The moments of anticipation passed by very slowly; no one was moving save for the four people who were in the clearing on the ballroom floor. Brian and Lucius seemed to be having a heated discussion, their hands moving animatedly. Alyssa calmed down a few notches, the shaking stopped, the flames ceased, but her hands still felt like they were on fire. She touched a hot hand to her cheek feeling that the streaks of blood had dried up; she wondered briefly what her cheek really looked like. Draco stepped towards her at once causing Alyssa to take an instinctive step back. It was the first time she had ever, truly been afraid of him.

"What are you playing at?" He hissed in an undertone. "Are you trying to get me killed?"

"I don't exactly care what happens to you," Alyssa said putting a good enough distance between them. "Voldemort is on the way, I'll probably be dead meat by the end of the night and you're worried that someone might think you don't want to be one of them?" She jutted her hands at their fathers.

"That's not true," He said shaking his head, "You do care."

"How would you know?"

"Because you just tried to protect me from your father," He replied smoothly, a slight smirk rising on his lips. Alyssa had no retort so she chose to ignore him. He had a point though, she thought. As much as she wanted to wring his neck with her bare hands, she knew she wouldn't be able to get over him that easily. In only seven months he'd managed to worm his way into her heart and had gotten underneath her skin… That wasn't something anyone could forget with ease. She shook the thoughts out of her head; she wouldn't be able to focus enough if he kept crawling into her mind. She waved her hands around trying to cool them off; they were bright red and she would have killed just to dunk them in a bucket of ice water.

Suddenly there was a stir in the back of the room. Alyssa hadn't noticed this before; behind the line of Death Eaters were two glass doors that must've been another exit to the backyard. The doors opened, the crowd parted. Alyssa stopped breathing – Voldemort had arrived.

His pale skin seemed to glitter in the light, and his red eyes glinted underneath the hem of his hood. The thin black robes he was wearing dragged silently across the stone floor as he walked elegantly into the ballroom. Alyssa had never seen him in person and she wondered how people like the Malfoy's could have him just waltz through their home. The slits he had for nostrils alone were enough to make Alyssa want this night to just end quick and painless.

She stood completely rooted to the spot as Voldemort entered the clearing and stopped about ten feet away from her. The Death Eaters surrounding them all bowed, including Lucius, her father and Draco. She and Voldemort were the only ones standing.

"Alyssa Bennington…" He whispered. Chills passed up and down her spine. Everyone stood back up. He walked towards her, and time seemed to slow down as he slowed to a stop directly in front of her. "It is indeed a pleasure to finally meet you," He said softly, "I've only had glimpses of you through the minds of others." His red eyes left hers briefly to look behind her. Alyssa did the same and turned around to look at Draco who was a bit paler than usual and his expression looked slightly embarrassed.

Alyssa slowly turned back around to once again face Voldemort. Her heart was beating so fast that it would probably have sounded like a dull hum.

Much to her relief, Voldemort turned away from her and walked back to her father and Lucius. Out of the corner of her eye she saw someone move amongst the still figures. She couldn't really tell what his face looked like but that greasy hair would be recognizable anywhere. It was Snape. He seemed to look at her the same time she looked at him and their eyes met; that was why she recognized him when she went to her first potions class at Hogwarts. She had recognized him as a Death Eater.

Her attention went back to Voldemort, Lucius and Brian as they talked in hushed voices. Alyssa couldn't make out anything from the conversation and she was beginning to feel anxious.

Suddenly Voldemort turned around saying, "Let's see what we can do then, shall we?" Raised his wand and shouted, "Crucio!"

The curse hit her before she could even register what was going on. She doubled over in pain immediately, and she wasn't sure if the murderous screams were aloud or just in her head. She had only been through this once before when she was a kid and she'd forgotten how excruciating it was. The curse was lifted almost as quickly as it hit and she whimpered in relief. Her body was shaking all over as well as the chandeliers above them.

"You can do better than that," Voldemort said laughing, "Fight it!"

