For a while he didn't notice me standing there, just continued crying and rocking quietly until he seemed to sense someone watching him, and when he looked up, our eyes met. Draco jumped to his feet and went for his wand, but his trembling hands fumbled with it, struggling to grasp it and when he finally managed to draw it from his pocket, dropped it. It landed with a clatter and rolled towards me, sparks shooting out of the tip as I watched it come to a stop at my foot before I then looked back up at him.
He looked utterly pathetic, to be honest. Covered in dust and blood from his nose, his eyes were red and weepy as his tousled hair making him look completely dishevelled, a stark contrast to his usually pristine appearance. Draco froze, staring at me in terror with the appearance of prey that wanted to flee the predator, but was too afraid to make any sudden movements. After a moment, I reminded myself that Draco was just as much a victim of Voldemort as the rest of us, so I slowly leaned down and picked up the wand he'd dropped, then offered it back to him. He stared at me further, mouth opening and closing dumbly before he jerked and his hand shot out to snatch the wand back. Instead of pointing it at me, however, he clutched it tightly, fiddling with it incessantly as I gave a long sigh. "Rough day, huh?" Draco just looked at me like I was insane. Hell, I probably was. "So you have three choices. You can either go sit in the Great Hall with everyone else, find somewhere quiet and comfortable to sit alone and wait for the result of the war, or you can walk off into the Forbidden Forest to go find Voldemort and your parents. What's it going to be?" He clamped his mouth shut. "Shocking, I've never heard you this quiet before. You were always a gobby little brat when you were younger. Come on, I'll walk you in."
Taking Draco by the hand, I pulled him along behind me until he figured out how to walk on his own, letting me lead him into the hall where I brought him inside. A lot of people started whispering, and more than a few glares were shot his way but I tightened my grip on him and brought him straight to Molly Weasley, in whom I could trust her natural maternal instincts to comfort and mother anyone. I was not disappointed. She took one look at the pair of us then ordered Draco to sit down, calling him 'dear' and checking him for injuries, putting a blanket around him and making him drink something hot and sweet to calm his nerves.
Draco looked utterly flummoxed, but was so completely helpless and alone that he accepted Molly's fussing in silent acquiescence, hunching over his drink as I whispered quickly to Molly, telling her that Draco wasn't one of them, just forced into service and that he'd be safest here rather than out there alone. "You leave him with me dear, I'll look after him." She promised, patting my cheek with a sniff and doing her best to smile brightly before continuing to look after all the students who had somehow come under her protective wing.
Now I resumed my search for Harry, running out of the hall but I needn't look too far, because almost immediately I heard his voice. He was talking to Neville, telling him to kill the snake, and before I could call out, he'd ducked under the cloak once more. I raced to follow, Neville looking up and frowning but I didn't stop, I had to get to Harry. We turned the corner and then I drew out my wand and tripped him up, making him stumble and hit the floor where I then saw his feet poke out from under the cloth. "Don't you even think for one second that you're going anywhere near that forest, Harry James Potter." As he turned over, I saw something of a shimmer shifting and I focused on it, assuming it was the cloak and that Harry was underneath it, so I pointed my wand down at him with an expression of fury. "You're not going to him. You can't. I won't let you!"
"I'm sorry Mia, but I have to do this. It's the way it's got to be." Harry told me from the ground as he started to pull back the cloak. Opening my mouth, I was about to return a rather forceful retort, but before I could even get the first syllable past my lips, Harry's wand was pointing at me. "Stupefy!" I couldn't block it in time, he was too close and I was hit full in the face with the stunning spell which sent me flying onto my back, unable to even remember the point of falling.
All I knew when I woke up, was that I was furious. It was Ginny who brought me around, and I immediately demanded to know where that bastard Harry Potter had gone, but Ginny hadn't a clue. It was starting to get light out, so I rubbed my face and tried to make sense of it all, tried to think of what to do. I should run after him, drag him back here, but as I lifted my head and looked out the window to see the strong, confident rays of sunlight, I knew I had been lying there for quite some time, and a cold feeling of dread overcame me.
