It's not easy to explain, but . . .

Chapter 30

"Maybe we can ask for a tour, after this is all over," replied Ginny. "The Ministry will owe us one, so to speak." 

Just then, someone started pounding on the door at the far side of the chamber, so Ginny and Luna moved to their defensive positions and readied themselves.

* * *

Ron and Hermione sealed the door to the Brain Room and then got behind the large tank with the floating brains, which was close to the other end, lab tables and equipment  surrounding them.

"I don't believe I was stupid enough to touch one of those things," muttered Ron.

"Ron, you'd been hit with a spell in the Planet Chamber, so you were a bit silly, and didn't realize what might happen . . . none of us did, until that brain attacked you," Hermione reminded him.

"Oh, right, forgot that bit, but . . . "  Loud bangs on the door to the Prophesy Chamber stopped their discussion in its tracks as they refocused on the fight to come.

 * * *

Mad-eye Moody, Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Remus Lupin, Arthur and Bill Weasley waited in Arthur's office, knowing the kids were already in the Department of Mysteries. Albus and Severus would be there any moment and then they would proceed to the Veil Chamber for the final battle.

"Let's take our 'Felix Felicis' now, everyone," Arthur Weasley suggested, as he handed out the small vials.  "Albus and Severus have their own, but I'll double check to make sure they remembered to take theirs when they arrive," he added.

"Ah, did I hear my name?" asked Dumbledore, standing in the doorway.

"Yes, I was just saying . . . " Arthur replied.

"No worries, Arthur, Severus and I took our doses when we arrived at the Ministry," Dumbledore reassured Mr. Weasley. "Well, gentlemen, shall we make our way to the lower levels?" asked Albus, as he turned to head back to the hallway.

Severus had been standing guard at the door to the main corridor and nodded to the others as they approached.

"Anything?" Dumbledore asked.

"No noise, no movement . . . so far," responded the somber Potions Professor.

"Then let us make our way, with caution, to our assigned positions."

The Headmaster led the way to a back  staircase that took then downward, to the impending confrontation.

* * *

The door to the 'Time Room' shuddered and then imploded, leaving a gaping hole, through which four Death Eaters entered, tearing off their masks, coughing on the dust and debris they had caused.

"Where'd they go?" asked Theo Nott's father.

"They can't be far, we were right behind them," answered Vincent Crabbe's dad.  He bent over to check under the tables and was blasted backward toward the remains of the door.

Harry flipped two of the tables onto their sides to give Neville and him some protection against the spells that started blasting across the room.  Clocks and other Magical timekeeping instruments were exploding over their heads.  The Death Eaters scrambled to find protection for themselves, as Harry and Neville fired off spells in return.

Somehow, the giant bell jar sat, untouched, on its platform, spells just missing it, or, if it was struck, seeming to absorb them without any damage whatsoever.