Half Blood Prince pt8
After everyone had gone Ryleigh felt better, lighter than before, not ‘over it’ by any means but she did feel like a weight had been lifted, getting to see all the people who cared for her mother, who loved her. They cleaned up and sorted things back to how they were meant to be before gathering what they’d brought with them and getting ready to floo back to the school. Just as McGonagall and the kids were stepping in the door opened and a man stumbled in with dirty brown hair. It was pulled back into a messy pony tail and his leather jacket was crooked on his frame.
“Daddy!!” Quinn cried out and ran past them to the man. He lifted her up and kissed her on the shoulder.
“Liam.” Ryleigh said. Once upon a time she had cared for him. Loved him even. He’d been around a lot when the kids were young, been a father figure to herself but he was a mess. Always.
“Am I late?” He asked looking around. “Ro!” Liam shouted but the boy stood his ground with McGonagall.
“What? No hug for your old man?” He slurred.
“I think you should go Liam.” Ryleigh said stepping in from of Ro. “Come on Quinn we need to leave.”
The girl wiggled out of the blonde man’s arms and walked over to Ryleigh.
“Can daddy come visit ry?” She asked quietly.
“No, but I’m sure when daddy feels better we can come visit him, maybe for Christmas.” Ryleigh said softly.
“Christmas! Nah! You guys can come and live with me!” He said.
“Liam you’re drunk. You lost custody and you’re not getting them back now. Go home, sleep it off, I’ll send you a letter tomorrow.”
“Hey’ I’m real srry bout your mom…”
“Yeah- I can tell.” She huffed, then looked over at Harry and Ron, “can you get him out of here?” She asked quietly and they nodded.
They led the man back to the front door and shoved him out. He stumbled down the front steps and the closed the door.
“He just had to ruin it.” She huffed and stepped into the floo with Quinn and they were gone in a flash of green fire.
“What just happened?” Ginny asked.
“My dads always been a mess.” Ro said with a shrug before he stood in the floo and waited for an adult to join him.
McGonagall still looked confused, “oh there’s no way you’d have gone with him while I was breathing.” She said and then flooed away with him.
“Weird.” Ron said.
Xx
Potions without Snape was entirely to boring. Perhaps it was because she felt she was beyond the lessons of her year due to the extra potions workshop she’d gotten used to taking but she was just uninterested. She would finish the work in half the time and still go unnoticed by slughorn, the bumbling idiot.
She stopped mid thought. I’m spending too much time with McGonagall.
She raised her hand.
“Question Ms Walsh?” He asked as he walked over.
“Oh, no I’m finished.” She said and he looked surprised. He looked down at her cauldron and nodded.
“Very well. Good work then. Off you go.” He said. She gathered her things and took her leave. Ginny huffed and she mouthed ‘sorry, not sorry’ as she left.
She let herself wonder the halls for a while before making her way up to the defense room.
It had been a week since Harry nearly killed Draco in the bathroom and she hadn’t talked to him much since then, not to mention the absolutely foul mood Snape had been in since.
She knocked on the door to the open classroom lightly, it was empty aside from him.
“What?” He snapped.
“I wondered if it might be okay for me to study in here?” She asked.
“There is a library for that.” He said.
“I know but everyone is so gossipy down there.” She said.
He sighed. “Fine.”
She smiled and took a seat in the back of the room as to not disturb him. She took out her study materials for her O.W.L exams and got to work.
“Aren’t you meant to be in potions?” He asked after a few minutes of silence. She looked up.
“I finished early and find Slughorn incomprehensibly boring to be around.” She said honestly. “I much prefer your potions classes.”
“Well that is appreciated I suppose.” He said.
“You’re a great defense professor too.” She clarified.
“I wasn’t worried about my competence.”
“Right. Sorry.” She said awkwardly and went back to her books.
Luna was the one to find her some hours of studying later.
“We have a date Ryleigh.” She said as she walked into the room.
“What? Oh! What time is it?”
“7:30 silly.” Luna said.
“Oh! Sorry babe, I’m coming.” She gathered her things quickly as she could, turning back to Snape quickly shouting a “thanks professor!” And then following Luna out.
They made their way to the Astronomy tower slowly.
“Mr Kreacher set it up for us.” Luna said as they reached the top.
Ryleigh was slightly out of breath and her leg hurt something fierce but she smiled at the candle lit picnic.
“Wow, it’s lonely. Thank you Kreacher.” She said to the elf standing off to the side.
He nodded and left.
“I like him.” Luna said.
“You’d be about the only one.” Ryleigh said.
Luna shrugged.
