18th June cont'd

I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Sitting in the front row in the exam hall meant that I couldn't see anything that was going on. I listened as Professors Marchbanks and Tofty assisted Harry out of the Great Hall and tried to persuade him to go to the Hospital Wing. I wondered what he saw this time, what had happened.

"Ten minutes left, students, let's keep our focus now." Professor Marchbanks instructed, now at the front of the room again.

I scribbled the remainder of my answer, focusing as best as I could.

I felt sick leaving the exam hall, Harry was nowhere to be seen amongst the crowds now impeding towards us, ready for dinner.

"Harry!" Ron yelled, gazing up the marble staircase.

"What happened, are you alright?" a frightened Hermione asked, "Are you ill?"

Before I could open my mouth, he grabbed my arm and pulled, "Come with me! I've got to tell you something…"

He led the three of us along the first-floor corridor and at last found an empty classroom and closed the door behind us. He leaned against the wall and faced us, "Voldemort's got Sirius."

"What?" my chin dropped.

"How d'you -?"

"I saw it. Just now. When I fell asleep in the exam."

Hermione was white, verging on grey, "But – where? How?"

"I don't know," Harry said, his entire body shaking "But I know exactly where. There's a room in the Department of Mysteries full of shelves covered in these little glass balls and they're at the end of row ninety-seven… he's trying to use Sirius to get whatever it is he wants from him in there… he's torturing him… says he'll end up killing him!" he paused, "How're we going to get there?" he asked us.

The little voice in my head was running around panicking, screaming, taking all the information out of filing cabinets and throwing it in the air, searching for a plan.

"Get there?" Ron asked.

"Get to the Department of Mysteries, so we can rescue Sirius!" Harry said loudly.

"Harry…" Hermione's voice was frightened, "how… how did Voldemort get into the Ministry of Magic without anybody realising he was there?"

Harry was losing his temper, "How do I know? The question is how we're going to get there!"

"Harry we can't…" I said, "It doesn't make sense… The Ministry would be full of people right now."

Hermione agreed, "And both Voldemort and Sirius are two of the world's most wanted criminals!"

"Maybe he used an invisibility cloak!" Harry yelled, "Thing is, every time I was in the Department of mysteries, it's always been empty."

"You've never been there, Harry," Hermione told him quietly, "You've only dreamt about the place."

Harry shouted in Hermione's face, "THEY'RE NOT NORMAL DREAMS!" he got closer and closer to us, "How d'you explain Ron's dad, then, what was all that about, how come I knew what had happened to him?"

"He's got a point." Ron said.

Hermione looked at me desperately, "It's all just so unlikely."

"I've just thought of something…" Ron said, "Sirius' brother was a Death Eater, wasn't he? Maybe he told Sirius the secret of how to get the weapon!"

"No." I said firmly.

Harry looked at me furiously, "Then why has Dumbledore been so keen to keep Sirius locked up?"

"Harry, I've just got to say this…" Hermione said and Harry shot her a look, "You… this isn't a criticism, Harry! But you do… sort of… I mean – don't you think you've got a bit of a – a – saving people thing?"

As Harry and Hermione argued I felt a rising panic. Should I tell them what I know? He will find out eventually that the glass balls are prophecies and that one has his name on it. Harry has got to learn the truth. Should I just let Harry go to the Department of Mysteries? What if Sirius really is there? I zoned out of all the noise and commotion and took a few deep breaths. Harry told me that Rookwood was going to tell Voldemort how to get the prophecy. Has Voldemort already got the prophecy? Does he know how to kill Harry? Is Harry the only one able to get the prophecy? This has got to be a trap. Then I had an idea. It was my only hope.

Ron was staring at me strangely as I zoned back into the argument.

"But Harry, you've just said it," Hermione said fiercely, "Dumbledore wanted you to learn to shut these things out of your mind, if you'd done Occlumency properly you'd never have seen this -"

"IF YOU THINK I'M JUST GOING TO ACT LIKE I HAVEN'T SEEN -"

"Sirius told you there was nothing more important than you learning to close your mind!"

"WELL, I EXPECT HE'D SAY SOMETHING DIFFERENT IF HE KNEW WHAT I'D JUST -"

The classroom door opened. In walked a curious Ginny and Luna, who looked like she had drifted in accidently. "Hi," Ginny said uncertainly, "We recognised Harry's voice. What are you yelling about?"

"Never you mind." Harry said roughly.

Ginny raised her eyebrows, "There's no need to take that tone with me. I was only wondering if I could help."

"Well, you can't," Harry said shortly.

"You're being rather rude, you know." Luna said serenely.

Harry swore and turned away. Ginny looked to me. I wanted to tell her everything, she was good at figuring stuff out, there was so much of George in her. But she wouldn't understand. It would take too long.

Hermione tried to convince Harry how they could help. She said that we needed to check in at Headquarters to see if Sirius really was there. She begged, pleaded, even. She said the she wouldn't stop him going to London if Sirius wasn't at home.

The plan was to sneak Harry into Umbridge's office again. Luna and Ginny were going to guard the corridor, claim that someone had let off Garrotting Gas. Hermione was going to go with Harry under the invisibility cloak and guard Umbridge's door. Ron was going to get Umbridge to say that the Transfiguration corridor was being trashed by Peeves. I was going to try and find Peeves to make the thing a little more authentic.

"But Kit-Kat, doesn't it make more sense for you to go with Harry?" Ginny said, sliding a glance at Luna.

"Yes, but Peeves listens to her!" Ron reasoned, "After Fred and George left he -"

"WE DO NOT HAVE TIME FOR THIS!" Harry yelled. He ran to Gryffindor Tower to get his cloak and Sirius' knife to get into Umbridge's office to return as quickly as possible.

When Harry reappeared we all set off to do our duties. One thing was: I was not going to find Peeves.

I found myself in at the entrance to the Great Hall, searching the staff table, but he wasn't there… I ascended the stairs down to the Dungeons, knocking furiously on his classroom door, I let myself in and, to my dismay, he wasn't there either. My last hope was his office, and I bolted up the steps, taking two or three at a time and pounded on his office door.

"P-P-Professor?" I felt myself shake, my chest heaving, he was in conversation with some of his Slytherin students, "I -"

Snape took one look at me and told his other students to leave, "Come in, Miss Pink."

"I need your help – Harry has mentioned the Department of Mysteries – He thinks Voldemort -"

"Do not use the Dark Lord's name."

I quivered, "Harry wants to go, he wants to rescue -"

There was a knock at the door. I swore loudly, and it opened, "Professor Snape? Professor Umbridge wants – Kathryn?"

Draco Malfoy stood in front of me. His eyes wide in wonder.

"Spit it out, Malfoy."

"The Headmistress would like to see you in her office, Professor." Draco smirked, "She's also been looking for you." Draco shot me an inquisitive look, "You'd better come along, too, Potter's in trouble."

I tried to appear as nonplussed as possible and followed at a distance behind Draco and Snape as they made the short journey to Umbridge's office. I tried to telepathically send messages to Snape, yet I knew it was no use. As we reached Umbridge's office, I saw Ron who had a bloody lip and was struggling against Warrington's half-nelson. Ginny had a sixth year Slytherin gripping her and she was trying to fend her off. Neville was standing in Crabbe's lock hold, going progressively more purple. Hermione was trying to throw off Millicent Bullstrode, who was much bigger than her. Luna was standing limply beside her sixth year captor. Harry, who only came into view as Snape and Draco stood aside for me to enter, was sitting in the chair, seeminglyunable to move.

