Seamus ran out of the dungeons and up the main staircase. This heart was pounding uncomfortably fast in his chest. He couldn't believe he had to leave Harry down there all alone with Umbridge. What was he going to do? He knew Pomfrey would know Harry was faking and then Umbridge would really make them suffer. But who could he go to? He stopped at the top of the stairs, trying to think fast.

"Seamus? What are you doing?"

Seamus looked up to find Ron, Hermione, Dean heading his way. He ran towards them.

"Where's Harry?" Ron asked.

"Harry's in trouble!" Seamus said breathlessly, and he quickly explained what happened. "I don't know what to do or how to get him out of there!"

"Maybe we could create some kind of diversion to get them to come up?" Hermione suggested. As if on cue, Fred and George showed up just then.

"Did someone say diversion?" Fred asked jokingly, stopping in front of the group.

"Who kind of havoc are we causing?" George asked.

"Long story short, Harry is in trouble! He's downstairs with Umridge and Snape and we need to get him out of there!" Seamus said fast.

"Say less! Come on George!" Fred grabbed his twin, and they started heading down the hall, their wands aloft. Seamus turned to the others.

"We should hide down near the dungeons while they do whatever it is they're going to do," Ron said, starting down the dungeon stairs. Hermione, Seamus, Dean followed.

"Do you think whatever is going to happen is going to be enough?" Seamus asked.

"Knowing Fred and George, it's going to be big," Ron replied. "They've been looking for an excuse to ruin Umbridge's day."

The four of them hid in a nearby dungeon down the hall from the Potions' room. Seamus couldn't hear a thing coming from the office – they must have shut the door. They waited anxiously for something to happen: Seamus glanced at his watching, dreading the slow minutes going by. How long were they going to have to wait?

But no sooner had that thought entered his mind, the entire floor started shaking as an huge bang sounded. The three of them jumped at the sudden noise. They looked at each other as they heard the banging of a door just down the hall. They stuck their heads out of the classroom in time to see Umbridge running out of Snape's office and up the stair, her wand held aloft.

Seamus and the others ran down to the open office: Harry jumped up as Snape made his way to them. "Professor, Sirius –" Harry started, but Snape held his hand up.

"I understand the message, Potter. Hurry to your dorms quickly before she comes back. I will contact Black."

"But he's –"

"Now, Potter!" Snape barked.

Seamus grabbed hold of Harry and the group ran up to the stairs. They heard a huge commotion as they rounded the corner to the Great Hall: There were fireworks zooming around the hall: Stink pellets being dropped from the ceiling: dung bombs being tossed about by Peeves the Poltergeist: And Fred and George, who were on their brooms in the air, were pointing and laughing at Umbridge, who was being chased by a rogue firework. The hall was filled with laughing students and those trying to escape the fireworks.

As much as the others would have loved to stay and watch the chaos, they did as they were told and ran as fast as they could towards Gryffindor Tower. Halfway there, however, Harry found himself collapsing once more, his vision starting to go in and out.

"Harry!" Seamus tried to help him up, but Harry forced himself down, the pain in his scar too great. He watched as the vision of Sirius floated in his mind again, screaming…he was saying something, but Harry couldn't hear him…Harry cried out in pain as his scar started searing once more.

"We need to get to Sirius…" Harry said weakly, shaking standing up. He allowed Seamus to take hold of his arm and help steady him.

"Snape said he was going to contact him –"

"How?! Sirius is at the ministry! He's not going to be home!" Harry snapped, rubbing his scar frustratedly.

"We don't know that, Harry!" Hermione said. "Seamus is right – this could be a ploy to get you to the ministry!"

"Hermione, he's my family!" Harry cried, tears filling his eyes. "I can't lose him!"

"Baby," Seamus took Harry by the shoulders. "I know, ok. I know you feel strongly that he's there. But…we need to wait ten minutes at most – I'm sure Snape will have made some sort of contact by then and we can find out."

"And if he hasn't?" Harry whispered, a single tear rolling down his face. "If he can't get in touch with him?"

"Then we'll go to the ministry," Seamus said matter-of-factly. Hermione and Ron exchanged surprised looks. Dean continued looking very confused.

The group waited in the between Gryffindor tower and the Great Hall. Harry was pacing back and forth anxiously. The commotion Fred and George started soon died down, and all that could be heard were students heading back to classes, common rooms, and to dinner. Deciding it was time, they cautiously made their way back down, keeping an eye out in case Umbridge was on the move.

