"We're free!" I cried happily, running out of the hall on our last OWL exam. Ginny rolled her eyes as I began to do a little happy dance. Luna came and started twirling dreamily beside me. Ginny sighed heavily before joining in.
"I take it went well then?" Harry asked, coming up behind us.
"No, it was bloody awful," Ginny moaned. "We're just happy that hell is over."
Harry slung his arms around Ginny and kissed her fondly on the cheek. They were so cute together.
Like in the book, they got together after our big win on the Quidditch pitch. Because of the whole Malfoy fiasco, Harry was in detention so Ginny played Seeker. It was weird not playing with her, but oh well, we trampled them.
Ron had thankfully dumped Lavender too. I almost cried with happiness when he announced the news.
Harry was constantly disappearing for his lessons with Dumbledore which put me on edge; the time was near.
I was now friends with Sirius again. He even visited us on a Hogsmede weekend, but unfortunately Fred and George were there too, looking to buy a shop. I think they were stalking me.
It was a hot day in was a hot day at the end of June when it happened. Ginny, Luna, Neville and I had sat by the side of the lake and had a mini picnic.
When we arrived back to the common room, Hermione was even more frazzled than usual and was pacing around the room.
"What's going on?" Neville asked defensively.
"Harry and Dumbledore have left the school for a few hours and Harry thinks that Death Eaters will attack. We need reinforcements, but no one's answering the call." She held up her little coin which suddenly began to light up. "Oh, someone's responding. I wonder who it is."
On a hunch, I ran over to the portrait hole and opened it. Luna stood in the doorway with her coin in hand.
"When I got back to the dormitory it was glowing. Is everything alright?"
I checked that the close was clear before pulling her into the common room. She looked around, intrigued.
"It's very nice in here. It's cosy," she commented. Hermione stared at her in shock. She looked at me as though to ask why Luna was in the Gryffindor common room, but I just shrugged.
"Ok, we need a plan," Hermione said, taking charge. "We need people guarding The Room of Requirement; the Death Eaters may enter through there. I think we also need people to stand guard on Snape. Harry also gave me this." She held up the little bottle of Felix Felicius. "There's enough for all of us."
"We need to get moving, where should we go?" Ron asked.
"Erm - Luna and I? We'll guard Snape and then you guys can guard the room of requirement. And also..." She handed us the marauders map. I grinned down at the tatty piece of parchment. "So I guess we should go then. Here."
She handed around the little vial of The Liquid Luck and everyone took a sip. I declined it.
"I can't die, I don't think," I said, passing back to Hermione. She passed it back.
"You're not indestructible," she scolded.
"Just immortal," I grinned. They all looked at me sternly. "Well, sort of immortal. But seriously, I would rather someone else have it."
"What about stunners and body binders?" Hermione asked. She did have a point. I would be no good to them paralysed. I still said no though.
After much debating, the remaining sip was spilt between Luna and Ginny.
If I remembered right, darkness powder would be thrown at us, so I had to devise a plan.
"We need bubble head charms in case they gas us or something," I shrugged. I took the map off Ron and cast wingardium leviosa on to it. I then cast the bubblehead charm so it was free floating in front of my face. It restricted my vision slightly, but in darkness, it wouldn't matter. I just needed to see where The Death Eaters were.
We took it in turns to patrol and pace the corridor. In the long silences, my mind was constantly debating. I could quite easily save Dumbledore tonight. But could I do it? I had saved Sirius, but I couldn't really save Dumbledore. It would change too much. I had gotten lucky with Sirius, but saving Dumbledore would tip it over the edge. I wished he could live. I had a bond with Dumbledore and he was just so amazing. But something had to happen.
We had been on patrol for about forty five minutes when everything went black.
"What the -"
Rustling came from the entrance to the Room of Requirement. One of our guys started firing, but Ginny stopped them.
I looked to the map floating in front of me and saw Draco Malfoy and the other Death Eaters running about 100 yards from me. Someone's name at the back of the crowd made my heart shudder: Bellatrix Lestrange.
