Harry knocked on Professor Mcgonagalls's door. When he heard her call out "Enter,' he opened the door to her Transfiguration class room and went in. She was seated at her desk, with numerous brochures in front of her. He took a seat on the other side of her desk.
"Mr Potter, the purpose of this meeting is to discuss any possible career prospects you may have. Then we can look at the subjects you will need to take in your sixth and seventh years. Have you given any thought as to what career you'd be interested in?" she asked.
'If I'm alive', thought Harry grimly. He shook his head. "I haven't really given it a lot of thought. I have a lot of other stuff going on," he reminded her.
His professor nodded. "I know, Potter, but still, you must be prepared for a life after Hogwarts. You really have no aspirations?"
Harry shrugged. "I used to think about being an Auror. Moody, the fake one, told me I'd be good at it. My Dad was one too, so that's really all I've thought of."
Mcgonagall nodded. "You've been consistently high in your class of Defense against the Dark Arts. You're certainly top in the practical side of it. Of course, it's a difficult career path. You'd need at least five NEWTS, including Potions," she said, looking over the rim of her glasses.
"Great," sighed Harry in defeat. "Well, the only other thing I'm good at is flying."
"I think you do yourself a disservice. You have many strengths, Mr Potter. You are a natural leader, and despite the burdens placed upon your young shoulders, I've been pleased to see you approach the other houses and make friendships. Some of the younger students are in awe of you, yet you have treated them with kindness, Mr Creevy, in particular. Personally, I think you have the makings of a great teacher."
"Me? A teacher?" asked Harry, surprised.
"Here," said Professor Mcgonagall, handing him a brochure. "Read this and come see me again on...hmm Tuesday. Three O'clock. We'll discuss things further then."
Harry reached out to take it. "Okay, er, thanks," he said, gathering his bag and walking out reading the brochure. Him, a teacher?
As he left, he realised there was only a few minutes left of his last lesson, so he decided he may as well skip it. Seeing it was such a nice day, he decided to go outside and get some sun before he went to tea.
He was pleasantly surprised to see Ginny and Luna sitting down near Hagrid's hut. Ginny was doing something with her broom and Luna was talking.
"Hi. You girls skipping lessons," he teased as he sat next to them.
"No, but we got a break. Somone set off a stink bomb in the dungeouns, so we couldn't go to Potions. Damn shame," grinned Ginny.
"Someone?" asked Harry, nudging her.
Ginny shook her head. "Wasn't me. However, I DO suspect one, or shall we say, two wizards from Gryffindor; handsome devils with red hair."
"I think it's marvellous. It's too nice a day to be stuck in the dungeouns. I'd rather be outside, in the sunshine and watching the clouds. Ooh, look, it's a bunny," said Luna pointing.
"Where?" asked Ginny. Harry looked up as well. "I can't see it."
"It's right there. Come and lay down, then you'll see it," said Luna.
Harry and Ginny lay next to her and followed her finger."I guess it sort of looks like a rabbit," said Ginny doubtfully.
"I don't see it," said Harry.
"Silly, you have to take your glasses off," giggled Luna.
Harry took his glasses off and squinted. "Oh yeah, I see it," he lied. He put his glasses back on and sat up. Ginny sat up too and looked quizzically at him. Luna still lay there. Harry shrugged and winked. She screwed her nose up at him and stuck out her tongue.
"So, what's with your broom?" he asked, nodding at it.
Ginny picked it back up. "Oh, I had a problem with the Acceleration charm on it. Thought I'd come out and give it a good service, then if I had time, go for a fly. You keen?" She continued using the broom servicing kit he'd given her for Christmas. He was fascinated as she went over the various charms on the brooms and how she could fix them. He'd had no idea she knew all that stuff.
"Nah, Umbridge has got my broom, remember?" asked Harry.
"You can use my broom and I'd use a school broom," she offered.
"I don't-" began Harry, when - BOOM! "What was that?" He stood up and pulled out his wand.
They all looked back up to the castle. They could see Neville running towards them. Ginny and Luna stood up too; Ginny moving to Harry's side with her wand out.
Neville reached them, breathing hard. "Merlin, you should have seen it. Right in the Entrance Hall, and right in front of Umbridge. Fred and George set off a whole load of fireworks, best I've ever seen. One even chased the bitch away."
