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**Speaking through the mind: Bold Italics.
Warning: Rape & Mature themes in this chapter.
Chapter 3:
Hogwarts,
Two weeks before Lux-Vita arrived in Middle Earth,
"Lux-Vita! Where do you think you're going?" asked Hermione. Both of her hands were placed on her waist and her eyes were narrowed suspiciously at her best friend's figure.
"Uh-uhmm, well you see …" Lux-Vita answered sheepishly, her mind racing towards an excuse that would appeal to her bossy best friend's nature.
"You're already caught Lux, might as well tell Mione the truth before she blows a gasket," chuckled Ron, Lux-Vita's male best friend.
"Right, well, uh, right you are Ron … Cedric asked me to meet him," explained Lux-Vita reluctantly.
Ron sat up straight at that, almost knocking over a table in his haste, and Hermione rolled her eyes, her expression turning from suspicion to disapproval, "You know that you're supposed to be practicing for the Third Task, yes?" she demanded in a self-righteous tone that made both, Lux-Vita and Ron roll their eyes.
"Yes," answered Lux-Vita in an innocent tone as she looked at her fingernails nonchalantly.
"And you do know that Cedric is a sixth year, therefore he already knows a lot of defensive spells and hexes to get through the task unscathed, while you are just a fourth year that haven't even begun learning them in class," she continued on, her tone turning more dangerous.
"Yes, I know Hermione! And like I said last night, I already know all of them! Sirius sent me many books from the Black library last summer, and I read them thoroughly from cover to cover. I know it all by heart and I practiced them at the beginning of the year … I already have a large repertoire of spells, hexes and curses in my head," Lux-Vita answered, knocking her hand over her head at the last part of her sentence.
"Oh, but …" Hermione began looking at Ron for support, but Ron merely rolled his eyes.
"Lux is right Hermione, give her a break, she already knows all her stuff. Not everyone prefers to studying over having a life."
Hermione looked hurt at that, "I am not saying there aren't many other important things than studying, I just worry over Lux. Someone wants her dead in this tournament!"
"And I appreciate how much you care for me sweetie, really I do," Lux-Vita smiled, throwing Hermione one of her famous bear hugs, "But I miss my boyfriend," she smiled cheekily.
"Oh! Go on you! Have fun with your gorgeous boyfriend," Hermione chuckled, wiping a stray tear from her eyes.
"Urghh, gross girls! I don't want to hear you fancying guys and checking them out," said Ron, a look of disgust on his face, "We need more testosterone in this group you know," he added indignantly.
"Ooh, that's a mighty big word for ya, Ron," Lux-Vita giggled as she made her way out of the Gryffindor common room. She ducked, narrowly missing the Potions book that he threw after her and laughed out loud as she peeked her head through the entrance, "MISSED!" before disappearing from view.
The last thing Lux-Vita heard was Hermione berating Ron for throwing a book out of all things, and to next time throw his shoes or something else.
Lux-Vita happily made her way over to the Tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy attempting to teach trolls ballet; she sniggered into her hand – no matter how many times she saw that portrait, she never failed to laugh in amusement.
Lux-Vita was asked by Cedric to meet her inside the Room of Requirement at seven P.M sharp, reaching right on time. Opening the door, Lux-Vita gasped in shock at what stood in front of her.
She was in Paris! Paris!
Stood in front of her with the Eiffel Tower positioned behind him, was her handsome boyfriend of nearly two years; Cedric Diggory, sixth year Hufflepuff prefect, Seeker and Captain for the Quidditch Hufflepuff team and Hogwarts Champion of the Triwizard Tournament.
"Cedric, what- how, what is all this?" Lux-Vita managed to stutter out in surprise.
Smiling charmingly, Cedric approached his girlfriend, "This is a date! Last year I wasn't able to take you out for a date in Hogsmeade, and this year with all the pressure of someone putting your name into the Goblet of Fire, Rita Skeeter and her publishing and the Slytherins mocking you … we barely enjoyed our time in Hogsmeade."
"Oh, baby you know I didn't mind right? I'm not a materialistic girl. I love you, and I don't care how we spend our time together as long as we ARE together," Lux-Vita said soothingly her hands caressing both of Cedric's arms.
