Chapter Thirty-Six – Forced Confession (corresponds with POTP chapter 24)

Before Luci could get very far, she went frozen to the spot in horror. Her eyes had met a gruesome scene.

The beast, Greyback, was attacking her father, the father that she despised, resented, wished awful things upon…

She stood there in shock, with chaos igniting around her, but she couldn't take her eyes from it. There was no way that he'd survive this kind of battery, the bloodshed that was happening. Part of her felt as though she should step in, attempt to help him, because she… well, she didn't want him to die. She had too many questions. It was a strange discovery, and it took her too long to make it.

Before she could force her body into action, Bill and Fleur had taken the werewolf under siege. Unexpected relief flooded Luci's chest, while she also felt it entirely unreasonable to care at all. Why did the bloody mess that was left of him make her want to cry? Was he alive? Would she be able to handle it, if he wasn't? Would Draco be able to handle it?

Suddenly, a sickening sound met her ears. It was the voice that she loved, engulfed in pain, crying out. She turned, and a few feet away, a Death Eater was holding Harry's writhing body beneath his wand.

At this sight, Luci was instantly overcome, pierced by a blackness like she'd never known. She was only aware of rage. She knew that she was exploding, but it was all that she felt. Harry's screams had died away, replaced by the new bawling of an unfamiliar voice. She knew that she was causing it, but she didn't care.

Someone was calling her name. She glanced up, and her eyes met Harry's, but she barely registered him.

"That's an Unforgivable Curse!" she heard him rebuke.

She looked away. She didn't care. She was preparing to kill this man, this man who had dared to harm the boy that she loved. He would answer to her now.

Her mind was ranting, blaspheming, unraveling with notions of vengeance.

Harry's voice came again, high and panicked. "You're an Auror!"

At his tone, something cleared faintly in her head, and she reconsidered.

"Stupefy," she spat towards the figure at her feet.

But another Death Eater was headed for them.

All defenses at ready, she snarled, "Relentless bastards!" and sent an incapacitating curse at the newcomer, who went down immediately.

And then someone had hold of her. She was being rattled.

"You're scaring me!" shouted Harry, almost hysterical.

Her eyes found his, and her anger melted away into adoration. She felt prompt shame and spewed, "Sorry, I don't know wh–"

But something hit her before she could finish. She was in the air for a split second prior to her tailbone cracking as it made contact with the hard floor.

Then Harry was standing above her, looking distressed and giving her his hand. She took it and stood, trying to catch her breath, feeling the bones painfully healing themselves. She looked around at the miserable situation. A surmounting doom filled her. Would they make it out of this?

"Are you all right?" asked Harry, concern lining his face.

"I lied," was her only response. She had become frenzied to tell him, fearing that she might not have another chance.

He was shaking his head, puzzled.

Luci sucked in a breath and finally emitted the words that had been bouncing around inside of her, trying to get out, for months.

"I love you, Harry."

It felt like a boulder being lifted from her, and she experienced the love now more than ever, with his green eyes penetrating her skin, and these circumstances threatening to separate them forever.

Harry's expression had changed to astonishment, and he didn't speak.

Two hooded figures were moving towards them, so Luci simply nodded at Harry, and then she threw herself back into the battle. If they lived, she would deal with the consequences. If not, well, he knew now.

Directing her wand at the two advancing Death Eaters, she fired, but only hit one of them. The other shot something at her, and she could only duck.

Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a whole group of people entering the room, led by Hermione. She growled in frustration. She hoped that Draco would be smart enough to have stayed away.

But there he was, and he immediately ran to their father, ignoring everything around him. She started for him, scared for his safety, but turned when a glint caught her eye. She followed it to a white-haired man, and the sparkle of light was reflecting from a sword that he was carrying. He was talking somberly with Severus, and she could have sworn she read the word "Horcrux" on the latter man's lips.

After a brief glance to check on Draco's security, Luci made her way over, nearly crawling in order to dodge streams of spells.

"Miss Luci Keegan, Mr. Craig Cambias," Severus said immediately upon noticing her.

"Pleasure," she said urgently to the older man. "What can I do to help?"

Craig quickly passed his sword to Severus and suggested, "Do not draw the Dark Lord's gaze in our direction. That is the best thing that we can do, for now, to allow Severus to avoid attention for as long as possible. It will give your Harry a chance too. Shall we duel, Luci?"

My Harry? she wondered, before remembering Narcissa's admission to the Dark Lord. Everyone knew now. She felt embarrassed, but she agreed, "A solid plan," and shot a spell just over his shoulder.

He nodded, satisfied, and preceded with similar misfiring.

Luci noticed Severus moving away, but she was focused on their counterfeit fight.

"Thank you for the help," she called to Craig, over the noise, "with the… items."

"I have waited years for this breakthrough. It has been my pleasure."

She tried not to smile at him, but when he added appreciatively, "You are skilled," she couldn't stop her lips from curling up, just a little bit.

But all traces of the smile slid from her face when she heard what sounded almost like an explosion. Both she and Craig turned towards the noise. Through a wafting billow of smoke, she saw the large snake, lying in two separate pieces on the floor. She shuddered.

