26 Despair

Blair and Olivia were standing in front of the Slytherin common room door. Both of them were invited to the Slughorns's Christmas party. It was nothing special. They barely talked to anyone other than themselves. Both of them wore their regular School uniform as they didn't have anything else to wear other than their regular Muggle Clothes and to be honest they couldn't care less. The party was filled with unknown students and adults chatting with each other. House elfs serving drinks and starters with music running in the background. Blair and Olivia didn't do much at the party, There were some small talks here and there and that's it.

"You should go from here I have to patrol the castle" Blair said while taking out his prefect badge.

"Ok" Olivia didn't say anything else as she was tired with the party and their evening duel practice. Blair looked at her retreating figure before heading towards the fifth floor.

24 December, Headmasters office.

" Thank you, sir, for letting us use your floo Network" Blair said as stood in the position where Olivia was standing few moments ago

"No problem Mister Bradley, Just enjoy your Christmas" Headmaster replied with a big smile on his face, his blue eyes twinkling brightly as always.

"Merry Christmas sir"

"Merry Christmas Mister Bradley"

Blair threw the powder and shouted

"DIAGON ALLEY"

Olivia was waiting for him to the next end of the Floo Network in the Leaky Cauldron.

"Let's go" Olivia Dragged him through the crowd towards the entrance to Diagon Alley. The entrance was already open. As they entered the Alley, The sight that greeted them was completely different than normal. It was filled with people laughing and singing with their families, Large Bells and Colorful lighting all over the place. The Snowfall looked more breathtaking due to the reflection of colorful lighting. Blair and Olivia both were flabbergasted with this view. This was their first visiting the Alley on Christmas day.

"Let's buy you something" Blair said.

"Wha... What, we can't take that money. It is for our travel plans after school"

"Don't worry, Nothing will happen if we spend 1 or 2 gallons on gifts and you can't oppose me, Today I will decide what to do as it was my idea to come here." Blair dragged her towards the grand White Marble Building.

"Fine"

The Bank was not crowded as usual, Probably because of holidays. Blair went in front of a counter and placed a golden key on it.

"I want to make a withdrawal from my account"

The Goblin who was writing something on a document slowly looked at the key before looking at him. After a few seconds he got up from his chair while muttering some grubbish, which Blair didn't understand, But hearing by his tone he was probably cursing.

"Follow me" The goblin began to head towards the door which leads to the vaults. Blair followed him.

"You go ahead I will meet you at Flourish and Blotts Bookseller."Olivia said.

"No you are coming with me, It will only take few minutes"

"Ohh come on it's not like I am going to knockturn and as you said it will only take few minutes. What could happen in few minutes"

Blair hesitated a bit before saying yes and this is the decision he will regret his entire life. If he had known the price he had to pay because of this simple little decision He wouldn't even have come to Diagon Alley in the first place.

After parting ways with Olivia, Blair went towards their vault. They both had created a combined vault where both of them could withdraw money from it anytime. The vault was situated on the upper floor with minimum security. As the Vault opened Blair could see a small pile of galleons, Sickels and knuts There were also some Transfiguration, potions and DADA books in it. Blair and Olivia both had decided to keep them here as there were many important notes in it. Blair took out two leather books from his pocket, Which had an extension charm on it. And placed it in the vault. They both had completed reading this books.

After taking 5 Gallons Blair came out from the vault. The Goblin closed the door before handing Him a small pile of paper and a quill.

"Sign every single one of them"

Apparently, everyone has to sign these papers after their first withdrawal from their vault. It took him approximately half an hour to carefully read and sign the paperwork. As he was about to exit the Bank, He heard a heart-wrenching Scream. The scream was filled with pain. It was begging someone to stop. He saw people running away from the direction of the scream, There was fear in their eyes.

'Olivia'

Without even thinking for a second Blair dashed out of the Bank and Disapparated Towards the scream.

As soon as he apparated near the scream, He witnesses something that, he will not be able to forget for the rest of his life. There were 6 tall figures surrounding a girl who was laying on the ground. The girl was no longer screaming she was just laying there twitching while the 6 masked figures continued to laugh and curse her. After recognizing the face of the girl, Horror spread throughout his body. Without even thinking for a second he took out his sharp black spiral wand.

"AVVVAAADA KEDAAAVVVRRRRA"

Blair screamed in anger as a thunderous green light shot out of his wand and directly hit one of the 6 figures. The victim fell on the ground with a thud.

