Hello, hello, hi, hope everyone is doing well! Can you believe I'm updating within a week? I know, I can't even believe it lol. The story is nearing an end! So excited! And also, an Author's Note at the bottom (remember I said about 3-4 chapters I'd let you know what's been going on with me?) if you're interested. On a more story-related note, though, I have a serious question for you all that I would like you to answer in a review if you can:
Should there be a sequel to this story? Or should it have a finite end?
Thank you all for being so awesome. As always, enjoy!
I do not own any of J. K. Rowling's work, solely the plot to this story.
Rookwood merely smirked, arms crossed arrogantly as his new ally pulled out her wand and performed the ancient calling ritual. His eyes glowed maliciously, widening when the witch's arm began to elicit an eerie shade of magenta. And although he could hardly understand the Latin incantation, it was sweet music to his ears.
Bellatrix stiffened for a bout of seconds, eyes rolling back, as if relishing in the aftermath of the dark cruse she'd reincarnated. She looked up and gave a sinister grin. "It is done. Would you like to do the honors?"
"By all means, you go ahead."
She nearly giggled with glee. In a move so familiar yet long lost, Bellatrix pulled up her sleeve to convey her Dark Mark. And in a dramatic flair, she pressed down on the now wriggling snake.
Ginny was barely coherent. She did sense her brother nearby, although whether he was alive or not, she could not tell. The thought made her anxious, and afraid.
Fortunately, Bellatrix seemed to be elsewhere preoccupied at the moment.
Using what little movement she could muster, Ginny slowly shifted her head to the side towards Ron's still figure. Her arm was close enough to touch him, so she attempted to lift if just slightly. As soon as she did so, however, the large gash caused by the Sectumpsempra curse sent a body-wrenching chill down her spine and she let out a high-pitched gasp.
She clenched her eyes shut, sure Bellatrix would turn around from whatever depraved activity she was caught up in and continue with them where she'd left off. However, instead—
"G-gin?"
Her eyes flew open, immediately catching the blue irises of her fallen brother. Ron was alive. Thank gods!
"Gr-ra-gh," she tried speaking back, but was immediately aware of the blood dribbling out of her mouth. She stopped her attempts, even before Ron haphazardly shook his head for her do so. She wasn't an idiot. Blood from the mouth was not a good sign. She was bleeding to death and any unnecessary action on her part would only speed up the process.
And surprisingly, she was calm.
Her eyes caught her brother's again, internally broken with the tears that drained down his face. He inched his way closer to her, grimacing with pain but relentless. She tried to shake her head 'no', knowing full well that Ron was in no condition to be acting the hero either.
"Ssh." He whispered, close enough for even her somewhat blurry senses could understand. "I'm going to try and stop the bleeding."
Without giving it another thought, he slowly lifted his wand arm towards her injured one, wand in place, and began mumbling a series of healing charms.
Ginny knew it would be to no avail. Hadn't their magic been stumped the moment they'd been locked up in this hellhole? Still, she really didn't give her brother enough credit. He was, if not anything else, furiously loyal, and a great brother.
Her thoughts drifted towards Harry. She prayed with all her heart that he was alright, and that they'd find Hermione and get out safe and sound. And Ron. That they'd find Ron before it was too late. And—
Bellatrix was emitting a strange light. And laughing. And—
"R-ron?"
The sound of her own voice caused her to start. In return, Ron merely gave her a small grin.
"She only said magic couldn't leave the cell."
Ginny glanced down towards her injured arm, and gave a small gasp.
"It's not healed properly at all," Ron continued in a low voice, "but it should hold enough for the bleeding to stop. At least until we get out of here."
"Oh, Ron," Ginny sobbed, voicing her thoughts aloud, "I'm sorry, I really don't give you enough credit."
Ron just patted her shoulder, a shade of embarrassment already coloring his cheeks. "Thank me when this is all done. Hold still, I'm almost finished."
Ginny closed her eyes and did as was told. After a few moments, she opened them and met Ron's, a fiery light that matched her own determination.
They were going to get out of here. And when they did, Bellatrix Lestrange was going to beg for them to kill her.
The Killing Curse. And Harry was quite certain he could not outlive death a third time. What was that saying? Third time's a charm?
