.⊹⁀➷ CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE!
↳ ❛department of mysteries❜

THE CORRIDOR WAS empty, Neville, Luna, Ginny and Cho were positioned on each stair that lead to the office while Annabeth, Hermione Ron and Harry were trying to break in.

Harry pointed his wand at the lock of Umbridges office door, "Alohomora."
The door flew open and the four immediately hurried inside.

Her whole office was painted in pink and many ceramics with cats on them were hanging on the walls.

The group of four gathered by the chimney. "Alert the Order if you can!", Harry instructed them while he activated the Floo Network.

Ron shook his head at Harry statement, "Are you mad? We're going with you."

"It's too dangerous!", Harry exclaimed and Hermione quickly kneeled down besides him, her voice firm, "When are you going to get it into your head? We're in this together!"

"That you are", Umbridges calm voice suddenly came from behind them. She was still dirty from the fireworks and her gaze was a little crazy.

Behind them stood Malfoy and Zabini, with Luna Lovegood, Cho Chang and Ginny Weasley.

A moment later Goyle joined them, dragging Neville inside, "Caught this one trying to help the Weasley girl."

Annabeth met Draco's gaze and the boy held their eye contact for a moment and then looked away.

Umbridge gave Goyle a quick nodded before she leaned down to Harry, who was chained to a chair infront of her and narrowed her eyes, "You were going to Dumbledore, weren't you?"

Harry shook his head, "No."

"Liar!", the woman shouted and slapped him across his face. Annabeth flinched while she watched the scene.

"You sent for me, headmistress?", Snape appeared in the doorway, his face expression cold like always.

Umbridge nodded, "Snape, yes. The time has come for answers, wether he wants to give them to me or not. Have you brought the Veritaserum."

"I'm afraid you've used up all my stored interrogating students. The last of it on Miss Chang- unless you wish to poison him and I assure you, I would have the greatest sympathy of you did. I cannot help you." The man answered her simply before he turned around to go, but Harry acted quickly. "He's got Padfoot. He's got Padfoot at the place where it's hidden."

Umbridges gaze showed her confusion while she watched Snape and Harry closely, "Padfoot? What is Padfoot? Where what is hidden? What is he talking about Snape?"

Snape slowly turned around to Harry and shook his head, "No idea."

Harry let out a disappointed breath, Snape had been their last hope of informing the Order.

"All right, you give me no choice, Potter. As this is an issue of Ministry security you leave me with no alternative. The Cuciatus curse ought to loosen you tongue", Umbridge stated while she took her wand from her desk and gave Harry a cold gaze.

"That's illegal!", Annabeth snapped at her and the woman shrugged. Umbridge huffed before she took the photo of Fudge that sat on her desk and let it disappear into a drawer. "What Cornelius doesn't know won't hurt him."

The woman then turned towards Harry, her wand held up and pointed at him. She opened her mouth, but before she could say anything she was interrupted.

"Tell her, Harry!", Hermione immediately shouted while she was still being held back by Zabini.

The woman stopped in her track and looked at Hermione with expectation, "Tell me what?"

Hermione gave Harry a pointed look, "Well, if you won't tell her where it is- I will."

"Where what is?", Umbridge pushed for an answer. "Dumbledores secret weapon. It's here on Hogwarts grounds-", Hermione stated and suddenly Annabeth knew what Hermione had planned.

"We can show it to you-", Annabeth stated, exchanging a glance with Hermione.

Umbridge seemed hesitated but after a moment she loosened Harry's chains, "Potter and Potter- let's go."

Annabeth exchanged one last look with Hermione, who nodded at her in encouragement.

While they made their way through the Castle, Umbridge held them at wandpoint. "Where to, Miss Potter?"

"The forbidden forest", Annabeth answered her, keeping her answers short.

Umbridge didn't seem very happy about the fact that they had to enter the forbidden forest, but she remained silent while they crossed the school grounds and entered the forbidden forest.

A few minutes had passed by and they were already so deep inside that no light was coming through the thick trees.

"How much further?", Umbridge questioned them.

Annabeth wasn't exactly sure were Grawpy was, but she knew it couldn't be very far, "Not far- It had to be somewhere Students wouldn't find it accidentally."

"What are you doing!?", Harry questioned his sister from behind and she shrugged, whispering, "Improvising."

They reached the spot where Grawp was supposed to be, but there was only his chains left.

"Well? Where is this weapon?", Umbridge questioned them while she rounded the siblings and came to a stand infront of them.

The twins remained silent and that was enough answer for the woman, "There isn't one, is there? You were trying to trick me." There was silence between them before she spoke again, "You know- I really hate children."

Annabeth couldn't bite back a snarky remark, "No kidding."

