ACT THREE, chapter forty—nine :
what i want to save, i'll kill
is that who i truly am?

ϟ

Lili called a meeting.

She knew this wasn't going to be easy, not for any of them. No one wanted to be here, and no one trusted one another. The Ravenclaw that had given up the DA and the Slytherins in the Inquisitorial Squad had sowed deep seeds of distrust amongst them. But she had to try.

Lili didn't just invite the disbanded DA members, no, she invited everyone who had been punished and carved up by Umbridge. The number had only increased since Lili's last count: twenty—nine Gryffindors, seventeen Slytherins, fourteen Ravenclaws, and eleven Hufflepuffs. Her heart ached with grief at the seventy—one students all round her. Seventy—one too many. So d—mn many.

"Thank you for coming," Lili called over the quiet din of her fellow students, voice sounding stiff even to her.

And after that, they lapsed into an awkward silence. They waited for her to say something. She waited for something good to say. D—mn it, why was speaking so bloody hard?

"Are we going to restart the DA?" Colin mercifully broke the silence, looking both hopeful and a little scared.

Lili could understand, in truth.

"No." Harry's response was quiet, saving her from trying to explain. "Not now. Not when it's still so dangerous for all of us. We're here for another reason."

At this, her boyfriend nodded to her and she forced herself to fully step into the metaphorical spotlight. She held her left hand and showed the room — another Mark, another brand, another scar.

"I must not be a slut; that's what my scar says. You each have at least one to match, though most of our words say something different. I don't need to explain to any of you why this isn't okay. Because it's not."

But then she was suddenly consumed with the worry that maybe these kids didn't know that. Had Umbridge broken them like she'd tried to break Lili with the detentions, with Goyle? Had that b—tch managed to twist their minds so much to believe when she said that they deserved to be punished? Merlin. Merlin help her, Lili hoped not. Her voice was much stronger when she said:

"It's not f—cking okay!"

"Hear, hear," called George from the back, bless him.

Feeling that Gryffindor courage bolster her, Lili sturdily continued, "That being said. I called this meeting to discuss what finally needs to be done about Dolores Umbridge, once and for all."

"No!"

Lili jumped at the sheer loudness of Zacharias Smith's voice, and everyone turned to look at where he huddled by the exit, eyes wild and face stricken.

"You know what the decree says, 'all student organisations are disbanded'!" Smith nearly shouted, his own self—preservation making him nearly tremble, "We shouldn't be here; even being together is dangerous!"

"It is," she acknowledged, "But it's worth it."

"Why?!" Finch—Fletchley demanded, "Nothing's going to change."

"Yes, it is." Lili determined firmly, "Because... we're going to stage a strike."

A frightened and confused murmur rippled through the sea of faces. Fair enough. Even her friends were looking properly shocked; she hadn't told them a thing before calling this meeting, after all. She figured it was best to break the news all at once. Still... her heart was pounding and her palms were clammy. Desperately needing reassurance, Lili glanced once at Harry who smiled and nodded encouragingly. So, she steeled herself with a deep breath and bravely went on.

"On June 20th, the Fifth Years' Defense Against the Dark Arts OWL will take place while the rest of you are meant to have classes with our professors like normal... And I want every single one of us to not show up."

"What?!"

Lili tried to placate, "I know it sounds risky—,"

"Risky?!" Alicia cried, cheeks pink with understandable outrage, "Lilium, we could be destroying our futures if this goes wrong!"

"I have a plan to avoid that. As Headmistress, appointed by the Minister, Umbridge has complete power over our professors and punishments and the entire school — except for one thing." Lili dramatically let the silence hang for one beat, two, three, and then announced: "The Wizarding Examinations Authority."

"Oh," said Hermione, understanding her immediately — like always.

"What's that?" Dennis scrunched his nose and cocked his head.

"Good question." Lili appreciated that strange little Second Year. "The Wizarding Examinations Authority are in charge of the OWLs and NEWTs. While they are a technical part of the Ministry of Magic, it's rather well—known that Fudge is scared of them. If enough students fail their exams, the WEA could push for him to be replaced because if Hogwarts starts to do badly, it reflects badly on Fudge — or whoever the Ministry appointed to represent him."

Understanding crashed upon her fellow students like a tsunami of thrill, and while the room was hushed with awe, there was a buzz in the air that had disappeared since Umbridge and her d—mn Inquisitorial Squad caught the DA.

Ron was properly in awe when he whispered, "Bloody brilliant, you are, Lili."

"Oh, how we love your devious mind, Lili love," Fred grinned from ear—to—ear.

Harry was beaming proudly at her, and so were most of the students surrounding her.

Lili smiled a bit shyly and went on, "The WEA will have to act if the students take a stand. But it won't work if we don't all stand together. Each of us are students of Hogwarts, and that bond runs far deeper than any House loyalty possibly could."

Something softened amongst the group, a camaraderie like Hogwarts hadn't seen in a long, long time — Gryffindors, Slytherins, Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuffs all together.

"Besides," Lili added with a nod, "If all goes well, they will let us retake our OWLs."

Hermione softly, worriedly whispered, "But what if they don't?"

The Snape girl turned to her best friend with a serious expression, voice even more so: "Hermione, think about it: what's more important? One exam? Or the safety of all the students at Hogwarts?"

Brown eyes wide, Hermione leant back and nodded slowly, "You're right... Sorry, you're right."

It was okay, Lili understood.

Really, she did.

The girl let out a soft breath when she glanced at everyone else, "I know I'm asking for a lot. This is dangerous, if it goes wrong, and I truly am sorry about that. But we have a responsibility to ourselves and to all the other students that Umbridge is going to hurt if we don't act now. So. Who's with me?"

Harry stood instantly with a sturdy nod, "I'm with you, Lili."

"I'm with you," Hermione and Ron immediately followed.

"Me too, Lili," Neville added softly.

The twins. Luna. Ginny. Dean. Seamus. Davis. Lavender and Parvati. Higgs. Soon, every single one of the seventy—one students in attendance stood in camaraderie.

"We're not just driving her mad anymore," Lili said, glancing briefly at the wonderfully malicious grins of George and Fred before turning to the other brave faces before her. "We're destroying her reputation. We're destroying her... until there's nothing left to salvage and she can't come within a hundred miles of another school for the rest of her miserable, pink—riddled life."

ϟ

June 20th came quickly.

