"Now Harry," Neville whispered from under the invisibility cloak. He was there with the Marauder's map waiting for Professor Snape to get within hearing range.
"Hermione," Harry started immediately. "Voldemort's got him...I saw it...He's torturing Sirius."
"That's silly Harry," She retorted. "How could he have captured Sirius? He's at Grimmauld Place."
The footsteps they had heard approaching stopped. Neville could see the little dot labeled Snape pause on the map. He continued to make sure no one else was around.
"I don't know, but that's not important," Harry continued.
"Let's just go tell Professor McGonagall. I'm sure she'll contact Sirius."
"It would be just like first year Hermione," Harry stated in a feigned angry voice. "She'd just tell us that it's preposterous and send us away."
"You don't know that Harry."
"I can't take the risk can I?"
"What else can you do?"
"I'm going. I'm going to find him," Harry stated. "I know he's in the Ministry…in that room."
"And how do you plan on getting all the way to London tonight?" Hermione asked sarcastically. "Fly your broom?"
"That's an excellent idea," Harry said with his voice rising excitedly. "Yeah I can fly my broom."
A nudge on the side of Harry's shoe allowed him to know Snape was moving again.
"You can't be serious," Hermione exclaimed.
"What can't Potter be serious about Miss Granger?" Said the oily voice of Professor Snape.
"DON'T YOU DARE TELL…" Harry yelled to Hermione.
"I'm sorry Harry but it's for your own good," Hermione said and turned to Snape. "Sir he thinks Sirius was captured by You-Know-Who."
Snape glance over to Harry. "Oh he does, does he?" A sneer appeared on his face. "I wouldn't worry too much Potter," He said in a voice filled with scorn. "Black's too much of a coward to have left Grimmauld Place."
"COWARD?" Harry yelled again. "YOU'RE THE…"
Snape's eyes flashed dangerously. "I wouldn't finish that sentence if you know what's good for you," He said quietly. "Thirty points from Gryffindor. Now get out of my sight before it becomes much worse."
Hermione pulled Harry's arm and pretended to lead him away as Harry glared at Snape. "Let's see if he follows us," She said to him.
To keep up the appearance they kept talking to each other.
"I still think you should tell Professor McGonagall," Hermione said.
"I can't," Harry replied. "If she doesn't take me seriously she might try to make me stay here. I have to go and rescue Sirius."
"You're just going to go fight You-Know-Who?"
"I've done it before," Harry muttered.
"And barely escaped," Hermione reminded him loudly, hoping Snape was still listening.
"Don't you understand Hermione? I don't have a choice," Harry exclaimed. "Now leave me alone and let me go."
"You can't go alone," Hermione said. "I'll go with you."
And so it continued. When they returned to Gryffindor tower Harry retrieved his Firebolt from his room, ignoring Ron's questions about it. At the same time Hermione grabbed her bag from her dorm. As they started out of the common room, Neville and Luna arrived.
"What do you have your Firebolt for?" Neville asked. That told Harry and Hermione what they needed to know. Neville would say 'Firebolt' if Snape had followed them and 'broom' if he had not.
Harry locked eyes on Neville for a short time before Hermione chimed in. "He thinks You-Know-Who has captured someone he knows. He's planning on running off to London to try to help him," She looked at Harry with a hint of exasperation. "I don't think it's true, but I'm going with him."
"I told you that I don't need your help Hermione," Harry retorted and started to walk past her.
"You're not going alone," She stated plainly grabbing his arm.
"I'll go too," Neville said. "I…I can help."
"Neville is pretty good at acting isn't he?" Harry said to Hermione who agreed.
"I'll go too," Luna said. "It's a pretty night to see London. Besides you can use all the help you can get."
"Look guys I'm not asking you to come," Harry exclaimed. "It's going to be dangerous and I don't want any of you hurt."
"That's too bad, since we're going anyway."
"Do either of you have a broom?"
"Well no…" Neville admitted and looked at Luna who was shaking her head as well. Then Luna's eyes lit up. "But I know what we can do," She grabbed Harry's arm and started pulling him after her. Down to the main level and out of the castle the four teenagers went.
Harry saw Neville's eyes float down to a piece of parchment he pulled carefully out of his robes. He knew Neville was looking at the map. "What do you have in mind Luna that can keep up with Harry's Firebolt?" Neville said as he looked back up.
'Firebolt' again. Snape was still tailing them.
Luna didn't reply until they were near Hagrid's hut. For the sake of listening ears Harry said. "Luna we can't tell Hagrid. He'll try to stop us."
"I'd never tell Hagrid, Harry," She replied. "But he keeps…" She reached behind a tree near his hut and pulled out a covered pail, "some blood around just for calling them." She finished.
"Calling what?" Harry asked, trying to make his voice sound like it was running out of patience.
"Thestrals of course," Luna replied.
"WHAT?" Harry whispered loudly.
"Neville and I can ride Thestrals," Luna replied. "Hermione too if she doesn't want to ride with you on your broom," Luna had started into the forest and the other teens followed. They no longer needed to pretend their voice was filled with nervousness, though there was still plenty of light; it was still dangerous enough to keep them on their toes.
"But…but I can't see Thestrals," Hermione said as the question she had asked herself when she had seen the Thestrals in the memories came back to her.
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