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Luna gestured hopelessly at Ginny； who was breathing in a very shallow way； her eyes still closed。
'And what about Ron？' said Harry fearfully； as Ron continued to giggle； still hanging off the front of Harry's robes。
'I don't know what they hit him with；' said Luna sadly； 'but he's gone a bit funny； I could hardly get him along at all。'
'Harry；' said Ron； pulling Harry's ear down to his mouth and still giggling weakly； 'you know who this girl is； Harry？ She's Loony： Loony Lovegood： ha ha ha
'We've got to get out of here；' said Harry firmly。 'Luna； can you help Ginny？'
'Yes；' said Luna； sticking her wand behind her ear for safekeeping； then putting an arm around Ginnys waist and pulling her up。
'It's only my ankle； I can do it myself！' said Ginny impatiently； but next moment she had collapsed sideways and grabbed Luna for support。 Harry pulled Ron's arm over his shoulder just as； so many months ago； he had pulled Dudley's。 He looked around： they had a one in twelve chance of getting the exit right first time …
He heaved Ron towards a door； they were within a few feet of it when another door across the hall burst open and three Death Eaters sped in； led by Bellatrix Lestrange。
'There they are！' she shrieked。
Stunning Spells shot across the room： Harry smashed his way through the door ahead； flung Ron unceremoniously from him and ducked back to help Neville in with Hermione： they were all over the threshold just in time to slam the door against Bellatrix。
'Colloportus！' shouted Harry； and he heard three bodies slam into the door on the other side。
'It doesn't matter！' said a man's voice。 There are other ways in … WE'VE GOT THEM； THEY'RE HERE！'
Harry span around； they were back in the Brain Room and； sure enough； there were doors all around the walls。 He could hear footsteps in the hall behind them as more Death Eaters came running to join the first。
'Luna … Neville … help me！'
The three of them tore around the room； sealing the doors as they went； Harry crashed into a table and rolled over the top of it in his haste to reach the next door：
'Colloportus！'
There were footsteps running along behind the doors； every now and then another heavy body would launch itself against one； so it creaked and shuddered； Luna and Neville were bewitching the doors along the opposite wall … then； as Harry reached the very top of the room； he heard Luna cry：
'Collo… aaaaaaaaargh：'
He turned in time to see her flying through the air； five Death Eaters were surging into the room through the door she had not reached in time； Luna hit a desk； slid over its surface and on to the floor on the other side where she lay sprawled； as still as Hermione。
'Get Potter！' shrieked Bellatrix； and she ran at him； he dodged her and sprinted back up the room； he was safe as long as they thought they might hit the prophecy …
'Hey！' said Ron； who had staggered to his feet and was now tottering drunkenly towards Harry； giggling。 'Hey Harry； there are brains in here； ha ha ha； isn't that weird； Harry？'
'Ron； get out of the way； get down …'
But Ron had already pointed his wand at the tank。
'Honest； Harry； they're brains … look … Accio brain！'
The scene seemed momentarily frozen。 Harry； Ginny and Neville and each of the Death Eaters turned in spite of themselves to watch the top of the tank as a brain burst from the green liquid like a leaping fish： for a moment it seemed suspended in midair； then it soared towards Ron； spinning as it came； and what looked like ribbons of moving images flew from it； unravelling like rolls of film…
'Ha ha ha； Harry； look at it …' said Ron； watching it disgorge its gaudy innards； 'Harry e and touch it； bet it's weird …'
'RON； NO！'
Harry did not know what would happen if Ron touched the tentacles of thought now flying behind the brain； but he was sure it would not be anything good。 He darted forwards but Ron had already caught the brain in his outstretched 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 Nevil