H. Potter and the order of the phoenix AUDIOBOOK part 13

AudiobooksForU

#harrypotter  #audiobook #harrypotterfan  Narrator: James Dobinson

Transcript

00:00:00Chapter 33 Fight and Flight

00:00:04Harry had no idea what Hermione was planning, or even whether she had a plan.

00:00:07He walked half-apace behind her as they headed down the corridor outside Umbridge's office,

00:00:12knowing it would look very suspicious if he appeared not to know where they were going.

00:00:15He did not dare attempt to talk to her.

00:00:17Umbridge was walking so closely behind them that he could hear her ragged breathing.

00:00:22Hermione led the way down the stairs into the entrance hall.

00:00:24The din of loud voices and the clatter of cutlery on plates echoed from out of the double

00:00:28doors to the great hall.

00:00:29It seemed incredible to Harry that twenty feet away were people who were enjoying dinner,

00:00:33celebrating the end of exams, not a care in the world.

00:00:36Hermione walked straight out of the oak front doors and down the stone steps into the balmy

00:00:40evening air.

00:00:41The sun was falling towards the top of the trees in the Forbidden Forest now, and as

00:00:45Hermione marched purposefully across the grass, Umbridge jogging to keep up, their long dark

00:00:50shadows rippled over the grass behind them like cloaks.

00:00:53''It's hidden in Hagrid's hut, is it?'' said Umbridge eagerly in Harry's ear.

00:00:57''Of course not,'' said Hermione scathingly.

00:00:59''Hagrid might have set it off accidentally.''

00:01:01''Oh yes,'' said Umbridge, whose excitement seemed to be mounting, ''yes, he would have

00:01:05done of course the great half-breed oaf.''

00:01:08She laughed.

00:01:09Harry felt a strong urge to swing around and seize her by the throat, but resisted.

00:01:13His scar was throbbing in the soft evening air, but it had not yet burned white-hot,

00:01:17as he knew it would if Voldemort had moved in for the kill.

00:01:20''Then where is it?'' asked Umbridge with a hint of uncertainty in her voice, as Hermione

00:01:24continued to stride towards the forest.

00:01:26''In there, of course,'' said Hermione, pointing into the dark trees.

00:01:29''It had to be somewhere that students weren't going to find it accidentally, didn't it?''

00:01:33''Of course,'' said Umbridge, though she sounded a little apprehensive now.

00:01:37''Of course.

00:01:38Very well, then.

00:01:39You two stay ahead of me.

00:01:41Can we have your wand, then, if we're going first?''

00:01:43Harry asked her.

00:01:44''No, I don't think so, Mr. Potter,'' said Umbridge sweetly, poking him in the back with

00:01:49it.

00:01:50''The Ministry places a rather higher value on my life than yours, I'm afraid.

00:01:54As they reached the cool shade of the first trees, Harry tried to catch Hermione's eye.

00:01:58Walking into the forest without wands seemed to him to be more foolhardy than anything

00:02:02they had done so far this evening.

00:02:04She, however, merely gave Umbridge a contemptuous glance and plunged straight into the trees,

00:02:08moving at such a pace that Umbridge, with her shorter legs, had difficulty in keeping

00:02:12up.

00:02:13''Is it very far in?''

00:02:14Umbridge asked, as her robe ripped on a ramble.

00:02:17''Oh, yes,'' said Hermione, ''yes, it's well hidden.''

00:02:21Harry's misgivings increased.

00:02:22Hermione was not taking the path they had followed to visit Graup, but the one he followed

00:02:26three years ago, to the lair of the monster Aragog.

00:02:29Hermione had not been with him on that occasion.

00:02:31He doubted she had any idea what danger lay at the end of it.

00:02:35''Uh, are you sure this is the right way?'' he asked her pointedly.

00:02:38''Oh, yes,'' she said in a steely voice, crashing through the undergrove, for what he thought

00:02:42was a wholly unnecessary amount of noise.

00:02:45Behind them, Umbridge tripped over a fallen sapling.

00:02:48Neither of them paused to help her up again.

00:02:50Hermione merely strode on, calling loudly over her shoulder.

00:02:52''It's a bit further in!''

00:02:54''Hermione, keep your voice down,'' Harry muttered, hurrying to catch up with her.

00:02:58''Anything could be listening in here.

00:02:59I want us heard,'' she answered quietly, as Umbridge jogged noisily after them.

00:03:04''You'll see.''

00:03:05They walked on for what seemed a long time, until they were once again so deep into the

00:03:09forest that the dense tree canopy blocked out all light.

00:03:13Harry had the feeling he had had before in the forest, one of being watched by unseen

00:03:17eyes.

00:03:18''How much further?''

00:03:19demanded Umbridge angrily from behind him.

00:03:21''Not far now,'' shouted Hermione, as they emerged into a dim, dank clearing.

00:03:25''Just a little bit.''

00:03:27An arrow flew through the air and landed with a menacing thud in the tree just over her

00:03:30head.

00:03:31The air was suddenly full of the sound of hooves.

00:03:33Harry could feel the forest floor trembling.

00:03:36Umbridge gave a little scream and pushed him in front of her like a shield.

00:03:39He wrenched himself free of her and turned.

00:03:41Around fifty centaurs were emerging on every side, their bows raised and loaded, pointing

00:03:46at Harry, Hermione and Umbridge.

00:03:48They backed slowly into the centre of the clearing, Umbridge uttering odd little whimpers

00:03:52of terror, Harry looking sideways at Hermione.

00:03:55She was wearing a triumphant smile.

00:03:57''Who are you?'' said a voice.

00:04:00Harry looked left.

00:04:01The chestnut-bodied centaur, called Magorian, was walking towards them out of the circle.

00:04:06His bow, like those of the others, was raised.

00:04:08On Harry's right, Umbridge was still whimpering, her wand trembling violently as she pointed

00:04:13it at the advancing centaur.

00:04:15''I asked you who you are, human?'' said Magorian, roughly.

00:04:19''I am Dolores Umbridge,'' said Umbridge in a high-pitched, terrified voice.

00:04:23''Senior Under-Secretary to the Minister for Magic and Headmistress and High Inquisitor

00:04:28of Hogwarts.''

00:04:29''You are from the Ministry of Magic?'' said Magorian, as many of the centaurs in the surrounding

00:04:34circle shifted restlessly.

00:04:35''That's right,'' said Umbridge in an even higher voice, ''so be very careful, by the

00:04:40laws laid down by the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, any attack

00:04:45by half-breeds such as yourselves on a human.''

00:04:48''What did you call us?'' shouted a wild-looking black centaur, whom Harry recognised as Bane.

00:04:53There was a great deal of angry muttering and tightening of bow-strings around them.

00:04:58''Don't call them that,'' Hermione said furiously, but Umbridge did not appear to have heard

00:05:03her.

00:05:04Still pointing her shaking wand at Magorian, she continued, ''Law 15b states clearly that

00:05:09any attack by a magical creature who is deemed to have near-human intelligence and therefore

00:05:14considered responsible for its actions.

00:05:17Near-human intelligence,'' repeated Magorian, as Bane and several others roared with rage

00:05:23and poured the ground.

00:05:24''We consider that a great insult.

00:05:27Human.

00:05:28Our intelligence, thankfully, far outstrips your own.''

00:05:30''What are you doing in our forest?'' bellowed the hard-faced grey centaur Harry and Hermione

00:05:36had seen on their last trip into the forest.

00:05:37''Why are you here?''

00:05:39''Your forest?'' said Umbridge, shaking now not only with fright but also, it seemed,

00:05:44with indignation.

00:05:45''I would remind you that you live here only because the Ministry of Magic permits you

00:05:49certain areas of land.''

00:05:52An arrow flew so close to her head that it caught at her mousy hair in passing.

00:05:58She let out an ear-splitting scream and threw her hands over her head, while some of the

00:06:03centaurs bellowed their approval and others laughed raucously.

00:06:06The sound of their wild, neighing laughter echoing around the dimly lit clearing and

00:06:11the sight of their pawing hooves was extremely unnerving.

00:06:14''Whose forest is it now, human?'' bellowed Bane.

00:06:17''Fifty half-breeds, filthy half-breeds!'' she screamed, her hands still tight over her

00:06:23head.

00:06:24''Beasts!

00:06:25Uncontrolled animals!''

00:06:26''Be quiet!'' shouted Hermione, but it was too late.

00:06:29Umbridge pointed her wand at Magorian and screamed, ''In Cacerus!''

00:06:34Ropes flew out of mid-air like thick snakes, wrapping themselves tightly around the centaur's

00:06:38torso and trapping his arms.

00:06:41He gave a cry of rage and roared onto his hind legs, attempting to free himself, while

00:06:45the other centaurs charged.

00:06:47Harry grabbed Hermione and pulled her to the ground, face down on the forest floor.

00:06:51He knew a moment of terror as hooves thundered around him, but the centaurs leapt over and

00:06:56around them, bellowing and screaming with rage.

00:06:58''No!'' he heard Umbridge shriek.

00:07:00''No!

00:07:01I am senior undersecretary!

00:07:03You cannot unhand me, you animals!

00:07:05No!''

00:07:06Harry saw a flash of red light and knew she had attempted to stun one of them.

00:07:11Then she screamed very loudly, lifting his head a few inches.

00:07:13Harry saw that Umbridge had been seized from behind by Bane and lifted high into the air,

00:07:18wriggling and yelling with fright.

00:07:19Her wand fell from her hand to the ground, and Harry's heart leapt.

00:07:23If he could just reach it!

00:07:25But as he stretched out a hand towards it, a centaur's hoof descended upon the wand and

00:07:29it broke cleanly in half.

00:07:32''Now!''

00:07:33''Now!''

00:07:34roared a voice in Harry's ear, and thick, and a thick, hairy arm descended from thin

00:07:39air and dragged him upright.

00:07:42Hermione too had been pulled to her feet.

00:07:44Over the plunging, many-coloured backs and heads of the centaurs, Harry saw Umbridge

00:07:48being borne away through the trees by Bane, screaming non-stop.

00:07:52Her voice grew fainter and fainter until they could no longer hear it over the trampling

00:07:56of hooves surrounding them.

00:07:58''And these?'' said the hard-faced, grey centaur holding Hermione.

00:08:02''They are young,'' said a slow, doleful voice from behind Harry.

00:08:05''We do not attack foals.''

00:08:07''They brought her here, Ronan,'' replied the centaur, who had such a firm grip on Harry,

00:08:12''and they are not so young.

00:08:13He is nearing manhood, this one.''

00:08:15He shook Harry by the neck of his robes.

00:08:17''Please,'' said Hermione breathlessly, ''please don't attack us.

00:08:21We don't think like her.

00:08:22We aren't Ministry of Magic employees.

00:08:24We only came in here because we hoped you'd drive her off for us.''

00:08:28Harry knew at once, from the look on the face of the grey centaur holding Hermione, that

00:08:32she had made a terrible mistake in saying this.

00:08:34The grey centaur threw back his head, his back legs stamping furiously and bellowed.

00:08:38''You see, Ronan, they already have the arrogance of their kind.

00:08:42So we were to do your dirty work, were we, human girl?

00:08:45We were to act as your servants, drive away your enemies like obedient hounds?''

00:08:49''No,'' said Hermione in a horror-struck squeak, ''please, I didn't mean that.

00:08:54I just hoped you'd be able to help us.''

00:08:57But she seemed to be going from bad to worse.

00:08:59''We do not help humans,'' snarled the centaur holding Harry, tightening his grip and rearing

00:09:05a little at the same time, so that Harry's feet left the ground momentarily.

00:09:08''We are the race apart, and proud to be so.

00:09:12We will not permit you to walk from here boasting that we did your bidding.''

00:09:15''We're not going to say anything like that,'' Harry shouted.

00:09:18''We know you didn't do what you did because we wanted you to.''

00:09:22But nobody seemed to be listening to him.

00:09:23A bearded centaur towards the back of the crowd shouted, ''They came here unasked.

00:09:28They must pay the consequences!''

00:09:30A roar of approval met these words, and a dun-coloured centaur shouted, ''They can join

00:09:35the woman!''

00:09:36''You said you didn't hurt the innocent,'' shouted Hermione, real tears sliding down

00:09:40her face now.

00:09:41''We haven't done anything to hurt you.

00:09:42We haven't used wands or frets.

00:09:44We just want to go back to school.

00:09:45Please let us go back!''

00:09:46''We are not like.

00:09:49We are not all like the traitor Ferenz, human girl,'' shouted the grey centaur, to more

00:09:54neighing roars of approval from his fellows.

00:09:56''Perhaps you thought us pretty talking horses.

00:09:59We are an ancient people who will not stand wizard invasions and insults.

00:10:03We do not recognise your laws.

00:10:05We do not acknowledge your superiority.

00:10:08We are...''

00:10:09But they did not hear what else centaurs were, for at that moment there came a crashing noise

00:10:13on the edge of the clearing, so loud that all of them, Harry, Hermione and the fifty

00:10:17or so centaurs filling the clearing, looked around.

00:10:20Harry's centaur let him fall to the ground again as his hands flew to his bow and quiver

00:10:25of arrows.

00:10:26Hermione had been dropped too, and Harry hurried towards her as two thick, quick tree trunks

00:10:32parted ominously and the monstrous form of Graup the Giant appeared in the gap.

00:10:37The centaurs nearest him backed into those behind.

00:10:40The clearing was now a forest of bows and arrows, waiting to be fired, all pointing

00:10:44upwards at the enormous greyish face now looming over them from just beneath the thick canopy

00:10:49of branches.

00:10:50Graup's lopsided mouth was gaping stupidly.

00:10:53They could see his brick-like yellow teeth glimmering in the half-light, his dull, sludge-coloured

00:10:57eyes narrowed as he squinted down at the creatures at his feet.

00:11:01Broken ropes trailed from both ankles.

00:11:03He opened his mouth even wider.

00:11:05''Hagga!''

00:11:06Harry did not know what Hagga meant, or what language it was from, nor did he much care.

00:11:11He was watching Graup's feet, which were almost as long as Harry's whole body.

00:11:15Hermione gripped his arm tightly.

00:11:16The centaurs were quite silent, staring up at the giant, whose huge, round head moved

00:11:21from side to side as he continued to peer amongst them as though looking for something

00:11:25he had dropped.

00:11:26''Hagga!'' he said again, more insistently.

00:11:29''Get away from here, giant!'' called Magorian.

00:11:31''You are not welcome among us!''

00:11:33These words seemed to make no impression whatsoever on Graup.

00:11:36He stooped a little.

00:11:37The centaurs' arms tensed on their bows, then bellowed, ''Hagga!''

00:11:42A few of the centaurs looked worried now.

00:11:44Hermione, however, gave a gasp.

00:11:46''Harry,'' she whispered, ''I think he's trying to say Hagrid.''

00:11:50At this precise moment, Graup caught sight of them, the only two humans in a sea of centaurs.

00:11:55He lowered his head another foot or so, staring intently at them.

00:11:58Harry could feel Hermione shaking as Graup opened his mouth wide again and said, in a

00:12:03deep, rumbling voice, ''Hermie!''

00:12:06''Goodness,'' said Hermione, gripping Harry's arm so tightly, it was growing numb and looking

00:12:12as though she was about to faint.

00:12:14He remembered.

00:12:15''Hermie!'' roared Graup.

00:12:16''Where Hagga?''

00:12:18''I don't know,'' squealed Hermione, terrified.

00:12:22''I'm sorry, Graup.

00:12:23I don't know.

00:12:24Graup want Hagga!''

00:12:27One of the giant's massive hands reached down.

00:12:30Hermione let out a real scream, ran a few steps backwards and fell over.

00:12:34Wandless, Harry braced himself to punch, kick, bite or whatever else it took as the hand

00:12:39swooped towards him and knocked a snow-white centaur off his legs.

00:12:43It was what the centaurs had been waiting for.

00:12:45Graup's outstretched fingers were a foot from Harry when fifty arrows soared through

00:12:49the air at the giant, peppering his enormous face, causing him to howl with pain and rage

00:12:54and straighten up, rubbing his face with his enormous hands, breaking off the arrow shafts

00:12:59but forcing the arrow heads in still deeper.

00:13:01He yelled and stamped his enormous feet and the centaur scattered out of the way.

00:13:06Pebble-sized droplets of Graup's blood showered Harry as he pulled Hermione to her feet and

00:13:11the pair of them ran as fast as they could for the shelter of the trees.

00:13:14Once there they looked back, Graup was snatching blindly at the centaurs as blood ran down

00:13:19his face.

00:13:20They were retreating in disorder, galloping away through the trees on the other side of

00:13:24the clearing.

00:13:25Harry and Hermione watched Graup give another roar of fury and plunge after them, smashing

00:13:29more trees aside as he went.

00:13:31Oh no, said Hermione, quaking so badly that her knees gave way.

00:13:36Oh, that was horrible and he might kill them all.

00:13:39I'm not that fussed to be honest, said Harry bitterly.

00:13:42The sounds of the galloping centaurs and the blundering giant grew fainter and fainter

00:13:46as Harry listened to them.