On the day of the Defense Against the Dark Arts OWL, things went terribly, terribly wrong for one woman named Dolores Jane Umbridge. Students were missing. Professors were panicking. So was the WEA, and gloriously, so was Hogwarts' so—called 'Headmistress'.

Heavy boots thudding steadily against the stone floor of the castle, Lili pushed the massive doors to Great Hall open with both hands while seventy students followed behind her.

The head governor of the WEA seemed to be giving a very pink—faced Umbridge a lecture, but all of this ceased when they made their grand entrance. Oh yes, everything went wonderfully silent. The other Fifth Years gave up on their exams and turned to gape with open mouths and wide eyes. Staring at them wasn't just Umbridge or even the WEA officials, but every Head of House who apparently had been called in to see just where the hell seventy—one students from every House had mysteriously disappeared to.

"Umbridge!" Lili's voice echoed through the wide stone room. "I believe you were looking for us?"

The woman in question sputtered.

Severus' eyes were narrowed in near fascination, though his face was carefully blank.

"Miss Snape," McGonagall called in a quiet mix of horror and surprise, "What do you think you are doing?"

"I think we're doing what needs to be done, Professor. As the great Wizard Healer Hippocrates said, 'desperate times call for desperate measures'. And unfortunately, I am a Gryffindor, which means said measures have to be rather dramatic."

"Measures?" Professor Sprout shook her flowery head, "What measures do you mean, my dear?"

Lili's raspy voice seemed to boom across the Great Hall when she said:

"Frankly put: we refuse to take the Defense Against the Dark Arts OWL."

Umbridge's eyes looked about to pop out of her toady head. Good.

A very short and elderly witch quickly stepped forward, "What is the meaning of this?"

"Professor Marchbanks." Lili took great care to fill her tone with just the right amount of respect and defiance, "We're so glad to finally see you. All our attempts to contact you thus far have been thwarted, and if not for this rather grand display, I doubt we'd even be allowed to speak to you at all."

Marchbanks cast a narrow—eyed glance at Umbridge and glanced back at the students, speaking carefully, "By all means, Miss...?"

"Snape." She answered proudly, "Lilium — Salazar — Snape."

She felt her friends smirk knowingly behind her. Like a trio of little sh—ts.

"Very well." Marchbanks murmured, casting a curious look back at the only other Snape in the room before saying, "By all means, Miss Snape, speak away."

Lili glanced back at her friends, nodded once, and then allowed herself to say: "Because of the woman standing next to you, Professor Marchbanks, no one has been able to stand up for us. So, today, we're standing up for ourselves. We, the students, have determined that Dolores Jane Umbridge is unworthy of being Headmistress of our school."

Everyone bloody gasped.

"On what grounds?" Umbridge positively simpered, the b—tch.

"On grounds of child abuse," Harry stepped up to be at Lili's side, grasping her hand firmly, "And the torture of students under your care by use of a Blood Quill."

The WEA officials reacted with horror, as did the few students that knew nothing about any of this.

Joining them, Hermione took Lili's other hand and her gentle voice was filled with conviction, "Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was built upon the principle of safe—guarding students with magic, not putting fear into the hearts and minds of all those who practise it or dare speak louder than a whisper."

"She's tortured every single one of us standing here," Ron came forward next, gripping Hermione's free hand, his chest puffed and chin held high. "Look at our hands and you'll see the evidence. The youngest of the ones she's carved into is a little First Year — just eleven. Fail us if you want, we're not gonna take her abuse ever again."

It was done.

The truth was out there.

Their voices had been heard.

Lili was bursting with pride for her friends, all their hands intertwined, sixty—seven students from all four Houses standing together in solidarity behind them.

Umbridge's high—heels clicked when she crept forward, practically trembling with her rage. "You think impertinent little schoolchildren have the power to overthrow me — the Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic?!"

"Perhaps not, Headmistress." Severus spoke up — shocking everyone, voice low and grave, though the satisfaction in his eyes gleamed. "But the Wizarding Examinations Authority might."

"They do not!" Umbridge shrieked shrilly, hurting everyone's ears. "No one can overthrow me! This position is mine! I am Headmistress of Hogwarts — for now and forever! I have the backing of Cornelius Fudge himself!"

McGonagall snorted.

Professor Marchbanks suddenly snapped, eyes blazing with fury, "And Cornelius Fudge has our backing — or he did, until just — now. And believe us, Dolores, he will face the consequences of this! You both will!"

Turning nearly purple with rage, Umbridge opened her mouth to argue when—

A bang like a cannon went off and the whole castle seemed to shake. Harry's hand tightened on Lili's. That was not part of the plan. Dust drifted from the high ceiling, confusion swelled, and everyone glanced nervously at one another. Then, suddenly, amazingly, the massive double doors once more burst open and suddenly Fred and George were soaring overhead on their broomsticks with wild shouts and cheers, throwing their exam papers into the air, streaking fireworks every which way.

The Great Hall burst in glorious sparks of technicolour.

Harry met Umbridge's eyes and smirked darkly. Lili watched in amazement while sparklers that spelt out giant swears marred the ceiling and rockets with long tails of silver stars chased after the most dastardly like Goyle or Crabbe or Umbridge herself. Firecrackers cracked and zinged through the air, and whenever any of them collided, they made new kinds of fireworks in the shapes of animals and words and bursting sparks.

Umbridge was soon being chased by a fire—breathing dragon, which was the best thing Lili had seen in her fifteen years of life.

And best of all, none of the professors were even bothering to fight it (she thought she saw Flitwich even cheering a little). Mostly, they took their leave at the same time the WEA did — presumably to report Umbridge's crimes to whoever could do something about it.

The students happily abandoned their desks, shouting and cheering, racing after the twins while they led them out the Grand Entrance and into the courtyard where they flew off into the sunset, leaving behind one final firework in the shape of a giant golden W.

In the courtyard, Hermione grinned over at her, "Did you plan this with them?"

Lili shrugged and smirked, "No, that was all them. Our revenge schemes simply coincided."

Her best friend laughed and wrapped her arm tight round her shoulders. Lili smiled and leant her head against hers while they watched the storm of fireworks overhead. Suddenly her black head jerked back, her eyes burnt white, and once more, she was lost to the real world and sucked into another one.

Just behind her, Lili heard Harry shout, "Expelliarmus!"

Dolohov yelped when he was thrown back by the force of Harry's spell.

"Nice one, James!" Sirius shouted gleefully.

