Dark Daughter

Chapter 11: Magical Terror

Roger Davies turned on his heal and ran into the Ministry of Magic Headquarters, which was a few feet away. Death Eaters were approaching the village he was in from all sides. He was clueless on what to do. There had never been a lesson at Hogwarts instructing him on how to defend a town or the Ministry against Death Eaters. He was outside the Ministry of Magic Headquarters and he knew that he had to get into the building and warn someone that Voldemort's supporters were closing ranks around the small wizarding town where the Ministry was located. But would they believe him.

He scrambled though two glass doors. He tried to alert his Head of Department. But Mr. Aught (head of the Department of Minor Magical Law-Enforcement) just laughed and said that he a very good sense of humor. Roger felt slightly offended. He would never joke about something like that--never. He even told Mr. Aught this. He begged him to go look out the window, but it was no good, he merely laughed again.

What now? Perhaps, Femella Fawcett? Yes, she had been in Roger's house, year and now she too had a job at the Ministry. Luckily, she had just passed by.

"Femella," said Roger, panting and catching up with her.

"Oh, hello Rodge," she said, not looking up from some papers that she was looking at (Roger didn't think that she was actually reading them because she was always pretending to be only mildly interested in him, while he was quite the opposite). "Hear about that missing Chimaera from Romania's Zoo of Magical Creatures?"

"No time for that now, Ella," Roger said. "There's Death Eaters slinking around the village! I saw them!"

"Come on Rodge," said Femella seriously, but she was grinning slightly. "That's hardly something to joke about! You-Know-Who's supporters wouldn't come here--not now, he's not that powerful yet!"

"I saw them, Ella," Roger said desperately. "Just look out the window for minute."

He grabbed her arm and led her to the nearest window. There was nothing. Everything was still and silent. He waited for a long time, but the magical street lamps didn't so much as flicker, let alone shine on any unfriendly visitors to the town. Femella gave a long sigh of exasperation.

"Roger," she said, her voice unnaturally stiff. "If this is another feeble attempt to get me to go out with you, it's not working!"

"What are you doing?" asked a pompous voice behind them.

Oh, the last Roger need or wanted was Percy Weasley!

"He's saying there's Death Eaters outside in the town!" said Femella indignantly. "What utter rubbish!"

To Roger's surprise, Percy said, "Where? When did you see them? Are you sure? Did they do anything to anyone?"

"I saw them a few minutes ago," said Roger, trying hard to backtrack and answer all of Weasley's questions. "They're all around the town. I'm pretty sure it was them, but I'm not sure if--"

A scream rent the air just as Femella turned away. But she whipped round instantly and joined the two boys as they looked out at the village. They saw a flash of brown fur and realized that it was a werewolf.

"The missing werewolves!" whispered Femella.

"But," Roger was confused, "it's not the full moon tonight, I thought--"

"Come on, Davies," said Weasley, grabbing him by the collar and dragging him away from the window. "We've got to help!"

Ministry members were walking towards the double doors that led out to the village with their wands raised. Femella was walking beside Roger, but she did not apologize for not believing him. As they exited, they found themselves facing a terrible sight. Werewolves and vampires were facing them in a great army. All of the werewolves wearing spiked collars as a sign that they were all together and working for the same dark person. Behind them were at least twelve Death Eaters. This number would not have bothered the Ministry if there had not been so few minutes, it had not a dark, cloudy night and if there were no werewolves or vampires facing them.

Adrian Pucey appeared at Roger's shoulder. The two had never been friends, but now Roger would do anything for a back up.

"Charge!" screamed the Head Hit Wizard in the Ministry.

All of the Ministry that was there surged forward at this cry and soon engaged in battle. The first spell Roger remembered firing was the Impediment Curse. Beside him, Adrian was doing the same. The two had come to an unspoken agreement that they would be partners. Adrian used the Leg-locker Curse as his favorite, while Roger stuck to the Impediment.

"I'm guessing we won't be getting any lunch breaks fro this one, eh Roger?" Arian called over all of the noise.

"I don't think so," Roger called back.

They had become very close to being friends in no time at all. They barely knew each other, but they had one thing in common: they were young Ministry members fighting against Voldemort. It was amazing how hard times could drag even the strangest of pairs into friendship. Screams were filling the air as people from the town came out to help and more people were absorbed into the battle.