Movement alerted me to something happening, the rustle of robes and cloaks as feet shuffled out into the open into the courtyard of the main gates where the long bridge stood. I lunged to my feet, swaying at the sudden motion and Ginny hurried to steady me but I was impatient, I had to hurry. I had to get Harry back before it was too late, and so I ran. I ran through the crowds that had begun to gather, pushing my way to the front and squeezed through when the mass of people came to a halt, forcing my way to the very front and when I looked up, I saw Voldemort standing there with a look of glee, his followers at his back, Hagrid standing there with a rope around his neck, being led around like a dog on a leash and in his arms…in his arms…
"NO!" I screamed. The sensation of grief overcame me so quickly and suddenly that it felt like an overpowering twist of my innards had taken place, everything contorting as the air was knocked out of my lungs whilst I instinctively wanted to scream, creating a strangled cry of woe. My voice burst across the castle and grounds as I felt heat gush down my cheeks and drown my vision, drawing in a fresh gulp of air in order to scream uncontrollably and rush forwards. Someone grabbed me, I don't know who, but they had lunged quickly to seize me and lift me off the ground as I fought and struggled, writhing to get free. "NO! NO! LET ME GO! LET ME KILL HIM! I'LL KILL THAT SNAKE-FACED MURDERER! I'LL DESTROY HIM! HARRY! HARRY ANSWER ME!"
I was wild, completely unhinging as the feeling of loss overcame me, the sense of failure, and all I could see in my mind's eye was Lily Potter's ghostly face in a graveyard asking me to watch over her son. My sobs and screaming only drew laughter from the Death Eaters whilst Voldemort smirked with particular pleasure which only served to increase my thunderous fury. Ripping myself free from my bonds, which were my father's arms, I managed to leap forwards but then the weight of grief hit me like a second wave and my knees gave out, making me collapse to the ground beside the rubble of the fallen castle doors. The ground came up so suddenly that I felt it scrape off the skin of my palms as I cried out, wanting to obliterate every one of their sneering faces in front of me but didn't have the strength to even stand.
"Harry Potter is dead!" Voldemort finally crowed, addressing the crowds though as dad and Remus reached me and grabbed me by my arms to haul me back, further away from the danger of being too close to Voldemort. "He was killed as he ran away, trying to save himself whilst you lay down your lives for him. We bring you his body as proof that your hero is gone."
"LIAR!" A surge powered through me, but the single kick I managed drained me once more as I returned to pathetic squirming and writhing against my family, all of whom were desperately trying to hold me back even as both Remus and dad cried with me, their tears mingling with my own as Harry lay dead in Hagrid's arms before us. It couldn't be true. I refused to believe it. Voldemort smirked all the more.
"The battle is won. You have lost half of your fighters. My Death Eaters outnumber you and the Boy Who Lived is finished. There must be no more war. Anyone who continues to resist, man, woman or child, will be slaughtered, as will every member of their family. Come out of the castle, now, kneel before me, and you shall be spared. Your parents and children, your brothers and sisters will live, and be forgiven, and you will join me in the new world we shall build together." I bellowed such profanities that even Voldemort's face dropped a little, fixing a freezing stare upon me as I hissed then summoned as much saliva as my dry mouth could muster and spat at him as a demonstration of exactly what I thought about him. "Clearly, some are willing to die for their folly, and drag their family down with them." Voldemort mused calmly, watching me as I continued to fight against dad and Remus, Fred and George now joining them as it took all four to keep me held in place now that I was properly fired up and burning to hurt Voldemort for what he'd done. He'd killed Harry. I'm going to kill him next.
Hagrid was forced to move forwards and follow Voldemort as he approached, his sobs constant and severe as he cradled Harry as carefully as he were able, as if afraid of jostling him too much and waking him. Now that others were starting to arrive and make their way to the front, I heard a great many cries join together, including Professor McGonagall who made such a heart wrenching sound that it compelled me to look at her as she staggered, hair completely unravelled as she clutched at her heart with horrified tears slipping down her cheeks. Ron and Hermione also screamed, Ginny wailing as she too tried to surge forwards but was held back by Arthur and Percy. The sounds of sobs and grief seemed to now irritate Voldemort, no longer taking joy in observing our deepest melancholy.
"SILENCE! It is over! Set him down, Hagrid, at my feet, where he belongs!" Voldemort ordered and I cursed again, kicking out with so much force that I accidentally struck George in the head but he quickly grabbed onto my foot and anchored me down with Fred as Hagrid was forced to lay Harry down, gently, tenderly, sliding his head from underneath his large fingers whilst continuing to weep. "Harry Potter is dead, from this day forth, you'll put your faith in me. Harry Potter is dead! And now it's the time to declare yourself. Come forward and join us, or die." Everyone remained rooted to the spot, freezing up at the ultimatum which was laid out before us. There were shifts in stances, hands gripping tightly onto wands until the desperate voices of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy called across the courtyard.
