Trigger warnings: none
***
Harry was saying goodbye to Hermione and Ron. He had to go and face Voldemort. He was ready to die.
Athena decided to go with him. If she had to die with him, then she would do it.
But she also wanted to be by her brother's side. If he had only some minutes left on this earth, she wanted to spend them with him.
Side by side, they went together to the Forbidden Forest.
Harry took the Golden Snitch out of his pocket. He slowly put it in his mouth and it opened, revealing the Resurrection Stone.
''We must get rid of it, right?'' Athena asked, her voice a whisper.
Harry nodded. ''Yes, we must. I can't let Voldemort have all the Hallows in his possession.''
He let the stone fall to the ground and then they started walking again.
But an illusion made them halt in their steps.
They were two people there, staring at them with wide, warm smiles.
''Harry?'' Athena whispered.
She couldn't recognize the two people she was seeing, because she had never seen them before. ''Are you seeing those illusions as well?'' she asked in fear.
''It's our parents,'' Harry smiled at her, gently grabbing her hand. "Come on."
Athena felt her heart beating fast in her chest, as she looked at her father and her mother, for the first time in her life.
''Mom, dad...'' she cried. ''I can't believe I am actually seeing you.''
''My beautiful children,'' Lily spoke, smiling at them proudly.
''You have both grown so much...'' James smiled at them too.
''How are we able to see them?'' she whispered, mesmerized by the image before her.
She couldn't take her eyes off of them. Athena felt her heart immediately warming up at the sight of her parents.
''I summoned them with the Stone. I wanted to do this with you," Harry whispered. "You deserved to see them as well."
Athena smiled at her brother and looked back at their parents.
Two other men walked over to them. Athena recognized Remus Lupin and Sirius Black, Harry's godfather.
They all had come to say their goodbyes to Harry. He was now absolutely sure that his end was near.
Lily held out both of her hands, silently calling her children to get close to her.
Athena and Harry stepped closer to her, both mesmerized by her presence.
They tried to touch her hands, but they couldn't, because she wasn't actually here. And the realization hurt the both of them, deeply.
Lily looked at them with a sad expression on her face. ''You have both been so brave, my loves," she said with the sweetest voice.
Harry couldn't help but turn to Sirius.
Sirius smiled at him. ''Is death painful? Does it hurt?'' he asked him, as he felt a lump forming in his throat.
Athena closed her eyes, trying to hold her fresh tears back. She felt like she was being deeply cut with a knife.
''It's quicker than falling asleep,'' he reassured him, giving him a warm smile. "It will be over soon," he promised.
Athena was now crying while watching this.
She coudn't lose her brother. She never got the chance to meet her parents and she had just lost one of the most important people in her life.
Severus Snape.
Was she ready to lose another loved one, so soon?
''I didn't want you to die for me. Remus... Your son...'' Harry whispered.
''One day, he'll understand,'' he smiled at him. ''He will understand, Harry.''
''Will you all stay close to me?'' Harry asked, looking at everyone, including Athena.
Their mother smiled at him. ''Always.''
And then, they were gone.
''Let's go,'' Harry whispered all teared up.
Athena followed him, while an indescribable pain was forming in her chest.
They walked a little longer, when they finally arrived. Voldemort and his vicious followers were waiting for Harry, but they definitely didn't expect Athena to be with him.
Voldemort was looking at the both of them, his snake eyes shocked by Athena's presence.
Narcissa's eyes went wide when she saw Athena, too.
She was here. She was alive.
But where was her son? Where was Draco?
''Harry! Athena, no!'' they heard Hagrid's voice. '"What are you both doing here?'' he grunted.
The gigantic teacher was kneeling on the ground, as four Death Eaters had him in chains, like he was some kind of wild animal.
Voldemort couldn't take his eyes off of them. ''Harry Potter, the boy who lived... has now come to die!'' he almost whispered, as the female snake slithered underneath his feet.
''And Athena,'' he now turned to her. ''You betrayed me, my child. You went to Potter's side. You have become my enemy."