00:13:47His scar gave another great throb and a wave of terror swept over him.

00:13:51They had wasted so much time.

00:13:52They were even further from rescuing Sirius than they had been when he had had that vision.

00:13:58Not only had Harry managed to lose his wand but they were stuck in the middle of the forbidden

00:14:01forest with no means of transport whatsoever.

00:14:04Smart plan, he spat at Hermione, having to release some of his fury.

00:14:08Really smart plan.

00:14:09Where do we go from here?

00:14:11We need to get back up to the castle, said Hermione faintly.

00:14:13By the time we've done that Sirius will probably be dead, said Harry, kicking a nearby tree

00:14:18and temper.

00:14:19A high-pitched clattering, chattering started up overhead and he looked up to see an angry

00:14:24bow-truckle flexing its long twig-like fingers at him.

00:14:27Well, we can't do anything without wands, said Hermione hopelessly, dragging herself

00:14:32up again.

00:14:33Anyway, Harry, how exactly were you planning to get all the way to London?

00:14:36Yeah, we were just wondering that, said a familiar voice from behind her.

00:14:42Harry and Hermione moved together instinctively and peered through the trees.

00:14:46Ron came into sight with Ginny, Neville and Luna hurrying along behind him.

00:14:50All of them looked a little the worse for wear.

00:14:53There were several long scratches running the length of Ginny's cheek.

00:14:56A large purple lump was swelling above Neville's right eye.

00:14:59Ron's lip was bleeding worse than ever, but all were looking rather pleased with themselves.

00:15:03So, said Ron, pushing aside a low-hanging branch and holding out Harry's wand.

00:15:09Had any ideas?

00:15:10How did you get away? asked Harry in amazement, taking his wand from Ron.

00:15:14A couple of stunners?

00:15:16Disarming charm?

00:15:17Neville brought off a really nice little impediment, Jinx, said Ron airily, now handing back Hermione's

00:15:22wand too.

00:15:23But Ginny was best.

00:15:24She got Malfoy.

00:15:25That bogey-hex!

00:15:26It was superb.

00:15:28His whole face was covered in the great flapping things.

00:15:30Anyway, we saw you out of the window heading into the forest and followed.

00:15:33What have you done with Umbridge?

00:15:35She got, uh, carried away, said Harry, by a herd of centaurs.

00:15:40And they left you behind us, Ginny?

00:15:42Looking astonished.

00:15:43No.

00:15:44They got chased off by Grawp, said Harry.

00:15:46Who's Grawp?

00:15:47Luna asked interestingly.

00:15:49Hagrid's little brother, said Ron promptly.

00:15:51Anyway, never mind that now.

00:15:53Harry, what did you find?

00:15:55Out of the fire?

00:15:56Has you-know-who got Sirius, or…

00:15:57Yes, said Harry, as his scar gave another painful prickle.

00:16:00And I'm sure Sirius is still alive, but I can't see how we're going to get there

00:16:04to help him.

00:16:05They all fell silent, looking rather scared.

00:16:08The problem facing them seemed insurmountable.

00:16:10Well, we'll have to fly, won't we?

00:16:13Said Luna, in the closest thing to a matter-of-fact voice Harry had ever heard her use.

00:16:18Okay, said Harry irritably, rounding on her.

00:16:20First of all, we aren't doing anything if you're including yourself in that.

00:16:25And second of all, Ron's the only one with a broomstick that isn't being guarded by

00:16:28a security troll, so…

00:16:29I've got a broom, said Ginny.

00:16:31Yeah, but you're not coming, said Ron angrily.

00:16:33Excuse me, but I care what happens to Sirius as much as you do, said Ginny.

00:16:37Her jaw so set that her resemblance to Fred and George was suddenly striking.

00:16:42You're too, Harry began.

00:16:44But Ginny said fiercely, I'm three years older than you were when you fought You-Know-Who

00:16:48over the Philosopher's Stone, and it's because of me that Malfoy's stuck back in

00:16:52Umbridge's office, with giant flying bogeys attacking him.

00:16:55Yeah, but…

00:16:56We were all in the DA together, said Neville quietly.

00:16:59It was all supposed to be about fighting the You-Know-Who, wasn't it?

00:17:03And this is the first chance we've had to do something real.

00:17:05Or was that all just a game or something?

00:17:07No, of course it wasn't, said Harry impatiently.

00:17:10Then we should come too, said Neville simply.

00:17:12We want to help.

00:17:13That's right, said Luna, smiling happily.

00:17:17Harry's eyes met Ron's.

00:17:18He knew Ron was thinking exactly what he was.

00:17:21If he could have chosen any members of the DA, in addition to himself, Ron and Hermione,

00:17:25to join him in the attempt to rescue Sirius, he would not have picked Ginny, Neville or

00:17:29Luna.

00:17:30Well, it doesn't matter anyway, said Harry frustratedly, because we still don't know

00:17:34how to get there.

00:17:35I thought we'd settled that, said Luna maddeningly.

00:17:38We're flying!

00:17:39Look, said Ron, barely containing his anger.

00:17:42You might be able to fly without a broomstick, but the rest of us can't sprout wings whenever

00:17:46we…

00:17:47There are ways of flying, other than broomsticks, said Luna serenely.

00:17:51I suppose we're going to ride on the back of the khaki snorkel, or whatever it is, Ron

00:17:56demanded.

00:17:57The crumple-horned snork-back?

00:17:58The snorkak can't fly, said Luna in a dignified voice.

00:18:03But they can.

00:18:04And Hagrid says they're very good at finding places their riders are looking for.

00:18:09Harry whirled around, standing between two trees, their white eyes gleaming eerily, were

00:18:15two festrals, watching the whispered conversation as though they understood every word.

00:18:19Yes, he whispered, moving towards them.

00:18:22They tossed their reptilian heads, throwing back long black manes, and Harry stretched

00:18:26out his hand eagerly and patted the nearest one's shining neck.

00:18:30How could he ever have thought them ugly?

00:18:33Those mad horse-things, said Ron uncertainly, staring at a point slightly to the left of

00:18:39the festral Harry was patting, those ones you can't see unless you watch someone snuff

00:18:43it.

00:18:44Yeah, said Harry.

00:18:45How many?

00:18:46Just two.

00:18:47Well, we need three, said Hermione, who was still looking a little bit shaken, but determined

00:18:52just the same.

00:18:53Four, Hermione said Ginny, scowling.

00:18:55I think there are six of us, actually, said Luna calmly, counting.

00:18:58Don't be stupid.

00:18:59We can't all go, said Harry angrily.

00:19:01Look, you three.

00:19:02He pointed at Neville, Ginny and Luna.

00:19:04You're not involved in this.

00:19:05You're not.

00:19:06They burst into more protests.

00:19:08His scar gave another more painful twinge.

00:19:11Every moment they delayed was precious.

00:19:13He did not have time to argue.

00:19:15Okay, fine.

00:19:16It's your choice, he said curtly, but unless we can find more festrals, you're not going

00:19:21to be able...

00:19:22Oh, more of them will come, said Ginny confidently, who, like Ron, was squinting, in quite the

00:19:27wrong direction, apparently under the impression that she was looking at the horses.

00:19:32What makes you think that?

00:19:33Because in case you hadn't noticed, you and Hermione are both covered in blood, she said

00:19:37coolly, and we know Hagrid lures festrals with raw meat.

00:19:40That's probably why these two turned up in the first place.

00:19:44Harry felt a soft tug on his robes at that moment and looked down to see the closest

00:19:48festral licking his sleeve, which was damp with Gawp's blood.

00:19:52Okay, then, he said, a bright idea occurring.

00:19:55Ron and I will take these two and go ahead, and Hermione can stay here with you three

00:19:59and she'll attract more festrals.

00:20:01I'm not staying behind, said Hermione furiously.

00:20:04There's no need, said Luna smiling.

00:20:07Look, here come more now.

00:20:09You two must really smell.

00:20:11Harry turned.

00:20:12No fewer than six or seven festrals were picking their way through the trees, their great leathery

00:20:17wings folded tight to their bodies, their eyes gleaming through the darkness.

00:20:21He had no excuse now.

00:20:22All right, he said angrily.

00:20:24Pick one and get on, then.

00:20:30Chapter 34 The Department of Mysteries

00:20:34Harry wound his hand tightly into the mane of the nearest festral, placed a foot on a

00:20:37stump nearby, and scrambled clumsily onto the horse's silken back.

00:20:41It did not object, but twisted its head around, fangs bared, and attempted to continue its

00:20:46eager licking of his robes.

00:20:48He found there was a way of lodging his knees behind the wing joints that made him feel

00:20:52more secure, then looked around at the others.

00:20:54Neville had heaved himself over the back of the next festral and was now attempting to

00:20:58swing one short leg over the creature's back.

00:21:01Luna was already in place, sitting side saddle and adjusting her rows as though she did this

00:21:05every day.

00:21:06Ron, Hermione and Ginny, however, were still standing motionless on the spot, open-mouthed

00:21:10and staring.

00:21:11What?

00:21:12he said.

00:21:13How are we supposed to get on, said Ron faintly, when we can't see the things?

00:21:16Oh, it's easy, said Luna, sliding obligingly from her festral and marching over to him,

00:21:22Hermione and Ginny.

00:21:23Come here.

00:21:24She pulled them over to the other festrals standing around, and one by one managed to

00:21:28help them onto the back of their mount.

00:21:30All three looked extremely nervous as she wound their hands onto their horse's mane

00:21:34and told them to grip tightly before she got back on to her own steed.

00:21:38This is mad, Ron murmured, moving his free hand gingerly up and down his horse's neck.

00:21:43Mad!

00:21:44If I could just see it!

00:21:46You better hope it stays invisible, said Harry darkly.

00:21:49We all ready then?

00:21:50They all nodded and he saw five pairs of knees tighten beneath their robes.

00:21:54OK.

00:21:55He looked down at the back of his festral's glossy black head and swallowed.

00:21:59Ministry of Magic, visitors' entrance, London then, he said uncertainly.

00:22:04If you know where to go?

00:22:06For a moment Harry's festral did nothing at all, then with a sweeping movement that nearly

00:22:10unseated him, the wings on either side extended, the horse crouched slowly, then rocketed upwards

00:22:16so fast and so steeply that Harry had to clench his arms and legs tightly around the horse

00:22:21to avoid sliding backwards over its bony rump.

00:22:24He closed his eyes and pressed his face down into the horse's silky mane as they burst

00:22:28through the topmost branches of the trees and soared out into a blood-red sunset.

00:22:34Harry did not think he had ever moved so fast.

00:22:36The festral streaked over the castle, its wide wings hardly beating.

00:22:40The cooling air was slapping Harry's face, eyes screwed up against the rushing wind.

00:22:45He looked around and saw his five fellows soaring along behind him, each of them bent

00:22:49as low as possible into the neck of their festral to protect themselves from his slipstream.

00:22:54They were over the Hogwarts grounds, they had passed Hogsmeade, Harry could see mountains

00:22:58and gullies below them, as the daylight began to fail, Harry saw small collections of lights

00:23:03as they passed over more villages, then a winding road on which a single car was beetling

00:23:07its way home through the hills.

00:23:10This is bizarre, Harry barely heard Ron yell from somewhere behind him and he imagined

00:23:15how it must feel to be speeding along at this height with no visible means of support.

00:23:20Twilight fell, the sky was turning to a light dusky purple littered with tiny silver stars,

00:23:25and soon only the lights of muggled towns gave them any clue of how far from the ground

00:23:30they were, or how very fast they were travelling.

00:23:32Harry's arms were wrapped tightly around his horse's neck as he willed it to go even faster.

00:23:37How much time had elapsed since he had seen Sirius lying on the Department of Mysteries

00:23:41floor?

00:23:42How much longer would Sirius be able to resist Voldemort?

00:23:45All Harry knew for sure was that his godfather had neither done as Voldemort wanted nor died,

00:23:51for he was convinced that either outcome would have caused him to feel Voldemort's jubilation

00:23:55or fury curse through his own body, making his scar sear as painfully as it had on the

00:24:01night Mr Weasley was attacked.

00:24:03On they flew through the gathering darkness, Harry's face felt stiff and cold, his legs

00:24:07numb from gripping the festral side so tightly, but he did not dare shift his position, lest

00:24:12he slip.

00:24:13He was deaf from the thundering rush of air in his ears, and his mouth was dry and frozen

00:24:17from the cold night wind.

00:24:19He had lost all sense of how far they had come, all his faith was in the beast beneath

00:24:23him, still streaking purposely through the night, barely flapping its wings as it sped

00:24:27over onwards.

00:24:29If they were too late.

00:24:30He's still alive, he's still fighting, I can feel it.

00:24:33If Voldemort decided Sirius was not going to crack, I'd know.

00:24:37Harry's stomach gave a jolt, the festral's head was suddenly pointing towards the ground,

00:24:42and he actually slid forwards a few inches along its neck.

00:24:44They were descending at last.

00:24:46He thought he heard a shriek behind him, and twisted around dangerously, but could see

00:24:50no sign of a falling body.

00:24:52Presumably, they had all received a shock from the change of direction, just as he had.

00:24:57And now bright orange lights were growing larger and rounder on all sides, they could

00:25:01see the tops of buildings, streams of headlights like luminous insect eyes, squares of pale

00:25:06yellow that were windows.

00:25:08Quite suddenly, it seemed, they were hurtling towards the pavement.

00:25:11Harry gripped the festral with every last ounce of his strength, braced for a sudden

00:25:15impact, but the horse touched the dark ground as lightly as a shadow, and Harry slid from

00:25:19its back, looking around at the street where the overflowing skip still stood a short way

00:25:24from the vandalised telephone box, both drained of colour in the flat orange glare of the

00:25:28streetlights.

00:25:29Ron landed a short way off and toppled immediately from his festral onto the pavement.

00:25:33Never, again, he said, struggling to his feet.

00:25:37He made as though to stride away from his festral, but, unable to see it, collided with

00:25:40its hindquarters and almost fell over again.

00:25:43Never, ever again.

00:25:44That was the worst.

00:25:46Hermione and Ginny touched down on either side of him, both slid off their mounts, a

00:25:50little more gracefully than Ron, though with similar expressions of relief at being back

00:25:53on firm ground.

00:25:55Neville jumped down, shaking, and Luna dismounted smoothly.

00:25:58Where do we go from here, then?

00:26:00She asked Harry in a politely interested voice, as though this was a rather interesting

00:26:04day trip.

00:26:05Over here, he said.

00:26:07He gave his festral a quick, grateful pat, then led the way quickly to the battered telephone

00:26:11box and opened the door.

00:26:13Come on, he urged the others, as they hesitated.

00:26:16Ron and Ginny marched on obediently.

00:26:18Hermione, Neville and Luna squashed themselves in after them.

00:26:22Harry took one glance back at the festrals, now foraging for scraps of rotten food inside

00:26:26the skip, then forced himself into the box after Luna.

00:26:30As near as the receiver, dial 6-2-4-4-2, he said.

00:26:34Ron did it, his arm bent bizarrely to reach the dial.

00:26:37As it whirred back into place, the cool female voice sounded inside the box.

00:26:41Welcome to the Ministry of Magic, please state your name and business.

00:26:45Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Harry said very quickly.

00:26:49Ginny Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, we're here to save someone, unless your ministry

00:26:54can do it first.

00:26:55Thank you, said the cool female voice.

00:26:57Visitors, please take the badges and attach them to the front of your robes.

00:27:01Half a dozen badges slid out of the metal chute, where returned coins normally appeared.

00:27:06Hermione scooped them up and handed them mutely to Harry, over Ginny's head.

00:27:10He glanced at the topmost one, Harry Potter, rescue mission.

00:27:14Visitors to the ministry, you are required to submit to a search and present your wands

00:27:18for registration at the security desk, which is located at the far end of the atrium.

00:27:22Fine, Harry said loudly, as his scar gave another frob.

00:27:25Now can we move?

00:27:27The floor of the telephone box shuddered and the pavement rose up past its glass windows.

00:27:32The scavenging festrals were sliding out of sight.

00:27:35Blackness closed over their heads and with a dull grinding noise they sank down into

00:27:38the depths of the Ministry of Magic.

00:27:41A chink of soft golden light hit their feet and, widening, rose up their bodies.

00:27:46Harry bent his knees and held his wand as ready as he could in such cramped conditions

00:27:50as he peered through the glass to see whether anybody was waiting for them in the atrium.

00:27:55But it seemed to be completely empty.

00:27:57The light was dimmer than it had been by day.

00:27:59There were no fires burning under the mantelpieces set into the walls, but as the lift slid smoothly

00:28:04to a halt he saw that golden symbols continued to twist sinuously in the dark blue ceiling.

00:28:10The Ministry of Magic wishes you a pleasant evening, said the woman's voice.

00:28:14The door of the telephone box burst open, Harry toppled out of it, followed by Neville

00:28:18and Luna.

00:28:19The only sound in the atrium was the steady rush of water from the golden fountain, where

00:28:23jets from the wands of the witch and wizard, the point of the centaur's arrow, the tip

00:28:27of the goblin's hat and the house-elf's ears continued to gush into the surrounding pool.

