The Dolores Umbridge standing before him was completely different from the one Harry Potter remembered.
But there was no time to dwell on it...
Behind them, the screams of Aurors echoed again and again. These Ministry-trained combat wizards, after enjoying over a decade of peace, had long grown rusty. In real battle, they were no match for the Death Eaters.
Umbridge was clearly lost, dragging Harry along without direction as she crashed between the crystal sphere shelves.
"We should go this way!" Harry couldn't help shouting.
His voice seemed to draw the Death Eaters' attention.
A Death Eater cast some unknown spell, and the ground shook violently as if in an earthquake... All the towering shelves swayed, then toppled one after another.
One of the tall shelves slammed down not far behind them. Harry ducked quickly, and behind him he heard Umbridge let out a sharp scream.
The shelf had pinned half her body underneath it.
"Professor Umbridge!" Harry called frantically.
There was no answer. She seemed to have been knocked unconscious...
"Where's Potter?" The Death Eaters' voices behind them grew closer.
Gritting his teeth, Harry pulled free of Umbridge's grasp and sprinted toward the exit.
He admitted he felt some guilt—after all, she had come to rescue him. But after everything she'd done at school, he still couldn't forgive her...
So he chose to leave her behind.
...
After a tremendous struggle, Harry finally escaped the room filled with crystal spheres.
He returned to the massive circular chamber from earlier.
There he saw Neville Longbottom—covered in blood, limping badly.
Clutching the prophecy sphere tightly, Harry ran to support him. "Neville, how are they—Ron? Ginny? Luna?"
"Ron got hit by some spell—he's acting all dazed. Ginny and Luna were knocked down too..." Neville said weakly. Suddenly, his expression changed and he raised his wand, shouting, "Harry, look out!"
But it was too late. A flash of red light shot toward them, knocking Neville's wand from his hand and sending him flying several meters.
Harry spun around just as two figures approached slowly—Lucius Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange. They had broken through the Aurors' line and followed Harry here.
"It's over, Potter," Lucius Malfoy drawled, tearing off his mask. "Now, hand me the prophecy sphere."
"Don't give it to him, Harry..." Neville shouted, struggling upright.
"Longbottom, is it?" Malfoy glanced at him with a sneer. "How fitting. Your grandmother is quite accustomed to donating family members to our cause... So if you die, she won't mind, will she?"
"Longbottom?" Bellatrix repeated in her shrill voice, then broke into a giggle. "Wonderful. I had the pleasure of meeting your parents, little boy!"
"I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU!" Neville roared, struggling to stand.
Bellatrix smiled coldly. She stepped forward, planted her foot on Neville's wand, and with a sharp crack, snapped it in two.
Neville let out a furious scream—but it was nothing more than helpless rage.
Bellatrix glanced at Harry, then looked back at Neville, excitement lighting her expression. "Well then, let's see how long young Longbottom lasts before he breaks, just like his parents... Unless Potter hands over the prophecy..."
"Crucio!" Bellatrix screamed.
Neville's shriek echoed through the room, his legs curling toward his chest as his entire body convulsed. Trembling violently, he screamed again and again...
"Careful, don't kill him outright," Malfoy warned with a frown.
"Just a little taste..." Bellatrix laughed coldly, lowering her wand. Neville's screams faded into soft sobs as he collapsed at her feet.
Bellatrix turned toward Harry. "Alright, Potter. Either hand over the prophecy sphere, or watch your little friend lose his mind to agony. Hurry. Choose."
Harry didn't need to think. He had no other option.
The prophecy sphere was warm in his palm from his own body heat... His hand trembled as he lifted it and began to hand it over...
...
"Head down, Harry!" A commanding voice suddenly rang out behind him.
Harry ducked instinctively.
A red beam streaked over his head. Lucius Malfoy staggered back, barely avoiding being hit.
A dark figure appeared beside Harry and helped him up.
Kingsley Shacklebolt gave him a calm, kind smile. "You alright, Harry?"
Harry was about to nod when he caught, from the corner of his eye, Malfoy lifting his wand to strike.
"Look out!" Harry shouted.
Kingsley didn't even turn. He simply raised his wand behind him and blocked the spell effortlessly...
"Find somewhere to hide. This fight is ours," he said, then turned to attack Malfoy.
Meanwhile, Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks burst through the doorway. They unleashed curses at Bellatrix Lestrange one after another. Facing attacks from two sides, Bellatrix faltered, forced backward.
And more Order of the Phoenix members were arriving—one after another.
Arthur Weasley, Dedalus Diggle, Elphias Doge… They all appeared and joined the battle. Within moments, Lucius Malfoy was struck in the chest by Mr. Weasley's Stunner and collapsed unconscious.
Seeing the growing numbers, Bellatrix dodged one of Tonks's spells and scrambled to flee.
A small smile touched Harry's face—until suddenly his scar erupted in searing, burning pain...
He collapsed to his knees, shaking violently as tears streamed down his face.
"Voldemort is coming!" Harry gasped through clenched teeth.