A/N Alrighty people! Here is the next update! I'm so amazed at how many people are now reading this story! I remember when I started it and I only had like, three readers! It has really grown up, hasn't it? –pinches her story's cheeks and whispers nonsense words in a baby voice- Inee just the darndest thing?
Chapter 23: The End of the Begining
Harry had already broken the sound barrier twice now, his Firebolt seemed to know how important it was that he get to Ginny as soon as possible. And though he was ripping apart the sky, leaving it in ribbons behind him, he urged his broom to go even faster, as they were still only half the way there. The rest of the order trailed behind him, trying their very best to keep up, but they fell farther and farther behind, as Harry shot like a bullet for his destination. He couldn't even feel the comfort of Pansy's arms wrapped around him, to keep herself from falling off, just as Hermione was to Ron…except Hermione had her eyes clamped tightly shut, and she was breathing deep slow breaths, to keep herself from passing out. Harry looked back, Lupin was a mear dot against the night sky now, and Harry growled, frusterated. Couldn't they hurry it up? Ginny was in trouble! Harry automatically turned his gaze to the stars,
'Sirius, help us!' He prayed, and as if obeying his silent plea, the Order managed to catch up a little, not Harry could even make out their facial features. 'Thanks, Sirius,' he thought solemly, and bent lower over his broom stick, urging it on faster, into the night.
Narcissa Malfoy glided down the halls, following the memorized path to the dungeons, where she knew her son was being held captive. She knew she was going to die before the sun broke the horizon, but, she was glad, deep down, somewhere in her secret heart. She was not afraid of Voldemort, if anything, she thought him a mockery to the wizarding world. She was barely slightly amused by his sad attempt to create mayhem. The idiot knew nothing of pain, suffering…fear. Something Narcissa had known too much of. She opened the heavy door into the shakle room, and entered with out fear or even hesitation. She held herself with the air of someone walking into a grocery store, about to do some routine shopping. At her enterance, the whole room stopped what ever it was they had been doing. She looked at Draco, chained and bleeding, and fury filled her heart. No one hurt her son like that. They would all pay. She happened to know Harry would be here in a matter of minutes…she also happened to know what the outcome of the situation would be…she didn't know if she liked it. She hoped her son would recover…no matter how much pain and anguish he went through. She wondered briefly how to go about this situation, she didn't want to piss them off too much, she needed to stay alive until Harry got there. She took one look at Draco, and saw that he knew she was lucid. It made her happy, that he knew her so well, and her heart grew with warmth when she heard him whisper,
"Mother?" She nodded in acknowledgment to her son, then smiled brightly at the cloaked man in the center of the room, his whole being resinating with evil, and any sane person would be whithering in fear…well, that wasn't necessarily true, she was sane now, and she had no fear for this mockery of evil.
"Tom!" She gushed, walking over, her head held high. "So nice to see you again, I seem to remember the last time we met? I was slightly less…aware." This bastard had played a big role in the creation of her insanity." She gave him an exadgerated curtsey and smiled again. "Why the visit?" She asked him, his twisted, ugly face gave no sign of anger, only slight curiosity, but her husband on the other hand, was shaking with rage. She watched from the corner of her eye as he marched up to her.
"How dare you speak to your Master as if you are his equal!" He snarled, and raised his hand to strike her. She took a small step back, and his hand cut the air harmlessly.
"Well now, that wasn't very polite!" She said, as if offended, and with a sweep of her hand, he was thrown against the wall. She had learned, while forever lost in the river of time, how to manipulate time, gravity, and thoughts…it was never enough to save her from the maze of images, but it was proving useful in this situation. Though, if Voldemort decided to kill her, there was absolutely no way she would be able to resist it, she couldn't stop magic. Her purpose was to delay, not to kill. That was Harry's job.
"Now, before I was so rudely interrupted, " She said, glaring at Lucius, " I had asked you a question. If you wouldn't mind, this poor, insignificant waif would like an answer. She could feel the Weasely girl staring at her. She turned to look back, but the staring continued, her mouth open in awe.
"Don't stare honey, it is rude, and close your mouth, you look daft." She said, and winked at her. Despite the bruise blossoming on the side of her face, the young girl grinned up at her, and closed her mouth with a snap. Fairly pleased with the rather stupid façade she was putting up, Narcissa glanced at the girl's watch strapped to her wrist. Harry should be arriving in about two minutes, he was probably already in the house, she just needed him to find them. She turned to Voldemort.
"Tom, are you planning to kill this girl?" She asked, with a pleasant smile on her face. She bent over the Weasley girl and picked up the emerald ring she had given Draco years ago, that hung from her neck. "I bet you are, you want to get your boney hands on this lovely little trinket." She looked up at Voldemort.
"Do you know what this will do to you, once you perform the right rituals?" She asked him, nonchalantly. Voldemort narrowed his eyes at her.
"Obviously." He hissed, his voice cutting across her ears, having the effect of nails on a chalk board.
"I will be enstowed with the power of the Egyptian Cat Goddess, Estaphanos, (RINA!) Making me invincible." Narcissa laughed, a pretty throaty laugh, with a sharp edge of danger.
"You fool! Did you notice it is Godess Estaphanos? The ritual can only be performed by a woman. If a man attempts it, he shall be thrown into the fires of hell, where his flesh will burn and his bones will melt, over and over again, for the rest of eternity." She blinked at the shocked silence that overcame the room. Voldemort sneered at her.
"Is that so, my dear Narcissa?" He walked forwards, dangerously slow, until he was close enough to touch her. Narcissa knew what was coming and she welcomed it with open, arms. The dark lord grabbed her hair and yanked her head back, holding his wand to her throat. "I tire of your games Mrs. Malfoy, your attempt to save the girl was in vain, and you shall now die, with your son hear to witness it."
Narcissa laughed again. "You have proved more of an idiot than I first gave you credit for! Good show!" She smirked. She looked over at Draco, she had to let him know before she died. "Draco, that girl loves you," She said, pointing to the little Weasely girl, staring at her in horror, "Almost as much as I do." She whispered, then turned to Voldemort. He was saying the incantation that would end her suffering, and she was loving every second of it, as her insanity came back, she slipped into the river of time to save Luna. The door burst opened at that moment and Harry flew in, followed by the order. They were greated by the united screams of Draco Malfoy and Ginevra Weasley, and they screamed in horror, the emerald green light, enveloping the brave woman's body. The last words she said before she died were:
"See you in Hell."
A/N Yeah, I know, really short, but I couldn't RESIST ending it here! I loved my Narcissa! She was awesome! Also, HARRY IS HERE! Horray! Now, he can kill Good Old Voldy, and Draco and Ginny can get on with their romance! Unless Harry dies, and the world succumbs to the devestation of Voldemort, who then Kills Ginny, and Draco will be forced to spen the rest of his life and Voldemorts lackey…who votes for the first ending? Review, or I will seariously consider Harry dieing! And the rest will follow suit! BWAHAHAHAH!
Ashen
