| Girl on Fire |

116

VERONICA MALFOY

"Now what?" Draco asked. "We need to find Sev." I said. "Why?" Mattheo asked. "Because, I don't know what the hell to do and he can help." I said. "Does he know?" Draco asked. "Yes." I said. "You told him?!" Mattheo said in a hushed yell. "I didn't have to." I said. He nodded. We apparated onto the grounds of the castle and began to run. There were curses flying, trolls, spiders, death eaters, other students. Everyone was fighting for their lives. "Duck!" Draco yelled. We ducked against a wall as the troll swung a big metal stick. Then we ran down the halls, dodging stray curses. "Expelliarmus!" I yelled. A wand snapped from a death eater's hand to the wall. "What are you doing?" Draco said. "There's no way to tell who fired which spells in all this chaos." I said. Then we took off down the stairs. "Has anyone seen Snape?" I asked as a Slytherin ran by. "Not since the Great Hall." they replied. Just then, I watched Potter, Granger and Weasley run by. "Follow them." I said. "Why?" Draco asked. "I can snag Potter's magic map and find Sev." I said. He nodded and we ran, following at a close distance.

They ran through the whole castle down to the harbors. I got flashbacks of memories of my first year. Riding the boats and seeing the castle for the first time. It was beautiful, but now it's been reduced to rubble. Just then, they ducked behind a window. I peeked inside and Severus was there, speaking to The Dark Lord. "My Lord?" Severus said in confusion. "The wand, does it truly answer to me? You're a clever man, Severus. Surely you must know...Where does its true loyalty lie?" The Dark Lord asked. "With you...Of course, My Lord." Severus replied. The Elder Wand cannot serve me properly, because I am not its true master.
The Elder Wand belongs to the wizard who killed its last owner. You killed Dumbledore, Severus. While you live, the Elder Wand cannot truly be mine. You've been a good and faithful servant, Severus. But only I can live forever." he said, drawing his wand. I felt my breath catch in my throat. He can't...he wouldn't. "My Lord..." Severus started. It happened so quickly. A quick slash of his wand and Severus fell, clutching his throat as blood poured from the wound. "Nagini, kill!" The Dark Lord said. My heart stopped and Mattheo pulled me against him, covering my eyes. "Shhh. Don't let him hear us." Mattheo whispered, covering my mouth as cries escaped my lips. The Dark Lord apparated away and before we could run out, Potter, Granger and Weasley did. "We have to go." Mattheo said. "No-" I started, my voice dangerously close to a sob. "Yes, we have to figure out what to do next." he said as he pulled me away. Tears streamed down my cheeks and Mattheo held onto me and Draco as he pulled us into apparition. We landed just outside the castle and sank down against the wall. "He killed him. He killed Severus." I sobbed. Draco knelt in front of me, pulling me into his arms. "He's with mum." he whispered. "What the hell do we do now?" Mattheo said.

"Veronica!" We all turned as Pavarti ran over. "What do you want, half-blood?" I snapped, drawing my wand. "Nobody's around." she whispered. I looked around and lowered my wand. "It's your friend, the girl." she said. "Allison?" Draco said, quickly standing up. She nodded. "What happened?" he asked. "She's by the Slytherin common room. Where the entrance to the safehouse is." she said. I just nodded and we took off. We ran and ran until my chest felt as if it might burst. We got to the hallway and paused. "Where to now? Right or left?" Draco asked. "Right is Slytherin common rooms, left is the safehouse." Mattheo said. "Allison! Allison, where are you!" Draco started screaming. Just then, Enzo ran out. "Thank Merlin. She's in here." he said. We followed him as we ran down the hall and into the music room across from the common rooms. The second we ran in, I nearly vomited. Allison was laying on top of a desk, Theo was sitting on a chair, holding her hand. Enzo and Blaise rushed back to her side and I ran over. "What the hell happened?" I asked. "We were getting the kids out, like you asked. Some death eaters grabbed us- they thought she was the spy. They tortured her. They wanted a confession. To bring to him." Theo said as silent tears rolled down his cheeks. I stood next to her and moved some hair from her face. Her breathing was shallow and her face was pale. I could see the blood seeping from her ears and nose. "Alli?" I said gently. Her eyes fluttered open and she started to mumble something. "T-traitor- not loyal." she mumbled. "What's she saying?" I asked. "She's been mumbling ever since it happened." Blaise said. "Mattheo. I t-tried. Promise- I-I promise." she mumbled. Mattheo walked over and stood next to me. "I'm sorry." she said as tears rolled down the sides of her temple. "What are you sorry for, Allison? What did you do?" Mattheo asked. "They saw you. S-said you're a spy." she mumbled. Mattheo's face fell and he stepped away, facing the wall. "Mattheo, wait." I said. I walked over to him and cupped his face, pulling him to face me. "I'm scared." he said shakily.