Athena stood up to her height, sick of feeling fear and anger. She went close to Harry, grabbing his hand.
"I was never by your side,'' she gritted through her teeth.
This made him even more furious. He quickly raised his fake Elder Wand at them, and Harry pushed Athena back with all his force, in order to save her.
''Avada Kedavra!'' he yelled, the green light reaching Harry's chest, throwing him onto the ground.
''Harry, no!'' Athena cried, as now two Death Eaters grabbed her and brought her by Narcissa's side, away from him.
Narcissa looked at Athena with a clenched jaw, and tearful eyes.
She raised her hand at her and slapped her. Athena's head turned to the side, as she felt the tears stinging in her eyes.
''How could you do this to us... You betrayed us," she accused her. ''Where is my son, Athena? Where is Draco?" she demanded to know.
Athena shook her head, still not looking at her. ''I don't know...'' she whispered, her voice trembling.
Athena was devastated. Harry was gone. He was truly gone.
Voldemort looked at Harry's body that was laying on the ground. He wanted to make sure that he was indeed dead.
''Who will check if the boy is truly gone?'' he asked, looking at his followers.
No one spoke for a moment.
But then, Narcissa Malfoy stepped forward. ''I will do it for you, my Lord.''
Voldemort shook his head in approval, as Narcissa went over to Harry's body and kneeled to the ground.
Athena and Hagrid were watching in tears, still praying for a miracle. They were hoping that Harry would wake up, any minute now.
After some seconds, Narcissa got up from the ground, looked straight into Voldemort's snake eyes and just said; ''Dead.''
Athena screamed in pain, her leges giving up on her. She knelt to the ground, her chest aching with the worst pain ever.
''Finally!'' Voldemort laughed evilly. ''Harry Potter is dead! I finally managed to kill the boy!"
***
Draco was desperately searching for Athena, but he couldn't find her anywhere. He was slowly losing his mind, because he didn't know if she was dead or alive.
''Did you find her?'' Draco asked Theodore, when they bumped into each other at the Main Hall.
Theodore shook his head negatively. ''No. She's nowhere to be found!'' he shouted at Draco, his eyes red.
Draco looked at him, shocked by his outburst, as Theodore grabbed him by the colar of his suit jacket.
"She's gone because of you!'' he yelled again. ''I will fucking kill you, Malfoy!" he threatened, pushing him against the wall.
''Easy there!'' Blaise immediately stepped in, dragging Theodore away. ''Calm the fuck down, Nott! We will find her!''
Draco and Theodore were looking at each other in anger, ready to fight again. But they were cut off by the students, who were gathering outside.
They all saw Voldemort entering the school.
The three boys run outside, only to see him leading the way, the other Death Eaters behind him.
''Who is Hagrid holding?'' Blaise asked, while trying to take a better look.
Draco didn't know and he didn't actually care at the moment. He felt his heart rate calming down, when he saw that Athena was next to his mother.
He took a step forward, wanting to get to her, but Blaised pulled him back. ''Stay here!" he whispered. "Not yet!"
Voldemort victoriously walked into the center of the yard, as he raised his hands in the air.
''Harry Potter is dead!'' he announced, smiling with satisfaction, the Death Eaters laughing in triumph.
''No!'' Ginny Weasley screamed, while trying to get to Harry, but her father held her back the last minute. "No!" she cried again.
Draco was close to Hermione and Ron, who were all teared up, shaken up by their friend's death. They couldn't wrap their minds around this tragedy.
Draco also felt some tears in his eyes...
This couldn't be. He was crying about Potter's death, too.
He was mourning for him.
''Now it's the time to declare yourselves. Come on, don't be shy! Everyone is welcomed!'' Voldemort enthusiastically announced.
But there was absolute silence.
No one was moving. No one wanted to be by his side.
No one walked over to him.
What did Draco have to do? Did he have to go?
No, absolutely not. He had made a promise to Athena.
He wouldn't go by Voldemort's side again. They had to fight him.
"Draco!'' he heard his father's tired voice call out his name.