"Ah, Professor Snape, and you've brought with you – Miss Pink," she gave a wide creepy grin, "Mr Malfoy, please take Miss Pink's wand and restrain her, she's always had a nasty temper."

Draco made to grab my arm.

"DON'T YOU FUCKING DARE." I growled, taking a swipe at his hand which was on my robes.

"Let me at least take your wand." He said, his eyes pleading with me.

"I don't have it on me." I lied.

Umbridge glanced at me suspiciously and pointed her wand at me and I found my hands tied together behind my back, then she turned her attention to Snape, "I would like another bottle of Veritaserum, as quick as you can, please."

"You took my last bottle to interrogate, Potter," he said coolly, "Surely you did not use it all? I told you that three drops would be sufficient."

Umbridge flushed, "You can make more, can't you?" her voice was sweet but her face told us she was furious.

"Certainly," Snape said, "It takes a full moon-cycle to mature, so I should have it ready for you in around a month."

"A month?" Umbridge squeaked, "But I need it this evening, Snape! I have just found Potter using my fire to communicate with a person or persons unknown!"

"Really?" Snape showed the faintest sign of interest and turned to look at Harry, "Well, it doesn't surprise me. Potter has never shown much inclination to follow school rules."

"I wish to interrogate him!" Umbridge shouted angrily.

Snape focused on Umbridge, "I told you, I do not have any further stocks of Veritaserum. Unless you wish to poison Potter – and I assure you I would have the greatest sympathy with you if you did – I cannot help you. The only trouble is that most venoms act too fast to give the victim much time for truth-telling."

Umbridge was on the verge of losing it, "You are on probation! Get out of my office!"

Snape gave an ironic bow and turned to leave. I hoped that what I told him was enough. That he would go and tell the Order of the Phoenix.

"He's got Padfoot!" Harry shouted, "He's got Padfoot at the place where it's hidden!"

Snape stopped, his hand on the door handle.

"Padfoot?" Umbridge cried, "What is Padfoot?"

Harry did not see Sirius in Grimmauld Place. We had no choice, we had to go to the Department of Mysteries. Snape had to see that, Snape had to understand. He had to help us. Dumbledore told me that I could trust him. "I have no idea," Snape replied coldly, "Potter when I want nonsense shouted at me, I would give you a Babbling Beverage. And Crabbe, loosen your hold a little. If Longbottom suffocates it will mean a lot of tedious paperwork and I am afraid I shall have to mention it on your reference if you ever apply for a job." He then closed the door behind him.

"Very well," Umbridge said, pulling out her wand again, "I am left with no alternative … this is more than a matter of school discipline … this is an issue of Ministry security … yes ... yes …" She was desperate and therefore dangerous. She was debating what to do. "You are forcing me, Potter… I do not want to, but sometimes circumstances justify the use… I am sure the Minister will understand that I had no choice…" she looked at Harry hungrily, "The Cruciatus Curse ought to loosen your tongue." She whispered.

"No!" Hermione shrieked, "Professor Umbridge – it's illegal." When Umbridge took no notice, Hermione implored, "The Minister wouldn't want you to break the law, Professor!"

"What Cornelius doesn't know won't hurt him," Umbridge pointed her wand at different parts of Harry's body, one by one, as though choosing where would hurt him most. She rested her wand at Harry's forehead. I had a wand, but there was no way I could be fast enough to take on Umbridge, Warrington, Draco, Crabbe, Millicent and the two sixth years. I tried to loosen the ropes binding my hands together. I tugged and struggled.

"They were all bleating about silencing you somehow – discrediting you – but I was the one who actually did something about it…" Umbridge told Harry, "only you wriggled out of that one, didn't you Potter? Not today though, not now," Umbridge took a deep breath, "Cruc-"

"NO!" Hermione yelled somewhere behind Millicent, "No – Harry – we'll have to tell her!"

"No way!" Harry yelled.

"We'll have to Harry, she'll force it out of you anyway, what's … what's the point?" Hermione held her hands up to her face and began to cry. Millicent jumped out of Hermione's way in disgust.

Umbridge looked triumphant, "Well, well, well! Little Miss Question-all is going to give us some answers! Come on, girl, come on!"

"Er – my – nee – no!" Ron said through his gag.

Ginny was staring at Hermione as though she had never seen her before. Neville, who was still choking for breath, was gazing at Hermione, too. I couldn't see Harry's face, but he and I were both in front of Hermione and could see there's not a chance in hell she's actually crying.

"I'm – I'm sorry everyone," Hermione said, "But – I can't stand it -"

Umbridge thrust Hermione into the empty chintz chair and interrogated her, instead. Hermione told Umbridge that Harry was trying to talk to Dumbledore. The rest of the room froze. Hermione explained that they were looking in the Three Broomsticks, Leaky Cauldron and the Hog's Head. She told Umbridge that we had to tell Dumbledore something important – that the weapon is ready. Hermione, very convincingly told Umbridge that we had been finishing the weapon and now it was ready for use.

"Lead me to the weapon." Umbridge said, her eyes wide with delight.

"I'm not showing… them." Hermione said shrilly, looking though her fingers at them.

"It is not for you to set conditions," Umbridge said sharply.

Hermione sobbed into her hands again, "Fine… let them see it, I hope they use it on you! In fact, I wish you'd invite loads and loads of people to come and see! Th – that would serve you right – oh, I'd love it if the whole school knew – then they'd be able to s-sort you out!"

Umbridge considered Hermione for a moment. Then she agreed, suggesting that she, Hermione and Harry all go together, to find the weapon.

"Professor," Draco said eagerly, "Professor Umbridge, I think some of the Squad should come with you to look after -"

"I am a fully qualified Ministry official, Malfoy, do you really think that I cannot manage two wandless teenagers alone? In any case, it does not sound as though this weapon is something that schoolchildren should see. You will remain here until I return and make sure none of these -" she gestured at me, Ron, Ginny, Neville and Luna, "- escape."

"All right," Draco sounded disappointed.

The door shut behind us.

After about five minutes of staring at each other I decided to wreak some havoc. "Well," I said, hands still tied behind my back, I walked across Umbridge's office.

"Where do you think you're going?"

I looked over my shoulder at Draco and said, "I'm going to have a look out the window, so I don't have to stare at these ugly sods any longer."

I could hear Draco walking up behind me.

"If you lay a finger on me, I will scream blue murder and have you in Azkaban quicker than you can apologise." I threatened. I turned back to look out the window and could see Umbridge following Harry and Hermione into the Forbidden Forest. I watched as the three disappeared.

"What's the weapon?" someone asked me after a period of time.

I smirked, still looking out, "Wouldn't you like to know?"

I heard more movement behind me. I turned on the spot and smiled. Millicent placed her hand on my shoulder. "I don't think so, Missy." I shook my head, I made my hands invisible and the ropes fell to the ground. I let my wand slip down my arm and into my hand, "Flipendo." I said and Millicent flew backwards and landed on the floor a few metres away.

