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LIANA Holly blew through the seventh floor corridor and many stopped to stare at her as she walked. She looked like she was about to murder someone and a gaggle of first years who were clutching textbooks in their arms had to dodge to avoid getting in her way.
Liana was fuming. She had never felt anger like this before, she had been humiliated beyond belief and had wasted so many tears crying over a boy who had no idea what actions he was even doing. Liana jogged down the stairs, on the hunt for Harry or Ginny. She wasn't even sure what she was planning to do once she found them, but she knew it wasn't going to end well for either of them. She had barely got past the tapestry of Barnaby the Great when she stormed into something painfully hard.
"Fucking hell!" Liana exclaimed angrily as she backed away from the hard object, rubbing her nose in agitation, her blood boiling in her veins like hell fire spreading through her body.
But as Liana's eyes traveled up the person she had just bumped into, she quickly sucked in a breath. Liana had just walked head long into Harry James Potter, who was looking extremely distraught. His forest green eyes were distant behind his glasses that were sliding down his nose, his face was pale and he was looking increasingly unhealthy and deranged. He ran a hand through his dark hair as his vision fell down to focus on Liana's small form.
Liana was vaguely aware of passing students beginning to gather around her and Harry, whispered voices jumping between them. Liana thought she could vaguely make out a few familiar ones.
"Just wait and see what she does! Rumour has it Harry cheated on her with Ginny Weasley-" Hannah Abbots voice could be noted.
"Shut up Hannah, no one asked about your petty gossip."
Liana's head snapped around at this voice, she would've recognised it anywhere. In the corner of the corridor, leaning up against a marble pillar, was Draco and Pansy, both watching Liana with interested eyes, clearly eager to see what she was about to do.
Liana hardly even acknowledged them however, her attention turning back to Harry.
"Well, haven't you got anything to say for yourself?" Liana demanded and Harry peered down at her in confusion, his expression contorting to distaste.
"Why would I have anything to say to you?" He asked and Liana couldn't help but feel her mouth drop open. She just couldn't believe it, she couldn't believe that even under a love potion he would act like this. Maybe his love for her just wasn't strong enough to penetrate through any ounce of the potion.
"Harry?!"
Liana's whole body whipped around at this voice. Ginny Weasley had come sprinting over to the bespectacled boy, her long red hair flying out behind her and her eyes wide. Liana shivered furiously.
"What does she want?" Ginny asked, turning her nose up at Liana, who was just standing before Harry, her anger beginning to mount so high she almost couldn't process it anymore.
"I don't know love. She ran into me, I was looking for you- Hermione said you collapsed." Harry's eyes roamed down Ginny's body, his hands going to her hips as he checked for any injuries.
"No I'm okay," Ginny assured. Her blue eyes connected with Liana's and with a small smirk on her thin lips she leant over and placed a peck on Harry's lips. Right in front of Liana.
Gasps echoed around the circle of students that had grown now to be the majority of sixth year, Hermione and Neville desperately trying to fight their way through the crowd to where Liana, Ginny and Harry were gathered.
"You shouldn't do that Ginny."
Liana's voice was low, her tone raw and rough, it quivered slightly and her whole body was beginning to shake with adrenaline and as she tried to suppress her rage. Ginny looked Liana up and down with a mocking giggle, her high pitched tone causing many surrounding students to curl their lips in scorn.
"And why's that Holly? Gonna go and cry to your boyfriend about it- oh wait!" Ginny teased. "You can't, because he's mine now."
"This is why," Liana muttered quietly. With that, she wasted no time in reaching out and grabbing a handful of Ginny's hair and with a strength she didn't know she had, she had shoved Ginny to the floor with a loud crash. There were a few cheers from the crowd, everyone rooting for Liana. Against the pillar, Draco was smirking, his eyebrows raised in slight surprise, he never knew Liana had this badass side to her and to be quite honest, it was hot. Pansy was jumping up and down on the spot, cheering loudly.
"You go girl! Knock her teeth out!"
Harry looked at Liana with the kind of fury Liana had never seen him possess before, not even towards Bellatrix when Sirius died. In the blink of an eye, Harry had his hand wrapped around Liana's throat in a choke, his brow lowered and his eyes completely dead inside as he lifted her body off the ground. Liana heaved for breath for a few moments, her face turning purple slowly as his hold deprived her of oxygen. Liana was fighting for air, somewhere deep inside her mind, she knew what to do.
