FYI, the end of this story is non-canon, but I have an OC so that should be expected. The next chapter is the last, so try to get emotionally prepared for that. Enjoy, guys, and review a bunch.

Chapter 26

Suite for Solo Cello No. 5 in C Minor, BWV 1011: Prelude by Yo-o Ma

Leia, who had gone to sleep so peacefully, woke up to a crash. She stood up impulsively, noticing that her hand wasn't holding Draco's anymore. He was gone. His bed was empty, but also made up and cleaned. Instead, all that was in her hand was a small folded piece of paper. It only read:

Don't leave the Hospital Wing tonight. They should only be on the other side of the castle. Please, stay safe.

Even with a rushed hand, Draco's handwriting was perfect. He hadn't even bothered to address it or sign it. She crumpled it in her hand and stuffed it in a pocket. She rid herself of her Slytherin sweater and tie, knowing she'd probably never put them on again. She marched out of the hospital wing towards any noise with her wand out. Only when she had exited the room did she hesitate.

This is dumb. I should not be doing this.

The sounds of shouting, spells shooting past, and things crashing roared into her ears as she found members of the Order fighting Death Eaters. She noticed Ginny Wesley was being pelted with spells from some older looking man in dark robes. With the element of surprise on Leia's side she easily sent the man flying across the room. She had briefly remembered how she had told Harry that she didn't ever want to be in the line of battle, but that seemed so long ago. Ginny turned to see who had helped her, and then smiled.

"Wondered if you'd show up." Ginny said as stood back to back to Leia as two new Death Eaters approached.

I didn't think I'd be here either.

"What the fuck is happening?" Leia replied while sending counter-curses towards some stranger.

"Death Eaters got in…." She started while defending herself, "…Order members were called… not sure what's happened since then…"

"Who let them in?"

"Draco." Ginny yelled as spells shot out of her wand.

Leia's stomach dropped and her anger rose. Part of her wondered if she had gotten out of the hospital wing specifically to find him. She didn't really know.

She could feel her blood boiling as she Confringo-ed the wall near the Death Eater she was fighting. It distracted him so Leia could cast a body binding curse. She marched out of the hallway, wordlessly, only stopping shortly to use counter-spells against random Death Eaters. She was on the side of the castle closest to Hagrid's hut and figured he'd be fleeing by now. She was heading outside, and just a hallway away, when she was stopped by a tall woman.

She had an odd look on her face, one of sadistic excitement. It was nothing like Leia had ever seen before. The woman had long untamed black hair that seemed to be pointing in every direction. Her face was probably once very attractive: heavy lidded eyes with long eyelashes, small nose, and high cheekbones. However, with age and hardships, her face must have become gaunt, like her body. She looked sick. Her clothes were black, leather corset and dress covered in patches of different fabrics. Her wand was in her hand as she pointed it to Leia eagerly.

Leia almost pissed herself.

Leia recognized her from the wanted poster: Bellatrix Lestrange.

Fuck.

"I'm sure it's past your curfew, little girl. Don't you know that good students should be in bed by now?" The older witch cackled to Leia.

"I could… ask you the same-same, question." Leia said hesitantly. She could feel scared tears start to peak out of her eyes.

What? Did I just say that?

She couldn't actually ask that because it made no sense. Leia was talking nonsense, but by the time she had realized how stupid she had sounded, it was already out of her mouth. She wasn't really thinking properly.

Bellatrix looked as confused as Leia felt.

"Who are you?" She asked with her eyes in slits.

"I'm…" Leia paused.

Her mind went blank.

"I forgot."

Leia wasn't kidding. She couldn't remember her name for the life of her. Bellatrix just looked more baffled. In frustration, Leia's tears got heavier.

"You forgot?"

"Unfortunately."

There was silence between them for an awkward moment. Then Bellatrix seemed to remember something.

"Oh, you're the American, aren't you?" Her mouth curled. "Oh, I've heard about you."

"Anything good?" Leia said, obviously by this point not thinking through her the words that came out of her mouth.

Bellatrix shook her head smiling in the most frightening way possible, although now Leia's tears were making it harder to see.

