The Enemy of my Enemy

The Chase

"THERE THEY ARE!"

"Quick! In here," said Harry, seizing Teddie's wrist and pulling her through a door on their right. They slammed it shut behind them, and Teddie pointed her wand at the frame.

"Colloportus!" Teddie said. Three bodies slammed into the door on the other side, it shook in its frame, but didn't open.

Harry sighed in relief and looked at Teddie as she turned around. They could hear the Death Eaters trying to break the door down physically, as if seemingly forgetting they had magic and could have easily just used a counter spell on her charm. "That's not going to keep them out for long," he said.

"I know," said Teddie. She gazed around the room, her heart sinking as she realised, they were now back in the time room. In the bell jar the hummingbird had just popped out of its egg and was slowly transforming into an adult.

Still holding Teddie's hand, Harry led her across the room, between two tables that had various instruments on them. The door they had come through to get into this room was just ahead, but there were others around the walls.

"We should lock them," said Teddie, pulling herself free from Harry's grasp. "They know we're in here, and if they know this place better than us, then there is a chance they know which doors lead into here."

Harry hesitated. He wanted to get out as soon as possible. The plan was that they would draw the Death Eaters away, giving Theo and Hermione time to go back and find Ron, Ginny, Neville and Luna. Then they were to get back up to the Atrium and find someone that could help.

For the most part, the plan was working. The Death Eaters had spotted Teddie after she had willingly showed herself to them, and then she and Harry had made a break for a nearby door. Meanwhile, Theo and Hermione had hidden out of sight, while the Death Eaters pursued their two targets.

"One of these doors leads to the brain room," said Harry. "And beyond that their circular room. What are the chances we get it right on the first go?"

Teddie shook her head. They hadn't thought to mark the doors on the inside of the rooms, and she wasn't entirely sure if her flaming 'X's would still be visible even when they got out of here. They hadn't been cast with the intention of lasting very long, or they had been what had led the Death Eater's to them in the first place.

"It's Hansel and Gretel," Teddie whispered.

"What?" Harry asked.

"Hansel and Gretel," Teddie repeated. "They followed us here because of the breadcrumbs we left showing our path."

Harry furrowed his brow.

"The X's on the doors," said Teddie. "I thought I was being smart in indicating what rooms we had checked and which we hadn't. But, when the Death Eaters got here, if they weren't already here, that is, then they had a clear indication of which rooms we weren't in."

"We led them straight to us," Harry said.

Teddie sighed. "Harry, I'm sorry," she apologised. "This is all my fault."

"No," said Harry, shaking his head. "It's mine. I was the one who brought you all here. I was the one who couldn't tell the difference between reality and a stupid dream. You're all in danger and it's my fault."

"But -"

"It's this one," said a voice up ahead. "This door leads to the brain room. The others are split off around it, covering the other exits. If they're still inside, then they've got nowhere else to go."

Harry and Teddie stared at one another. They were trapped, like rats.

Drawing their wands, the pair shifted closer to one another. Teddie reached into her robe pocket and withdrew the orb, she was less likely to be attacked if she had it out in the open, it was clear that the Death Eaters weren't about to openly attempt on destroying it.