With the most ferocious kick she could muster, she kneed Harry between his legs. In a second, Harry had dropped her in a pile on the ground and Liana had to stifle her own scream as her body hit the hard floor. Her head flew back with the momentum, making an alarmingly loud crack as she whacked it on the same spot that had cut open only a few days before. From around the outskirts of the circle a few people stirred, obviously wondering whether to intervene. The fight was ramping up to be a lot more serious than anticipated and it was obvious to many that unlike Liana, Harry looked like he had been fighting to kill.
"Don't you dare put your hands on me," Liana stated slowly as Harry was still bent over double in pain in front of her. Liana closed her eyes, focusing for a moment on how she wanted Harry's muscles to tense, to freeze like stone. Much to her delight, Harry's body snapped to be as still as marble, only his eyes able to move as he watched Liana in front of him. Her short hair was ruffled up, but her curls still perfectly intact, there was a flush to her cheeks and her eyes were merciless. His sight was drawn down to her hands however, there was no longer a faint glow to them, instead, there was a large ball of red sparks beginning to form in the palm of each of her hands. He had never seen any kind of power like this and it terrified him right down to the very core.
"Come on now Ginny, bit late to be getting cold feet don't you think?" Liana scowled sarcastically as Ginny staggered to her feet, clutching her arm that she had fallen on.
"What the fuck are you? You're demonic!" Ginny screamed as she took in Liana's appearance, her gaze lingering on Liana's hands. Liana couldn't help but chuckle darkly at the irony. Liana didn't bother to explain, instead she walked right over to Ginny until she was right in front of her face. Ginny tried to swing a punch, fear filling her eyes, but Liana's reaction were too fast and with an intimidating presicion, Liana's hand shot up and caught Ginny's arm in mid air, forcing it back down to her side.
"Do whatever the fuck you want Ginny Weasley, but don't touch the people I love," Liana warned, her eyes focused solely on Ginny's, practically boring into her soul. Ginny tried to cringe backwards and to duck away from Liana, but once again she was too slow and a moment to spare, Liana had raised her right fist in the air and with a sickening sound of bone shattering, she had broken Ginny's nose.
"What on earth is going on here?!"
Professor McGonagall's cries snapped Liana out of the fight and she turned away from Ginny, letting her crumple to the floor beside the frozen Harry.
"Miss Holly what is the meaning of this?!" Professor McGonagall raged as she marched into the centre of the circle of students, taking in the scene in front of her.
Ginny was cowering on the floor, her hands covering her bloody nose and trying to stem the flow as she huddled up against Harry's legs. Harry himself was frozen dead in his spot, unable to move an inch although his eyes bulged with desperation to be set free. Liana's mouth was beginning to curve into a twisted smile, her blue eyes shrouded into to a greyish colour, her entire being seemed darker, murkier, furious. Her chest was rising as she panted for breath, trying to calm herself down slightly and gain control of her powers.
"Just a lover's spat, nothing to worry about," Liana shrugged, almost casually. With that she turned away from the scene and began to walk away, one hand subconsciously drifting to touch the back of her head where the old wound had reopened, trickling blood down the back of her neck and her shirt.
"Don't walk away from me Miss Holly!" Called Professor McGonagall with concern lacing her voice. She had never seen Liana act like this before, but the only thing that could be heard from Liana now as she marched off was a laugh. It was a triumphant laugh, one of satisfaction that those who had wronged her had now faced her at her worst. An eye for an eye.
"Good luck unfreezing Harry, Professor!"
Liana was just walking down the stairs when she heard the sound of running footsteps behind her and she whipped her head around to see who it was, having to clutch onto the railings to fight the dizziness that swept over her now. It was Draco, Pansy, Neville and Hermione all chasing after her.
"Liana- what was that?" Hermione asked with worry and Liana shook her head.
"I don't even know, but it felt so good." She couldn't help but smile once again.
"Yeah I bet it did- that was fucking awesome!" Pansy encouraged and Liana snickered, going to turn around and walk away again.
"Thanks," she acknowledged. But she had to stop in her tracks and bend over slightly, clinging to the railing again as her eyes fluttered, the stormy blue disappearing into the back of her head as she stumbled. In a heartbeat, a pair of cold pale hands were pressed against Liana's back, stopping her from hitting the ground. Liana's eyes opened a fraction, in a blurry stage of half consciousness.
