xxi

21

S  E  C  T  U  M  S  E  M  P  R  A

( sec - TUM - semp - ra )

" to lacerate "

_______________

LYRA HIT THE ground harshly, landing beside a silver trophy which emitted a familiar blue light around the rim. It was definitely not an office.

The grass beneath her was wet and slippery, leaving green stains on Cedric's quidditch jumper he had gifted her. The air was crisp and unwelcoming. She could smell the unforgivable in the air surrounding her.

Her eyes flickered up, looking across the horizon in front of her. Tombstones littered the ground, broken and unloved. Lyra had seen a picture of this place before, Little Hangleton cemetery.

She pushed herself up, resting on her hands. The mist swirled tauntingly in the air, carrying the skin crawling stench of death. She glanced to her left. Her arms crumbled beneath her.

Cedric's body lay lifeless in a state of preemptive shock.

She scrambled to her feet, only to drop onto her knees beside him. Her breathing was erratic, searing tears burned a path down her pale cheeks. Lyra curled her fists into his shirt and dropped her head against his chest.

She could hear voices in the direction behind her, but they all became blurred and distant when she looked at Cedric. Through a misty haze of tears, she closed his eyelids, praying for him to find peace.

A loud sob escaped her lips.

"Ah! Wormtail!" A voice hissed in the distance, "Our second guest has finally arrived, bring her."

Lyra kissed Cedric's forehead, "I love you."

She tripped over her feet as she stood, a small man appeared from the fog. Wormtail. His hair was matted and missing in certain places, worry lines deepened his beady eyes.

His hand curled around her wrist, digging in his sharp fingernails. He tugged Lyra forcefully, guiding her into the smog. She used her free hand to reach for the pocket of her jeans, feeling for her dragon heartstring wand.

She pressed the tip into the side of his neck forcefully, eliciting a grunt; followed by frightened whimpers.

"I know who you are, Scabbers," Lyra whispered with venom, "Now get moving."

He released her wrist and shuffled forwards, her wand never left his neck. A green light was resonating from his exposed skin, the colour of the killing curse. She gasped softly.

Through the fog, she could see a row of masked people, standing beside one another. They were unmistakable to any witch or wizard. Death Eaters.

She could feel his presence, it was more terrifying than the first time. Her breath was shallow and audible, Wormtail stopped. Lyra didn't dare look in his direction.

"This is where I'm needed?" She asked the cowering man, he nodded vigorously, looking around for anyone to help him.

"Good." Lyra said, more so to herself than him.

With a swift kick to in between his legs, Wormtail crumpled into a ball on the wet grass, crying out in pain. "That's for Sirius, rat bag."

She lifted her hand, pointing a finger towards his face in silence. His skin started to swell, he hissed in pain. A sickening crack was heard when she moved her gaze towards his legs, Wormtail's knees were now on the back on his legs.

"And that's for Cedric," Lyra spat, "I can see the killing curse on you skin."

"Impressive," A voice hissed, "You can see spells? Well, well, Barty was right, you are powerful."

His voice wasn't as she remembered it, instead it resembled that of a snake, hissing and spitting; on the edge of parseltongue. She refused to look in his direction.

Glancing to her right, she saw unmistakable green eyes looking at her frantically from a tombstone.

"Harry!" Lyra cried out, "What the fuck is going on?"

Even though they were in a life threatening situation, Harry couldn't help but stifle a chuckle at her profanity.

"Well would you look at that," She huffed our indignantly, "Family reunion."

Lyra turned her head sharply, her hair whipped in a fire of orange and burnt red, crackling behind her. The kindness of her eyes had been pushed to the rim, instead fear and anger had overtaken, joining in a harmony of navy and ice.

They looked straight into petrifying, glowing red eyes, once honey and speckled with the last shreds of hope. Her body was shaking with a mixture of adrenaline and fear, whispers from the group of Death Eaters were getting louder.

"It's been a while, Tom Riddle." Lyra said, her voice wavering, thick with fear.

A cold voice called from the line, "My Lord, why have you brought mudblood scum."

The inflection on mudblood made Lyra's sure of who was hiding behind the mask. She started to slowly step back, heading towards Harry. The Death Eaters words had brought her plummeting to reality.

She was stood with the Dark Lord, not Tom Riddle. She was encased by a group of purists who wanted nothing more than to see her dead.

"Mr. Malfoy," Lyra whimpered, "I'd be careful with what you say when standing on the graves of my ancestors."

