Harry Potter and the Dangerous Choice

Chapter 18

An Old Debt

Harry felt that he was swimming up through heavy fog. He forced himself to open his eyes, though his head was pounding with pain. The light in the room where he found himself was very dim. He urged his body into a sitting position and saw Neville lying in a heap next to him. Neville appeared to have been beaten. The left side of his face was puffed and bruised and there was a trickle of dried blood from the corner of his mouth. Harry had the sickening feeling that Neville might already be dead. However, just then he gasped in air and groggily opened his eyes. Neville stared around and saw Harry but he didn't seem surprised and gave Harry a look and a nod that said I'm ok. He rolled over and pushed himself up next to Harry, resting his head against the wall.

They were in a stone room, like a dungeon. The walls and floor were rough and damp. A torch burned in a holder near the door. This provided most of the light in the room. Timbers were supporting the roof, like pictures of old mining tunnels Harry had seen in his muggle primary school. There was a door in the wall that was slightly ajar, and muffled voices could be heard from areas beyond Harry's view.

In the center of the room but out of reach, was a makeshift table. It was an old barrel with a board perched on top. Weakly glowing candles, standing in the center of the table had burned down to stubs sitting in pools of hardened wax. Harry saw that his wand and Neville's were lying next to the candles. He was still dazed, and he shook his head trying to focus. His scar throbbed and he felt stiff and sore, however, he was not tied up or jinxed, and that was something.

There were two figures in the room, both cloaked and masked. They were standing near the door speaking in low tones, not looking at Harry and Neville. Harry could see what looked like a bundle of sheets rolled in the corner opposite him. Then he noticed the bundle shifted and a low moan came from it. He wished he knew who else had been invited to this little party.

Harry could tell Voldemort was near. He felt it in his very soul. This was the second time he had been kidnapped by the dark lord. He knew he could disapparate right now. If he could get himself out he could use his mirror to contact the Order and find Dumbledore, but that would take far too long. Even if I get in touch with the Order as soon as I apparate, they'll never be able to get enough Aurors here before Voldemort kills Neville. I don't even know where "here" is. He couldn't leave Neville alone to face that horror; that was firm. Harry didn't give much for his chances of escape this time, not without help. Maybe a way would present itself. Harry felt desperation rising in him, but he quickly pushed it down. If only he could get his wand.

Harry whispered to Neville without turning his head. "Neville, are you ok?"

"Ahh...yes." After a pause, "My arm hurts a bit." Harry was sure that Neville was worse off than he was letting on and that he was just being brave. He looked terrible.

"Any ideas about where we are?" asked Harry continuing to whisper.

Neville took a moment to look around. "None at all."

"Listen Neville, our wands are on that table. We need to be ready to go for them if we get a chance. Can you do that?"

"Sure... Ok," Neville said, wincing as he moved and not sounding very confident.

Just then the larger of the two death eaters turned toward them. "You two shut up," he barked. "Just sit there quiet like, and I won't have to curse you."

A masked face appeared in the doorway, "He's coming very soon," it said in a scared and excited tone, and then it withdrew.

The second death eater walked over to the bundle of sheets and yanked hard on one corner. To Harry's shock and horror, Sibyll Trelawney rolled out into the middle of the floor like a broken doll, her hospital nightdress twisted around her. Once she stopped rolling, she slowly began to curl into a ball on the cold stone floor, whimpering occasionally. She did not have her glasses which made her eyes looked small and squinty. Her face was sunken and old looking. Not the glittery, jeweled look that Harry remembered. "Can't think what the dark lord wants with her," said the first.

The second one pushed Trelawney over with his foot. "Wake up, you." She did not respond.

Harry felt rage expanding in his chest till it was near to bursting. "Just leave her alone!" he snarled.

The second death eater crossed the room and kicked Harry hard in the leg, then grabbed hold of his hair and slammed his head into the stone wall. "I told you to be quiet, and I meant it," he hissed. Flashing lights swam before Harry's eyes and he thought he could feel something warm running down the back of his head.

