my inheritance (g.w x o.c)

chapter fifty-eight: a blank slate

"Good," Voldemort nodded, lowering his wand. "Now stand up." Everyone watched as Larissa did so. When she did, everyone understood. She'd been put under the Imperius Curse. "Beautiful. Go stand by Narcissa." She did, and everyone's eyes were on her. "Now, where were we?" He turned back to Harry. "Ah yes, Harry Potter." Harry looked away from Larissa, knowing he still had no choice, but he was ready. "The Boy Who Lived." He paused, looking at him before raising his wand. "Come to die." The familiar green light shot across the clearing, throwing both of them back. Everyone gasped, though Larissa remained staring ahead. Silence filled the air. For a moment, nobody moved. Then Voldemort groaned, sitting up.

"My lord," Bellatrix gasped, running to his side to help him up. He pushed her away.

"Is he dead?" he asked, getting up. "Narcissa go check." Narcissa gave Larissa one last look before heading over to Harry. For a moment, she didn't say anything. "Narcissa?"

"Dead." Voldemort laughed, causing everyone else to follow.

"He's dead? Harry Potter is dead," he laughed again. "Get the oaf to carry him. We're heading back to Hogwarts." Larissa was compelled forward, walking just behind Voldemort as they made their way back to Hogwarts. The walk went by quickly. Soon, they were standing in front of Hogwarts as the survivors walked out. "Harry Potter is dead."

A cry of "No" and other murmurs filled the air.

"Silence," he bellowed. Larissa continued to stare straight ahead as he gave his speech. George watched her, begging her to look at him, but she couldn't. Voldemort paced in front of her. She didn't flinch. Her breath didn't falter. She was like a drone. "From this day forward, your faith is to be put in me. Now is the time to declare yourself or suffer the consequences."

"Draco," Lucius called. Draco had also been watching Larissa. He looked away to look at his dad who beckoned him over. After much hesitation, Draco walked over. Voldemort embraced him, but Draco did not return.

"Anyone else?" Neville stepped forward. He looked dreadful. "Well, I must say, I'd hoped for better. Is this the best Hogwarts has to offer?" The death eaters laughed. Larissa didn't move. Voldemort questioned Neville to find out his name. "Now, now, let's not underestimate our friend. He's chosen to step forward."

"I'd like to say something." Everyone looked at Neville.

"Very well, Neville, let's hear what you have to say."

"It doesn't matter that Harry is gone." A low roll filled the air as people called Neville to stop. "People die every day. Friends. Family." He looked behind him. "Yes, we lost Harry tonight. But he's still with us, here..." He pointed to his heart. "And so is Fred and Remus and Tonks and... all of them." Had Larissa been listening, she would've reacted to this news, but she couldn't hear a word. Nothing in her face changed. Neville turned back around. "They didn't die in vain. But you will." He pointed to Bellatrix then Voldemort and other Death Eaters. "And you and you and you will. And so will you. Because you're wrong. Harry's heart did beat for us. All of us..." He pulled the Sword of Gryffindor out of the Sorting Hat. "This isn't over." A roar of celebration and shock came over the crowd as Harry fell out of Hagrid's arms and fired a spell at Voldemort, missing Larissa by a few inches. Voldemort screamed, turning to look for Harry. Everyone parted as Voldemort shot spells at a fleeing Harry.

"The snake is the only one left," Harry told Ron, Hermione, Neville, Ginny, and George.

"Kill it, and he's mortal?" Hermione questioned.

"Yes," he nodded as they all stopped behind a wall. He looked back at the fighting to see Larissa firing spells at a few professors. "Larissa's under the Imperius Curse. We have to get her too."