The Potter Twins and the Goblet of Fire {4}

33. Priori Incantatem

"Promise me some dignity if I were to stand and die here, 'cause my heart is somewhere else, it's a pain I've never felt" ~ Still Breathing, Mayday Parade

My heart thrashes in my chest as Wormtail approaches us, and I scramble to find my feet, to support my own weight before my ropes are untied. Wormtail first removes the wads of material gagging us, and then with one swipe, beginning with Harry, he slices through the bonds tying us the tombstone.

There's a spilt-second when I consider running, right before Wormtail's dagger cuts me loose. But my bad leg is trembling beneath me as we stand on the overgrown grave, as the Death Eaters close in, forming a tighter circle around us and Voldemort so that there are no gaps now. Wormtail walks out of the circle to the place where Cedric's body lays and returns with our wands, which he thrusts roughly into our hands, refusing to meet our eyes. It's somewhat comforting to know that he feels guilty, and I know it would be even better to see his face when he learns that James Potter is alive and well.

"You have been taught how to duel, Harry and Haylee Potter?" Voldemort says softly, his red eyes glittering through the darkness.

At these words, I remember the Duelling Club at Hogwarts that I attended nearly two years ago. All I learnt was the Expelliarmus spell...but what use will that do? Even if we disarm Voldemort, we're still surrounded by Death Eaters, outnumbered by at least thirty to two? And I know what we're facing, the thing that Moody always warned us about...the unblockable Avada Kedavra curse - and Voldemort is right, our mother isn't here to die for us today...we're unprotected.

"We bow to each other, Harry and Haylee," Voldemort says, bending a little but keeping his snake-like face upturned to Harry and I. "Come, the niceties must be observed...Dumbledore would like you to show manners...bow to death, Harry and Haylee..."

The Death Eaters are laughing again, and Voldemort's lipless mouth is smiling. Neither of us bow, instead we look at each other and nod; a silent agreement. We're in this together, no matter what.

We go together, or we don't go down at all.

"I said, bow," Voldemort says, raising his wand - and I feel my spine curve as though a huge, invisible hand is bending me ruthlessly. Both Harry and I are forced to bow, and the Death Eaters laugh louder than ever.

"Very good," Voldemort says softly, and he raises his wand. The pressure bearing us down lifts too. "And now you face me, like a man...like a woman...straight-backed and proud, the way your father died..."

A hot, sickening rage forms in my stomach, and the words spill from my mouth before I can stop them. 

"You killed our father," I say loudly, although my voice shakes with every syllable, "but he didn't stay dead. You talk about being immortal and escaping death, perhaps you should take leaf out of James Potter's book."

Voldemort's red eyes narrow, and murmurs break out amongst the Death Eaters. 

"He's alive, at Hogwarts right now," Harry adds on, sounding just as scared as I do. Something flickers in his red eyes, and I feel like he's staring right into my very soul. There's also something about his demeanour that makes me think that he can tell we're not lying. 

"And now - we duel."

He raises his wand, and before I can do anything to defend myself, I'm struck again by the Cruciatus curse. Screeching, I fall to the ground; the pain is more intense than ever and so all-consuming that everything else happening around me seems to disappear. I can't hear the Death Eaters laughing, I can't hear Harry screaming for me. 

It feels like white-hot knives are piercing every inch of my skin, my head is surely about to burst with pain; I'm screaming louder than I've ever screamed in my life -