Stronger for You

Chp. 4 Explanations

  “Faith must trample underfoot all reason, sense, and understanding.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

Chapter Four

When the crowd had calmed down some, we realized that no one could say much more than that. The clearing quickly emptied as people said their goodbyes and condolences to Barlow and his grandmother. I sent Neville back with Ron and Harry and ambled over to Barlow, steeling myself for this.

“Barlow” I begin, stopping before him. The grandmother is with Lupin and Kingsley, her face serious and incredulous as they talk.

He turns to me, his face closed off and his hands clenched tightly in front of him.

“Were you with her? When she was hit?” He demands in a quiet whisper, his eyes not meeting mine. Everything I had prepared to say flew out of my mind. I nodded.

“Who did it? Who cast it?” I blink and shake my head to clear it.

“Barlow, did you listen to what Remus was trying to tell you at the beginning of the funeral?” I ask. For a Ravenclaw, he looked pretty intimidating.

“No, I was busy consoling my grandmother who has lost a daughter and two grandchildren in the last seven months.” He says. I wince but continue on.

“You should have listened. Barlow, listen to me.” I pause and look around. No one is around except for the Order.

“Barlow, she’s not really dead. Jacky is alive.” I say slowly and clearly. His expression stays puzzled for another minute before shock takes over and he blinks with his mouth open.

“H-How? How is that possible? They told me that it was Avada Kedavra.” He stammers. I clap his shoulder sympathetically.

“Help me carry her casket back and I’ll explain everything. Come on.” I guide him to the now closed casket and begin to tell him all that had happened.

~*~*~*~

Jacky’s P.o.V.

Well this wasn’t going as planned. Where were the angels? Or endless clouds? Where were my mother and brother and grandfather? And my father, if he was dead?

So far, just an endless amount of whiteness and echoes. The echoes were compliment of yours truly, from shouting and singing opera to amuse myself.

I could be alive.

Okay that was just stupid. Avada Kedavra spelled pretty much the end for everyone excepting the scar-headed git who killed me. Speaking of which, if he attempted to hurt Draco after killing me, then I will figure out how to become a ghost and haunt his ass until death.

I rubbed my temples and breathed deeply to get rid of an incoming headache. I’ve been getting these a lot lately, or as long as I’ve been in here, which I’m not sure how long that has been.

Worn pages. That’s what it smelled like. Worn pages and a hint of peppermint. For Godric’s sake, why couldn’t I just push us both out of the way? Siriusly, Jacky, would have been much better.

Instead, he saw me die. I groan and cover my eyes in attempt to stave off the driving pain between my eyes. The way this was going to affect Draco would be horrendous. The guilt from knowing what I had died for, especially with our fight right before. Did he hear me say it back to him? Does he know that I still love him?

“This Sucks!” I scream as loudly as possible, arching my back and plopping onto the ground, groaning in pain from my head. I was so close. He had so much hope, and he needed so much more. Not to sound conceited, but I was the symbol of that hope. I made him see the future we would have had.