Kassi slammed the door to Professor Black-now Sirius- chambers open with such force that the book shelf rattled threatening to fall over. However Kassi did not take any notice as she stumbled over to the bed and pushed it aside clearing papers and books from the floor as she ran her fingers over the old wood searching for the loose floor board. Her fingers snagged on an invisible chord and she picked it up between her fingers her brows raised in question. Tugging on the invisible string a floor board flew forward and landed across the room.
Smiling at her triumph she was about to slip her fingers inside to grab the diary when a spell knocked her clean off her knees actually raising her in the air and then plummeting her towards the bookshelf which luckily broke her fall. At first Kassi was shocked and then her anger and adrenaline rose as she realized that Sirius must have placed protection spells on it, damn him. Shoving her hand into her pockets as she let out a few choice words about Sirius and the bloody diary. Yet after two minutes her anger subsided into panic as she frantically searched for her wand, it wasn't there! Where could she have left it?
In the Ravenclaw dorm of course... who would need a wand at a dance? Cursing her own self she ran out the door and as quick as she could up the stairs.
When one rushes and runs with a purpose, one never realizes what is in ones way. When one is in a life or death situation, one does not realize when a hump of a witch extends outwards into their path until one collides with it. Then one proceeds to curse as time wastes away.
"Kassi what are you doing here? Everyone is in the Great Hall! What is going on?" Hermione whispered urgently. Kassi shook her head and looked from Ginny to Harry back to Hermione. With not a word she grabbed Hermione's arm and dragged her off in the direction of Sirius's chambers only pausing to call back to Ginny and Harry their instructions.
"Head Mistress office now, get the sword of Godric and meet us on the stair well. Hurry."
Urgency commanded their questions silenced as the only options left were to trust Kassi or kill her.
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Tom leant over Evelyn sneering at the pathetic girl that now lay before him in a heap of bloody death. The screams of Draco Malfoy fell on deft ears as Wally held the young Malfoy back.
"Tisk tisk tis really a waste, such courage-though wasted- and loyalty, I could have used that." Riddle spoke in mockery as he flicked his wand under Evelyn's chin to raising it to gaze into her eyes. He wanted to see her terror, her regret at her foolish decision, her resignation of her life however he was unprepared to see the love, hope, and determination that was prized in Gryffindor. She knew her life was dwindling, that he could kill her with the snap of his fingers or less, she knew that she was missing memories, that she'd never get to see Draco or Fred again and yet here she was-the intolerable Gryffindor- smiling.
Fred's grunts brought Tom out of his thoughts as his eyes followed Evelyn's to the boy lying not four feet from them his arm outstretched as a simple bracelet lay in his hand. A simple bracelet, thought Tom, that could bring about my destruction. To think something so simple as a mother's love and now a boy's bracelet could bring about the destruction of such a great wizard as himself was unthinkable! It was preposterous and yet it was plausible. Damn the muggles for the only magic that he did not believe in nor wish to have, damn them for inventing such a shield against his powers.
Tom's eyebrows raised in surprise as the girl at his feet raised herself on her elbows and slowly inched towards the boy outstretching her fingers to reach the bracelet, however they would not make it. "I don't think so dearest, Crucio!" Evelyn fell immediately coughing up blood as the crowd gasped watching the blood spew over the floor. Riddle narrowed his eyes as she stubbornly inched her way forward again using her fingers unable to get to her elbows this time. "You foolish girl do you really want to die that soon?"
Evelyn stopped for a moment as if contemplating using the energy to retort when she heard Draco's drawling sarcastic voice pipe up. "Riddle me this, why does Riddle not want his savior to touch a simple bracelet? Surely a bracelet couldn't harm the great Dark Lord?"
Tom's scowl fiercely turned to hatred as he kept his wand pointed at Evelyn. "Malfoy I suggest keeping your tongue tied and mouth shut if you wish to keep your life. Is a mudblood really worth your effort?"
"Yes..." Draco's reply was strong, short but it left no room for hesitation. Evelyn sighed, so he did care for her, then it was worth it-all of it-.
"Even though she never gave thought to you until I stole her memories of her precious Weasel? Even though she can never love you as long as he lives, even then she could never forgive you. After all your the one who stole him from her, and now your the reason he is dying." Tom smirked smugly as Draco tried to fling himself from Wally's arms so that he could presumably put his fingers around Tom's neck and strangle each and every breath from him. Riddle raised an eye brow knowing that this would be the last bit of fun he could have before getting to the dirty work and so he continued, "Does she really love you? Would she love you if she had her memories of Fred?"
Draco tried not to listen to the taunting but it was overly difficult considering the words were those he had wondered himself. Evelyn had only decided to sacrifice herself for him when all her memories of Fred were gone, she said she loved him but she didn't remember Fred and if Tom was telling the truth about who she'd wrote about in the diary then the question was presented. Did he love her enough to want her to live even if it meant her being in the arms of a Weasel?
