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Chapter Ten: Final Plans
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"What're you all looking at me for?" asked Hermione, startled. "I don't know how to get to Azkaban! No-one does!"
"Really brilliant plan, Hermione," Ron sneered. "Such planning! And how were we going to get there, brooms?"
"Actually-" began Hermione.
"And you're supposed to be the smart one!" cried Ron.
"I don't know what you're all bent out of shape about," said Neville quietly, "but I think we'd all appreciate it if you stopped criticising and came up with an idea yourself."
"Well... I don't-"Ron spluttered.
"Shut your mouth, then!" said Neville, red patches on his cheeks. Everyone was rather taken aback. Most had never seen one of Neville's rare displays of spirit. "Carry on, Hermione."
"Well, erm, I thought we could try the Floo Network. We'd just have to step into the grates and say, 'Azkaban'. Problem solved."
A mutter of approval flickered through the group.
"Not very exciting," shrugged Michael with a feeble grin.
"Exciting?" It was around then that Harry snapped. "Exciting? Do you all think this is a joke? We're talking about Azkaban, not bloody Hogsmeade! We're trying to save them! And if you're too busy sniping at each other, or worrying about how dramatic our entrance is, then you can leave! All of you."
"Harry," reasoned Ginny, "He was only joking."
"Shut up Ginny," said Harry dismissively. "Well then, where's the nearest fireplace?"
He stalked off to the other end of the library, leaving stunned students in his wake, including Ginny, who looked wounded to the core.
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The battle raged in 12 Grimmauld Place. With a flick of his wand, Dumbledore had knocked twenty Death Eaters unconscious. Tonks was down, so was Kingsley. The rest were firing down from the first-floor landing. But the Death Eaters kept on coming.
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