Dark… Everything was so dark…

Where was he?

Bits and pieces became much clearer. Rows of shelves. Infinite in its number.

In between one… He saw Sirius!

Sirius laid on his back, breathing heavily, the scars and wounds on his body taking a toll as he valiantly tried to crawl away from his captor. Grasping on one of the legs of the countless shelves in the room, housing orbs or balls of glass in the racks.

"Tsk, tsk. How the mighty House of Black have fallen."

His voice… That wasn't him!

He saw Sirius trying to ignore the sneering comment but the foot on his stomach destroyed that notion. Sirius glared at the foot's owner with contempt, its face clouded in shadow.

"You'll never get anything out of me, I'd rather be tortured than rat anybody out!" Sirius said through gritted teeth.


He felt his throat vibrate as he let out the words, "Then so be it."

As the figure raised his wand, the wand shone a blinding green light. Illuminating the look of horror on Sirius' face. He tried to fight it, tried the best he could to fight the motion. But it was no use. He was too powerful, he had all the control, and he was…

Voldemort.

"Cruciatus!"

Harry's eyes shot open as his body lurched upwards from the ground, his chest heaving as he gulped in breaths of fresh air. The searing pain in his scar hadn't even registered in his mind, the only thing that mattered was that Sirius was in danger and he needed to save him.

"Harry! Harry, look at me!"

He felt hands on his cheek and his head was steered towards the person calling out to him, and although his glasses had been removed from his face, the voice was enough for him to realise where he was and who the blurry face was.

"Lilith, we have to go, Sirius is in danger!"

Lilith stayed silent and as he wondered why she did, his sight became much clearer as Lilith put his glasses back, her look of concern appearing in his vision, "Harry, what do you mean he's in danger, you were just speaking to him a moment ago."

The panic in Harry's voice hadn't subsided as he tried to explain, "I… I had another vision. Sirius was killed by Voldemort… I saw him get killed and I couldn't do anything about it…"

"Harry, listen to me! There is absolutely no way Voldemort could have gotten to Sirius, especially right after you just spoke to him. Remember your occlumency training, Harry. Relax and control your mind." Lilith emphasized.

Her soothing voice aided Harry as he closed his eyes and recounted his training; going to his happy place and strengthening the broken tethers of his mind, but as he traversed his mind, he felt something in it. Something foreign and unfamiliar.

He looked around in his mind's eye and saw what looked to be a piece of string, a strange aura surrounding it.

'What is this?' Harry thought aloud, reaching out to grab the string.

And as his finger made contact with it, he felt himself travelling and his body being transported.

Lucius Malfoy coaxed himself up, controlling his breathing and keeping his mental shields up, for what it was worth in front of the most feared wizard in the wizarding world.

He entered the atrium of the Ministry of Magic, where his master awaited his presence. The first thing Lucius made note of was the dreaded pet snake of his master, who slithered to and fro in front of its owner.

"My lord, I come bearing news. I have gathered and informed the others of your plan."

Lucius waited as his master hadn't even deigned to turn around and face him. Only the hiss of his snake filled the silence, but even that was short lived as Nagini stopped dead in her tracks.

"Lucius."

The man felt his spine tingle in fear as the Dark Lord addressed him, "Yes, my Lord?"

"I shall leave you to stay on guard at the Hall of Prophecies. If the Potter boy takes the bait and appears to face me, then make sure that no action is made for his life to be taken away. Only I shall have that privilege, am I clear?"

The patriarch of the Malfoy House nodded in understanding, and stated out loud for the Dark Lord to hear, "Yes, my Lord. What of his allies, my Lord?"

"They are of no worth to me. Kill anyone on Potter's side."

"Understood, my Lord." Lucius conspicuously made his way out and to the Prophecy Room downstairs, his quick steps betraying his utter fear of the Dark Lord.

"Lucius!"

He stood stock still, not daring to face the Dark Lord, "Yes, my Lord?"

"Failure of this mission will cost you your life."

Without waiting for his response, the Dark Lord disappeared from his view. Leaving his pet snake on the ground.

Trying not to panic and break down, Lucius took steady steps towards the elevator, where he would take it down to await Potter's arrival…

After a while, Nagini snapped out of her stupor, and she made her way to find her master. Unknowing to the presence of another in her mind and the disappearance of the same presence.

