2nd of May, 1998

It was one of Mark Twain's quotes that stuck with Lia that day. He had once said that "a man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time."

She wasn't sure how much those words applied to her. For one, she had been born a girl, not a man. For the other, although she had tried to live her life as vividly and excitingly as possible, she couldn't be sure if her meagre seventeen years of existence counted as 'living fully'.

And yet, standing on the wretched field that hour, her heart pounding against her ribcage like a red hot drum, she had thought that never before had she been so prepared for what was to come after - after her heart had stopped beating and her soul had all but left her body, and the world kept on breathing, kept on moving without her. After she left her friends, her love behind.

She found that she was not afraid.

Yes, her body trembled and silver gathered in the corners of her eyes. But fear did not grip her, because she knew that death was a destiny that had been marked on her since before she could talk, a destiny that she and Harry shared, no … a future that crept at all their lives.

Voldemort had been slipping his lies and deception into Draco's ear, assuring him of the rewards he would reap if he came to his side, of the mistakes that would be forgiven, although not forgotten. They were snake-like words, so full of promise that they enraptured your senses.

Nonetheless, Draco's face had been stormy. His eyes steel. The silver had met hers, softening slightly as they raked over her, and they whispered a silent apology, so full of love that they caressed her heart.

"No," he had said, the voice unwavering, strong and steady. "Never."

Those two words were all it took for the Dark Lord to draw out his wand. Lia knew, before Draco could even grasp what was to happen. Her mind was connected to Voldemort's, a chain binding them together. She knew the spell that was to come out of that yew wand.

Bracing herself, she slammed the boy to the ground, whose eyes were still wide with surprise.

"Avada Kedavra."

The spell that had been directed at Draco, the killing curse, hit her straight in the chest.

She was flung backwards into oblivion.

A/N:

This is the sequel to 'The Snake and the Dragon'.

Hope you like it! And please review!