00:28:32Come on, said Harry quietly, and the six of them sprinted off down the hall, Harry in

00:28:37the lead, past the fountain towards the desk where the watch-wizard who had weighed Harry's

00:28:41wand had sat, and which was now deserted.

00:28:45Harry felt sure there ought to be a security person there, sure their absence was an ominous

00:28:49sign and his feeling of foreboding increased as they passed through the golden gates to

00:28:53the lifts.

00:28:54He pressed his nearest down button, and a lift clattered into sight almost immediately.

00:28:59The golden grills slid apart with a great echoing clanking, and they dashed inside.

00:29:04Harry stabbed the number nine button, the grills closed with a bang, and the lift began

00:29:08to descend, jangling and rattling.

00:29:10Harry had not realised how noisy the lifts were on the day he had come with Mr Weasley.

00:29:14He was sure the din would raise every security person within the building.

00:29:18Yet when the lift halted, the cool female voice said, Department of Mysteries, and the

00:29:23grills slid open.

00:29:24They stepped out, into the corridor where nothing was moving but the nearest torches

00:29:28flickering in the rush of air from the lift.

00:29:32Harry turned towards the plain black door, after months and months of dreaming about

00:29:36it.

00:29:37He was here at last.

00:29:38Let's go, he whispered, and he led the way down the corridor, Luna right behind him,

00:29:42gazing around with her mouth slightly open.

00:29:45OK, listen, said Harry, stopping again within six feet of the door, maybe a couple of people

00:29:51should stay here as a lookout, and how are we going to let you know something's coming?

00:29:57asked Ginny, her eyebrows raised.

00:29:58You could be miles away.

00:30:00We're coming with you, Harry, said Neville.

00:30:02Let's get on with it, said Ron firmly.

00:30:05Harry still did not want to take them all with him, but it seemed he had no choice.

00:30:08He turned to face the door and walked forwards, just as it had in his dream.

00:30:13It swung open, and he marched forwards, leading the others over the threshold.

00:30:17They were standing in a large circular room.

00:30:20Everything in here was black, including the floor and ceiling.

00:30:22Identical, unmarked, handle-less black doors were set at intervals all around the black

00:30:26walls, interspersed with branches of candles whose flames burned blue, their cool shimmering

00:30:31light reflecting in the shining marble floor made it look as though there was a dark water

00:30:36underfoot.

00:30:37Someone shut the door, Harry muttered.

00:30:40He regretted giving this order the moment Neville had obeyed it.

00:30:43Throughout the long chink of light from the torch-lit corridor behind them, the place

00:30:48became so dark that for a moment the only things they could see were the bunches of

00:30:51shivering blue flames on the walls and their ghostly reflections in the floor.

00:30:56In his dream, Harry had always walked purposely across this room to the door immediately opposite

00:31:00the entrance and walked on, but there were around a dozen doors here, just as he was

00:31:04gazing ahead at the doors opposite him, trying to decide which was the right one.

00:31:08There was a great rumbling noise, and the candles began to move sideways.

00:31:12The circular wall was rotating.

00:31:15Hermione grabbed Harry's arm as though frightened the floor might move too, but it did not.

00:31:21For a few seconds the blue flames around them were blurred to resemble neon lines as the

00:31:25wall sped around, and then quite as suddenly as it had started the rumbling stopped and

00:31:30everything became stationary once again.

00:31:33Harry's eyes had blue streaks burned into them, it was all he could see.

00:31:38What was that about? whispered Ron fearfully.

00:31:40I think it was to stop us knowing which door we came in through, said Ginny in a hushed voice.

00:31:45Harry realised at once she was right, he could no sooner identify the exit door than locate

00:31:50an ant on the jet black floor, and the door through which they needed to proceed could

00:31:54be any one of the dozen surrounding them.

00:31:57How are we going to get back out? said Neville uncomfortably.

00:32:00Well, that doesn't matter now, said Harry forcefully, blinking to try to erase the blue

00:32:04lines from his vision and clutching his wand tighter than ever.

00:32:07We won't need to get out until we've found Sirius.

00:32:10Don't go calling for him though, Hermione said urgently, but Harry had never needed

00:32:15her advice less, his instinct was to keep as quiet as possible.

00:32:19Where do we go then Harry? Ron asked.

00:32:22I don't err, Harry began, he swallowed.

00:32:24In the dreams I went through the door at the end of the corridor from the lifts into the

00:32:28dark room, that's this one, and then I went through another door into a room that kind

00:32:32of glitters.

00:32:33We should try a few doors, he said hastily, I'll know the right way when I see it, come

00:32:37on.

00:32:37He marched straight at the door now facing him, the others following close behind him,

00:32:42set his left hand against its cool shining surface, raised his wand ready to strike the

00:32:47moment it opened, and pushed.

00:32:49It swung open easily, after the darkness of the first room, the lamps hanging low on golden

00:32:54chains from this ceiling gave the impression that this long rectangular room was much brighter,

00:32:59though there were no glittering, shimmering lights as Harry had seen in his dreams.

00:33:03The place was quiet, quite empty except for a few desks, and in the very middle of the

00:33:07room an enormous glass tank of deep green liquid, big enough for all of them to swim

00:33:11in.

00:33:12A number of pearly white objects were drifting around lazily in it.

00:33:15What are those things, whispered Ron.

00:33:17Dunno, said Harry.

00:33:18Are they fish, breathed Ginny.

00:33:21Aquavirus maggots, said Luna excitedly, Dad said the Ministry was breeding.

00:33:27No, said Hermione.

00:33:28She sounded odd.

00:33:29She moved forward to look through the side of the tank.

00:33:31They're brains.

00:33:33Brains, yes.

00:33:35I wonder what they're doing with them.

00:33:36Harry joined her at the tank.

00:33:38Sure enough, there could be no mistake now, he saw them at close quarters.

00:33:42Glimmering eerily, they drifted in and out of sight in the depths of the green liquid,

00:33:46looking something like slimy cauliflowers.

00:33:49Let's get out of here, said Harry.

00:33:50This isn't right.

00:33:51We need to try another door.

00:33:53There are doors here too, said Ron, pointing around the walls.

00:33:56Harry's heart sank.

00:33:57How big was this place?

00:34:00In my dream, I went through that dark room into the second one, he said.

00:34:03I think we should go back and try from there.

00:34:05So they hurried back into the dark circular room.

00:34:08The ghostly shapes of the brains were now swimming before Harry's eyes instead of the

00:34:12blue candle flames.

00:34:13Wait, said Hermione sharply, as Luna made to close the door at the brain room behind

00:34:17them.

00:34:18Flagratti.

00:34:20She drew her wand in mid-air, and a fiery X appeared on the door.

00:34:24No sooner had the door clicked shut behind them than there was a great rumbling, and

00:34:29once again the wall began to revolve very fast.

00:34:31But now there was a great red-gold blur in amongst the faint blue, and when all became

00:34:36still again, the fiery cross still burned, showing the door they had already tried.

00:34:41Good thinking, said Harry.

00:34:42OK, let's try this one.

00:34:44Again, he strode directly at the door, facing him and pushed it open, his wand still raised,

00:34:49the others at his heels.

00:34:50This room was larger than the last, dimly lit and rectangular, and the centre of it

00:34:54was sunken, forming a great stone pit some twenty feet deep.

00:34:58They were standing on the topmost tier of what seemed to be stone benches, running all

00:35:01around the room and descending in deep steps like an amphitheatre, or the courtroom, in

00:35:06which Harry had been tried by the Wisingamot.

00:35:08Instead of a chained chair, however, there was a raised stone dais, in the centre of

00:35:13a pit, on which stood a stone archway that looked so ancient, cracked and crumbling,

00:35:18that Harry was amazed the thing was still standing.

00:35:21Unsupported by any surrounding wall, the archway was hung with tattered black curtain or veil,

00:35:26which, despite the complete stillness of the cold surrounding air, was fluttering very

00:35:30slightly, as though it had just been touched.

00:35:33Who's there?

00:35:33said Harry, jumping down onto the bench below.

00:35:36There was no answering voice, but the veil continued to flutter and sway.

00:35:40Careful, whispered Hermione.

00:35:42Harry scrambled down the benches, one by one until he reached the stone bottom of the sunken

00:35:46pit.

00:35:47His footsteps echoed loudly as he walked slowly towards the dais.

00:35:52The pointed archway looked much taller from where he now stood than it had when he'd been

00:35:56looking down on it from above.

00:35:58Still, the veil swayed gently, as though somebody had just passed through it.

00:36:02Serious?

00:36:03Harry spoke again, but more quietly now, that he was nearer.

00:36:07He had the strangest feeling that there was someone standing right behind the veil on

00:36:10the other side of the archway.

00:36:11Gripping his hat wand very tightly, he edged around the dais, but there was nobody there.

00:36:16All that could be seen was the other side of the tattered black veil.

00:36:20Let's go, called Hermione from halfway up the stone steps.

00:36:22This isn't right, Harry.

00:36:23Come on, let's go.

00:36:25She sounded scared, much more scared than she had in the room where the brain swam,

00:36:29yet Harry thought the archway had a kind of beauty about it, old though it was.

00:36:33The gently rippling veil intrigued him.

00:36:36He felt a very strong inclination to climb up the dais and walk through it.

00:36:40Harry, let's go, okay, said Hermione more forcefully.

00:36:43Okay, he said, but did not move.

00:36:45He'd just heard something.

00:36:46There were faint whispering, murmuring noises coming from the other side of the veil.

00:36:51What are you saying?

00:36:52He said very loudly, so that his words echoed all around the stone benches.

00:36:56Nobody's talking, Harry, said Hermione, now moving over to him.

00:37:01Someone's whispering behind there, he said, moving out of her reach and continuing to

00:37:04frown at the veil.

00:37:06Is that you, Ron?

00:37:07I'm here, mate, said Ron, appearing around the side of the archway.

00:37:10Can't anyone else hear it?

00:37:12Harry demanded, for the whispering and murmuring was becoming louder.

00:37:15Without really meaning to put it there, he found his foot was on the dais.

00:37:19I can hear them too, breathed Luna, joining them around the side of the archway and gazing

00:37:24at the swaying veil.

00:37:26There are people in there.

00:37:27What do you mean, in there?

00:37:29Demanded Hermione, jumping down from the bottom step and sounding much angrier than the occasion

00:37:33warranted.

00:37:34There isn't any in there.

00:37:35It's just an archway.

00:37:36There's no room for anybody to be in there.

00:37:38Harry, stop it.

00:37:39Come away.

00:37:40She grabbed his arm and pulled, but he resisted.

00:37:43Harry, we're supposed to be here for Sirius, she said in a high-pitched, strained voice.

00:37:47Sirius, Harry repeated, still gazing, mesmerized at the continuously swaying veil.

00:37:53Yeah, something finally slid back into place in his brain.

00:37:56Sirius, captured, bound and tortured, and he was staring at this archway.

00:38:01He took several paces back from the dais and wrenched his eyes from the veil.

00:38:06Let's go, he said.

00:38:07That's what I've been trying to.

00:38:08Well, come on then, said Hermione.

00:38:10And she led the way back around the dais.

00:38:12On the other side, Ginny and Neville were staring, apparently entranced at the veil,

00:38:17too.

00:38:17Without speaking, Hermione took hold of Ginny's arm.

00:38:21Ron grabbed Neville's, and they marched them firmly back to the lowest stone bench and

00:38:24clambered all the way back up to the door.

00:38:27What do you reckon that arch was?

00:38:28Harry asked Hermione, as they regained the dark, circular room.

00:38:32I don't know, but whatever it was, it was dangerous, she said firmly, again inscribing

00:38:36a fiery cross on the door.

00:38:38Once more, the wall spun and became still again.

00:38:41Harry approached another door at random and pushed.

00:38:43It did not move.

00:38:45What's wrong, said Hermione.

00:38:46It's locked, said Harry, throwing his weight at the door, but it didn't budge.

00:38:50This is it then, isn't it, said Ron excitedly, joining Harry in the attempt to force the

00:38:54door open.

00:38:55Bound to be.

00:38:56Get out of the way, said Hermione sharply.

00:38:58She pointed her wand at the place where a lock would have been on an ordinary door and

00:39:02said, Alhomara.

00:39:05Nothing happened.

00:39:06Sirius' knife, said Harry.

00:39:08He pulled it out from inside his robes and slid it into the crack between the door and

00:39:12the wall.

00:39:12The others all watched eagerly as he ran it from top to bottom, withdrew it, and then

00:39:17flung his shoulder open at the door.

00:39:19It remained as firmly shut as ever.

00:39:21What was more, when Harry looked down at the knife, he saw the blade had melted.

00:39:25Right, we're leaving that room, said Hermione decisively.

00:39:29But what if that's the wand, said Ron, staring at it with a mixture of apprehension and longing?

00:39:33It can't be.

00:39:34Harry could get through all the doors in his dreams, said Hermione, marking the door with

00:39:37another fiery cross as Harry replaced the now useless handle of Sirius' knife in his

00:39:42pocket.

00:39:43You know, what could be in there, said Luna eagerly, as the wall started to spin yet again.

00:39:49Something blibbering, no doubt, said Hermione, under her breath, and Neville gave a nervous

00:39:53little laugh.

00:39:55The wall slid to a halt and Harry, with a feeling of increasing desperation, pushed

00:39:59the next door open.

00:40:01This is it.

00:40:02He knew it at once by the beautiful, dancing, diamond-sparkling light.

00:40:06As Harry's eyes became accustomed to the brilliant glare, he saw clocks gleaming from

00:40:10every surface, large and small, grandfather and carriage, hanging in spaces between the

00:40:16bookcases or standing on desks, ranging the length of the room, so that a busy, relentless

00:40:21ticking filled the place like thousands of minuscule marching footsteps.

00:40:25The source of the dancing, diamond-bright light was a towering crystal-bell jar that

00:40:29stood at the far end of the room.

00:40:31This way.

00:40:32Harry's heart was pumping frantically now that they knew they were on the right track.

00:40:36He led the way down the narrow space between the lines of desks, heading, as he had done

00:40:40in his dream, for the source of the light, the crystal-bell jar quite as tall as he was

00:40:44that stood on a desk and appeared to be full of billowing, glittering wind.

00:40:49Oh look, said Ginny, as they drew nearer, pointing at the very heart of the bell jar.

00:40:53Drifting along in the sparkling current inside was a tiny, jewel-bright egg.

00:40:58As it rose in the jar, it cracked open, and a hummingbird emerged, which was carried to

00:41:03the very top of the jar, but as it fell on the draught, its feathers became bedraggled

00:41:07and damp again, and by the time it had been born back to the bottom of the jar, it had

00:41:12been enclosed once more in its egg.

00:41:14Keep going, said Harry sharply, because Ginny showed signs of wanting to stop and watch

00:41:18the egg's progress back into a bird.

00:41:21You dawdled enough by that old arch, she said crossly, but followed him, followed him past

00:41:27the bell jar to the only door behind it.

00:41:29This is it, Harry said again, and his heart was now pumping so hard and fast, he felt

00:41:34it must interfere with his speech.

00:41:36It's through here.

00:41:37He glanced around at them all.

00:41:39They had their wands out and looked suddenly serious and anxious.

00:41:42He looked back at the door and pushed.

00:41:44It swung open.

00:41:45They were there.

00:41:46They had found the place, high as a church and full of nothing but towering shelves,

00:41:51covered in small, dusty glass orbs.

00:41:53They glimmered dully in the light, issuing from more candle brackets, set at intervals

00:41:58along the shelves.

00:41:59Like those in the circular room behind them, their flames were burning blue.

00:42:02The room was very cold.

00:42:04Harry edged forward and peered down one of the shadowy aisles between two rows of shelves.

00:42:09He could not hear anything or see the slightest sign of movement.

00:42:12He said it was row ninety-seven, whispered Hermione.

00:42:15Yeah, breathed Harry, looking up at the end of the closest row.

00:42:19Beneath the branch of a blue glowing candle protruding from it glimmered the silver figure

00:42:24fifty-three.

00:42:25We need to go right, I think, whispered Hermione, squinting to the next row.

00:42:29Yes, that's fifty-four.

00:42:31Keep your wands ready, Harry said softly.

00:42:33They crept forward, glancing behind him as they went on down the long alleys of shelves,

00:42:39the further ends of which were in near total darkness.

00:42:43Tiny yellowing labels had been stuck beneath each glass orb on the shelves.

00:42:48Some of them had a weird liquid glow.

00:42:49Others were as dull and dark within as blown light bulbs.

00:42:54They passed row eighty-four.

00:42:56Eighty-five.

00:42:57Harry was listening hard for the slightest sound of movement.

00:43:00But Sirius might be gagged now, or else unconscious.

00:43:03Or, said an unbidden voice inside his head, he might already be dead.

00:43:10I'd have felt it, he told himself, his heart now hammering against his Adam's apple.

00:43:15I'd already know.

00:43:16Ninety-seven, whispered Hermione.

00:43:19They stood grouped around the end of the row, gazing down the alley beside it.

