𝗙𝗔𝗩𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗠𝗘

ACT TWO, CHAPTER EIGHT
death & destruction.

THE WORLD WAS cruel according to Penelope Lestrange.

It always had a way of reminding her that things couldn't last forever, that there always had to be pain and suffering no matter what. But as she stood there in shock, the sounds of fighting fading into a dull ringing in her ears and her mind spinning out of control, she didn't understand why the battle was still going on.

Fred Weasley couldn't be dead. The boy who was so full of life, the one who was just laughing a minute ago, the one who had told Peeves to give Umbridge hell, the one that had teased Penelope and Ron relentlessly about their relationship even though he loved them together . . . dead?

Penelope felt like she was sinking. The battle around her ceased to a dull ringing in her ears and her mind was spinning. It quite frankly felt like she was having an out of body experience how everything started to go in slow motion. All she could do was stand there in shock.

And then a body fell past the hole blown into the side of the school, curses flying at them from the darkness. Penelope felt arms grab her and yank her to the floor, and she snapped out of her trance.

"Get down!" Harry ordered, pulling Venus down. However, Percy continued to lay across Fred's body, shieling it from furhter harm. "Percy, come on, we've got to move!"

"Percy!" Ron shouted, tear tracks streaking the grime coating his face. He seized his brother's shoulders and pulled, but Percy didn't move. "Percy, you can't do anything for him! We're going to—"

Hermione then screamed. Penelope whipped around and saw a large monstrous spider trying to climb through the huge hole in the wall. Ron and Harry shouted together, and the collision of their spells sent the monster away, vanishing into the darkness.

"It brought friends!" Harry called. He was right⁠ — more giant spiders were climbing into the castle, liberated from the Forbidden Forest, which the Death Eaters had probably gotten control of. Penelope started to fire Stunning Spells. "Let's move, NOW!"

Penelope grabbed Ron's hand and charged ahead, Hermione, Elijah, and Charlotte behind them. Venus and Harry stayed behind to help Percy with Fred ⁠— Penelope couldn't look at him a second longer. She then pulled Ron behind a tapestry as soon as Percy let out ROOKWOOD!, knowing that Ron would try to go after his brother.

She was right. Ron let go of her hand and went to charge, but Penelope grabbed onto him and pulled him back. He thrashed against her, his entire body shaking and tears falling down his cheeks.

"Let me go, Penelope—⁠" Ron began.

"I'm sorry, but I can't," Penelope replied as Hermione called Harry and Venus behind the tapestry. "Hey, listen to me—⁠"

"I wanna help ⁠— I wanna kill Death Eaters—⁠"

Penelope let out a sob. "I know you do, but remember the Horcruxes! The snake ⁠— Nagini's the only one left ⁠— we're the only ones—⁠"

"I don't care—"

"Look at me—"

"Fred—⁠"

"Look at me!" Penelope ordered, letting him go but quickly taking his face in her hands. The two teenagers in love were both crying, both of their faces covered in dust. "Fred would've wanted us to do everything we could to destroy Voldemort, and getting to the snake is the only way we can do that. That's our fight right now." She then looked at Harry. "He'll have Nagini with him. Find him."

Harry then closed his eyes. It was a couple moments, and their group all stared at Harry, ignoring the screams and bangs and cries from the battle around them. Penelope slowly dropped her hands from Ron's face, but he reached out and took one, interlocking their fingers together tightly. Harry then gasped and his eyes flew open.

"He's in the Shrieking Shack," Harry announced. "The snake's with him, it's got some sort of magical protection around it. He's just sent Lucius Malfoy to find Snape."

"Voldemort's sitting in the Shrieking Shack?" Hermione asked, outraged. "He's not — he's not even fighting?"

"He doesn't think he needs to fight. He thinks I'm going to go to him." Venus then replied by saying that Harry would not be doing that, and then asked why. "He knows I'm after Horcruxes — he's keeping Nagini close beside him — obviously I'm going to have to go to him to get near the thing—"

"Right," Ron voiced, squaring his shoulders. "So you can't go, that'swhat he wants, what he's expecting. You stay here and look after everyone, and I'll go and get it—"

Harry cut across him. "You seven stay here, I'll go under the Cloak and I'll be back as soon as I—"

"No, it makes much more sense if I take the Cloak and—" Hermione began.