DRACO MALFOY

"Draco..." her voice was weak and scared. I couldn't look at her. I just couldn't. "Draco, please." she said. Theo looked at me and I shook my head. "I- I can't-" I said. He stood up, letting go of Allison's hand and it fell limp at her side. He walked over and grabbed my arm roughly. "Get over there and hold her hand." he said sharply. "Please, Theo. Don't make me-" I started. "Draco-" he started. "Theo, she's dying. The cruciatus curse killed her. Please don't make me watch her die." I whispered. "If you don't do this, you will regret it for the rest of your life." he warned. I forced away tears and nodded. I walked over and sat down, taking her hand. Her head moved slowly as she looked at me. "Draco, I-I'm scared." she said. I forced a smile. "I know, I know, but I'm here." I said. "I'm so scared. I don't want to die. I don't want to go." she cried. "D-don't think about that. Just think about us." I said. "Us?" she asked. "Yes. Our life together." I said. She gave a faint smile as more tears rolled down her temples and into her hair. I fought back tears of my own. "I think a cottage would suit us. We both grew up in cold, lonely places." I said. "Yeah..." she said. "Somewhere in a forest. Where we can see the sun rise and hear the birds in the morning." I continued. "And a garden." she added. I smiled. "Good, yes. A garden. Somewhere for the kids to play quidditch." I said. "Somewhere we can stargaze. To show them your constellation." she said. Her eyes fought to stay open and I could feel her skin grow cold. "Somewhere we can all be safe..." she said. Then Veronica walked over. "She's fading." she whispered in my ear. Tears rolled my cheeks and I nodded. "Play her something." she said. I glanced over at the piano and Allison looked at it. "Please, Draco. I don't want to die in silence. I want to hear something beautiful and die with my friend." she said, choking back a sob. I nodded and sat at the piano. "Hold my hand?" Allison asked. Veronica gave a sad smile. "I won't ever let go." she replied, repeating what she the last time we thought we might lose eachother. Then I rested my hand on the piano keys and began to play. I closed my eyes and I could hear her gasping for air. I glanced back and Veronica was holding her hand. Then the gasps stopped and she went quiet.

The song ended and the room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Draco turned and his eyes settled on her body. "Allison?" he said, his voice shaky. Nothing. "She's gone, mate." Theo said. A sob tore from his chest and he gathered her limp body in his arms. His screams of agony were heartwrenching. Tears flowed freely and I felt ill. She was gone. My best friend, the girl I've grown up with and made memories with every day is gone. "We need to bring her body to the dorms." Theo said. All eyes fell on him. "If we put her in the Great Hall with the other, and someone sees her arm...she'll be treated as garbage. They'll throw in her a pauper's grave." Theo said. "Don't- it's not a body- it's Allison." Enzo said. "No, it's not. Not anymore." Blaise said. "He's right." Draco said. He picked her up bridal style and stood up. We brought her to her dorm and laid her on her bed, covering her with the hand-sewn blanket her grandmother gifted her when she was a baby. Suddenly, The Dark Lord's voice came hissing into our minds. I covered my ears, wincing slightly.