I spun to the left, where they were running past me, and cast a series of stunners. They weren't expecting them and I managed to knock out one. They left him there and carried on.
"Guys can you hear me?" I called. I chorus of 'yeah's' sounded from down the corridor. "Follow the sound of my voice. I'll try and guide you with the map."
Their little footprints came nearer to me. I had to direct Neville around a suit of armour, but eventually we were all together.
We linked hands and I led them in the direction the Death Eaters went.
The smoke began to clear as we rounded the corner so I removed the charm and took the map down.
"They're going to the Astronomy Tower," I pointed out. They were not far from us; only about 100 yards around the corner. I was sure they could hear our conversation.
"We need to alert the order," Ron said, taking the map off me and examining it. We began to jog slightly, not wanting to fall behind.
"But how?" Ginny asked. "Owls are too slow. We could find a fireplace. It's not the quickest option, but it's our only one. None of us know how to deliver messages via patronus."
"I do," I said meekly. "But I can't actually produce a protronus."
"Typical," Ron muttered. "Can't you just try? You never know, under the pressure..."
I thought hard back to the time when I saw George do it and the few times that Sirius had. I sighed and tried to cheer myself up, despite the mood.
"Patronus Chartum," I muttered, holding my wand to my throat. A small blue wisp went inside it. "Quickly, come to Hogwarts. It's under attack by Death Eaters. Tell the others. Expecto Chartum Sirius Black." I began to shake slightly as I tried to muster a happy memory. Fred laughing with me, shouting at me and kissing me popped into my head. "Expecto Patronum!" I shouted confidently.
A large White lioness erupted out of my wand and disappeared into the distance. Ron, Ginny and Neville were beaming at me.
"That was great!" Ginny cried. "You can do a patronus, wow. Well Done."
"Thank you, but it isn't really the time. Praise me later," I said offhandedly, running in the general direction of the Death Eaters. I had done my job of contacting the order, and now it was on to my own priorities. Bellatrix. This could be the last time I see her and I needed answers.
I saw a group of cloaked figures running at the end of the corridor so I started blindly firing curses.
"Stupify," I shouted, sending three in a row to the group. The others behind me were doing the same and the red jets were narrowly missing my ear, making me wish I had taken the felix felicius. Half of the Death Eaters stopped and faced us while the others continued running.
"Petrificus totalus," I cried, pointing my wand at Malfoy. It missed him but hit the Death Eater behind him. The rest of the Death Eaters gave up running and stood opposite us with the other Death Eaters. Eight against four. That probably wasn't by best idea.
A familiar psychotic laugh sounded from behind the group. There was a lot of hustling before Bellatrix strolled out from between Greyback and some guy I didn't know.
"Hello Alyssa, long time no see," she said, walking toward us. The others joined her as we were slowly being backed into the corner. I held my hand out to Ron, Ginny and Neville, telling them to stop and hold their ground. The Death Eaters stopped and grinned mockingly; except Malfoy who looked petrified.
"Now what brings you here today?" Bellatrix asked me.
"We were just out for a wander," I said nervously. Thankfully, it barely showed in my voice.
"Really," She said. "I was under the impression that you were on guard, ready to fight us." A few of the Death Eaters laughed.
"Well, if we were I wouldn't tell you, then the element of surprise would be gone. Unless we really were just wandering and we are surprised to see you. Or I could just be saying this to throw you off and confuse you." Both my friends and the Death Eaters stared at me as though I had gone mad.
"Kill them," Bellatrix said, simply.
"Over my dead body!" Sirius called. He, Tonks, Remus and Bill came racing around the corner and stood in front of us.
"Oh Sirius dear, I'm so glad you've said that. We have unfinished business from last June. Avada Kadava!" I jumped in front of Sirius and took the curse. I wobbled slightly but managed to still stand.
"You really need to stop doing that," Bellatrix answered.
