An American At Hogwarts: Book Three

Chapter Seventy-Five

"To me, Potter," Malfoy repeated, his arm outstretched towards Harry. A quick count revealed a dozen Death Eaters, all with their wands levelled at us. No way to take all of them out before they could react and flatten us. "To me."

"Where's Sirius?" Harry demanded. Several of the Death Eaters laughed, and I got a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.

"The Dark Lord always knows!" cackled a high female voice from somewhere in the middle of the pack. I couldn't see his face, but when Malfoy spoke again, I could hear the smirk.

"Always. Now, give me the prophecy, Potter."

I let out a long sigh through my nose as Harry asked about Sirius again. He'd figure it out on his own soon enough, but I was pretty sure Sirius wasn't here. I had no idea how they'd managed to set that particular trap for Harry, but they had, and we'd all walked into it.

I slo didn't know what this prophecy was supposed to be, or what Voldemort might want with it. But I knew we had to find a way out of here, fast.

No sooner had I had the thought than Ron shifted beside me, rising to some taunt from the female Death Eater speaking again. Thankfully, Harry caught it too, and told Ron to stand down. We'd probably only get one shot at doing something to get out of here.

"It's time you learned the difference between life and dreams, Potter," said Malfoy, confirming for all of us that Sirius was not here. "Now give me the prophecy, or we start using wands."

"Go on, then," said Harry, raising his own wand in preparation. Ron, Hermione, Neville, Ginny, and Luna did the same, and I lifted a repulsor while getting ready to activate the armor with the other. If this turned into a firefight, I'd definitely need the full suit. But none of the Death Eaters took a shot.

"Hand over the prophecy and no one need get hurt," Malfoy said, his voice level and calm. 

"Yeah, right!" scoffed Harry. "I give you this—prophecy, is it? And you'll just let us skip off home, will you?"

The woman who'd been mocking us a few times muttered "Accio Prophecy", but before she could even get halfway through the spell, Harry reacted with a quick "Protego" to keep the sphere out of her hands. Still, it moved a little bit in her direction, and for a split second I thought Harry might drop it.

"Oh, he knows how to play, little bitty baby Potter," said the woman in a voice that made my hair stand up on end. "Very well, then-"

"I TOLD YOU, NO!" shouted Malfoy, losing his cool for the first time. "If you smash it-!"

He cut himself off, but he'd given up the truth that I'd started to suspect. Whatever that little glass ball was, whatever prophecy it contained, they needed to bring it back to Voldemort unbroken. They couldn't make much of a move on us without risking its destruction.

My mind started racing, but before it could latch onto anything concrete, the woman stepped forward and pulled off her hood. I gasped, my heart stuttering a little in fear I hadn't felt until right this moment. Bellatrix Lestrange stood before us looking notably worse for wear from Azkaban and absolutely vicious.

"You need more persuasion? Very well," she said, breathing rapidly like she'd just run a race. She turned to the Death Eaters beside her. "Take the smallest one. Let him watch while we torture the little girl. I'll do it."

As one, we stepped closer to each other and closed ranks around Ginny. Harry specficially stepped directly in front of her, meaning no one could get to her without risking the destruction of the prophecy.

"You'll have to smash this if you want to attack any of us," he said. "I don't think your boss will be too pleased if you come back without it, will he?"