Chapter 29: Destructive Demons 

Of course he could do it. It wasn't hard, he'd managed everything else in his life before this so why couldn't he do something as simple as this? Everyone knew him and they wouldn't dare say anything to him or about him because they knew his reputation. He could do this. He could do this. He could do this. 

The soles of his expensive black leather shoes hit the ground making little noise, but to him the noise echoed in his head as he made his way down the corridor. He was already late and now he'd have to explain it which made it even worse. His heart hammering in his chest made him feel sick and he didn't know how to stop it. 

'Shut up,' he yelled at himself mentally, he was stressing over nothing. He gripped his hand around the strap of the leather satchel he wore, he was surprised it didn't break under his force. 'Look at you, you're such an idiot. Why can't you do this?' 

'I can do it!' He almost screamed back at the voice in the back of his head. 'What am I doing? Deduce it for yourself! I'm walking down this silly corridor and I'm getting there! It's not as though I haven't made the effort!' 

'Look at you, though! You're a nervous wreck! You're going to get in there and throw up all over the floor. Just calm down, you idiot!' 

'I AM CALM!' He screamed down the empty corridor, his voice echoed back and forth, bouncing off the wall and not ceasing until he had actually calmed down. Luckily, no one else was there to hear his outburst of fury. 

His heart began to hammer even harder in his chest again, altering his walking pattern, making it uneven. He shook slightly and tried to pull himself together, his body was no co-operating with his mind which frustrated him more. 

He charged along the viaduct, the wind's icy fingers finding it's way through his hair and slowly messing it up. He pushed open the old doors, ran down the steps and stopped. The door was in front of him. Only the door separated him from that. 

He didn't know if he could do this. He ran a hand through his hair and tucked his shirt in, straightened his tie and changed his facial expression to serious. 'Come on, you good for nothing,' he growled in his head. 'It doesn't take much effort, you'll impress her and you'll be a better person. Just open that stupid door and — ' 

"Sorry I'm late." 

Every single member inside the room turned their heads to face him. In that moment he swore every person in the world frowned upon his actions and he regretted most of his choices in life then and there. Some people wore expressions of shock, some wore frowns and some (and that was only one member) looked happy to see him. 

"Matthew Jarvin!" Slughorn eyed him up and down, he was one of those with the combined look of shock and confusion. Matt ran his hand through his hair again to give himself a small confidence boost. 

"Did Professor Snape tell you that — ?" Matt very nearly stumbled on his own words but didn't. He was suddenly thankful for whatever it was that he didn't get tongue tied. 

"Yes," Slughorn interrupted. "He did indeed. Perhaps if you'd like to join us?" 

Matt slowly made his way over to the group of people and squeezed his way in next to Lucy. She looked up at him with a kind smile, he tried to smile back but he thought it must have looked like a grimace. But whatever he did, it didn't stop Lucy from smiling. She offered her hand out to him secretly by her side and he took it gratefully as they listened to Professor Slughorn. 

Matt breathed a silent sigh of relief and let his heart slow down. He tried to recall how he had gotten into this (mess) situation and eventually he knew just as Slughorn began describing whatever the potion was that was stationed in front of him. 

"Happy New Year," Matt whispered to Lucy at midnight on the first day of 1997.

Lucy sat there, cradled in Matt's arms in almost complete darkness as they watched the clock strike midnight in the Jarvin's house. Lucy disliked clocks with a burning passion. She had done for a while, she assumed it was because watching them felt like watching the minutes count down until her death. It was as though every minute that went by the nearer she was to becoming non-existent. 

"Hopefully," Lucy replied with a small smile, through the darkness. Matt buried his head in Lucy's shoulder, making her shiver a little. 

"You can fight now, don't tell me otherwise. This year is going to be great for you, I promise. You've just got to try and forget about the bad things a bit more and enjoy everything you have." 

"I'll enjoy spending time with you, that's going to be a great part." 

"There's that positive attitude I've been looking for," his voice was muffled from where he was leaning on Lucy's shoulder but Lucy still knew he was laughing. Lucy turned her head and Matt kissed her, they had to celebrate something now that there wasn't much to celebrate. 

"What are your New Years resolutions?" Lucy asked. "I know you'll have one." 

"Take on a new subject at school, start throwing the javelin again and make you happier," he held her hand. "What about you?"

"Fight more, stop stressing about everything and I want to make sure you're not the miserable boy you used to be," she smirked at the last part and heard Matt laughing again at her comment. "Wait a second." She stopped smirking and Matt ceased his laughing. "You want to take on a new subject? What is it?" 

"That'll be a surprise, won't it?" Matt replied with a small shrug. 

"Well I don't like surprises," Lucy pouted and turned around to face him. "You know I don't like surprises." 

"Well, in that case," Matt sighed, giving in. "I'm going to start taking Potions." 

Lucy blinked at him in utter shock. Matt didn't do anything, he knew this was the reaction he would receive so he just let it slide and waited for her to begin again. 

"Potions?" Lucy managed to say. 

"Yes, Potions. What do you think of that idea?" 

"I like it, it's just I didn't expect to ever hear that from you." 

"I've already been studying," Matt replied proudly. "I know that Amortentia is the potion of hate." 

"Love." 

"What?" 

"It's the potion of, love." 

"Close enough." 

"Mr Jarvin, you joined this class for a reason. Stop dozing off and tell me the function of the Wolfsbane potion," Professor Slughorn said sternly, snapping Matt out of his unintentional daydream. 

"The function of the Wolfsbane potion?" Matt repeated and Slughorn nodded. Matt thought for a moment, he knew this and the sooner he answered the question the sooner everyone would stop staring at him. Then it dawned on him. "Wolfsbane potion prevents people from losing their minds when transforming into a werewolf.

"Very good," Slughorn nodded. "I'm impressed, ten points to Slytherin." 