"Where does it hurt?" Draco asked her softly and Liana tried to raise her heavy arm to gesture to her head. It was a pathetic action, but Draco immediately understood.
Draco bent down slightly before scooping up her limp body. With his left hand he flipped her head over as carefully as he could and grimaced at the warm blood on his fingers as he touched her hair.
"She's bleeding, let's take her to the hospital, come on," Draco instructed and set off at once, carrying her body through Hogwarts towards the very grumpy Madam Pomfrey.
✰
"I THOUGHT we were stopping with the broken noses!"
Liana opened her heavy eyelids an inch to see the very disgruntled form of Madam Pomfrey hovering over her.
"I told you not to count on it, breaking noses is my speciality," Liana tried to joke as Draco set her down carefully on the closest bed in the hospital wing.
"Will she be okay Madam Pomfrey?" Hermione pleaded with concern as she immediately sank into the hard plastic chair on Liana's bedside. Madam Pomfrey pulled a grim expression, her wrinkled eyes narrowed as she began to inspect the back of Liana's head.
"I will make sure she is, Miss Granger. It doesn't look to be anything life threatening, only a reopened wound. The Weasley girl was in much worse shape," informed Madam Pomfrey as she shooed Pansy out of her way and began dabbing at Liana's neck with a damp cloth to mop up the excess blood.
"I daresay Professor Dumbledore will want to have a word with you Miss Holly," Madam Pomfrey threatened in an attempt to sound firm, despite the fact she couldn't help but adore Liana Holly the way most of the teaching staff did. "The rest of you should go, no don't give me that look Mr Longbottom, I can't move around to treat her properly with all of you crowding her. It's a Hogsmeade weekend, go off and have some fun."
Amid a few grumbles and complaints from Hermione, Pansy and Neville, the three of them began to traipse off.
"Best to keep her separate from Weasley and Potter, Madam Pomfrey," advised Draco as he too followed the others path out of the hospital wing.
"You poor thing Miss Holly, you been through he wars haven't you?" Sighed Madam Pomfrey as she finished cleaning Liana's cut and began to pour out a large glass of healing potion, the disgusting scent of dittany drifting from it.
"I think I just attract bad luck in all honesty," Liana frowned as she brought the glass up to her pursed lips and tried to take a small sip without gagging at the repulsively strong smell.
"You do seem particularly unfortunate don't you Miss Holly."
Liana's head jerked up at this voice and her blue eyes widened as it dawned on her that Professor Dumbledore was heading towards her and Madam Pomfrey.
"I'll leave you to it Professor," Madam Pomfrey nodded at Professor Dumbledore at once as she gave Liana a subtle good luck pat on the leg, before retreating deeper into the hospital wing to aid Ginny and Harry who resided a few beds down.
"Hello Professor," Liana greeted, shifting around in the bed uncomfortably as she prepared herself for a fierce reprimanding and possibly even a suspension, but Professor Dumbledore just sat down in Hermione's vacated chair, making himself at home as he peered down at the girl over his half moon spectacles.
"What happened Liana? I hear you've been in a fight," Professor Dumbledore inquired and Liana nodded rather guilty. But she reminded herself she was not solely alone in the wrong, it takes more than one person to have a fight and Liana definitely had her reasons.
"Ginny provoked me into fighting. She's been spiking Harry with love potion for months. I lashed out and that was wrong but I won't lie- I don't regret it in the slightest," Liana admitted truthfully and Dumbledore smiled down at her knowingly.
"I thought as much. It had been noted that Mr Potter has been behaving rather erratically in the last couple of months. However, while I'm sure we have our suspicions on the perpetrators, we cannot point the finger until we have proof he was actually under the influence of ammortentia. I haven't come down here to punish you, Miss Holly." Liana's mouth fell open in shock at this, unable to believe her luck.
"I want to discuss with you how you attacked them. There's been reports from your fellow pupils about seeing you using your power. How you seemed, how should I put this? You seemed darker, more dangerous," Dumbledore lowered his tone as he spoke now and Liana bit her lip nervously.
"I don't know what happened to me Professor. When I was attacking them, I felt so good, I wasn't in control. When Harry was trying to hurt me, there was this feeling in my body- like I knew what I had to do, like someone was telling me that I had to kick him, I had to fight," Liana confessed as she recalled the details of the fight.
Dumbledore frowned as he nodded. "Miss Holly I must ask you- have there been any strange occurrences recently?"
