AN: Written in response to a writing challenge at the HMS Harmony Discord. The prompt for this work was 'First Rescue'. It went a beyond the 1K minimum for the competition and I wish to make this into a short fic. Sharing it here.

Some content in this chapter is from the book so have this disclaimer: all works taken from that book are not my own.


Fear unlike anything Harry had ever experienced pulsed through him like a current of electricity. It lit up in tingles over the backs of his hands, his breath hoarse in his throat. Adrenaline was all that kept him going, his vision tunnelled on a singular focus. He had to get his friends to safety. It was his fault they were there.

It was all his fault.

There was no time for him to torture himself. His legs were aching from how hard he was running. Already he had sprinted into the cursed place in a hot pursuit for Sirius, tearing through the Department of Mysteries without a care that he was trespassing. He cared little about the laws he was breaking, shattering each one under his heavy footfalls. Not while he was ducking and weaving out of the way of curses that were seeking to stop him. Those curses were not lethal, the only blessing he was afforded. The Death Eaters wanted him alive.

Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Luna and Neville, however… not so much. They were spares.

And he'd never been so afraid.

When they split up from Ron, Ginny and Luna, he felt some hope. They'd gone ahead. It was up to him to divert the Death Eaters to him. If they caught him, so be it. He'd serve as a diversion. Anything to get his friends a head start. They were only there because of him and because of his naivety.

He lost his head when he heard one of the Death Eaters go to use the killing curse on Hermione. His wand went forgotten in his hand as he went to attack physically. Childhood instincts snapped over his logic as he launched himself at the larger man, not caring about himself at all. The brawl ended up just as messy as the fights he'd gotten into before Hogwarts. They only came away from the tangle with the Death Eaters because of Hermione catching up to them. After they watched in horror as one of the Death Eaters pitched backwards into a vessel impossibly containing time itself, they pushed onwards.

His fear peaked upwards as he heard the pursuing Death Eaters closing in on them. He dragged Hermione and Neville with him into an office, his breath now feeling like vapours of acid. He slammed the door shut behind them, backing up to see the small, cramped space. Hermione pushed past him, her wand outstretched.

"Collo-."

Hermione started to lock the door. Before she could finish, the door smashed open. Two masked Death Eaters pushed inside, their wands flashing. Before Harry could react, white light exploded in front of him.

The force catapulted him backwards. Less than a second later, sickening pain cracked through his head. He landed in a heap, vision awash with many tiny white lights. In a pained daze, he tried to fumble up to his feet. Across from him, Hermione had crashed backwards into a bookcase. Tomes cascaded over her, briefly hiding her from view. He couldn't see where Neville ended up but his fear had him fighting off the concussion. He then found the Death Eater standing over him, masked face looming down.

"We've got him!" The Death Eater yelled, his voice accented. "In an office off-."

Harry sprung into action before he could think. His wand slashed out.

"STUPEFY!" He yelled out, his voice tearing at his throat.

A stunner unlike anything he cast before erupted out of him. Red light exploded and the Death Eater was blasted back. Hermione scrambled up from the books, her wand raised.

"Petrificus Totalus!"

The second Death Eater pitched forwards as his arms and legs snapped together. He crashed down, face first, at Harry's feet. Harry looked down at him, looking over as Hermione joined him, covered in dust. He pushed his glasses up his nose, his face now glistening with sweat.

"We need to get out of here and find the others."

He let Hermione pull him around and push him into action again. They crept out of the office, edging around the Death Eater turned baby who was tearing apart the room in a tantrum.

"He's never going to notice us." Harry whispered. "C'mon, keep close behind me."

Sweeping a protective arm back, he looked over his shoulder, meeting Hermione's eyes. She nodded in response, not arguing with him. They left the Time Room, coming into the circular hallway. Hermione let out a soft huff of frustration when she saw that her fiery crosses marking the doors had faded. The walls spun around again. Harry's head throbbed, the concussion getting to him. He swayed and Hermione's arm was there, supporting him.

When the walls stopped moving, they looked around at the doors. Hermione bit at her lip, moving towards one just as the one on the right of it sprung open. Three people fell out of it. Harry went on the defensive at once but halted his instincts when he saw they weren't in Death Eater robes.

"Ron!" He croaked, rushing over to them. "Ginny - Luna… are you all-?"

Before he could finish, Ron lumbered up to him. He grabbed Harry by his robes and dragged him towards him. He giggled as he gazed at Harry, eyes unfocused.

