| Girl on Fire |

118

VERONICA MALFOY

The walk was like nothing I've ever felt before. I mean- I've walked it hundreds of times. Studying in the courtyard, smoking on the bridge, going swimming in the lake. But now, I walked just behind the Dark Lord, completely alone. My mother, my godfather, best friend and the love of my life, my one true soulmate, they're all dead. For all I know, Draco and my friends are too. We stood on the remains on the rubble and the students began to walk out, facing us. All I could do was hope that Potter had a plan. This can't have been all for nothing.

"Who is that? Hagrid's carrying? Neville, who is it?" Ginny asked as she walked closer.
"Harry Potter...is dead!" Voldemort announced. "No! No!" Ginny screamed, running forward. Her father grabbed her, pulling back and I saw the look of pain on her face. I wanted to warn her, to tell her the truth. I knew the agony you feel when you lose someone you love. But I couldn't tell her...not yet. "Silence! Stupid girl! Harry Potter is dead! From this day forth...you'll put your faith in me." Voldemort said. Nobody moved, nobody even breathed. "And now it's the time to declare yourself. Come forward and join us...or die!" he said. "Draco!" I looked over and my father was there, beckoning Draco. My eyes scanned the crowd and my eyes settled on him. He stood there with Theo, Blaise and Enzo. He looked at me and I felt his voice in my head. "He killed Mattheo, didn't he?" he asked. "Yes." I replied. Sadness flashed through Draco's eyes. "Come over here, leave our friends. I have a plan." I said to him. He nodded and whispered something to Theo. Then he began to walk over.

"Well done, Draco. Well done!" Voldemort said, greeting him. Draco walked over and I quickly took his hand. Then Neville began to limp over. "Well, I must say I'd hope for better. And who might you be, young man?" Voldemort asked. "Neville Longbottom." Neville said. "Well, Neville, I'm sure we can find a place for you in our rank." Voldemort said. "I'd like to say something." Neville said. "Well, Neville, I'm sure we'd all be fascinated to hear what you have to say." Voldemort said, gritting his teeth. "It doesn't matter that Harry is gone." Neville said. " "Stand down, Neville!" Seamus exclaimed. "People die everyday! Friends, family. Yeah...We lost Harry tonight. He's still with us. In here. So as Fred, Remus...Tonks... All of them.
They didn't die in vain. But you will. Because you're wrong! Harry's heart did beat for us. For all of us! It's not over!" Neville yelled, then he drew the Sword of Gryffindor.

Suddenly, Potter jumped from Hagrid's arms. I'll never forget the look on Voldemort's face. "Potter!" I yelled. He looked to me and I threw my wand to him. He caught it and took off. "Confringo!" Potter yelled, firing at the snake. It all happened so fast after that. Death eaters began to apparate away, Bellatrix began to scream, the students retreated into the school, Voldemort fired after Potter and the building exploded. Voldemort's eyes fell on me and I smiled. "Seems I was mistaken." I said smugly. He was seething. I could see the flames of fury in his eyes. Before he could do anything, we ran. Draco and I made it inside the castle just as the doors shut. "Guys!" Theo yelled as he ran over. Draco and I jogged to catch up and we ducked into an empty alcove. "What the hell happened out there?" Draco asked. "Potter came and he tried to kill him. He used the killing curse but it didn't work." I said. "Again?! How many bloody free passes does this boy get?" Enzo asked. "I don't know. But I lied to the Dark Lord. I looked him in the eyes and told him Potter was dead." I said. "Why?" Draco asked. "Because I want to finish what Mattheo and I started." I said. "He killed him." Draco whispered to them. They just nodded. "So what do we do now?" Blaise asked. "Go, fight the death eaters. Show the Order you fight for their side. I have something to do." I said. They looked at me and I forced a smile. "It's ok, I've got this." I said. I hugged them each and then I left.

I ran to the Great Hall and saw Luna. "Where's Granger and Weasley?" I asked. "I saw them going upstairs, towards Hufflepuff." she said. I nodded. Then I ran. I was exhausted and my body was battered with cuts and bruises. But I kept going. I could hear the hiss of Nagini and I knew I was close. "Run!" I heard Weasley's voice yell. I turned the corner and they were running, trying to escape the snake. I fired spell after spell, trying to distract her. But just as I did, Weasley attempted to lunge at her, to stab her with something. They ran fast but she was faster. I had to do something. I had to stop Nagini from taking anymore lives. So I jumped. I jumped from the staircase above them, right in front of Nagini. "Malfoy, don't!" Granger yelled.

DRACO MALFOY

"He's gone!" Finnegan yelled as he ran in the Great Hall. The last of the death eaters had run and everyone was in the Great Hall. They swarmed him, asking hundreds of questions. But one thing was clear. Voldemort was dead. "It's over, mate." Theo said. "This nightmare is really over?" Blaise sighed. "I guess." Enzo said. "Where's Ronnie?" I asked. I pushed through the crowd, calling her name. "Ronnie! Where are you?!" I yelled. "Veronica!" Theo yelled.

"Malfoy, over here!" I looked up and it was Longbottom. "It's your sister." he said. My stomach lurched and I ran. I followed him down the hall and up the stairs. That's when I saw her. I could see the blood puddling beneath her. Granger was pressing a cloth to her stomach and pouring a potion down her throat. "What the hell happened?!" I yelled. "She jumped in front of the snake!" Weasley exclaimed. I pushed him aside and knelt next to Veronica. I could see Nagini's bite on her side and her chest. "Ronnie?" I said.

VERONICA MALFOY

When I woke up, the piercing pain was the first thing I felt. Then the blood. It was thick and warm and sticky. My vision was blurry but I could hear the comforting, familiar voice of my brother. I blinked a few times and licked my dry lips. "Draco?" I said. He smiled as tears filled his eyes. "Oh no- no, don't cry." I said, weakly. I reached up to cup his cheek and he just held my hand. "She's ice cold." he said to Granger. "The snake pierced her heart. Even if she doesn't die from the venom, she'll die from the blood loss." Granger whispered to Theo. I just smiled. "I'm ok." I said. "No." Draco said firmly. "I love you-" I started. "Stop it." he said. "Draco, let her talk." Theo said, kneeling next to me. "I love you, Theo. And you Blaise and you Enzo. You were good to me." I said. Theo smiled as tears fell. I looked at Draco and exhaled shakily. "Promise me you'll be ok." I said. "I- I can't-" he choked out. "Draco, please." I said. "I- I promise." he said. "Does it hurt you as much as it hurts me?" I asked. He nodded. "Bury me with mum. With the roses." I said. "We will." Theo said. "And Mattheo. His body is in the forest. Bury him next to me." I said. "I promise." Draco said. I felt my pulse weaken and it was cold. "I think- I think I have to go now." I said. Draco swallowed the lump in his throat and tears rolled down his cheeks. "I love you. I love you, Ronnie." he said. "I love you too." I said.