Lyla watched.
She watched as Lord Voldemort himself, struggled to his feet, dismissing any help from any Death Eater. She watched Narcissa Malfoy walk over and announce Harry Potter was dead. She watched the mad glee on Voldemort's face, the cheers, and roars from the Death Eaters and giants, their celebrations. And…Hagrid's tears as he carried Harry's body, still tied by ropes.
Of course, she knew the real truth. And she intended to play her part well.
She followed them, hidden underneath the invisibility cloak, as they made their way towards the castle grounds. It sickened her to see how delighted Voldemort was. She had to remind herself to stay in the shadows. It wasn't her time…yet.
His great snake Nagini now, free of its bubble protection, around his shoulders.
"Harry Potter is dead."
Voldemort's voice rang out magically magnified so that all heard him. They stopped their marched as Voldemort continued his speech. "He was killed as he ran away, trying to save himself while you lay down your lives for him. We bring you his body as proof that your hero is gone.
"The battle is won. You have lost half of your fighters. My Death Eaters outnumber you and the Boy Who lived is finally finished. There must be no more war. Anyone who continues to resist, man, woman or child, will be slaughtered, as will every member of his or her family. Come out of the castle, now, kneel before me, and you shall be spared. Your parents and children, your brothers and sisters shall live, and be forgiven, and you will join me in the new world we shall build together."
Silence rained from every direction, no answer was coming.
"Come," Voldemort said, addressing his Death Eaters. They walked on. Hagrid sobbed. And Lyla could only watch them appear on the grounds of the castle. People batter and bruised lined up in front of the castle watching their approach like a cat to a mouse.
"Stop."
At the his words, they stopped. And the people who had layed their lives down for freedom, gazed down at the body in Hagrid's arms.
"NO!"
Professor McGonagall's words pierced the empty silence, hanging over every person. An explosion seemed to have erupted as voices joined showing their disbelief.
"No!"
"No!"
"Harry! HARRY!"
The screams only rose higher, as more voices joined, until-
"SILENCE!" Voldemort cried, pointing his wand causing jets of light to appear and explode above the chaos, forcing silence. "It is over! Set him down, Hagrid, at my feet, where he belongs!"
They watched as a crumpling Hagrid placed Harry's body onto the floor next to him.
"You see?" Voldemort continued. "Harry Potter is dead! Do you understand now, deluded ones? He was nothing, ever, but a boy who relied on others to sacrifice themselves for him!"
"He beat you!" Ron yelled, only setting off the crowd again, in a cloud of voices.
Another, more powerful, jet exploded in the air, silencing them all once again.
"He was killed while trying to sneak out of the castle grounds, killed while trying to save himself-"
Voldemort broke off as Neville Longbottom flung himself from the crowd charging at the Dark Lord, only to be hit and tumble onto the ground, disarmed.
"And who is this?" Voldemort said, hissing. "Who had volunteered to demonstrate what happened to those who continue to fight when the battle is lost?"
Bellatrix laughed, expressing her glee at the sight of Neville at the hands of Lord Voldemort.
"It is Neville Longbottom, my Lord!" she said. "The boy who has been giving the Carrows so much trouble! The son of the Aurors remember?"
"Ah, yes, I remember," Voldemort said, watching as Neville regained his feet at his mercy in the no-man's-land between the survivors and the Death Eaters. "But you are a pure-blood, aren't you, my brave boy?" Neville's fist only clenched.
"So what if I am?" he said.
"You show spirit, and bravery, and you come of noble stock. You will make a very valuable Death Eater. We need your kind, Neville Longbottom."
"I'll join you when hell freezes over," Neville said. "Dumbledore's Army!" he shouted, and was echoed with cries from the crowd.
"Very well," Voldemort said, spiking fear into the neighbouring Death Eaters, they knew what happened next. "If that is your choice, Longbottom, we revert to the original plan. On your head," he whispered, "be it."
Voldemort waved his wand, and seconds later; one of the castle's windows shattered as something brown and shappy came hurtling to Voldemort's outstretched hand. He held it from the point end, it drooped: the Sorting Hat.
"There will be no more Sorting at Hogwarts School." Voldemort said. "There will be no more houses. The emblem, shield and colours of my noble ancestor, Salazar Slytherin, will suffice for everyone, won't they, Neville Longbottom?"
Neville's eye grew wide as Voldemort stepped forward, wand pointed directly at him. He placed the Sorting Hat on top of his head, while grabbing him by his bloodied shirt.