Harry jolted in surprise, looking sharply at his godfather when Sirius disarmed Malfoy and sent him flying away. Lili shrieked as she fell in an effort to miss Rodolphus' amputation curse, clutching at her now bleeding arm, that was mercifully still connected to her shoulder. She screamed when she threw back an angry curse of her own, Fiendfrye bursting from her soul and singing him to a crisp.

They were winning. They were going to win.

Still on the ground, Lili looked through the wild hair in her face just in time to see Sirius and Harry share a warm smile before her mum materialised out the corner of her eye, gaze locked on her cousin, wand already conjuring magic.

Lili started to shout, "Look out—!"

But she was too late.

Coming sharply back to herself, Lili jerked back with a gasp. She looked up and found Harry on the ground beside her, with Hermione looking between them with some kind of resigned concern. Shakily, black irises still a strange milky grey, she bent to be at her boyfriend's side, opened her mouth, and tried to explain what she'd seen—

But then, Harry gasped: "Sirius!"

Soon, Lili was pressing a hand to the stitch on her side while she sprinted up the steps just behind Harry, with Hermione and Ron following closely behind. She gasped out, "Harry, are you sure?"

"I saw it! It's just like with Mister Weasley." Harry tossed the words over his shoulder, leaping up the steps two at a time, "It's the door I've been dreaming about. I couldn't remember where I'd seen it before. Sirius said Voldemort was after something. Something he didn't have the last time, in the Department of Mysteries—,"

"—Harry, please, just listen!" They all stopped to look at Hermione who fretted her bottom lip, hurriedly shaking her wild hair, "What if Voldemort meant for you to see this? What if he's only hurting Sirius because he's trying to get to you?"

"What if he is?!" Harry stopped and whirled round, clear desperation carved into his face. "I'm supposed to just let him die? Hermione, he's the only family I've got left."

"He's not your only family, Harry." Lili whispered, dread creeping into her tone, "But even if he was... this is a bad idea. I've had a vision, too. The future showed us fighting Death Eaters. This won't be a rescue mission, Harry, this will be a battle."

"The future can change!" He insisted, "We can change it!"

"Harry. We shouldn't go."

"I'm going," he replied tersely, "If you don't want to come with me, that's your decision."

Well... f—ck. Lili sighed, glanced at Hermione and Ron, and of course all three of them chased after Harry. Breaking into Umbridge's office was easy work, which was lucky because they had to use her Floo now that she had all the rest of the chimneys under surveillance. Harry raced to the fireplace and snatched up a handful of Floo powder before hurling it into the fire and calling out his destination.

When the fire burnt bright green, Harry knelt down and insisted, "Alert the Order if you can."

"Harry, are you totally mad?!" Lili dropped to her knees, reaching to turn his face to hers, "We're obviously going with you."

"No way, Lil, it's too dangerous."

Hermione dropped to his other side, her voice impassioned, "When are you going to get it into your head? We're in this together!"

And then they heard the worst possible voice they possibly could hear:

"That — you — are."

And all too soon, they had all been imprisoned in her hideously pink office — the Golden Quartet, Neville, Ginny, and Luna too. Worse of all, however, was Lili being forward to watch Harry get forced into a chair with Umbridge inches from him and a wand in his face.

In that high simpering voice, Umbridge demanded, "You were going to Dumbledore, weren't you?"

Harry shook his head, breathing, "No."

The professor smacked him — hard — straight across the face.

Lili flinched while everyone gasped, the DA and the Inquisitorial Squad.

"Liar!"

Then, a deep voice, "You sent for me, Headmistress?"

Lili's head whipped round to the doorway of the Defense office, nearly tearing up in relief at the sight of—

"Snape!" Umbridge smiled eagerly now, a twisted little thing. "Yes, the time has come for answers, whether he wants to give them to me or not. I would like another bottle of Veritaserum, as quick as you can, please."

Harry shifted uneasily in his chair. It was taking everything in Lili not to run to him.

"I'm afraid you've used up all my stores interrogating students." He replied in a tone that was painfully dry, observing the Ministry woman like he would a particularly dissatisfying potion. "Surely you did not use it all? I told you that three drops would be sufficient."

Lili bit her lip. It was not time to laugh, but she really would like to. Ron's shoe bumped hers. She bumped back. That was as close to amusement as they were allowed to get now.

Umbridge turned that ugly pink colour again. In that sickly sweet voice that meant her fury, she asked, "You can make more, can you not?"

"Certainly, I can. I am Hogwarts' Potions Master, after all." Severus' lip curled in his barely disguised disgust. "It takes a full moon cycle to mature, so I should have it ready for you in a month or so."

Lili resisted the urge to sigh in relief. Harry seemed to be slumping slightly into the chair.

"A month?!" Umbridge cried angrily, swelling very toadishly as she jabbed a stubby finger at Lili's boyfriend. "I wish to interrogate him! I wish you to provide me with a potion that will force him to tell me the truth!"

Her heart was pounding so loud, she was certain everyone in the bloody castle could hear.

"Indeed? How unfortunate." Severus replied smoothly, completely indifferently, "Unless you wish to poison Potter... And I assure you, I would have the greatest sympathy if you did... I cannot help you."

"You are on probation!" Umbridge shrieked and literally stomped her foot, and Severus blinked back at her, one black eyebrow slightly arched. "You are being deliberately unhelpful! I expected better, Lucius Malfoy always speaks most highly of you! Now get out of my office!"

Lips twisting to one side, Severus gave her an ironic bow and turned to leave.

But then Harry blurted out, "He's got Padfoot!" Severus froze and slowly glanced back so the boy rushed on, "He's got Padfoot at the place where it's hidden."

"Padfoot?" Umbridge's pudgy face crumpled in her indignant confusion, "What is Padfoot? Where what is hidden? What is he talking about, Snape?!"

One, long silent moment, and then...

"No idea," he drawled coldly.

Lili exhaled.

"Potter," said her father, sounding every bit like the cruel professor he wanted the world to believe he was. "When I want nonsense shouted at me, I shall give you a Babbling Beverage. And Crabbe, do loosen your hold a little. If Longbottom suffocates, it will mean a lot of tedious paperwork, and I am afraid I shall have to mention it on your reference if ever you apply for a job."

Neville's brows shot up in an equal mix of disbelief and relief.

Severus' black eyes met Lili's briefly, and she felt the familiar gentle brush of his mind against hers. In her head, his voice: I understand. Then, he whirled round, swept away, and closed the door behind him with a snap. He knew. It was the best they could do.

