Chapter 44: Beyond the Veil
June 20, 2003 – Friday
Ministry of Magic
Black shapes materialized out of the enveloping darkness, emerging like specters from the void. They coalesced around them, an impenetrable wall of shadow and menace. Eyes glinted with malicious intent through the slits of their hoods, while the tips of a dozen wands burned with cold, steely light, each one aimed with deadly precision at their hearts. Dawn's breath caught in her throat as a gasp of horror escaped her lips, her eyes wide with the terror of their precarious situation.
"To me, Potter," Lucius Malfoy's voice sliced through the oppressive silence with a chilling drawl. His hand, outstretched and palm up, seemed to command authority that was both tangible and terrifying. They were hemmed in, their escape routes blocked, and outnumbered two to one by these dark figures. The sense of entrapment was suffocating. "To me," Malfoy repeated, his tone growing impatient and menacing.
"Where's Sirius?" Harry demanded, his voice cracking with a mix of fear and defiance.
A harsh, mocking laughter rippled through the Death Eaters, the sound like shards of glass scraping against metal. From the midst of the shadowy figures, a female voice rang out, dripping with triumph and scorn. "The Dark Lord always knows!" The words were a taunt, a declaration of the unassailable power of their master.
"Always," echoed Malfoy, his voice soft but laced with an undertone of menace. "Now, give me the prophecy, Potter."
"I want to know where Sirius is!" Harry's voice was fierce, almost desperate, his gaze darting among the encircling shadows.
"Willow, Tara," Buffy said quietly, her voice a low murmur but charged with urgency.
The two Wiccan witches, understanding the unspoken command, nodded in silent agreement. Their focus sharpened, ready to deploy their formidable powers in response to the escalating danger.
"I want to know where Sirius is!" the female voice mimicked Harry's demand with mocking disdain. The Death Eaters had closed in around them, their dark cloaks brushing against each other as they moved, reducing the space between them to mere feet. The suffocating closeness made it harder to breathe, each movement of the robed figures a reminder of their vulnerability.
"You've got him," Harry said, his voice laced with determination. "He's here. I know he is." The conviction in his words was palpable, even as he struggled to keep his composure under the intense pressure of their dire situation.
"The little baby woke up fwightened and fort what it dweamed was twoo," the woman's voice was a sickening mockery, dripping with a grotesque imitation of childishness. Her high-pitched, cruel laughter echoed through the chamber, each sound twisting like a dagger.
"Don't do anything," Harry muttered urgently, his voice barely a whisper. "Not yet—"
The woman who had parodied Harry's words let out a cacophonous scream of laughter, her mirth a harsh, grating sound. "You hear him? You hear him? Giving instructions to the other children as though he thinks of fighting us!" Her mocking tone and the sharpness of her laughter only heightened the tension in the room.
"Oh, you don't know Potter as I do, Bellatrix," Lucius Malfoy's voice was soft but laden with dark amusement. "He has a great weakness for heroics; the Dark Lord understands this about him. Besides, not all of them are children. Isn't that right, Slayer?" He turned his gaze towards Buffy, his words dripping with condescension. "Now give me the prophecy, Potter."
"I know Sirius is here," Harry's voice was steady, though his eyes darted around, desperately seeking any sign of his godfather. "I know you've got him!"
The laughter of the Death Eaters swelled, a dark symphony of mockery and derision, with the woman's laugh piercing the din with its shrill intensity.
Buffy shook her head, her expression resolute. "No, they don't, Harry. This was all a trap. Set for you. So that you could give them that," she said, her gaze shifting towards the glass orb clutched in Harry's hand. Her words were a mix of frustration and determination, cutting through the oppressive atmosphere.
"The Slayer is quite right, Potter," Malfoy's voice was cold, almost clinical. "Now give me the prophecy, or we start using wands."
Buffy's eyes narrowed, her grip on her wand tightening. "Go on, then," she said, raising her wand to chest height, her stance firm and defiant. "What you don't know is we've got more power than you could ever dream of. Willow, Tara! NOW!"
Willow and Tara, their faces set in expressions of fierce concentration, began their chant. "Kali, Hera, Cronus, Tonic. Air like nectar thick as onyx. Cassiel by your second star, hold mine victim as in tar."
Their voices rose in a rhythmic incantation, and the effect was immediate. The Death Eaters, caught in the spell's grip, seemed to freeze, their movements becoming sluggish and jerky as if they were entangled in thick, invisible tar.
Five distinct voices erupted in unison, shouting, "REDUCTO!" The command sliced through the chaos, sending five curses in divergent trajectories. The result was immediate and catastrophic: the shelves opposite them exploded into a shower of splintered wood and shattering glass. The towering structure seemed to heave and tilt precariously as a cascade of glass spheres detonated, their contents scattering like stardust. Pearly-white figures, long dormant and now freed from their glass prisons, unfurled into the air, their ghostly forms drifting weightlessly amid the swirling chaos. Their haunting voices filled the room with eerie echoes from a time long forgotten, blending with the cacophony of crashing glass and the raucous sound of splintering wood now raining down upon the floor.
