Living Death

- chapter forty eight

The forbidden forest felt considerably colder than it had been earlier and eerily quiet, the only sounds the rustle of the canopy above and the crunch of branches beneath your feet.

You could see your own breath ahead of you in the darkness as you both remained silent, unable to comprehend the fate you were walking to. It wasn't something either of you could afford to overthink.

"Grab onto me." Harry whispered suddenly under his breath as the trees grew denser, a sign you were ever close, looking to you as you paused in your stride.

"What?"

"You don't exactly look like you've brought me here against my will" Harry responded, shaking his head a little.

You realised you looked more like a couple taking a leisurely stroll than a captor and captive. Without wasting much time, you bound his hands behind him, the Incarcerous spell leaving your wand as you uttered a brief incantation and the ropes slid around his wrists like a snake curling around its prey.

"Harry.." You whispered softly, barely audible.

He looked at you over his shoulder.

"Thank you for everything you've done for me over the years" You continued, a slight fondness to your tone, not wanting to sound too sappy given the circumstances but wanting him to know you were grateful.

"That's what friends are for" He offered you a slightly sad sort of smile, looking ahead once again as he urged you to grip his bound wrists and press onwards. You hadn't quite anticipated his comment.

You were never particularly close at school apart from the fact you'd joined the DA in fifth year, and before that even had time to become a friendship you had been dead the following year so it was rather surprising to hear him use the word 'friend' to describe you. You don't even think you ever heard Blaise or Theo use that term verbally, it was far too sentimental for some of your Slytherin peers to throw around casually but it meant a great deal.

He pretended to struggle in your arms as you got deeper into the middle of the forest, barely a glimmer of light coming through the trees now even though it was twilight.

Your mark burned even more intensely now as it brushed against the rope behind Harry, an indication you were close. You held your breath, feeling an overwhelming sense of nausea as bile began to burn the back of your throat. He was close.

You heard the heavy slither of that sinister snake against the forest floor and the scampering of feet breaking branches, an unknown Deatheater who had clearly been ordered to keep watch, running off to notify The Dark Lord of your arrival. You were mere steps away.

Around a huge tree trunk, you spotted the beady eyes and menacing grin of none other than Bellatrix Lestrange who made some sort of shrill shriek in delight at the appearance of you and Harry, scurrying back to Voldermort's side without a second glance.

A low gasp spread across the small crowd around The Dark Lord as you stepped out from behind the final tree and finally, he turned to face you, his snake-like eyes widening in sick pleasure.

You stepped closer and Harry struggled more in your hold, stumbling forward as you threw him to the ground in front of Lord Voldemort, knowing any sign of weakness or care for Harry would reveal all.

Fear paralysed you as Voldemort approached you suddenly, raising the Elder Wand to your chin and pushing it into your skin, forcing your head back and your spine to straighten.

"You have wasted valuable time, we have lost forces due to your negligence" He hissed, dragging out the last word with disdain, the cold tip of The Elder Wand digging deeper into your flesh. Harry didn't dare look up, knowing he may mistakenly show some sort of concern for you.