He pointed his wand at her again, shouting the curse. Alyssa fell to her knees this time, violent tremors shook her body and it was hurting too much now to scream. Her skin felt like it was being ripped apart. But somewhere in the back of her mind was listening to Voldemort's words. She had fought off the Imperius, she could do this too. She just had to get a grip on it. Her hands were pressed onto the stone floor and she took deep breaths. He didn't relieve her of the curse so it would get stronger and stronger until he broke her mind. She concentrated hard; for a second her body went rigid. And as if an outlet, a green jet of light poured through her palms and into the stone, the ground shook beneath them. The curse was broken.

Alyssa forced herself to stand up, breathing hard. Voldemort smirked at her and she winced as he raised his wand again. But this time he shouted "Imperio!"

Any pain she was feeling left her body. Instead she felt very airy, as if she were floating. She could see everything clearly but it was like her vision was unfocused.

"Kill him…" a voice said suddenly inside her head.

"Kill who?" She thought.

"Draco Malfoy… kill the younger Malfoy." The voice said.

Alyssa shook her head visibly, everyone watched with curious eyes. "I don't want to."

"But look at what he's done, he's betrayed you… you're here because of him."

"I can't." She wasn't sure if she had said it aloud or thought it, she was still shaking her head. She felt her joints twist painfully as she turned to face Draco.

"Kill him!"

Her hand raised painfully against her will, "NO!" and this time she really did shout out loud. Draco flinched but no curse was shot. She turned to glare at Voldemort and this time he didn't look pleased; quite the contrary. "Lucius," He hissed, and Lucius what at his side in an instant. Voldemort began talking in an undertone that no one could understand yet Lucius seemed to comprehend quite clearly. Lucius nodded once – twice before turning to Brian and muttering some more. Alyssa had finally gotten her breath back as he walked away and returned with a long, shining dagger. She gasped lightly and took a step back. Draco seemed to know fully well what was going on and took a step forward.

Brian walked towards her but stopped when Voldemort spoke his name. "Let the boy do it." He said.

Alyssa looked at Draco who seemed angry with himself and visibly clenched his jaw. Brian however tried to argue, "We agreed…" He said, but trailed as Voldemort's steely gaze broke him down. He sighed and turned to Draco handing him the dagger, "You know what to do then?" Draco nodded as he took the dagger.

He turned towards Alyssa whose heart was racing. She moved to get away before he touched her shoulder gently. "I'm not going to hurt you." He said quietly, and for some reason Alyssa believed him.

Draco rolled up his left sleeve, exposing his pale forearm, making sure it was tucked securely around his elbow. Alyssa watched silently as he raised the blade and dragged it across the skin of his forearm. He didn't wince or make any noise, just furrowed his brows as he cut his own arm. The blood seeped out immediately and began dripping over the rest of his arm. His arm stayed still and he handed the dagger back to Lucius. He then took a step closer to Alyssa, she stopped breathing but he moved slowly so that she wouldn't freak out. Both of his hands moved forward and clasped the hem of the collar of her shirt and he tugged, ripping it opened to reveal her breast plate. Her chest wasn't rising or falling for she still hadn't taken a breath. Draco's eyes didn't leave hers; he rubbed his fingertips in the blood on his arm and touched his fingers to her chest. Alyssa finally gasped as the warm liquid touched her skin. His hand moved, drawing something over her skin that she couldn't see. He dipped his fingertips in the blood once more to finish what it was that he had started.

Her heartbeat was beginning to slow, surprisingly. It didn't even rise as Draco bent down and pressed his lips against hers. Alyssa's lips burned as they were connected with his; the kiss was brief and his hand moved to hold her neck as he pulled away slightly. His now silver eyes poured into her own as if he was raking through her brain and his voice suddenly sounded in her mind. I've taught you to trust me.

Draco stepped back and looked towards Voldemort who appeared almost apprehensive. There was silence, and Alyssa raised her eyebrows waiting for whatever was supposed to happen.

"I told you I should have done it." Brian mumbled.