Lili briefly squeezed her eyes shut in relief, and when she opened them again, she found Harry looking desperately at her, as if pleading for reassurance, as if begging that the message got through. She nodded only barely. Severus had understood. She had to hope to Merlin that it was enough.

"Very well. You give me no choice, Potter. As this is an issue of Ministry security... you leave me with... no alternative." She almost seemed to be talking herself into something. She was shifting nervously from foot to foot, peering down at her birch wand. "The Cruciatus Curse ought to loosen your tongue."

"No!" Lili cried while Hermione gasped, "That's illegal!"

Looking breathless with both nerves and excitement, Umbridge simply turned the Minister's framed picture down onto her desk and said, "What Cornelius doesn't know won't hurt him."

Umbridge took aim at Harry's forehead. And Lili bloody lost it.

"Concindio!"

The girl screamed, and a flood of magic poured from her, a wave of beautiful light bursting forth from the center of her chest. The air pressure dropped. Everyone's ears rang. Sudden heat made them all sweat. Umbridge's wand suddenly exploded in her hand, a searing burst of flame and splinters embedding into her skin.

An invented spell. A new one. One she didn't even recall creating.

It took nearly everything in Lili's magical core to call forth that much power, and she suddenly and immediately slumped into Ron and Hermione's sides, letting them prop her up.

Umbridge's hand was burnt with the burst of power, and her toady face was gaping in horrified shock.

"My... My wand..." She squeaked and then built to a shriek, "Y—You destroyed my wand, you little b—tch!"

Hermione stiffened at her side, looking furious on her behalf. Harry's glare was lethal. Draco's grey eyes were darting in plain terror.

"I won't let you hurt him," Lili hissed lowly.

"N—No? Then perhaps I shall have to silence you!" She pointed a stubby finger at one of the many Inquisitorial Squad, demanding shrilly, "You! Take her wand!"

Of course it was Goyle. F—cking Gregory Goyle. Lili couldn't bear to look. She hid her face in Ron's shoulder when the boy tried to fight Goyle off, but the bigger Slytherin elbowed him hard in the sternum and yanked Lili's yew wand from her weak grip. He then delivered it into Umbridge's waiting and sizzling hand so they could all watch when she turned Lili's own wand on Harry.

Her boyfriend merely straightened up, ready to face another new horror.

Lili watched in growing agony, begging for her wand to deny her, praying it would not work for her, hoping none of them had won its allegiance...

"Cru—!"

But Lili never got a chance to find out because Hermione suddenly interrupted with a shriek, "Tell her, Harry!"

Umbridge's hand was stayed when she asked, "Tell me what?"

Her best friend nervously shifted and swallowed hard, "Well, if you won't tell her where it is... I will."

"Where what is?"

"Dumbledore's secret weapon."

Oh, Hermione Jean Granger was a bloody genius. As if Lili didn't know that. Soon, Umbridge forced Harry and Hermione away from the castle at wand—point, and Lili and Ron exchanged a knowing glance. Now, it was up to them.

Tilting her head towards her friends, Lili mumbled without moving her lips, "Hermione will keep Harry and Umbridge busy for the time being; we've gotta get away from the Inquisitors so we can be ready to get to Sirius when they get back."

"Okay, so what should we do?" Neville whispered.

Ron's eyes narrowed in determination, "It's time to make a scene." Then, he looked round at the Inquisitorial Squad, "Hey you! Crabbe, I'm bloody hungry."

The ejit scrunched nose, "What's it to me?"

Then, smooth as silk, with a smile like butter wouldn't melt, Ron the Strategist began weaving an escape plan: "If we're gonna be here long, I'm gonna need to eat or you're gonna hear me whining the whole time. There's sweets on the desk; Umbridge confiscated them from my brothers. Toss 'em to me, would you?"

Intrigued, Crabbe stepped to the desk to investigate and found that there were, indeed, confiscated sweets sitting oh—so—invitingly. The entire DA held their breaths. The Slytherin scooped the sweets up and waved them in their faces. Lili recognised the labels, but of course she did, she remembered helping make these, after all.

"You want these?" Crabbe taunted.

"Yea," Ron insisted, "We do."

Crabbe smirked meanly and said, "Bugger off, Weasley."

Then he popped on in his mouth, turned, and tossed the rest of the sweets to his companions. Draco recoiled slightly. His nervous grey eyes darted to Lili, and she gave a miniscule shake of her head. He understood. So, very, very soon, the entire Inquisitorial Squad (minus Draco) were munching to their hearts' content.

And that was when sh—t hit the fan.

As soon as everyone began puking their guts out, the DA fought back. Within seconds, they had everyone in ropes and unconscious. Everyone but Draco who was watching Lili with wide eyes. The others looked between the two childhood friends, letting her take the lead, waiting to see what she would do.

Finally, Draco pleaded, "Knock me out, too."

Lili bit her lip, glanced at Ron, and gave a nod of approval.

"Petrificus Totalus!"

Draco dropped like a stone.

Soon, the now free members of the DA sprinted from the office, through the corridors, and then towards the bridge that led to the Forbidden Forest. Lili's face broke into a grin at the sight of her boyfriend and best friend running from the opposite direction.

"Harry!"

"Lili!"

The couple collided rather painfully, but neither of them minded, keeping a tight hold on each other's bodies. After whispered reassurances and hurried promises, Harry pulled back just enough to push a familiar white stick into Lili's palm.

"My wand!" She heaved a sigh of relief, "Oh, thank you."

"She lost it when the centaurs dragged her away," Hermione informed her happily.

"Oh, brill," Lili's black eyes gleamed.

She felt the familiar hum of magic in her palm, and she knew its allegiance had not changed. No, no. This wand was hers — forevermore.

She looked up from her wand when Hermione asked, "How'd you get away?"

"Puking Pastilles," Ginny answered with a grin, "It wasn't pretty."

"Told them I was hungry, wanted some sweets," Ron recapped, shrugging a shoulder. "They told me to bugger off and ate the lot themselves."

"That was clever, Ron," Hermione breathed in awe while Harry grinned.

"Has been known to happen," Ron pinked bashfully.

Lili smirked between the two of them.

"It was brilliant!" Neville agreed gamely before turning to her boyfriend, "So how are we getting to London?"

Harry recoiled slightly, the relief slipping off his face when he took a few steps away, "Look, it's not that I don't appreciate everything you've done, all of you... but I've got you into enough trouble as it is."