One of the Death Eaters sent a curse at Ginny. I wasn't quick enough to take it but thankfully the felix felicius did it's work.
Bill leapt into action and began to duel Greyback. The order members and the others submerged into duels, but I only had eyes for Bellatrix.
She ran around the corner in the direction of the tower, so I followed her.
"Ally, Dont!" Sirius shouted, but I was already around the corner. She was nowhere in sight; the hall was empty. She must have been somewhere; there was no way she could run away that quick.
Sirius rounded the corner but then stopped suddenly. He tried again, but there was an invisible barrier blocking off the corridor.
Bellatrix laughed and suddenly appeared in front of me, lifting her disillusion charm. She was blocking one exit, and her barrier was blocking the other. I was trapped.
"I knew you would follow me. You're very predictable," she said. She was casually spinning her wand in her hand which made her look even more sinister.
I looked behind to the barrier and saw Sirius now duelling a Death Eater. He and the other Order members had not had any liquid luck; I would not be able to cope if any of them died because of my meddling.
My head spun forward as though someone was pushing it, but no one was there. Bellatrix had her wand pointed at me and it became obvious that I was under the imperious curse.
Bellatrix took a knife out from under her robes and held it out to me.
"Come here," she commanded. I tried not to move, but my feet were moving on their own accord. "Take this knife - " No, no my mind was screaming, but I wouldn't listen and I took her knife. "And plunge it through your stomach."
I grabbed the knife with both hands and pulled it back. I tried really hard not to, but she was too strong. My hands were shaking under the pressure, but I was doing it anyway.
I plunged the dagger toward my stomach, but managed to stop myself. But it was too late and about two inches of the knife was in my stomach. The wound wasn't too deep, but it was enough to make me collapse to the ground. Blood seeped through my white shirt as I rolled on the ground. Thanks to the vampire bite, I did heal quicker than everyone else, but it still took a long time. It would be about half an hour before I would regain my strength and by then I feared it would be too late.
"Now, pick up the knife again, and stab your leg." I tried not to, but I was too weak and was complying with her demands. I managed to push her out of my mind slightly, but she picked up my wand off the floor and pointed it at me along with her own. "Stab your leg," she repeated quietly. The power of the two wands was too much and I stabbed my leg.
This time I could not stop myself and it went straight through.
I let out a loud scream as my hand continued to push the knife, even though it could not go any further.
"No pull it out." I complied with a scream. Bellatrix laughed happily. "Now isn't this fun?"
"Please - please s-stop," I panted heavily. I was covered in blood and I was having trouble breathing. I had a strong suspicion that the first wound had pierced my lungs.
"I can't stop. You used the cruciatus curse on me. You protect my prey and you're fighting against me. You deserve to be punished."
She sent a cruciatus curse at me which made me wither in pain. I curled up into a ball and twisted around. It seemed to last forever, but finally it stopped.
"I have a - proposition - for you," I whispered. "I ask a question, you answer truthfully and then you torture me. We do it - in a cycle."
"Why would I do that?" she asked, flicking her wand as an electric shock went through my body.
"Because I want the truth. It would make it more enjoyable for you - to see my - my reactions," i panted. She deliberated for a moment but then nodded.
"Did you really bring me here?"
"Yes," she answered simply. "Crucio." I cringed up as my mind almost exploded. It was over fairly fast though. "You need to be specific with your questions Ally."
"Why did you bring me here?" I asked.
"To join the Death Eaters." Again, she cast the cruciatus curse on me. I felt so numb and was constantly throbbing. But It did not hurt as much anymore.
"Did you plan the vampire attack to turn me?" I already knew the answer, I just needed confirmation. She nodded before sending the familiar red bolt at me.
"And how are you here?"
She stopped for a moment before grinning devilishly. "Now you're getting interesting.
One day I was cleaning up that messy closet of yours. I was thinking about how vile you and your father are and I suddenly appeared in a house that wasn't ours. A girl who looked like me was in there and tried to kill me. But I got to her first. People called me Bellatrix and I went along with it." she stopped for a second. "Now that was a lot of information, i think you need to pay for it more. Straight through the foot this time?"