I pointed my wand at Draco, "Expelliarmus."

All the wands that had been taken flew back to their owners and I had Draco's wand in hand.

Ron Stunned Warrington after getting an elbow to the nose. Ginny Stunned Millicent who was about to run after me. Neville breathlessly used the Impediment Jinx on Crabbe after being head-butted. Luna Stunned her captor and I looked at the other sixth year, "Petrificus Totalus."

Then I turned to Draco and smiled, "Hey there."

"Don't play with him, Kit-Kat." Ginny said before performing the Bat-Bogey hex on him.

"I'll leave your wand in a safe place." I told him as we all scurried out of the room quickly, closing the door tight behind us, using a locking spell on it, "Now what?"

"We go down to the Forbidden Forest and wait." Ginny said as though it was the only logical thing to do. So we started walking.

Ron was walking very close to me and I glanced up at him and he whispered, "You know more about this than you're letting on. You've been far too quiet…"

"But I don't know enough," I replied, "I know what Harry has been dreaming about and why, but I don't know what we're going to meet when we get there. And I have no doubt now, that we're going to London."

"Was is Snape who caught you or Malfoy, Kit-Kat?" Ginny asked, a few paces ahead of Ron and me.

"Draco caught me talking to Snape." I explained, "I went looking for him."

Neville's eyes fell on me, "You went to look for Snape? Why would you -? What is it between you two?"

"It's complicated." I said, "I just try to get by with him not try to chuck another stool at my head." As Neville shuddered I reassured, "I told Dumbledore and Dumbledore made him promise to be nice to me."

Neville looked at me incredulously but didn't have a chance to respond as a blood-covered Harry and Hermione appeared from the trees.

"So," Ron said, "had any ideas?"

"How did you get away?" Harry asked in amazement, taking his wand from Ron, Hermione took hers from me, gratefully.

I smirked, "I did my thing." Then recalled, "Couple of Stunners, a Disarming Cham, Neville brought off a really nice Impediment Jinx, but Gin was amazing, she got Draco with a Bat-Bogey-Hex!"

Ron laughed, his face lit up, "It was superb! His whole face was covered in the great flapping things!"

"Anyway," I interrupted, "I watched you heading into the forest with Umbridge. What have you done with her?"

"She got carried away," Harry said, "by a heard of centaurs."

"Darn," I sighed, "I really wanted to Stun her."

Ginny looked astonished, "And the centaurs let you go?"

"No, they got chased off by Grawp." Harry answered.

"Who's Grawp?" Luna asked.

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

Harry nodded, "Yes. I'm sure Sirius is still alive, but I can't see how we're going to get there to help him."

Everyone fell silent, but Luna piped up, "Well, we'll have to fly of course."

Harry looked at her irritably, "First of all 'we' aren't doing anything if you're including yourself in that -"

"I've got a broom -" Ginny said in response to Luna's proposal to fly.

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

"Excuse me, but I care what happens to Sirius just as much as you do!" Ginny had her jaw set in such a way that her resemblance to Fred and George was suddenly striking.

"We were all in the DA together," Neville said 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 something real – or was that all just a game or something?" Neville paused, "Because we want to come, we want to help."

I jumped in, "Look, Harry, everyone is going on this mission of their own free will. We're just wasting time. Luna, how do you propose we fly?"

Luna pointed into the forest and I immediately saw two Thestrals standing between two trees. Their white eyes were gleaming. They were obviously following the smell of blood off Harry and Hermione's robes. There was one last argument about just how many Thestrals were required and, as though they could hear the pleads of Ginny, Luna and Neville, no fewer than ten of the beasts appeared in the clearing. The decision was made.

"Alright," Harry said angrily, "pick one and get on, then."

It had been one of the most frightening yet exhilarating couple of hours of my life. I clung onto the Thestral for dear life, watching the sky darken above me as we flew gently for miles and miles, until we landed ever so gracefully in a back street in London. There was nothing graceful about my dismount as I landed on the ground in a heap.

"Er – thanks." I said to my Thestral before taking a look at my surroundings: an overflowing skip lay in front of me and an old broken telephone box was to my right.

"Over here!" Harry directed for us to get into the old phone box and I climbed in, "Come on!" his impatience was overwhelming. All seven of us piled in like sardines, when Harry shut the door behind himself, it was very claustrophobic, "Whoever's nearest the receiver, dial 62442!"

Ron did it. His arm bent bizarrely to reach the dial; as it whirred back into place a cool female voice sounded, "Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and business."

"Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Kathryn Pink, Hermione Granger, Ginny Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood… we're here to save someone, unless your Ministry can do it first!"

"Thank you," the cool female voice spoke, "Visitors please take the badges and attach them to the front of your robes." Hermione reached out for the badges and handed them to Harry, the woman continued, "Visitors are required to submit to a search and present your wands for registration at the security desk, which is located at the far end of the Atrium."

"Fine!" Harry said loudly, "Now, can we move?"

The floor of the telephone box shuddered and the pavement moved upwards past the glass windows, the Thestrals were soon out of sight and a soft gold light hit our feet and widened up our bodies. I watched as the Ministry of Magic came into view and we piled out of the telephone box. Large fireplaces were along the walls to my left and right. The floor was a dark polished wood and the ceiling was a very pretty peacock blue and had golden symbols moving across it. There was a group of golden statues on a fountain with a wizard, witch, centaur, goblin and house-elf all spouting water into the surrounding pool of water.

"Kathryn!" I felt someone tug on my robes, "Come on!" Harry spoke quietly as the seven of us sprinted off down the hall. There wasn't a soul in sight.

We passed through a set of golden gates towards a set of lifts. We all descended to level nine, "The Department of Mysteries," said the cool female voice as the grilles slid open. We stepped onto a deserted corridor lit by flickering torches. Harry made his way towards the plain black door. I took out my wand.

"Okay, listen," Harry said, stopping in front of the door, "Maybe… maybe a couple of people should stay here as a – as a lookout, and -"

"Harry, don't be so ridiculous! We all need to stick together!" I said firmly.

"Let's get on with it," Ron agreed.

Harry sighed as he walked towards the door ahead and it swung open. We were then standing in a large, circular room. Everything was black, including the floors and ceilings. There were a series of doors, uniform in every way, around us.

"Someone shut the door," Harry said, leaving us with the light of the candles above. The blue flames danced as Harry glanced around. Then the circular wall started rotating. I closed my eyes so as to not get dizzy by the movement of lights. Then everything became still again.

"What was that all about?" Ron asked.

Ginny answered, "I think it was to stop us knowing which door we came in."

"How're we going to get back out?" said Neville uncomfortably.

I don't know who was more frightened. Hermione, who was walking into a situation with no knowledge or understanding of what she is about to face. Or me, who knew enough to know that we were readily walking towards impending doom. Unfortunately for Hermione and me, both of us knew that neither of us could turn back. Now I have accepted that what will be will be.

"Well, that doesn't matter now," Harry said forcefully, "we won't need to get out 'till we've found Sirius."

"Where do we go, then, Harry?" Ron asked.

Harry was flummoxed by the walls moving, "I'll know the right way when I see it. C'mon." he marched straight over to the door in front of him and, wand ready, the door swung open.

