Danielle didn't know how long she'd been in her dark cell but the only thing she did know is that she hurt all over. Her lips were covered in blood, having her lip busted open and constantly crushed against one of those filthy Death Eater's lips. It made her feel dirty.
She was pleased that her mother had the foresight to make sure her children couldn't be raped and had made sure to make a new form of the older spell, so it couldn't be removed.
That still didn't stop them from touching her or beating her either. Eventually her mind numbed to the pain, the spells that were cast on her in place to make sure that she lived through and suffered it all until he saw fit to kill her.
Danielle licked her dry, bloodied lips. With a sigh, she carefully rolled her already bruised and beaten body so that she lay on her back. Her eyes had easily adjusted to the darkness, the light coming in under the door was very little.
Her breathing came in short, slow breathes, each one hurting her chest even more. She was pretty sure that her ribs were broken; they hadn't been kind to her, not like she had expected it. She swore violently in her head, wishing he would take the blasted spell off so she could die in peace.
Dying, something she had been thinking constantly about for almost two years. It was going to happen, she knew it was going to happen, there was just no way around it. Her body was weak she knew that. She also knew that she didn't want to die.
A few months ago she had resolved herself to her fate that waited her but now, now she wasn't so sure that she wanted to succumb to the inevitable.
A slight smile filtered across her face as she thought back to the first time she had run into Michael.
Danielle had been heading down to the library, intent on returning one of the books that she had borrowed. Her mind was currently wrapped around some problem that was soon to happen so she had barely registered where she was going until she collided with a body.
She fell to the ground, hitting her bum hard on the floor.
'I'm so sorry,' a voice said to her. She looked up and met a pair of beautiful brown eyes.
'It's fine, I wasn't paying attention to where I was going,' she told him with a nod of her head as she scrambled to her feet.
'You're Danielle right? We have Advanced Transfiguration together,' he said with a slight smile.
'I believe so, you sit in the back with the other Ravenclaws.'
He nodded his head. 'Pleasure to finally meet you by the way.'
'Nice to meet you too Michael.'
'So you do know my name,' he commented with a brilliant smile that left Danielle slightly breathless.
She just shrugged and walked past him. 'I know more than you think,' she said over her shoulder as she disappeared into the library.
Danielle coughed suddenly, rolling onto her side as blood came out of her mouth. She licked her lips again, sighing heavily, and then wincing at the sudden pain.
Rolling onto her back she thought back to how persistent Michael had been after that meeting. She couldn't seem to remember a day when he didn't show up to talk to her or just to walk with her. No matter what she told him he wouldn't leave her alone.
In the end she had no idea when she had come to actually enjoy his company or when she fell in love with him.
A bright smile crossed her face as she thought back to the first time he actually kissed her.
It was the third week in his persistence. She was still constantly telling him not to waste his time on her but yet again he didn't listen.
She had resorted to hiding out in a small room that she had managed to stumble across. In the distance she could hear a clock chime and she glanced down at her watch.
A slight smile had crossed her face as she realized he would soon find her. She still didn't know how he did it but he could always track her down and she was beginning to get used to the idea of him being there.
Just as she thought the door swung open to reveal Michael. Her head remained down but she looked up through her lashes. He was leaning against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest as he gazed at her. A sly smile lit up his features, his eyes dancing.
'And here I was hoping you wouldn't be able to find me,' she commented dryly as she turned another page in her book.
'I always find you,' he told her as he moved over to where she sat, letting the door shut behind him.
'I'm still curious to know how you do that.'
'That's my secret,' he said as he easily lifted her up, making her gasp as he sat down where she had been, and placing her in his lap.
Danielle pouted. 'You interrupted my reading,' she whined.
He smirked. 'It's not the first time.'
She sighed and tried to get out of his lap but his arms held her tightly.
'I take it you aren't planning on letting me go.'
'Nope, and not any time soon either.'
'And why not? You know I could hex you into next century you know?'
'But you aren't going to,' he stated calmly.
'And what makes you think that?' She demanded.
'Because you would have done so already.'
Danielle rolled her eyes but settled against him as she opened her book once more. Michael smiled as he hugged her closer, resting his head against the side of hers, closing his eyes in contentment.
'Comfortable?' She questioned when she realized she wouldn't be able to read with him breathing against her neck like that.
'Very, you smell nice,' he told her as he placed a kiss on her neck.
'Stop.'
'I didn't do anything,' he mumbled as he continued kissing her neck.
'Michael, we aren't even dating.'
'We should be.'
'But that doesn't mean we are.'
Michael pulled back making Danielle bit back a complaint as he reached up to turn her to face him. 'What are you so afraid of?'
'I don't want you to get hurt,' she told him honestly as they gazed at each other.
'It's hurting just to be apart from you.'
Danielle looked away. 'I didn't want you to get to know me. It will only be harder when I leave.'