Liana pondered this question, wondering whether she could trust Dumbledore enough for her to be honest with him. Almost as if he read her mind Dumbledore added:
"I need not impress upon you the severity of this situation Miss Holly. Honesty is crucial to understanding how to control your powers. If not, they could kill you or anyone around you."
Liana sighed. "Earlier, me and Hermione snuck into the boys dorms to try and find proof Harry was being spiked. We were hiding from Harry and he was about to walk into me, so I stood still against the wall and for about ten seconds, neither he nor Hermione could see me again until I moved."
Liana watched Professor Dumbledore's expression change from pensive thoughtfulness to extreme interest, his wrinkled brow furrowing in thought as he considered this.
"I believe that's your demons Liana. They've made their presence more known as you've grown older and more experienced. Imagine it this way, they may torture you and bring you anguish in your waking and sleeping hours. But they need a host to survive. If you die, so do they. Whenever you get that feeling of panic, of terror, as if your life is in danger, your demons will jump to your defence, lending you their own power to ensure your survival. That's where you've got the invisibility, the strength, the contortion of light from. That uncontrollable rage is how the demons react to someone trying to harm their host. Have you experienced anything else like this?" Dumbledore wondered. Liana rubbed at her temples, deep in thought.
"Last year, in the ministry- I couldn't get anywhere near the veil. Not in my dreams, not in real life." Liana grimaced at the bitter memories of the ministry of magic last summer. "But Professor, I'm not afraid of Harry- he would've never actually killed me, would he? I know he's under the influence of the potion but still-" Liana despised how small and pathetic her voice sounded now as she trailed off, her heart sinking.
Dumbledore gave her a pitiful look. "Miss Holly, I believe you already know the answer to that question."
Liana frowned as she tried in her exhausted mind to absorb this information, that Harry would've killed her for Ginny. But her train of thought was interrupted by Madam Pomfrey's hurried footsteps.
"Professor Dumbledore! We have a problem sir, Mr Potter has large concentrations of ammortentia in his system. I thought perhaps it was drugs at first so I tested his blood-" Madam Pomfrey hissed to Professor Dumbledore, her eyes drifting to Liana in wondering.
"Don't look at me! The boy just tried to kill me. If you're going to be investigating anyone why don't you ask why Ginny's been giving Harry bottles of love potion disguised as presents," Liana suggested in a off handed manner, although there was satisfaction in her voice.
Ginny had been caught red handed this time.
Madam Pomfrey's eyes widened and she beckoned Professor Dumbledore over at once to lead him over to Ginny and Harry. Liana waited until they were both out of eyeshot before she kicked off the blankets that rested suffocatingly over her legs. She couldn't be bothered to sit in the hospital wing once again.
Liana rubbed a hand over the back of her head and felt the had the wound had closed from the dittany, there was only a throbbing pain in the back of her mind every now and then, but other than that Liana felt fairly normal. Without waiting to be dismissed from the hospital wing, Liana marched straight out, knowing exactly where she was heading.
✰
THE walk to Hogsmeade was longer than Liana remembered and she shivered in the freezing cold and the snow, wishing she would've brought a coat with her.
Around her the snow swirled down like icing sugar, catching in her soft curls of hair. Liana wrapped her arms closer around herself as she headed towards Honeydukes. If there was ever a time Liana needed her brother and Will, now was the time. As Liana hurried along, she tried not to get upset.
Harry had been attacking her to kill her.
She didn't think she would ever be able to come to terms with that statement. But what she hated the most, was the love that still pumped through her body for that boy, even though she knew she would never be able to trust him or feel for him like she did before. Liana quickened her pace, wanting to reach the shop before any more intrusive thoughts could cloud her mind.
Honeydukes was swarming with students when Liana arrived and she cursed under her breath as she tried to weave through them without getting spotted and to ignore the whispers all around her about the fights. Liana hated the gossip more than anything else.
"Liana?"
Liana glanced up to see the one person she desperately wanted to see the most. Will Spring was standing behind the counter, his blonde hair messed up and his apron slightly askew as he tried to separate chocolate frogs from piles of jelly beans. Without waiting for anything else, Liana had throw herself at Will, her arms latching around him tightly.
"Hey there little one. Are you after me or Grey? He's in the store room helping with shipments, I can go get him if you like?" Offered Will as he picked Liana up from the ground slightly and spun her round in a warm and welcoming hug.
Liana shook her head as Will gently placed her back on the ground. "I wanted to speak to you both."