Suddenly, a great explosion erupted behind them, coming from the Ministry. Roger and Adrian flew forward. Roger heard himself yell. He hit the ground with tremendous force and his body was filled with pain. Something in the back of him mind told him stay awake, and so he did not let himself slip into blackness. He was lying face down on the ground, but he pushed his arms out in front of him and felt his body lifting from the rubble. He rolled over and faced forward.

It was a dreadful sight! At least three quarters of the Ministry of Magic had collapsed. Only a small section remained, far from were Roger lay. It was too far--too far to run to if he had to find shelter. He had to find Adrian. This, for some reason, was his main priority--to find the person he had become friends with in a matter of minutes. He looked helplessly around without getting to his feet. Finally, his eyes rested upon a limp figure amidst the rubble. It was Adrian.

"Adrian!" shouted Roger as he scrambled to his feet.

He stumbled towards his friend, a stabbing pain in his leg. But he ignored it. He hurried to turn Adrian over.

"Adr--"

Roger's voice died in his throat. Adrian's whole abdomen was covered in blood. Oh God! Roger pulled off his robes (he had a shirt and pants underneath) and rapped them around the wound. His hands were soaked in blood as he did so. Roger wondered how Adrian was going to survive.

A Death Eater (Roger never found out who) approached the two. He began to case a spell when Roger cried a curse. It never knew what it had been, but it sent the Death Eater reeling backwards and he did not return. For what must have been hours, he protected the unconscious teenager that was his friend and tried to assure himself that he would be okay. All the while, he fought a wave of emotion. He had a life to save.

Finally, Roger turned find Adrian waking up.

"Adrian," Roger wasn't sure what to say. He had never been good at this kind of thing. "How're you feeling?"

"R-Roger?" he whispered.

"Yeah?"

Adrian began to vomit a lot of blood and Roger, terrified, lifted his head, thinking that it might help. All that Adrian could manage after that was a hoarse, "Thanks."

His head flopped back, but his eyes remained half-open. Roger sat there for a long time. He didn't care that Adrian had been a Slytherin! He didn't care if they had never known one another until tonight. He just sobbed over the dead boy's limp body. He didn't care anymore. It was over and he was beginning to give in.

* * *

"Amy!" shouted David. "We've got to get to Dumbledore! Our only chance is with him!"

"I know," said Amy. She turned around to look into the forest. There was a white fog that hung up to their knees like water. It was quieter in here. You could barely hear any screams. But maybe that was because the shrieking had stopped considerably. The trees stretched above them and out of sight, into blackness. They began to wade through the mist.

Amy wondered what was going to happen to them. Would they get out of this forest alive? Amy knew that the time would come when had to choose between her father and Dumbledore. Would have to make the choice in this forest? Would she choose right? What if she chose wrongly? What would happen if she did choose the right way? Would she be killed? Or would Voldemort simply put the Imperius Curse on her? If he did, would Amy be able to fight it? How was anyone going to get out of this?

These questions spun rapidly in Amy's mind as they searched for a sign that anyone was close by. She tried to answer them but every time she did her mind was clouded by a fresh wave of panic. Amy was just beginning to calm down when she heard a snarling sound and she saw a werewolf charging towards them. Its hackles were raised, its teeth bared and its terrible yellow eyes glaring at the six intruders on his turf.

Jason screamed, "RUN!" and they all tore off in the opposite direction, deep into the forest.

Again, Amy was so terrified that she could barely think. She heard the beast's breath as it panted, felt the earth tremble as the massive paws collided with the dirt, and, somewhere in her mind, Amy was sure that she heard a man shrieking, "Stop! Stop! Don't hurt them you fool! Stop!"

Something told her that it was the man inside the monster speaking. Amy wondered if maybe she was going insane. Quite suddenly, a fluffy ginger cat flew from a tree and landed on the werewolf's head. The wolf yelped and yowled as claws ripped at his face. Amy chanced a glance back at the pair and realized that the wolf was still chasing them, even though it had a cat attacking his face. Finally, face bleeding, the wolf stopped chasing Amy and her friends and the cat jumped off and ran into the darkness, the werewolf pursuing it.

"Is everyone all right?" Amy asked. The group nodded unison.

They made their way even deeper into the forest. It was completely silent and Amy found herself wishing for the screaming and chaos instead of the bizarre quiet. Abruptly, a figure appeared from behind a tree next to Amy and threw her against it. Others came behind him and held her friends back. Andrew looked quite terrified.