Umbridge wanted to say something before the centaurs suddenly appeared behind her. The woman spun around while taking her wand down. "You have no business here centaur. This is a Ministry matter."

The centaurs pointed their bows and arrows at her, making her raise her voice, "Lower your weapons! I warn you, under the law, as creatures of near-human intelligence-"

One of the centaurs let his arrow fly at her and she quickly deflected the attack, "Protego!"

The arrow fell to the ground and her voice was filled with rage while she screamed, "How dare you!? Filthy half-breed."

She pointed her wand at him, "Incarcerous-" A roap came flying out of her wand and started to strangle the centaur, who fell to the ground before their feet.

Hermione and Annabeth immediately fell onto their knees besides him and wanted to help him, but the roap wasn't loosening. "Please, please! Stop it! Please."

"No, enough! I will have order!", the woman screamed at them before Grawpy appeared and lifted the woman into the air by her jacket.

She started screaming and the centaurs started attacking. They shot their arrows at the giant and jabbed at Umbridge, who dangled above their heads.

"Leave him alone! It's not his fault! He doesn't understand!", Hermione wanted to protect the giant while Harry pulled them back to the direction they had came from.

Grawp let go of Umbridge and the centaurs immediately grabbed her by her arms.

Umbridge gave them a pleading look, "Do something! Potter, tell them I mean no harm!"

"I'm sorry, professor. But I just not tell lies", Harry stated coldly before they watched how they dragged Umbridge off deeper into the woods. They could hear her screaming until the hoard has disappeared completely.

After that they hurried back towards the castle as fast as they could. They just made their way over the bridge when they met Ron, Ginny, Luna and Neville.

"How'd you get away?", Harry questioned them, rather out of breath and Ginny smirked widely at them. "Puking Pastilles- It wasn't pretty."

"Told them I was hungry and wanted some sweets. Of course they told me to bugger off and ate the lot themselves", Ron stated while he handed them their wands, grinning from ear to ear.

"That was clever, Ron", Hermione smiled at Ron, rather impressed by his trick.

Ron shrugged while he smiled at her, "It's been know to happen."

"It was brilliant", Neville stated, which made Ron smile even more. His gaze then turned to Harry, "So, how are we getting to London?"

"Look, it's not like I don't appreciate everything you've done, all of you- but I've got you into enough trouble as it is", Harry stated while he walked through the group.

"Dumbledore's Army's supposed to be about doing something real. Or was that all just words to you?", Neville questioned Harry, a little bit of frustration visible on his face.

"Maybe you don't have to do this all by yourself, mate", Ron told him while they all watched Harry, determined looks on their faces.

There was a moment of silence before Harry spoke, "So how are we going to get to London?"

This was the first time Luna had spoken, a dreamy smile on her face like always, "We fly, of course."

The next thing Annabeth knew, she was sitting on a Testral, flying through the sky. The brunette couldn't imagine how weird it must've been for Ron, Neville and Hermione, who had never seen someone die and therefor couldn't see the creatures.

The way was long and it was already night when they finally reached the ministry.

No one was working anymore and Annabeth found it kind of scary how silent the ministry. She had only known it to be bustling with people.

The group entered the elevator and it brought them directly to the Department of Mysteries. The voice above their heads spoke, "Department of Mysteries."

It was a long corridor, that consisted out of black marmor and very dim light. On the end of the hallway was a door with a large round gold knob on it's middle.

They could hear Harry sighting deeply, "This is it." They walked down the corridor and Harry took a moment before he slowly opened the door.

The group entered a dark room, there was no light coming from anywhere and Annabeth felt a shiver run through her body.

"Lumos", Annabeth flicked her wand and everyone mirrored her action.

The brunettes eyes wandered over their surroundings and only now she could see that the whole hall was full of shelves that were filled with prophecies, which sat on golden stands.

There were spiders nets everywhere over the balls and when Annabeth approached the shelves she saw that the crystal balls were see through and a white mist was twirling around inside of them.

Harry and the other's didn't waste any time and immediately made their way down the hall while he counted the rows.

"He should be here!", Harry stated helplessly and everyone exchanged glanced with each other, knowing that something wasn't right.

Suddenly Neville's voices caught their attention. "Harry- this one got your name on it."

Everyone turned towards the brunette boy and Harry slowly approached him, his eyes on the crystal ball. The Harry eyed the ball for a moment before he grabbed it carefully.

Suddenly there was this strange voice coming from the crystal ball, "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches. And the dark Lord shall mark him as his equal- but he shall have a power the Dark Lord knows not. For neither can live while the other survives."