I involuntarily picked up the knife and shoved it into my foot. It went right through.
I let out a loud shriek of pain, probably the loudest yet. Bellatrix laughed loudly so I bit my lip, trying to stay silent. It was bleeding from how hard I was biting it, but I would not give her the satisfaction.
"Do the Death Eaters know?" I whispered.
"Some," she said simply, casting the cruciatus on me again. I could feel my mind slipping away from me, but I tried my best to keep a hold of myself.
I looked over to the barrier and saw Sirius and Fred desperately trying to break it. I don't know where he had come from or why he was there, but I knew he was probably hurting more than me. I had never seen him look so upset. He looked really determined as he failed to break the barrier. I knew then that despite all the lies and heartbreak, he did love me. Probably not in the way I wanted to, but he was still fighting for me. Sirius was too. He looked close to tears.
Seeing the pair of them suddenly gave me determination. I mustered up the power to grab my dropped wand and stunned her quickly. It was unexpected, so she flew backwards.
I crawled away and hid behind a pillar, disillusioning myself as I went. I heard her angrily stand up and stomp over to the pillar next to me. I held my breath.
"Ally, Ally, Oxen Free," she called. She looked to the floor and then to my position. She grabbed me by the hair and threw me into the middle of the corridor.
"You should try and stop the bleeding next time; your trail gave you away," she said sounding very frustrated. We stared at each other in silence. I could hear shouts from down the corridor and knew the Death Eaters were now retreating. "You have one last question."
"Are you going to kill me?" I whispered. The other Death Eaters appeared around the corner, fronted by Snape.
"Bellatrix, it is done, let's go," he gave me one filthy look before running down a side passage with the others following him.
Bellatrix looked at me with hate and pity. "Not tonight," she mumbled. She opened the barrier before disappearing after the other Death Eaters. Everything then went black.
:-:
I couldn't open my eyes, but I knew I was awake. I couldn't move either. There was soft music playing over the muffle of voices.
"Snape?" Professor McGonagall (I think) said. "We all wondered... But he trusted... Always... Snape... I can't believe it."
"Snape was a highly accomplished Occlumens," Remus said, his voice uncharacteristically harsh. "We always knew that."
"I'd love to know what Snape told him to convince him," Tonks said. I tried to open my eyes, but my body was unresponsive.
"I know," Harry answered from my right. I think he was sitting right next to me. "Snape passed the Voldemort the information that made him hunt down my mum and dad. Then Snape told Dumbledore he was sorry and didn't know what he was doing."
"And Dumbledore believed that?" Remus scoffed. "Snape hated James..."
"He didn't think my mother was worth a damn either, because she was a muggle born. Moodblood, he called her," Harry said.
An unsettling silence filled the room.
"This is all my fault," McGonagall said suddenly. "I sent Filius to fetch Snape. I thought he would help us, not join the Death Eaters."
"It isn't your fault Minerva," Remus said. "None of us knew. It's all so confusing. I don't know how they could have gotten in."
"I do," Harry said, speaking up suddenly. He went on to explain about the two vanishing cabinets and the Room of Requirement.
"We were on guard there," Ginny continued. "Malfoy came out holding that Hand of Glory thing and threw that Instant Darkness Powder. Fred, George, you need to keep tabs on who your selling too."
Fred's mumbled apology came from my left.
"Anyway, Ally told us before hand to cast the bubblehead charm and she had the map floating in front of her. It was like she knew. She led us out of there and summoned the Order."
"Tonks and I, We were on guard," Remus continued. "But Sirius and Bill appeared, saying Ally had contacted them and that there were more people on the way. We found the kids confronting the Death Eaters. One of them went off and cast the Dark Mark. Some went up to the to the Astronomy tower and..." he trailed of.
"And then Bill was attacked by Greyback and Ally by Bellatrix," Sirius said quietly.
