Dumbledore was on his feet again

Dumbledore was on his feet again, pale as any of the surrounding Inferi, but taller than any too, the fire dancing in his eyes; his wand was raised like a torch and

from its tip emanated the flames, like a vast lasso, encircling them all with warmth.

The Inferi bumped into each other, attempting, blindly, to escape the fire in which they were enclosed...

Dumbledore scooped the locket from the bottom of the stone basin and stowed it inside his robes. Wordlessly, he gestured to Harry to come to his side. Distracted by the

flames, the Inferi seemed unaware that their quarry was leaving as Dumbledore led Harry back to the boat, the ring of fire moving with them, around them, the bewildered

Inferi accompanying them to the waters edge, where they slipped gratefully back into their dark waters.

Harry, who was shaking all over, thought for a moment that Dumbledore might not be able to climb into the boat; he staggered a little as he attempted it; all his

efforts seemed to be going into maintaining the ring of protective flame around them. Harry seized him and helped him back to his seat. Once they were both safely

jammed inside again, the boat began to move back across the black water, away from the rock, still encircled by that ring of fire, and it seemed that the Inferi

swarming below them did not dare resurface.

“Sir,” panted Harry, “sir, I forgot—about fire—they were coming at me and I panicked —”

“Quite understandable,” murmured Dumbledore. Harry was alarmed to hear how faint his voice was.

They reached the bank with a little bump and Harry leapt out, then turned quickly to help Dumbledore. The moment that Dumbledore reached the bank he let his wand hand

fall; the ring of fire vanished, but the Inferi did not emerge again from the water. The little boat sank into the water once more; clanking and tinkling, its chain

slithered back into the lake too. Dumbledore gave a great sigh and leaned against the cavern wall.

“I am weak...” he said.

“Don't worry, sir,” said Harry at once, anxious about Dumbledore's extreme pallor and by his air of exhaustion. “Don't worry, I'll get us back... lean on me, sir...

”

And pulling Dumbledore's uninjured arm around his shoulders, Harry guided his headmaster back around the lake, bearing most of his weight.

“The protection was... after all... well-designed,” said Dumbledore faintly. “One alone could not have done it... you did well, very well, Harry...”

“Don't talk now,” said Harry, fearing how slurred Dumbledore's voice had become, how much his feet dragged, “save your energy, sir... we'll soon be out of here...”

“The archway will have sealed again... my knife ...”

“There's no need, I got cut on the rock,” said Harry firmly. “Just tell me where...”

“Here...”

Harry wiped his grazed forearm upon the stone: having received its tribute of blood, the archway reopened instantly. They crossed the outer cave, and Harry helped

Dumbledore back into the icy seawater that filled the crevice in the cliff.

“It's going to be all right, sir,” Harry said over and over again, more worried by Dumbledore's silence than he had been by his weakened voice. “We're nearly

there... I can Apparate us both back... don't worry...”

“I am not worried, Harry,” said Dumbledore, his voice a little stronger despite the freezing water. “I am with you.”