"Voldemort's got Sirius!" Harry told us in a panic.

"And? Harry, I know how you must feel, but what can we do to get to him? Do you even know where he is?" Hermione told him.

"Hermione, he's the only family I have left. I'll get to London any way I know how! He's in the Department of Mysteries, by the way," Harry explained in a furore.

"And we'll come with you."

"No, Ginny. If Voldemort's there, you will be in terrible danger!"

"And do you think I care about that? Harry, when I kissed you, I knew I'd get entwined in your fight against Voldemort. And I wouldn't have it any other way!" Harry paused there for a second. I threw my arms around him.

"We're in this together. We'll find Sirius!" I whispered. He nodded into my shoulder, and I let go of him.

"But first, we have to affirm he's gone," Hermione said.

"Why? We don't have the time to spare!"

"Harry, this reaction is what You-Know… Voldemort has come to expect of you. There is absolutely no offence meant when I say this, but you have a bit of a heroic tendency… Amber calls it chronic hero syndrome, and there is every chance that Voldemort has planted this vision in your mind, trying to lure you into the Department!"

"Oh yeah? Chronic hero syndrome? Would she have called it a disease when I saved her and Ginny from the Basilisk? You from the Dementors?"

"I didn't mean it like that, Harry, but the fact that this is what you try to do means you are primed to go save Sirius. The person you care about most… not counting people under Dumbledore's care."

Hermione had a point. I could almost hear Harry think.

"Harry, we can't get a message out of the school…" Ron said, looking slightly worried.

"Umbridge's fire."

"But with Umbridge, Filch, and the Inquisitorial Squad?"

"We can…"

"No. Amber will not be accommodating enough. We remind her where Sirius is, the Ministry will arrest him as soon as they possibly can. We have to do this ourselves."

"I'll get Luna and Darion…" I said.

Luna and Darion stationed themselves along the corridor, blocking access from others. Ron went to go head Umbridge off. Me, Hermione and Harry went to the fireplace to go check on Sirius. Harry put his head in. We heard the beginnings of a muffled argument, before…

*BANG*

"You think, that after two bloody Nifflers, Umbridge would leave her office unchecked?" Amber asked, her eyes dark.

"Amber, please, listen to me! This is not the real you! You're in there somewhere!" Hermione screamed, grabbing her.

"Get off, silly girl." Amber scolded, knocking Hermione off. She and I were taken by members of the Inquisitorial Squad, while more came in holding Ron, Darion, Luna and for some reason, Neville. Umbridge herself came in last.

"You think, that after-"

"No offence, but I already delivered that speech."

"Sorry, Amber. Now, Harry, I implore you to answer me truthfully… why were you in my office?"

"I was trying to get my Firebolt."

"Liar. You were in the fire. Who were you talking to?"

"Nobody…"

"Liar. That is impossible."

"You wished to see me, Dolores?" Snape had walked into the room. Umbridge's face lit up.

"Perfect, Snape. Have you got the Veritaserum?"

"You have used up my entire stock of Veritaserum. Surely you only used three drops last time? Unless you wish to poison Potter, there are no services I may offer…" Snape turned to leave.

"He's got Padfoot! He's got Padfoot at the place where it's hidden!" I shouted. Snape looked at me shrewdly.

"Padfoot? Where what is hidden?" Umbridge asked.

"No idea. Weasley, please refrain from shouting nonsense…" Snape said, before leaving.

"Ah… well… I was hoping it wouldn't come to this… the Cruciatus Curse will loosen your tongue," Umbridge said so calmly, that I was sure she was a Death Eater.

"NO! YOU FOUL TOAD! GET YOUR FILTHY HANDS OFF MY BOYFRIEND!" I cried out, letting off a burst of anger-powered rage that knocked my captor off his feet. "Vespernaris!" I casted on the boy.

"He leaves me no choice, girl." I could see it happening before my eyes. Amber's dark tunnels changed to her normal hazel.

"Wait, Professor!" Amber cried out.

"What is it, Amber?"

"I've figured out what Harry and Ginny were doing!" she said. I raised an eyebrow. She couldn't… unless…

"Well? What is it?"

"They've finished Dumbledore's secret weapon." Not what I expected. The others stopped trying to copy my escape and stared at Umbridge, but no one noticed. They were looking at Amber far too exclusively.

"You knew where it was?"

"Not its exact position. But I do know it's in the Forbidden Forest. I've been scouting about, but no luck. Headmistress, you take Harry and Ginny. They will tell you where it is exactly. I shall make sure no creature dares attack one as undeserving as yourself… invisibly. Don't look for me," Amber explained. She left the room, twirling her wand experimentally.