Will shrugged and nodded, turning to lead Liana into the back room.
Grey was swearing violently as he dropped a crate of lollipops on his big toe when the two of them entered. Liana rolled her eyes and helped Will push the crate from Grey's foot.
"Idiot," Liana muttered fondly as she pulled Grey into a hug, squeezing her eyes shut in relief of the familiarity of her brother's arms.
"Hey Liana- what are you doing here?" Grey grinned as he rubbed her shoulder affectionately. Liana sighed and sniffed before she did something that took both Grey and Will by alarm. She started crying. Not loud obnoxious howls, but whimpers of weakness, tears sliding down her cheeks and off her chin, her bottom lip trembling slightly. She finally had to let it out.
"Ginny's been poisoning Harry. He doesn't love me anymore and I think he's been trying to kill me because of what the potion is doing to him. I'm so scared of him and Ginny and I'm scared of myself- Dumbledore thinks my powers are getting more out of hand and I just don't want to live like this anymore, I'm so sick of everything!" Liana exclaimed all in one heavy breath. Will and Grey stared at her with wide eyes as she continued to break down in front of them, all her emotions apparently bubbling to the surface.
"Grey, Will, I just want to go home. I want somewhere safe with people who love me. But I don't have that- not with anyone. I used to think Harry could be my home, but not anymore, I don't think I can even look at him right now."
Grey sighed. He ran a hand through his sandy brown hair as he absorbed everything Liana was saying, trying to comprehend what had been happening to her in these last couple of months.
"Liana- you know you're safe with us. Me and Grey, we're always gonna be your home," Will tried to assure, his arm instinctively going around Grey. Liana smiled at Will with tears in her big blue eyes.
"I adore you both. But it's not the same, you have each other. I'm not anyone's most important person. You're both the closest thing I have to loving family, I just needed to see you, to get things off my chest. I just wanted to feel safe for a minute," Liana admitted pathetically as she began to regain composure of herself, wiping the tear stains from her cheeks and patting underneath her eyes to remove any smudged makeup.
Grey seemed lost in thought for a moment before he began to walk away with Will, beckoning Liana to follow him up the stairs from the basement, past the main door to the store, and into the apartment above.
Liana had been in this apartment a few times in third year when she and Will had been each other's soul companion over the summer. She remembered it as rather cold, with damp in the corners and a vividly yellow wallpaper that was peeling off the wall from the moist atmosphere. It hadn't been the most luxurious place, but Liana had needed somewhere to stay and she knew it was just Will and his paralyzed dad living there, she could hardly judge.
But she Liana climbed the staircase in curious pursuit of Will and Grey, her eyes dilated in shock. The once grotty apartment had been transformed from a mouldy and rather underwhelming sight, to a cosy looking home, emanating comfort and security. The damp was no where to be seen, the old wallpaper had been stripped back to reveal beautiful red brick walls. There was a blazing fireplace in the open space living room and Liana's jaw dropped. Grey had obviously unleashed his inner interior designer when he moved in.
"Liana my girl! How have you been?"
Liana beamed as her eyes fell upon the form of Mr Spring, Will's father, exiting the kitchen in his wheelchair, a kindly smile on his wrinkled face.
"I'm been doing okay Mr Spring- how are you?" Liana asked politely and Mr Spring chuckled at her, shaking his head in amusement.
"How many times do I have to tell you to call me John. There's no need for formalities, you've been a tremendous friend to my boy," John smiled at Liana who ducked her head rather shyly to hide her blush.
"We're going to show Liana her surprise, I think now is a good time," prompted Will, gesturing for Liana to keep following them through. Liana carried on walking after them until she reached a door. Grey opened the door slowly, an excitable smile on his face.
Liana's jaw dropped once again.
It was a room. A room that was specifically decorated for her.
Liana thought her eyes might start welling up again as she took in the decor. The floor was a glossy dark wood, a small single bed with deep red velvety colours and Liana's gaze trailed over the framed photographs and books that sat on the bedside table.
"But all this stuff- I left it in the London flat, I thought for sure it would've been throw out by the people who bought the place-" Liana mumbled, trying to stop herself from crying once more. Grey smirked at Will proudly.
"Nope, we nipped back there just in time and got all of your belongings out. I know things are going to shit at school Liana, it might feel like your world is ending. But you always have a home here, somewhere safe to stay," Grey promised her sincerely. Liana threw her arms around both boys, hovering on her tiptoes to smoosh their faces into her shoulders passionately.