The green beam of light sailed as if in slow motion, and Harry saw his life flash before him. And unlike his last encounter with death, he was scared. Scared, because he didn't want to die. Not today.
"Protego Maxima Fianto Duri Repello Inimicum!"
An explosion.
And then Harry was sailing backwards, wand held tightly to his body. There was no time to stop his collision.
"Argh!" He hit. Hard. His vision immediately blurred and he struggled into a sitting position, hearing before seeing the scene that had now erupted onto the floor.
"I should have killed you when I had the chance."
Harry shook his head, anxious to rid himself of his disorientation. When he finally saw clearly enough, however, his mouth dropped in shock.
"You should have. Diffindo!"
She was burnt, bleeding, hair completely charred off in several areas, but there was nothing but clear resolve behind those icy blue eyes.
"Expelliarmus!"
"Protego Maxima!"
Narcissa was an impenetrable force, sending out spell after spell. To Harry's utter disbelief, Lucius was actually stumbling backwards, face tight with frustration as he elicited defensive spell after defensive spell to counteract her onslaught.
"Fiendfyre!"
Harry groaned in protest. Surely she knew how difficult that particular curse—
"How thoughtful, Narcissa dear. You never told me you could control such a pet. Reminds me why I loved you, I suppose."
Narcissa pierced her husband with a cold laugh. "You never asked. And I wouldn't call it love. Arrogant bastard."
Harry watched in awe as the fiendfyre circled Lucius with practiced ease. And unlike his previous experience with the lethal entity, this was definitely more controlled: Narcissa's arm didn't waver once.
Lucius, meanwhile, seemed to be attempting several spells of his own. However, as soon as the spell hit the inner wall of the fire, it backfired, sending a lash of flames and causing the wizard to move out of its direct line of fire.
I didn't know fiendfyre could do that…Harry's silent wonder was immediately answered
Narcissa smiled. "A convenient mix of Hogwart's own shield charms and the deathly flames of fiendfyre."
"Clever, clever witch. Who would have thought such a once obedient wife had it in her?"
"Shut up, Lucius. Before I burn you alive, like you failed to do so with me."
"Ever the lover of irony, I see. It's no matter. You cannot kill me. For Draco's sake. You wouldn't want him to rot in that cell forever, would you?"
Though her face was no longer in his view, Harry noticed an immediate tensing of the shoulders with the mention of the youngest Malfoy. His eyes flew to the barrier that separated the two prisoners from the chaos that ensued elsewhere.
So Malfoy is a prisoner ... There was no question about it. Lucius' remarks had confirmed it. It left a lot of questions unanswered, but Harry quickly turned his thoughts elsewhere. As soon as they escaped, he'd be sure to ask. He'd be glad to ask.
"There is always another way—" Narcissa began heatedly.
"There is no other way. The founders of the Malfoy line have made sure of that. You know more than anyone, Narcissa, that I do not lie about such things. Your only option is to let me go."
Narcissa was silent for a moment, and Harry feared for a second that she might acquiesce with her psychotic husband and release him. However, she simply gave a small shrug and replied, in a smug voice: "I'm sure Dumbledore—"
Which was the exact thing Lucius needed to completely blow up. His eyes widened and Harry could almost visualize what the other was seeing: red.
"Dumbledore cannot do a bloody thing!" He raged. And without seeming to even think about what he was doing, Lucius raised his arm and pointed in the opposite direction. "Accio!"
Harry braced himself, ready in case the outburst successfully cut through the fire. What he didn't expect, however, was for Lucius' rage to not only cut through the fiendfyre, but also blast open the impregnable barrier, and seamlessly pull out both prisoners with the mere call of his hand.
"Hermione!"
"Draco!"
"Mother, the fire, put it out!"
Narcissa vanished the fiendfyre instantly, right before both her son and Hermione hurtled right through it and into Lucius' waiting arms. Using the crooks of his arms, he held them tightly.
Harry moved, and he was immediately by Narcissa's side as Lucius laughed manically. His captives struggled against him, weakened by their already desperate states. However, they were quickly halted in their attempts when Lucius muttered something inaudible into their ears.
Narcissa was sobbing. "Let them go, Lucius! If you ever loved me—"
"Loved you? You just stated otherwise, or perhaps you've forgotten?"
