Although Crabbe had passed out, his magic had clearly caused enormous trouble for the Order of the Phoenix's operation.
The pillar of light shooting up from his body was something even veteran members of the Order of the Phoenix like Professor McGonagall and Kingsley couldn't dispel.
The greater danger, however, was clearly Sirius and Arthur, trapped inside a three-meter-high wall of flames.
They were trapped inside with five Aurors.
Just as Professor McGonagall and the others were preparing to help, several more figures rushed in through the entrance to the Department of Mysteries.
"We just took down the Auror who was going back to report to them. How could they have reacted so quickly?" Kingsley asked urgently, his brow furrowed. "Has our information been leaked?"
Could it be?
Was there a traitor among them?
Professor McGonagall slowly shook her head. "I choose to trust my companions. Dumbledore has already confirmed everyone's loyalty. We shouldn't suspect anyone."
She gave her Wand a gentle wave. The dim Crystal Balls on the shelves beside her, some of them cracked, tumbled off and transformed in midair into Crystal Cats. They landed lightly on the floor.
Professor McGonagall pressed her lips together and looked at the newcomers. "I'll hold them off. Lupin and Hagrid, go help Arthur and the others. Kingsley, Molly, Frank, Alice—you Longbottoms—hurry and find the Prophecy Orb!"
Before any of them could move, a terrifying incantation rang out from within the wall of flames. "Avada Kedavra!"
They had actually used one of the Three Unforgivable Curses—the Killing Curse!
The Aurors of the Magical Congress had actually cast the Killing Curse!
Hagrid's expression changed. Raising a huge wooden shield, he charged straight into the wall of flames. The shield was a Magical Item made for him by the Twins. Its primary function was