"I know, and that is why I love you Lux. I wanted to do something special for you, and I remembered you telling me last year of how you had always wanted to go to Paris and see the Eiffel Tower, but your relatives," he sneered the word 'relatives' with distaste, "never took you with them, instead leaving you with a neighbor."
Lux-Vita's emerald eyes sparkled with joy and adoration, shaking her head she said, "I cannot believe you remember that! I told you that in passing, I barely expected you to notice when I mentioned it."
"What kind of meager, daft boyfriend do you think I am," he laughed back. Holding an arm out in a gentlemanly fashion for Lux-Vita to hold, he bowed and said, "May I have the Lady's hand and escort you to the top?"
Lux-Vita giggled with glee, bouncing up and down, her curly hair bouncing with her, she looped her hand through his and said in a posh accent, "You may, kind sir."
As they climbed the top of the Eiffel Tower, Cedric courteously pulled back a chair and only once Lux-Vita was seated, did he go around the table and take a seat for himself.
Lux-Vita stared in surprise at the table, noticing all the candles and posh cutlery, and before she knew it, a bottle of Moët Champagne and two crystal glasses appeared on the table.
Cedric proceeded to pour a generous amount into both glasses, clunking their glasses together, they took a hearty sip.
"This is good Cedric, you didn't have to do all this for me," stated Lux-Vita, her eyes glowing with happiness.
"I know I didn't have to, but I want to! You deserve the best Lux, so let me treat you like you deserve to be treated," said Cedric, his golden eyes shining with love.
"Oh ya," joked Lux-Vita, "Do tell me kind sir, how exactly do I deserve to be treated?"
"Like a princess," said Cedric simply, making tears of happiness shine through Lux-Vita's vibrant emerald eyes.
Lux-Vita had never been treated with such care before; she was only introduced to this when Cedric asked her out after their first Quidditch match during her third year after she had fallen off of her broomstick due to the Dementors. She remembered lying awake being tortured by the final words her mother and father spoke of before being murdered by Voldemort, when Cedric walked in and changed her life.
Cedric was worried sick when he saw the girl he couldn't stop thinking about fall down over a hundred feet from the air, and the day after she was admitted into the Hospital Wing, he was completely honest with her, telling her of his feelings towards her. Lux-Vita was nervous; she found Cedric to be very handsome and out of her league, but after Cedric was completely honest with her and with the pushing of Hermione, she agreed and allowed herself some happiness. And that turned out to be one of the best things she ever did, along with believing Sirius was innocent and entering Hogwarts where she met her two best friends, Ron and Hermione.
"You are spoiling me Ced," Lux-Vita giggled, as all her favorite dishes appeared on the table. "You did not do this by yourself, spill boyfriend!" she laughed.
"Dobby did help a bit," he admitted sheepishly. "When I told him what I was planning to do for you, he was quite pushy you know, he actually demanded that he be the only elf to help his kind Mistress Luxy Potter," he chuckled, especially when Lux-Vita's face turned a bright red, hiding her face behind her ruby hair.
"I can't believe he still calls me that, I keep telling him not to," she smiled fondly. "Although, I do admit that setting the little guy free was something I am extremely proud of."
"Only you would have the heart of gold to make sure a mistreated house-elf that wanted to be rid of his cruel masters, become free," said Cedric, he was staring at Lux-Vita with utter adoration and fondness.
"Oh stop that, anyone would have done the same thing if they were in my place," said Lux-Vita modestly.
"You know they wouldn't, Merlin I would have never thought of doing that! You care too much about everyone, and all races Lux, that is one of the reasons why I love you."
Lux-Vita's eyes shone with delight at seeing their desert for the evening was Treacle Tart – her favorite. Of course Cedric would know to have all her favorite meals be presented for this dinner.
"Oh ya, what else do you love about me?" she asked acting all coy and fluttering her long, thick black eyelashes at him as she licked a bit of sauce from the spoon.
"Hmm, what else, what else?" Cedric pretended to think, before laughing, "No, in all complete seriousness, I love your heart of gold Lux. I love the way you put others before you always – although sometimes it could be annoying, I love your hero-complex issues, I love how modest you are – unable to even accept a compliment, you cannot understand your worth to everyone else, I love how you don't carry an ounce of prejudice over everyone neither are you arrogant, I love how you hate your fame with utmost hatred and that you don't flaunt it around."
