Chapter 30

Escape

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"Come on Hermione" Ron panted, "We have to find Harry. He could be anywhere."

The long dark corridor seemed endless and the further they ran the more lost and worried they became.

When they had reached Dumbledore's office they waited for word from Snape. Eventually the news that they had been waiting for arrived. Dumbledore was told where Harry was and to come as fast as he could because Harry needed his help. Snape had been brief, he had slipped away for a couple of minutes but he couldn't be missed so he left abruptly. When Snape left Dumbledore took action. Ron and Hermione insisted they were going too and refused to leave the office.

Hermione was now walking down a dark corridor and was trying to keep you with Ron; her side ached from the stitch that had appeared. Up ahead she heard,

"Aghhhhhhhh" from Ron

"Ron" she called, "Ron are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm okay I just fell over and I landed funny" he shouted back

He wasn't sure what he had sat on but it felt really cold and slimy.

"Yuck" he shouted, "Hermione, give us a hand up, there's something disgusting down here."

"Shh!" she whispered, "Someone will hear you. We want to find Harry not get caught ourselves."

She stretched out her hand and pulled Ron up off the wet ground.

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Harry was getting very fed up of waking up face down in a pool of his own blood. Coughing more frequently than before, he felt sick aswell. He coughed again and this time he threw up. He was confused and slightly disorientated. He wasn't sure if he had imagined Snape comforting him, but then he wouldn't imagine something like that. If he were to create an image like that in his head he would have had Ron or Cho in Snape's place.

"Cho!" he said. "I really have to find her," but then realising what he said he slumped his shoulders and rested his head once more against the stone wall.

He shivered from the cold.

"I have to get out of here before I go mad and before Voldemort's gits come back for round three."

He tried to think what had he done to make the door rattle or the wall split the last time. He didn't want anything too big that would create a huge explosion or something too noticeable. He just wanted to creep out quietly. He didn't know what his magic levels were like and he didn't really want to use his wandless magic but his wand had been taken and he had nothing else.

His first plan of action was to get his wand back; even if it didn't work it gave him a false sense of security, just knowing that he had it in his hand. He didn't think he had the energy to split the door but he knew being angry was the key, that was how he blew up Aunt Marge and caused the storm that night.

Harry's scar hurt but he chose to ignore it making him more determined to break free and seek his revenge on Voldemort. He thought about the prophecy and vowed to die trying not by giving up in a cell. The more he thought about Cho, Voldemort and Malfoy the more energy and adrenaline flowed through his veins. He had to do this right and not so obviously that anyone would hear.

"Imagine the door splitting" he kept telling himself.

He thought back to when he blew Aunt Marge up back in Third Year, he had wanted her to just fly away and that's what happened. Somehow he had combined flying away and hot air together and got a balloon because she became a human balloon.

He concentrated really hard imagining a crack in the door and the hinges giving away. The clouds outside started to gather and the wind rose. The more energy Harry used the more electricity gathered in the sky. The storm began and the wooden door began to split.

Sweat gathered on his forehead and he was breathing heavily. He felt the urge in his hand to release his magic and as the storm reached its peak Harry raised his two hands towards the door and a ball of magic left his finger tips and split the door down the middle. From the outside the door looked intact but the middle panel separated. Feeling dizzy and drained Harry fell backwards against the wall once more.

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"POTTER" Voldemort screamed as soon as he saw the storm outside reaching a climax. "Men, go to the boy, stop him from whatever he's doing"

He picked up Harry's wand form the stone alter.

"Tell him" Voldemort continued, "If he wants his wand back, he'll have to come get it himself."

"What if he goes to attack us, my Lord" Nott asked. "If he can conjure a mighty storm like that without his wand."

"He will be weak" Snape answered. "I have seen Potter do this before, he won't be any hassle to you for a few hours yet"

"Besides" Voldemort replied, "You are armed Nott, the boy isn't."

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Harry crept down through the stone corridor. He knew that Voldemort would send his men down so he had to break free when he got the chance. His heart thumped in his chest. He felt a little weak from using all that raw magic and his injuries were hurting him more and more with every step he took.

He heard a noise to his right but he wasn't sure if it was his own breathing or someone else's. He waited with his back against the wall and placed his hand across his mouth so no-one would hear his heavy breathing. He heard the footsteps getting louder and he held his breath, he couldn't tell how many were approaching, if he was found he was done for.

The hairs on the back of his neck stood up and he decided he'd have to make a run for it or else he would be caught. He tried to think what curse would work; he felt too weak for the disarming one but as the men were so close he could try taking one or all of their wands.

"Accio Wands" he whispered before he came out of his hiding place to face who was coming.

"My wand" Ron cried, "Hermione, they've got my wand"

"Shh! Mines gone too" Hermione whispered back

"We're done for" Ron replied with fear etched on his face

Placing one of the wands in his trouser pocket Harry took the other wand and raised it, getting ready to curse the next person who came around the corner.

"Aghhhhh" Harry shouted as he ran out from his hiding place. "Stupe…" he started when he suddenly stopped, he was face to face with Hermione and Ron.

"Harry" Hermione squealed

"Hermione, Ron" Harry replied, "How did you get here? We have to be quiet, they are looking for me."

Hermione went to pull Harry into a hug but he drew back and winced from the pain in his ribs.

"Harry, you're hurt" she said with panic in her voice.

"I'll be alright, are you both alright?"

