Fire and Ice (Book 2)

Chapter 28 - Falling

ROSE'S POV-

As if in slow motion Lily's body flew backwards. Her scream echoed through the forest. But thing thing was, I couldn't tell where hers ended and mine began. I'd sunk to my knees with Scorpius right next to me. A malicious laugh was to be heard right before a pop that signified Lucius's exit. Barely aware of my actions I stood up and bolted out of the tent straight to the corpse of my cousin. Her eyes were wide and her eyebrows raised. The look someone gives right before they scream. Throwing myself across her body I sobbed.

She was still warm under mine. She felt like she could be alive. But there was no breath. No sound. Just death. If we had been just a little bit quicker. If we hadn't of argued. If we hadn't. If we hadn't. If we hadn't. It echoed through my brain again and again and again. Her life was in our hands and we let it slip right through our fingertips. Barley even seventeen. So full of life. I'd killed it. I'd killed her.

I couldn't stop crying. Every time I was close to stopping I remembered that she hadn't really betrayed us. She hadn't sold us out and wasn't planning on it. And the family. How would we ever tell them? There was no way to do say it nicely. "I'm sorry, Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny. Your daughter is dead and it's my fault." No, I couldn't say that. I can't say anything for that matter. Because Lily Luna Potter is dead and it's because of me. I must have layed on top of Lily, crying and crying and crying, for hours. Because when I finally sat up the sunrise was bright enough to blind me. And I had no idea where Scorpius was. I needed to find him. But I couldn't leave Lily. Not thinking straight I picked her up bridal style and took her with me. Setting her outside of the tent I walked in to see Scorpius in the same crouched position as I'd left him in. His shoulder were shaking and I knelt down next to him. 

He sat up and wrapped his arms around me. His touch was enough to bring my tears to bay and once again, I too was sobbing. What felt like hours later I sat up and Scorpius did too. My lip was trembling but I was able to manage 5 words. "I want to go home." He nodded. "Me too." He said. Wordlessly we packed our things and stood outside next to Lily. She was no longer warm, but hard and cold. Reaching down I slid my hand over her face to close her eyes. 

"Are we just going to apparate home with her?" I asked. "I can't think of anything else to do." He said. "Me neither." I said in bitter agreement. "It's going to be hard. They're all going to hate us." I whispered feeling the tears threatening to leak from the corners of my eyes. "No they won't. But yes, it will be hard." He said. "Potter Manor?" I asked. He nodded. Reaching down he picked up Lily with ease and I grabbed onto him. We apparated and with a 'pop' landed in the living room. It was only Alice who was sitting on the couch wrapped in a blanket sipping a cup of steaming tea. When we landed she screamed.

Knowing what was about to happen I started to sob again. I pulled my knees to my chest not wanting to see what was about to happen. I felt like a small child, shielding my eyes from the bad parts of the movie. Peeking through my fingers Alice had ran out of the room leaving Scorpius standing up with a dead Lily in his arms and a blank look on his face. In rushed Ginny and my mum and they both let out blood curdling screams. More screams followed and my tears came faster and faster. Seconds later my mum and dad's arms were around me tightly and they were both crying. "Rosie." My mom cried into my hair. 

Meanwhile Ginny lay over Lily the same way I had been earlier. Draped over her torso sobbing uncontrollably. By this point most of the family was squished into the room. Harry was next to Ginny sobbing right along her. James stood white faced and frozen while Vic had her arms around Teddy as he cried into her shoulder. As if in slow motion I watched a crippled Al reach up to punch Scorpius. Accepting the blow to his face he staggered backwards but didn't defend himself. Al threw another punch and Scorpius doubled over in pain. Shrugging my parents off I rushed to his side. "Stop it!" I screamed. The whole room seemed to freeze. "It wasn't his fault. It was mine." I said suppressing a sob. "No it wasn't. Don't  listen to her. She's not thinking straight." Scorpius warned as he wiped the blood from underneath his nose.