"The Chronicles of Narnia" (Please Subscribe)

Harry pressed the nearest "Down" button. The lift appeared almost immediately with a click, its golden grilles sliding apart with a deafening, echoing clatter, and then carrying them inside.

He jabbed the number nine button, and the grilles slammed shut.

The lift rattled harshly as it moved. Harry had not noticed how noisy it was when he had come here with Mr. Weasley earlier that day.

He was sure such a noise would have alerted every security guard in the building, but it did not.

When the lift stopped, only the cold woman's voice said, "Department of Mysteries."

The grilles opened, and they stepped out into a corridor. Nothing stirred here except the nearest torches, which flickered and swayed in the draft caused by the lift.

Harry turned toward the plain black door.

For months, he had only seen it in his dreams. Now, at last, he was here.

"Let's go."

He spoke softly and led them down the corridor. Luna followed behind him, her mouth slightly open as she looked around.

"All right, listen," Harry said, stopping less than six feet from the black door. "Maybe some of us should stay here—to keep watch, and—"

"But if anything happens, how will we let you know?"

Ginny raised her eyebrows. "You might be a long way away."

"We're all going with you, Harry," Neville said.

"Let's keep going," Ron said firmly.

Harry still did not want to keep all of them by his side, but it seemed there was no other choice.

He turned to face the black door and walked toward it. Just as in his dreams, it opened.

Then he crossed the threshold, with the others close behind.

They were standing in a huge circular room.

Everything here, including the ceiling and floor, was black.

Identical black doors,