Author's note: Back with another long chapter guys. Hope you all like it. The story is soon coming to an end, three or four more chapters and then its over. I know…I'm sad too.
Reishin Amara: Haha! I noticed that after I read your review. Good Lord, I laughed too. It's a typo. Haha!
Anka7995: Thank you for the review. I'm glad you are enjoying the story.
Ihaveasandbox: Wait, if you are talking about Dumbledore or Sirius then no they are not dead. Hehe. Thank you for the review.
Legionary Prime: Thank you for the review. If you are talking about writing till Deathly Hallows then I'm not so sure about it. I'll write if I get readers. As far as this story is concerned it's getting over in three or four chapters.
LifeonEarth : Thank you for the review. I'm glad that you are enjoying the story.
Maesde: Thank you for the review. I hope you like this one as well.
HouseOfNightMockingjay14: Well, here is the next chapter. Thank you for the review. Looking forward for the next ones!
"Alright, everyone change into comfortable clothes. We haven't got much time." Harry said as he crossed the room and picked up the parchment lying on the coffee table. It was past ten and the DA Core was in the Room of Requirement getting ready to leave. They all nodded and the girls went into the adjoining room which had appeared. Ten minutes later they were all gathered in the room again.
"Did anyone see my black shirt?" Theo asked, looking around for his shirt.
"It's near that table." Luna said, walking up to Neville.
"Thanks." he said as he picked up his shirt.
"Okay, Neville?" Harry called, bending down to tie up his shoe laces.
"Yes?" he said and came forward.
"You will wait here till we reach the fourth floor mirror, watch our backs, okay? I'll send my patronus once we reach there so you can come and join us. Tell Anthony to watch the Marauder's Map while we are away. "
"Okay." He said and left the room to look for Anthony.
"Malfoy?" Harry called getting up and looking over at the blond boy.
"Potter?" he asked, moving a step ahead.
"Alert the DA IS. Tell them to be extra alert tonight and to patrol the corridors till we don't come back." Harry said. His voice held an authoritative tone which no one could go against. Draco left the room to alert the possible DA IS members.
"Luna, Hermione?" Harry called and both the girls looked up at him.
"Go and alert the DA house leaders. Tell them to stay in their common rooms. Tell them not to leave their common rooms till we are back. We'll send a word once we are back so that they can go back to their dorms."
Both the girls nodded and left the room as well. Harry then looked at Blaise and it was as if Blaise understood what Harry wanted from him.
"No." he said suddenly and turned his back on him.
"Blaise…" Harry began but Blaise cut him off.
"I want to come." He said angrily.
"No." Harry said and Blaise turned back to face him.
"I said I want to." He said again.
"Blaise look, I know you are an excellent dueller and want to come but Hogwarts needs you. It's time to put the strategies into test. I want to you to stay guard at Hogwarts gates." Harry said his tone a lot softer than before.
"Potter….look…I…" Blaise tried but stopped when he looked at Harry.
"I want you to protect Hogwarts while we are gone Blaise. Get your team and stand guard at the gates. Meet me on the fourth floor." Harry said his voice turning into one of authority again.
"Okay." He said in a whisper and left to gather his team who was going to stand guard at the gates while the DA Core was leaving the school.
Neville returned with Anthony as Blaise left.
"Harry…" Anthony said and walked up to Harry. "Neville said you guys are leaving?" he sounded desperate and worried.
"We are coming back Anthony. There's some work and we have to go. Watch the Marauder's map while we are gone. If there is any danger alert Blaise at the front gate okay?"
"Yes." Anthony said and walked up to the Marauder's map pasted on the wall.
"Potter?" Draco said as he walked in and closed the door behind him.
"Yes?"
"I've altered the IS. We are at the advantage. The non-DA IS are patrolling only at the dungeons tonight, that leaves all the seven floors under the DA control." Draco said smiling at the luck they were having.
"Excellent." Harry said returning Draco's smile.
"Have you alerted them of our temporary absence?"
"Yes." Draco said and looked around the room.
"Where Blaise?" he asked not finding his best friend anywhere.
"He is going to guard the castle while we are gone." Daphne said.
Draco looked at Harry for a moment. "That will be for the best."
Harry gave him a genuine smile and looked at everyone else as Hermione and Luna returned.
"Ready everyone?" Harry asked and they all nodded, their hearts beating faster.
