his eyebrows.
"Five minutes," Fudge announced. "Then we go for plan B."
Harry didn't think he wanted to know what plan B was. Hurry up, Percy! he thought.
To his relief, Ron's brother didn't let them down. He suddenly appeared in the center of the ring grasping the shiny prefect's badge in one hand.
Fudge was incensed almost from the moment he laid eyes on Percy. "You've returned alone?" he snapped. "Explain yourself!"
Percy looked down at the ground. "I was unable to get Potter by himself," he said tonelessly.
"You were unable to come up with any diversion that would separate him from the flock?" said Fudge.
"Gryffindor won the Quidditch cup," said Percy. "His entire House was celebrating together."
"Did Potter never even visit the bathroom alone?"
"I avoided capture and returned at the appointed time, as you ordered," said Percy.
Fudge's lip curled. "Yes. Well, you knew the punishment for failure," he said. He flicked his fingers in Malfoy's direction. Fudge's back was turned to the Death Eater, so he didn't see the dangerous look that Malfoy shot his way at being so summoned. Nevertheless, Malfoy stepped forward. He pointed his wand at Percy, who looked back without flinching.
"Crucio!"
Percy screamed and fell to the ground. He wrapped his arms tightly around himself and folded over until his nose was almost touching the earth. Harry's heart went out to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley who were somewhere nearby, watching their son undergo the torment.
Malfoy raised his wand and Percy's screams choked off. He remained as he was for a few seconds, his body heaving as he struggled for breath. Slowly he unfolded himself and got to his feet.
"You'll do better next time, won't you?" said Fudge as another roll of thunder sounded.
"Y-yes, s-s-sir," Percy stammered. His body was still shaking, but Harry had to admire the way he had managed to smooth his face. Fudge waved his hand dismissively and Percy stepped back into the small group of people.
"With or without Potter, we can still proceed," Macnair said harshly.
"Yes," said Malfoy. "Let's get this over with." Fudge nodded his acquiescence and stepped away from the center of the circle. "Bring her," said Malfoy.
One of the tall figures stepped forward into the light. It was indeed a dementor, and it was leading Professor Thornby in her prison gray. Both her hands were bound behind her back. She stared straight ahead as if unable to see what was before her. The dementor laid one rotting hand on her shoulder and she automatically went to her knees.
Malfoy slowly walked around her several times with a considering look on his face. All the while she stared straight ahead, and Harry realized that she really couldn't see anything. He was willing to bet that she couldn't hear anything either, and wouldn't until Malfoy let her.
Malfoy suddenly waved his wand, and Professor Thornby winced and turned her head away. It was the reaction of a person whose eyes had been in darkness long enough to be blinded by a sudden light. She blinked a few times and squinted at the people before her. As her gaze passed over Fudge, Macnair, and Malfoy, her face grew darker and darker. When she saw Fergus Blake her mouth twisted into a snarl and she lunged forward, only to be restrained by the dementor.
"Temper, temper," said Malfoy silkily. "I would have thought that ten weeks inside Azkaban would have made you a bit more… mellow." Professor Thornby glared at him. "I'm sure you're wondering why you're here," Malfoy continued. "We have a proposition for you." Professor Thornby looked away in disgust. Malfoy pulled a small black box from his robes. "Wouldn't you like to have this back?" He flipped the lid up, and the sound of her voice drifted out briefly before he shut it again. Professor Thornby couldn't help but look longingly at the box, but there was something else on her face – resignation, as if she knew she'd never have it again.
Malfoy stepped closer and held the box right under her nose. "Swear fealty to Cornelius Fudge, and we will give you back your voice."
Sirius made a low sound in his throat that sounded like a growl. Harry heard a ripping sound on his other side and saw sod being torn from the ground where Bellaton sat. A clump of compressed earth fell from the professor's invisible hand.
Professor Thornby stared at Mr. Malfoy in disbelief. The look on her face plainly said that she had just been insulted in the worst possible way. She turned up her nose and looked away.
Fergus Blake swooped up to stand before her. He leaned forward and stretched out one hand to touch her face. She jerked herself out of reach. "Come now, my dear," he said in an oily voice. "Surely you don't value Dumbledore over yourself. What has he ever done for you?"