"Run, NOW!" Buffy's voice cut through the tumult, urgent and commanding. Everyone bolted, pushing past the disoriented Death Eaters who were struggling to regain their bearings amidst the devastation.
"They have Wiccan witches!" Lucius Malfoy's voice rang out, tinged with alarm. "Be careful—they don't need wands to cast."
The shelves continued to sway dangerously, their precarious balance disrupted by the violent explosions. More glass spheres tumbled from above, crashing down like deadly hailstones. Harry grabbed a handful of Dawn's robes, pulling her forward with fierce determination. He shielded his head with his free arm as debris rained down—a chaotic torrent of splintered wood and razor-sharp glass. A Death Eater, emerging from the dust cloud, lunged at him, but Harry's elbow met the masked face with a brutal force. The clash of spells and the roar of destruction filled the air, punctuated by screams of pain and the thunderous sound of collapsing shelves. The room seemed to shudder with each crash, the fractured remains of the Seers' glass spheres creating a surreal symphony of discordant echoes.
Clearing a path through the wreckage, Harry saw Ron and Hermione sprinting past them, their arms raised protectively over their heads. They were nearing the end of row ninety-seven. Harry turned right and surged forward, Dawn hot on his heels. He glanced back and saw Buffy, Willow, and Tara trailing behind. Buffy's wand was a blur of activity, spells flaring out with each step. Willow and Tara's chanting was relentless, their voices merging in a rhythmic incantation that resonated with the power of their magic.
Harry's eyes locked onto the doorway leading out. They barreled through it, each of them pushing their limits in the frantic rush for safety.
"Colloportus!" Dawn gasped, her voice barely audible over the din. The door sealed itself with a peculiar squelching noise, the magical lock securing their escape.
"Where—where are the others?" Harry panted, scanning the room. His heart sank as he realized that Ron, Hermione, Luna, and Ginny were not with them. He had assumed they would be waiting here, safe and sound, but the room was empty.
"They must have gone the wrong way!" Buffy's voice was edged with frustration and concern.
"Listen!" Willow's urgent whisper cut through the chaos.
The distant clamor of footsteps and raised voices reverberated through the sealed door. Harry pressed his ear against the cool, metallic surface, straining to make out the words. Lucius Malfoy's enraged roar pierced the din. "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! And leave the Slayer for me!"
Dawn's eyes widened with fear. "What do we do?"
"Well, we don't stand here waiting for them to find us, for a start," Harry said, his voice firm with resolve.
Buffy nodded, her expression taut with determination. "As much as I hate leaving Hermione and the others behind, we need to get away from this door."
They moved swiftly, their footsteps barely a whisper against the floor as they fled past the shimmering bell jar. Its interior continued to ripple with an enchanting, yet unnerving, glow. They made for the circular hallway at the far end of the room, their breaths coming in shallow, hurried gasps. They were nearly at the exit when a sudden, violent impact shook the door they had just sealed.
"Stand aside!" a gruff voice commanded. "Alohomora!"
The door exploded open with a thunderous crash. Harry, Dawn, Buffy, Willow, and Tara scrambled for cover, diving beneath the nearest desks. The legs of two Death Eaters came into view, their robes brushing against the wooden desks as they approached with swift, menacing strides.
"They might've run straight through to the hall," one of the Death Eaters said, his voice laced with urgency.
"Check under the desks," instructed another, their voice cold and methodical.
Buffy's eyes narrowed with steely resolve. She raised her wand and shouted, "STUPEFY!" The spell lanced out with a burst of light, striking the nearest Death Eater. He was thrown backward into a grandfather clock, sending it toppling over with a resounding crash. The second Death Eater, however, was quick to react, dodging Buffy's spell with practiced agility. He pointed his wand menacingly at Dawn, who was emerging from her hiding spot to reposition herself for a better aim.
"Avada—"
The Death Eater's dark incantation was abruptly cut off as Harry hurled himself across the floor. His body slammed into the Death Eater's legs, causing the robed figure to topple sideways. The Death Eater's wand veered off course, the green light of the curse dissipating into the air. Harry wrestled with the Death Eater's legs, trying to dislodge him.
Buffy rolled out from under the desk, her eyes narrowing with fierce concentration. She pointed her wand directly at the flailing pair and shouted, "EXPELLIARMUS!" The powerful disarming spell erupted from her wand, sending both Harry's and the Death Eater's wands soaring through the air. They flew past the wreckage of shattered glass and splintered wood, heading towards the entrance to the Hall of Prophecy.
As the wands arced away, Harry scrambled to his feet and charged after them with renewed urgency. The Death Eater, regaining his footing, surged ahead, his eyes wild with frustration. Harry pushed himself harder, closing the gap with each stride. Buffy, Willow, Tara, and Dawn surged after him, their footsteps echoing in the chaotic din of the room.
"Get out of the way, Harry!" Dawn's voice cut through the tumult.
Harry dove sideways, narrowly avoiding the beam of light that erupted from Dawn's wand. She aimed with precise determination and shouted, "STUPEFY!" The jet of red light struck the Death Eater square in the chest. His body went rigid, and he collapsed backward, crashing into the shimmering bell jar with a clang.