As he lay there, he considered using his elemental spell for air. He could conjure a lightening storm and perhaps it would hurt these death eaters, however, it might hurt Neville and Trelawney as well. Also, if Harry hoped to use it to escape he knew it would not work. He was still weakened whenever he cast it, and would be unable to walk for a few minutes after he did it. Still, as a last resort, he thought.

Harry's mind started to come back up to speed. He had to figure out how to get both Neville and Trelawney out if he could. He realized why the three of them were here, although neither of the other two would have understood. He winced with pain as he moved his leg slowly to the side. Harry could see a dark stain on the leg of his jeans. It looked like blood. "Don't you move," said the voice of the first death eater.

Voices approaching in the hall echoed off the stone walls. One voice was unmistakable. Harry strained to hear what was being said. That voice could be their salvation if only he could signal in some way. The voice was that of Severus Snape. He was an agent for the Order; he could call for help. Harry swiftly racked his brain for a good signal. He had just decided to shout something at his guards, thinking that would tell Snape they were prisoners, when he heard Snape's voice again. "I'd say, kill off that brute Aberforth, if you want retribution." Harry paused to consider what was happening. Why would Snape tell other death eaters to kill someone...even to make his act seem more convincing? He vaguely remembered hearing the name Aberforth before, but he could not remember where. Snape was standing just outside the door now. Harry could glimpse a bit of the potion masters black robes through the opening.

"Do what you want with all of them, but make sure they are dead. I've risked a lot to bring them here. That fool MacNessa nearly ruined it. I used a memory charm on him and knocked him out. They'll find him soon enough though."

Then there was a second voice, one that Harry also recognized. Lucius Malfoy. How could he have escaped from Azkaban again? He'd just been sent there in October for the attack on the Quidditch match. "Was my son useful to you, Severus?"

"He did his part as he was told," said Snape. "To avoid having him implicated, I gave him only pieces of information. He helped me get Longbottom and Potter into detention, although I didn't tell him why. Then I had him help send Potter down the alley in Hogsmeade."

"I appreciate your consideration," said Malfoy. "My son could still prove useful if he is not compromised, and he's eager to participate." The voices started to fade as the two men moved off. Harry held his breath and strained to listen. "I could hardly be responsible for that!" he heard Snape say. More muttering followed and then they moved on, or least, away from the door. Harry felt red-hot anger flow into every fiber of his body. The anger that was seething in Harry also focused him. He wanted to grab his wand, fight his way out of the room and kill Severus Snape.

No a voice in his head said. He needed a plan to get out so he could warn the Order about the traitor in their midst.

"Harry, what are we going to do, because I'll do whatever you say. Just tell me," Neville whispered furtively, trying to sound brave. "Are they after us because of what happened last year, do you think?"

"Not now, Neville," Harry whispered, "...just be ready to run." As Harry said this he thought how completely foolish and empty that sounded. They didn't know where they were, they were being guarded by two death eaters, and they were unarmed.

The larger of the two death eaters strode over to them. "I told you two to shut up!" he shouted, drawing his wand. "Crucio!" he barked, pointing his wand at Harry. The pain was ghastly. Harry writhed on the floor fighting to escape the agony that engulfed his body. When the death eater withdrew, Harry was shaking and sick but he hoisted himself back into a sitting position, drenched in sweat. Neville was white with fear.

Again, voices moved toward the door. Different voices this time. The door swung open and the guards snapped to attention as Voldemort swept into the room. The very air of the room seemed to turn frigid as he entered. He was followed by Wormtail, and two more hooded figures. Wormtail held his silver hand up and across his chest as though it was an honor of some kind. It glinted in the flickering light. Then Harry heard a long slow intake of breath that ended in a kind of hiss. "Harry Potter," said Voldemort. "We meet yet again! And Longbottom as well," Harry could sense Neville stiffen next to him. Voldemort stood before them. Harry heard Neville gasping for breath as though the mere presence of the dark lord could kill.

