We are on chapter 16 you guys! this story is so long!

Hopefully this chapter will live up to it's title!

It's super long because there's a lot to fit in here.

Read on and enjoy, and thank you for all of the support!


Our Time Is Running Out

Parchment 16: Shocking Revelations

A Christmas party full of death eaters sounded like a terrible idea to Lixella. However, this was the world she was trapped in. Once again, she had no say in how her life was run, because someone had decided for her. Someone had plucked her from her happy life in America, and brought her to a living nightmare. In fact, she hated this idea so much, that she found it hard to enjoy such a strange Christmas party. She spent the beginning of the night, avoiding people. Whether she knew them or not, everyone seemed to want to talk to her. Lixella, out of breath, and places to hide, plopped herself on the front staircase, burying her face into her white party dress.

"Lixella" a voice called out, she took a few seconds before responding.

"Look, it's lovely to meet you bu…JYNX!" she darted up and nearly pushed Jynx to the ground. "What are you doing here?"

"I told you, mi da' is a business man! He does business with the Malfoys all tha' time!" she said, "Happy Christmas!" Jynx gave her a hug, and handed her a well wrapped box. Lixella took it and unwrapped it to reveal a box full of coal. Her face became puzzled.

"I figure if you're stayin' here for break, then I'd 'av to give you some smoke bombs for quick exits!"

"Nice!" Lixella said, then grabbed Jynx's arm, "Let's go get yours!"

The two of them ran upstairs, and into her guest room. She then rummaged around in the closet for a bit, and removed a small box. Jynx opened it and laughed, in big red print it red, "Weazley's finest Spits and Shouts". It was a joke kit, full of strange candies that turned your tongue different colors, but also could project a voice based on the candies.

"I figure you can use it on Parkinson, maybe give her a nice lion scare out of bed one morning!" said Lixella with a smile. She was very happy to have Jynx back. The two of them stayed upstairs for quite a while, until they both got hungry. They made their way towards the dining room. On the way they noticed Bellatrix and a few others practicing some terrible spell outside on a poor unsuspecting fox. Lixella hated Bellatrix, the woman was mad, and had no judgment of the value of a life. They entered the dining room, and Lixella nearly screamed.

"Uncle Zander" she said, running over to her uncle and aunt. They both hugged her, "where have you guys been? How's the house? Is the watch over?"

"I'm sorry dear" said her aunt, "but, the ministry seems to be hell bent on finding something!"

"Yes," said uncle Zander, "It took everything for us to get them away, just for tonight! Bloody creeping pricks, thinking we're doing something terrible during Christmas time!"

"Lixella?" asked a happy voice from behind the two of them. A man in his late 20s stepped out from behind them. He had shaggy black hair, that was cut short atop his head. His square jaw line matched his chiseled features, which were covered in fair skin. He looked at Lixella with striking blue eyes, and reached out to her with his long arms.

"Arthus!" she stated, as she pulled her cousin into a hug. "I can't believe you've made it!"

"I'm so glad to finally see you again, how's that memory coming along?" he asked.

"It's….well, it's actually…" but she was interrupted by Jynx tumbling to the floor.

"Sorry, I got caught between two people, tryin' to find ya!" said Jynx as she stood up, "Oh! 'ello"

"Um…by the way everyone this is Jynx Spakerton, she's my dorm mate in Slytherin. Jynx, this is my uncle Zander, aunt Iris, and my cousin Arthus."

"Hello" they exchanged greetings to each other.

"By the way, darling, congratulations on making Slytherin, I didn't get to tell you that yet. How is it?" asked her aunt.

"Umm" Lixella looked at Jynx, "definitely not quite as bad as I thought."

"I think she should'a been in Gryffindor" Jynx said, "You'd make a good one!"

Her aunt stared at Jynx confused, she didn't understand why anyone in their family wouldn't be in Slytherin.

The night went on, and the two of them spent most of it with Arthus. He hadn't seen his cousin since she was at least 10, and wanted to catch up. Lixella told him about her school year, leaving out Draco and the Banshees. Jynx talked for a bit, but eventually ran off to go find her parents. Around, 11 o'clock, Lixella was sitting outside with Arthus, discussing Slytherin.

"I was wondering if I could speak with you in private for a second" he muttered.

"We've been talking in private for a while….what do you mean?" she asked

"Follow me" he said. Arthus took her hand and lead her out of the front door, and around the house, to the middle of the gardens. Once he thought they were safe, he sat down on a bench.

"Look, Lixella, since I last saw you, things have happened. I'm sure you're aware of your family's past. But, I think Voldemort is after you." he said, in hushed tones.