"More than you'll ever know," Bellaton whispered harshly.
"He left you to wither away in Azkaban. Ten weeks you've languished there while he dealt with other more important matters. What do you think he's been doing all this time?" Professor Thornby gave him a disdainful look. "He has been campaigning, my dear. Campaigning for Minister Fudge's job."
Liar, said the look on Professor Thornby's face.
"You think he valued you for your mind? Your skill with weapons, perhaps? Or maybe your looks?" He stretched out a hand to her hair and she jerked away again. Blake smiled. "No. He only ever wanted you for your voice. And you haven't got it anymore."
Professor Thornby closed her eyes and turned away.
"Don't listen to him," Bellaton whispered.
"Yes," said Blake. "You know it for truth. In your current condition you're no longer valuable to Albus Dumbledore." He spoke the headmaster's name with loathing. "Believe me, all he wants is power, and people are only useful to him as long as they help him get it."
Professor Thornby looked back at Blake. She raised her chin again and gave him her most arrogant stare, silently calling his words the lies that they were. Blake narrowed his eyes at her, but he said no more.
"Can we take that as a refusal of our proposal?" said Malfoy. Professor Thornby turned her frosty glare on him. "Perhaps you require more… incentive," he continued, looking back at Fudge. The Minister had not said a word the whole time, but he nodded to Malfoy. "Bring him forward!" snapped the Death Eater.
From out of the darkness came the second dementor. As it reached the edge of the torchlight Harry could see that it was dragging something beside it.
"Remus," breathed Sirius.
It was Lupin, who seemed overpowered by the dementor's presence. Professor Thornby stared, horrified, as the dementor dragged him in front of her and dropped him on the ground like a sack before gliding back into the darkness again. She looked from Lupin to Malfoy with her eyes full of fear, all trace of defiance gone.
"You want to know what we've done to him," Mr. Malfoy said softly. A smile played about his lips. "He wouldn't come willingly, of course, so we had to soften him up a bit with the Cruciatus Curse."
Lupin moaned from his place on the ground. Fudge nodded again, and Macnair strode forward. He seized Lupin and pulled him up to his knees. Harry could see that his hands were bound behind his back just as his guardian's were.
"Now, then," said Mr. Malfoy. "We'll give you one last chance. Swear fealty, or we'll end his miserable existence." Macnair put one muscled arm around Lupin's neck and pulled a long, silvery knife from his belt.
Professor Thornby stared at Lupin with wide eyes. "Don't do it, Celeste!" said Lupin, his voice tight beneath Macnair's stranglehold.
"Everyone saw you at the Gala together," said Fergus Blake smoothly, walking around the two prisoners in a slow circle. "You're in love; it's more than plain. Ah, but love is such a beautiful thing."
"Don't listen!" Lupin grated. Professor Thornby looked ready to cry.
"Can you really condemn your heart's desire to his death?" said Blake in sinuous tones.
Professor Thornby shook her head again, but what exactly she was refusing, Harry couldn't tell.
"You can save him," oozed Blake. "Just swear."
"They'll kill me anyway!" cried Lupin. Macnair tried to get a hand over his mouth, but Lupin fought to keep shouting. "Do your duty! This isn't your choice!"
"Give your answer," hissed Mr. Malfoy.
Professor Thornby looked at Lupin with her eyes full of tears. Macnair had succeeded in silencing Lupin, but his eyes were still speaking volumes. She suddenly turned her head and stared straight at Harry's hiding place. She knows we're here! Harry thought. He had completely forgotten that she would be able to sense him as plainly as he could sense her. Her eyes silently pleaded for intervention.
"Answer!" Malfoy shouted. He strode over to Lupin and backhanded him across the face.
Harry saw red. He seized his wand and struggled to move forward against Bellaton's much stronger restraining grip. On his other side, Sirius' breathing sounded labored.
"Stay put until we get the signal!" Bellaton hissed angrily.
"Why are we waiting?" Harry whispered harshly. "She knows we're here! She doesn't understand why we don't help her!"
"Dumbledore is in control," Bellaton whispered back. "Trust him."
Cornelius Fudge stepped forward out of the shadows until he was standing in front of Professor Thornby. "Well?" he said, bending over to look her in the eye.