"Well, Well... here we are, all assembled at last," Voldemort sneered. "It is high time we brought this charade to an end. I do not intend to leave any doubt at the end of this day as to the outcome of this annoying prophecy. We shall see it in full, or the seer will die. I will decide your fates based on what is revealed." Voldemort must have thought himself quite clever as he laughed a high-pitched, mad laugh, which made Harry's blood turn cold. "If this...this woman cannot produce the prophecy, I will destroy all three of you and have done with it." Harry concentrated on blocking his own mind. If Voldemort could see the prophecy in his head they were as good as dead this minute.

Voldemort sidled leisurely around the room; Wormtail at his heels. He skirted around the form of Trelawney on the floor, as though she was some filth one might encounter lying in the street. "Pity that innocent eyes must observe this," Voldemort said in mock concern. His death eaters chuckled appreciatively. Voldemort raised his wand and flicked it toward Trelawney. Her body seemed to rise slightly off the ground, her head lolling to one side and then she was slammed back to the floor. She opened her eyes and got groggily to her hands and knees, like a marionette, being controlled by a puppeteer. She didn't seem aware of her surroundings. "Seer!" shouted Voldemort, "Reveal your prophecy!"

He stabbed his wand in her direction and a jet of red light hit her in the forehead. She rocked back and forth and then, in the deep, gravelly voice that Harry had heard three times, she began to speak "...Spirits of the elements will vie..."

"Silence!" screamed Voldemort. "That is not the prophecy I wish to hear," he said, bending toward her and speaking slowly and severely. Harry kept his face even. Voldemort had not heard this particular prophecy and he had stopped her before knowing that it was also about him. "Reveal your prophecy!" he shouted again.

This time she said, "....Before midnight...the servant will set out...to rejoin..."

Voldemort was clearly losing patience. "Silence, woman," he hissed. "Try again," he said slowly and with malice. "Reveal your prophecy!" Trelawney's face was completely white now. She continued to rock back and forth but more feebly each time. Harry wondered what kind of curse Voldemort was using to animate her so. She began to speak again, "...p-power to vanquish the Dark Lord...Born...born to those... who have thrice defied him...power...defied...him." With this last word, the divination teacher crumpled to the floor, her eyes staring and empty. One of the death eaters nudged her with his boot. She did not move.

"Dead, I think My Lord," said Wormtail.

"I can see that, fool," spat Voldemort. "She should have survived longer than that! Who gave her the draught of Ennervation to prepare her for the interrogation? That was supposed to keep her alive until I was finished with her." There was a deep silence in the room. "I asked, who was charged with this task?" the cruel voice said angrily.

The death eater who had laughed at Trelawney as she lay helpless on the floor began, "Oh, master, I...." He cowered as he pulled a vial of red liquid from inside his robes. It was as though someone else was controlling his hand.

"Jugson," Voldemort said disgustedly. "So you did not make the seer drink the restorative before I questioned her?" Jugson prostrated himself, quivering at Voldemort's feet. "Do you know what this has cost me?" he shrieked. A stab of red light surged from Voldemort's wand as he shouted "Crucio!"

Jugson's screams were ringing and echoing off the chamber walls. Harry wanted to stop his ears. He gave a sideways glance at Neville who looked about to be sick. Harry's scar shot a lightening bolt of stabbing pain through his head before he could master it and force it back out. He needed to keep his defenses up he reminded himself. Jugson had collapsed, unconscious and was drug out of the room by the other guard, who returned a moment later and took up Jugson's position.

"So, it seems you two must die," said the cold high-pitched voice. "It is quite inconvenient that I had to come here and kill you today, but prophecies are a delicate matter. However this should put an end to all the foolish speculation about your futures." The cloaked figures were all nodding and mumbling their assent to this statement. "You have caused me far too much trouble," said Voldemort, raising his wand.

Just then, there was more talking in the hall outside the door. Someone's raised voice was saying, "...but it is important that the Master comes now, the attack..." Voldemort stalked out the door, with two death eaters behind him. Before the door closed, Harry heard, "Why do you disturb me when I have not summoned you...." Harry could not hear the rest; only footsteps going off toward the left.

The reprieve would be brief and then Voldemort would return to kill them, that was definite. Even if they could escape this room, where would they go? And who knew how many more of Voldemort's followers were lurking in the rooms beyond this one? This seemed like a death eater hideout of some kind. Harry decided, as he had the night in the graveyard when Cedric had died, that he would not give up without a fight, and he would not help Voldemort play his game. What to do though?

