She looked puzzled for a moment before her expression cleared a little and she replied, "The Shadow knows."
He grinned, "Good answer."
"Who are you, really?" she asked.
"Does it matter?" he asked right back. "Think of me as Luke Skywalker. I'm here to rescue you."
Looking to the Healer as the woman looked back in shock. He asked, "Before you come out of there, do you have your bag? You know the one I mean."
"Down the end of the hall in the cabinet," the healer immediately replied. "Ah!" he said. Turning to look back he could see that the four humans and one goblin had all come out of their cells and were quietly following along.
"Excuse me!" he said, "Rescuer, coming through!"
Then walked past the five as he marched back up the short passage to the cabinet.
A quick open of the double wooden doors and he found items on the shelves. No wands, but definitely the Healer's bag. He grabbed the other stuff within, sliding it all into his pockets, before picking up the healer's bag by the handle and turning about again.
The five had not moved, but the healer had just stepped slightly out of the cell to look.
He walked back up, past the five, and handed the healer the bag. Then he reached into his left 'thigh' pocket and pulled out the stack of wands he had there. Laying them out on his palms as best he could he said, "See which one works for you best."
First, wary it was a trick, she carefully reached out and plucked one up, before looking back at him. Harry hadn't moved, he just stood there with his hands spreading out the wands and just watching.
"Try others, if that one doesn't suit," he urged.
She then quickly went through a half dozen before she picked one up and gave a little gasp. "This one will do."
Closing his hands and sliding the rest into his pocket again, he said, "Right. Anyone that needs healing enough for us to get back up to the entrance hall, I think the lovely healer here can get you at least that far."
"If you're really here to rescue us, then give us a wand each," said the older of the two witches he rescued from the first cell he opened. "Actually... that's a pretty good idea," he said. He reached back into his pocket and pulled out the wands again. However one of the wands, Riddle's, he first slipped back into his pocket.
"Come on, then," he said. "See if one suits you."
The others, bar Griphook, tentatively came forward and each tried one. Some had to return to others they'd already tried, but they each took one.
Once the last one took one, the young woman from the cell who'd been cuddling into the older one, the auror immediately raised the one he'd just taken and firmly pressed the tip of it under Harry's chin. "Take us out of here."
"Well, rude auror," said Harry. "That's what I'm in the process of doing. Now, how about you help some of the less ambulatory among these folks instead of acting like a right prick."
"Who are you?" he demanded. "No one of consequence. However, I'm going to be the person who takes that wand back off you, bends you over and shoves it up your arse," said Harry. "If you want out of here, take that wand away. You're likely going to need both arms to carry one of those young ladies in there." And indicated the cell that had the four females in it.
The auror stood there for a moment, clearly frustrated before he cursed a little and lowered the wand.
"Good choice," said Harry, before turning to look back in the cell.
The healer was already casting over the three muggles.
"Healer?" he asked. "Are they ambulatory?"
She was a moment before she replied, "Yes. However, we need to take it slow." "Slow, it is," declared Harry. "Okay folks, follow me." Looking at the auror he said, "Since you won't need to carry someone after all, how's about you bring up the rear, Auror, to make sure we stay together... Or do I need to ask Mister Fortescue to do that for you?"
The Auror scowled before he said, "I can do it."
"Good man!" he declared before looking back in the cell. "Ready to go, Healer?"
"Yes," she replied, starting to help one of the two girls to their feet while the woman, who was probably their mother, helped the other one up. Both girls immediately latched onto the older woman as if glued to her side.
'She looks the right age to be their mother,' he thought.
As the last cell was empty, Harry hadn't bothered to open it. With the others all now freed, he opened the door through which he first entered the cell area and said, "Please don't touch anything on the shelves as we walk through. I've no doubt they're all dark artefacts or otherwise incredibly dangerous." Then led the way.
"As Mighty Mouse would say," he said over his shoulder, making sure they had begun to follow. Then, looking back forward, sang, "Heeere... I am... to save the daaaayyy!"
He led them through the room of shelves and to the door opposite, then through that to the stairs leading up. However, he paused on the second step up of the second half flight and turned back.
"Alright, folks. Please listen up," he said.
When he thought he had their attention, he said, "There are a number of bodies on the floor of the room in which this secret door behind me opens onto. I've covered them with white sheets, as I suspected there would be at least one of two young ones with you lot down in the cells.
"I ask you not disturb the sheets covering them as the sight is kinda yucky and we have that expected couple of young ones with us. However, there's plenty of room to walk around them without disturbing them. Everyone got that?"
When he received nods back the auror demanded, "Who are they?"
Harry gave him a look and asked right back, "Do you really want me to answer that in front of the children?"
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