Professor Merlin Emrys

To Hold One's Life and Death in One's Palm

The panic expanded inside Harry like poison gas so that his head swam and he could not think what to do.

Ron and Hermione, said a voice in his head.

He was running again, pushing students out of the way, oblivious to their angry protests and shouts. He sprinted back down two floors and was at the top of the marble staircase when he saw them hurrying toward him.

"Harry!" said Hermione at once, looking very frightened. "What happened? Are you alright? Are you ill?"

"Where have you been?" demanded Ron.

"Come with me," Harry said quickly. "Come on, I've got to tell you something..." He led them along the first-floor corridor, peering through doorways, and at last found an empty classroom into which he dived, closing the door behind Ron and Hermione the moment they were inside and leaning against it, facing them.

"Voldemort's got Sirius."

"What?"

"How d'you — ?"

"Saw it. Just now. When I fell asleep in the exam."

"But — but where? How?" said Hermione, whose face was white.

"I dunno how," said Harry. "But I know exactly where. There's a room in the Department of Mysteries full of shelves covered in these little glass balls, and they're at the end of row ninety-seven...He's trying to use Sirius to get whatever it is he wants from in there....He's torturing him....Says he'll end by killing him..." Harry found his voice was shaking, as were his knees. He moved over to a desk and sat down on it, trying to master himself. "How're we going to get there?" he asked them. There was a moment's silence.

Then Ron said, "G-get there?"

"Get to the Department of Mysteries, so we can rescue Sirius!" Harry said loudly.

"Now Harry, hold on! You're not thinking clearly! It's five o'clock in the afternoon, Harry. The Ministry of Magic must be full of workers....How would Voldemort and Sirius have got in without being seen? Harry...they're probably the two most wanted wizards in the world....You think they could get into a building full of Aurors undetected?"

It caused Harry to pause briefly in his panic and look at Hermione and Ron properly. They both looked worried, rightfully so but Harry had a feeling it was not for the same reason that he was.

"I can't just do nothing. I can't. He's all I got, Hermione. Please," Harry begged, eyes watering at the thought of how he and Sirius seemed to always draw the short end of any stick.

"Alright, mate," Harry nearly jumped in his excitement to hug Ron from his acceptance. " But, we tell Merlin first, Harry. He can help."
Harry wanted to protest, it would only slow them down but he supposed having the world's most powerful warlock on their side couldn't hurt their chances, "Okay," he relented, running his hands through his hair and messing it up more than seemed possible for his already unruly locks.

"Really?" Hermione breathed out, seemingly shocked that he had relinquished to Ron's demand so quickly.

"Really, we don't have time for this, Hermione. Let's go!" Harry stood, running out the door in hopes that his friends would follow. He only hoped Merlin would believe him. Merlin had been avoiding them since the week of O.W.L's but Harry had chalked it up in not wanting to interrupt them studying. Now, he wasn't so sure. He had been shifty and his eyes would linger on Harry as if waiting for him to disappear. He didn't know what brought on the sudden change but he did not like it one bit. Right now though, Merlin was his only hope of getting to the ministry with Ron and Hermione.