Fudge, Terrified

Kyle had originally thought he would be taken to 12 Grimmauld Place, but to his surprise, Fawkes brought him to the second floor of the Ministry of Magic instead—the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.

By the time Kyle arrived, a great many people were already there, all familiar faces.

Chris, Mr. Weasley, Fred, George, Auror Kingsley, Tonks...

And, of course, Dumbledore.

When Kyle arrived, Dumbledore was bent over, a warm yellow glow flickering across the walls on either side of the corridor.

"Fawkes is back!" someone cried.

Everyone immediately turned around.

"Kyle?" Fred rubbed his eyes, thinking he had seen wrong.

"Why are you here? Wasn't it supposed to be a healer from St Mungo's?"

No one answered him, because the crowd instinctively made way. Kyle, too, saw what lay ahead.

Blood was splattered all over the floor, tinged with an eerie purple.

Amelia Bones of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement lay in a pool of blood, still barely breathing.

Dumbledore held his wand against her body. The warm light Kyle had seen earlier was flowing from its tip.

In an instant, Kyle understood why Fawkes had brought him here.

"Here?" Kyle asked directly, too pressed for time to care about the dizzying discomfort.

"It's urgent. She can't be moved for the moment," Dumbledore said just as quickly. "You need to hurry. Fudge is already on the seventh floor."

"Right." Kyle nodded and immediately opened his case.

"W-wait..." A weak voice suddenly came from the floor.

It was Amelia. She struggled to open her eyes, but even that simple motion seemed to drain nearly all her strength.

"Death Eaters... attacked... the Ministry..." Amelia said haltingly. "Tell the Aurors... fight back... don't... be alone..."

She seemed to be trying to explain something, but her voice grew softer and softer.

"Hurry!"