I realize now that its time to start taking account for events. This chapter takes place here:

Harry's scar had hurt during his exam the day after the last chapter. "Voldemort had Sirius captured."

Well anyway, this is the scene where Harry snuck into Umbridge's office and tried to check on Sirius at Grimmauld Place. But of course, only Kreacher was there. Now I'm taking off to the point where Umbridge and The Inquisitor Squad has corned Harry, Hermione, Neville, Ron, Neville, and Ginny.

Chapter 6:

Normal Pov

(Inside Umbridge's Office)

There was a commotion outside and several large Slytherins entered, each gripping Ron, Ginny, Luna and to Harry's bewilderment - Neville, who was trapped in a stranglehold by Crabbe and looked in imminent danger of suffocation. All four of them had been gagged.

"Got 'em all," said Warrington, shoving Ron roughly forwards into the room. "That one," he poked a thick finger at Neville, ",tried to stop me taking her," he pointed at Ginny, who was trying to kick the shins of the large Slytherin girl holding her, "so I brought him along too."

"Good, good," said Umbridge, watching Ginny's struggles. "Well, it looks as though Hogwarts will shortly be a Weasley-free zone, doesn't it?"

Malfoy laughed loudly and sycophantically. Umbridge gave her wide, complacent smile and settled herself into a chintz-covered armchair, blinking up at her captives like a toad in a flowerbed.

"So, Potter," she said. "You stationed lookouts around my office and you sent this buffoon," She nodded at Ron, Malfoy laughed even louder. "To tell me the poltergeist was wreaking havoc in the Transfiguration department when I knew perfectly well that he was busy smearing ink on the eyepieces of all the school telescopes, Mr. Filch having just informed me so.

Clearly, it was very important for you to talk to somebody. Was it Albus Dumbledore? Or the half-breed, Hagrid? I doubt it was Minerva McGonagall, I hear she is still too ill to talk to anyone."

Malfoy and a few of the other members of the Inquisitorial Squad laughed some more at that. Harry found he was so full of rage and hatred he was shaking.

"It's none of your business who I talk to," He snarled.

Umbridge's slack face seemed to tighten. She stood up.

"Very well," she said in her most dangerous and falsely sweet voice. "Very well, Mr. Potter . . . I offered you the chance to tell me freely. You refused. I have no alternative but to force you. Draco, fetch Professor Snape."

Juliunna Pov

(Outside Umbridge's Office)

I opened my eyes, entering my riddled dream like state of reality. I was faced a large, white and wooden door. Hmm, why should I be here-!

The door opened wide, and so did my eyes. Draco sauntered forward, smirking, but froze when he noticed me. "Juliunna-!"

Ignoring him, my jaw opened wide as I stared over his shoulder. Harry was on his back, pressed against the desk. A Professor was standing over him, her eyes wide and angry. He was staring back at her with determined and heated angry. Draco tried to stop me, but I pushed him out of the way and walked in. Draco whispered in my ear quickly, but my eyes were trained on the Slytherins holding the five children hostage.

"Draco," I started, for everyone's eyes were on me now. "Juliunna." Harry said, more out of shock.

"What is this?" I said, my voice cracking, but Draco grabbed my shoulder. He was trying to pull me back to the hallway.

"I'll escort her back to the common room and get Snape then." He said.

"Draco what is going on here?" I snapped at him. "Why are they holding them hostage?!"

"Their not hostages!" He said, a look of amusement on his face. "We were just playing a game-!"

"You liar!" Harry shouted.

"Silence!" The short woman said, jabbing her fingers into Harry's chest, making him wince.

I turned and ran out the door, but with a loud yell, the Professor screamed at Draco. "Get her now!"

I whipped my wand out and turned around, for with a loud slam of the door, Draco was walking towards me.

"Don't even try it!"

"I'm not going to try anything!" He snapped. I twirled my wand between my fingers. "Oh really?"

"Yes."

"What's going on?"

"Juliunna-!"

"What the hell is going on Malfoy?!" I snapped. I didn't know many spells yet, in fact, since the first time I got this wand, I haven't used it once.

"They just got caught in a conspiracy." Draco said, stepping forward. He was getting closer now, and I couldn't tell whether he was cautious because he was afraid or because he was going to strike out at me.

"What kind of conspiracy?" I asked slowly, stepping back.

"Potter was looking for Sirius Black in Umbridge's fireplace, the only one in the school that's not being policed." He said, and I nodded. I took one small step back, but Draco was quicker. He lunged forward fast, and before I could fully raised my wand he grabbed wand wrist tightly, and to my shock, pointed the tip into his own neck.

