Author's Note:

Hello, my dear readers!

WooHoo! –whoops- Well, can't help whooping because I'm almost at the end of this fic. Well, ALMOST!

Many major things are discussed in the chapter that you are soon to read. Some mysteries still remain but I promise that they all will be answered before the last chapter of this fic. This is a mystery-genre fic after all. What good will it do without some obscurity, eh? -winks-

Well, I know I've become a little late with this update, and this one was quite difficult to write because it dealt with so many elements. But, I promise, next one will be out in a week.

A BIG shout-out to my new readers: WELCOME to the story!

On to the dedication: This chapter is dedicated to Jazna (who guessed the mysterious person) and yorkvillebird (who has been keeping a watchful eye on the fic for quite some time!).

Also, Thank you, Thee-Unknown-Factor, Lissa, ellaevair, Omair, MoA, yorkvillebird, Jazna, Ginevra Potter, PinkExplosion, Koky, idiot with reason, phoenix catcher, R-Krulle, mctrozzo, Chorin, Ninde Annare and Macy, who took out the time to drop by. Ah! I feel soo loved! -Hugs!-

Calling all my old readers. Come on out as the mysterious person is revieled but the story hasn't reached its end yet.

Thee-Unknown-Factor, -lol- I hope so!

Lissa, I hope you've caught upto the story. Glad, that you liked it. -smiles-

ellaevair, Thank you very much! Here's more for you!

Omair, Heheheee. I love teasing you, or you don't know that already? -winks- You are right on the possessing bit. And there was no one else with Colin but still you're somewhat right on that front as well. You'll find out more as the fic progresses. Mushy stuff coming through in coming chapters!

MoA, Haha! You are so right! Andright on about Ron, he can be sooo daft sometimes, but Hermione will straighten him up soon enough. You should read 'Intervallum' if you like R/Hr so much, that fic of mine have them totally sewn together (Well, not exactly

yorkvillebird, Gringottsdragons aren't going to be much help here but Dragons in general are soon going to be of much help. Stay tuned for Harry and Ginny action later in the fic. Enjoy your very own chapter!

Jazna, Clever girl! Yes, you got it right. It disappointed me a little but then that disappointment was replaced by a sense of pride—my reader, read it so closely that they got into my head. -winks- But, don't write off Colin so easily, he still has a role to play.

And finishing a fic is risky business, I swear on that one. Look at me, I'm giving myself deadlines so that I finish this fic before this month ends. Till now I've kept along but barely. Keep your fingers crossed for me that I finish it, and finish it soon! Thanks for adding me in your fav-list btw. Now, go and enjoy your own chapter!

Ginevra Potter, Hey girl! -squeee- So good to see you back and still enjoying the fic. I love my old readers coming back for more:) Keep a closer eye on Colin, even when he's out cold. ;) But, its not Cho, (dang it!) but, I still hate her! -muhawahahaa- Here's more for ya!

PinkExplosion, Hey, Ollie! Thanks for liking the fic and the update. Always glad to serve my dear readers. :)

Koky, Woohoo! Koky's back! And you are right, you'll know about him all right, after skipping along this update.

idiot with reason, Thanks a bunch! At least your point-five million Galleons are still saved as you are half-right. Enjoy the current chapter.

phoenix catcher, Thanks for the compliment.I'm always glad to answer readers' queries, so if you've some very pressing ones, feel free to post away in your next one. Here's another one for you.

R-Krulle, Thank you very much, and here's more!

mctrozzo, Always glad to please. :)

Chorin, Thanks! Currently I want to beat myself to include the wormhole theory of blackholes into my fic, as because of this and the scrolls it is expanding to epic proportions but after getting reviews like yours, I can't help but smile with gratitude—because it's only because of the readers, I still write and continue with this fic. Thank you!

Ninde Annare, Hey, Ninde! -hugs- I did miss your old-school reviews. I hope you are feeling all right now? Being sick is sooo… well, sick. ;) Thank you so much for the compliments, I'm trying my best to improve more and more. Let's see what you make of the new twists.

Macy, Caught me. I do like to give out stinkers before chapters to hook the readers in. Dang… Did I say that aloud? You're welcome, my dear. -grins-


Chapter 26 – Taken by Surprise


He could still remember how his sister had fallen to the ground, motionless, lifeless after the attack…

He still remembered how happy she had looked at her wedding, which hadn't even seen its first Anniversary.

