Two Sisters, Two Loves

Struggle at the Ministry

*Kenzie’s Point of View*
  I ran with the others out of the school and to the bridge. It’s essential we find Harry and Hermione as soon as possible. Luckily enough they were running towards us from the Dark Forest.
  “How’d you get away?” Hermione asked with a small smile.
  “Puking Pastilles,” Ginny explained. “It wasn’t pretty.”
  I shook my head in disgust, “She isn’t kidding.”
  Ron seemed amused with himself, “Told them I was hungry, and wanted some sweets. They told me to bugger off and ate the lot themselves.”
  Hermione was impressed, “That was clever, Ron.”
  He stood up straight with a smirk, “Has been known to happen.”
  “It was brilliant,” Neville chuckled, squeezing Krista’s hand, “So how are we getting to London?”
  The smile slipped off Harry’s face, “Look, it’s not that I don’t appreciate everything you’ve done, all of you... but... I’ve got you into enough trouble as it is.”
  “Dumbledore’s Army’s supposed to be about doing something real. Or was that all just words to you?”
  Everyone else looked at Harry, but I glanced at Neville in shock. Since when did he have a voice?
  Ron took a step forward, “Maybe you don’t have to do this all by yourself, mate.”
  Harry paused, looking between us, “So how are we going to get to London?”
  “We fly, of course,” Luna chanted in her sing-song voice.
  We watched as she took off skipping towards the Dark Forest. She turned back to us, “Come on!”
  We chased after her. Leaving the grounds and entering the forbidden world of trees to a small clearing. Dozens of black, skeletal horse-like creatures with bats’ wings grazed the area.
  We entered the Ministry and took off running down the main hall to the elevators. Everything is exactly how I remember it from many years ago. If only this could’ve been a cheerful visit. We climbed inside an elevator, allowing it to jolt us around until we reached our destination. The caged door opened and a lady’s voice spoke over the speaker in the elevator, “Fourth Floor. Department of Mysteries.”
  Harry led us down another hallway until we came to a large metal door. None of us were quite sure what to say.
  “This is it,” Harry spoke in a low voice.
  Harry took small steps toward it. All of us following close behind. Harry reached for the door handle with caution; turning it slowly and pulling it open with the hissing of compressed air. Deep within the room was quite the sight. Hundreds of towering shelves filled top to bottom with possible hundreds of thousands of crystal balls. What on earth would they need with these? We used Lumos to light our way, cautiously following behind Harry. I think the others were just as awed as I am.
  Harry held his wand higher, illuminating the darkness around us. We stayed perfectly still; a sudden pounding making us jump. We turned to see one of the shelves moving on its own. Slowly sliding into a new position. Harry glanced up at the numbers on the shelves and began counting; taking off in the other direction. We stayed together, watching the dim light from his wand grow smaller and smaller before stopping.
  His voice came in an echo, “He should be here.”
  “Harry...” Neville started. “It’s got your name on it.”
  We all glanced at each other and looked up at the small orb, resting peacefully in its holder and collecting dust. The soft pit-pat of Harry’s footsteps bounced around the room. The orb lit up as Harry approached. I’m not sure to be mesmerized or frightened. Harry started to reach for it, but yanked his arm back to look at us. He swallowed hard and reached for it again; clasping it in his trembling hands and gazing into it. Just gazing into it.
  We shuffled uncomfortable, looking between each other. Something doesn’t feel right. The sounds of footsteps approaching made us turn around. A dark figure stood off in the distance.
  “Harry!” Hermione urged.
  He snapped back to reality, coming over to us and looking down the pathway. I can tell this won’t be good. The figure came closer. A shiny, metal mask covering their face and reflecting the light from our wands.
  I could hear Harry taking in a deep breath, ‘Where’s Sirius?”
  A sly voice growled, “You know, you really should learn the difference between dreams...” He removed his mask and I shuddered in fear, “And reality.”
  I forced back terrified tears. It’s Draco’s father! It can’t be!
  Harry tried to keep us behind himself as Mr. Malfoy continued, “You saw only what the Dark Lord wanted you to see. Now, hand me the prophecy.”
  Harry stood strong, “If you do anything to us, I’ll break it.”
  Everyone paused as I high-pitched giggling came from the shadows, “He knows how to play. Itty, bitty baby. Potter.”
  Neville’s voice shook, “Bellatrix Lestrange.”
  The small, dark, curly haired woman came up behind Mr. Malfoy, “Neville Longbottom, is it? How’s mum and dad?”
  “Better, now that they’re about to be avenged,” Neville growled lifting his wand.
  We all grabbed Neville to hold him back. I could feel him trembling with anger.
  Krista pulled at his arm, whispering sternly, “Neville, calm down.”