Lucy gave him a playful punch on the arm and Matt grinned at her as they were assigned today's task. As soon as they were, Matt and Lucy sat next to each other just as Dean bounded into the room and sat with them. 

"Sorry I'm late!" He squeaked apologetically. "I-I had to — " 

"Dean, it's okay," Lucy smiled, placing a hand on his. "I don't mind." 

"No, but this is important," Dean rushed out.

"What is it?" 

"Shona McGuire is in a coma." 

"Oh, I don't want to let either of you go!" Anastasia had sobbed as she hugged both Matt and Lucy at the train station yesterday. "Why do you have to go back to school?" 

"Sorry but we do," Matt sighed as he was squashed in his mothers hug. "It's kind of the law." 

"I never expected to hear that from you, Matthew," Scott laughed as he slapped his son on the back and hugged him quickly. 

"Well you just did," Matt shrugged as Scott approached Lucy and gave her a suffocating hug. 

"You take care of yourself now, honey, won't you?" Scott said as he released her from the hug. "And if you have any trouble with anyone you have to send me a letter because I'll come and get them even if it's Matthew." 

"I'm sure it won't be Matt," Lucy laughed a little. "He's the last person on my list who I think would harm me." 

"Well whoever it is, you promise to let me know, yes?" 

"I promise," Lucy nodded before Scott hugged her once again. 

"Good, now you kids have fun!" Anna hugged them both once again and Lucy and Matt headed onto the train hand in hand, Matt carrying their luggage. 

"She's what?!" Lucy shrieked, Lucy's voice brought Matt back to reality. 

"Shona is in a coma and you both have permission to see her after this lesson," Dean replied. 

"Oh..." was all Lucy could say, she was in complete shock and had no response to give other than  blank eyes. Matt squeezed her shoulder. 

"She'll be fine, I'm sure of it. She's McGuire for crying out loud." Matt assured. 

Lucy stirred her potion quietly and didn't say anything. Across the table, Ben looked up from his own potion. "Excuse me to interrupt, but did I hear that right?" 

"Yes," Matt nodded, it felt strange to have a normal conversation with Ben. 

"Please send my hopes that she will get better to her mother," Ben replied kindly. "I really hope she does." 

"Of course," Matt nodded and took over Lucy's job of stirring the potion. 

 *      *      *

Lucy and Matt raced down to the hospital wing, hand in hand. As soon as potions had finished they had signed in with Professor Flitwick and were off to see Shona in the hospital wing as they'd been given permission from him. He knew that all matters with the gifted were very important and let them go (even though he was slightly reluctant about Matt going). 

They arrived as quick as they could and when they did, Matt shoved open the double doors and allowed Lucy to run in before him. Matt ran in afterwards and they joined Snape, Madam Pomfrey and Sally McGuire by one of the beds in the hospital wing. 

Lucy looked at the occupied one and saw Shona lying there, her eyes were closed and she was lost in some dreamland that was unique to her. Everything seemed quite normal, except Shona wasn't moving at all, you could barely see that she was breathing. 

"What's going on?" Lucy asked, she tore her eyes away from Shona because she was scaring her. 

"She's been unconscious since this morning and I have no idea why," Sally McGuire replied in an emotionless tone as she stared down at her daughter. If she didn't take on the emotionless tone, she'd begin crying again. She had been allowed to return to Hogwarts for the simple reason that Zuc could still be after her. 

"I know that," Lucy tried to sound kind in her words but she was slightly frustrated as to what had actually happened to Shona. "But why?" 

"I think it's a coma," Madam Pomfrey replied, clearing her throat. "I could be wrong but it's the only thing I can think of for her condition. However, it's not the most serious coma I've ever seen. There is a chance of her getting out of it because she's had no injuries and it's as if her body has forced her into it." 

Snape and Lucy faced each other and they said the same word in unison. "Zuc." 

"Is there any way of getting her out of it or will you have to let her come out of it on her own?" Matt asked out of curiosity. 

"We don't know but the most probable scenario is that we're going to have to let her get out of it on her own," Madam Pomfrey tried to sound knowing but in reality she had no idea how to cure this. 

"No," Lucy shook her head, everyone faced her. "I think there's a way we can wake her up." 

Sally looked incredibly hopeful but Snape was the first to speak. "How?" 

"Well, you know how the gifted can talk to each other through their minds?" (Snape nodded). "Well I was thinking I could do exactly that because, no offense, dad but your voice is the last one she'd wake up to." 

"I think it's worth a try," Matt agreed. 

"I think so too," Madam Pomfrey chimed in. 

Snape paused. "Yes, I think it's a good idea." 

Lucy held onto the metal bars that were painted white at the end of Shona's bed and gripped them tight. She stared at Shona and thought desperately. 

'Shona,' Lucy called a little weakly in her mind, she tried again. 'Shona! Can you hear me?' There was no reply but Lucy didn't loose hope. If this didn't work, this idea was useless. 'Shona, if you wake up Ben will be here and he'll ask you out.' 

Still nothing. Lucy huffed and turned to face Snape. Snape tilted his head. "No luck?" 

Lucy shook her head. "No luck, she's definitely stuck in there." 

Sally pursed her lips together and tried to hold back her tears and tried to see a way out of this mess. Lucy resumed her place next to Matt who pulled her aside just as soon as she had stood there as everyone else discussed what they could do. 

"There must be something else you could do," Matt offered. "I mean, you gifted are all connected because of that orb and there must be a way you can get inside each others heads." 

"I've just tried that and it didn't work, you know that," Lucy sighed. 

"No," Matt took her hands in his. "I mean you could literally get inside each other's heads and help each other out of whatever you're thinking." 

"That's really interesting..." Lucy nodded. "Do you think I could do that?" 

