"There has to be another way out," Ginny said.

"I know. I'm looking and thinking. I just don't know this place inside and out," Ron replied, looking around. He glanced at the Death Eaters again. "We have to get rid of them if we want any chance of getting you out of here."

"How are we going to do that exactly?" Ginny frowned. Ron shrugged and she rolled her eyes. "Helpful."

"Need some help?"

"Harry! What the hell are you doing here? You're supposed to be resting," Ron said.

"I knew you needed help," Harry shrugged.

"How?" Ron asked.

"Feeling," Harry shrugged again.

"You need to be resting," Ron repeated.

"I'll go back right after this." Harry looked at the Death Eaters. He snapped his fingers twice and both guards collapsed.

"Stop doing that," Ron hissed.

"Since when do you care about Death Eaters?" Harry raised an eyebrow.

"I don't. Go back to the vault," Ron told him.

"Fine," Harry slowly walked back to the vault, using the wall for support.

"Okay," Ron said when Harry was back in the vault. "Let's go." He slowly walked around the corner, Luna and Ginny behind him. He headed to the doors, looking in every direction. They were almost there. They were passing the Death Eaters.

"Ron, let me stay," Ginny said.

"No. You have to go. Stay at Harry's until things are done," Ron shook his head.

"But-"

"Ginny, please. Go," Ron said.

"Come home soon," she hugged him tightly. She had begun to cry again.

"I'll try," he whispered. "Now, go. Go to the Ministry. Go."

"Bye." She and Luna pushed through the doors and ran down the steps into the destroyed village.

"Hello, Weasley. Nice to see you again," a voice said. Ron's eyes grew wide and his breathing stopped.

"Sirius, the meeting starts in four minutes," Kingsley said. Over the past couple hours, everything had gotten out of control. Sirius' head was spinning.

"Meeting?" Sirius frowned.

"Mr. Daker is here, Mr. Black," Auror Courtney Watson said, walking past.

"Who?"

"Sirius, Stanley family. Mother dead. Daughter in critical condition. Father's gone," Tonks told him, handing him a file and disappearing.

"When was there an attack?"

"Mr. Black, a reporter's on her way up," Auror Brent Bernard said.

"Reporter?"

"The meeting, Sirius."

"Sirius, the murder."

"Mr. Black, I couldn't stop her."

"Mr. Daker, Mr. Black."

"Stop!" Sirius shouted. Everyone stopped. He turned to Tonks. "Take Sanders. Deal with it."

He turned to Watson. "Put him in the conference room with coffee and magazines."

He turned to Bernard. "Get the reporter out of here or I'll have her arrested."

Finally, he turned to Kingsley. "Where's the meeting?"

"Sixth floor. Conference room thirteen."

"What's it about?"

"Umm, oh! About having no new Aurors."

"Damn. Who's there?"

"Fudge. Other people, I don't know. You have a minute and a half."

"See you later." Sirius took off towards the stairs. Kingsley stared at him. Sirius was running up four floors.

"Mr. Lupin, a little boy's just been found in San Diego. Werewolves." Luke Cameron tossed Remus a file. Remus' head was pounding. He had woken up from a short nap to complete chaos. People were talking to images coming from their wands while searching through mounds of papers and files. People were running around, their arms full, yelling at other people.

"Murder? When-"

"You've got a meeting in six minutes, sir," Mercedes Rogers told him.

"Meeting? When-"

"Mr. Lupin, a woman's gone missing. Werewolves attacked her home," Daniel Hill said.

"What-"

"Mr. Lupin, Brian Crowley has been waiting in the conference room for twenty minutes," Elizabeth Morton said.

"Sir-"

"Mr. Lupin-"

"Mr. Lupin-"

"Sir-"

"Wait!" Remus cried. "Get me a name on the boy and how long he's been dead. Try find Greyback and you'll find the woman. Give Mr. Crowley coffee and tell him it'll be a bit longer. Tell me where the meeting is, who's there, and what it's for."

