Hermione screamed. Harry turned while still running ahead. She lay on the ground immobile, Avery showing a look of triumph and saying something about cookies.
"HERMIONE!" Harry and Ron simultaneously yelled.
Ron suddenly gave a great gasp; Goyle had punched him hard in the stomach, pinning him on the wall behind. Goyle kept punching him into the wall.
"RON!" Harry screamed, turning about face and racing toward his friend.
"HARRY, WATCH OUT!"
Harry looked around and ducked--a spell had been aimed at him again. He quickly got up and ran towards Ron, who was now coughing up blood between punches.
"Harry, I'll get Ron!" Heather said, finally giving up her fun and knocking Rookwood out. "You just WATCH YOUR BACK!"
Harry ducked again and stood back up. "Are you sure?"
"Yes! You go take of Voldemort or whoever it is trying to kill you!" Heather said, racing toward Ron and Goyle.
"Okay!" Harry turned around and jumped up to avoid another spell. He went as close to the person as he dared. "Who are you?"
There was a loud, high-pitched cackle, yet not one he recognized as Voldemort's or the erkling's. "You want to know who I am?"
The voice echoed across the cave, changing sound as it hit different walls, making it impossible to recognize.
"I am the one who first kidnapped Granger and Andrews. One who knew her all along! I am the one who met the Death Eaters with Granger and Weasley at Hogsmeade and took them to Malfoy Manor. I am the one you thought was Granger when the troll was released while you were tied up at the Manor. I am the one who took Andrews and left the message sent from the Dark Lord. I am the spy!"
Harry stared at the person still firing spells so as not to let their face show. "Who are you?" he asked again.
"LET GO OF ME!"
Harry quickly turned around. Elyse and Heather were both struggling against Crabbe and Goyle, who held them tightly. Katie, Ron, and Hermione were no where to be seen, though Nott lay unconscious on the ground.
"HARRY, LOOK OUT!" Heather screamed, looking just behind him.
Harry turned to see a bright green spell headed toward him. He hadn't thought of anything, hadn't even raised his wand or thought of spell. The spell was moments away--he didn't even get a chance to tell anyone goodbye--
Katie grabbed him just before the spell reached him, Ron and Hermione unconscious and flying beside them, a gold glow around them. She flew directly up--Ron and Hermione did, too. The spell zoomed under Harry as he realized she could fly like the Secret Students. The exit was just ahead. Katie held him tightly, firmly, assuredly; they were going to get Ron and Hermione out of here, and then come back for Elyse and Heather and everything would be all right….
Unless what happened next happened.
Katie stopped dead in her tracks, and her firm grip on Harry was now so loose he was about to fall.
"Katie?" Harry asked.
Katie didn't answer. She started falling to the floor, Harry, Ron, and Hermione all falling with her.
Harry hit the hard ground with a smack! He screamed in pain, sure his hip was badly damaged. Ron and Hermione made no noise, being unconscious, but Elyse and Heather made great gasping noises and screamed, "KATIE!"
Harry, ignoring every protest and good sense in him, forced himself to sit up. Ron and Hermione lay on either side of him, their breathing shallow, neither moving. Elyse and Heather were looking frightened and fighting off Crabbe and Goyle worse than ever. Katie was some ways away, and she, by far, had come off worst.
Her eyes were unfocused, her breathing hardly anything at all. Blood was rushing uncontrollably from a wound in her stomach, where both her hands were grasped around a dagger. Three initials were standing out boldly on the weapon: D.J.U.
Harry's heart skipped several beats. "No…" he whispered.
"Yes…" came a cruel, yet familiar voice from shadows nearby--where the spy had been firing spells. Out of the shadows stepped Diane Umbridge.
"You!" Harry gasped, looking the from the dagger to Diane. "You threw it? You… you…"
"Killed her?" Diane finished. She looked at Katie. "The fool's not dead yet, but yes, I threw the fatal blow."
Harry staggered upward, nearly falling, anger coursing through him like he'd never felt before. She tried to murder Katie. She was a Death Eater. She…
Katie pattered her hand on the floor. It drew everyone's attention. Her eyes slowly looked toward Harry and tried to focus on him. She pattered her hand on the ground again. Harry staggered toward her and knelt beside her. She put her hand on him and closed her eyes. Harry slowly started feeling his bones go back in place. His hip felt fine. She'd healed him!
Harry looked toward her for her to open her eyes so he could tell her thanks, but they never opened. Her hand fell, limp. Harry quickly felt her for a pulse--nothing.
"Is the idiot finally dead?" Diane asked. "She really shouldn't have meddled in my master's business."
Harry stared. She couldn't be gone, not so soon. But as he watched, a transformation began.
Her wavy blonde hair turned straight and brown. There were sparkles around her eyes, giving Harry the impression something had happened to them, too. In the moments Harry watched in disbelief, Riley Andrews seemed to be before him instead.
"What the--?" Comprehension dawned on Diane's face. "Of course. When they die, they'll go back their original form."
Harry slowly stood, looking at Katie's body. Riles really was her twin after all. But now Riles didn't have a twin. Katie was gone, just like that, and it was all… her fault.
Harry slowly looked up and glared at Diane so menacingly she actually stepped back.
"You killed Katie," Harry said, drawing out his wand like a sword. "Now you have to die."
"Die, do I?" Diane asked. She gave a hollow laugh. "You use the Killing Curse? That's a laugh, Potter, that's a laugh. You've got too much good in you to kill someone."
"Well I sure don't plan on being murdered by Voldemort, so I'd better start practicing. Wanna help?" Harry asked, walking toward her, his anger overpowering any good sense in him.
"Oh, do I!" Diane exclaimed, shivering at Harry using Voldemort's name. "How I would love to show you just how it works when done properly."
"Bring it on, toad," Harry challenged.
Diane's eyes turned to slits. "Toad?"
"You heard me," Harry confirmed.
"Watch it boy," Diane warned. "You've never used a Killing Curse before. I've used it more than you know."
"Harry, be careful!" Heather exclaimed, stomping on Goyle's foot so as to let her go.
"I'll be fine," Harry assured as a new thought came to him. "She can't kill me."
Diane gave a long laugh. "I can't? I can't? You only wish, Potter, you only wish…."
"Try," Harry said. He threw his wand to the side. "Try and kill me. I dare you."
"Harry, no!" Elyse said, struggling against Crabbe more furiously.
Diane smirked. "I'd love to. Avada Kedavra!"
Harry wasn't sure what was going to happen as the spell sped towards him, but he knew it wouldn't--couldn't--kill him.
Harry felt the force of the spell as it hit him. It felt like all life was being sucked out of him in the moment of contact. For a moment, he thought he might have been wrong, thought that maybe she could kill him, when his very existence seemed to return. Harry flew backward as the spell rebounded upon its owner. Diane shrieked, then fell to the ground, a look of permanent surprise on her face. Harry hit the wall behind him and fell to the ground, blackness closing around him until it engulfed him.