This is going to be my last post until I go for my 5-day camp, from Monday to Friday. Sorry for not posting as regularly this past few days. The last day of school has been, not relaxed, but more hectic than ever. Project deadlines, after-school activities... Well, I wanna say bye bye to all my loyal readers! Please review!!!

Chapter 17

I pulled my torn robes over my body and fell into an uneasy sleep. I dreamt about home and then it disappeared too fast, to be replaced by this haunting place where I was brought to. In my dreams, Lestrange came again. I saw through a third person's eyes in awkward jagged movements what happened. I saw myself screaming, pleading for help... but nobody came.

I woke up with a scream and then I just burst into tears. It was already night and the crescent moon was high. Then suddenly, I heard two pop sounds and jerked my head upwards. Then there was silence once more and I looked around suspiciously.

There was a small rustling, almost as if it wasn't really there at all.

"Hello?" I called out to the night, my voice choked and hoarse. I could hardly see anything through the room except the blurred outlines of the broken chairs and tables. I scuttled over to the biggest crack in the planks and looked out. I jumped back when a large brown eye blinked back.

"Shh!"

"Who's that?" I simpered, frantically trying to get on my feet, I peered through the hole again.

"Reine?" came a hushed voice.

"It's me," I answered desperately. "Who are you? Please help me..."

"Reine, it's me..." whispered the voice again.

"Sirius?"

"No, this is James..." whispered the voice again, slightly annoyed.

I could almost cry with happiness. "James..."

"Hey we're gonna get you out okay? And the next thing you know you'll be safe at home..." he muttered calmly and reassuringly.

I nodded, hardly able to contain my excitement and he moved away and I could see the graveyard once more, lighted by the moon.

There was a small click and the door of the hut creaked open. I turned and took a couple of steps towards them, but all of a sudden, my legs gave way and I fell down in a crumpled heap once more on the floor. Someone rushed towards me and helped me up.

"Shh..." he said comfortingly.

"Sirius?"

"No, it's James," he muttered irritably.

"Come on, the coast is clear..." hissed Sirius's voice urgently.

James looped one arm around and under my arm and we hobbled out.

"Hey, I put the full body-bind on a fat guy on the way here, and found this..." said Sirius quietly, handing me a wand. "Is it yours?"

"Yeah, thanks." I felt so protected with my wand back.

"You can apparate, can't you?" Asked James.

"I can't..."

James grunted slightly and said, "Well, good thing we brought this old boot... C'mon Sirius, you're the one good at this..."

Sirius turned and tapped the boot with his wand, his eyes squinted in concentration. The boot started to glow blue. Suddenly, there was a deafening crack and the gravestone next to us exploded in shards. I screamed and James bent over me protectively.

"Get them!"

I heard him call to Sirius. Sirius started throwing jinxes while James deflected the ones heading towards us. I was amazed at how ready they were at dueling; it was as if they had this practiced and have been doing it for years.

There were five or six of Death Eaters, it was quite hard to see. But I was sure Voldemort wasn't there.

A bright green jet of light streaked towards out and Sirius gave an alarmed shout. With great reflexes, James whipped around and pushed both him and myself towards the ground. Sirius dodged it and sent a jet of red light towards them.

James jumped to his feet and dragged me up by my arm. I looked around me, Sirius was groaning on the floor clutching his shoulder where something sharp had apparently grazed him, cutting through his cloak and robe and leaving nasty scratches shining with blood.

"Deflect the curses, and I'll do the portkey," instructed Sirius, as he laid on his back and tapped his wand to the boot, his eyebrows knitted.

James nodded and aimed his wand at the Death Eaters while backing away quickly. I sent some hexes in between my shields to stun the Death Eaters.

"Almost ready, quick touch it," said Sirius. James grabbed the top of the boot and I managed to snag a lace before my legs collapsed under me and I fell ...

I fell and tumbled in a sea of colour, my fingers still glued to the bootlace. And then my body hit the hard on smooth marble floor. I felt so tired. My body felt like lead. My head throbbed with pain. I laid my cheek on the cool floor, drifting in and out of consciousness.

"Oh thank god," I heard somebody say and I saw the hurried shuffling of two polished shoes... Then everything went black.