He snapped back to reality, as he looked at his desperate father. "Draco,'' Lucius repeated, more softly now.
Draco gulped while the tears were welling up in his eyes again. What was he supposed to do now?
He felt his lips trembling and his eyes went over to Athena's pair of green eyes.
She was looking at him in tears, hoping he would stay there. He had to stay there. He promised.
''Draco,'' Narcissa's warm voice called out for him, making Draco look at her now. ''Come, my son...''
Draco took a brief look at the students and the teachers around him.
No one tried to stop him. No one cared to tell him to stay.
Nobody ever cared about him anyway. Why was this shocking him?
He looked down to the ground, taking some steps forward, but Ron's harsh voice stopped him. ''He fucking saved you!'' he hissed at him.
Draco couldn't look at them, he didn't have the strength. He kept on walking and went over to Voldemort, who was looking at him with a disgusting, triumphant smile on his face.
''Well done, my boy!'' he praised him. ''Well done, Draco.''
Draco ignored him and walked over to his parents and then next to Athena.
His heart fell when he saw the disappointment in her face. He stood by her side, but didn't dare to raise his eyes at her again.
''I'm sorry...'' he whispered, his voice cracking.
Athena kept her stare on the crowd across from them, her jaw clenched. ''You promised me...'' she whispered.
''I know...'' he simply said.
''It's not over!'' they heard Neville yell.
They all looked at him now, shocked to see he had Gryffindor's sword in his hands.
And then, something unexpected happened, making everyone gasp in shock.
Harry rolled away from Hagrid's hands and fell onto the ground.
Everyone gasped again.
Harry was alive!
''Confrigo!'' he yelled with a wand in his hand, hitting the female snake.
Voldemort was in shock, so he raised his wand too, trying to attack Harry again.
And then, some Death Eaters started leaving, fearing for their lives. They knew the game was over. They had to go.
''No! Come back! Fight!" Bellatrix yelled for them, but in vain. "You cowards!" she screamed.
Narcissa tried to get a hold of Draco and Athena's hands. ''We have to go!'' she yelled at them. "Now, my children!"
''No!'' Draco stepped in, making her look at him with wide eyes. ''Me and Athena are staying!''
Athena couldn't help but smile proudly at him.
He was trying to keep his promise to her. They would stay back and fight by Harry's side.
''Draco, please!'' his mother cried. "We have to go!"
Draco shook his head and went over to her. ''I'm sorry, mother,'' he said and tenderly kissed her cheek. ''I love you.''
Draco took Athena's hand in his and run away, going with the rest of the crowd.
Hermione hugged Athena as soon as she saw her. ''Oh my god! You are alive! You and Harry!'' she cried in happiness.
Athena hugged her back tightly. ''I would never leave you, you guys.''
Hermione and Ron stared at a nervous Draco Malfoy. They were somehow shocked that he decided to join them, but they couldn't help but smile at him.
''You came back, after all,'' Ron half smiled.
Draco nodded. ''I made a promise," he said, looking lovingly at the girl by his side.
''Well come on then!'' Hermione urged them. ''We have a snake to kill!''
The four of them rushed inside the castle, in search for Nagini. They had to kill her, and fast, so Harry could finally end Voldemort's life.
When they got inside the castle, Ron saw his family. Bellatrix had just attacked Ginny, but she dodged her spell the last minute.
''My family is there!'' Ron cried. "I have to help them!"
"No!" Athena stopped him, as she felt the blood rushing in her veins in an instant.
This was her chance to kill Bellatrix.
"Let me finish this," she hissed and ran over to them.
She ignored Draco's pleas for her to come back. But Athena wanted to take her out, today.
''Leave my friend alone, you bitch!'' she spat at her.
Bellatrix looked at her, first in shock but then she smiled sardonically. ''Would you look at that! My dearie here thinks she can kill me!"
Athena raised her wand at her, and attacked her. Bellatrix repelled her spell the last minute.