"Would you like to know the answer then? Would you like to know if she'd have loved you even if she did have her memories of Fred?" Riddle asked as if he was merely curious to the outcome of a scientific experiment concerning salt and water. "Say the word and you shall have it."
Draco flickered his eyes from Tom to Evelyn who had turned her head to face him and was no longer inching her way towards Fred who lay grunting in pain. Slowly he nodded, he needed to know why she had done it, and if she would have done it again.
Tom flicked his wand lazily at Evelyn who immediately cried out in pain as she curled into a ball holding her head with her hands as if it's contents might spill out at any moment. Draco's shocked expression of guilt quickly turned to anger as he opened his mouth to curse Tom over Evelyn's screams but at that moment the screaming stopped and he heard her voice whispering a name... a name he hoped never to be uttered on her lips.
"Fred..."
Evelyn sat up as her eyes fell to the body of Fred. "Fred! Oh no! Please, you can't die, please..." Evelyn started to sob as her memories of Fred were presented fresh in her memory unlike her memories of the current situation.
"Evelyn..." Draco had felt a surge of guilt, jealousy and anger at her cry of anguish over Weasley but had pushed the feelings aside, he needed to know. "Evelyn." This time he used a steady voice, calm, collected, and stern none of which he was at that moment.
Evelyn whipped her head around as other memories of current occurrences floated into her mind. Focusing her eyes on Draco she realized what had happened between them, what shouldn't have happened, yet without Fred there it had been inevitable. Unfortunately for Draco memory charms were not permanent.
"Evelyn I need to know, now that you have all your memory in tact. Why did you sacrifice yourself for my, for my parents? For me?" Draco couldn't look into her eyes afraid that she would see his heartbreak, his weakness, his love.
Evelyn gazed at the blonde boy as he looked away, pondering this question in a death of life situation was not very convinent but it seemed that Tom would allow stalling for it. She might still have time to live if she could stall long enough perhaps she could save them yet. Then again perhaps not.
"I have been seperated from my parents for nearly a year now, with no way of knowing if I will ever see them again. I knew that my mum was dying and yet I couldn't see her, hold her hand, I could do even less then if I had been there. I knew it was near impossible to see my parents well again, when you had a chance to have yours back who was I to deny you it? I would not have you hold the sorrow I held, even if you had been horrid to me and even sent me the diary in the first place." Evelyn saw a flicker of emotion cross his eyes as his head whipped about and he glanced at her. "Yes I knew it was you who sent the diary but I also knew it was for good reason. You have a heart Draco no matter how hard you try to hide it. You knew with sacrificing my life you could save two. Two lives you had worshipped, they had been your world and now they were gone and you were left with nothing but their treasure which was useless as you soon found out. Even if I had my memories of Fred, I would have continued to write in that diary as soon as I found out and after, I would have done it because no one deserves to be alone."
Draco chewed his cheek thoughtfully. She would have still scraficed herself for him, to make him happy because she knew what it was like but would she still have loved him? Perhaps, he could ask...
Evelyn coughed up more blood as she doubled up in pain, pain she knew was shared between her and Fred. Someone had a sick sense of humor and a sadistic feel for love when they had invented such a punishment. Sitting up once more and wipping the blood on her mouth upon her sleeve she raised her eyes to meet Draco's once more. "As to the other question I know you are wondering, without my memories in tact it was easier to love only you all this time. Never forget your not alone Draco, don't throw away your life for meaningless hate. You know how I feel. Don't forget that you are a good man Draco, with a good heart, never think I would ever think otherwise." She was in love with Draco she knew by the fits of blood she now produced but she also knew the only reason her and Fred remained alive now was because of her constent feelings for him and that bracelet.
Draco nodded hanging his head in submission to the truth.
"Hem hem, I think this sappy interlude has gone on quiet long enough don't you?" A middle aged women wearing pink amist the black death eaters was sorely out of place however her attitude fit right in.
Draco's head snapped to attention as did many others as the name of the annoying, ugly, mongrel was nearly shouted through the Hall in disbelief, "Umbridge?!"
-0-
Sirius made his way back through the passage into the crowds of students as he replaced his death eater hood. No one would question a death eater even one moving amongst the students, as if they'd even realize. Tom had apparently allowed Evelyn her memories for the moment, shocking the Gryffindors, Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs while amusing many Slytherins and death eaters. The sorting hat had said that Hogwarts would crumble without unity and it seemed that this would be the last stand for many young witches and wizards.
Spotting George who was still at Lulu's side he rushed over. Placing a hand on his shoulder he felt George's wand sticking into his ribs before he could say a word.
"You were with them all along?" George stated accusingly.
Sirius knew that words would not convince the young twin in this stage of the game and so he handed him over two objects forcing them into George's hands. "What is-" George started then realized he was meant to keep quiet he glanced down at the objects in his hand. Surprised to find a bag of instant darkness powder and limp locking spray he forced his gaze up to question Sirius but the man was already gone. Continuing through the hall decretely he heard the Umbridge women do her signature 'hem hem' before scolding them like school children, for a brief moment he wondered why Voldemort had put up with her. Though now he had a problem wandering attention would grow suspicion on his part as he handed out weapons to the students of Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Gryffindor.
