The Golden Quadruplets

chapter 118

Clementines pov.

the four of us rushed down the stairs, using our wands for protection.

Harry put out his hand to avoid us from the spark of a wand. Hermione gasping.
Harry turned the corner, striking at the person as they screamed and fell.
we rushed down more stairs, ducking and grunting at all the sparks flying everywhere.
we looked up to see a giant chasing after u, slamming down at us as we ducked behind something, quickly getting up and rushing over the rubble.

we ran from the giant spiders that were chasing us and screeching. we ran under the giant, casting our wands in a panic as we stopped.
"No!" Hermione shouted, casting her wand, revealing Lavender who laid dead on the ground. i gasped.

we continued to run through the damaged school. avoiding the crumbling of the building.
we watched as all the Dementors came rushing towards us. a barrier blocking them, sending them flying backwards. we turned to see Aberforth who stood with his wand out.

-

we continued to run down flights of stairs to find Snape. we ducked outside of the place. listening in on the conversation.
"Ollivander himself has said it." Snape spoke. i breathed quietly.
"Tonight, when the boy comes, it will not fail you, i'm sure of if." Snape spoke. i stared at Voldemort. i had never been this close before. and i was scared as hell. if he saw us. he wouldn't hesitate to murder us one by one. starting with Harry.
"it answers to you.... and you only." Snape continued.
"does it?" Voldemort whispered. "My Lord?"
Voldemort moved, walking by Snape.
"the wand. does it truly answer to me?"
Snape turned, to look at Voldemort.
"you're a clever man, Severus. surely you must know. where does it's true loyalty lie?"
"with you... of course, my lord."
"The Elder Wand cannot serve me properly because.... i am not it's true master. The Elder Wand belongs to the wizard who killed its last owner." he walked slowly over to Snape.
"you killed Dumbledore, Severus. while you live, the Elder Wand cannot truly be mine." my stomach dropped. not because i liked Snape. because i was about to watch him get murdered, and i couldn't react.

"you've been a good and faithful servant. Severus. but only I can live forever." he spoke. a long silence as i stared at the two.
"my lord-" but before he could finish. Voldemort lifted his wand and sliced in to thin air. i closed my eyes, squinting as i looked away. and the body of Snape made a loud thud onto the floor and into the wall we were leant against.

Harry let out a small gasp. but i held mine in tightly.
"Nagini. Kill." said Voldemort as the snake hissed and banged against the wall, my lip quivered as i held in my other gasps, my hand over my mouth. we could hear the sounds of Snape struggling.

but then, we heard as Voldemort apparated.
we sat there for a moment, looking at the blood on the wall. i exhaled a breath and we all stood up, opening the door and rushing in.
Harry knelt down over his body, setting his wand on the floor. the three of us stood back at the door, watching.

Harry lifted his hand onto Snapes neck, holding it there as a tear slipped down his face.
"take them." said Snape. "take them." he repeated. "please."
Harry turned to us. "give me something." said Harry, Hermione rushing over.
"quickly. a flask, anything.
i held onto Ron's arm tightly. watching as he bled out. Ron looked down at me and back at the scene before us unfolding.

Hermione looked into her bag, pulling out a small glass tube. Harry pulled off the cork lid and placed the glass up to his face, catching the tears. he pulled it away and stared at it.
"Take them to the pensieve." said Snape through ragged breaths, exhaling sharply as he struggled.
Harry stared at his bloody hand and the bottle which held Snapes tears, his hand shaking.

"look at me." Snape mumbled quietly. a pause of silence as he stared up at Harry's face with vulnerability. "you have your mothers eyes." he mumbled. blinked. then turned his head. letting out a deep exhale and dying.

Harry stared at his dead body. i let go of Ron's arm and let out a deep sigh. Harry stood up, but leaned against the wall, breathing heavily. i didn't understand why until i heard screeching in my ears, Hermione covered her ears. i shivered.