"Well, it's worth a try, isn't it?" Matt smiled, Lucy went to tell the others when Matt stopped her. "Just try and do it here without telling them." 

Lucy focused on Shona's mind and breathed in as if inhaling her thoughts. Before she knew it was working, Lucy had slipped into unconsciousness as if she was really falling asleep. Matt caught her before she fell and picked her up. Snape whipped around suddenly and his eyes widened at his unconscious daughter. 

"Lucy!" He choked out and went to run over to her when Matt stopped him. 

"It's fine, there's nothing wrong with her," Matt assured. "She's forced herself unconscious so she can get into Shona's head and find her and get her out of this coma." 

"Lucy was able to do that?" Madam Pomfrey asked in shock. 

"It's amazing what the gifted can do, right?" Matt smiled and placed Lucy carefully on the bed next to Shona's. 

*      *      *

Shona ran around the forest inside her head desperately, it was a continuum place and she had no idea how to get out. All she could do was run and hope desperately that there was a way out even though something told her that there wasn't. 

She'd been running for what felt like years but she couldn't stop, something was chasing her. An imaginary element that was persisting to chase her like a pack of hungry wolves that wouldn't give in. She was alone and there was no one to help her in this. 

'Run faster, you're a McGuire or so help me,' Shona thought but her thoughts seemed to be spoken aloud as they echoed around her, caressing her hair and wrapping around her body like a hug only her mother could give. 

Shona had been alone since this she slept the previous night and she was beginning to become very isolated, the lack of social interaction was slowly killing her. It was killing her and her humor, she was transforming into a different person on her own. She had tried to escape for many years and now it was finally catching up with her and she had no idea what was going on or where this forest had come from. 

"Shona!" A voice called through the forest, again echoing everywhere so it was very hard not to hear it. "Shona!" 

The voice was desperate and wanted attention, Shona knew it was simply the voice of her troubles calling her into their trap as they continued to chase her and never got tired. She would not give in, not now when she had come so far. Yet, she wanted to give up. 

"Shona!" The voice made her ears ring and her body seize up in fright. It was shutting down on her as she desperately tried to find the fault. She couldn't find it and eventually she tripped over a tree root and fell face down on the muddy Earth. The mud stained her plaid shirt but she couldn't care much for that as the voice was right next to her now and she was going to die. She was too exhausted to fight and, although she didn't want to, she was ready to embrace death. 

"Shona?" The voice was normal now, it had bent down next to her and was shifting the hair from her face and tucking it behind her ears to reveal her blue eyes that looked so bright in the ever approaching darkness. 

"Lucy?" Shona replied in a quaver, her bottom lip trembled and Lucy smiled at her reassuringly. Normally, Shona would have swatted Lucy's hand away and protested that she go and make a fuss of somebody else but this time she was grateful to see another human being in this forest. She'd never been so glad to see Lucy in her life. 

"Hey," Lucy helped her sit up. The two girls sat there catching their breath from running and waiting for the other to speak. Lucy thought it was prudent that she start. "Are you alright?" 

"Not really, I've been running through this forest for days on end and I don't know what's going on. Can you tell me?" 

Lucy looked down at her folded hands. "Well...we think you're in a coma." 

"What if Lucy doesn't get out?" Snape sprung the question up suddenly in front of Madam Pomfrey, Mrs. McGuire and Matt. They all stood there watching the two unconscious girls, eagerly awaiting for them to wake up. 

"Lucy's done what's best," Matt spoke up and waited to be quietened as he thought his opinion wasn't valid. Snape looked at him. 

"Go on, Jarvin." Snape encouraged, Sally also gave a look to make the young man go on. 

"Well, I mean Lucy's gone into Shona's head in attempt to rescue her and Lucy knows that she can save Shona. Lucy knows how all this mind stuff works because she's been through it so many times herself," Matt crossed his arms. "Get the professor to teach the student not the student to teach the professor." 

"Mr Jarvin is right," Madam Pomfrey spoke up. "Lucy is an expert on this topic and if she knows how to stop it I'm sure she'll get them both out of there." 

"I believe in her," Matt chewed on his bottom lip. "Even if she doesn't believe in herself." 

"What?!" Shona looked at Lucy in utter shock, this was the last thing she expected to hear. "I'm I'm not — " 

"How do you explain the forest? Do you know another like this?" Lucy gestured around the gloomy forest that looked like something out of one of those muggle horror movies Shona watched. 

"No but how did I get in this coma?" 

"You didn't get into it," Lucy shook her head, making her waist length hair dance. "I think that Zuc forced you into it."  

"Why do you think Zuc?" 

"I think he's fed up of tormenting me, he's left me alone for a short while and I think he's found a new target. I mean, I'm not saying that you haven't had it bad it's just that me and dad tend to get the worst of the hallucinations. Except Zuc knows you're tough and wouldn't just give you a hallucination because you wouldn't think twice about it. Except now he's forced you into your own head so you can face your own demons, he's making you fight yourself which in theory could be worse than him." 

"I guess you're right..." Shona nodded slowly, trying to comprehend Lucy's words although she thought she already knew. It was just the fear kicking in and she didn't know what to do with it. "So what do we do to get out?" 

"You've got to trust and follow me, I think I know the way out but it won't be easy," Lucy offered her hand, this time Shona dismissed it and struggled up herself. 

"Just a fair warning to you, once you're in my head there's a fairly good chance that you won't be coming back out again," Shona sighed. 

"Oh just get your wand out and follow me," Lucy ordered, taking her own wand out ready for a fight. 

Sally suddenly inhaled a deep breath. "I don't think she'll be able to make it out of there." 

"Why?" Matt spoke up before any of the others could. "Don't you believe in your own daughter?" 