Voldemort stepped forward and suddenly every pair of eyes dropped to the floor. It was rumbling beneath them.

Alyssa gasped loudly, "Oh!" The eyes turned to look at her and she stepped backward. A pain she had only felt once before was going through her body. Her chest felt like it was being ripped open and caving in. She couldn't breathe, couldn't even comprehend a thought as the pain rippled through her. She screamed out and fell to the floor, Voldemort actually seemed startled and he took a step backwards. Alyssa was on her knees now and her head was thrown backwards. A bright green light that lit up the entire room poured out of her as she let out another scream and clouded around her.

This seemed to be what everyone was waiting for; Voldemort stepped forward and grabbed her hands in his, the green light now enveloping him. They rose up, hovering awkwardly above the ground and everyone looked up at them completely speechless.

Alyssa shouted out, closed her eyes and gripped onto his hands. There was a loud crackling sound and in a burst of green light Voldemort disappeared.

"Was that supposed to happen?" Lucius shouted stupidly. No one answered and Alyssa fell back to the ground, gasping for air. She looked around; Voldemort was nowhere to be seen. She stood up; her chest felt like it was on fire. But he was not the only one missing. Alyssa looked around again to see that Draco had also somehow vanished.

"What the hell is going on?" She whispered aloud. Suddenly she was tackled heavily to the ground and several jets of light passed above her.

She looked up at red hair, "RON!" Ron was lying on top of her, she'd never been so happy to see anyone in her life. She grasped onto his shoulders.

"You better take this!" He shouted and handed over her wand. Alyssa grabbed it and he helped her up. She looked around the room, it seemed like an entire army had flooded in the room and everyone around her was fighting. She could see Harry, Brad, Remus, Hermione, Neville, a bunch of people with red hair who must've been the Weasley's, more people she couldn't recognize and… Draco. Draco was fighting alongside with them.

On the other side of the room, fighting had also broken out. Snape was surrounded by Death Eaters, but didn't even break a sweat as he took them all on his own. He moved with speed and ease, flicking his wand here and there – he fought beautifully.

This was planned; she thought feeling a wave of stupidity. People kept planning things all around it seemed, and she just kept feeling stupider and stupider. With dread she felt her chest throb again. Ron who was looking at her frowned heavily and his face paled.

"What's wrong?" He asked weakly.

"Ron, get away from me." She warned trying to back away. She didn't know it but Ron watched as it happened; her eyes had glazed over and became jet black. He tried reaching towards her before she pushed him back and another surge of pain hit her. The ground started to rumble again and the fighting seemed to slow down as they realized what was going on.

Alyssa's heart sped up as she panicked. The chandeliers shook above them and suddenly two of them crashed to the floor. The stone ground cracked open beneath her, and she rose above it, hovering in midair. She felt a haze pass over her and she wasn't aware of what was happening - something else was in control… a smirk even rose to her face.

Brad watched from below and shouted at Harry as he dodged a curse, "It's Voldemort! She's possessed," Harry nodded and ran forward, dodging another chandelier as he went. "Protego!" Brad shouted as a curse came at him; a Death Eater attacked him from behind and grabbed his arms. Brad wrestled one arm free and elbowed his attacker in the face and as he stumbled backwards he shouted "Stupefy!" And as someone else tried to attack him, Brad flicked his wand and the Death Eater fell to the floor screaming and clutching his chest.

Alyssa, meanwhile, seemed to have achieved full strength. She was completely still and barely used her hands as she tore apart the entire ballroom. An orb of white light formed in midair and she looked towards the corner of the room sending the orb flying in that direction. It exploded once it hit the floor sending shards of stone and dust flying everywhere. Someone from below tried cursing her but the jet of red light bounced right off her as if she were holding an imaginary shield. It was sent back towards him and he screamed painfully as it hit him square in the chest.

She raised her hands and every glass window in the room shattered, glass flew everywhere.

"Accio!" Harry shouted, and a large chair came flying towards him. He ran onto it as it went by and jumped off reaching for Alyssa. His arms wound around her waist and they both fell to the ground.

