(1) 𝐍𝐄𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐇𝐄 | d. m

Chapter twenty

March 1998

I barely remember a thing from the tumultuous last months of 1997. I spent so much time wanting to lead a normal life, or at least something close to it, but no matter how hard I tried to focus on every day matters such as engulfing myself in homework and extra curricular activities– I never seemed to stop thinking about him. About the boy who had broken my heart into a million tiny pieces. He seemed to be appearing wherever I looked; in the window reflections, in dreams and nightmares, and in the eyes of other people. Luna and Neville tried their best to comfort me, and even though I was still angry with them for their attitudes towards me and Draco's multifaceted relationship, they managed to convince me to spend more time in the Room of Requirement. Somehow, it seemed to be the one place were I could think about anything else than the troubles of my life.

"We hope you know that we are here for you, no matter what". The kind words of Luna put a melancholic smile on my face. I knew that they knew I was struggling, but I still did my best to act unfazed. I reassured them that I was well aware of their support and would try my best to be more upturned. I didn't want to be the kind of person who would bring their friends down, ruining the mood and victimising themselves; but I couldn't help feeling like things were going to get worse before they were going to get better.

I just wish I was wrong.

***

March was a strange month, to say the least. The weather seemed to be changing by the hour; thunderstorms breaking out during the early day, only to be replaced by beautiful, cloudless, orange skies during the evenings. I was seventeen, and should've been contemplating my future career, but instead, here I was, worrying about not having a future at all. Because as time moved on, it also started running out, and it was time to execute the mission we had been putting on hold for awhile. I guess, with me not seeing Draco anymore, there wasn't really an excuse to adjourn our plans any longer. So we started practicing casting spells outside of class as well as in it. The Room of Requirement acted as our own private duelling hall during the evenings, where we could prepare for the moment of truth. I found myself well-versed in the art of spell-casting, even more so than what I had believed myself to be before. I was also growing more and more adept att performing non-verban jinxes, making me reminisce about the time I knocked Draco off his feet, and into the air during DADA class. The memory casted a desolate, yet nostalgic smile upon my face. One night, however, things took an unexpected turn. I was in the Room of Requirement per usual, practicing casting my Patronus, which took the form of a black swan. I was always the first one of the three of us to run to practice after class, so it was a common occurrence for me to wait for Neville and Luna to arrive. This particular evening, however, I waited longer than I ever had before, making me wonder if anything had come up. It was half past six when I really started worrying. The Room of Requirement echoed with solitude and the fire that stood crackling, seemed to burn out, slowly, but surely. The chandelier that I had admired so carefully when I was first introduced to the room, now seemed lonely and there was silence at first, besides the soft sound of my shaky breathes.

That is when I heard someone entering through the amber door. "Thank God - I was beginning to think you weren't coming", I said, as the door opened to reveal Neville, who was looking anything but happy. His lips were curved into a slight frown, and his eyes spoke the honest truth. "Wh–what is it? What's happened? Where is Luna?", I could tell that my questions were difficult for him to answer by the look on his face. He wasn't bearing any good news, that was for sure. "Well?", I repeated after not receiving any reply. "Tell me!".

Neville took a few forced steps into the centre of the room, trying to hold his head up. "It's Luna. She has been taken". His words left a lump in my throat and I was beginning to think this was indeed a serious matter. He wasn't joking. "What are you talking about?!", I said, trying to remain calm, while inside – I was freaking out. Neville seemed to be forcing the words from his mouth, as he was stuttering somewhat, making it difficult to comprehend what he was saying. "She was there–then the next second, she wasn't. It all happened so quickly".

"Okay, okay. Slow down, will you? Where is she?". My breaths were becoming more and more uneven as we stood there, opposite one another, clinging on to the hope that Luna was safe. "I think she has been taken to Malfoy Manor. It was Bellatrix and the Death Eaters. They said they were coming for you b-but they took her instead!". His words hurt me a little. What was he saying? That he wished they would have taken me instead? Surely he can't mean that.

"I'm going", I said, preparing myself to Apparate to the manor. Something I had learned at Beauxbatons, just before transferring to Hogwarts. Neville just looked at me, visibly scared but trying his best to act brave, something I truly believed him to be. "I'm going with you", he said, taking a step closer towards me. "We save her together". I knew he wasn't able to Apparate himself, as he hadn't passed his Apparition test yet. So I took his hand and asked him to hold on tight, taking him with me.

"Okay, this might feel a bit weird"

***

"'This might feel a bit weird'?! A bit weird?!", Neville shouted when we arrived outside the manor. He tried his best not to fall over or vomit, something I knew was a side effect to Apparition, because I had experienced it for myself. "Ssshh, be quiet", I whispered. It was now late at night, the moon hanging over our heads, casting a vague light over the world. The Manor stood gracefully before us, looking like that of a Disney Villains'. Besides the shine of the moon, there seemed to be a small lamplight coming from one of the rooms of the manor, making me believe that that was the place we needed to be.

Since I hadn't really Apparated since my time at Beauxbatons, I wasn't very practical in my ways of practicing discretion. "Grab my hand", I ordered Neville, forcing him to go through the discomfort of Apparating once more. This time, however, we happened to Apparate inside the house. "Well, well, what have we here?", the sound of Bellatrix voice was like nails on a chalkboard to me. We had managed to make our way into the manor, but in doing so, we had also grabbed the attention of everyone there. I knew this wasn't going to be an easy fight, and that we were probably going to have to battle the Death Eaters, to make our way to our friend. "If it isn't miss Perfect and her sad excuse for a friend?", her wand was visible in her hand, as if she was making it clear that this would be a bloody fight. The rest of the Death Eaters stood ready to attack us at any given moment and I felt Nevilles hand twitching beside me. He was trying to keep a brave face, but anyone could see that he was scared shitless, as was I.

"Where is she?! Where is Luna?!", he said with a shaky voice, holding his wand by the side of his body. There was no reply, but instead, she let out a small giggle and the rest of the Death Eaters started maliciously circling us, two stepping out from the shadows behind us. Realising we were surrounded, I took Nevilles shaking hand in mine, pressing it reassuringly.