"AVVVAAADA KEEEDDDAVRA"

Before the remaining 5 figures could even react Blair sent another killing curse towards them. Again it hit the target. The remaining 4 figures recovered from the initial shock and began to send curses towards him. He quickly casted 'Contegus'(It creates a shield which is stronger then Protege.. And protects the caster from minor and medium level dark spells) before apparating behind the masked figures and sending another killing curse towards them. Blair wasn't using any offensive curse other than the killing curse he was blinded by rage. His killing intent was so strong that every killing curse was overpowered. As soon as the killing curse hit the masked man, He was sent flying. The other 3 remaining masked men looked at their fallen comrade for a second before recklessly sending curse towards him, Probably due to fear. Blair didn't wait for the curse to hit him instead he again apparated Behind them and sent another killing curse, But this time all three of them managed to dodge it before sending unknown curses towards him. Blair managed to dodge two curses but the last one hit him right in the chest.

Severe pain began to spread throughout his chest, But Blair was too angry to pay attention to it instead he shouted.

"Flammasectum"

A horizontal blade of Black fire shot through his wand towards the 3 masked men. He sent a killing curse right after it. 2 of the enemies managed to dodge the fire cutter, But the last one wasn't so lucky, He fell on the ground and began to scream in agony whereas one of the remaining two, was hit by the killing curse. Blair sent another killing curse towards the last standing enemy. The masked man dodged it hastily before sending his own killing curse. Blair Jumped at the right side before sending a chain of deadly curses.

"FLAMMASECTUM(Flame cutter)-SCINDO VISCUM(flesh Flayer, specially designed for flaying all the flesh from a person body)-BOMBARDAMAXIMA-AVADA KEDAVRA"

The last standing enemy went down with a thud. Blair beheaded the last screaming enemy who was laying on the ground with a fire cutter. silence took over the area. Blair could only hear his own rapid breathing, he quickly placed the wand in his pocket before rushing towards the laying figure.

"NONONONONONONONO please be ok Please be ok"

He quickly took Olivia's lying Figure in his embrace before disapparting to St Mungo. As soon as reached the hospital he began to shout.

"HEALER, PLEASE QUICKLY I NEED HEALER"

The Healers that were currently present in the apparition area of the Hospital(which was specifically made for this type of emergency) quickly rushed towards him. Olivia began to float out of his embrace, apparently, the healer casted a floating charm on her.

"Wainscott quickly send her to the em....oh God. You quickly lay down here" the Healer stop mid-sentence as his eyes fell on Blair's chest. Blair looked down at his chest where the healer was looking at. His chest was ripped apart revealing his white rib cage and a rapidly beating heart, Suddenly he was hit by a white light and he knew no more.

__________________________________________________

Blair slowly opened his eyes and an unfamiliar white ceiling greeted his eyes. He slowly got up from his bed and walked towards the door. As he started to walk, He realized something, He was not feeling any pain on his. He placed his right hand over his chest, He could fell a thick 5 cm wide outline over his chest. He didnt dwell Much in it, Right now the more important thing was finding Olivia. he opened the door. A female Healer was standing there in front of him, With few bottles in her hand

"Ohh Mister Bradley you are finally awake, it took you nearly 3 weeks to wake u..."

"Where is Olivia" Blair cut her off.

"I think you should fir..."

"No, I want to see her right now, "

The Healer closes her mouth. She slowly turned around.

"Follow me" There was a hint of sadness in her voice, But Blair was too focused on Olivia, He didnt notice it. After walking in silence for few minutes, The nurse stopped in front of a white door.

"She was kept under multiple Cruciatus Curse for a long period of time. Sh..." Blair didnt hear anything else as he already knew what would happen if a person is tortured with the Cruciatus curse for a long period of time. He had read it in the books.

He slowly opened the door with a trembling hand and entered the room. The room was an exact copy of the room he woke up in. A person in a plain white robe was sitting on the Bed looking Blankly towards the wall with her back facing Blair.

Blair shakily walked in front of her with ragged breathing. Normally after seeing him she would say 'ahh there you are' But this time there was no response she was just sitting there looking blankly in the same direction. It was as if Blair coming in front had no effect on her. Blair slowly Kneeled in front of her cupping her cheek with his trembling right hands.

"Ol....Olivia"

There was no response.

"Stop joking, This isn't funny, Ok. Let's go we have so many things to do, World to travel"

Still no response

"You wanted to leave in a castle didnt you?, Just like Hogwarts, Right? Let's go I will make you a castle 10 times then Hogwarts"

"Hey why don't you respond"

Blair gave her a tight hug before started to cry. The nurse had already left. From outside One could hear the continuous sound of crying for hours.