Annie, Dante, Ron, and the rest of the D.A. managed to escape the Inquisitorial Squad and catch up with Harry and Hermione, who had distracted Professor Umbridge for a while. And she was nowhere to be seen. 

"How did you escape?!" Hermione exclaimed in shock as they approached them. 

"Puking Pastilles," Ginny quipped proudly. "It was Ron's idea, really. It was very clever." 

"So how are we going to get to London?" Dante asked. 

Harry shook his head, turning his head away from his friends. "Look. It's not like I don't appreciate your help, I really do. But I've got you into enough trouble as it is." 

"Dumbledore's Army was supposed to be doing something real," Annie declared. "Or was that all just words to you, brother?" 

"Maybe you don't have to do this by yourself, mate," Ron encouraged, shrugging his shoulders. Eventually, her brother gave in.

"So how do we get to London?" 

No one had a clue. Annie did have an idea, but she hated the thought of it, which is why she didn't say anything. She hated the thought of flying. But unfortunately, Luna had gotten to it. 

"We fly, of course." 

**********

They finally approached the Department of Mysteries. Annie's heart thumped against her chest as they made their way, as quietly as they could, through the many rows and rows of crystal balls, all of which seemed to be prophecies of somebody. 

They finally got to row  '93', but there was no sign of Sirius, or anyone. Harry stared up at his friends and sister in defeat. Maybe his sister had been right, and that Voldemort was only using him as bait. 

"He should be here!" he said in defeat. 

"Annie, Harry?" said Dante unexpectedly. He had his back turned on everyone else, staring at a smoky orb. "This one's got both of your names on it." 

the twins slowly approached Dante. Harry gingerly took the prophecy from its stand and held it up close. Sera was surprised when Professor Trelawney began to speak, her voice breathy and haunting. It wasn't the same exact voice that Sera heard when she had predicted Peter Pettigrew's return in her third year. 

" 'The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches. . . . born to those who have thrice defied them, born as the seventh month dies, and the Dark Lord will mark them as his equal, but he will have the power to the Dark Lord knows not. And either must die at the hand of the other, for none can live while the other survives. The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches as the seventh month dies . . ." 

"Harry, Annie!" Hermione called out. 

A Death Eater began to approach them. It was this time that Dante began to feel extremely defensive of Annie. She was in more danger than any of them. 

"Where's Sirius?" Harry demanded firmly. 

"You know, you really should learn to tell the difference between dreams. . . . and reality," said the chilling voice of the familiar Lucius Malfoy. 

Annie felt anger coursing through her. 

"If you do anything to us, I swear, I'll break it," Annie's brother immediately threatened. 

A cackle cracked through the air. Dante gasped and immediately tensed. He had his wand raised to defend himself. The color drained from his face. 

"He knows how to play!" the voice taunted before turning into a mocking baby voice. "Itty, bitty, baby . . . . Potter!" 

"B-Bellatrix Lestrange," Dante whimpered. He began to lower his wand a bit. 

A cruel smirk lit the vile woman's face. "Ah! Durante Knightley, isn't it? How's your miserable life been?" 

"Better, now that you're about to be avenged!" Dante immediately retorted, aiming his wand again.

Bellatrix followed suit. Lucius Malfoy, however, managed to stop the fight between Bellatrix's nephew and herself. 

"Now, now," said Lucius. "Let's everybody just calm down. All we want is the prophecy."

"Why did Voldemort need me to come and get this?" Harry blurted out at once. 

"You dare speak his name?" Bellatrix hissed before roaring, "You filthy Half-Blood!" 

"It's alright, Bella," Lucius Malfoy reassured. "He's just curious, isn't he? Prophecies can only be retrieved by those about whom they are made for." 

More Death Eaters began to surround them. Lucius Malfoy continued talking, distracting the group. 

"Haven't the two of you always wondered where the connection between the two of you and the Dark Lord? Why he wasn't able to kill the two of you the first time, when the two of you were only infants? Do you want to know the secrets of your scars? All the answers are right there, Potter, in your hand. All you have to do is give it to me, and I will show you everything." 