"Well, someone informed the Dark Lord that Draco had taken fancy with an American girl at Hogwarts. By some unlikely twist of fate, she was sorted into Slytherin. Only, she had a secret that she didn't even know was shameful. She was the child of a filthy squib and a filthier mudblood-"

"Leia Allen! Oh, duh, that's my name. S-sorry, just remembered, but please go on."

Leia had just interrupted the most dangerous person she had ever met. Bellatrix had the power to torcher her into madness, and Leia just interrupted her. And now Bellatrix knows her name.

I'm dead, I'm dead, I'm dead, I'm dead, I'm dead, oh-my-fucking-God she's going to torture me and then she's going to kill me. I'm so dead. WHY DO I FORGET MY MANNERS WHEN I'M SCARED SHITLESS?! THIS IS THE TIME WHERE I NEED THEM MOST.

Bellatrix cocked her head to the other side, like she was slightly confused, but then smiled again. Leia was now balling at this point.

"Yes, Leia Allen, that is your name isn't it? Leia Allen… Well, I have been put under the impression that Draco is ever so fond of fucking you for whatever reason. Maybe we could keep you as a captive in Malfoy Manor? He could spend time with you and practice torture techniques at the same time! Wouldn't that be just lovely? Maybe we should have a go now, so you'll get a little preview, shall we?"

Leia didn't have an opportunity to process the words she had just heard.

In a period of roughly three seconds, she experienced the more pain than she had ever felt in her life.

One.

Leia hit the floor, barely recognizing it. She felt sharp pain on every inch of her body- like millions of knives stabbing her at the same time. It rushed through her. Every nerve ending felt as if it was being pierced with something sharp and hot. At the same time, her skin seemed to tighten on itself, squeezing her insides.

Two.

Leia was screaming, but she couldn't hear it. Instead all she felt was her insides twisting upon each other. Her stomach seemed to be strangled by her intestines. Her kidneys were pushed around by her liver. Her lungs suffocating her heart. All of her muscles and internal body tissue were tightening and growing at the same time, either way they didn't fit in her body correctly.

Three.

She then felt her head exploding while caving in on itself. She could feel all of her brain cells being electrocuted at the same time. She could hear her blood pulsing through her ear at a deafening level. Her eyes seemed to be spinning to the back of her head over and over again.

Everything was spinning around her in a blurry buzz of hurt.

And then it stopped as abruptly as it had started.

She felt the cold stone against her cheek and remembered where she was. She opened her eyes and saw that Bellatrix was gone. She tried to stand, but her head was still dizzy. She leaned against the wall for support. After a few deep breaths, she felt different, but passable.

I really should have stayed in the hospital wing.

Leia felt a hand on her back that made her scream and fall to the ground in surprise. She turned her head slightly to see it was Neville Longbottom. It took her a moment to realize she was still crying.

Oh.

He had the saddest look on his face. Leia figured part of it was the fact he was looking at her in this state.

"Leia." Neville said quietly in pity.

Leia swallowed deeply.

"W-what happened?"

"Professor Dumbledore-" He cut himself off and was silent for a moment before starting again. "Professor Dumbledore, the greatest wizard of all time, has been murdered by Draco Malfoy."

Leia shuttered.

"Wh-what?"

Dumbledore represented hope and safety. The only man Voldemort feared was dead. Nowhere was safe anymore. She knew this is the point where things turn a take a turn for the worst. Everything was going downhill now at a rate that no one could stop.

Neville swallowed knowing the next words he said would hurt.

"Draco Malfoy was chosen to kill him… he let all of the Death Eaters in too. What happened to you?"

Leia, who up to this point had been avoiding eye-contact with Neville, looked up at him. She started to stand as he helped her up, and then stood squarely to him.

"Bellatrix." She said in a clear whisper.

He didn't reply to her name, and Leia didn't need him to.

"Do you need help?" He asked as she started walking away.

"None that you could give me." She said barely looking back at him.

Leia went off in the opposite direction towards the Hospital Wing. As she walked, she saw out a window hundreds of students gathered around something that she couldn't see. They now held their wands in the air, with small white lights at their tips. It resembled a muggle candle light vigil that happens after tragedies.

She didn't pause to watch.