Chapter 2
Author's Note: I would like to thank all of you who have given me some support or have added me to your alert list, and I hope you enjoy this next chapter I'm posting. I'm still very new at this and I'm trying to really make these longer as I go, however, I would like to remind everybody that this story is in its early stages and to understand that I won't be able to update as fast as some other authors. So special thanks to: youcantbesirius, Auelle, chupeechan, isabellasvl, GutoRo7, hvnsllbbygrl, and saris305.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the characters or scenes I may have used or used as inspiration, these lovely creations still sadly belong to J.K. Rowling.
As I stumbled out of the castle I could see the blip of Harry's silhouette in the distance and I knew I was going to have to hurry if I was going to be able to catch him, and this limp wasn't really helping me. I could feel that I was way below my usual strength and I knew that this was a little more than reckless but I didn't really see any other choice if I was going to be of any use to Harry and the wizarding world. I hoped beyond hope that Harry's waning strength would be to my advantage as well, but in the back of my mind I knew this was pointless...Harry always seemed to find some extra reserve of strength when the shit really hit the fan. It had always given me hope and at the same time ticked me off that Harry always seemed to have the upper hand in any dangerous situation.
Pushing forward through muck and dirt and bodies of death eaters that were left to lay where they threw there last curse and rotting flesh that carrion crows had already begun to feast on, I swallowed back bile that had risen in anticipation of vomit. The bodies all seemed to be laid out in some kind of gruesome picture format and as I pushed through I could see the blind eyes of the dead watching me as I tried to keep up. I tried to look past the fact that these were people that had once lived and breathed and dreamed of something, no matter how twisted it might have been, and only see that these people wanted me and mine dead. However, that type of black and white was beyond me because I knew that without what some called my "bleeding heart" I wouldn't be able to have the knowledge I have today. So as I saw Harry come into better view, I could tell I was gaining on him which really worried me… he seemed to be slowing down the closer he got to the edge of the forbidden forest, and he almost seemed to be hesitating for a moment? 'What is he doing? Did he finally decide to think this through or is he trying to come up with a plan?'
I was almost right upon Harry when I heard him say something and look to his right as if someone was there, and in his left hand I could see he was clutching something tightly the more he talked. I could almost make out the words mom, dad, and be there with me the whole way but I couldn't really make out who he thought he was talking to and what he was talking about…damn it if only I could get just a little bit closer before he enters the woods, then maybe I could stop him from going through with this idiotic plan. He always gets himself in trouble with these half-cocked plans and ideas where he's only thinking in the moment and not for the future and he has already lost so much from this, I just have to stop him from losing anything else.
Harry began to move again so I pulled myself up from my hiding spot and tried to follow him as stealthily as possible, because here in the forest everything seemed so much quieter I was sure at any moment Harry would turn around and tell me to go back or someone would jump out and capture us both. I could see that Harry was listening intently for anyone around him, probably thinking along the same lines as me and he seemed just as nervous too. At least he's trying to put up some semblance of giving a damn if he dies or not, I mean maybe he can sneak in and get rid of a few thinking he'll try and go down with a fight and with me there maybe we can pull it off with an element of surprise.
The forest creaked around us as if the old woods knew evil was in its presence and that an innocent was ready to make a sacrifice to stop it today, and the simple ambience that it provided helped to calm the two teens rattled nerves as they approached the snake pit waiting for them. In the distance you could hear the large group of people arguing and in the fray of it all Bellatrix was cackling as she belted out a horrible ditty from her twisted minds gallery. The air started to feel oppressive like it was condensing around us to hold us down, the animals were silent as they watched in silent fearful apprehension, and as we moved further in I could hear the rattle of the snakes surrounding us in a more metaphorical sense.
Bellatrix skipped around the groups, belting out…'Come hither little Potty Potter…come to your master…dance to our tune'…Harry stepped into the outer ring of the light, illuminated in the dim light still Bellatrix sang…'it's time for all the dirty little mudbloods to pay, come hither and pay your dues'… Harry moved further into the light and I could see the outer reaches of the group of death eaters had realized that 'The-Boy-Who-Lived' had made his appearance and just like anyplace it seemed word spread faster than thought around here too. I hid in the shadows under the cloak as best I could, but even as we entered into a world of nightmares I knew no matter what happened I would stay as close to Harry as possible…I would protect him as best I could…even if he thought he didn't need it.
