Part XI
Ten chuckled quietly as she saw a couple up ahead entered the nearest closet broom, the silver gown giving her a hint that it was Iris and the boy beside her was none other than Draco Malfoy. The boy beside her looked at her, a raven eyebrow quirked with amusement, as he held her hand, leading her out towards the Hogwarts ground.
The grass was as green as it could possibly get, slightly damp from the dew and twinkling just as much as the stars above them in the velvety black blanket of the night sky. Their feathery touch tickled the sensitive skin of her almost bare ankles, only covered by a think silver strap of her sandals. Ten giggled more.
Dressed in black shows, a silky black cloak with golden rimming, an emerald green shirt and black trousers, it was obvious that Harry did not felt the gentle caress on his bare skin.
They slowed their pace as they both spotted the lake. Along the shore, separated by a few feet in distance, there was some kind of bright white lights, their shine seeming almost ethereal, giving the normally black waters a nearly angelic glow.
Hand in hand, they both stopped under a large old oak tree, Harry's back leaning against its trunk as his arms brought her closer, the slight cold chill of a December's night disappearing as his warmth surrounded her, invading her senses in a comforting way.
Brushing her hair away from her face and taking the chance to run his fingers through the silky tresses, his lips left a whisper of a kiss upon her forehead, moving to her temple to do the same.
Stopping briefly to suck on her earlobe, receiving an almost imperceptible moan in reply, his lips kissed the skin of her jaw line, giving a playful lick to her chin, awfully close to her lower lip, bringing out a quiet growl from her part as she realized the very same thing.
His lips curved into a smile. The hand on her hair went down to rest over her waist once more, as his lips descended over hers. One of her arms moved to wrap around his neck, her free hand resting over his cheek, as she kissed him back. As his tongue traced her lips, the hand resting on his shoulder fisted his robes.
Tilting her head to the side to give him a better access and allow the kiss to be deepened, the girl parted her lips invitingly. Playfully, he nipped at her lower lip before he entered her mouth with his tongue, searching for hers. At the contact, they both groaned softly at the same time.
Cursing their lungs for having to breathe, they broke the heated kiss, looking into each other's eyes, navy blue locking with forest green, darkened by passion.
His arms pulled her even closer, one hand at the back of her head, gently making her rest her cheek against his chest. A small surprised smile was on her lips as she heard his fast heartbeat, beating in time with her own.
"I love you." The three whispered words caressed the sensitive skin of her ear, making her smile widen.
"I love you too. Times infinity." She whispered back, her eyes softly closing.
Harry blinked, a similar smile on his features as he looked down at her. "Where had that come from?"
The hand on his shoulder whacked him playfully, "Be quiet. Don't ruin the moment."
He laughed quietly, "OK, ok…"
"Oi. I said, be quiet. Besides, personal pillows don't talk." Her cheek nuzzled the material of his silky tone, her content smile changed to an amused one.
His eyebrow quirked, "So I'm your personal pillow?"
"Yup. You're huggable and soft enough," Ten giggled quietly.
"Right… well, since I fill your expectations, why not." The boy chuckled in return.
"Who said you had a choice? Even if you didn't want to be, you would be." The tone held a note that said he was being completely irrational of he doubted her.
"Oh?"
"I'm the granddaughter of Albus Dumbledore. I'm spoiled rotten by him." She grinned, "And if I want you to be my personal pillow, you will! Meh."
Not five seconds later, he was laughing; and not soon after, she joined him. The wholehearted sounds drifted on the breeze of the night.
-00-
"Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please?" a booming voice overtook the chattering and music in the Great Hall. Ten and Harry had just re-entered to see the headmaster waved his wand. Bright lights numbered the air above his head.
"In just a minute, it will be a whole New Year. Let's do the countdown," he spoke.
Everyone stopped what he or she were doing as the numbers decreased; each second that has pass was a second closer to the New Year. Just eleven seconds to go.
"Ten… nine… eight… seven… six… five…"
Ten took a step to her side, closer to Harry.
"Four!"
His hand took a gently hold of her hand.
"Three!"
She looked up to him as he looked up to her, their eyes locking.