"And Ally. Is Bellatrix really her mum?" Ginny asked. I think someone nodded as she sighed unhappily. "I can't believe she never told me."
"In all fairness, she didn't know until last year," Sirius said.
"She still had a year to tell us, and she managed to tell Hermione," Ron said.
"No, I found out and she asked me not to tell you. Imagine how hard it must be to tell your friends that your mother was that," Hermione said. If I was able to move, I would have ran over to her and given her a hug.
"Is she a Death Eater?" Fred voice sounded. My blood boiled. "She's been lying to us this whole time."
"We knew," Sirius, Tonks and Remus said.
"But she still lied to us," Fred continued. I tried to sit up, but then flopped back down.
"Ally?" Sirius asked, his hurried footsteps running toward me. My eyes finally fluttered open.
"For the - thousandth - time, I'm not - a death - eater," I panted. My breathing was wheezy and my lungs felt like they were about to collapse.
"How do you feel?" Remus asked.
"Like crap." I tried to sit up, but they pushed me back down. "No, I need to sit - up. A rib or something's - digging into - me.
Sirius smiled slightly. "You've had quite the ordeal. Two broken ribs, a punctured lung, an exploded bicep, I don't know how that happened, and of course leg, foot and stomach injures."
"Is that all?" I whispered. He rolled his eyes.
"Thankfully, you're healing quickly. Madame Pomfery says you should be fine in about 2 hours."
The doors of the hospital wing flung open and Fleur bolted in followed by Mr & Mrs Weasley hot on her heels.
"Bill, oh Bill what 'as 'appened. Iz 'e going to be ok?"
I looked to the bed on my left and gasped. Bill's was completely torn to pieces. His entire body was covered in blood and there was a large chunk missing from his neck. I felt bad for complaining; Bill was ten times worse than I was.
"You said Greyback attacked him?" Mr Weasley asked. "But he hadn't transformed, so what does that mean?"
"There will be some contamination," Lupin explained. "But we won't know the full effects until he wakes up."
Mrs Weasley began to sob uncontrollably. "He was such a handsome little boy... And he was g-going to be married!"
"And what do you mean by zat?" Fleur asked, angrily. "You think I do not weesh to marry 'im? Or you 'oped. I do not care. I am good-looking enough for both of us, I theenk! These scars show zat my husband is brave."
One second, they were glaring at each other angrily, and the next they were sobbing into each other's arms. Ginny and Hermione looked disgusted, but I found it hilarious. I shared an amused look with Fred, but it turned into a glare after I remembered he called me a Death Eater again.
"See, she doesn't care!" Tonks said speaking up finally. "She loves him no matter what."
Remus looked down and began to stutter. "I - I - Their situation is different. Bill shall not be a true wolf. You deserve someone - "
"Young and Whole," Sirius and I cut in. Remus glared at us.
"Even Dumbledore wanted a little bit more love in the world."
"Go on Remus," I said happily. He looked down and smiled slightly. "Look at Tonks, not at the floor."
"Will you please stop bossing me about?" he asked. I shook my head and grinned.
An awkward silence filled the room as we all stared at Remus expectantly. He did nothing.
"I'm hungry and weak. Can someone go down to the kitchens and get me some food?" no one answered me. "Remus, Tonks? Thanks for volunteering." They rolled their eyes before reluctantly leaving the hospital wing.
They were a long while and I hopefully took it as a good sign. But I never knew what had happened as I fell into a deep nightmare filled sleep.
Very action packed and maybe confusing, but if you have any queries, don't be afraid to ask.
I was going to include the explanation of Dumbledore's death, but it was too long and boring; we all know what happened.
I've had some problems with the reviews and for some reason, I've only been able to read them this morning. Thanks to new readers MacbethWannabe, LizzieBee011 and DragonWand. And to loyal reviewers Sara, People-Are-Crazy, ChaygraceDaya, 2featherbraids, Writer. Of. The. Gods, fruityloops156 and Sensula.
Thanks for reading, let me know what you think ; )