"Well… she said you two. Let's go!" Umbridge said, taking us along like a chaperone.

"What about us?" the entire Squad asked.

"Amber said she would stop the creatures. I can hold these two easily. There will be no need for you. Keep the others here, and make sure they do not escape."

Amber may have lied completely, but I had trepidation about entering the Forest alone. Umbridge was so close that I couldn't think. What would Amber have wanted done? What secret… OH!

"Harry, I'll take the lead. I know the path better." Harry agreed, and moved back. I smiled, careful to hide it from Umbridge.

Oh, she's gonna get it.

This'll be so fun to watch!

I had made a racket in the Forest, and I heard the trees rattle. Umbridge didn't understand it.

"Amber?" she asked. Amber had shown up, looking at her and holding a bow.

"High Inquisitor, I have found the weapon. It's very sensitive, though…"

"Well well… are there any half breeds guarding it?" An arrow flew through the trees.

"Sensitive to insults, High… no, wait. It is highly insulted already, Umbridge," Amber said, somewhat sadistically. A whole herd of centaurs made themselves visible.

"You have no business here, beasts! This is a Ministry matter!" Another two arrows.

"How dare you! Might I remind you that, under the law, any creature that has near human intelligence, and is therefore considered responsible for its actions…"

"Near-human intelligence? What an insult! Our intelligence leaves yours in the dust!" one of the centaurs called out.

"Calm yourself, Ronan. One more insult, or even a personal attack, and I'll call the order. We're not quite riled up yet…

"Beasts! You're only alive because the Ministry permits you certain areas of land! Incarcerous!" Umbridge cried out. Amber fell to the ground, held by the bonds.

"You may take the woman. Leave the foals."

"CHARGE!" one of the centaurs translated, and the centaurs galloped at us. Bane took Umbridge, and dragged her off. The other centaurs followed, leaving us with just Amber. She was weeping slightly. I went over to her and untied her.

"Thanks, Ginny."

"But why? Why turn to the Ministry?"

"I hated Umbridge so much… I wanted to betray her. In the Muggle world, betrayal is considered one of the most hurtful things possible."

"You joined her just to betray her? Are you out of your mind?"

"I was, actually. I waited so long, that I started to believe her rubbish. I kinda sorta almost not quite brainwashed myself."

"That's possible?"

"The only thing that's impossible is impossibility."

"How did you get here so quickly? If we can harness that power, we can get to London easy!"

"It's… not that simple. You see… I'm an Animagus."

"An Animagus? Since when?"

"I asked McGonagall to tutor me in third year on. How did you think I was so proficient in self-transfiguration back in the lake?"

"…I love you so much more…" Harry said, holding my hand tightly. From the look on his face, I could tell he was trying to convince himself he was my crush.

"Thanks, but I'm taken. Any clue on how else we'll get to London?" More crashing through the undergrowth.

"Hello, Amber. Are you OK now?" Darion asked. Amber threw her arms around him.

"Never better, Darion. Are you guys coming with."

"All of us." Harry raised an eyebrow.

"Harry, I only beat Riddle by chance in the graveyard. We need backup badly."

"Harry, you have to trust all of us. We're not trying to stop you… we're all trying to help you."

Harry thought for a bit.

"So how are we going to London?" He agreed with us. We were going.

"We'll fly!" Luna piped up. Everyone looked at her like she was insane. Darion looked around, trying to find what it was. Amber turned to look where Luna was looking.

"Thestrals… a Thestral camp! Harry, I don't believe I could miss this! Right, who can see them again?" Amber asked. Neville and Luna raised their hands.

"Three of us? Darn… Harry, Ginny, I'll help you guys. Ron, Hermione, Darion, Neville and Luna can help you three. We will get to London, all eight of us… but we must work together!" Amber explained. The seven of us got on a Thestral apiece.

"This is mad… if I could just see it!" Ron panicked.

"You better hope it stays invisible," Harry comforted, looking just as bad. I knew the feeling. I gripped what I hoped was the Thestral's neck as tightly as I could.

"Let's fly!" Amber commanded. Turning to an eagle, she rocketed up. We followed her.

I wish there was a break here, but timing...

It's ironic, though. Completely coincidentally, the chapter I named after Kid Icarus: Uprising is the 25th chapter: there are 25 chapters, and Uprising is the 25th anniversary of Kid Icarus.

And Animagus Amber is actually part of my very first drafts. Originally, she was a centaur, which would have led this attack more realistically, but it didn't quite show her personality... the eagle represents her pull towards Ravenclaw. Probably not her character as much.

Neither can live while the other survives... for the last time. I'll probably use a new line once the prophecy's revealed.