Cedric stood up from his seat, his eyes focused on Lux-Vita, looking at her as though she were the most precious thing in the world, he knelt down on one knee and took both of her hands as he continued onwards with his speech, "You are so utterly brave, your bravery knows no bound, you are kind, smart, selfless, funny, and oh, so beautiful, I have never seen anyone as gorgeous as you Lux. Your hair and your eyes are unique to the world, and when you look at me, I feel like I can be anyone, like I can do anything – I guess what I'm saying –"
"Cedric, wha-"Lux-Vita gasped, she slapped her hands over her mouth, her eyes incredibly larger than usual as she stared at her boyfriend who was knelt before her, opening a box where a ring lay innocently.
The ring was made from real silver, a huge diamond sat in the middle winking innocently at her, and it was encrusted with smaller rubies, emeralds and topaz gemstones – signifying her favorite features on him which were his bronze hair and gold eyes, and his favorite features that made her unique to the world, her ruby hair and emerald eyes.
"Will you be my wife Lux? Would you, Lux-Vita Laelynn Jamie Potter give me the huge honor of being your husband?" said Cedric solemnly, his eyes shining with complete love.
"But, I'm still fourteen Ced, you haven't even graduated yet!" she exclaimed, her eyes taking in the ring before moving on to studying every aspect of his face.
"I know, but I want to show the world that you are mine. We'll stay engaged until you graduate, I would wait forever for you Lux," said Cedric with adoration.
"Yes."
"What?"
"YES. YES, yes, yes! Cedric Diggory, yes, of course I'll marry you!" Lux-Vita screeched her voice high-pitched with happiness. Cedric laughed, all nervousness gone and he confidently placed the ring on her right hand, on her ring finger before scooping her into a hug, twirling her around and kissing her passionately on the lips.
"You have succeeded in making me the happiest man in the world you know that? Merlin Lux, I am so in love with you!" Cedric breathed out after they took a break from kissing to suck in some air.
"You changed my life Cedric. My world is a brighter place with you in it, and I can't imagine ever living my life without you!" said Lux-Vita vulnerably, her eyes staring intensely into Cedric's gold eyes.
"You'll never have to Lux! I promise," Cedric whispered before attacking her lips again with much vigor.
Cedric's kisses set every fiber of her being on fire, and as they stood up, his hands wandered down to her back and he pushed her flush against his hard, toned chest.
The room changed suddenly, looking around they found themselves in a candlelit room with a huge king-sized bed displayed in the middle. They broke apart and in unison, they stared at the bed.
Cedric looked at her with a questioning gaze, silently asking her if she was sure she wanted this. Lux-Vita's answer was to kiss him hard, showing as much love and devotion into the kiss.
Cedric's hands drifted downwards, unbuttoning her dress and caressing every inch of newly exposed creamy skin. Lux-Vita fumbled slightly with the fastening of his school robes.
Lux-Vita ended up dressed in nothing but her underwear and bra, and Cedric stared at her with lust, a hungry gleam in his golden eyes, turning them into molten lava and Lux-Vita's breath hitched at the sight.
He stepped forward after he was done studying every inch of her body, placed both his hands on her waist and kissed her hard.
"Gods, you drive me crazy do you know that, Lux?" he whispered against her lips. He then kneeled down in front of her and slowly drew her legs apart. His mouth began planting a trail of kisses inside her thigh and slowly traveled upwards.
Lux-Vita's breath hitched yet again, and she tangled her fingers through his wavy, bronze hair.
His tongue traced circles over her clit and his long, nimble fingers began to move in and out of her.
Lux-Vita moaned deeply, she wanted more and Cedric was driving her crazy. She couldn't imagine losing her virginity to anyone other than Cedric, the love of her life and she felt completely safe and loved in his arms and under his ministrations.
Placing her gently down atop of the bed, Cedric gazes deeply into her eyes. Emerald met Gold, and Cedric asked one last time, "Are you sure you want this Lux, I don't mind waiting," his voice low and husky with lust.
"Yes, I want you and only you Ced!"
Taking the rest of her clothes off, he placed himself atop of her at the right position and gently slid inside of her until he broke through her walls. Lux-Vita winced in pain, and Cedric stilled in place, placing butterfly kisses all around her neck, until Lux-Vita had had enough, and began moving her body forward to meet Cedric's thrusts.