Professor Thornby's sad expression transformed into a glare. She stared at Fudge for a moment, and then spat in his face.
Fudge clapped one hand to his cheek and reared up with a roar. "Kill them both!"
Malfoy grabbed Professor Thornby's shoulders roughly to prevent her from rising. Macnair raised his knife, but Lupin had begun to fight like a tiger at Fudge's proclamation, and the executioner was struggling to get him under control. Harry could hardly breathe. Whatever the headmaster was waiting for, time was up.
"Hold, Walden!" said a cold, high voice. Harry's eyes flew open as wide as they could go, and he grabbed at Sirius.
"What?" Sirius whispered, but as soon as he saw Harry's face he looked back to the graveyard. He said nothing more as a tall man with too-tight skin and red, serpentine eyes stepped into the light.
Lupin stopped fighting and stared at the new arrival. Professor Thornby's eyes were wide, but she remained still. Fudge looked as if someone had dropped a safe on his head. His face was the color of cold ash.
"Well done, Cornelius," said Voldemort, stepping toward Fudge. "You have become everything I hoped you would be."
Fudge looked like a deer caught in the headlights of a car. "This can't be," he whispered.
Voldemort laughed, and Harry's skin crawled at the sound. "But it is," he said. "Under the tutelage of my most faithful servants, you have done great work in my service." Malfoy and Macnair preened under Voldemort's praise.
"Your service?" Fudge whispered. "Never! I wanted –"
"Exactly what I wanted," Voldemort interrupted. "Your work to undermine Dumbledore has been invaluable to our cause."
"But he…" stammered Fudge. "You…"
"You didn't want to believe that I existed," said Voldemort. "But I've been directing you all year, Cornelius - whispering in your ear. And look how well you've turned out! You let Lucius and Walden bring Fergus along on this little expedition while leaving your own supporters behind, even when you knew that he practiced the Dark Arts. I just heard you order the deaths of two people for nothing less than the defiance of your will. You could be great among the Death Eaters."
"No!" cried Fudge, backing away.
"We have a common enemy – Dumbledore," said Voldemort seductively. "Join with me, and you will be Minister of Magic for the rest of your long life. Refuse, and you will share their fate." He pointed at Lupin and Professor Thornby on the ground.
Fudge looked between Voldemort and the prisoners. Indecision flickered across his face.
"Pity you couldn't convince our little professor to swear to you," said Voldemort. "Kill her first, Rodolphus. After all, you did an excellent job with her parents."
An emaciated figure with dark, stringy hair stepped into the light. Fudge stared in horror at the freed convict. "He… he should be in Azkaban!"
"I paid a visit to the prison tonight," said Voldemort. "The faithful are free and eager to do my work." He beckoned with one white hand and more than two dozen shadowy figures drifted to the edge of the torchlight, all hooded and cloaked. Fudge's eyes bulged and his mouth worked silently.
An insane light was in the freed Death Eater's eyes as he raised his wand. Lupin was struggling again, but Macnair was holding him down. The uncertainty on Fudge's face seemed to be vanishing. He compressed his lips and balled his hands into fists.
"An impoverished werewolf and a silent Singer," said Voldemort. "Useless, like two flightless birds. The world will be well rid of you."
Rodolphus Lestrange opened his mouth. Professor Thornby closed her eyes.
Percy stepped forward with his wand outstretched and determination on his face.
"No!" shouted Fudge, and he threw himself bodily at the would-be murderer.
A phoenix's cry sounded in the night. It shimmered in the air for a moment as Fudge and Rodolphus hit the ground and Percy cried, "Stupefy!"
Dumbledore's allies rushed forward from all around the circle of torches. Harry felt air swish through his hair as Tonks, Kingsley, and Bellaton leapt into action. His own muscles were tensed and ready to propel him forward, but Sirius and Snape each put a hand on one of his shoulders to keep him down. Their grips were rock hard, and Harry knew that they were longing to join the fray.
Voldemort reacted to Percy's spell with impossible speed, deflecting it with a shield. The hooded Death Eaters ran forward to meet the oncoming members of the Order. Just before the two groups clashed Harry saw Percy go down, struck by a jet of light from Malfoy's wand.
