The finale of Book Six! Everyone brace yourselves for a bit of a emotional ride on this one.

Enjoy!


Final Chapter – A Painful Loss

(Deep in a cave somewhere)

Harry struggled against the death like hands dragging him further into the murky waters. There was too many of them, they were too strong, he felt helpless but still he fought back. Dumbledore was up there counting on him, and he wasn't any use if he was dead. But he was running out of air fast, and his vision was becoming blurry...damn it he needed to move!

Suddenly a burst of purple light shone above the water. Harry felt his body become loose as hot amethyst flames sliced through the water like butter, lighting up the corpses like inflammable moths. He scrambled upwards until his head broke the surface, gulping in lungfuls of oxygen. He looked upwards to see his saviour and felt his jaw slacken in shock; it was Rachele. But she didn't look like the Rachele he knew. She was kneeling on the island in the middle of the lake, her green eyes blaring brightly like a beacon in the dark of night. A pair of giant white feathered wings spread out from her back, glowing brightly with a white light that made the purple flames seem incredibly dull. She had Dumbledore cradled in her arms as she glared at her surroundings, that is until her eyes landed on him and they softened.

"Harry!" Yup it definitely sounded like her. "Grab my hand!" Keeping one arm secured around the weak headmaster, she stretched her other hand towards him. He paddled frantically to her and interlocked his fingers around her wrist. She effortlessly pulled him onto the bank, keeping their small ground guarded by her flame so the dead figures couldn't touch them.

"Rach..." He coughed. "What-?"

"I can't explain now Harry." She kept a tight grip on his hand. "I need to get you two out of here. Whatever you do, don't let go."

Harry did as he was told, rendered utterly speechless by her unexplainable appearance. But that all changed when he felt himself surrounded by two types of fire, purple and black licking his body but never burning him. He was sent through oblivion, through a stream of space that had him hypnotised, before finding himself back at Hogwarts, on a balcony above Dumbledores office overlooking the castle grounds. Rachele was next to him, holding her mentors face in her hands with all the expression of a worried daughter.

"Albus! Albus please! Answer me!"

Dumbledore smiled weakly. "I'm alright little one."

"You must be insane! Why would you drink that wretched stuff!"

Well at least there was no need to fill her in with details, yet Harry couldn't help wondering how she knew so much when she wasn't around. He suddenly realised that maybe there was much about Rachele he didn't know as he thought back to the sight of the majestic wings and the overwhelming power that radiated off her.

'Rachele...who are you?'

"Listen to me Rachele." Dumbledore rasped. "I don't have very long. But there is danger here, you must help the students."

Rachele frowned. "Danger? Here? Albus what are you-" She lifted her head and stared in a random direction, as though she heard something no one else did. Her eyes then widened in horror. "How...how did they get in here?"

"It doesn't matter." Dumbledore said rejectedly. "You must protect the school." He grasped her hand. "Do your duty Rachele...promise me."

Rachele's lip quivered. "But...what about you?"

"Don't worry about me little one. I'll be okay" The smile that Dumbledore gave her was one Harry had never seen before. It was one of love and compassion that a parent would give to their child on their deathbed. He could clearly see the familial bond between his Professor and the girl he regarded as a sister.

Rachele grudgingly nodded, giving him a lingering hug before helping the older man to his feet. She turned to Harry, giving him a desperate look. "Watch over him. He's very weak."

Harry nodded. "I will but...what about you?"

"I have to find Robbie and Claudia. Dumbledore was right...Hogwarts isn't safe right now."

"What'd you mean it's not safe?"

But she had already vanished in a whoosh of fire, leaving Harry feeling rather exasperated. "Damn it what's going on?"

Rachele grit her teeth as she appeared moments later in the Great Hall. She had sensed the intruders and would deal with them, but first she needed to find her friends. The thought of them being out in the open when those monsters were loose in the castle made her blood run cold. She would rather die a thousand deaths then let those she loved fall into their hands.

"Rachele!"

She whipped around and sighed in relief as her best friends crawled out from under the table.

"Thank Merlin." She breathed, jumping down and pulling Claudia into a crushing hug. "You're safe."

"You know don't you?" Robert said from next to them. "You-Know-Who's followers are here."

Completely forgetting the awkward tension that was supposed to be between them, Rachele removed herself from Claudia and pulled him into a hug as well, but made sure to step back just as quickly.