"Draco. Draco!" Twisting my head around, I saw Draco Malfoy standing at the top of the stairs slight aside from the rest, but looking just as shocked and alarmed as the rest. His pale face was completely bloodless, eyes wavering as he considered his options before him until his mother lifted her hand towards him.
"Draco. Come." His eyes flickered to me then as I remained still locked firmly in my dad's and uncle's embraces. I was surprised that our gazes met, but with a little nod, I encouraged him to go to his parents. He would be safe over there, and that was something. He'd be with his parents, and they could escape somewhere far away from here, so even if the rest of us are killed today, at least someone innocent would have survived. Draco moved, descending the stairs and going to his parents as everyone watched him, though he went slowly, uncertain and seemingly still undecided.
"Well done, Draco." Voldemort gave a rather disgusting smile and even deigned to give Malfoy what I could only interpret as an attempt at an embrace, though it was stiff and looked rather unpleasant for both parties involved until he was released, and Malfoy went to his parents where his mother quickly seized him to hold him close, and Lucius placed his hands upon both their shoulders. Behind us, I heard something shuffle, smaller rocks being disturbed and clicking as they fell, though the stumble of someone clumsily moving brought Voldemort's attention to them, his eyes suddenly brightening. "Ah! Wormtail, I had wondered what became of you. So you have switched your loyalties once again."
"Traitor!" Bellatrix suddenly screeched as Pettigrew moved himself out into the open, lingering near to the Weasley family as well as myself, dad and Remus. He was shivering, trembling from head to toe in such a violent manner I dimly wondered if he was rattling his own brain. Recalling that dad had said that Wormtail had saved Tonks from Bellatrix's killing curse, I couldn't help but feel a warm glow towards him as Voldemort began to pace back and forth.
"I shall allow you this one chance, Wormtail. I know that you are a man who puts his own survival above all else. I understand that you may have had to say things in order to get them to trust you, to ensure that they do not kill you. Return to me, ever a loyal servant, and you will not be punished." Voldemort offered and now, everyone was staring at Pettigrew. Eyes now darted about every face until they settled upon the three of us just a few steps below him, all collapsed on the floor amidst our sorrow, but dad now had a firm grip on his wand but I caught hold of him, keeping his arm locked around me as now, Pettigrew and I were looking directly at one another.
"Please, Uncle Peter." Whispering softly, I implored him to make the right choice, to stand with us against the odds in order to fight against the darkness, the suppression, the mass genocide and unrighteous murder which would surely follow if Voldemort were to get his way. "Be brave." Pettigrew flinched, but did not draw back. Our connection continued to hold as he surveyed my face seemingly in a bid to memorise every detail, until gradually the shivering stopped and he stood up, looking taller and prouder than I had ever seen him as he faced Voldemort and spoke with a high, squeaky voice but did not falter.
"I am where I need to be. I will not join you. Not this time." Remus and dad both started in shock, staring at Pettigrew. We all started to get up and I, leading the way, climbed up the steps in order to turn, standing myself beside Pettigrew and took his hand in mine as Remus then joined us and lastly, dad, who placed his hand on my shoulder as the four of us stood together. Voldemort now wore an expression of thunder, clearly unused to betrayal and in his wrath, sent a curse at the four of us but I sliced out my wand to create a protective shield charm as well as raising the debris before us into a wall so that it rebounded, instead hitting his own forces and they exploded, causing his rage to increase.
"Faithless rat! You shall die in writhing agony!" Pettigrew squeaked but I gave his hand a squeeze to reassure him as the barriers dropped and Voldemort began to pace, gesturing to Harry who was still lying at his feet. "You have no hope of defeating me! You see? Harry Potter is dead! Do you understand now, deluded ones? He was nothing, ever, but a boy who relied on others to sacrifice themselves for him!"
"He beat you!" Ron bellowed back, making Molly gasp and jump to grab him as I also yelled back, dad instinctively grabbing me again to keep me from striding over there and punching that bastard right where his nose should have been.
