How It Started

Chapter 29 - Selina Black

I glanced nervously around the circle, sure I wasn't a huge fan of party games, I knew they never seemed to end well, in fact the last time I remember going to a Slytherin party Blaise ended up getting detention for four months. Still this wasn't a slytherin party, and I'm sure nothing was going to go that bad.

I watched as Neville picked up the potion, what exactly was in it? The potion itself was in a clear glass container revealing a dark emerald green colour. I knew the game of truth or dare and how it worked, I mean it didn't take a genius to figure out what was going on. Nevilles eyes darted around the small circle each of us had formed until he landed on Vesper.
"Vesper truth or dare" Nevilles voice cracked slightly and it was obvious he heard it too by the way his face flushed with a red colour. With just a hint of sarcasm Vesper replied,
"Dare please". I wasn't surprised by her selection of the dare, I mean she was a Gryfindoor for a reason although some part of me, and the way she said her answer made me feel like she was selecting dare to be safe, as if she was hiding something.

Since my sincere apology on the night of the Yule Ball Vesper and I had become friends again, although there was a looming feeling that things wouldn't return to how they were, but at this stage things were progressing nicely. I had spent a lot of the school break at the Malfoy manner, part of the reason was to get away from the Smiths but mostly to see Vesper. It was nice to be friends again and i felt at ease knowing that I would have someone there when I needed them the most.

Nevilles face was struck with a look of pure concentration as he though of a dare, you could see his face light up as he eventually thought of one.
"I dare you to Exchange A Clothing Item With Ron" Neville sat back impressed with himself, the dare was one of the easiest dares I had ever heard, although I didn't expect much else from Neville. I saw Vespers face change as she bursted into laughter, I mean could I blame her. She took off her jumper and handed it to Ron, he did the same and they ended up wearing each others jumpers. I glanced at Fred who was laughing as well, I smiled at him.

"Neville no offensive but that was pathetic, anyway my go" she said through laughter. Just like Neville had done she scanned her eyes around the circle until she landed on me. I sighed as she asked
"Lina Truth or Dare". I throughout about the outcome for a short moment, Vespers dare was bound to be not nearly as nice as Nevilles and I didn't really want to go through that.
"Um I guess I'll pick Truth" I said glancing up at her. I regretted my choice almost immediately as she started at me with a wicked smile. Her eyes darted to Ron, and I had a feeling I was being set up, Ron handed me the potion.

"What's the potion?" I asked, although as I lifted the lid I immediately knew. My eyes immediately darted upwards, and looked at a very red looking Ron.
"It's uh Veritaserum" he said in response.
"Veritaserum?! That's powerful stuff how did you even?" I started to ask
"Vess got it" Harry said interrupting me, I guess that made sense.
"Well go on take a sip" George said, I looked around everyone was now looking at me, more specifically waiting for me to take a gulp. Out of peer pressure and curiosity I took a small gulp of the potion. I could feel the potion starting to work as I became slightly light headed.

"Selina do you or do you not have a crush on someone?" Vesper asked, smiling
"I think I do" I said in immediate response, of course I couldn't help it, the potion was doing its role that's for sure.
"Who is it?!" Ron said, I was sure that was against the rules of the game I had already been asked my question.
"Isn't that against the rules" i started to say
"Just answer" once again being interrupted by Harry
"Well I like Fred Weasley Harry who do you like?" I said without even thinking about it. Once it registered and I looked into the eyes of Vesper and Ron I knew exactly what I had said, my eyes immediately darted downward, I didn't even want to look at Fred or George.

"Truth or....did you hear that?" I said looking up, it was as if I had heard a laughter. I shivered thinking immediately of the person who that laughter belonged to. I immediately stood and was surprised to see Harry do the same thing, perhaps I wasn't going crazy.
"Bellatrix" Harry whispered, scared knowing what that meant
"I didn't hear anything" vesper said trying to dismiss us. I knew for a fact I wasn't hearing things, and I sure as hell wasn't going to sit here when I thought my fathers murder was outside. I pulled out my wand and walked towards the door. I could hear Harry's heavy breathing as he followed me, maybe he was just as nervous as i was. I cautiously opened the door and to my dismay I saw the darkened ash figures of Bellatrix and Fenrir Greyback. I couldn't help myself the pure anger I felt towards her as she laughed once again made me dart out of the house.

The figure went running into the corn field, to which I did the same. Nothing mattered in the moment all I was focused on was seeing her, I needed to see the look on her face, see the person who out of resentment killed the only person I had ever been able to call my family.
"LINA" I heard Fred call out.

I was running, faster than I had ever run before, I was being scratched by the corn rows and I could feel my legs starting to bleed. I didn't care I only cared about catching her, I stumbled out of the maze until I was brought into a muddy wet patch. I stood turning around my eyes darting in every direction as I heard a noise.
"Well hello Selina" a figure appeared from the darkness. My heart rate increase and I suddenly became aware of exactly what I had just run into. I was now standing directly in front of Fenrir Greyback, I gulped as he stepped closer.
"Stupefy" Harry said coming out of the brush and pulling me away. Greyback fired back a spell. We were now in the firing line and casting spells left right and centre until Greyback vanished.
"Where did he go?" I asked puffing trying to catch my breath as I turned to face Harry.

His eyes widened and I was scared to turn to see what he was looking at. When I did so, my mind went completely numb as I saw the flames of the burrow spread across the yard.
"Vesper" Harry said immediately running towards the flame. I couldn't help but follow him.

I stepped out of the corn field just as I saw the shadows of Bellatrix and Fenrir disappear into the darkness of the night. The horror of the fire set in, everywhere I looked I couldn't only see the flames. The heat was so powerful as it cracked and slowly destroyed the house.

The weasleys and everyone that was once in the burrow was now standing outside in complete and utter silence. Harry and I quietly approached the group. Vesper ran up to Harry and hugged him, but not before she slapped him.
"I thought you got killed" She whispered.

I looked around as I saw Molly with tear filled eyes she looked horrified and ghostly pale as she looked at her house slowly burning away. I walked up to her and stood in silence. Everything they had build was vanishing. I felt a hand slip into mine as I looked up to see Fred looking down.
"You're an idiot for running into the field" he sighed
"I know I'm sorry" I whispered back I still couldn't comprehend what was going on
"Just so you know, I like you too" he said smiling.

That's when it hit me no where now, not even Hogwarts was safe, the dark forces were making their point. The war had come to the wizarding world.