Arianna's eyes were filled with fear. What had just happened? Was it Hermione? The same thoughts flitted through Harry's mind. Arianna broke the echoing silence
."What – What should we do?"
Harry got to his feet."We have to get out and help!" He raised his wand. "The darkness powder's still working... Hermione could be out there, we've got to go."
"Harry, no. We can't. They want you, not Hermione!" Harry was looking at her as if she was mad. She sighed. "Harry, listen to me. Whoever that was, they won't hurt her, they need you and they won't pass up an opportunity to lure you out! Please. Stay here."
Harry remained still. Arianna could see his instincts battling behind those green eyes."Harry?""I'll- I'll stay. But we have to find the others soon."
"Of course. When the darkness powder fades we'll try and find them, okay?"
"Okay." Harry smiled. He sat back down beside Arianna on the damp ground. He noticed her eyes shining.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Arianna brushed her hair out of her eyes and seemed to recover herself. She suddenly became very aware that Harry was looking at her. She looked down, nervously. He's sitting kinda... close... isn't he? She looked up fleetingly and before she knew it, Harry's lips had found hers.
As they broke away from the kiss, each smiled a genuine smile, laughter reaching their eyes. Arianna's head suddenly jerked round, all traces of a smile gone. Harry nudged her. She shot him a warning look.
"Nox." She darkened her wand, Harry followed suit. They edged forwards.
"Who's there?!" Arianna spoke, a slight quiver in her voice.
Silence.
"IMPERIO!"
"PROTEGO!" Harry dove in front of Arianna, casting a shield spell as he went. The sound of collapsing rock behind them told them the spell had missed. Harry exhaled in relief. Then he froze. Footsteps. Silence ricocheted. And then a scream.
"Arianna!" Harry exclaimed, groping in the bare darkness.
Arianna felt a hand pressed against her throat and the fierce chill of the rock behind her back. The nails were sharp, the hands felt like a woman's. She gasped for air.
"Give yourself up or the pretty girl gets it, Potter."
Harry's rage rose up inside him like a monster at the sound of that voice. BellatrixLestrange Harry let out an antagonized roar as he charged towards her.
"CRUCIO!"
Bellatrix screamed and loosened her grasp on Arianna, ducking. Arianna dived to the left, gasping for breath. She froze as she felt a hand grasp her hair, tugging her upwards. She winced.
"Not quite, little girlie. My my, you are a pretty one, aren't you?" Bellatrix laughed. "So Harry, is our little game up now?" Harry fought to restrain himself. Think. He inched closer to her, shuffling along the ground. She was fighting to keep control of Arianna and was yet to notice Harry, as he shouted:
"EXELLIARMUS!"
Bellatrix's wand flew from her hand where it had been pointing at Arianna.
Arianna broke free from her grasp and stumbled over the debris into Harry's arms where she clung on to him to prevent herself collapsing. She muttered in his ear:
"We have to run. Now."
They took off, sprinting out the cave. The darkness was thinning now, faint shapes could be made out. Harry grabbed Arianna's hand as they ran until Harry's hand was wrenched from her grasp as he smashed into something and tumbled sideways. The figure turned around.
"Potter?" It whispered. Arianna knew that slimy voice.
"Snape!" She whispered. "What do we do?"
"Take this." Arianna felt something cool pressed into her palm.
"But what about the students? You can't let them stay here! You're a teacher, you have to do something!"
"Miss Blake, the students have gone. Lucius Malfoy was too worried about his son's safety to attack at his peril. Professor Umbridge, McGonagall, Flitwick and Sprout have been forced to leave, accompanied by death eaters, to Hogwarts. Dumbledore will surely be here soon, at which point you will be saved. Avoidance is key." There was a crack as Snape disappeared.
"Harry, are you okay?" she muttered as she found his silhouette on the ground.
"Mmm, fine. We need to go. The darkness is almost done." Harry felt a droplet of water on his forehead. It was raining. Stumbling, they began running across the cliff tops once more, not really knowing where they were going. Arianna looked down at the object Snape had given her.
She screamed.