George didn't like that Thea had had to go ahead with the others, not when she was hurt. Instead, he fought back to back with his brothers and with Hermione. They were outnumbered, as Ginny, Neville, and Luna had been, but they were managing-barely. And then, as if they knew what he had been thinking, Ginny and other members of the DA came rushing in. "They're almost contained upstairs," Ginny told them. "Neville and Luna have got it-plus with a few more of our friends." Apparently, their friends had just arrived late.

"Go, we've got this," Ron motioned George, Fred, Hermione, and some of the DA on to head down to the Department of Mysteries.

When they got down there to the main room, Thea was dueling Orrin, but there was little else going on. "What is she doing?" George asked Jax.

"Buying time until you got here," Jax explained. "We need to get to the dais."

George nodded. "Is she okay?"

Jax didn't answer immediately.

"Jax, is she okay?"

"She's doing what she needs to do," Jax told him. "And we need to do what we need to do."

"To hell with that," said George. "You get the dais. I'm going to help her."

Before Jax could argue, George took off toward where Thea and Orrin were battling. He was glad he did, too, because Thea was struggling. Her movements were a little slower than he was used to seeing them, and he could see how she gritted her teeth against the pain. George just barely managed to pull her away from a flying curse.

"George? What are you doing down here? I thought you were upstairs?"

"I was," he told her. "But reinforcements came. You really didn't think I would stay up there when the real action was down here?" Really, he hadn't wanted to let her face Orrin alone.

"But..."

"And Jax has got the dais," George told her. "Now let's finish Orrin off and get out of here."

Another curse went flying their way, and George deflected it. "Come on," he told her. "I can't do this without you."

George was good, but the fact of the matter was that Orrin was just better. Even if he wasn't, this was Thea's fight.

Soon curses were flying in both directions, though George kept a close eye on Thea. They needed to finish this battle quickly, before her potion wore off completely. Finally, Thea managed to get a stun spell in, and it hit its mark.

"Incarcerous," George said quietly, pointing his wand at the now unconscious Orrin. He didn't want to take any chances of him getting away. Then he turned to focus on Thea beside him. She was bent over gripping her side, and her skin was as pale, paler than he was used to seeing it. Gently he put arm behind her back and under her arms to help support her. He glanced over his shoulder at Jax, who was making progress toward the dais. George jerked his head toward Orrin, and Jax nodded. George started leading Thea out.

"No," she said softly. "We have to destroy the dais, and I'm the only one who can lead them out."

"Well, we're getting out of the way of fire," he told her. "And no arguments."

Thea didn't argue, and he helped her move off to the side. "So how do you want to destroy it?" he asked, glancing over at the dais. Jax was being blocked, but George and Thea now had a clear path.

"There's a spell," she told him.

"One of your own invention I'm guessing?"

Thea nodded.

"Do you have enough left in you to cast the spell?" he asked her. She looked pretty beat. He didn't want her to cast it and then collapse, because it took too much out of her.

Thea hesitated, and he had his answer. "Does Jax know the spell?"

Thea nodded again.

"All right then. Stay here," George told her, and he headed over to where Jax was fighting. "Go help Thea," George told him. "I've got this."

"I thought you were helping her," said Jax as the pair fought back to back.

"I was, but she needs you for this one," said George, focusing on the battle as Jax made his way over to Thea.