Her skin prickled and her stomach churned when her ankles his the tombstone Harry was bound to. She readjusted the grip on her wand.

The Dark Lord advance towards them, standing in front of Harry. The staff holding him hostage of the large Grimm tombstone moved, sending her crashing to the ground.

"Pick up your wand Harry!" Voldemort called. "I said pick it up!"

Lyra watched, wide-eyes as Harry winced in pain after picking up his wand. She trailed her eyes across him, looking for his injury. Lyra noticed how he only put his weight on one ankle.

"Episkey." She whispered, pointing her wand at his foot.

Harry jumped at the feeling of heat in his ankle, with a quick appreciative smile, he balanced on both feet.

Lyra looked into Voldemort's eyes, hoping to feel a surge of power from her confidence. She had unknowingly given his the chance to search her memories, pushing past her paper thin walls she threw up in a hurry.

"Oh that is a pity," The Dark Lord said softly, "Dead before you could meet them properly."

Lyra couldn't avert her gaze, an unexplainable force kept her looking at him.

"We can't have that," He laughed, "Filthy muggle-borns want purebloods, dear, oh, dear. Lucius, you—."

"Stop it!" She cried, "Stop it, stop it, stop it!"

Her skin burned ferociously, magic surged to her fingertips. She screwed her eyes closed as she felt a release of energy from her fingertips. Three Death Eaters and fallen to the ground in unconscious heaps.

"Barty doesn't disappoint." Voldemort mused.

Lyra stood shoulder to shoulder with Harry, struggling to keep her emotions at bay. His green eyes were comforting in the moments of terror.

"You've been taught how to duel I presume," Voldemort glided away, "First, we must bow."

Lyra's lips curled in disgust as he bowed, expecting them to do the same. "Come on now, the niceties must be upheld, Dumbledore wouldn't want you to forget your manners, would he?"

"I said bow!"

Harry and Lyra shouted and groaned as what felt like invisible weight crushed the back and curved their spines. Harry broke up first, Lyra shortly after, their energy was draining.

"Crucio!"

Harry fell to the ground with an ear spilling scream, he writhed in pain. Lyra couldn't do anything to help. Her skin crawled at the pungent smell, she watched the red light glow dimly on the Dark Lord's skin.

Lyra pointed her wand at him, aiming for his wand whilst Voldemort was preoccupied with Harry. His wand flew from his grip, soaring in the air and landing beside Lucius Malfoy.

"Skilled one, aren't you?" He observed, snatching his wand back from Lucius, "That filthy muggle father will miss you, won't he?"

Harry stumbled from the ground, peaking Voldemort's interest. "You girl, can wait."

She let go of a shaking breath and ran towards Harry, a sea of ginger and honey crackling behind her. A green light whizzed past their heads. Harry pulled on Lyra's arm, bringing her tumbling to the ground behind a grave.

"Don't you hide from me Harry Potter!" He shouted, "I want to watch the lights leave your eyes as I kill you!"

The pair heaved in heavy breaths, watching them intermingle and drift away in the thick mist.

"What are you doing here?" Harry huffed out.

"Moody sent me," Lyra said after swallowing thickly, "I think he's that Barty person, he keep talking about."

Lyra smiled sadly at him, "I saw Cedric, almost landed on him."

"I couldn't—."

"I know," Lyra whispered, "It's okay, but right now? We've got bigger problems."

Another electric green light landed in front of them, bringing them out of their own little world and back to their possibly deaths.

"Maybe I'll torture that mudblood beside you," He hissed out, "It would be a shame to waste your talents Lyra."

A shiver engulfed her body when he spoke her name. Cackles came from his direction at the statement. Harry smiled at Lyra, the best he could and sprinted from their hiding space, Lyra hot of his trail.

"Expelliarmus!"

"Avada Kedavra!"

Lyra was thrown of balance, smashing into the damp ground. She watched green meet red in a flurry of sparks, gold spitting from the intermingled colours. She scrambled to stand beside Harry.

A blue spark lingered beside Harry, slowly taking the form of a familiar boy. Cedric hovered like an angel, grinning at Lyra, just like he did every morning when they sat on the ledge of the bridge.

Another blue spark fizzed, landing next to Voldemort, a peaked cap was first to appear. An elderly man floated silently, watching the duel.

Lyra cast a protego charm around Harry, holding it the best she possibly could. Two final sparks shot out simultaneously, landing beside Harry and Lyra.

