May 2, 1976
A crack like a gunshot sounds throughout the Atrium of the Ministry of Magic. BELLATRIX, RODOLPHUS, RABASTAN, and ROOKWOOD Apparate in the huge, empty room. From one of the fireplaces, bright green flames light up as NARCISSA and LUCIUS step out of the fire.
BELLATRIX: Ah, Narcissa.
NARCISSA: (dusting the ash of herself) I hope you have a decent plan for this, Bella.
BELLATRIX: It's foolproof, my dear sister. Augustus, lead the way.
The party of Death Eaters make their way through the Atrium and down several levels of the Ministry.
NARCISSA: (whispering) Care to explain any of this to me?
LUCIUS: Just keep your mouth shut and your eyes open. I can't say for sure everyone has left for the day yet. Minchum's bound to have a couple of Aurors on duty, even this late at night.
NARCISSA: (holding her wand out) Noted.
The group arrives at a long, black hallway, at the end of which is a huge, circular doorway. ROOKWOOD waves his wand ahead of him and opens the door. The group enters a circular room, with twelve doors surrounding them on all sides.
ROOKWOOD: Alright, nobody move. This part gets very tricky.
BELLATRIX: (sarcastically) We are at your command, Master Rookwood.
Suddenly, the room begins to spin around quickly and then settle still again, changing the pattern of the doors.
NARCISSA: (astoundedly) What is this place?
ROOKWOOD: This way, come on!
ROOKWOOD runs his hand over a door, magically opening it. The group enters into another room, this one filled with clocks, timepieces, hourglasses, and other instruments of tracking time.
ROOKWOOD: Welcome to the Time Room.
BELLATRIX: The destination is the Hall of Prophecy, Rookwood.
ROOKWOOD: I know. Right this way.
NARCISSA: (gazing around the room) Care to explain anything now, Bella?
BELLATRIX: Come now, Narcissa. I told you that this Department studies the most complex branches of magic known to man- space, death, love- as if such a thing exists- and time, of course.
NARCISSA: And what lies in the Hall of Prophecy, exactly?
BELLATRIX: We're about to find out, aren't we?
ROOKWOOD approaches the door to an antechamber of the Time Room and magically opens it. The group steps in another, final room, this one the size of a cathedral and housing massive shelves filled with dusty, glass orbs.
NARCISSA: Sweet Merlin.
LUCIUS: Where have you led us, Bella?
BELLATRIX: (stepping forward and taking out her wand) Pay attention, all of you. We have entered one of the most mysterious places in the world. This is the Hall of Prophecy, and all around you are hundreds of thousands of prophecies, made by Seers all over the world.
NARCISSA: Prophecies about who, exactly?
BELLATRIX: They concern witches and wizards all over the world, ever since the dawn of man.
LUCIUS: And all of these people give up these prophecies to the Ministry?
BELLATRIX: No. These orbs only represent the Ministry's records of the prophecies, but there are other copies that exist, either in another form or in the memory of those to whom the prophecy is presented to. Follow me, and touch nothing!
BELLATRIX briskly sweeps down the aisle, scanning the numbers etched on each of the shelves.
NARCISSA: Bella, do you mean to say that- that there's a prophecy here about- about the Dark Lord?
BELLATRIX: The Dark Lord has foreseen that a prophecy will be made concerning him and his destiny. But whether or not such a prophecy has been made- or to whom it will be presented- remains a mystery. Here.
BELLATRIX arrives at aisle ninety-seven, and quickly scans the shelves until she arrives at an empty spot.
BELLATRIX: Here. It should be here.
RODOLPHUS: Is it empty?
BELLATRIX: Yes. We must have been too early- the prophecy has yet to be made. Augustus, you must continue to monitor this Hall and be on the watch for any new prophecies-
Suddenly, voices are heard further down the Hall.
BELLATRIX: There's someone here! Get back to the entrance!
The group sprints back towards the door they entered from. ROOKWOOD sprints off towards a side aisle and disappears. They arrive at the Time Room and sprint through it, but are stopped by a shower of hexes.
ALASTOR: There they are! Stop them!
BELLATRIX: (laughing maliciously) I was wondering when we would meet again, Moody! Stupefy!
NARCISSA: Lucius! Get back to the Atrium, come on!
LUCIUS: Go on without me! Expelliarmus!
Immediately, a duel breaks out between the Death Eaters and several Aurors, including ALASTOR, ARTHUR, HESTIA, and EMMELINE.
HESTIA: Petrificus Totalus!
RODOLPHUS: Crucio!
The Death Eaters sprint out of the Time Room. NARCISSA runs through the first door she finds and arrives in the Death Chamber, a huge amphitheater surrounding a raised stone dais housing an ancient stone archway. BELLATRIX follows, sprinting down the stone steps towards the archway.
BELLATRIX: (laughing sinisterly) Catch me if you can! Crucio! Crucio!
The duel erupts into the Death Room, with BELLATRIX and NARCISSA landing on the stone dais followed by ALASTOR and EMMELINE. RODOLPHUS, RABASTAN, and LUCIUS run through the stone benches of the amphitheater, deflecting curses from ARTHUR and HESTIA.
ALASTOR: Give it up, Lestrange!
BELLATRIX: Never!
EMMELINE: What did you come here for? Tell us and we can help you!
BELLATRIX laughs maniacally, while she and NARCISSA continue to duel the two Aurors.
BELLATRIX: Did you hear that? The Aurors claim they can help us! How charming! Crucio!
NARCISSA: Expelliarmus!
EMMELINE: (deflecting the spell) Stupefy!
Suddenly, a figure Appartes in the midst of the duel, materializing between the four and blocking the spells. The hooded figure raises its arms, shielding the Aurors while raising a wand towards BELLATRIX and NARCISSA.
ANDROMEDA: (removing her hood) So we meet again.
YOU ARE READING
The Marauders Unite (III)
FanficThe Marauders once again return to Hogwarts, this time for their fifth and most adventurous year. James, Sirius, and Peter approach the end of their Animagi mentorship with Minerva, allowing them to accompany Remus during his monthly transformations...