"Yeah? Like we'll believe you," Annie scoffed loudly. 

"Shut up, Sis," Harry snapped. Then, he continued, "We've been waiting for this for fourteen years." 

"I know, I know," said Lucius in mock sympathy. He still had his hand outstretched. 

"But I guess that we can wait a little longer. Go, now!" 

"Stupefy!" they all cried out before blasting away the Death Eaters. 

Everyone turned and ran in different directions. Annie's feet got sore very quickly, but she didn't care. She just had to get away. 

"Petrificus Totalus!" Dante exclaimed, aiming his wand at an unexpecting Death Eater. 

At once, the Death Eater froze, falling flat to the floor. 

"Great job, Dante," said Annie kindly. She tugged him along and they hurried. They didn't stop running until they ran into each other. 

"Holy shit!" Sera gasped, a hand at her heart. She had sweat pouring down her forehead from all the running she had done. 

Another Death Eater caught their eye. Ginny immediately aimed her wand at the unexpecting Death Eater. 

"Reducto!" 

There was a blast of air before the crystal balls began to shatter to the ground. 

"Run!" Harry instructed. 

They all did as they were told and ran. Annie wrenched open the nearest door in hopes to get out. But what she did not expect was her feet to fall through the floor. Everyone followed after her, and they went, plummeting to the ground, until — 

"Aresto Momentum!" Hermione shrieked.

They hovered over several inches in the air before landing painfully on the floor. Annie managed to get painfully to her feet. In the meanwhile, Harry made his way to a veil being harnessed by a rocky arch. 

"Do you hear that?" said Harry in a hushed voice.

"Hear what?" Annie asked, concerned. 

"That, the voice!" 

"Harry, I don't hear anything," Annie groaned. "It's just an empty archway! Let's just get back, brother. Harry, please!" 

"Get behind me, all of you!" Harry demanded. 

They all did as they were told. They got to a crouch, faces on the floor. But unfortunately, one by one, all of Harry's and Annie's friends were being taken. When the whooshing noise had stopped, the twins carefully lifted their heads to see their surroundings. 

Annie glanced over at everyone that had been kidnapped. Her eyes finally rested on Dante, who was being held captive by his Aunt Bellatrix. She had her arm around his neck, beginning to suffocate him. Her wand hand was pointed at his neck, threatening to hurt or kill him. Bellatrix Lestrange had a gloating, triumphant smile on her face, chuckling quietly. 

Harry still had the prophecy clutched tightly in his hands. To Annie's fury, Lucius Malfoy strode confidently towards the twins. Annie gripped her wand tightly. 

"Did you actually believe, or were you truly naive enough to think that a band of mere children stood a chance against us? I'll make this quite simple to you, Potter. Give me the prophecy now, or watch all of your little friend die." 

Sera took a moment, glancing at all of her friends, defeated. But she felt even more defeated when she saw the desperate look on Dante's face. She could see the look of fear dancing in his watery eyes. 

"Don't give it to him, Harry!" Dante blurted out.

Bellatrix now put her hand over his mouth to get him to shut up. She pressed the tip of her wand further into the base of his neck. 

Slowly, as though defeated, Harry carefully handed Lucius Malfoy the prophecy. Malfoy held it up, looking quite triumphant. But a bright light behind Lucius Malfoy caught her eye. She was surprised to hear Sirius Black's voice. 

He was alive. 

"Get away from my godchildren," he hissed unexpectedly. 

Annie was even more surprised when Sirius Black had slapped Lucius right across the face. Everyone gasped and stared in surprise. 

That was when a fight broke out. 

Annie immediately ran over towards Dante, who was still in Bellatrix Lestrange's clutches. She immediately disarmed the evil cousin, pulling Dante from her grasp. He immediately collapsed in her arms, shaking, terrified. 

"C'mon!" Annie pleaded desperately.