The relative quiet of the countryside was broken by the sound of people shouting. Brilliant streaks of light seared the darkness as spells flew everywhere. Macnair let go of Lupin and lurched to his feet, drawing his wand. Malfoy had let go of Professor Thornby entirely, who had thrown herself flat on the ground to avoid being hit by the flying curses. Lupin crawled to the remains of a broken headstone and frantically began moving his wrists back and forth over the jagged stone in an effort to cut his bonds.
Like the moment he had first seen Snape run through with a sword, Harry was keenly aware of the smallest details around him even though a battle was raging before his eyes. Grass prickled beneath his fingers, and the smell of damp earth filled his nostrils. Even though the sound of shouting was everywhere, he could still hear Sirius' breathing.
Order members and Death Eaters alike ducked behind tombstones to avoid being struck by spells. Jets of light blasted the monuments apart and bits of stone flew everywhere. Every now and then someone would scream for a few seconds before stopping; the Death Eaters were being free with their use of Cruciatus. Most of the Order members were unfamiliar to Harry, but he recognized Mad-Eye Moody, who was locked in a duel with one of the Death Eaters. Harry could see the pink-haired Tonks exchanging hexes with a pale-haired, black-robed woman. Macnair fired a spell into a seemingly empty space, but Bellaton suddenly appeared, the Disillusionment Charm banished. In a heartbeat he had turned his wand into a staff and lunged at his surprised opponent. Kingsley was still nowhere to be seen. Mrs. Weasley was prowling around the perimeter, firing an occasional, well-placed hex at her enemies.
Mr. Weasley was near the center of the fight. To Harry's horror, he saw that his best friend's father was facing none other than Voldemort himself. The motionless forms of three Order members already lay at the dark wizard's feet. Harry watched as Mr. Weasley fired a curse at Voldemort, who deflected it easily and retaliated. Mr. Weasley was quick, but the force of the spell knocked him off his feet. He rolled and fired another curse at Voldemort. Voldemort barely avoided it, but he recovered quickly, and Harry saw Mr. Weasley's wand fly from his hand and into Voldemort's grasp. The dark wizard leered down at Mr. Weasley in triumph and pointed his wand.
"No!" Harry cried, unable to stop himself.
Something struck the Dark Lord and he went sprawling, dropping the stolen wand in the process. Professor Thornby was standing where Voldemort had been, holding a staff in both hands. With one end she flicked Mr. Weasley's wand back to its owner.
Voldemort sprang to his feet, eyes ablaze. He opened his mouth to curse Harry's guardian but the words never came out. He had seen Dumbledore, who was striding toward him with Professor McGonagall and Hagrid at his side. Voldemort's lips pursed petulantly as he watched them approach. Dumbledore's face was something to behold. Harry had only seen him truly angry once before, and that was last year when he foiled Barty Crouch's attempt to kill Harry. Now he was radiating the same aura of power and strength, and Voldemort sensed it, too.
Without a word the two wizards began firing curses at each other. Professor McGonagall took up a position behind Dumbledore, searching every which way in an attempt to guard his back. Hagrid scooped up a wand from a fallen wizard and fell in beside her.
Somewhere in the graveyard, a voice raised itself in song. Harry wasn't certain, but it sounded like John Grayson, the Singer who had attacked Ron. A few scant seconds passed before Bellaton began to Sing as well. The two voices blended together in a sort of dueling Song, each one striving for greater power and volume. They made a sort of odd harmony, but each half was clearly trying to subdue the other. More voices joined in, but Harry couldn't be sure if there were more Singers involved or if the two were just splitting their own voices. It wasn't long before the urgent music drowned out most of the shouting. Lightning flashed, and Harry saw the two Singers standing on opposite ends of the graveyard, flinging curses at each other that no one else could conjure.
Most of the witches and wizards who were still standing were now fighting one on one with an opponent. A wide space had cleared around Dumbledore and Voldemort, who were throwing spells at each other the like of which Harry had never seen before. Professor McGonagall and Hagrid were still bringing up the rear, cursing anyone who tried to hit Dumbledore in the back with a spell. Two Death Eaters had taken up similar positions on Voldemort's behalf. Professor Thornby and Lupin were fighting back to back. She was still wielding her staff, using it to defend as much as to attack. Lupin was throwing the jinxes and hexes that she couldn't utter.