"Look," said Luna, pointing to the castle. Fireworks lit up the sky as students poured out of the castle to watch. In the sky, a 'W' exploded in a burst of colour, with two figures flying around it.
"They're mad. Brilliant, but mad," breathed Ginny.
The two figures on brooms headed their way. They swooped down but stayed on their brooms, hovering above the ground so that they were at eye level with the others.
"And thus ends our academic career," grinned George.
"In a blaze of glory," grinned Fred. "Hey Harry, we left you a small parcel on your bed. Just tap it and say the same thing you need to say to open the map. Oh, and take care of our little sister." He winked at Harry.
"Oy, I do not need taking care of," huffed Ginny.
"Yeah, well, you take care of him then, all right," said George, indicating Harry with a toss of his head.
Ginny rushed over to him and hugged him, then did the same to Fred. "I'm going to miss you both."
"We'll be in touch, Gin," assured George.
"You'll always be our ickle Ginniekins," grinned Fred.
Ginny shook her head at the familiar name, but stepped back. "You should probably go," she said sadly, with a glance at the castle. "Umbridge is bound to be looking for you."
"That was brilliant," said Neville, with a grin back at the castle.
George and Fred bowed. Fred flew over and kissed the back of Luna's hand. "Mi'lady."
"Come on, we should go," urged George. He flew higher in the air.
"My brother is as smart as he is handsome. Take care, kiddies. You'll be hearing from us soon," winked Fred, flying to join George in the air. Together, they flew off towards the Hogwarts gates.
"Oh," said Harry. He put his hand to his head. He felt strange. He stumbled back, making Ginny turn to him.
"Harry? Are you all right?" she asked, the smile on her face dying as she took in his pale face.
Harry shook his head and closed his eyes. He had a sudden vision of Sirius being tortured. "No," he breathed.
"Neville, help me lay him down," cried Ginny.
'Sirius screamed'. Harry squeezed his eyes shut at the sound. He 'heard'[ Sirius say-"I'll never let you get close to Harry."
"Harry, please, what's happening?" asked Ginny. She was scared for him.
Harry opened his eyes, squinting at the sun. "It's Sirius. He's being tortured. Voldemort has him."
Neville sucked in a breath at the name. "You-you saw it? Like at Christmas? You had a vision?"
Harry nodded. "Yeah. They've got Sirius at the Department of Mysteries. I saw the room, it's the same one as the one in my dream. Where all the prophecies are. I need to go."
"Go? Go where?" asked Neville, confused.
"To England. To the Ministry of Magic," yelled Harry, sitting up slowly, with Ginny and Luna's help.
"How are we going to get there? You heard Umbridge weeks ago. She's checking all fireplaces, so there's no way we can floo out. You don't have a broom and it looks like Ginny's is un-flyable at the moment," said Neville, looking around on the ground.
"Well, that's easy. We'll fly another way, of course," said Luna.
"Fly?" asked Ginny and Neville, while Harry said, "WE?"
Luna nodded and hurried off, with the other three following her. "It's the only way," cried Luna, running into the Forbidden Forest.
"Luna, wait," called Neville.
"Come on," said Harry. "I think I know what she's thinking."
Harry, Ginny and Neville ran to catch up with Luna. As they ran up a small hill and came to the top, they looked down to see Luna seemingly pat something.
"What is she doing?" asked Neville.
Harry started to walk down the hill, with the other two following him. "It's the Thestrals. The creatures that pull the carriages?"
Neville and Ginny shook their heads.
"They're kind of like horses. There is a whole herd here. They're magnificent," said Harry, glancing around in awe.
Luna smiled as she patted the nose of one. "Harry, you should take Ginny and I'll take Neville," she said.
"Look, you guys don't have to come with me. It could be dangerous," warned Harry.
"Harry, stop wasting time and get on the...thing. Then you can help me up. We need to get to Sirius," said Ginny, determinedly. She was looking around, unaware that there was a Thestral right beside her.
Luna easily hopped on to hers. She held out her arm for Neville. He took it and pulled himself up, startled to feel the creature beneath him. "This is so weird. I can feel it, but I can't see it. Thanks, Luna." He grinned and kissed her cheek.
