Umbridge hastily escorted Harry and Hermione out of the office, her wand pointed at their backs. Harry looked around worriedly at Ginny as they were leaving and the door closed behind them. Silence filled the empty office and Malfoy groaned, "Great! Now what are we supposed to do with this lot while Miss Pink is off with those two?" Ginny couldn't help but roll her eyes and she retorted, "Seriously? That's the best nickname you could come up with?" Malfoy smirked, "Well, at least it's not one that would get me into all sorts of trouble, Weaslette." He said as sidled up to her and got too close for comfort. She refused to break from his intense, blue gaze as Ron said suddenly, "Crabbe, Goyle, want some sweets? They're a new brand my brothers are making and they are so rich that I couldn't bear to have another one!"
Ginny frowned. Why on earth was Ron trying to bribe Crabbe and Goyle to eat sweets at this time? She watched as Ron handed out sweets among the lot of them, and chucked some to Malfoy. They all ripped them open, put them in, swallowed and began puking everywhere! Ginny grinned! Puking pastilles! She scrambled for their wands and found them in one of Umbridge's draws, before stunning every Slytherin in the room.
She took great pleasure to see Malfoy stunned on and not being able to do anything about it. Ron paused for a second and said, "Accio wands!" before taking the Slytherin's wands from then. Then Ginny hurried into the corridor and Ron said quickly, "We need to find Harry and Hermione." Neville nodded, "Agreed. What exactly is going on?" Luna said loftily, "We'll explain on the way, Neville." Ginny heard Luna explaining and she turned to Ron, "What did Hermione think Dumbledore's secret weapon was?" Ron frowned and then whispered, "Grawp!" She frowned and he began running as they all followed him towards the dark forest.
Ginny yelled to Ron as they ran, "Can you please explain what is going on?" As she said it, she ran smack bang into Harry as she crossed the bridge. Hermione grinned, "How did you lot get away?" Ginny hugged Harry tightly and then turned to Hermione, "It was amazing, really! Ron gave the Inquisitorial Squad puking pastilles! They began vomiting everywhere and we made a run for it!" Neville chuckled, "That wasn't the best part! Ginny managed to stun all of them and get our wands, as well as theirs!" He said it was so much pride that it made Ginny blush a little. Harry beamed at her and said proudly, "That's my girl!" as she gave everybody their wands back.
Harry asked them all, "Now, how are we getting to the ministry?" Everyone was surprised when Luna said loftily, "We fly, of course!" Ginny frowned, "On broomsticks? But Umbridge has Harry's locked away." Luna shook her head, "Nope. On threstral's!" Ginny frowned, "What are threstral's Luna?" Luna was staring at Harry who nodded, "They're the horse-like animal's who pull the carriages and can only be seen by someone who's seen death. They're in the forest." Ginny squeezed his hand and nodded, "Ok, let's go." They walked down the rest of the bridge quickly before they arrived at the edge of the forest and Ginny murmured, "How are we going to see them?" Harry smiled, "I'll help you up. You can ride with me."
The group reached a clearing in the forest and it was silent for a second before Luna pointed, "They're over there!" Ginny followed her finger, but still couldn't see anything. Harry led her over to one of the Threstral's and he pushed her hand against it, "Can you feel it?" he asked. She nodded as she felt soft skin under her hands, even though it looked like she was touching nothing. He nodded and knelt down, clasping his hands together as he said, "Up you go!" She felt for the back as she placed her foot in his hand and he pushed. She climbed on easily, leaving enough space for him in the front.
Ginny watched as Hermione climbed onto one with Neville, and Luna climbed on with Ron. Harry hopped onto her Thestral and he nodded, "Let's go!" He rubbed the side of the animal's stomach and Ginny clasped her hands around Harry's waist. She had nearly fallen off in the take-off!
They soared over the treetops smoothly and as stressful as this situation was, she quite liked being so close to Harry. She knew he wasn't the type to let someone be so physically close to him if they didn't mean anything to him. She felt her heart pounding as they rose higher above the treetops. Then they were moving forward and she felt like she was clinging for dear life as her hair flapped around her face.
Harry whispered, "You okay?" She nodded and replied, "I think I'd prefer to be riding something I could physically see, like Buckbeak. But otherwise I'm okay. And you?" He nodded that he was fine but she could tell he was stressed about Sirius as she whispered in his ear, "We'll get there on time, Harry. You'll see."
Thirty minutes later, they landed outside the Ministry of Magic and Harry showed them that the Muggle entrance was through an old telephone box. They went down it and landed right in the middle of the Ministry of Magic. By now the sun had fallen and thankfully the place was deserted. Hermione asked quietly, "Where now, Harry?" He said, "This way…" and they all climbed in a lift. He pulled one of the levers hanging from the ceiling and they flew down again.
Once on the bottom most floor of the ministry, they hurried along a dark corridor to the end. They found an empty door, through which they had to use Alohamora on. The door creaked open and they stepped inside. The place was filled with shelves and shelves of orb-like globes which somewhat illuminated the otherwise quiet, dark room.