00:43:22There was nobody there.

00:43:24He's right down at the end, said Harry, whose mouth had become slightly dry.

00:43:28You can't see properly from here, as he led them between the towering rows of glass balls,

00:43:33some of which glowed softly as they passed.

00:43:35He should be near here, whispered Harry, convinced that every step was going to bring

00:43:40the ragged form of Sirius into view on the darkened floor.

00:43:43Anywhere here.

00:43:45Really close.

00:43:46Harry, said Hermione tentatively, but he did not want to respond.

00:43:50His mouth was very dry.

00:43:51Somewhere about here, he said.

00:43:54They had reached the end of the row and emerged into more dim candlelight.

00:43:57There was nobody there.

00:43:58All was echoing, dusty silence.

00:44:01He might be, Harry whispered hoarsely, peering down the next alley.

00:44:05Or maybe he hurried to look down the one beyond that.

00:44:08Harry, said Hermione again.

00:44:10What? he snarled.

00:44:11I don't think Sirius is here.

00:44:14Nobody spoke.

00:44:15Harry did not want to look at any of them.

00:44:17He felt sick.

00:44:18He did not understand why Sirius was not here.

00:44:20He had to be here.

00:44:22This was where he, Harry, had seen him.

00:44:25He ran up the space at the end of the rows, staring down them.

00:44:28Empty aisle after empty aisle flickered past.

00:44:30He ran the other way, back past his staring companions.

00:44:34There was no sign of Sirius anywhere, nor any hint of a struggle.

00:44:38Harry, Ron called.

00:44:39What?

00:44:40He did not want to hear what Ron had to say.

00:44:43Did not want to hear Ron tell him he had been stupid,

00:44:45or suggest that they ought to go back to Hogwarts.

00:44:48But the heat was rising in his face,

00:44:50and he felt as though he would like to skulk down here in the darkness

00:44:53for a long while before facing the brightness of the atrium above

00:44:56and the others' accusing stares.

00:44:58Have you seen this? said Ron.

00:45:01What? said Harry, but eagerly this time.

00:45:03It had been a sign that Sirius had been there.

00:45:05Maybe a clue.

00:45:06He strode back to where they were all standing.

00:45:09A little way down, row 97,

00:45:11but found nothing except Ron staring at one of the dusty glass spheres on the shelf.

00:45:15What? Harry repeated glumly.

00:45:17It's...

00:45:18It's got your name on, said Ron.

00:45:20Harry moved a little closer.

00:45:22Ron was pointing at one of the small glass spheres that glowed with a dull inner light,

00:45:26though it was very dusty and appeared not to have been touched for many years.

00:45:30My name? said Harry blankly.

00:45:32He stepped forwards.

00:45:33Not as tall as Ron.

00:45:35He had to crane his neck to read the yellowish label affixed to the shelf,

00:45:38right beneath the dusty glass ball.

00:45:40In spidery writing was a written date of some 16 years previously and below that.

00:45:46SPT to APWBD, Dark Lord and...

00:45:52Harry Potter.

00:45:54Harry stared at it.

00:45:56What is it? Ron asked, sounding unnerved.

00:45:58What's your name doing down here?

00:46:00He glanced along at the other labels on that stretch of shelf.

00:46:04I'm not here, he said, sounding perplexed.

00:46:07None of the rest of us are here.

00:46:09Harry, I don't think you should touch it, said Hermione sharply, as he stretched out his hand.

00:46:14Why not? he said.

00:46:15It's something to do with me, isn't it?

00:46:17Don't, Harry, said Neville suddenly.

00:46:19Harry looked at him.

00:46:20Neville's round face was shining slightly with sweat.

00:46:22He looked as though he could not take much more suspense.

00:46:25It's got my name on, said Harry, and feeling slightly reckless,

00:46:29he closed his fingers around the dusty ball's surface.

00:46:32He'd expected it to feel cold, but it did not.

00:46:35On the contrary, it felt as though it had been lying in the sun for hours,

00:46:38as though the glow of light within was warming it,

00:46:41expecting, even hoping, that something dramatic was going to happen,

00:46:45something exciting that might make their long and dangerous journey worthwhile after all.

00:46:50Harry lifted the glass ball from its shelf and stared at it.

00:46:53Nothing whatsoever happened.

00:46:54The others moved in closer around Harry,

00:46:56gazing at the orb as he brushed it free of its clogging dust.

00:47:00And then, from right behind them, a drawling voice spoke.

00:47:05Very good, Potter.

00:47:06Now turn around, nice and slowly, and give that to me.

00:47:14Chapter 35 Beyond the Veil

00:47:17Black shapes were emerging out of thin air all around them,

00:47:20blocking their way left and right.

00:47:22Eyes glinted through slits in hoods.

00:47:24A dozen lit wand tips were pointing directly at their hearts.

00:47:27Ginny gave a gasp of horror.

00:47:29To me, Potter, repeated the drawling voice of Lucius Malfoy

00:47:33as he held out his hand, palm up.

00:47:35Harry's insides plummeted sickeningly.

00:47:38They were trapped and outnumbered two to one.

00:47:41To me, said Malfoy yet again.

00:47:43Where's Sirius?

00:47:44Harry said.

00:47:45Several of the Death Eaters laughed.

00:47:46A harsh female voice from the midst of the shadowy figures to Harry's left said triumphantly,

00:47:51The Dark Lord always knows.

00:47:54Always, echoed Malfoy softly.

00:47:57Now give me the prophecy, Potter.

00:47:59I want to know where Sirius is.

00:48:01I want to know where Sirius is.

00:48:03mimicked the woman to his left.

00:48:05She and her fellow Death Eaters had closed in so that they were mere feet away from Harry

00:48:09and the others, the light from their wands dazzling Harry's eyes.

00:48:12You've got him, said Harry, ignoring the rising panic in his chest,

00:48:16the dread he had been fighting since they had entered the 97th row.

00:48:19He's here.

00:48:20I know he is.

00:48:22The little baby woke up frightened and thought what it dreamed was true,

00:48:27said the woman in a horrible mock baby voice.

00:48:30Harry felt Ron stir beside him.

00:48:32Don't do anything, Harry muttered.

00:48:34Not yet.

00:48:35The woman who had mimicked him let out a raucous scream of laughter.

00:48:38You hear him?

00:48:39You hear him?

00:48:40Giving instructions to the other children as though he thinks of fighting us.

00:48:45Oh, you don't know Potter as I do, Bellatrix, said Malfoy softly.

00:48:49He has a great weakness for heroics.

00:48:51The Dark Lord understands this about him.

00:48:53Now give me the prophecy, Potter.

00:48:56I know Sirius is here, said Harry, though panic was causing his chest to constrict

00:49:01and he felt as though he could not breathe properly.

00:49:03I know you've got him.

00:49:04More of the Death Eaters laughed, though the woman laughed loudest of all.

00:49:08It's time you learn the difference between life and dreams, Potter, said Malfoy.

00:49:13Now give me the prophecy or we start using wands.

00:49:17Go on then, said Harry, raising his own wand to chest height.

00:49:20As he did so, the five wands of Ron, Hermione, Neville, Ginny and Luna

00:49:24rose on either side of him.

00:49:25The knot in Harry's stomach tightened.

00:49:27If Sirius really was not here, he had led his friends to their deaths.

00:49:31For no reason at all.

00:49:32But the Death Eaters did not strike.

00:49:35Hand over the prophecy and no one need get hurt, said Malfoy coolly.

00:49:40It was Harry's turn to laugh.

00:49:42Yeah, right, he said.

00:49:43I give you this.

00:49:44Prophecy is it.

00:49:45And you'll just let us skip off home, will you?

00:49:48The words were hardly out of his mouth when the female Death Eater, he shrieked.

00:49:54Harry was just ready for her.

00:49:56He shouted before she had finished her spell.

00:49:59And though the glass sphere slipped into the tips of his fingers,

00:50:02he managed to cling on to it.

00:50:03Oh, he knows how to play, little bitty baby Potter, she said.

00:50:08Her mad eye staring through the slits in her hood.

00:50:10Very well then.

00:50:12I told you no, Lucius Malfoy roared at the woman.

00:50:15If you smash it.

00:50:16Harry's mind was racing.

00:50:18The Death Eaters wanted this dusty spun glass sphere.

00:50:21He had no interest in it.

00:50:22He just wanted to get them all out of this alive,

00:50:25to make sure none of his friends paid a terrible price for his stupidity.

00:50:28The woman stepped forward, away from her fellows, and pulled off her hood.

00:50:33Azkaban had hollowed Bellatrix Lestrange's face,

00:50:36making it gaunt and skull-like.

00:50:38But it was alive with a feverish, fanatical glow.

00:50:41You need more persuasion, she said.

00:50:44Her chest rising and falling rapidly.

00:50:47Very well.

00:50:47Take the smallest one, she ordered the Death Eaters beside her.

00:50:51Let him watch while we torture the little girl.

00:50:53I'll do it.

00:50:54Harry felt the others close in around Ginny.

00:50:56He stepped sideways so that he was right in front of her.

00:50:59The prophecy held up to his chest.

00:51:02You'll have to smash this if you want to attack any of this.

00:51:04Any of us, he told Bellatrix.

00:51:06I don't think your boss will be too pleased if you come back without it, will he?

00:51:10She did not move.

00:51:11She merely stared at him, the tip of her tongue moistening her thin mouth.

00:51:15So, said Harry, what kind of prophecy are we talking about, anyway?

00:51:19He could not think what to do but to keep talking.

00:51:21Neville's arm was pressed against his, and he could feel him shaking.

00:51:25He could feel one of the others' quickened breath on the back of his head.

00:51:28He was hoping they were all thinking hard about ways to get out of this,

00:51:31because his mind was blank.

00:51:33What kind of prophecy?

00:51:35Repeated Bellatrix, the grin fading from her face.

00:51:38You jest, Harry Potter.

00:51:40Nope, not jesting, said Harry, his eyes flicking from Death Eater to Death Eater,

00:51:44looking for a weak link, a space through which they could escape.

00:51:48How come?

00:51:48How come Voldemort wants it?

00:51:50Several of the Death Eaters let out low hisses.

00:51:53You dare speak his name?

00:51:55Whispered Bellatrix.

00:51:57Yeah, said Harry, maintaining his tight grip on the glass ball,

00:52:00expecting another attempt to bewitch it from him.

00:52:03Yeah, I've got no problem with saying Vol-

00:52:05Shut your mouth!

00:52:07Bellatrix shrieked.

00:52:08You dare speak his name with your unworthy lips?

00:52:10You dare besmirch it with your half-blood's tongue?

00:52:13You dare!

00:52:14Did you know he's half-blood too?

00:52:16Said Harry recklessly.

00:52:17Hermione gave a little moan in his ear.

00:52:20Voldemort?

00:52:20Yeah, yeah, his muggle was a witch, but his dad was a muggle.

00:52:23Or has he been telling you lot he's pureblood?

00:52:26Stupid that-

00:52:27No!

00:52:28A jet of red light had shot from the end of Bellatrix Lestrange's wand,

00:52:32but Malfoy had deflected it.

00:52:34His spell caused hers to hit the shelf a foot to the left of Harry,

00:52:38and several of the glass orbs there shattered.

00:52:40Two figures, pearly white as ghosts, fluid as smoke,

00:52:44unfurled themselves from the fragments of broken glass upon the floor,

00:52:47and each began to speak.

00:52:49Their voices vied with each other,

00:52:50so that only fragments of what they were saying

00:52:52could be heard over Malfoy and Bellatrix's shouts.

00:52:55All at the solstice will come anew,

00:52:58said the figure of an old bearded man.

00:53:00Do not attack!

00:53:01We need the prophecy!

00:53:03He dared!

00:53:03He dares!

00:53:05shrieked Bellatrix incoherently.

00:53:07He stands there, filthy half-blood!

00:53:09Wait until we've got the prophecy,

00:53:11bawled Malfoy.

00:53:13And none will come after,

00:53:15said the figure of a young woman.

00:53:16The two figures that had burst from the shattered spheres

00:53:19had melted into thin air.

00:53:20Nothing remained of them or their erstwhile homes

00:53:23but fragments of glass upon the floor.

00:53:25They had, however, given Harry an idea.

00:53:28The problem was going to be conveying it to the others.

00:53:31You haven't told me what's so special about this prophecy

00:53:34I'm supposed to be handing over,

00:53:35he said, playing for time.

00:53:37He moved his foot slowly sideways,

00:53:39feeling around for someone else's.

00:53:41Do not play games with us, Potter, said Malfoy.

00:53:44I'm not playing games, said Harry.

00:53:46Half his mind on the conversation,

00:53:47half on his wandering foot,

00:53:49and then he found someone's toes

00:53:50and pressed down upon them.

00:53:52A sharp intake of breath behind him told him

00:53:54they were Hermione's.

00:53:56What? she whispered.

00:53:58Dumbledore never told you

00:53:59the reason you bear the scar was hidden

00:54:01in the bowels of the Department of Mysteries?

00:54:04Malfoy sneered.

00:54:05I... what? said Harry.

00:54:07And for a moment he quite forgot his plan.

00:54:09What about my scar?

00:54:10What? whispered Hermione more urgently behind him.

00:54:14Can this be? said Malfoy,

00:54:16sounding maliciously delighted.

00:54:17Some of the Death Eaters were laughing again,

00:54:19and under cover of their laughter,

00:54:21Harry hissed to Hermione,

00:54:22moving his lips as little as possible.

00:54:24Smash shelves!

00:54:26Dumbledore never told you, Malfoy repeated.

00:54:29Well, this explains why you didn't come earlier, Potter.

00:54:32The Dark Lord wondered why.

00:54:34When... I say now.

00:54:36You didn't come running when he showed you

00:54:38the place where it was hidden was hidden in your dreams.

00:54:41He thought natural curiosity

00:54:43would make you want to hear the exact wording.

00:54:46Did he? said Harry.

00:54:47Behind him he felt rather than heard

00:54:49Hermione passing his message to the others,

00:54:52and he sought to keep talking to distract the Death Eaters.

00:54:55So he wanted to come and get me, did he?

00:54:57Why?

00:54:59Why? Malfoy sounded incredulously delighted.

00:55:02Because the only people who are permitted

00:55:03to retrieve a prophecy

00:55:05from the Department of Mysteries, Potter,

00:55:07are those about whom it was made,

00:55:09as the Dark Lord discovered

00:55:10when he attempted to use others to steal it for him.

00:55:13And why did he want to steal a prophecy about me?

00:55:16About both of you, Potter.

00:55:17About both of you.

00:55:18Haven't you ever wondered

00:55:19why the Dark Lord tried to kill you as a baby?

00:55:22Harry stared into the slitted eye holes

00:55:24through which Malfoy's grey eyes were gleaming.

00:55:27Was this prophecy the reason Harry's parents had died?

00:55:30The reason he carried his lightning bolt scar?

00:55:33Was the answer to all of this clutched in his hand?

00:55:36Someone made a prophecy about Voldemort to me,

00:55:39he said quietly, gazing at Lucius Malfoy,

00:55:41his fingers tightening over the warm glass sphere in his hand.

00:55:45It was hardly larger than a snitch

00:55:47and still gritty with dust.

00:55:48And he's made me come and get it for him.

00:55:50Why couldn't he come and get it himself?

00:55:53Get it himself, shrieked Bellatrix

00:55:55over a cackle of mad laughter.

00:55:57The Dark Lord walk into the Ministry of Magic

00:55:59when they are so sweetly ignoring his return.

00:56:02The Dark Lord reveal himself to the Aurors

00:56:04when at that moment they are wasting their time

00:56:07on my dear cousin.

00:56:08So, he's got you doing his dirty work for him,

00:56:12said Harry,

00:56:13like he tried to get Sturgess to steal it and bode.

00:56:16Very good, Potter, very good, said Malfoy slowly.

00:56:19But the Dark Lord knows you are not unintelligent.

00:56:22Now, yelled Harry.

00:56:24Five different voices behind him bellowed,

00:56:26Reducto!

00:56:27Five curses flew in five different directions

00:56:31and the shelves opposite them exploded as they hit.

00:56:34The towering structure swayed

00:56:35as a hundred glass spheres burst apart.

00:56:38Pearly white figures unfurled into the air

00:56:40and floated there.

00:56:41Their voices echoing from who know what long dead past

00:56:45amid the torment of crushing glass

00:56:47and splintered wood now raining down upon the floor.

00:56:49Run!

00:56:50Harry yelled as the shelves swayed precariously

00:56:54and more glass spheres began to fall from above.

00:56:56He seized a handful of Hermione's robes

00:56:58and dragged her forwards,

00:56:59holding one arm over his head

00:57:01as chunks of shelf and shards of glass

00:57:03thundered down upon them.

00:57:05A Death Eater lunged forwards through the cloud of dust

00:57:08and Harry elbowed him hard in the masked face.

00:57:10They were all yelling.

00:57:11There were cries of pain and thunderous crashes

00:57:14as the shelves collapsed upon themselves.

00:57:16Weirdly echoing fragments of the seers

00:57:18unleashed from their spheres.