"Accio wand!" Dawn cried out. Harry's wand, which had been tossed into a dark corner during the struggle, flew towards her. She snatched it out of the air and tossed it to Harry.
"Thanks," he said, catching the wand with a relieved grip. "Right, let's get out of—"
The sound of a distant shout pierced the chaos, followed by a deafening crash and a scream that cut through the air with chilling clarity.
"RON?" Harry yelled, his voice tinged with panic. "GINNY? LUNA? HERMIONE?"
They could hear the footsteps growing louder, a menacing rhythm echoing from the Hall of Prophecy. The realization struck them too late: Harry's shout had betrayed their position.
"Come on!" Harry urged urgently. They bolted towards the door at the far end of the room, which stood open, revealing the shadowy expanse of the black hallway beyond.
As they reached halfway to the door, Harry's sharp eyes caught sight of two more Death Eaters rushing through the open doorway. Without a moment's hesitation, he veered left and dashed into a small, dark office cluttered with forgotten papers and dusty old furniture. He slammed the door shut behind them with a resounding thud.
"Collo—" Dawn began to cast a sealing charm, but before she could finish, the door exploded open. The two Death Eaters stormed into the office, their presence a storm of dark robes and malevolent intent.
With a cruel cry of triumph, both Death Eaters shouted in unison, "IMPEDIMENTA!" The spell's impact was immediate and violent. Harry, Hermione, Buffy, Tara, and Willow were all hurled backward, their bodies crashing against the office's hard surfaces. Tara and Willow were flung over a cluttered desk, vanishing from sight beneath a tangle of papers and objects. Dawn and Buffy collided with a bookcase, a deluge of heavy tomes tumbling down upon them with a thunderous crash. The back of Harry's head slammed painfully into the cold stone wall behind him, a jarring impact that made his vision spin.
"WE'VE GOT HIM!" yelled the nearest Death Eater to Harry, his voice booming through the chaos. "IN AN OFFICE OFF —"
"Silencio!" cried Dawn, her voice cracking with desperation. The Death Eater's triumphant shout was abruptly cut off, his mouth moving silently through the eye holes of his mask. He continued to gesticulate furiously, but his words were lost in the oppressive silence. His fellow Death Eater shoved him aside, pushing forward with a grim determination.
"Petrificus Totalus!" shouted Harry as the second Death Eater raised his wand. The spell struck true, and the Death Eater's limbs snapped together with an audible crack. He collapsed face down onto the rug at Harry's feet, his body rigid and unyielding.
"Well done, Ha—" Dawn began to praise Harry, but her voice faltered as the silenced Death Eater made a sudden, desperate slashing movement with his wand. A streak of what looked like purple flame cut through the air, slashing across Dawn's chest.
Dawn gasped, a tiny, involuntary sound of surprise escaping her lips as she crumpled to the floor. Her body lay motionless amid the scattered debris, her face pale and her breathing faint.
"DAWN!" Harry and Buffy cried out in unison, their voices laced with panic and anguish.
Buffy and Harry collapsed to their knees beside Dawn, their faces etched with desperation and concern. Tara and Willow, having scrambled out from under the desk, hurriedly crawled towards Dawn. As Willow emerged, a Death Eater lashed out with a vicious kick, his foot slamming into her face. Willow emitted a sharp cry of pain, her hands flying to her mouth and nose as she recoiled, her face contorted in agony.
Harry twisted around, his wand raised high as he searched for the source of the threat. The Death Eater, now unmasked, loomed menacingly over him. With a malevolent grin, the Death Eater pointed from the prophecy still clutched in Harry's hand to himself, then at Dawn. His intentions were glaringly clear despite his inability to speak: surrender the prophecy, or Harry would suffer the same fate as Dawn.
"Like you won't kill us all anyway, the moment I hand it over!" Harry retorted, his voice trembling with a mix of defiance and fear.
Inside his head, a frantic whine of panic echoed, clouding his thoughts and rendering him helpless. One hand rested on Dawn's shoulder, still warm but frighteningly lifeless. Harry's heart pounded with the haunting thought: Don't let her be dead, don't let her be dead; if she is, it's my fault...
Buffy's voice cut through the chaos, sharp and commanding. "PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!" The spell struck the Death Eater, Dolohov, before he could react. He toppled forward, crashing into his fellow Death Eater. Both lay sprawled across the floor, their bodies rigid and unmoving, their control over their limbs completely lost. "That's for attacking my sister," Buffy added, her voice laced with protective fury.
Harry shook Dawn vigorously, his voice trembling with urgent desperation. "Dawn, Dawnie, wake up." His eyes darted between her pale face and Buffy's anguished expression.
Buffy, her own fear mingling with determination, continued to implore, "Come on, Dawn."
Willow, still wincing from the blow to her face, glanced at Tara, who gave a confirming nod. "What did he do to her?" Tara asked, her voice steady despite the dire circumstances.
"I dunno..." both Harry and Buffy replied, their voices heavy with helplessness.
Tara gently grasped Dawn's wrist, her fingers feeling for a pulse. "She's got a pulse," Tara confirmed, her voice a mixture of relief and hope.
