Challenged Love

Chapter 26

It has been a week since the incident. I have not shed a single tear since, and I am not sure what to think of it.

Everyone has gone back to Hogwarts, including Lara. It is her last year, and it would have been my sixth year. However, I could not go back to school under such conditions. My life was currently threatened by You-Know-Who, hence why I could do nothing but lay in bed most of the day and hide my existence away at the Stone house, which was located way out into the country. At that point in my life, I was not afraid of death. I felt that a part of me had already died just a week ago. Due to this, I had not even the slightest motivation to pick my head up. I then rolled over on my side, the reminder of my existence staring right at me. It emitted a bright, green light as it sat upon my nightstand- that thing being my necklace. I discovered this odd phenomenon the day after arriving at the Stone house. I could not figure out why my necklace was suddenly glowing, as it had not been before. However, when I had picked it up, the light ceased. Even now as I lifted the necklace between my fingers, the green light faded away. I had been confused to say the least. I did not think my necklace had any sort of enchantment on it, but that's when it had hit me. I then had decided to take my necklace to Mr. Stone for confirmation about my theory. Lara's dad actually works for the Order of the Phoenix, so I knew he could examine the magic which my necklace supposedly held within it.

"Holly," he had gasped as he too put the pieces together, "this necklace saved your life."

When one of the Death Eaters threw the killing curse at me, the spell hit my necklace and latched onto it. That's why I lived, and the green light illuminating off of my necklace was the evidence of it. Mr. Stone could not exactly come to a clear conclusion as to why the spell attached itself to my necklace, but he did say that I'm the only one who can touch it. Anyone else who comes in contact with it will instantly die.

After this revelation, I realized how fortunate I was to be alive. Out of all places the killing curse could have hit, it hit the small piece of jewelry dangling from my neck. A part of me felt guilty for it. I couldn't control it, I knew. I just wish he were here too. I had vowed to protect him. I swore to myself that I would do everything that I could to keep him safe, yet he saved me once more. But at what cost?

I also felt angry, so angry that I thought it might consume me. Those good-for-nothing Death Eaters can just kill without flinching, steal without guilt. They destroy everything in their path with pleasure. They do whatever the Dark Lord commands them to do. I detest them all. They deserve nothing in this life and hell in the next. I hope that that they all meet their early graves. I hope they are miserable until they die. Perhaps one day their karma will come to pass, and that will be my taste of vengeance.

I'll kill them. I'll kill them all.

A knock sounded at my door, interrupting these revengeful thoughts.

"Come in," I muttered, still lying motionless in my bed.

Mrs. Stone ambled into the room, appearing hesitant.

"Holly," she began, "forgive me for intruding, but I fear you can't lie around forever."

How could she say that? Does she not understand my current circumstances? I wasn't being lazy on purpose. Try losing your cousin right in front of you.

For the most part, Mr. and Mrs. Stone have allowed me to lay around all day. I was not sure they knew what to make of my grief, but I did not mind the space. Except now, it was suddenly a problem.

Mrs. Stone continued. "I understand you are struggling right now, but lying around is hardly doing you any good. Perhaps you should step outside for some fresh air- maybe retrieve the mail while you're out there."