"Alright. Neville wait till you get my patronus." Harry said as he opened the door. Neville nodded and the DA Core filed out of the room.
They all walked as silently as possible, their wand clenched in their hands as tightly as possible. Harry's palms were sweating profusely. He was getting nervous and a little scared for his liking. He didn't know in what condition he was going to find Sirius in. Injured? Scared? Broken? Or the worse…dead? He shivered a bit and Ginny held his hand as the group silently walked on looking left and right for anyone who might spot them. Harry looked down at Ginny and she mouthed, 'Everything will be alright' to him before looking ahead again.
They all reached the fourth floor mirror and he sent his patronus to tell Neville to come and join them. Just then Blaise turned the corridor and looked at them.
"Don't worry; you are surly going to get your share of the fight." Theo said as he walked up to Blaise and hugged him.
"I sure am." He said and smiled at the rest of them.
"Well, you are all set then?" Harry asked.
"Yes, all the entrances are covered. I'll cover this one once you guys are gone. Don't worry I've it under control." Blaise said.
"Great. Anthony is in the Room of Requirement watching over the map. If he sees anything that is troublesome he will approach you. Plus the DA IS are patrolling all seven floors and the house leaders are currently in the common rooms, they are not be in their dorms till we return. If anything happens alert the house leaders and tell them to escort the younger students to the one-eyed witch statue and out of Hogwarts. Students above third can stay and fight if they want, if an attack commences." Harry said as the possibilities of Hogwarts in danger became more pronounced in his head.
"Don't worry. I'll cover it. You guys take care." He looked at everyone and nodded as Neville came and joined the DA Core.
"Leave guys, Umbridge will come to patrol this corridor soon." Blaise said looking around the corridor for any signs of the toad woman.
"Catweazle." Ron said and the mirror opened to show a dark corridor.
"Blaise…take care." Harry said.
"I will." He said before walking away.
"Alright guys, behind me." Harry said as he walked first into the darkened corridor.
"Lumos." Hermione whispered and the corridor lightened a bit to reveal where they were walking.
"It leads to Hogsmeade?" Daphne asked.
"Yes, but where in Hogsmeade? We don't know." Luna said she raised her wand and whispered a low lumos.
"How are we getting to the ministry Harry?" Ron asked from the rear of the group.
"Broomsticks. They are fastest." Harry said as he extended his hand and felt a wooden door. He pushed it open and walked out of the door.
They had arrived a few blocks from Zonko's.
"Accio Firebolt." Harry whispered and his firebolt zoomed towards him from the castle. Everyone followed and soon they were in the air closing in on the ministry.
They arrived in front of a muggle telephone booth in London. Harry remembered the street from the summer vacation when Mr Weasley had taken him for his trail.
"Anyone's got muggle money?" Ron asked, opening the door of the muggle telephone booth.
Everyone looked at each other and Hermione's eyes widened. "Oh shit! We forgot about this."
"Great." Harry said through clenched teeth.
"Wait, I guess I'll have it somewhere." Neville said as he rummaged through his pockets for muggle coins. "Here." He said removing two coins from his back pocket.
"We will have to go in two groups." Ron said as he entered the booth. Harry. Hermione, Daphne and Theo joined him.
Ron inserted the coin in the slot and pressed '62442' the number for magic. A woman's voice sounded in the booth.
Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your names and your business here.
Hermione looked uncertainly at everyone. "Umm…Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger, Daphne Greengrass and Theodore Nott and we are here to…umm…" she trailed off.
"To save someone…unless the stupid ministry can do it by themselves." Harry hissed angrily.
Please attach these batches through your stay at the Ministry.
Five badges emerged from the telephone coin slot with their names on them and Rescue Mission printed on it. They stuffed it in their pockets as the telephone booth shook and the pavement rose up past its windows and the booth went underground into the depths of the Ministry of Magic. Harry bent his knees and held his wand as ready as he could as he peered through the glass to see whether anybody was waiting for them in the Atrium, but it seemed to be completely empty. The place was silent, the light was dimmer than daytime and the fireplaces were not emitting the usual green fire flames. The door of the booth burst open and Harry toppled out of it followed by Theo and Neville. Three minutes later, Neville, Luna, Draco and Ginny joined them.
"Come on," Harry said quietly and the nine of them ran down the hallway, Harry in the lead, as they passed the fountain and the desk where the watchwizard normally sat.