"Sixth floor, conference room eight. Entire Magical Creatures Board. About Greyback and lack of progress. In four minutes," Mercedes Rogers told him in a rush. Remus took off running and headed for the nearest flight of stairs.

Ron turned around and raised his wand. He stared at Severus Snape.

"Ron!" Ginny was screaming through the glass behind him. He had locked the door.

"So you got them out. They weren't important anyways," Snape sneered. "Where's Potter? Normally he'd be doing this, not you. You're just the sidekick."

"Leave us alone."

"I've lost count of how many times the three of you say that," Snape snapped.

"Stupefy!"

Snape waved his wand and the spell was reflected. "That all you have? A measly Stunning Curse? Surely your fearless leader has taught you more. Or does he keep all the power to himself, being the only one who can do wandless magic? I have to admit, I'm surprised he's able to do wandless," he said. While the Death Eater was talking, Ron's eyes were darting around, looking for a way out. There was nothing, unless he ran outside, but Snape could just use the Reductor curse on the doors.

Reductor… Ron thought. What did the papers say after the Diagon Alley attack? Gringotts was overtaken and…and, ugh, come on…the…the wards! Yes! The wards were broken in some areas and it was possible to apparate and disapparate. I need a distraction.

Ron looked around then gazed up. The ceiling. He raised his wand above his head. "Reducto!" he cried. He shielded himself with his arms as stone began to fall. slower at first, the ceiling began to crumble and fall to the floor below. Ron waited until a wall of dust was created between him and Snape, then quickly turned and disappeared.

When he opened his eyes, he was back in the vault, facing Hermione and Harry. "Back," he said.

"How did you get in here?" Harry asked.

"App-" Ron was cut off by a loud crashing noise that shook the building, making him cringe. "I Apparated," he finished.

"Apparation?" Hermione frowned. Ron nodded. "You can't Apparate or Disapparate here though. It's like Hogwarts or Azkaban."

"When Diagon Alley was attacked and Gringotts taken, the wards in certain areas were broken. In some places you can use Apparation. The wards weren't broken down in the cell, so we couldn't Apparate," Ron explained. Another crash sounded out.

"I have a couple questions," Harry said. "Why did you have to Apparate to get back here and what the hell is happening out there?"

"The ceiling by the front doors is collapsing and because Snape cornered me after I got Ginny and Luna out," Ron replied.

"Why is the ceiling collapsing, Ron?" Harry asked.

"I cast the Reductor Curse on it."

"Why?"

"Distraction."

"Wonderful," Harry muttered. Ron looked to the floor. "Okay. We can't stay in here forever. We have to find vault eight hundred twenty-three."

"Whose vault is that anyways?" Hermione wondered.

"It belongs to the Lestrange family," Griphook answered.

The trio replied at the same time.

"Lestrange?"

"You have got to be kidding."

"No way."

"Yes. Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange," Griphook nodded.

"What's the vault's contents?" Harry asked.

"Many goblets and coins and other things. It's quite dangerous," Griphook told them.

"Dangerous?" the trio repeated.

"Indeed. Everything is cursed, well, except the odd thing. Like the goblet you seek. It is not cursed."

"Cursed?" the trio repeated again.

"Yes. If anyone but the Lestranges touches the contents, they will be burnt and cut."

"Well, that just made everything easier," Harry said sarcastically. "What time is it?"

"Dunno. Watch is broken," Hermione shrugged.

"Ron, what did it look like outside?"

"It was dark. I think it's early in the morning."

"Great. We're pretty much up in the middle of the night," Harry sighed. "We have to get that goblet and destroy it."

"Harry, are you strong enough? Your magic," Hermione stated.

"I feel fine. Better than I was. Whether I'm strong or not, we have to go. We can't stay in here," Harry replied. Hermione sighed and nodded. "Let's go. Griphook, you ready?"

"Yes, sir. Follow me. Be cautious and quiet." Griphook walked to the door. He sliced through the air with his finger and the many locks opened once more. He pushed the door open and gazed out. "Clear." The door was opened wider and everyone climbed out.

"How far down do we have to go?" Harry asked.

