A Test of Courage

"We have other memories we want to show you two, but it's getting late tonight," Hermione said as she looked at her watch. "It's already past curfew and we still have studying we need to do. As we go on, we will show you more of what we are trying to avoid and then we hope you can help us figure out what to do next."

"Past curfew?" Neville asked nervously. "Are we going to get in trouble with Umbridge?"

Harry looked down at the Marauder's map. There was a dot with Draco Malfoy under it waiting outside the door of the Room of Requirement.

"Not this time Neville," Harry said as he slapped the other boy's back. "In the future you made this room your base of attacks against the Death Eaters who were teaching here. You learned some very important tricks it can do. Like this," Harry turned and concentrated on a wall, "I wish there was a passageway to right outside the Ravenclaw common room," In a few seconds a door appeared in the wall. "There, Luna I think you will find that door will lead you to close to your common room," Harry looked again at the map and made sure there was no one near there. Luna opened the door and then she looked back with a smile. "Thanks Harry, Hermione, I'll see you two at breakfast?"

"Of course Luna. Have a great night," Hermione replied. Luna's smile widened and she turned and skipped through the doorway. Harry watched the map and saw after a few seconds the dot of Luna Lovegood appear near Ravenclaw tower.

"This room is amazing Harry," Neville said.

"It was you who figured it out. Now we need to get to the Gryffindor Tower," Harry said. "Why don't you give it a go Neville? Get us to safety."

Neville looked hesitantly around him then he thought of himself facing Voldemort, he looked down at the map for a spot in the tower that did not have anyone currently located in it.

Using the voice he had heard himself use two years in the future, he said "I wish for a passageway to the fifth year boys room in Gryffindor Tower" and almost instantly the door appeared.

"Good job Neville," Harry said, "Now let's get a move on before someone does show up there."

"Did you see the look in both of their eyes?" Harry asked Hermione as they walked through the corridor with Neville leading the way.

"The look of confidence? Yes, and I am glad we told them. Tomorrow we need to continue, maybe the prophecy. Do we tell them about the Horcruxes?"

"Let's not give them a name, but the general idea," Harry replied. "If someone does peek in their minds, as long as they aren't thinking about Horcruxes, it might be fine. Over the summer we should have them work on Occlumency if they can."

"Know anyone who can teach them?"

"I don't think it will be Snape," Harry mentally smirked.

"They might know more about it than we do. They are both from pureblood families," Hermione replied. "Maybe they can just ask about it."

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"You stay here and make sure they don't leave," Draco Malfoy said to Gregory Goyle. They had followed Potter until they had started in the general direction of the Room of Requirements but stopped before going up the last staircase to see if other members of Potter's group would show up. Headmistress Umbridge thought for sure that Potter would try something near the end of the school year and she was eager to catch him.

Draco had thought he would be giving Umbridge what she wanted when Longbottom and Lovegood had ascended the steps a little later, but then no one else came. Malfoy had been tempted to report what he knew to the Headmistress, but he was sure he would catch Potter and his friends doing something more.

When curfew drew near and Potter and the mudblood hadn't reappeared, Malfoy knew he had his nemesis. He moved up the steps and waited with his wand ready for the moment Potter came out of the door. Minutes passed and then an hour.

Finally Draco knew it was time to report to Umbridge. Draco summoned Goyle from his place in hiding and gave him his instructions and then scurried to inform the Headmistress. They were back within ten minutes.

"Well?" Umbridge said to Goyle when she saw there was no door. "Where are they?"

"It…it just disappeared," Goyle replied as he pointed to the blank wall. "One minute there was a door and the next….."

"You let them escape?" Umbridge screeched.

"No….I…it was there," Goyle said. "And…and it just disappeared."

"Nonsense. Quit making excuses. You probably dozed off and they snuck past you. Well they won't get far," Umbridge said. "Fortunately for you I stationed a few Inquisitorial squad members at the entrance to Gryffindor tower. Now go tell Filch to search every inch of this castle until he finds that wretched boy."

"Yes ma'am," Goyle replied and hurried off.

"You," Umbridge said to Draco. "You come with me. We'll get McGonagall so she can witness her students aren't where they should be and can't argue about their punishment when they are found."

Umbridge moved off down the steps with a smile on her face. She wondered how Potter would do on his written exams after several hours of writing in his own blood.

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