Disclaimer: I do not own the world of Harry Potter.

I hated flying.

Heights terrified me.

The horse bucked slightly underneath me and I squealed, gripping my arms around the horse's neck and squeezing my eyes shut even tighter than they already were.

"Evie!" I squinted at Harry, because I didn't dare open them any further than that. From what I could see, he looked really concerned. "You alright?"

"Peachy, Harry!" I called back. "Just Peachy!"

This was ridiculous. Sirius Black was innocent, apparently, and kidnapped by You-Know-Who, caught in the clutches of a madman and here I was panicking on the back of the Thestral, who was probably getting tired of me squeezing its neck. I tried to take deep breaths, though it was hard and the wind blew in my face. I was more than happy to feel the horse finally touched down, though it was hard landing and I thought for a minute I might fall off.

"Evelyn?" I looked down at Ron who, though pale and shaken was holding out his hands to me. I mean, at least I had been able to see the horse. I took his hands and he helped me slide off. I couldn't believe that I was the oldest one on this little expedition and I was the one freaking out the most

And it was hard to believe that I was even here. When Harry told me what needed to be done, I was skeptical. I mean, breaking and entering into Umbridge's office? It was crazy! I was supposed to be a Ravenclaw and smarter than that. But then Luna was there and she reassured me everything would be fine and I listened, even when we got caught by those rough housing Slytherins.

We finally came into the Atrium and I followed Harry the rest to the lifts, my wand out. This could all be one huge colossal mistake. I shouldn't have come. What if something happens and I'll never really see Cedric again? Because, aside from the popular opinion, I still loved Cedric so much that it hurt, even if I couldn't say. Maybe I should have went with the boys and talked to him like they had asked.

It didn't matter now, I realized as the lifts rattled down. Harry had asked for help and here I was, along with five other fifth years. I felt as if they needed me right now. If – when we got out of here and back to Hogwarts, I'd immediately go and find Cedric and I would yell it in the Great Hall if he wanted me to. I would scream that I loved Cedric Diggory, always had, always will. Forever.

"Department of Mysteries," the cool female voice said.

I snapped back into reality as the lift opened and Harry looked back at us.

"Let's go," he whispered.

But right now, I had younger kids to focus on.

"Stupefy!" I yelled and the Death Eater aiming his wand at Harry ad Neville. The two boys were still struggling to get up the stairs, out of the way.

As soon as I spun back around, I had to throw up a Shield . . . the force of their spell sending me skidding backwards. "Perfiticus Totalus!"

The Death Eater's arms and legs snapped together and the he keeled over backwards. I turned again, and saw another Death Eater pointing his wand at a pink haired woman who was too busy to notice him. Slashing my wand in his direction, I hit him with a non-verbal hex that sprouted boils over his face. He dropped his wand, his hands flying to his face in pain. The pink haired witch spared a glance over her shoulder at him and then at me, smiling. "Thanks!" she cried.

"No problem!" I said, pointing my wand at another Death Eater. "Impedimenta!"

"You're good at this," the lady said, moving towards me, still fighting. "I'm Tonks."

"Evie."

"Nice to meet you." She grinned as she hit another Death Eater, this time with a Bat Bogey hex.

"Nice one."

"Well aren't you both two peas in a pod." Tonks pushed me slightly out of the way as a green jet of light rushed between us, the breeze rustling my hair.

The woman I knew to be Bellatrix Lestrange stood in front of us, wand out. She was even crazier looking in person. She lunged forward, a purple jet of light narrowly missing Tonks, who ducked just in time. I threw up a shield as the same spell came towards me, and I skidded back again. I could feel my heels on the edge of the steps and my arms wheeled, trying to keep my balance.

"Stupefy!" I said, pointing my wand at Bellatrix who easily blocked the spell.

"If you're going to play with the big girls," she said, laughing, "you need to learn better spells. Crucio!"

I jumped to the side, dodging the bright red spell by an inch. I looked up as a green flash of light brightened the area and then I saw Tonks tumbling down the stone steps.

No.

Please, please, don't let her be dead.

Bellatrix was laughing triumphantly. I hurried towards her as she moved down the steps. Better spells she had said. I knew more charms than most people. Sure, charms couldn't be that great in a fight but if you knew the right ones. . . .

"Levicorpus!" I cried, catching Lestrange in surprise as her feet lifted from the ground. She spun around towards me, flailing in the air.

"You little bitch!" she screamed. She raised her wand and swung it in the air. I watched in surprise as a green whip emerged from it.

She snapped it at me and I moved out of the way, trying to keep my focus on keeping her in the air, keeping her busy. It definitely wasn't easy. I felt her whip snatch against my arm, ripping my sleeve and then biting deep into my skin. My focus lost, she fell from the air, landing almost gracefully. My eyes were tearing up and I could feel blood dripping down my arm but I raised my wand anyway. . . .

Her whip wrapped around my wrist, tightening. Lestrange was laughing as she pulled me forward. I tried to hold back but she was strong. I could feel my feet slip over the edge of the stairs –

The whip came off my wrist.

I was falling, my body striking against the stairs.

Lestrange was still cackling.

I caught a glimpse of Sirius Black running up to meet Lestrange before my head hit the stairs. Stars burst in my eyes but I finally came to a stop upside down on the stairs.

It felt as though I couldn't move. I'm fairly sure I had some broken bones and I was in so much pain . . . how was still conscious was a mystery.

I hadn't yet told Cedric how I really felt. . . .

How would I tell him now?

I could hear people shouting still – someone called out the name Dumbledore – more screams . . . I think I saw another flash of green fly over my head.

And then Harry's voice, loud and clear. "SHE KILLED SIRIUS! SHE KILLED HIM – I'LL KILL HER!"

"Harry," I mumbled. I twisted over onto my stomach, lifting myself up on one arm. The pain was practically unbearable. Blood dripped into my eyes. "Harry. . . ."

Dumbledore appeared in my line of sight. His bright blue eyes where serious but he gave me a small smile. "I will find him. You have done enough, Miss Josephs, and you have done well. Rest now."

And he was off.

My arm gave out from under me and I fell back onto my stomach. And, because the Headmaster told me to, I rested.

A/N: So what do you think? Hope you liked it and I'll see you next time.