𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑢𝑝𝑜𝑛 𝑎 𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚 \\ 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗷. 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿

𝐿𝑋𝐼.

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙞𝙭𝙩𝙮-𝙤𝙣𝙚

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

SPELLS WERE LAUNCHED at the Death Eaters so quickly, it was madness in the Department of Mysteries. Once they had stunned the Death Eaters trapping them, the group ran, trying to escape. Lucius Malfoy appeared in front of them, and they went through a row of prophecies. They were all separated now, but Harry could hear as Caroline used her patronus to effectively shield against an onslaught of attacks from four Death Eaters.

        They just had to keep running. Caroline found Harry, Hermione and Ron and moved with them. "Stupefy!" Caroline shouted, stunning a Death Eater as they ran, her friends performing the same spell.

        In an intersection point between the rows, Dumbledore's Army found each other again, breathing heavily. "Reducto!" Ginny shouted, the Death Eater chasing them disappearing. But she started a landslide of falling prophecies.

        "Get back to the door!" Harry shouted as Neville quickly grabbed Luna, all of them running as fast as they could, all while the department was being destroyed behind them.

        Harry flew open the door and instead of solid ground awaiting them, they tumbled down into darkness. Caroline casted a spell as quickly as she could, and everyone was suspended in the air before they touched the ground. Caroline saw that Harry still had the prophecy, and she breathed in relief. He came over to her and helped her off the ground, pressing a brief kiss to her temple.

        "Department of Mysteries. They got that bit right, didn't they?" Ron grumbled as they all stood up.

        Caroline turned her head to a large archway, hearing voices. She walked towards it, and when Harry heard the same voices, he followed her. "The voices." Caroline said, barely breathing.

        Harry held her hand. "Can you tell what they're saying?" he asked their friends.

        "Carol, Harry, there aren't any voices. Let's get out of here." Hermione said, nervous.

        "I hear them too." Luna voiced.

        Caroline wiped blood from her face, unsure of where she got it, still moving towards the sounds, Harry at her side. "Guys, it's just an empty archway. Please." Hermione begged.

        Harry dropped Caroline's hand, shoving her back. "Get behind me." he said quickly, raising his wand. The others instantly did as he said, holding up their own wands.

        The Death Eaters arrived in large numbers, acting as black smoke. They surrounded the teens, separating them. When it was over, Harry alone was near the Veil, everyone else held by Death Eaters. He searched for Caroline, finding her with tears in her eyes as Barty Crouch Jr. held his wand against her neck. "Harry." Caroline whimpered, Crouch Jr. pulling her head back sharply by her braids.

        Then Malfoy walked up to Harry. "Did you actually believe... or were you truly naive enough to think... that children stood a chance against us?" Lucius laughed. "I'll make this simple for you, Potter. Give me the prophecy now... or watch your little girlfriend die." the man threatened, Caroline's heart rate picking up.

        But she couldn't let this happen. "Don't give it to him, Harry." Caroline said, stuck in unbelievable pain.

        It was going to get so much worse.

        As Harry looked at Caroline, Lucius nodded to Crouch Jr. "I've been waiting a year to do this," Crouch Jr. hissed, pushing Caroline out in front of him. "Crucio!" Harry was held by Lucius before he could get to Caroline, forced, along with all of their friends to watch Caroline be tortured. He was in a state of shock as he watched her tumble to the ground, convulsing.