Too Far Gone (Don't Save Me Book 4)

Chapter 89: 10 Lives

I woke with a start, gasping for air as my hands clutched my stomach where the wound should've been but there was nothing. I heard the sound of footsteps rushing toward me as Minerva's face came into view.

"She's alive!" she called, turning to Sirius, Remus and Tonks who were standing behind her, heads in their hands, sobbing. They looked up suddenly as Minerva helped me sit up. They rushed toward me and Sirius took my hand.

"You're alive?! How? W-we thought..."

"I thought so too... but I guess there was a loophole."

"What happened?" Sirius asked.

I smiled softly. "It's sort of a long story... but it worked. The horcrux is gone." I looked around. "Where's Harry?"

"He couldn't stay... Seeing you like that... knowing he'd done it... It was too much for him." Sirius looked around. "Moony, can you go and find Harry? Let him know she's alright?"
Remus nodded and ran inside the castle but it was pointless. Harry wasn't in there and I would soon come to realize this as the Death Eaters approached the courtyard.

***

I knew Harry was destined to die but seeing Hagrid holding his lifeless body was enough to send a surge of anger through my chest.

"Who is that... Hagrid's carrying?"

I turn to see Ginny fearfully peering at the crowd of Death Eater's approaching. She looks at Neville as her father wraps an arm around her shoulder.

"Neville, who is it?"

Minerva turned to Sirius and Tonks as Remus ran out of the castle and joined them. "He's not-." He trailed off, looking up to find what everyone was looking at. Minerva quickly grabbed Tonks's attention.

"Keep Y/n out of sight! He believes she's dead!" she whispered, her eyes wide and fearful.

I took a breath, trying to calm myself down and focus on the task at hand. Harry's death must be avenged.

"I've got her," Tonks assured Minerva, taking my hand and gently pulling me close to her. Remus and Sirius approached us, looking distraught.

"It's him... It's Harry," Sirius murmured. I took his hand, gently squeezing and he looked up at me.

"We have to avenge him, Sirius. We need to finish what he started."

He looked up at me, smiling, though it didn't meet his eyes.

"Harry Potter is dead!" my father shouted, his voice sending chills down my spine as Remus and Sirius moved in front of me, shielding me from view.

"No!" Ginny screamed, trying to run toward Harry but Arthur held her back as Tom called for silence.

"Stupid girl. Harry Potter is dead... From this day forth... you put your faith in me." He turned to his followers. "Harry Potter is dead!" he shouted, laughing joyously and the Death Eaters soon followed.

Tonks squeezed my hand, stopping me from doing anything stupid.

"And now is the time to declare yourself. Come forward and join us... or die," he hissed.

"Draco," Lucius muttered and all eyes fell to his son, hidden among the crowd.

I was itching to run to him, to protect him from what was to come, but Sirius wrapped an arm around my waist.

"Don't even think about it," he hissed to me, pulling me flush against his chest.

"Draco, come," Narcissa said softly, though there was no room for argument.

Draco reluctantly moved toward his parents but Tom intercepted him with a strange and uncomfortable hug before releasing him.

Narcissa places an arm around the boy's shoulder and I can see the relief in her eyes as they avoided Tom's wrath.

"Now then," Tom hissed, turning to the crowd. "Harry Potter murdered Y/n Y/l/n! He killed my daughter!"

Murmurs rippled through the crowd as most of the students and staff didn't know I was his daughter.

"What've you done with her body?"

Tonk's grip on my hand grew tighter as did Sirius's grip around my waist.

"What've you done with her?" my father shouted, his eyes searching the crowd.

"You told us to dispose of our dead with dignity," Neville hissed.

This angered my father and he raised his wand to the sky. There was a flash of light and a loud crack as the sky darkened.

He turned to the Death Eaters. "Find her! Kill ten of them for every hour she is not found! Starting now!" he added.

I tried to move but Sirius held me closer. "Don't even think about it," he growled.

"Let me go, Sirius," I hissed.

I could see the Death Eaters dispersing, rounding up several staff members and a few students. I could see Pomona huddling against Poppy as Tom raised his wand. No. Please, no.

"No, don't!" I screamed, but it was pointless. He wasn't listening.

There was a sickening smile on his face as I struggled in Sirius's grip and he raised his wand. 10 lives. 10 people would die for nothing. 

"Dad!" I screamed, finally pulling away from Sirius.

Tom turned to me as I stumbled toward him, his eyes wide and searching. He held out his arms and I collapsed against him. His hand gently stroked my hair and I tried not to vomit as I played my part.

"Daughter? Is it really you?"

I pulled away, nodding. "It's me." I turned to the terrified students and staff, their eyes wide with fear as they watched us carefully.

Pomona and Poppy rushed forward, doing the last thing I'd expect after addressing the Dark Lord as my father... after calling him dad, the one thing he'd been asking of me since I learned the truth.

They hugged me.