"Absolutely not," Elijah stated. "No way."

"Eli, I'm just as capable—"

The tapestry at the top of the staircase on which they stood was then ripped open, revealing two Death Eaters.

"POTTER!"

"Gliesseo!" Hermione recited.

The stairs beneath their feet then flattened into a chute. Penelope, Ron, Harry, Venus, Hermione, Elijah, and Charlotte all hurtled down it, unable to control their speed but fast enough that the Death Eaters' Stunning Spells flew far over their heads. They shot through the concealing tapestry at the bottom and spun onto the floor, hitting against the opposite wall.

"Duro!" Hermione cried, and the tapestry turned into stone, making the Death Eaters run into it and collapse with two sickening crunches.

"Get back!" Ron ordered.

They all flattened themselves against a door as a herd of galloping desks thundered past them, led by a sprinting McGonagall. She seemed to not notice them. Her hair was down and there was a gash on her cheek, but she didn't seem bothered. As she turned the corner, they heard her scream CHARGE!

Penelope nodded. "Badass."

"Harry, you get the Cloak on," Hermione said. "Never mind us—"

Somehow, Harry managed to cover all seven of them with the Cloak. Even though it was definitely not made for seven people, nobody would see their disembodied feet through the dust that clogged the air, the falling stones, and the shimmer of spells.

They ran down the next staircase and found themselves in a corridor full of duelers. The portraits on the walls were crammed with figures screaming advice and encouragement, while Death Eaters, both masked and unmasked, dueled students and teachers (Penelope — ⁠thank God — ⁠did not see her mother.) Dean Thomas had found himself a wand and was dueling Dolohov while Parvati Patil was dueling Travers. Their group of seven all raised their wands, ready to strike, but the duelers were weaving and darting around so much that there was a strong likelihood of hurting someone on their own side if they cast a curse. Even as they stood there, looking for the opportunity to act, there was a great Wheeeeeeeeeeee! Penelope looked up to see Peeves zooming over them, dropping Snargaluff pods down onto the Death Eaters, whose heads were suddenly engulfed in wriggling green tubers.

"Argh!" Ron then let out, for fistful of tubers had hit the Cloak over Ron's head and he was trying to shake them loose.

A Death Eater pointed at them. "Someone's invisible there!:

Dean, seeing an opportunity, knocked the Death Eater out with a Stunning Spell while he was distracted. Dolohov attempted to retaliate and Parvati shot a Body-Bind Curse at him.

"LET'S GO!" Harry yelled.

He, Ron, Hermione, Penelope, Venus, Charlotte, and Elijah gathered the Cloak tightly around themselves and sprinted, heads down. They ran through the midst of the fighters, slipping in puddles of Snargaluff juice, towards the top of the marble staircase into the entrance hall.

"I'm Draco Malfoy, I'm Draco, I'm on your side!" Draco insisted.

He was standing on the upper landing, pleading with another masked Death Eater. Penelope Stunned the Death Eater as he passed. Draco looked around, a smile on his face as he tried to find his savior, but then Penelope brought her fist out from underneath the Cloak and punched him right across the face. Draco fell backwards on top of the Death Eater with his mouth bleeding, utterly confused.

"You're a two-timing bitch!" Penelope called as they ran.

There were more duelers all over the stairs and in the hall. Death Eaters were everywhere Penelope looked. Yaxley was fighting Flitwick, a masked Death Eater was dueling Kingsley. Students ran in every direction, some carrying or dragging injuried friends. Charlotte sent a Stunning Spell towards the masked Death Eater, but it missed and nearly hit her boyfriend, because Neville had emerged from nowhere holding armfuls of Venomous Tentacula.

They sped down the marble staircase. Glass shattered to their left, and the Slytherin hourglass that had recorded House points spilled its emeralds everywhere, so that people slipped and staggered as they ran. Two bodies then fell from the balcony overhead as they reached the ground, and a gray blur that Penelope knew was a Werewolf sunk its teeth into one of the fallen.

"Get the fuck away from her!" Penelope screamed.

She pointed her wand at the animal. With a deafening blast, Fenir Greyback was thrown backwards from the stirring body of Lavender Brown. Suddenly, the feud that they had last year over Ron didn't even matter anymore. Quite frankly, it was actually petty and really fucking stupid. Right now, it was life or death. Penelope wanted her to live.