"Go on, you seemed so keen on being a hero a minute ago. Go ahead and do it. Cast that spell." He smirked at me. I glared at him. He knows I can't! I don't know any!

"Fine." I said. "Good thing I made a trip to the library earlier." I lied. His naturally pale face flushed slightly. "Your lieing"

"You want to bet that?" I said, narrowing my dark eyes. He sighed and gripped my wrist loosely. He pulled it away from his throat, and there was a second when we were both staring at each other. Him holding my wrist tightly in place between us. Then-!

He spun me around hard so that my back was to him, him holding my wrist behind my head painfully. There was a loud bang and green sparks flew out of my wand and hit the ceiling, disappearing upon hitting the stone walls. I almost cried out in pain from the force he was putting on my wrist. But I snarled in anger when he managed to pluck my wand out of my cramped hands.

"Oh come on. That was too easy!" He laughed.

"That's not funny!" I snarled at him, but we both went silent. Professor Snape had just rounded the corner, obviously drawn from the loud noise my wand had made.

"What is going on?" He said, raising an eyebrow at Draco. Draco laughed. "We were just playing around, Professor. Oh, and Professor Umbridge needs you in there." Draco said, jetting his head towards Umbridge's office. Professor Snape swept pass me and Draco, a drawling and forced look on his face.

I felt like snapping out at him when he didn't even offer to help. I was obviously in pain, and he's just going to walk on by! He walked into Umbridge's office and when the door was shut completely, Draco released me.

"Argh!" I snapped, turning around with a great look of betrayal.

"I was just kidding."

"Well it hurts." I whined.

"Hold on." He said with a smile. He pointed my own wand at my wrist and whispered something. Slowly, as if the pain was draining out of my wrist, it began to feel better. I smiled.

"Thank you." I said serenely. But then I remembered what was happening in, in that wretched woman's-! Professor Umbridge's office, as Draco had called her.

"Your welcome, come on, I'll take you back to the-!"

He shut up instantly and threw an arm around my shoulder. He and I ran down the hall and rounded the corner.

"I don't want to leave." I said, but just then, Professor Snape opened the door to Umbridge's office to exit. Draco took me by the shoulder and we took the vanishing staircase two steps at a time. At least, he did, but I was being basically dragged.

"What do you mean?" He whispered harshly. He and I rounded the corner of the staircase into a small corner, and I laid against the wall.

"Tell me the rest of the story. What happened after you guys caught Harry trying to talk to Sirius?" I asked, and Draco looked at the staircase nervously. Three pairs of feet were walking down the stairs. He pulled me deeper into the shadows of the corner. There was a small bend just enough for us to squeeze through, but before Draco could push me, I saw who it was and stopped him. It was Harry, Hermione, and Umbridge. She was holding them at wand point.

"Draco-!"

He wrapped on arm around my waist and covered my mouth with his hand. He pulled me flush against his chest. "Shush! It isn't safe to talk." He whispered, and dragged me back until we were completely covered in darkness.

"What do you mean?" I whispered. His eyes flickered over the three of them as they passed by, not noticing us in the slightest. When they had walked down the rest of the stairs and around the corner, Draco released me.

"Don't you ever do that again-!"

"Come on, we need to go check on the rest." He said, and was about to walk pass me, but stopped in his tracks.

"Sorry for being secretive. Its just that, there were portraits along the wall looking at us. And I'm sure that a few of them have access to my house. If You Know Who found out and figured that we were being traitorous, why, even knowing you and not telling him is traitorous, but still…" He drifted off, staring at the wall. I understood.

"Alright." I nodded.

"Anyway, let's go." He said. He grabbed my hand and pulled me back up the stairs. We were taking them at a run.

"Why would she take those two by herself?" Draco muttered. "I wonder what happened." He whispered to himself. When we reached the door, the four of them were still struggling amongst the Slytherins.

"Nice job boys." Draco commented, and he was smirking wildly.

"Dray." I snarled. But I noticed Ron's hands etching towards Goyle's pockets. A small smirk etched across my face as I watched Ron slip his hand into an unaware Goyle's pocket, groping for his wand.

…

Normal Pov

"Well, we can't do anything without wands," Said Hermione hopelessly, dragging herself up again. 'They were now on the outskirts of the forest, having just escaped Umbridge deep in the Forbidden Forest Woods. There was no time to waste. Sirius need his help! "Anyway, Harry, how exactly were you planning to get all the way to London?'

"Yeah, we were just wondering that." Said a familiar voice from behind her.