"you have fought valiantly... but in vain." Voldemort's voice echoed.
"i do not wish this. every drop of magical blood spilled is a terrible waste. i therefore command my forces to retreat. in their absence, dispose of your dead with dignity. Harry Potter, i now speak directly to you. on this night, you have allowed your friends to die for you. rather than face me yourself. there is no greater dishonor. Join me in the Forbidden Forest and confront your fate. if you do not do this... i shall kill every last man.. woman, and child.. who tries to conceal you from me." he finished.

i held my hand to my head, feeling the headache i had. the echoing whispers of Voldemort still lingering.

-

we walked back to the castle.
"where is everybody?" Hermione asked as we looked around the broken place.
we walked to the doors, opening them and stepping into the rubble covered place.
i walked in scared, looking around at all the injured.
i looked over, seeing George who was holding tightly onto a sobbing Sage. my heart dropped to my stomach. i didn't want to know what was happening, i didn't want to know why she was sobbing so violently. i looked around, looking for someone anyone. i saw Hallie, her hand on her mouth as she stared down at Sage and George. shock plastered all over her face.

where is Fred? no. it can't be.
i stood there, frozen. oh god no.
i turned to look at Harry who was looking around at everyone. the guilt in his eyes settling. i couldn't speak. i didn't want to even turn around and look back at Sage. her sobs rang through my ears. i didn't want to know. i didn't want to hear it. it couldn't possibly be.
i turned to look back at Harry but he wasn't by my side. Ron was holding onto his mother, Hermione by his side. and i stood in the rubble filled room. what do i do.

-

Hermione, Ron and I sat down at the bottom of the stairs. the rubble surrounding us. Hermione and Ron holding each other tightly. i was sat, staring at my intertwined hands. my elbows resting on my knees. i let out a shaky breath. i couldn't believe it. i couldn't.
Hermione turned her head around swiftly. i turned mine, looking up to see Harry who was walking down the steps.
Hermione and Ron stood up, i did the same.

"where've you been?" asked Hermione. i wiped at my face, the stain of tears on my cheeks.
"we thought you went to the forest." Ron said. Harry continued walking down.
"im going there now." he said.
"are you mad? no!" Ron said.
Harry continued walking. i wrapped my arms around myself. i couldn't say anything.

"you can't give yourself up to him." Ron spoke, walking after him.
"what is it Harry?" asked Hermione. "what is it you know?"
he turned to look at us. breathing raggedly.
"there's a reason i can hear them. the horcruxes. i think i've known for a while. and i think you have, too."
i could feel the tears brimming at my eyes. this was happening. and i couldn't stop it. Hermione sobbed.
"i'll go with you." she interjected.
"no, kill the snake. kill the snake, and then it's just him."
Hermione walked over to him and pulled him into her arms. they both hugged each other tightly.

Harry looked at me from over Hermiones shoulder. i let out a shaky breath, the tears falling down my face as i held my hand over my mouth to conceal my sobs.
he looked over to Ron.
they let go of the hug and Harry turned around, beginning to walk down the steps. i inhaled a breath.

"wait. Harry." i said, rushing down to him. he turned around and i practically jumped onto him, wrapping my arms around him tightly. not ever wanting to let go as i sobbed quietly into his shoulder. letting the tears run freely down my face.
Hermione and Ron hugged behind us as we pulled apart.
i looked at his face, tears clouding my vision.
"Oh Harry." i whispered, running my hand along his face.
i connected our lips softly, soaking in all of this moment. not wanting to pull apart. not ever wanting to watch him walk down those steps and risk his life. not wanting to admit that this would be it.

he pulled from our kiss.
"i love you." he said. not making it sound like a sweet gesture. more like a statement.
"i love you more"
"no. i love you." he said, letting his arms fall to his side as he turned around. i watched as he walked away. not turning to give me another kiss. not another glance. not. anything.
i inhaled a shaky breath, and hugged myself, letting the tears slip down my cheeks.

1591 words.

2/2/2023