"Yeah I sensed them as soon as I got back. I'll take care of it, you two need to go somewhere safe."

"No." Robert said firmly. "We'll stand and fight. We're not leaving you."

Claudia nodded. "We're with you Rachele."

Rachele sighed which turned into a chuckle. "You guys are something else."

Shrill laughter sounded from the near them, too close for anyone's liking. The sound was distinct and Rachele had no problem identifying who it belonged to.

"Bellatrix." She growled. "Why am I not surprised she's here."

Claudia stepped closer to her. "Of all people..." She sounded scared.

"Just stay behind me." Rachele glared. "I'll handle it."

No sooner had she said this, several figures stepped into the Great Hall through some entrance from the back. She wasn't surpised to see Bellatrix Lestrange grinning sadistically at her, but the person leading the pack was the last person she expected.

"S-Severus? What are you doing?" She looked to her potions master with denial. "Don't tell me you helped them get in here!"

Snape didn't answer. Instead another Death Eater stepped forward and sneered at her. "You honestly didn't think he was on your side did you, foolish girl? He and Draco Malfoy have been a great help to us all year."

"Now we know why Malfoy was acting so sketchy." Robert whispered.

"Move aside Sullivan." Snape drawled emotionlessly. "You have no power today."

Rachele clenched her fist, a angry black flame surrounding it. "Let me prove you wrong. Does Albus know about this intimely treachory?"

Silence. Snape looked away. Bellatrix giggled. "Tell her Severus...she needs to hear it."

Dread washed over Rachele like a stinging shower of acid. "What did you do Severus? TELL ME!"

"He's dead Mudblood." Bellatrix spat out. "He just stood there pleading for his life. But Severus showed him no mercy and sent his pathetic frail body flying from that forsaken tower."

Rachele's fists began shaking, causing the black flame to burn stronger. "It's not true. YOU'RE LYING!" She gazed at the potions master with watery eyes. "You're loyal to him! You always have been! Tell me it isn't true!"

Snape squared his shoulder and finally lifted his head. Cold, black pits stared back at her. "It's true. Albus Dumbledore is dead."

Rachele let out an enraged shriek. "YOU TRAITOR!" The flames around her wrist spread over her body and exploded outwards. Robert and Claudia had to scramble backwards to avoid being scorched. In her rage, she momentarily lost focus on her enemies and they took the chance to dart past her through the castle grounds.

"Rachele! You have to calm down! They're getting away!" Robert yelled out, reaching out and grabbing her hand.

Rachele pulled away from him. "Don't touch me." She teleported away, the black flames flickering behind her.

"What do we do?" Claudia asked helplessly.

Robert sighed. "Let's find Dumbledore. See if what they're saying is true."

She nodded and followed him to the main entrance. The Death Eaters had long gone, no doubt with an enraged Rachele on their tail. They found the base of the tower Bellatrix spoke of, a wave of sadness washing over them both at the sight. The body of Albus Dumbledore lay sprawled just near the wall. His eyes were closed, his face peaceful and accepting of the fate that had claimed him. Claudia collapsed to her knees with her hands over her mouth, barely holding onto the sob bubbling in her throat.

"So they were telling the truth." Robert growled.

"Rachele..." Claudia choked out. "She's going to..." She couldn't finish.

Robert kneeled down next to her and put an arm around her shoulder. "I know. And we'll do out best to be there for her...no matter what." He leaned his head on hers, finally allowing a tear to roll down his face.

"SNAPE! YOU MURDERER!"

Rachele had chased the Death Eaters to the outskirts of the grounds. She had gravely injured a select few but had somehow managed to refrain from crossing that forbidden line. She knew that revenge was never the answer, but nothing could erase the betrayal and grief that had taken over. She wanted to push one last message into that snivelling git's mind before he went crawling to his new master. She had thrown out her wings and taken flight, soaring with determination towards her target. She spotted them near Hagrid's hut, which had been set alight for their mere entertainment. She screamed his name just as she kicked him to the ground. He lay defencless on his back, staring up at the ruthless green orbs glaring down at him.

"Sullivan...you must listen."

"SHUT UP!" She grabbed his collar and pulled his face close to hers. "I have half a mind to mutilate you to the brink of death. Believe me..." She whispered harshly. "There are ways I can keep you alive even with limbs missing." She pushed him back to the ground. "But no...I'm going to let you and your new friends go. Why? Because it'll be that much sweeter to see your face when you're utterly defeated later on." She scoffed. "Enjoy your freedom while you have it." Taking the offer, Snape scrambled to his feet and hurried after the others. "Coward." She muttered.