They spent the rest of the evening and well past curfew together in the tower before cleaning up and sneaking Luna back to Ravenclaw tower. Ryleigh then made her way quietly to McGonagalls office and snuck into bed.
Xx
Before she truly realized it June had arrived and the O.W.L.‘s had begun. For two weeks they sat for their exams and she felt relatively confident in her scoring despite having missed half the year.
When the exam grades came back she was nervous, much more nervous than she had been when taking the exams.
She Ginny and Luna all had yet to open the parchments with the exam grades, having promised to do it together. They were sat in the Gryffindor common room holding the papers close to their chests.
“On three.” Ginny said.
“One, two, three.” And they all placed them
“Look at us! A bunch of genius’s!!” Ryleigh laughed.
Ginny practically pouted, “how is it you missed half the year and still got more outstandings than me!”
“You have 10 passing OWLs Ginny!” She laughed, “I only got 8.”
“You know I think we all did really well.” Luna said. “Most people only get three or four.”
They all considered this and nodded.
“Overachiever!” Ginny laughed and they all have a high five.
“Astronomy tower final celebration?” Ryleigh suggested and the other two agreed. They grabbed their things and headed out.
They giggled as the climbed the towering stairs to the Astronomy tower, laughing over a comment Luna had made saying she knew for a fact that they’d all gotten more passing owls than Harry.
“Have you ever considered that you ask too much—“ they froze at the echoing sound of Snapes voice alone the stairwell. He was clearly speaking to someone at the top of the tower. Ginny grabbed them and pulled them into the alcove under the floor just before Harry jogged past them without noticing.
“That you take too much for granted? Has it ever crossed your brilliant mind that I don’t want to do this anymore?” He finished.
Both girls looked to her like she’d know what he was referring too but she shrugged silently.
“Whether is has or hasn’t is irrelevant.” Responded the other voice, Dumbledore, rather calmly. “I will not negotiate with you Severus. You agreed. Nothing more to discuss.”
Then his footsteps walked quickly toward the stairs, pausing only as he presumably passed Harry.
As he walked down he froze once more when he saw the three of them. He made eye contact with Ryleigh but said nothing before continuing on down the steps.
Feeling absolutely trapped between running into Snape if they go down and Harry and Dumbledore if they go up, they waited. Harry and Dumbledore spoke for a few minutes before they disapirared.
“Should we find somewhere else?” Ryleigh asked.
“I think they’re gone, and I don’t really want to run into Snape if we head down.” Ginny said.
“This is our spot, if Harry and Dumbledore show up here they wouldn’t be surprised to see us.” Ryleigh reasoned and they headed up the last bit of stairs to their usual spots. Ginny against one pillar and Luna and Ryleigh against the other.
“I love you guys. You know that right?” Ryleigh said.
“We love you to.” Luna said back dreamily.
“Duh.” Ginny added.
“I just feel like maybe I don’t say it enough.” Ryleigh said softly.
Luna laid back onto the ground, head closest to the open railing.
“Let’s play a game.”
Xx
Hours past and they stayed in their spot relaxing comfortably. Cloud gazing turned to cuddling between the girlfriends while Ginny practiced her bird conjuring charm and they watched them flutter around the area.
suddenly they all gasped as Harry and Dumbledore appeared before them.
“We need to get you to the hospital wing sir.” Harry panted as he helped along a weak Dumbledore.
“No- Severus, Severus is who I need.” Dumbledore said back. “Get him, tell him what happened, speak to no one else Harry.”
A door opened and footsteps drew closer.
“Hide yourself below Harry. Don’t speak or be seen by anyone without my permission.” He demanded and then snapped his head to the three girls on the other side. Harry looked at them as well, for the first time noticing they were there.
“Go with him!” Dumbledore whispered harshly and the three of them ran after the slightly older boy, Ryleigh as fast as she could go but still lagging behind.
“Whatever happens, it’s imperative you stay below. Harry, do as I say.” Another door. “Trust me.”
They hid beneath the platform as they had been before, silently and shadowed in darkness they watched at Draco climbed the steps.
“Good evening Draco.” Dumbledore said, “What brings you here on this fine spring evening?”
“Who else is here? I heard you talking!” He asked, he sounded terrified if Ryleigh was being completely honest.
“I often talk out loud to myself. I find it extraordinarily useful. Have you been whispering to yourself Draco?”
Harry was wondering around as Ginny tried to grab him. Stop him from exposing them all.
“Draco, you are no assassin.” Dumbledore said.
“How do you know what I am? I’ve done things that would shock you.” Draco said tearfully.
