Brave [2]

Chapter 83

The first thing I hear is Ginny's desperate screams as she runs forward, then I see Mr Weasley trying to grab for her, and despite having known this would happen I'm still shell-shocked. Because maybe after my luck tonight I hoped that things would change, that he'd come back. But like Aiden, like Remus and Tonks, like countless others that died tonight, he's still gone.

"SILENCE!" Voldemort shouts, waving his wand and knocking them back. "Stupid girl! Harry Potter is dead. From this day forth... you'll put your faith in me." Then he grins, turning to his followers, extending his arms as if conducting an orchestra. "Harry Potter is dead."

And on cue, all the Death Eaters start laughing, and he whirls around to face us as a low chuckle rather like a frog's croak escapes his lips. "And now is the time to declare yourself. Come forward and join us... or die."

No one moves. No one even breathes.

"Draco." Lucius looks hesitant, worse than the last time I saw him, a lot more than a five o'clock shadow on his chin. He grits his teeth, holding out a hand. "Draco."

Beside me, Draco stiffens. I squeeze his hand, giving him as much comfort as I can, but it's not till Narcissa's soft voice sounds do I realise what I need to do. Narcissa was always there for Draco. She raised him, taught him everything he knows. The person that always loved and protected him... so how could he abandon her as she calls for him?

I close my eyes, reaching out with my mind to hers, gently knocking on the walls of her Occlumency. And she senses my presence, letting me in, trusting me. Narcissa. This is your chance to do what's right. Our side will win. Isn't it time to finally speak up, to protect your family?

Narcissa's eyes travel to meet mine after a moment, something knowing in them despite the distance, then she responds with four words.

Harry Potter is alive.

Then gasps echo in the courtyard as she starts walking over to our side, walking over to us, standing on Draco's other side and taking his hand. Lucius stares at his family on the other side, stunned, then glances at Voldemort. A moment later, he runs over, standing with them, too. Because for a long while he's known he's not happy with this, and now he can do something about it. Now he has that strength. He can finally do something for his family.

And the whole while, my eyes are wide as I turn to stare at my Godbrother's limp body in Hagrid's arms, not daring to hope, not daring to think, not daring to consider for even a moment...

My mind reaches out to his gently, finding it easy, the fact there's still a working mind to reach out to shocking me. Harry?

Cassia.

I press my lips together to stop myself from laughing out of sheer relief, from cheering and jumping and celebrating that once again, time did not get the best of us. That somehow the future was defied once more.

And it's then that Voldemort recognises another defiance, lips curling into a snarl. "Severus. You're still alive."

Gasps sound from even our side as he steps forward, and for the most part I'm shocked he's not been struck down from anyone on either end of the courtyard. There's still blood on his face and robes, but he's proud. And for the first time openly, he's smiling. "Of course."

"Since when were you on their side?" Voldemort spits, unamused with how he's somehow been played once again.

"I always have been."

"You killed Dumbledore!"

"He told me to, so you wouldn't question my loyalty. He was dying anyway."