Finally, Voldemort realized that Harry was there and in a flurry of robes and a crackling of dark magic he moved in towards Harry and smiled as if he were greeting an old friend. Making a noise as if to patronize a young child Voldemort circled Harry and began to speak, "Harry did you really think you could beat me? Why did it have to take you so long to come forward? Did you enjoy all those brave people dying for you, is that it? Were you too much of a coward to face the Dark Lord?" He returned to face him head on and leaned in as if to whisper to a confidant, "You can tell me, Harry, no one has to know your shame here. It's the least I can do for you in these last moments, now that you've finally come to your senses and decided to save so many innocent lives with your sacrifice."
Through all of this Harry stayed silent but I could see his grip on whatever object was in his left hand steadily tightening with each passing moment, and as Voldemort continued to taunt him I prayed that for once Harry would be able to hold his temper in check. He finally answered him with a simple speech, "Don't think for one minute this is giving up Tom, this is my way of making sure you lose. So let's just get this over with before someone beats you to it…I mean I am after all 'The-Boy-Who-Lived'."
Bellatrix jumped out in a flurry of robes and wild angry hair "How dare you speak like that to your betters' boy you aren't worth the dirt on the sole of the Dark Lord's shoes, and you will show him the respect he deserves," she pointed her wand at Harry…"Crucio" and he fell to the ground writhing before Voldemort, using his right arm to try and at least stay completely off the ground…"or you will feel the pain until you little brain has learned how to address your betters." Bellatrix screamed as she towered over Harry and continued to curse him in front of the entire assembled group of depraved and idiotic death eaters. Voldemort didn't even interfere he just watched with a sickly sweet smile on his face as if he were indulging a small child with her play things. After a while of this Voldemort finally stepped in and pulled Bellatrix away, "We wouldn't want you to break him too early now would we dear Bella, besides there will be plenty more for you to play with later."
Looking down he waved his hand gently and Harry's body lifted off the ground and hovered in front of him inches from his face, "You are going to die tonight Harry Potter and I want you to know that when this happens I'm going to take great pleasure in destroying your little friends one by one, you've put a very big target on all of your friends and I'm going to personally collect on each and every one of them. I think I'll especially enjoy taking care of your little mudblood friend, she'll have a great time as well and when I'm done with her I'm sure I can find her a permanent place to do what dirty little whores do best. I'm just sorry I won't get to see you're little redheaded blood traitor get what she really deserved as well, but rest assured the rest of your little ragtag family will make due when the time comes." Turning away from Harry Voldemort seemed to almost be savoring this moment, and finally he sighed and turned towards him again.
I wanted nothing more at this moment than to start firing curses and think later, I wanted to be the impulsive one and try and get myself killed. I wanted nothing more than to be angry and show them my pain and see how they liked being hurt and forced to relive memories of death and torture every turn minute of every day but I knew that the most important thing at this moment was to make sure harry survived so I swallowed my tears and grabbed onto the my famous Gryffindor courage. I watched in bated breath and slowly moved closer and closer…inch by inch I moved in towards the target.
I saw him begin to raise his wand..oh god no, not yet…Harry seemed to realize what was happening as well and I could see him struggling to at least lift his arm (which was still having spasms at this point)..he smirked at Harry as if knowing he would never succeed..I moved in just a little closer…just please let me get close enough to do something, please let me save him…please let me do something…Harry seemed to have realized that at this point it was useless and so he floated there and seemed to almost smile up at Voldemort…for his part Voldemort finally seemed ready to finish this and as he began to form the words and his wand swished through the air I made up my mind. I threw off the invisibility cloak and that's when things began to seem as if they were in slow motion around me but in my mind it was like everything was moving at lightning speed. I could see the power of the spell beginning to form and in a rush I threw off the invisibility cloak…please, just let me make it, please…I felt myself strain forward, my legs burned, the breath in my lungs burned and relieved at the same time, I gasped for more to keep the dizzy sensation from my brain, I raised my arms to get closer, I felt what little bit of energy I had left come forth, and then I jumped forward reaching for Harry.
Harry's eyes opened and I could see the look of horrible recognition begin to form as all around us curses flashed and the world faded into green that's when I felt it-that moment that people called 'the calm before the storm'…that's when I knew that this might be the end but at least I'd gone out with a bang. I looked into Harry's eyes and smiled…I really hope you understand that I love you, you are the last of my family and I have no qualms about this moment…"I love you Harry" and then the world went black to the last noise I would hear: screams.