Annabeth started looking around the hall and grew scared when she spotted a figure standing in the distance. For a moment she thought it was Voldemort but as she looked closer she recognized the get up of the Death eaters. Her voice was only above a whisper when she spoke, "Harry—"

Her brother still held the crystal ball in his hands while he rejoined them and the Death eater started approaching.

Harry didn't show any kind of fear while he faces the man underneath the mask, "Where's Sirius?"

"You know, you really should learn to tell the difference between dreams and- reality", the man stated before he made his mask disappear, revealing that he was no other than Lucius Malfoy. "You saw only what the Dark Lord wanted you to see. Now hand over the Prophecy."

"If you do anything to us, I'll break it." Harry threatened Malfoy.

Suddenly there was a shrieking laugh that made a cold shower run down Annabeth's spine.

There was a woman slowly coming out of the shadows behind Lucius, "He knows how to play! — Itty, bitty, baby— Potter." Her voice was high and scratchy.

As soon as she stepped into the light Annabeth could see that her skin was pale and her hair black and messy. Her eyes were black and you could see her madness inside them while dark shadows were beneath them and her cheekbones were sharp while her face was thin.

"Bellatrix Lestrange", Neville's voices spoke from besides Annabeth.

"Neville Longbottom, is it? How's Mum and Dad?", Lestrange questioned him while she raised her eyebrows expectantly.

Neville's hand tightened around his wand and his knuckles turned white, "Better, now rhat they're about to be avenged."

Neville immediately pointed his wand at the woman and she did the same with him, making Lucius raise his hands. "Now, let's everybody just calm down, shall we? All we want is that prophecy."

Neville put his wand down while Harry spoke, "Why did Voldemort need me to come and get this?"

"You dare speak his name?", Bellatrix voice was only above a whisper and her eyes were widened in shock. "You filthy half-blood!", she screamed at him and Annebeth frowned at the woman. She was really scary.

"It's all right. He's just a curious Lad, aren't you? Prophecies can only be retrieved by those about whom they are made", Lucius explained to him while Annebeth suddenly realized that they were being slowly surrounded by Death eaters.

"Which is lucky for you, really. Haven't you always wondered- what was the reason for the connection between you and the Dark Lord? Why was he unable to kill you when you were just an infant? Don't you want to know the secret of your scar? All the answers are there Potter, in your hand. All you have to do is give it to me. Then I can show you everything."

Annabeth grew nervous, the Death eaters were coming closer and closer and she didn't like that very much.

"I've waited fourteen years-", Harry stated calmly. Lucius nodded his head, "I know you have."

Harry nodded his head, "I guess I can wait a little longer—  Now!" They all immediately flicked their wands and pointed them at one Death eaters around them, "Stupefy!"

A few of them deflected and a few were sent flying backwards. The group then immediately started running down the corridor they had originally came from.

They rounded the corner and stopped when Lucius suddenly appeared infront of them.

They then quickly took a different path and Luna was attacked. "Levicorpus!", the Death eater who was attacking her was flying backwards and the girl quickly hurried after the other's.

Neville stunned a few of them, "Stupefy". But the group was separated and threw with stunning spells around themselves before they collided with each other at a crossing further along the corridor.

They saw a Death eater in the distance and Ginny flicked her wand, "Reducto!"

The spell hit and a bright light errupted, making the shelves crumble one after the other. The prophecies were falling and they all hurried back towards the door as quickly as they could.

Annabeth jumped through the door and felt her heart jump when she immediately fell down. The brunette saw the ground approached before she suddenly stopped just above the ground. Hermione had casted a levitating spell on them.

They then fell to the ground, all letting out a grunt before they got up onto their feet.

Ron sighed deeply, "Department of Mysteries. They got that but right, didn't they?"

There was nothing in this room except for a large stone hill and a stone arch.

Annabeth could hear whispering and she looked around but no one else was there. The brunette slowly approached the stone arch and figured out that the voices were probably coming from there.

"The voice's— can you tell what they are saying?", the brunette questioned the other's while she approached the archway.

"There aren't any voices, Annabeth. Let's get out of here!", Hermione begged her, her voice anxious.

"I hear them too." Luna stated while she came to a stand behind Annabeth.

Hermione was persistent on leaving quickly, "Annabeth, it's just an empty archway! Please, Annabeth!"

Suddenly there was a weird sound and Annabeth immediately turned around to see the Death eaters approached in theire dark clouds, "Get behind me!"

The group immediately gathered together and pointed their wands at them before they were enveloped in the dark cloud.

Annabeth could feel herself being gripped by someone and the next second she was standing besides Lucius, who had her in a chokehold and his wand pointed at her throat.

Harry was laying on the ground, the prophecy still in his hand before he slowly stood up.

Lucius was laughing at Harry while the boy saw that everyone of his friend's was held at wandpoint. "Did you actually believe or were you truly naive enough to think that children stood a chance against us? I'll make this simple for you, Potter. Give me the prophecy now- or watch your friends and sister die."

