Chapter 1

Harry James Potter was not having a good day. It started with a dream, an exam, and a dark lord, but went downhill from there. Now, he found himself running from a bunch of Death Eaters with an escaped convict, two spies, and three teenagers in the most reclusive (and dangerous) department of the Ministry of Magic.

"Run!" He yelled as they stumbled, and almost fell. They flew down the corridor, dodging spells and falling debris. They turned a corner, and almost collided with the adults they had been separated from previously. The small group took off again, Snape and Remus managing to send a few curses back behind them. He jumped back as a part of the ceiling crashed into the floor mere inches in front of him, momentarily blinding him with dust.

Sirius gave him a shove forwards, and he ran on, dodging a cutting curse and a bone-crushing hex in quick succession. A glance behind him revealed a force of sixteen Death Eaters, all members of the inner circle. Harry knew that his own small group of three adults, and five teenagers would not stand a chance if forced to fight. But they had been running for a long time now, ever since meeting up in the veil's room during the fight...

Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, and Draco had hidden behind the stone arch to regroup after being chased through the Hall of Prophecies, and being attacked by the brains, which they had thankfully escaped. Here they watched as the remaining Death Eaters were met by the Order of the Phoenix, confusing Draco immensely. After all, it wasn't everyday that a mass murderer and a werewolf joined forces with the greatest light wizard in centuries to protect you and your archenemies from your parent.

Nonetheless, that was exactly what happened, and it was nearly over until reinforcements arrived. The motley group had just begun to relax when the side wall crashed down to reveal a score of death eaters, from new recruits to seasoned warriors in the inner circle. Blinking back shock and dust, the five teens had stood up to fight, only to be grabbed by Snape and pushed through the now collapsing back wall, followed by Sirius and Remus. Unfortunately, they were spotted, and chased by twenty or so of them, which lead to their current predicament.

A yell brought him back to the present, and he looked up just in time to see them disappear off a side door as a large stone (presumably from the ceiling), crashed down ahead. Now they were in a labyrinth; turning and twisting, but still not loosing their pursuers more than a few yards. Harry realized with dread that were it not for the spell-proof walls, they would be dead right now, or at least forced to fight. It was with even more apprehension that he was forced to acknowledge that they amounted to the same thing.

Sirius, right in front of him, suddenly stopped, then started jogging down rows of steps he never would have noticed otherwise. The low roof and walls of the labyrinth widened to reveal a huge circular amphitheater, only slightly smaller than the veil's room. But this was much darker; filled with shadows and lit by eerie green light. Altogether, it was more frightening than anything they had seen that day, yet somehow he felt inexplicably drawn to it, as if it was calling to his very subconscious. In the center of the floor, in place of the veil, was a large glowing pool of green liquid, the color of the killing curse, and Harry's eyes. Somehow, the comparison did nothing to reassure him. The liquid seemed to float around, not entirely liquid and not entirely gas, leaving him to wonder at it's temperature from what he learned in muggle school.

But all of this was taken in in a split second's pause, before all hell broke loose. Some of the Death Eaters emerged, and went immediately tumbling down the stairs. Their companions attempted to levitate them, which only created more problems, as panicking hundred pound weights became projectiles controlled by a blind five-year-old. Spells were shot, explosions became the background noise, and friends and enemies alike fought each other; hesitating when a familiar face surfaced, then disregarding the hints to attack again.

But eventually the fighting evened out as the more senior Death Eaters took control of the situation. Dodging curses (mostly unforgivables), he tried to round up his own group, but is was useless in the chaos. However, their opponents ideas seemed to be just that, and he was helpless to stop them from being rounded up by the edge of the pool, back to back surrounded by a good fifteen Death Eaters. He frantically looked for escape routes, but none were in sight, and the black-robbed figures were closing in fast. They needed a plan, but that took time, and the teen knew they had merely seconds left; to plan, live, or maybe both. But if they could shield...

"Protego on three!" He yelled at his companions. They nodded, understanding, though Draco and Snape were clearly put off by having to work together, and listen to him. "One, two..." What happened next was something that would be replayed over and over again in his memory, and would change the course of his world, and another world separated by not distance, but years. His friends and temporary allies raised their wands, but were copied by the Death Eaters, who had noticed what they were doing. It seemed like slow motion as a slew of killing curses met a solid white shield. The green cut through it like butter, but slowed as Harry's shield connected, being fired last. There was a small green and gold explosion, and both curses came flying back in the direction they came from, now large lumps of emerald and gold-white magic. The Death Eaters all ducked, but the spells had met much closer to Harry's group, and they were sent flying backwards by the now solid shield, straight into the pool.

Harry was hit hardest, with the biggest concentration of magic on his side, and he hit first, with an almighty splash from the center of the lake. Hermione had managed to toss a magical rope around herself, Ginny, Ron, and Draco, causing them to plummet down together a bit behind Harry. Remus had grabbed Sirius and Snape and, hit with the smallest amount of force, they fell closer to the edge, a smaller distance behind the roped children that they were behind Harry. The liquid green mist was writhing now, like many green snakes in a memory, the bowl almost like a pensieve. They had a few glimpses of the strange runes inscribed not only on the rim, but underwater as well. The writing seemed to glow, and the current started to drag them down, towards the dark grey bottom where the inscriptions spiraled into a glowing pit. The light seemed to move now, flowing from one rune to the next until it was impossible to tell where one ended and another began. The current was bearing them down, down, spinning crazily, and it was impossible to see anything but glowing green. No one could breathe, neither had they felt the need to until their visions swam black, and they were sure they would never again look up.

Harry saw the bottom approaching; strangely dark for grey stone, as if it sucked up any light that dared to enter it's pits. He felt a thrill in the bottom of his stomach, as if he had been waiting his entire life for this moment, and the world as he knew it would be irrevocably changed. Strange, he thought, when it was about to end. Yet his magic itself told him that that was not so. It would be an adventure, yes, with triumphs, losses, and heartbreak, with allies, enemies, and finally friends. But it would be worth it. He wouldn't regret it, it told him, for it would be his greatest adventure of all. He would change the world, himself, and most importantly, his future. Accepting this, he let himself be drug down, and darkness was the last thing to be seen by Harry James Potter.