𝙛𝙤𝙤𝙡𝙨 (𝖽𝗋𝖺𝖼𝗈 𝗆𝖺𝗅𝖿𝗈𝗒 𝗑 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋)

chapter forty-seven

I opened my eyes slightly, my entire body aching. I was lying on the ground, my head still bleeding and a new cut on my underarm.

"Narcissa," said Voldemort. "Go check if they are alive."

Narcissa Malfoy walked to me and Harry and kneeled between us, putting two fingers on my neck.

"Are my children alive?" she whispered, so quiet I could barely hear her.

"Yes," I whispered, my lips barely moving.

She breathed a light sigh in relief. "They're dead."

Then group let out cheers of victory and Hagrid sobbed.

"Get the big oaf to carry them to the grounds," someone demanded.

One of the Death Eaters picked me up and took me and Harry to Hagrid. He carried us, sobbing heavily.

The group marched through the forest, Hagrid, Voldemort, and Bellatrix in front. Harry and I didn't dare move at all.

We entered the courtyard, where the bodies of dead wizards were scattered and a few remaining people stood around.

"Harry and Y/n Potter... are dead!" Voldemort yelled. Ginny, Hermione, Ron, Neville, and Draco walked out of the castle.

Many gasps echoed throughout the silence. Ginny started running toward Voldemort, but Ron held her back.

"The Potter Twins are dead!" he yelled again. "Come out of the castle now, kneel before me, join me, and you will be spared. Your parents and children, your brothers and sisters will live and be forgiven, and you will join me in the new world we'll build together."

Silence.

"Come." Voldemort moved ahead, forcing Hagrid to follow. "Stop."

The Death Eaters came to a halt, spreading out in a line facing the group of fighters as more spilled from the castle.

"Come, join me, I ask again!" Voldemort said. "Join your parents here, Slytherins!"

"Draco!" hissed Lucius Malfoy.

I opened my eyes a fraction of a millimetre, peaking through my lashes. Draco's face looked torn between his parents and his friends.

"Draco!" Lucius repeated.

His normally straight blond hair was wrinkled and covered in dirt. Tears swam in his eyes, staring at my limp figure.

"Draco!" Lucius hissed angrily.

Draco took a step forward, looked back at me, put his head down, and walked toward his parents. I saw him wipe his face with his sleeve before closing my eyes again.

"It is over!" cried Voldemort. "Set them down, Hagrid, at my feet, where they belong!"

We were lowered into the grass.

"You see? The Potter twins are dead! Do you understand now? They were nothing but twins who relied on others to sacrifice themselves for them!"

"They beat you!" yelled Ron.

"They were killed while trying to sneak out of the castle grounds," lied Voldemort, "killed for trying to save themselves—"

I heard a scuffle and a bang, and a grunt of pain led me to open my eyes for a second. A figure lay on the ground, Disarmed.

"Who is this?" asked Voldemort. "Who has volunteered to demonstrate what happens to those who continue to fight when the battle is lost?"

Bellatrix gave a delighted laugh. "It's Neville Longbottom, my Lord! The boy who has been giving the Carrows so much trouble!"