Lillian 'Anna' Potter || Goblet of Fire

Chapter Forty-Five: The Duel

"You've been taught how to duel, Harry Potter?" Voldemort sneered as they began to circle each other.

Harry remained silent - his lips pursed, though Anna could see the slight tremble in his fingers as he gripped his wand even tighter.

Though they were different in many ways, the Potter siblings were equally stubborn when it came to showing their true emotions - most especially in the face of an enemy.

"We bow to each other, Harry." He reminded him, bending forward, though his crimson eyes remained glued to Harry's face. "Come, the niceties must be observed - Dumbledore would like you to manners...Bow to death, Harry."

His tone was mocking, and Harry's jaw looked to be clenched so tightly, he was in danger of cracking his own teeth.

"I said bow."

Voldemort flicked his wand, and Harry's back was forced to arch - sending the Death Eaters into another bout of crude laughter.

"Very good," He simply said - as if Harry had obeyed him with the obedience a dog obeys their master. "And now, we duel."

"Crucio!"

And then Harry was on the ground yet again - writhing and seizing in agony as laughter rang out all around them.

Blood ran down her lips, but Anna didn't particularly care for the pain as she continued pressing down on her bottom lip with her teeth. The stinging kept her grounded; kept her sane.

She hated this with every fiber of her being. Being tied down - helpless as the real fight raged around her.

Move, Potter! Move or Harry's going to die! She shouted internally - attempting again an escape from her bonds. But where her bonds met her flesh, the skin was already all shredded, and Anna knew that any effort of breaking free on her part was futile.

"Now - tell me. Would you like me to do that again?" Voldemort asked loudly - taunting him - as Harry struggled to sit up. "Answer me, Potter. Imperio!"

She watched silently as her brother struggled - eyes narrowed in indecision as his body battled for ownership, but all of a sudden, a loud "I WON'T!" passed from his lips, and Anna sighed in relief. Harry regained control.

Voldemort raised an eyebrow. "You won't?" He asked quietly - his tone stone cold. The graveyard was silent, and Anna couldn't hear anything except the quiet whoosh of the wind. "You won't say no? Harry, obedience is a virtue I need to teach you before you die - perhaps another little dose of pain?"

He aimed another curse in Harry's direction, but her simply flung himself behind a nearby gravestone - removing the gag and making quick work of untying her as a barrage of curses were sent their direction, and the two began racing for the Portkey - ducking underneath the headstones for protection.

"This is not a game of hide-and-seek, Potters!"

"What the bloody hell are we supposed to do?" Anna hissed. "My wand is still at home; and I don't suppose you're capable of a spell strong enough to distract him so we can escape."

"No. But I still have one trick up my sleeve."

Harry suddenly stood to his feet - raising his wand as he and Voldemort shouted their spells in unison.

"Expelliarmus!"

"Avada Kedavra!"

Two jets of green light each escaped the end of their wands. The beams met midair, and Anna had to squint to see as her red hair moved wildly along with the force of the wind around them.

The green light suddenly became a singular golden ray, and she watched, breathless, as the ark suddenly expanded and contracted into a dome around them - carrying all three of them even closer to the Portkey, to an area of grass free of graves.

And then, the ghosts of the souls the wand had previously murdered began to emerge.

Anna couldn't move. Couldn't breathe, as she met eye to eye with the boy who she had just seen die in front of her - the same boy whom she had loved, who had broken and shattered her all at once.

Her heart seemed to be in her throat as those familiar topaz eyes met hers - their familiar honeysuckle in all its glory as he laid eyes on her once again. "Hold on!" Cedric demanded, though it was hard to tell if he was talking to Harry; with the way his arm shook as he held his wand, or to Anna, who seemed to be losing it - as everything in the moment seemed to be so disconnected and hard to grasp.

"He was a real wizard then? Killed me, that one did. You fight him boy."

"Don't let go now! Don't let him get you - don't let go!"

Anna stopped breathing as four familiar figures emerged next - their faces a part of both her greatest dreams and nightmares.

"Stay strong - both of you!" Andrea ordered fiercely.

"Don't give up, you hear?" Francis scolded.

"Fight him!" Bianca and Evan cheered noisily, all in time with Anna's sob.

And then a woman with matching red locks came forth - emerald eyes both stern and soft in adoration. "Your father's coming. Hold on!"

Last but not least, a man the older version of Harry followed; his expression fraught with concern. "When the connection is broken, we will linger for mere moments, but we'll give you time. Do you both understand?"

"Mom..Dad...Andrea..Francis.." Anna repeated all their names like a broken record - still in a state of shock as she muttered quietly. "You're here...all of you."

"Yes." Harry answered for both of them.

"Harry," Cedric spoke up. "Take...my body...back to my parents."

"I will." He promised - a certain steel in his eyes.

"You two have to go now." James warned them.

"Wait - but..no!" Anna exclaimed - tears running down her face. She hadn't noticed before, but with her emotions running on an all time high, she couldn't tell whether or not she actually cared. "You can't leave again! Please...please don't leave me!"

Her reaction was pitiful, yes, but after seeing them all again - all her and with her and whole the thought of being all alone again, all at once was unbearable.

"You have to move on, Anna." Andrea said fiercely - though love shone in her eyes. "Don't let us hinder you. Never let us hold you back from who you must become."

Her lip quivered. "Andrea..."

"GO! DO IT NOW!"

And suddenly, they were running.

Harry's hand gripped Anna's tightly in his own, but it was adrenaline alone that fueled her quick feet as they dashed for the portkey - Anna's head still stuck in a very different place.

"Get him!"

"Stun him!"

"Impedimenta!"

"Accio!"

And Harry - with Cedric and Anna in tow - had managed to successfully summon the Portkey as the air jerked them out of that graveyard.

Despite all that had happened, they were finally going home.