And now she was no more…

With a mere flick of a wand, after a shot of spell, she lay dead in front of him. Still. Unmoving. Dead.

Her obituary published in the Daily Prophet flickered past his eyes… Dearly loved young wife, daughter, sister, who will be missed very much...

A fiery rage gripped him as he centered on the reason, why all that had happened. Why he was enslaved to do what he was doing. How he had so much responsibility, suddenly.

That Potter!

The root of my all problems will have to DIE!

"Now, now, let's not be hasty, child." A familiar voice hissed in his mind.

Yes, master, he answered obediently.

"There are more interesting events awaiting Potter than death. Don't you agree?" the voice implored.

Yes, my Dark Lord. Indeed.

Michael Corner blended into the crowd of the Death Eaters, awaiting Potter and his guard's appearance outside Gringotts.

-x-

Harry had been so busy being happy that he didn't even notice the uncharacteristic silence as he stepped out of Gringotts; however, his guards were quite tuned in as they promptly took out their wands and got ready for anything unexpected.

Harry faltered at the steps of Gringotts, seeing the empty streets of Diagon Alley, and it was then that he noticed four looming Dark Marks, hovering sinisterly above them. The sunlight passed through the gossamer skulls, making their emerald profile, more prominently grotesque.

All the shops were closed and he could easily see a few eyes peeking from the curtained windows of visible shops. His guard stood alert beside him for the approaching onslaught.

Goblins, seeing the outside development, sealed the bank shut. What more could anybody expect of the extra careful Goblins? Harry thought, ruefully. Still, he was content that he had taken out the Ventosus Scroll in time. Whatever happened, he was not going to let it slip into the filthy hands of the Death Eaters.

What ensued after was nothing but pure chaos.

A hoard of Death Eaters—just as Harry had predicted—swarmed around the bank as if they wanted it razed today. With their appearance, they started sending hexes towards them as if there was no tomorrow.

"Reducto!"

"Petrificus Totalus!"

"Crucio!"

"Relashio!"

"Incendio!"

"Incarcerous!"

"CRUCIO!"

The guard instantly covered Harry from every angle; however he tried to squirm away. They conjured shields and huddled in a circle, while returning the favor of spells through the small cracks between the shields. Every hex sent ricocheted off the shields with loud bangs, producing more noise.

"Stay put, Harry," said Kingsley, under his breath.

"I don't want to!" he bellowed irately.

"You don't need to do anything," Tonks yelled above the hubbub.

Harry understood her meaning as another crowd joined the melee, covering the banded Death Eaters. Their badges indicated that most of them were Ministry Aurors, while the rest of them were Order members. The incoming batch surrounded the Death Eaters in another tight circle. Harry could clearly see the most of the Order members; except for Moody, Twins, Mr. and Mrs. Weasleys, every Order member was present, including Bill and Charlie.

The curses and hexes stopped suddenly as the Death Eaters felt the authoritative presence of the lawmakers. The silence was broken by a very smug laugh.

"What d'you think, we are scared?"

The Death Eaters parted to let Bellatrix Lestrange come forward. Her mask was lying askew about her neck; her black eyes glittered with malice at them.

Harry glared at her with hatred. He wanted to lash out with whatever power Dumbledore had told him about, and finish her off. She seemed that loathsome to him.

Registering Harry's glare, Bellatrix crooned, "We still outnumber you." A playful smile trespassed on her lips. "Give up the scroll and we may let you go."

"Always the discord bringer, Bellatrix," Lupin returned with an artificial smile.

"I wasn't speaking to you, you were-filth!" Bellatrix spat. "Give me the scroll, boy, and I'll let your friends go." She was looking directly at Harry.

Harry looked at her confused; still, a dread was already settling over his heart. His uneasiness was confirmed as the Death Eaters parted again to reveal the limp figures of Fred and George Weasley. They were unconscious, heavily bruised, and their hands were tied behind their backs.

Harry could see Bill and Charlie stepping forward in agitation, but they were stopped by their fellows.

"Are they dead?" Harry whispered his dread.

Lupin growled in frustration, while Harry's face set in a grim line. He was stopped from stepping out of the circle by the strong hand of Kingsley Shacklebolt. He shook his head at Harry for not going for the bait.

"No, Potter, they're not dead… But they will be, if you don't give us the scroll!" Bellatrix provided, highly enjoying his frustration.