"There you are! You look funny, Harry… you're all messed up."

"Wh-what?" Harry looked past Ron then yelped as Ron's knees gave away and pulled Harry down with him. "What happened to you?"

Neville and Hermione rushed over to help free him from a giggling Ron. Harry backed up, horrified, and looked over to Ginny who was sliding down the wall.

"I think her ankle's broken. I heard something crack." Luna whispered, coming over to him. "I don't know what they hit Ron with but they chased us into a room full of planets."

"We saw Uranus up close!" Ron burst out, giggling. "Get it, Harry?"

He was very pale, Harry noticed, and something was trickling out of his mouth. Something that looked horribly like blood.

"We've got to get out of here." Harry said as Hermione helped Ron up. Her fearful gaze met his. He looked over to Luna. "Can you help Ginny? I'll take Ron."

"It's only my ankle. I can do it myself!" Ginnyu said impatiently when Luna went over to help her. She then promptly collapsed sideways and grabbed Luna for support.

Harry went over to take Ron from Hermione, but she kept her arm under him, giving Harry a fierce look. He then went for Ron's other arm so they could carry him between them. Neville led them over to a door. As they were within a few feet, another door burst open. Three Death Eaters skidded into the hall led by Bellatrix Lestrange.

"There they are!" She shrieked loudly.

Not waiting a second longer, Neville shouldered his way through the door ahead of them. Harry and Hermione rushed forwards, Luna and Ginny close behind them. Once everyone was over the threshold, Hermione twisted around.

"Colloportus!"

Three bodies slammed into the door.

"It doesn't matter! There are other ways in. WE'VE GOT THEM!"

Harry dragged Ron into the room with Hermione's help. He looked around desperately. They were back in the Brain Room and there were many doors around, plenty of openings for an ambush. He met Hermione's eye and she understood his train of thought. They set Ron down where he just sat and giggled.

Harry and Hermione split up, starting to seal the doors. Neville and Luna cottoned on, moving to help them. Harry rolled over a table in his haste to reach a door as he heard footsteps behind it.

"Colloportus!"

There were footsteps running along behind the doors. Every now and then another heavy body would launch itself against one so it creaked and shuddered. As Harry reached the very top of the room, he heard Luna cry out. He turned in time to see her flying through the air. Five Death Eaters were surging into the room through the door she had not reached in time. Luna hit a desk, slid over its surface and onto the floor on the other side where she lay sprawled.

"LUNA!" Harry shouted. It was a mistake as the Death Eaters immediately turned on him.

"Get Potter!" shrieked Bellatrix as she ran at him.

"Harry, run!" Hermione screamed at him. He didn't need telling twice, dodging Bellatrix as she lunged for him. She didn't go to curse him, clearly worried about hitting the prophecy still clutched in his sweaty hand.

As Harry reached Ron, instead of being aware of the danger, Ron just tottered towards him.

"Hey, Harry, there are brains in here, ha ha ha, isn't that weird, Harry?"

"Ron, get out of the way, get down."

But Ron had already pointed his wand at the tank.

"Honest, Harry, they're brains. Look… Accio Brain !"

The scene seemed momentarily frozen. Harry, Ginny, and Neville and each of the Death Eaters turned in spite of themselves to watch the top of the tank as a brain burst from the green liquid like a leaping fish. For a moment it seemed suspended in midair, then it soared toward Ron, spinning as it came, and what looked like ribbons of moving images flew from it, unravelling like rolls of film.

"Harry, look at it," said Ron, watching it disgorge its gaudy innards.

"RON, NO!"

Harry did not know what would happen if Ron touched the tentacles of thought now flying behind the brain, but he was sure it would not be anything good. He darted forward but Ron had already caught the brain in his outstretched hands. The moment they made contact with his skin, the tentacles began wrapping themselves around Ron's arms like ropes.

"No, I don't like it. No, stop!" But the thin ribbons were spinning around Ron's chest now. He tugged and tore at them as the brain was pulled tight against him like an octopus's body.

"Relashio!" Hermione yelled out as she reached Ron first. Her spell did the trick. The tendrils released Ron. She pointed her wand at the brain, levitating it back into the tank as she ran.

"Watch out!" Ginny screamed.

Harry twisted around, seeing the Death Eaters rushing for him. Stunning spells shot out in all directions. He dived out of the way but Ginny and Neville didn't fare as well. Both slumped on the floor.

