𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟖

Everything was burning, the grounds, the towers, everything.

Hogwarts was burning.
My home was burning.

I was running through the dark forest, my lungs felt as if they were going to give out any second, but my legs were carrying me away from the horror, I had to keep running.

I could hear their screams in the distance.

I had to keep running.

They were closing in, and I tripped and fell on the damp forest floor.

Damp, I hated dampness.

I hid my face in my hands as I felt them circle me.
Dark smoke engulfing my body.

I began to hear whispers
"You're a murderer, you killed her!"
"You're a monster!"
"You're one of them, now"
"You're a vile creature, no one can ever love you"
"You have so much blood on your hands"
My head was spinning but I screamed out "I'M NOT A MURDERER! I DIDN'T KILL HER! WHY CAN'T YOU JUST BELIEVE ME"

The whispers grew louder 
"Liar"
"You don't even feel guilty"
"You are a murderer, the sooner you accept it, the better"

I couldn't speak anymore, I tried to scream but it was as if I had lost my voice.
I opened my mouth and a whisper of desperation came out "I'm not a murderer."

I woke up with a start and the realization hit me, 'it was just a nightmare'. 'except it wasn't'

I sighed and looked around to see the stark white walls of the St. Mungo's ward.
Before I realized, tears were sliding down my cheeks. I hated it here, I didn't want to be here, again. Not after what happened to mum.

I observed I was all alone, and I tried to sit up, and realized that my body had somewhat recovered. A newspaper was lying on the table beside my bed, so I picked it up.

'The Daily Prophet'

'The lady of darkness, Reverie Arrington, returns to life'

I scoffed at the headline, lady of darkness? the voice inside my head saw this as the perfect opportunity to speak, "of course, after the reputation you built for yourself, what else do you expect?"

I tried to ignore and read ahead

"Reverie Arrington is reportedly recovering in St. Mungo's after an accidental magic outburst. Her reappearance has spiked terror amongst the citizens of the wizarding world but Lord Voldemort says he is pleased to have a witch as powerful as her back in his administration."

Voldemort.
The name makes her feel vile and disgusting.

Just then, the door opened and a voice spoke "Oh good, you saw the paper".

---

"How is she, the girl?" spoke a breathy voice

"She has recovered, my lord. It seems as if her magic has been replenished, truly remarkable" spoke another

"Of course, she holds great potential and power. And how are the Malfoys treating her?"

"Narcissa is doing the best she can, I cannot say the same for Lord Malfoy"

"If he knows what's best for him and his mother, he'll change his ways. I hope he isn't the pathetic boy he used to be"

"He is still very much driven by emotion, my lord"

"Well, that'll be changing very soon, now that she is here."