CHAPTER TWENTY NINE.
TO SAVE A LIFE (OR END ONE)

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         The living room was littered with children. Students of Hogwarts who were at the Burrow for protection and because it was their home. Amandla sat in the chair closest to the window looking over the garden with Cevira on the ground as she braided her hair. Corey was in the seat beside her, mindlessly reading the letter Luna sent him. Only she knew where he was. Their father was clueless, thinking he was on the run, and he would be in a few days. The Weasleys were lounging around as well with Hermione, but there was still a divide between them.

Like at 12 Grimmauld Place, there was a divide between the two. The divide wasn't intentional and no one was really affected by it, but the two sides kept to themselves because that was most comfortable for them. Amandla didn't complain.

"You have magical fingers, Amandla," Cevira complimented, eyes closed as she let her friend play with her hair.

Amandla let out a small chuckle, "I know. I mean, I am a witch and everything."

The Asian girl scoffed, "Oh, shut up. You know what I meant." There was no malice in her tone, enjoying this moment more than anything.

She hummed in response, braiding the girl's hair as she turned to Corey. He had a pained look in his eyes, nothing else written on his face, and if she hadn't been so close to him she surely would've missed it. Lowering her voice to a whisper, she asked, "How's Luna doing?"

Corey blinked a few times, registering the fact that someone was speaking to him. He turned to Amandla, who was looking intently at him. "She says that it's lonely. Like when mum first passed..." there was a break in his voice at the end.

The girl wished she could do something more than sigh, knowing what it was like to lose a parent. To be so confused as to why she would never see them again when they were just sleeping...they just had to be asleep. Nothing else. Amandla did offer the only thing she could: "You'll see her at the wedding. Bill and Fleur invited them."

"And that might be the last time," there was a tinge of sadness in his voice, knowing what would happen after the wedding. The Weasleys couldn't keep them safe forever, it was too dangerous and it would never work; they would have to run. Amandla had prepared herself with the thoughts of how she might not survive, but she never liked to dwell on that fate. Instead, she thought of how she would be with Hermione after everything and she would finish school and Corey would still be with her and so would Cevira. In a perfect world, they would be fine. No remnants of war in their minds because they escaped it without a scratch.

She wanted that future more than anything.

"Don't think like that, Corey," she pleaded with him, her voice growing quieter with every word because that was the only way she could keep from crying.

"How can I not? Amandla, they'll be hunting us and there's a high probability we might die. Of course I have to think like this," Corey said in a hush voice that was louder than anything else they previously said, causing Cevira to open her eyes.

"Everything alright?" she asked her friends. Cevira most certainly was not dumb and knew they had been talking the whole time, yet never said a word until then.

"Nothing's wrong," Amandla answered, continuing to braid her hair, "Everything's fine. Don't worry about it."

Cevira gave a small nod before closing her eyes again. And when she did, Amandla turned back to Corey. "Please don't think like that. Because when you do, I think about how I might not be able to say goodbye to everyone and then I'm going to die and no one will know. And then I think about how Cevira will grieve and be angry about how she never even knew and I don't want to think like that. Okay?"

Seeing how much those words seemed to mean to her, Corey nodded solemnly and looked back at the letter. "She's also afraid," he mentioned, "Luna, I mean. Men came to the door a few days ago looking for me. She said she was glad I wasn't home."

Amandla pursed her lips, comprehending what he said before asking, "Why are they looking for you specifically?"

"Well they still want my father to have his newspaper so he can report what they want. And I'm the oldest. If they take me, they're sure he'll do anything they ask of him. But Luna...Luna's still there and I'm scared. She'll be next and I don't want that. It's kinda why I don't wanna run – just wanna turn myself in to save her," Corey admitted.

"No. We can make it if we run and Luna's smart. She won't let herself be taken. Really, Corey, she'll be fine. And after war, she'll need her brother so don't you dare turn yourself in. You don't know what'll happen," Amandla finished, her eyes staring holes into his head since he didn't meet her eyes.

Corey nodded at her words but she could tell that he didn't believe him. "I guess," he muttered to myself, continuing with, "Luna wants to go back to Hogwarts, wants my opinion about that, though. I don't know what to tell her."