His free hand seeked out her clit as he moved in her with firm thrusts and Lux-Vita began moaning, moving back against him. They fell into a slow, leisurely rhythm that drove her crazy, making her hiss out with ragged breath, "Faster!"
Cedric was only too happy to oblige, and barely made a sound as he tightened his grip on her hip and picked up the pace, thrusting in and out of her vigorously.
She threw her head backwards and bit her bottom lip to stop herself from crying out loud. Her climax washes over her like a tidal wave and all she could think about was that she loved Cedric so damn much, and she couldn't wait to do this with him and feel this way every day for the rest of her life.
Cedric's release followed mere seconds later, grunting against her ear, he spilled himself inside her.
Together they began breathing hard, their chests rising and falling, and gently, Cedric got out of her and rolled over, placing his arm around her waist and pulling her over to rest by his side. Lux-Vita placed her head by his chest, her hands splayed across his stomach.
"You know, I was just thinking … what are we going to tell Sirius?" asked Lux-Vita in an innocent tone.
Placing a gentle kiss to the top of her head, Cedric said, "You didn't think I asked for your hand in marriage without asking him for his permission first, did you?" Lux-Vita snapped her head upwards to look into his eyes, and he smiled, "I've been planning this for months, ever since the end of the Second Task, Lux. I sent a letter to my parents and Sirius and they all gave me their blessings. Dad even sent me this ring, and had it specifically modified by the goblins to add some of the gemstones onto it – it's a Diggory family heirloom."
"I love you Cedric," Lux-Vita whispered, tears of happiness flowing freely from her eyes, "I don't think I will be able to survive life without you."
Cedric squeezed her to his side tightly, "You will never have to Lux-Vita, I promise I will never leave your side. I love you way too much to do so!"
***Lux-Vita Laelynn Jamie Potter***
Little Hangleton Graveyard,
One day before Lux-Vita arrived in Middle Earth,
"Lux-Vita! Lux? Lux!" Cedric was bent over Lux-Vita's form, as she screamed on all fours clutching onto her forehead. Putting his arms around her, Cedric gently shook her, "Lux, what is it? What's wron-"Cedric drew a sharp intake of breath as he noticed the blood trickling down from her scar.
"Ced, Cedric!" Lux-Vita whimpered, "Go, get out of here! The cup is a portkey! Take it back to Hogwarts!"
Cedric shook his head in bewilderment, turning his head ever so slightly as he noticed the short hooded figure clutching a bundle of blankets getting closer, "I'm not leaving you Lux, now get up!"
Cedric stood up, going forward to carry her into his arms and grab the cup, but before he could, a high, cold voice hissed, "Kill the spare."
"No! Cedric, no! Go quickly!" Lux-Vita yelled at the top of her lungs as she struggled to stand up amidst the exploding pain that was coming from her scar due to the close proximity of Voldemort being near her, rendering her immobile.
Before another word could be spoken, there was a swishing noise and a second voice screeched the two deadly and unforgivable words, "Avada Kedavra!"
"NOOOOOO!" Lux-Vita yelled desperately.
There was a blast of green light, and a loud thump beside her, indicating that something heavy had fallen to the ground. The pain on Lux-Vita's scar receded, before diminishing completely, and she squinted to see what had fallen as the images around her began to clear out from its previous blurriness.
A sharp intake of breath left Lux-Vita as she stared wide-eyed, unable to believe the proof that was staring right at her face.
Cedric was laying spread-eagled on the ground beside her, his open golden eyes that looked at her before with such expressive eyes filled with happiness, joy, love and adoration, where now blank and expressionless, and his mouth was half-open in slight surprise.
Numb. That was all Lux-Vita felt. Numb; numb disbelief, before she was grabbed from behind and slammed against a marble headstone that shone with the wand-light: TOM RIDDLE.
Lux-Vita still felt numb when she recognized the person tying her up to the headstone was Wormtail, due to his missing finger, and the person that had betrayed her parents to their death, leaving Sirius to take the blame and rot in Azkaban for twelve years when she should have been raised by him instead of her abusive relatives.
Lux-Vita was numb as she watched the horrifying process of the ritual to give Voldemort a physical form take place.
"Bone of the father, unknowingly given, you will renew your son!"
There was a crack on the surface of the grave at Lux-Vita's feet. A hiss of something colliding with the water. A vivid poisonous-looking blue light.
