dark side • draco malfoy

21 | Bellatrix Lestrange

About an hour and a half later, the night was coming to a close and we were preparing to leave the Weasleys'.

Pulling my black coat on and slipping on my worn out brown boots, I smiled to myself as I watched Ginny and Harry quietly talking on the staircase. I crossed my fingers that they would finally get together, and then tucked my wand inside of my jacket.

"Thank you, Molly. Dinner was amazing, as usual." Tonks smiled at the red-headed woman as she, Remus, and I prepared to apparate back to their house.

Looking over at the werewolf, I noticed Remus staring into the dark corn field ahead of us with a concentrated frown, and I watched as he took several steps away from The Burrow. Something about his posture and actions didn't sit right with me, and I bit my lip nervously as he continued to look around.

"Sweetheart, what's wrong?" Tonks asked, concerned for her husband. After receiving no answer, she worriedly glanced back at us, "He usually gets a little funny right before the full moon. We should probably be going now".

All of a sudden, an angry ball of fire came flying down from the sky and flames circled all around The Burrow as a familiar cackle filled the crisp night air. Where had I heard that laugh before?

Panic coursed through my veins as I realized that we were under attack from several Death Eaters, possibly the same ones who killed my parents only days earlier. Shit.

Seconds later, Harry came barreling out the front door and ran into the field ahead.

"Harry, no!" Remus cried out, reaching for his late friend's son. It suddenly dawned on me that Remus was one of Harry's last remaining father-figures, as well as the last living connection to his parents. And Remus probably feels extremely protective over Harry, because he in turn is the last living connection he has to James and Lily.

It was then that Ginny came sprinting after Harry, and I watched helplessly as she charged head-first into the field as well.

"Ginny!" Mr. Weasley shouted desperately as his only daughter and youngest child disappeared behind the flames. What the hell were they doing?

"I killed Sirius Black, I killed Sirius Black! And the blood traitor auror and his pet too! Are you coming to get me?" The shrill, feminine voice cheered, still laughing maniacally.

Suddenly, it all clicked inside my head and I realized who that chilling cackle belonged to; Bellatrix Lestrange. I felt my entire body become red hot with rage, but as I began to move forward after Harry and Ginny, a pair of strong arms wrapped around me, holding me back.

"Ivy, no!" Ron shouted, tightening his grip on me as I kicked and writhed in his arms. Where had he come from?

"Ron Weasley, let me go!"

"She's not worth it, Ivy!"

"She killed my parents!" I screamed as I continued to thrash around in a desperate attempt to free myself.

I finally felt his grip beginning to loosen, and so I pushed away from Ron as hard as I could and bolted through the flames and into the dark field.

Bellatrix's evil laughter could still be heard echoing in the distance, but after a minute of running,  I couldn't see or hear anything else. As I slowed to a walk, I realized that everything had gone dead silent. Too silent.

"Ginny? Harry?" I called out, suddenly feeling a nervous chill make its way down my spine. I cautiously pulled my wand from my coat, and began looking around frantically. I felt as if someone was watching me, breathing down my neck.

A flash of white light to my left caught my eye, and I ran over to see Ginny and Harry back to back, wordlessly fighting off unseen forces. Joining them, I shot several counter-curses towards the moving bushes in hopes of protecting myself and my two friends.

Seconds later, Remus, Tonks, and Mr. Weasley came splashing through the wet field and joined us in firing off defensive spells. As quickly as they had come, the dark hexes and curses finally stopped flying at us, and I watched in shock as suddenly in the distance, The Burrow burst into flames.

"Molly." Mr. Weasley whispered, before running back towards his home. We arrived moments later to see the Weasleys standing together in shock and sadness, and Mrs. Weasley could be heard quietly sniffling a few feet away. Beside me, Harry held Ginny to his chest as she watched her family home burn, while I could do nothing but watch the destructive flames erase such a loving home.

And the worst part of all of this was, I knew it was only the beginning.