The room ahead was empty except for a few desks and, in the middle of the room, an enormous glass tank of deep green liquid, big enough for all of us to swim in, a number of pearly white objects drifted around lazily.

"Brains." Hermione said and I took a closer look at the slimy-looking things and grimaced.

"Let's get out of here," Harry said, "This isn't right, we need to try another door."

"There are other doors here, too," Ron said, pointing around the walls.

How big is this place?

Harry shook his head, "In my dream I went through that dark room into the second one. I think we should go back and try from there."

And we followed as so. As Luna was about to close the door, Hermione used the spell Flagrate to put a fiery 'X' on the door we tried, as no sooner than when we closed the door, the walls started spinning again.

"Good thinking!" Harry whispered as he tried another door.

This room was a lot larger than the last. It was dimly lit and rectangular and the centre of the room was sunken, forming a great stone pit about twenty feet deep. I imagined this what an amphitheatre looked like in Roman Times. In the centre of the pit, however, was a raised stone dais, on which stood a stone archway that looked so ancient, cracked and crumbling that I was surprised how it was still standing. Unsupported by any other wall, the archway was hung with a black curtain or veil, which despite the complete stillness of the cold surrounding air, was fluttering very slightly as though it had just been touched.

I felt myself glued to the spot, staring at the veil as it moved. The world went on around me as I heard many voices talking at once. The noise was ringing in my ears. My body resisted my head telling it to explore, to get closer to the voices, to see what was behind the curtain.

"Kit-Kat," Ginny put a hand on my shoulder, a warm, comforting hand that stole away my attention from the veil, "We're leaving." She whispered.

"Oh," I said as I heard distant screams, that faded the further away I walked.

"What d'you reckon that arch was?" I overheard Harry ask Hermione when we got back into the circular room that span before us once again.

Hermione folded her arms, "I don't know, but whatever it was, it was dangerous."

The next door Harry tried was locked. Even Alohomora wouldn't open it and Sirius' knife was destroyed. Harry then decided to open the door beside; "This is it!" he spoke triumphantly.

I stepped into the room to be overcome by the most beautiful, dancing, diamond-sparkling light. As my eyes became accustomed to the glare I could make out clocks of many different shapes and sizes around the room ranging from the smallest carriage clock to the largest grandfather clock, the room ticked busily.

"This way!" Harry directed us towards the source of the dancing, diamond-bright light; a towering crystal bell jar that stood at the far end of the room.

"Oh, look!" said Ginny, who was in front of me, she pointed at the very heart of the bell jar.

Drifting along in the sparkling current inside was a tiny, jewel-bright egg. As it rose in the jar, I watched as it cracked open and a hummingbird emerged. The bird was carried to the very top of the jar, but as it fell on the draught, it's feathers became bedraggled and damp again, and by the time it had been borne back to the bottom of the jar it had been enclosed into an egg again.

"The circle of life." I thought aloud.

"Keep going!" Harry spoke with a sharp tone in his voice.

"You dawdled long enough by that old arch!" Ginny argued, but followed him nonetheless to the only door behind it.

Harry stopped as he reached the door, "This is it, it's through here -" he glanced around at us and those of us who didn't already have wands out, were now poised, ready for the unexpected.

Harry pushed the door and it swung open. The room was massive and extremely cold. The ceilings were as high as a church and full of nothing but prophecies. They glimmered dully in the light issuing from more candle-brackets set at intervals along the shelves.

"Don't touch anything." I warned as Harry edged forward and peered down one of the shadowy aisles between two rows of shelves.

"You said it was row ninety-seven," Hermione whispered, "This one is fifty-four, I think we need to go right."

We crept along the aisle on high alert, glancing behind us we went down the long alleys of shelves. Tiny, yellow labels had been stuck below the glass orbs on the shelves, depicting to whom they were related. Some of the orbs had a weird, yellow glow, others were as dull and dark within as a blown lightbulb. Perhaps those prophecies had expired. We passed row sixty-four, seventy-two, eighty-eight and then ninety-four. Harry eagerly moved towards row number "Ninety-seven." Hermione confirmed.

We all grouped around the end of the row, gazing down the alley beside it. There was nobody there. Harry insisted that Sirius was at the other end. His panic was setting in majorly. It was blazingly obvious.

"Harry?" Hermione said.

"What?"

"I… I don't think Sirius is here."

Nobody said a thing. I was looking out for any sign of movement and listening for anything out of the ordinary.

"Have you seen this?" Ron said, staring at one of the dusty prophecies on a shelf.

"What?" Harry spoke eagerly, hoping that there was some evidence that Sirius had been here.

"It's – it's got your name on," Ron pointed.

I could see the inscription on the yellow label:

S.P.T to A.P.W.B.D.
Dark Lord
and (?) Harry Potter

"Don't touch it!" I hissed as Harry craned his neck to see the yellow label, "I don't want you being another Bode or -"

Harry reached out and before I could get to him, he wrapped his fingers around the prophecy, lifted the glass ball down from its shelf and stared at it. Harry had no obvious signs of spell-damage. He actually appeared perfectly normal. The six of us instinctively moved closer to him as Harry brushed the dust off the orb.

I jumped as a familiar voice sounded behind me, "Very good, Potter. Now turn around, nice and slowly, and give that to me."

F*ck.

Black shapes were emerging out of thin air all around us, Death Eaters were blocking our way left and right. Eyes glinted though slits in hoods, lit wand-tips were pointing directly at our hearts; Ginny gave a gasp of horror.

"To me, Potter," repeated the voice of Lucius Malfoy. He held out his hand, palm up, waiting for Harry, who was to my left, to make a move. I had a look around at our captors, counting eleven in all, to our seven.

"Where's Sirius?" Harry said.

Several of the Death Eaters laughed. Sirius was never here. This was all a trap. I felt shivers run up my spine. The Death Eater standing directly behind me had his wand poking into my back at intervals as he laughed and it took everything I had not to turn around and punch him.

A harsh female voice sounded from the midst of the shadowy figures, "The Dark Lord always knows!"

"Always," Lucius echoed softly, "Now, give me the prophecy, Potter."

"I want to know where Sirius is."

"I want to know where Sirius is." Mimicked the female, who must be Bellatrix Lestrange, not that I could make out her face in the blinding lights pointed at us from all directions.

"You've got him," Harry said, "He's here. I know he is."

When was Harry going to realise what we have all just walked into?

"The little baby woke up fwightened and fort what it dweamed was twoo." Bellatrix mocked in a baby voice.

Harry, who was directly in front of me, muttered, "Don't do anything… Not yet -"

Bellatrix Lestrange let out a raucous scream of laughter, "You hear him? You hear him? Giving instructions to the other children as though he thinks of fighting us."

Well, I'm not going down without a fight. I thought.

"Oh, you don't know Potter as I do, Bellatrix," Lucius spoke softly, "He has a great weakness for heroics; the Dark Lord understands this about him. Now give me the prophecy, Potter."

"I know Sirius is here," Harry repeated.

More of the Death Eaters laughed. Though Bellatrix laughed the loudest of all, she was crazed; nothing like my memory of her sister.