Amid all the cacophonous noise, Harry suddenly realized that Snape and Sirius were speaking. What was more, they were doing it in volumes greater than their normal speaking tones.
"I still say we should stay put!" said Sirius.
"It's not going as well as it should!" Snape retorted. "What good will it do anyone if my double-agent status remains undiscovered but Dumbledore falls?"
They were arguing. Harry had no idea how long it had been going on; he had been transfixed by the scene before him. He looked at Snape and saw that he was glaring past Harry at where Sirius would be standing. Harry knew that Sirius would be glaring back at Snape just as hard.
"Be quiet!" Harry hissed. "We're hiding, remember?" He fully expected Snape to give him the rough side of his tongue for speaking so impertinently, but Sirius never gave him the chance.
"He won't fall," Sirius snapped. "And I think the battle isn't going quite so badly!"
"I know how these people operate better than you do!" Snape replied angrily. "They're just getting warmed up. Once they truly start using the Killing Curse –"
"Aperio!" shouted a voice from very close by. Harry jumped in surprise. Sirius was suddenly visible on his right side, stripped of the Disillusionment Charm.
Harry was just reaching for his wand when the voice shouted, "Immobulus!" Harry instantly felt his body turn to stone. His hand was frozen in the act of reaching for his pocket; try as he might, he could inch it no further. His eyes were still able to search, and he quickly spotted their attacker. Lucius Malfoy's long, white-blond hair was glimmering in the shadows.
"Sirius!" Harry cried, and found that he could still speak though his limbs would not move.
Malfoy pounced on them in a flurry of black. Snape was so taken by surprise that the curse he managed to fire off went wide. While the Potions Master was rebounding, Malfoy took aim and shouted, "Stupefy!" Snape crumpled to the ground.
"Funiscolo!" Sirius shouted, and silvery ropes shot from his wand and wrapped themselves around Malfoy, stopping him cold.
Another shape darted from the shadows toward Sirius. Harry shouted warning but he was too late. The figure collided with his godfather from behind. Sirius' eyes went wide and his mouth fell open with a gasp of pain.
"Did you miss me, cousin?" hissed the woman who had Sirius locked in a deadly embrace.
Cousin? Harry thought wildly.
She pulled her hand away from Sirius' side, and Harry saw a blade in her hand, stained crimson. Sirius' legs gave way and he collapsed with a whimper.
The woman waved her wand and Malfoy's bonds vanished. "Well done, Bellatrix," he said, picking himself up off the ground. "Our master will be most pleased with you."
Harry's heart was racing. His mouth was filled with a bitter taste that he couldn't explain. His godfather was badly injured and he was unable to help him, being totally defenseless against Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange.
Bellatrix gave Harry a feral smile. Her eyes were big, dark, and hungry – the eyes of a predator. "It's been so long," she whispered, licking her lips.
Malfoy smiled indulgently at her. "There's no reason you can't have a little fun before the end," he said. "You can deal with Severus next, the traitor."
Harry was thoroughly terrified now. The sounds of battle still floated through the air from nearby, but he doubted anyone would think about him. The Order members were too busy just staying alive, and Sirius and Snape were both wizards who were more than capable. They had no reason to suspect that Harry was in very grave danger.
Bellatrix smiled wider, revealing two rows of gleaming white teeth. Harry squeezed his eyes shut and set his jaw. "Crucio," she said in reverent tones.
Nothing happened.
Flogged on by the painful thudding of his heart, Harry opened his eyes a crack. Bellatrix was standing with a look of utter shock on her face. A split second later it was replaced by fury. She thrust her wand forward and tried again. "Crucio!" she shouted. Harry felt a stab of pain in his head and shoulders and couldn't help exhaling sharply. Bellatrix was incensed when nothing more happened, and she fairly screamed as she cast the spell one more time. Harry felt something more; a raging headache began to hammer at his skull. It did hurt, but it was nothing compared to what he knew he should be feeling.
"It's working!" Malfoy said, and Bellatrix raised her wand again.
"Stupefy!" bellowed two voices, and both Death Eaters fell.
Hagrid lowered his wand as Mrs. Weasley fired another spell at Harry. "Liberati!"