Blaise watched under the cloak of invisibility as Umbridge and company tried and failed to disperse the magic in the hallway. Counting from Draco's transformation; Goyle had become green, with his ears being replaced by a protruding rod of some sort and his skin had turned into a putrid green, Crabbe grew a dragon snout and every now and then released flames from his nostrils, Bulstrode hadn't changed much from her appearance, but she had stopped speaking as her voice had somehow became much deeper and had the same sort of presence of a king or god, with thunderclaps resounding from outside every time she finished speaking, regardless of the clear weather from outside. The only ones left unaffected were Umbridge and Pansy, the former not taking any chances and trying to dispel the magic from as far away as possible, and the latter being too distracted and gushing over how cute Draco had become.

"Let go of me, Pansy!"

"But you're just so cute! With your little arms and little legs, and even this pillowcase looks cute on you!"

'I could make a fortune out of this memory, or at least pretty good blackmail.' Blaise thought amusingly.

Feeling the small burning sensation in his pocket, he made his way back to the end of the corridor, where the others laid in wait.

"You guys felt that as well?" Blaise asked the others. Hermione nodded and picked out her coin from her pocket.

"Converge. Plan Q." Hermione read aloud.

Ron scratched his head, "Plan Q? Was that the one where Snape somehow found us out and tries to ruin everything?"

Tracy shook her head, "No that's Plan S."

"Plan Q is that something unexpected comes up, bigger than Umbridge and we need to meet up with them as soon as possible." Neville reminded them all.

Hermione looked at the booby trapped corridor worriedly, "We can't leave them be, we'll need someone to keep an eye on them and make sure no students enter this hallway."

"I'll keep watch, just send me a message through the coin if you need me." Neville took the map and cloak from Hermione and Blaise respectively.

As they moved to go to Harry and Lilith's location, Tracy noticed that Daphne had not made any type of movement from where she sat.

"Daph, are you gonna come with us?" Daphne looked at Tracy and shook her head.

"No, I've already made myself comfortable in this spot. You can go ahead without me."

Tracy gave an exasperated sigh but relented and left her in her spot. Hermione noticed their interaction and made eye contact with Daphne and gave her a smile and a thumbs up, and she returned it with one of her own, minus the smile.

Daphne and Neville watched on as they all quickly made their way to Umbridge's office, leaving the two of them seated side by side.

"Why didn't you go with them?" Neville asked her quietly. Daphne kept her eyes on the map as she replied to his question.

"As I said, I've already made myself comfortable. It would be a waste to move, one should always appreciate a good sitting spot." Daphne answered without a hint of humour or sarcasm. Although that did not stop Neville from smiling at her answer.

With a bit of hesitation, Neville tried to ask nonchalantly, "Is… Is that the only reason you stayed?"

Daphne answered him, still on the lookout for any students using the map, "No, I stayed to help you as well. you've always been a bit clumsy, Neville. It's quite cute."

The timid and shy Gryffindor boy reddened at her last comment, the butterflies in his stomach intensifying. He gathered up his Gryffindor courage and reciprocated her comment.

"I think you're pretty cute as well." He said, looking down in embarrassment. He was mortified to hear nothing from Daphne and he made a move to try and take back his comment but as he looked up towards her, he saw the red hue in her cheeks and slight quirk of her mouth.

Brightening up and swelling with happiness, he put on the cloak and turned around the corner to keep watch on them. seeing the transformation they all had taken, Umbridge's increasing ire, and Pansy babying Draco.

It was a good day for Neville Longbottom.

Harry paced back and forth as he waited for the others, while Lilith was still trying to open the last drawer of Umbridge's desk. hearing the footsteps of a group of people nearing them, Harry opened up the door and let all of them inside.

"Oh Merlin, It's like we're inside a pepto bismol bottle!" Tracy let out, horrified by the interior design.

Blaise, Ron, and Ginny just looked at her oddly, Hermione agreed with her assessment and looked at the decor in disdain, and Luna walked up to the one of the cats encased in Umbridge's plates and played with it with her finger.

"Umbridge's lack of taste aside, we have a problem." Harry said, gaining back the attention of the others - although Luna still played with the cat, this time trying to teach it tricks - and informed them of what he had seen.

