Swords (Edmund X Reader)

The Truth

The story continues where we left off, the battle at the Ministry at the end of year 5

Y/N's Point of View

As I saw a single tear roll down Harry's face, I clenched my eyes shut, not being able to stand the raw pain on his face.

"Let's go." Lucius said.

"Hold on." The death eater that held me whispered. This time, they didn't try to hide their voice. I knew exactly who it was. I leaned my head on their chest as I felt the world spin around me. My inside's felt like they were being sucked. But the uneasiness was nothing compared to the lingering pain of the Cruciatus curse.

As the queasiness stopped, I opened my eyes. The death eater holding me, set me down on what felt like a couch. I wanted to look around and find out where I was. But as soon as my body felt the plush fabric underneath, it wanted to relax. And so, I felt myself drift off to sleep.

---

When I started to awake, I heard arguing happening. I was no longer on the couch but laying on a large bed. My body ached, but the overall pain was gone. My leg throbbed slightly but it wasn't a lot. The light was bright in my room and I squinted against it. But the voices were clear in my head.

"I'm taking her to my place!" I heard one person shout.

"You brought her to me, she will stay here." Another person retorted.

"I'm not going to let you mark her. That was never part of the plan." The first voice replied.

"I make the plans. And you will do as I say." The second voice seethed.

"You promised you wouldn't- you wouldn't hurt her." The first voice broke.

"And you promised you wouldn't fall for her, and yet here you are, defending her with your life. When I took you in, I didn't teach you to be a spineless sap." The second voice spat.

There was a pause in their conversation.

"Fine, mark her, do whatever, just let me take her home. Let her return to Hogwarts. Please." The first voice pleaded.

"Then she will have to perform the task." The second voice said gravely.

"NO!" The first voice exclaimed. "I thought Draco-"

"Draco is working with Tewkesbury on the plan. They are in different houses, so it'll be less suspicious. But Y/N will have to finish it. Or else there is no need of her at Hogwarts. You can assist her, but it has to be her in the end. Do you understand?" The second voice snapped. There was no response. "DO YOU UNDERSTAND?" The second voice repeated.

"YES." The first responded. More tense silence.

"Uhm." I grumbled, trying forming words. Instantly I felt the bed dip as someone sat beside me and took my hand into their own.

"Y/N?" Edmund's soft voice was filled with hope.

"Ed-Edmund?" I mumbled. Edmund helped me sit up. As my eyes adjusted, I saw him pouring a glass of water.

"How are you feeling?" He asked.

"Not so good." I answered. On the other end of the room, Tom Riddle was pacing. After seeing him, panic entered me. I frantically searched the sheets for my wand.

"He won't hurt you." Edmund said, handing me the glass of water. I took it from him the memories of the previous night rushing back. I scanned him. The pain of the Cruciatus curse echoed inside me.

"But you did." I said, taking a sip. Edmund looked down, then back up his eyes glistening.

"I promise I didn't mean to." He said, trying to keep his voice from breaking.

"But you did, Edmund. You h-hurt me. In more ways than one. I- I trusted you." I said. I felt numb and empty inside. The fire inside me was burnt out. The last person I thought would be working for Tom was Edmund. Sure he was in Slytherin, but I never imagined he'd pull something like this.

Oh, how stupid I had been! All the signs told me I shouldn't trust them. Starting from that Prophecy back in year 3 that Trelawney had said. Why didn't anyone warn me! But then I realized, someone did.

"He was right. I should've stayed away from you." I whispered, tears forming in my eyes as I thought back to Newt...and my friends...and Harry. I hoped Newt was okay.

"Y/N I-" Edmund reached out, but I winced near his touch.

Edmund's Point of View

I reached out an arm to wipe her tear, but she winced, shrinking away from me. The last thing I wanted her to believe was that I would hurt her on purpose. But you did hurt her, a voice chimed inside me.

I didn't have a choice, I defended.

Didn't I?

"Who said that?" Tom spoke up. Her eyes glanced over to him.

"Newt. Newt was right all along. He said I shouldn't trust you or Tewkesbury. Wait..." She closed her eyes, gulping. "Is Tewkesbury part of this too?"

"Yes..." I said softly. Another tear fell down her face.

"Bloody Newt, should've killed him instead of Sirius." Tom muttered.

"You're not going to touch Newt. Or any of my friends and family." Y/N said in a deadly way, her bloodshot eyes focused on Tom. Any person could've crumbled under that gaze. But not Tom.

"I won't, if you do as I say." Tom smirked. Y/N kept her defiant face on, her gaze not wavering, but then a realization befell her, and her mask crumbled.

"Just don't hurt them." She said quietly, laying back down. The old Y/N wouldn't have done that. She would've said some clever thing back to Tom. This was not my Y/N. I left the room along with Tom, realizing something...

The truth had broken a part of her.