Harry sighed in relief. "Why d'you want it so badly?"

"It's none of your concern, Potter!" Another hooded figure joined Bellatrix. His voice sounded more than familiar.

"Always meddling in things that don't matter to you. You are your parents' child, indeed."

"Avery!" Harry exclaimed, putting two and two together.

Avery took off the mask and Harry instantly recognized him. He was the same man who had prostrated himself in front of Voldemort to be saved in his vision. After saving himself from some rookies—

"You were the one who survived the Guardian Griffin! It was you, who lost the scroll to my parents!"

Avery stared curiously at Harry. "Bright too."

Harry looked at him in disbelief as he understood his own vision. It had been about the day when his parents and Sirius had chucked away the Ventosus scroll out of Death Eaters' fingers.

"Avery, have you lost your marbles?" Bellatrix shouted at him.

"No, Bella, not at all. I'm just thinking that we are going to kill them anyway. Why not tell them the reason after all?"

All the scorn that she had been showering at Harry was acutely transferred towards Avery, as Bellatrix glowered at him unbelievingly. "What are you trying to be? A decent Death Eater? For Salazar's sake, snap out of it!"

Lupin straightened up and quickly exchanged few words with others. He nudged Harry to keep Avery and Bellatrix occupied. He tried to give him his shield but Harry shook his head. Professor Flitwick had already taught him that.

Grasping his own conjured shield, he took two steps forward. "If you are arguing about the Vita Scroll, I already know."

Bellatrix and Avery both looked shocked as they exchanged looks.

"Your old headmaster still has few sparks left, I see," said Bellatrix, her lip curling to a half-smile.

"Then you must know why we need it. Are you ready to give your life for it?" asked Avery.

"There won't be any need of that!" Kingsley jumped in.

Ignoring Kingsley, Bellatrix continued, "Scared, are you now, Potter?" She goaded, "Scared, that I'd kill you too, just like my worthless cousin?"

Harry saw red, as he thrashed within himself to subdue his bubbling anger.

"She's luring you in, Harry. Don't listen to her!" Lupin reasoned with him.

"Bugger off, Lupin! You can't play Prefect now.

"C'mon, Harry, let me help you get out of all your sniveling miseries." Bellatrix gave into her shrieking laughter.

Her laughter seemed to magnify, as every thread of reason slipped away from Harry. It seemed that there was only him and Bellatrix standing on the empty street of Diagon Alley. He felt warm, as if surrounded by a heavy mist.

The guard felt the sudden rise of temperature as well, as they stepped closer and looked at Harry for some clue. Death Eaters, smelling trouble shifted to another forming, and tried to step back from their original places. That gave the surrounding Aurors and Order members the signal to start dueling with them. They were encroaching on their area after all.

Just as the curses and hexes continued again, being shouted at the top of voices; the air shifted uneasily as a gossamer yet invisible force lashed towards Bellatrix. She wasn't aware of it and was still sneering at Harry. But his guard felt it, because it whooshed past them, heading straight for her.

However, at that exact time, with a lightening blaze and a screech of Phoenix, Dumbledore materialized at the bottom step of Gringotts, and conjured a shield which absorbed the wave of energy that had shot out of Harry.

"No, Harry, this is not how you should use it," he uttered gravely.

The dueling melee was quite busy in noticing another arrival even if it had been quite brilliant as Dumbledore's. Harry returned to his normal-self as he saw Dumbledore's conjured shield crumbling to the ground.

"Professor—"

"Dumbledore! Couldn't resist the urge to join the party?" Bellatrix asked coldly. She didn't even register that Dumbledore had just saved her life.

"Yes, Bellatrix, I do love parties." He smiled at her, his eyes devoid of humor.

As Bellatrix locked into a duel with Dumbledore, Harry looked for Avery; however, he was nowhere to be seen. Harry was glad when he saw the Order members finally breaking away the Death Eaters' circle that protected the unconscious Weasley twins. Bill saw to the twins and levitated them out of the tramping feet of the duelers.

Harry was sure that he had just summoned his powers, but Dumbledore had somehow known and mediated to stop it. Why exactly? He didn't stop to contemplate.

Shield in one hand, Harry stepped further—his guard didn't stop him; they were already dueling two Death Eaters to one—to find Wormtail, Lucius Malfoy, or even Rodolphus Lestrange. However, the hooded figures that he exchanged few hexes and curses with, finally stunning them—none of their eyes widened in recognition, except with shock.

