Song for this chapter: No Time to Die - Billie Eilish

TW: Death

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July 7th, 1981

"Goodbye, darling."

Jack kisses me softly, his lips warm against mine. When he pulled away, we both smiled.

"I had fun," I admitted.

"Me too."

I brushed my thumb against his cheek. "I'll see you later," I said.

Jack gave me a quick kiss on the cheek before turning around and leaving. I watched him walk to the edge of the driveway, leaving the wards, before apparating away.

I would've offered for him to come inside, but Marlene's home and I really don't want her questioning him anymore. Especially since I spent the night at his flat last night. I do it at least once a week, but it would just give Marlene another reason to butt into our relationship.

Dorcas has been out on a mission for the past few days, and won't be home until later in the week, This meant that Marlene was home for the week since she hates staying in their flat alone.

It's been awfully peaceful since the battle at the Ministry. We all kept waiting for someone to make the next move, but when nobody did, we all could breathe a little bit better. The war wasn't over by any means, but there was a lull in the fighting.

"Ah, Meredith's home!" My mum chimed from the living room as I closed the front door behind me.

"Hi, mum," I called, walking up the stairs to put my purse away.

I passed Marlene in the hallway, and she followed me into my bedroom.

"How was your day? And last night?" Marlene asked smuggly.

I smiled, "It was good."

I set my purse down on my bed, setting my wand on my dresser.

"How long have you guys been together now?" Marlene asked, leaning against the doorframe.

"About a year," I replied, "How come?"

Marlene shrugged, "Just wondering if there was going to be a ring on your finger within the next few months."

"Bloody hell, Marls!" I exclaimed. "He is not proposing to me. I haven't even moved in with him yet-"

"But you are next week!" Marlene teased.

"Girls, come downstairs! The Empire Strikes Back is on cable!" My dad yelled from the living room.

I brushed past Marlene in the doorway. "Come on, we have to go watch Star Wars."

Marlene rolled her eyes.

We both went downstairs, joining our parents in the living room. Tonight was one of the rare nights where dad wasn't working late and mum had worked the first shift at the hospital instead of the third shift.

My dad was sitting in his armchair, drinking a beer. Mum was sitting on the couch with a blanket pulled over her legs and a glass of wine.

"Come sit, the movie just started," My mum said, patting the empty couch beside her.

I sat next to my mum, Marlene sitting on the other side of me. Our mum adjusts the blanket so it covers all three of us.

I'm twenty years old, but I actually like spending the night with my family, watching a movie that my dad loves. We rarely got to do this when I was younger, since Marlene and I were at Hogwarts. So it's nice to actually all be home.

We're about half an hour into the movie when there's a knock at the door.

"Marlene, could you please get the door?" My dad asked, barely taking his attention off of the television.

Marlene groans, pushing the blanket aside and getting off of the couch. She walks very loudly over to the front door and opens it.

"Peter?" She asks. "What're you doing here? Are you alright?"

I leaned over a bit so that I could see the front door, where Marlene was standing, talking to Peter Pettigrew.

He had the hood of his rain-drenched cloak on, dark circles under his eyes. He looked like shit if I'm being honest.

"I-, I'm sorry, Marlene. Please forgive me."

Marlene's face dropped.

The next thing I know, the windows in the living room shatter and part of the wall comes down, green light illuminates the dark house.

I scream, jumping up from the couch.

Both of my parents get up, peering through the clouds of dust.

That's when I see them.

In a black cloak and mask, a Death Eater steps over the fallen wall and broken glass, into our living room.

I reach for my wand, but it's not there.

Shit, shit, shit.

My dad grabs his wand.

"Expelli-"

"Avada Kedavra!"

Green light shoots out of the Death Eaters wand, and my dad's lifeless body falls to the floor.

I scream, my dad's corpse laying at my feet, his eyes still open.

My mum lets out a choked sob, reaching for her wand. But she was too slow.

Another curse it shot from the other direction.

"Avada Kedavra!"

Peter's voice echoes through the house as my mum's body sinks to the floor next to my dad's. He has Marlene backed into the wall, his free arm pinned up against her neck.

I feel like I can't move, my whole body is in shock. Both of my parents are lying dead at my feet. My ears are ringing and I can feel my cheeks wetting with tears.

"Meredith, run!" Marlene yells, throwing a punch at Peter. She must not have her wand on her.

The masked Death Eater raises their wand toward me, and it sets me off. I go running up the stairs, dodging a spell that sets the base of the stair banister on fire.

I just need my wand.

I hear Marlene yelling from downstairs, and the sound of drywall breaking.

I'm just reaching for the door knob of my bedroom door when I'm yanked back by the hair. Out of instinct, I elbow my attacker in the stomach, making them grunt.

Their grip on me tightens, my arms being pinned against my body.

"I wouldn't struggle if I were you, I'll make this quick and painless," A familiar voice speaks. "I promise."

"Barty?" I whimpered, my hair being pulled back.

He pulls the mask off and leans in, his breath fanning against my cheek. "Yours truly," Barty sneers.

Tears are streaming down my face, and my pulse is hammering out of my chest.

I can hear the fire growing. It has made its way up the staircase, scorching the hallway. I couldn't hear anything from downstairs, the yelling had stopped, and there was only silence.

"See, it'll be okay. We made it easy for mum and dad, didn't we?"

My blood is boiling. He just killed my dad. Peter betrayed us, he murdered my mum, and he probably just murdered Marlene.

I thrashed against his grip, but Barty just laughed.

"Don't worry, you'll be with them soon. Maybe you'll even see Reggie."

I haven't heard his name in months, and the way that Barty just said it sends so much anger and sadness ripping through my body that I wouldn't hesitate to kill him if I had my wand.

The air is getting hotter as the fire creeps down the hallway.

This is it. This is how I'm going to die.

I let out a choked sob, trying to hear Marlene's voice downstairs. But, I'm met with nothing.

The roaring sound of the fire was all I could hear, smoke and ash drifting through the house.

Barty presses his wand to my temple, the tip digging into my head. I stopped struggling against him, practically going limp in his grasp. It felt like my body gave out on me.

I'm going to die. But, at least I'll be with them.