Looking hurt, Neville called after him, "Dumbledore's Army was supposed to be about doing something real... Or was that all just words to you?"

Harry paused, looking unsure, before he turned back to face them with clear concern on his face.

"You're not alone, Harry," Lili whispered, intertwining their fingers. "We're with you. Together — always."

Though he nodded in agreement, he kept his worried eyes on her face, "Lili, are you sure you should come? If Riddle finds out you were part of this..."

"You're not leaving me behind. I am coming." She left no room for argument and turned to everyone else with a determined shine to her black eyes, "Now, does anyone have any ideas on how we're going to get to London?"

Luna's eyes sparkled when she answered, "We fly, of course!"

ϟ

The children were gone, and Severus couldn't find them.

This meant only one thing: they had gone to the Ministry.

After searching 12 Grimmauld Place and being very kindly told (in person) by Sirius Black to 'f—cking piss off, Snivelly, please and thank you', Severus returned to Umbridge's office to find it empty — apart from his own unconscious students. The absolute dunderheads. Leaving that particular problem for later, Severus started to panic. He searched the castle and the grounds and the bloody Forbidden Forest, and they were nowhere to be found. He wanted to go. He wanted to be there, to find his daughter, and yet he couldn't. He had to maintain his f—cking position for Dumbledore, for the Dark Lord, for his masters who pulled his strings and forbade him from looking after his one and only child.

"D—mn it," Severus hissed through his teeth before his voice built louder and louder into a roar, "D—mn it, d—mn it, d—mn it!"

ϟ

It was a trap.

Of course it was.

Sirius was nowhere to be found in the Department of Mysteries, and Lili knew that they were in trouble. They had found themselves in the Hall of Prophecy; a massive room, stretching at least fifty feet high and seeming endlessly long. All round them were rows upon rows of shelves, stuffed with cloudy crystal balls — each filled with prophecies. So no, Sirius wasn't there, but a prophecy with Harry's name on it was.

And now they were trapped.

"You know, you really should learn to tell the difference between dreams... and reality."

Mister Malfoy — no, Lucius — stood at the end of a long row, wand at the ready, silvery mask fading into mist. A dozen other Death Eaters emerged with him, surrounding the teens at every side. They were out—skilled and outnumbered.

"Where's Sirius?!" Harry demanded, voice echoing over and over in the huge room.

Several Death Eaters laughed when Lucius tsked like scolding an errant child, "You saw only what the Dark Lord wanted you to see. Now, hand me the prophecy."

"If you do anything to us," threatened Harry, "I'll break it."

"He knows how to play... Itty, bitty baby Potter."

Lili's breath caught loudly. She recognised that voice, from the nightmares of her childhood. her entire body shook with a frightened shiver, memories coming back full force.

An infant's cries.

High—pitched laughter.

"Little beauty, let us see what she can hold up against."

"Praecido!"

The snapping spark of a casted spell.

The frightening hum of a misused lullaby.

"Look at the little baby, Sevvy! Not so perfect now, is she?"

"Crucio!"

A near two year old cowering in her crib.

A dark—haired woman grinning down at her.

"Didn't like that curse, did she?"

"Obruo sensus!"

Lili choked, "No..."

A familiar woman peeled out of the shadows, cloaked all in black, hair in frizzy untamed ringlets. Her mother. Bellatrix looked a bit different than before — in some small ways, but altogether it was the same face that smirked viciously down into her crib. The horrors of Azkaban had hollowed her once pretty face, making it gaunt and skull—like, but it was still desperately alive with that familiar fanatical gleam.

"Hello, Delphini. Didn't you miss Mummy?"

Lili flinched.

"I'll take that as a 'no', shall I?" Bellatrix said in that horrifying mock—baby voice, bottom lip puckering into a pout. "Come now, Delphi, don't you think it's time to come home to me?"

"Her name is Lili, and you won't be taking her," Hermione spoke up, chin raised in defence of her best friend.

Bellatrix sneered.

Now, she was very close to them. Her mother scrutinised her. No one had ever looked at her quite like that, not even the Dark Lord himself. Lili felt like prey caught in a trap, waiting to die.

"No." Lili forced herself to speak up, voice stronger than she would've expected. "I won't be going anywhere with you. Not now, not when I know how to fight back this time, Bel—,"

"Na—uh—uh!" Bellatrix interrupted shrilly, wand spinning, head tilting. "What are you supposed to call me, little girl?"

Something Dark and twisted inside of her made her instinctively answer:

"Mummy."

The word tasted like poison on Lili's tongue. Her friends eyed her carefully.

"Yes." Bellatrix crooned. "And you're supposed to always follow Mummy's orders, aren't you?"

Lili couldn't respond. Harry pressed his side with hers.

"You're Bellatrix Lestrange..." Neville spoke in a soft whisper.

"Neville Longbottom, is it?" She shrieked with glee, eyebrows bouncing. "How's Mum and Dad?"

"Better, now they're about to be avenged!"

Neville fiercely jerked up his wand, and truly, Lili was ready to let her friend just do it; her blood nearly humming with fear and the need for violence. But Lucius quickly spread out both hands, as if he was the peacemaker in this whole sh—tshow. Bloody hell.

"Now, let's everybody just calm down... shall we?" Lucius slowly reached out one hand, palm up, and he said, "All we want is that prophecy."

Snidely, with the prophecy in hand, Harry asked, "What prophecy?"

Lili resisted the urge to smirk.

Lucius' eyes narrowed and he tilted his blond head, pointing at the crystal orb. "That prophecy. Now, hand it over or we'll be forced to do something unpleasant."

Harry raised his wand at the same time as Lili, Hermione, Ron, and all the rest did.

"Try it," he threatened.

Lucius tutted again, "Very brave of you, Potter... Or are you very foolish?"

"Come and find out!" Harry challenged, and when no one dared move, he demanded, "Why did Voldemort need me to come and get this?"

"You dare speak his name?" Bellatrix breathed in disbelief before screeching, "You filthy Half—Blood!"

Harry tensed at her side, but Lili wasn't about to let this slide.

"Half—Blood, is he?" The Snape girl's voice echoed in the dark wide chamber, mocking words dripping from her tongue, "I wonder if you know that your dear Dark Lord is a Half—Blood, too?"

"Silence, Delphi!" Her mother shrieked, "How dare you utter those lies with your dirty Half—Bloody mouth!"

