by my side¹ - d. malfoy

Twenty-Nine

LAURA WAS so done. But she wasn't tied up anymore.

She wanted to run and return to Hogwarts, but considering her leg, she decided that was not an option at the moment. The Death Eaters closed the circle around Harry and Laura.

"You have been taught to duel, Laura, and Harry Potter?" Voldemort said softly, his red eyes glinting through the darkness.

"Do we need to have the first name last name?" Laura asked, raising her hand. "Because if so, I'm not calling you Voldemort. It's silly. Also, it's Pickering. Get it right, man."

Voldemort looked at Laura, seemingly intrigued. It was their first meeting, so she wasn't sure what he knew about her.

"I like you, you're not fearful," he said. "You might want to think about joining me."

"No thanks," Laura said with a shrug. "It would cause trouble with Hecate, so no thanks, Tim."

"Well, then we'll have to duel," Voldemort said, bowing slightly. "We bow to each other, Laura, Harry. The niceties must be observed... Dumbledore would like you to show manners... Bow to death, Harry..."

The Death Eaters were laughing again. Laura and Harry didn't budge. Laura wouldn't let Voldemort play around before attempting to kill her.

"I said, bow," Voldemort said more forcefully, raising his wand. Laura felt her spine curve as though an invisible hand was ruthlessly pushing her forward, and the Death Eaters laughed harder than ever.

"Very good," Voldemort said softly. He raised his wand, and the pressure bearing down upon Laura lifted too. "Now you face me... straight-backed and proud, the way your dear father and uncle died...

"And now- we duel."

Voldemort had an unfair advantage, being the one to say start, as Laura and Harry had no time before they were hit with the Cruciatus Curse again. It felt like White-hot knives were piercing every inch of her skin. She screamed louder than she had before.

And then it stopped. However, Laura was still on her feet, this time, now shaking uncontrollably. She staggered sideways into the wall of Death Eaters, who pushed her back into the circle.

Laura turned to them and kicked one of them in the groin. Harry just stood back in the circle.

"A little break?" Voldemort asked, the slit-like nostrils dilating with excitement. "A little pause...? That hurt, didn't it, Harry? Laura? You don't want me to do that again, do you?"

Harry and Laura didn't answer.

"I asked you whether you want me to do that again," Voldemort said softly. "Answer me! Imperio!"

Laura felt the curse hit her. As her thoughts tried to clear, she wouldn't let them. Voldemort was going to know he had chosen the wrong witch to mess with.

"I'm okay," Laura said, standing up straight. Voldemort looked surprised and enthused. "Let him go, too. This is dumb."

"How?" Voldemort asked, looking down at his wand.

A smirk formed on Laura's face, a Pureblood-worthy- Draco-worthy- smirk.

"You decided to mess with the wrong witch," Laura said with a shrug. "You have no clue who I am. Should've done some research, huh."

"I WON'T!" Harry exclaimed.

Laura grinned, giving Harry a high five. But Voldemort wasn't too happy about it.

"You won't?" Voldemort said quietly. "You won't say no? Harry, obedience is a virtue. I need to teach you before you die... Perhaps another little dose of pain?"