|| Star-Crossed ||

28

Problems

CAROLINE POTTER

"That was incredible! I can't believe you just did that. That was the best thing-" Ron shouted. "Ron-" Ginny said in a warning tone. We all stopped and Ron looked at me as I glared at him. "I didn't mean-" he started. "No, go on. Please. Tell me how great that was for you. Tell me how one of the hardest things I've ever had to do was so fucking great to watch because of your bloody grudge with Draco!" I yelled. "He didn't mean to, Caroline." Neville said softly. I sighed. "I know. I just- Blaise, and Theo, they trusted me. They were my friends. And I hurt them. I hurt Draco." I said. "When you explain the situation, he'll understand." Ginny said. "Surely he will." Luna added with a warm smile. I just nodded. "Not to rush this, but our situation is going to get drastically worse if we don't hurry." Ron said. We all nodded and continued running. Then I saw Harry and Hermione on the bridge. "Harry!" I shouted. We met on the bridge and Harry pulled me into his arms. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have left you but I had-" he started. I stepped back and he held my shoulders and looked me up and down, for any harm. "It's ok. I'm fine." I said. "I just- I thought I could go because Malfoy was there. He wouldn't let them hurt you." he said. I nodded. "Actually, she did the hurting." Ron mumbled. I looked at him sharply and Ginny smacked him upside the head. "How do we get to London?" Ginny asked.

"We fly, of course!" Luna said brightly.

Soon enough, the thestrals landed in front of the Ministry of Magic and we went inside. Harry directed us to a whole other section, a dark, eerily familiar hallway. "I've seen this place before. In my dreams. I always see it." I said. Harry nodded. "The Department of Mysteries," Neville said. We all looked at him and he shrugged. "I know things," he said casually. We all drew our wands and spread out to look around. "Lumos" I said. I walked down the aisle next to Harry and he looked over at me. "What happened in that room after I left with Hermione?" he asked. I sighed. "If we survive this life threatening event, not the first I might add, I will tell you when I get back." I said. He nodded. "Harry, Caroline! This one is glowing and says your names!" Luna called out. We ran over and Harry picked it up. Then it spoke. What it said, I will never forget.

But that wasn't our main problem anymore...

A death eater appeared in front of us. We circled up, ready to fight. I stood next to Harry and he held the prophecy. "Where's Sirius?" Harry demanded. "You know you really should learn to tell the difference between dreams..." he started. Then he waved his wand and his mask disappeared. Lucius Malfoy stood in front of us and a rage filled me as I remembered Draco standing in front of me not so long ago. He was beaten just for loving me.

"Lucius Malfoy." I stated, my voice dripping with disgust. "Caroline Lily Potter," he said with the same tone. "You know I didn't think I could hate you anymore. Then I saw what you did to Draco." I said. He scoffed. "He caused that. He did that! How dare he betray his family!" he exclaimed. I stared at him in disbelief. "You did it. Not him, not me, not your wife or even Voldemort himself. You did it. You beat your own son. You nearly killed him!" I yelled. "He deserved worse." he scoffed. "You deserve worse. I not usually a particularly violent person Mr. Malfoy, but mark my words. I will kill you for that. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but you will die for what you have done to him." I said. "Enough talk! Give us the prophecy!" a voice hissed. "If you do anything to us, I'll break it." Harry said. "He knows how to play, itty, bitty, baby, Potter" she spat as a woman creeped in from the shadows. "Bellatrix Lestrange," Neville said. I could see the hurt on his face. "Neville Longbottom, is it? How's mum and dad?" she taunted. "Better now that they're about to be avenged" he spat as he launched forward. I grabbed his arm and pulled him back. "We just want the prophecy. Hand it over." he said. "Go to hell!" I spat. He began to speak, drawing us in. Taunting Harry about our connection to Voldemort. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw more of them coming in. "I can show you both everything. You'll finally understand who you are." he said. I nudged Harry and he looked around. But I stared confidently at Lucius Malfoy. "We know who we are, I don't need you to tell us." I spat. "Stupefy" Harry fired.

Then we ran.

I ran with Ginny as we ducked curses and fired our own. Suddenly, we all found our way back to each other. Ginny turned around and pointed her wand. "Reducto!" she yelled. Then it all came crashing down. We ran until we reached a door, then I fell. We hit the floor and I stood up and dusted off my clothes. Then I heard voices. I walked towards the large archway and so did Harry and Luna. "I hear it too." Harry said. "Me too." Luna added. Then Harry turned around, his eyes full of alarm. "Get behind me," he said. Before we could even think, the death eaters came swooping in. I felt someone grab me and I screamed. I fought but it was too much. I closed my eyes as the lights flashed. When I opened them,I realized what happened. Lucius Malfoy now gripped the back of my hair tightly and held his wand to my neck. We were screwed. Our friends had been taken and we were outnumbered. Our only leverage was the prophecy. "Give me the prophecy or watch them die." Lucius said. I stared at Harry and willed him not to do it. "Don't do it, Harry!" Neville shouted. Lucius scoffed and dug his wand into my neck and I winced. "I'll start with her..." he said. I locked eyes with Harry and smiled. "Smash it" I mouthed. But I recognized the look on his face. Defeat. He wouldn't let us die. He won't let me die. And just then, Harry handed it to him. Lucius smirked and shoved me into Harry's arms. He pulled me behind him and we stared in horror. Then, there was a burst of light and I saw him. All of them. Our saviors.
The Order Of The Phoenix.

"Get away from my godchildren" Sirius spat as he punched Lucius in the face. That's when the chaos began. Order members began fighting and Sirius pulled us against the rock. I hugged him tight. "I want you two to take the others and get out of here." he said. "What? No, we stay with you." Harry said. Sirius smiled. "You've both done beautifully. Now let me take it from here." he said. I was about to speak when I heard Lucius. "Black-" he spat. He fired a curse and Sirius blocked it. I stood up, next to Harry and we fought. We blocked curse after curse, hex after hex.

"Nice one James!" Sirius called out. Harry paused, a look of pure happiness on his face. Lucius went flying back and Harry and I exchanged smiles. But then it stopped. Everything stopped.

"Avada Kedavra!" she yelled. Bellatrix fired that killing curse and I watched it hit him. Sirius stumbled back and he just looked at us. He didn't speak, no last words. Just a small smile. A sad smile, as he died. Sirius Black died. He's dead. I watched Remus run over and grab Harry. He held him back as he screamed. Harry screamed and screamed and I just stood there. I don't know if it was shock or fear or confusion or anger or all of them. But I just stood there, trying to force the oxygen into my lungs. Then I watched Harry's head turn. I saw his eyes lock on Bellatrix and I knew exactly what he was going to do. Because I wanted to do it too. Then he bolted. He ripped himself from Remus's grip and ran. Remus looked at me, pain evident on his face. "Caroline, don't." he said. "I have to," I whispered. I started to leave when Remus grabbed me. "I can't let you do this." he said. "Let go of me, Remus." I said sharply. He sighed and shook his head. "I'm sorry" he whispered. Then he pressed his wand to me and and mumbled a spell. Suddenly, I collapsed and he caught me. He held me in his arms and I looked up at him. I couldn't move or speak. I was frozen. "I'm sorry, Caroline. I can't lose you too." he whispered.
Then everything went black.