Harry stumbled as feeling returned to his limbs, and Hagrid caught him. "Are yeh all right?" said the half-giant anxiously.
Harry ignored his pounding headache. "She stabbed Sirius!" he gasped. Hagrid let go and dropped to his knees beside Sirius. Harry leaned against a nearby tree for support; he felt as if his legs would give way at any moment.
"Enervate!" said Mrs. Weasley, rousing Snape.
"Professor Snape!" Hagrid said urgently.
Snape quickly made his way to Sirius. He felt at the fallen man's side and his fingers came away red. In an instant he had reached inside his robes and pulled out a long vial of thick green liquid. He unstoppered it, smeared some on his fingers, and spread it against the cut. After a few moments he checked Sirius' side with his other hand and found no blood.
Sirius stirred and opened his eyes. He blinked up at the adults for a few moments, and then fear filled his eyes as remembrance returned. "Harry!" He tried to rise, but his gasp of anxiety turned into a groan.
"Take it easy, Sirius!" said Mrs. Weasley just as Harry said, "I'm right here."
"Are you all right?" Sirius said quickly.
"Headache," said Harry, rubbing his forehead. "Cruciatus."
"Cruciatus!" cried Sirius.
"It didn't work," said Harry. "All I got was this migraine. I don't understand."
Snape suddenly lifted his head and stared off into the distance. He looked like a wolf that had scented meat on the wind. "It's quiet," he said, and Harry realized that he was right.
"It's over," sighed Mrs. Weasley.
"You're certain?" said Snape.
"Aye," said Hagrid. "They're gone."
Something made Harry's ears prick up. "Listen!" he said, and everyone stopped talking. They all heard it. It was the sound of someone weeping.
"Time to pay the butcher's bill," Snape said darkly. He stood up, and Hagrid helped Sirius to his feet. Mrs. Weasley bound the two unconscious Death Eaters and levitated them for transport.
The five of them left the trees for the graveyard, moving slowly for Sirius' benefit. The torches were still burning, illuminating the fallen forms of witches and wizards. Order members were reviving some of them while others were left alone. "How many dead?" Harry heard one of them say.
"Five of ours by my count, and who knows how many wounded," another replied. "There are at least four dead Death Eaters, too."
"And where does Fudge fall in? Our side or theirs?" said the first voice.
"Who knows?" said the other.
The four adults walking with Harry exchanged uncertain glances. All Harry could feel was numbness and the throbbing in his head. Fudge was dead.
The weeping sound was coming from center of the circle. A few Order members had converged around its source and more were coming.
"What's happened?" Hagrid said loudly, and Kingsley Shacklebolt, who was visible once more, moved to let them see.
"Oh, no," breathed Sirius, and Mrs. Weasley gasped aloud. Two heavy thuds sounded behind her as she let Malfoy and Bellatrix fall.
Lupin was sitting on the ground, cradling Professor Thornby in his arms. Her wide, blue eyes stared up at the sky. Lupin was sobbing into her hair.
Harry's breath stopped for an instant until he saw that she was moving. But even then, it was enough to chill his blood. She was twitching visibly in Lupin's arms. One of her hands was tensed until her fingers looked like claws. Harry could see furrows in the earth that had been raked by her nails.
Dumbledore burst into the circle followed by Bellaton and Professor McGonagall. He went straight to the pair on the ground. He took one of Professor Thornby's hands in his own and looked into her eyes. His own face was hardened with shock and concern. "Cruciatus," he said brusquely. "I don't understand. She looks as if she's been under it for some time, not for a minute or two only!"
"Did you try Finite Incantatem?" said a witch.
"It didn't work," said Kingsley.
"She's still cursed?" exclaimed Mrs. Weasley.
Bellaton suddenly looked wide-eyed at Harry, who was holding his aching head in his hands. He quickly pointed his wand at him and shouted, "Finite Incantatem!"
Harry's headache vanished. Professor Thornby stopped trembling.
Everyone turned to stare at Bellaton. "Ardoc, what –" began Kingsley.
Mad-Eye Moody seemed to have understood already. "She took his punishment," he murmured in his familiar gravelly voice.
"What? Whose punishment?" said Tonks.
"She took Harry's punishment!" Bellaton shouted, and everyone jumped at the sudden volume.
