THE BOY I ONCE REMEMBERED ▸ [ D. M A L F O Y ]

two

"Lainie! For Merlin's sakes Lainie, wake up!"

My head shot up, meeting a panicked Neville still dressed in pajamas.

"The grounds are under attack! They're- they're searching the tents. We have to go-"

I jumped out of bed, pulling a random jumper over my head, "I'm right behind you. "

Neville only nodded in response, and I quickly grabbed onto his wrist as we made our way out of the tent. As soon as I began to unzip the opening, screams erupted from outside. The silencing charm Augusta had cast last night certainly worked.

" Wait- Where's Augusta?" I asked, turning back and looking around the tent frantically. The little old woman was nowhere to be found.

Neville was shaking violently, "I don't know! I woke up and I couldn't find her anywhere, so I thought she'd gone out for a walk or something and when I went to check-"

"She probably got caught up outside. It'll be fine Neville, we just have to get out."

We finally made our way out of the tent, chills stripping down my neck as I stepped outside. Green flashes of light were all across the sky, crowds pushing frantically in all directions. The screams were getting even louder, and cracks of failed apparition sounded from everywhere.

Not being allowed to apparate into or out of the grounds was a good idea in theory, but I'm sure the ministry was regretting that now. I felt myself beginning to panic, but pushed it down. I had to keep my head level enough to get to safety. Adrenaline was preventing me from truly freaking out, and I was definitely thankful for it.

Straight in front of us were two figures dressed entirely in black, their faces covered by painted white masks. The wands were pointed above them, and my stomach churned in horror as I saw a family, dangling by their ankles 20 feet in the air, screaming at the top of their lungs.

I froze, unable to move or speak. Just watching in horror as the attackers killed off each family member one by one.

Neville had avoided looking at them, and instead kept his eyes on the ground as he tugged on my shoulder, "Lainie we have to go."

Finally snapping out of the trance, I stepped out of the way of a new group of people running "The woods." I screamed to Neville, hoping he would hear me over the noise. Thankfully he did, and we took off sprinting towards the other end of the grounds. 

I ran faster than I ever had before, everything around me becoming a distant blur. My brain didn't have the time to comprehend anything that was happening, and I didn't have the time to try.

We just have to get to cover. I reminded myself.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw a flash of black, following me as I continued. 

"There she is!" An unfamiliar voice screeched from behind me, "Oh Adelaine! Your dear old dad will surely thank me for this one."

A stream of green light shot over my head, the aftermakings of what I could only assume was the killing curse. My heart thudded in my chest as I dodged the spell again, too scared to look behind.

I only prayed that Neville was still following me.

The edge of the forest was just a little ways away, if I could just get there maybe I had a shot of losing him.

"You may be faster, Adelaine, but you'll have to slow down some time. And when you do-"

My lungs felt as if they were going to collapse as I ran, but I couldn't stop. I still felt him, taunting me, as if he could take me down any second as he pleased.