|| Star-Crossed ||

89

CAROLINE POTTER

I am so confused. I died. I know I did. I remember. I said goodbye to Draco, he held me until the very last second. But now, here I am. I woke up. Maybe it's a dream or a nightmare.

"Caroline, are you with me?" Max asked. I looked at me and nodded. "Good. To start, yes. You did die. You were dead for exactly one hour." he said. I stared at him in shock and confusion. "But, I brought you back," he continued. "How? You can't bring someone back from the dead," I said. "Usually you would be correct. But after 7 months of practice, I got it down." he said. "Max, please. I don't understand," I said. He nodded and took my hand. His hands were warm and I was so cold. "Professor Snape. At the beginning of this year, he approached me. As you know, he already knew you had to die. As long as you didn't use the killing curse, I could bring you back. He taught me how to separate your mind and project your memories onto your subconscious while I healed you. It was damn near impossible but I did it," he said. "But how did you know it would be me? And how did you know I wouldn't use the killing curse," I asked. He picked up the bloody dagger off the counter and showed it to me. "You gave it to me, so I would use it on myself?" I asked. "I know. It's fucked up. I nearly threw up when Snape told me. But it was the only way you wouldn't be gone for good," he said. I stared at him. "I'm sorry," he said. I shook my head and squeezed his hand. "I'm not upset. I can't believe you did this for me," I said. He smiled. "I can't lose anyone else," he said. Then it hit me. "Oh Merlin! Harry! And Draco! They don't know I'm alive, do they? I have to find them," I said. I started to get up and he grabbed my shoulders and pushed me back down. "Wait," he said. I looked at him. "I need to tell you something and I want you to listen to everything before you react," he said. My stomach sank. "Are they- they're dead?" I asked. "No. No, they're fine. I think. I don't know." he said. "Max, spit it out," I said. "Ok. We can't tell anyone you are alive-" he started. "No! Are you mad?!" I yelled. "Caz, listen." he said sternly. I paused. "Snape was very clear on this. Until every death eater is dead or in Azkaban, nobody can know. Especially not Draco or your brother." he said. "Why?" I asked. "Because he's going to have to have a trial. If they use legilimency on him and he knows you are alive, it will ruin everything. And Harry, he will probably be providing memories for different trials. We can't risk it." he said. Tears filled my eyes. "But- they think I'm dead," I said quietly. He sighed. "I know. But when it's really over, we can tell them." he said. "So did we win?" I asked. "I don't know," he said. My face dropped. "What?! You brought me back and you don't even know if we won?!" I yelled. "Your heart can only be flatlined for one hour. If I brought you back after that, you'd be brain dead!" he exclaimed. "But you don't know if we won? What's the point in me being alive if Voldemort's in power? So I can be a sex slave again!" I yelled. His face paled. "I- I'm sorry. I just wanted to help." he said quietly. Tears fell to my cheeks and I wiped them away. Then I hugged them. "I know. I'm sorry. It's just- it's just a lot," I said. He nodded. "I would go back to the castle and check on them. But I don't want to leave you," he said. I nodded. Then I noticed I was in new clothes. "Is my trunk here?" I asked. He nodded. "Open it. Inside there's a pocket on the left side. There should be 2 mirrors." I said. He looked at me strangely and left. He returned a second later and handed me the mirrors. "Care to explain," he asked. "Ever heard of a two-way mirror?" I asked. He looked down at it. "Really?! No way!" he exclaimed. "Go to the castle and find my brother. If I start to die again, I'll tell you." I said. He looked at me with a nervous look. "I don't know, Caz. I just got you stabilized. I'm not sure it's a good idea to leave you. What if something happens?" he said. "I'll be fine. Please, go find my brother and Draco. I need to know they're alive." I said. He paused. "Fine. But if you start to feel sick or if anything feels off, please use the mirror. And nobody knows about this place so if someone shows up, get your wand and hide." he said. I nodded. "Ok, and you, listen. If Voldemort did win and he's in power. I don't care what happens, or what you see, you come back here. Don't try to save anyone or do anything, come back here." I said. He smiled. "Not even Draco?" he asked. "Promise me? Promise you'll come back?" I asked. He nodded. Then he grabbed his coat and left. The second he was gone, tears fell and a pit formed in my stomach. I knew deep down that he would break that promise. For the first time in my life, he would break a promise he made me. Because if Voldemort won, and someone needed help, he would save them. Because that's who Max is.