Sally took offense to Matt's words even though he didn't mean them that way, she pointed a stern finger at Matt and her lips turned into a sneer and eyebrows formed into a sharp frown. "Listen here, American boy, if you think you know my daughter, you're absolutely well and truly — " 

"Sally," Snape interupted. "Leave the boy alone, he might look witless but he's picked up a lot about the gifted recently and knows how it all works." 

"That's my daughter he's insulting!" Sally shrieked. "He doesn't know her like I do!" 

"What," Snape put emphasis on the first word of his sentence. "Mr Jarvin is implying is that he doesn't believe you should doubt your daughter because she's very brave and knows how to fight. The rare thing with him is that he believes that the gifted can do it." 

Matt ran his hands through his hair, he would probably never break out of that habit, and looked straight ahead at Lucy. "Professor Snape is right, that's exactly what I'm implying and I feel everybody should have faith in the gifted even if they don't quite show what they're truly made of yet." Matt then took a seat next to Lucy. "And that goes for anybody." 

Matt took Lucy's cold hand and held it close to him. "I know you can do it," he whispered to her and only her.

"Come on!" Lucy yelled, beckoning Shona through the forest she had dreamt up. Shona stumbled through the forest after Lucy as Lucy attempted to find the way out. However, it appeared they weren't getting that far and that there was in fact no way out. 

"I'm trying!" Shona hissed just as she almost ran into Lucy. Lucy had stopped running, her wand was by her side, her skirt danced lazily in the wind almost in sync with her hair. She looked like a heroine out of a comic book as the newly arisen sun beamed down on her hair. 

"What did you stop for, Lucky?" Shona huffed as she bent down and rested her hands on her knees, her sweaty palms almost sliding down her jeans. 

"Look ahead!" Lucy pointed in front of her at a castle, it dominated the scene in front of them. "It might not be the way out but it's a change of scenery, isn't it?" 

"How did you — ?" Shona began to ask how Lucy had found it but the desperate need for air overwhelmed her. 

"Two is better than one," Lucy shrugged and took Shona's arm. "Lets go!" 

"Do you even know what castle that is?" Shona asked almost accusingly, her vision shook as she tried to run as Lucy dragged her along. 

"Yes, that's Zuc's castle and my gut feeling tells me that there's going to be a series of rooms in there that determine your fears."

"How do you — ?" Shona tried again, this time Lucy cut her off. 

"You might not be able to see it but I can, it's weird stepping into someone else's mind because you can almost give a second opinion on their thoughts." 

"Well I don't just walk into your mind palace everyday and admire the many paintings of you and Matt there are in there, do I?" 

"I'm not the one in the coma," Lucy reminded kindly. "I had to force myself into your head using the power the orb gave us." 

"God I hate that orb sometimes..." Shona groaned as they neared the castle. 

They made it to the long bridge they'd have to cross to get to Zuc's castle and they stopped as they saw that it was heavily guarded with knights. Lucy cringed and hid near a bush, Shona followed and the two girls watched as the knights guarded the castle looking, without any eyes, at their lifeless surroundings.

"What do you propose we do?" Shona frowned. 

"It's your dream, Shona, if you could conjure us up some swords that would be great," Lucy shrugged. 

"Is that even possible? I've only heard of that in films." 

"What?" 

"Oh never mind, you clueless girl," Shona brushed her comment aside and thought about her having a great sword that would kill all those knights in one chop. Almost instantly a sword landed in Shona's hands and she grinned at her thoughts' creation. 

"What about me?" Lucy frowned, a little offended. 

"I'm getting there!" Shona rolled her eyes and in an instant Lucy's hair had grown to an unimaginable length and was blond. "You get to kill them with your fabulous!" 

"For the final time, McGuire, I am not Rapunzel!" Lucy hissed. 

"Alright, alright, keep your hair on." (Lucy gave her a look). "Pun intended!" (Lucy raised an eyebrow). "Okay, pun not intended." 

Lucy's hair returned to it's normal length and colour and instead Merlin's sword ended up in her hands. Not only that, a piece of her seemed to fade as if she was an object that had been left out in the sun too long. 

"What's going on?" Shona frowned at Lucy's transparent skin. Lucy looked at it in horror too and she didn't know what to make of it and that was when she could hear Matt's voice calling her. 

Sally, Madam Pomfrey and Snape had left the room which just left Matt and the unconscious Lucy and Shona. Matt sat in the middle of the two white beds but faced Lucy, he still held her hand and tried to let her know that he was still there. 

"Lucy, if you can hear me I just want you to know that I love you and I believe you can do this," Matt brushed his lips against her knuckles and she suddenly felt her twitch. He jumped a little himself and tried to dismiss it but he couldn't. Lucy's eyes slowly began to open. 

"LUCY!" Shona yelled, reaching for her friend. She took her hand and held onto it and refused to let go. Lucy was slowly disappearing from Shona's mind and re-entering reality. 

"LET GO OF HER!" Snape yelled at Matt as he ran into the hospital wing. "SHE'S WAKING UP!" 

Snape lunged at Matt and hauled him off of Lucy, Lucy was stuck now between reality and Shona's mind. Matt staggered back, Snape let go of him as soon as he was off of Lucy and studied Lucy to see if she was conscious or not. 

"If she wakes up before she and McGuire wake up together, you won't hear the end of if, Jarvin," Snape whispered in a cold voice. 

"I thought you didn't care much for McGuire?" Matt pointed out, straightening his shirt. 

Snape didn't reply for a moment or two. "It's important that the gifted stick together." 

He forced Matt out of the room and this time he looked over the two girls as they slept without recharging their health. Snape's eyes fell upon Lucy who had dared to force herself in Shona's mind and save her. Snape was extremely proud of her, she wasn't self centered and she really did care about others. 

It was apparent that she'd slipped back into unconsciousness and was back to save Shona and Snape relaxed a little. He took Matt's chair and sat there and watched over the two girls. He hoped that they woke up soon. 