"I know, actually" Lixella looked at her left arm , it was covered by a white glove. She removed it, and showed it to her cousin. He gasped, and hung his head, low. "It wasn't my decision, I swear! I never wanted this!" she said.

"I know. I've known for quite some time, that's why I couldn't see you." his gaze shifted around the garden for a bit. "I'm working as a spy for The Order. I'm not actually supposed to be here. But, I had to make sure you were safe."

"what?" she asked in shock, "They could kill you!" she began looking around nervously. "I mean, they know that I am here against my will. But you, you could be killed, Arthus."

"Of course, I'm aware of that. But, I need to make sure that you are protected. Terrible things are about to happen, here and at Hogwarts. You need to watch out for Draco Malfoy, there's been talk that he's been assigned a terrible job to do. And, also, about your father…"

He stopped talking, the two of them had heard a rustling in the bushes behind them. They both peered back, but saw nothing.

"It's not safe to discuss anymore here. I'll have to tell you some other time." he said, and headed towards the noise, "don't follow me, Lixella!"

She sat there in silence, watching him disappeared into the bushes. Then, suddenly, there was a flash of red light. Lixella nearly jumped up.

"Arthus!" she called out, "Arthus, what happened?"

There was no response, she ran into the hedges, towards the light. The hedges were tall, and darkened the pathway between them. Only the moon lit her path. Lixella hoped that nothing terrible had happened to her cousin. She didn't want to lose another family member to this awful cause. She became a bit disoriented, the hedges turned into a maze in her mind. She couldn't find her cousin. She stood there, alone, in the large garden, staring down a winding dirt path. Then, a white figure appeared. It was Cordellia. She nodded to Lixella from a distance, and Lixella rushed over to her.

"I've come to retrieve you, Lixella" she said.

"I can't find my cousin! We can't leave…he needs protection!" said Lixella.

"We can't interfere, I have not seen him. We must go, now before anyone sees us! Grab my sleeve."

Lixella looked back towards the garden. She didn't want to, but she had to leave. She grabbed onto Cordellia's sleeve, and they ascended into the air with grace. They shot across the forest, and landed near a pond.

"Why are you here?" asked Lixella, "Don't you live near Hogwarts?"

"We are here because one of our sisters, Ami, had been taken by those awful people called death eaters!" said Cordellia. "We believed that they would be after you as well."

Lixella remembered the banshee in the chest. The one that Voldemort practically killed, to prove that Lixella was the girl he'd been looking for.

"I've seen her" Lixella said, "They caught her, and used her to find me. Voldemort's already got me marked"

She slowly lifted her sleeve, and showed her curse mark to Cordellia. The banshee looked down with sadness.

"That man, we do not trust him. Neither should you!" said Cordellia

"I don't! he wants to use the banshees in his war for power." she said, "But…I swear to you that I will not let him do this. Even if he takes my life, I will not allow him to drag all of you into his terrible scheme!"

"Spoken like a true Queen." said Cordellia, "It's good to see you again, Aileen. Now that I know you have the spirit of her, I must tell you of our story."

Lixella sat by the pond, and Cordellia snapped a twig off of a nearby tree. She then cast a circle around them, and drew one in the air. The circle in the air hung there, glowing with brilliance. She then tapped the center, and it revealed a picture of a banshee with dark hair and purple eyes.

"This, is you, Aileen, in your past life. You're banshee cult, was the cult of the white willow tree. It was a tree that grew near Sleepy Hollow, that gave the banshees their souls. We banshees are all women, in order to reproduce we must find a soul. In the universe there are millions of souls being created. This white willow tree was able to absorb these souls, and harvest them into a living being. All one had to do, was give a part of themselves. So, it has always been a tradition, for every Banshee to give a drop of her own blood, to create a daughter for herself."

Lixella watched in amazement as the banshees in the circle gave a drop of blood, and received a small ball of light from the tree.

"This is why most people mistaken us banshees for ghosts. In the early forms of our lives, we are nearly transparent. This is because we are absorbing the universe around us, trying to harbor the magic within ourselves. Also, banshee souls are usually obtained from the death of humans. This is why we've been known to linger around the home of someone who is near death. We need their soul, to guide it to the tree, and create daughters."

"It all makes sense, now" said Lixella, "Is that the willow tree, behind my house?"