"You two are the best ever, you don't know how much this means to me-" Liana broke off as she squeezed Grey and Will tightly before letting them go. Grey blushed and rubbed the back of his neck nervously with his hand. He had been worried Liana would reject the idea of having a room here, that she would be too uncomfortable and that she would be angry they had relocated all her belongings. The truth was, although Grey knew he loved his sister- she was only his half sister after all, she would've had every right to refuse.
But Liana had reacted the complete opposite as she plopped herself down on the bed and stretched her legs out, running her fingers along the soft surface of the material, her eyes shining in gratitude.
"You should probably get back to school- from the sounds of it, you're gonna be pretty high on the teacher's radar right now and the last thing I want it you getting expelled for wandering off," Will hinted with knowing eyes as he ventured out of the door. Liana sighed, knowing he was right. She was sure Madam Pomfrey would have plenty to say to her for sneaking out.
She took one last longing look at her new bedroom, before leaving and closing the door behind her. She gave John a one armed hug before disappearing back down the stairs to the belly of the store where it was still crammed to bursting with overexcited Hogwarts students.
Liana giggled as she waved goodbye to Grey and Will, weaving past Hannah Abbot who had a piece of chewing gum stuck in her hair. Liana took in a deep breath as she reached the outside of the shop where the sky was beginning to grow darker as it reached late afternoon. The snow crunched under her feet as she walked and the cold was even more biting now. But her heart felt fuller, as if seeing Will and Grey had lifted her mood, reminding her that she could still cling to the threads of normalcy. As Liana walked she noticed a fuss up ahead of her. She recognised the familiar head of Katie Bell, her fellow quidditch player, alongside a girl Liana thought she perhaps knew from class.
Liana's attention was just beginning to drift when it snapped back to Katie again. Katie had leant over to her friend and shoved her hard in the chest, causing the friend to stumble backwards, slipping onto the ground.
"Hey! Hey Katie!" Liana called with a frown, the Katie she knew would never lay a hand on a single person, no matter how provoked she was.
"She pushed me! Katie what the hell has gotten into you?" Demanded the girl on the floor, scrambling around on the icy road as she tried to regain her balance. Liana's eyes narrowed in confusion as she offered her arm out for the girl to grab onto.
"Thanks- Liana right? I'm Leanne, I used to change the scores on the quidditch board while you commentated-" Leanne acknowledged as she appreciatively used Liana to stabilise herself.
"Don't come near me Leanne!" Katie cried, interrupting the greeting and Liana's view immediately darted back to Katie. She gasped as she got a good look at Katie's face, shivers running down her spine. Katie's usually gentle, brown eyes were as wide as saucers and there wasn't a hint of light within them. Her movements were unpredictable and fumbling, as if she wasn't in complete control of her body.
"Katie what's wrong? You look possessed?" Liana worried as she reached forward to touch Katie's shoulder. But Katie jerked back from Liana as if she was brandishing a sword at her. Katie swayed for a moment, seemingly thrown off by her own actions, before she was tumbling to the ground. Liana watched as she didn't put her hands down to catch herself, instead keeping them latched to a brown paper parcel she clutched in gloved hands.
Liana nearly jumped out of her skin when Katie began to scream. A high pitched, agonised howl of anguish as she began to writhe on the ground like a fish out of water, the package slipping through her hands and onto the snow beside her. Then, in a wild jolt, Katie's body had been hoisted above Liana and the petrified Leanne. Katie dangled in the sky like a puppet hanging by a string, her mouth stretched open wide in a terrifying silent scream, her eyes protruding in the upmost fear and her chest being yanked up with some invisible force.
"Katie!" Liana cried in panic, her eyes falling to the package on the ground that Katie had dropped. Liana was about to reach out towards it, seeing from the damp and torn layers of brown paper, there was the glint of jewellery.
"Don't touch that Liana! Ya don't know if it's cursed."
It was Hagrid who had come hurrying over to the girls, panic clear on his face as Katie continued to wail at everyone. Then, with the force of a carthorse, Katie went crashing down to the ground, smacking into the snow covered road with nauseating strength.
Liana withdrew her hand from where she had been reaching towards the package and instead rushed to Katie's side.
"I'll take 'er back to school, whatever ya do- don't touch that thing," Hagrid warned fiercely as he flung Katie's limp body up and into his arms, nestling her into the sleeves of his big fur coat as carefully as he could.
