To Have and to Want

Four more werewolves stood behind Greyback. Harry raised his wand.

"Run!" Remus shouted.

"Pro--"

"This isn't your fight, Harry. Go!"

Harry obeyed, but not before, having already entered the tower, sending an incendiary charm at Greyback. "I'll bite you for that, Potter!" Greyback shouted in rage.

Harry headed up. The last word from Greyback he heard was "traitor."

"Watch out!" he shouted ahead, spotting the danger. A sharp spike flew out of the wall and nearly pierced Krum.

"How--"

"Voldemort probably didn't think anyone would get past dragons, vampires, skeletons, and werewolves, so he doesn't put anything big here. But he'd never have so much room completely without defenses. Sometimes it's better to have an unlucky enemy than a weak one."

Harry was right. They passed several more minor traps on the way to the top, where they found an ordinary-looking room. It lit up as soon as they entered.

Except for a small walkway and a column on every corner, the room was empty. The light was coming from an enormous fire which burned in the pit below. The ceiling was covered with long spikes like a hide of a giant porcupine. In between, seemingly in mid-air, hung a large bronze key.

"Well, now that our broomsticks work, this should be a piece of cake," Harry said, getting on his Firebolt.

"Harry, wait!" Hermione warned him. "I think it's a trap. Here." She tossed a rock into the chamber.

Two tiny objects separated from the key, trailing thin strands of some sort behind them. They wrapped the rock into a cocoon of these strings,, and set up a swing to take it periodically up and down--into the fire and towards the spikes.

"Damn," Harry said. "Even if we destroy one, the other will destroy us."

Ron was smiling. "Guys, this is perfect! This is exactly what You-Know-Who didn't count on!"
"What're you talking about, Veasley?" Krum asked.

"We've got, right here, two of the best Seekers in the world. Catch these two things--and we've got the key!"

"I'm not in the same league as--"

"I've seen you fly," Krum interrupted. "Trust me. You are. Let's do it."

They got on their broomsticks and took to the air.

The two small snitches took off the key and rushed them, but Harry twisted around, dove underneath the string, and grabbed the object. He looked around. Krum was tightly holding his, and the two strings of silk--since the "snitches" they caught turned out to be small bronze spiders--extended towards the key.

Slowly flying towards each other, Harry and Krum tried to obtain the key. However, the spiders seemed to almost guess their intent, since the strings stretched by themselves and then snapped, leaving the two Seekers with their spiders and the key flying away towards the window.

It would have fallen down the mountains had Ron not intervened. He leaped up, caught the key, landed... and fell down into the pit.

"Ron!" Hermione shouted, and grabbed his legs. But Ron was heavier, and if Harry and Krum hadn't quickly landed and held on to her, she would have fallen in herself. Once all four were safe, Ron held up the key.

Harry reached for it, wondering how this was connected to Ravenclaw or Gryffindor--probably Ravenclaw, with the bronze--but the floor shook beneath them.

"Earthquake?" Harry asked.

"Worse. Last defense. The tower is collapsing."

"Run!"

They headed downstairs in leaps--Harry five steps at a time, Krum eight. They could have flown and been safe, but they had to warn the others if...

If they're still alive, was the gloomy thought. Harry didn't finish as he ran onto the lower platform. Tonks and Madame Maxime were lying on the ground, breathing heavily. Four werewolves lay unconscious or dead, and Fenrir Greyback was facing Remus Lupin, who held his wand at the ready.

"Professor, Tonks, the castle is collapsing!"
"I will die, traitor," Greyback spat at Remus. "But you'll die first!" And Harry before Harry could even raise his wand, he lunged.

He fell at Lupin's feet, dead. Hagrid and Charlie appeared out of the darkness, Hagrid holding his crossbow. The castle shook again.

"Run!" Harry shouted.

He and Krum lifted Tonks up on their broomsticks and Hagrid picked up Madame Maxime. They barely made it into the castle before the tower fell in and blocked the return path.

