Potter Sibling Trilogy Plus One Book 2 (continued from Book 1)

Chapter 25 - Dumbledore's Demise

~Bella's POV~

When we arrive back at the tower, Dumbledore is weak for some reason.

"What's wrong, sir?" I ask.

"I'll be alright," he says before he stumbles.

"We need to get you to the hospital wing, sir," Harry says with concern. "To Carlisle."

We help him sit down.

"No," he says. "Severus. Severus is who I need. Wake him. Tell him what happened. Speak to no one else. Severus, Harry."

As Harry goes for the door, we hear it open and then close again so he stops and looks back at us.

"Hide yourselves below," Dumbledore urges as he stands. "Don't speak or be seen by anybody without my permission. Whatever happens, it's imperative you stay below."

We all just stare at him.

"Children, do as I say."

There's a clanging downstairs.

"Trust me."

We still don't budge.

"Trust me."

The three of us go down the stairs and hide until whoever came in has gone up then we listen and watch through the slight gaps in the floorboards.

"Good evening, Draco," Dumbledore says.

"You don't think it's Draco who has to kill Dumbledore, do you?" Hollie whispers.

"He won't succeed," Harry whispers an assurance.

"What brings you here on this fine spring evening?"

"Who else is here? I heard you talking."

"I often talk aloud to myself. I find it extraordinarily useful. Have you been whispering to yourself, Draco?"

He doesn't respond and I can see the anguish on his face.

"Draco... you are no assassin."

"How do you know what I am? I've done things that would shock you."

"Like cursing Katie Bell and hoping that in return she'd bear a cursed necklace to me? Like replacing a bottle of mead with one laced with poison? Like kidnapping the one person you love the most and handing her over to Voldemort? Forgive me, Draco. I cannot help feeling these actions are so weak that your heart can't really have been in them."

"It doesn't matter how I feel, I'm under his control and no matter how much I try, I can't break away from it."

"Then I shall make it easy for you."

Dumbledore takes out his wand but Draco disarms him.

"Very good. Very good."

"Without his wand..." Harry says before he goes for the stairs but I grab him.

"Dumbledore must have a plan, Harry. Give him a chance."

We return to our spot just as there's another clank downstairs.

"Draco, years ago, I knew a boy who made all the wrong choices. Please let me help you."

"I don't want your help," he says, getting upset. I just wanna die. I don't want to live with what I've done. I can't..."

I feel so sorry for him as he sobs through his words.

"Don't you understand? I have to do this. I have to kill you. Or he's gonna kill her."

We hide as the footsteps draw nearer and when they're up, we look back through the gap to find Bellatrix and three other Death Eaters.

"Well," Bellatrix says. "Look what we have here."

She goes up to Draco's ear.

"Well done, Draco. Emberlee will be so happy to hear you kept her alive."

"Good evening, Bellatrix," Dumbledore says. "I think introductions are in order, don't you?"

"Love to, Albus, but I'm afraid we're all on a bit of a tight schedule."

She turns to Draco.

"Do it."

Harry pulls out his wand but me and Hollie wait.

"He doesn't have the stomach, just like his father," one of the Death Eaters says. "Let me finish him in my own way."

"No!" Bellatrix shouts. "The Dark Lord was clear, the boy is to do it."

Snape appears with his wand out but Harry hasn't noticed.

"Uh, Harry," Hollie says.

He turns and, upon seeing Snape, lowers his wand.

"This is your moment, do it," Bellatrix says.

Snape puts his finger to his mouth, asking us to stay quiet before he heads up the stairs.

"Go on, Draco. Now!"

"No," Snape says.

Draco turns.

"Severus," Dumbledore says. "Please."

"Avada Kedavra," Snape says calmly as he waves his wand at Dumbledore.

Dumbledore not only falls but falls off the tower.

After the three Death Eaters, Draco and Snape head down the stairs, I can't take in what's just happened.

Harry and Hollie have sat down and are in shock.

"They can't get away with this," I say before I grab my siblings and we race after them.

We catch up to them as they arrive at Hagrid's.

"Snape! He trusted you," I scream.

Snape and Draco turn just as Bellatrix sets fire to Hagrid's house.

"Incarcerous," I shout but Snape stops it.

"Fight back!" I demand, tears now in my tears as it sinks in that Dumbledore is dead. "You coward, fight back!"

Bellatrix blasts me and I fly backwards.

"No, she belongs to the Dark Lord," Snape says.

Hollie and Harry help me up just as Snape turns and walks away.

"Sectumsempra!" I shout, still not 100% sure what the spell does.

He stops it and sends me flying again before he comes over to us.

"You dare use my own spells against me, Swan?"

"You're..." Hollie asks.

"Yes. I'm the Half-Blood Prince," he says before walking away.

When we get back to the castle, everyone is gathered in the courtyard, staring at Dumbledore's body and many are crying.

The three of us push through the crowd and go right up to Dumbledore before kneeling down next to him.

Hollie picks up the locket before she bends over his body and begins sobbing. Tears are flowing from my own eyes as Ben comes over and pulls my sister up into his embrace but I'm still in shock.

Ginny comes over to Harry, and though he does not stand, he leans against her legs and sobs as she holds him.

"Bella," I hear a familiar voice and look up.

"Oh, Edward," I say before I throw my arms round him and allow myself to grieve.