"Rachele."

She turned around to find Harry staring in awe at her. "What- I dont..."

"Is it true Harry?" She said boring her eyes at him. "Did Snape really kill him?"

Harry looked down. "It's true..." He said thickly. "I saw everything."

"No... please no..." Rachele felt weak at the knees. "Why?"

"It was supposed to be Malfoy." Harry added. "It was originally his job, but he hesitated. He couldn't do it. So Snape finished it for him."

Rachele shook her head in denial. "There's just no way. I'm going to find him." She strode past him to head back to the castle.

"I'm sorry Rach..." Harry said softly before following after her.

When they arrived back, a large crowd had gathered around the tower Dumbledore had fallen from. Hovering above him, the disturbing Dark Mark glared down at them, symbolising the horror that had taken place. Harry pushed his way to the front to say his final goodbyes to his headmaster, but Rachele remained rooted near the back. Her eyes were transfixed on the still body lying on the ground as though any moment he would wake up, smile with that typical twinkle in his eye and assure her that everything was okay. But it didn't happen. He just stayed there, completely motionless, unmoving, and gone from this world. Her knees finally gave way and she fell to the ground. Her body began hyperventilating, raw emotion got caught in her throat disabling her ability to speak. Denial and regret poured over her as tears flowed down her cheeks; this wasn't happening.

A slender arm slid across her back and rubbed comforting circles. She distantly heard Claudia's soft voice offering some form of consolation but it was nothing but background noise. Another voice joined in and she recognised it to be Robert. But she couldn't accept comfort from her friends right now, she needed to get away, she couldn't keep staring at her mentor who just refused to wake up.

With what little strength she had, she whispered. "Robbie...please take Claudia home for me."

Robert frowned. "Why? Where're you going?"

She stood up and turned around, finding their sympathising expressions unbearable to look at. "I need time...time to think...time to accept. I can't be around people right now." She shot a glance at him. "Look after her." Her eyes shifted to Claudia. "I'll see you at home." And before they could say anything else, she disappeared, neither knowing where she might've gone or how long she might be.

"Rachele..." Claudia wrapped her arms around herself. "I'm so sorry." Her heart ached for her best friend's pain.

Robert brought her into a brotherly hug. "She'll be okay Claudia. She needs time to grieve." He gazed back towards the crowd. Harry was kneeling by Dumbledore's body and sobbing sorrowfully. He leant against Ginny who held him in her arms, doing her utmost best to console him. Everyone else had raised their wands in his name, the ends glowing a pure white. The combination of everyone's power overtook that of the darkness and the writhing skull was wiped from the sky. In that moment Robert vowed to give his life in the name of the light; for his friends, for Rachele and for all the lives that had been lost.

"May your soul be at peace...Albus Dumbledore."

Rachele wasn't sure where she was, nor did she care. She aimed to be as far away from civilisation as possible, somewhere completely remote so no one could witness the depths of her suffering. She was in a grass field that seemed to stretch out endlessly into the night. There were very few trees, most of them just small shrubs or bushes. She sat on her knees, taking in the tranquility of the scenery around her. It was peaceful and quiet, a contrast to the whirling storm that was her emotions.

Unable to contain her feelings any longer, she lifted her head to the stars and pushed every ounce of pain and anguish from her throat into the loudest possible scream she could manage. As everything was released from within her, her magic too lost control and a wide radius blast erupted from her skin. It obliterated everything around her, vaporising anything within any sort of vicinity to her. Grass and leaves caught fire one moment and were gone the next. By the time she was done, there was nothing for miles except a scorched desolated wasteland that had fallen victim to this girl's agony.

As the last of her strength faded away, and the memory of her mentor lingering in her mind, Rachele finally surrended to the woes of her breaking heart and cradled onto her side, endless tears falling down her face in a never-ending stream of dispair.

End of Book Six


Harry Potter himself has finally been exposed to who Rachele really is. They will definitely have plenty to talk about in the future.

Dumbledore's death has a massive effect on Rachele as a character. This was the man who raised her, someone she viewed as the only parent she's ever known. Losing him has struck a very deep emotional blow.

Coming up in Book Seven; how exactly does Rachele cope after losing someone most precious to her? And what is her answer to Robert's confession of love to her? Keep reading to find out!

Bye for now!