"What have you done with Dumbledore?" snarled Sirius Black, who was holding Amy to the tree and baring his teeth like a dog.

Jason was showing his teeth too, trying to fight free of Charlie Weasley's grip.

"What?" Amy asked. "What's wrong with you Mr. Black? Exonerous!"

That was the countercurse for the Imperius Curse. She was lucky to still be holding her wand in her hand as Black nearly crushed her shoulders when he immobilized her against the tree.

"I'm not under the Imperius Curse," growled Black. "Where is he?"

"I don't know," said Amy. "Wait a minute! You mean he's gone? Disappeared without a trace?"

"Where did you go? We know that you left us!" barked Black, not answering Amy's questions.

"We went to look for students who were in the castle. No one else would care, but we did. We got Andrew--he's over there."

Sirius looked over at Andrew. Lupin was holding him back. He and McGonagall led the boy away. Sirius was still pinning Amy to the tree. Amy knew that she was in a real mess. Where was Dumbledore?

Lupin came back with a hand on Andrew's shoulder.

"Release them," he said gesturing to Amy's friends. "Amy too, Sirius. There's no proof that they--or Amy--did anything wrong."

Black reluctantly released Amy's shoulders.

"What's going on?" she asked as she rubbed the places where Black had held her.

"We hoped you could tell us," said Author Weasley.

"Weren't you guys listening? Hogwarts is being attacked. Apparently Voldemort didn't tell any of the Death Eaters about where the attack would be. He just had them prepare for an assault on a magical area. He gave each Death Eater his own mission and didn't tell anyone else about it. That's how it was kept secret from me. I was only supposed to get lessons from him." Amy though for a moment. "But . . . I guess I have a part to play on his side. But I won't be playing it, I assure you!" Amy said quickly, seeing that some of them were looking doubtful and suspicious again. "You guys have to believe me! I haven't done anything wrong!"

"Weren't you listening?" asked Diggory. "We don't trust you anymore. We've seen what you--"

"IT SHOULD BE INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY! NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND!" Amy shouted at the adult. She had almost completely lost it with Diggory. "This isn't fair!" Life isn't fair, she thought to herself. "There. Is. No. Proof. I've done nothing wrong! Haven't I proven that I'm on your side? Why is this night any different? Why am I no longer worthy of your trust?"

Diggory began to speak but Mrs. Weasley cut him off.

"Amos, stop speaking for all of us!" she said furiously. "You've been doing it all night! Some of do trust Amy, and I'm one of them. I think that we owe her our trust. Dumbledore trusted her, now it's our turn." Mrs. Weasley's angry expression lifted as she turned to Amy. "What do you think that we should do, Amy dear?"

Amy stared at her as if she hadn't understood a word of what she'd said.

"So are you going to let me help you?" she asked.

"Yes," said many of them.

"Okay," said Amy, jumping right into business. They didn't have time for crap. "I have no idea where Dumbledore is and we can't waste time looking for him. He's the most powerful wizard in the world. I know he can protect himself."

"Why should we listen to you?" said someone in the Order who obviously didn't trust her.

"Because I know a lot about Voldemort," Amy said impatiently. She was beginning to think that this was getting ridiculous. "Where's Professor Snape?"

People were looking over their shoulders.

"Snape!" some called.

"Severus, where are you?"

"He's gone," said Doris Crockford bemusedly.

"We have to get to the centaurs," said Amy. "That's our only chance. I don't think there's anything we can do if Dumbledore and Snape have been captured."

Many people nodded. Amy felt awkward leading this group of adults. Her friends came to her side.

"You're a pretty good leader," David whispered in Amy's ear.

Before Amy could respond, there was a loud bang and a fireball burst before their eyes. Without even thinking, Amy grabbed the nearest person to her (which was Andrew) and held him close, shielding his head. But they were separated when they were thrown into the air. Amy never found out how long she was hurtling through the trees or how far she'd flew, all that she knew was the terror that filled her mind as she soared through the air and the blackness that consumed her when she hit the ground.

* * *

"What was that?" said Harry, who was rubbing his burning scar.

He, Ron and Hermione were standing by the lake. They saw fire lick the sky, heard screaming and the crash of falling trees. The three had run to the lake to escape three Death Eaters who had been chasing them.

Now they regretted having ever snuck off to get away from the Order to find their other friends.

"You think it was the dragons?" suggested Ron.