Harry ran over to Hermione, skidding to move in front of her. As he did, the five Death Eaters chasing him lowered their wands, not wanting to accidentally smash their prize. He then saw Bellatrix sprinting for him again. He then understood what he had to do. He had what they wanted and what they came for. He needed to draw them from the others. Harry raised the prophecy above his head and tore over to the only door still open.

He heard Hermione screaming his name but he barrelled onwards. He didn't focus on what was ahead of him, not until suddenly the floor vanished from under him. Before he could yell out in fright, he was falling.

He cracked down hard on a step. The impact sent his breath out of his chest. He rolled downwards, each impact sending pain through him. He landed flat on his back in the sunken pit where the stone archway stood on its dais. The whole room was ringing with the Death Eaters' laughter. He looked up, seeing Death Eaters descending, more emerging through other doorways and began leaping from bench to bench toward him.

He dragged himself to his feet. Pain rocketed down his left leg. He stumbled backwards, his ribs stabbing with each breath. His legs were trembling, he could barely stand. He cradled the prophecy close to his chest as he gripped his wand, backing away.

The back of his legs hit something solid. He had reached the dais where the archway stood. Eyes darting around, he counted the Death Eaters but it was no use. He was completely outnumbered and outmatched.

"Potter, your race is run." Lucius Malfoy stepped forwards from the ring of surrounding Death Eaters. He pulled off his mask, revealing a red, angry face. He held out a hand. "Now hand me the prophecy like a good boy."

Harry swallowed, looking around. It was over. Malfoy was right. Defeat and failure coiled inside him, dread making him nearly pant with fear. He tightened his hold on the prophecy.

"L-let the others go and I'll give you the prophecy."

He couldn't conceal the fear from his voice. It was impossible. But then… it got even worse. One of the larger Death Eaters joined them, dragging with him someone clutched tightly in his arms.

Hermione.

"No…" He breathed out. Harry struggled to breathe as a whine went off in his head. His eyes were wide, going round as he couldn't take his gaze away from Hermione. His mouth gaped as fresh horrors played out over his vision, the traumas spilling free.

Glassy eyes, unseeing, unstaring, irises slackening… mouth partly open in a frozen expression of surprise…

"It's him… Take Harry and run…"

Laughter rang in his ears as he struggled to get his breath, his body shuddering in pain. The shock of the cruciatus ravaged his nerves, his thoughts scraps and wisps of consciousness…

"Bow to death, Harry…"

Bellatrix then pushed in front of Malfoy, impatient.

"Enough of this. This is not a game, Potter. You brought your friends into this fight and look at the result." She then turned to where Hermione was struggling. She raised her wand and Harry saw the intent burn in her dark eyes.

"Crucio!"

Hermione's screams pierced Harry. Her legs gave out as she writhed, twisting like mad in the Death Eater's hold. Her head was tipped back as she shrieked in agony. Her neck corded, tendons taut. Her pain-filled screams ripped into Harry's heart, each expelled lungful sending agony through him. All sense wiped out of him as he stumbled forwards towards her, one leg giving out. Laughs rang around him, joining with Hermione's screams.

"Stop!" He yelled. "Stop it!"

He gripped the prophecy as his eyes filled with tears. He couldn't stand it. Her pain… it was like his heart was shattering.

"Please stop it!" He roared. "I'll give you the prophecy just STOP!"

The screaming stopped. Harry was on his knees, unable to look up when the Death Eater holding Hermione dropped her down onto the floor. He could hear her whimpers of pain, each one breaking his heart further and further. A pale, aristocratic hand with manicured fingers moved into his vision. Harry lifted his chin, seeing Malfoy standing over him.

As he moved to hand over his only bargaining chip, he felt the shift. Something shot through him, his magic suddenly sparking through his body. Harry's head lifted just as a loud concussive explosion detonated ahead.

"No!" Malfoy shouted. "It's them!"

Harry dropped on all fours when Malfoy tore away from him, a shield charm enveloping them both. Stunning spells ricocheted off the barrier as other projectiles cracked and smashed the stone around them. Harry squinted through the bright lights, seeing up at the top of the tiers there were figures above. Shouts rang out, joining the deafening cacophony of deadly magic raining down all around.

He had only one thought on his mind as the Death Eaters were all distracted from the ambush. He dodged past the spells, diving across the stone to where Hermione was balled on the floor. He shielded her with his body.

"Protego!" He cried out as more jets of red light flashed overhead. He flung himself over Hermione, feeling her trembling body under him.

"I-I'm alright, H-Harry." He heard her under the din.