Greyback hit the marble banisters and struggled to return to his feet. Then, with a bright white flash and a crack, a crystal ball fell on top of his head. Greyback crumpled to the ground and did not move.

"I have more!" Trelawney shrieked from over the banisters. "More for any who want them! Here—"

Trelawney then got another enormous crystal sphere from her bag. She waved her wand through the air and caused the ball to speed across the hall and smash through a window. At the same moment, the heavy wooden front doors burst open, and more of the gigantic spiders forced their way into the entrance hall. Screams of terror rang through the air, and fighters from both sides scattered. Jets of red and green light flew into the midst of the oncoming monsters, which shuddered and reared, more terrifying than ever.

"How are we supposed to get out?" Elijah yelled over the screaming.

Before any of them could answer, they were pushed aside. Hagrid was now thundering down the stairs, holding his flowery pink umbrella.

"Don't hurt 'em, don't hurt 'em!" Hagrid insisted.

"HAGRID, NO!" Harry cried.

Literally forgetting the whole reason they were under the Cloak, Harry sprinted out from underneath, running bent over to avoid the curses that illuminated the whole hall. Venus gasped and immediately followed after her boyfriend. Penelope watched the whole thing unfold ⁠— Hagrid vanished among the spiders, and the spiders retreated, Hagrid buried in their midst.

"No!" Charlotte let out. "Oh my God — ⁠Venus! Harry! Hagrid!"

"We gotta go," Elijah urged. "Come on!"

Their now group of five ripped the Cloak off and ran after Harry and Venus. However, as they got closer, Harry and Venus got stopped by a huge foot being in their way, one that made the ground shudder. A Giant was standing there, twenty feet high, its head hidden in the shadows. With one fluid movement, it smashed a massive fist through an upper window. Glass rained down upon Harry and Venus, forcing him to pull them back under the shelter of the doorway. Penelope, Ron, Hermione, Charlotte, and Elijah caught up with them.

"Oh my—⁠!" Hermione exclaimed as they all gazed upwards at the Giant now trying to seize people through the window above.

"Hermione, no!" Elijah shouted as she raised her wand. "If you Stun him he'll crush half the castle—⁠"

"HAGGER?"

Grwap the Giant then came lurching around the castle, small in size compared to the other ones. The Giant trying to crush people on the upper floors looked around and let out a roar. He stomped towards Grawp, and they launched themselves at each other.

"RUN!" Harry roared.

He grabbed Venus' hand and pulled her along, but not before grabbing onto Charlotte's hand. Charlotte grabbed onto Hermione, who grabbed onto Elijah, who grabbed onto Penelope, who grabbed onto Ron. They all held onto each other as they sprinted through the hideous blows and yells.

They had made it halfway to the forest when something stopped them again. The air around them had frozen. Penelope stopped, her breath catching in her throat. Shapes moved out of the darkness, swirling figures of blackness, moving in a great wave towards the castle, their faces hooded and their breath rattling . . .

Penelope raised her wand, but the sounds of fighting behind them grew muted. A silence only Dementors could bring was falling, and Fred was dead, and Nymphadora was nowhere to be found, and Bellatrix was out there killing more people, causing more messes for Penelope to clean up . . .

Snap out of it.

"Expecto Patronum!" Penelope recited, thinking about how she danced at Bill and Fleur's wedding.

Her silver King Cobra slithered through the air, along with Ron's terrier, Hermione's otter, Venus' Thunderbird, Elijah's cat, and Charlotte's hummingbird. However, there were hundreds of Dementors, and their Patronuses were not strong enough. All of their silver animals flickered out. Penelope felt her hands begin to shake, and she started to go numb . . .

And then a silver hare, a boar, and a fox soared past their heads. The Dementors fell back at their approach. Three more people had arrived out of the darkness to stand beside them, their wands outstretched, continuing to cast their Patronuses — ⁠Luna Lovegood, Ernie Macmillan, and Seamus Finnigan.

"That's right," Luna encouraged, like they were back in the Room of Requirement with the D.A. "That's right, Harry . . . come on, think of something happy . . ."

"Something happy?" Harry repeated, his voice cracking.

