SuperPotterLock - The Order of the Phoenix

The Only One He Ever Feared

John stared at the archway, completely dazed, Harry's yelling barely reaching his ears. Sirius was gone. Despite John's best efforts, he still fell through the archway. John momentarily considered joining him, throwing himself through the veil and ridding himself and the world of his uselessness, but Kingsley holding his arms and Sherlock's panicked thrill in his head kept him rooted to the spot. He slowly became aware of Dumbledore and Mad-Eye still duelling the remaining Death Eaters and numbly watched as they were Immobilised and gathered in the centre of the room.

Kingsley was forced to let go of John and continue Sirius' duel with Bellatrix, but John didn't move, not even as curses whipped past him. It wasn't until Kingsley hit the ground yelling in pain that John looked around properly.

Bellatrix had turned tail and was running back up the stone steps, dodging a spell from Dumbledore.

'Harry - no!' Lupin yelled, but Harry was already chasing after her.

Before he could even think, John's legs were moving and he was following Harry, with Dean close behind them.

They all sprinted back through the brain room, but Dean's concern was no longer with Harry and John. They both continued on after Bellatrix, but Dean skidded to a stop next to Cas, who was still lying on the floor with the others.

'Cas?' Dean said, kneeling down and shaking Cas's shoulder, but he didn't respond. He was deathly pale, more black liquid had trickled from his nose, ears, and the corner of his mouth. 'Cas?' Dean repeated, his voice cracking.

'He's still alive,' Sherlock said quietly, crawling over to them, feeling his way along.

Dean picked up Cas's limp hand. 'Wake up,' he murmured. 'Please.'

Cas didn't move.

'Come on, Cas, you can do it,' Dean said desperately. 'Please wake up.' Cas couldn't speak, or open his eyes, but Dean felt the faintest squeeze on his fingers and gasped. 'That's it,' Dean said. 'Just keep squeezing my hand, I'm right here.'

Sherlock sat back, staring, unseeing, into space.

'You all right?' Dean asked?

'I don't know...' Sherlock mumbled. Dean had never seen him so uncertain. 'They're still chasing Bellatrix...' Sherlock winced.

'What?'

Sherlock shook his head. 'Harry's trying to cast the Cruciatus Curse.' He felt it affecting John, the visions reverberating between them, but John kept going. Neither were sure why John was still following Harry, but the deep terror drawing him on felt sickeningly familiar to Sherlock.

Dumbledore dashed past them at a speed that shouldn't have been possible for someone his age, but they paid him no heed.

Suddenly, Sherlock went rigid and all the colour drained from his face.

'What?' Dean said, alarmed.

'He's here,' Sherlock said, his voice trembling.

'Who is?' But Dean needn't have asked. The look on Sherlock's face told him the answer.

Sherlock shoved himself to his feet.

'Where are you going?' said Dean.

'I have to get John,' Sherlock said, turning towards the door.

'You can't,' Dean protested. 'Sherlock, you're blind.'

'I don't care, I remember the way.'

Dean leapt up and grabbed hold of Sherlock. 'What are you going to do, just walk in there and grab him? You can't see!'