The absence of any security in the hallways added to Harry's foreboding as they passed through the golden gates and into the lifts. He pressed the 'nine' button four times in impatience as the grilles closed with a loud bang and the lift began to descend.
The female voice sounded again as the lifts came to a stop. Department of Mysteries and the grilled slip open.
They stepped out into the corridor. Harry turned towards the black door of which he had been dreaming about for months.
"Let's go." He whispered and he led the way down the corridor.
"Let's get it over with." Ron said firmly as Harry turned the doorknob with his sweaty hand.
The door opened. "This is it." Harry said his heart started pumping so hard and fast that he was sure everyone was able to hear it.
He glanced around at all of them. They all had their wands out and looked serious and anxious. The door swung opening slowly and banged lightly against the wall.
The place had towering shelves covered in small dusty glass orbs. The room was very cold. Harry walked ahead very slowly and peered down between the two rows of shelves. It was pitch black with no slightest hint of movement.
"Stay close to me and keep your wand at the ready." Harry commanded as he walked ahead of everyone. They crept silently, glancing behind them occasionally as they went down the long alleys of shelves. They passed row eighty – four…eighty-five-eight-six, their eyes and ears alert for any sound or movement.
Harry then stopped in front of aisle ninety seven. He peered down the row again and held his wand arm ahead. "We go right down to the end."
He led them down the row of orbs silently. His heart was thumping madly as the possibility of finding Sirius injured and broken on the floor went through his head. He knew…any moment now, he would find the broken and bruised body of his godfather.
They all reached the end of the row and still there was no sign of Sirius or Voldemort or his Death Eaters. Sweat rolled off his forehead ad he turned his head to look right and left for his godfather.
"He should have been here." Harry hissed.
"Harry." Hermione whispered.
But Harry did not listen.
"Split into three group and walk the end of the rows." Harry said still looking here and there for any signs of his godfather. When no one moved he shouted, "NOW!"
Everyone split into groups and ran towards the other end of the rows looking for Sirius. Harry, Neville and Hermione walked the ninety-seventh row again. He looked into the dark alleys for any movements but to his frustration only blackness stared back at him.
He strode to the middle of the aisle with Neville and Hermione trailing behind him. He stood there gazing at the dusty orbs when Ron's shout called him.
"Harry." Ron's voice echoed into the huge room and before Harry could even understand he was running in the direction of Ron's voice. His thoughts centred only on Sirius…
"Ron." Harry said running up to him.
"Have you seen this?" he asked and Harry looked around to where Ron was pointing to see if any clue had been left by Sirius if he had been here.
The others had joined him by then.
"What?" Harry asked, not finding anything to where Ron was pointing.
"Potter, it's got your name on it." Theo said walking towards Ron's outstretched finger. He stood on his toes and peered at the dusty orb and then at the name written in small print beside it.
"It's faded but there's no doubt that it's your name." Theo said getting down and looking at Harry.
Harry then moved a little closer. "My name?" he asked blankly as he too stood on his toes and read the yellowish faded label. To his surprise, there, written in spidery writing was a date written of some sixteen years previously and below that:
S.P.T. to A.P.W.B.D
Dark Lord
And (?) Harry Potter
Harry stretched his fingers and closed it around the dusty orb's surface. He bought the orb down from its shelve and brushed it free of the clogging dust.
"It has to mean something." Draco said moving a bit ahead to look closely at the orb.
"And it concerns even the Dark Lord." Daphne said as she too moved ahead to look closely into the orb.
As the group closed in around Harry, a pearly white figure with hugely magnified eyes rose into the air. Daphne and Ginny yelped in surprise while the others backed away from Harry. Harry's fingers loosened around the orbs with the sudden appearance of a figure but held onto it as the figure began to speak.
'The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…born to those who have thrice defined him, born as the seventh month dies…and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark lord knows not…and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives…the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies…"
The silence within the room was absolute. No one spoke anything. Their ragged breathing could be heard clearly across the room.
"What was that?" Theo asked finally breaking the silence of the room
"I think I have heard that voice before somewhere." Ginny said and everyone turned to look at her.
The sound of an orb hitting the stone cold floor brought their attention back to Harry. The orb had slipped from Harry's fingers and crashed to the ground into millions of tiny pieces as Harry gave an ear splitting cry of pain.
-xxxxxxxx-
Review! Review!
Cliffhanger! But I promise the next chapter will be up soon.
Next Chapter: Well… no…I won't say!