She ran several feet, turned and fired a stunning spell at Charlie then ducked as Fred sent a hex at her. She rolled over onto her feet and caught George as he leapt out from behind a tree.
"Good!" Tonks yelled. "That was perfect, Lucy. Let's take a break." Lucy accepted a hand up from Bill and ran a hand over her sweaty brow. Tonks had explained to her what Kreacher had been doing for the last few weeks. However, the news that her apparent power outage was not her fault had not lifted her spirits as her friend had thought it would. But having her wand work again did make her feel better. "You're pretty good when you've got a working wand," Tonks said to her. Lucy nodded and ran her fingers over her wand.
"This could all be pointless you know," she said. "We don't even know if wands will have any effect where we're going. But I guess it's better to be prepared"
"Think positive, Lucy," Tonks told her. Lucy nodded and tried to smile. She looked up as she saw Oliver coming across the lawn. She'd been avoiding him since the selection. She'd been putting up a brave front, but she knew he would see right through her.
"May I have a word?" he said to her. She nodded. He took her hand and led her into the house and upstairs to her bedroom. He closed the door behind them and turned to her.
"How are you?" he asked her. She was tempted to tell him she was fine but she knew he wouldn't beleive her.
"I'm terrified," she said sitting down on the bed. He sat beside her and wrapped his arms around her.
"You'll be fine," he said stroking her hair.
"What if I fail? It's not just my life at risk here Oliver. You know that I'm not afraid to die. But what if I make some mistake that costs Harry his soul? Not to mention Sirius and Ginny. What if they get killed?"
"Lucy look at me," Oliver commanded. She turned and stared into his eyes. They were so deep she thought she might drown in them.
"You will not fail. You are the cleverest, strongest, witch I've ever known. If there's one thing I'm certain of it's your determination. I know that you will come out of this alive and bring Harry with you."
"I wish I could be as certain," she whispered. It made her feel better that Oliver had so much confidence in her, but she could not shake off the feeling of doom that had lodged itself in her stomach.
"You want to know how certain I am that all this is gonna be all right?" he asked her. Lucy's mouth dropped open as Oliver pulled a diamond ring from his pocket. He slid off the bed and knelt down on one knee.
"I love you Lucy Evans. Will you make me the happiest man on earth, by allowing me the priviledge of being your husband?" Lucy was crying to hard to speak. She leaned down and kissed him.
"Oliver," she said when she was able. "I would be honored to be your wife." Oliver grinned and grabbed her in a long searing kiss. She pulled away only long enough to let him slide the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly.
"We'll get through this Lucy," Oliver said. "I'll be waiting for you when you come back." Lucy felt all her fear melt away as he looked at her. In this moment, in this place she knew exactly what she wanted.
"How long till Dumbledore gets back?" she asked.
"About an hour," Oliver said. "Why?" She gave him a meaningful look. Oliver's eyes widened.
"Lucy," he said slowly. "Are you sure?"
"I've never been more certain of anything." Oliver wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. As Oliver lowered her onto the bed she pointed her wand at the door.
"Silencio," she said.
An hour later all, with the exception of Lucy and Oliver were gathered in the parlor. Dumbledore apparated into the room followed by McGonagall, Arthur and Snape.
"Are we all here?" Dumbledore asked.
"Lucy and Oliver are missing," Fred said. A pounding of feet was heard from above and Lucy and Oliver rushed into the parlor.
"Sorry," Lucy said breathlessly. "We uh, lost track of time." Tonks shot her a small knowing grin. Her best friend had not failed to notice Lucy's rumpled hair and Oliver's wrinkled clothing.
"Well then," Dumbledore said. "Shall we?" They moved into the larger front parlor. Sirius brought Harry's body down from his bedroom and placed it on a small table in the center of the room. Dumbledore pulled three talismans from his sleeve.
"These talismans will keep you connected to this world so you do not become stuck there. Do not lose them." He placed the three talismans around Sirius's, Lucy's and Ginny's neck.
"If the three selected would all stand in a circle around Harry and join hands." Lucy stood at Harry's head with her right hand in Ginny's left and her left in Sirius's right. She turned to look at Sirius as her ran his thumb over her engagement ring.
"I knew that boy was smarter than he looked," Sirius said in a voice meant for her alone. She gave him a small smile. To her right she could feel Ginny's hand shaking. She looked at the younger girl and gave her hand a squeeze.
"It will be all right, Ginny. The important thing is you're not alone"
"Absolutely," Sirius said taking Ginny's other hand. "We're all in this together." Ginny tried to smile.
"Now," Dumbledore said. "Each of the selected will need two people to stand at their shoulders." Ron and Molly stood behind Ginny, Oliver and Tonks stood behind Lucy and Remus and Bill stood behind Sirius.
"Is there anything we can do, Headmaster?" Hermione said, speaking for herself, Fred, George and Charlie.
"There is indeed Hermione," Dumbledore said. He handed each of them a bowl of orange powder.
"Now Minerva if you will stand at the south point, Arthur at the east, Severus at the west, and I shall take the north. Hermione if you will stand to my left, Charlie to the left of your father, Fred to the left of Professor McGonagall, and George to the left of Professor Snape. Once the incantion is recited you will need to toss the contents of your bowls to the center of the circle. Is everyone ready?" There was a murmur of affirmatives. "Let us begin." Dumbledore, McGonagall, Arthur and Snape pulled out their wands and held them high pointed toward the center of the circle. Lucy stared down at her brother.
"Hold on Harry," she thought. "We're coming"
"Aflame, dendum, noot, kalima, Aflame, dendum, noot, kalima, Aflame, dendum, noot, kalima, Aflame, dendum, noot KALIMA!" As they spoke the final words a gold light shot from each wand and connected to the others at the center of the circle. Charlie, Hermione and the twins flung the powder in their bowls toward the point where the wands connected. The powder touched the light and Lucy felt as though her stomach was being ripped out. Her screams mixed in with Ginny's and Sirius's and then she felt nothing at all.
Oliver's blood went cold as the three of them screamed. Then suddenly the screaming ceased and Lucy's body crumpled. He and Tonks grabbed her arms and slowly lowered her to the floor. He saw Molly and Ron do the same for Ginny and Bill and Remus for Sirius. Dumbledore quickly examined the three of them.
"Did it work?" Molly said anxiously. "Are they in limbo"
"They are," Dumbledore said. "They must rely on themselves and each other now"
"So now we just wait?" Oliver asked helplessly. He knew she was not dead but Lucy's skin was so cold.
"Yes Oliver," Dumbledore said. "Now we wait."