"You go Leanne- I'll bring this back with me. Katie's the priority," Liana insisted to Leanne who was trembling like a leaf, her eyes glistening with mortified tears. Leanne nodded and began to dash off after Hagrid's retreating form, trying not to slip on the ice.
Liana crouched down beside the parcel once again, pulling at her shirt to rip off a thick strip of material. She shivered violently as her bare skin was exposed to the cold, but she forced the material around her hand before reaching out for the package, wrapping it up again.
Her eyes crinkled in thought as she inspected what was inside. It was a beautiful necklace, glistening silver with huge ornate gems set throughout. Liana could see her own distorted reflection in the shine of the jewels, an expression of both curiosity and concern on her morphed face. Liana kept her hand swaddled protectively as she picked up the parcel, getting to her feet as she began to cross the road.
She was just about to head up towards the castle when she saw a flash of blonde hair that caught her eye. Liana froze as still as a statue, her instincts immediately on edge as she focused on her attention on her powers. Liana hurried towards the tree, glancing around her to make sure no one was looking before heading into the forested area on the outskirts of the road.
There, she saw the perpetrator, petrified to the spot by her powers. Draco Malfoy. Only his eyes could move, flickering with something Liana thought looked like panic as it went between the package in her hands and the expression on her face.
"You-" Liana muttered as the realisation dawned on her. Draco had been spying on Katie, he must've been the one to do this. Was this all part of his top secret mission?
"You did this." Liana announced slowly as the truth became clear, her eyes reading into the fear in Draco's icy ones at the words she was uttering. In the blink of an eye, Liana released the tension in her muscles, letting Draco spring free of her iron hold over his body.
Liana stumbled backwards, a hateful expression turning on her face. Draco's cheeks were oddly flushed as he darted forwards towards her.
Liana sucked in a lungful of air as Draco's eyes flashed dangerously and he pinned her arms up above her head within an instant, pressing her back against a tree and his wand at her throat, digging deep into the skin and leaving a slight scalding mark as it did so.
"You can't prove it. You think you have me all worked out Liana Holly- you think you know it all because you have these strange powers and weird abilities that make you special. But you don't know the first thing about me!" Draco raged and Liana's panic began to melt like butter as she could see the agitation on Draco's face, how the fear deep in his heart was warping him.
"You're right Draco." Draco recoiled at Liana's words. This was Liana Holly, she hardly ever admitted to being wrong.
"I don't know the first thing about you. I don't know why you chose to be a death eater, why you chose to follow this path, why you don't hate me as much as you seem to convince yourself you do, but I do know one thing. You are not who you tell yourself you are. You're just afraid."
Draco's eyes looked watery and he blinked fiercely, his lip curling in scorn. "Why would I be afraid Liana? I'm under the favour of the Dark Lord if I complete my mission-"
"-There! You've said it yourself- if- you complete your mission. You're scared you won't," Liana pointed out, her eyes roaming Draco's form and her face covered in empathy. "But don't let the fear take over you. You need to stop hurting people!"
"You don't understand Liana! If I tell you want I have to do, you'll try and get involved- to stop me. The he's just going to kill you!" Draco's voice broke and Liana blinked in the soft snowflakes that were starting to drift down around them like angel tears, landing on her eyelashes and melting on her warm cheeks.
"This-" Liana held the covered necklace package in front of Draco's face. Draco leant back at once, not wanting the cursed item anywhere near him. "This was a bad idea. A terrible idea, you're going to kill innocent people trying to do this ridiculous task of yours. But if you tell me what's going on I can help you! No one else will need to get hurt," Liana implored, she knew deep down the only way to stop Draco from harming people trying to achieve his goal, was to be of assistance.
"I have to kill him."
Liana's brow furrowed in confusion as she tried to comprehend who it was Draco was referring to.
"I have to kill Dumbledore."
[END OF ACT ONE]
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AN
Omg I finally did it, we're here at last. Also quick notice: Liana and Draco are not cousins, they're not even remotely related! I think for chapter length I'm going to stick to keeping them around 5,000 words (although this one was over 6,000). But at the end of the day I'm just going to do what feels right and if it takes a little longer than planned I hope you all can understand! Let me know if you spot any mistakes in this chapter and sorry for the long wait- I struggle a lot with anxiety and I also have a few health issues that cause bad fatigue :( Hope everyone is safe and well.
Xoxo