Wormtail remained in the room, standing there considering them. The two guards had moved nearer the table in the center of the room and were standing next to him. Harry saw what happened next as though it occurred in slow motion. Wormtail cleared his throat. Harry looked up at him. Wormtail glanced ever so briefly at the small table in the center of the room where his and Neville's wands were laying, then moved slightly forward toward the table. As he did this, he looked squarely at Harry as if to communicate something to him. Harry stared into the eyes of the betrayer of his parents and comprehension dawned. Was Wormtail going to save him? Give him a fighting chance? Harry nudged Neville, and hissed, "Get ready."

Just then Wormtail stepped on the hem of his own robe and fell toward the guards, grabbing for the table as if to break his fall, and in the process, dropping his own wand. It all happened very quickly, the table fell toward Harry and Neville. Harry used his elemental spell for fire and snuffed the torch as he scrabbled on the floor for his wand. The candles spluttered out. "Accio" he whispered desperately and two wands slid into his hand. By feel he knew his and jammed the second into Neville's hand.

Harry heard rather than saw the guards, so he threw a stunning spell in that direction. Neville, to Harry's amazement, did the same thing and two forms slumped to the ground. Harry and Neville were moving fast. Pettigrew was scrabbling on the floor trying to retrieve his wand or get to his feet. Holding on to Neville, Harry leapt over the fallen guards and plunged through the door. In the moment before they slammed the door shut, Harry could have sworn he heard a voice say, "We're even now, Potter."

Neville slammed the door and Harry realized they could buy some time if they could seal it so he pointed his wand and said "Colloportus," and then they ran as quietly as they could, down the hall to the right, away from the direction Voldemort had gone. The hall ended in stairs going up, and a brightly lit room to the right. The room was occupied by at least four cloaked figures.

Harry took two steps at a time, followed by a panting Neville. So far they were not being followed. On the next landing, the walls and floors were more even, not the rough-hewn stone walls of the lower level. Light was coming from a room to their left. Straight ahead was a door. Harry was about to sprint for the door when he heard the distinct cry of a baby coming from the nearby room. Harry signaled Neville and they flattened themselves against the wall in a small alcove. Harry strained to hear the conversation.

"Those two are dead aren't they?" asked one.

"Yes, but the brat cries worse if we take them away, and the dark lord wants Nagini to have her sport, so I have to keep the child quiet until tonight," said the second. "Nagini enjoys catching her own food."

"Fine," said the first man, "As long as I can watch."

Harry did not need time to think. He darted out and shot stunners at both men dropping them where they stood. He ran into the room. On the floor was a small child barely old enough to walk. She was sitting next to the bodies of two people, probably its parents who were quite dead. Harry scooped up the small girl and with Neville at his heels, ran for the next door. Harry's leg was throbbing and blood was sticking to the inside of his pants leg. Neville was holding his arm, which was probably broken. How far underground were they Harry wondered?

They pushed the door open and found they were in a large storage room. It was dark inside and Harry could just make out stacks of crates and boxes. Harry peered at some of the boxes as he passed. SMH was emblazoned on the sides. Harry had no idea what that was supposed to mean, and he had no time to consider it right now. Harry heard feet pounding up the stone stairs they had just climbed. The little girl who had apparently been in shock at being picked up and whisked off now started to cry. "Silencio," said Neville quickly, flicking his wand at her. Harry looked appreciatively at Neville. "Well, my aunts do that sometimes, to my little cousins".

Harry headed toward the door at the far end of the room. It seemed the only way out. The footsteps were coming nearer and people were shouting. Just before the door burst open, Harry and Neville dived behind a stack of crates ten feet from the exit. The door banged against the wall as several death eaters ran in. Harry was exhausted. He quickly took stock as he tried to decide what to do. His leg hurt and his head was pounding. The baby was extra weight and made running clumsy. Neville, however could not carry the child and also use a wand, with his injured arm. They would just have to hope they could sneak out, for they were unlikely to outrun healthy death eaters.