00:57:20Harry found the way ahead clear

00:57:22and saw Ron, Ginny and Luna sprint past him,

00:57:24their arms over their heads.

00:57:26Something heavy struck him on the side of the face

00:57:28but he merely ducked his head and sprinted onwards.

00:57:30A hand caught him by the shoulder.

00:57:32He heard Hermione shout,

00:57:34Stupify!

00:57:35The hand released him at once.

00:57:37They were at the end of row 97.

00:57:39Harry turned right and began to sprint in earnest.

00:57:42He could hear footsteps right behind him

00:57:44and Hermione's voice urging Neville on.

00:57:46Straight ahead,

00:57:47the door through which they had come was ajar.

00:57:49Harry could see the glittering light of the bell jar.

00:57:52He pelted through the doorway,

00:57:53the prophecy still clutched tight and safe in his hand

00:57:56and waited for the others to hurtle over the threshold

00:57:59before slamming the door behind them.

00:58:01Coloportus!

00:58:03gasped Hermione

00:58:04and the door sealed itself with an odd squelching noise.

00:58:07Where?

00:58:08Where are the others?

00:58:09gasped Harry.

00:58:10He had thought Ron, Luna and Ginny were ahead of them,

00:58:12that they would be waiting in this room

00:58:14but there was nobody there.

00:58:15They must have gone the wrong way,

00:58:16whispered Hermione,

00:58:17terror in her face.

00:58:19Listen,

00:58:19whispered Neville.

00:58:21Footsteps and shouts echoed from behind the door they had just sealed.

00:58:24Harry put his ear close to the door to listen

00:58:26and heard Lucius Malfoy roar,

00:58:28Leave not!

00:58:30Leave him I say!

00:58:31His injuries will be nothing to the Dark Lord

00:58:34and compared to losing that prophecy!

00:58:36Jugson!

00:58:36Come back here!

00:58:37We need to organise!

00:58:38We'll split into pairs and search

00:58:40and don't forget,

00:58:41be gentle and with Potter

00:58:42until we've got the prophecy.

00:58:44You can kill the others if necessary.

00:58:46Bellatrix!

00:58:46Rodolphus!

00:58:47You take the left!

00:58:48Crabbe!

00:58:49Raviston!

00:58:50Go right!

00:58:51Jugson!

00:58:51Dolohov!

00:58:52The door straight ahead!

00:58:53McNair and Avery!

00:58:54Through there!

00:58:55Rockwood!

00:58:56Over there!

00:58:57Motsuba!

00:58:57Come with me!

00:58:59What do we do?

00:59:00Hermione asked Harry,

00:59:01trembling from head to foot.

00:59:03Well,

00:59:03we don't stand here waiting for them to find us for a start,

00:59:06said Harry.

00:59:07Let's get away from this door!

00:59:08They ran as quietly as they could

00:59:10past the shimmering bell jar

00:59:12where the tiny egg was hatching and unhatching

00:59:14towards the exit into the circular hallway

00:59:17at the far end of the room.

00:59:18They were almost there when Harry heard something large

00:59:20and heavy collide with the door Hermione had charmed shut.

00:59:24Stand aside!

00:59:25said a rough voice.

00:59:26Alohomora!

00:59:27As the door flew open,

00:59:29Harry, Hermione and Neville dived under desks.

00:59:31They could see the bottom of the two Death Eaters robes

00:59:34drawing nearer,

00:59:35their feet moving rapidly.

00:59:37They might have run straight through the hall,

00:59:38said the rough voice.

00:59:40Check under the desks,

00:59:41said another.

00:59:42Harry saw the knees of the Death Eaters bend

00:59:44poking his wand out from under the desk.

00:59:46He shouted,

00:59:46Stupefy!

00:59:48A jet of red light hit the nearest Death Eater.

00:59:50He fell backwards into a grandfather clock

00:59:52and knocked it over.

00:59:53The second Death Eater, however,

00:59:55had leapt aside to avoid Harry's spell

00:59:57and was pointing his own wand at Hermione

01:00:00who was crawling out from under the desk

01:00:01to get a better aim.

01:00:03Avada!

01:00:04Harry launched himself across the floor

01:00:06and grabbed the Death Eater around the knees

01:00:08causing him to topple

01:00:09and his aim to go awry.

01:00:11Neville overturned a desk in his anxiety to help

01:00:13and pointing his wand wildly at the struggling pair

01:00:16he cried,

01:00:17Expelliarmus!

01:00:19Both Harry's and the Death Eater's wands

01:00:21flew out of their hands

01:00:22and soared back towards the entrance to the Hall of Prophecy.

01:00:25Both scrambled to their feet

01:00:27and charged after them,

01:00:28the Death Eater in front.

01:00:29Harry hot on his heels

01:00:31and Neville bringing up the rear,

01:00:32plainly horror struck by what he had done.

01:00:35Get out of the way, Harry!

01:00:36yelled Neville,

01:00:37clearly determined to repair the damage.

01:00:39Harry flung himself sideways

01:00:41as Neville took aim again and shouted,

01:00:43Superfy!

01:00:44The jet of red light flew right over the Death Eater's shoulder

01:00:47and hit a glass-fronted cabinet on the wall

01:00:50full of variously shaped hourglasses.

01:00:52The cabinet fell to the floor

01:00:53and burst apart,

01:00:55glass flying everywhere.

01:00:56Sprang back up onto the wall,

01:00:58fully mended

01:00:58and then fell down again and shattered.

01:01:01The Death Eater had snatched up his wand

01:01:03which lay on the floor beside the glittering bell jar.

01:01:06Harry ducked down behind another desk

01:01:08as the man turned,

01:01:09his mask had slipped

01:01:10so that he couldn't see.

01:01:12He ripped it off with his free hand

01:01:13and shouted,

01:01:14Stoop!

01:01:15Stoopify!

01:01:16screamed Hermione,

01:01:17who had just caught up with him.

01:01:18The jet of red light hit the Death Eater

01:01:20in the middle of his chest.

01:01:21He froze,

01:01:22his arms still raised,

01:01:24his wand fell to the floor with a clatter

01:01:26and he collapsed backwards

01:01:27towards the bell jar.

01:01:29Harry expected to hear a clunk

01:01:30for the man to hit the hollid solid glass

01:01:33and slide off the jar onto the floor,

01:01:35but instead his head sank

01:01:37through the surface of the bell jar

01:01:38as though it were nothing but a soap bubble

01:01:40and he came to rest,

01:01:42sprawled on his back on the table

01:01:43with his head lying inside the jar

01:01:45full of glittering wind.

01:01:47Accio wand!

01:01:48cried Hermione.

01:01:50Harry's wand flew from a dark corner

01:01:51into her hand

01:01:52and she threw it to him.

01:01:54Thanks, he said.

01:01:55Right, let's get out of...

01:01:57Look out!

01:01:57said Neville, horrified.

01:01:59He was staring at the Death Eater's head

01:02:01in the bell jar.

01:02:02All three of them raised their wands again,

01:02:03but none of them struck.

01:02:05They were all gazing,

01:02:06open-mouthed, appalled

01:02:07at what was happening to the man's head.

01:02:09It was shrinking very fast,

01:02:11growing balder and balder

01:02:13and black hair and stubble

01:02:14retracting into his skull,

01:02:16his cheeks becoming smooth,

01:02:18his skull around

01:02:19and covered with peach-like fuzz.

01:02:22A baby's head

01:02:23now sat grotesquely

01:02:24on top of the thick,

01:02:25muscled neck of the Death Eater

01:02:27as he struggled to get up again,

01:02:29but even as they watched

01:02:30their mouths open,

01:02:31the head began to swell

01:02:32to its previous proportions again.

01:02:34Thick black hair was sprouting

01:02:35from the pate and chin.

01:02:37It's time, said Hermione

01:02:39in an awestruck voice.

01:02:41Time!

01:02:42The Death Eater shook his ugly head again,

01:02:44trying to clear it,

01:02:45but before he could pull himself together

01:02:46it began to shrink back

01:02:47to babyhood once more.

01:02:49There was a shout from a room nearby,

01:02:52then a crash and a scream.

01:02:53Ron!

01:02:54Harry yelled,

01:02:55turning quickly from

01:02:56the monstrous transformation

01:02:57taking place before them.

01:02:58Ginny! Luna!

01:03:00Harry!

01:03:01Hermione screamed.

01:03:02The Death Eater had pulled his head

01:03:03out of the bell jar.

01:03:05His appearance was utterly bizarre,

01:03:06his tiny baby's head

01:03:08bawling loudly

01:03:09while his thick arms flailed dangerously

01:03:11in all directions,

01:03:12narrowly missing Harry,

01:03:13who had ducked.

01:03:14Harry raised his wand,

01:03:15but to his amazement,

01:03:16Hermione seized his arm.

01:03:18You can't hurt a baby!

01:03:19There was no time to argue the point.

01:03:21Harry could hear more footsteps

01:03:23growing louder from the Hall of Prophecy

01:03:25and knew too late

01:03:26that he ought to have shouted

01:03:27and given away their position.

01:03:28Come on, he said,

01:03:29and leaving the ugly baby-headed Death Eater

01:03:32staggering behind them,

01:03:33they took off for the door

01:03:34that stood open at the other end of the room,

01:03:36leading back into the black hallway.

01:03:38They had run halfway towards it

01:03:40when Harry saw through the open door

01:03:42two more Death Eaters

01:03:44running across the black room

01:03:46towards them.

01:03:47Veering left,

01:03:48he burst instead into a small dark

01:03:50cluttering office

01:03:51and slammed the door behind them.

01:03:54Callow!

01:03:54began Hermione,

01:03:55but before she could complete the spell,

01:03:57the door had burst open

01:03:58and the two Death Eaters

01:03:59had come hurtling inside.

01:04:01With a cry of triumph,

01:04:03both yelled,

01:04:04Imperimenta!

01:04:05Harry, Hermione and Neville

01:04:07were all knocked backwards off their feet.

01:04:09Neville was thrown over the desk

01:04:10and disappeared from view.

01:04:12Hermione smashed into a bookcase

01:04:13and was promptly deluged

01:04:15in a cascade of heavy books.

01:04:17The back of Harry's head

01:04:18slammed into the stone wall behind him,

01:04:20tiny lights burst in front of his eyes

01:04:22and for a moment he was too dizzy

01:04:24and bewildered to react.

01:04:26We got him!

01:04:27yelled the Death Eater nearest Harry.

01:04:29In an office of silencio!

01:04:31cried Hermione

01:04:32and the man's voice was extinguished.

01:04:34He continued to mouth

01:04:35though the hole in his mask

01:04:37but no sound came out.

01:04:38He was thrust aside by his fellow Death Eater.

01:04:41Petrificus Totalus!

01:04:43shouted Harry

01:04:44as the second Death Eater

01:04:46raised his wand.

01:04:47His arms and legs snapped together

01:04:48and he fell forwards,

01:04:50face down onto the rug

01:04:51at Harry's feet,

01:04:52stiff as a board

01:04:53and unable to move.

01:04:54Well done, ha?

01:04:55But the Death Eater,

01:04:56Hermione had just struck dumb,

01:04:57made a sudden slashing movement

01:04:59with his wand.

01:05:00A streak of what looked like a purple flame

01:05:02passed right across Hermione's chest.

01:05:04She gave a tiny,

01:05:05Oh!

01:05:06as though of surprise

01:05:07and crumpled to the floor

01:05:08where she lay motionless.

01:05:10Hermione!

01:05:11Harry fell to his knees beside her

01:05:13as Neville crawled rapidly

01:05:15towards her from under the desk.

01:05:16His wand held up in front of him.

01:05:18The Death Eater kicked out hard

01:05:20at Neville's head as he emerged.

01:05:21His foot broke Neville's wand in two

01:05:24and connected with his face.

01:05:25Neville gave a howl of pain

01:05:27and recoiled,

01:05:27clutching his mouth and nose.

01:05:29Harry twisted around,

01:05:30his own wand held high

01:05:32and saw that the Death Eater

01:05:33had ripped off his mask

01:05:35and was pointing his wand

01:05:37directly at Harry,

01:05:38who recognised the long,

01:05:39pale,

01:05:40twisted face

01:05:41from the Daily Prophet,

01:05:42Antonin Dolohov,

01:05:44the wizard

01:05:44who had murdered the Pruits.

01:05:46Dolohov grinned

01:05:47with his free hand.

01:05:49He pointed from the prophecy

01:05:50still clutched in Harry's hand

01:05:51to himself,

01:05:52then at Hermione.

01:05:54Though he could no longer speak,

01:05:55his meaning could not have been clearer.

01:05:57Give me the prophecy

01:05:58or you get the same as her.

01:06:01Like you won't kill us all anyway

01:06:03the moment I hand it over,

01:06:04said Harry.

01:06:05A whine of panic inside his head

01:06:06was preventing him thinking properly.

01:06:08He had one hand on Hermione's shoulder

01:06:11which was still warm,

01:06:12yet did not dare look at her properly.

01:06:14Don't let her be dead.

01:06:16Don't let her be dead.

01:06:18It's my fault if she's dead.

01:06:20Whatever you do, Harry,

01:06:21said Neville fiercely from under the desk,

01:06:23lowering his hands

01:06:24to show a clearly broken nose

01:06:26and blood pouring down his mouth and chin.

01:06:28Don't give it to him.

01:06:29Then there was a crash outside the door

01:06:31and Dolohov looked over his shoulder.

01:06:33The baby-headed Death Eater

01:06:35had appeared in the doorway,

01:06:36his head bawling,

01:06:37his great fist still flailing uncontrollably

01:06:40at everything around him.

01:06:41Harry seized his chance.

01:06:43Petrificus Totalus!

01:06:44The spell hit Dolohov,

01:06:46before he could block it

01:06:47and he toppled forwards across his comrade,

01:06:49both of them rigid as boards,

01:06:50unable to move an inch.

01:06:53Hermione, Harry said at once,

01:06:55shaking her as the baby-headed Death Eater

01:06:56blundered out of sight again.

01:06:58Hermione, wake up!

01:07:00What did you do to her?

01:07:02said Neville,

01:07:02crawling out from under the desk

01:07:04to kneel at her other side,

01:07:05blood streaming from his rapidly swelling nose.

01:07:08I don't know.

01:07:09Neville groped for Hermione's wrist.

01:07:11That's a pulse, Harry.

01:07:13I'm sure it is.

01:07:15Such a powerful wave of relief

01:07:17swept through Harry

01:07:18that for a moment he felt light-headed.

01:07:20She's alive?

01:07:21Yeah, I think so.

01:07:23There was a pause in which Harry listened hard

01:07:25for the sound of more footsteps,

01:07:26but all he could hear were the whimpers

01:07:28and blunderings of the baby-headed Death Eater

01:07:30in the next room.

01:07:31Neville, we're not far from the exit,

01:07:33Harry whispered.

01:07:34We're right next to that circular room.

01:07:37If we can just get you across it

01:07:39and find the right door

01:07:40before any more Death Eaters come,

01:07:41I'll bet you can get Hermione up the corridor

01:07:43and into the lift.

01:07:44Then you could find someone.

01:07:45Raise the alarm.

01:07:47And what are you going to do?

01:07:48said Neville,

01:07:49mopping his bleeding nose

01:07:50of his sleeve and frowning at Harry.

01:07:52I've got to find the others,

01:07:53said Harry.

01:07:54Well, I'll be going to fight them with you,

01:07:57said Neville firmly.

01:07:58But Hermione!

01:08:00We'll take her with us,

01:08:01said Neville firmly.

01:08:02I'll carry her.

01:08:03You're better at fighting them than I am.

01:08:06He stood up and seized one of Hermione's arms,

01:08:08glaring at Harry,

01:08:09who hesitated,

01:08:10then grabbed the other

01:08:11and helped hoist Hermione's limp form

01:08:13over Neville's shoulders.

01:08:14Wait, said Harry,

01:08:15snatching up Hermione's wand from the floor

01:08:17and shoving it into Neville's hand.

01:08:19You better take this.

01:08:20Neville kicked aside the broken fragments

01:08:22of his own wand

01:08:23as they walked slowly towards the door.

01:08:25My gran's gonna kill me,

01:08:27said Neville quickly,

01:08:28blood spattering from his nose as he spoke.

01:08:31That was my dad's old wand.

01:08:33Harry stuck his head out of the door

01:08:34and looked around cautiously.

01:08:36The baby-headed Death Eater

01:08:37was screaming and banging into things,

01:08:39toppling grandfather clocks

01:08:40and overturning desks,

01:08:41bawling and confused

01:08:43while the glass-fronted cabinet

01:08:44that Harry now suspected

01:08:46had contained time-turners

01:08:47continued to fall,

01:08:49shatter and repair itself

01:08:50on the wall behind them.

01:08:51He's never going to notice us,

01:08:53he whispered.

01:08:53Come on, keep close behind me.

01:08:56They crept out of the office

01:08:57and back towards the door

01:08:58into the black hallway,

01:09:00which now seemed completely deserted.