Lucy however had still disappeared from Shona's mind. Shona was still sat by the bush with her sword in her hand, wondering what to do. Eventually she decided that she'd have to go out and fight those knights on her own when she heard the sound of metal being brought down harshly on metal. Shona lept up and watched as as every knight fell down one by one until there was none left. 

"Path is clear!" Lucy waved at Shona and then she skipped towards the front door of Zuc's castle. Shona followed with a frown and stepped over all the knights on the bridge as she went. 

"How did you do that?" Shona asked as she stood next to Lucy in front of the castle doors. 

"I'm glad to be back, thank you for asking," Lucy sighed. "And in answer to your question, you know I can fight now." 

Shona ignored Lucy's reply and spoke a short while later after the two continued to stare at the doors. "What happens if I don't get out of this coma?" 

Lucy turned her head to look at Shona and she stared back. Lucy didn't want to utter what would happen but Shona understood by Lucy's upset expression. If Shona didn't wake up from this coma she would die.  

"We have to get you out of this and I promise I will," Lucy looked down tearfully at her sword. "I don't want you to die, your mother is in tears out there! Everyone thought I was crazy when I said I wanted to save you!" 

Shona looked at Lucy, she couldn't believe this girl had dared to come inside her head and save her, risking her own life at the same time as there was no knowing if she was actually going to come out of this coma with her. Half the time Shona would just call Lucy names jokingly and tease her about her relationship with Matt but after all that Lucy was saving her from everything. 

Shona awkwardly put an arm around Lucy and looked at her, preventing the tears that were about to fall from Lucy's eyes. "Thank you, I'm really grateful, you know that?" 

Lucy swallowed. "You're welcome." She then fully noticed Shona's arm around her. "What are you doing?" 

"This isn't real, Lucinda," Shona took her arm back swiftly. "You mention this to no one, okay?"

"Wouldn't dare!" Lucy held her hands up in a defensive manner and she advanced towards the castle doors. She opened them up as simply as if they were the great hall doors. Darkness surrounded the room inside and Lucy cringed. 

"Come on, you wimp, it's only a bit of darkness," Shona strolled into the room and Lucy followed nervously after lighting up her wand. 

The doors slammed shut behind them. "I expect Zuc will be out here in a minute." 

"You predict wrong," Shona gave a low chuckle that made Lucy shiver a little. "Zuc doesn't scare me like he does you since you're basically connected by invisible wires. I have much worse things to worry about rather than a silly tall bloke." 

A dull light struck up suddenly revealing Shona's brother, Lucy immediately knew that it wasn't really Martyn but Shona seemed to think otherwise. Lucy held her wand up, ready to fight the fake Martyn if necessary but Shona stepped forward. 

"Martyn — ?" She spluttered out. 

Martyn stepped forward and tugged on Shona's hair harshly, causing her to wince. "Look at you, trying to live up to the family name and save the world. But you'll fail, you always have done! Ever since I've been born I've been better you! You were the mistake child! Mum and dad hate you!" 

Shona growled but there was pain seeping into her, these words were all true and the phrase 'the truth hurts' had always applied to her. Lucy watched in horror as Shona was kicked to the ground by her own younger brother. 

"Nobody has ever liked you! You're just a waste of space on this Earth and you were only born because of this stupid 'Sebastian's descendant' thing!" Martyn screamed, kicking her in the chest. He then pulled her up by her shirt and forced her to look in his eyes. "But I am better. You think you can destroy Zuc because of some little title and then laugh your problems away, but you can't! YOU'RE A PATHETIC EXCUSE FOR A HUMAN BEING!" 

Lucy whipped out her sword, she had had quite enough, and instantly chopped off Martyn's head but he vanished into nothingness. Lucy glared at the spot where Martyn had just been standing. "How dare he!" 

"B-But it's all true!" Shona shook slightly. "What he said!" 

"Absolute rubbish," Lucy reassured. "He doesn't know anything, besides he wasn't even real here." 

"Lucy! You don't understand! You haven't known me all my life! As much as I hate to say it, he was right!" Shona choked out and Lucy hauled Shona up, she had a feeling that facing Shona's demons just wouldn't be a walk in the park. 

Matt had been allowed to re-enter the hospital wing and sit with Lucy as long as he didn't disturb her and Snape was keeping a close eye on him as he sat there. Sally was sat with Shona while Madam Pomfrey went to address other patients. 

"Jarvin," Snape spoke up suddenly, Sally seemed too upset to notice but Matt immediately looked up as Snape spoke. 

"Yes?" Matt replied, his accent sounding so loud in the quiet room. Snape beckoned him to come out of the room and he followed. As soon as they were outside and the doors were closed, Snape turned on him. 

Snape sighed. "Why are you getting yourself so caught up in this?" 

Matt frowned in confusion. "Getting myself so caught up in what?" 

"Getting involved with us!" Snape yelled, Matt looked quite offended. "Being associated with us instantly lowers your chance of survival!" 

Matt shook his head. "I don't care, I've been a horrible person all my life and if anything I deserve to die." 

Snape was so frustrated with Matt. "So you choose to date my daughter because you think you should die?!" 

"No!" Matt was absolutely disgusted with Snape. "I'm dating her because I love her! I know you might not like me, Sir, but I really do love your daughter." 

"I know you do but I'm warning you of the risks, as much as I dislike you I wouldn't wish death on you," Snape huffed. 

"Don't you think Lucy's told me this a hundred times already? If anyone worries, it's her. She's told me that I could find myself in a relationship with her for merely a year and she'd be dead but unlike anyone else around this place I actually believe in her and I know she'll be alive for more than a year. She'll live and die until she's too old not because of some stupid medieval guy, she's better than that and I find it really sad that you don't even support your daughter in something like this." 

"I do support her!" Snape recoiled. "But it's quite hard when we have death threats looming over our heads twenty four seven! You don't understand what it's like, Jarvin! You're an outsider to this story — !" 

