The only family I have Left.

Chapter 24

The Great Hall was alive with the sounds of laughter and celebration. Friends reunited after the long and harrowing war embraced one another, tears of relief flowing freely. The enchanted ceiling shimmered with soft twilight hues, stars glinting faintly in the magical sky above.

Suddenly, a sharp, resonant bang shattered the joyous atmosphere. The heavy wooden doors burst open, slamming against the stone walls with a force that sent the candles flickering wildly.

All eyes turned to the entrance, and the festive hum of voices died in an instant. A dark figure stood silhouetted against the moonlit night, the flickering torchlight casting long, menacing shadows that seemed to writhe around her.

Gasps echoed through the hall. Wands were drawn in unison as fear rippled through the crowd like a tangible wave.

Gracie's laughter faded mid-sentence, her smile vanishing as her gaze locked on the figure in the doorway. A chill ran through her body, freezing her in place.

Bellatrix Lestrange.

Her wild hair framed a face twisted in fury and vengeance, her lips curled into a sneer that sent a shiver down spines. Gracie couldn't hear the collective gasp of the hall, couldn't hear Hermione's steady voice cut through the silence as she stepped forward.

She could only hear her.

Memories Gracie had buried surged to the surface, relentless and suffocating. The screams. The curses. The flashes of green light.

Her chest tightened painfully, her breathing shallow and ragged as she clutched the edge of the table for support. The room spun around her, faces blurring, colors blending into a disorienting haze.

"Gracie?" Fred's voice broke through the roaring in her ears. He was at her side in an instant, his hand on her shoulder. "Hey, you're okay. Just breathe."

But Gracie couldn't respond. She shook her head violently, trying to push him away, her mind trapped in the past. The haunting laughter of Bellatrix reverberated in her ears, louder than the chaos unfolding in the hall.

"Gracie, look at me!" Fred's voice was more insistent now, his grip firm but gentle.

Lily and James appeared beside him, their expressions etched with concern. Lily knelt in front of Gracie, taking her hands in her own. "It's okay, sweetheart. It's just us. Focus on my voice."

James placed a steadying hand on her back. "You're safe, Gracie. She can't hurt you."

But their words couldn't reach her. The room seemed to darken around her as Bellatrix's mocking laughter filled every corner of her mind.

"You'll never escape me!" Bellatrix's voice rang out, loud and clear, though no one else seemed to notice.

Gracie's vision blurred further as panic consumed her. She tried to call out, but the words wouldn't come. Her heart thundered in her chest, her hands trembling violently.

Then, the darkness claimed her.

Fred caught her as she collapsed, lowering her gently to the floor. "She's out," he said, his voice tight with worry.

"Keep her safe," Lily urged, her gaze flickering toward the fight unfolding nearby.

James crouched beside Fred, helping to shield Gracie from the chaos as Hermione, Ginny, and the others battled Bellatrix.

"She's strong," Fred said softly, brushing a strand of hair from Gracie's face as she lay unconscious. "She'll be okay."

But in his eyes, worry lingered.

Nearby, Hermione's wand slashed through the air, her voice clear as she cast a powerful Expelliarmus. Bellatrix's wand flew from her hand, clattering across the stone floor.

"You think you've won?" Bellatrix spat, her voice dripping with venom. "You think you've stopped me? This is only the beginning."

"Maybe," Hermione said, her voice as sharp as a blade. "But it's the end for you."

Aurors burst into the hall, summoned by the chaos. Bellatrix was swiftly bound and dragged away, her screams echoing long after she was gone.

As the Great Hall slowly returned to order, Fred, Lily, and James remained by Gracie's side.

"She'll wake up soon," Lily said softly, brushing Gracie's hair back.

"And when she does," James added, "we'll make sure she knows she's safe."

Fred nodded, his gaze unwavering. "No one hurts her. Not on my watch."