Something About Harry: The Lilia Watt Files

Chapter Nine: A Strange Occurrence

It was strange though, how parts of what he said were right...but I can't help that I'm a jinx! What if it was all my fault?

The weight had greatly increased. I had lost it all, everything, and no one, not even Ginny, knew about it. But I had resolved to fight this time, a resolution that set off a chain reaction.

About two weeks after the argument with Harry, my grades were picking up. School was all I had left; it wasn't anything loved, so it wasn't anything I could lose. I never spoke to anyone, but took diligent notes and hardly did anything but study. There was nothing else to do.

I had not been late in ages, but Peeves had been unusually harassing that day, and I dashed to class, my eyes looking nowhere but forward.

And then I ran headlong into Ginny from behind. She fell to the floor with a smack, and simply sat there for a moment, glaring at me amongst giggles from passers-by. I glared stonily back. I was prepared to retaliate.

Ginny stood and pulled out her wand, leaving her books on the floor. I let my own fall and retrieved my wand as well. People began crowding around us, and someone suddenly shouted, "Girl fight!"

And all hell broke loose, as the circle of people tightened around us, and Ginny yelled, "Dentalos lengthium!"

I began, "Exp--" as a jet of light shot out of her wand. Someone grabbed my hand and pulled me aside through the throng of people, and I stumbled and fell, knocking them to the floor.

"Harry!" I choked, confused as I saw whom it was. Then, to my complete surprise, Harry's feet left the ground, and everything began to swirl as I was pulled after him. Our hands were jerked apart, jolting me with electricity, and thoughts ran briefly in my head.

I landed heavily on gravel, and heard a thud as Harry landed a few feet away. I wanted to say something, but all was driven from my mind when I heard the voice.

"So nice to see you," it whispered, and I shivered. I opened my eyes and looked around; Harry was sitting up and putting his glasses on, and an old, decaying wooden sign hung from one rusted chain. It read "Godric's Hollow".

Then the both of us saw the owner of the voice, and Harry and I gasped.

"Welcome home, Harry," Voldemort said softly. "And you, Lilia."

He knew my name!

The dark around us obscured the overgrown forest, the ruins, everything but Voldemort. I trembled as I looked at him, his scarlet eyes but slits in his bloodless, snake-like face. He caressed his wand lovingly, and said, "I've long-awaited this moment, Harry. You escaped me last time, but there is nowhere for you to go now."

Harry's entire countenance screamed defiance at the Dark Lord. I began to stand. If Harry was going to die, then I was going to die next to him...no matter how angry I was at him, I still loved him...but I suddenly could not move; I was bound hand and foot by thick black cords, and I fell back to the ground.

"An appropriate place for you to end it all, isn't Harry? Just like your parents."

Harry stood steadfast. "I'm not afraid of you."

Voldemort paced back and forth, watching us. "Have you learned nothing Harry? Even mere remnants of me can cause you pain."

He shifted his glance to me. "What luck that you would come as well, Lilia. I've been waiting to meet you."

What does he mean? He can't know who I am...I'm Muggle-born!

He glanced falsely piteously upon me as I wrestled with the cords and my thoughts, and turned his attention back to Harry. He chuckled a high, cold laugh. "Surely you don't intend to fight again?" He clicked his tongue. "Some roaches just won't die, will they?"

Harry didn't budge, and his eyes burned with hatred.

"Must we do this the hard way, then?" Voldemort sighed and aimed at Harry.

In spite of all Harry and I had said to each other, anger and panic like I had never felt before flared up inside me. "Don't you touch him," I spat at Voldemort from the ground.

"No, Lilia!" whispered Harry desperately.

Voldemort turned his eyes on me. "I killed your mother as easily as his, and I can kill you too." He aimed at me and shouted, "Crucio!"

I felt as though I was burning alive...I could hear vague yelling as I writhed on the gravel, still bound tightly. And then it was over.

Tears were running down my face, and my head spun. I had never been strong or brave enough for anything, and I never would be...I retched horribly on the ground. "Don't feel sorry for me because I'm crying," I choked out at Harry.

Harry took one look at me and shouted, "Coward!" at Voldemort, who was smiling with satisfaction. "Attacking a girl who is in no position to defend herself."

Voldemort's eyes glimmered. "How history has repeated itself. Very well, boy," he said, lifting his hand, and I was released.

I stood slowly, shaking, and dashed the tears from my eyes.

Harry opened his mouth to speak, and I saw someone coming up behind him. I tried to yell, but a hand pressed tightly over my mouth, and Harry stood stock-still, as the person behind him held a dagger to his throat.

My heart sinking with fear, I made no sound as my head began to cloud. Then I bit the hand obstructing my breathing - hard.

The person howled with pain, and Lord Voldemort grabbed me by the collar, and held me up about six inches off the ground. I trembled as he brought his translucent, red-eyed face closer to mine, and twisted the collar around so that I was choking.

"You're meddling in things you don't, understand, sweet Lilia," he said softly, then pressed the tip of his wand to my forehead and whispered, "Avada Kedavra!"

A flash of green light hit me blindingly, and I heard a vague yell...and I knew no more.