chosen - harry potter

Chapter 18 - Father and Daughter

𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧

"To me, Potter," Lucius Malfoy repeated, holding his hand out.

Figures dressed in black robes, their eyes peering through small holes, surrounded them, their wands pointed at them.

"To me," Malfoy said again.

"Where's Sirius?" Harry said.

The Death Eaters laughed; there was no joy behind it.

"The Dark Lord always knows!" a harsh female voice shrieked.

"Always," Malfoy said. "Now, give me the prophecy, Potter."

"I want to know where Sirius is!"

"I want to know where Sirius is!" the woman mocked.

The Death Eaters were closing around them, standing only a few feet away.

"It's time you learned the difference between life and dreams, Potter," Malfoy said. "Now give me the prophecy, or we start using wands."

"Go on, then," Harry said.

"Hand over the prophecy, and no one need get hurt," Malfoy said coolly.

A Death Eater laughed lowly behind Malfoy, stepping closer to him.

"Let us not make promises we can't keep," he said smoothly.

"Not now, Damien," Malfoy replied.

Cassia felt her body tense. It was Damien Blair—her father.

The woman near Malfoy held up her wand.

"Accio Proph-" 

"Protego!" Harry shouted, clinging to the prophecy.

She stepped forward angrily, pulling off her hood. Bellatrix Lestrange stood in front of them, her face hollowed and gaunt.

"Oh, he knows how to play," she said mockingly. "Little bitty baby...Potter. And his traitor by his side."

"She was never given a chance, Bella," Damien said smoothly, walking closer to stand by Bellatrix.

He pulled off his hood. He had short, black hair and constant half-lidded, bored eyes. He looked at Cassia, his face breaking into a wide, malicious grin.

"Smash shelves when I say go," Harry said under his breath, unnoticed by the Death Eaters.

"You were forced to live as a blood traitor," Damien told Cassia. "But I know you would have flourished under the right guidance. Isn't that right, my child?"

"No," Cassia said quietly. "No, I would've never been a part of this."

"You have a chance now, my darling," he said, trying unsuccessfully to put on a parental tone. "This is where you belong."

"You're all out of your minds," Cassia said bitterly, "if you think I'm going to join you."

"The Dark Lord will show you the way," Damien said, dropping his smile and shaking his head. "He will show you where you-"

"Now!" Harry yelled.

Seven voices cried, "Reducto!" and raised their wands before the Death Eaters could react. Cassia felt her hand shaking, clutching her wand and pointing it at a nearby shelf.

She saw the curses shoot in different directions, striking the shelves. They swayed precariously, and hundreds of the glass spheres exploded, voices pouring from them.

"Run!" Harry cried.

He grabbed Cassia's wrist and pulled her away from the swaying shelves as more spheres poured onto them. Cassia flung her arm over her head, feeling pieces of the spheres sprinkling lightly onto her sleeve. She saw a shard slice Harry on the cheek, but he pressed forward, his grip on her wrist tight. Ron, Luna and Ginny ran quickly ahead of them.