HELLO FRIENDS!

Yes, I am alive. Yes, I am very sorry that this story has taken me FOREVER to update (AKA three years but that's besides the point).

I won't lie, I've been struggling a lot with finding inspiration for my writing. However, I am doing my best to update and finish the stories that are in progress at the moment before I begin any new stories. I may take a hiatus, but NOT UNTIL ALL MY STORIES IN PROGRESS ARE FINISHED.

Here's a life update as to why it's taken me so long: I was a sophormore in high school last time I updated, and now I've graduated high school. I'm heading off to college in two months, and I'm leaving for Spain in a few days, so that's consumed my time. I also have recently lost my great-grandfather, whom I was extremely close to, so that hit me really hard. However, he was one of my biggest supporters of my writings, so I'm striving to continue this writing for him.

Alright, so now onto the next chapter! I'll probably be skimming over Order of the Phoenix and Half-Blood Prince, similarly to how I skimmed over the first three books as well. The next few chapters will have some of Lucy's perspectives through the years, as well as Caspian and Eustace coping with Edmund's passing.

(Also, the chapters may be shorter, but I promise it's not just because I want to finish the story.)

So, please enjoy!

Disclaimer: Everything is owned by either C.S. Lewis or J.K. Rowling. I own nothing.

Chapter Twenty

The walk to McGonagall was silent between Lucy and Harry. At least, it was, until Harry broke it, by stopping, and standing in front of Lucy.

"I need you to look me in the eye, and tell me that you aren't a traitor. Give me a reason that I should trust you again." He said, crossing his arms. Lucy looked up into his eyes, a perfect match for his mother's, and sighed.

"You're one of my friends, Harry. I would never betray my friends. Family is the one thing that is eternal in this world of death. I have seen my fair share of death. Don't ask me why, or how. I've had to watch close friends die in battles and wars. I have had to leave my true home three times. Once was against my will. The second was willingly, and the third was with the knowledge that I would never return again. I lost my father in a war, and my mother died of grief not long after. I haven't seen my older siblings in nearly six years, and I was reunited with my favorite sibling last year only to have him torn from me by a woman I loathe." Lucy said, looking straight at Harry, not caring if there was anyone around them, or if anyone heard them, "There is a reason the Sorting Hat put me in Gryffindor. I'm loyal to the bone, and when I trust someone, I act upon that trust." Harry stared at the passionate girl in front of him, and reached forward, and placed a hand on Lucy's shoulder comfortingly.

"I'm so, so sorry, Lucy. I should have trusted you. I don't know why I listened to what that woman said." He said apologetically. Lucy smiled slightly, and nodded.

"I forgive you, Harry. You were in shock, you had just seen Cedric murdered, for heaven's sake." She replied. Harry grinned.

"Thank you, Lucy. You and Edmund were really close, weren't you?" he asked, as they started to walk to McGonagall's office.

"Yes. He was my best friend, and he knew absolutely everything." Lucy said, her voice growing soft and sad.

"I wish I could have gotten to know him." Harry said, putting an arm around Lucy's shoulders.

"He would have liked to get to know you more. He was just very overprotective of me." She responded. Harry chuckled, and they reached McGonagall's office.

"Professor?" Harry asked, peeking into the room.

"Mr. Potter, Miss Pevensie? What are you doing here?" their Head of House asked, looking surprised.

"Professor Umbridge sent us." Lucy said, handing McGonagall the note. McGonagall read the note, and looked back up at the two students.

"Sit. Both of you." She said, and Lucy and Harry sat down in front of her desk. "Professor Umbridge is telling me that you both spoke out in her class against her teaching methods?" The two fifth-years nodded.

"She insulted my brother as well, Professor." Lucy said, crossing her arms. McGonagall's eyes widened slightly.

"Have a biscuit, you two." she told them, and Lucy and Harry looked at one another in surprise.

"I'm sorry?" Harry asked in confusion.

"Have a biscuit. Now, it was not appropriate for you two to speak out without permission, but I will agree in that she was extremely out of line in what she said." McGonagall told the two, who nodded. "I will, however, have to allow the detention with Professor Umbridge tonight as to not show preference."

"That does seem fair, Professor. Will someone speak to her for what she said to us?" Lucy asked, and Mcgonagall sighed.

"I will speak with the Headmaster, and I will speak to her personally. Now, both of you should get back to class." she told them, and Lucy and Harry stood, thanking Professor McGonagall as they left her office.

Later That Night

"This has to be illegal." Hermione ranted as she held Lucy's hand gently.

"She's part of the Ministry. It doesn't matter with her." Lucy replied, wincing slightly.

"Sorry." Hermione apologized. Lucy smiled back at her, looking down at her hand. Umbridge had given Harry and Lucy the same lines to write, and about halfway through writing, both teenagers had felt a prickling on the back of their non-dominant hand, and had seen the words I Must Not Tell Lies being carved there.

"It's going to scar, isn't it." Lucy said, resigned.

"The murtlap essence will help with the swelling, and won't give it any infections." Hermione explained. The brown-haired witch was still furious, so Lucy took her hand, and squeezed it.

"What's wrong, 'Mione? It's not just my hand." she said with a raised eyebrow, and Hermione sighed, shifting to sit beside Lucy on her bed.

"How could she speak so callously of Edmund?" she asked, and Lucy hugged her friend tightly. "How can you have so much faith in that prophecy?" Lucy laughed slightly.

"I don't have faith in the prophecy. I have faith in Aslan, and in Ed. From what has happened to me in Narnia, I know that things will turn out alright in the end." she replied, and Hermione looked up at her thankfully.

I know, it's really short. I'm sorry for that, but the next chapters will hopefully be better! :)

Please let me know what you think, and I really hope that you enjoyed this chapter.

I should hopefully have another chapter up soon.

Thanks for sticking with me kings, queens, wizards, and witches!

Love,

Enchantress