They ran down the middle until they reached the centre and Harry whispered, "It was here. They were torturing him here." They looked around and Hermione whispered, "There's no-one here, Harry." Harry didn't answer immediately and Ginny took his hand in hers. He was silent and she could tell he was fretting about whether or not his vision had been true. She squeezed his hand and was about to pull him back to the entrance when Ron murmured, "Harry…it's got your name on it."
The group turned to see what Ron was referring to. A globe had Harry's name written on it and Harry stared, "It's saying something!" he said, entranced. Ginny frowned and shook her head, "Harry, it's not…" before Luna nodded, "I hear it's too. There are people in there." Ginny frowned at Ron, Hermione and Neville, who seemed just as shocked as her. Harry was about to take it when Neville protested, "No! Harry don't! It could be dangerous!" Harry said defensively, "It's got my name on, right Neville? It's to do with me." As he picked it up, the sphere in his hand said in a snake-lie whisper: "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies…And the Dark Lord will mark him as equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not…And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives…The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies..." Silence echoed among them and Ginny felt her heart pounding. What on earth did this mean? Harry was Riddle's equal?
Harry closed his hand around it and suddenly there was laughter. They all jumped and Lucius Malfoy appeared beside him, with none other than Bellatrix Lestrange, who was cackling away dementedly. Lucius smiled cunningly and Ginny couldn't help but think of Draco when she looked at him with despite. He smirked just like his son as Death Eater's surrounded them on all sides.
Lucius commented, "Good, good, Potter. You fell for our little trap. Your godfather is not here." Ginny tightened her grip on Harry's hand (to prevent him from lashing out and making a thoughtless move) as he made to step in front of her. She glanced around nervously as the Death Eater's formed a circle around the five of them, their wands out. Ginny did the same and she released Harry's hand. Lucius said stiffly, "Now Potter, just give me the prophecy, and you and your friends can go free." Harry snapped, "I don't believe you." Lucius rolled his eyes and sneered, "Alright then. Bellatrix, take the Weasley girl."
Bellatrix grabbed her forcefully and put her in a stranglehold. She pointed her wand at Ginny's temple and Lucius laughed, "Isn't it ironic, Potter, that you were the cause for this girl's near-death a few years ago, and you may very well be the cause of her near-death again." Harry growled irately, "I was not the reason she ended up in the chamber in the first place, Lucius, as you well know!"
Harry continued furiously, "You've harmed her once before, Lucius. I'm not letting it happen again!" There was silence as Harry's angry words echoed throughout the room. Harry continued irritably, "Alright then. Tell me. What has this prophecy got to do with me?" Bellatrix sneered, "You're joking, Potter!" Harry shook his head, "Not at all. I want to know what this prophecy has to do with me." Lucius shook his head and smirked, "It's not just about you, Potter. It's about you and the Dark Lord. It's why he tried to kill you as an infant." Harry raised his eyebrows and replied, "So…so the Dark Lord lured me here, by pretending Sirius was kidnapped in order to get this prophecy. Why didn't Voldemort come and get it himself?" Bellatrix snarled, "How DARE you use his name! You filthy halfblood!" Harry sighed and shook his head, "You know Voldemort was a halfblood too, or does he pretend he's pure?"
Ginny heard Hermione groan in frustration at Harry's stupidity. Come to think of it-Ginny had never known that Riddle was half blood. She wondered idly how Harry knew. Ginny saw Lucius roll his eyes menacingly and retorted, "ENOUGH! Both of you! Now listen, Potter, hand me the prophecy or watch your friends die." Bellatrix tightened her hold on Ginny's neck and she forced herself to remain calm. Panicking right now or showing any sign of discomfort wouldn't do anyone any good.
Ginny gulped but otherwise refused to show any sign of fear. She stood firmly in her place as she felt Bellatrix's wand being pressed hard into her temple. Harry said firmly, "You won't tell me what it's about, will you?" Lucius smirked again like his son (Ginny guessed this is where Draco got that look from) and he said menacingly, "Oh Potter, Dumbledore never told you that it has the answer to why you survived? As to why you have the scar on your forehead?"
Suddenly, out of the blue, Harry yelled, "NOW!" and the four of them yelled, "REDUCTO!" Harry grabbed her hand as Bellatrix and Malfoy were blasted aside, pulling her towards the doorway. She yelled at him, "What about the others?" He shook his head and yelled back, "They will meet us there!" However, a couple of Death Eater's intercepted their path and between the two of them, they managed to temporarily get rid of them. A few globes fell down close to their heads, smashed into tiny pieces as they aimed curses in every direction.