It sounded to Harry as though three people had come into the room. "They may be hiding in here," Harry heard one whisper. Harry and Neville crept further into the shadows. Then Harry had an idea. "Here, Neville, hold her," he said handing over the small girl. "I'm going to create a diversion and you sneak out the door with the baby. Get to the exit and I'll catch up." Neville did not look pleased with this plan, but nodded.

Neville took the girl and then started making his way behind the stacks of boxes to a position near the door. Harry crept forward and crouching low, concentrated on a large crate near the rear door. He summoned up his elemental spell for earth and directed it at the crate. The wood box slowly slid to the side, until it dumped on the floor. The death eaters jumped and shouted as they converged on the spot. Harry caught a glimpse of the door behind him swinging shut, Neville had gotten out. Harry backed cautiously toward the door, holding his breath, and slipped out too.

He caught up with Neville at the next stairway. He took the little girl back and she wrapped her pudgy arms around his neck. They started to climb, when the door to the storeroom banged open and the three death eaters pounded toward them. "Go!" screamed Harry. Then there was a long horrible wail followed by "After them you imbeciles!" Harry turned and threw some stunning spells at their pursuers. He was sure that one of them fell. Harry was thinking, if they catch us we're dead immediately, no more banter, no more baiting, they would simply be killed. Harry was not going to let that happen. He was angry and bruised but he was determined that he and Neville would escape.

Harry had turned to run when he heard Neville gasp and he spun back around. One of their pursuers was Bellatrix Lestrange. Harry grabbed Neville and dodged to the left, as a jet of red light crashed next to them. They hurtled up the stairs and were almost to the landing where the stairs turned, when Bellatrix screamed, "Don't kill Potter, he is for the Dark Lord."

Neville spun back and angrily faced Bellatrix. He shouted "CRUCIO!" pointing his wand at her. She was not expecting this, or Neville's level of fury. She screamed in pain and fell to the floor. "You evil hag, I hope you rot!" screamed Neville. A spell slammed into the wall near Harry's shoulder. He saw that it had cut across Neville's wand hand and sliced it open. Neville dropped his wand. Bellatrix had regained her feet and she was rushing toward them along with the remaining standing death eater. Harry yelled "Stupefy" and dropped him in his tracks. Neville was scrambling for his wand as Bellatrix reached the landing.

Harry heard footsteps above him and he looked up in time to see a cloaked wizard flying down the stairs toward him. Harry was wheeling around to curse Bellatrix when he felt the man behind him grasp his wand arm, forcing him to the ground. Harry tried to slide the child down to the floor as he himself was wrenched to the ground. In the scuffle that ensued on the landing, Bellatrix flattened Neville against the wall with her wand pointed at his heart. Harry was sprawled on the stairs. The death eater standing over him had his boot on Harry's wrist and a wand pointed at his head. "Don't even think about moving," he barked.

Harry saw his own wand lying two feet from his right hand. He dare not move, lest the man guarding him notice Harry's wand. The man put more pressure on Harry's wrist as he shifted his weight.

"It's ickle Longbottom," said Bellatrix in a sing-song voice.

"Let go of me, you filth," screamed Neville.

Harry wished Neville would calm down. Bellatrix Lestrange was truly mad and another outburst might just push her over the brink. She looked down at Harry with her heavily lidded, malicious eyes and as he stared up at her, he found he could see her thoughts. She was toying with Neville like a cat playing with a mouse. She had decided that if she killed Neville she would claim it was an accident. Harry snapped his mind away from hers before she could detect what he had done. It had been the same as the time with Snape. He hadn't intended it, but there he was, seeing her thoughts. Neville was of less importance to Voldemort and Bellatrix could kill him without repercussions.

"You're nothing, you sniveling, cowardly..." Neville croaked.

"Little Longbottom wants to give insults, Rabastan. What do you think of that?" said Bellatrix laughing madly.

The death eater shifted his weight again to have a better look at Neville. Harry had only a split second to react, but he knew grimly what he must do if they were to survive. There was only one way, and he would have but one chance.