A wave of profound relief washed over Harry and Buffy. "She's alive?" Harry asked, his voice breaking with a mix of disbelief and gratitude.
Tara's face softened into a reassuring smile. "Yes," she said, nodding firmly.
"Buffy, we're not far from the exit," Harry whispered urgently, his eyes darting around the shadowy space. "We're right next to that circular room. If we can just get your friends to and across it, and find the right door before more Death Eaters arrive, they can get Dawn up the corridor and into the lift. From there, they could find someone… raise the alarm…"
"And what are we going to do?" Buffy asked, her voice tinged with worry and determination.
"We've got to find the others," Harry replied firmly.
"Well, Dara and I'b going do find dem wid you," Willow said resolutely, her voice unwavering despite the chaos surrounding them.
"But Dawn—" Harry began, his concern evident.
"We'll dake her wid us," Willow interrupted firmly. "I'll carry her — I can'd casd andyways."
Harry turned to Buffy, who nodded in agreement. "I consider them family; I wouldn't expect anything less from Tara or Willow," Buffy said, her voice carrying the weight of their shared determination.
Tara nodded solemnly. "And we consider Hermione family, since she's Buffy and Dawn's sister, so we're not leaving without her."
Buffy, her face set in a determined expression, lifted her unconscious sister and placed her gently into Willow's arms. She then knelt down, retrieving Dawn's wand from the floor and handing it to Willow with a careful touch.
Harry cautiously stuck his head out of the door, scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger. They crept out of the cluttered office and back towards the entrance to the black hallway, which now appeared eerily deserted. The door to the Time Room swung shut behind them, and the walls began to rotate once more, creating an unsettling sense of disorientation.
"So which way do you reckon—?" Harry started to ask, his voice trailing off as he glanced around, trying to make sense of their shifting surroundings.
But before they could decide on their next move, a door to their right burst open with a sudden crash. Four figures tumbled out into the corridor, their bodies hitting the ground in a chaotic heap.
"Ron!" Harry croaked, his voice strained with relief as he dashed towards the group huddled on the floor. "Ginny — are you all — ?"
Buffy's face lit up with a relieved smile as she spotted Hermione. "Hermione!" she exclaimed, her voice cracking with emotion as she rushed forward and enveloped her friend in a tight hug.
Ron, still weak and dazed, managed a faint, shaky giggle as he lurched forward. He grabbed the front of Harry's robes with a weak grip, his eyes unfocused and glazed over. "There you are… ha ha ha… you look funny, Harry… you're all messed up…" His laughter was punctuated by a bubble of blood that appeared at the corner of his mouth, which he wiped away with a trembling hand.
"Ginny?" Harry's voice was tinged with desperation as he turned to the youngest Weasley. "What happened?"
Ginny shook her head slowly, her face pale and stricken with pain. She slid down the wall into a sitting position, clutching her ankle with a pained expression. She was breathing heavily, her face contorted with the effort.
"I think her ankle's broken; I heard something crack," whispered Luna, her voice filled with concern. "Four of them chased us into a dark room full of planets. It was an odd place—some of the time, we were just floating in the dark…"
"Harry, we saw Uranus up close!" Ron interjected with a weak, hiccuping laugh. "Get it, Harry? We saw Uranus—ha ha ha…" He let out another bout of giggles, but the humor was short-lived as a bubble of blood grew at the corner of his mouth and burst. "—anyway, one of them grabbed Ginny's foot, I used the Reducto Curse and blew up Pluto in his face, but…"
Hermione's gaze shifted to Dawn and Willow, her eyes filled with a mix of worry and curiosity. "What happened?" she asked urgently.
Luna gestured helplessly towards Ginny, who was breathing in shallow, rapid bursts, her eyes still closed as she tried to manage the pain.
"And what about Ron?" Harry asked, his voice trembling with anxiety as he looked back at his friend who was still giggling erratically.
"I don't know what they hit him with," Luna said sadly, her voice carrying the weight of her concern. "But he's gone a bit funny. I could hardly get him along at all."
"Harry," said Ron, his voice wavering as he tried to focus. "You know who this girl is, Harry? She's Loony… Loony Lovegood… ha ha ha…" His laughter was strained, his face a mix of pain and delirious amusement.
"We've got to get out of here," Harry said firmly, his voice laced with urgency. "Tara, Luna, can you help Ginny?" His eyes darted around, searching for the quickest escape route.
"Yes," Tara and Luna replied in unison. They moved with swift, practiced efficiency, each slipping an arm around Ginny's waist and helping her to her feet. Ginny tried to maintain her independence, her face set in stubborn resolve. "It's only my ankle, I can do it myself!" she insisted. But as soon as she attempted to put weight on her injured leg, she collapsed sideways and grabbed onto Luna for support.
Harry, his face set in determined lines, heaved Ron's arm over his shoulder and began to maneuver him towards the nearest door. He glanced around, anxiety tightening his chest. They had a one in twelve chance of picking the correct exit on their first try. The odds felt like they were closing in on them.
"Buffy, what's wrong with Dawn?" Hermione's voice was laced with concern as she looked at her twin, who was limp in Willow's arms. Dawn's pallor and unresponsiveness were deeply unsettling.