"We're all still here, we're still fighting. Come on, now . . ."

Harry then cast his own Patronus, a stag. It cantered forwards, causing the Dementors to scatter. The night immediately turned mild once more, and the sounds of battle resumed to their usual volume. Penelope let out a tired breath. God, she hated Dementors.

Ron turned to Luna, Ernie, and Seamus. "Can't thank you enough, you just saved—"

With a roar and a rumble of the Earth, another Giant came coming out of the darkness from the forest, holding a club taller than any of them.

"RUN!" Harry screamed.

They all scattered, and soon enough, the creature's foot stomped exactly where they had been standing. Penelope ran towards Harry, Ron, Hermione, Charlotte, and Elijah behind her. Luna, Ernie, and Seamus had vanished back into the battle.

"Let's get out of range!" Ron suggested as the Giant swung its club once more and its bellows echoed through the night, across the grounds where jets of red and green light continued to illuminate the darkness.

"The Whomping Willow, go!" Harry voiced.

Penelope ran faster than she had in her entire life, pushing down her feelings and keeping her composure, in true Slytherin fashion. Nothing was okay, and nothing was fine, but she pushed on. Her muscles ached and she couldn't really breathe as she ran. Finally, they reached the Whomping Willow, its branches swinging. Harry and Venus were the first ones to reach it and stopped, waiting for the others to catch up.

Charlotte paced her hands on her knees. "Oh my God, I need to start doing cardio."

"I don't really think now's ⁠— now's the time, Lottie," Elijah replied, gasping for air.

"How — how're we going to get in?" Ron panted. "I can — see the place — if we just had — Crookshanks again—"

"Crookshanks?" Hermione wheezed, bent over as she clutched her chest. "Are you a wizard, or what?"

"Oh — right — yeah—" Ron looked around for a moment and then directed his wand at a twig on the ground. "Wingardium Leviosa!"

The twig flew up, spun through the air, and then zoomed directly at the trunk through the Willow's swaying branches. It jabbed at a place near the roots, and at once, the writhing tree became still.

"Perfect!" Hermione responded.

"Wait," Harry protested.

Venus then squeezed his hand, saying they were right behind him. Harry then disappeared into the tree's roots. All of them went after him into the earthy passage, coming up in a low-ceilinged tunnel. They had to crawl through it because it was so small. Harry led them with his wand illuminated, none of them saying anything. At last the tunnel started to slope upwards and there was a silver light ahead.

Hermione tugged on Harry's ankle. "The Cloak! Put the Cloak on!"

Harry grabbed the Cloak from her and put it over himself. He then extinguished his wandlight, and they continued to crawl towards the silver light ahead.

There were voices coming from the room directly ahead of them, only slightly muffled by the fact that the opening at the end of the tunnel had been blocked by an old crate. Harry edged right up to the opening and peered through a tiny gap left between crate and wall. Penelope stayed back, pressing up her side into Ron as voices started to come through.

" . . . my Lord, their resistance is crumbling—" Snape's voice was saying.

"—and it is doing so without your help," Voldemort replied in his high, clear voice, one that gave Penelope the chills. "Skilled wizard though you are, Severus, I do not think you will make much difference now. We are almost there . . . almost."

"Let me find the boy. Let me bring you Potter. I know I can find him, my Lord. Please."

Silence for a moment.

"I have a problem, Severus," Voldemort admitted softly.

"My Lord?" Snape questioned.

"Why doesn't it work for me, Severus?"

Penelope and Ron shared a glance. The Elder Wand.

"My — my Lord?" Snape responded blankly. "I do not understand. You — you have performed extraordinary magic with that wand."

"No," Voldemort argued. "I have performed my usual magic. I am extraordinary, but this wand . . . no. It has not revealed the wonders it has promised. I feel no difference between this wand and the one I procured from Ollivander all those years ago. No difference."

Snape didn't speak. Penelope found all of this a little ridiculous. God, the Death Eaters were all just one huge cult, weren't they?"

"I have thought long and hard, Severus . . . do you know why I have called you back from the battle?"

"No, my Lord, but I beg you will let me return," Snape answered. "Let me find Potter."