"Harry – no!" She shouted and raised both palms to his chest. He grabbed her wrists and slammed them to the ground above her shoulders.

"You've got to control it!" He shouted at her. He pressed himself against her as a jet of green light passed over him.

Braid raised his wand, "Finite Incantatem!" He shouted at her. The curse hit her and a green light surfaced over her. The spell wouldn't end the ritual but it would weaken it. Harry watched as Alyssa struggled beneath him.

She looked up at him and smiled, "The Boy Who Lived." She said smiling. He furrowed his brows and looked over his shoulder as someone shouted "Reducto!" He could only see blood but didn't know what happened. He looked back at Alyssa who was writhing so hard that the ground beneath them was breaking apart and Harry held on as strongly as he could. He forced her hands back and jets of light shot out of them and into three people dressed in black. They flew silently and hit the wall with a thud – they were dead.

"Alyssa," Harry said, his voice shaking with effort, "You can't let him win, you have to fight this – I know you can."

"Harry…" She whispered and tears leaked out of her eyes before she shouted out in pain. One of her hands broke free and white light hit Harry in the chest knocking him backwards. Alyssa moved to get up but he didn't go down that easily; he grabbed her ankle and yanked hard and she fell onto her back. Harry climbed on top of her again and grasped her face in his hands.

"You can kill me if you want," He said quietly as her hands shook on his chest. "I'm not leaving without you; I came here to save you." Alyssa stared into his green eyes, the ones she'd seen in her dreams, the ones she knew belonged to her savior. She moaned in pain again as she tried fighting it and a green light erupted through her, over Harry's shoulder and blasted through the ceiling. The remains fell down from above and would land on the two of them if they didn't move.

"Harry!" She shouted before flicking her hand and sending him yards away from her. She had barely moved her arms to cover her head as the rubble fell on top of her. She felt her ribs crack from a large chunk and coughed up dust trying to breathe. Voldemort appeared standing above her, staring violently at Harry who stood up – wand at the ready.

"Foolish boy," He hissed and stepped over Alyssa's body, wand raised. Someone grabbed her arm and she whimpered as Draco stood her up.

"Are you okay?" He shouted over the noise in the room. He had taken off his robes, and the blood from his arm was all over him and his clothes.

"What have you done?" She asked her voice cracking. He seemed confused by the question and looked away from her as someone shouted "Sectumsempra!" A red light came twirling towards Draco and she quickly shoved him out of the way. She fell backwards and screamed in pain as she was hit in the shoulder, blood poured out immediately as if she was slashed with an invisible sword.

She looked up at Draco as a Death Eater ran at him, wand forgotten. Draco ducked and flipped the attacker over his back. He pulled out his wand and twirled it sending a jet of silver light towards a Death Eater who fell heavily to the ground and lay motionless.

"HARRY!" Someone shouted suddenly. Alyssa looked over her shoulder but couldn't see where he was through all the dust. She stood up painfully, holding her ribs and slacking from her shoulder. About five curses at once were sent her direction and she weakly raised her palm. The curses hit that same invisible shield and reflected back towards their attackers.

Alyssa's attention was brought across the room as someone shouted "YES!" and she shoved her way through. She nearly threw up at the sight, a decapitated body lay still on the floor, and Harry stood above it, breathing heavily and holding onto a silver sword with red crystal cabochons that was now smeared with blood. The fighting seemed to slow down and Alyssa looked around. Just in time she looked to the back of the room – her father was trying make an escape through the single wooden door.

Putting all pain aside, Alyssa grabbed her wand and sprinted after him. Her ribs felt like they were clicking against each other, and the bleeding in her arm didn't stop. She shouted "Reducto!" and the door exploded. She ran through it and ran to the Grand Staircase. It seemed Brian wasn't the only one who was trying to escape because as she ran through the halls, more people were fighting.