Buffy's face was etched with worry as she looked back at Hermione. "We're not sure, 'Mione. She's alive, that much we know." Her voice trembled with both fear and determination.
Harry dragged Ron towards a door, every muscle straining with the effort. They were mere feet from safety when another door across the hall flew open with a deafening bang. Three Death Eaters stormed in, led by the sinister, cackling figure of Bellatrix Lestrange. "There they are!" she shrieked, her voice carrying the gleeful certainty of someone who had cornered their prey.
Stunning Spells erupted across the room, their bright, jagged beams cutting through the dimness. Harry, fueled by adrenaline, smashed his way through the door ahead, flinging Ron aside with a grunt of exertion. He ducked back to assist Willow, who was guiding Dawn through the threshold. They managed to slam the door shut just in time, the sound of it thudding against the frame reverberating through the corridor.
Luna and Tara were already pushing Ginny through, with Buffy following closely behind. She fired off curses with precision, her wand slicing through the air as she provided cover. As soon as she was through the door, Harry shouted, "Colloportus!" The spell was cast with fervent urgency, and the door on the other side was reinforced by the magical barrier, slamming shut against the pursuing Death Eaters.
"It doesn't matter!" a voice called out from beyond the door, filled with menace. "There are other ways in —" The voice was abruptly cut off by a cacophony of noise, followed by a shout of triumph. "WE'VE GOT THEM, THEY'RE HERE!"
Harry spun around, his heart pounding as he frantically searched for an escape route. The air was thick with the acrid smell of magic and fear. Suddenly, a jet of red light streaked through the air, emanating from the wand of a newly arrived Death Eater. The curse struck Luna squarely in the face, and she crumpled sideways, her body going limp as she lay unconscious on the cold floor.
The chaotic battle raged on around Harry. One of the Death Eaters unleashed a Stunning Spell towards Willow; it whizzed past her, grazing her hair but missing its mark by mere inches. The space was filled with the shrieking sounds of spells and the harsh, unrelenting laughter of the Death Eaters, who seemed to relish every moment of their advantage.
Now, only Harry, Tara, and Buffy remained engaged in the desperate fight against the five Death Eaters. Two of the foes released streams of silver light, their spells slicing through the air like deadly arrows. The light left deep, smoldering craters in the walls behind them, the force of their impact reverberating through the room.
With Bellatrix Lestrange charging straight at him, Harry held the prophecy high above his head, his movements a blur of urgency and resolve. He sprinted back up the room, his mind racing with the singular focus of drawing the Death Eaters away from the others. His legs burned with effort as he dashed through the only door still open—the one the Death Eaters had used to enter.
Buffy, her face a mask of determination, was hot on Harry's heels. She shouted back, her voice cutting through the cacophony, "Willow, Tara, get them out." Her words were a lifeline amidst the chaos, a desperate command to her friends to ensure their escape.
They burst into a new room, one dominated by a sunken pit at its center. Rising majestically from the pit was a stone archway perched upon a dais. The room was filled with the mocking laughter of the Death Eaters, their voices echoing ominously off the stone walls.
Harry backed away cautiously, his eyes darting to keep track of all the Death Eaters. Buffy, mirroring his movements, stood with her wand poised, ready to strike at a moment's notice. The back of Buffy's legs suddenly collided with something solid; she had reached the dais and climbed onto it alongside Harry.
The Death Eaters stopped their advance, their eyes fixed on the pair with cold, predatory intent. Lucius Malfoy stepped forward, his expression one of cruel satisfaction as he removed his mask, revealing a face twisted with disdain. "Potter, your race is run," he drawled, his voice dripping with condescension. "Now hand me the prophecy like a good boy."
Desperation clawed at Harry's chest. "Let — let the others go, and I'll give it to you!" he pleaded, his voice ragged with anxiety and fatigue.
A few of the Death Eaters laughed, their mirth a harsh, mocking sound in the tense silence that followed. Lucius Malfoy's gaze was unrelenting as he continued, "You are not in a position to bargain, Potter. You see, there are ten of us and only two of you . . . or hasn't Dumbledore ever taught you how to count?"
"They're not alone!" came a voice, cutting through the din from above. "They still have me!" The words were sharp, defiant, and echoed ominously around the room.
Harry's gaze snapped upward, his eyes widening in shock. Tara, her expression a mix of determination and fear, was clutching Dawn's wand tightly in her hand. Her face was pale, but her stance was resolute. "I may not know how to use this, but I am sure I can still do some damage," she declared, her voice quivering slightly with the weight of her courage.
The Death Eaters, their faces hidden behind their masks, erupted into harsh, mocking laughter. The sound was a cruel symphony that filled the room with a chilling atmosphere. Before Tara could even attempt to cast a spell or wield the wand, one of the Death Eaters lunged forward, grabbing her with a brutal, unforgiving grip.
Bellatrix Lestrange, her eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure, watched the scene unfold with a cruel smile. "Now, let's see how long Potter's new friend lasts before she cracks… unless Potter wants to give us the prophecy," she taunted, her voice dripping with malice.
Buffy, her face a mask of steely resolve, shook her head decisively. "No, Harry," she said, her voice firm and resolute, as if to emphasize the gravity of their situation.
