**Disclaimer** I do not claim to own anything that's not mine (J.K. Rowling wrote these amazing things before I could even dream of them). I do claim my main character, Dee.

My eyes shot open, alert, as the wrinkled old hand covered my mouth, waking me up. My wide blue eyes stared at Maud demanding to know what was wrong.

"Shhh child. The evil man has stepped inside the town limits. He's coming for you. You must get up and prepare to flee. I would suggest you just apparate but that's too dangerous for you to do with that child in your womb. You will have to make a run for it while I keep him busy. Are you ready?" I nodded my head jerkily and she let me up. I jumped up from the bed and dressed quickly and packed up the few things I had laying around. I pulled my wand out and was prepared in only a few minutes. Maud nodded her head in approval at me. "Now, come with me. He'll be bold and come to the front door. You'll have to go out the back. No matter what happens to me, or what you hear, do not turn around. Do not try to help me. You must go on. Today is not meant to be the day death takes back what you stole." Maud hurried me to the back room. The heated floors seemed to be growing cold as we moved. She stopped me in front of the back door and looked at me for a long silent moment before crushing me into a tight hug. When she pulled back she had tears streaking down her cheeks. "Please, tell Lark that I never stopped loving him." Her words shocked me and before I could question her, she ran off leaving me with my mouth gaping open. A few silent minutes passed where I could hear my own heart beat in my ears. I noticed a softer heart beat that was in sync with mine and the moment I realized it was my baby, tears filled my eyes and I felt a strong tug at my heart. My child, my baby… A smile spread across my face for a moment as happiness engulfed me. A loud knock at the front door shook the whole house and made my smile disappear. A second knock nearly knocked me to my feet with how much it made the whole house shake. A small lark bird patronus flew its way into the room.

"Go now!" It whispered urgently to me before disappearing. I flung open the door and ran. I hadn't gone but five running steps when I heard a large explosion. I turned back momentarily but didn't see any flames. I turned and kept running as sounds of a very serious battle sounded from within the house.

B~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~B

About an hour later, I slumped against the trunk of a tree and slid down it til I was sitting. I was wet with sweat and panting out of breath. I'd never run so desperately in my life. The added burden in my womb slowed me down I recognized. Yet, it was the added burden of my child that drove me to keep running as long as I did. The battle had been loud behind me but eventually the sounds of the battle had faded into the distance. I was thankful that the sounds of battle lasted that long. It meant that Maud really could handle herself against whoever was chasing me. I still felt some shock and rage at all that had suddenly happened. Why hadn't she told me before that she knew Ol' Lark? I wish she had… I wish she hadn't decided that she should stay and fight the evil man and let me run. I shouldn't have ran, yet I had to for my child, for George and I's child… our baby. Tears welled up and in eyes and I just let them stream down my face without bothering to wipe them away. I felt tired but I knew I had to get up and keep going because otherwise, the evil man may catch up to me. I sincerely hoped that Maud was able to stop him and be alright but it was a very small flicker of hope that kept that in my mind. Reality told me that she told me to tell Lark she loved him because she knew she was going to die in this battle against this man. So, deep in my heart, I mourned for her. I dreaded having to face Lark and tell him about Maud. Someday, after all this mess is over, I would have to. With a new determination in my mind, I pushed myself up off the ground and started walking. I kept my wand out and ready and moved forward, hoping to find myself somewhere safe again.

B~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~B

(Maud's final battle)

I had delayed him for at least an hour but as soon as he realized that she was no longer in the area, he became enraged and threw all cautions aside. His spells were ones I'd never even heard of and made my skin creep as they flew by me, missing their target. I knew I wouldn't be able to dodge him forever. Eventually death would visit me and smile lovingly down on me as he finally takes me back under his wing. I could hear Lark's last words to me, from years ago.

"Maud, I love you. Just cuz som evil man is a gonna be chasin som gal one day, don't mean yaz gotta go away an' leave me here. Iz ya life not worth jus as much az hers?" He'd demanded. I had looked lovingly into his eyes and calmly, truthfully replied. "No." He had stared at me, stunned, for a few minutes before he got angry. That's how he was back then, one moment calm, the next moment angrier than a hornet. He had yelled and cursed and spat on the ground. He called me many names, thinking I deserved them because I was choosing to give up my life to help another person live theirs. He didn't know the whole story. I didn't tell him that this was the girl who would someday help save the world. I didn't tell him that if I didn't save this girl, we would both die anyways. He wouldn't have believed me anyways. That's how Lark was… He loved me to death but always we fought whenever I mentioned my premonitions. It was a difficult thing for him to accept, that I already knew things before they happened. I loved him for it too. I loved that he never wanted to know what was going to happen and that he pretended my talent didn't exist. He was one of the few that made me feel like a normal person. I loved him very much and it was the most difficult thing for me to do to give up my life, a wonderful long life with him, for this girl and the rest of the world. I had to do it though. What kind of person was I if I didn't? Some may look back on this scene, me here fighting this evil man and say it's my last battle, my final battle. I fought heroically, bravely… I hope they say that anyways. Though, I know, this was not my final battle. This is my journey back to death. My final battle happened in my heart thirty years ago when I decided to leave the man I love and come here. I had kissed him good bye, stalling his cursing and yelling for a moment. He cursed me as I walked away from him, into the endless night. Every night, I had lied there in bed, once I came here, and dreamt of that moment. I heard his curses like a song in my head. A song that said how much he loved me… Oh, how he loved me and I him. At least this young girl will live and be happy and be with the man she loves, once she defeats this evil invading our world. I am proud to be able to do this for her and the rest of the world. If people only remember one thing about me, I hope it's that I was brave and proud to protect Deirdre Nadine Kendra Rashell Dumbledore… and her baby girl.

***Short chapter, I know…but it feels appropriate to end it here. RIP Maud. Thanks for reading. Please review.