Harry tried and tried to use Tego texi tectum to break the spell, but so far, it wasn't working. It had been three days and Harry was growing weak. He had been being tortured almost endlessly over the days. he had a feeling that was part of the reason he couldn't break the spell.

"Harry? Are you all right?" Ginny whispered. She was the only one awake. When Harry had been brought back, he was covered in blood again and unconscious. Ron and Hermione were sleeping nearby. Luna and Lavender were on the other side of the cell. They never spoke. Ginny sighed. She leaned on the wall, desperate for sleep. She had been tortured not long before Harry and was unable to sleep, even though she was exhausted.

"Ginny?" Ron said. He had woken up and was rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Can't sleep," she nodded.

"Has he woken up?" Ron asked, pointing to Harry.

"No. Not yet. He hasn't even stirred."

"He will. Don't worry. You should sleep."

"I know. I'm exhausted, but I can't sleep," she sighed. Ron stood and went to his sister. He sat beside her and wrapped his arms around her.

"You worried?" he said.

"No," she looked at him. "I'm terrified," she finished.

"We all are."

"With Harry so weak, he can't break the spell."

"He'll keep at it. You know he will," he smiled.

"Yeah. I know," she nodded, sighing. She relaxed in her brother's arms and felt her eyelids get heavy. She didn't fight, but let sleep consume her.

"Remus, are you ready?" Kingsley called. It was the day of the hearing that determined the day Seth would get the Dementor's Kiss. Sirius, Remus, Kingsley, and Tonks were all getting ready. They were all at the house. Kingsley knocked on Remus' bedroom door. "Remus? It's almost time to go."

"I'll handle it, Kingsley. Go downstairs with Tonks," Sirius told him.

"Hurry. We have ten minutes," Kingsley headed downstairs.

"Come on, Moony. We have to go. Moony?" Sirius knocked as he spoke. "I know it's hard, Remus, but we have to go. We don't have a choice," he sighed when there was no response. He turned the doorknob and opened the door. Sitting on the bed, his back to the door, Remus had his face in his hands. Sirius looked at his friend sadly then went to the bed. He sat on the opposite side. "Remus?"

"This isn't what was supposed to happen. This isn't how things are supposed to be," Remus spoke.

"Things aren't how we want just because we want them that way," Remus looked at Sirius with a raised eyebrow. Sirius shrugged. "We have to go or we'll be late."

"Okay," Remus sighed and they stood. Sirius lead the way down the stairs.

"We ready?" Tonks asked, patting Remus' arm in comfort.

"As we'll ever be," Sirius nodded. "Let's go." They headed outside to the Apparation point. They disappeared.

"Seth's being given the Dementor's Kiss," Harry said, reading the paper from three days earlier.

"When?" Hermione asked.

"Don't know. There's a hearing today to determine the day," Harry replied. He threw the paper aside when a scream sounded out. Hermione squeezed Ron's hand. Ginny had been taken five minutes before.

Harry closed his eyes. Tego texi tectum, caudex, my mind. He tried to break the spell again. Focus. Come on, focus, he urged himself. Caudex, my mind.

"Hell!" Harry shouted out loud. His friends jumped at the sudden outburst. He pushed himself up off the floor and went to the barred wall. He grasped the bars and leaned his forehead against them.

"Harry?" Ron said.

"Just leave it," Harry replied. He watched as Ginny was brought back and pushed into the cell. "My turn yet?" he said to Summer.

"It is now," she grabbed his arm and dragged him out.

"Harry!" Ginny cried. "What is he doing?"

"Getting distracted," Hermione stated.

"It is eleven o'clock a.m., Thursday, September the ninth. This hearing has been called on account of determining the date in which Mr. Seth Ledger will receive the Dementor's Kiss," Cornelius Fudge said. There were about seven people from the Wizengamot, Fudge, Sirius, Remus, Tonks, and Kingsley sitting at the round table. The only thing occupying the large space of room five hundred sixty-two.

"The charges, Minister?" a mid-thirties woman with red hair asked.

Fudge picked up a piece of paper. "Charges are attacking and attempting murder of the head of the Department For the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, Mr. Remus Lupin." Remus, Sirius, Tonks, and Kingsley scowled.

"When was he arrested?" another member from the Wizengamot asked.

"Thirteen days ago," Fudge replied.

"He is being held at Azkaban, I presume?" another said.

"Correct."

"Obviously," Remus, Sirius, Tonks, and Kingsley said in unison. Everyone else glared at them. They rolled their eyes.

"When will it take place?" Fudge asked. He looked at the four who stared back, giving no indication of speaking.