"Two!"
Both of his arms wrapped around her, pulling her close to him as she rested her hands on his shoulders, a grin played on her glossy lips.
"ONE! ZERO!"
Cheers were heard as well as all the lights switched off. She felt his lips on hers in a gentle kiss before kissing back desperately; the tightening of his grip as well as a moaned escaping from him was his respond. She wrapped her arms around his neck, making the distance between them shorter, their bodies as close as possible, as they tasted each other, their tongue licking in each other's mouth, sometimes making contact (they moaned at that) as they fought for dominance.
After a full minute, the lights returned; at the same time, the heated kiss was broken, cursing their lungs to breath. They smiled at each other through darkened eyes and the next moment, their heads turned sharply to the entrance of the hall.
It had been banged opened, and there, standing looking deadly and malicious, were the death eaters. The arms around her tightened, causing her to whimper inaudibly at the pain before feeling it loosen by just a touch.
"Not now! Why now?" Ten whispered frantically. The boy beside her didn't answer but continued to glare at the death eaters. So far, nobody moved, just the light side, glaring at the dark side; the light side at one end of the hall (near the staff table), the dark side near the entrance. And then a wand was raised.
"Crucio."
The curse was aimed at anyone, but it was thrown to Ten's direction. Eyes wide, she pushed Harry away from her, making him stumble back and at the same time, threw herself backwards, the curse flying through the space between them and towards the headmaster.
"Grandfather!"
The spell had hit him, but made no effect on the man. He was standing where he had stood, looking calm, eyes burning with anger. There was no sign that he was in pain. And then everything went chaotic.
Teachers and other Death Eaters drew out their wands and began duelling each other, while some students ran for cover. Sixth years and seventh years, grabbed their wands from their pockets and with a waved of their wand, changed into something like trousers and a top. They joined in the war.
With a click of her fingers, Ten was in her baggy pants and a tank top, despite the cold weather outside and threw an energy ball towards one of the Death Eaters, stunning the guy; it was a stunning spell. Looking around, her grandfather was nowhere to be seen, but she got to her feet and grabbed a Death Eater, duelling him. Conjuring her wand, she killed him with the killing curse, no emotions written in her sapphire eyes.
She ran out of the hall, and down the corridor, finding the source of the cause; finding out the culprit that had brought the Death Eaters here. An arm went round her waist, and a hand went on her mouth as she was pulled back into a dark space, hidden by everyone that ran past. She did try to get away from him, but to no avail. The arm wrapped around her ribs kept her own arms in place.
"Go that way. It leads to the Astronomy Tower. You know what to do. If there's anyone there, use Avada. No witnesses."
"I thought the Dark Lord said-"
"That's your problem, Goyle, you don't think. Just do as I say and go. Leave the dungeons unharmed. That's already being taken care of by Nott. I'll be on my way. We still need to call Snape."
The owners of the voices started walking away, footsteps getting further and further away to be heard. Only then, did Ten allow herself to breathe again. The hand over her mouth was slowly pulled back.
"Was that-"
The hand returned almost at once, but the arm around her pulled back, freeing both her arms. The boy stopped right in front of her, his eyes locking into hers.
She gasped inwardly. The usually stormy grey hues were dull, defeated. Regret shined above all other emotions written clearly in them.
"Death Eaters? Yes, they were. Goyle and my father, to be exact. Go warn everybody. Dumbledore, McGonagoll, Potter, whatever. Wake up the whole castle, it's an ambush." Draco whispered urgently, pulling her along into the dark hall, towards its end.
"They already know. The Death Eaters entered the Great Hall with a big bang." She rolled her hues. "If you know so much then why didn't you tell my Grandfather before-hand?"
"I'm telling you what you need to know to stop this war, Ten. And…" he paused, taking out his wands and a small hand mirror. Seeing no one in the other corridor, he advanced, letting go of her, "I can't go."
"Why not?" taking two steps forwards, Ten stood in front of him. His lips were set in a thin line; obviously he didn't want to speak about it. "Draco, what's going on?" The regret in his eyes grew visibly. A sudden crash startled them both, seeming to be what he needed to start talking once again.
