7. Fortress of Shadow

Harry had a simple plan for getting to Sirius. He would leave Hogwarts over Christmas break.

"You understand, don't you?" Harry asked Ron and Hermione. "I have to save him. If he needs my help, I'm going to help him." Hermione fidgeted.

"Harry, you know what happened last time you went to save Sirius. What if it happens again? What if it's a trap?" Harry could feel heat rising inside of him. No. I can't blow up at Hermione. She's my friend, and she's just trying to help.

"Point taken," he said in a forcibly calm way. "But what would you do?"

"Oh Harry, I suppose you must. But be careful," she replied.

Harry didn't sign the form saying he would stay at Hogwarts for Christmas. Nor did Ron or Hermione. They were going back to the Burrow. A few people asked Harry where he would be going, but he had to lie. It would be foolish to tell them he was going to the Ministry of Magic. Now it was time.

The Hogwarts Express was leaving, and it seemed most people were going home. Harry waved good bye to Hagrid, and got on the train. He sat with Ron, Hermione, and Ginny. After the train pulled out, he realized how hungry he was.

"Anyone else want some food? I'm going to buy some," Harry said. It seemed they were all hungry. Harry bought some food and passed it around. It felt so good to share. Just then, Neville walked into the compartment.

"Hi Neville," they all said.

"Did you hear?" he said through tears.

"What is it?" Hermione asked soothingly.

"In the Daily Prophet. My dad died." Harry was very surprised to hear this information. He opened up the newspaper, and sure enough, there on the front page was an article about the Longbottom's. Harry quietly showed the others this. Luna walked into the compartment.

"Hi Luna," Harry said. After a brief greeting, Luna sat down next to Neville.

"Everything will be okay. I read what happened. For some strange reason I got the urge to read the biased Daily Prophet," she said reminiscently. "Don't worry Neville, everything will be just fine," she added soothingly, looking back at him. All of a sudden, the door banged open.

"So, one of your parents has finally snuffed it? I wonder how long it will be before your mum dies too." It was Draco Malfoy.

"I don't remember inviting you," Harry said through clenched teeth. "Some day I'm going to kill you, and Snape."

"He did what he had to Harry."

This was the first time he was addressed on first name terms with Draco.

"What do you mean by that?" Harry asked, making a fist.

"Oh, I'm so scared. What are you going to do, hurt me?" he said mockingly. A hand closed around Draco's shoulder, and whirled him around.

"Is there a problem?" Professor Wilhelm asked quietly. Draco looked scared beyond his wits.

"No-I just thought..."

"Hmm? Didn't catch that. If you are too ashamed to admit what you were doing, I think it best that you apologize." Looking at the floor, Draco muttered something that only Neville and Wilhelm could hear.

"You may go now," Wilhelm said quietly, letting go of Draco's shoulder, as he scurried away. She then tilted her head lazily towards Ron and Harry. Her expression bore a meaning that was suggesting they stay out of trouble, because she might not always be around.

The rest of the trip was uneventful. The train slowed to a stop at Kings Cross station. "Hermione?" Harry asked. "Could you Apparate to the phone booth, at the entrance to the Ministry of Magic?"

"For you Harry. Be prepared for the worst. Sirius might be... Just be extremely careful. We can do side Apparition."

"Thanks."

"Do you want me to go with you?" Ron asked.

"That would probably be good. I don't think I should be alone on my way back." Ginny looked at them.

"I guess we'll all be escorting you Harry. I have to side Apparate too. And I'm not just going to wait here. We have to go to the Burrow together." They all looked around. Harry took Ron's arm, and Ginny took Hermione's.

"Ready?" Ron asked. They all appeared in front of the run down little phone booth.

"Well, so long," Harry said, and they all disappeared. He opened the door to the booth and stepped inside. "Hmm, now what was that number I'm supposed to dial?" he said to himself.

"Oh yeah, it spelled magic. That means it's 6-2-4-4-2." He dialed the number, and a cool female voice said,

"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and business."

"Harry Potter. Rescue Mission."

"Please take your badge and pin it to the front of your shirt," the voice said. A small badge shot out where coins were usually returned. Harry did as the voice said. Immediately the floor in the booth sank into the ground.

Everything was pitch black for several seconds, until a golden light swept over Harry. He was standing before the magnificent entrance hall to the Ministry of Magic. He saw that visitors wands were being checked, so he decided it was best to try and get by unnoticed. There were many people at the Ministry, and they all seemed distraught.

Voldemort had been killing several people a day, and many of them didn't make it to the newspaper. Harry flattened himself against a pillar, and slowly eased his way towards the lifts. He had to get to the bottom floor where the Department of Mysteries was. He was about five feet away, when he saw Mr. Weasley.

Oh no! He can't see me here! Harry sprinted towards the lift, and the glass door closed just as Mr. Weasley turned around. Harry stood, frozen to the spot as Mr. Weasley stared at him, mouth open.

Thankfully the lift started to move downward. Several witches and wizards got on and off. The cool female voice from the phone booth was announcing which departments resided on which floor. "The Atrium," she said.

One witch kept eying Harry suspiciously. "Department of Mysteries," the voice said, and Harry got off. He ran down a dark corridor, hoping no one would follow. This was the same corridor that had haunted Harry's dreams in his fifth year at Hogwarts. At the end of the hall was a dark door. Harry opened it tentatively.

This is too good to be true. Why isn't this door locked? His eyes were just getting accustomed to the light, when the walls started to spin. There were twelve doors, but now Harry didn't know which way was the way out.

He had been in this room before. In his dreams, he had walked through one of the doors, and found himself in the Hall of Prophecies. That's where Voldemort tricked him into thinking Sirius was being tortured. Now, the walls were motionless. But Harry didn't know which door was the one he wanted. Two years ago, when he came to save Sirius, he had found that one of these rooms was a giant pit.

At the bottom, in the center, was an archway with a curtain. Sirius fell through that curtain, and was never heard from again. "Which way should I go?" Harry said aloud. A door to Harry's right sprung open. He peered inside, before letting the door close behind him. This was the room with the curtain.

He quickly hopped down the steep stone steps, and now stood in front of the curtain. Well, this is it. If it doesn't work, I'll call Kreacher, and send a letter to Ron and Hermione. Fearfully, Harry stepped through the curtain. Everything was pitch black, and it felt like icy spears were raining down on him.

He found himself in a high ceilinged, stone castle. There were about a hundred pillars on each side of a long magnificent hallway. As Harry's eyes lowered, he noticed that everything around him was misty.

He turned to his left, and beyond one of the pillars, saw the dumbstruck, open mouthed face of his dear godfather, Sirius Black.