Harry and Hermione moved together instinctively and peered through the trees.

Ron came into sight, closely followed by Ginny, Neville and Luna. Behind them was Juliunna, walking shyly. All of them except for Jules looked a little the worse for wear. There were several long scratches running the length of Ginny's cheek; a large purple lump was swelling above Neville's right eye; Ron's lip was bleeding worse than ever - but all were looking rather pleased with themselves.

"So," said Ron, pushing aside a low-hanging branch and holding out Harry's wand, "Had any ideas?"

"How did you get away?" asked Harry in amazement, taking his wand from Ron.

"Couple of Stunners, a Disarming Charm, Neville brought off a really nice little Impediment Jinx," Said Ron airily, now handing back Hermione's wand, too. "But Ginny was best, she got Malfoy - Bat Bogey Hex - it was superb, his whole face was covered in the great flapping things. Anyway, we saw you out of the window heading into the Forest and followed. What've you done with Umbridge?"

"She got carried away," Said Harry. "By a herd of centaurs."

"And they left you behind?" Asked Ginny, looking astonished.

"No, they got chased off by Grawp,'" Said Harry. He turned to Juliunna. "So your on our side huh, Slytherin?" He smiled slightly. She nodded.

"Yes."

"But aren't you with Malfoy? How did he take you switching sides?"

"Well, I pretty much took my wand back from him and followed them out." She said, gesturing to Ron and Neville and Ginny and Luna. "Besides, I don't think he knows I'm gone yet. He couldn't see through those things attacking his face. Nice job Ginny." She added with a smile.

"Thank you." Ginny smiled at her.

"Who's Grawp?" Luna asked interestedly.

"Hagrid's little brother," Said Ron promptly. "Anyway, never mind that now. Harry, what did you find out in the fire? Has You-Know-Who got Sirius or-!"

"Yes," Said Harry, as his scar gave another painful prickle, ",Aand I'm sure Sirius is still alive, but I can't see how we're going to get there to help him."

They all fell silent, looking rather scared; the problem facing them seemed insurmountable.

"Well, we'll have to fly, won't we?" said Luna, in the closest thing to a matter-of-fact voice Harry had ever heard her use.

"OK," Said Harry irritably, rounding on her. "First of all, 'we' aren't doing anything if you're including yourself in that, and second of all, Ron's the only one with a broomstick that isn't being guarded by a security troll, so-!"

"I've got a broom!" said Ginny.

"Yeah, but you're not coming,'"said Ron angrily.

"Excuse me, but I care what happens to Sirius as much as you do!" said Ginny, her jaw set so that her resemblance to Fred and George was suddenly striking.

"You're too-!" Harry began, but Ginny said fiercely, "I'm three years older than you were when you fought You-Know-Who over the Philosophers Stone, and it's because of me that Malfoy's stuck back in Umbridge's office with giant flying bogies attacking him-!"

"Yeah, but-!"

"We were all in the DA together," said Neville quietly. '"It was all supposed to be about fighting You-Know-Who, wasn't it? And this is the first chance we've had to do something real, or was that all just a game or something?"

"No, of course it wasn't-!" Said Harry impatiently.

"Then we should come too," said Neville simply. "We want to help."

"That's right," Said Luna, smiling happily.

Harry's eyes met Ron's. He knew Ron was thinking exactly what he was: if he could have chosen any members of the DA, in addition to himself, Ron and Hermione, to join him in the attempt to rescue Sirius, he would not have picked Ginny, Neville or Luna.

"Well, it doesn't matter, anyway," said Harry through gritted teeth, "Because we still don't know how to get there-!"

"I thought we'd settled that," said Luna maddeningly. "We're flying!"

"Look," Said Ron, barely containing his anger, "you might be able to fly without a broomstick but the rest of us can't sprout wings whenever we-!"

"There are ways of flying other than with broomsticks," said Luna serenely.

"I suppose we're going to ride on the back of the Kacky Snorgle or whatever it is?" Ron demanded.

"The Crumple-Horned Snorkack can't fly," said Luna in a dignified voice, "But they can, and Hagrid says they're very good at finding places their riders are looking for."

Harry whirled round. Standing between two trees, their white eyes gleaming eerily, were two Thestrals, watching the whispered conversation as though they understood every word.

"Yes!" he whispered, moving towards them. They tossed their reptilian heads, throwing back long black manes, and Harry stretched out his hand eagerly and patted the nearest one's shining neck; how could he ever have thought them ugly?

"Is it those mad horse things?" Said Ron uncertainly, staring at a point slightly to the left of the Thestral Harry was patting. 'Those ones you can't see unless you've watched someone snuff it?'