"You sound like Lucius," Voldemort said. "Neither of you understands Potter as I do. He does not need finding. Potter will come to me. I know his weakness, you see, his one great flaw. He will hate watching the others struck down around him, knowing that it is for him that it happens. He will want to stop it at any cost. He will come."

"But my Lord, he might be killed accidentally by one other than yourself—"

"My instructions to my Death Eaters have been perfectly clear. Capture Potter. Kill his friends — the more, the better — but do not kill him. But it is of you that I wished to speak, Severus, not Harry Potter. You have been very valuable to me. Very valuable."

"My Lord knows I seek only to serve him," Snape voiced. "But — let me go and find the boy, my Lord. Let me bring him to you. I know I can—"

"I have told you, no!" Voldemort shouted. "My concern at the moment, Severus, is what will happen when I finally meet the boy!"

"My Lord, there can be no question, surely—?" Snape inquired.

"—but there is a question, Severus. There is." Voldemort paused. "Why did both the wands I have used fail when directed at Harry Potter?"

"I — I cannot answer that, my Lord."

"Can't you?" Voldemort countered. "My wand of yew did everything of which I asked it, Severus, except to kill Harry Potter. Twice it failed. Ollivander told me under torture of the twin cores, told me to take another's wand. I did so, but Lucius's wand shattered upon meeting Potter's."

"I — I have no explanation, my Lord," Snape stammered.

"I sought a third wand, Severus. The Elder Wand, the Wand of Destiny, the Deathstick. I took it from its previous master. I took it from the grave of Albus Dumbledore."

"My Lord — let me go to the boy—" Snape insisted.

Voldemort's voice was barely louder than a whisper. "All this long night, when I am on the brink of victory, I have sat here, wondering, wondering, why the Elder Wand refuses to be what it ought to be, refuses to perform as legend says it must perform for its rightful owner . . . and I think I have the answer." Snape didn't speak. "Perhaps you already know it? You are a clever man, after all, Severus. You have been a good and faithful servant, and I regret what must happen."

"My Lord—"

"The Elder Wand cannot serve me properly, Severus, because I am not its true master. The Elder Wand belongs to the wizard who killed its last owner. You killed Albus Dumbledore. While you live, Severus, the Elder Wand cannot be truly mine."

Penelope felt like she was going to be sick. She knew what was about to happen with horrible clarity.

"My Lord!" Snape protested.

"It cannot be any other way," Voldemort admitted. "I must master the wand, Severus. Master the wand, and I master Potter at last."

There was a hissing noise, and a terrible scream echoed through the air. Penelope squeezed her eyes shut as she heard a thud. She knew it was Snape's body.

"I regret it," Voldemort admitted coldly.

No he fucking didn't. There was absolutely no sadness in him, no remorse.

"Harry!" Hermione whispered.

He pointed his wand at the crate blocking his view. It lifted an inch in the air and drifted sideways silently. As quietly as he could, he pulled himself up into the room. The rest of them followed him silently, pulling themselves up into the Shrieking Shack.

Penelope crossed her arms across her chest, hanging back as Harry approached Snape. Her Head of House was white in the face and his fingers were trying to staunch the bloody wound at his neck. Harry bent over the man he hated, and Snape seized the front of his robes and pulled him close. A terrible rasping, gurling noise issued from Snape's throat.

"Take . . . it . . ." Snape pleaded. "Take . . . it . . ."

Something more than blood was leaking from Snape. Silvery blue gushed from his mouth and ears and his eyes. Hermione then conjured a flash from thin air and thrust it into Harry's shaking hands. He lifted the silvery substance into it with his wand. When the flask was full to the brim, and Snape looked like there was no blood left in him, his grip on Harry's robes slackened.

"Look . . . at . . . me . . ."

And for the second time that night, Penelope watched someone die. The hand holding Harry thudded to the floor, and Severus Snape did not move again.

Suddenly, a high, cold voice spoke close to them. Penelope straightened up, her eyes wide. She thought that Voldemort had come back in the room, but he had not. He was talking to Hogwarts and the surrounding area, just like before when Penelope and Ron were in the Chamber of Secrets. His voice reverberated from the walls and the floor.

