Jax had helped Thea to the kitchen where she got to work on the potion. "So what does this potion do?" he asked her.

"It will help kick start some healing," said Thea, "but mostly it will just help with the pain until this is over, and I can receive real medical attention." That was assuming that she survived this final battle-she had no delusions that this could be the end for her. Going into a battle after having been tortured for hours was generally not a good idea.

"No-don't go thinking like that."

Thea raised an eyebrow. "Reading my mind now?"

"No, but I know you, and I know that look. You don't think you're going to survive this."

Thea shook her head. "I don't know anything other than that we need to do whatever it takes to destroy that dais. I'm already injured, and Orrin will target me. My odds of surviving that at this point are slim. I don't have a death wish, and I'd rather live than die," she told him. "But I hold no delusions that I am unstoppable. I'm just being realistic."

"Well, stop it!" said Jax.

"Stop what?" George asked, returning with Fred.

Jax shook his head. "Maybe you can talk some sense into her." And he headed out of the room.

"What does Jax want me to talk you into some sense about?" George asked Thea.

Thea shook her head. "Nothing. We should get ready to head out."

George grabbed her arm to stop her from leaving the room. "You know we're going to have to have a conversation after this is all over."

Thea chuckled at that. "Don't we always?"

George laughed along with her. "Yeah, that seems to be our mantra."

Fred cleared his throat.

Both Thea and George turned toward him. "Yeah, sorry," said George. "Fred, this is Thea Walker, former unspeakable, and Thea, I know you've technically met him already, but this is Fred."

"It's nice to meet you," said Thea.

"Likewise," said Fred, bending forward in a bow, before rising again. "Any friend of Georgie's is a friend of mine," he told her, just as Harry came into the room.

"We're heading out," he told them, his gaze falling on Thea. "You doing all right?"

"Well enough as I can be," she told him. "Let's go."

They disapparated and reappeared outside the ministry, while a few others appeared. Thea recognized two of them as Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood. The only problem was that some of the Elite were waiting for them outside.

"We've got this," Ginny told them, joining Neville and Luna and gesturing for the others to go ahead. They were outnumbered two to one, but there were likely to be more of the Elite waiting for them inside.

The rest of them went in. As predicted, more of the elite were there. "We'll handle this," Hermione told Thea, referring to herself and the twins. "Just get to the dais."

So Thea led Jax and Harry down to the Department of Mysteries, where Orrin and a group of the Elite were waiting. "Thea, so good of you to join us," said Orrin. "You see, we've been expecting you."

Thea stepped forward. "Well, then let's get on with it."

Jax grabbed her arm. "What are you doing?"

"Buying time," she whispered back.

Orrin sighed. "Thea, you know you can't take me."

"That's not what you were saying earlier," Thea pointed out.

Orrin narrowed his eyes. "Maybe, but that was then. You're all used up, Thea. You don't have any fight left."

"And yet, you don't make any moves to attack me," said Thea. "Why is that?"

Orrin turned sharply to the Elite to his left, who were edging toward Thea and the others. "Do nothing. She's merely trying to distract me. Guard the dais. I'll handle her."

Thea sent a stun spell at him, not really expecting to hit her mark. Orrin blocked it, and then they began dueling in earnest.