Draco was watching the whole scene in shock. When she saw Hermione and Ron still standing there, he urged them to go. "Go, find the damn snake!" he said at them intensely.
They both nodded in agreement and they ran away, hand in hand.
''It's over, Bellatrix...'' Athena breathed out, as the sweat was trickling over her forehead.
This was one of the most intense fights she ever had.
With one silent spell, she made Bellatrix's body turn into a statue. And then, all that was needed, was the final straw.
Athena casted another silent spell, breaking Bellatrix in literal pieces.
She was gone.
Athena winked at the stunned Weasley family, and hurried back to Draco.
''You killed her,'' he breathlessly stated.
Athena's face fell. ''Will you hate me for killing your aunt?'' she whispered, her eyes were tracing his face in worry.
He shook his head and grabbed her waist, smashing their lips together. Athena's fingers were now in his hair, pulling him closer.
His tongue instantly found her own, kissing her like it was their last moment together.
''God, I love you,'' he whispered on her lips, when they pulled away after some seconds.
''You don't hate me?'' she breathlessly asked him again.
''I could never hate you...'' he whispered as he caressed her hair.
Athena smiled at him. ''Come on baby, we have to help Hermione and Ron! Do you still have the wand with you?'' she eagerly asked him.
Draco nodded. ''Of course I do!"
Athena smiled and took his hand, and went to find the others.
They finally managed to catch a glimpse of her two friends, but when they got over to them, they were shocked by the sight.
The snake was beheaded.
''Neville killed it...'' Hermione said, still shaking. ''If it wasn't for him, me and Ron would be dead now.''
''Oh my god...'' Athena whispered.
Rob helped Hermione get up from the ground. ''We have to find Harry! Come on!'' Ron urged them and they all ran back outside.
They got there right just in time. Harry was at loss, searching for Draco's wand, but he couldn't find it anywhere.
He was disarmed.
''Draco, now!" Athena yelled. "Give Harry the wand!"
Draco wasted no time. He ran over to Harry, who was still searching for the wand.
''Potter!'' he yelled. "Here!"
Harry raised his head and couldn't believe in his own eyes.
Draco was running over to him, with a wand in his hand.
And not just any wand; it was the Elder Wand.
''Take this!'' he yelled as he tossed it to Harry.
Harry had now realized that this was the real one. Voldemort had a fake Elder Wand, with too little powers.
This was his chance.
Harry catched it and turned around, ready to face Voldemort.
The Dark Lord was in shock, when he realized that he had a fake one, this whole time. He could now tell the difference between them.
Thankfully for him, he had Lucius Malfoy's wand. So he pulled it out of his pocket, and attacked Harry with that one.
The lights of their wands now touched, as they were both trying to kill each other, once and for all.
Draco was back by Athena's side, bringing her to his chest.
They were all watching the scene, hoping Harry would make it. He had to make it.
Harry and Voldemort were both screaming their lungs out, as they felt the power of their wands.
Only one could win, only one could stay alive.
Harry pushed his wand further, overpowering Voldemort for a brief moment.
The force of the spell pushed him to the ground, some meters away.
And then, silence.
Harry opened his eyes with difficulty, staring at the sky.
He tried to get up from the ground, as he felt his head pounding with pain.
When he managed to raise up, his eyes landed on him.
He saw Voldemort's lifeless body.
Harry felt a smile forming on his face, because there was no doubt now.
Voldemort was dead.
***
After Voldemort's defeat, the sun came back on the sky, bringing warmth to everybody's wounded hearts.
Voldemort was truly gone.
''Let's go home,'' Draco murmured on Athena's hair. They were back at the Astronomy Tower, for one last time.
Athena nodded. ''I will come and find you,'' she promised. ''But I have to find Harry first. We have to take care of Snape's body. And I have to talk to him about everything. He's my brother, after all.''
Draco shook his head. ''I still can't believe this...'' he said as he licked his lips, somehow annoyed.
Athena smiled playfully. ''What can't you believe?'' she teased, wrapping her arms around his waist, already knowing the answer.