"You have fought valiantly," Voldemort told them. "Lord Voldemort knows how to value bravery. Yet you have sustained heavy losses. If you continue to resist me, you will all die, one by one. I do not wish this to happen. Every drop of magical blood spilled is a loss and a waste. Lord Voldemort is merciful. I command my forces to retreat immediately. You have one hour. Dispose of your dead with dignity. Treat your injured. I speak now, Harry Potter, directly to you. You have permittedyour friends to die for you rather than face me yourself. I shall waitfor one hour in the Forbidden Forest. If, at the end of that hour,you have not come to me, have not given yourself up, then battle recommences. This time, I shall enter the fray myself, Harry Potter, and I shall find you, and I shall punish every last man, woman, and child who has tried to conceal you from me. One hour."

"Stupid bitch," Penelope muttered.

"Don't listen to him," Ron stated.

"It'll be all right," Hermione reassured them, but they all knew that was a lie. "Let's — let's get back to the castle, if he's gone to the forest we'll need to think of a new plan—"

She glanced at Snape's body before hurrying back into the tunnel entrance. Penelope smiled softly at how Ron kissed her forehead before they all descended back down the tunnel. The seven of them crawled back through the tunnel, none of them daring to say a word.

Small bundles seemed to litter the lawn at the front of the castle. It was only about an hour away from dawn, yet it was pitch-black. The group of seven hurried towards the stone steps. A lone clog lay abandoned in front of them, but there is no other sign of Grawp or his attacker.

After all the fighting, the castle was unnaturally silent. The flagstone floor of the deserted entrance hall were stained with blood. Emeralds from the Slytherin hourglass were still scattered all over the floor, along with pieces of marble and splintered wood. Part of the banisters had been blown away.

"Where is everyone?" Hermione whispered.

Ron led the way to the Great Hall, but the sight made them all stop in the doorway.

The House tables were gone and the room was crowded. All of the survivors stood in small groups, holding onto each other. The injured were being treated upon the raised platform by Madam Pomfrey and a group of helpers. Meanwhile, the dead lay in a row in the middle of the Hall. Penelope wasn't able to see Fred's body or those who surrounded him because of the Weasley family. George was kneeling at his twin brother's head, Mrs. Weasley was lying across Fred's chest with her body shaking, and Mr. Weasley was stroking her hair while tears cascaded down his cheeks. Bill, Fleur, Ginny, and Percy all stood back.

"You're not alone in this," Penelope told Ron quietly. "I'm by your side, always. You know that."

Ron squeezed her hand, his blue eyes filling with tears. "Stay close to me right now. Please."

Penelope nodded. "Of course."

Together, her, Ron, Hermione, Charlotte, and Elijah walked up to the Weasley family, leaving Venus and Harry behind, even though Charlotte wandered off to go see Neville. As soon as they reached them, Percy flung an arm around Ron's shoulder and pulled him closer to them, forcing his hand out of Penelope's. Penelope then looked over at Ginny, her blotchy face and her red eyes both holding so much pain.

"Penelope," Ginny let out through a sob.

The Slytherin frowned. "Oh, Ginny—"

Penelope went to gather the girl in her arms, but Ginny let out another sob and shook her head. She looked at the girl in confusion. Ginny didn't say anything else — all she did was point to the spot next to them on the floor. Penelope glanced over, but she wished she hadn't, because the sight of it made her heart stop.

Nymphadora and Remus were lying there — dead — with their blank eyes staring up at the starry ceiling above them. Penelope froze. How had she not noticed them first? They should've been the first people Penelope was looking for . . . she should've been with them . . .

"No," Penelope cried. She shook her head, not wanting it to be true, as a tear fell down her cheek. "Dora . . . Remus . . ."

There were really no words to describe what Penelope was feeling except numb. Not really thinking about it, she sunk to her knees next to her cousin, her best friend, and took her cold hand in hers. Penelope let out a sob and laid her head on Nymphadora's chest, beginning to cry unashamedly.

Nymphadora was the one person who knew her better than she knew herself, the one who took her to Diagon Alley for the first time, the one who made her feel safe and loved no matter what. And now she was dead. No more secret sharing, no more gossiping, no more late nights giggling over her Metamorphagus skills, no more Nymphadora.

Penelope lifted her head up, looking at Nymphadora's pale face. A sense of rage overtook her, and she sniffled, letting out a sob. Standing by, watching, was none other than McGonagall. The woman, looking worn, had a knowing look on her face. Penelope knew.