"Yeah," said Harry.

"Ahhh!" Juliunna screamed, and threw herself on the floor. Harry had just watched a Thestral lick her cheek.

"What is it-!"

"Don't worry! It's just a baby pony that's invisible." Harry lied for her sake. She let out a deep breath. "Okay." She said lightly.

"How many?" Ron asked, trying not to laugh at Juliunna on the floor. Ginny helped her up softly.

"Just two."

"Well, we need three," Said Hermione, who was still looking a little shaken, but determined just the same.

"Four, Hermione," said Ginny, scowling.

"I think there are seven of us, actually," said Luna calmly, counting.

"Don't be stupid, we can't all go!" said Harry angrily. "Look, you four-!" He pointed at Neville, Juliunna, Ginny and Luna, "You're not involved in this, you're not-!"

They burst into more protests. His scar gave another, more painful, twinge. Every moment they delayed was precious; he did not have time to argue.

"OK, fine, it's your choice," he said curtly, "But unless we can find more Thestrals you're not going to be able-!"

"Oh, more of them will come," said Ginny confidently, who like Ron was squinting in quite the wrong direction, apparently under the impression that she was looking at the horses.

"What makes you think that?"

"Because, in case you hadn't noticed, you and Hermione are both covered in blood," she said coolly, "and we know Hagrid lures Thestrals with raw meat. That's probably why these two turned up in the first place."

Harry felt a soft tug on his robes at that moment and looked down to see the closest Thestral licking his sleeve, which was damp with Grawp's blood.

'OK, then," he said, a bright idea occurring, "Ron and I will take these two and go ahead, and Hermione can stay here with you four and she'll attract more Thestrals-!"

"I'm not staying behind!" said Hermione furiously.

"There's no need,' said Luna, smiling. "Look, here come more now . . . you two must really smell . . ."

Harry turned: no fewer than six or seven Thestrals were picking their way through the trees, their great leathery wings folded tight to their bodies, their eyes gleaming through the darkness. He had no excuse now.

"All right," He said angrily, "Pick one and get on, then."
…

Juliunna Pov

Harry wound his hand tightly into the mane of the nearest Thestral, placed a foot on a stump nearby and scrambled clumsily on to the horse's silken back. It did not object, but twisted its head around, fangs bared, and attempted to continue its eager licking of his robes. They were rich with Gawps blood.

"Ugh." I started, walking beside Harry as people started to get up on their own horses. "Harry?"

"Yes?" He asked me, looking at his horse. I couldn't see it, but it was definitely there. Harry was in horseback riding position

"Harry, could I ride with you? I'm afraid. And well, I get very clumsy when I'm afraid and… I've never rode anything like this before-!"

"Of course. Grab my hand." He said, and held out his arm. I grabbed it quickly and he pulled me up onto the horse. When I felt like I was on it completely, I reached out and wrapped my legs neatly around Harry's waist and sat my feet in his lap.

"You don't mind, do you Harry?" I asked, and he shook his head no. "I'm fine." He said nicely.

"So, Department of Ministries?" I smiled. Harry nodded, but his back was bristling suspiciously.

"How'd you know-!"

"Anyway Harry, look at this." I said, wanting to show him my wand, but everyone was finally seated on their brooms. Harry noticed this and turned around to silent me immediately. "Give me a second Juliunna. Hurry up guys!"

"This is mad," Ron murmured, moving his free hand gingerly up and down his horses neck. "Mad . . . if I could just see it-!"

"You'd better hope it stays invisible," said Harry darkly. "We all ready, then?"

"Yep." I said.

They all nodded and he saw five pairs of knees tighten beneath their robes.

"OK . . ."

He looked down at the back of his Thestral's glossy black head and swallowed.

"Ministry of Magic, visitors entrance, London, then," he said uncertainly. "Er . . . if you know . . . where to go . . ."

For a moment our Thestral did nothing at all; then, with a sweeping movement that nearly unseated us, the wings on either side extended; the horse crouched slowly, then rocketed upwards so fast and so steeply that Harry had to clench his arms and legs tightly around the horse, and I had to clench my arms and legs tightly around him, to avoid sliding backwards over its bony rump. He closed his eyes and pressed his face down into the horses silky mane as they burst through the topmost branches of the trees and soared out into a blood-red sunset. I put my head down in his shoulder. "I hate roller coasters." I moaned. Harry chuckled dryly from his spot.

"Really, I never rode one."

"Don't talk. I think I'll get sick if I keep talking." I whispered.

He didn't say a word, horrified of me getting sick on him.