Lili recoiled, unable to hide her fear. Harry pressed even closer against her.

"It's all right. They're just curious children, aren't they?" Lucius quickly waved his sister—in—law down, and his footsteps echoed in the wide tile hall when he approached. "For your information, Potter, prophecies can only be retrieved by those about whom they are made. Which is lucky for you, really... Then again, if you won't get it... my Lord suggested that perhaps she can... little Lilium Snape — or is your name Delphini Lestrange now?"

Lili and Harry sharply exchanged a glance. What...?

"Haven't you always wondered... what was the reason for the connection between you and the Dark Lord? Why he was unable to kill you... when you were just an infant? Don't you want to know the secret of your scar?"

Harry watched Malfoy continue his approach, breathing lowly, looking as though he'd been slapped. Lili glanced sharply round. Death Eaters were closing in on every side, trapping them, masks glowing in the pale wand light.

"All the answers are there, Potter, in your hand. All you have to do... is give it to me. Then I can show you everything."

"I've waited fourteen years..."

"I know," Lucius crooned in mockery (Lili's fists clenched).

"I guess I can wait a little longer." Then Harry raised his wand and shouted, "Now!"

All at once, the seven members of Dumbledore's Army fired.

Then, they f—cking ran.

Spells were shot this way and that while they tried to lose their pursuers who kept appearing out of black smoke. The glass orbs came toppling off the shelves while curses exploded round them. Lili hurled hexes over her shoulder just like the others, both learnt and invented, while their footsteps echoed loudly against black tile when they raced through the Ministry. It was going quite well until Ginny casted Reducto, and then the entire room began crashing down round them.

"Well..." Lili decided, "That's not good."

Harry shouted, "Get back to the door!"

The Hall of Prophecy began to collapse. Entire shelves fell crashing to the ground, raining glass shards and crystal balls this way and that. The teens broke and sprinted for the exit as fast as they could, feeling destruction and Death Eaters right on their heels. Harry and Lili threw themselves through the door first, only to find that there was no ground waiting to catch them. Everyone shouted in shock while they plummeted through empty space until they were caught just inches from smashing their faces into the ground.

Lili heard something. Whispers, belonging to none of her friends, filling up her senses like a swarm of bees. The girl harshly shook her head, but the voices remained. Confused, she glanced up and caught her breath at the sight of a massive stone archway standing on a dais in the middle of the chamber. Inside it was a pale white film, fluttering menacingly as if there were a breeze.

"Department of Mysteries," Ron grunted as he stood. "They got that bit right, didn't they?"

"The voices." Voice low, Harry crept slowly closer to the strange arch. "Can you tell what they're saying?"

"There aren't any voices, Harry." Hermione insisted quickly, "Let's get out of here."

"I hear them too," Luna chimed.

Lili breathily realised, "So do I..."

Luna was right, she thought distantly, She could hear them, if she let herself. She joined her boyfriend's side while they gazed up at the stone object, walking slowly closer. Lili suddenly wanted to cover her ears. The closer they got, the whispered voices had intensified to harsh moans, and the sound sickened her.

"No, it's just an empty archway!" Hermione insisted again, sounding panicked. "Please, Lili! Harry?"

Harry reached out a hand to touch it, but Lili quickly grabbed his arm and tugged him back. The moans returned to whispers once more, muttering angrily when they backed away. She gave a shivering murmur, "We're in the Death Chamber. The Veil... That's the Veil."

"The Veil?" Harry blinked and dropped his hand, "What is that?"

"It's the barrier between the land of the living and the land of the dead." Lili whispered. "We're at death's door."

With that ominous proclamation, they all heard the door above being broken down. There was no more time. The Death Eaters were coming. It was going to be a fight. Someone was going to die.

"Get behind me!" Harry demanded, and everyone obeyed.

They all raised their wands up towards the door, prepared to fight, but it wasn't wixen that attacked them. It was black smoke. And what could any of them do to fight something like that? A storm of smoke surrounded them, impossible to defend themselves against, swirling every which way as it tugged and pulled at them, until finally, it was gone.

What remained was Death Eaters, each holding a member of the DA captive. Everyone but Harry who remained at the top of the sloping dais, holding the prophecy with a white—knuckle grip.

Lucius' chuckles echoed through the room.

The Malfoy man had one hand fisted in Lili's hair and the other with a wand under her chin, near her jugular, making her choke. Head yanked back, fighting the need to gag, he forced Lili closer to Harry — each step a fight to resist.

"Did you actually believe... or were you truly naive enough to think... that children stood a chance against us?"

Harry's eyes were on Lili's, ignoring Lucius entirely.

Suddenly, they both felt so very young.

"I'll make this simple for you, Potter," crooned Malfoy. "Give me the prophecy now... or watch your friends die. Starting with this one."

Lucius jabbed the wand further into her neck, forcing her to catch her breath.

Harry flinched.

Lili gritted her teeth, eyes frozen on his.

There were a lot of things she wished she could tell him: Tell my father I'm sorry... Tell Hermione she's the best friend I could've hoped for... Tell Ron I believe in him... Tell Neville he's one of the bravest people I know... Tell the twins they can have my potions kit... Please know that I love you... But most of all, she wished she could tell him—

"Don't give it to him, Harry!"

Exactly that.

And though Bellatrix punished Neville for shouting it, everyone knew he was right. But Harry was Harry, he was a good person, and he showed Lili once more why she loved him. Unable to watch his friends suffer for him, Harry gritted his teeth and handed over the prophecy. The orb turned a dull grey in Lucius' grasp, but that didn't matter. He had it. The Dark Lord had exactly what he wanted. Until... a soft white light flashed just over Lucius' shoulder. Confused, they all turned.

Then, there was Sirius Black.

"Get away from my godson."

With a crack of knuckles across Lucius Malfoy's face, Sirius had freed them both.

Brill!

Lili stumbled free and fell into Harry's waiting embrace, letting him hold her close before Sirius put his arms round their shoulders and guided them to safety behind the arch. Other Order members appeared in flickering beams of smokey light — Lupin, Tonks, Kingsley, Mad—Eye, and immediately a battle was underway. The Light chased away the Dark, and her friends were freed and hidden behind the stone dais. Still caught off by the punch, Lucius dove to catch the falling prophecy, but he was too late when it hit the stone floor and shattered into a thousand pieces.