"It could be safer than anything else, but it also puts her in an easier position to be caught," Amandla offered, "But there's no real reason to go after her. They'll be looking for you primarily and will probably only give up if they find out you're dead."

"I know, and I don't think they'll just take her at Hogwarts. Probably want my dad to watch and see what his paper has done to him...cruel, but effective," Corey finished.

"I hope that it doesn't come to that," Amandla gave a hopeful smile to him, returning to look down at her work on Cevira's hair, which she was almost finished with.

"How about you? You alright if we do get caught and you're forced to see Draco?" Corey kindly questioned.

Amandla let out a shaky breath, the prospect of seeing her cousin catching her off guard. She loved him, but hated seeing him hurt. Seeing him broken down. But on the other hand, what if he had succumbed to them? "Let's hope it doesn't come that," was her only answer to the question.

"Oi, what you two talking about?" Ginny asked, looking at the two friends were engaging in such a serious conversation. And like a deer caught in headlights, the two of them looked up at the others as Cevira's eyes snapped open as well.

"Nothing," Corey answered first, "Just the usual things."

Ron eyed them suspiciously as Hermione gave a concerned look to Amandla, who slightly smiled in return. A silent I'm fine. "You sure? Seemed pretty serious," Ron continued his sister.

"We were talking about the Order," Amandla had the second lie handy, "What do you think their plans are?"

"For Corey?" Ron asked for confirmation, "I don't know, probably relocate him soon."

Amandla shook her head, a part of her knowing he wouldn't be relocated – they were going to run, "No, just...in general."

"Well, we're getting Harry over here tonight. Probably have to discuss it some before everything, but yeah," Ron answered, smile on his face at the thought of his friend.

Amandla, though, had a completely different reaction. At the mention of Harry, she stiffened slightly and her nostrils also began to flare. She didn't hate the boy, but she did want to hurt him repeatedly for almost killing her cousin. The same cousin who was currently marked for the other side.

Amandla looked away.

"Really? I thought we were just going to leave him there. We've been doing that all summer and – what? – two summers ago," Cevira hummed.

Ron shook his head, "It was never the plan to keep him there. We were just waiting for the right time. And he's almost seventeen..."

"What does that have to do with anything?" Corey stopped him.

"Well, you know the Trace is gone when you become seventeen, yeah? And You-Know-Who'll come after him once the trace is gone," Hermione explained.

At that, Amandla's eyebrows furrowed, "Wait – wouldn't the smarter move be to strike before. Really, I don't think it would matter. Potter's never had a problem using magic underage better."

Everyone could notice the slight malice in her tone. Cevira, the only one knowing what truly happened to cause this, reached her hand up to grasp Amandla's in an attempt to calm her down.

"What do you have against Harry?" Ron questioned first after looking at Hermione.

She found no reason to lie in the current situation, "He almost killed my cousin last year. Sorry if I have a little grudge against him."

"Oh, but you don't care that Malfoy's done plenty against him – he even tried to kill Dumbledore. And he's a Death Eater, so why do you care about him?" but he doesn't want to be, Amandla almost said in retaliation to everything that had spewed from Ron's mouth.

"He's still my cousin. And I know what he's done to Potter, for your information. I know it's wrong too," Amandla rolled her eyes.

"How could you care for someone who's a Death Eater?" it was Ginny who asked this.

Amandla pursed her lips, eyes stone cold, "The same way I still love my parents."

This caused the room to fall silent. Amandla didn't talk about her parents, but they all knew she came from a family of Death Eaters.

"Still," Ron persisted, "They ran away."

"And look where they ended up," Amandla finished, a tug in her heart at the words she said. Even though they were true, it still hurt. "Draco's still my cousin even though he's a Death Eater. And I still care for him because he's the only family I consider to have left."

"What about your aunt and uncle?" Hermione spoke for the first time.

She tensed at the thought of them, "I don't consider those who give my identity away to You-Know-Who to be my family."

Amandla stood up, leaving the room and going to the attic where she stayed. Cevira's braid was still unfinished.

―

Amandla couldn't believe it; she was standing at the front door of the boy who almost murdered her cousin. She was standing in the front yard of Harry Potter to save him from the 'hell-hole' as Ron nicely put it and she was already starting to lose feeling of her hand because she was clenching it too tightly into a ball. She absolutely hated being there but she didn't exactly have a choice now. She was already there.

