Death Is Only a Play

Suddenly, someone sprang out from nowhere and lunged at them:

The two of them fell backward. Neville flailed his legs wildly like an overturned beetle, while Harry held his left hand high in the air to keep the little glass sphere from breaking.

"The prophecy! Give me the prophecy, Potter!"

Lucius Malfoy roared in Harry's ear. Harry felt the tip of his wand pressing hard between his ribs.

"No, let—go—of—me, Neville—catch it!"

Harry rolled the prophecy along the floor. Neville twisted around with his back against the ground and gathered it into his arms.

Malfoy swung his wand toward Neville, but Harry jabbed his own wand backward over his shoulder and shouted, "Impediment Jinx!"

Malfoy was blasted away.

When Harry scrambled back up and looked around, he saw Malfoy slam violently into the dais. On top of it, Sirius and Bellatrix were locked in fierce combat.

Malfoy aimed his wand at Harry and Neville again, but before he could draw breath and utter a spell, Lupin leaped between them.

"Harry, gather the others and get out, quickly!"

Harry grabbed the robe at Neville's shoulder and dragged him bodily up the first stone step. Neville's legs were still twitching and flailing; he could not stand at all.

Harry dragged Neville upward again with all his strength, and they climbed another step—then a spell struck the stone bench right beside Harry's heel.

Stone shattered, and Harry fell backward onto the next step.

Neville crashed onto the ground, his legs still flailing and jerking. He stuffed the prophecy into his pocket.

"Come on!" Harry said desperately, tugging hard on Neville's robes. "Try kicking with your legs—"

He heaved upward again, and the entire seam along the left side of Neville's robe tore open.

—The little glass sphere fell from the pocket. Before either