"Come on. We don't have all day," a witch said.

"We're here because we have to be," Sirius said.

"One of you must have an input of some kind," Fudge said.

"Like you care," Remus said.

"Mr. Lupin, if you can't show some respect, I will have no choice but to remove you from this hearing," Fudge stated.

"I'll save you the time," Remus stood, kicked the chair from beneath him to the floor, and walked out. Sirius stood to follow.

"Mr. Black, sit down."

"Back off," Sirius turned to Kingsley and Tonks. "Find out the date."

"Sirius," Tonks whispered.

"Just get it then tell us. I have to find Remus." They nodded and Sirius walked out of the room. He found Remus leaning against the wall, his arms crossed, and his pocket watch clutched in his hand. "Remus, what the hell?"

"What?"

"You've completely lost it, you know that? You just walked out on the bloody Minister of bloody Magic!"

"Is that who that was? I thought it was you," Remus said sarcastically.

"What the hell is wrong with you?"

"What do you mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean. you haven't been yourself for the past month and a half."

"Being in a war can do that to a person. Change them," Remus replied.

Sirius shook his head. "Sometimes I don't even know you."

"I could say the same for you," Remus stared at him.

"You're the one who said it. We're in a war. The height of it, to be exact. We can't afford to break now."

"Well, when your nephew is gone, your friend's losing his soul, and you're dealing with a war, there's a strong chance you'll break."

"Remus-"

"When's the Kiss?" Remus asked. Kingsley and Tonks had emerged from the room.

"Next Friday at one in the afternoon," Tonks said.

"See you later, guys," Remus walked away.

"Remus-" Sirius stated. Remus disappeared around a corner. "Mental."

"Which is more than we can say for you," Kingsley muttered.

"Harry, getting tortured is not going to help you," Hermione said, wiping blood off Harry's left temple with another piece of her sweater. It was pretty much in shreds now.

"I know," Harry sighed.

"Then why did you do it?" she asked.

Harry breathed deeply and looked around. Everyone was sleeping except them. "I don't know. I don't know."

"You're going to get yourself killed."

"I'm going to die anyways."

Hermione slapped him across the cheek. Harry tensed up, pain searing through his body. "Harry James Potter. Don't you ever say that again. You are not going to die." Harry stared at her. He didn't know what to say, so he stayed quiet. They lapsed into silence as Hermione continued cleaning blood off Harry. After a couple minutes, she finished and they just sat in silence, staring around. "Harry, I-" Hermione broke the long silence.

"It's okay. Don't worry about it," he replied.

"But I-"

"Yeah, and I've felt and had worse. I can deal with it."

"Harry-"

"It's okay, Hermione, really," he nodded. She smiled.

"Harry?" Ron mumbled, waking up from his short sleep.

"Hey, mate."

"Hey. How are you?" Ron came to sit beside Hermione and Harry.

"Better. Sleep okay?"

"Best it'll get," Ron sighed. "Any idea what time it is?"

"Not a clue," Harry shook his head.

"My watch was broken when I was fighting Mr. Lovegood," Hermione answered.

"So it could be three in the morning for all we know?" Ron said.

"Being in here has messed up our perception of time," Hermione told them.

"We need to get out of here," Ron said. He and Hermione looked at Harry. He was absently staring at the floor in front of him. "Harry?" Ron stated.

"What is it?" Hermione asked.

"Sshhh. I'm trying to concentrate," Harry hissed. They fell quiet. It seemed like hours before anything happened. Harry shuddered as a small tingle ran up his spine. He felt heat fill his body. He looked at his friends.

"What just happened?" Ron asked.

"I think I did it," Harry said almost breathlessly.

"Did what, Harry?" Hermione frowned.

"I think I broke the spell. Something definitely happened. I think I broke it," Harry explained.

"Try do magic," Hermione answered.

Harry nodded and took out his wand. "Lumos," he whispered. His wand tip lit up. Hermione and Ron gasped.

"You did it! Harry, you did it!" Hermione hugged him.

"You can do the counter curse on us now," Ron added.

"Yeah. Hermione, what's the counter curse?" Harry wondered.

"Umm-"

"What do you mean 'umm'?" Harry demanded.

"Let me think. Let me think," she stated. She put her head in her hands and thought.

"Hermione, come on. Today would be great," Harry replied.

"Bugger off. I'm trying to think," she snapped. They huffed angrily.

"What's going on?" Ginny had woken up. She rubbed her eyes tiredly.

"Harry broke the spell. Hermione's trying to remember the counter curse," Ron said.