"Exactly, stories are planned and because some book says that she'll die doesn't mean to say she will. We don't live our lives by books or fate, we get out there and make our own destiny and prove that bloody book wrong!" 

Snape couldn't believe his ears, a sixteen year old boy had just spoken sense into him. 

"Don't live life by the rules, make your own and prove those who hurt you wrong," Matt added. "So for the love of Merlin, tell that poor girl that she can get through this when she's crying her eyes out or feeling like she's going to get killed," Matt's tone was harsh as he tried to get sense into the man. "I'm not narrow minded like you, I see things after the war and I see Lucy growing up and living her life but you obviously don't. I want to give her that oppurtunity rather than narrowing her life to sixteen years. You might hate it but she could grow up, get married, have kids and enjoy her life." 

"What if she does die? It would shut you up, wouldn't it?" Snape growled but then regretting his words as soon as they'd left his mouth. 

"You wish death on your own daughter?!" Matt almost screamed the words in dismay. "Stop thinking like that already! She's not going to die! There's no 'what if she's not going to die', you selfish man! She's Lucy Snape and she can get through anything!" 

Snape didn't even bother to hit the boy, deduct points or give him a detention because he was right. He'd tried to believe in Lucy over the years and hadn't stopped but with the constant threat of Zuc's army getting stronger, that hope was beginning to become lost. 

"No wonder she never thinks she can do it with her own father not believing her," Matt huffed and crossed his arms. 

"You're right, Jarvin, but unfortunately I've never been a good parent." 

"Well you can start as soon as she wakes up," Matt pointed out wisely. "I changed my attitude last year and you can change your parenting skills." 

"If she wakes up — " 

"No," Matt shook his head. "She will wake up because we believe in her." 

Matt turned on his heel and went to open the hospital wing doors when Snape halted him. "Jarvin." 

Matt turned his head. "Yes?" 

"Thank you," Snape gave a rare smile. 

Matt nodded once and stepped back into the hospital wing and took his seat next to Lucy again. 

The girls entered the next room of the castle, Lucy led the way confidently while Shona cowered behind her. Lucy sighed. "What's going to be next?" 

Her question was almost immediately answered as Shona's father stepped out of the shadows. Lucy almost groaned because she knew this was going to be a stab in the chest for Shona. 

"Don't get near her," Lucy instantly stood in the middle of Shona and her father. "Don't say a word otherwise I'll kill you right here on the spot." 

Mr McGuire remained still for a moment, but only a moment, he began laughing after that moment was over and didn't stop. "That's the beautiful thing about Shona's coma! I'm not even real and you can't kill me, so I'll say whatever I like!" 

"We got rid of Martyn and we'll get rid of you," Lucy sneered, blocking his path from stepping towards Shona. 

Mr McGuire looked over Lucy's shoulder and at Shona. "Are you still lying like your mother?" 

Shona froze in shock and Lucy smacked him in the face. He didn't recoil, instead he just knocked Lucy off of her feet. He may not have been real but the punch felt as real as anything. But then it occurred to Lucy. 

"We never liked you, I'd always hoped for a son. You're your mothers child and nothing to do with me, so never try and believe that I actually like you. You're worthless, stupid and inherited your silly mothers wizarding powers!" 

Shona spat out her words in shock. "Martyn inherited them too!" 

"But Martyn hasn't embraced them, he's gone to the non-magic side of things and is off to destroy you!" 

As Lucy got up she thought, if Shona believed that her father was really here in her coma, he'd feel real and his words would hurt worse. If Shona didn't believe he was here, he'd disappear just like Martyn did. Shona could forget Martyn easier than she could her father. 

"Why do you hate me?" Shona asked quietly as her father approached her. Mr McGuire knocked her to the ground in one swift blow. "What did I ever do to you?" 

"You were born," Mr McGuire replied as simply as Shona had asked. 

Shona wiped the blood off of her face and stared up at her father. "With children comes great responsibility, if you didn't like me then why did you bother?" 

"It was a surprise, for goodness sake's! You don't think I actually wanted you, do you?" Mr McGuire snorted. Lucy turned and noticed there were tears in Shona's eyes that were threatening to fall. 

Shona's voice was hoarse. "All I've ever wanted was a father to love me and I never got that! I've just dealt with your abuse after all these years! Why can't you just love me! My friend Lucy and her dad have the best relationship I know and he'll sacrifice anything for her! Why can't you be like that!" 

"Because I don't need you in my life! YOU'RE NOT IMPORTANT! NOBODY HAS EVER LIKED YOU OR LOVED YOU! AND NOW YOU JUST BEG FOR ATTENTION AT SCHOOL, YOU GOOD FOR NOTHING!" 

"DON'T LISTEN TO HIM, SHONA!" Lucy screamed as she leaped to her feet. "HE'S NOT REAL! YOU'RE IN A COMA AND HE'S NOT REAL!" 

"Oh really?" Mr McGuire called. "If I wasn't real, would this hurt?" Mr McGuire swung his leg into Shona's chest, causing her to cry out in pain. Mr McGuire grabbed hold of her hair and forced her to look into his eyes. "Was that real to you, was it? I bet it was! You know damn well I'm real and that you deserve to die!" 

Lucy had had quite enough, she hauled Mr McGuire off of Shona and slapped him across the face. He attempted to strike her back but she'd already brought him to his knees. This time it was Lucy's turn to force him to look into her eyes. 

"That was from my best friend," she hissed, almost spitting the words in his face. She then brought up her sword and forced it down on the man's head, causing him to yell out but was soon silenced. "And that was from me." 

He disappeared into nothingness and Lucy ran over to Shona, not watching him all leave. Lucy helped Shona up and then held her by the shoulders. "Are you alright?" 