She slowed her pace, wincing as her ribs throbbed. She watched as he sprinted up the staircase and cursed aloud as she followed. Her injured arm was wrapped around her stomach while the other held tightly onto her wand as she ran up the stairs as fast as she could. She followed him down a hallway and blinked as he disappeared through one of the doorways. She slowed her pace to a walk now and kicked open the first three doors she saw. Further down the hallway she saw a light that leaked into it through the crack underneath a door. The knob twisted but wouldn't budge and she tried kicking it down but it wouldn't budge. Alyssa flicked her hand and the door exploded from its hinges and crashed into the room. Brian was standing on the opposite side of the room and had thrown Floo Powder into the fire place; the flames were now a bright green color.

He raised his wand but she shouted "Expelliarmus!"

He looked her over, seeing as she struggled to even stand. "I should've known you'd try to escape, that's all you do – run away." Alyssa said softly. "You're nothing but a coward."

Brian sighed and his shoulders slumped, "What are you going to do, Alyssa? Kill me?"

"No; I'm not like you." She hissed in return.

"You might as well leave, then; you and I both know you wouldn't curse your own father."

A tear slid down her cheek and she shook her head. "I won't let you hurt me or my family anymore." She whispered. He opened his mouth to say something and with a flick of her wand she shouted "Stupefy!" He fell to the floor with a thud; he was unconscious.

The door crashed opened and Alyssa raised her wand to the intruder to see a short woman raising her hands in defeat.

"You can lower your wand, Alyssa." She said, "I'm Ron's mother, Molly Weasley." Alyssa relaxed and lowered her wand yet still held onto it tightly in her hand. "I can take it from here." Mrs. Weasley said as she conjured up a stretcher and bindings wound themselves around Brian's wrists and ankles.

Alyssa left the room without a word. Her breaths were coming in through wheezes now. She couldn't remember a time she felt more pain; her chest was still throbbing, there was too much blood on her arm to tell if it was fresh or not, and her ribs were clicking sharply underneath her skin. She jogged back down the stairs and to the ballroom and she could hear that the fighting was still going on.

"Expelliarmus!" someone shouted and her wand flew out of her hand. It was too dark to see where it went so she forgot about it completely. She created an orb of light instantly, lighting up the room and seeing her attacker by the Grand Staircase. He was the short man that'd been making sure she didn't try to escape while she was locked in her room. A surge of anger passed through her like never before. She pictured in her mind what she wanted to happen to him and flicked her hand. He was thrown sideways, back and forth, slamming into each wall that surrounded them. She threw her hand upwards and he crashed into the ceiling before free falling back to the ground.

She continued on to the ballroom without a second glance and was no longer interrupted. She pulled out her wand and stepped through the broken doorway. Her eyes sought out Brad; his lip was bleeding but that was all that seemed to be wrong. Her eyes moved around to land on Hermione who was fighting side by side with Ron. Draco was further in the room. He had just punched someone in the face and threw them to the ground before cursing someone else over his shoulder.

Suddenly the air was knocked out of her as she was thrown into the wall beside the door. Lucius Malfoy's grey eyes glinted angrily as he stared down his nose at her. Her eyes left him as she looked at Draco one more time, he stopped fighting at once and looked back at her at the same moment and their eyes met. His eyes for once revealed what he was really feeling; they were filled with pain and fright. She blinked, now feeling an unfamiliar pressure in her abdomen.

Alyssa looked down to see Lucius' hand clenched around the grip of a dagger; the entire blade was now fully inside of her abdomen. Her mouth opened and a silent breath escaped.

"That's the last time you'll cause anymore destruction." He said, acid dripping from his voice. He twisted the dagger and she screamed out; he smirked at her before sharply pulling out the blade. Alyssa slid slowly down the wall, in too much shock to comprehend what had just happened, and fell heavily onto her back.

"Avada Kedavra!" Someone shouted, and a bright green light blurred her vision. She thought for a second maybe she was the victim and that she was dead… but then she could see Harry's face.

"Harry," She whispered.

"Don't speak," He said. She could feel his hands touch her, one holding her face while the other was on the side of her stomach. "Oh god…" He murmured lightly. He ripped part of his sleeve and bunched it up and pressed it heavily onto her stomach, trying to slow the bleeding.