"It's time you learned the difference between life and dreams, Potter," Lucius snarled, "Now, give me the prophecy, or we start using wands."

"Go on, then," Harry said, raising his own wand to chest height. The six of us followed suit. But the Death Eaters did not strike. They couldn't risk damaging prophecy they were so desperate to hear.

"Hand over the prophecy and no one need get hurt." Malfoy said coolly.

Harry and I both laughed and we dared to exchange glances.

"Yeah, right," Harry said, "I give you this – prophecy is it? And you'll just let us skip off home, will you?"

The words were barely out of Harry's mouth when Bellatrix tried to summon the prophecy out of Harry's hand, but Harry managed to block it just in time.

"Oh, he knows how to play, little bitty baby Potter." Bellatrix's dark brown eyes were maddeningly wide behind her Death Eater's mask, "Very well, then-"

"I TOLD YOU, NO!" Lucius roared at her. She didn't appear bothered "If you smash it -!"

Bellatrix stood forwards and pulled off her hood and her face came into view. Azkaban had done bad things to her; she was gaunt and skull-like, but was still alive with a feverish, fanatical glow. Her wild curly hair was roughly held back and she pouted her lips before saying, "You need more persuasion?" Her chest was rising and falling rapidly, "Very well – take the smallest one," she ordered the Death Eaters beside her, "Let him watch while we torture the little girl. I'll do it."

"I don't think so." I said defiantly as I grabbed Ginny's hand and pulled her in behind me, and the other DA members closed in ranks to protect her.

"You'll have to smash this if you want to attack any of us," Harry told Bellatrix, "I don't think your boss will be too pleased if you come back without it, will he?"

She did not move. She stared at him, the tip of her tongue moistening her thin mouth.

"So," Harry said, "what kind of prophecy are we talking about, anyway?"

I really wish now that I told him when I had the chance.

"What kind of prophecy?" she repeated, the grin was fading from her face, "You jest, Harry Potter."

"Nope, not jesting," Harry said, "How come Voldemort wants it?"

Several of the Death Eaters let out low hisses.

"How dare you speak his name?" Bellatrix whispered.

"Yeah," Harry said, "Yeah, I've got no problem with saying Vol-"

"Shut your mouth!" Bellatrix shrieked, "You dare speak his name with your unworthy lips, you dare besmirch it with your half-blood's tongue, you dare-"

Harry interrupted her, "Did you know he's a half-blood, too?" I heard Hermione moan somewhere behind me, I, for one, admired his ballsy approach, "Voldemort? Yeah, his mother was a witch, but his dad was a Muggle – or has he been telling you lot he's a pure-blood?"

"STUPEF-"

"NO!"

A jet of red light had shot from the end of Bellatrix's wand, but Lucius had deflected it; his spell causing hers to hit the shelf a foot to the left of Harry and several of the glass orbs there shattered. I noticed as they hit the ground, two figures, almost ghost-like, fluid as smoke, unfurled themselves from the fragments of broken glass upon the floor and each began to speak; their voices spoke over each other and neither prophecy could be heard over the argument between Lucius and Bellatrix.

I leaned in closer to Harry and whispered, "You're not going to give it over, are you?" I could see him shake his head slightly, ("DO NOT ATTACK! WE NEED THE PROPHECY!") "I'd say it was quite vital that Voldemort doesn't find out what is in there." He glanced at me momentarily, ("He dared – he dares – he stands there – filthy half-blood-") "I'd also go as far to say that Dumbledore does not want you having that prophecy in your hands, yet here we are," I continued whispering, "better in our hands than theirs I guess…" ("WAIT UNTIL WE'VE GOT THE PROPHECY.") "so, what's your master plan to get us out of this? I'll pass it on…"

"Potter needs a bit of persuasion!" Bellatrix yelled.

Harry's lips barely moved as he said, "Smash shelves."

I put my hand behind my back and wiggled it about. I prayed that it was neither Neville nor Luna behind me. Someone touched my little finger as Harry kept the Death Eaters chatting. I overheard Lucius exclaiming that Harry didn't know that the reason he had the scar was hidden in the Department of Mysteries.

The person who had my hand gave a gentle squeeze, I made it so that the conversation was strictly between myself and this other person, "Harry says to smash the shelves -"

"I'll tell Neville," I heard Ginny whisper, "you can tell Hermione."

She let go of my hand and within seconds what must have been Hermione's hand was thrusted into mine, I was watching the Death Eaters carefully as I moved my lips as little as possible, handing over the instructions to Hermione, who was going to pass onto Ron. Ginny took hold of my hand and whispered, "That's everyone in the know."

I looked at the Death Eater to my left; his attention was on Harry, so I quickly mumbled, "Whenever you're ready, Harry."

"- only people who are permitted to retrieve a prophecy from the Department of Mysteries, Potter, are those about whom it was made, as the Dark Lord discovered when he attempted to use others to steal it for him." I caught the end of what Lucius was telling Harry.

"And why did he want to steal a prophecy about me?"

Lucius explained, "About both of you, Potter, about both of you… haven't you ever wondered why the Dark Lord tried to kill you as a baby?"

Harry paused as he realised the partial significance of the prophecy in his hands. He was still to understand that the prophecy contained the instructions on how they may kill one another. I sighed as Harry said, "Someone made a prophecy about Voldemort and me? And he's made me come and get it for him? Why couldn't he come and get it himself?"

"Get it himself?" Bellatrix shrieked over a cackle of mad laughter, "The Dark Lord, walk into the Ministry of Magic, when they are so sweetly ignoring his return? The Dark Lord, reveal himself to the Aurors, when at the moment they are wasting their time on my dear cousin?"

"So he's got you doing his dirty work for him, has he?" Harry yelled, "NOW!"

The five voiced behind me bellowed "REDUCTO!"

I chose a different strategy, I pointed my wand at one, unfortunate Death Eater who was standing directly in front of the row, "FLIPENDO!" was my jinx of choice, which made the Death Eater fly backwards into the shelf and cause the whole thing to implode in on him and those surrounding him.

"RUN!" Harry yelled as the prophecies started smashing, he didn't have to ask me twice. I ran beside him and was closely followed, by who, I wasn't sure. There were thunderous crashes around us as shelves collapsed on top of themselves, the sound of glass shattering and the murmur of many prophecies being recounted. The way in front of us was clear and Ron, Ginny and Luna sprinted past us along the next aisle and were quickly out of sight.

"Stupefy!" Hermione shouted as a hand found Harry's shoulder. The Death Eater was nowhere to be found by the time we reached the end of row ninety-seven. Harry turned right and I was hot on his heels. Hermione was a pace behind me, urging Neville on. The four of us pelted through the door leading to the Time Room.

"Colloportus!" gasped Hermione and the door sealed itself with an odd squelching noise.

"Where – where are the others?" Harry gasped.

Hermione looked terrified, "They must have gone the wrong way…"

"Listen…" Neville whispered.

I heard footsteps outside the door Hermione had just sealed. Lucius was giving out orders, "Leave Nott, leave him, I say – his injuries will be nothing to the Dark Lord compared to losing that prophecy. Jugson, come back here, we need to organise! We'll split into pairs and search, and don't forget, be gentle with Potter until we've got the prophecy, you can kill the others if necessary – Bellatrix, Rodolphus, you take the left; Crabbe, Rabastan, go right – Jugson, Dolohov, the door straight ahead – Macnair and Avery, through here – Rookwood, over there – Mulciber, come with me!"

