The Beautifully Tragic Life of Kassandra Snape

chapter 55- point of no return

It was a nightmare having to stay in that hospital for the next two days. Knowing that I was wasting my precious time, when in just a few days everything is going to change, that Draco is going to have to do the unthinkable, that deatheaters are going to storm the castle.

But now time has run out.

"Draco, let me go with you please I could help you!" I tried to reason with him while I hurriedly pack mine and Arabelle's stuff.

"I've already told you no Kass. We've been through this, when I leave, you are to lock this door and you're not to open it until Lorenzo comes and then you leave. You take Arablelle and you run. It isn't negotiable." He tells me and I know that I'm fighting a loosing battle.

"I don't want to leave you." I surrender in a small voice, tears pricking at the corner of my eyes.

"It won't be forever, I'll come and I'll find you one day Kass. I promise." He says as he wraps me into his arms.

"You're worth waiting." I tell him reffering to the ring that is now sat on one of his long, pale fingers.

"I love you Kassandra."

"I love you too Draco."

I pull him into a desparate, passionate kiss, I just hope it isn't the last one we'll share.

There's a light knock at the door and Draco breaks the kiss to open it for Lorenzo and Arabelle.

"Remember Kass, keep your wand on you at all times. Keep Ara safe, keep our daughter safe." Lorenzo tells me and I nod as he places a kiss on my forehead.

"Come back." Is all I say to both of the boys as they leave and as much as I want to be able to go with them. I have a duty to my baby girl. So I obey their instructions and lock the door, keeping my wand in my readied hands, pacing around the room as Arabelle asks question after question, questions I can't even answer myself, let alone explain to a 2 year old.

Then the screaming starts.

Screams fill the room and Arabelle and I huddle into the fastest corner of the room. Flinching at each scream, each sound or bang as teachers fight with the deatheaters.

I place my body in front of Arabelle's as I hold her close, trying to comfort my crying daughter. Although I'm scared stiff, I stay strong for her. Prepared to take my own life in protecting her. It just goes on and on, it could have been minutes or hours for all I know. Regardless, it felt like a lifetime.

"Mummy I don't like this." Arabelle cries in my arms.

"It's okay baby, mummy's here. She won't let anything happen to you okay"

After the longest time, we hear frantic pounding on our door and I hold my breath, praying I will be skilled enough for fight whoever is coming off as I stand, Arabelle clutching at my legs from behind me.

"I'll take care of this." I hear a voice that I don't recognise growl and it doesn't take long until they burst through the door.

"Stupefy!" I yell causing the large male to fly backwards, rendering him unconscious. I don't bother trying to identify him, I only prepare myself for the next one but that's when my fathers steps into the door way.

"Dad! help!" I scream but that's when I notice that he's being flanked by none other than my mother, Alecto and judging by their resemblance to eachother my uncle Amycus Carrow.

This wasn't part of the plan. Did something happen to Lorenzo or Draco? Why aren't they here yet?

My dad slowly approaches me and I keep Arabelle behind me but he shakes his head at me, very slightly and I know that the original plan isn't happening anymore.

"Come child. No one is going to hurt you, you have my word." He tells me and I believe him, plus how can I do anything else. Not only am I stuck in the corner, I would have to get through my own father, my mother and my uncle. We wouldn't last two seconds.

"Where's Enz and Draco?" I ask him.

"We're right here love." I hear Lorenzo's voice and try to follow it as they both duck around my mother and Amycus and cross the room, I grab them both into an urgent hug, relief washing over me.

"Mummy? Safe?" Arabelle asks as she peeks around my legs.

"Yes baby." I say, knowing full well that we were anything but. How could I tell her that? I know that my father and the two boys next to me would never let anyone hurt her, and that they wouldn't have changed our plan if we had any other choice.

I see my mother smile as she looks at my daughter. Her granddaughter for the very first time but I pick Arabelle up and keep her close as we turn our backs on everything we've ever stood for, everything we tried so hard to maintain and leave behind the life we knew.

Not knowing what the future holds in store for us now...

That's if we all live long enough to find out...

END OF HALF-BLOOD PRINCE