Working Through the Rest

Who You Really Opened Up To

As Delphi rises into the air, her screams echoing around the near-silent room, the chandelier begins to fall and I re-bury myself in mum's shoulder. It smashes behind me and I start to shake. She's insane. Why did I ever think that pitying her was, in any way, a good idea?
"Well," Rodolphus laughs harshly, "it appears our little bird has learnt to fly."
"Surprised?" Delphi crows.

The smashing noise continues and I chance a look, my knees buckling at the site that greets me. Mum catches me before I hit the floor.

Euphemia is lying, apparently unconscious, in the middle of the wreckage of the chandelier. A few feet away, Rodolphus is kneeling, his arms bound in the same ropes that she used on us. Delphi lands on the floor again, striding calmly through the wreckage to reach Rodolphus. When she does, she crouches down, grinning.
"You lost," she says slowly. "You lost."
"And this is your big victory?"
"No," Delphi stands up again. "This is your reminder, your permanent reminder, that you can't control me."

She forces Rodolphus to his feet, pushing him back towards the wall. No one is doing anything. Why is no one doing anything? He knows where Scorpius is. Why aren't they stopping her?
"I know you," Delphi is now barely audible. "And I know that you didn't underestimate me."
"Did I not?" Rodolphus smirks. "I certainly never envisioned this situation."
"Yes, you did. You envisioned it, so you controlled me. You made sure that I never questioned you, never became more powerful than you."
"I certainly did. And I must say, I think I did underestimate how powerful a slut–"
"Shut up!" Delphi screams, rising back into the air before she continues to scream. "I destroyed myself!"

Rodolphus falls to his knees.

"I destroyed myself because of you! And it doesn't matter anymore! This – this doesn't matter anymore!"
"What about Nina?" Draco shouts. "Delphi, remember Nina!"

I have no idea what he's talking about, but it doesn't matter. Remembering Nina, whoever she is, is just making her angrier.

"Nina is gone!" she's still screaming. "Nina is gone because of you and me and him! It! Doesn't! Matter! Anymore!"

She drags Rodolphus closer, ignoring Draco's continued shouts. And then silence falls as a single crack echoes around. My stomach lurches violently as Rodolphus slumps forward, unmoving. She killed him. Holy shit. She's snapped his neck. She killed him. And now she's walking back towards us as we stare at her.

I think I'm crying.

Behind her, Euphemia is starting to stand up, walking towards us. I want to say something, but the words hitch in my throat. By the time that I can get a sound out, Delphi has collapsed onto the floor, her arm stuck out at an angle. And she's screaming. Because of the pain.

Euphemia strides towards her, a look of pure loathing darting across her face, only to be replaced by a vicious laugh.
"Oh, Delphi," she sneers. "Did no one ever teach you? Murder is wrong."
"Get...away..." Delphi pleads.
"No," Euphemia snaps, "because I think you remember what happens when you break the rules."

Delphi's screams pierce the air again as Euphemia grabs her broken arm and drags her over onto her back. If I'd actually eaten anything recently, I'd probably have vomited at the sound. I didn't ever think that a person would be able to make a sound like that. And no one is doing anything to stop it.

Euphemia laughs, standing on Delphi's wrist as she pulls a knife from her pocket. I don't want to watch this. I can't watch this. So I shut my eyes, flinching as the sound of ripping cloth joins the screaming. And I open them again when there is a clattering – I assume, hope, that it's the knife.

It is, but the scene in front of me is no better. Euphemia is standing over Delphi, whose dress sleeve is now gone, revealing several huge, spidery scars that run the length of her arm. They look utterly horrific and I have to force myself to look away. Especially when she starts screaming again.

I start to look for a wand, or anything that I could use, to stop this hell. I need to find Scorpius. I need to stop this noise. I need to get out of here.

Delphi begins pleading again and I try to block out Euphemia's continued taunts, moving towards Draco. Mum doesn't stop me and before I get to Draco; I glance back.

Delphi is lying in a pool of her own blood, which is pouring from fresh cuts and wounds on her hand and face. She is screaming and begging. And no one is doing anything. No one at all.

I seize Delphi's wand from where it sticks out of Draco's pocket, disarming Euphemia as quickly as possible. She turns towards me as I catch the wand, but my action seems to have woken the others.

Dad and Hermione run towards Euphemia, forcing her away from Delphi, and Draco sprints over, taking his wand out. There's a slight pause, and then Delphi screams again, pulling herself away.

And then I'm running over, taking her hand, flinching when she screams again. Her blood is sticky and warm and I try not to retch. Draco is still trying to work to heal her, but she is not making it easy.
"Don't let her pass out," Draco mutters to me.
"Get away," Delphi coughs violently, droplets of blood spraying from her mouth. "Get off me!"

I try to say something, anything, to keep her awake, but she starts to drift away, murmuring words that I can't make out.

And then she's gone, unconscious at least.

"Out the way," Draco murmurs.

I move as quickly as I can, stumbling backwards to where mum is standing. She pulls me into another hug and I let myself breathe. Once we find Scorpius, this will be over. We'll be okay. Eventually.