"Who killed them?" Penelope demanded.

"You're not going to like it if I tell you, Miss Lestrange," McGonagall responded.

"Please, Professor," Penelope begged, standing up with her hands shaking. "I need to know."

"Antonin Dolohov killed Remus. And . . . and Bellatrix Lestrange killed Nymphadora."

Penelope felt like a knife had just impaled her heart. Of course, of fucking course.

"My mother killed Nymphadora?" Penelope asked, her voice steely as she slowly started to feel herself lose her sanity. "Bellatrix? She . . . she's ruined everything about my life. Hadn't she done enough? She had to take her away? That's not . . . that's not fair. Nymphadora and Remus had just gotten — they had just gotten married—"

She started to feel her breath leave her. Her hands started to shake more and her mind was going out of control. She didn't really know what to do — but who did? Nymphadora was dead, by the hand of her mother. Bellatrix knew what Nymphadora meant to Penelope, and just had to fucking ruin her life even more.

Penelope let out a sob, one that ricocheted throughout her entire body. "They . . . they had a son — Teddy—" Her breathing became more erratic. "She's ruined it, she's ruined everything—"

"Miss Lestrange—"

"No!" Penelope shouted, squeezing her eyes shut as she reached her hands up and gripped her hair. "No, I don't want to be tied to that name anymore — the things she's done — I hate her, I hate her—"

"P," Ron's voice began gently, but it sounded completely underwater to her. "Penelope, baby, come here—"

"Don't touch me!" she cried, escaping the grip that he was trying to have on her.

"Penelope—"

And just like she had done when she found out Ted died, Penelope screamed. It came straight from the pain in her heart, and she sunk back down to the ground, clutching her hair in effort to regain some feeling, but nothing was working. She felt Ron's arms wrap around her tightly and pull her into him while she started to sob. It was like he was trying to keep all of the broken pieces of her together.

"I hate her," Penelope cried into his chest. "I hate her."

Ron nodded. "I know."

He didn't say anything else. Ron allowed her to scream and cry into his chest, just like Elijah had did when Ted had died. Penelope cried her heart's content over Nymphadora, and Fred, and the entire battle until she was completely exhausted and ran out of tears. So there she sat on the ground in between Nymphadora and Fred with Ron by her side, slightly hiccupping and taking sips of water when Ron encouraged her to so she wouldn't pass out.

"I'm going to kill her when I see her," Penelope said out of the blue, no emotion left in her eyes.

Ron blinked. "P—"

"I don't fucking care. After everything she's done, it's me who's going to end her. It has to be."

"But—"

"You would've killed Rookwood if you had the chance," Penelope argued. "I know you would have. You even said it yourself. Because you lost a brother today, but I also lost a sister. To my own mother. Mark my words, she's going to get what she deserves."

Ron nodded slowly. "All right. I'll be right behind—"

"Harry Potter is dead."

The loud, magnified voice rang through the Great Hall. All of their conversation was cut short, and everybody was left in a stunned silence. Penelope's eyes widened and she slowly stood up, turning towards the doors of the Great Hall along with everyone else. Her heart stopped. Harry, dead? No, she couldn't believe it . . .

"He was killed as he ran away, trying to save himself while you lay down your lives for him. We bring you his body as proof that your hero is gone. The battle is won. You have lost half of your fighters. My Death Eaters outnumber you, and the Boy Who Lived is finished. There must be no more war. Anyone who continues to resist, man, woman, or child, will be slaughtered, as will every member of their family. Come out of the castle now, kneel before me, and you shall be spared. Your parents and children, your brothers and sisters will live and be forgiven, and you will join me in the new world we shall build together."

Loud marching was heard in the distance. Venus was the first one to take off, and Penelope couldn't even imagine how the girl was feeling right now. Penelope latched onto Ron's hand and followed her, along with Hermione, Elijah, Neville, and Charlotte. They all went out the doors of the school, only to see a group of Death Eaters at the entrance of Hogwarts, Bellatrix and Voldemort in the lead. Penelope then glanced over at Hagrid, who was carrying a limp Harry.

"NO!" McGonagall screamed, and Bellatrix laughed, making Penelope grit her teeth — it took all of her willpower to not attack her right then and there.