He was about to turn his own wand on Tom when Lulu shouted a war cry from no where. Those girls and their timing, thought Sirius as he watched the girl pull out her wand and point it at Ella.
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"You won't live to see tomorrow Evans!" Ella cried as she raised her own wand at the moment she cried Avada Kedavra. However Ella's aim was terribly off as she seemed to be still suffering the affects of Fred's wonderful confuding charm which Ronald had been unable to remove because of his lack of wand waving skills. The green light missed Lulu by a few inches and instead caught an innocent bistander who had been so surprised by the sudden attack that he had no time to move out of the way.
Dean Thomas now lay on the Hall floor as dead as Severus Snape had looked the year before.
Lulu was not distracted and had not been confuded and so with all her conviction she screamed Avada Kedavra and the green flame that shot out of her wand time all but devoured Ella as the girl was thrown backwards slumping into death.
She would not let anyone else die on her watch, never would she see another commard, friend, lover, and confidant die as she had Oliver.
-0-
The fight had broke out quickly catching Wally off guard as Draco slammed his elbow into his face. Draco then proceeded to run forward wand raised at none other then Voldemort but he was caught off guard when a Cruciatis from Umbridge knocked him off his feet. He nearly turned his wand to her but Lulu rushed but behind him yelling at him to get his ass in gear as she sent her own curses and spells at the evil witch. Nodding his thanks Draco returned to his present task-getting his hands around Voldmorts neck and killing the bastard nice and slow- after that he could die a happy man.
"Now now Draco no need to get angry, after all it's not me you should be angry with. She is the one who stated to you that she really doesn't love you. How could she after all you've done. You, yourself signed her death warrent when you sent her that diary at Christmas."
Riddle's mockery would no longer penetrate Draco's thoughts as he focused his mind on one thing getting Evelyn safe. It was his fault she was nearly dead and if it be the last thing he do it would be his fault she would live.
"Draco watch out!" Evelyn's voice shattered his reverie as Wally launched himself upon Draco's backside.
Coming to the ground with a crash Wally wrestled Draco into a very uncomfortable position as two cracks of broken ribs sounded.
Evelyn was to her feet in seconds and just as fast she was on the ground in pain. Her heart was torn between two people as was her body as it fought to save both Draco and Fred from dying. At that moment she knew that Draco would die faster if Wally remained upon him much longer but if she went to Draco Fred would die quickly and she would follow sortly. Decisions at this time seemed a lose-lose situation. going to Draco meant Fred's death, going to Fred meant Draco's death.
Wait...she was a witch! Where was her damned wand when she needed it? Ripping her wand from her dress she flung a curse at Wally but he did not move, only one thing might work and that was if she had the conviction to do such a thing.
He will kill Draco.
He will harm my friends.
He is evil.
He is responisble for Draco's hurt.
He is responsible in part for bringing Voldemort back.
He had to die.
"Avada Kedevera!!" Evelyn shouted pointing her wand at Wally's figure still a top of Draco. If Lulu's death curse had been a flame of green light devouring the life candle it self without burning the skin then Evelyn's conviction might have brought down twenty wizards. The green light seemed like a tornado as it bit it's way into Wally's life extingishing any oxygen keeping the man alive while the corspe fell away smoking with a few burnt spots.
Draco gasped in pain as he turned his eyes up to meet those of Evelyn who had just saved his life regardless of what he had done to her in the past. Looking into her eyes he saw it, plain as day, light as a flame, and as impossible as...well anything he could think of. She did care, she was remorseful, she wanted him alive, she really cared deeply for him... Then the laughter started, his broken ribs forgotten he rose to his feet in laughter as his wand rose to meet Riddle's startled gaze.
"You used me to get to her, then you ripped her affections from Fred and allowed them to be placed on me. In turn you would recieve the easiest answer to your little problem. You wouldn't have to deal with the power of love again but you were wrong. Even without her memory of Fred she still loved him, I could feel it every time she kissed me! How hesitant she was, how unsure of herself, of her feelings she was. Even without her memories she still loved him over me. Your plan didn't work! You will be defeated by something you don't even believe in." Draco's chuckled filled the Hall breaking above the noise of war.
Riddle did not seem to be half as amused but his sneer quickly turned into a smug smirk after pointing his wand at Evelyn who surcombed to her knees quickly as her screaming commensed the memories she had been gifted with before now gone. Except now the job was done more throughly as her recollection of Hogwarts faded and only her memory of Draco's confession of love remained. "Let's see how brave you are now Draco. Will you allow the Weasley to die so that you may embrace your lover once more or will you turn her away and crush her heart and yours?"
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Well here is another chapter! I hope you enjoy!