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rd； reveal himself to the Aurors； when at the moment they are wasting their time on my dear cousin？'
'So； he's got you doing his dirty work for him； has he？' said Harry。 'Like he tried to get Sturgis to steal it … and Bode？'
'Very good； Potter； very good：' said Malfoy slowly。 'But the Dark Lord knows you are not unintell…'
'NOW！' yelled Harry。
Five different voices behind him bellowed； 'REDUCTO！' Five curses flew in five different directions and the shelves opposite them exploded as they hit； the towering structure swayed as a hundred glass spheres burst apart； pearly…white figures unfurled into the air and floated there； their voices echoing from who knew what long…dead past amid the torrent of crashing glass and splintered wood now raining down upon the floor …
'RUN！' Harry yelled； as the shelves swayed precariously and more glass spheres began to fall from above。 He seized a handful of Hermione's robes and dragged her forwards； holding one arm over his head as chunks of shelf and shards of glass thundered down upon them。 A Death Eater lunged forwards through the cloud of dust and Harry elbowed him hard in the masked face； they were all yelling； there were cries of pain； and thunderous crashes as the。 shelves collapsed upon themselves； weirdly echoing fragments of the Seers unleashed from their spheres …
Harry found the way ahead clear and saw Ron； Ginny and Luna sprint past him； their arms over their heads； something 。 heavy struck him on the side of the face but he merely ducked his head and sprinted onwards； a hand caught him by the shoulder； he heard Hermione shout； 'Stupefy！' The hand released him at once …
They were at the end of row ninety…seven； Harry turned right and began to sprint in earnest； he could hear footsteps right behind him and Hermione's voice urging Neville on； straight ahead； the door through which they had e was ajar； Harry could see the glittering light of the bell jar； he pelted through the doorway； the prophecy still clutched tight and safe in his hand； and waited for the others to hurtle over the threshold before slamming the door behind them …
'Colloportus！' gasped Hermione and the door sealed itself with an odd squelching noise。
'Where … where are the others？' gasped Harry。
He had thought Ron； Luna and Ginny were ahead of them； that they would be waiting in this room； but there was nobody there。
They must have gone the wrong way！' whispered Hermione； terror in her face。
'Listen！' whispered Neville。
Footsteps and shouts echoed from behind the door they had just sealed； Harry put his ear close to the door to listen and heard Lucius Malfoy roar； 'Leave Nott； leave him； I say … his injuries will be nothing to the Dark Lord pared to losing that prophecy。 Jugson； e back here； we need to organise！ We'll split into pairs and search； and don't forget； be gentle with Potter until we've got the prophecy； you can kill the others if necessary …Bellatrix； Rodolphus； you take the left； Crabbe； Rabastan； go right …Jugson； Dolohov； the door straight ahead … Macnair and Avery； through here … Rookwood； over there … Mulciber； e with me！'
'What do we do？' Hermione asked Harry； trembling from head to foot。
'Well； we don't stand here waiting for them to find us； for a 't't start；' said Harry。 'Let's get away from this door。' ｜ They ran as quietly as they could； past the shimmering bell jar j where the tiny egg was hatching and unhatching； towards the exit I into the circular hallway at the far end of the room。 They were I almost there when Harry heard something large and heavy collide with the door Hermione had charmed shut。
'Stand aside！' said a rough voice。 'Alahomora！'
As the door flew open； Harry； Hermione and Neville dived under desks。 They could see the bottom of the two Death Eaters' robes drawing nearer； their feet moving rapidly。
They might've run straight through to the hall；' said the rough voice。
'Check under the desks；' said another。
Harry saw the knees of the Death Eaters bend； poking his wand out from under the desk； he shouted； 'STUPEFY！'
A jet of red light hit the nearest Death Eater； he fell backwards into a grandfather clock and knocked it over； the second Death Eater； however； had leapt aside to avoid Harry's spell and was pointing his own wand at Hermione； who was crawling out from under the desk to get a better aim。
'Avada …
Harry launched himself across the floor and grabbed the Death Eater around the knees； causing him to topple and his aim to go awry。 Neville overturned a desk in his anxiety to help； and pointing his wand wildly at the struggling pair； he cried：
'EXPELLIARMUS！'
Both Harry's and the Death Eater's wands flew out of their hands and soared back towards the entrance to the Hall of Prophecy； both scrambled to their feet and charged after them； the Death Eater in front； Harry hot on his heels； and Neville bringing up the rear； plainly horrorstruck by what he had done。
'Get out of the way； Harry！' yelled Neville； clearly determined to repair the damage。
Harry flung himself sideways as Neville took aim again and shouted：
'STUPEFY！'
The jet of red light flew right over the Death Eater's shoulder and hit a glass…fronted cabinet on the wall full of variously shaped hour…glasses； the cabinet fell to the floor and burst apart； glass flying everywhere； sprang back up on to the wall； fully mended； then fell down again； and shattered …
The Death Eater had snatched up his wand； which lay on the floor beside the glittering bell jar。 Harry ducked down behind another desk as the man turned； his mask had slipped so that he couldn't see。 He ripped it off with his free hand and shouted： 'STUP…'
'STUPEFY！' screamed Hermione； who had just caught up with them。 The jet of red light hit the Death Eater in the middle of his chest： he froze； his arm still raised； his wand fell to the floor with a clatter and he collapsed backwards towards the bell jar。 Harry expected to hear a dunk； for the man to hit solid glass and slide off the jar on to the floor； but instead； his head sank through the surface of the bell jar as though it were nothing but a soap bubble and he came to rest； sprawled on his back on the table； with his head lying inside the jar full of glittering wind。
'Accio wand！' cried Hermione。 Harry's wand flew from a dark corner into her hand and she threw it to him。
Thanks；' he said。 'Right； let's get out of …'
'Look out！' said Neville； horrified。 He was staring at the Death Eater's head in the bell jar。
All three of them raised their wands again； but none of them struck： they were all gazing； open…mouthed； appalled； at what was happening to the man's head。
It was shrinking very fast； growing balder and balder； the black hair and stubble retracting into his skull； his cheeks being smooth； his skull round and covered with a peachlike fuzz：
A baby's head now sat grotesquely on top of the thick； muscled neck of the Death Eater as he struggled to get up again； but even as they watched； their mouths open； the head began to swell to its previous proportions again； thick black hair was sprouting from the pate and chin：
'It's Time；' said Hermione in an awestruck voice。 Time：〃
The Death Eater shook his ugly head again； trying to clear it； but before he could pull himself together it began to shrink back to babyhood once more：
There was a shout from a room nearby； then a crash and a scream。
'RON？' Harry yelled； turning quickly from the monstrous transformation taking place before them。 'GINNY？ LUNA？'
'Harry！' Hermione screamed。
The Death Eater had pulled his head out of the bell jar。 His appearance was utterly bizarre； his tiny baby's head bawling loudly while his thick arms flailed dangerously in all directions； narrowly missing Harry； who had ducked。 Harry raised his wand but to his amazement Hermione seized his arm。
'You can't hurt a baby！'
There was no time to argue the point； Harry could hear more
I
footsteps growing louder from the Hall of Prophecy and knew； too late； that he ought not to have shout