As he felt the pressure lessen on his wrist, Harry snapped his arm out from under the heavy boot and pushed the foot up and away from him. He rolled his body toward his wand and grasped it as the man, teetering above him, tried to regain his balance. Harry sat up training his wand on Bellatrix and with the full force of the hate he felt for her and her master he shouted "Avada Kedavra". A blast of green light flared from his wand and hit Bella square in the chest. Harry did not have time to watch her fall, but aimed at the man who had his wand pointing at Harry and was about to speak his own spell. Harry screamed "Avada Kedavra," one more time and then dodged to the side, as a jet of green light zinged past his shoulder. He looked up and watched the man topple and roll in a heap down the stairs. Harry looked at Neville who was staring at Harry open-mouthed. Harry leapt to his feet. He could hear more footsteps running toward them and they had to move. Harry grabbed Neville's arm and pulled him roughly over the body of Bellatrix Lestrange. Neville resisted and stooped to recover his wand, then charged forward up the stairs. Harry saw at a glance the staring dead eyes of the Longbottom's tormentor. The little girl was sitting where he had set her down. She appeared unharmed. The silencing charm was still working. She was crying hard, but no sound was escaping. Harry grabbed her up and she clung to him as if she knew her very life depended upon this stranger.

"Harry, you killed her," gasped Neville, behind him.

"I know," said Harry flatly.

"She deserved to die," Neville said, panting. "I hate her!"

Hate was what it took, all right, thought Harry. He realized that he felt sick, but not as sick as his first time. Mac had told him it would be easier. Harry tried to put the killings from his mind. He believed there was no other way they would have escaped and he couldn't risk one of the death eaters being able to curse them. He had been forced into it. These thoughts sped through his brain like a jet of green light. They deserved to die, but Harry realized that he wished he hadn't have been the one to do it.

At the top of the long stairway was a corridor going right and left. To the left were some doors and a dead end. To the right was a hallway with a door at the end. Harry chose the right side and sprinted toward the door. He stopped as they reached it and put out a hand to stop Neville.

"Get ready Neville," he said, taking a ragged breath as he prepared to open the door.

Harry swung the door open and saw two cloaked figures without masks and another door beyond them. "Stupefy," he and Neville both shouted at once, and the surprised men dropped to the floor. They sprinted to the next door and readied themselves again.

Harry pushed this door open and in a flash of recognition, knew where they were. He stepped into a busy corridor with Neville who gasped as realization hit him. It was St. Mungos Hospital.

Witches and wizards in white smocks hurried past. Patients strolled along slowly, testing their legs, and visitors rushed past on the way to see loved ones. St. Mungos. A nurse walking past shook her finger at the boys and told them to put their wands away before there was an accident. She went off shaking her head. Harry grabbed Neville and hurried toward the lobby. They tried to look as natural as possible and blend in with the crowd. Luckily, bruises and cuts were likely to be found in a hospital, so they didn't attract too much attention.

Just as Harry thought they might escape, he ran straight into a healer. When the wizard turned to face Harry, he recognized the healer as Augustus Pye, the one who had treated his aunt Petunia. Pye gave Harry a look of shock and then hatred and tried to hang on to him. Harry spun out of his grasp and pushed Neville forward. "Stop!" yelled Pye.

There were two cloaked figures moving toward them, to intersect their path across the crowded lobby. Harry yelled, "Run!" and he and Neville sprinted to the entrance and out on to the street. Once they reached the pavement Harry bolted off to the right, shouting for Neville to follow him. Sharp pains shot through his leg with every step. He did not know where he was running to, just away from the hospital. Harry knew they had to get further away and get help. He didn't know what would happen if he tried to take Neville to Grimmauld place because Dumbledore was not here to give Neville the address. The only other wizard areas he knew of in London were the Ministry of Magic and Diagon Alley.

When they reached a deserted street two blocks over, Harry stopped running and leaned against the side of a tall building, breathing hard. He tried to shift the small girl to a more comfortable position. Unbelievably, she seemed to have fallen asleep. Neville looked to be in far worse shape than he. Blood was oozing from the wound on his hand and an ugly red welt shown across the entire right side of his face. Beyond that Neville looked dead scared.