"Really? That's great," Ginny smiled at Harry.

"I got it!" Hermione exclaimed. "It's 'ostendo sum quod sino'."

"You sure?" Harry asked.

"Yes. In English it means 'reverse and allow'. The spell is Latin," she nodded.

"Let's try it," Harry raised his wand. He pointed it at Ron. "Ostendo sum quod sino." Just like Harry, Ron shuddered as a tingle ran up his spine then relaxed as heat settled in his body. "Try use magic."

Ron nodded and took out his wand. "Lumos," he whispered. His wand lit.

"Let's do everyone else," Harry said. He and Ron cast the counter curse on Hermione, Ginny, Luna, and Lavender.

"Now what do we do? Even if we get out of this cell, Death Eaters are everywhere. There's no way we can get out of here," Ron stated.

"There's hundreds of passages in this place. At least one will be open," Harry said.

"But it's also the fact of actually being able to get to a free passage," Ginny said.

"I know. There has to be a way out though. Not all the Death Eaters can be here. Lots will be at Hogwarts with Voldemort and everyone who went back," Harry nodded.

"That doesn't mean there aren't still a ton of them here," Hermione pointed out.

"Could you try to keep a positive attitude, Hermione?" Harry said.

"Shut up, Harry."

"Someone's coming," Ginny whispered. They fell quiet and watched Summer Watts appear. She opened the door.

"Incarcerous," Summer bound Hermione's hands and led her out.

"Hermione!" Ron cried, gripping the bars.

Tego texi tectum, Hermione Granger, Harry thought. He felt something warm fly around him then leave.

"Hermione!" Ron yelled again.

Remaining focused, Harry said, "Ron, sit down. She'll be fine."

"How d'you-" Ron turned to Harry. Harry's eyes were staring ahead absently. "Harry, no. You could die. It could be hours."

"I'll be fine. Just calm down and sit down."

"Harry-"

"Do it." Ron didn't move for a few seconds then sat beside Ginny. She grasped his hand.

"What is it he's doing that could kill him?" she whispered.

"He's using wandless magic. A shield. If used too long, it could drain his magic," Ron told her.

"What?" Ginny stared at Harry. "Harry, stop. You can't do this."

"Sshhh. I'm trying to concentrate," Harry hissed.

"Potter!" Bellatrix cried. They watched as Bellatrix, Lucius, Snape, and Summer ran to the cell with Hermione. Bellatrix threw the door open and grabbed Harry by the hair, making him gasp. She slammed him into a wall.

"Harry," Ginny gasped. Ron dragged her into a corner, away from everything happening.

"What did you do, Potter?" Bellatrix growled.

"What do you mean?"

Bellatrix slammed his head against the wall again. He groaned. "You know exactly what I mean."

"Humour me," Harry screamed as a knife was pushed into his upper arm.

"Don't push me, Potter." The knife was pushed to Harry's neck.

"Harry!" Hermione yelled. She pulled against her bonds and tried to get away from Lucius.

"Tell me, Potter, or your friend dies," Bellatrix said and Lucius put his wand to Hermione's neck.

Harry glared at the Death Eaters then looked at Hermione. Tears were slowly falling from her eyes. She was terrified. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Try me," Bellatrix said. Harry felt the skin under the knife break.

"I said 'if I told you'. Didn't say I was going to," Harry said. He gasped as the knife was pushed harder.

"Come on," Bellatrix, keeping the blade on Harry, pushed him out of the cell. "Grab the other two," she told Summer and Snape. They nodded and grabbed Ron and Ginny, binding them. They were all brought to the torture room. "Hold Potter." Bellatrix pushed Harry to Lucius. She waved her wand and a pole appeared in the middle of the room. Three others appeared by the wall opposite the door. Bellatrix dragged Harry to the pole in the middle, pulled his hands behind his back, and bound them. Hermione, Ron, and Ginny were bound to the other three poles.

Hell, Harry thought.

"Now. You tell me what I want to know or your friends get to see you slowly die," Bellatrix threatened. Harry looked at his friends. They all had looked of terror on their faces.

"Sirius, a family has been killed," Kingsley said.

"Where?"

"Six-thirteen, Colorado Road."

"I'm on it," Sirius grabbed his cloak and left his office.

"Sirius!" Tonks called and ran to his side.

"I'm busy, Tonks."

"I know but we've gotten a few reports of noise at Gringotts."

"Okay. That's nothing new."

"The noise has been screams. It's been quiet, barely audible, but screaming."