'What are you talking about?' He demanded, even if his voice was quiet.
'You wouldn't understand.'
'I understand that you're hurting yourself as well, please,' he begged.
Danielle could feel her heart break. She turned to face him. 'You should go.'
'No, I won't ever leave.'
With that he pulled her closer, kissing her full on the lips. Danielle was in shock, after all this was her first ever kiss. His lips were soft against hers and it took her a moment to kiss him back.
When she did Michael's hand held the back of her head as he kissed her with a lot more feeling. Danielle's heart was slamming hard into her chest and she could almost swear she could hear his. Her eyes had slid shut on their own accord as her arms came up to wrap around his neck.
They both pulled apart a few times to catch their breath before settling down enough to break apart. Her eyes were slightly foggy and she could barely remember her name.
'Wow,' she said quietly.
Michael chuckled. 'No kidding.'
'That still doesn't mean we are a couple.'
'Maybe not yet,' he told her as he kissed her neck.
The door swung open and Danielle shut her eyes tightly against the light.
"Still alive," a voice hissed as the door opened.
Turning her head she looked up to see Voldemort himself gazing down at her.
"I thought you would have been dead by now."
"Funny," she snapped. "You put the stupid spell on me to make sure I wouldn't die you prick."
"Such harsh words from such a…lovely little girl."
"Oh go eat your face you bastard."
"Crucio," he growled.
Danielle woke later on, never knowing when she had finally passed out from another round of torture.
The pain was almost completely unbearable and there was nothing she could do. As she woke she had no idea what day it was or what time of the day it was.
After a violent coughing fit she was back on her back, gazing up at the ceiling above her. Licking her lips she found them still bleeding, most of it dried around the new cuts.
Danielle's thoughts drifted back to two nights ago, when she had been talking with Michael.
'Hey, I thought you were going to be late,' Michael said as he got to his feet.
Danielle smiled. 'It's not my fault really,' she told him as she moved towards him. His arms wrapped around her as he planted a kiss on her lips.
She leaned up into his kiss, holding him tightly around his neck. He pulled back grinning as he lifted her off her feet and spun her around. The two laughed.
'I've missed you,' she told him as she buried her face against his chest, breathing in his scent.
'You saw me at dinner,' he told her as he rested his head on hers, running his fingers through her hair.
'That doesn't mean I didn't miss you. It's not like we were sitting together.'
'What's gotten into you? I've been having to convince you just to let me hold you and now you're complaining about not seeing me enough.'
Danielle pulled back, looking up at him, her green eyes sad. 'I've given up on the idea of you leaving but that doesn't mean I still think it's the right thing to do. I still don't want you to get hurt.'
He held her cheek in his hand, gazing down at her. 'Whatever it is that's got you so scared we'll get through this together, I pr-'
'Don't promise me,' she begged. 'I don't want you to promise me.'
Michael could only smile sadly at her. 'Fine I won't but always know that I love you.'
Danielle froze. Did he just say love? She thought to herself. 'You…love me?'
'Did you ever have to doubt that? I have for a while Danielle.'
Tears came to her eyes and she let out a sob. 'You can't…you can't love me,' she whispered as she stepped out of his arms.
'Why not?' He questioned, the pain evident in his voice and eyes.
'Because! I told you, you shouldn't have gotten involved with me!'
'That was my choice! What, what is making you so scared Danielle?'
'You won't understand.'
'Try me,' he told her. 'I love you, why can't you let me love you?'
'Because it will only end up in disaster that's why. I shouldn't have, I never should have talked to you, I should have just hexed you.'
'But you didn't and that wouldn't have stopped me. I've liked you for a while now Danielle, long before we ran into each other in the halls.'
'We never should have come back. I shouldn't have come back,' Danielle rambled on, tears falling down her face.
'Danielle,' he called brokenly as he stepped towards her. 'Let me help.'
'You can't do anything, no one can,' she cried as she stepped back from him.
'Please, you don't have to suffer.'
'No, no, you can't love me. It's going to turn out horribly wrong.'
'No! I won't let you go,' he begged as he stepped closer only to have her step back.
'Let me go? You shouldn't have come near me! We should have stayed distant, it would hurt so much less.'
'What would? Danielle, you aren't making any sense.'
'I have to go,' she told him as she headed for the door, only to have him slam it shut.
His hands were on either side of her, her back still to him, as he leaned towards her.
'Tell me, please,' he whispered to him.
Her heart ached as she heard the pain in his voice, making her tears come stronger as she leaned her forehead against the door.
'I can't.'
'Yes, yes you can.'
Danielle shook her head. Michael set his hands on her shoulder and she didn't move away.
'I'm not going to let you walk away. I'm not going to let this go. I love you Danielle and I refuse to go anywhere if you aren't with me.'
'No, please, just go, leave me alone,' she said in between her sobs.