"NOOO!" she heard Voldemort protest, and then, nearly instantaneously, he was standing over the serpent's remnants, concentrating solely on the mess. He looked strangely aggrieved.

Severus instructed, "NOW, POTTER!" and Luci's eyes darted to Harry, who was standing a few feet away, almost as fixated as the Dark Lord himself.

Then, to her horror, she saw Severus's body fly past her, slamming forcefully into the wall beyond. A split second later, that silver sword whizzed by, and it sunk dully into the dark-haired man with a sickening sound, spilling blood everywhere. He howled in pain before going limp against the floor.

Luci gasped, and she made to go to him, but she was ripped, almost taking flight, in the other direction, an icy claw closing around her upper arm. At first, she was too stunned to realize what had happened, but then she heard Harry shriek, "NO!"

Voldemort was holding her firmly, and she began to thrash like mad, trying to free herself. He was laughing at her. He was going to kill her. And she could have lived with this, except that she knew that he'd kill Harry immediately afterward. She didn't know what to do. Severus couldn't help her anymore, and neither could anyone else.

"I think I will quite enjoy watching you watch her die," Voldemort was saying to Harry.

She stilled herself, knowing that they were doomed. She studied the boy that she loved, and he slammed his eyes shut, his jaw twitching angrily. She had roped him into this. If she had just stayed away from him, he'd feel nothing for her, and they wouldn't be here. But she had to admit that the thought that he did feel something for her was exhilarating, even now. There was so much that didn't get said between them, so much love that was never explored, so much regret criminally lingering… It was tragic.

And then, like lightning in her mind, she realized how to save him. If he could kill both of them, she and Voldemort, then it would be finished. Harry and Draco would both be alive and safe, and they'd never have to fear again. It was worth her life, and she knew it. Still, it terrified her, and she had to struggle to push her survival instincts away. It was ironic, considering how badly she'd wanted to die just a few years ago. Now, though…

Finally, after what felt like an eternity inside of her troubled thoughts, Harry looked at her again.

"Just kill him," she said quickly, trying to keep her voice even.

Harry shook his head adamantly.

"Please, Harry," she pleaded. "You might not have another chance. This is about saving the world, remember?"

"Yes, Harry, take your only precious chance," came Voldemort's voice provokingly from above her head.

Harry stamped his foot. "No."

His chivalry endeared Luci to him even more so, but she couldn't let him risk his life for hers. She was trying desperately to think of something that would convince Harry to just kill her, when he said, "You know, that was the last one."

Luci could see people battling on – Arthur Weasley was protecting Harry from behind – but between the three of them, there was silence.

Then Harry continued, "Yep, all of the Horcruxes are destroyed. That was my last one, but thanks to Snape, who didn't seem to be on your side, that one's taken care of too." He forced a smirk. "So I guess that makes you… mortal… doesn't it?"

Oh, god, Harry, don't piss him off…

The Dark Lord didn't speak for quite some time. His grip had tightened on Luci's arms, and she could practically feel the wrath radiating from him in arctic waves. She couldn't see his face, but she could tell that Harry was holding his gaze. She hoped that Voldemort wouldn't make another move. She hoped beyond hope that Harry would just take his chance and kill them both. She was ready. What was taking so long?

Then Harry staggered, his hands to his head, and Luci surged forward in response, but cold fingers held her immobile. She hissed furiously.

Harry's eyes had opened again, and he was staring hatefully at Voldemort, who finally said, "When I choose, I can still see into your mind, Potter."

Fuck.

"It seems that you have defeated my Horcruxes, but you have not defeated me, and I find myself in the position of power."

Kill us NOW, Harry, please!

His gravelly voice was challenging, as he went on, "You were always weak. There are far too many people about whom you care deeply, and that puts you at a great disadvantage. This particular occasion, for instance…"

Driving pain rushed through Luci's being. What was happening? She screamed. It was her neck… White-hot pain spreading from a wound in her… neck? No, her entire head… No, her entire body… She was suddenly very warm, very wet… But she couldn't see straight. The agony was too much to bear… And then she was up against something cold, and she was sinking into nothingness…

The next thing of which she was cognizant was that of someone rolling her over.

She opened her eyes and a hand softly caressed her face. Harry wobbled slowly into clarity, and she was so happy to see him.

"That hurt," she moaned.

He looked awful. "I'm sorry. I had to."

"I know," she answered, smiling as best she could, even though she felt colder than she'd ever been in her life.

Harry was running his fingers over her torso. She didn't understand why, but it felt marvelous, so she let him. There was no way that she would have the strength to protest anyway.

"How do you do that?" he asked.

Do what? She tried to push herself on to her elbows, but she flopped backward languidly. She saw enough to know that her clothing had been torn, and that she was covered in blood. Was it her own blood?

Without warning, she was in the air. She felt like she was floating, but Harry's strong arms were around her. Her heart swelled with love for him, and then a bit of awareness drifted to the surface.

"Draco."

Harry said softly, "He's okay."

"It's over?" she asked, her tone begging for him to confirm.

"For now."

She tried to grin at him, because it's what she felt like doing, but she suddenly became irresistibly tired. She was going to go to sleep now…