"Should we go back to the dungeons?" Hermione suggested as they made their way down the main staircase once more.

"I think that would probably be best –" Seamus started to suggest when someone grabbed the back of his sweaters. He turned around to find Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle. Seamus shook Malfoy's hand off. "What the hell do you want?"

"We've been instructed by Professor Umbridge to bring you and Potter to her office," Malfoy said smugly.

"And what makes you think we'd go with you?" Harry said, rubbing his scar once more.

"Because we've been given extra special powers over the students," Crabbe chuckled. "As part of her inquisitorial squad, we can take points away and give detentions."

"So if you don't come with us," Malfoy smirked, "you're going to be very close to losing all your house points for Gryffindor."

"Go ahead! We're not going with you!" Harry yelled. He started to turn away when Crabbe grabbed him as well. Harry was starting to get very pissed off at all these interruptions. Without even giving it a second thought, he turned around and punched Crabbe as hard as he could.

"Oh now you're going to pay!" Goyle yelled, but Ron was too quick and punched him as hard as he could as well. Seamus didn't give it a second thought before turned and sinking his fist right into Malfoy's stomach.

"Pay back, bitch!" Seamus yelled as Malfoy sank to the ground, holding his stomach. For good measure, Dean kicked Malfoy right in his ribs.

"Doesn't feel good, does it?" Dean said smugly.

The five friends ran as fast as they could to the dungeons and into Snape's office. But it was completely empty. "Where the hell is he?" Harry cried out.

"Maybe he's looking for us?" Ron suggested.

"Let's go find him –"

"We don't have time to be running around the castle looking for him!" Harry yelled. "Sirius could very well be dead now! We have to go after him!"

"Snape could have made contact with him already –"

"And he could have not! We need to find a way ourselves!" Harry started pacing once more, his heart and thoughts racing.

"The only way we could possibly do that is if we used the Floo Network," Hermione said. "And the network is being heavily watched by the ministry."

"If that's the only way, then we have to take our chances." Harry walked to the fireplace and looked around the mantelpiece for the magical powder. The others exchanged looks. They knew Harry's mind was made up – there was no changing it.

Harry found the powder and grabbed it. He took a handful and stepped into the fireplace. Seamus stepped forward. "Baby – what do you want us to do?"

"If I'm not back on five minutes, come after me. Until then, keep a look out." With that said, Harry threw down the powder and yelled, "Grimmauld Place!" And he disappeared into the green flames.

Harry kept his eyes closed tight as he whirled through different fireplaces, his stomach churning uncomfortably. Finally, he felt his feet firmly hit solid ground and he nearly lost his balance. When he opened his eyes, it was to find himself standing in the kitchen in Grimmauld Place. Harry stepped out and looked around the kitchen frantically.

"Sirius?" He called out, but with no response. Harry made his way out of the kitchen and up the stairs as fast and as quiet as he could. Harry looked through every door, calling his godfather's name, but to no avail. Harry's nerves were growing more as he started sweating in a panic.

"Where are you, Sirius?" Harry whispered.

Hermione, Ron, Dean, and Seamus stood awkwardly in Snape's office, watching the clock every few minutes. It was eerily silent in the dungeon. When the five minutes were up, they glanced at each other. Hermione nodded, confirming it was time. Seamus grabbed the powder as he stepped into the fireplace, threw it down, and yelled, "Grimmauld Place!" And disappeared. The others soon followed suit.

Harry ran back to the kitchen, his whole body shaking with anxiety. He nearly screamed in fright as the fireplace erupted in green flames and Seamus suddenly appeared.

"Baby! Did you –" Seamus started, grabbing hold of Harry's arms. Harry shook his head, tears swimming in his eyes. The fireplace erupted again, Hermione appearing first – the others followed soon after.

"He's not here! We need to go to the ministry – " Harry started. He let out a cry as pain shot through his scar once more and he collapsed to the ground: He kept getting flashes of Sirius once more – Sirius bloodied and bruised, lying on the ground, barely breathing. Harry let out a sob as Seamus helped him to his feet. "He's being tortured, we have to go! We have to!"

"How are we even going to get there?" Ron asked, watching his best friend in concern.

"We'll have to take the floo network again. There's no other choice," Dean said anxiously.

Ron checked his watch; it was just after six thirty. "The last of the ministry workers should be leaving the building. If we get lucky, we shouldn't run into anyone."

With that decision made, the four gathered around the fireplace once more and set off.