He felt his wand moving mechanically, as if his brain knew what spell was on his way so that his mouth shouted the counter before the shot spell even hit him. The shot spells cancelled each other without even hitting him.

Because of his search for particular Death Eaters, he didn't register that someone had been following him, longer than few minutes, but months to be exact.

"No you don't. Impedimentia!"

Harry spun around to see that Tonks had slowed down the figure of Michael Corner.

"Michael!" Harry was too stunned to say anything as things suddenly started to shift in place. One of the last puzzle pieces, finally in front of him. He stared at him in disbelief. He noted Michael's Ravenclaw school robes; he was not sporting any Death Eaters paraphernalia, but he was definitely with them. Why else he would be there hexing him?

Tonks got busy with a pair of Death Eaters who were looking more than energetic, as if high on some drug.

"You were the one who opened the Gateway in Hogsmeade?" asked Harry, totally bewildered. There were more question roving inside his mind; like, how was he there in the first place, why he wanted to kill him, so on and so forth. However, solving the mystery was what Harry was actually after. So, he flashed his wand in a duel stance to confirm that he was not looking for chitchat alone.

By that time Michael had regained movement, and as the spell wore off he pointed his wand vehemently at Harry. His face was set with grim contempt, his eyes almost beady. "Yes, it was ME! Why don't you die, Potter? Why don't you?" He shot a Blasting Curse at him, which Harry deflected with his shield.

"But, why?" Harry asked. "I never did anything to you."

"Never did anything?" Michael vacillated in anger. "You killed my sister! You ruined my family! You ruined my love-life! What more do you want of me!

"The Dark Lord was right. You use people and then throw them away. Just as you did with my Cho."

"What! I didn't kill anybody!" Harry looked shocked. "And I didn't use Cho!"

"Always the charmer, Potter. Always the Hero. The Boy-Who-Lived, la de da! Kiss my feet and I'll take you to heaven!" Michael spat bitterly. "All your fans, each and one of them is a deluded fool—"

"You've lost your mind, Corner. I never did anything to harm you."

"And Professor Flitwick has a secret crush on you!" Michael said drolly. "You are such a lying bugger!

"Incarcerous!"

Harry countered the spell and looked dazedly at Corner. He couldn't understand what he was playing at.

"You are a Ravenclaw! How could you join Voldemort?"—Michael's eyes dilated with fear hearing the name—"You joined Dumbledore's Army last year. What is wrong with you! What happened that you—"

Harry's words seemed to prickle Michael, as his face suddenly split in confusion. He looked disoriented for a second, but soon the expression passed and his features hardened. "SHUT UP!" he roared, interrupting him.

"I know what you're trying to do, Potter, but your mind games won't work on me. I'm immune to them! The Dark Lord has given me many skillful gifts. I can change you into a raving banshee, if you really pushed me."

"Why don't you try?" Harry threatened, rounding upon him.

"Crucio!"

With a loud dong, the spell bounced off Harry's shield.

"What's the matter? Not powerful enough? Your Lord didn't show you all the tricks, did he?" Harry used Michael's own trick on him. "Who's being used now?

"Can't you see, Michael? I NEVER killed anybody. It was Voldemort all along!"

"Didn't I tell you to shut up? SHUT UP!" Michael yelled, his face red with fury.

Many duelers glanced at them, but they were too busy to assist any of them.

"Just because of you, they got my sister! Poor Adele!" His face creased with emotion; however, it soon returned to its original contempt ridden façade. "Don't tell me it wasn't your fault, because it was! My family was never the same again, just because you had to be born, you had to be there.

"I still mourn the day you ousted the Dark Lord. Only if you had died, nothing would've come to this… But nothing's enough for you. You had to steal Cho away from me too!"

Harry could only half understand Michael's ramblings. Still, the name Adele rang a bell but he couldn't pinpoint where he had heard that name.

"I tried my best to forget about it, but I couldn't! And when I tried again, she sent me away! She's still obsessed with you. The Boy—"

"Corner! She's over me. She never even loved me!"

Michael's eyes widened. "You LIE! You always lie! Why can't people see through you? You are just a skimpy little git. Nothing else!

"Accio Gargoyle!" Michael looked at the Gargoyle statue nearby and directed it at Harry.

Harry had to jump and slide behind to be saved from the hulking statue. The shield shot out of his hand, and seeing the opportune time, Michael gave him a mean grin.