"What about… Voldemort?"

"He's… he's dead. I-I killed him." He said weakly, he looked up to her face and forced a smile. The image of the decapitated body entered her mind and she closed her eyes knowing she could rest now. "No, no – Alyssa, stay with me." Harry said urgently. Alyssa's eyes opened and Harry smiled, "Good, just stay awake – you'll be fine."

Suddenly Draco was at Harry's side. His hands were shaking as he reached out to touch her but he pulled back before he did.

"How bad is it?" He asked Harry.

Harry shook his head, "We've got to get her to the hospital. She's lost a lot of blood." Alyssa's eyes closed again and she sighed. "Alyssa!" Harry shouted, shaking her shoulder. "Alyssa, you've got to stay awake, please." He pleaded desperately. The bleeding was becoming overwhelming and he ripped his other sleeve to use that as well. Draco took off his button up leaving only his undershirt and put it over Harry's blood soaked sleeves.

"Thanks," Harry muttered as he applied pressure. Draco shook his head and clenched his fists together trying to get his hands to stop shaking.

"Where's her brother?" Harry asked him. "Stop looking, you'll make yourself sick."

Draco looked away from the dead body that was about five feet away from them and shrugged. "He went with Lupin through the rest of the Manor. Weasley's mum left with them, too."

"Sectumsempra!" Someone shouted. With a grunt, Draco was hit on the shoulder and blood started dripping down his bare arm. Harry turned around in an instant and yelled "Crucio!" Draco looked up at him, completely taken aback and Harry shook his head forgetting about his target and turning his attention to Alyssa.

"Harry!" Ron called from across the room. Harry turned his head to look at him as he dodged a curse. "You have to get her out of here; we'll take it from here!" Harry nodded and turned back to look at Alyssa; she was getting paler by the second.

Draco whispered her name softly but her vision was blurring now and she could barely see him. Harry pulled her into his arms, one arm under her back while the other supported her legs. She moaned in pain as he stood up.

"How will you get her out of here?" Draco asked quietly as he stood up as well.

"I'd apparate but I can't risk her getting splinched. I'll have to signal for the Knight Bus, that's the only safe way." Harry said. Draco seemed hesitant in Alyssa leaving his sight but Harry spoke up, "I have to leave now, Draco." Saying his name got his attention and he stood back nodding.

Harry adjusted her in his arms before walking out of the room. He glanced at her face, "Good, just stay awake." He murmured as he looked into her blank eyes. He stepped outside and cursed whoever controlled the weather; it poured onto them, soaking through their clothes as soon as they left the clearing of the roof. He walked down the driveway of Malfoy Manor to the gate that had been opened. Standing outside of the gate Harry signaled for the Bus with his wand. With a crack it appeared almost instantly. The doors opened and Harry stepped onto the bus in a rush startling the driver, Ernie.

"I need to get to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries – immediately!" Harry ordered. Without question Ernie nodded his head and the bus took off. Harry was jerked through the bus and Alyssa moaned.

"I'm sorry," He murmured. He sat down on one of the beds and wrapped a blanket around her. "We're almost there, Alyssa. You'll be okay." The bus rocked them backward and forward and he held her tightly in his arms. He looked at his watch impatiently; they needed to get to the hospital now or else she could… no, he wouldn't think of that. She would be okay. She'd just get patched up, maybe spend a few days in the hospital and then before he knew it she'd be back at Hogwarts.

"Harry…" She whispered into his chest.

"Yeah?"

"I'm glad you are with me." She said drearily. Harry smiled and his chest rumbled against the side of her face as he chuckled softly. He ran his hands up and down her arms as they waited for the arrival. For the first time in days Alyssa felt truly safe as she was held in Harry's arms and she clenched tightly onto his shirt… shivering, and wanting nothing to do but rest… she rested her eyes, and she knew nothing more…

A/N: its outttttt, tell me what you think, hope you liked it!

reviews pleasee... only a few chapters left