"Flesh – of the servant – w-willingly given – you will – revive your master."
An agonizing scream pierced the air. A thud onto the floor. Anguished panting. A sickening splash. A burning red light.
"B-Blood of the enemy … forcibly taken … you will … resurrect your foe."
Lux-Vita didn't even flinch as she felt tormented breathing on her face; not even when the point of a shining silver dagger penetrated the crook of her right arm; not even when blood seeped down the sleeve of her torn robes; not even when a glass vial caught a few dribbles of blood.
Lux-Vita was numb to the world around her.
A blinding white light shone all around the graveyard and Wormtail's pathetic form dropped down to his knees besides the cauldron, slumped sideways on the ground and cradling a bleeding stump of his arm, gasping and sobbing.
Lux-Vita watched blankly as her greatest enemy; the monster that killed her parents, that tried to kill her and was the reason her fiancé lay dead a few feet away from her, emerged slowly from the cauldron through the mist.
"Robe me," a high, cold voice spoke from behind the steam – the same voice that demanded Wormtail to kill Cedric.
Lux-Vita watched with dead eyes as a sobbing and moaning Wormtail placed black robes over the tall and skeletally thin figure. She stared with dead eyes as the figure stared back at her with wide, livid scarlet eyes. His face whiter than a skull and a nose flat as a snake's with slits for nostrils.
Lux-Vita was still numb as she came to the realization that Lord Voldemort had risen again, and that her death wasn't far behind. Lux-Vita welcomed death; she would be able to join her parents and Cedric.
Voldemort examined himself, and then proceeded to call his Death Eaters through Wormtail's Dark Mark. Looking at Lux-Vita, he had a look of cruel satisfaction plastered all over his face and as he began his speech of his muggle father, Lux-Vita snapped her head to her left, and stared with saddened eyes at the form of Cedric, who still lay on the ground near the cup and her wand, untouched.
One by one the Death Eaters arrived. Some were cautious around him; some looked at him with unbelieving eyes; and only one fell down on his knees, crawling toward Voldemort and kissing the hem of his black robes.
Nothing was important to Lux-Vita, nothing but Cedric, nothing but joining him in death. He promised that he would never leave her, yet he was gone.
Voldemort finished his speech, finished torturing Avery, gifted Wormtail with a new hand, and ended his tirade about Lux-Vita defeating him when she was a year old and his plan of fashioning himself a physical form.
Lux-Vita stared at Voldemort with blank, deadened emerald green eyes, and for a moment there was surprise written all over his face as he noticed she had given up on life.
Walking over to Cedric's body, he tutted mockingly, "What a pretty boy, don't you think Lux-Vita? it's too bad he had to die," Voldemort laughed. He then placed a foot over Cedric's face, and Lux-Vita finally felt an emotion boil inside of her, anger; she felt fire course through her vein.
"DON'T TOUCH HIM! DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH HIM!" she yelled, shocking all the Death Eaters, their jaws slackened as they watched their Lord and Lux-Vita stare at each other.
Voldemort smirked in amusement as he approached Lux-Vita, who was still tied tightly onto the headstone, "You cared for him, didn't you?" he asked, not expecting an answer, "You want to join him in death, don't you?" again, he didn't expect an answer, he placed a finger onto Lux-Vita's soft, smooth and creamy cheek – she didn't even flinch, even as her scar began bleeding due to his touch, "I cannot just simply grant you your wish now when you want to die, you must feel pain first; pain by my hand that would kill your soul, making you suffer even in death."
Wandlessly, he unbound Lux-Vita from the headstone, but made sure that her hands were still bound tightly before he dragged her body until she lay next to Cedric's dead form and ripped her clothes off.
Finally, Lux-Vita awoke from her numb stupor, recognizing what Voldemort wanted to do. He wanted to rape her next to Cedric's body with all the Death Eaters watching. She began struggling in her binds, screaming hoarsely for him to stop.
"Hmm, I don't think I will … you wanted to die Lux-Vita and me being the honorable Lord, I shall grant you your wish. But you are the reason I lived worse than a spirit in excruciating pain for thirteen years, and for that, you shall suffer before your death!"
The Death Eaters leered and cheered as they watched their Lord defile her in every way possible. They watched as the Dark Lord placed innumerable Cruciatus Curse's on her while he raped her.
