The End of Hogwarts.

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Shadow stood on one of the ruined towers, looking at the dust falling to the ground. She looked up at the night sky, watching the stars coming out. People were slowly coming out of the Forbidden Forest, shaken at having been inside the school as it started to collapse around them.

Shadow smiled sadly.
Shadow isn't my birth name. It was given to me three years after.

"Oh yeah," Holly said remembering faintly, something that had happened years ago, "Al....something?"

Allyssianne. The name my mother gave me. When I found my demonic side, when I was three; the Senate decided that Allyssianne was dead, and renamed me Shadow. Shadow tought.

Holly nodded slowly.
"I like both names," she said after a moment, and continued to walk, trying to ask a question, but dreading the answer she would get.

Shadow sensed Holly's emotions and looked at her questionningly.

Holly glanced at her, took a deep breath and then blurted, "Do you think everyone else is dead?"

Shadow nodded grimly.
When something like that happens, and there is no one to stop me, I kill or destroy everything in a mile's radius.

Holly sighed heavily and then looked up sharply.
"Then how come I didnt die?"

Shadow shrugged, not knowing.

"Maybe its something cheesy like....one of the ones who died, died FOR me or something,"
Holly thought about it. It seemed incredibly far fetched, besides, she doubted any of her friends who die for her.

Shadow stopped, tensing suddenly, her eyes wide. Just in front of them, several figures had appeared, all dressed in white hooded robes apart from one, the leader, who was in silver. The leader walked forwards purpousfully, and Shadow backed away.

Holly copied her suit, and reached for her wand.
"Who're you?" she called nervously, stepping in front of Shadow a little.

Shadow looked at Holly as the leader spoke.
"High Priestess Arias of Synairn, and who be you human?"

Holly's eyes widened and she looked at Shadow.
"Thats- thats- good or bad?" she said, "And Bristol. Holly Bristol."

"Bristol, you have felt loss, you have no need to fear us." Arias said gently.

Holly nodded slowly.
"Good then," she muttered to Shadow and raised her wand slightly, "Um hi....yeah...loss....right."

Shadow looked at Holly before returning her gaze to Arias.
"Allyssianne..." Arias said quietly, until Shadow snarled in anger. "Shadow..."

Holly looked from one to the other.
"Um....what are you guys doin here?" she asked.

"Here to collect Shadow." Arias said.

"Oh," Holly said trying not to sound crestfallen. "You'll be safe with 'em right?" she asked Shadow.

Shadow looked back at Holly and allowed her thoughts to go into her frend's head so that the Senate couldn't hear her.
This is they...

Holly nodded once to show she udnerstood.
What do you want me to do chief? Holly thought.

I don't know. Shadow replied. Arias grew imaptient.
"Come on Allyssianne." Shadow snarled in anger again.
No one but Arella calls me that! Her thoughts roared.

Holly stepped back automatically at the outburst.
"Look....Arias....," Holly said, "She like....cant come right now. We have some .... stuff we gotta sort out."

"And we have to deal with her for this." Arias said, gesturing around her.

"But it wasnt her fault!" Holly said quickly, "Same thing wouldda happened to you ill bet! If you were in that situation same thing wouldda happened!"

Shadow shook her head, and two Senate members moved forwards to stand on either side of her so hat she couldn't get away.

Holly drew her wand instinctively.
"Go away!" she commanded.

The Senate members didn't move, looking at Holly wih boredom. Shadow didn't move.

"I dont want to fight you," Holly said, "But I will if I have to. Now move!"

The members forced Shadow to her knees as two more members walked forwards to restrain Holly.

"Hey, HEY- OI! MANHANDLEMENT!"
Holly kicked out, but in the struggle her wand fell to the floor and yellow sparks flew out from the tip.

Arias signalled to another Senate member to move forwards. He did, taking a vial from a pocket as another member picked up Holly's wand.

Holly swore at the Senate members holding her and then said, "Would you just let the Roth go? Please? I have connections you know!"

"Shadow pays for what she has done, for the lives she has taken." Arias said.

"And what about the life you're gonna take huh? Shouldnt someone kill you for that?"
Holly brought her foot up in an attempt to kick Arias.

"Shadow is one of us, and she knows our laws." Arias replied grimly as one member opened the vial. Another grabbed Shadow by the hair, yanking her head back and focring her mouth open. Shadow struggled madly, but couldn't break free.

Holly looked around for something, anything, that could help. Something to throw, a spare wand, but she was well bounded by the Senate.

The member had emptied the vial into Shadow's mouth and forced her to swallow it. The Senate members backed away from her as she began to twitch.

Holly watched, helpless.
"Is she gonna die?" she demanded off Arias.

"Eventually." Arias said, watching Shadowtrembling, trying not to show her pain.

Holly choked and felt a fresh stab of hatred for Arias.
She kicked out in vain and then stopped.
"Shad....I dunno if you can hear me or any thing but .... thanks. For ... everything..... if these are your last moments and all ... "

Shadow looked at Holly with tears in her eyes before she fell, writhing on the ground. Arias wathed grimly.

Holly pulled as hard as she could against her captives, but they were too strong for her. Holly choked again and shuddered.
She was in pain, Holly thought, and she doubted she could do anything about it. And so, Holly said the most painful thing she ever had, "S'alright Shadow....you can let go ..."

Shadow was sobbing silently with pain, and Arias made no move to save her. One member behind her fidgeted though, unsure of their actions.

Holly glanced at this member with a "little girl pleading" look, wet eyes and shaking limbs.

The Senate member turned to Arias.
"We have to stop."
"We cannot."
"Arella would never forgive us if we killed her!" Arias flaltered.

Holly nodded earnestly.
"Yeah, she'd never forgive you!" Holly said, "Think about it, you're killing her daughter! Stop it- now!!"

Arias thought for a few seconds.
"Administer the antidote!" She said, turning away. The Senate members moved in on Shadow, three pinning her to the ground to stop her writhing and a fourth trying to get her to swallow another potion.

Holly sighed in relief.
"Thank you!" she said to Arias, "And you,"