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utstretched hands。
The moment they made contact with his skin； the tentacles began wrapping themselves around Ron's arms like ropes。
'Harry； look what's happen… No … no … I don't like it … no； stop … stop …'
But the thin ribbons were spinning around Ron's chest now； he tugged and tore at them as the brain was pulled tight against him like an octopus's body。
'Diffindo！' yelled Harry； trying to sever the feelers wrapping themselves tightly around Ron before his eyes； but they would not break。 Ron fell over； still thrashing against his bonds。
'Harry； it'll suffocate him！' screamed Ginny； immobilised by her broken ankle on the floor … then a jet of red light flew from one of the Death Eater's wands and hit her squarely in the face。 She keeled over sideways and lay there unconscious。
'STUBEFY！' shouted Neville； wheeling around and waving Hermione's wand at the oning Death Eaters； 'STUBEFY； STUBEFY！'
But nothing happened。
One of the Death Eaters shot their own Stunning Spell at Neville； it missed him by inches。 Harry and Neville were now the only two left fighting the five Death Eaters； two of whom sent off streams of silver light like arrows which missed but left craters in the wall behind them。 Harry ran for it as Bellatrix Lestrange raced right at him： holding the prophecy high above his head； he sprinted back up the room； all he could think of doing was to draw the Death Eaters away from the others。
It seemed to have worked； they streaked after him； knocking chairs and tables flying but not daring to bewitch him in case they hurt the prophecy； and he dashed through the only door still open； the one through which the Death Eaters themselves had e； inwardly praying that Neville would stay with Ron and find some way of releasing him。 He ran a few feet into the new room and felt the floor vanish …
He was falling down steep stone step after steep stone step； bouncing on every tier until at last； with a crash that knocked all the breath out of his body； he landed flat on his back in the sunken pit where the stone archway stood on its dais。 The whole room was ringing with the Death Eaters' laughter： he looked up and saw the five who had been in the Brain Room descending towards him； while as many more emerged through other doorways and began leaping from bench to bench towards him。 Harry got to his feet though his legs were trembling so badly they barely supported him： the prophecy was still miraculously unbroken in his left hand； his wand clutched tightly in his right。 He backed away； looking around； trying to keep all the Death Eaters within his sight。 The back of his legs hit something solid： he had reached the dais where the archway stood。 He climbed backwards onto it。
The Death Eaters all halted； gazing at him。 Some were panting as hard as he was。 One was bleeding badly； Dolohov； freed of the Body…Bind Curse； was leering； his wand pointing straight at Harry's face。
'Potter； your race is run；' drawled Lucius Malfoy； pulling off his mask； 'now hand me the prophecy like a good boy。'
'Let … let the others go； and I'll give it to you！' said Harry desperately。
A few of the Death Eaters laughed。
'You are not in a position to bargain； Potter；' said Lucius Malfoy； his pale face flushed with pleasure。 'You see； there are ten of us and only one of you： or hasn't Dumbledore ever taught you how to count？'
'He's dot alone！' shouted a voice from above them。 'He's still god be！'
Harry's heart sank： Neville was scrambling down the stone benches towards them； Hermiones wand held fast in his trembling hand。
'Neville … no … go back to Ron …'
'STUBEFY！' Neville shouted again； pointing his wand at each Death Eater in turn。 'STUBEFY！ STUBE…'
One of the largest Death Eaters seized Neville from behind； pinioning his arms to his sides。 He struggled and kicked； several of the Death Eaters laughed。
'It's Longbottom； isn't it？' sneered Lucius Malfoy。 'Well； your grandmother is used to losing family members to our cause： your death will not e as a great shock。'
'Longbottom？' repeated Bellatrix； and a truly evil smile lit her gaunt face。 'Why； I have had the pleasure of meeting your parents； boy；'
'I DOE YOU HAB！' roared Neville； and he fought so hard against his captors encircling grip that the Death Eater shouted； 'Someone Stun him！'
'No； no； no；' said Bellatrix。 She looked transported； alive with excitement as she glanced at Harry； then back at Neville。 'No； let's see how long Longbottom lasts before he cracks like his parents： unless Potter wants to give us the prophecy。'
'DON'D GIB ID DO DEM！' roared Neville； who seemed beside himself； kicking and writhing as Bellatrix drew nearer to him and his captor； her wand raised。 'DON'D GIB ID DO DEM； HARRY！'
Bellatrix raised her wand。 'Crucio！'
Neville screamed； his legs drawn up to his chest so that the Death Eater holding him was momentarily holding him off the ground。 The Death Eater dropped him and he fell to the floor； twitching and screaming in agony。
'That was just a taster！' said Bellatrix； raising her wand so that Neville's screams stopped and he lay sobbing at her feet。 She turned and gazed up at Harry。 'Now； Potter； either give us the prophecy； or watch your little friend die the hard way！'
Harry did not have to think； there was no choice。 The prophecy was hot with the heat of his clutching hand as he held it out。 Malfoy jumped forwards to take it。
Then； high above them； two more doors burst open and five more people sprinted into the room： Sirius； Lupin； Moody； Tonks and Kingsley。
Malfoy turned； and raised his wand； but Tonks had already sent a Stunning Spell right at him。 Harry did not wait to see whether it had made contact； but dived off the dais out of the way。 The Death Eaters were pletely distracted by the appearance of the members of the Order； who were now raining spells down upon them as they jumped from step to step towards the sunken floor。 Through the darting bodies； the flashes of light； Harry could see Neville crawling along。 He dodged another jet of red light and flung himself flat on the ground to reach Neville。
'Are you OK？' he yelled； as another spell soared inches over their heads。
'Yes；' said Neville； trying to pull himself up。
'And Ron？'
'I dink he's all righd … he was still fighding de brain when I lefd …'
The stone floor between them exploded as a spell hit it； leaving a crater right where Nevilles hand had been only seconds before； both scrambled away from the spot； then a thick arm came out of nowhere； seized Harry around the neck and pulled him upright； so that his toes were barely touching the floor。
'Give it to me；' growled a voice in his ear； 'give me the prophecy …'
The man was pressing so tightly on Harry's windpipe that he could not breathe。 Through watering eyes he saw Sirius duelling with a Death Eater some ten feet away； Kingsley was fighting two at once； Tonks； still halfway up the tiered seats； was firing spells down at Bellatrix … nobody seemed to realise that Harry was dying。 He turned his wand backwards towards the man's side； but