His shield charm broke under the onslaught. Harry went to help Hermione up but before he could, an arm came out of nowhere. It wrapped around his neck, yanking him back from Hermione. His feet scrambled on the stone as he tried to fight off his attacker. The Death Eater was pressing so tightly, trying to make him pass out.

"Give it to me," a voice growled in his ear. "Give me the prophecy."

Harry tried to call for help but nothing escaped him. He couldn't vocalise an incantation. His eyes were watering as darkness started to cloud in his vision.

"Harry… HARRY!" Hermione stirred enough to see what was happening. "IMPEDIMENTA!"

Brilliant silver light streaked past Harry. The pressure released Harry at once. He dropped down to the floor, choking in breaths of air. Hermione was with him, her arm tucking under him. She half-dragged him out of harm's way. Harry struggled to get his feet under him, tucking the prophecy into his pocket as he did. He squinted around, seeing then who their rescuers were. The Order had arrived.

He gasped audibly as he caught sight of Sirius racing down the benches towards him. The look of utter terror on Sirius's face was so akin to the look he wore when Lupin started to transform those years ago. He reached them.

"Harry, go with Hermione. Don't look back!" Sirius shouted at him as he heaved both of them up the steps.

A jet of green light then cracked on the stone next to Sirius. The sight of the Killing Curse re-engaged Harry's brain. He just nodded, springing back into action. Sirius then turned to guard their backs as he wrapped his left arm around Hermione, helping her up. They picked up the pace

"Potter's getting away!" Bellatrix screamed. "Stop him!"

When they reached the top, Harry threw them down as a red jet rocketed towards them. He scrambled up to his feet only for a hand to suddenly grab his ankle and yank him backwards. He crashed into the floor, rolling onto his back. The Death Eater stood over him, snatching off his mask. Harry looked up at the thin face, recognising it from the wanted posters. Antonin Dolohov.

The man who murdered Molly Weasley's brothers.

Hermione leapt into action, sending a stunning spell. The Death Eater just grinned at her, parrying.

"He's here! Potter's-!" Dolohov shouted. Hermione let out a terrified shriek then stabbed her wand at him.

"Silencio!"

Dolohov snarled at Hermione but there was no sound. He raised his wand but Harry just didn't think. Just as he had done before when Hermione was in danger, his instincts cut in. His wand was forgotten, red mist drowning all else out. He would not let Hermione be hurt again. It was all he knew and all he understood in that moment. He shoved himself in between Hermione and Dolohov. In a frozen second, he noticed how he could make out the perfect ring of Hermione's brown irises around her pupils. Harry launched himself at Hermione, pushing her out of the way. As he did, he brought himself into Dolohov's crossfire. He saw his wand make a crossing motion in front of him.

The next thing he knew was a crippling weakness. His vision was enveloped in purple fire, his wand dropping from slack fingers. An immense force suddenly tore through, pushing out through his back. He dropped to his knees.

"HARRY!"

Screams rang in his ears as he looked up at a shocked Dolohov. A smile pulled on his face but soon went slack. He was out cold before he hit the floor.


Nothing else mattered. The chaos of a real battle, lethal spells cracking against stone, bodies thudding on the floor… the scent of magic like ozone, charging the very air like the moment before a storm… all of it dissolved away. Hermione was dragged out of reality as if a portkey had taken her away. She didn't feel the residue of the cruciatus curse nor the hard bite of stone as her knees impacted the floor.

All she could see, all that mattered, was Harry.

He just took a curse for her, a curse that ripped through him. A curse that burned through his robes and left smouldering cloth and skin in its wake.

A curse that made his eyes roll back so all she could see where the whites of his eyes through his partially open lids. As he pitched over, suddenly boneless, she caught him in her arms.

"Harry! HARRY!"

Someone was screaming his name but it wasn't her. Her voice was gone. She just lay Harry against her, unable to look at his front where the black cloth of his school robes were lit up with purple embers. He wasn't moving.

She barely registered as something large barrelled into Dolohov, didn't see the fangs as Sirius transformed into a dog and went to rip out the Death Eater's throat.

Her hands were just scrambling over Harry's face, pushing his glasses back up to his eyes as if it mattered. She was then picking up his wand where he'd dropped it, putting it back into his limp hand as if he would grasp it and wake up.

"Oh no… no no…" Sirius's voice was wretched as he then collapsed next to her. Hermione lifted her head, seeing Sirius through a film of tears. His face was smeared with blood but he didn't appear to care. Sirius looked at Hermione, his eyes filled with tears.