"Better than you are mate" Ron replied, "you look awful"

"We need to keep moving" Harry interrupted, "I can't be caught again."

Harry found his voice breaking and realised he was scared but this time it wasn't drug related. He coughed slightly and felt lightheaded. He swayed and rested his hand on the wall to steady himself.

"Quick Ron, grab his side and help him up the corridor" Hermione said, "We need to find a vacant room or somewhere out of the way for the moment."

Harry handed back their wands and Hermione said, "Point me" to see which way to go.

They continued slowly down the cold dark corridors, Harry needed to rest he felt weaker and weaker and his scar stung. Finally they found a deserted room and Hermione placed an "impertiable" charm so no-one would hear them talking inside.

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"Where do you think they have him" Lupin called out in between cursing a Death Eater that came in his path.

"I'm not sure" Dumbledore shouted back, "But I hope for all our sakes Harry is okay. Expelliarmus"

The two men battled on. One by one the Death Eaters dropped at Dumbledore and his men's feet.

"Stupefy" Lupin shouted as they turned the next corner.

A body fell to the floor, he brought his lit wand up to see who it was but Dumbledore and Lupin got a shock.

"Ms Chang" Dumbledore said, "Quickly bring her body in here"

They picked the stunned Cho up and Dumbledore whispered, "Ennervate"

Cho slowly opened her eyes.

"Ms Chang, are you alright?"

"Professor" she replied. "Oh thank Merlin you came, they have Harry. It happened so quickly, one minute everything was fine, next I woke up in a cell."

Her lower lip trembled slightly as she tried to convince her Headmaster and old Professor.

"There, there" Dumbledore said patting her hand gently. "I know what happened back at Hogwarts"

"Have you seen Harry? Did they hurt you? How did you get away?" Lupin interrupted, his patience running thinner than Dumbledore's.

He wanted to know where Harry was as she was the last person he was with.

"Now Remus, give the girl a chance, she's been through a lot." Noticing the cloak Dumbledore continued, "Forgive us for hitting you with a stunning spell, the cloak portrayed you as one of Voldemort's followers."

"Yes, I understand Professor" she replied, "That's how I got away. I managed to stun one of them and I took his cloak. I thought it would be a good disguise"

She gave a false nervous laugh.

"Professor Lupin, I'm not sure where Harry is, we were separated but I know that he's either still at the main chamber or in another cell." Trying not to sound over confident she continued. "I could be wrong but I overheard the two guards outside the door talking, they must have thought I was still unconscious. I was so scared Professor"

She turned her face away to hide her false tears. Lupin softened his tone.

"Ms Chang, Cho, we are all worried for Harry's safety and we pray that we find him in time. He's like a son to me, I promised his parents before they died."

"I understand Professor. Yes Harry always spoke so highly of you; he was always worrying about you. Even earlier when we went for our walk he thought about you. How are you feeling Professor, I know tonight isn't easy for you"

"I'm fine now thanks, I've taken my medicine. These days I am able to control it more. I'm sorry if I was a bit harsh. I couldn't bear to lose Harry"

Lupin stood up from the floor and walked over to the stone wall and stared into the darkness.

"I think we should carry on Professor, we are wasting valuable time"

"Yes Remus, you are correct. Ms Chang are you able to walk?"

Cho nodded and the three continued their search for Harry.

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"I heard footsteps down here" a Death Eater called to another

"You think it's the boy" he replied back

"Let's go find out"

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"Harry what is it?" Hermione asked with fear in his voice.

Harry had begun to pace the small cold room.

"You were right" he started, "You both were. I was so stupid, I never saw it coming. I trusted her. I even shouted at you both over her."

"Harry, what are you talking about?" Ron asked

"She betrayed me Ron. I was a fool once again, I was a fool and she betrayed me"

Harry slammed his fist into the wall.

"Easy mate, you'll do yourself damage, tell us what happened."

"We don't have time" Harry interjected.

"But Harry" Hermione started but Harry raised his hand to quieten her

"Not now Hermione, I don't have the.." he stopped suddenly. "Shh!" he paused, "Listen!"

The three stopped, there were voices outside the room.

"Well, well, well" Malfoy senior's voice came through. "Why Ms Chang, you have been busy tonight. I thought handing over Potter was the big prize but it seems we have won the jackpot. I think our Lord will be very impressed. You help with the capture of Potter and then you go and hand us over his werewolf buddy and none other than everyone's favourite, the great Headmaster himself."

Hermione gasped, thankfully her charm was still working so no-one outside heard. Harry was furious he could feel the anger flowing through his veins, Cho had betrayed him but now she had betrayed the whole school by handing over Dumbledore to Voldemort.

"There's no need for you to go for your wand Dumbledore" Malfoy continued outside. "Men seize them."

There was a brief struggle and Dumbledore and Lupin were taken away.

"Men" Malfoy called, "You know where to take them. Well done Ms Chang."

As the voices faded down the corridor Harry looked at his two friends who were staring back at him with their mouths open.

Ron had his wand raised.

"I'll kill her! Move aside Harry I'll kill her"

"No!" Harry replied

"But Harry, how can you defend her?"

"I'm not defending her, in my eyes as soon as she joined Voldemort's side she died. Now she can rot in hell"

Harry opened the door and walked out of the room.

"Harry" Hermione called, "Wait. Come back. Don't be stupid, you're not well enough and you need your wand"

"I know" he replied, "And I'm going to get it back."

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End of chapter

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