CHAPTER 5

Harry, Fred, and George made their way quickly back to the others. When they reached the edge of the cave they saw everyone gathered around. They caught Hermione's eye and she came over.

"The Order's talking about what to do with Malfoy," she said quickly, "Some believe we should take him to the Mystery of Magic and put him on trial. They really want to find out what he knows."

"Once a Death Eater, always a Death Eater!" yelled Kingsley Shacklebolt.

"Now, now, Kinglsey let's not be too hasty," Mr. Weasley replied, "Why don't we give him another chance, eh?"

The crowd nodded in agreement.

"Now, let's go find where the famous trio and my daughter went," Mr. Weasley said cheerfully.

"Um, Dad, we're right here," Ginny said uncomfortably. The smile lifted from Mr. Weasley's face.

"And where exactly is Malfoy, Ginny?" he asked.

"Um, in the tunnels," she said cautiously.

"You, you let him wander around alone?" he said.

"Well, yes," she hesitated.

"You let a Death Eater out of your sight, when he could oh, I don't know, escape?" he asked disbelievingly.

"I'm sorry, I- I didn't think of that," she stuttered.

"Alright everyone, let's search the cave. Malfoy could know some dangerous spells so everyone needs to be in a group of at least three. Hermione, Harry, Ron, you three need an adult with you," he said, "Now let's go!"

Tonks hurried over to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. She smiled weakly and guided them to a tunnel in the cave.

"Ok you three, stay close and be quiet," she whispered. Ginny tagged along.

"I told you to stay away from him. Since you dragged him away, he had the perfect chance to escape," Ron hissed.

"For your information, Fred, George, and Harry left him alone. I don't think he'll escape. He had the opportunity when he was alone with me. He seemed human when we were alone," she said.

"What's that supposed to mean!" Ron asked in disgust, "You didn't-"

"Ew! You're gross! No, I meant he was sweet and sensitive and-"

"Ginny! You're not starting to like him are you!" Ron shouted.

"Sh! We don't want him to know we're here!" Tonks whispered viciously.

"No! He's-I mean…." Ginny hesitated. Ron groaned with frustration. He walked ahead and fumed. Harry fell back so he was side by side with Ginny. She caught his eye and he looked away. He was upset that she didn't think of him anymore. He had been listening in on her and Ron's conversation. He couldn't believe that Ginny might actually be in love Malfoy, of all people! He grew hot with anger and jealousy just thinking about it. He could feel Ginny's eyes on him. He couldn't help but look over at her. Her eyes were full of regret. Harry looked away. He was angry with her. He looked ahead and saw Hermione trying to calm Ron down.

He thought about how his first year at Hogwarts was. He wished all he had to worry about were potions finals again. Now he was fighting to stay alive. Those days were so simple. What happened to them?

"Hey, I hear him," Hermione whispered quietly. All five of them drew their wands. They walked ever closer to the voice.

"The Dark Lord's looking for you," teased a familiar voice. Tonk's eyes widened.

"Quick, go get Remus and any one else you can find," she said as quietly as possible. The four of them snuck back to the entrance of the cave to find Lupin and Bill standing guard in case Malfoy found a way around the others.

"Lupin! Tonks needs you!" Hermione said breathlessly. Lupin quickly ran to the tunnel from which they had come with Bill by his side. A few moments later they could hear rumbling and booming from inside the tunnel. They couldn't help themselves from going to see what the commotion was.

"Antonin Dolohov!" screamed an inhuman-like voice.

"Conjunctivitus!" yelled Lupin. Harry, Ron, and Hermione peeked around the corner to see Bellatrix Lestrange and Lupin casting and dodging curses. Harry felt a wave of anger. Hermione gasped. Tonks was on the ground, blood dripping from her forehead. Bill was hidden behind a rock, ready to attack. Malfoy was cowering on the ground behind a large boulder.

"We've got to get Tonks out of there," Harry said. Part of the wall of rock they had been hiding behind exploded. Dirt and rock fragments flew everywhere. The trio ran to the other side of the wall. Harry peeked around again. They were closer to Tonks now. Malfoy hid nearby. They could hear other footsteps and shouting from the tunnels. Help was coming.

"Alright," Harry shouted to Ron and Hermione over the noise, "As soon as everyone else gets here, we run and get Tonks. Then we'll come back here. Ok?"

"Right," they both agreed. Harry glanced over and saw Mr. Weasley and Charlie coming. Many others followed. Bellatrix was still fighting. Harry nodded his head toward Tonks and started forward. The others came by his side. They lunged for Tonks and tried to lift her. It was too loud for Harry to try to communicate. He pointed toward her feet and arms. Ron and Hermione understood. Ron picked her up. Hermione held out her wand. Harry hurried to Tonks other side. They started to hurry toward the wall of rock that had been their shelter. Hermione led the way, wand out so she could hex anyone or thing that got in their way. Malfoy looked over to them. Fear gripped his face. Harry took a deep sigh and ran back. Rock exploded over his head. He ducked, still running. He kept his eyes ahead. Another crumbling of rocks, except this time, it was right in front of him. He realized someone was aiming for him. He looked over and saw Walden Macnair throwing hexes at him.

"Impedimenta!" shouted Hermione. Macnair fell to the floor, frozen. Harry smiled at her and she ran to him.

"Where are Tonks and Ron?" Harry asked.

"They're over there," she answered as she pointed to the rock. Harry nodded and they ran to Malfoy. They both ducked behind the boulder.

"Why is she here Malfoy?" Harry shouted.