It was unbearable. Lux-Vita was trapped in the nightmare of all nightmares. It was agonizing, embarrassing, painful and torturous, and Lux-Vita begged for death in her head – she wouldn't give Voldemort the pleasure of hearing her beg.
While Voldemort would slam into her, he would cast the Cruciatus Curse for pleasurable reasons, sickening Lux-Vita further. She felt two different types of pain at once; she felt pain beyond anything she had ever experienced before, her bones were on fire, her head was splitting along her scar, her eyes were rolling madly in her head; and then the pain of him slamming into her forcefully and crudely, his nails piercing into her soft and creamy skin, his tongue rolling around her neck mockingly.
She felt that pain repeatedly, maybe four or five times; she was beginning to lose count of how many times she heard Crucio followed by unbearable pain and him spilling his seed into her.
It could have been hours, or maybe days, or perhaps a few weeks until she felt Voldemort leave her with nothing but the ripped remaining of her robes attached to her body.
Lux-Vita wasn't even given a chance to recover from all the pain that was inflicted onto her as she heard Voldemort's voice clearly reverberating over her head, "Now untie her hands, Wormtail, and give her back her wand."
Struggling to stand steadily on her feet, Lux-Vita placed a hand onto the marble headstone, ignoring Cedric's body for now – she couldn't bear to look at his sweet, handsome face after Voldemort had defiled her next to him.
Just as Lux-Vita was able to steady her weight, the Cruciatus Curse was placed on her again, and she fell down to her previous place by the ground.
She heard the laughter and the jeering sounds of the Death Eaters around her; ignoring them, she stubbornly stood on her feet as best as she could, she wasn't going to give Voldemort the satisfaction; she was going to beat him before her death surely came.
"We bow to each other Lux-Vita," said Voldemort, bending a little, but all Lux-Vita did was glare at him with the utmost hatred she could conjure, "Come, the niceties must be observed. … Dumbledore would like you to show manners. … Bow to death, Lux-Vita. …"
The Death Eaters were laughing again, but Lux-Vita didn't move an inch, Voldemort gave her a lipless smile before raising his wand again, "I said, bow," and Lux-Vita felt her spine curve as though a huge, invisible hand were bending her forward, and the Death Eaters laughed harder than ever.
"Very good," said Voldemort softly in a mocking manner, "And now you face me, straight-backed and proud, the way your father and mother died. … and now – we duel."
Voldemort raised his hand, but before Lux-Vita could even utter a spell, she was hit again by another round of the Cruciatus Curse.
The pain was so intense, so agonizing, that she knew no longer where she was, and she felt like she was beginning to slip into insanity … white-hot knives were piercing every inch of her skin, her head was surely going to burst with pain, she was screaming more loudly than she'd ever screamed in all her life.
And then it stopped. Lux-Vita was shaking uncontrollably, trying to regain ahold of her sanity; she staggered sideways into the wall of watching Death Eaters, and they pushed her away, back toward Voldemort.
"A little break," said Voldemort, his slit-nostrils dilating with excitement, "A little pause … that hurt, didn't it, Lux-Vita? You don't want me to do that again, do you?"
Lux-Vita didn't answer. She was going to die like Cedric, like her parents, those pitiless red eyes were telling her so … but she wasn't going to play along. She wasn't going to obey Voldemort, or beg.
But Voldemort didn't like being ignored, "I asked whether you want me to do that again. Answer me! Imperio!"
For the third time in her life, Lux-Vita felt the sensation of her mind being wiped of all thought … just answer no … say no … just answer no. …
But she was stronger than that; even with all the rounds of Cruciatus Curses that were placed on her that night; even with her being rapped and defiled brutally with an audience and next to the dead body of the love of her life; even with the loss of too much blood – Lux-Vita was stronger than that.
Staring at Voldemort with hateful eyes, she growled out, "I will never ever EVER bow down to you, you megalomaniac bastard!"
The words echoed around the graveyard, and the dream state was lifted from her. The Death Eaters were no longer laughing, but watching their master in trepidation.
"You won't?" said Voldemort quietly, his eyes narrowed in complete rage. "You won't say no? Lux-Vita, obedience is a virtue; I need to teach you before you die. … Perhaps another dose of pain?"
As Voldemort raised his wand, with the skill of a Seeker, Lux-Vita ducked behind the marble headstone of Voldemort's father, and she heard a crack as the curse missed her.