"I don't know," said Hermione. "But we need to get back into the cover of the trees quickly. Come on!"

She grabbed Harry and Ron's sleeves and pulled them into the forest just in time, because at that moment, another fireball hit the ground and they fell forward. Hermione pulled Harry and Ron to their feet quickly and dragged them even deeper into the forest. There were other loud bangs that made the trees above them sway as more bomb-like fireballs were dropped in other parts of the forest.

Finally, Hermione stopped and pushed Harry and Ron down at the base of a tree, then she, too, flopped down next to them.

"Hermione, wha--" Ron began but Hermione said "Shhh!"

They were still and silent. Suddenly, and without warning, Harry's scar burst with a pain more intense than ever before. He lurched forward, clutching his scar. Harry felt Ron clamp his jaws shut so that he wouldn't scream. All was black and his eyes were rolling in his head. After what felt like an eternity, the pain in Harry's scar became as it had been before (dull and tolerable) and he came back to his senses.

Hermione had an arm around him and Ron was still holding his hand to Harry's mouth. Harry kept his eyes closed and let his body become limp for a minute or so. When he seemed to recover his strength, he opened his eyes and pulled Ron's hand away from his mouth. He caught a glimpse of them looking concernedly at him before he sat up, leaned against the tree trunk, closed his eyes again, and listened intently while his scar burned dimly like a broken traffic light on his head.

Men were walking through the trees and one spoke in a high-pitched, hissing voice. It was Lord Voldemort.

"Your daughter has been seen helping the Order of the Phoenix, Master," said a Death Eater--Macnair. "We dropped a magical mine a few moments ago near the area where she and the Order were lingering."

"Good," said Voldemort. "She will survive it. We must return to the lair. I much planning to do."

Their footsteps faded in the distance.

"Those were magical mines," Hermione explained in a whisper. "They're dropping them everywhere. Harry, are you all right? You were holding your scar for nearly three minutes."

"Yeah," said Harry.

"You don't look good," said Ron. "We should probably stay here for a few more minutes."

"Yes," said Hermione. "Harry you should rest for at least a moment."

They made him lean against the tree for a further five minutes and Harry closed his eyes again, not pretending that he wasn't grateful for time to recover. He went over what Voldemort had said and he knew that Ron and Hermione were doing the same.

"I think that we should go now," Harry said when he was feeling better.

Hermione gave him a suspicious look. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah," said Harry.

"Did you hear what they were saying?" asked Ron. He looked unnerved.

"Voldemort has a daughter?" said Harry, bewildered.

"Guess so," said Ron. "We've got to find the others. I hope they're all right."

Ron and Hermione help Harry to his feet and they set off into the darkness.

* * *

A little girl was struggling in a dungeon, trying to get out. She was small with red hair and green eyes. Her usually beautiful and shining hair was now filthy and matted and her green nightdress was frayed and dirtier than her hair. And if you looked into her green eyes, you would see the torture she had endured, the fear she felt, the exhaustion . . . the courage.

"Let me out!" she screamed, shaking the bars like an ape.

"We haven't let you out for months, why would now be any different?" taunted Lucius Malfoy, the evil white-haired man with a pointed face and gray, cold, harsh eyes.

"Please," whispered the girl, tears running down her cheeks. "I miss my sister."

"You will see your sister soon enough," said Malfoy. "Just shut up and leave me alone, or I will make you."

He was bent over a motionless body. It was boy--a teenager--he was alive, but he seemed to be hurt. The girl could see a bloody bandage around his bare abdomen. Malfoy kept caressing his face. She thought that he might be Malfoy's son.

The girl crawled into a corner of the dungeon and began to cry. The dungeon itself was enough to make anyone cry if they had to stay in it. The bottom of it was covered in werewolf fur. It was fairly warm, but it still made the girl afraid. Blood was spattered in many places. She was always afraid now--now that she had spent such a long time imprisoned that she'd lost track of how long.

Her stomach ached with hunger, the thirst was really getting to her, she was cold, and she wanted nothing more than her older sister. Soon the snake-man would be back and he'd speak with his lipless mouth in his hissing, bone chilling voice. He would breath the air through his slits that were nostrils and taunt the girl. He would say the words that made pain inflame the girl's every nerve. The girl cried harder. She was scared and she wanted her sister's comforting arms to hold her tight.

