Fire and Ice (Book 2)

Chapter 3 - The Return

ROSE'S POV-

I stepped out of the fireplace into complete and utter chaos. Screams and cries filled my ears and panic rose in my chest. The room was filled with every member of my family. To my left, my mum, Aunt Audrey, Roxanne, Grandma Molly, Lucy, Molly, Dominique, Victoire, and Uncle Charlie's were brewing potions like crazy. The rest of the adults were in a corner forming a circle like shape. On the other side of the room, Louis,  Fred, and Scorpius were pinning James, Al and Hugo against the wall.

Then I heard someone crying. And it wasn't the cute, tiny tears you have when you don't want to embarrass yourself. It was the big, snotty, ugly sobs that make you feel like your heart is breaking. The kind I had when Scorpius broke up with me. Ignoring everyone else I followed the crying. Soon I was right behind the adults that were forming a circle. I pushed through the crowd and gasped.

On the ground in the middle of the circle curled  up was a human. I couldn't tell if it was a girl or a boy.  Its hair was short and drenched in blood and dirt. I had never seen someone so skinny in my life. Its clothes were trashed to threads that hung limply off of its thin frame. Its exposed stomach was gashed in several different places and its arm looked as if it was barely attached to its body.

A sudden realization hit me and I felt like I was going to be sick. The human was Lily. It all made sense. Her return was the cause of  Albus's , James's and Hugo's anger. She was also the reason everyone was brewing potions like crazy. I turned away from her almost lifeless body and ran to the nearby trash can. I threw up leaving and empty feeling in my stomach.

I made my way over to Scorpius. He still had his arms on Albus's shoulders in an attempt to restrain him. I wanted him to tell me that it wasn't Lily. I also wanted him to tell me things would be ok. He turned around when he saw me. He leaned over to Louis and whispered for him to hold Al so he could talk to me. He took me by my hand and led me into the other room.

"Rose-" He started before I cut him off. "I know." I said quietly "I know it's Lily." He nodded. "They don't know if she's going to make it." He said slowly. As soon as the words left his mouth I broke down. I had hoped that it wasn't Lily. I didn't want to believe it. But the further the words sunk in the more the pain grew. She was my cousin. Of course I loved her, but what she did was unforgivable. If someone had given me the option, my family's lives or mine, I would have picked family in a heartbeat. The fact that Lily didn't still blows my mind. Looking at her lay on the floor made me think. How did she get here? What had she gone through in the last two months? I tried to feel sympathy and pity, but I couldn't. And I can't even to imagine how Albus, James and Hugo are feeling. That's their sister and best friend. But despite my hatred towards her, I don't want her to die. I would never wish death on anyone! Well, that's except for Lucius. But that's beside the point. The point is that my cousin is in the other room and she's dying. Forgetting all of the horrible things she's done I let the reality sink in. I felt like I was being crushed. As if the air was being sucked straight out of my lungs. I tried to breath but I couldn't. Scorpius pulled me against him.

"It's going to be ok." He said soothingly. I sat up and wiped away my tears. "We have to help her." I said suddenly. "Why?" He asked, a shocked expression written across his face. "She can't die. After all she's done to us, this can't be the end. She deserves to feel what she made us feel." I said, anger pulsing through my veins. "Then let's go make sure she lives." He said, looking as if he felt the same anger as I was feeling. We walked back into the room and I headed straight to Lily. Pushing past everyone I sat down next to her. She was still crying. Every once in awhile a strangled scream escaped her. Her eyes widened a little when she saw me. "I'm so sorry." She said in a raspy voice that was barely audible.

"Shut up." I snapped. "You don't get to apologize right now. And stop crying, it's annoying." I said coldly. She bit her lip and the crying stopped. "Good." I encouraged. "Now listen. You don't get to die. You deserve to feel every bit of pain I felt. If you die, then you won't get to endure months of painful healing. You won't have nightmares that make you never want to sleep. You won't get the feeling that you're never safe and that someone's always watching. And that wouldn't be fair because thanks to you that's how I've felt since the moment I was rescued. So you don't get to die. You don't deserve it." I said as a tear slid down my face. Seeing her lie on the floor, scared and hurt, made me break inside. But I couldn't let my feelings cloud my need for revenge.

Her green eyes filled up with tears as I walked away. I then made my way over to Al. He was still thrashing and screaming in attempt to push Louis and Scorp off of him. Alice was standing next to him trying to calm him down. "Al, stop screaming!" I pleaded. He got quiet and tears poured down his cheeks. I took him by the hand and walked into the next room. We sat down on the couch. "What happened? How did she get here?" I asked. He sat up a little straighter. "Scorp and I were at my house. Everyone else was gone. We were just about to leave to meet you and Alice when we heard a pop. She was standing in the middle of the living room covered in blood. When she saw us she started crying. And then, I lunged at her. I was just so angry. Scorpius had to pull me off of her and put a full body bind curse on me. He then proceeded to get help. My parents said to come here. She can't be seen by the public because we don't exactly know if she, well you know...... killed anyone." He said as he took a deep breath. "So anyways, we brought her here and the family started showing up. But the more they tried to help her the angrier I got. I couldn't restrain myself. I wasn't myself. I-I wanted her dead." He whispered. His shoulders started to shake as sobs escaped him.

I didn't know what to do. Al had only cried in front of me a few times. I wrapped my arms around him. "It's going to be ok." I said soothingly. He nodded and sat up. "I just need to get out of here. I can't be around her." He said hoarsely. "I can't either. Mind if Scorp and I come with you?" I asked hopefully. He shook his head. "I was hoping to just talk to Alice if that's ok." He said with an apologetic look. Feeling slightly hurt I smiled. "Yeah, no problem. We'll just go somewhere else. I don't think I can stand to be here much longer either." I said. I walked into the other room and grabbed Scorpius's hand. He seemed to know exactly what I was thinking. We walked over to the fireplace and without another word flooed over to my house.

We landed with a thud and climbed out
Of the fireplace. "I think I'm going to make us some tea." I said. I didn't know what else to say. It was like everything was suddenly awkward. I made my way into the kitchen. As I made the tea my mind ran a million miles a minute. Less then 24 hours ago things had been great. The family was happy, Scorpius and I were getting along great, Hugo was finally starting to act like himself, and Albus seemed as if he was starting to forget about all Lily had caused. But that was all gone. And something was different with Scorpius. I didn't know what, but he was acting strange.

I walked back into the living room, two cups of tea in hand. I handed one to him and sat on the couch. "So........." I lead. "Yes?" He asked. "Well you're acting a little bit strange." I said grimacing at my own stupidity. Was I seriously accusing him after the day we'd had. "I'm fine." He snapped. "Doesn't seem like it." I pressed. "Well how do you expect me to act Rose? Your insane cousin that almost ruined everything comes back. How am I supposed to feel?" He said his voice rising almost to a yell. "I get it. We're all just as upset as you are. But there's no need to take it out on me." I snapped. "Well maybe if you actually seemed like you cared then I wouldn't be as upset." He said coldly. "Do you not remember only an hour ago I was bawling my eyes out? What the hell is your problem?" I yelled. His face fell. "I'm sorry." He said as he looked at the ground. "I just didn't think she would come back." He said. I looped my arms around his waist. "We're gonna make it through this." I said not really believing my words. "I hope." He said with a small smile

Hey guys! I really hope y'all are enjoying this book! Please keep reading and give me your feedback. I know I don't have nearly as many reads on this book but I know it'll get there one day. XOXO