Sirius stopped. "Screaming?" Tonks nodded. "Come on. We'll go to the back. Kingsley can deal with the family." They walked to the Apparation point.

When in Diagon Alley, they looked around. It had been over a week since Death Eaters had attacked and destroyed Diagon Alley. The place was a ghost town now. Everyone had left and no one had gone back. All the buildings were destroyed. Windows were shattered. Doors were broken. Paint was chipped. Holes where there weren't supposed to be openings. Burnt wood from fires. Diagon Alley was barely recognizable. They gazed up at Gringotts. It looked like all the other buildings. Destroyed and deserted.

"I think it looks worse now than the day of the attack," Tonks said. She looked at the ground when she kicked something. It was part of the sign that used to hang over Ollivander's.

"Come on," Sirius headed to the wizard bank. He and Tonks pulled out their wands when they arrived at the doors. They were barely holding on. They looked ready to crumble at the lightest of touches. Sirius took the chance and pushed the wooden door. It creaked loudly as it swung on its broken hinges.

"Sirius, we should go," Tonks whispered, looking around the deserted bank. Desks were overturned. Dusty papers littered the floor.

"We have to check this out," Sirius said. They turned a corner and came to a long set of stairs.

"I know where these go," Tonks stated.

"Where?"

"Underground. Farther down than even the deepest vaults. Bill told me."

"Let's go," Sirius started down the stairs with Tonks right behind him.

Harry screamed again as Bellatrix tortured him. He didn't know how long it had been, but he knew it had to have been at least thirty minutes. Hermione and Ginny were crying. Ron looked close. They couldn't turn away. They were forced to watch Harry suffer.

"You're going to die here, Potter, unless you cooperate," Bellatrix said. Harry couldn't move. His body was aching, he was bleeding freely. "Potter. All I want to know is how you protected Granger from the cell."

"How could I do anything?" Harry said, his breathing shallow. "I was in the cell and I can't do magic. None of us can. Remember?"

"Prove it," Bellatrix stated.

"I can't. I'm tied up, if you haven't noticed."

"We can fix that," Bellatrix cut the ropes. She pulled Harry up and put the knife to his neck again. "Stun one of them."

Harry looked at his friends. He stared at Ron who gave a small nod. Harry took out his wand. He raised it at Ron. "Stupefy!" he cried. Red light shot from his wand and hit Ron in the chest. He fell to the ground.

"Ron!" Ginny and Hermione screamed.

"Potter!" Bellatrix pushed the knife harder into Harry's neck and broke the skin again. "So you can do magic. You got around the spell. How?"

"You won't believe me."

"Tell me."

"Fine. I did wandless magic. Happy?" he gasped when the pressure on his neck increased.

"Liar," Bellatrix hissed and threw him to the floor. Harry's head bounced on the concrete.

"I told you," Harry gasped again as he got a new laceration on his chest. Bellatrix pulled his arms back again around the pole and bound them.

"I'm getting a headache," she said. "Gag them," she told Summer. Summer obeyed and tied cloths around their mouths. "Much better."

"What now, Bellatrix?" Summer asked.

"Bind and gag the other two then bring these four back to the cell," With that, Bellatrix left.

"Come on, Potter," Lucius snapped. Harry, Ron (revived), Hermione, and Ginny were dragged back to the cell and pushed in. Lavender and Luna were already bound and gagged.

Harry rested his head against the wall, still playing with his bonds. He knew it was useless but it kept him distracted. Ginny was beside him, staring at the bars. Ron and Hermione were across from them, staring at the floor, not really looking. Harry lifted his head. He felt something loosen. He continued pulling then felt his wrists come apart. He brought them to his mouth and pulled off the cloth. Without hesitating, Harry freed the others.

"You freed us," Ginny hugged him. Hermione, without speaking, wrapped the last piece of her sweater around Harry's upper arm.

"Sshhh. I heard something," Harry went to the bars. "We have to get out of here. Take out your wands."

"Harry, we don't have our bags and what about all the Death Eaters?" Hermione said.

"There's someone here. I don't know who. As for the bags, they're up in that room. We'll get them."

"That's where all the Death Eaters are," Ginny said.

"I know. We'll make it. Let's go," Harry turned to the door. He magically opened it. Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Luna, and Lavender followed him into the corridor. He lead the way up the stairs to the torture room. They arrived at the doorway. He peeked around the corner. Only Summer, Snape, and Lucius were there. He spotted the bags at the far side. His gaze snapped to the Death Eaters. He had been wrong. There were two others in the room but they weren't Death Eaters. Harry gasped.

It was Sirius and Tonks.