| Every inch of him ached, and the place where Killing Curse had hit him
felt like the bruise of an iron-clad punchHe did not stir, but he remained exactly where he had fallen, with
his left arm bent out at an akward angle and his mouth gaping
He had expected to hear cheer of triumph and jubilation at his death, but instead hurried footsteps,
whispers, and solicitous murmurs filled the air
It was Bellatrix's voice, and she spoke as if to a loverHarry did not dare open his eyes, but allowed
his other senses to explore his predicamentHe knew that his wand was still stowed beneath his robes because
he could feel it pressed between his chest and the groundA slight cushioning effect in the area of his stomach
told him that the Invisibility Cloak was also there, stuffed out of sight
"That will do," said Voldemort's voiceSeveral people were backing away from the same spotDesperate to see what was
happening and why, Harry opened his eyes by a milimeter
Voldemort seemed to be getting to his feetVarious Death Eaters were hurrying away from him,
returning chanel necklace to the crowd lining the clearingBellatrix alone remained behind, kneeling beside Voldemort
Harry closed his eyes again and considered what he had seenThe Death Eaters have been buddled
around Voldemort, who seem to have fallen to the groundSomething had happened when he had hit Harry with
the Killing CurseHad Voldemort too collapsed? It seemed like itAnd both of them had briefly fallen unconcious
and both of them had now returned
"My Lord, let me \a150\a150"
"I do not require assitance," said Voldemort coldly, and though he could not see it, Harry pictured
Bellatrix withdrawing a helpful handIs he dead?"
There was a complete silence in the clearingNobody approached Harry, but he felt their concentraded
gaze; it seemed to press him harder into the ground, and he was terrified a finger or an eyelid might twitch
"You," said Voldemort, and there was a bang and a small shrick of painTell me whether he is dead
Harry did not know who had been sent to verifyHe could only lie there, with his heart thumping traitorously, and wait to be
examined, but at the gucci g watch same time nothing, small comfort through it was, that Voldemort was wary of approaching him, that Voldemort
suspected that all had not gone to plan
Hands, softer than he had been expecting, touched Harry's face, and felt his heartHe could hear the woman's fast breathing,
her pounding of life against his ribs
"\iIs Draco alive? Is he in the castle?"\i
The whisper was barely audible, her lips were an inch from his car, her head bent so low that her long hair shielded his face
from the onlookers
\i"Yes,"\i he breathed back
He felt the hand on his chest contract: her nails pierced himThen it was withdrawn
"He is dead!" Narcissa Malfoy called to the watchers
And now they shouted, now they yelled in triumph and stamped their feet, and through his eyelids, Harry saw bursts of red
and silver light shoot into the air in celebration
Still feigning death on the ground, he understoodNarcissa knew that the only way she would be permitted to enter Hogwarts,
and find her son, was as part of the conquering armyShe no longer cared whether Voldemort won
"You see?" omega usa screeched Voldemort over the tumult"Harry Potter is dead by my hand, and no man alive can threaten me now!
Watch! \iCrucio!\i"
Harry had been expecting it, knew his body would not be allowed to remain unsullied upon the forest floor; it must be subjected
to humiliation to prove Voldemort's victoryHe was lifted into the air, and it took all his determination to remain limp, yet the pain he
expected did not comeHe was thrown once, twice, three times into the airHis glasses flew off and he felt his wand slide a little beneath
his robes, but he kept himself floppy and lifeless, and when he fell no ground for the last time, the clearing echoed with jeers and shrieks
of laughter
"Now," said Voldemort, "we go to the castle, and show them what has become of their heroWho shall drag the body? No - Wait - "
There was a fresh outbreak of laughter, and after a few moments Harry felt the ground trembling beneath him
"You carry him," Voldemort said"He will be nice and visible in your arms, will he not? Pick up your little friend, HagridAnd the
glasses - put on women's rolex watch the glasses - he must be recognizable - "
Someone slammed Harry's glasses back onto his face with deliberate force, but the enormous hands that lifted him into the air
were exceedingly gentleHarry could feel Hagrid's arms trembling with the force of his heaving sobs; great tears splashed down upon him
as Hagrid cradled Harry in his arms, and Harry did not dare, by movement or word, to intimate to Hagrid that all was not, yet, lost
"Move," said Voldemort, and Hagrid stumbled forward, forcing his way through the close-growing trees, back through the forest
Branches caught at Harry's hair and robes, but he lay quiescent, his mouth lolling open, his eyes shut, and in the darkness, while the
Death Eaters croed all around them, and while Hagrid sobbed blindly, nobody looked to see whether a pulse beat in the exposed neck of
Harry Potter
The two giants crashed along behind the Death Eaters; Harry could hear trees creaking and falling as they passed; they made so
much din that birds toes shrieking into the sky, and even the jeers of the Death Eaters were black chanel quilted bag drow |
| 