"Down!" Harry shouted, and they ran through the skeleton room, the vampire room, and outside, past the dragons--the dragons weren't there anymore.

Harry looked around, but there were no dragons anywhere in sight. They were stuck on a drawbridge, fifteen feet of deep moat between them and safety. Nott and Greengrass were on the other side, unable to help them.

He and Krum could fly, of course, but no broomstick would support the weight of Hagrid or Madame Maxime.

"Get Nott and Greengrass over here!" Krum told him.

"What?!" Greengrass yelled. "So we all--"

"I've got a Portkey!"

There was no time to ask where he got it or where it led. "Get over here! Use Nott's broom!" he yelled to Greengrass.

"I've never flown--"

"Damn!" he yelled, and motioning to Krum, flew over himself. He picked up Nott and carried him to the rest. Krum did the same with Daphne. As soon as he did so, he activated the Portkey, and Harry could swear he saw a brick fall through where his head was a fraction of a second before.

He was even more surprised at their arrival location. They were in the lobby of the British Ministry of Magic.

"Tonks, Madame Maxime, and Nott need medical help," Hermione said.

"We'll be in St. Mungo's," Lupin replied. Within moments, he, Daphne, and Hagrid vanished with the wounded.

"Now--" Harry turned to Krum "--why did your Portkey take us here?"

"Because that's how I had it made. I thought with what's going on, you might need to get back to your country quickly. You-Know-Who is British after all. NO offense. I just meant he is more likely to operate at home."

"Too true," Harry said. "But we aren't exactly on friendly terms with the Ministry these days. They tried to arrest us."

"For what?"

"Officially, for unauthorized use of Portkeys, but--"

"But nothing! Breaking in on the Ministry grounds, bringing in foreign spies, attacking Ministry officials in the pursuit of their duties," Umbridge slowly walked towards them. "You-Know-Who will use any weakness--"

"Don't use Voldemort as an excuse for your power grabs. People are dying out there--"

"You are under arrest, Potter. So are Weasley and Granger. As for the foreigner here, he is a spy and will be tried as such. Take them!"

Percy, Dawlish, and several other Aurors moved in. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Krum raised their wands. "This time, we are not outnumbered," Umbridge said. "And no friendly bartender--"

She was right. Seven other Aurors accompanied Umbridge, Percy, and Dawlish. Harry knew they couldn't beat them all without an element of surprise.

"Stupefy!" several voices cried at once, and four Aurors fell. Before the rest turned, Harry and his companions did the same. Within the space of seconds, only Umbridge and Percy were standing.

"Hello, brother," Ginny said with contempt.

"We provided the rescue, just like you said," Parvati chuckled.

"Hey, Aurors aren't so tough," Padma commented.

Luna said nothing, just kept her wand raised.

"It's not the Aurors," Harry corrected. "It's their commander."

He turned to Umbridge. "I'm going to the see the Minister of Magic. If he doesn't publicly fire you, I don't know what I'll do. Nothing good, I promise."

Harry flicked his wand, and Percy and Umbridge were instantly bound.

"I've had enough. Are you coming?"

Everyone agreed, and headed to the lift, leaving Percy and Umbridge in the lobby.

Flanked on either side by Ron and Hermione, followed slightly behind by the rest, Harry approached the Minister's office. A light inside indicated that even this late, the Minister was present. Harry knocked. He received no reply, and then swung the door open.

"Ahh... Potter," Rufus Scrimgeour pronounced. "I've been expecting this."

"Really?" Harry asked.

"More precisely, we've been expecting you," an all too familiar voice shocked Harry. Lucius Malfoy was once again buddies with the Minister?

Everyone immediately drew their wands. "Stupefy!" they shouted in unison.

The spells bounced off--literally, Harry had never seen a shield like that-it deflected spells like a mirror. Luna and Padma fell victims to their own stunners.

Lucius raised his wand and aimed at Hermione. "Avada Kedavra!" he shouted.

