RISE OF THE FALL | R.B.

LIV.

Disclaimer: The Harry Potter World belongs to J.K. Rowling.

*

CHAPTER LIV.

Standing in Flourish and Blott's, Reia was reading through a book on growing plants, even though she had no talent in such a task.

Then she shut the book, turned around, and then she saw Josie Nott standing at the other side of the almost empty shop.

At this time of year, the shop was much less busy than it was throughout the few weeks prior to September 1st, but there were still several customers strolling around the shelves.

"Josie!" She called out, catching the attention of the girl—who glanced up extremely sharply and shut her book.

Josie stared at her for a moment, deciding whether to speak or leave—but seemed to choose the former.

"Reia," She said tightly, avoiding Reia's eyes, "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, just taking a walk," Reia answered, frowning, "What's the matter?"

"You need to get out of here," Josie said, suddenly lowering her voice, and taking a few steps backwards, "Now."

"But—what—,"

Josie had already gone, turning the corner and vanishing, leaving no trace behind.

And then Reia heard it—the explosions.

The shelves started rattling as books fell from their places and the entire building shook. A particularly thick volume fell and slammed into Reia's shoulder, but she didn't think much of it at the moment. She had bigger things to worry about, even though it was hard to ignore the throbbing pain at her shoulder.

The shop owner's eyes grew wide, and all at once, all of the customers in the shop immediately apparated away, the shop owner following.

Reia ran out of the shop, determined to find out what was going on before she escaped herself, but when she ran out, she came face-to-face with a figure cloaked in black.

It was Lucius; Reia knew it was the moment she saw him.

"You filth," Lucius snarled, pointing his wand at her throat, "Didn't run when you had the chance, did you? Thought you'd be brave?"

Reia, shocked at his hostility, immediately regained her composure and snapped, "No, I never try to be brave. Maybe you just think I'm brave because you're too cowardly to look in any other direction, out of fear that you'll see something you don't want to see."

She whipped out her wand and managed to stun him and slam him into the wall of the building behind him before she apparated out of the place without wasting another second.

***

"We arrived as soon as we could," Remus explained to his younger sister, as Mary healed her shoulder, "But the damage was already done."

Reia didn't reply. To tell the truth, she couldn't stop thinking about what she'd done to Lucius. She didn't know why she'd done it, when she could have just left without harming him.

She regretted it; partly because Lucius had been her friend for so many years and she felt like she'd betrayed him, but mostly because she'd destroyed one of the buildings in Diagon Alley by doing what she'd done.

The Order had gone to investigate and possibly save Diagon Alley the moment Reia reported the events to them, but they were too late; so many buildings had been destroyed, and the Death Eaters were already gone.