mirrorball

chapter thirty two

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Clara didn't know how much time had passed when Ron and Hermione found her in the hall, still staring off into space, her mind a blank sheet being bombarded with white noise.

"Clara?" said Ron as he and Hermione got closer. He crouched down next to her. "What's going on? Do you know where Harry is?"

"Forest," said Clara. She cleared her throat. "He's in the forest."

"What?" cried Hermione. "Did you try to stop him?"

"Of course I did." whispered Clara as Ron said: "Of course she did!"

"Alright!" said Hermione, "Well we've got to go stop him before he reaches Voldemort."

"We can't." said Clara, tilting her head back and letting it rest on the wall. "You know that, Hermione."

Hermione let out a deep sigh and crossed her arms. "What should we do then?"

"I don't know," said Clara. Her insides were still churning, reeling, from Harry's departure. "Wait, I suppose."

"Or we could... I dunno, make a plan?" said Ron. Hermione positively beamed at his statement.

"Yes, Ron, let's do that." said Hermione. "So when Harry comes back, assuming he hasn't killed the snake or Voldemort, we what? Focus on the snake?"

"Sounds right to me." agreed Ron. Clara nodded. "And until then we should probably-"

A booming voice rippled through the air, stopping their conversation immediately. "Harry Potter is dead." said Voldemort, his hissing voice echoing in Clara's ears. A sharp gasp left her body and she rose to her feet. "He was killed as he ran away, trying to save himself while you lay down your lives for him. We bring you the flaw in the plan. His body as proof that your hero is gone. The battle is won. You have lost half of your fighters. My Death Eaters outnumber you, and the Boy Who Lived is finished. There must be no more war. Anybody who continues to resist, man, woman, or child, will be slaughtered, as will every member of their family. Come out of the castle now, kneel before me, and you shall be spared. Your parents and children, your brothers and sisters will live and be forgiven, and you will join me in the new world we shall build together."

Clara ran. She could hear Hermione and Ron keeping pace right behind her. It only took a few moments to reach the courtyard, but still there was a crowd already there that she had to push through.

"NO!" The scream was all the more terrible because she had never expected or dreamed that Professor McGonagall could make such a sound. That was when Clara's heart dropped. She pushed through the hordes of students to reach the top of the crowd.

And there he was. Still as a rock in Hagrid's arms. A picture of death far more fearsome than Clara had ever imagined. "No... no, no no." she said, her voice barely audible over the cries from Ron and Hermione. Her eyes turned to Bellatrix, who was laughing victoriously, then to Voldemort. He was standing a little in front of Harry's body, stroking Nagini's head with a single white finger.

"HARRY!" she shouted, as the emotions spinning inside her finally freed themselves. Violent sobs overtook her body like wild waves crashing over a ship. A pair of arms that she recognized as Mrs. Weasley's soon wrapped around her, pulling her back towards the group of students. Clara hadn't even realized she had been walking toward him, but now she didn't want to stop. She needed to go to him. He couldn't be dead. She'd get there and run her fingers through his hair. He would open his eyes and smile at her, she was sure of it. This was some plot, some cruel joke. Everything would be as it was, she just needed to get over there. Her struggle against Mrs. Weasley was useless as she continued to sob and shout nonsense. "HARRY, PLEASE!"