"Yes, it is. Years ago, the banshees of Sleepy Hollow were corrupted by a dark magic. A shadowy beast corrupted the purity of our willow tree. It cause the daughters born from it to go mad with darkness. They became consumed by hatred for others, but then a clan of wizards moved in. The Duskwoods, they were called. They claimed to be magical people, and your very great grandmother, made a deal with the banshees to remove the darkness from their soul. In order to do this, they would have to kill off the clan, and harbor their magic."

"So, why did my very great grandmother make that pact?" Lixella asked.

"You're grandmother owed the banshees. When she was a baby, she was born small and sick. Her family had just gotten to America, and did not realize the darkness had taken over the forest. They became sick with plague. But, Aileen was able to cure them, with nectar from the white willow. You're grandmother was able to live, and your family swore to repay them. Over the years, your grandmother and Aileen fought off the darkness. Then, Aileen returned to the wizards, 20 years later, and asked for their help. In return, she would need to fuse her soul, with that of a human. Your grandmother offered herself to the banshees, as payment for saving her infant self. Aileen thanked her, and then the Duskwoods did the unforgivable, they killed them all. It relieved the banshees of their dark plagued souls. But, then, they fused together the soul of Aileen and your grandmother, and stored it into the tree, to be released years later. Your grandmother's non-magical soul, spread into the air, and traveled for miles. Eventually, it ended up in England, where she was recovered by the banshees here."

"What was her name?" Lixella asked, narrowing her eyes.

"Her name, was Cordellia. I am your very great grandmother, Lixella Cruxshade. And you are the last woman born of the Duskwood name."

Lixella gasped in shock. She got up and hugged Cordellia. It was unbelievable, that her ancient relative had lived this long, long enough to meet her.

"It is so very nice to finally meet you, my granddaughter!" Cordellia said as she hugged her back. "I owe my entire life to the banshees. Even as a sacrifice, they were able to revive me, and lead me here, to meet you. Truly, there is hope in these dark times. For I sit here now, in front of my great descendant, telling her of my life. But, Lixella, you must now learn how to free the Banshees from their sleep in the white willow tree."

"How, Grandmother?" she asked

"I can't tell you how to do this. I was sacrificed before the wizards of Duskwood were able to create the awakening seal. They stored it somewhere near the willow, it must be written somewhere. You must find it, Lixella"

"The family room! It must be there." said Lixella, "I must find my aunt Marceline, she has the key to open it. I think I'm ready to enter it now."

"I will send one of our sisters to Ireland, to alert her. But, for now, I must get you back to the Malfoys. Here, grab onto me, Lixella"

Lixella held onto her arm, once more. The two of them flew back towards the manor. Cordellia landed near the hedges.

"I must tell you, be careful. Also, keep Draco close. He may be your only chance for surviving through this situation. He's a good person, but he can't see it in himself, don't lose faith in him. I have to leave you now, granddaughter, I will see you soon. It was, again, so very wonderful to finally meet you!"

Cordellia hugged her, and looked at her with tears in her black eyes. Then, she floated away. Lixella stood in the cold night air, watching her great grandmother float into the distance.

She had to free Ami, from the chest. The death eaters weren't going to use her as a pawn any longer. Lixella was ready to fight back, she had been born to do this.

She snuck out behind the manor, and found her way into the cellar. There weren't any guards tonight, because of the party. Lixella tried to be as silent as possible, if she was discovered, she would most likely be killed. She searched around the cold, damp cellar, until her eyes stopped on the metal chest. She rushed over to it, and took out her wand.

"Alohomora" she whispered, The locks shot open. It was far too easy to open the chest, Lixella was almost suspicious.

"Sister Ami" she whispered into the chest. The banshee inside turned over, and stared at her. She floated, weakly, out of the unlocked chest. "I'm here to free you, my name is Lixella."

"I know who you are, young queen" said Ami

Lixella snuck her out of the cellar, and out into the backyard. She stopped abruptly, after noticing that Bellatrix and Narcissa were standing just around the corner.

"Cissy, he'll be fine! I don't see why you are so worried. Come back inside, stop crying out here!" said Bellatrix.

"Bella, do you realize what I'm dealing with!" snapped Narcissa, "My husband is in prison, the whole ministry is constantly searching here, and my son has been assigned to kill Dumbledore! I'm going mad with worry!"

"Cissy….you mustn't worry. Draco was chosen for this, you shouldn't question the dark lord's judgment. And, once he does this, Lucius will get out of prison, then everything will be okay. Now, come back inside!"

Lixella gasped, her hand over her mouth.

"So, that's what he's been doing this whole semester."

She couldn't believe it. This whole time, he'd been plotting to kill Dumbledore. How could he accept that job? How could he possibly say that it was okay with him.

Lixella hung her head, then looked over to Ami.