Two people they had only seen in pictures materialised beside them. James and Lily. Lyra glanced at her name sake and grinned, tears spilling onto her burning cheeks.

The woman smiled back. It was a motherly smile, emitting comfort and joy.

"When they connection is broke, you must get back to the portkey, kids." James shouted, over the cries of Voldemort.

"We can linger once it's broken," Lily whispered, "But only for a second."

Harry and Lyra were nodding vigorously.

"Lyra!" Cedric called out, his voice was soft and kind, "It's going to okay, even without me there, you'll be amazing."

"I'll miss you." She blubbered, tears collection at her cheeks, gleaming in the golden light.

"And I'll miss you," He grinned, "Take my body back, will you? Back to my father?"

"Of course!"

She could feel her protection charm fading slowly. The golden light illuminated her eyes, upon the sight of Cedric and Harry's parents, the kindest and love swarmed back into her eyes, returning them to a homely, subdued blue. Her hair shone in tones of orange and sun filtered amber, falling onto her freckle kissed cheeks.

"Let go, darlings!" Lily cooed, "You must let go!"

Lyra dropped her hands, removing the protection charm. Moments later Harry dropped his wand to his side. The blue mist attacked the group of Death Eaters.

The pair interlaced their fingers and ran, relishing in the closeness. Harry awaited Lyra, who had reluctantly let go to grip Cedric's hand. Harry knelt beside her.

"Sectumsempra!" A cold voice called, the unmistakable voice of Lucius Malfoy.

He had advanced towards Harry and Lyra, somehow dodging the teal smoke. A white light shot towards Harry. Lyra dived in front of the curse, her hand still wrapped tightly around Cedric's wrist.

Her neck and chest felt like they were tearing apart, the flesh of her neck burned unbearably. In the twirling of the portkey, Lyra used the last ounces of strength she possessed to press her hand against her throat.

The ground reappeared beneath her. Lyra's ears rang loudly, her vision blurring. She tried to suck in a breath but couldn't. Harry listened to a sickening gurgle come from his side.

Blood was dripping from Lyra's hand, rolling out from her neck. The red liquid stained her Hufflepuff jumper, where the curse had hit her.

"Help her!" Harry screamed, adding his hand on top of hers, "Help her!"

Harry has become a blur of raven and green. She smiled at him, the best she could. Cedric appeared next to Harry, shaking his head no. "It's not your time."

Severus was the first to kneel beside her, dread filled his stomach; only one other besides him knew of the curse. He pointed his wand to her throat.

"Vulnera Sanentur." His usual drawl was replaced with fear as he repeated the incantation.

A small group of students had gathered around Cedric's body, Amos' heart wrenching wails invaded Harry's ears. Ginny had pushed past Ludo Bagman and Hagrid to reach Harry and Lyra, her brothers - Fred and George - behind her.

Lyra could feel her blood seeping back into her skin, it wasn't calming or serene, it was frightening and beyond painful. Her skin stitched itself back together, she cried out in immense pain.

Sirius kept James away from Lyra, holding him back with a freezing charm. "It's for the best! Let them do their jobs."

"She's my daughter!" He bellowed, attempting to move.

"And she's my goddaughter," Sirius added calmly, "She's in good hands, I'll take you up to where they'll bring her."

James looked in his daughter's through a glassy haze, a sob wracked his body. He reluctantly followed Sirius up the stairs and towards Hogwarts.

Severus hadn't cried since Lily Potter had passed away. He had vowed to never cry again. Seeing Lyra on the floor broke him, along with many other students and professors.

Professor Sprout was beside herself, loosing a member of her house, an another in deaths clutches just moments ago. Professor McGonagall crouched beside Severus, already grieving for Cedric, she let a few tears slip onto her cheeks.

"Moody." Lyra rasped, her word broken and painful in her raw throat.

"What?" Severus asked softly.

Lyra swallowed, despite the burn, "It's Moody."

Severus and Minerva sprang into action, sprinting towards Albus Dumbledore to inform him.

Madame Pomfrey, along with help from Fred and George, levitated a stretcher with Lyra on towards the castle. Her hair still shining in tones of liquid amber and ginger, although, some strands were caked in remaining blood that stained her neck. Her freckles were more prominent on her paling skin.

Her vision was blurring once more from tears or exhaustion, she couldn't decide which. The last faces she saw were that of Blaise Zabini, whose eyes had glasses with unshed tears. And a grave looking Malfoy, his mouth open slightly in a state of shock.