"No!" Ron and Hermione shouted at the same time.

Penelope glanced over at him worryingly, her own heart shattering. She had never heard Ron sound so . . . broken. But, then again, now he had lost two brothers in one day. Venus started to plead with Charlotte and Elijah, but the news hit her, and she let out the most heartbreaking yell and sob, worse than Penelope's. She collapsed into Elijah's arms, who caught her and held her close.

"SILENCE!" Voldemort demanded. There was a bang and a flash of bright light, and silence was forced upon them. "It is over! Sethim down, Hagrid, at my feet, where he belongs!" Hagrid set Harry down on the grass, and Voldemort paced in front of Harry. "You see? Harry Potter is dead! Do you understand now, deluded ones? He was nothing, ever, but a boy who relied on others to sacrifice themselves for him!"

"He beat you!" Ron yelled.

The charm broke. All of the defenders of Hogwarts started to shout and scream again. There was a second, more powerful bang that extinguished their voices one more. Penelope's eyes blazed with anger.

"He was killed while trying to sneak out of the castle grounds, killed while trying to save himself—" Voldemort continued.

"Neville!" Charlotte then screamed.

Penelope turned. Neville had let go of his girlfriend with a shout and charged straight at Voldemort. Voldemort Stunned Neville and Disarmed him, making Neville hit the ground. He threw Neville's wand aside.

"And who is this?" Voldemort questioned. "Who has volunteered to demonstrate what happens to those who continue to fight when the battle is lost?"

Bellatrix gave out a delighted laugh. "It is Neville Longbottom, my Lord! The boy who has been giving the Carrows so much trouble! The son of the Aurors, remember?"

"Ah yes, I remember." Voldemort looked down at Neville, who was struggling back to his feet, unarmed and unprotected. "But you are a Pureblood, aren't you, my brave boy?"

Neville clenched his fists. "So what if I am?"

"You show spirit and bravery, and you come of noble stock. You will make a very valuable Death Eater. We need your kind, Neville Longbottom."

"I'll join you when hell freezes over. Dumbledore's Army!"

There was an answering cheer from the crowd, which Voldemort's Silencing Charms seemed unable to hold.

"Very well," Voldemort voiced. "If that is your choice, Longbottom, we revert to the original plan. On your head, be it."

Voldemort waved his wand. Seconds later, out of one of the castle's shattered windows, a misshapen object came and landed in Voldemort's hands. Penelope stared at it — it was the Sorting Hat.

"There will be no more Sorting at Hogwarts School," Voldemort announced. "There will be no more Houses. The emblem, shield, and colors of my noble ancestor, Salazar Slytherin, will suffice for everyone. Won't they, Neville Longbottom?" He pointed his wand at Neville, who grew rigid and still. Voldemort then forced the hat onto Neville's head and it slipped down below his eyes. Penelope felt Charlotte step up beside her. "Neville here is now going to demonstrate what happens to anyone foolish enough to continue to oppose me."

With a flick of his wand, he caused the Sorting Hat to burst into flames. Penelope gasped and her eyes widened and shock. Neville was now on fire, screaming, unable to move.

"No!" Charlotte screamed.

She went to run forwards, but then so many things started to happen at once. There was uproar from the distant boundary of the school and what sounded like hundreds of people came running towards the castle. Grawp then came out while yelling HAGGER!, causing Voldemort's Giants to run at him. Hooves and bows and arrows then arrived, and Centaurs started to strike down the Death Eaters.

Neville, in one swift, fluid motion, broke free of his Body-Bind Curse. The flaming Sorting Hat fell off of him and from its depths he drew something silver with a glittering, rubied handle. Its slash could not be heard over the Giants or the Centaurs, yet everyone was watching. With one single stroke, Neville sliced off Nagini's head. The snake spun high into the air before thudding to his feet.

"HARRY!" Hagrid then shouted. "HARRY — WHERE'S HARRY?"

Oh, and Harry was gone.

Chaos reigned, but Penelope only had one destination in mind. Gripping her wand tight, she started to fight her way through everything, her mind never leaving the unruly curly hair of Bellatrix Lestrange.

☆ 彡

did I cry writing this chapter?

. . .

yes

not about snape though lol fuck him

also two chapters left, how we feeling besties <3