"He's alive but barely. I could hear his heart…"

Then a swell of magic caught her attention. She looked past Sirius who turned as well. Framed in the door that led to the Brain Room was none other than Albus Dumbledore. Hermione's heart skittered as she took in his face. She felt as if an electrical charge sparked through her body. His power…

His arrival turned everything. The jeers of the Death Eaters turned into yells of fear. Dumbledore tore down the steps as if he was a man half his actual age. One of the Death Eaters ran for it, scrabbling like a monkey up the stone steps opposite. Dumbledore's spell pulled him back as easily and effortlessly as though he had hooked him with an invisible line.

"Sirius!"

She tore her gaze from Dumbledore, her consciousness seemingly snapping back into her body as Lupin skidded over to them. He halted at once when he saw Harry on the floor.

"We need to get Harry out of here, Moony." Sirius said, his voice hoarse. "I don't know how he survived it but… it was 'the cross'. Dolohov's… signature."

Lupin was ashen. He turned to Hermione, his strong hands taking her by the elbows, helping her up to her feet.

"Take Harry," Lupin said to Sirius, his voice urgent and clipped. "We have to move quickly. If Bellatrix-."

"I know." Sirius cut over. He pushed his arms under Harry's form, gathering him in his arms. He then frowned, touching Harry's side. His eyes widened and he looked over to Hermione. "Has anyone else but Harry touched the prophecy?"

"N-no." She managed to say past her shock.

Lupin looked sharply at the mention of the word and his eyes met Sirius's.

"Then we have to go. Hermione, stay with me." Lupin said firmly. Hermione nodded as his hand rested on her back and urged her into a quick pace. She soon was moving at a jog, Lupin's arm protectively shielding her. Sirius took the lead as he cradled Harry close to his chest.

"I saw what happened from across the room." Lupin told her as they pushed through into the Brain Room. "It's the Potter in him. James was just the same. Saving people is like a siren's call to them."

Hermione let out a slightly hysterical laugh as they dodged smashed furniture and passed hex-scorched stone.

"Arthur and Hestia are with Ron, Ginny, Luna and Neville." Lupin then said. "They're safe so let's just focus on getting you and Harry to safety too."

Sirius waited for them in the circular hallway. As they stepped inside, the walls started to spin until Lupin raised his wand. They stopped at once, a door flying open. Hermione let out a small groan, wondering what secret there was to revealing the path. She pushed the thought away. With Harry clinging to life, it hardly mattered.

Just as they reached the lifts, Harry suddenly let out a pained sound. Sirius staggered as he thrashed against him.

"Remus… can you?"

Sirius backed up against the wall. Lupin darted forwards to the lifts. Hermione hovered, watching as Harry's hands were gripping at Sirius's robes, his back arching. Sirius's expression was slack as he brought his hand over the back of Harry's head. The doors to the lift rattled open. Sirius rushed inside, giving Lupin very worried looks as he and Hermione joined them. Lupin punched in the buttons at the controls then went over. He carefully angled Harry's face towards him.

"He's burning up."

"His scar…" Sirius murmured. "One of them must have called him using their marks."

The soft feminine announcer cut through their conversation.

"Level eight…Atrium… "

Sirius and Lupin burst out of the doors when they opened. Hermione understood the urgency enough to sprint with them.

"Moony, stay with Hermione!" Sirius shouted over his shoulder. Lupin immediately slowed so Hermione could catch up with him. He took her arm and they lurched off into a full sprint.

"Wh-what is going on?" She panted out.

"Voldemort." Was all Lupin said in response. "We have to get Harry out of here now. "

The atrium was just as deserted as before. They reached the fountain, all breathing heavily. Lupin then turned to Hermione.

"Go with Sirius and Harry." He said heavily. "I'll be with you shortly."

She hesitated a step but then looked ahead to where Sirius was running with Harry in his arms. There was no space to argue, not there and then when their lives were on the line. Her feet took her forwards, rushing after Sirius. She caught up to him at the phonebox, getting there before him to rip the door open. He was about to thank her then looked over to where Lupin was standing guard.

He opened his mouth to say something but he closed it, a brief look of utter desolation appearing before it was gone. He hugged Harry tighter as he pressed himself into a far corner. Harry had gone still again. Sirius then elbowed the call button on the phone. At once, the box started to rattle and rise up.

Sirius's eyes met Hermione's as they ascended to safety. He gave her a crooked smile.

"I think next time it's your turn to be rescued."