Written for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments)

Assignment #3 - Muggle History (Space Exploration)
Task #1 - First man on the moon - 1969. Prompt: Write about something that people don't believe.
Warnings: suicide/sacrifice, non-graphic violence, major character death

Further prompts are at the end.

Word Count: 1,073

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and its associated universe belongs to J.K. Rowling, and not me.


When she was younger, she couldn't imagine, for the life (and death) of her, why she would fall for such an obvious trap.

It's not just the visions that make the trap so apparent, either - if it was, then maybe she could've blamed it on the curse (Cassandra's Curse, as she'd learned after years of trying to understand why, as the Greeks that were ancient even before the collapse of society called it), even though it doesn't work on herself, because maybe that has something to do with it. But no, anyone with a brain could probably see that it's no coincidence that the cure to Harry's poisoning includes an ingredient that they're out of, that's only in stock in a certain shop on the edge of Death Eater territory. And sure, maybe they're only out of that ingredient because, despite her efforts otherwise, the curse, but still.

When she was younger, she couldn't figure out why she would die from the trap. But now, about to step into the marketplace and set off the series of events she knows like the palm of her hand (which she knows better than the back of her hand, from all those attempts at other kinds of divination to try and circumvent the curse) - well, now, she understands. Better her than anyone else, and, because she knows how things will go, after, there are some things that are worth dying for.

She pushes the door to the apothecary open and makes her way to the rare herbs aisle, then puts a bundle of the leafy plants in the teal-dyed satchel charmed by pre-Collapse methods to transport things within it to its matched pair - and then she doesn't have to look up to know that she's surrounded.

The Death Eaters taunt and sneer, words she's heard a million times before but are only said for real for the first time. For whatever reason, it reminds her of the little hand puppets Father used to tell stories with, in all those funny voices, and then she's picturing the hulking figures around her as Father's puppets. She giggles. (So that's why.) The Death Eater who's talking frowns, growls something about the situation being funny, and she smiles innocently at him. She knows what comes next, doesn't even flinch as he grabs her by the throat, knocking her head against the wall, and everything goes dark.

She's tied up, when she next gains consciousness, defenseless and surrounded by the Death Eaters and Voldemort himself. But they won't hurt her too badly, not yet.

She hums a little to herself, as Voldemort makes his classic villain speech, which of course only makes them angrier, but they don't draw blood, thankfully. Well, she knew they wouldn't, but it'd also be so inconvenient to be trapped in one of her visions now.

And then the doors to the chamber are sliding open, Harry stepping inside, looking so tired, so small, so alone, and her heart sings out to him, wanting to reach out and hold him and remind him that it'll all turn out well even though she can't, even though she knows it won't.

He's not alone, either, actually. Even Voldemort knows that, as he gloats a little, threatens a little. As if either expected the other to actually keep to the terms.

But Voldemort still lets Harry step nearer, limping towards him to 'kneel to his new Lord', and it's right as she makes a little coughing noise, as Voldemort's gaze flickers towards her subconsciously, that Harry attacks, hidden knife plunged into Voldemort's stomach. There's a moment of silence… before chaos, as the Death Eaters lunge towards them - to their Lord or Harry, she still isn't sure -, as the DA comes streaming through the doors.

Neville comes straight to her, snapping the rope bonds with a clean cut and handing her a dagger before, with a shout, he tumbles back into the fray. She watches the battle from the fringes, dodging the blows she already knows are coming in the movements that are almost like a choreographed dance, stabbing the few Death Eaters who try to attack her.

She knows what comes next. She'll still make the same choice.

There's a Death Eater, halfway across the room, arm raised high as he prepares to put a dagger into Harry's back - until he collapses, a knife plunged straight into his skull. Her knife.

And then suddenly, there's the sharp coldness of a blade to her throat, a hand gripping her hair to keep her in place, as Voldemort shouts, voice high, cold, and yet commanding, that another move and the girl's (she's) dead. The DA members freeze, and she can see it in their eyes, in Harry's eyes, as they turn towards her - they'll surrender, to keep her alive.

Except they can't, because they stand a chance at ending this all, at killing Voldemort, if they're not caught, if they keep fighting, which means…

There's only one path she can take.

She meets Harry's eyes, and she thinks he realizes in the next moment what she means to do as she mouths, I love you, but it's too late because with a thrust forwards she's slitting her throat on the blade, crimson blood splattering everywhere and drowning her in her visions, a few moments off filled with darkening nothingness, and suddenly she realizes that that pounding in her chest is fear. She's terrified. Because, for the first time, she doesn't know what comes next; for the first time, that unknown is right at her doorstep, only seconds away, and then… she's always thought of death as the next adventure except now she's not so sure, because how can she know what it is, what there'll be?

But then the images are spliced with- with images of Harry's heart-wrenching cry before there's another knife thrown, stabbing her in the throat (except why?) as she convulses, gasps, sinking to the ground and-

Voldemort's future. Her bare skin must've touched the blood from the wound Harry gave Voldemort, so she's seeing Voldemort's future - Voldemort's death.

They'll win.

So it's worth it.

She hears someone calling her name, as though from a million miles away - Harry. I'm sorry, she wants to say, except she can't, except everything, even the pain, is fading and she…

There's a flash of emerald green in her vision, before everything goes dark.


Winter Seasonal Challenges
Days of the Year & Religious Events: January 10th - Peculiar People Day: Write about someone who might be considered strange. (Note: their strangeness must actually feature in the fic)
National Weddings Month: (scenario) Going down on one knee
Colours: Teal
Slytherin OTPs: Harry/Luna
But Can You Spell It? S - (emotion) Scared

Writing Club: February
Written in the Stars: (character) Luna Lovegood
Amber's Apothecary: (object) cloak
Liza's Loves: Druid - Write about someone who likes nature
Scamander's Case: (au) apocalypse
Film Festival: (action) Dancing
Lyric Alley: Still beating
The Forecast Says… 22th: Snow: Faithful
EnTitled: Home - Write about someone having a vision - alt - Write about visiting a family friend
Hobby Hole: Character: Luna Lovegood

Would You Rather? Write a fic with no dialogue OR a fic with only dialogue?

Stickers Club: Tom Riddle's Diary - Word: Confide

365: (au) gang
Scavenger Hunt:
AU: Apocalypse
Fantastic Beasts: Devil Bird - Scenario: Write about someone having a premonition of their (or another person's) death

Fantasy February: Day Nine - All it takes is a drop of your blood and she can read your future.