"Harry will always be a greater wizard than you! You spineless scum!" Voldemort hissed at me, the snake which was draped over his shoulders like a scarf also baring its fangs.
"He was killed while trying to sneak out of the castle grounds, killed while trying to save himself…"
"LIAR! YOU LIAR! LIAR LIAR LIAR LIAR!" Screaming at the top of my lungs, Voldemort flourished his wand at me and I felt a searing pain across my chest which caused me to cry out and slump, blood pouring from the wound as dad yelled in fear. Everyone dropped with me and quickly tried to staunch the wound as I struggled for breath, having screamed myself hoarse. Pettigrew had his arm around me whilst the others all crowded in, calling my name as Remus and dad tried to press a scarf against the wound, Fred and George yelling fearfully. With my own wand, I cauterised the slash and stopped the blood, but stayed on the floor as dad had his arms latched around me, partly in restraint, and partly in an embrace as I felt his own tears against his now frozen, clammy cheek.
In the confusion of being hurt, someone had retaliated against the attack and as my eyes focused again, I saw that it was Neville, disarmed and on his knees from where Voldemort had stopped him. "And who is this? Who has volunteered to demonstrate what happens to those who continue to fight when the battle is lost?" In the front row of supporters, Bellatrix gave a loud cackle as her eyes fixated with a bright gleam on Neville.
"It is Neville Longbottom, my lord! The boy who has been giving the Carrows so much trouble! The son of the aurors, remember?"
"Ah yes, I remember." Neville tried to get back to his feet, completely alone in the middle of the courtyard between us and Voldemort. I gripped my wand tightly, sitting up a little straighter and held it out, ready to shield him, to drag him away, whatever was necessary to protect him. "But you are a pure-blood, aren't you, my brave boy?"
"So what if I am?" Neville demanded, staring Voldemort down with a courage and stout heartedness I would never have seen from him in his first couple of years of school, but it had always been there. Neville was a Gryffindor, after all.
"You show spirit, and bravery, and you come of noble stock. You will make a very valuable Death Eater. We need your kind, Neville Longbottom."
"I'll join you when hell freezes over. Dumbledore's Army!" He proclaimed and all of us who were members answered him with a cheer of agreement. A displeased twitch overcame Voldemort, scanning the crowds with irritation.
"Very well. If that is your choice, Longbottom, we revert to the original plan. On your head be it." Voldemort waved his wand before I could even react, making me cry out sharply for Neville but he remained unharmed. Instead, something flew out of one of the many hundreds of windows and straight to his hand, the crumbled and ancient hat rather distinguishable, despite its nondescript appearance. "There will be no more Sorting at Hogwarts School. There will be no more houses. The emblem, shield and colours of my noble ancestor, Salazar Slytherin, will suffice for everyone, won't they, Neville Longbottom?"
Forcing Neville to kneel upright, Voldemort dropped the hat down upon his head and raised his wand, making to speak again but words burst out of me before I could stop them. "Familia ante Sanguinem!" The echo of my voice carried and it gave Voldemort pause, lifting his head to see me as I stood up, taken advantage of my dad's loosened grip to rise.
"And what, pray tell, is that supposed to mean?" Voldemort asked me dryly so I took a step towards him, the motion causing both Fred and George to grip at my shoulder so I reached up and grasped their hands with a reassuring squeeze, remaining focused on Voldemort.
"Family before Blood. It is the new House Black family motto."
"Insolent girl! Toujours Pur, Toujours Pur! That is the Black motto! Always Pure!" Bellatrix screamed at me so I took another step towards them, never once taking my eyes off Voldemort.
"Well, I changed it, so deal with it. Anyway, 'Family before Blood' is the only thing that matters now. Us, our loved ones, against you, the pure-blood fanatics. It's always about blood with you lot, well it makes me sick. You can torture me or kill me if you like, I won't care, because I'll die protecting my family, and I know they'd die to protect me. That is true magic, and it's something you will never understand." As if I had knowingly been stalling for time, I felt a rush of warmth before a golden cry filled the air and Fawkes appeared in a burst of flames, making me grin broadly as I jumped down the last few steps and held out my arm for him to land as his scarlet plumage swept around the courtyard before coming to me.
I looked into his eyes as he gazed at me, blinking slowly, and I knew. I knew it. Help was coming. We weren't in this fight alone.