I would've gotten this up last night, but FF had a technical glitch and I couldn't log in. Enjoy & review!!!


Chapter 11

We just glared at each other until Harry came over and told us that Ron had moved Andromeda's body and that he was just going to ask me and Teddy a few questions.

He didn't get the chance to ask the questions he wanted as a white barn owl came barreling through the open window and dropped a letter at my feet. It had the Ministry of Magic seal on it. This can't be good. I picked it up and opened it. It read:

Dear Miss Lestrange,

We have received intelligence that you performed an Unforgivable Curse at thirty-four minutes past two this morning. Due to the extreme severity of this breach, you are hereby expelled from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and Ministry representatives will be calling at your current dwelling place to destroy your wand.

You will be sentenced on January 2, 2014.

Yours sincerely,

Percy Weasley, Head of the Department for Magical Law Enforcement

I was a mixture of shocked and terrified. I should've expected this.

Pulling out my wand, knowing full well I really shouldn't be using magic at this moment, I calmly said, "Incendio."

The letter shriveled up into ash as Harry and Draco's gazes fluttered between my solemn face and the burned letter at my feet. Harry spoke first. Clearing his throat, he asked, "What was in that letter that made you burn it?"

I looked up at Harry. "I'm not proud of what I'm about to tell you, Harry, honestly I'm not. I got so angry at her for killing Andromeda, I... I…" It was almost too much to tell him what had happened, the part that Teddy left out of the letter he sent him. I gulped and continued, "I used the Cruciatus Curse against her, but it didn't have any effect. I've been expelled from Hogwarts and I've got to stand trial on the second of January." My voice shook with suppressed tears. I rarely cried, but I think I had a pretty good reason at this moment.

Harry's bright green eyes widened in shock.

Draco's gray ones narrowed. "I didn't think you had the guts to even consider it," he drawled coldly.

"I was angry, and besides, I didn't really want to, it just happened! What would you have done, Draco?" I snapped.

Harry laid a hand on my shoulder, a warning and soothing gesture all in one. "Relax." He turned to Draco and a scowl formed on his face. "You're bang out of order. How do you think she feels? She just lost the only person who ever truly cared about her, met the mother she's hated for years, she's expelled from Hogwarts and now the Ministry is trying to throw her in Azkaban, when they actually can't! You know, I'm the Head of the Department–"

"Do you have to keep bragging about it, Potter?" Draco interrupted angrily.

"–and I could easily demote you, Malfoy," Harry finished, ignoring Draco's rudeness. "Don't push me."

"I thought you hated the Lestranges."

"I don't judge people by their last name."

I was reminded of how Draco always talked trash about the Weasleys, according to him and my aunt and uncle the worst blood traitors of all. Apparently Draco was reminded about it, too, because he shifted his weight from foot to foot in a nervous, convicted way. He did not reply to Harry's statement.

Harry's lips twitched; he was obviously trying to repress a triumphant grin. However, he turned to me and winked. I cracked a small smile. Draco glared at both of us.

"You know what? I'm going. I didn't even want to come on this damn expedition as it was."

"Then why did you come? You could've refused – I wouldn't have bit your head off."

Draco snorted disbelievingly. "Right. Well, I'm out of here. See you around." He waved mockingly and stalked out. I faintly heard the door slam behind him and a subtle pop as he Disapparated.

I sighed and looked down at the pile of ash that used to be the letter from the Ministry, and then at Harry, who was looking worried. Ron was through investigating, as he came back from the hallway and opened his mouth to report to Harry, but stopped at seeing my miserable expression.

"I'm sorry about… Andromeda," he said hesitantly. "It's really horrible she had to die like this."

I just nodded.

Harry turned to his best friend and brother-in-law and said, "She's been expelled from Hogwarts."

"Well, we should have expected that, with all the underage magic she's performed. But she used it in self-defense, so there shouldn't be a trial. Should I Apparate back to the house and ask Hermione, to be sure?" Ron asked.

"Oh, she's got a trial," said Harry grimly. "But it's not for underage magic."

"What for, then?"

"Using an Unforgivable Curse."

Ron gaped for a moment, then his eyes narrowed and he raised his wand. Harry automatically pulled his out. "Ron, don't overreact."

"Don't overreact?!" he shrieked. "She's a–"

"–maniac?" I finished. "No, that's more my mother's forte," I said scathingly.

"You used–!"

"The Cruciatus Curse, yes! I was angry, I didn't mean it, I didn't enjoy it, she wasn't hurt! For Merlin's sake, can't people see that?" I yelled, burying my face in my hands. I was so stressed from the accusations, upset about Andromeda, not to mention the whole situation with the Ministry and my expulsion from Hogwarts.

I didn't even try to stop it. I burst into tears.

Teddy, who had been helping Ron with the investigation and answering questions, came to stand next to Ron's shoulder. Seeing my face, he sat next to me and rubbed my shoulder. "Shh, it's okay," he murmured.

I shook my head ever-so-slightly. It wasn't okay. None of this over. It wouldn't be over until she was dead.

I was filled with rage, and my tears were no longer of sadness and stress. They were of anger.