"c'mon, let's get you out of here!" she lead Ami across the side yard, and into the forests.

"thank you, Lixella. I hope to see you again someday. I owe you." said Ami, and then floated away, screeching for the other banshees.

Lixella walked back to the house. It was late, and people were beginning to leave. Her aunt and uncle came walking out of the door, with Arthus.

"Arthus!" she ran over and hugged him.

"Goodness! You just saw the boy, are you okay Lixella?" her aunt asked.

"Fine, I am just going to miss you guys is all." she hugged them.

"Well, since you can't be home for Christmas….here" her uncle handed her a book, it was bound in black leather with golden pages.

"It was your father's, don't open it until Christmas." her uncle said, and hugged her one last time. The family headed off into the night, in their flying carriage. Lixella stood at the front door, she then walked inside.

"There you are" said Jynx, as she walked across the room. She was accompanied by an older woman, "Lixella this is mi mum."

"It's so nice to finally meet you, Lixella" said her mother, in a French accent, "Jynx talkz about you all ze time"

The lady looked almost just like Jynx. She had straight black hair, and pale skin. Her figure was tall and elegant.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, too" Lixella curtsied.

"We're actually leavin'" said Jynx, "sorry I couldn't see more of ya. But, have a happy Christmas, kay?"

"I will. You, too" Lixella hugged her friend good bye and stood in the door way. Once they were out of sight, she headed back inside. She was on her way towards the stairs when she heard something loud and angry approaching her.

"NO! pansy, go away" yelled a voice from down the hall, "I told you, I am not going out with you!"

"but…dwakie!" whined a higher pitched voice. Draco and Pansy emerged from the dining room door. He stopped suddenly when he saw Lixella. She looked away, she wasn't sure what to say after learning about his 'job'. He just stood there, staring at her, wondering why she wouldn't say anything. Pansy gasped.

"It's her, isn't it! You've fallen for that…that…harpy!" pansy screeched.

"Don't call her that, Pansy!" Draco spat

"What is your problem with me Parkinson? I've never said more than two words to you!" Lixella yelled.

"I just think you're a filthy blood traitor!" Pansy said, with narrowed eyes. Lixella stepped down from the stairs, and got very close to Pansy's face.

"Trust me, Parkinson, if it actually mattered for anything, the blood that runs through me is worth ten times more than anything that flows through your veins." her expression was a lot darker than usual. Draco was almost scared by it. Pansy stood cowering against the wall. She pursed her lips together. "What? Parkinson. You gonna spit on me? Try it. Wouldn't be the first time you've spat on something that's better than you."

Pansy merely glared at her. Her face showed complete shock, horror, and insult.

"You're no good for him, Lixella" she said, her voice was serious, it was low instead of high and annoying, "you'll never be able to love him the way that I do."

She then turned and left, marching all the way to the door. Lixella turned around , still glaring. Draco just stood there, his arms crossed, staring at her with anger.

"That was a bit much, don't ya think?" he said

"ugh" Lixella scoffed, "I don't care anymore!"

"What do you mean you don't care? Have they finally gotten to you, Lixella? Have they finally turned you against the world?"

"Go away, Draco" she said.

"No, I won't. You can't let them get to you, Lixella. If you do then….then….you'll lose all the things about you that are worth it."

She looked at him. She didn't want to talk, because she knew what he was. He was a boy who was hungry for approval. It sickened her.

"Why don't you go plot a killing, Draco" she said, coldly, "Since you seemed to have accepted it so willingly!"

"What?" he looked at her in shock, "you know nothing, Lixella! You'll never understand…as if you aren't signed up here for something terrible!"

"I am not actually thinking of going through with it, Draco. You…you however, are so much more than you think! Try to see it, this isn't you!" she said.

"Whatever, Cruxshade…." he pushed past her and headed upstairs.

Lixella sat there, alone, trying to figure everything out. She'd never known how to survive on her own. Her whole life everything had been decided for her. Now, when she had finally found someone to understand her. They'd turned out to be just like the others. She stared at the marble floor. She knew that she needed Draco's help, but she didn't want to accept what he was. He was a death eater, working against Dumbledore, and therefore, working against everything that Lixella stood for.


SHOCK! waht do you mean her great great great great super great grandmother is Cordellia? and Cordellia was besties with Aileen? Well, now you know :D

And pansy...yeah, I went there!hahaha

anyways, thanks for reading you guys, I'll update pretty soon, since the weekend is quickly approaching. For me it starts on thursday! so i should have a new chapter for you guys soon ^_^

Thanks for reading!