Matilda Matlock

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Matilda did not even blink; she stared right back at Voldemort standing still, across from her.

"Matilda?"

She suddenly heard the bellowing sound of a familiar voice. She turned to see Hagrid; the same friend of hers who had guided her through all four years at the school, with his arms bound behind his back and ropes restraining him within the grips of four Death Eaters, two on each of his sides.

Matilda swallowed, feeling the first bit of pain she had since the start of her walk to the forest

"No!" Hagrid blurted, his voice wavering. "What're you doing here? Get outta here! Matilda, no!"

"SILENCE, beast!" Voldemort hissed.

He stepped forward on his feet, just once, hand loosely clutching the long, textured Elder wand in front of him. He was not aiming it right at Matilda yet, not necessarily, no; it was more-so a nonchalant grip, a casual bend of his right arm as he began to smile at her.

It was a sickening smile, but she did not feel sick.

"Alas," he outstretched his arms, "tremble at the sight of this hero."

An uproar of laughter washed over the crowd of his followers like a tidal wave. Hagrid was fighting against the ropes to no success.

When the snickers had, at last, died down, Voldemort continued to smile at her. "How fortunate I am to meet with you at last... face to face." 

Matilda's stare did not waver from his eyes. 

"I'm ready, Tom," was all she said.

She did not sound as if she were threatening him. She did not sound as if she were taunting him. She just sounded, her voice sounded in that forest; it was quiet, but there, and she knew that every pair of ears surrounding her heard it.

Voldemort's subtle sneer faded, and he stepped forward once more, not even daring to blink, as if he were savoring every last moment of looking at her unfazed face. 

It seemed as if at the same exact time, the two of them took the same breath. 

Matilda's shoulders lowered and she closed her eyes. 

She heard his feet adjusting on the forest floor, tiny leaves crunching and shifting, far in front of her. Then, it was quiet again. 

At that moment, she knew he was raising his wand, she knew they were all watching in eager anticipation, she knew it was going to be done soon.

Over in the blink of an eye. 

Beneath her closed eyes, she saw everything she needed to in those last seconds...

Hugging Ginny and Luna amidst gleeful laughter after her first Quidditch match.

Learning how to skate with her aunt cheering her on at the park.

Seeing her uncle again.

Harry. 

Harry.

That was the last face she was thinking of when she heard a hissing shriek- 

"AVADA KEDAVRA!" 

A flash of green-

Everything went silent and nothing remained.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

It was like a blink.

A single blink of an eye, so quick that the darkness was only there for a moment before it was light again... very light... all around her. All around Matilda, surrounding her, engulfing her, but not suffocating her.