"She's wants to take me to the Dark Lord!" Malfoy whined.

"Come on!" Harry replied. He ran along the wall of the tunnel until he reached the other side. Hermione and Draco were right behind him. Tonks was leaning against the wall. Ron knelt at her side.

"How's she doing?" Harry asked.

"I don't know. She's suffering a concussion but it doesn't look too bad," R,.on said.

"I may be able to help," Hermione cut in. She knelt by Tonks' other side and said, "Episkey." Tonks' wound disappeared. She opened her eyes and looked around.

"Whoa! How'd I get out here?" Tonks asked.

"Never mind that," Ron said. A loud boom came from the other side. Harry looked and saw Bellatrix Lestrange and Macnair running through the tunnel. Harry bolted after them.

"Harry, no!" Hermione yelled.

Macnair was far ahead of Bellatrix. Harry sprinted as fast as he could. He tackled Lestrange to the ground.

"You!" she hissed, "Get off me!" She pushed him off and tried to run again. Harry pulled out his wand and screamed, "Sectumsempra!" Bellatrix fell to the floor, blood spilled from her back. Harry ran to her. He heard footsteps behind him. Remus pulled him away and knelt next to her, reciting the same incantation Snape used when healing Malfoy.

"No! Don't heal her! Leave her there! She killed one of your best friends and you're going to save her!" Harry shouted.

Lupin, Bill, and Charlie carried her through the tunnel, ignoring Harry's shouting.

"Harry, where did you learn that?" Mr. Weasley asked in disbelief, "You do know that was dark magic don't you?"

"Snape taught it to me, kinda," Harry replied quietly, "I'm sorry Mr. Weasley. I don't know what came over me, I just-"

"It's ok Harry. I understand. I'm just surprised you would do something like that. Harry, I don't want you to ever use that spell again, alright?" Mr. Weasley lectured.

"Ok," Harry agreed. Hermione looked at him uneasily. Ron kept his distance. Draco watched him in horror. He knew Harry had used that same curse on him last year.

The four of them walked wordlessly back to the entrance of the cave, though there were a few sideway glances toward Harry.

No one talked to Harry for the rest of the night. Lupin kept looking his way as if he had a secret to tell. Not even Ron or Hermione would speak with him. Everyone settled on the ground, ready to get some sleep. Bellatrix was binded by chains and spells to the cave wall. Two armed adults were to watch her and Malfoy through the night. Many witches and wizards volunteered, so they made shifts. Harry drifted off to sleep.

"Ah, Sirius, you've seen the error of your ways have you?" Voldemort asked.

"Yes my Lord," Sirius replied with a slight look of disgust but Voldemort didn't notice.

"You know I've never really been sure that you were even on our side Sirius," Voldemort taunted.

"I assure you master," Sirius said, again with revulsion, "I've been on your side my whole life."

"Well how can you prove it? Severus did when he killed Dumbledore," Voldemort said. Sirius watched Snape out of the corner of his eye. Snape twitched at the word killed. Voldemort again saw nothing.

"I came back from the veil didn't I?" Sirius answered.

"True, but you could've used good magic, Sirius. You seem pretty involved with the order. So tell me, do they know you're alive too?" he asked.

Harry woke up, sweat trickling down his neck. Sirius, alive? How could that be possible? Did Lupin and the others know something he didn't? If so, what was it? If Sirius was alive, whose side was he on? Harry always knew Sirius hadn't been the one to rat out his parents' hiding place. But had he really been on their side?

"Something the matter Harry?" Lupin asked. Harry jumped at the sudden sound.

"No, I, um…." Harry struggled to find words to explain.

"Harry, may I speak with you alone?" Lupin asked, "Without anyone else around?" he added in a whisper. Harry nodded and quietly made his way to a lone tunnel with Lupin.

"You had a dream didn't you?" Lupin asked as soon as they were out of earshot from anyone who could be awake.

"Well, yes, but it couldn't be possible," Harry said.

"Harry, I need to know what it was, it could be," Lupin answered.

"Trust me, it's not possible. It can't be," Harry reassured him.

"Harry, I must know," Lupin insisted sternly. Harry was a bit frightened at the change in Lupin's voice.

"Alright, well, this is going to sound so stupid, but….Sirius was…..alive and he was with Voldemort. Only he didn't seem happy to be there. But I don't understand Professor, I thought Sirius was never a Death Eater," Harry explained.

"Oh, he wasn't, Voldemort just thought he was. He was a spy for us. Was any one else there?" Lupin asked continuing the subject.

"Um, yes actually, Snape was there," Lupin heard the anger in Harry's voice as he said his name.

"What was Snape doing?" Lupin asked.

"He just stood there, watching. Voldemort said how he proved his loyalty when he…..killed Dumbledore. But, Snape kind of….seemed uneasy when Voldemort mentioned it. Do you know anything about that professor?" Harry asked. Lupin seemed distracted. He just stared at the wall behind Harry.

"Lupin, are you ok?" Harry asked.

"What? Yes, fine, fine. Harry, have you had any other dreams about Sirius?" Lupin asked with interest.

"Yeah actually. I had one where he was bowing down to Voldemort," Harry mentioned.

"Yes, yes I see. Well that'll be all Harry, go back to sleep. You'll need your rest," Lupin answered with a weak smile. He walked away

"But," Harry tried to ask but could see Lupin slipping back into his spot. Harry did the same but couldn't go back to sleep. He felt like Lupin was hiding something from him, but what was it? Would he ever know?