"I'd love to kill you, Potter. No matter, you'll see death soon enough in the place where I'm sending you.

"Convocato Caeli Adeo—" With a combination of many circled swishes, he started incanting to call upon an unknown Link to the Gateway that Harry had seen only twice before.

It was as if Dumbledore had sensed danger, he was beside Harry silencing Michael in a single swish.

"He is NOT going anywhere, Michael," Dumbledore's voice boomed at him.

Michael tried to stun Dumbledore but he was no match for him. Dumbledore issued a flame as strong as if being issued from a dragon's mouth out of his wand. The flame was not hot but deeply comforting and warm. It surrounded Harry and Dumbledore in a tight circle.

Harry looked at the white face of Corner, which looked completely drained of blood. Michael looked at the gathering Death Eaters for some help and as if on cue, Bellatrix and Avery emerged out of the still dueling pack of the Light and Dark Side.

"He is going, Dumbledore," Bellatrix shouted above the hubbub. "C'mon, Avery, let's finish this." She cocked her head at him.

"With my pleasure, Trixie," Avery smiled at her, while she spun around in shock.

"Petrificus Totalus!" Avery's wand was not pointed at Dumbledore but at Bellatrix.

She was too stunned to counter it and fell backwards, stiffly. "You traitor! You bloody ba—"

Harry looked on, shocked, as Avery's profile shimmered. Harry blinked and widened his eyes just to be sure, and still Avery's profile continued shimmering; his features started changing as if suddenly his cells had acquired freewill and were displacing themselves to become something else entirely.

Bellatrix looked dumbfounded as her mouth made a perfect circle of o, while Avery's profile kept on changing. He threw away the Death Eater mask. His grayish mane was replaced by jet-black hair. His height increased as his face became smooth and age-lines receded to unnoticed laughing-lines.

"Sirius!" Harry almost had a heart attack, seeing the grinning face of his Godfather in place of Avery's.

He heard Dumbledore whisper, "It can't be…"

"This is a trick! You're not Sirius. I killed him with my own hands!" Bellatrix was hysterical. "I saw him falling through the blasted veil!"

"Did you now?" He smiled at her candidly.

"You are dead. Dead! DEAD!" Bellatrix's scream got everyone's attention. Most of the Death Eaters paused seeing their ringleader at the brink of defeat while the Light Side simply paused with astonishment. Seeing a dead man walking was not everyday treat.

It was then Harry noticed what had been nagging him before, this Sirius didn't have the deep hollow eyes that had become the characteristic of his face after he came out of Azkaban. The Sirius standing in front of him had open and bright eyes; he was exactly like the Sirius in his parents' marriage photographs.

Bellatrix seemed to writhe with contempt seeing the happy Sirius grinning at her. "If I have to, I'll kill you again!" And with a steely will, she shook out of the spell and still lying down, incanted the worst spell. "Avada Kedavera!"

"Oh, no you don't!" He conjured a blue orb around himself. The Killing Curse was so powerful that life seemed to drain out of him for maintaining the orb in place. His figure seemed to shimmer again. Harry narrowed his eyes and could clearly see that his black hair started showing streaks of gray and tawny hair alternatively, at different places; his eyebrows seemed to thicken and then shrink again. It was as if another image was superimposing on this young Sirius. However, the shield was still up, and the curse was becoming fainter by the second. Finally the blue shield pulsed around him once, and the curse disappeared completely. His form solidified again.

"You had enough fun on my part, Trixie—"

"Stop calling me that!

"Crucio!"

"Is that all you can do?" He cocked his eyebrows mockingly.

Bellatrix was about to curse him again when he blasted her backwards with the same shimmering blue light that he had used to create the protective orb around him. Bellatrix's eyes glazed over as her body slammed into the nearest wall she had her back to. Her figure slumped to a crumple on the floor.

Seeing Bellatrix overthrown, Harry felt a surge of pleasure that he couldn't name. The Death Eaters on the other hand, Disapparated instantly, as if using a Portkey. They were there and then they weren't.

Lupin came running towards them, eying the young Sirius suspiciously. "You are not Sirius! Tell us who you—"

"He's an illusion," Harry finally lipped.

"No, he's not." Dumbledore's voice was more than sure, his eyes scrutinizing their savior.