"But it didn't work," Harry heard himself saying in disbelief. "Bellatrix Lestrange – she cast Cruciatus on me – but almost nothing happened!"
"No," Bellaton said harshly. "It worked. You hardly felt it, but she did. She is your guardian."
Harry felt sick as he began to realize what had happened. Bellatrix Lestrange had cursed him no less than three times, thinking that the spell had failed, not realizing that she'd layered it all on another.
"The connection doesn't work that way," said Professor McGonagall.
"She must have altered it," said Bellaton. "I should have guessed it. I should have known."
"Don't beat yourself up, lad," said Moody. "From what I've heard, the woman always made her own choices."
"A change in the connection would have required physical contact with Harry," said Dumbledore. "He would have felt something."
All eyes turned to Harry. He stared straight ahead, frowning as he tried to remember…
The Ministry Gala. Just before Professor Thornby had removed Grayson's curse, she had touched Harry's arm. Harry remembered the flash of heat and her attempt to communicate with her eyes. He never had guessed what had happened.
The Order members began murmuring as recognition dawned on Harry's face. Some of them still seemed to be having trouble believing what had happened.
Professor McGonagall reached down and plucked a single blade of grass. "Punctusinta," she said, and with a wave of her wand, she Transfigured the blade into a thin sewing needle. "Give me your hand, Potter," she said. Harry balked. "If our theory is correct, you won't feel it, and I doubt she will, either," she said.
Harry stretched out his hand. Professor McGonagall quickly pricked his fourth fingertip with the needle. She squeezed his finger gently, but nothing happened. Then she bent down, took Professor Thornby's left hand, and carefully applied pressure to her fourth finger. A tiny bead of blood formed.
"There's your proof," said Mr. Weasley. He looked almost awestruck as he gazed down.
"We have to get her to St. Mungo's," Dumbledore said tersely. "She needs medical attention." Harry looked at the headmaster. He looked just as angry as he had minutes ago while striding toward Voldemort.
"Come, Remus," Professor McGonagall said gently, placing a hand on Lupin's arm. "Let her go."
"No," he sobbed, clutching Professor Thornby even closer.
"Yeh have to," Hagrid said quietly.
"I… I can't…"
"Remus," Sirius said gravely, and Lupin raised his head to look at his friend. "Keep holding on and there'll be no chance at all."
Lupin's head drooped, but he nodded reluctantly and allowed Hagrid to scoop Professor Thornby up. It was only then that Harry saw that Lupin was hurt himself. Both his arms were crisscrossed with vile burns, but Lupin barely seemed aware of them.
"Who is wounded?" Dumbledore said loudly.
Two Order members shuffled forward, their steps dragging. "We've got the badly injured together, Albus," said one of them.
"Thank you, Sturgis," said Dumbledore. "Anyone with minor injuries, stay with the captured and the dead. I will return shortly." He turned to Harry, Sirius, Remus, and Hagrid. "Come," he said. "You too, Molly. And get Professor Thornby's voice; Lucius Malfoy should still have it."
"Accio voice," said Mrs. Weasley, pointing her wand at the Death Eater, who was still unconscious. There was a ripping sound and the small black box tore from the fabric of Malfoy's robes. It soared into Mrs. Weasley's hand and she pocketed it.
They followed Dumbledore to a group of witches and wizards who were sitting on the ground. One was unconscious, two were sporting some nasty wounds, and the fourth was gasping for air. "Sturgis?" said Dumbledore.
"Right," said Sturgis, and he placed a hand on two of the wounded. There was a pop, and they Disapparated. The other witch who had come forward did the same.
Harry looked around as the Order members were vanishing. Two wizards, one of whom was Percy, were making a small row of bodies nearby. Lightning flashed overhead, illuminating their still faces. Cornelius Fudge was lying at the near end. Thunder answered the bolt of lightning.
Harry felt a cool, wet splat on the tip of his nose. Another drop of rain landed atop his head, and another struck one of the panes of his glasses, distorting Fudge's face. More followed as it began to rain steadily.
"Take my hand, Harry dear," Mrs. Weasley said softly.
Harry numbly took it. He heard another loud crack and saw a blinding flash of white. He blinked, trying to clear the spots before his eyes, and found himself standing in St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.