Friday, 30 March, 23:30 GMT
Phillip blinked. He stared at Drew for a moment as if waiting for an explanation.
"Kellen Tanner and your mother were head of a group of rogue wizards and witches called Death Eaters. They hated witches and wizards like my mother, Muggle-borns.
"They were going to use Muggle weapons," she touched his hand that held the handgun. "Just like the one you have."
Her eyes fluttered. His hand trembled slightly at her touch.
"The weapons' ammunition was modified. Victims of gun shot wounds from these weapons, no matter how superficial, would bleed to death.
"Ministry Aurors raided the Tanner Estate. There were duels all over the main production area."
She blinked. Her knees buckled. She looked up at him again. "My mother and Roxanne Schield were grappling. My mum was gravely injured. Dad," she paused before taking a breath. "He was under the same memory spell as you are now. He'd hurt her badly. Mum was able to knock the wand out of Ms. Schield's hand.
"Dad and Mr. Tanner were dueling as well," she took in a sharp breath. "Somehow, Mr. Tanner was able to disarm my father.
"He walked towards my mother and Ms. Schield. He," she paused, taking a breath. "He aimed his wand as he walked. He started to utter the killing curse.
"Somehow, Mum was able to turn Ms. Schield," she looked straight into his eyes. He took in a breath. "The curse hit her full force in the back. Both Mum and she crumpled to the ground.
"Mr. Tanner was angry. He aimed his wand at Mum and hit her with two consecutive Cruciatus curses. She writhed in pain on the floor. Her shoulder wound opened up. Dad had stabbed her with the Dagger of Irses," she paused, looking up at him. "I guess you could call it the original Everbleeder weapon."
Her eyes fluttered. She looked at him again. "Mr. Tanner uttered a third torture curse," she looked down. She took in a pained breath. "Mum stood up shakily and flung herself at him. They wrestled for a moment until Mr. Tanner got the upper hand. He threw Mum to the floor, but not before she was able to snap his wand in two."
"This is rubbish!" he said menacingly. He re-cocked the gun. She took in a sharp breath. "This is bullshit that your blood traitor father and Mudblood mother told you, Half-breed."
"I'm not lying, Phil," she said.
The young man hit her across her face with the handgun. Blood spilled from her mouth as she fell to the ground, dazed. He picked her up from the back of her shirt and threw her against the wall again.
"My name is Kourtney Schield," he said shoving his forearm against her chest. She took in a strained breath. "Your Phil is dead."
She gulped and let out a whimper. "I have nothing to gain by lying to you, Ph," she began. She looked up at him again, "Kourtney, your father aimed the gun at my mother. There was flash fire, smoke. Mr. Tanner was able to pull the trigger three times before he crumpled to the ground."
Phil slowly lowered the weapon and eased up on his grasp of her shirt. She took in a breath. He shook his head. "How do you know this," he asked her as he took a step away from her. He aimed the gun at her chest.
Her eyes fluttered. She gulped as she looked into his eyes. "I forgot how painful the torture curse could be until your grandfather and his men used it on us tonight," she breathed. She winced in obvious pain.
"I know what happened almost 30 years ago, Kourtney," she paused. "I was there. Your father hit me with the third Cruciatus curse. Mum was trying to protect me when Mr. Tanner pulled the trigger.
"Dad was able to cast the Protego with his Patronus charm over Mum and me," she said, her eyes fluttering. "The hooded serpent shielded us from the bullets. All three ricocheted and hit Mr. Tanner in the chest.
"I didn't lie to you . . . Kourtney," she said as her knees buckled. She pitched forward into him. "I know what happened because I was there."
She suddenly felt exhausted. She knew she wasn't going to survive the night. She looked up into his face. She couldn't control the tears that started to flow.
Phil took in a breath as he allowed her into his chest. He knelt on the floor, cradling her in his arms.
"You win," she said softly.
She looked up at him. She touched his hand that held the gun. She said looking into his face, "Please finish it, Kourtney."
Her old friend took in a sharp breath. He gulped. For a moment, he couldn't focus, it felt like his head was swimming. He shook himself out of his funk. He touched her face gently. She took in a labored breath.
"Everything is going to be okay, Drew," he said, as he looked around, trying to look for an escape route from the cellar they were in.
"You've got your revenge, Kourtney," she said laboring. "Do me this favor. Please end it."