"But he's your son! Our son!"
Harry immediately lifted his wand.
"Stop right there, Potter. Or your mudblood dies."
And that's when Harry noticed something else.
Small, and seemingly inconspicuous, held tightly between two fingers, was a brightly lit, liquid filled syringe. His eyes met Hermione's. They were wide and full of trepidation. One glance at the tiny object and he could guess at what threats had been uttered to shut them up.
He hesitated.
"Ah, so you finally see, do you? Tell me something, Potter, do you know what this is in my hand?"
Harry glared, but Narcissa answered before he could.
"Lucius, you are insane. If you inject the girl with that, there is no telling—"
"But who says I'm going to do such a thing, dear? Why, I'm sure Draco would much rather prefer—"
"You leave my son alone! Acc—"
"Mrs. Malfoy, stop!" Harry all but threw himself upon the already running witch. He knew she was quickly losing all rationale, given the drastic situation, and given this her magic could be unpredictable.
"Isn't this a sight!" Lucius bellowed. "Harry Potter, jumping to the defense of a Malfoy!"
Narcissa slumped to her knees, causing Harry to stumble forward. Her brief rage was gone, replaced instead with an angst so desolate it caused Harry's heart to go out to her.
She looked towards her husband, lip quivering and hands shaking. "Please, Lucius, I'm begging you. Kill me instead. But let Draco go."
"Narcissa, you disgust me. Groveling on the floor like that. As if I could make any use from killing you—"
"Then kill me." Harry stepped forward, throwing his wand towards Lucius at the same time. "Let them go, and you can kill me."
Green eyes met blue, and the strangest sense of understanding passed between them, Narcissa's mouth dropping only the slightest before glancing quickly towards the others.
"Harry, no! You don't—"
"Potter, don't be an idi—"
"Silence!"
They quieted immediately, and Lucius turned his focus to the raven-haired Gryffindor standing in front of him. His eyes gleamed greedily, and with a mere 'accio wand' Harry's wand flew straight into his other hand, brushing Hermione's hair as it did so. "You make an interesting suggestion, Potter. One that I am hard-pressed to pass by—"
"But first let them go." Harry ordered, green eyes fierce.
Lucius laughed. "Ever Dumbledore's prodigy, I see. Fine. They are wandless anyway." He pushed off the two teens, deliberately throwing them onto the ground. They collided with the compacted earth with a heavy thud.
Narcissa immediately surged forward. "Draco—"
"Avada—"
"Now!" Harry yelled.
"Expelliarmus!" Narcissa suddenly changed directions, and shot.
Lucius was blasted off his feet, however, not before grabbing hold of—
"No! No, no, no!"
"Petrificus Totalus!"
"Accio virus!"
Too late.
Draco lunged after his father's flailing body, pushing Hermione towards his other arm.
Lucius brought the syringe down forcefully.
"Avada Kedavra!"
Right before cold gray eyes stilled forever, a crazed smile stared at the world triumphantly.
Author's Note: Right. So er, if you don't hate me too much at this point (and I'm sure you do…), please know that, as I mentioned before, the story is nearing it's end. So…well on the bright side I'm compelled to finish it before the summer is over, so you can expect more expedient updates. As for my 'life' lol, well I think I'm going to postpone that for next chapter, given the uh *gulps* cliffy-like ending I just gave you all here (please don't hunt me down). I would really like if you could all answer my question from the beginning AN regarding sequel/not? It is really going to impact the ending of this story, so please, please, please! Let me know.
Review-replies:
Boothaddict77-Thank you for reviewing!
DollyJani-I am an evil little writer, I know, I totally agree. But I promise it will only make the next chapter even more desirable to read…I think lol. Thanks!
Guest- Hi, so um, I'm not sure what you meant by 'we readers lose our link.' Do you mean anonymous readers have to look up the story again? Or that you forget what's going on in the story? Nonetheless, thank you for reviewing!
Hi buddy- Hi to you too, buddy. Glad you like the story so far (this isn't doctorwhonation by any chance?) You mentioned the vacation and so I thought you might be this person lol. Anyway, hope you enjoyed this chapter. Thanks!
Review please :)