The door swings open, revealing the beloved golden boy and savior of the wizarding world; Harry Potter himself. Hermione flung herself onto her friend and a twinge of jealously fluttered in Amandla even though there was no reason for it. They were barely anything, and she was only friends with Harry. So why was she jealous? Maybe because she couldn't hug Hermione so openly like that and Hermione didn't say how much she missed her like she did with Harry. Maybe that was why.

"All righ', 'arry? Yeh look fit," Hagrid asked, the rest of them only just getting inside the door.

"Yeah, he's ruddy gorgeous. What say we get undercover before someone murders him," Mad-Eye sarcastically says and Amandla felt a shiver down her spine.

The man terrified her. And the fact that he had been captured and someone had pretended to be him for a whole year didn't help either. As she walked further into the house, Amandla realized how barren it was. There was practically nothing there, the living room completely empty causing her to frown.

"Corey," she stopped her friend, "Why's the place so empty?"

"You don't listen, do you?" her friend smiled at her confusion and she shook her head, "The Dursleys – Harry's cousins – moved only today. That's why we're moving him now."

Amandla didn't say anything else after that, only frowning more. She saw as people greeted Harry with such joy besides three people, including herself. It wasn't she had a reason, the two had never been friends, and it wasn't like she was too fond of him anymore. Not after what he did last year. Corey didn't pay enough mind to him and Caesar was too awkward. Only Cevira, who was too nice, greeted him with a small smile and nothing else.

"Potter, you're underage, which means you've still the Trace on you," Mad-Eye started to explain to the boy.

Cevira looked around as well, letting out a shaky breath causing Amandla to ask, "What's wrong?"

She gave Amandla a small look, lowering her voice, "I don't like knowing that we'll be probably be attacked on the way out of here."

"Neither do I," Amandla agreed, "And I also don't like the fact that you'll be looking like him."

"You sneeze and the Ministry will know who wipes your nose," Mad-Eye's large voice was heard, "Point is, we have to use those means of transport the Trace can't detect: brooms, thestrals and the like. We'll go in pairs. That way if anyone's out there waiting for us – and I reckon there will be – they won't know which Harry Potter is the real one."

Cevira shook her head, "We'll be on the outskirts. Probably won't even be bothered. Plus, you're great at spells – it'll be fine."

Even though it wouldn't be likely for 'Harry Potter' to be the one actually 'driving' the thestral, it was better for their situation. Cevira was good at flying while Amandla was quicker on her feet when it came to dueling. She used to do it all the time with Draco, even though it wasn't allowed. But they could get away with it – the Trace could only pinpoint the location where magic was used, and the Manor held three wizards so why wouldn't they be using magic? So she became good at dueling there. Especially with her Uncle Lucius there to give pointers.

"This is different. Taking that. Becoming me – no," Harry disagreed, shaking his head at the prospect of people drinking the potion to look like him.

"Yeah, I guess," Amandla said to Cevira, "But I don't know. I mean, you're with me and they won't exactly be kind to me. If they see I'm here...it won't end good."

"I know, but you have those spells. Spells they don't even know. And I trust you," Cevira gave her a smile, and it was too infectious so she couldn't help but smile as well.

"Blimey, Hermione!" Harry yelped when Hermione yanked a strand of hair from his head. Amandla let out a small chuckle.

Mad-Eye looked around at everyone, "For those of you who haven't taken Polyjuice Potion before, fair warning. It tastes like goblin piss."

People started drinking the potion and seeing their faces transform, Amandla walked out of the living room as quietly as possible. She looked around at the eerie hallway and let out a small breath, sucking in a bit too, and walked to the ends of it. She didn't want to see her friends transforming into Potter, so she walked away.

"You alright?" she heard the sweet voice of Hermione behind her. Turning around with a smile, she saw Harry Potter standing there and not her. Well, it was her, but she didn't look like herself.

"Yeah, fine. Just scared that something might happen," Amandla admitted.

Hermione walked over to her, holding her hand and instead of feeling the soft and delicateness that the girl's hand usually felt it, it was rough and calloused and different. Not in a good way either. Though, Amandla didn't let go. "You and Cevira will be fine, and so will everyone else. There's nothing to worry about," Hermione softly said.