"That I fell in love with Potter's sister," he rolled his eyes.
Athena couldn't help but burst into laughter. ''I love you so fucking much, Draco Malfoy.''
He gave her a bright grin. "I love you too Athena... Potter.''
She laughed again at the way he spoke her real last name.
Their lips connected, one more time. Draco brought her closer to his chest, kissing her with all the love he had for her.
''Draco... I have to go. Harry is waiting for me...'' she mumbled on his lips, while slowly —yet unwillingly — pulling away.
Draco groaned. ''Fine,'' he said in annoyance. ''Get back home soon though. Okay?''
Athena nodded. ''I'll see you in a bit," she promised.
Draco kissed her one last time and apparated back to the Manor.
Athena sighed, finally feeling happy, after a long time.
Yes, Snape was gone, but she knew he didn't die in vain. He died while protecting her and Draco, the man that Athena loved.
He protected their love. And Athena would be eternally grateful to him. Not just because of that, but because Severus loved her. And he had saved her, multiple times.
Without him, she wouldn't be right here, right now.
Athena quickly went down the stairs, eager to find Harry and her friends.
She started walking faster, but then she felt two pairs of hands stopping her, as they violently grabbed both of her arms.
''What the fuck?'' she yelled when she saw two unknown men holding her tightly. ''Let me go!" she yelled. "Who the hell are you?" she demanded to know.
And then, she saw him.
Lucius Malfoy.
He inched closer to her, looking at her with red, exhausted eyes. But his expression was hateful and ruthless.
''Take her away,'' he ordered the two men that had her in a firm grip.
Athena's eyes widened in shock at his words. ''What? Where the fuck are you taking me? What do you want from me?" she yelled again.
''You're too dangerous, Athena Potter. You have to be locked up!'' he hissed. ''And I have to keep you away from my family, away from my son!'' he continued his hateful rambling.
''What shit are you talking about, Lucius?'' she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
''I know you are the other Slytherin heir. I finally managed to read the whole prophecy!" he informed her.
Athena felt fear taking over her. What would he do to her?
''And as the late Albus Dumbledore said, you have to be locked up. Or die," he carried on. "Because you are dangerous. You could be the next Dark Lord, and I won't allow you to come into my family, while holding that title.''
''What the hell are you talking about? You are sick!" Athena cried. "Mental!"
Athena literally had no idea what he was talking about.
Severus never told her about her being the next Dark Lord. Was it possible that Lucius Malfoy was telling the truth?
"And most of all, your mother, Lily Potter, was a muggle - born witch. I would never allow a non - pureblood witch marry my only son, or carry my future grandchilds. You must be vanished," he said, almost sounding disgusted.
''Draco will find out about this! And he will hate you!'' she spat, while trying to set herself free from the holds of the two men. "He will never forgive you!"
Lucius smiled evilly at her. ''He will never know. I will make sure of it. He will forget all about you."
''Why are you doing this? You know I would never follow into Voldemort's steps!'' she lashed out. ''He killed Severus, for god's sake!''
''The new Minister of Magic promised me amnesty, if I hand you over to them," he said. "You will be locked up in the secret cells underneath the Ministry. Until your very last breath. Take her!'' he ordered them.
The two men apparated with Athena, and they got back to the Ministry, and its cold, wet cells.
It was like they were already expecting her.
Athena cried as they dragged her to the front door of a cell.
With no other word, they opened the bars and threw her in, like she was an empty sack.
Athena started crying and screaming, begging for them to get her out.
"Help! Somebody help me!" she screamed at the top of her lungs.
But no one listened. She was all alone down here. No one would come and rescue her.
"Draco...'' she cried. ''My Draco...'' she whispered, as she rested her head on the cell bars.
Now she knew that she would never see him again.
Draco would never find her down here.
And he would eventually forget. He would forget about her and he would move on.
And Athena would die in this cell, too far away from him.
Without seeing the icy blues, one last time.
***
This chapter is literally ripping me apart 💔😭
Don't worry though... we still have a long way to get to the end ❤️
ILY all
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