01:09:02They walked a few steps forwards,

01:09:03Neville tottering slightly

01:09:05due to Hermione's weight.

01:09:06The door of the time room

01:09:07swung shut behind them

01:09:09and the walls began to rotate once more.

01:09:11The recent blow on the back of Harry's head

01:09:13seemed to have unsteadied him.

01:09:15He narrowed his eyes, swaying slightly,

01:09:17until the walls stopped moving again.

01:09:19With a sinking heart,

01:09:20Harry saw that Hermione's fiery crosses

01:09:23had faded from the doors.

01:09:25So, which way do you reck?

01:09:28But before they could make a decision

01:09:29as to which way to try,

01:09:30a door to their right sprang open

01:09:32and three people fell out of it.

01:09:34Ron, croaked Harry, dashing towards them.

01:09:36Ginny, are you all...

01:09:38Harry, said Ron, giggling weakly,

01:09:40lurching forwards,

01:09:41seizing the front of Harry's robes

01:09:43and gazing at him with unfocused eyes.

01:09:45There you are.

01:09:46You look funny, Harry.

01:09:47You're all messed up.

01:09:49Ron's face was very white

01:09:50and something dark was trickling

01:09:52from the corner of his mouth.

01:09:53Next moment his knees had given way,

01:09:55but he still clutched the front of Harry's robes

01:09:57so that Harry was pulled into a kind of bow.

01:10:01Ginny, Harry said fearfully.

01:10:02What happened?

01:10:03But Ginny shook her head

01:10:04and slid down the wall

01:10:05into a sitting position,

01:10:07panting and holding her ankle.

01:10:09I think her ankle's broken.

01:10:11I heard something crack,

01:10:12whispered Luna,

01:10:13who was bending over her

01:10:14and who alone seemed to be unhurt.

01:10:16Four of them chased us into a dark room

01:10:17full of planets.

01:10:18It was a very odd place.

01:10:20Some of the time we were just floating in the dark.

01:10:23Harry, we saw Uranus up close,

01:10:26said Ron, still giggling feebly.

01:10:28Get it, Harry?

01:10:29We saw Uranus.

01:10:31A bubble of blood grew at the corner

01:10:33of Ron's mouth and burst.

01:10:35Anyway, one of them grabbed Ginny's foot.

01:10:37I used the reductor curse

01:10:39and blew up Pluto in his face,

01:10:40but...

01:10:41Luna gestured hopelessly at Ginny,

01:10:43who was breathing in a very shallow way,

01:10:45her eyes still closed.

01:10:47And what about Ron, said Harry fearfully,

01:10:49as Ron continued to giggle,

01:10:51still hanging off the front of Harry's robes.

01:10:53I don't know what they hit him with,

01:10:55said Luna sadly,

01:10:56but he's gone a bit funny.

01:10:57I could hardly get him along at all.

01:11:00Harry, said Ron,

01:11:01pulling Harry's ear down to his mouth

01:11:03and still giggling weakly.

01:11:04You know who this girl is, Harry?

01:11:06She's Loony.

01:11:07Loony Lovegood.

01:11:10We've got to get out of here,

01:11:12said Harry firmly.

01:11:13Luna, can you help Ginny?

01:11:15Yes, said Luna,

01:11:16sticking her wand behind her ear

01:11:18for safekeeping,

01:11:19then putting an arm around Ginny's waist

01:11:21and pulling her up.

01:11:22It's only my ankle.

01:11:23I can do it myself, said Ginny impatiently,

01:11:26but next moment she had collapsed sideways

01:11:28and grabbed Luna for support.

01:11:29Harry pulled Ron's arm over his shoulder

01:11:31just as so many months ago

01:11:33he had pulled Dudley's.

01:11:35He looked around.

01:11:36They had a 1 in 12 chance of getting that exit

01:11:39right first time.

01:11:40He heaved Ron towards a door.

01:11:42They were within a few feet of it

01:11:43when another door across the hall burst open

01:11:46and the three defeaters sped in,

01:11:48led by Bellatrix Lestrange.

01:11:50There they are, she shrieked.

01:11:52Stunning spells shot across the room.

01:11:54Harry smashed his way through the door ahead,

01:11:56flung Ron unceremoniously from him

01:11:58and ducked back to help Neville in with Hermione.

01:12:01They were all over the threshold

01:12:02just in time to slam the door against Bellatrix.

01:12:06Coloportus, shouted Harry,

01:12:08and he heard three bodies slam into the door

01:12:10on the other side.

01:12:11It doesn't matter, said a man's voice.

01:12:14There are other ways in.

01:12:15We've got them.

01:12:16They're here.

01:12:17Harry spun around.

01:12:18They were back in the brain room

01:12:19and sure enough there were doors all around the walls.

01:12:22He could hear footsteps in the hall behind them

01:12:24as more defeaters came running to join the first.

01:12:27Luna, Neville, help me.

01:12:28The three of them tore around the room,

01:12:30sealing the doors as they went.

01:12:32Harry crashed into a table

01:12:33and rolled over the top of it in his haste

01:12:35to reach the next door.

01:12:36Coloportus!

01:12:38There were footsteps running along behind the doors.

01:12:40Every now and then another heavy body

01:12:42would launch itself against one,

01:12:44so it creaked and shuddered.

01:12:45Luna and Neville were bewitching the doors

01:12:47along the opposite wall.

01:12:48Then as Harry reached the very top of the room,

01:12:50he heard Luna cry.

01:12:52Colo...

01:12:55He turned in time to see her flying through the air.

01:12:57Five defeaters were surging into the room through the door

01:13:00she had not reached in time.

01:13:02Luna hit a desk,

01:13:03slid over its surface

01:13:04and onto the floor on the other side

01:13:06where she lay sprawled as still as Hermione.

01:13:10Get Potter!

01:13:11shrieked Bellatrix

01:13:12and she ran at him.

01:13:13He dodged her and sprinted back up the room.

01:13:15He was safe as long as they thought

01:13:17they might hit the prophecy.

01:13:19Hey, said Ron,

01:13:20who had staggered to his feet

01:13:21and was now tottering drunkenly towards Harry giggling.

01:13:24Hey, hey Harry,

01:13:25there are brains in here.

01:13:27Isn't that weird, Harry?

01:13:29Ron, get out of the way.

01:13:31But Ron had already pointed his wand at the tank.

01:13:33Honest Harry,

01:13:34the brains, look!

01:13:36That's your brain!

01:13:37The scene seemed momentarily frozen.

01:13:40Harry, Ginny and Neville

01:13:41and each of the Death Eaters

01:13:42turned in spite of themselves

01:13:43to watch the top of the tank

01:13:45as a brain burst from the green liquid

01:13:47like a leaping fish.

01:13:48For a moment, it seemed suspended in mid-air.

01:13:51Then it soared towards Ron,

01:13:52spinning as it came.

01:13:54And what looked like ribbons of moving images flew from it,

01:13:56unravelling like rolls of film.

01:13:59Haha, Harry, look at it!

01:14:00Said Ron,

01:14:01watching it disgorge its gaudy innards.

01:14:03Harry, come and touch it.

01:14:05Bet it's weird.

01:14:06Ron, no!

01:14:07Harry did not know what would happen

01:14:09if Ron touched the tentacles of thought

01:14:12now flowing behind the brain.

01:14:13But he was sure it would not be anything good.

01:14:16He darted forwards,

01:14:17but Ron had already caught the brain in his outstretched hands.

01:14:20The moment they made contact with his skin,

01:14:22the tentacles began wrapping themselves

01:14:24around Ron's arm like ropes.

01:14:26Harry, look what's happened!

01:14:27No!

01:14:28No, I don't like it!

01:14:29No!

01:14:29Stop!

01:14:30Stop!

01:14:31But the thin ribbons were spinning around Ron's chest now.

01:14:34He tugged and tore at them

01:14:35as the brain was pulled tight against him

01:14:37like an octopus's body.

01:14:39Defendo!

01:14:40Yelled Harry,

01:14:41trying to sever the feelers,

01:14:43wrapping themselves tightly around Ron before his eyes.

01:14:46But they could not break.

01:14:47Ron fell over, still thrashing against his bonds.

01:14:50Harry, it'll suffocate him!

01:14:52Screamed Ginny,

01:14:53immobilised by her broken ankle on the floor.

01:14:55Then a jet of red light flew from one of the Death Eaters' wands

01:14:58and hit her squarely in the face.

01:15:00She keeled over sideways and lay there unconscious.

01:15:03Stupify!

01:15:04Shouted Neville,

01:15:05wheeling around and waving Hermione's wand

01:15:08at the oncoming Death Eaters.

01:15:09Stupify!

01:15:10Stupify!

01:15:11But nothing happened.

01:15:12One of the Death Eaters shot their own stunning spell at Neville.

01:15:15It missed him by inches.

01:15:17Harry and Neville were now the only two left,

01:15:19fighting the five Death Eaters.

01:15:21Two of them,

01:15:21two of whom sent off streams of silver light like arrows

01:15:25but left craters in the wall behind them.

01:15:28Harry ran for it,

01:15:29as Bellatrix Lestrange raced right at him.

01:15:31Holding the prophecy high above his head,

01:15:33he sprinted back up the room.

01:15:35All he could think of doing

01:15:36was to draw the Death Eaters away from the others.

01:15:39It seemed to have worked.

01:15:40They streaked after him,

01:15:41knocking chairs and tables flying,

01:15:43but not daring to bewitch him

01:15:45in case they hurt the prophecy.

01:15:46And he dashed through the only door still open,

01:15:48the one through which the Death Eaters themselves had come.

01:15:51Inwardly praying that Neville would stay with Ron

01:15:53and find some way of releasing him,

01:15:55he ran a few feet into the new room

01:15:57and felt the floor vanish.

01:15:59He was falling down steep stone step

01:16:01after steep stone step,

01:16:03bouncing on every tear until at last,

01:16:05with a crash that knocked all the breath out of his body,

01:16:08he landed flat on his back

01:16:09in the sunken pit

01:16:10where the stone archway stood on its base.

01:16:13The whole room was ringing with the Death Eaters' laughter.

01:16:16He looked up and saw

01:16:17the five who had been in the brain room descending towards him,

01:16:20while as many more emerged through other doorways

01:16:23and began leaping from bench to bench towards him.

01:16:26Harry got to his feet,

01:16:27though his legs were trembling so badly

01:16:29they barely supported him.

01:16:31The prophecy was still unbroken in his left hand.

01:16:35His wand clutched tightly in his right.

01:16:36He backed away,

01:16:37looking around,

01:16:38trying to keep all the Death Eaters within his sight.

01:16:41The back of his legs hit something solid.

01:16:43He had reached the dais where the archway stood.

01:16:46He climbed backwards onto it.

01:16:48The Death Eaters all halted,

01:16:49gazing at him.

01:16:50Some were panting as hard as he was.

01:16:52One was bleeding badly.

01:16:54Dolohov, freed of the body-bind curse,

01:16:57was leering,

01:16:57his wand pointing straight at Harry's face.

01:17:00Potter, your race is run,

01:17:03drawled Lucius Malfoy,

01:17:04pulling off his mask.

01:17:06Now hand me the prophecy like a good boy.

01:17:09Let the others go,

01:17:11and I'll give it to you,

01:17:12said Harry desperately.

01:17:13A few of the Death Eaters laughed.

01:17:15You are not in a position to bargain, Potter,

01:17:18said Lucius Malfoy,

01:17:19his pale face flushed with pleasure.

01:17:22You see, there are ten of us,

01:17:23and only one of you,

01:17:25or hasn't Dumbledore ever taught you how to count?

01:17:28He's not alone,

01:17:30shouted a voice from above them.

01:17:33He's still got me.

01:17:37Harry's heart sank.

01:17:39Neville was scrambling down the stone benches towards them.

01:17:41Hermione's wand held fast in his trembling hand.

01:17:44Neville, no, go back to Ron.

01:17:47Stupify, Neville shouted again,

01:17:49pointing his wand at each Death Eater in turn.

01:17:51Stupify, stupi...

01:17:53One of the largest Death Eaters

01:17:55seized Neville from behind,

01:17:56pinioning his arms to his sides.

01:17:58He struggled and kicked.

01:17:59Several of the Death Eaters laughed.

01:18:01It's Longbottom, isn't it?

01:18:03sneered Lucius Malfoy.

01:18:05Well, your grandmother is used to losing family members to our cause.

01:18:08Your death will not come as a great shock.

01:18:11Longbottom, repeated Bellatrix,

01:18:14with a truly evil smile,

01:18:15lit her gaunt face.

01:18:17Why, I have had the pleasure of meeting your parents, boy.

01:18:20I know you have, roared Neville,

01:18:23and he fought so hard against his captor's encircling grip

01:18:25that the Death Eater shouted,

01:18:27Someone stun him!

01:18:28No, no, no, said Bellatrix.

01:18:30She looked transported, alive with excitement,

01:18:33as she glanced at Harry, then back at Neville.

01:18:35No, let's see how long Longbottom lasts

01:18:37before he cracks like his parents,

01:18:39unless Potter wants to give us the prophecy.

01:18:42Don't give it to them, roared Neville,

01:18:44who seemed beside himself,

01:18:46kicking and writhing as Bellatrix drew nearer to him

01:18:48and his captor.

01:18:49Her wand raised.

01:18:51Don't give it to them, Harry!

01:18:53Bellatrix raised her wand.

01:18:55Crucio!

01:18:56Neville screamed,

01:18:57his legs drawn up to his chest,

01:18:59so that the Death Eater holding him

01:19:00was momentarily holding him off the ground.

01:19:03The Death Eater dropped him,

01:19:04and he fell to the floor,

01:19:05twitching and screaming in agony.

01:19:07That was just a taster,

01:19:09said Bellatrix,

01:19:10raising her wand so that Neville's screams stopped,

01:19:13and he lay sobbing at her feet.

01:19:15She turned and gazed up at Harry.

01:19:17Now, Potter, either give us the prophecy,

01:19:19or watch your little friend die the hard way.

01:19:23Harry did not have to think.

01:19:25There was no choice.

01:19:26The prophecy was hot,

01:19:27with the heat of his clutching hand as he held it out.

01:19:31Malfoy jumped forwards to take it.

01:19:33Then, high above them,

01:19:34two more doors burst open,

01:19:35and five more people sprinted into the room.

01:19:38Sirius, Lupin, Moody, Tonks, and Kingsley.

01:19:42Malfoy turned and raised his wand,

01:19:44but Tonks had already sent a stunning spell right at him.

01:19:47Harry did not wait to see whether it had made contact,

01:19:50but dived off the dais out of the way.

01:19:52The Death Eaters were completely distracted

01:19:54by the appearance of the members of the Order,

01:19:56who were now raining spells down upon them

01:19:58as they jumped from step to step towards the sunken floor.

01:20:01Through the darting bodies,

01:20:03the flashes of light,

01:20:04Harry could see Neville crawling along.

01:20:06He dodged another jet of red light,

01:20:08and flung himself flat on the ground to reach Neville.

01:20:10Are you okay?

01:20:11he yelled,

01:20:12as another spell roared inches over their heads.

01:20:15Yes, said Neville,

01:20:16trying to pull himself up.

01:20:18And Ron?

01:20:19I think he's all right.

01:20:21He was, uh, still fighting the brave when I,

01:20:24when I,

01:20:24when I left.

01:20:26The stone floor between them exploded as a spell hit it,

01:20:29leaving a crater right where Neville's hand

01:20:31had been only seconds before.

01:20:33Both scrambled away from the spot.

01:20:35Then a thick arm came out of nowhere,

01:20:37seized Harry around the neck,

01:20:38and pulled him upright,

01:20:39so that his toes were barely touching the floor.

01:20:42Give it to me!

01:20:43growled a voice in his ear.

01:20:45Give me the prophecy!

01:20:46The man was pressing so tightly on Harry's windpipe

01:20:49that he could not breathe.

01:20:51Through watering eyes,

01:20:52he saw Sirius duelling with a Death Eater

01:20:54some ten feet away.

01:20:56Kingsley was fighting two at once.

01:20:58Tonks, still halfway up the tiered seats,

01:21:00was firing spells down at Bellatrix.

01:21:02Nobody seemed to realise that Harry was dying.

01:21:06He turned his wand backwards towards the man's side,

01:21:08but he had no breath to utter an incantation,

01:21:11and the man's free hand was groping towards the hand

01:21:14in which Harry was grasping the prophecy.

01:21:18Neville had come lunging out of nowhere.

01:21:20Unable to articulate a spell,

01:21:22he had jabbed Hermione's wand hard into the eyehole

01:21:25of the Death Eater's mask.

01:21:26The man relinquished Harry at once,

01:21:28with a howl of pain.

01:21:30Harry whirled around to face him and gasped.

01:21:32Stupefy!

01:21:33The Death Eater keeled over backwards

01:21:35and his mask slipped off.

01:21:36It was McNair.

01:21:38Buckbeak's would-be killer.

01:21:39One of his eyes now swollen and bloodshot.

01:21:42Thanks, Harry said to Neville,

01:21:44pulling him aside as Sirius and his Death Eater lurched past,

01:21:47duelling so fiercely that their wands were blurs.