Harry scanned the area for a hiding place. The street they were on was deserted, with stark concrete buildings rising around them. There were few doors or windows, only some freight loading docks. It was a bad place to be surrounded by death eaters, Harry though, miserably. To top it off, the dark gray clouds overhead opened up, and rain poured down out of the sky.

"Neville, we have to get farther away from St. Mungos and fast."

Neville could barely catch his breath and simply nodded his head once in agreement. Then it came to Harry... the Knight Bus. He flung out his wand arm and waited. In a moment, the triple-decker purple bus careened out of nowhere, swerving down the street toward them. Neville's eyes were wide. "That's our ride," said Harry.

Then he had another thought and quickly felt in his pocket for the small, square mirror. Amazingly it had not been broken. Harry looked into it and said, "Remus Lupin." A second later, Remus's face appeared.

"Where are you?" cried Lupin in concern. "We're all out looking...."

Harry cut him off, "We were captured by Voldemort and we got away. They had us in the basement under St. Mungos." Harry paused to catch his breath.

"Harry who is we, and where are you now?" asked Lupin, the alarm rising in his voice.

"It's Neville and me and....some little girl. Anyway we're taking the Knight Bus to Diagon..." but he didn't finish the sentence.

"Bloody hell! It's loose again!" was all Harry heard before the mirror went dark. The Knight Bus slid to a stop in front of an open mouthed Neville. Harry stuffed the mirror into his pocket and shifted the small girl to his other arm.

Stan Shunpike recognized Harry immediately, a situation that Harry would rather have avoided. "Can you drop us at Diagon Alley?" asked Harry, pulling some gold from his pocket.

"Sure Harry, in fact you can be our next stop. Madam Marsh can wait a bit more," Stan whispered. In less than two minutes, the bus screeched to a halt in front of the Leaky Cauldron, having narrowly missed hitting four cars, six pedestrians and a Chinese Laundry. Harry thanked Stan and climbed down followed by a shaken Neville. "What was that?" asked Neville as they made their way to the door.

"Wizard transportation," Harry replied.

Harry was more worried about walking into the Leaky Cauldron than he had been about getting on the bus. Once inside, He stopped to wipe rain off his glasses, shifting the small girl against his chest. They were in the smoky, dingy barroom and were met by a very anxious Remus Lupin. "I'd hoped this was where you were headed, boys," he said in a hushed voice. He surveyed them quickly, and seemed to be forcing himself to hold his tongue about their condition.

"Remus," said Harry, "What were you talking about when the mirror went black? You said something was loose."

"Dragons rampaging Hogsmeade," said Remus, "but now is not the time. Stay close and keep moving," he whispered.

Tom, the proprietor was waving at Harry from behind the bar, "Glad to see you Mister Potter!" Harry did not like that they were drawing attention to themselves with no crowd to escape into. He smiled at Tom and hurried behind Remus toward the portal to Diagon Alley. He noticed two cloaked figures in the back corner of the pub get up as they left the room.

"How are we going to get back to Hogwarts?" asked Neville in a breathless voice.

"We're being followed, Neville. Keep your wand handy, and keep quiet," said Remus, ignoring Neville's question.

As soon as the portal opened, Remus hastened them through and pulled the hood of his cloak over his head. He herded them into the thickest part of the crowd in the rainy street. Behind them came the cloaked wizards from the bar. "Hurry boys," Remus breathed, "Follow me, and don't look back." The street was crowded enough that they could dodge around some shoppers and be temporarily lost from the sight of the two death eaters. Remus led them into the apothecary shop. Harry remembered it had a second entrance out on to the street. The three of them crouched low behind some barrels of newt eyes and then crept to the other exit. The shop was full of people avoiding the downpour who looked at them in exasperation. At the door Harry peered out and saw the death eaters go past, having lost sight of them. "OK," said Remus, "Come on then." They shot across the street at a run and dove into the Weasley twins' joke shop. Harry ran head long into Fred.