"I suppose," Shona shrugged weakly and wiped more blood from her face

Lucy had to literally drag Shona to the next, and final, room and when they made it they waited for what un-known horror was waiting for Shona. Lucy took her sword out as the temperature seemed to drop, Shona sobbed quietly by Lucy's side. 

"I don't know if I can do this..." Shona admitted, Lucy turned around and was shocked to see Shona's expression. Lucy had never seen Shona this broken and damaged, she was used to the Shona who made jokes and teased her about everything not the sorry wreck behind her. 

"You can do this," Lucy reassured in the best positive voice she could conjure up from her throat and translate through her tongue. "You're Shona McGuire and I believe in you like you've always believed in me." 

Shona stopped sniffing and looked at Lucy. "But do you know what it's like to face the family that you let down?" 

"You didn't let them down, Shona, they let you down. Don't blame yourself for that," Lucy stood before her boldly. "I might not have gone through what you've been through but I know what it feels like to be bent and broken by the cruelties of life." Lucy tucked a lock of hair behind her own ear. "I guess that's what's special about the gifted, we've all suffered so bad that we don't want anyone else to suffer and that's our job; to protect others." 

"It's just too bad you don't know the real story," a voice said from behind Lucy. Lucy whipped around immediately and found herself staring into the eyes of Shona...wait, Shona? But Shona was behind her! 

Lucy whipped around again and the sobbing Shona was still there, she turned again and there was another Shona. Lucy then realised that Shona's last demon was in fact Shona, and if there was any one who knew Shona better than Shona was Shona. 

"Oh God..." Lucy whispered and backed towards the real Shona, holding her arms out so she could protect her. She would not have the pretend Shona destroying the real one because it was coming to the point that Shona was going to have a breakdown and they'd both be stuck in the coma for all eternity. 

"Lucy, step aside. It's time that Shona faced herself and stopped trying to run from me," Shona said far too politely for a McGuire. Something in Lucy's head told her that Zuc had gone into Shona's head, scooped up all her demons and transformed himself into the fake Shona so that he could finally break her. 

"I'm not moving," Lucy snarled, adamant that she would protect her sobbing best friend. "You can't get past me." 

Suddenly all you could see were the whites of fake Shona's eyes and she held up her hand, throwing Lucy out of the way. She squealed and ended up in a heap on the other side of the room. The fake Shona's eyes returned to normal as she faced the real Shona with a smug look. It was like watching the sad and happy emotions of Shona fight themselves to the death. 

"Where do we begin?" Fake Shona began to ponder as she pressed a finger to her lips, looking up at the ceiling. "Why don't you choose?" Shona didn't say anything and the fake Shona laughed in a way that Lucy could never believe the real Shona would use. "Oh, fine, I guess I'm choosing! Lets start with Granddad, shall we?" 

"NO!" Shona screamed, making Lucy jump. "DON'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT HIM!" 

Fake Shona ignored the statement and cleared her throat, she then looked over to Lucy. "Are you ready for the story?" She didn't wait for conformation and threw herself into a tale that didn't belong to her. 

Shona's Granddad was the only person who had ever believed in Shona before the days of Hogwarts and Shona would always run to him when she was so upset about being around her family. He seemed like the only person that would talk to her without throwing some insult or make her do a job that nobody else wanted to do. He was a kind man with knowing eyes but could never stand up to Mr McGuire as Sally had warned him of the dangers. 

His favourite place was his shed and it soon became Shona and her Granddad's meeting place, it was the most exciting place in the world for Shona. She had found her Granddad in there one day, making things fly out of there and being the sensible girl that she was, Shona knew this was not normal. 

One night on Christmas Eve Shona had been aroused to the sound of a humming, and to her surprise she saw an object flying through the air from the shed. It was a car. Shona took a keen eye to cars after that sight. Shona had questioned him the next day but he had always told her that when she was older she'd discover everything. 

Shona's Grandparents were more like parents to her than her real parents, they were very inviting and were always there when she needed them (and that was most of the time as Shona's parents were always out trying to get money so that they could afford their Worthing house that nobody would ever buy from them). Eventually, Shona wanted to know the truth about the flying car and the other objects that flew out of the shed, so she plucked up the courage and asked her Granddad. 

"Everyone keeps secrets from me. No one tells me the truth. Why does everyone avoid me?I must be a freak...I can see things others can’t, but it’s obvious! You’re the only one that talks to me normally..."

"I can’t tell you yet but trust me, when you reach the age of eleven, I will tell you everything. That is a solemn promise to you." 

As Shona enjoyed her holidays an owl flew onto the patio, dropping a letter on the floor. As feared, her father ripped the letter open to reveal his anger at this magic and ‘Hogwarts’. He was disappointed and grew anger towards Shona and her mum, believing them to be ‘freaks’ and ‘untalented show-offs’. Shona was very close to not attending Hogwarts at all, that was until her granddad snuck her out in the car he had held secret for so long.

Shona's Granddad was her hero and the only person who knew practically all of her secrets. Those secrets died with him soon after Shona had started her first year at Hogwarts. She was only told of his death at the end of first year and was never quite the same person again. 

"STOP IT!" Shona begged as the fake Shona laughed. 

"I knew you'd enjoy that story!" The fake Shona laughed a shrill laugh. 

"STOP IT!" Shona yelled again. "DON'T EVEN TALK ABOUT MY GRANDDAD THAT WAY AGAIN!" 

"Oh, I won't, I've got much better stories to tell. What about the story where you were immediately cast aside after Martyn was born? That's a great one to tell!" 

"SHUT UP!" Shona screamed and went to hit the fake Shona, the fake Shona ducked and threw a punch back, hitting Shona in the face. 

"SHE'S NOT REAL! YOU KNOW THAT FOR A FACT!" Lucy yelled from across the room, her voice echoing around the room. "IF YOU BELIEVE THAT SHE'LL GO AWAY!" 