 She pulled him to his feet, though he was still shaking as he allowed Sera to pull him to safety. Annie managed to get Dante away to a more safety area and attempted to calm him down. By the time he had been brought to safety, he was hyperventilating. 

Annie put her hands on his cheeks, doing her best to calm him. He refused to look her in the eye so that she could see his true emotions, until she forced him to look up at her. 

"It's okay," Annie reassured him gently. "I'm right here. I'm not going to let her hurt you again." 

She had been so busy with trying to calm Dante down, that she didn't have a clue of what was going. Until —

"— Avada Kedavra!" a female's voice screeched. 

Annie leapt to her feet, just in time to witness her beloved godfather going through the veil, not coming back through the other side. 

Her brother's reaction was palpable. His reaction was so intense, it made her feel emotional as well. She could have sworn that tears began to fill her eyes. But she was distracted, however, when Bellatrix Lestrange began to run away, gloating as she went. 

"I killed Sirius Black! I killed Sirius Black!" she chanted endlessly. Both of the twins chased after her. "Are you coming to get me?" she taunted. 

"Crucio!" Harry bellowed. 

Bellatrix shrieked and tripped, falling onto the floor. Annie stood in the background, panting heavily, wand clenched tightly in her hands.

"That's what you get for torturing an innocent boy for eight years!" Annie bellowed. 

But being struck by the Cruciatus Curse once, wasn't going to help with anything. She needed more punishments. Another sentence to Azkaban would do her good. And Annie wouldn't mind being there to witness it all happen. 

Harry could not get the spell out. He was too angry and upset to say anything. Then, quite suddenly, Voldemort appeared behind the twins. 

"Do it! Do it, now!" 

Harry whipped around to see Voldemort. He aimed his wand at the Dark Wizard, only to have his wand knocked back. 

"So weak," he snarled.

Suddenly, Professor Dumbledore came through the fireplace. Voldemort looked horrified. Sera couldn't be any happier, knowing that the most powerful good wizard in the world was coming to their aid. 

"It was foolish for you to come out here tonight, Tom," Dumbledore advised. "The Ministry is on their way." 

"And by that time, I shall live, and you. . . . shall be dead." 

Annie's mouth turned dry. Professor Dumbledore raised his wand with Voldemort following just moments after. Annie and her brother were blasted through the air, landing next to the Ministry fountain. Annie shielded her brother while they fought. 

He was still grieving the loss of their godfather, and Annie couldn't blame him. When Dumbledore stood over the twins while Voldemort made glass from the Ministry windows break and turn into shards, he protected them while Annie continued to shield her brother. 

Suddenly, Harry cried out in pain, twitching violently.

"Harry!" Annie cried out, alarmed.

 Her face paled at the sight of her brother in this torturous state. She grabbed her brother's hand in an attempt to comfort him. Her eyes watered with pity. She hated to see her brother be in so much agony. 

"Harry. . . .," she whispered, though she was sure that he could hear her. "Harry, just listen to me." 

"Harry, this isn't how you're alike," said Professor Dumbledore. "It's how you are not." 

Annie took her brother's face in her hands, trying to get him to look at her. But his eyes had rolled into the back of his head, unable to look at his sister. But she could feel him trying to fight against it. 

"You're the weak one," Harry finally whimpered. The pain was still evident in his body, making him feel weak. "And you'll never know friendship . . . . or love. And I feel sorry for you." 

Voldemort stood over Harry as Annie continued to hold her unconscious brother in her arms. She held her brother protectively to her. She had her wand held tightly in her free hand. She glared threateningly at the villain in front of her. 

"You're a fool, Harry Potter," Voldemort taunted. "And you will lose everything." 

Green flames began to appear in the fireplaces behind them. Annie glanced behind her shoulder to see the members of the Ministry approaching. Cornelius Fudge looked extremely sleepy, his eyes barely open. 

"Dumbledore, what — what's going —?" he stuttered tiredly, only to look up with wide eyes, just in time to see Voldemort disappearing. "He's back!" he suddenly breathed. He turned to the crowd and added loudly, "I saw him with my own eyes! He's back!"