"Three floors," Griphook said.

"How are we supposed to climb down three floors?" Hermione's eyebrows came together.

"In this," Griphook snapped his fingers and a cart rolled onto tracks nearby from no where.

"You're kidding? Tell me you're kidding," Ron said as the trio gaped at the cart.

"Afraid not, Mr. Weasley."

"Well, this should be interesting," Harry said. They continued staring at the cart.

"Mr. Black, do you realize you have five open spaces on your team?" Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge snapped.

"Yes, sir," Sirius nodded. The meeting had been going on for twenty minutes and he was getting irritated. There were many witches and wizards present he didn't know.

"Then you're aware you are required to hire new Aurors."

Obviously. "Yes, sir."

"Care to explain why you haven't?" Fudge stated.

Don't have a choice, really. "I just don't think this is the best time to hire new Aurors."

"Of course it's a good time! Five members of your team are dead and-" Sirius stopped him.

"Actually, only four have been killed. One was fired."

"Whatever, Black. If you don't hire a minimum of three people by Monday, you will no longer be employed here," Fudge concluded and walked out of the conference room with the others. Sirius just stared after them.

"Is there any new information on Fenrir Greyback and his pack?" the head of the Magical Creatures Board, Mark Lopentiz, asked.

"No, sir," Remus shook his head.

"Nothing?" Mr. Lopentiz raised an eyebrow.

"A boy has been found in San Diego. Appears to be werewolves," Remus said.

"Did I ask about werewolves, Mr. Lupin?"

"Well, actually you-"

"No, I did not. I asked about Greyback and his pack," Mr. Lopentiz stated.

Greyback is a werewolf and is head of a pack of werewolves. What is this guy on? "Of course, sir. My apologies. There has been no information on Greyback. There appears to be no activity from the pack," Remus answered again.

"Do you have any informants undercover?" Mr. Lopentiz gazed at him.

"With all due respect, sir, I don't believe it is a good idea to send anyone undercover. Last time, the informants were murdered," Remus answered.

"Is that what I asked?"

Remus sighed. He was getting frustrated. "No, sir, there are no informants undercover."

"Why not?"

Didn't I explain that? "I don't believe it's a good idea. Our last two undercover works were murdered. I don't want to put lives at risk," Remus explained again, keeping the irritation from his voice.

"With great victory comes great sacrifice," Mr. Lopentiz said.

Huh? "Sorry, sir?"

"Mr. Lupin, I suggest that if you like the current job you have, you will send three informants undercover by Monday. If you fail to do so, you will be removed from your position. Good day." Mr. Lopentiz stood and left with the rest of the MCB. Remus didn't move.

"Where's Sirius?" Tonks asked Kingsley.

Kingsley looked at his watch and swore. It was dead. "Meeting. It should be almost over. It's been a half hour," he said. "Have you seen Remus?"

"No, I haven't. Why?"

"I've had a bunch of people tell me to find him and send him to the lobby. Won't tell me why."

"I've gotten the same for Sirius. That's why I'm trying to find him. No one will tell me anything though."

"Wonder what's going on?"

"Dunno. And I don't have time to wonder. I have to go. See you later," Tonks took off, zooming around a corner, almost falling.

"Mr. Shacklebolt!" Auror Brad Walker called, making Kingsley turn. "Mr. Black has to-"

"Go down to the lobby immediately, I know," Kingsley finished for him. "Where the hell is Sirius?" he muttered to himself.

"Mr. Shacklebolt! Where's Mr-" Auror Hope Leiland ran up to him.

"I'm looking!" Kingsley snapped. Leiland jumped a little and he stomped off through the maze of rushing people. He had to find Sirius before he cursed someone.

"Padfoot, is that you?" Remus called as he rounded a corner. He had heard his friend's voice.

"Hey, Moony," Sirius greeted dully.

"What're you doing up here? Isn't your department going mental?" Remus asked, falling in step with Sirius as they headed to an elevator.

"Oh, it is. It's crazy down there. I had a meeting in conference room thirteen. Fudge and a bunch of others I didn't know," Sirius sighed. "What about you? I heard your department was mental too."

