There was much incoherent conversation going on ahead as they tripped over rocks, scratching themselves up grandly, though starting from a shout from Lucius Malfoy, the conversation was heard:
"HE'S LOST THEM! THEY'RE GONE! WHY ISN'T THIS OAF DOWN? HE SHOULD'VE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF LONG BEFORE NOW!"
The scene slowly became visible through various colors from spells. It looked as though Death Eaters were firing spells at Hagrid, the last survivor from their side, from hidden crevices in the cave. Snape and McGonagall were both on the ground, hopefully nothing more than unconscious.
"WE'RE TRYING BUT HE WON'T GO DOWN!" Bellatrix screeched over another of Hagrid's roars. "WHY CAN'T WE JUST KILL THEM AND GET IT OVER WITH? WON'T WE DO IT EVENTURALLY?"
"HE WON'T COME BACK TO SAVE THEM IF THEY'RE DEAD!" The look on Lucius' face through a glowing red light showed he was extremely agitated.
So was Bellatrix. "IF WE CAN'T KILL THIS ONE, CAN WE AT LEAST SHUT HIM UP?"
"PLEASE!" Lucius nodded.
Bellatrix screamed, "Silencio!"
Hagrid was miraculously jerked out of the way as Bellatrix's spell flew past him, just as Harry had been before. He zoomed into shadow where even Hagrid with his huge size was hidden.
"Gah! Bella, what did you do?" Lucius asked.
"Are you blind? My spell missed him!" Bellatrix said curtly.
"Well, FIND HIM!" Lucius ordered.
A dozen Death Eaters stepped out of their hiding places and headed where Hagrid had vanished.
"What do we do?" Hermione whispered. The Death Eaters hadn't noticed them yet, but that could soon change. Harry had been taking the time to understand what was going on.
What was Dumbledore up to? Harry was sure it was Dumbledore who had summoned Hagrid, but when had he left them? Harry hadn't noticed the absence of his presence. And why wasn't Dumbledore doing anything else, especially when the Death Eaters were moments away from his hiding spot?
Ron voiced Harry's question. "I don't get it. Why hasn't he knocked them all unconscious or something?"
"Because we need to get back to Hogwarts," someone whispered in their ear.
"Dumbledore!" Ron said, rather loudly in his relief.
Bellatrix turned at she heard Ron's voice. "There!"
Dumbledore waved his wand and a sparkling blue light shot out of it. Bellatrix was tossed backwards as she ran into it, past Hagrid, who was gathering up the unconscious professors.
"Hurry!" Dumbledore urged, pointing to the way they had come in.
"But, Professor--" Harry started as a thought occurred to him.
"Go, Harry!" Dumbledore said.
Reluctantly--being pushed by Ron--Harry saw a dim light ahead. He heard Hagrid's pounding feet close behind and decided he didn't want to get run over. He picked up his pace and was out in the sun before he realized what he was leaving behind.
"Harry, you idiot!" Ron exclaimed, smacking Harry upside the head. "What d'you think you were doing, arguing with Dumbledore about staying! Why stay, anyway? There are Death Eaters in there who want to kill you!"
"Exactly," Harry said quietly. "Bellatrix Lestrange was in there."
"Oh, Harry, no--" Hermione started.
There were angry voices from the cave.
"We need to leave," Dumbledore said.
"How?" Hermione asked quickly, eager to leave before Harry dashed back into the cave.
"Me," Elyse said, flying down to join them. She looked at Dumbledore. "Heather's already on her way with everyone else."
"Then let's fly," Dumbledore said.
Harry grabbed Ron's shoulder, and Hagrid's giant boulder of a hand bore down on Harry's shoulder, nearly knocking him onto the ground. Elyse lightly touched Harry's other shoulder and the now-familiar bubble appeared around them.
"Make it fast," Dumbledore said. "I'm afraid the Secret Students will not be happy when they awake because of that terrible migraine."
"Except for Riles," Elyse commented. "She won't even remember the migraine."
"Why's that?" Hermione asked as they lifted off, the Death Eaters' angry shouts of losing their prey being left far behind.
"When she finds out…" Elyse paused.
"I think she likes her sister more than she lets on," Dumbledore said quietly. "Do not worry about her reaction."
Harry left and sat down in a corner of the bubble. He hadn't yet dealt with Katie's death and he certainly didn't want to now. He couldn't think about it, not yet. What else was there to think about, though?
"Harry?" Hermione whispered, quietly sitting down next to him.
"Hmm?" Harry asked, trying to sound normal.
"Wanna talk?" Ron asked, taking the spot to Harry's right.
"Not really," Harry said.
"C'mon, Harry," Ron said. "We know you need to."
"No I don't," Harry lied.
Hermione snorted. "Harry, don't lie. We've been best friends since we were eleven years old, now for six years! We know you very well by now. Please talk with us."
Harry looked over at Dumbledore, Hagrid, Elyse, and the revived Snape and McGonagall. They had all wisely started a conversation. Dumbledore laughed fondly, McGonagall looking stern, as Elyse told of how Dedalus Diggle had once turned a herd of cows pink to show his support for Valentine's Day.
"Please," Hermione whispered. "Please tell me, Harry."
Harry lifted his head back against the cold bubble and stared at the top of the cloud they were passing through. There was a slight fluff to the clouds, all moving gracefully across the gorgeous, slightly pink sky.
There was a sudden drop, and the clouds themselves seemed to give a sharp jolt.
"Sorry, guys," Elyse said distractedly. "Heather's calling. It's gotta be urgent; she knows not to call me when I'm flying, because I can drop people. We'll be landing in just a second anyway…."
There was soft thud moments later as they hit the ground. The bubble disappeared instantly and Elyse turned to face them.
"Do excuse me. To call me when I'm flying means only the utmost of urgencies."
Dumbledore nodded. "Go."
Elyse thanked him and left in a heartbeat.
There was a short, awkward silence between them.
"Harry! Ginny, it's Harry!"
Neville Longbottom came racing up to Harry and engulfed him in bear hug. Ginny raced after him and gave Ron a hug worthy of Hagrid.
"You're okay!" Ginny exclaimed. "We were so worried! We had been warned you might not come back alive, and I should tell you of the fit Mum is in--"
"What d'you mean 'the fit Mum is in'?" Ron asked, suddenly pushing Ginny back and looking alarmed. Neville let go of Harry and immediately turned to Hermione, paying no attention whatsoever of the Weasley's situation.
"Of course Mum would've arrived by now," Ginny said dismissively. "But you're okay! When Derrick dropped us off--"
"Derrick?" Ron interrupted again. "Wasn't he the bartender at the Bryth?"
"Oh, yes," Ginny said.
"Dumbledore allowed Derrick to take you guys back here?" Harry asked, amazed as Neville let Hermione go. Harry was grateful Ron hadn't seen.
"Yes," Neville answered. "Derrick really isn't that bad a guy. Dumbledore did something, and he went all weird, but then looked normal again and was nice. He gave us a ride home through portkeys."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged glances. Harry turned around to confirm this with Dumbledore, but he and the others were gone.
"RONALD WEASLEY!"