The Girl Who Lived (Draco Malfoy x OC)

The Ministry Atrium

June 20th 1996

"I have nothing more to say to you, Potter," Voldemort's voice was low, filled with hatred and disgust. "You have irked me too often, for too long. Avada Kedavra!"

Harper did not even move nor try to resist the spell. Her body wrecked with sorrow and anger. Her mind was blank, wand pointing uselessly at the Ministry Atrium's floor. She had just watched Bellatrix strike Sirius with the killing curse. She watched as the colour drained from his skin and his body fell into the archway. Now she had given up. Let death take her and deliver her to her loved ones.

A headless golden statue of a wizard in a nearby fountain sprung alive, leaping from its plinth, and landing between Harper and Voldemort. The curse glanced off its chest, protecting her. Even then, Harper did not move.

"Dumbledore!" Voldemort breathed.

She weakly glanced to see Dumbledore standing in front of the golden gates. Voldemort raised his wand and sent the curse at Dumbledore, who turned and was gone in a whirling of his cloak. He reappeared behind Voldemort and waved his wand toward the remnants of the fountain; the other statues sprang to life too. She was thrust back by the headless golden statue while the others occupied themselves with Bellatrix.

"It was foolish to come here tonight, Tom. The Aurors are on their way-"

"By which time I shall be gone and you will be dead!" Voldemort threatened.

He sent another curse at Dumbledore but missed, instead hitting the security guards desk which burst into flame. Dumbledore flicked his own wand. The force of the spell that emanated from it was enough to make Harper's hair stand on end. Voldemort conjured a shining silver shield out of thin air to deflect it just in time.

"You do not seek to kill me, Dumbledore?" Voldemort hissed with a wicked smile, scarlet eyes narrowed. "Above such brutality, are you?"

"We both know that there are other ways of destroying a man, Tom," Dumbledore said calmly, continuing to walk toward Voldemort as though he had not a fear in the world. Harper was in awe. "Merely taking your life would not satisfy me."

"There is nothing worse than death, Dumbledore!"

As they continued to battle, Harper couldn't help but cry again. The death of Sirius was too fresh and painful. It felt like she couldn't move, for the grief was too much. Voldemort was wrong, there was something worse than death, and Harper was experiencing it right now.

Dumbledore drew back his wand and waved it as though brandishing a whip. A long thin flame flew from the tip; it wrapped itself around Voldemort. The fiery rope evolved into a serpent, which relinquished its hold upon him and turned, hissing furiously at them. It struck forward, but Dumbledore brandished his wand in one, fluid movement and forced it high into the air. Harper gasped as it vanished in a wisp of dark smoke. She'd never witnessed such power, such magnificent magic. It was enlivening in her moment of weakness.

And then, a cackle behind her called her attention.

Harper glimpsed back to see Bellatrix having defeated the golden statues and giggling victoriously. The hatred erupted again, relentless and all consuming in a rageful outburst she'd never known before. She rose to her feet and pointed her wand with a strength she didn't know she'd ever possess.

"Crucio!" She roared.

Bellatrix screamed, falling to the ground and writhing awkwardly. Harper relished in the power she felt for the moment, watching as the wicked witch squirmed and howled. Her arms bent inwards, her neck flinging to the right while her legs seemed to fight the air around her. But Harper's concentration was soon broken as waves of heavy water knocked her. It seemed to come from Dumbledore and Voldemort's duel. She slid across the polished floor, holding her wand so tight her nails pierced her palm.