Half way down the corridor, someone ran into her from a side isle. She screeched and then sighed in relief, "Ron! Don't scare me like that!" He had Hermione and then another figure bumped into her from the other side of the same isle. Neville was with Luna. Harry pulled her hand frantically and as he did, Ginny saw a Death Eater she didn't know approaching them. She aimed her wand at the man and shouted again, "REDUCTO!" He flew out of site. Ron yelled, "Nice one, sis!" and then there was a second of silence, before rows and rows of prophecies began falling down the passage and splintering as they hit the floor.
Harry shouted, "RUN!" and pulled her hand jarringly forward. As they reached the door and jumped through it, they began falling. They were all screaming as Hermione yelled as spell which prevented them from hitting the floor. As they stopped inches above the ground, they then fell seconds later onto hard stone.
They all stood up to see an empty arch. It was strangely eerie and Ginny had a bad feeling about it. She shied away and took a few steps backwards. Harry walked towards it daringly and was frowning at it. He asked everybody, "What is it saying?" Ginny frowned and Hermione answered, "It isn't saying anything, Harry." That when Harry said suddenly, "Everybody! Get behind me!" They all circled behind him, wands out as Ginny suddenly felt a sweeping movement.
She felt herself being lifted up off the ground and a swirl of black darkness surrounded her. She couldn't see temporarily, until she felt her feet hit solid ground again. Then there was a cackle she was now all too familiar with. When her vision recovered seconds later, she saw Lucius standing in front of Harry, looking tall and regal, his hand outstretched. Next she realized that the Death Eater she had cursed minutes before, was now choking her too.
Harry was staring around, looking trapped. He hand the prophecy still, but Ginny wasn't surprised when Lucius said, "Now, Potter, give me the prophecy…or watch your friends die." Harry's eyes tightened as he glanced around the room and then his eyes landed on Ginny. He seemed so defeated that it was an expression Ginny had never seen on him before. He looked at her apologetically and she tried to smile at him as the Death Eater who was choking her tightened his grasp.
Neville yelled, "Don't do it Harry!" Bellatrix tightened her grasp too, and that's when Harry handed it to Lucius, who closed his eyes in relief. Ginny didn't mind that he had given it to the Slytherin. If it meant sacrificing the prophecy so that everyone else could live, she knew Harry would do it. Harry would always do what was right.
Then suddenly, a flash of white light appeared next to Harry. Sirius! He looked murderous as he said to Lucius, "Get away from my godson!" Before he punched Lucius and then began attacking him with his wand. However, as he did, Ginny watched Lucius drop the prophecy on the floor and it cracked like the rest of them. Several other bright, white lights appeared and Ginny recognized Lupin, Tonks, Kingsley and her dad. Her heart sank when she saw him.
Tonks single-handedly managed to free Luna, then Ginny, Ron, Hermione and Neville. They all hid behind the rocks and the order members managed to dispel most of the Death Eater's. Ginny watched as Harry fought Lucius with Sirius. Sirius yelled, "Nice one James!" as Harry aimed a particularly good shot. Then it all happened as if in a blur-Bellatrix appeared on top of a particularly tall rock face and she screeched, "AVADA KEDAVRA!"
Ginny watched in horror as the spell hit Sirius in the centre of his chest. She watched him fall backwards into the empty arch-unable to do a thing. Harry's mouth fell open in shock as he saw Sirius disappear into nothingness. He cried an angry cry that was absolutely heart wrenching. Ginny wanted to run to him, but she was frozen in surprise. Ginny watched as Bellatrix smirked at Harry and sped out of the room. Lupin clasped Harry around his chest, holding him back as Harry fought against him.
Ginny stared at Hermione, who wore the same horror-struck expression that she probably was. Harry. Her Harry was in agony. Sirius had just died. His only, living family members. Her heart ached for him and for some unexplainable reason, she broke down into tears.
Author's Note: Hey guys! I really must apologies! I know I said a new chapter would be up on Thursday but I've been feeling really tired for good reasons. My grandmother passed away on Wednesday (06 Mya 2015) afternoon, afternoon suffering a long illness. I've been dealing with the emotional tiredness of that. So I dedicate this chapter to my grandmother, who I loved very dearly. She was such a sweet, kind and beautiful women full of love and laughter and I know I will always miss you terribly, granny.
It's kind of appropriate also that Sirius dies at this point so I know how Harry feels. Death is a really strange concept to come to terms with, but if someone is suffering a lot (like my granny was in the last few days) then you feel a bit relieved when they are out of their pain. However that's how Sirius's death is different. There was really no reason for him to die. I really sympathise with Harry at the moment.
Also another reason why this chapter took a lot longer than expected is because I know this is a lot more like the movies version of things. That's because this book is dragging a little and I kind of want to cut to the chase now. It's the longest out of all of the years that I've written in terms of the amount of words and length of chapters. It makes sense because the fifth book is longest of them all but I also feel like some stuff that happened in the Department of Mysteries wasn't really necessary and it was a bit drawn out. Anyway here's my version of it and I hope you guys enjoy! Thanks always to my incredible reviewers! You're the best!