“Like cursing Katie bell and hoping that in return she’d bear a cursed necklace to me? Like replacing a bottle of mead with one laced with poison? Forgive me Draco. I cannot help feeling these actions are so weak your heart can’t really have been in them.” He said.
“He trusts me! I was chosen!” The boy shouted.
“Then I shall make it easy for you.” Dumbledore said.
“Expelliarmus!” Draco shouted quickly and Dumbledores wand went flying with a hollow clatter.
“Very good, very good.” The door opened again. “You’re not alone. There are others.” He stated, clearly more for the four of them under the platform than for Draco. “How?” He asked, sounding truly impressed.
“The vanishing cabinet in the room of requirement. I’ve been mending it.” He said, his breathing heavy.
“Let me guess. It has a sister. A twin.” Dumbledore said. Harry had his wand out pointed up at Draco, he was backing up toward the stairs.
“In Borgin and Burkes. They form a passage.”
“Ingenious.” Dumbledore praised. “Draco, years ago, I knew a boy who made all the wrong choices. Please let me help you.”
“I don’t want your help!” Draco shouted. “Don’t you understand? I have to do this. I have to kill you… or he’s gonna kill me.”
Footsteps again though they couldn’t see who.
“Well, look what we have here.” Said a voice that made Ryleigh freeze in place, her blood turned ice cold and her eyes widened, in opposition to her frozen and terrified state Harry seemed to be a ball of fiery rage at Bellatrix’s voice. Luna was at her side instantly, grabbing her shoulders and pulled her body into her own. She could feel her lungs gasping for air but couldn’t force anything down. All at once she felt like she’d be sick and pass out if she moved a single muscle. Luna placed her hands gently onto her cheeks and took a deep breath, hoping that Ryleigh would follow along.
“Good evening Bellatrix. I think introductions are in order don’t you?” Dumbledore said.
“Love to Albus.” The woman said back, “but I’m afraid we’re on a bit of a tight schedule. Do it!” She hissed.
Another voice spoke, “he doesn’t have the stomach. Just like his father. Let me finish him in my own way.”
“No! The dark lord was clear. The boy is to do it.” Bellatrix yelled and Ryleigh jumped at the sound, finally opening her eyes to find Snape in front of them, want pointed at Harry. Harry moved his wand down from Draco and Snape matched him, putting a finger to his lips to signal them to stay quiet he then exited the lower platform.
“Do it Draco! Now!!” Bellatrix screamed and Luna clamped her hand over Ryleighs mouth at the sound that was nearly out of her mouth.
“No.” Snapes voiced hushed them all.
Silence engulfed the tower.
“Severus.” Dumbledore said, much more calm and kind than one would expect.
“Please.” He asked and Ryleigh had a dreadful feeling she knew exactly what the man was asking for. He was pleading, but not in the way that someone might plead for their life, it was a tired please, one content with its situation.
“Avada Kadavra” Snape said suddenly and they all watched in horror as Dumbledore flew backwards off the balcony.
Even Harry was frozen in his place as Snape grabbed Draco and dragged him from the tower. Bellatrix screamed and shot her wand into the sky.
Ginny had moved to Harry’s side, holding him, trying to get his attention in some way but the boy was unresponsive until suddenly he took off after them.
“Harry!!” Ginny screamed running then after him.
“Ginny no!” Luna called and she and Ryleigh began to follow but Ryleigh simply couldn’t keep up and Luna refused to leave her behind. When they made it to the base of the stairs Ginny was there waiting for them.
“I don’t— know where he went…” she sobbed.
They could hear Bellatrix’s screams echoing through the castle, glass breaking and spells going off. Suddenly an explosive bang and glass shattering in the great hall could be heard as the giant window exploded. Ryleighs entire body was shaking, practically vibrating and she couldn’t help it as Luna tugged her along. They ran toward McGonagalls office where she’d already run out, Ro and Quinn right behind her.
“The courtyard! He- he’d have fallen to the courtyard.” Ginny said suddenly and they took off that way, a crowd of people soon following them.
There he was. Stone still laying flat on his back in the courtyard. Ryleigh stopped short, keeping Ro and Quinn back. Luna stayed with them. Ginny just a few steps forward as McGonagall walked to his side checked him and then stepped back as well.
When Harry showed up he pushed through them and fell to his knees at the man’s side, taking something from his hands and placing a hand on his chest. Ginny met him there and pulled him into her embrace and he allowed it, his body beginning to shake with sobs.
McGonagall slowly raised her want toward the sky, followed moments later by the other professors and then Luna and Ryleigh, as well as the other students. The light from their wands banished the skull from the clouds in a whoosh of wind.