𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐂𝐑𝐔𝐌𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 (OC x OC) - Full Series

[007] CHAPTER 32 - MURDERS

"for nothing at all."
|| miracle musical

Harry Potter

Sometimes I wonder if death really is deemed by fate. Whomever gets taken by it too early, perhaps, was always destined to meet such an end. I've outrun death my whole life. And now I walk through the Forbidden Forest, about to let it take me with open arms.

Perhaps there's a reason why my father gave me the invisibility cloak.

Held firmly in the palm of my hand is the Golden Snitch that Dumbledore gave me in his will. A few short months ago, I pressed it to my lips and an engraving appeared.

I open at the close.

This is my close.

I lift the Snitch to my lips again and press the cold metal to my skin. My eyes flutter closed as I whisper to myself, "I am ready to die..."

When my eyes open, I watch the Snitch slowly unravel itself. In the core, there's an octahedron-shaped rock. The Resurrection Stone... It hovers in the air for just a moment before landing in my hand. I take a moment to breathe in and out, closing my eyes. And when they're open again, I'm surrounded.

Right in front of me is my mother. She's here.

To her right is my father and to her left is Sirius. To the left of Sirius is Remus.

Mom's hand is reaching out to me, beckoning to come forward. I happily oblige, rushing forward to take her hand,

but my hand phases through hers.

Of course. She isn't really here. Not physically, anyway. Spiritually, yes. As if that brings me any comfort. Disappointment rushes through me like a ripcurrent pulling me farther and farther out into the ocean of grief. I never knew the woman, but I miss her every day.

She lowers her hand and stares at me for a moment before whispering, "You've been so brave, sweetheart."

I swallow the lump in my throat to croak out my question. "Why are you here? All of you?"

My mother smiles at me solemnly and I almost feel the warmth of her gaze. Almost.

"We never left," she says, shaking her head.

I nod, the lump in my throat only growing at that. I know they're not here. I know that they cannot touch me, caress my cheek, hug me. But they can talk. And I don't know if that's enough for me.

Before I can even tell my feet what to do, they're already shifting, turning me to Sirius. Oh... Sirius. How I wish he were here. Really here. I wish Makayla were here to see this. See him. She'd probably be more reactive than I am being right now. I never understood why I was prioritized over her by Sirius. That's a lie. I know exactly why. I simply don't want to believe it.

I'm James Potter's son and she's Narcissa Malfoy's daughter. I'm his godson, she's merely his conventional niece. He didn't choose to be related to her. But he did choose to be 'related' to me. Of course I'd come first.

Part of me thinks that she understood that as well. Especially two years ago. I remember someone telling me that Makayla actually screamed at Dumbledore. I mean, I did too, but she full on ripped it from the back of her throat. I only shouted. She made a sound that was bloodcurdling. I think it was Louis who told our group about it.

"She was screaming about how she won't tolerate being ignored," Louis had explained over breakfast a few days after the incident with Arthur Weasley. Makayla wasn't at breakfast that morning. Louis had also explained that she hadn't been eating many meals since the dreams. "It was honestly terrifying to hear. Sure, I've heard Makayla angry before, but she was seething when she screamed at him. When she did it, I felt as though she had been holding that in for a long time."