"We are not playing hide-and-seek, Lux-Vita," said Voldemort tauntingly, his soft, cold voice drawing nearer as the Death Eaters laughed yet again. "You cannot hide from me. Does this mean you are tired of our duel? Does this mean you would prefer me to finish it now, Lux-Vita? Come out, Lux-Vita … come out and play, then … it will be quick … it might even be painless … I would not know … I have never died …"
Lux-Vita was ready as she clutched her wand tightly; she was going to die trying to defend herself and her honor, she was going to die in a way that would make her parents and Cedric proud, not hiding behind a headstone and cowering like a child in fear.
She threw herself around the headstone, facing Voldemort she shouted, "Reducto!" just as Voldemort cried, "Avada Kedavra!"
A jet of green light issued from Voldemort's wand just as a jet of turquoise light blasted from Lux-Vita's and they met in midair. Suddenly, Lux-Vita's wand began to vibrate and she knew, her instincts screamed at her to not let go of the connection under any circumstance.
They were both in midair; many torturous screams emerged from Voldemort's wand, followed by a hand missing a finger, more shouts of pain, and then bodies … bodies began emerging.
A cry of shock came out of Lux-Vita's lips as she stared at the ghost of her dead fiancé's, and she let out a tormented whisper, "Cedric!" as tears fell freely down her face as she kept her eyes on Cedric, she didn't even pay the slightest bit of attention on the other bodies that were beginning to form.
"Lux! Hold on, don't let go!" Lux-Vita nodded, not trusting herself to speak. "I am so sorry I couldn't keep my promise to you my love, my light! I love you no matter what, do you hear me?"
"I do! I don't think I can go on without you!" she cried, her eyes beseechingly searching his.
"You can, you are so brave my light, if anyone can move on from all this, it's you! I know you can, you are a warrior, I haven't seen anyone braver than you Lux."
Lux-Vita then saw the form of her mother appear, and Lux-Vita felt her heart about to burst; she looked like a younger version of her mother. Lily Potter stared at Lux-Vita with eyes filled with love, sorrow and pride as she said, "Your father's coming. Hold on for your father … it will be all right … hold on …"
And he came … first his head, then his body … tall and untidy-haired, the smoky, shadowy form of James Potter blossomed from the end of Voldemort's wand, making his way over to Lux-Vita.
She looked like a complete replica of her mother, but she noticed she had inherited her father's prominent high cheekbones and aristocratic straight-sloped nose.
"When the connection is broken, we will linger for only moments … but we will give you time … you must get to the Portkey, it will return you to Hogwarts … do you understand Lux-Vita?" asked James Potter.
"Yes," Lux-Vita gasped, fighting to keep her tears at bay and her wand steady.
"Lux …" whispered the figure of Cedric, and Lux-Vita couldn't control her tears anymore as she looked at her dead fiancé, "I need to ask you of two things; take my body back, take my body back to my parents …"
"I will," said Lux-Vita, her eyes red-rimmed and leaking with continuous tears.
"And … after you finish mourning me, I need you to move on … promise me that you will live your life to its fullest and find love again if you ever have the chance."
"No, I can't, I won't," Lux-Vita stubbornly shook her head, staring at Cedric with disbelieving eyes.
"He's right Lux," her mother said sadly, her father nodding along.
"Promise me, my light … promise me," asked Cedric pleadingly.
"I'll … I promise I'll try," she whispered in defeat.
"Do it now," whispered her father's voice, "Be ready to run … do it now. …"
Lux-Vita let go and ran as fast as her injured legs could in her agonizing, weak and painful state, knocking over two stunned Death Eaters as she passed.
"Stun her!" she heard Voldemort scream.
She was finally next to Cedric; cradling him lovingly and protectively into her chest, she pointed her wand over to a Death Eater who was about to stun her and bellowed, "Impedimenta!" without pausing for breath, she pointed her wand over to Voldemort and growled out in hatred, "Bombarda!"
She watched victoriously as the curse hit Voldemort causing him to stagger backwards as huge chunks skin and bones tore out from his chest, blown apart, and he yelled, his voice laced with pain, "Stand aside! I will kill her! She is mine!"
"Accio!" Lux-Vita yelled, pointing her wand at the Triwizard Cup. It flew into her hand and soared toward her.