01:21:50Then Harry's foot made contact

01:21:51with something round and hard as he slipped.

01:21:54For a moment he thought he had dropped the prophecy,

01:21:57but then he saw Moody's magical eye

01:21:59spinning away across the floor.

01:22:00Its owner was lying on his side,

01:22:02bleeding from the head,

01:22:03and his attacker was now bearing down upon Harry and Neville.

01:22:07Dolohov, his long pale face twisted with glee.

01:22:10Tarantallegra!

01:22:11he shouted,

01:22:12and his wand pointed at Neville,

01:22:14whose legs went immediately into a kind of frenzied tap dance,

01:22:17unbalancing him and causing him to fall to the floor again.

01:22:20Now, Potter!

01:22:22He made the same slashing movement with his wand

01:22:24that he had used on Hermione,

01:22:25just as Harry yelped,

01:22:27Protego!

01:22:28Harry felt something streak across his face like a blunt knife.

01:22:31The force of it knocked him sideways

01:22:33and he fell over Neville's jerking legs,

01:22:35but the shield charm had stopped the worst of the spell.

01:22:38Dolohov raised his wand again.

01:22:40Accio Prof!

01:22:41Sirius had hurtled out of nowhere,

01:22:43rammed Dolohov with his shoulder,

01:22:45and sent him flying out of the way.

01:22:47The prophecy had again flown to the tips of Harry's fingers,

01:22:51but he had managed to cling onto it.

01:22:52Now Sirius and Dolohov were duelling,

01:22:55their wands flashing like swords,

01:22:57sparks flying from their wand tips.

01:22:59Dolohov drew back his wand to make the same slashing movement

01:23:02he had used on Harry and Hermione,

01:23:04springing up, Harry yelled,

01:23:06Petrificus Totalus!

01:23:07Once again, Dolohov's arms and legs snapped together

01:23:10and he keeled over backwards,

01:23:11landing with a crash on his back.

01:23:13Nice one, shouted Sirius,

01:23:15forcing Harry's head down

01:23:16as a pair of stunning spells flew towards them.

01:23:19Now, I want you to get out of...

01:23:21They both ducked again.

01:23:22A jet of green light had narrowly missed Sirius.

01:23:25Across the room, Harry saw Tonks fall from halfway up the stone steps,

01:23:29her limp form toppling from stone seat to stone seat,

01:23:32and Bellatrix, triumphant, running back towards the fray.

01:23:35Harry, take the prophecy, grab Neville and run,

01:23:39Sirius yelled, dashing to meet Bellatrix.

01:23:42Harry did not see what happened next.

01:23:44Kingsley swayed across his field of vision,

01:23:47battling with the pockmarked and no longer masked Rookwood.

01:23:51Another jet of green light flew over Harry's head

01:23:53as he launched himself towards Neville.

01:23:55Can you stand?

01:23:56He bellowed in Neville's ear

01:23:58as Neville's legs jerked and twitched uncontrollably.

01:24:01Put your arm around my neck.

01:24:02Neville did so.

01:24:03Harry heaved.

01:24:04Neville's legs were still flying in every direction.

01:24:07They would not support him.

01:24:09And then, out of nowhere, a man lunged at them.

01:24:11Both fell backwards, Neville's legs waving wildly like an overturned Beatles.

01:24:16Harry, with his left arm, held up in the air

01:24:18to try to save the small glass ball from being smashed.

01:24:22The prophecy!

01:24:23Give me the prophecy, Potter!

01:24:25Snarled Lucius Malfoy's voice in his ear

01:24:27and Harry felt the tip of Malfoy's wand pressing hard between his ribs.

01:24:32No, get off me!

01:24:35Neville, catch it!

01:24:37Harry flung the prophecy across the floor.

01:24:39Neville spun himself around on his back and scooped the ball to his chest.

01:24:43Malfoy pointed the wand instead at Neville,

01:24:45but Harry jabbed his own wand back over his shoulder and yelled,

01:24:48Impedimenta!

01:24:49Malfoy was blasted off his back.

01:24:51As Harry scrambled up again,

01:24:53he looked around and saw Malfoy smash into the daison

01:24:56which Sirius and Bellatrix were now duelling.

01:24:58Malfoy aimed his wand at Harry and Neville again,

01:25:01but before he could draw breath to strike,

01:25:03Lupin had jumped between them.

01:25:04Harry, round up the others and go!

01:25:07Harry seized Neville by the shoulder of his robes

01:25:09and lifted him bodily onto the first tier of stone steps.

01:25:12Neville's legs twitched and jerked and would not support his weight.

01:25:16Harry heaved again with all the strength he possessed

01:25:18and they climbed another step.

01:25:20A spell hit the stone bench at Harry's heel.

01:25:22It crumbled away and he fell back to the step below.

01:25:26Neville sank onto the bench above,

01:25:27his legs still jerking and thrashing,

01:25:30and he thrust the prophecy into his pocket.

01:25:32Come on, said Harry desperately,

01:25:34hauling at Neville's robes.

01:25:36Just try and push your legs.

01:25:38He gave another stupendous heave

01:25:39and Neville's robes tore all along the left seam.

01:25:43The small spun glass ball dropped from his pocket

01:25:46and before either of them could catch it,

01:25:48one of Neville's floundering feet kicked it.

01:25:51It flew some 10 feet to their right

01:25:53and smashed on the step beneath them.

01:25:56As both of them stared at the place where it had broken,

01:25:59appalled at what had happened,

01:26:01a pearly white figure with hugely magnified eyes

01:26:04rose into the air,

01:26:05unnoticed by any but them.

01:26:07Harry could see its mouth moving,

01:26:09but in all the crashes and screams and yells surrounding them,

01:26:12not one word of the prophecy could be heard.

01:26:15The figure stopped speaking and dissolved into nothingness.

01:26:19Harry, I'm sorry, cried Neville.

01:26:22His face anguished as his legs continued to flounder.

01:26:25I'm so sorry, Harry.

01:26:26I didn't mean to.

01:26:27It doesn't matter, Harry shouted.

01:26:29Just try and stand.

01:26:30Let's get out of...

01:26:32Dumbledore, said Neville.

01:26:34His sweaty face suddenly transported,

01:26:36staring over Harry's shoulder.

01:26:37What?

01:26:38Dumbledore!

01:26:40Harry turned to look where Neville was staring.

01:26:42Directly above them,

01:26:43framed in the doorway from the brain room,

01:26:45stood Albus Dumbledore,

01:26:47his wand aloft,

01:26:48his face white and furious.

01:26:50Harry felt a kind of electric charge

01:26:52surge through every particle of his body.

01:26:54They were saved.

01:26:56Dumbledore had already sped past Neville and Harry,

01:26:58who had no more thoughts of leaving.

01:27:00When the Death Eaters' nearest realised Dumbledore was there

01:27:03and yelled to the others,

01:27:04one of the Death Eaters ran for it,

01:27:06scrabbling like a monkey up the stone steps opposite.

01:27:09Dumbledore's spell pulled him back as easily and effortlessly

01:27:12as though he had hooked him with an invisible line.

01:27:15Only one pair was still battling,

01:27:17apparently unaware of the new arrival.

01:27:19Harry saw Sirius duck Bellatrix's jet of red light.

01:27:23He was laughing at her.

01:27:24Come on!

01:27:25You can do better than that!

01:27:26He yelled,

01:27:27his voice echoing around the cavernous room.

01:27:29The second jet of light hit him squarely on the chest.

01:27:33The laughter had not quite died from his face,

01:27:35but his eyes widened in shock.

01:27:37Harry released Neville,

01:27:39though he was unaware of doing so.

01:27:40He jumped to the ground,

01:27:41pulling out his wand

01:27:43as Dumbledore too turned towards the dace.

01:27:45It seemed to take Sirius an age to fall.

01:27:48His body curved in a graceful arc

01:27:51as he sank backwards through the ragged veil

01:27:53hanging from the arch.

01:27:55Harry saw the look of mingled fear and surprise

01:27:57on his godfather's wasted,

01:27:59once handsome face

01:28:01as he fell through the ancient doorway

01:28:03and disappeared behind the veil,

01:28:05which fluttered for a moment as though in a high wind

01:28:07and then fell back into place.

01:28:10Harry heard Bellatrix Lestrange's triumphant scream,

01:28:12but knew it meant nothing.

01:28:14Sirius had only just fallen through the archway.

01:28:16He would reappear from the other side any second.

01:28:19But Sirius did not reappear.

01:28:21Sirius!

01:28:22Harry yelled.

01:28:23Sirius!

01:28:24Harry's breath was coming in searing gasps.

01:28:28Sirius must be just behind the curtain.

01:28:30He, Harry, would pull him back out.

01:28:32But as he sprinted towards the dace,

01:28:35Lupin grabbed Harry around the chest,

01:28:37holding him back.

01:28:38There's nothing you can do, Harry.

01:28:40Get him!

01:28:41Save him!

01:28:42He's the other...

01:28:42He's only just gone through.

01:28:44It's too late, Harry.

01:28:46We can still reach him.

01:28:47Harry struggled hard and viciously,

01:28:49but Lupin would not let go.

01:28:51There's nothing you can do, Harry.

01:28:53Nothing.

01:28:54He's gone.

01:28:58Chapter 36

01:28:59The Only One He Ever Feared

01:29:01He hasn't gone!

01:29:02Harry yelled.

01:29:03He did not believe it.

01:29:04He would not believe it.

01:29:05Still, he fought Lupin with every bit of strength he had.

01:29:08Lupin did not understand.

01:29:09People hid behind that curtain.

01:29:11Harry had heard them whispering the first time he'd entered the room.

01:29:14Sirius was hiding, simply lurking out of sight.

01:29:17Sirius!

01:29:17He bellowed.

01:29:19Sirius!

01:29:20He can't come back, Harry, said Lupin,

01:29:23his voice breaking as he struggled to contain Harry.

01:29:25He can't come back because he's...

01:29:28He is not dead, roared Harry.

01:29:31Sirius!

01:29:32There was movement going on around them,

01:29:34pointless bustling, the flashes of more spells.

01:29:37To Harry, it was meaningless noise.

01:29:38The deflected curses flying past them did not matter.

01:29:41Nothing mattered except that Lupin should not,

01:29:44should stop pretending that Sirius,

01:29:46who was standing feet from them behind that old curtain,

01:29:49was not going to emerge at any moment,

01:29:50shaking back his dark hair and eager to re-enter the battle.

01:29:54Lupin dragged Harry away from the dace.

01:29:56Harry, still staring at the archway,

01:29:58was angry at Sirius now for keeping him waiting.

01:30:01But some part of him realized,

01:30:02even as he fought to break free from Lupin,

01:30:05that Sirius had never kept him waiting before.

01:30:07Sirius had risked everything, always, to see Harry, to help him.

01:30:11If Sirius was not reappearing out of the archway

01:30:14when Harry was yelling for him,

01:30:15as though his life depended on it,

01:30:17the only possible explanation was that he could not come back.

01:30:20That he really was.

01:30:22Dumbledore had most of the remaining Death Eaters

01:30:25grouped in the middle of the room,

01:30:26seemingly immobilized by invisible ropes.

01:30:28Mad-Eye Moody had crawled across the room

01:30:30to where Tonks lay and was attempting to revive her.

01:30:33Behind the dace there were still flashes of light, grunts and cries.

01:30:36Kingsley had run forward to continue Sirius's duel with Bellatrix.

01:30:40Harry!

01:30:41Neville had slid down the stone benches one by one,

01:30:44to a place where Harry stood.

01:30:45Harry was no longer struggling against Lupin,

01:30:48who maintained a precautionary grip on his arm nevertheless.

01:30:51Harry, I'm really sorry, said Neville.

01:30:53His legs were still dancing uncontrollably.

01:30:57Was that bad, was that Sirius Black a friend of yours?

01:31:01Harry nodded.

01:31:02Here, said Lupin quietly,

01:31:04and pointing his wand at Neville's legs, he said,

01:31:06Finite!

01:31:07The spell was lifted.

01:31:08Neville's legs fell back to the floor and remained still.

01:31:11Lupin's face was pale.

01:31:13Let's find the others.

01:31:15Where are they all, Neville?

01:31:16Lupin turned away from the archway as he spoke.

01:31:19It sounded as though every word was causing him pain.

01:31:21They're all back there, said Neville.

01:31:24A brain attack, Ron, but I think it's alright.

01:31:28And Herbide's unconscious, but we could feel a pulse.

01:31:32There was a loud bang and a yell from behind the dace.

01:31:34Harry saw Kingsley hit the ground, yelling in pain.

01:31:37Bellatrix Lestrange turned tail and ran as Dumbledore whipped around.

01:31:41He aimed a spell at her, but she deflected it.

01:31:43She was halfway up the steps now.

01:31:45Harry, no, cried Lupin.

01:31:47But Harry had already ripped his arm from Lupin's slackened grip.

01:31:51She killed Sirius, bellowed Harry.

01:31:53She killed him.

01:31:54I'll kill her.

01:31:55And he was off, scrambling up the stone benches.

01:31:58People were shouting behind him, but he did not care.

01:32:01The hem of Bellatrix's robes whipped out of sight ahead,

01:32:04and they were back in the room where the brains were swimming.

01:32:06She aimed a curse over her shoulder.

01:32:08The tank rose into the air and tipped.

01:32:10Harry was deluged in the foul-smelling potion within.

01:32:14The brains slipped and slid over him and began spitting their long coloured tentacles.

01:32:18But he shouted, Wingardium Leviosa!

01:32:21And they flew off him, up into the air, slipping and sliding.

01:32:25He ran on towards the door.

01:32:26He leapt over Luna, who was groaning on the floor, past Ginny, who said,

01:32:30Harry, what?

01:32:31Past Ron, who giggled feebly, and Hermione, who was still unconscious.

01:32:35He wrenched open the door into the circular black hall and saw Bellatrix

01:32:39disappearing through a door on the other side of the room.

01:32:41Beyond her was the corridor leading back to the lifts.

01:32:45He ran, but she had slammed the door behind her, and the walls were already rotating.

01:32:49Once more, he was surrounded by streaks of blue light from the whirling candelabra.

01:32:54Where's the exit?

01:32:55He shouted desperately, as the wall rumbled to a halt again.

01:32:58Where's the way out?

01:32:59The room seemed to have been waiting for him to ask.

01:33:02The door right behind him flew open, and the corridor towards the lifts

01:33:06stretched ahead of him, torch lit and empty.

01:33:08He ran.

01:33:10He could hear a lift clattering ahead.

01:33:12He sprinted up the passageway, swung around the corner,

01:33:15and slammed his fist on the button to call a second lift.

01:33:18It jangled and banged lower and lower.

01:33:20The grills slid open and Harry dashed inside, now hammering the button marked Atrium.

01:33:25The doors slid shut and he was rising.

01:33:28He forced his way out of the lift before the grills were fully open and looked around.

01:33:32Bellatrix was almost at the telephone lift at the other end of the hall,

01:33:35but she looked back as he sprinted towards her and aimed another spell at him.

01:33:39He dodged behind the Fountain of Magical Brethren.

01:33:42The spell zoomed past him and hit the wrought gold gates at the other end of the atrium,

01:33:46so that they rang like bells.

01:33:48There were no more footsteps.

01:33:50She had stopped running.

01:33:51He crouched behind the statues, listening.

01:33:53Come out, come out, little Harry, she called in her mock baby voice,

01:33:57which echoed off the polished wooden floors.

01:34:00What did you come after me for, then?

01:34:02I thought you were here to avenge my dear cousin.

01:34:05I am, shouted Harry, and a score of ghostly Harrys seemed to call us,

01:34:09I am, I am, I am, all around the room.

01:34:13Ah, did you love him, little baby Potter?

01:34:17Hatred rose in Harry, such as he had never known before.

01:34:20He flung himself out from behind the fountain and bellowed, Crucio!

01:34:24Bellatrix screamed.

01:34:26The spell had knocked her off her feet,

01:34:29but she did not writhe and shriek with pain as Neville had.

01:34:31She was already back on her feet, breathless, no longer laughing.

01:34:35Harry dodged behind the golden fountain again.

01:34:37Her counterspell hit the head of the handsome wizard,

01:34:40which was blown off and landed 20 feet away,

01:34:43gouging long scratches into the wooden floor.

01:34:46Never used an unforgivable curse before, have you?

01:34:50Boy, she yelled.

01:34:51She had abandoned her baby voice now.

01:34:53You need to mean them, Potter.

01:34:55You need to really want to cause pain, to enjoy it.

01:34:58Righteous anger won't hurt me for long.

01:35:01I'll show you how it's done, shall I?

01:35:03I'll give you a lesson.

01:35:04Harry was edging around the fountain on the other side when she screamed, Crucio!

01:35:09And he was forced to duck down again as the centaur's arm,

01:35:12holding its bow, spun off and landed with a crash on the floor

01:35:16a short distance from the golden wizard's head.

01:35:19Potter, you cannot win against me, she cried.

01:35:22He could hear her moving to the right, trying to get a clear shot of him.