"I think it's time we make a move." I said, pointing towards the general direction of the door on the far wall. Harry nodded and began running, the three of us followed as quietly as we could, past the shimmering bell jar representing the circle of life. I could see the door on the far wall coming into view when someone on the opposite side of the door we were running from flew open. The four of us dived under the nearest table.

"They might've run straight through to the hall," said the rough voice.

"Check under the desks," said another, more familiar voice. I had heard this one, once before…

Harry saw the knees of the Death Eaters bend; poking his wand out from under the desk, he shouted, "STUPEFY!"

A jet of red light hit the nearest Death Eater and he fell backwards onto a grandfather clock and knocked it over; the second Death Eater, leapt aside avoiding Harry's spell and mine as I shot the Stunning spell in his direction seconds later.

The second Death Eater's eyes were on Hermione, who was crawling out from under the desk to get a better aim, "Avada -"

Harry launched himself across the floor and grabbed the Death Eater around the knees, causing him to topple and his arm to go awry. I climbed out from under the desk and turned to lock the door to the room again. As I turned my back, Neville overturned a desk and pointed his wand wildly at the struggling pair and yelled, "EXPELLIARMUS!"

Both Harry's and the Death Eater's wand flew out of their hands and soared back towards me. They landed hopelessly on the floor where I had been standing moments ago, a few metres in front of me. The Death Eater, Harry and Neville were all running to get there first. I was about to raise my wand to summon the wands when Neville, who was running, seemingly pointed his wand in my general direction and yelled, "STUPEFY!"

I was forced to drop to the floor as the jet of red light flew right over the Death Eater's shoulder, right though where my stomach had been and into a glass-fronted cabinet that was full of variously shaped hourglasses that reminded me of Hermione's time-turner. The cabinet fell to the floor and burst apart, glass flying everywhere, I covered my head, and to my surprise, the glass sprang back up onto the wall, fully mended, then fell down again, and shattered –

The Death Eater snatched up his wand, which was lying in front of the bell jar, as the Death Eater turned, both Hermione and I raised our wands and yelled, "STUPEFY!"

The jets of red light both hit the Death Eater, one in the middle of his chest, and the other at his head: he froze, his arm still raised, his wand fell to the floor with a clatter and he collapsed backwards towards the bell jar. There was no clunk, as he didn't hit the bell jar and slide to the floor, but instead, his head sank through the surface of the bell jar as though it were nothing but a soap bubble and he came to rest, sprawled with his back on the table, with his head lying inside the jar.

Harry got his hands on his wand and watched as the Death Eater stood, we all raised our wands, but in shock we stood watching his head shrink very fast, growing balder and balder, the black hair and stubble retracting into his skull; his cheeks becoming smooth, his skull round and covered with a peach-like fuzz… A baby's head now sat grotesquely on top of the thick, muscled neck of the Death Eater as he struggled to get up again.

"Crabbe," I said suddenly, "That's Crabbe's dad… Terence, I think…"

There was a shout from a nearby room, then a crash and a scream.

"RON?" Harry yelled, turning quickly from the formation in front of us, "GINNY? LUNA?!"

Realising that he had just alerted all Death Eaters to his position, he ran towards the far door again, and I hesitated unsure if I should try and lock the door, but then two Death Eaters entered the Time Room and were hot on my heels as I sprinted to try and catch up with Harry, Hermione and Neville, who were now, nowhere to be found. I was completely alone.

I stopped running and tiptoed out the far door, into the black room where the walls span. I stuck my head out the door and whispered, "Harry?"

Someone's hand clasped around my mouth and roughly grabbed me around my waist from behind. The door into the Time Room was shut behind me and the walls began to spin. I thrashed and kicked and attempted to bite, but the man resisted. I flung my head backwards and I could hear his nose shatter. His grip loosened enough for me to escape. I raised my wand, "Stup-"

"Imperio." Lucius Malfoy stood out from the darkness.

I felt fantastic, as though walking on air. All my worries and fears about Harry and the DA members disappeared leaving a vague feeling of happiness. "Follow me," Lucius' voice in my head said and I did just that, we entered one of the doors I hadn't been in before. My eyes were so unfocused the details beyond Lucius' face were blurred. Lucius turned and looked at me, "Give me your wand," he said calmly. My body started to resist.

"No," I answered, it was very quiet and very difficult to say, but I argued back.

"No?" Lucius said, a hint of surprise in his face, "Take her wand, Mulciber."

Mulciber, who was mopping up his bloody nose, roughly grabbed the wand out of my hand and held it by his side.

"Where's Potter?"

Pain pulsed through my body as I resisted the curse further, "I don't know." I answered honestly.

"Get me the prophecy." My legs were urging me to move, to go to Harry, rip it from his hands and return to Lucius, to see the smile on his face. I could also see a fountain in the centre of the room, with a liquid that had a mother-of-pearl sheen. Georgie? I felt my heart pound. I could smell him, but I couldn't see or hear him. I smelt George. I smelt something chocolatey baking in the oven. I also smelt coffee. I wanted to surround myself with these smells. I had this odd urge to jump into the fountain to swim in it.

No. Spoke the voice in my head. You are under attack. You have got to fight this. George isn't here to save you.

I snapped out of it.

Lucius and Mulciber were also staring at the fountain. The two men were entranced by the smells whilst I gained my bodily independence back as Lucius' Imperius Curse on me failed. I snatched my wand back out of Mulciber's hand and Stunned the two men before locking the door behind myself.

That's when another body bumped into mine and I pointed my wand at the individual and yelled, "EXPELLIARMUS."

"Can I have my wand back, Kit-Kat?"

"Sorry," I sighed, I closed my eyes as the room span.

"Did you get split up from everyone?" Luna asked in her usual dream-like manner.

I nodded, "I have no idea where the three of them got to! I ran straight into the arms of Lucius and a guy called Mulciber. They like grabbing women from behind and using the Imperius Curse." I whispered, "They were in… The Love Room, the door that was locked earlier. I stunned them both and locked them in." I looked around and the walls stopped spinning.

Before the four of us could choose a door to try, a door to my right sprung open and three people fell out of it.

"Ron!" I heard Harry croak.

My attention was immediately taken by something else, "Neville? Is that-? Please don't tell me she's-"

"She's still alibe." Neville's nose was badly broken and he had Hermione slung over his shoulder like a dead weight, "What habbened to you?"

"Kathryn was put attacked by Mulciber and placed under the Imperius Curse by Malfoy," Luna answered on my behalf as I saw Ginny fall to the floor in pain as she tried to stand on her own without Luna's help. She clutched her ankle. "Four of them chased us into a dark room full of planets, it was a very odd place, some of the time we were just floating in the dark-"

"Harry, we saw Uranus up close!" Ron said giggling feebly, "Get it, Harry? We saw Uranus – ha ha ha-" I saw a bubble of blood grow from the corner of Ron's mouth and burst. He must have been hit by a curse. He was acting like an immature, drunken mess and was hanging off Harry's robes.