"I brought them here. It's all my doing. I'm the responsible for all the deaths that will happen. That's why I can't go with you. But I'm trying to do my best to help you avoid that. Stop losing more time with questions, Dumbledore, just go!" the boy snapped the last sentence giving her a push towards the opposite direction, not as harsh as he seemed to want to do it. He sighed heavily, the motion alone showing how aged beyond his years he felt and was, forced into seeing and doing things no one should ever see or do, "Please, you have to trust me. You heard them. Tell Iris I'm sorry."
"Trust is based on a very simple thing. I trust you, you trust me. And I do trust you, Draco. Even if you betrayed that trust once." She sighed quietly, "But sorry? Sorry about what? Betraying that trust again?"
A single tear fell, rolling down his cheek to his chin, dripping down to the floor, "I'm sorry for that and much more. Please, just go." He looked away, bringing up an emotionless mask over his features; the tear streak the only sign he indeed was able to feel before one finger brushed said evidence away. He turned his back on her, his head down. "I… thanks for taking part of your time to actually trust me, even if you don't anymore." He started walking away.
"Wait!" he stopped, but didn't turn around. "Draco, if you're telling me what to do, the Dark Side won't stand a chance! If you go there, you'll only get yourself killed! I know you, but the teachers and Aurors and even some students won't hesitate to kill you!! Please, come to our side, we'll help you." Her arm lifted, offering him her hand, the Light's protection. "Please. It's suicide."
"I know. It's meant to be. I'm too lost into my own sins to be saved. I'm sorry. I appreciate the help, but…" his head shook in helplessness, "it's completely useless now."
"It doesn't have to be this way, Draco," cried Ten, her blue eyes swimming in tears. "Please it's suicide." She took a hold of his hand.
"I don't know when I'll see you again, but I thank you for everything." And pecking her forehead, he left, the shadows engulfing his frame. Crying softly, Ten turned around, only to be confronted by an surprised Harry.
"Harry?" she called.
"You've been with him all along," his voice cracked.
"What? No, I'm not." Ten shook her head, walking towards him. But with every step she took, he backed out. "Harry? I love YOU. Not him."
But Harry didn't listen. Eyes filled with anger and hurt, he left her, going into one direction to continue to battle.
"HARRY!" the heiress cried, tears rolling down her cheek.
-00-
'How could she? I loved her, I trusted her, all to be thrown back to my face and love Malfoy.' Harry ran down the corridor, away from her, but at the same time, continuing fighting to live.
'Live? What's there's to live for? Ten doesn't love. She never has.'
'Has she?'
'Great I'm talking to myself.'
'But look at the times you've been through together. She would never abandon you.'
'Then why was she with Malfoy?'
'Save him? Help him? At least make sure he's not dead. After all, he loves Iris.'
"Avada kedavra." The spell hit another death eater running towards him, killing him dead. The boy sighed, tears stinging his eyes before disappearing within a blink of an eye.
"She doesn't care anymore," he muttered to himself. "And that's final." Emotionless as he could get, he ran up the stairs, helping other students and finding the only Death Eater he wanted to look for.
-00-
Heart broken, Ten fought her way to survival. Without Harry, her only way out was to live for her grandfather; even if Harry doesn't want to be with her, she'll survive to stand by her grandfather's side; even if Harry doesn't love her, she'll survive for her grandfather.
But staying alive for the sake of her only relative may not be enough for the young brunette to stay alive. For every killing she did, she get flashes of Harry being the one dead. A small sob escaped her parted lips as she turned to face another Death Eater, ending his life.
The girl continued to run down the corridor, her wand raised and the spell whispered, lips barely moving when she came to the end of the corridor, entering the Great Hall. Looking around, many duelling were happening all at once, colourful sparks blown all over the place. Looking around she couldn't find him; she needed to know that he's all right; she needed him to know she loves him.
Her mind drifted to all the possibility of having her lover alive yet dead: him lying on the ground of Hogwarts, no sparkle of life gleaming in his eyes, no movement or him standing beside her laughing, or him in her arms, kissing her.
