Introduction

Hogwarts Castle, End of Harry's 6th year

Harry was standing beside the heavy, old wooden door straining to hear the conversation within the room. He leaned against the cold stone wall and studied the Marauder's Map, which he was clutching. Neville Longbottom had his wand out and stared over Harry's shoulder at the map. They looked at each for a moment not sure what to do.

The map revealed that inside this very room the last of the true Marauders was stashed in a small antechamber hidden from the two Death-Eaters arguing in the main room. Bellatrix Lestrange and Peter Pettigrew could not find the thing for which they had come. Across the room was another wooden door obscuring three figures. Harry saw on the map that Ron and Ginny Weasley as well as Luna Lovegood were in a similar predicament as Harry and Neville. Harry knew he had to make his move before his friends put themselves in harms way.

Harry looked up from the map and guffawed. Out of harms way, he thought angrily, if they were in harms way at Hogwarts, he didn't know where out of harms way was anymore.

He glanced down at the map one more time to try gain composure only to see two miniature figures quickly approaching the map version of himself and Neville. Harry looked to his left and caught a glint from a crystal Hermione was wearing around her waist before he could actually see her eyes. Harry could see the side of her robes drenched with the blood that was slowing dripping from too long gashes the length of both of her forearms. Neville made a move to hex her companion, but Harry stopped him.

"Don't," Harry warned before turning on Hermione, "How did he get away from you?"

"I'm not exactly at the top of my game right now," she hissed indicating her bloodstained arms. "Harry listen carefully," she was now adding urgently, "he can't use magic or have magic used on him until he's stronger. He wouldn't listen to reason. One stunner will do him in for good, do you understand?"

Harry nodded grimly. He didn't understand though, not really; but what was done was done and he wasn't going to let anyone die….not again.