I was down on my knees beside Ginny who was sinking into her seated position on the floor, colour quickly draining from her face. Her ankle looked broken. "Do you trust me?" I asked her.

"Kit-Kat," she nodded, squeezing my hand gently.

I pointed my wand at her ankle, tapped it and said, "Ferula." And the ankle was bandaged with a splint, "How does that feel?"

Ginny looked at me as though she could cry, "Awful, but so much better."

"Okay," I said thinking very seriously, "we've got to make a move, we're all in this stupid room like sitting ducks!"

"Yes," Harry said, "Luna, can you help Ginny? Kathryn can you help me with Ron?"

"Course!" I sprang into action. Ron was the tallest and heaviest of the injured and Harry was struggling. The two of us took one of Ron's arms each and wrapped them around our shoulders and heaved his reluctant body.

As Harry's hand reached out for the handle of the nearest door, another door opened at the other side of the hallway and three Death Eaters sped in, led by Bellatrix.

"There they are!" she shrieked.

Stunning spells shot across the room. Harry and I smashed through the door and Ron was unceremoniously flung onto the floor and the two of us ducked to help the other four get into the room safely.

"Protego!" I yelled as one of the male Death Eaters shot a Stunning spell directly at me. He deflected and I shot, "Petrificus Totalus" right back at him. I didn't look long enough to see if it hit him or not as I was dragged by Harry into the room behind. We were all just over the threshold when we slammed the door on Bellatrix.

"Colloportus!" Harry shouted and three bodies fell against the door on the other side.

"It doesn't matter," said one of the men, "There are other ways in – WE'VE GOT THEM, THEY'RE HERE!"

We were back in the brain room.

"Doors!" I spoke in a loud whisper and Harry, Luna, Neville and I tore around the room sealing the doors around us. I could hear footsteps coming all around the walls as Death Eaters tried to beat us to it. "Colloportus!" I pointed my wand at a door just in time as a heavy body launched itself at it a second later.

"Collo – aaaaaarghhhh…" Luna flew through the air and five Death Eaters were surging into the room through the door she didn't make it to in time. Luna hit a desk, slid over its surface and on to the floor on the other side where she lay sprawled, as still as Hermione.

"GET POTTER!" Bellatrix shrieked.

I fired as many spells as I could muster at the Death Eaters. All of them were deflected with ease.

Okay plan B. I thought to myself. I was going to have to grab Harry, run and make us invisible when we were out of sight. I can't do that; it would be a risk to everyone else… I reasoned. Crap.

Ron staggered drunkenly towards Harry, "Hey, Harry, there are brains in there, ha ha ha, isn't that weird, Harry?"

"Ron, get out of the way, get down," I heard Harry yell, trying to escape the Death Eaters, whose primary focus was retrieving the prophecy, which was still firmly in his hands.

Ron lifted his wand and pointed it at the tank, "Accio brain!"

I took a sharp intake of breath. All eyes were on the brain that burst out of the green liquid, out of the tank, not unlike a leaping fish; for a moment it seemed suspended in mid-air, then it soared towards Ron, spinning as it came, and what looked like ribbons of moving images flew from it, unravelling like rolls of film. Ron, who held out his arms, watched it disgorge its gaudy innards said, "Harry, come and touch it; bet it's weird."

"RON NO!"

For love nor money, we could not stop him.

Ron caught the brain in his outstretched hands and the tentacles began wrapping themselves around Ron's arms like ropes.

"Harry, look what's happen – No – no – I don't like it – no, stop – stop-"

The thin ribbons were spinning around Ron's chest at an alarming rate.

"Diffindo!" Harry yelled, trying to sever the tentacles.

"Harry it'll suffocate him!" Ginny screamed, now completely immobilised by her broken ankle.

One of the Death Eaters raised their wand at Harry, and I yelled, "Flipendo." Just in time and caught the man in the chest and he flew backwards, hitting a table. Then a jet of red light flew from another Death Eater's wand and hit Ginny squarely in the face. I had to use a shield charm to protect myself as I heard her keel over sideways, unconscious.

"STUPEFY!" I heard Neville yell, "STUPEFY! STUPEFY!" but nothing happened. A Death Eater shot a Stunning spell at Neville and it narrowly missed.

It was now Harry, Neville and me against five Death Eaters. Two of them sent off streams of silver light like arrows which missed but left craters in the wall behind us. Harry made a run for it as Bellatrix raced right at him. Harry held the prophecy above his head and the other four men followed him right out the only door left open, the one the Death Eaters themselves had come through.

I knew there was no point using the rennervate spell on Ginny with her being in so much pain and I didn't know what hit Luna or Hermione to help them in any way. Ron was the only one in immediate danger, that I could work out. Make a decision. The voice in my head said.

"Neville, help Ron, I'll go after Harry!" I instructed him and scooted up to the door and I quietly made my way down the steps into the room with the stone dais and archway. None of the Death Eaters could hear or were aware of me as I worked out what was happening. He was climbing backwards onto the dais. The Death Eaters were all standing at a halt, watching him, chests rising and falling at a rapid rate. There were now ten of them. Dolohov, who I recognised from the wanted posters was bleeding badly, pointing his wand straight at Harry's face.

"Potter, your race is run," Lucius spoke, pulling off his mask, "now hand me the prophecy like a good boy."

"Let – let the others go, and I'll give it to you!" Harry said desperately.

A few of the Death Eaters laughed.

Think, Kathryn, think. Blasting spells…. Blasting Curse – Confringo! If only I could get Harry's attention and he could get out of the way… I'd be signing my own death wish if I tried to get all ten Death Eaters from this distance, on my own.

"You are not in a position to bargain, Potter," Lucius spoke, I could hear the joy in his voice, he was loving this, "You see, there are ten of us and only one of you... or hasn't Dumbledore never taught you how to count?"

"He's dot alone!" shouted Neville behind me, "He's still god be and Kabryn."

Worst. Timing. Ever.

Neville scrambled down the steps, passing me, pointing his wand at each of the Death Eaters in turn.

"Neville – no – go back to Ron," Harry shouted.

"STUPEFY!" Neville shouted again, "STUPEFY! STUPEFY!"

One of the largest Death Eaters seized Neville from behind, pinioning his arms to his sides. He struggled and kicked; several of the Death Eaters laughed.

"It's Longbottom, isn't it?" Lucius sneered, "Well, your grandmother is used to losing family members to our cause… your death will not come as a great shock."

"Longbottom?" repeated Bellatrix and I could see a truly evil smile light up her face, "Why, I have had the pleasure of meeting your parents, boy."

"I DOE YOU HAB!" Neville roared, fighting so hard against his captors encircling grip. The Death Eater even pleaded for Neville to be Stunned.

I caught eyes with Harry, he shook his head slightly and urged me to stay where I was.

"No, no, no," Bellatrix said, her voice alive with excitement. She glanced at Harry, then back at Neville, "No, let's see how long Longbottom lasts before he cracks like his parents… unless Potter wants to give us the prophecy-"

"DON'D GIB ID DO DEM!" Neville roared, beside himself as Bellatrix grew closer and closer to him, "DON'D GIB ID DO DEM, HARRY!"

Bellatrix raised her wand, "Crucio!"