Something different and cold that took a hold of her bare arm made her snapped back into reality. She was turned sharply and her blue orbs locked gaze with vivid red. Voldemort.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the beloved granddaughter. Isn't it a pleasure to finally meet the heiress in person?"
Her hues narrowed. "I've met you before. And don't start sweet talking me, what do you want?"
"Did you?" the tone of his raspy voice was an interested one.
She let out a quiet growl, trying to make him free her, "you were there when my parents were murdered, only in the body of that snake of yours! Let me go!"
"Ah so your memory is intact on that matter." The man (could he even be called that?) nodded to himself, "You'd be such an ally to our side, Tenebrae."
Her lips curled back from her teeth, "And be like you? Never. You can barely be called a human and you don't even have you own body!"
"It wouldn't have to be this way if Harry Potter hadn't stopped me." He frowned
lightly.
"No, you're right." She rolled her eyes, "If it wasn't him, you own greed for power would stop you. Maybe it would be better, it would have killed you for sure."
"Such violent thoughts for such a young soul." A quiet chuckled escaped him, but all it did was making her shudder. He pulled her closer, "Like your other little friend, you would be able to do so much."
"To kill, torture and be feared?" again, she tried pulling away from him. Just as she lifted her wand to him, he took it out of out of her grasp.
"Be respected, that's the term I mostly use." His voice had turned from patient to annoyed, "But continue, we shall. Besides the fact you are the heiress of one of my greatest adversaries, you are also quite a weakness to the Boy-Who-Won't-Die, isn't that right?"
At the mention of Harry, her breath hitched in her throat unnoticed. "Why don't you find that for yourself?" ignoring the fact that he was barely human and almost looked fragile and completely powerless (almost, being the key word used, of course), he sure had a firm grip, which was starting to ache, "Or aren't you that smart?"
Voldemort let out a quiet growl, obviously out of frustration. His hand released her just in the moment Ten made another attempt to free herself, resulting in her falling over backwards, hitting the floor hard. Biting back the painful moan, the witch glared up at him.
"Wouldn't be a very fair fight without you having your wand now, would it?" a ghost of a smile touched his lips. He threw the wand back at her, not far from where her hand was. As she was almost reaching it, the wizard pointed his own wand at it, sending hers skidding over the floor a few feet away from her.
Her hues narrowed. 'Who does he think I am, a fifth year? Even then, I knew how to do wandless magic.' Voldemort was quiet as she kept glaring at him, looking back at her calmly. Suddenly, it hit her, eyes widening slightly. 'Damn it, he's a Legilimens, he's trying to read my mind!'
"Sharp, aren't we? But your brief slack gave me the answer I was looking for and another very interesting ability as well. Let's see if you can put it to good use, shall we?" that odd smile was on his lips once more. His wand was lifted, "Crucio."
The heiress held her breath as wave after wave of pain was felt in every cell of her body. It was the only way to make the pain a bit more bearable, not that it was bearable to begin with, quite on the contrary. Yet, she refused to let out any sound. It would be almost as if she let him win, letting him know he was succeeding.
Her muscles ached, and even the very smooth ground she laid on and comfortable clothes she wore seemed to only make that even worst. It wasn't long till she tasted the metallic flavour of her own blood, due to her biting her lower lip. Absently, she noticed she was sending a mental message, to whom, she wasn't really sure. Supposedly, it was to Iris, since they both were able to speak telepathically, though what exactly was said, she didn't realise either. Trying to keep from crying out and only breathing when she really needed to was what she was concentrating on.
And like a blessing, it stopped. The unbearable pain finally stopped. A couple of breathless gasps escaped her as she tiredly opened her eyes.
"Did you even noticed what you have just done, child?" Voldemort gave her a peculiar, if not curious, look.
"Managing to bear you own favourite curse?" even though she was tired, felt tired and sore all over, she knew it was only the after effect of the Cruciatus. Her eyes were focused on a point over Voldemort's shoulder, keeping them away from his prying ones as she tried to find the magic needed to invoke a curse of her own.
