Flight of the prince

           Harryfeltasthoughhetoowerehurtlingthroughspace;ithadnothappened...itcouldnothavehappened...

           "Outofhere,quickly,"saidSnape.

           HeseizedMalfoybythescruffoftheneckandforcedhimthroughthedooraheadoftherest;Greybackandthesquatbrotherandsisterfollowed,thelatterbothpantingexcitedly.Astheyvanishedthroughthedoor,Harryrealizedhecouldmoveagain.Whatwasnowholdinghimparalyzedagainstthewallwasnotmagic,buthorrorandshock.HethrewtheInvisibilityCloakasideasthebrutal-facedDeathEater,lasttoleavethetowertop,wasdisappearingthroughthedoor.

           "PetrificusTotalus!"

           TheDeathEaterbuckledasthoughhitinthebackwithsomethingsolidandfelltotheground,rigidasawaxwork,buthehadbarelyhitthefloorwhenHarrywasclamberingoverhimandrunningdownthedarkenedstaircase.

           TerrortoreatHarry’sheart...hehadtogettoDumbledoreandhehadtocatchSnape...somehowthetwothingswerelinked...hecouldreversewhathadhappenedifhehadthembothtogether...Dumbledorecouldnothavedied...

           Heleaptthelasttenstepsofthespiralstaircaseandstoppedwherehelanded,hiswandraised.Thedimlylitcorridorwasfullofdust;halftheceilingseemedtohavefallenin;andabattlewasragingbeforehim,butevenasheattemptedtomakeoutwhowerefightingwhom,heheardthehatedvoiceshout,"It’sover,timetogo!"andsawSnapedisappearingaroundthecorneratthefarendofthecorridor;heandMalfoyseemedtohaveforcedtheirwaythroughthefightunscathed.