Bellatrix's smile widened into a grotesque grin. With a flourish, she raised her wand and intoned, "Crucio!" The room seemed to shudder with the intensity of the curse. Tara's scream pierced the air, raw and visceral, a sound of unfiltered pain that echoed off the stone walls. Her body convulsed violently as she was dropped to the floor, her movements a grotesque dance of agony.
"That was just a taster!" Bellatrix's voice was cold and unfeeling. She raised her wand again, silencing Tara's screams, leaving her sobbing in a pitiful heap at her feet. Her gaze shifted to Harry, the gleam of satisfaction in her eyes. "Now, Potter, either give us the prophecy, or watch your friend die the hard way!" she warned, her tone laden with dark promise.
In a sudden, unexpected move, Buffy snatched the prophecy from Harry's hand. Her face was set in a grim line of determination. "You want it so badly…" she began, her voice steady despite the chaos around them.
Then, high above them, the heavy creak of wood announced the arrival of two more doors being flung open with tremendous force. The noise was followed by the urgent pounding of footsteps as five more figures burst into the room: Sirius Black, his expression fierce and determined; Remus Lupin, his face etched with worry; Alastor Moody, his magical eye swiveling with unnerving speed; Nymphadora Tonks, her hair a vivid splash of color; and Kingsley Shacklebolt, his imposing figure cutting a path through the chaos.
Malfoy's head snapped around at the new commotion. His wand was already raised in a threatening arc, but Tonks was faster. She unleashed a Stunning Spell with practiced precision, sending it hurtling straight towards Malfoy. The spell hit its mark, causing him to stagger back, momentarily incapacitated.
The Death Eaters, momentarily stunned and disoriented by the sudden appearance of the Order members, were thrown into disarray. Spells erupted in a dazzling display of light, cutting through the chaos as the Order members fought valiantly. They jumped from the tiered steps and rained curses down upon the enemies, creating a frantic, whirling melee.
In the midst of the swirling chaos, amidst darting bodies and blinding flashes of light, Harry and Buffy caught sight of Tara. She was crawling along the floor, her movements slow and pained but determined.
"Are you OK?" Harry yelled over the din, his voice barely audible as another spell zoomed perilously close to them.
"Yes," Tara managed to respond, her voice strained but steady.
Buffy glanced at Tara with a mixture of relief and regret. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice filled with genuine remorse.
Tara nodded in acknowledgment. "I had to do something to distract them," she replied, her words tinged with the weight of her sacrifice.
Just then, a hand closed around Buffy's arm with a tight grip. "Give it to me," a voice growled menacingly in her ear. "Give me the prophecy —"
Buffy's eyes darted around, searching for a way out. She saw Sirius engaged in a fierce duel with a Death Eater, their wands flashing in the dim light. Kingsley was a formidable sight, fighting off two Death Eaters simultaneously with fierce determination. Tonks, still halfway up the tiered seats, was furiously casting spells down at Bellatrix, her face set in a mask of concentration.
Desperate to regain control, Harry raised his wand and shouted, "STUPEFY!" The spell shot through the chaotic battlefield and struck the Death Eater closest to them. The force of the spell caused him to keel over backwards, his mask slipping off in the process, revealing a face twisted in surprise and pain.
"Thanks!" Buffy said to Harry, pulling him aside with urgent strength as Sirius and his opponent, locked in a fierce duel, lurched past them. Their wands moved so rapidly that they became mere blurs, a dazzling display of magical combat. In the midst of their intense struggle, Harry's foot unexpectedly struck something round and hard, causing him to slip and stumble. Buffy's eyes followed the object's path and realized it was Moody's magical eye, spinning away across the floor with eerie precision. The eye's owner lay crumpled on his side, a pool of blood forming beneath his head, while his attacker advanced menacingly towards Harry and Buffy.
The Death Eater, his face masked in a cruel grin, raised his wand with a menacing incantation. "Tarantallegra!" he shouted, sending a spell hurtling towards Tara. Instantly, Tara's legs began to move in a chaotic, frenetic tap-dance, their unnatural rhythm forcing her off balance. She crashed to the floor once more, her body flailing uncontrollably.
"Now, Summers —" the Death Eater continued, his wand moving in a vicious slashing motion, mirroring the attack he had used on Dawn.
Harry, seeing the threat, shouted, "Protego!" Instantly, a shimmering shield enveloped Buffy, deflecting the spell aimed at her. Buffy felt a sharp, searing sensation streak across her face, like a blunt knife slicing through the air. The force of the attack threw her sideways, and she tumbled over Neville's twitching legs. Although the Shield Charm had mitigated the impact, the collision was still jarring.
The Death Eater, undeterred, raised his wand again. "Accio proph —" he began, intent on retrieving the prophecy.
But Sirius, as if summoned by fate, appeared out of nowhere. He rammed his shoulder into the Death Eater with tremendous force, sending him sprawling away. The impact was both precise and brutal, and the Death Eater was hurled out of the way, momentarily incapacitated.