  He looked down at her sadly and grumbled under his breath.
Mr. Malfoy held his hands in the air, “Now, everyone let’s just stay calm. All we want is that prophecy.”
  “Why did Voldemort need me to come get this?” Harry demanded.
  Bellatrix gasped, “You dare speak his name? You FILTHY HALF-BLOOD!”
  I couldn’t help but to laugh at her. Like she’s threatening in any way.
  Mr. Malfoy shushed her and turned back to us, “You don’t get it, do you, Potter? Prophecies can only be removed by the person they’re about. Now, if you want to make it out of here; give me the prophecy.”
  My heart pounded in my chest as streams of black smoke encircled us. More masked figures standing tall in almost every aisle.
  “Get them!”
  The room lit up as warfare broke out. Death-Eaters disapparating around us at a constant rate. We cast curses to them, but they were too fast.
  “Run!” Harry commanded to us.
  My eyes widened as the shelves came crashing down before us. The Death-Eaters vanished in wisps of smoke, leaving us on our own. Thousands of prophecies came crashing to the ground, shattering into millions of shards and crystal sand.
  Krista grabbed my arm, “Kenzie, let’s go!”
  I took off running with the rest of the group. The shelves knocking over each other like dominoes and collapsing under the weight. Crashing to the ground faster than our sprints. Ron ran ahead of all of us, throwing his weight to the door at the end of the path. The door gave way and we all screamed as we fell into nothing. There was no floor. I could faintly hear Hermione yelling out a spell to stop our plummet just before we reached the ground. I forced my eyes open, realizing I was hovering above the ground by a couple mere inches. The wind getting knocked out of me when the spell gave way and we hit the ground.
  I climbed to my feet, coughing up dust from hitting the dirt floor, “Where are we?”
  Krista got up too, coughing as well, “I’m not sure.”
  A large stone archway stood dead center of the room. Quiet whisperings seems to echo around the stone walls.
  Harry approached it carefully, “What is that? What’s that sound?”
  “Harry, it’s just an empty archway.”
  Harry’s body went rigid, “GET DOWN!”
  A loud explosion blew out our ears from behind and we hit the floor. I looked up towards the ceiling to see another black stream of smoke coming right for me. I reached for my wand, pulling it out just as two arms, beyond stronger than Draco’s, grabbed me from behind. One hand went underneath my arm, snaking up to shackle it in place as it grabbed my hair, forcing my head back. Something cold pressed into my skin of my collarbone. It definitely didn’t feel like a wand. I looked around to see everyone else being held at wand point. Their heads thrown back as the tips dug into their throats. Harry stood in the center of it all. He looked between us in guilty horror. Mr. Malfoy stood behind him, waiting.
  He clicked his tongue, “Look at what you’ve done, Potter. Allowing your friends to sacrifice themselves for you. Now, I’ll make this simple. Give me the prophecy, or watch your friends die.”
  I fought against the man holding me. His grip tightened and the sharp edge seared my skin. I tried to glance down, but the pain of him yanking my hair was too much. All I could see was a faint glimmer of silverfish metal. Harry looked at all of us and back down to the prophecy in contemplation.
  “Don’t give it to him, Harry!” Neville shouted into the silence.
  Bellatrix grasped him tighter and shushed him. Harry swallowed hard and handed the small orb to Mr. Malfoy. I gained a spark of hope as a flash of light fell behind Mr. Malfoy and Sirius appeared.
  “Get away from my godson.”
  Sirius punched Mr. Malfoy square in the jaw. I took the opportunity to kick my captor and try to duck out of his grasp. A small cry escaped my lips as an agonizing pain seared my chest and shoulder. He let me go and I crumpled to the ground. I glanced up to see a decently sized dagger clutched in his fingers. An evil grin spread across his dirty face before another white light came straight for him. Krista ran over and helped me off the ground, pressing her hand against my neck and grimacing.
  “Come on, we need to get out of here.”
  I got to my feet, ignoring the pain and following her to the others. Bellatrix’s laughter echoed around the room and sudden silence as her voice trailed away. I turned back towards the arch where Harry and Sirius were standing. Sirius had a small, relaxed smile on his face as he fell back into the arch and vanishing. A sudden silence overtaking us.
  “NO!” Harry yelled.
  Lupin ran up to Harry and bounded him in his arms, holding him back from jumping in after Sirius. Harry’s yells of angry horror filled my ears. Tears stinging at my eyes as I reached up to my sore shoulder, feeling something wet. I took my hand away to see blood staining my fingers, but I don’t care. Sirius is gone and that’s all that’s important. Harry broke free of Lupin’s grasp and took off after Bellatrix. The other Death-Eaters had been chased off, so we gathered together and looked in the direction Harry had gone. All we could do was wait and pray for him to return safely.