A spell rocketed past their heads. The two teens immediately ducked for cover while Sirius blasted back at a Death Eater who disappeared into the smoke again. Harry's godfather dragged them up and stuffed them safely on the other side of the arched Veil, looking this way and that for new attacks.

"Now, listen to me," Sirius could barely be heard over the chaos, "Take the others and get out of here."

"We can't just leave," Lili insisted while Harry whispered, "No, I'm staying with you!"

"You've all done beautifully. Now, let me take it from here."

It was the Order of the Phoenix against the Death Eaters, and it was quite the show. Spells flashed and exploded all round, bathing the room in strange colours, mixing with the lights of the white Veil and blue candles. Tile and stone blasted in every direction, the scent of sulfur heavy, heat sizzling against her skin. The place had descended into a war zone, and Lili knew they might not get out of this.

"Black!"

Lucius. Of course it was f—cking Lucius, standing close with a smirk and a raised wand. Then, Antonin Dolohov and Rodolphus Lestrange gleefully appeared on either side to join in on the attack. They immediately leapt up to match their fighting stance. She pressed her back against Harry's, preparing for a fight. He reached back, intertwined their fingers, and held her hand tight.

"Hello, dear step—daughter," Rodolphus grinned menacingly, "Remember me?"

Lili snarled.

Finally, the Snape girl felt free to unleash every Dark and twisted thing she knew how to do, and Lili screamed when she fired her first spell. Rodolphus readily dodged and leapt across the dais, trying to use the Veil for coverage, but Lili snapped her wand first right and then back to her chest so the man was knocked over and dragged back by his ankle.

"Did you think you could run from me?" Lili hissed, "After all the pain you caused?"

Rodolphus gazed up at her, baring his teeth.

"No." The girl shook her dark head. "No."

Their wands clashed, blinding lights exploding from the tips.

Her mother's cackles filled the air, raising the fine hair on Lili's arms while Light and Dark tangled in the air mid—flight. Below, Lili saw Tonks battling Rookwood while Lupin took on Mulciber and Avery. That meant Nott was around here somewhere... Oh yes, she found him neck deep in a battle with Mad—Eye Moody. She smirked. She didn't like the b—stard's chances.

Just behind her, Lili heard Harry shout, "Expelliarmus!"

Dolohov yelped when he was thrown back by the force of Harry's spell.

"Nice one, James!" Sirius shouted gleefully.

Harry jolted in surprise, looking sharply at his godfather when Sirius disarmed Malfoy and sent him flying away. Lili shrieked as she fell in an effort to miss Rodolphus' amputation curse, clutching at her now bleeding arm, that was mercifully still connected to her shoulder. She screamed when she threw back an angry curse of her own, Fiendfrye bursting from her soul and singing him to a crisp.

They were winning. They were going to win.

Still on the ground, Lili looked through the wild hair in her face just in time to see Sirius and Harry share a warm smile before her mum materialised out the corner of her eye, gaze locked on her cousin, wand already conjuring magic.

Lili started to shout, "Look out—!"

But she was too late.

"Avada Kedavra!"

With a smile still on his lips, Sirius jerked at the flash of green light when it hit his chest. Lili gasped and flinched, skin prickling in the presence of the Killing Curse. Harry could only stare, blood on his face, lips parted in shock. Sirius gasped softly, teetering, realising he was dying, eyes meeting Harry's one last time. He smiled, just a little.

Then, Sirius tilted his head back and disappeared into the Veil.

He was gone.

Shock carved in his features, Harry whispered then screamed, "No. No!"

Harry tried to throw himself through the Veil after Sirius. But Lupin arrived just in time to wrap his arms tightly round the boy's front, caging him and holding him in equal measure. His sobs echoed in the hot air, shuddering out with each ragged breath. Lili weakly forced herself up and quickly cupped Harry's contorted face in her shaking hands, trying to drag him back from the brink.

"Harry, Harry, please—,"

Harry screamed, he screamed so loud and so strong that it tore the heart from her very chest. Tears spilled down his cheeks as he fell forward in the cage of Lupin's arms, teeth bared while he tried to hold back his agony.

Over her shoulder, Lili saw her mother begin to laugh.

Cold fury bloomed in Harry's kind green eyes.

When Bellatrix grinned and disappeared out the door, Harry tore free and he gave chase.

Falling, Lili shouted, "Harry, wait—!"

He was gone, gone after her mum, gone where she could hurt him, one where Lili could lose him. She tried to get up, but her legs gave out from underneath her — dragging her back to the stone ground. Lupin and Hermione were at her side in an instant.

"Lili!" Hermione was crying, kept saying, "Lili, Lili, Lili..."

Lili looked up at Lupin, the man's face red and covered in tears.

"I've got to go," she told him, "I've got to help Harry—,"

"Lili, wait—!"

Hermione tried to catch her hand, but Lili yanked herself free and then she was running. When she finally burst through the door into the Atrium, Dumbledore was already there fighting the one he called Tom. Bellatrix was already gone, having fled to safety, no doubt. Right now, she didn't care about her, about the Headmaster or the Dark Lord, about anyone — but Harry.

"Harry? Harry!"

Lili ran through the rainfall of glass to the boy she loved, sliding on her knees to be at his side. He was pressed against the wall by one of the fireplaces, blood and tears still on his face, lost to the pain swirling inside him. He couldn't seem to move, but she wrapped her arms tight round his shoulders, clutching him close to her, bringing him into her safety. He slumped into her chest, watching the battle through glazed eyes.

Dumbledore against Voldemort.

It was a wonder to behold, these two great wizards duelling to the death.

Brilliant red and green light combatted, shooting off bolts of power, scattering dust and tile into the air. Dumbledore matched the Dark Lord at every turn. When he cast Darkness, Dumbledore brought up beams of light. The Dark Lord conjured Fiendfrye, a serpent not so different than Lili's lion, and Dumbledore combatted it with a wave of water. When he sent a storm of shattered glass their way, Dumbledore reduced it to mere sand.

Whenever they tried to help, the Headmaster sent the two teens flying back to safety, and they were forced to watch from the sidelines as the duel waged.

Then, in a gust of crystal sand, the Dark Lord disappeared.

Confused, Lili shakily pushed herself to her feet, "Headmaster?"

"Stay where you are, Lilium!"

Dumbledore sounded... he sounded frightened.

Then, Harry screamed. When his scar split open and blood spurted into the air, he grasped his forehead and collapsed to his knees. He shrieked in agony, the pain unbearable. He opened his eyes and they were a frightening blue rather than the kind green. And when Harry spoke, it was not his voice.

