Then.Harry.s.scar.burst.open.and.he.knew.he.was.dead:.it.was.pain.beyond.imagining,.pain.past.endurance.
He.was.gone.from.the.hall,.he.was.locked.in.the.coils.of.a.creature.with.red.eyes,
.so.tightly.bound.that.Harry.did.not.know.where.his.body.ended.and.the.creature.s.began:.they.were.fused.together,.bound.by.pain,.and.there.was.no.escape.
And.when.the.creature.spoke,.it.used.Harry.s.mouth,.so.that.in.his.agony.he.felt.his.jaw.move.
`Kill.me.now,.Dumbledore…..
Blinded.and.dying,.every.part.of.him.screaming.for.release,.Harry.felt.the.creature.use.him.again….
.`If.death.is.nothing,.Dumbledore,.kill.the.boy…..
Let.the.pain.stop,.thought.Harry….let.him.kill.us….end.it,.Dumbledore….death.is.nothing.compared.to.this….
And.I.ll.see.Sirius.again….
And.as.Harry.s.heart.filled.with.emotion,.the.creature.s.coils.loosened,.the.pain.was.gone;.Harry.was.lying.face.down.on.the.floor,.his.glasses.gone,.shivering.as.though.he.lay.upon.ice,.not.wood….
And.there.were.voices.echoing.through.the.hall,.more.voices.than.there.should.have.been….Harry.opened.his.eyes,.saw.his.glasses.lying.by.the.heel.of.the.headless.statue.that.had.been.guarding.him,.but.which.now.lay.flat.on.its.back,
.cracked.and.immobile..He.put.them.on.and.raised.his.head.a.little.to.find.Dumbledore.s.crooked.nose.inches.from.his.own..
`Are.you.all.right,.Harry?..
`Yes,..said.Harry,.shaking.so.violently.he.could.not.hold.his.head.up.properly.
.`Yeah,.I.m.‐.where.s.Voldemort,.where.‐.who.are.all.these.‐.what.s.‐.
The.Atrium.was.full.of.people;.the.floor.was.reflecting.the.emerald.green.flames.that.had.burst.into.life.in.all.the.fireplaces.along.one.wall;.and.streams.of.witches.and.wizards.were.emerging.from.them..As.Dumbledore.pulled.him.back.to.his.feet,.Harry.saw.the.tiny.gold.statues.of.the.house‐elf.and.the.goblin,.leading.a.stunned‐looking.Cornelius.Fudge.forward..
`He.was.there!..shouted.a.scarlet‐robed.man.with.a.ponytail,.who.was.pointing.at.a.pile.of.golden.rubble.on.the.other.side.of.the.hall,.where.Bellatrix.had.lain.trapped.only.moments.before..`I.saw.him,.Mr.Fudge,.I.swear.it.was.You‐Know‐
Who,.he.grabbed.a.woman.and.Disapparated!..
`I.know,.Williamson,.I.know,.I.saw.him.too!..gibbered.Fudge,.who.was.wearing.pyjamas.under.his.pinstriped.cloak.and.was.gasping.as.though.he.had.just.run.miles..`Merlin.s.beard.‐.here.‐.here!.‐.in.the.Ministry.of.Magic!.‐.great.heavens.above.‐.it.doesn.t.seem.possible.‐.my.word.‐.how.can.this.be.‐?T.
.if.you.proceed.downstairs.into.the.Department.of.Mysteries,.Cornelius,..said.Dumbledore.‐.apparently.satisfied.that.Harry.was.all.right,.and.walking.forwards.so.that.the.newcomers.realised.he.was.there.for.the.first.time.(a.few.of.them.raised.their.wands;.others.simply.looked.amazed;.the.statues.of.the.elf.and.goblin.applauded.and.Fudge.jumped.so.much.that.his.slipper‐clad.feet.left.the.floor).‐.`you.will.find.several.escaped.Death.Eaters.contained.in.the.Death.Chamber,.bound.by.an.Anti‐Disapparation.Jinx.and.awaiting.your.decision.as.to.what.to.do.with.them...