I don't think I've ever moved so fast: the Thestral streaked over the castle, its wide wings hardly beating; the cooling air was slapping Harry and I's face; eyes screwed up against the rushing wind, he looked round and saw the others soaring along behind him, each of them bent as low as possible into the neck of their Thestral to protect themselves from the slipstream.

They were over the Hogwarts grounds, they had passed Hogsmeade; I could see mountains and gullies below them. As the daylight began to fail, Harry saw small collections of lights as they passed over more villages, then a winding road on which a single car was beetling its way home through the hills . . .

"This is bizarre!' I barely heard Ron yell from somewhere behind him, and I was imagined how it must feel to be speeding along at this height with no visible means of support. At least I have Harry to hold onto.

Twilight fell. The sky was turning to a light, dusky purple littered with tiny silver stars, and soon only the lights of Muggle towns gave us any clue of how far from the ground they were, or how very fast we were traveling. Harry's arms were wrapped tightly around his horse's neck as he willed it to go even faster. I wonder how it would feel like to be in his place, in great worry and terror about a close relative.

Maybe, just maybe, I should have stayed back at Hogwarts with Draco Malfoy. But no, I'd rather be doing what's right and in danger then doing what's wrong and in safety-!

Oh forget it! I'm here now and I can't do anything about it!

Onward we flew through the gathering darkness; My face felt stiff and cold, my legs numb from gripping the Thestral's sides so tightly, but I did not dare shift my position lest I slip . . . I was deaf from the thundering rush of air in my ears, and my mouth was dry and frozen from the cold night wind. I had lost all sense of how far they had come; all my faith was in the beast beneath me and Harry, still streaking purposefully through the night, barely flapping its wings as it sped ever onwards. I tried to hang onto Harry tightly and not so tightly. I didn't want to make him fall just in case, because if he went… I went.

My stomach gave a jolt; the Thestral's head was suddenly pointing towards the ground and I actually slid forwards a few inches along Harry's back.

"Sorry." I said, but Harry didn't say anything, greatful for the sudden warmth. We were descending at last . . . Harry and I thought we heard a shriek behind us and twisted around dangerously, but could see no sign of a falling body . . . presumably they had all received a shock from the change of direction, just as we had.

And now bright orange lights were growing larger and rounder on all sides; we could see the tops of buildings, streams of headlights like luminous insect eyes, squares of pale yellow that were windows. Quite suddenly, it seemed, we were hurtling towards the pavement; Harry gripped the Thestral with every last ounce of his strength, braced for a sudden impact, but the horse touched the dark ground as lightly as a shadow. Harry and I slid from its back, looking around at the street where the overflowing skip still stood a short way from the vandalized telephone box, both drained of color in the flat orange glare of the streetlights.

"It's beautiful." I whispered, and for some reason, Harry turned away, flushed.

Ron landed a short way off and toppled immediately from his Thestral on to the pavement.

"Never again," he said, struggling to his feet. He made as though to stride away from his Thestral, but, unable to see it, collided with its hindquarters and almost fell over again.
"Never, ever again . . . that was the worst-!"

Hermione and Ginny touched down on either side of him: both slid off their mounts a little more gracefully than Ron, though with similar expressions of relief at being back on firm ground; Neville jumped down, shaking; and Luna dismounted smoothly.

"Where do we go from here, then?" she asked Harry in a politely interested voice, as though this was all a rather interesting day-trip. I looked to Harry with a frown.

"Over here," He said. He gave his Thestral a quick, grateful pat, then led the way quickly to the battered telephone box and opened the door. I climbed in and flattened myself against the wall. "Come on!" He urged the others, as they hesitated.

Ron and Ginny marched in obediently; Hermione, Neville and Luna squashed themselves in after them; Harry took one glance back at the Thestrals, now foraging for scraps of rotten food inside the skip, and then forced himself into the box after Luna.

'Whoever's nearest the receiver, dial six two four four two!' he said.

Ron did it, his arm bent bizarrely to reach the dial; as it whirred back into place the cool female voice sounded inside the box.

'Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and business.'

"Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger,' Harry said very quickly, "Ginny Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, and Juliunna…"

"Not important." I said immediately.

"Okay . . . and we're here to save someone, unless your Ministry can do it first!'

"Thank you," said the cool female voice. "Visitors, please take the badges and attach them to the front of your robes."

Half a dozen badges slid out of the metal chute where returned coins normally appeared. Hermione scooped them up and handed them mutely to Harry over Ginny's head;

I glanced at the topmost one, Harry Potter, Rescue Mission.