Now, it was Lyla's turn, time for the truth.
She flung the cloak off, making sure it landed near where Harry was lying. Gasps flittered through the crowd, and Neville silently mouthed her name. Voldemort himself, stumbled at her surprise appearance, but regain his composure quickly.
"Who are you?" he hissed, his wand now directed at her, as was several Death Eaters. Nagini gave a loud threatening hiss.
"Someone you should of cared for…" She said, sorrow in her voice.
"Answer the question."
"Lyla."
His snake-like eyes narrowed, obviously very suspicious of her.
"Your full name." he said.
"I don't use it." She answered.
He had an expression on his face, something between, anger, and…confusion. She knew he was trying to grasp her true identity.
"You…look like Jean…" he said, looking at her, his eyes raking over. There was something a spark…but it would never been what was first thought. For Lord Voldemort could never love…
"Yes," she answered. "Jean Foy."
"Foy?!"
Bellatrix's voice split the silent conversation, screeching.
"That traitor abandoned us! Left us after your fall, my Lord!" Bellatrix, stepped forward closer towards Lyla, hatred evident in her voice and…jealously. "She never deserved the praise you gave her. You weren't there, my Lord, you weren't there, you didn't see what she did…Most loyal Death Eater, ha! I can tell you who-"
Voldemort's raised hand stopped Bellatrix's rant. He merely gazed over at her, before turning back towards Lyla.
"Then she deserved," he said, "what became of her at the end…"
Lyla's fists clenched beside her.
"Tell me." He continued. "Are you who I believe to be?"
Lyla paused, thinking of many lies she could say…but it was time for the truth.
"Yes." It was a strong answer, leaving no room for argument.
"Then join us!" he called, the Death Eaters cheering behind him. "Join us, to where you truly belong! For it is in your blood-!"
"No."
Voldemort stopped, becoming very quiet. A breath seemed to be held by all who watched.
"I truly believed you would." He said calmly. "I truly believe that you would take what was rightfully yours, and join me…my own flesh and blood."
"Then you were wrong." Lyla said, just as calmly as he was. "You should have foreseen how I would of acted towards you. Not once, did you come for me, looking for me, not once…"
Maybe it you had come, I would have welcomed you with open arms. Like any daughter to a father they have lost. But no. You left me to become hateful of you, to distaste your very being. I used to think, you know, that you would come for me…you wouldn't leave me to be terrified of the world I was in. I thought you would have understood, what it was like to have a parent abandon you…"
"You were with your mother." He said, her words not piercing his heart, for there was none to harm. "She was looking after-"
"A women in the past…" Lyla said, tears slowly leaking down her cheeks. "She would forget I was there, sometimes." She choked. "She was stuck, in a time with so much fear. Whenever she was like that, she always said, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry."
Lyla met eyes that were exact copies of her own.
"She was never apologising to me. She was apologising to you."
Silence was held by each person; as the truth sunk in.
Voldemort's wand, once again, pointed at Neville, who was still in his clutches.
"If that is your true colours, daughter," he said, "then watch as the first victim to go against this new age, is to share the same fate as his parents…"
The wand was pressed against Neville's heart, the hat still firmly on his head. Only Neville's shaking hand betrayed his fear.
"I'm afraid I'm going to have to disappoint you again, father," Lyla said, standing in a defensive position, palms up. "You're going to have to let Neville go."
Her hands burst into flames, licking at the air.
Voldemort merely widened his eyes, but still composed himself. Instead of retaliating Lyla's words, he instead turned back to Neville, his wand making the movements for his incarnation-
-Only for Lyla to hit him with a ball of flame.
He fell backwards, landing on the ground, letting go of Neville, Nagini now on the floor as well. Neville took this opportunity swiftly, taking the Sorting Hat of his head, putting his hand inside the torn hat-
-And bringing out Godric Gryffindor's sword.
With one swift movement, he brought the sword down on the great snake's neck, slicing it in half. The head rolled across the floor, half open, in a silent scream.
Voldemort screamed in fury, but the roars of something else drowned his screams out…
It seemed only Lyla noticed Harry pull the clock over him, becoming invisible.
To think I was listening to 'What a Wonderful World' while I wrote this…
Wow. To think it took me this long to write this chapter…I really did expect to have it done sooner.
So, I don't think it's really a secret that Lyla is Voldemort's daughter. I think most of you would of picked up most of the hints.
I feel pretty proud of this chapter (I think I managed to get all the emotion swirling around. Well, I hope I did).
Please review.