Harry climbed up on one of the Thestrals. He righted himself, then leaned down for Ginny. She swung herself up behind her, and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"All right?" he asked her.
She tightened her grip on him. "Let's go," she said, determindly.
He pulled her hand up and kissed the back of it. She leaned her face against his back.
Harry looked to Luna. "Okay Luna, you lead."
Luna smiled serenly. She gently kicked the flank of the creature. "Hiyup," she called. Harry copied her and soon they were off.
They soared high above the ground. It was like they were flying amongst the clouds. If it wasn't for the worry about Sirius, Harry would even say he was enjoying it. He could see a big smile on Neville's face and was sure that Ginny was enjoying it too.
It took them nearly three hours to fly to London. By now, it was early evening. Harry had cast a Disillusion spell so no-one would notice two Thestrals landing in a laneway behind some empty shops in Diagon Alley.
"Thank you," cried Luna, to the Thestrals as they prepared to fly back to Hogwarts.
"So, what now?" asked Neville, his adrenaline pumping.
"We go the Leaky Cauldron and floo to the Ministry of Magic," said Harry, already striding there.
"Harry, wait. I think you should send a Patronus to someone. Remus or Tonks, maybe? My brother Bill?" suggested Ginny.
"Good idea. I'll send it to Tonks. If she's already at the Ministry, she'll be able to meet us there. She'll probably message Remus too," said Harry, conjuring his Patronus. He sent it off and looked back at them. "Right, let's go."
"I've never been to the Ministry of Magic before," said Luna happily.
"This isn't going to be a sight seeing trip," said Harry, grimly. Ginny lay a hand on his arm and he calmed down. "Sorry, Luna."
"It's fine. You're worried for your godfather. So let's go and get him and then I can look around," she said sweetly.
Neville grinned. "Sounds like a plan."
The hurried into the Leaky Cauldron and flooed to the Ministry. "Keep your heads down, try to look like we belong here," whispered Harry.
The joined the throng of people heading for the lifts. Most were heading home from work. Harry, Ginny, Neville and Luna had to wait for one that was going down. They got in and Ginny urged them to hold on. The lift shot back, then hurtled down.
"Ninth Floor, Department of Mysteries," announced the lift operator in bored, tired voice. "Have a good day." The lift closed behind them and zoomed back up.
"This is where the Unspeakables work," said Neville. "My Mum was one." Harry remembered Sirius saying his and Neville's parents were friends, and their two mums worked together, in this very place.
"Mine too," said Harry. Damn, no Tonks, he realised.
They all went down a plain corridor until they came to a simple black door. Harry opened it and they all went inside. They found themselves in a circular room with several handless doors all around it. The room was lit with candles that burned blue.
"You know, Daddy did a story about the Department of Mysteries. Did you know the Minister himself uses this department to make poisons that he secretly feeds to anybody who disagrees with him," she said, conversationally.
"Really?" asked Neville, doubtfully. Luna nodded, as she followed Harry.
"So, which door?" asked Ginny, looking around.
"We need to find the room with the prophecies," said Harry, striding to open a door. They all held their wands out in defence.
"Oh, it's beautiful," said Luna, going inside. "Look at all the planets."
"Wow, look at the stars," gasped Ginny, looking up and around.
"Come on, it's not the right room," urged Harry. Neville gently pulled Luna away.
"Let'sa try this one," said Harry, opening another door. This time he and Neville went ahead of the girls.
"That's a lot of clocks," said Neville, looking around in awe. "Why would there need to be so many. Hey, what's this?"
"A Time-Turner," said Harry, backing away.
"That would be handy," said Neville.
"You have no idea," said Harry, remembering his third year.
"Harry, I can't open this door. Can you try your knife?" asked Ginny, from across the way.
"You should have waited for me. We need to do this together," reprimanded Harry.
He pulled out his penknife that Sirius had given him for Christmas. It was supposed to open any lock, but to Harry's dismay, the blade melted away. "Damn," he said, kicking the door. He threw the pen-knife away.
"Come on, Harry," said Ginny, grabbing his arm. "Next one."
They came to the next door, and Harry pushed it open. At once, he recognised it.
"This is it. The Hall of Prophecies," he said.