However, nobody saw Michael Corner flitting to a corner. In the process of capturing Bellatrix, Michael had acquired a Death Eater mask and had gone missing in the crowd. Now as loud as a Fwooper's call, he finally showed himself, calling upon the Gateway to everyone's surprise.

"Convocato Caeli Adeo Forisio Portus!"

A hurricanic wind ensued and the Aurors and Order members backed away from the portal. They raised their arms to shield their eyes from the needling wind that blew around the opened portal.

Dumbledore pressed Harry's shoulder. They were still surrounded by the warm flames that he had conjured out of his wand, safe from the pull of the portal. Harry didn't even feel the Gateway's presence as Dumbledore's flame-shield seemed to keep everything out of its circle.

Lupin stunned Michael in a jiffy, and just as he was stepping forward to close the portal, he, too, was blasted by the brilliant blue light out of Sirius's strange but shiny wand. This was the last evidence of the heaping pile that proved this was someone else, not the real Sirius. Who exactly, Harry couldn't wait to find out.

"What d'you think you're doing!" Tonks dropped daggers at Sirius with her glare, as she hunkered down to check Lupin's pulse.

Young Sirius ignored her, and said aloud, "I don't want to harm anyone, but if anyone even takes another step, they will be done for." He stared around the group narrowly. "This is between me, the boy and…" He let the sentence hang there, while he emphasized his point by glaring everyone down.

He then turned towards where Harry and Dumbledore were standing. Harry got goosebumps as he looked at this Sirius. It was as if Sirius had directly Apparated from his own memories from his own Diary to save Harry.

However, all the warm feelings went out of his head as Sirius attacked their flame-shield with his brilliant-blue energy.

"You fool! What are you doing?" Dumbledore shouted at him.

Harry had never seen Dumbledore more livid. However, Sirius kept on charging at the shield, staring directly at Harry.

His eyes were not filled with malice or hate but openness, as if imploring. They were those eyes you see in your friends that are loyal to you. Harry felt Dumbledore's grip on his shoulder loosen as he sighed as if defeated. The moment Harry turned away to see Dumbledore's expression, the flame shield perished around them. Without support, Harry willed his body not to budge. Still, his feet scraped, the surging portal with a black gaping mouth seemed to call at him.

Harry looked helplessly at Dumbledore whose eyes looked more than vacant. He looked around the Order members who all seemed resigned; none of them was doing anything to stop whatever was happening, as if too dumbfounded by it all.

The same blue light blasted Harry backwards, closer to the portal.

"No, you can't!" A girlish shriek rang out, and to his astonishment, he saw Ginny's head hovering behind Sirius. "You monster! What are you trying to do!

"Ferula!" Ginny incanted desperately, trying to reenact her motions of saving him.

Harry grabbed at the white gauze, understanding that she was wearing his invisibility cloak. He also understood that she had snooped out of the school to follow them.

Ginny's appearance widened the smile on Sirius's face. "I was wondering, when you'd reveal yourself." He looked at her, totally unruffled.

Ginny gaped as she was blasted by the same blue light; however, this time around it didn't seem that it had harmed her in any way except for sending her closer to the portal.

"Professor Dumbledore!" she called, panicked.

Harry looked at Dumbledore who was directly looking at Sirius, and seemed to scan his thoughts. He bowed his head and sighed, finally answering Ginny, "Don't hesitate, dear girl… It seems evident for both of you now."

He looked at Harry, who was only few steps away from the portal's mouth. "I was trying to find a way around this, but couldn't. You have to go… Just don't lose your way, Harry… In time you'll come back…."

"Go, Harry!" Sirius implored, "You were meant to do this since you were born… Take your destiny in your own hands… Accept what you are!"

Harry couldn't hold on anymore. The Gateway's pull was too much to take and even with the use of his will, he couldn't stop it from sucking him in. He let go of the gauze, the connection that Ginny had built. However, Ginny, not hesitating another second, also plunged into the portal after him.

Whatever was meant to be, it seemed they had to find it themselves. Together or apart, only time would tell.

-x-X-x-

What do you know? There's another mysterious person, eh? Who can tell me, who it is? (Hint: He's in that old photo that Moody shows to Harry in OoTP) Now, place your bets for that one. And I mean NOW!

If you have any questions about the plot or even this chapter, post away!

Next Chapter: You'll know what exactly happens after the portal closes. Everyone is surprised to meet their old Order mate back, who brings with him good and bad news, both.