* * *

Bill and Percy Weasley weren't sure what to do. Percy had apparated home, exclaiming that the Ministry of Magic had been attacked. Most of the Ministry of Magic believed that Voldemort had regained power, despite what Fudge said. But no one had been ready for a full-on attack from the Death Eaters.

"We should probably rally the Order of the Phoenix," Percy was saying. "We need more help."

Bill completely helpless but he was sure that Dumbledore would know what to do. "Yeah," he said, "yeah, let's Floo to Dumbledore. The Order is having a meeting tonight, Mum and Dad went."

Percy strode over to the fire, took a pinch of Floo powder from a flowerpot on the mantle (they called it the Floo Pot) and through it into the fire. He stepped forward and yelled, "Lemon Drop!"

Instead of vanishing, Percy was sent reeling backwards. He hit the wall with a thud, but, miraculously, stayed conscious.

"They've sealed off Hogwarts from Floo," he gasped.

"Are you all right?" asked Bill as he hurried over to his brother.

"Fine," said Percy. "Try to go to Hogsmeade, will you?"

"Yeah," said Bill, he didn't seem to be able to say anything else.

Before he tried to get to the wizarding village, he pulled Percy to his feet and made certain that he was as 'fine' as he claimed to be. He was healthy enough. He stepped forward into the flames and yelled, "Hogsmeade: the Three Broomsticks!"

Just like Percy, he was sent flying into the wall. Percy helped him up. Like Percy, Bill, too insisted that he was fine, but Hogwarts and Hogsmeade were definitely sealed off from Floo powder.

"Evans was telling the truth," said Percy. "It's begun."

* * *

Draco Malfoy opened his eyes.

"Son?"

"Mmmph . . . Dad?"

Draco was sure it was his father. But everything was blurry and he had a sharp, piecing, overwhelming pain in his side that was obscuring his thoughts and memory. He wanted his father to hold him close.

"Oh, son," it was definitely his father. He pulled Draco's chest up into his arms and held him like he was a small boy. Draco became aware that his shirt was off. "I'm so sorry," said his father. "You'll be all right soon. The Dark Lord will cure you. Hold on."

Normally, if Draco heard those words he would have jerked out of his father's arms, but he was too weak and he allowed himself to slide back into blackness.

* * *

Amy groaned as someone shook her awake.

"Evans," said the voice of Severus Snape. "Evans, wake up!"

"Yeah?" muttered Amy.

She propped herself on her elbows and looked about her. Trees lay fallen all around where she had been lying. She felt a deep cut in her shoulder that was leaking blood over her robes. It was painful but fear and panic had once again settled in Amy's chest, leaving no space for the pain that normally would have made her pass out.

Amy sat up and fought a surge of overwhelming dizziness. She wondered vaguely how much blood she'd lost. Once it had passed, she turned to Snape.

"Where were you?" she asked.

"I went looking for Dumbledore," said Snape. "Are you all right?"

"Yeah . . . fine," said Amy. A thought had just occurred to her. "Professor?" she said. "Can I do something real quick? Just to make sure of something."

"Yes," said Snape. He apparently knew what she was going to do.

"Exonerous!"

Snape didn't move. If he had really been under the Imperius Curse, he would have passed out for a minute or so.

"How did you find me?" Amy asked.

"I stumbled upon you, really," said Snape, no hint of the usual sarcasm in his voice.

It was strange to hear Snape talk to her like she was a friend or something. She was sure he was doing it on his own free will.

"I thought you had been hit by a tree and killed," Snape continued. "Evans, I won't hide from you that you are my only hope in this fucking forest. The Order of the Phoenix doesn't trust us anymore. But if you tell anyone that, I will kill you!"

Amy grinned. "You're my friend, too, Snape," she told him. "But you aren't my only one."

They stared into one another's eyes for a moment and Amy thought she saw warmth in Snape's usually cold, dark tunnels of eyes.

Snape helped Amy to her feet. She thanked him and they set out in search of others in need of their help.

* * *

Draco came back to full consciousness. He was lying on a stone Floor and his father was lying next to him in half-sitting position, propped on his elbows. He was caressing Draco's face.

"How are you feeling Draco?" asked a hissing, evil voice that made Draco shiver.

"It is cold, isn't it?" said the voice. The person thought that his shiver was because of cold. "Put his shirt back on Lucius, you have my permission."

His father eased his shirt back over his shoulders. He put an arm around Draco's shoulders and pulled him up into a sitting position. Draco's mind was clearer, the pain was gone, though he was very weak, and he stared into a horrific man's face. He had slits for nostrils, like a snake, red eyes, and a skull-like face. It was Lord Voldemort. Draco knew what was coming.