01:35:25He backed around the statue away from her,

01:35:27crouching behind the centaur's legs, his head level with the house elves.

01:35:32I was and am the Dark Lord's most loyal servant.

01:35:35I learned the dark arts from him and I know spells of such power

01:35:38that you, pathetic little boy, can never hope to compete.

01:35:43Stupefy, yelled Harry.

01:35:45He had edged right around to where the goblin stood,

01:35:47beaming up at the now headless wizard and taking aim at her back

01:35:51as she peered around the fountain.

01:35:52She reacted so fast he barely had time to duck.

01:35:56Protego!

01:35:57The jet of red light, his own stunning spell, bounced back at him.

01:36:01Harry scrambled back behind the fountain

01:36:03and one of the goblin's ears went flying across the room.

01:36:06Potter, I'm going to give you one chance, shouted Bellatrix.

01:36:09Give me the prophecy, roll it out towards me now and I may spare your life.

01:36:14Well, you're going to have to kill me because it's gone, Harry roared,

01:36:17and as he shouted it, pain seared across his forehead.

01:36:20His scar was on fire again and he felt a surge of fury

01:36:23that was quite unconnected with his own rage.

01:36:25And he knows, said Harry, with a mad laugh to match Bellatrix's own.

01:36:29Your dear old mate Voldemort knows it's gone.

01:36:32He's not going to be happy with you, is he?

01:36:34What?

01:36:35What do you mean, she cried, and for the first time there was fear in her voice.

01:36:38The prophecy smashed when I was trying to get Neville up the steps.

01:36:41What do you think Voldemort will say about that then?

01:36:44His scar seared and burned, the pain of it was making his eyes steam.

01:36:48Liar, she shrieked, but he could hear the terror behind the anger now.

01:36:53You've got it, Potter, and you will give it to me.

01:36:55That's your prophecy!

01:36:56That's your prophecy!

01:36:58Harry laughed again because he knew it would incense her,

01:37:00the pain building in his head so badly he thought his skull might burst.

01:37:04He waved his empty hand from behind the one-eared goblin

01:37:07and withdrew it quickly as she sent another jet of green light flying at him.

01:37:12Nothing there, he shouted, nothing to summon.

01:37:14It smashed and nobody heard what it said.

01:37:16Tell your boss that.

01:37:17No, she screamed.

01:37:19It isn't true.

01:37:20You're lying.

01:37:21Master, I tried, I tried.

01:37:22Do not punish me.

01:37:24Don't waste your breath, yelled Harry.

01:37:26His eyes screwed up against the pain in his scar, now more terrible than ever.

01:37:30He can't hear you from here.

01:37:32Can't I, Potter?

01:37:34Said a high, cold voice.

01:37:36Harry opened his eyes.

01:37:38Tall, thin, and black hooded, his terrible snake-like face white and gaunt,

01:37:42his scarlet, slit, pupilled eyes staring.

01:37:45Lord Voldemort had appeared in the middle of the hall,

01:37:48his wand pointing at Harry, who stood frozen, quite unable to move.

01:37:52So you smashed my prophecy, said Voldemort softly,

01:37:56staring at Harry with those pitiless red eyes.

01:37:59No, Bella, he is not lying.

01:38:01I see the truth looking at me from within his worthless mind.

01:38:05Months of preparation, months of effort,

01:38:07and my Death Eaters have let Harry Potter thwart me again.

01:38:11Master, I am sorry.

01:38:13I knew not.

01:38:13I was fighting with an Amagus Black, sobbed Bellatrix,

01:38:17flinging herself down at Voldemort's feet as he paced slowly nearer.

01:38:20Master, you should know.

01:38:22Be quiet, Bella, said Voldemort dangerously.

01:38:25I shall deal with you in a moment.

01:38:27Do you think I have entered the Ministry of Magic to hear your snivelling apologies?

01:38:31But Master, he is here.

01:38:33He is below.

01:38:34Voldemort paid no attention.

01:38:36I have nothing more to say to you, Potter, he said quietly.

01:38:39You have irked me too often, for too long.

01:38:42Avada Kedavra!

01:38:44Harry had not even opened his mouth to resist.

01:38:46His mind was blank, his wand pointing uselessly at the floor.

01:38:50But the headless golden statue of the wizard in the fountain had sprung alive,

01:38:54leaping from its plinth to land with a crash on the floor between Harry and Voldemort.

01:38:58The spell merely glanced off its chest as the statue flung out its arms to protect Harry.

01:39:03What, cried Voldemort, staring around, and then he breathed.

01:39:08Dumbledore!

01:39:09Harry looked around him, his heart pounding.

01:39:11Dumbledore was standing in front of the golden gates.

01:39:15Voldemort raised his wand and another jet of green light streaked at Dumbledore,

01:39:19who turned and was gone in a whirling of his cloak.

01:39:21Next second, he had reappeared behind Voldemort

01:39:24and waved his wand towards the remnants of the fountain.

01:39:27The other statues sprang to life.

01:39:29The statue of the witch ran at Bellatrix, who screamed and sent spells,

01:39:33streaming uselessly off its chest, before it dived at her, pinning her to the floor.

01:39:37Meanwhile, the goblin and the house elf scuttled towards the fireplaces,

01:39:41sat along the wall, and the one-armed centaur galloped at Voldemort,

01:39:44who vanished and reappeared beside the pool.

01:39:46The headless statue thrust Harry backwards, away from the fight,

01:39:50as Dumbledore advanced on Voldemort and the golden centaur canted around them both.

01:39:56It was foolish to come here tonight, Tom, said Dumbledore calmly.

01:39:59The auras are on their way.

01:40:01By which time I shall be gone, and you will be dead, spat Voldemort.

01:40:05He sent another killing curse at Dumbledore, but missed,

01:40:07instead hitting the security guard's desk, which burst into flame.

01:40:11Dumbledore flicked his own wand.

01:40:13The force of the spell that emanated from it was such that Harry,

01:40:16though shielded by his golden guard, felt his hair stand on end as it passed,

01:40:20and this time Voldemort was forced to conjure

01:40:22a shining silver shield out of thin air to deflect it.

01:40:25The spell, whatever it was, caused no visible damage to the shield,

01:40:29though a deep gong-like note reverberated from it, an oddly chilling sound.

01:40:34You do not seek to kill me, Dumbledore, called Voldemort,

01:40:37his scarlet eyes narrowed over the top of the shield.

01:40:40Above such brutality are you?

01:40:42We both know that there are other ways of destroying a man, Tom, Dumbledore said calmly,

01:40:47continuing to walk towards Voldemort as though he had not a fear in the world,

01:40:51as though nothing had happened to interrupt his stroll up the hall.

01:40:54Merely taking your life would not satisfy me, I admit.

01:40:57There is nothing worse than death, Dumbledore, snarled Voldemort.

01:41:01You are quite wrong, said Dumbledore, still closing in upon Voldemort,

01:41:05and speaking as lightly as though they were discussing the matter over drinks.

01:41:10Harry felt scared to see him walking alone, undefended, shieldless.

01:41:14He wanted to cry out a warning, but his headless guard kept shunting him backwards

01:41:18towards the wall, blocking his every attempt to get out from behind it.

01:41:22Indeed, your failure to understand that.

01:41:25There are things much worse than death, has always been your greatest weakness.

01:41:30Another jet of green light flew from behind the silver shield.

01:41:33This time it was the one-armed centaur, galloping in front of Dumbledore,

01:41:37but took the blast and shattered it into a hundred pieces.

01:41:40But before the fragments had even hit the floor, Dumbledore had drawn back his wand

01:41:44and waved at it as though brandishing a whip.

01:41:46A long, thin flame flew from the tip.

01:41:49It wrapped itself around Voldemort, shield and all.

01:41:51For a moment, it seemed Dumbledore had won.

01:41:53But then the fiery rope became a serpent, which relinquished its hold on Voldemort

01:41:58at once and turned, hissing furiously, to face Dumbledore.

01:42:02Voldemort vanished.

01:42:03The snake reared from the floor, ready to strike.

01:42:06There was a burst of flame in mid-air above Dumbledore, just as Voldemort reappeared,

01:42:10standing on the plinth of the middle of the pool where so recently the five statues had stood.

01:42:15Look out!

01:42:16Harry yelled.

01:42:17But even as he shouted, another jet of green light flew at Dumbledore from Voldemort's wand,

01:42:21and the snake struck.

01:42:23Forks swooped down in front of Dumbledore, opened his beak wide,

01:42:27and swallowed the jet of green light whole.

01:42:29He burst into flame and fell to the floor, small, wrinkled and flightless.

01:42:34At the same moment, Dumbledore brandished his wand in one long, fluid movement.

01:42:38The snake, which had been an instant from sinking its fangs into him,

01:42:42flew high into the air and vanished in a wisp of dark smoke,

01:42:45and the water in the pool rose up and covered Voldemort like a cocoon of molten glass.

01:42:50For a few seconds, Voldemort was visible only as a dark, rippling, faceless figure,

01:42:55shimmering and indistinct upon the plinth, clearly struggling to throw off the suffocating mass.

01:43:00Then he was gone, and the water fell with a crash back into its pool,

01:43:03slopping wildly from over the sides, drenching the polished floor.

01:43:08Master! screamed Bellatrix.

01:43:10Sure, it was over.

01:43:11Sure, Voldemort had decided to flee.

01:43:13Harry made to run, out from behind the statue guard, but Dumbledore bellowed,

01:43:18Stay where you are, Harry!

01:43:19For the first time, Dumbledore sounded frightened.

01:43:22Harry could not see why.

01:43:23The hall was quite empty but for themselves,

01:43:25the sobbing Bellatrix still trapped under the witch statue,

01:43:29and the baby phoenix Forks croaking feebly on the floor.

01:43:33Then Harry's scar burst open, and he knew he was dead.

01:43:36It was pain beyond imagining, pain past endurance.

01:43:40He was gone from the hall.

01:43:41He was locked in the coils of a creature with red eyes,

01:43:44so tightly bound that Harry did not know where his body ended and the creatures began.

01:43:48They were fused together, bound by pain, and there was no escape.

01:43:52And when the creature spoke, it used Harry's mouth,

01:43:55so that in his agony he felt his jaw move.

01:43:58Kill me now, Dumbledore!

01:44:01Blinded and dying, every part of him screaming for release,

01:44:04Harry felt the creature use him again.

01:44:06If death is nothing, Dumbledore, kill the boy!

01:44:10Let the pain stop, thought Harry.

01:44:12Let him kill us.

01:44:13End it, Dumbledore.

01:44:15Death is nothing compared to this.

01:44:17And I'll see Sirius again.

01:44:19And as Harry's heart filled with emotion, the creature's coils loosened.

01:44:23The pain was gone.

01:44:24Harry was lying face down on the floor, his glasses gone,

01:44:27shivering as though he lay upon ice, not wood.

01:44:30And there were voices echoing through the hall,

01:44:32more voices than there should have been.

01:44:34Harry opened his eyes, saw his glasses lying by the heel of the headless statue

01:44:38that had been guarding him, but which now lay flat on its back,

01:44:41cracked and immobile.

01:44:42He put them on, and raised his head a little

01:44:44to find Dumbledore's crooked nose, inches from his own.

01:44:47Are you all right, Harry?

01:44:49Yes, said Harry, shaking so violently he could not hold his head up properly.

01:44:53Yeah, I'm...

01:44:54Where's...

01:44:55Where's Voldemort?

01:44:56Where...

01:44:56Who are all these?

01:44:57What's...

01:44:58The atrium was full of people.

01:45:00The floor was reflecting the emerald green flames that had burst into life.

01:45:03In all the fireplaces along one wall,

01:45:05the streams of witches and wizards were emerging from them.

01:45:08As Dumbledore pulled him back to his feet,

01:45:10Harry saw the tiny gold statues of the house-elf and the goblin,

01:45:14leading a stunned-looking Cornelius Fudge forward.

01:45:17He was there, shouted a scarlet-robed man with a ponytail,

01:45:21who was pointing at a pile of gold and rubble on the other side of the hall,

01:45:24where Bellatrix had lain trapped only moments before.

01:45:27I saw him, Mr Fudge.

01:45:29I swear it was you-know-who.

01:45:30He grabbed a woman and disapparated.

01:45:32I know, Williamson.

01:45:33I know.

01:45:34I saw him too, gibbered Fudge,

01:45:36who was wearing pyjamas under his pin-striped cloak

01:45:39and was gasping as though he had just run miles.

01:45:42Merlin's beard!

01:45:43Here!

01:45:44Here in the Ministry of Magic!

01:45:46Great heavens above!

01:45:47It doesn't even seem possible!

01:45:49My word!

01:45:50How can this be?

01:45:52If you proceed downstairs into the Department of Mysteries, Cornelius,

01:45:56said Dumbledore,

01:45:57apparently satisfied that Harry was all right,

01:45:59and walking to walk forwards so that the newcomers realised he was there for the first time.

01:46:04A few of them raised their wands,

01:46:05others simply looked amazed.

01:46:07The statues of the Elf and Goblin applauded,

01:46:09and Fudge jumped so much that his slipper-clad feet left the floor.

01:46:14You will find several escaped Death Eaters contained in the Death Chamber,

01:46:18bound by an anti-disapparition jinx,

01:46:20and awaiting your decision as to what to do with them.

01:46:23Dumbledore, gasped Fudge, beside himself with amazement.

01:46:27You!

01:46:27Here!

01:46:28I—I—I—

01:46:29He looked wildly around at the auras he had brought with him,

01:46:32and could not have been clearer than he was in half a mind to cry.

01:46:36Seize him!

01:46:37Cornelius, I am ready to fight your men and win again,

01:46:41said Dumbledore in a thunderous voice.

01:46:43But a few moments ago you saw proof with your own eyes

01:46:47that I have been telling you the truth for a year.

01:46:49Lord Voldemort has returned.

01:46:51You have been chasing the wrong man for twelve months,

01:46:53and it is time you listened to sense.

01:46:55I—I don't—

01:46:57Well, blustered Fudge, looking around as though hoping

01:47:00somebody was going to tell him what to do.

01:47:02When nobody did, he said,

01:47:03Very well.

01:47:04Dawlish, Williamson, go down to the Department of Mysteries and see—

01:47:08Dumbledore, you—you will need to tell me exactly.

01:47:11The Fountain of Magical Brethren—what happened?

01:47:13he added in a kind of whimper,

01:47:15staring around at the floor where the remains of the statues

01:47:18of the witch, wizard and centaur now lay scattered.

01:47:21We can discuss that after I have sent Harry back to Hogwarts,

01:47:24said Dumbledore.

01:47:25Harry—Harry Potter!

01:47:27Fudge spun around and stared at Harry,

01:47:29who was still standing against the wall beside the fallen statue

01:47:32that had guarded him during Dumbledore and Voldemort's duel.

01:47:35He—here, said Fudge.

01:47:37Why—what's all this about?

01:47:39I shall explain everything, repeated Dumbledore,

01:47:42when Harry is back at school.

01:47:45He walked away from the pool to the place where the golden wizard's

01:47:48head lay on the floor.

01:47:49He pointed his wand at it and muttered,

01:47:51Portus!

01:47:52The head glowed blue and trembled noisily against the wooden floor

01:47:56for a few seconds, then became still once more.

01:48:00Now, see here, Dumbledore, said Fudge,

01:48:02as Dumbledore picked up the head and walked back to Harry carrying it.

01:48:06You haven't got authorisation for that portkey.

01:48:09You can't do things like that right in the front of the

01:48:11Minister for Magic, you—you—

01:48:13His voice faltered as Dumbledore surveyed him

01:48:15magisterially over his half-moon spectacles.

01:48:19You will give the order to remove Dolores Umbridge from Hogwarts,

01:48:23said Dumbledore.

01:48:24You will tell your Aurors to stop searching for my Care of Magical Creatures teacher

01:48:28so that he can return to work.

01:48:30I will give you—Dumbledore pulled a watch with twelve hands

01:48:33from his pocket and glanced at it—half an hour of my time tonight,

01:48:37in which I think we shall be more than able to cover

01:48:40the important points of what has happened here.

01:48:43After that, I shall need to return to my school.

01:48:45If you need more help from me, you are, of course,

01:48:48more than welcome to contact me at Hogwarts.

01:48:51Letters addressed to the Headmaster will find me.

01:48:55Fudge goggled worse than ever.

01:48:57His mouth was open and his round face grew pinker under his rumpled grey hair.

01:49:01I—you—Dumbledore turned his back on him.

01:49:05Take this portkey, Harry.

01:49:07He held out the golden head of the statue and Harry placed his hand on it,

01:49:10past caring what he did next or where he went.

01:49:14I shall see you in half an hour, said Dumbledore quietly.

01:49:17One, two, three.

01:49:20Harry felt the familiar sensation of a hook being jerked behind his navel.

01:49:24The polished wooden floor was gone from beneath his feet.

01:49:27The atrium, Fudge and Dumbledore had all disappeared

01:49:30and he was flying forwards in a whirlwind of colour and sound.

Category

Transcript

Recommended