I only hear my heart beating as I burst through the doors on the main hall, not caring what dangers I'm running into.
I saw her fall. There are footsteps behind, voices calling, but I don't care.
I see the dark figures near the woods still fighting.
Dumbledore and others have only now realized what happened.
"Bena!" I scream. Suddenly, strong arms are holding me, keeping me from getting to her.
"Let go!" I yell, hoping whoever is restraining me will understand. I need to get to her.
"Keep him back, Severus!" Dumbledore commands from the battlefield below.
I twist my neck. Snape is holding me. Suddenly, though, he goes limp and falls to the ground. I look at him, but his eyes are focused on the point where Bena had, until recently, been standing.
"Professor?" I whisper.
No answer.
"Professor Snape?" And then, the unthinkable. Tears begin falling from his eyes. I shift my eyes downward, avoiding the unpleasantess of seeing Snape like this. Snape, the git. Snape, the bastard. Snape, maybe wasn't quite as heartless as I'd thought him to be.
"Stay here, Potter." he says hoarsely.
"But, sir, we have to get help her."
He grabs my arm. "We cannot help her, Potter. Don't you understand? She is not like you, she cannot survive the curse."
"She did!" I insist.
"That was a miracle. This has simply fulfilled the story. She was supposed to die today, the sixth day. She knew it, and still went out. Dammit!" Snape swears, still on his knees.
I sit down on the ground beside him.
He is slowly regaining control, his features slipping back into the severe creases I am accustomed to.
Below us, the battle has come to an end. Apparently, the Death Eaters got what they wanted for this time.
"Voldemort is gone." I say softly.
Snape intakes a breath sharply. "Do not say his name."
I stare incredulously. "What? Do you honestly think he has that much power? How can you think that? He's just a murderer whom everyone lets go about his business."
"You do not understand, Potter."
I am willing to argue with him on this point, but the headmaster has arrived.
The two wizards stare at one another. Snape raises himself up and jerks me to my feet.
Dumbledore nods and walks toward the castle. Snape bows his head and follows after him.
I know they expect me to follow, but I can't.
I wait until Snape is walking through the arch of the door, then turn and run back down the hill. No else is left.
Bena's crumpled robes are in front of me. I kneel down to touch her, but feel only air.
"There's no body!" I exclaim to myself.
I move her robes around, finally picking them up, trying to find some explanation.
A small piece of parchment flutters to ground, landing beside her wand.
I pick it up. On it is written:
'Carry on, dear boys. Carry on.'
I look out over the lake and take the note with me up to the castle.
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FIN
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A/N: Whew finally. I admit, I got writers block towards the end. I'm still not entirely happy with it, but, it's finished. And next week I'll post the rest of the Missing Day, which will leave only Sorceress, which I slowly limp along with every few weeks. I am in full force writing my own original fiction. I hope you've enjoyed the story, and I do apologize if I wimped out towards the end, but Bena was scheduled to die from the beginning of the story (in my mind). THanks for reading. Take care.