"You've lost, old man."

Lili dropped to her hands and knees once more, wanting to reach out, to touch him, "Harry...?"

The boy writhed on the floor, coiling like a snake, hissing and groaning.

"Harry, come back!" Lili tried, voice choked, "Come back, love, come back to me..."

Harry jerked and cried out.

"Kill me now, Delphini... If death is nothing, Dumbledore," said the monster possessing the boy she loved, "Let Delphini kill the boy..."

"No. No."

Lili gritted her teeth, got in position, and levelled her face with Harry's possessed one — black eyes meeting pale blue.

"Lilium..." Dumbledore knew exactly what she was planning, resting his hand on her shoulder, "Lilium, do not—,"

Lili ignored him.

"Legilimens."

Lili gasped when she was thrust into Harry's corrupted thoughts. It was harder than before, when it was a mind possessed, but soon she was wading through the twisted infection of the Dark Lord's presence. It was a black tar, thick sledge, just as it had been when he had contaminated hers. He was drowning Harry in it. Surrounding him with Darkness, with cruel memories, with sickening fantasies...

And Lili had seen this happen before. To herself.

His mum stepping in the way of the Killing Curse. Fiendrye burning in the form of a snake. The whole school turning against him. Sirius getting struck by a green light. Cedric falling dead into the grass in the graveyard. Lili getting kidnapped from the park in Cokeworth. The Dementor reaching out its icy hand. Sirius sinking into the Veil.

Harry screamed.

Lili screamed back, 'Harry! Harry, focus on my voice!'

Nagini striking Mister Weasley over and over. Aunt Petunia shoving Harry into his cupboard. Harry sitting alone on his bed. Lili shaking and crying into her hands. Snape, in pain, being summoned to Voldemort's meetings. Harry staring alone into the fire. Sirius sinking into the Veil over and over. Harry all alone... all... alone.

The Dark Lord hissed, 'Look — at — me.'

In the mirror, not himself, just Harry's body with the Dark Lord as his face.

Out of their minds, Harry raised himself up from his belly, twisting, turning, eyes rolling in their sockets.

"Harry, it isn't how you are alike," Dumbledore whispered from above, "It's how you are not!"

Gritting her teeth, Lili clawed her way through the pain and misery in his mind, wading through the waist—high Darkness, shouting to be heard amongst the horror:

'Fight him, Harry! Fight him, and don't stop. Your strength is love, and Voldemort can't survive where love exists. Wrap it around you, pull it close. Because we're together — you and me. Always.'

Then, with a monstrous shove, Lili pushed as much love and hope and comfort as she possibly could from her mind into his. She felt the sludge balk at the pure strength of her love, ripping through the Dark Lord's possession, forcing the inky tar to writhe in pain.

Harry's screams eased.

But Lili didn't stop. Though her mind was quaking, though her magic was exhausted, she kept pushing, transferring the appreciation, the admiration, the safety into his thoughts. The screams were growing quieter. His eyes were less blue. The Darkness kept writhing in their shared minds. Distantly, Lili was aware of their friends running to find them, watching, waiting, hoping. Harry laid weakly in the glassy sand, and he thought of everyone he had ever loved, and he used his love like a coat of amour.

Lili asking him if he was all right on that first Halloween. Seeing his parents smiling in the Mirror of Erised. The Golden Trio, laughing, always laughing. Lili showing him around Cokeworth. Snape smirking at him from across the table. Sirius telling him that he could live with him. Lili pressing her lips against his in the carriage. Hermione giving him a hug at the Leaving Feast. Ron letting him join his family's table. Lili sleeping at his side in their shared bed. Lili promising him that she would be his family. Lili holding him after a vision. Lili. Lili, Lili, Lili. Always Lili.

He was free.

Lili tumbled out of Harry's mind, panting and sweating, her black eyes still locked on his — now a brilliant kind green.

"You're the weak one..." Harry whispered to the Dark Lord, who was never far away. "And you'll never know love or friendship. And I feel sorry for you."

Together, in their minds, Harry and Lili smashed the mirror.

There was pride, Lili was so bloody proud. But then were was pain. Pain, pain, pain. Harry screamed and threw himself onto his back just as a cyclone of crystal engulfed them, suspended in a circle of air. Cradling Harry's bleeding head, Lili slowly looked up to find the Dark Lord standing over them.

Their eyes met, briefly, and she knew whatever game he thought she was playing, she was winning.

Robes rippling in imagined wind, the Dark Lord leant over and bared his fangs like a snake, "You're a fool, Harry Potter. And you will lose... everything."

With one final mental push, Harry gasped and slumped to the ground. His eyes were closed, his face almost peaceful. He's dead, Lili's mind screamed, He's dead, he's dead, he's dead. Blood flowed from his scar across his face to the tiled ground. Lili's hands were stained with Harry's blood. The cyclone continued, spinning wildly, sparkling crystals separating the prophecy children from the rest of the world.

Then, green flames exploded from all the fireplaces round the Atrium, and people appeared as they Apparated in — Aurors and MInistry workers and Order members. Still in the cyclone, the Dark Lord raised his head and locked his eyes on Minister Fudge who emerged amongst them, in his pyjamas and eyes widening at the sight.

Then, the Dark Lord Disapparated.

It was over.

"He's back..." Fudge whispered, stumbling closer in disbelief. "Albus, what has happened?"

Just behind them, Dumbledore stepped forward so that the newcomers could see that the old wizard once on the run was no in their presence. Half the Atrium gasped and drew back while the other half still reeled from witnessing the Dark Lord's attack. In response to the Minister of Magic's question, the Headmaster stood to his full height and his blue eyes twinkled no more, only blazed when he answered:

"The Second War has begun, Minister."

ANNIE SPEAKS

ϟ

and it's only going to get worse from here... muhahaha

hold onto your butts, my dudes!!

CHAPTER FIFTY :

Lili nodded then, letting the silence lapse for only a few moments before harshly clearing her throat and straightening up, "What I really want to talk about is the Prophecy, and how it's connected to me and Harry. You know it, don't you? At least some of it?"

Severus' silence was answer enough. Her father's expression seemed perfectly empty, as if he were thinking of something far away, but for only a second, there was such sadness in his black eyes that she quickly looked back down at her hands.

"Tell me all of it. Every piece."

This is how it ended: a broken girl with her head in her hands, crying.

my meme for this chapter:

hang in there, guys