"Whoa, mate," said Fred. "Harry! What brings you here? Skiving off lessons I hope... and Neville... Remus..." Fred's jovial mood ceased as he looked into their faces.

"Got to hide," Harry managed trying to catch his breath.

"Death eaters," said Remus.

Fred's face hardened, "Follow me.....George!"

George appeared from the back of the store. "What?" he asked, but stopped short as he saw Harry, the little girl, Neville and Remus.

They followed Fred and George to the back of the store. Fred had given George a nod and went back toward the front door. "I'll look out and see what's happening," he said. George led them down some stairs and into a small office. He faced a plain wall and said "Patefacio Feci". The wall dissolved and another room was revealed. George hastened them in and the wall re-materialized.

"What's this all about?" asked George.

"All I can tell you is that Voldemort had us in the basement under St. Mungos. We just escaped, Neville and I," said Harry.

Immediately there was the noise of an argument upstairs. George opened the wall and rushed to his brother's aid. Remus pushed Harry and Neville toward the fireplace in the corner, and shoved a pot of floo powder toward them. "We have a secure floo from here to the Hogshead, in Hogsmeade. Once you get there, the barman will get you the rest of the way. Go straight to Dumbledore's office once you reach Hogwarts," said Remus in a rush. The sounds above had now turned to scuffling, and were becoming louder.

"But ..." began Harry.

"The barman is Dumbledore's brother, Aberforth, Harry. He's on our side."

"Take the floo powder and say taffy apple. Do it NOW," Remus ordered.

Neville did as he was told, and Harry followed, wishing he could go help Fred, George and Remus.

"Taffy apple," he said bleakly as he glimpsed Remus dashing toward the fight which was now coming down the stairs. He tucked in his elbows and experienced the usual sensation of nausea that accompanied floo travel. He closed his eyes and waited for it to pass, as he careened past many grates. He slid to a stop on a dusty wood floor, again, underground. There were barrels of ale stacked to the ceiling with marks for the dates they were brewed. Harry realized where he had heard the name Aberforth, before. Mad Eye Moody had showed him a picture of the old Order members last year, and Aberforth had been in it. Harry would have to warn him.

"Now what," asked Neville in a thin shaky voice. Before Harry could answer, the barman, Aberforth Dumbledore, clunked down the stairs.

He looked them over carefully. "Got the sign you were coming. This way," he said roughly. They followed him to a corner with one large barrel in it. Aberforth slid the barrel aside. It must have been quite heavy because he had to put all his weight behind it. "Go on then," he said gruffly and motioned them down into the tunnel. "Albus said you'd know what to do."

Neville clambered in and Harry saw him light the end of his wand. Harry looked at the old barman and whispered, "Watch yourself, I think they may be setting a trap for you."

It was then that Harry heard the unmistakable roaring of dragons. The barman grinned grimly and said "More'n an ambush to worry about today, lad." Harry wasn't sure Aberforth had taken him seriously, but now he needed to get to the headmaster so he climbed down, joining Neville. Harry held up his wand and said, "Lumos." A pale light showed them the way forward. In a few feet they came to a door. Harry pushed it open and was surprised to find himself in the workroom, where he had learned to apparate. Neville followed him like a zombie. The door turned out to be a bookcase, which swung back into place at the lightest touch. Neville glanced around and said, "How do we get out of here?"

"It's no problem Neville, I know where we are." Harry approached the fireplace and held out floo powder again to Neville. In a few moments they were standing in Professor MacNessa's office.

Once they reached the corridor, Harry turned immediately toward Dumbledore's office. The hallway was empty but the hard click of boot heels rang on the stairway going down toward the Great Hall. The sound of those footsteps sent a violent chill through Harry, and although he didn't know why, he ran to the head of the stairs and looking down, saw the retreating back of Severus Snape. Swirling black robes disappeared into the Great hall as black hatred welled up in Harry. "Where are you going, Harry?" asked Neville with tension in his voice, "We have to see Professor Dumbledore," he said imploringly. Harry barely heard Neville. He was flying down the stairs, with the little girl still clutched in his arms, hurtling toward the Great Hall with the most intense hatred pounding in his veins that he had ever felt in his life.