He turned her around, wrapping his arms tightly around her. 'Never.'
Tears fell down Danielle's face as she recalled the memory. She had tried but knew he was going to be hurt in the end. He loved her and she was going to die.
She didn't want to die any more. No, she wanted to see his face again, be held in his arms, even one more time would make her happy. It was different, knowing that you were going to die and actually being only a breath away from that certain demise.
It made her realize that her death would only fuel her families desire to kill Voldemort, in vengeance for taking away their family.
Her mother had always been able to read Danielle as she could her mother. It pained her to know that her death would cause her mother the most grief. Not to say that she wouldn't be horribly distraught if Harry, Jessica, or Samantha but she was the closest to her mother than all the others.
The two had spent many nights together, talking and just enjoying each other's company. Danielle could only imagine the state her mother was in. More tears fell down her face as she thought of the position she would be leaving her family in.
But she was too weak, far too weak to do anything. It was hard, beyond hard, to keep going, with as much pain as she was in.
It really came as no surprise when the door swung open again. She turned her head, away from the burning light.
"Danielle!" A voice cried, one that she knew far too well.
She turned her head, pain shooting down her neck, as she looked at Michael, leaning over her broken and beaten form. "M-Michael?"
"It's me, oh Danielle," he said.
"Come on, you have to get her out of here," Ron hissed. "I can't wait much longer."
"They'll be here to back us up soon," Michael hissed.
"Yes but if they find us first then we are screwed."
"Alright, let me get her healed some or I won't be able to move her. Love, where is it the worst?"
"My ribs and lungs," she said breathless. She was still a little shocked that he was here, for her.
He waved his wand, casting a few spells over her. Danielle breathed a sigh of relief when the pain faded in her chest.
"Your mother is waiting for you," he whispered as he lifted her up into his arms. Danielle whimpered when he applied pressure to her sore body. "Sorry, sorry, you'll be fine soon I promise."
"This way," Ron commented as they hurried down the halls as fast as they could.
Danielle held herself tightly to him, her body weak from no food or water and the beatings. "I didn't think anyone would come."
"I promised I wasn't letting you go," he reminded her. "It was Ginny's idea. She told us what you said and I refuse to let that happen. Just because it was set for a while doesn't mean anything."
"He's right, no one is going to let you die," Ron told her. "Just like Ginny, she knew Harry was coming. You should have known Michael or even Ginny would come back for you."
"And I love you, so I wouldn't stop till I had you in my arms again."
A loud explosion rocketed the building, making all three of them jump.
"Looks like the cavalry is here," Ron remarked with a grin. "Go straight till you reach a hall with three doors. The one on the right will lead you into another hall with one door at the end. That one will lead you straight into the woods where Lily is waiting." He hurried off in the opposite direction.
"Well, looks like this war might finally come to a close. I'm sorry I couldn't get here sooner," Michael told her.
"It's fine, I hadn't given up at least."
"I thought you would have and then I'd be too late."
Danielle smiled slightly as she looked up at him. "I couldn't, I have a reason to live."
"Oh?" Michael asked, pleasantly surprised by her answer.
"Yep," she said happily despite the pain she was feeling. "You."
"Me? And what do you mean by that?"
"It means I love you."
Michael gasped but had no time to reply as they were currently outside and her mother was yelling her name.
"Danielle!" Lily cried as she rushed to her daughter and Michael.
"Hi Mum," she said weakly as her exhaustion caught up with her.
"Don't hi Mum me! You could have gotten yourself killed!"
"Mum," Danielle groaned.
"Right, go take her to the healers please. I have to go make sure your father and uncles don't get themselves killed." Lily kissed Danielle's forehead and disappeared into the battle that raged behind them.
"You do realize you aren't going to get away with a comment like that," Michael told her.
Danielle looked up at him, grinning. "I didn't think I would."
He smiled down at her, his eyes brighter than she'd ever seen them.
"Good heavens child, you're in horrible condition," Madam Pomfrey said.
"I've got her," Alice remarked. "You go take care of those that come out of the fight. Set her down over there."
Michael did just that as he set her down. "I have to go."
"No!" Danielle cried. "Please don't go."
"I have to Danielle, but I'll be back," he whispered as he kissed her on the lips. "I love you."
"I love you too," she said sadly as she watched him go.
A/N: I actually like Danielle too much to kill the poor girl but she had to suffer, unfortunately it was a major part of the story. I don't have the next chapter done and I won't be writing it either, least not right now. I'm in a lot of trouble w/my 'family' right now and you're all lucky that I am posting this but at least someone should be happy right? Well thats what I think and I hope you all liked the chapter. I think there will be three more chapters but don't hold me to that. I am doing the best I can right now cuz I REALLY don't feel up to doing anything, at all actually.
Well enjoy and I have nothing else to say
Seritha