"Yeah, I guess you're right. I'm just paranoid," Amandla accepted it, but that didn't stop the fear that something would go wrong.

A bunch of Harrys and other notable figures walked into the hallway, causing Hermione to drop her hand – well, Harry's – from Amandla's. She tried to stop the hurt that was in her heart at that. It wasn't like it was a surprise or anything, she knew it was bound to happen.

They barely glanced at the two as they went outside. Hermione and Amandla followed quietly, the first only muttering a 'good luck' before parting officially. She nodded and went to where her thestral was located, already seeing a Harry standing beside her.

"Ready to go?" it still shocked her as the voice of Cevira came out of Harry's body, but she nodded anyways.

Cevira mounted the creature first, since she would be 'driving' it, Amandla following. "Good luck, everyone. On the count of three. One...two –" Mad-Eye commanded, and before she knew it, they were off the ground.

Like when they came to the house, the two girls were on the outskirts of the left on the formation. In her vision, she could see Mad-Eye before them and some others on their brooms. There seemed to be only a moment of peace before chaos broke. All of her worries started to come true when flashes of green were struck against them.

Swiftly, Amandla took out her wand and was ready to attack anyone who dared go against her. No one had spotted the two yet, which was good, so they got much further until they hit the bridge and a Death Eater turned to see them.

"Fuck!" Amandla swore, alerting Cevira they had been spotted, causing her to speed up. She saw the follower aim their wand towards the two, so she casted a rebounding charm and saw them tumble backwards and into another dark wizard, who also saw them.

They had gotten farther than Mad-Eye when the second wizard shot a spell. Again, Amandla broke out into a scream to deflect this curse, but this time, she didn't rebound it. Only shooting it into a different area a little way behind them. In a moment of fear, Amandla looked back to see the curse hitting Mad-Eye, causing him to fall to his death.

With her breath caught in her throat, she shot another spell at the Death Eater before passing them. She had just killed Mad-Eye Moody. Nothing would ever be the same.

Blinking and shutting the thought from her mind, she continued to shot spells at different Death Eaters as they made their way to the Burrow. Without her knowing, one shot a spell at her right arm causing her to shriek out in pain and cradle her arm, knowing that she would no longer be able to cast any spells.

"Amandla?" she heard Cevira's concerned voice.

"Hurry!" was all that Amandla said in reply. She lifted her left arm and tried to cast another spell with it, but since she wasn't left-handed, it did almost nothing. She never trained herself for that, how foolish.

When they did reach the Burrow, it seemed that most everyone else was already there. Cevira helped her off the thestral as Amandla continued to hold her arm, seeing the Polyjuice Potion slowly starting to wear off her friend.

As she stepped off, she was immediately engulfed into a hug by Hermione Granger. Shocked didn't even begin to describe the feeling, but she returned it with her good hand. Letting go, the Granger girl looked at her and asked, "What happened?"

"Spell hit it. Don't know exactly what's wrong with it," Amandla explained quickly as she was led inside.

Once there, she saw everyone crowding around the couch where one of the Weasley twins was on without an ear. Amandla couldn't help the gasp that escaped her lips.

"Did anything else happen?" Mrs. Weasley asked after beginning to help her son.

Everyone looked around at each other. And in a moment of bravery, Amandla spoke, "Mad-Eye's dead." She exempted the part of how she was the one who technically speaking killed him.

It was then that the others noticed she was cradling her arm. "What's wrong?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"Nothing. A spell just hit my arm. It'll probably heal in a couple days," she waved it off, but even Amandla wasn't sure of that.

Her eyes met Corey's. A silent agreement rang before them, knowing that it was even more present they needed to leave quickly. The Death Eaters surely knew that Amandla was at the Burrow, along with Corey. And to protect everyone they loved, they needed to leave. No one needed to end up getting hurt like her or George. Or worse, killed like Mad-Eye.

But that wasn't the worsething. The worse had to be the feeling inside Amandla, that nagging notiontelling her she was a killer. Unlike Draco, she was a killer. Like a DeathEater...she took a life. Amandla could never forgive herself.