"NO!" I bellowed as Neville screamed, his legs drawn up to his chest so that the Death Eater holding him was momentarily holding him off the ground, twitching and screaming in agony.

Four or five Stunning spells all came at me at once, and I fended them off.

"Do you want to have your turn?" Bellatrix glanced up in my direction. Her head cocked to the side, as though she was surprised I was still standing.

I stared back, wand raised, "Not today." I said boldly.

"Now, Potter, give us the prophecy, or she gets it next."

Harry held out the prophecy.

"HARRY NO!" I screamed as Lucius jumped forwards eagerly to claim his prize.

Then, a few levels above me, two more doors burst open and more people sprinted into the room: Sirius, Lupin, Moody, Tonks and Kingsley.

Lucius turned and raised his wand, but Tonks shot a Stunning Spell at him. Harry dived off the dais and out of the way. The Death Eaters, like myself, were distracted by the appearance of the Order members, who were now raining spells down on them as they jumped from step to step out of the way. I watched as Neville crawled along and Harry flung himself flat to the ground to reach him.

A red bolt of light flew at me, "Protego!" I countered and shot, "Stupefy!" straight back in that direction. I joined in with the raining down of spells on Death Eaters. There were five Order members to ten Death Eaters. They needed all the help they could get.

The Order members had now gotten into position, Sirius was duelling a Death Eater; Kingsley was fighting two at once; Tonks, who was on the same level as me, metres away was firing spells down at Bellatrix; Moody had taken on Dolohov and Lupin was duelling frantically with another Death Eater. Malfoy was stirring on the floor.

I clapped eyes on Harry, who had a Death Eater's hands around his neck. He and Neville were battling him and I could have sworn Neville jabbed the man in the eye with his wand. Nice.

But my attention was taken by a rogue Death Eater who shot a Stunning spell at me.

"Oi!" I shouted after blocking the spell, "Expelliarmus!"

He blocked my spell.

"Expelliarmus!" I repeated over and over and over until his wand flew out of his hands and into mine.

I glimpsed in the other direction: Harry had just Stunned the Death Eater attacking him. Moody was lying unconscious near him. His fake electric blue eye was whizzing about the floor madly.

The Death Eater in front of me held his hands in the air, "How come an attractive little missy like you," he began pulling the most revolting of faces, taking careful steps towards me, "can take on a man like me?"

"Impedimenta." I said, I felt my hands shake, he was metres away, he sounded like Mulciber, the man who was with Lucius earlier, "Don't you dare come any closer."

In the corner of my eye I could see Dolohov use the Dancing Feet spell on Neville to get to Harry.

The man in front of me looked offended, trying to get my attention, "Do you know who I am?"

"You're a bloody paedo, that's what you are." I yelled, "STUPEFY!"

Sirius rammed Dolohov out of Harry's way. He had defeated the previous Death Eater and took on Dolohov. Harry stood and yelled "Petrificus Totalus" and Dolohov's arms and legs snapped together, landing with a crash on his back.

"Get Harry and go!" I heard Lupin call out to me, "Get out of here!" he was duelling one-on-one with a particularly ugly looking Death Eater, who was quickly joined by another, his mask still firmly in place. The second Death Eater shot a green light spell at Lupin, who dodged. He was struggling to ward off two men.

"Flipendo!" I pointed my wand at the second Death Eater, who shielded himself and pointed his wand at me and a green light came in my direction, aimed at my head. I didn't have time to cast a spell, so jumped down the step and dodged. Then he tried again and I jumped backwards. He then shot another in my direction, I could hear him laugh as I stumbled. I saw my opportunity and I took it, "Confringo!" and a small blast exited the tip of my wand, hit the ground and knocked the Death Eater off his feet and he fell to the ground, hitting his head on the hard, stone step. He did not move and blood poured from his body.

Across the room, Tonks fell from halfway up the stone steps, her limp form toppled from stone seat to stone seat, and a triumphant Bellatrix ran back into the fray. I tried not to panic. Lupin was metres away from me, still battling the other Death Eater. I ducked my head as another curse rebounded in my direction. I watched as Kingsley was battling Rookwood, it was hard to forget the unmistakable pock-marked face from the Daily Prophet. Sirius dashed to take on Bellatrix. Across the room, Harry was dragging Neville, who's legs were still flying uncontrollably in every direction. I lowered my body and ran to help.

A red bolt of light missed my shoulder by centimetres.

Lucius Malfoy was attempting to grab the prophecy which Harry was still holding up in the air. Harry chucked the prophecy to Neville, who clutched it to his chest.

Two green bolts flew towards my head and I dropped to the floor. I army crawled across the floor, realising that I still had the unconscious Death Eater's wand in hand. I pocketed it just in case. I then sent the odd stupefy in the direction of a Death Eater, missing each time. I glimpsed Harry blast Lucius off his back, into the dais, where Sirius was duelling Bellatrix, who appeared as though she was thoroughly enjoying herself. Lupin, who was still battling his Death Eater, yelled something to Harry and Harry grabbed Neville a little tighter and yanked desperately. I wasn't ten metres away. A spell landed on the step in front of him and blasted a bit of the stone away. He shoved the prophecy into his pocket. I pushed myself up onto my feet to run the remaining distance.

It was one of those surreal moments as I stood and ran. Neville's robes ripped as Harry pulled – the prophecy slipped out of Harry's pocket – one of Neville's uncontrollable feet kicked it and it flew towards me. I launched myself in the direction of the falling glass ball. It smashed two metres in front of where I hit the ground. A pearly white figure with huge magnified eyes rose into the air in front of me. In the distance Bellatrix let out a scream of excitement as she dodged a spell from Sirius. It was Trelawney. I could see her lips moving, but I couldn't hear a thing though the screams and yells around me.

"Harry, I'b sorry!" I heard Neville cry, his face anguished as his legs continued to flounder. I sat myself up in order to reach the two boys who were just out of touching distance.

"Dubbledore!" Neville said, his sweaty face suddenly transported, staring over Harry's shoulder.

"What?"

"DUBBLEDORE!"

Harry and I both looked to where Neville was staring. Directly above us, Albus Dumbledore stood in the entrance of the Brain Room, his wand aloft, his face white and furious. Lucius started to stir two steps down, he lifted his wand at Harry, "STUPEFY!" I pointed my wand at him and he was rendered unconscious once more.

Dumbledore sped past the three of us. I reached the boys, pointed my wand at Neville's legs and spoke the incantation, "Finite incantatem" and they were at rest.

"Fanks." Neville spoke.

The Death Eater that I used the blasting curse on, got up and made a run for it. Blood was pouring from his forehead. I stood and raised my wand to Stun him, but a spell from Dumbledore pulled him back as easily and effortlessly as though hooking him onto an invisible line.

The only pair still battling were Sirius and Bellatrix. They were clearly unaware of the new arrival. I watched as Sirius ducked Bellatrix's jet of red light: he was laughing at her, "Come on, you can do better than that!" his voice echoed around the room.

The second jet of red light hit him squarely on the chest.

The laughter had not quite died from his once-handsome face, but his eyes widened in shock.

It seemed to take Sirius an age to fall: his body curved into a graceful arc as he sank backwards into the veil hanging from the old archway and disappeared.