Harry was looking around him and Annabeth saw that he was struggling with himself.

"Don't give it to him, Harry", Neville called out, but Bellatrix immediately silenced him.

Lucius slowly let go of Annabeth and shoved her to the ground before Harry placed the prophecy in his hand.

Lucius was eyeing the prophecy proudly while a white light beam appeared besides him.

Annabeth was blinded by the light but when her eyes adjusted she saw that it was no other than their godfather Sirius.

The man slowly approached Lucius, who turned around to him. "Get away from my Godchildren", Sirius told him before he punched Lucius into his face.

The prophecy fell to the ground and broke while many more light beams started appearing.

They started chancing the dark shadows and twirled around each other while flying through the air.

Sirius immediately pulled Harry and Annabeth down behind a stone while one after the other Order members appeared.

Annabeth smiled to herself, so Snape had informed them after all.

Sirius flicked his wand and created a shield while one of the Death eaters tried to send a curse their way.

Sirius then faced them, a loving look on his face, "Now listen to me. I want you to take the other's and get out of here!"

Harry quickly shook his head, "What? No, I'm staying with you." Annabeth remained silent before she pulled the man into a quick hug.

They pulled back. "You've done beautifully. Now, let me take it from here", Sirius stated before they were suddenly attacked by Lucius and two other Death Eaters.

The three were duelling with them until they disarmed one of them before Harry sent the other one flying backwards.

Sirius nodded at Harry, "Nice one, James!" He then continued to duell with Lucius until he had disarmed him and sent the man flying backwards.

Sirius was looking at Harry and Annabeth, a large smile on his face before Annabeth suddenly heared Bellatrix voice.

"Avada Kedavra."

A green light shot through the room and hit Sirius chest for a split second. If Annabeth had blinked she would've missed it.

His wand dropped to the ground and the man stumbled backwards towards the archway and slowly disappeared into the mist.

Annabeth's eyes widened while she watched how Sirius disappeared and immediately an arm wrapped around her and Harry.

The brunette was screaming out of the top of her lung while the tears shot into her eyes and she could hear Harry scream in pain while he struggled against Remus firm hold.

He then broke free form Remus hold and ran after Bellatrix while Annabeth stayed behind and cried into the man's chest.

The brunette only realized after a moment that Harry was facing that lunatic which by himself and quickly hurried after her brother.

The brunette was shocked when she entered the hall and saw no other than Voldemort stand in front of Harry.

He had disarmed Harry and Annabeth raised her wand, but the man had felt her behind him and disarmed her as well before her let her levitated into the air and sat her down besides her brother.

Annabeth was frozen in fear before a green fire errupted in one of the many chimneys and Dumbledore appeared. "It was foolish of you to come here tonight, Tom. The Aurora are on their way."

"By which time I shall be gone, and you shall be dead", Voldemort stated simply while before they both flicked their wands.

Dumbledore immediately pushed Harry and Annabeth to the ground and out of the way before their beams collided with one another and the two wizards started duelling.

Voldemort sent a snake out of fire his way but Dumbledore defused the attack and sent the fire back to Voldemort before he tried to drown him with the water from the fountain that stood in the middle of the hall.

The two went back and forth until Voldemort sent Dumbledore flying back a bit and let every single glass in the room explode before he gathered it behind himself and sent it towards Dumbledore.

The older wizard also deflected this attack and Voldemort grew angry, Annabeth could see it in his eyes. He stared at them with hatred before he suddenly disappeared into thin air.

A moment later Harry started groaning behind them and fell to the ground. Annabeth immediately kneeled down besides him and Dumbledore gave him a curious look.

Harry's eyes were suddenly glistening green, with dark shadows beneath them as he stared up at Dumbledore. "You've lost, old man."

Harry groaned again while he flinched. He was fighting against Voldemort.

"Harry-", Dumbledore leaned down to the boy. "Harry, it isn't how you are alike— it's how you are not."

The boy was still laying on the ground, his eye color flickering while the other's entered the hall.

Annabeth grabbed her brothers hand and gave it a squeeze while she whispered, "You are not alone, Harry."

Harry sighed before he spoke, the exhaustion could be heard in his voice, "You're the weak one- and you will never know love or friendship. And I feel sorry for you."

Suddenly he turned to lay on his back and a second later Voldemort stood directly besides Annabeth. His eyes were trained on the boy on the ground, "You're a fool Harry Potter— and you will loose everything."

In that moment green flames errupted in the chimneys and Aurors appeared in the hall, as well as Cornelius Fudge, who gasped loudly when he saw Voldemort slowly disappearing.

"He's back!"