A quivering hand raised their wand, trembling yet firm in their grip. They were determined. Her eye twitched, stinging as a fresh trickle of blood coursed out of the open wound on her temple. She did not remember when nor how she had been injured, her mind a tumble of lifeless eyes and her body thriving off of adrenaline.

Her opponent grinned, a maniacal sight across his once beautiful face. She had heard the tales of the once beautiful Tom Riddle – his eyes captivating and full of curiousity. None but a few were aware of the snake within. A small chuckle escaped the confines of his mouth as he stared upon the young woman. Despite her courage and imprudent bravery, she did not yet have the ability nor the power to stand against him and survive. Many had fooled themselves into thinking they were a rival to his stature.

"And here we stand once more," he clenched his teeth, eyes forming into slits. Despite such inability, she would grow to become his fiercest rival and yet, she was unaware of such a fate. "I will take pleasure in your demise, Lilah Potter."

Lilah stared unflinchingly into Voldemort's red eyes, watching as they danced in unrestrained rage. She took a deep breath, willing the water building in her eyes to dissolve. She had to be strong. The wind whipped at her frazzled hair, soothing the singed ends and kissing the cuts that littered her skin. Her fingers cried out in pain, whitening underneath the soot. Her wand continued to shake within her grip, her entire being consumed with terror. The man before her was responsible for the death of her parents. Her boyfriend. Her friends. Her peers.

"I can smell your fear..." he trailed off, gliding over the rubble and closer towards her quivering figure. He chuckled, anticipation coursing throughout his body. He had waited decades for his revenge. "It'll be quick."

"I may be fearful but unlike you, I prefer to face it," she spat, flecks of spit flying with her hasty reply. She took a deep breath, the fresh image of her father's body permanently etched into her mind. She was doing this for him.

A flicker of anger washed across his pale features before his expression was quickly smoothed out, his lips settling into an amused grin. Yet, it was not hard to uncover the thinly veiled rage lingering in his eyes. He tightened his grip on the wooden wand in his hand, gleefully counting down the moments until he was finally rid of Lilah Potter.

"Surrendering yourself for your son is quite a noble thing to do, Mrs Potter. I expected nothing less, however foolish it may be. First your husband, then your father and now you? Tsk tsk, all this trouble for one boy?"

Lilah's hand faltered, dropping several inches in shock before raising once more. Her lips quivered in confusion; eyebrows furrowed as she processed his words. She choked on her breath, panic clawing up her throat. This was a ploy. Her eyes darted to the boy to her left, his brilliant blue eyes staring back at her through cracked lenses. His mouth twisted into a grimace, pain registering across his features. With a short jerky nod, Lilah received all the confirmation she needed.

It was not a ploy.

How could this be true?

"Oh, he never told you?" He cackled; head thrown back amidst his joy.

"Lilah," Harry's voice cracked through the silence, desperately wanting to intervene. He was held back by Hermione and Ron, begging for them to let go. "Lilah please," his voice cracked once more, not wanting her to go through with this. He couldn't lose her too, not when he only just got her back. "You don't have to do this. This isn't your fight."

Taking another deep breath, Lilah's hand began to steady. She readjusted her grip with the knowledge that this was her fight as much as it was anyone's. She had lost too much and she demanded justice. Vengeance. She sent an encouraging smile towards her friends, knowing that this could possibly be the last time she ever saw them. She tuned out Harry's frantic screams and pleads, having to remind herself that he was part of the reason she was doing this. He had protected her for the past seven years and now it was her turn to repay the favour.

"I will always protect you," Lilah whispered into the wind, taking one last final moment to revel in the feel of the wind brushing her hair and the sting of her wounds before mustering up every minuscule feeling of anger and hatred.

She had to do this.

"Avada kedavra!"