"You're saying that Voldemort, probably the most evil wizard in history, is just in the Ministry of Magic. Isn't there supposed to be some kind of security there?" Hermione frantically looked towards the purebloods of the group.

"There usually is, but knowing the people inside of Voldemort's circle, they probably have most of the ministry in their pockets and they could have just simply told the security staff to go home." Blaise reasoned, which did not calm Hermione down at all.

Harry closed his eyes in thought, trying to think what to do in this situation. He thought to himself, 'What would Dumbledore do?'

A knock from the door in front of him was the answer fate had given him.

"Huh?! Isn't Neville supposed to warn us if Umbridge had broken through the traps?!"

Harry registered Ron's outburst and calmly answered his question, "I don't think it's Umbridge or anyone from the Inquisitorial Squad."

With slight trepidation, he neared the door and grasped on the doorknob. With a shaky breath out he turned it and swung it open…

Revealing the nonplussed expression of the Headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore.

"Ah… A pleasant day, Harry." Dumbledore took another look inside the room and amended his greetings, "And others. My, has Umbridge taken a page in Horace's book and made her own Umbridge club?'

Dumbledore entered the room, an odd circumstance that he definitely seems to thrive off of. He made his way to the desk inside the office and saw Lilith unabashingly still trying to open the last drawer of Umbridge's desk. Lilith noticed the sudden shadow that enveloped her and looked up to see the twinkling eyes of the Leader of the Light.

"Er… This isn't what it looks like?" Lilith said, her inflection rising in an attempt to seem innocent. An effort in vain.

The twinkling eyes of Dumbledore had not dimmed at the slightest and moved besides her position, still standing, "Well, I shan't ask what you are doing, but I can assume that you and I may have the same objective. Allow me."

As he waved his wands towards the desk, the lock that Lilith had spent all her focus on opened easily, as if it was nothing to him. The drawer opened revealing its contents.

"A tea set… The hardest lock on this bloody thing was to hide a stupid tea set?!"

Dumbledore seemed to have shared the same disappointed sentiment, albeit a lot more calmer than Lilith's, and he let out a sigh, "Alas, her priorities seem to be misplaced."

Opening another drawer, Dumbledore's face darkened as he took in the contents of the particular drawer he had opened, which Harry presumed to be the drawer Lilith first unlocked.

But bigger things were at stake now, and he had the person who can certainly handle the job, "Headmaster, I had another vision, and this time Voldemort himself is involved."

The Headmaster's eyes widened and he spared a weary glance towards the inhabitants of the room, something Harry saw and he waived off his concern.

"They know about the vision. They've already been involved so there's no point in keeping them in the dark." Harry felt himself becoming more confident as he spoke with Dumbledore, who only relented and nodded in understanding.

"Very well. Tell me about your vision. Leave nothing out."

As he relayed what he had seen from the eyes of Nagini, Dumbledore's face slowly became ashen as he realised that Voldemort had finally made his move.

"Sir, what should we do? We can't leave Voldemort all alone with his own devices, we have to do something!"

Making quick snap decisions in his mind, Dumbledore gazed at Harry with a small smile, "That is correct, we shouldn't leave Voldemort alone for long."

The others looked at each other in relief, perhaps they could actually get things done with Dumbledore's help.

"Alas, I ask that you leave the matter to me."

Harry blinked, confused at Dumbledore's statement, "Sir, with all due respect; I think I need to be there. I heard what Voldemort said, if anybody else appears down there, they'll kill them without question."

"I heard you clearly, Harry. I appreciate your help but you all are just minors and students. While these are hardened criminals we are facing. As such, as an adult and your headmaster, I cannot in good conscience let you or the others join. You all have long lives ahead of you." His voice carried a sense of melancholy as he gazed towards everyone, who avoided his eye contact. Everyone except Harry, who stared at him straight through with a defiant glare.

"Sir, please just listen, you have to know that not letting me join is ludicrous. I can be used as a decoy, let you guys have the advantage of a surprise attack. They have this obsession of talking first before they even do anything-" Harry tried to reason but Dumbledore was having none of it.

"No, your safety is paramount. You are not ready to take on Voldemort."

"It doesn't matter whether I'm ready or not sir, he's going to come at me regardless!"

Dumbledore paused at that, sensing that Harry meant something more in his words, "What do you mean, Harry?"