"It is. I had a meeting too, with the MCB," Remus nodded and they stepped in an elevator.

"What did they want?"

"I have until Monday to send three people undercover to join Greyback or I'm fired."

"You're kidding?" Sirius frowned. Remus shook his head.

"What did Fudge want?" Remus wondered, rubbing his eyes tiredly.

"I have until Monday to fire three people or I'm fired," Sirius replied.

"Fudge has really got it out for you," Remus said.

"No kidding. I'm losing my mind. What time is it?"

"Three-thirty a.m."

"Of course," Sirius sighed.

"Sirius! Remus!" they both jumped as Kingsley's voice entered their ears as the elevator doors opened.

"What do you want, Kingsley?" Sirius asked as he and Remus began to get off.

"Don't get off. You both have to go down to the lobby," Kingsley told them.

"Why?" Remus frowned.

"I don't know. People have been looking for the two of you for over half an hour. Now, go," Kingsley pushed them back onto the elevator. The doors shut.

"We are not meant to rest, it seems," Remus rested against the wall, his eyes shut.

"Wonder what's so important?"

"Don't know. I don't want to know either."

"Come on," Sirius said as the doors opened again at the main floor.

"Mr. Black! Mr. Lupin!" Auror Damian Sanders waved.

"What's going on, Sanders?" Sirius asked.

"Two girls came in here asking for both of you. They're both in bad shape. Not major. Minor," Sanders told them.

"Who are they?" Remus frowned.

"They wouldn't say. Wouldn't say anything except get you two."

"How long have they been here?" Remus asked.

"About forty-five minutes now. No one could find you two and they wouldn't leave," Sanders answered.

"Where are they?" Sirius wondered.

"In the private room. Gave them blankets and tea," Sanders lead them to a wooden door marked 'Private'.

"Thanks, Sanders," Sirius smiled and opened the door. He and Remus walked in. sitting at the table, wrapped in blue, wool blankets, were two teenage girls, whispering to each other. They were both clutching coffee mugs.

"Luna?"

"Ginny?"

The girls looked up when their names were called.

"How come the Death Eaters don't hear this thing?" Harry yelled over the roaring in his ears.

"There's a Silencing Charm on it! It's only loud when you're on it and that's just the air!" Griphook yelled back.

"How much longer?" Ron shouted.

"A couple minutes! We're coming up to the floor now!" Griphook said.

"The floor? What about the vault?" Harry asked.

"This can only take us to the floors now! Ever since the attack, everything was messed up! We have to get to the vault on foot!" Griphook explained.

"Perfect," Harry muttered. Finally the cart began to slow then came to a sudden stop, jerking the trio around. They looked around. Both sides of the tracks were covered in vaults.

"How do we find the vault?" Hermione wondered as they all climbed out.

"It's going to be a long walk, but the vault is this way," Griphook pointed to the left.

"How long, exactly?" Ron asked.

"About twenty to twenty-five minutes," Griphook replied.

Ron groaned. "It'll be longer because we have to go slow and watch for Death Eaters."

"Come on, Ron. We have to," Harry began walking behind Griphook.

"Why can't anything be easy?" Ron whined, walking beside Harry with Hermione.

"This is the easy part. Getting the goblet out of the vault will be hard. Everything will burn and cut us," Harry stated.

"You're not helping, Harry," Ron sighed.

"You knew nothing about this would be easy when you agreed to come," Harry said.

"Shut up," Ron said. Harry grinned.

"How are we going to get the goblet anyways?" Hermione asked.

"Don't know," Harry shrugged.

"Can't we just summon it?" Ron suggested.

"Magic can't really be used in here, remember? The wards," Harry shook his head.

"Some of the wards are broken. You have your wandless magic," Ron pointed out.

"No magic of any kind can be used in the vault unless you're a Lestrange. You must search by hand," Griphook spoke.

"Of course," Harry, Ron, and Hermione said irritably.

"So what do we do?" Hermione asked.

"Not a clue," Harry sighed.