The Dark Days

3. A Killer Mistake

I'd never had such a long and intense duel of magic, Bellatrix was attacking to kill and all I could do was defend myself with the few spells that were in my memory. The light strokes produced by the wands were countless and millions of accurate shots were colliding with my defenses, same as hers. It was frustrating to know that she knew so well your way to fight back that any move you made, she imitated it.

- You don't have a technique that can surprise me? You bastard! - she screamed through the noise of the spells.

- Traitor! - I almost spat those words, even though it was from a moment to another I already hated Bellatrix to death. Not just because she kidnapped and tortured Lily, but for betraying me and the Black family.

- Oh sweetie, that's one of the many qualities I already have, you shouldn't waste your time on reminding them to me - she said. This little talk we had was in the middle of all the battle for Lily.

- Protego! - I shouted full of anger, in defense of a bleeding curse. She was being heartless, it seemed as if she had no appreciation for human life, or at least that's what she was showing me.

- Ha ha ha! You cannot beat me, huh James? - She hissed through clenched teeth.

- EXPELLIARMUS!

-AVADA KEDAVRA!

Both wands got connected by a single ray of light. The room shone as if the sun was in the middle of the sky and for a second I saw Lily coming back to herself. It was the first time something like that happened to me, but I did know what was going on. This happens when in a duel, two wands have the same core. So I started pushing the ray to Bellatrix, as close to her body as I could, but nothing happened. Instead, the spell kept running to me and that couldn't mean any good. I thought of a respectable way to get out of the situation and I used the only one that came into my mind.

I finished my spell as I rolled on the floor to stand back again, and as I was expecting, Bellatrix had already changed her position so my back was facing her.

- Expulso! - the spell hit me right on my back. She was really fast, I already knew that, but I had no idea of how fast.

I fell right next to Lily, my mouth facing the floor. The room was spinning and I couldn't think clearly, however I got to see Bellatrix's figure.

- Impedimenta! - as I expected, Bellatrix stayed immobilized and she couldn't get near Lily and me.

Bellatrix screamed insanely frustrated because I blocked her way to us. That's when I heard like a whisper very close to my ear.

- Lily! Wake up please..

- J-James - she whispered with a shaky voice.

- Lily I'm here, I'll protect you - I tried to calm her so she wouldn't go back to being unconscious, the effects of the Cruciatus curse was still on her system and it would be for hours - SECTUMSEMPRA!

- AHH - she screamed, her voice full of pain - so you're playing dirty, huh James? That's great! I love the way you play. Ahh - The spell hit her left cheek, leaving a trail of blood in it, and her mask fell to the floor because of the impact.

- I think you taught me something today, my dear friend - I said, getting ready to what was coming next - CRUCIO! - now it was two unforgivable curses in just one day.

Bellatrix was writhing on the floor, and the flow of magic was still going through my arm. I focused on my pain and hate to conjure this curse. Her eyes were white, she was shaking in an impossible pose and her face twisted into a grimace of pain. Suddenly, on the uninjured side of her face, a trail of blood started to appear, coming from her head.

I didn't feel bad for what I'd done. I was doing it for love, to save the girl I'd loved for so long. Bellatrix was unconscious, but I hadn't stopped the curse, and her inherent body kept twisting, rejecting the unbearable pain I was causing to it.

I turned back to face Lily who was now sitting on the floor, I hugged her tight and then gave her a kiss on her lips. That moment was ours, as if no one else was in the room at the same time, the smell of her hair taking me to another dimension where we were the only ones alive.

We heard the front door opening, I saw Lily, then turned to Bellatrix, who was still laying unconscious on the floor.

- Are you willing to fight? - I asked Lily.

- Yes, I'm ready - she sighed, and as an answer to my question she raised her wand and focused on a possible target on the outside.

The person who got in the house was now coming up the stairs, in a hurry, may I add. Then we heard footsteps on the hallway and many doors closing, making a very loud noise.

The door handle of the room we were in started moving, as if the stranger was trying to open it. Seconds later a figure got into the room, Lily and I were hidden behind a piece of furniture.

- Bella! - Narcissa whispered, I turned to where Bellatrix was left unconscious and to my surprise she wasn't there anymore.

Narcissa walked toward our hiding place, whispering her sisters name. I was freaking out, if Narcissa was allied to Bellatrix this would be our doom. The two of us, in hands of the Black sisters. It didn't sound like it had a happy ending.

- AVADA KEDAVRA! - Bellatrix screamed, she came out of nowhere, standing near to the door and Narcissa's body falling dead to her feet.

- Oh my god, NO! CISSY! - these were genuine screams of pain and guilt. Bellatrix killed her own sister - No, no, this can't be true, I didn't do this! Cissy, wake up! SISTER! Don't abandon me, you can't leave me alone, please don't!

Bellatrix was crying, and it was a fact, she loved her sister. Actually, Cissy was the only person Bella could have ever loved, even more than her parents. And now she was responsible for her death.