Now Sirius and the Death Eater were embroiled in their own intense duel, their wands clashing with bright flashes of light, the air crackling with the energy of their spells. Sparks flew from their wands, illuminating their determined faces as they fought for supremacy.
The Death Eater, recovering quickly, drew back his wand to repeat the slashing spell that had previously caused Buffy and Dawn harm. As he prepared to unleash the attack, Harry sprang to his feet and shouted, "Petrificus Totalus!" The spell shot out, and once again, the Death Eater's limbs locked together with a sharp, jerking motion. He toppled backwards, crashing heavily onto the floor, his body rigid and unmoving.
"Nice one!" Sirius shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. He forced Harry's head down as a pair of Stunning Spells zoomed dangerously close. "Now, Buffy, I want you to get Harry and your friend out of—"
They ducked as a jet of green light shot past, missing Sirius by mere inches. The room seemed to pulse with danger, and Harry watched in horror as Tonks tumbled down the stone steps, her limp form bouncing off each step with a sickening thud. Her descent was a chaotic tumble of arms and legs, her body slamming against the cold, unforgiving stone. Bellatrix, a wicked grin spreading across her face, sprinted back towards the chaos, her triumphant laughter echoing in the turmoil.
"Buffy, take the prophecy, grab Harry and your friend and run!" Sirius's voice cut through the din, urgent and commanding. He dashed towards Bellatrix, his wand flashing with fierce determination. Buffy, caught in a whirlwind of movement, saw Kingsley swaying across her vision, locked in a fierce duel with Rookwood, whose mask had been ripped away to reveal a pockmarked face. Another jet of green light streaked overhead, narrowly missing her as she threw herself towards Harry and Tara.
"Can you stand?" Buffy whispered urgently in Tara's ear, her voice barely audible over the cacophony. Tara's legs were jerking uncontrollably, a victim of the earlier spell's chaotic effects. "Put your arm around my neck —"
With a pained nod, Tara complied, her grip shaky but determined. Buffy, with Harry's help, managed to heave Tara to her feet. But before they could make further progress, a man—his face obscured by a shadowy hood—lunged at Buffy with vicious intent. She was thrown backward, crashing into the hard ground with a grunt.
"The prophecy, give me the prophecy, Mudblood!" Lucius Malfoy's voice snarled in her ear, cold and menacing. Buffy felt the sharp tip of his wand pressing into her ribs, a brutal reminder of the danger they were in.
"Harry! Catch!" Buffy cried out, desperation lacing her voice. She flung the prophecy across the floor, the orb of destiny spinning through the air. Harry spun around with instinctive reflexes, catching the prophecy against his chest, his heart pounding with adrenaline. Malfoy, frustrated and furious, redirected his wand towards Harry, but Buffy, despite her precarious position, jabbed her wand over her shoulder and shouted, "Impedimenta!"
The spell struck Malfoy with a violent force, sending him hurtling away from Buffy. He crashed into the dais where Sirius and Bellatrix were engaged in their intense duel. Malfoy, dazed and disoriented, tried to regroup, but before he could cast another spell, Lupin leaped in front of Harry and Buffy, a protective barrier against their foes.
"Harry, round up the others and GO!" Lupin shouted, his voice resolute and commanding.
Harry and Buffy, driven by urgency, seized Tara and heaved her onto the first tier of stone steps. As they struggled, a powerful spell struck the stone bench behind them, causing it to crumble and disintegrate. The shockwave sent them tumbling backward, their footing slipping away as they fell to the step below.
"Come on!" Harry urged desperately, his voice filled with raw determination. "Just try and push with your legs —"
Another spell zipped past them, its intense green light illuminating the room in a brief, eerie glow. The force of the spell caused Harry to lose his grip, and the prophecy ball slipped from his hands, tumbling through the chaos. Before either Buffy or Harry could react, one of Tara's uncontrollable flailing feet inadvertently kicked the prophecy ball. It flew clumsily to their right, spinning through the air before crashing against the stone step beneath them with a deafening shatter.
"Dumbledore!" Buffy exclaimed, her voice tinged with both relief and astonishment as she looked back over her shoulder.
Harry whipped his head around, following Buffy's gaze. Standing in the doorway above them was Albus Dumbledore, his figure framed by the flickering light of the battle. His face was a portrait of stark intensity, his eyes blazing with an indignant fury that contrasted sharply with his usually serene demeanor. His wand was raised, emanating a powerful, almost palpable aura of magical force.
Dumbledore moved with remarkable speed, his robes billowing like dark clouds as he descended the steps past Buffy, Tara, and Harry. The sheer presence of his arrival seemed to shift the very air around them, as if the room itself acknowledged his authority.
Buffy, still clutching Tara, slid her arm out from around her friend's shoulders. "Get her to safety, Harry," she instructed urgently. Without waiting for a response, Buffy turned and sprinted back down the stairs, her determination evident in every stride.
Harry, however, was fixed on Dumbledore, his resolve hardening. The headmaster was already at the foot of the steps when the nearest Death Eaters, startled by his formidable presence, realized he had arrived and began shouting frantically to their comrades. In a split second, one of the Death Eaters, panic-stricken, scrambled desperately up the opposite stone steps, moving with frenzied speed as though trying to escape the onslaught.
