Chapter 15: The Rescue

At the Ministry,

"Have you seen anything of Potter?" Fudge asked Malfoy.

"None." Lucius said unknown that the boy in question was listening in on the conversation.

"The boy is talking too much." Dolores Umbridge said. "He'll ruin your reputation minister."

"Don't you think I know that already?" Fudge said sharply.

"Please work." Harry said a silent prayer as he waved his mother's wand at Malfoy's left arm.

He had switched wands with her when she wasn't looking.

Malfoy's sleeve ripped to reveal the Dark Mark. Visible enough for everyone to see that not only did Malfoy have one, but that it was activated.

"Doing some quick thinking, Shaklebolt apprehended Malfoy and poured Vertiserum down his throat."

"What is your name?"

"Lucius Malfoy."

"Are you a death eater?"

"I am."

"Malfoy?" Fudge asked in amazement.

"Is You-Know-Who back among us?"

"He is." Malfoy answered.

Percy dropped his quill. His parents had been right.

Suddenly, Mad-Eye appeared.

"Okay. What's going on?" Moody asked.

"Malfoy had just admitted being a Death Eater and the return of He-who-must-not-be-named." Kingsley filled in the once-retired auror.

"Take him to Azkaban!" Fudge yelled.

Harry winced. He didn't want THAT to happen. He had wanted to follow Malfoy to the hideout. Harry had hoped that Malfoy would make a break for it. However, something caught his eye.

It was a rat. With a silver paw.

Harry took a deep breath to will himself not to kill the rat. Instead, the teen followed the rat as it scurried to its master.

0000

In the Department of Mysteries,

"Why did I risk my arse to save you?" Sirius asked Snape as they were bound to the wall next to each other in shackles.

"Because you are both members of the Order." Remus answered as he was bound in between Sirius and James.

"Crucio."

Remus winced in pain as he struggled not to cry out.

"I will have no talking amongst my prisoners." Voldemort said.

POP

"Master." Peter said as he transformed while running to his master. "We have been found out. Lucius' sleeve ripped and he was given Vertiserum."

"Does the Minister know where we are?" Voldemort asked.

"No Master." Peter said.

"Then it is no concern. Merely a set back."

None saw the black phoenix fly up to the rafters. Harry had transformed at the same time as Peter to cover up the sound of his own transformation. He had the invisibility cloak in his pocket with his mother's wand.

Voldemort left the prisoners with the rat and the phoenix.

"Why?" James asked Pettigrew.

"Why what?" Peter asked.

"Why betray us? We taught you everything we know. We treated you like a brother." James asked as tears developed as he remembered the good old days.

"I didn't want to get killed." Peter said as if it was obvious. "The Dark Lord was, and is winning. As a follower, I was guaranteed life."

"What made you think WE wouldn't kill you?" Sirius said as he tried to go for the rat.

"Because the Dark Lord would finish you off before you could kill me." Peter said with full trust in his master.

Suddenly, Remus' right hand was free. He quickly grabbed his wand and stunned the death eater.

"Let's kill him." Sirius said as Remus dropped from his chains.

"Let's turn him in." James suggested as he was dropped from his bonds. "That way we can get you cleared. THEN we kill him."

Snape suddenly was freed.

"Fine." Sirius pouted as he was dropped.

Harry was in his fairy form as he had unlocked the shackles that bound the Marauders and their worst enemy (next to Voldemort).

Suddenly, there was the sound of footsteps.

"Let's go." Snape said.

The Marauders ran carrying Pettigrew between them. Remus taking good care not to tough the silver hand.

After they vanished through a door,

POP

Harry stood between the oncoming Death Eaters and his retreating family.

"Potter!" Voldemort said when he spotted the teen.

"Hi Tom." Harry said with a smirk.

"How DARE you?!" Voldemort yelled.

"How dare I what?" Harry asked. "Free your prisoners? Expecto Patronum!"

The stag emerged from the wand giving Harry the coverage he needed to make a break for it.

Harry ran through the department with the hopes of finding some backup. Instead, he ran into a room with only one door and a veil. Voices were heard in the veil.

"Potter is mine!" Voldemort roared as he and the Death Eaters came into the room. "Nowhere to run Potter. And no one to shield you."

Harry gripped his mother's wand. His heart was pounding in his chest.

"Crucio!" Voldemort said.

The red beam shot towards Harry. Harry dodged to the side. Voldemort followed.

The two dueled for a good thirty minutes. During which time, the Ministry appeared after hearing the noise, and watched the duel. Aurors and Order Members were grabbing Death Eaters right and left.

Soon, it got to where Harry had his back to the veil and Voldemort was facing him. Voldemort had not tried the killing curse yet, because he thought it would not work like the last time. He didn't realize Harry switched wands.

Instead, Voldemort conjured up a long silver dagger.

"Oh boy." Harry said realizing what the Dark Lord was going to do.

Voldemort ran for the boy.

"Stay back!" Harry ordered the Order Members who were starting to run towards him. "This ends now."

Voldemort raised his dagger and started to lunge. However, with his Quidditch skills, Harry ducked and tripped Voldemort to send him flying into the veil. Harry was still laying on the floor, unharmed.

Things were starting to look good except for one thing:

In the process of tripping Voldemort, Harry's foot entered the veil. And the veil was starting to pull him in.

TBC