Lux-Vita caught it by the handle, and just as she and Cedric were speeding away in a whirl of wind and color, she heard Voldemort's scream of pain and fury.
She landed with a hard slam flat into the ground, screaming tears of pain at the death of Cedric, her cries turned borderline into mourning and anguishing cries, scaring everyone as they ran to her side.
"Lux-Vita, Lux-Vita!"
Opening her red-rimmed eyes, she looked into the gentle light blue eyes of Dumbledore's, but they lacked their usual twinkle. Not letting go of Cedric's body, Lux-Vita reached out with one hand and seized Dumbledore's wrist tightly, "He's back! He's back. Voldemort."
***Lux-Vita Laelynn Jamie Potter***
Hospital Wing at Hogwarts,
A few hours before Lux-Vita arrived in Middle Earth,
Lux-Vita couldn't sleep; she just stared numbly at the wall opposite to her, a deadened look in her eyes.
Cedric was dead. Dead!
Voldemort had raped and defiled her!
The bumbling fool that called himself the Minister of Magic believed her to be a liar, claiming that Voldemort was dead … claiming that a Dark Lord cannot return from the dead …
Claiming that Cedric's death was a tragic accident.
She could ignore all the insults thrown at her; liar, crazy, dark witch due to her being a Parselmouth, attention-seeker, brat, freak … but she cannot and would not allow anyone to degrade Cedric's death; Cedric who died bravely, standing upright to protect her; Cedric who just so happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.
No. She would not allow the fools in the Ministry to insult Cedric's death.
After she had informed Dumbledore of Voldemort's return, Professor Moody tore her apart from Cedric's dead body – that, coupled with the fact that she was just raped, caused a shrill scream to escape from her lips, drawing attention to them and Dumbledore stunned him – finding his behavior odd.
Later on, they settled down in the Headmaster's office with Sirius, Professors Snape and McGonagall, Winky the Crouch's previous house-elf and herself. Together they watched as Professor Moody transformed into Barty Crouch Jr., and after forcing Veritaserum down his throat, he sang like a canary.
Lux-Vita stared over to her right; the real Alastor Moody was sleeping a few hospital beds down from her. Apparently he had it hard this year as well; Barty Crouch Jr. stuffed him into his own trunk, stealing hair from him every month in order to brew the Polyjuice Potion and take his place.
After that, Dumbledore implored her to share the events of this evening with him, but Lux-Vita couldn't and Sirius backed her up completely. But even being deep in depression, Lux-Vita knew that Dumbledore had a reason for everything, and so she compromised, taking the memory from her mind, she had Dumbledore duplicate it before returning it back into her head.
Even though Lux-Vita wanted to forget, she couldn't, it wouldn't be right and she could not stand to forget Cedric's death, it would be an insult to his memory … he died protecting her and she would honor that by carrying the pain of his death throughout her whole miserable life.
Sirius was over with Dumbledore at the moment in his office looking through the memory she had given them as he thought she would be in a deep sleep due to the Dreamless Sleep Potion Madam Pomfrey had provided her – but even the strongest sleeping Potion wouldn't allow her a restless sleep, for nightmares plagued her now, it had become a part of her.
All Lux-Vita wanted was to escape from the world for a while and know peace.
All of a sudden, Lux-Vita felt herself drifting off into nothing –it was a mixture of the sensations of the Imperius Curse and travelling by Portkey, and the next thing Lux-Vita knew, she was in a forest in the middle of nowhere where she could see nothing but the color green.
But Lux-vita didn't care, she would welcome death if it came to her, and she wasn't going to do anything but sit here and wait for death to swoop down and take her into the afterlife.
A/N: This was a long chapter *whew*
Poor Lux-Vita huh? I hated writing that, so I didn't include many details … but it had to happen. Lux-Vita had to be a tortured soul so that someone *ahem* could heal her completely as it would take time.
I don't like it when most stories have the two characters look at each other and instantly start acting like a blushing and fumbling love-struck idiot. I like building suspense, and for my characters to take time before falling in love, and with the loss of her fiancé, being tortured, raped, defiled and humiliated that would slow things down a lot!
And no, I will not be telling you who she ends up with … if she even ends up with anyone …. It's a surprise; Read and find out! =)
Next chapter, we will finally see Thorin!