Both Ron and Krum jumped in front of Hermione. They fell, and Harry and Hermione both shrieked--the curse hit one of them, and may have gotten both. Lucius raised his wand again.

"Lubrio!" Harry yelled, aiming at the floor under the Death Eater. Lucius slipped and hit the ceiling, forming a gigantic hole and showering them with dust and pieces of brick.

"Reducto!" Harry shouted, attempting to break the shield. He had to dodge the deflected spell. Lucius aimed at Parvati.

"Sectumsempra!" Harry roared. The spell exploded like a bomb, and left Lucius cringing in pain, his wand hand blown off."

"Expelliarmus!" Parvati and Padma said together, and the Minister, who by now drew his own wand, was thrown back.

Harry then found himself being grabbed by the throat. He dropped his wand, as Lucius Malfoy attempted to choke him with his remaining hand. Harry tried to pry the fingers apart, but the Death Eater was too strong.

Suddenly, Lucius screamed and let go. "That's for the diary," Ginny said, kicking him between the legs again, prompting another scream. "Petrificus Totalus!"

"Thanks," Harry said, picking up his wand.

Scrimgeour was glaring at them. "What--"

"Harry, he's under the Imperius curse!" Parvati said.

"Finite Incantatem!" Harry said, aiming at Scrimgeour. The attempt brought searing pain. The Imperius must have been put by Voldemort himself. The Minister was acting like a wild animal, cursing at random and attempting to grab hold of a wand.

"Finite Incantatem!" Harry tried again. This time, both he and the Minister sank to the floor in exhaust.

Parvati kneeled next to him and he leaned on her shoulder. Hermione was looking Ron and Krum.

"What happened here?" Scrimgeour asked, looking around. "What's he doing--"

"You were under the Imperius Curse, Minister," Harry said.

"Oh my... how long?"

"Did you give Umbridge an order to tail me?"

"Yes," Scrimgeour admitted.

"Did you give her an order to arrest me?"

"No."

"Then at least since the third, since she had one from that date."

"I don't believe it. How did he get to me?"

"I'd guess Polyjuice Potion," Ginny suggested.

"Maybe..."

"Ennervate," Harry said, reviving Luna and Padma.

"Hermione..." Ron whispered

"Ron!" Hermione yelled, and kissed him. "Oh, no..." She turned to Krum.

"He isn't--"

Hermione nodded. "No..." She burst into tears. Ron held on to her.

"I owe you," Scrimgeour said.

"And I intend to collect," Harry replied.

"What do you want me to do?"

"Release Stan Shunpike and everyone else you chucked into Azkaban to look like you were doing something. Fire Umbridge. That'd be a good start."

At this point, Hermione looked up at him. "Harry," she whispered, "do you still have the key?"

"Ron does," Harry said. Ron, surprised, Handed it to Hermione.

Hermione got up, still shaking. "Viktor..."

She breathed. "The department of Mysteries. Two years ago. There was a door that wouldn't unlock, remember?"

"You mean--"

"It's lock looked like this."

"Come on," Harry said.

But Hermione turned back to Krum. "I... I can't...."

Harry took the key, and leaving Ron, and Hermione alone with the still-confused Scrimgeour and Krum's body, headed outside. Parvati, Padma, Luna, and Ginny came with him.

"What's going on?" Ginny asked.

"Not here... but I think it's time you four are let in on the secret. You've done more than your share. Voldemort's item is probably behind that door."

"So why didn't he just steal it?" Padma asked.

"Maybe it's hard to steal. Maybe he didn't want to take on the Ministry yet. It's not like he could kill the owner and leave it at that."

They entered the department, and quickly found the locked door. Harry remembered his futile attempt to use the penknife the attempt to rescue Sirius that killed him... he composed himself, took the key, and inserted it.

With a turn, something ran inside, and the door swung open.

No one expected what lay there. The door hid a small room, barely enough for the five of them to fit in. But they did fit in, and that was the big shock.

The chamber was empty.