"You see Draco," said Voldemort. "I care for those who serve me. I want you to join me. Become a Death Eater and rule the world with me and your father and all other Death Eaters. Go on. Make your father proud. I am giving you the chance of a lifetime and a choice."

Something very painful was taking place in Draco's mind. If he went with Voldemort, he would be with his family. He would have honor. He would make Potter bow down to him. But if he didn't he would most likely be killed or put under the Imperios Curse.

But it's right! Draco told himself. It's right. I can't let Voldemort win. This is wrong--I know it! I don't really want to torture people like my father.

The words came from Draco's mouth before he had time to reconsider; "No!" he looked Voldemort straight in his red, evil eyes. "No, I won't join you!"

"Is that your final choice, Draco?" asked Voldemort silkily. Draco said, yes, more confidently than he felt and Voldemort said, "Imperio!"

Draco was floating--floating. Oh, it was wonderful not to think--not to worry. Say yes, said a voice in his head. Just say yes. It will all be fine if you say yes.

Draco opened his mouth, but then another voice sounded in his head.

I don't want to, it said. I will say no--that's what I'll say.

Say yes!

No! I will say no!

Say yes!

"NO!" he shouted.

Everyone in the stone room had stepped away from him.

"Ah, Draco," said Voldemort. "I see that I must imprison you. Pity. You had such a promising place among us. Take him away."

Draco's own father dragged him into a dungeon. He threw him roughly into the cell. Draco lay there, face down, weeping. His father had betrayed him. He was a Death Eater. Draco wanted to die right there in that cell, on the ground, with tears still on his cheeks.

The smallest of squeaking sobs interrupted Draco's misery. He turned to find a little girl in his cell, not far from where he was lying, crying, like he was, but she didn't seem to notice him. She had filthy and matted red hair and dark green dressing gown, which was grimy and frayed. She was curled in ball with her head in her arms.

"What's the matter?" he asked.

The girl looked up at him with emerald eyes, which were glistening with tears. She gave a squeal and backed into a corner then she buried her head in her arms again.

"No," she sobbed. "I'll be good. Please don't hurt me again! Please . . . p-please!"

"I'm not going to hurt you," said Draco gently. Might as well be kind, he thought. After all, I'm definately on Dumbledore's side now. "What's the matter?"

"Evil people keep coming in and pointing their wands at me," she said, lifting her head to look at Draco. "They say words and it makes me hurt. It hurts really bad."

"Death Eaters," whispered Draco. They put this kid under the Cruciatus Curse? Is she a Muggle? He decided that he didn't really care. "I know. They hurt me too."

He felt it was best to make friends with his cellmate. She was obviously afraid and had been here for a long time.

"I'm Draco Malfoy," he said.

The girl cringed away from him and Draco realized what he'd just said.

"But I'm nothing like Lucius Malfoy. It was him who threw me in here, because I wouldn't hurt you or anyone else. What's your name?"

The girl smiled. Her smile made Draco grin too. She said, "My name's Aria . . . Aria Evans."

* * *

It was beginning to rain. Harry put a water-repelling charm on his glasses. He drew his cloak closer around him. The rain was very cold. It drove shivers down his spine.

"It's s-so c-cold," said Ron through chattering teeth.

"Shhh," said Hermione, she pointing ahead of them.

Harry could see a figure standing there. He (or she) was apparently holding something in his hand. Suddenly the person flung what ever was in their hand as hard as they could towards Harry, Ron and Hermione. Harry yelled and saw a blast of fire. He felt himself flying through the trees and heard the thunder of them falling. He landed with a squelch in the mud and knew nothing more.

* * *

"They dropped a another magical mine!" said Amy. "We should go see."

"I've found someone!" Snape shouted. "Evans, get over here! I think you might know him."

"Andrew!" said Amy as recognized the unconscious boy and hurried over. "Oh, is he hurt?"

"I think he's all right," said Snape. "He'll have some bad bruises for a while though."

"Andrew," Amy said, shaking him gently. "Andrew, wake up!"

Andrew opened his eyes but seconds later, another magical mine was dropped. Amy, Andrew and Snape flew backwards. Amy felt her wand heating beneath her fingers, she was sure it would explode, but she flew backwards, like Snape and Andrew and knew no more.