"I can't get rid of this one, Lucy," Shona clutched her face and spoke in a low voice. "Because this demon is me and this one will never go away." 

Lucy didn't know what to say to this, she had no words. Shona was right, you couldn't eliminate your own demon unless you eliminated yourself. In the corner of her eye she saw her own demon sat next to her. She was an identical copy of herself but she smiled evilly and told her without words all her bad experiences before quickly disappearing. Lucy shivered. 

"Eliminate the demons you can!" Lucy called finally. "Let them all go like birds in their cages! If you let them go, it would decrease the power of those demons inside you and they wouldn't haunt you as much!" 

Shona tried to protest but was interrupted by the fake Shona, firing a spell at her. Shona stumbled backwards but didn't fall. 

"Martyn's my brother but he's a terrible person and I need to let him go!" Shona huffed and the fake Shona suddenly winced. 

Shona looked over to Lucy who had stood up and was beginning to watch as Shona slowly let go of her demons for a little while, she could try this technique at any time when things got too bad for her and she no longer had to suffer in silence. She let her father go, she let the small woes of her mother go, she let abandonment issues go, she let confident issues go and she let everything go. Including one she held most dear (the fake Shona was screaming and on all fours in pain at this point).

"Finally, Granddad is one of the best people I've ever known in my life and they'll never be a person like him. But..." Shona choked back tears. "I need to let him go..." 

With one final long yell, the fake Shona was obliterated. Shona's heart rate began to slow down and Lucy ran over to her. 

"You did it!" Lucy beamed, embracing her friend. 

"LUCINDA, I DON'T LIKE HUGS!" Shona tried to fend her off. 

"You're in a coma, remember? It's not real," Lucy giggled. 

Shona looked at her feet. "Well in that case," she cleared her throat and Lucy let go. "I've got to ask you something." 

"Of course." 

"Do you mind not telling anyone about this because it's kind of personal and I don't really want the whole world knowing about it," Shona itched the back of her neck awkwardly. 

"I won't tell a sole, that I promise. I trust you with my secrets and you trust me with yours, there's no reason why I would ever tell anyone about this. I know how bad it is for you." 

"Thank you," Shona smiled as a portal opened up in front of them. Their hair whipped in the wind lightly and Shona grabbed hold of Lucy's wrist. "Together?" 

"Together," Lucy nodded. 

They started a mental countdown in their heads before pelting towards the portal, closing their eyes at the last second and then jumping through it without a care in the world. 

Shona and Lucy inhaled and sat bolt upright in unison in the white hospital begs. They were both surprised to see their surroundings, especially Shona. Everyone was in shock to see them both awake, some even gasped. 

"Lucy! I knew you could do it!" Snape beamed at his daughter as Matt got up and hugged Lucy tightly. 

"I knew you could do it, too!" Matt laughed as Lucy giggled, he kissed her gently on her cheek and helped her get up. Shona watched a little jealously as all she got was a hug from her sobbing mother. 

"Oh, Shona, are you okay?" Sally asked as she finally let go of her daughter. 

"I'm fine, it was just a coma that's all," Shona shrugged, batting her sympathy off. "All I did was a lot of deep thinking." 

"About what?" Sally asked curiously. 

Shona looked awkwardly at her before finally speaking. "Stuff." 

"You're so brave!" Matt laughed as he picked Lucy up and spun her around. "I am too priviledged to have you as my girlfriend!" 

"No, I'm too priviledged to have you as my boyfriend," Lucy admitted with a grin as Matt gave her another kiss. 

"For God sake, I'm going to puke!" Shona pretended to vomit over the side of her bed. Matt put Lucy down but still held onto her waist. 

"Whatever, McGuire," Matt sighed. "Speaking of, 'I'm going to vomit' Ben sends his hopes that you get better." 

Lucy stood on Matt's shoe causing him to once again laugh and embrace her. Snape watched on happily, his hands held behind his back as he thought about if Lucy could actually have a future and live past Zuc's reign. No, no, she would live past that and she'd have a great future, he had to remind himself of that.  

Matt and Lucy walked out of the hospital wing hand in hand, laughing in happiness as Shona hopped off of the bed and began to walk out miserably, Sally and Snape following behind her. 

"I believe I teach Mr Truman, am I correct?" Snape teased, Shona whipped around and glared at him. 

"Shut up," she hissed. 

"There's no need to get defensive," Snape admitted with a chuckle as Sally returned to the guest quarters. Lucy and Matt walked on a little further ahead and their laughter could still be heard. "I was only stating a fact." 

"No," Shona glared. "You were implying something." 

"You've teased me enough and it's my turn to tease you." 

"Alright, Snivels, you win this round," Shona huffed, crossing her arms, suddenly noticing there were no tears or blood on her face. "What are you in such a good mood for? Was seeing me in a coma that exciting?" 

"No, I've just been told to look on the positive side of life," Snape shrugged loosely. "Also, I've found someone I can marry and I haven't seen Lucy this happy in a long time." 

"Thing's finally looking up in Stephano's life? The world has turned on it's axis." 

"Well isn't it time that McGuire found herself some happiness?" 

"No," Shona said a little too quickly. 

Snape held up his hands in defense. "Okay, I'm sorry, I was just suggesting — " 

"Unlike you Snape's, it's harder for McGuire's to find partners. I mean, Lucy has only just broken up with Fred and then Matt comes out of the blue and just comes and saves her." 

"Lily died a long time ago," Snape cleared his throat. "It's only recently that I found Jessica." 

"I guess so," Shona admitted. "I guess someones got fate planned out for me." 

Snape shook his head. "No."

Shona looked at him with a frown.

"There's no such thing as fate, we get out there and make our own destiny," Snape pointed out wisely before walking ahead and up to his office.