Dumbledore's reaction was swift and precise. With a flick of his wand, he cast a spell that yanked the fleeing Death Eater back down the steps with effortless grace. It was as though an invisible force had seized him, pulling him backwards with the same ease one might retrieve a small object from a table. The sheer power and control Dumbledore exerted was awe-inspiring, a stark reminder of his unparalleled magical prowess.
Buffy was halfway back down the steps when she saw it happen. The world seemed to slow as her eyes locked onto the scene unfolding below. Bellatrix's eyes gleamed with cruel delight as she whipped her wand, a flash of sickly green light slicing through the air. The spell struck Sirius square in the chest. His body arched in a graceful, almost haunting curve as he toppled backward, the edges of his coat fluttering like the wings of a fallen angel. He seemed suspended in the air for an agonizing heartbeat before he disappeared through the ragged veil hanging from the stone arch, swallowed by the darkness.
Buffy's breath hitched, but she forced herself to focus. Panic clawed at her, but then she spotted it—a rope coiled carelessly on the floor. A lifeline. Her lips twisted into a determined smile as the plan formed in her mind. Harry, Lupin, and Tonks appeared beside her, their faces pale with shock and desperation. Buffy didn't waste a second. She sprinted toward the rope, her hand steady even as her heart hammered wildly. She thrust one end into Lupin's hands. "Hold on for dear life. When I give a sharp yank, pull me back."
Hermione appeared in the doorway, drawn by the chaos. Her wide eyes darted from one person to another until they landed on Buffy. Hermione's confusion turned to a mix of dread and awe as she saw Buffy dash straight for the veil. Without hesitation, Buffy leapt into the swirling darkness, her figure vanishing as though the world had swallowed her whole.
For a moment, Hermione was frozen in shock, but something ignited inside her—a surge of strength, primal and fierce, unlike anything she had ever felt before. It took her a beat to realize why; the change was almost instinctual. Buffy, by plunging through the veil, had crossed the threshold between life and death. And in doing so, she had passed the mantle. Hermione was now a Slayer.
Beyond the Veil
The air was thick, cold, and devoid of light. It was like being submerged in icy water, every sound muted and distorted. Buffy blinked, her senses adjusting to the otherworldly gloom. Her eyes caught a faint silhouette in the distance—Sirius. He was drifting, suspended in this void, his body seemingly weightless as it floated in slow motion. Then, abruptly, he stilled and appeared to settle onto an invisible surface. Buffy landed beside him with a soft thud, her breath puffing out in a white cloud. "Sirius?" she called softly, her voice echoing unnaturally in the darkness.
Sirius looked at her, his eyes clouded with confusion, as if he was waking from a deep, disorienting sleep. His fingers reached out shakily and brushed against her cheek. "I'm sorry," he murmured, his voice tinged with regret and something deeper—resignation.
Buffy's heart twisted. She looked into those stormy eyes, the ones she knew so well, now filled with shadows. "Come on, we have to get you back to Harry."
Sirius flinched at the name, shaking his head slowly. "Harry?" he repeated, his voice distant. "No… leave me."
Buffy's resolve hardened. "He loves you, Sirius," she said, her voice laced with urgency. "He needs you."
Sirius squeezed his eyes shut, as if the words were a knife twisting in an old wound. "No… leave me," he whispered again, almost pleading this time.
Buffy's gaze softened, but there was a fierce determination behind her eyes. She leaned closer, refusing to let him slip away. "Come back to me, Sirius."
His eyes fluttered open at that, a spark of recognition flaring amidst the fog. "Back to you?" he asked, his voice hushed, as if the concept itself was foreign to him.
Buffy's lips curled into a tender smile, and she knelt beside him, the space between them crackling with unspoken emotion. She cupped his face, bringing her lips to his in a kiss that was soft at first, but quickly deepened into something raw and desperate. "Come back to me," she whispered again against his lips, a plea, a command.
Sirius seemed to hesitate, lost in thought, but then his arms slid around her, pulling her closer as he returned the kiss. His grip tightened, grounding him, tethering him to something real. Buffy broke the kiss just long enough to give the rope a sharp tug, signaling the others.
The void began to tremble around them, the darkness thinning as they prepared to leave it behind.
Author's Note: When I originally wrote this chapter in the original version of this story. I had someone ask why Sirius wouldn't come back for Harry. My response was of course he would want to come back for Harry. The way I envisioned this scenario - beyond the veil nothing matters, but the connection. There had to be a connection between the person being rescued and the rescuer. It's why Sirius didn't respond when Buffy tried to coax Sirius to come back for Harry, Buffy was not Harry. She could not pretend to be someone she wasn't. The connection had to be her and Sirius. This is in part why there is no mention before this chapter of a Sirius/Buffy pairing, I wanted it to be a surprise when Buffy saved Sirius and admitted her feelings for him. Should I have laid some hints before this chapter. Yes, I probably should have but hindsight is 20/20. Should I have added a scene between Goblet of Fire and Order of Phoenix when I started doing the rewrite, again yes I probably should have. But at the time I re-did those chapters I had partly forgotten that Buffy was paired with Sirius.