"Do skip the sarcasm, even if it is extremely amusing, hearing it from a Gryffindor." Her eyes glanced into his in surprise. 'How did he know?' just to look away from them again. "Yes, I know you've been trying to spy for the Light. After all, how could a Dumbledore be in the great House of Salazar Slytherin?" he smirked lightly. "But continuing. You have no idea of your true powers. Both towards the Light or the Dark."
"No one really knows all their magical ability and limits. All of us have hidden powers, which are discovered along out lives or in other cases, even beyond death, they are still a mystery. You, for example, exceeded that limit long ago."
His orbs narrowed, the dark slits clearly remembering a snake's, "Correct, on the first part of the lecture, Miss Dumbledore. Shame no one will ever know of your dear hidden powers." His wand was lifted again, a small smirk on his lips and a hungry glint in his eyes. Hungry for bloodshed.
She lifted her arm, palm open towards him, a blinding white light heading towards his chest- the tip of his wand. Bright blue eyes widened. It didn't work. All he did was absorb her won magic.
"Avada Kedavra."
-00-
::HARRY!::
Dull green eyes flashed emerald at the sound of her voice, just as a crimson jet of light hit him, making him kneel, teeth gritting as pain ran through his whole body. At the back of his mind, Harry could hear the hysteric psychopathic laughter Bellatrix was letting out, but he was almost sure he had heard-
Vision
His wand was lifted, "Crucio."
The heiress held her breath as wave after wave of pain was felt in every cell of her body. It was the only way to make the pain a bit more bearable, not that it was bearable to begin with, quite on the contrary. Yet, she refused to let out any sound. It would be almost as if she let him win, letting him know he was succeeding.
Her muscles ached, and even the very smooth ground she laid on and comfortable clothes she wore seemed to only make that even worst. It wasn't long till she tasted the metallic flavour of her own blood, due to her biting her lower lip.
End of Vision
All the remaining colour of his cheeks (not that there was much to begin with) disappeared as his sight came back to him. Why was he with her? Why didn't he come looking for him instead? The questions wouldn't answer themselves unless he moved. Slowly, he opened his eyes, glaring at the female Death Eater in front of him. If only looks could kill…
More out of curiosity than actually fear, Bellatrix lifted the curse from him, lifting one eyebrow in question. That was all he needed. Lifting his wand quickly, a motion people usually don't do right after feeling the horrible pain of the Cruciatus Cruse, he whispered quietly, "Sectumsempra."
Two large gashes suddenly appeared on the woman's pale features and chest, who backed away, screaming in anguish and pain. Seeing Snape casting that one actually helped.
The boy got up, wobbling ever so lightly before his eyes focused a few seconds after, remembering the sudden vision and trying to pick up the location through it, he finally turned around to look at the tall double doors of the Great Hall. 'There.'
He broke into a run as soon as he realized that, almost falling over from the student movement his legs had to do, the muscles still sore from the previous curse. Even if all that was at the back of his mind, his main attention on the loud voice on his head, which he was sure was Ten's. But feeling as he is towards Ten, betrayal, he only ran to go after Voldemort instead.
After just a few minutes of running, he could already see a strangely open space. Which was odd, since confronts and duels were literally one on top of the other and there was barely any space for escape. Something was wrong up ahead.
From the corner of his eye, he could see more people either following him, 'should be Aurors, trying to protect me or something,' or heading towards where he was also going, probably seeing the source of his hurry. 'Hopefully.'
Time was running out as he saw Voldemort standing near the entrance, slowly lifting his arm, the long wooden wand held almost graciously from his think white fingers, as a serial killer would hold up a shot gun.
Dread felt in his chest, his breathing quickening with the effort of trying to reach him before it was too late. The bright sapphire wide orbs not far from the heir of Slytherin gave him a slight relief, but also made his fear grow.
He wouldn't make it there on time.
He was taking too long.
She would die.
She would die and there was nothing he could do to stop the mad man from doing it, just like it happened to his own parents.
The blinding white light that sprung forwards almost had him sighing in relief, if said Voldemort wouldn't absorb magic easily. The wand was lifted again, slowly lowering like a muggle movie in slow motion.
"Avada Kedavra."
No scream from her, no scream from himself.