"Even you have to notice sir. Trying to kill me since I was a baby, trying to take my life no less than three times since I've come to Hogwarts, my scar and the mental connection we have together, his interest in the Room of Prophecies at the Ministry of Magic. No matter what, he'll always come after me, it's like we're destined to be enemies; and the fact that he seems to want me to go to the Hall of Prophecies only adds to that fact."

Dumbledore was completely flabbergasted, he had underestimated Harry's intuition. He weighed in his mind what to reveal and what not to reveal so that he may appease Harry.

He let out a sigh, his face seemed to sag, feeling every year of his age, "Oh, Harry. You always astound me with your perception and intuition, must be why you are so adept at Quidditch. Yes, you are correct in saying that you and Voldemort have a connection unique to you both, and that he will stop at nothing to make sure you are not amongst the living anymore, not only because of your connection but also because of your image as the hope of the wizarding world."

The fear in his eyes were evident, but in them burned the fierce bravery Harry had developed, something Dumbledore was surprised to see in someone so young, "Then you know that excluding me will just hurt my chances more in the long run. We're all involved now, and we're all willing to lend our wands to the fight, right guys?"

Ron was the first one to agree with Harry, "Damn right! We'll beat that no-nosed freak!"

"Language, Ron! But you're right, we'll always stand behind Harry, no matter what." Hermione finished, conviction in her voice.

"He hasn't led us astray just yet, and it'll be fun to get some revenge on Voldemort for ruining my First Year of Hogwarts." Ginny said, cracking her knuckles in anticipation.

Finished playing with the cats, Luna hopped beside Ginny, "The Orange Quapos think that going with Harry is a splendid idea, and everybody knows that no one should ignore the Orange Quapos!"

Tracy and Blaise gave each other a look, before they both broke into smiles.

"Hey, as long as we get to kick some Death Eater ass, I'm all ears!"

"Mother always said to never let unique opportunities pass me by."

Dumbledore couldn't help but feel inspired by the bond of friendship they all had shown in front of him and he swelled in pride as he watched Harry smile a bright smile from their affirmative support for him. He felt movement beside him and he watched as Lilith moved past him and hugged Harry's arm.

"Anywhere Harry goes, we go as well. Let's take down some evildoers!"

Dumbledore's smile was as wide as Harry's, "Then it is decided. Although, what do you all propose to actually get there?"

The sound of Blaise's throat clearing caught the room's attention.

"Ahem, I've done some light reading, and there are some creatures here at Hogwarts large enough and plenty enough to get us all there safely. Isn't that right, Luna?" Blaise eyed Luna playfully.

Luna responded with a great big grin.

Umbridge couldn't take it anymore, she had been standing at the deadend of the hallway for what seemed like forever, slaving away to break the ward that had trapped all of them. Unfortunately, she had not been the best in charms, thus the slow pace she was going at. Not to mention the useless minions she had just being a bunch of nuisances. The two hefty boys becoming halflings, the Bulstrode girl that she forced to not speak due to the thunderclaps everytime she spoke and the unnerving baritone her voice had become, and the Malfoy scion basically becoming into a dirty house elf, making Pansy equally as useless as she began to coddle the freak.

She had finally gotten to her last strand of sanity, and she let out a snarl as she aimed to destroy the bloody ward with a Bombarda.

But something had caught her foot and she blanched as she felt herself falling towards the wards that had transformed the others into monstrosities. Closing her eyes in fear, she let herself fall into the inevitable.

"Oof!"

The Inquisitorial Squad looked on as she dropped to the floor and became… Nothing?

"Huh? What?" Umbridge took a hold of herself, scanning her body for any changes that the ward had given her. It seems like she was completely normal.

"The… The ward is gone?"

With her body sagging down in pure relief, Umbridge shed tears that the hell was finally over.

"Yay! We're free!" She heard a baritone voice let out.

Kaboom!

"Ahhhh!"

"Crabbe, Yer' snout!"

"Ahhrrggg! Somebody, put out the fire!"

"Draco! Take off your pillowcase!"

"Get away from me, Pansy!"

Umbridge slumped to the ground, feeling like she was absolutely done with everything in the world.

A/N: The end is nigh! Leave some reviews, either low fat or skimmed is alright.