This was perhaps the scariest moment of my life. It was even scarier than when I had learned I was a wizard and had to go to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The most feared Dark wizard, Lord Voldemort, along with his obedient followers, was ready to launch an attack on the school. The teachers had just set up a bunch of strong protective enchantments, encasing the grounds in a luminous blue shield. To add more protection, the statues from the school were stationed on the Viaduct.

But there was one thing that all of us knew: these defenses would not stop Voldemort or his Death Eaters from infiltrating the school.

I was stationed in one of the towers. Alongside me were our former Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Remus Lupin, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Arthur Weasley, and the Weasley twins, Fred and George. We had an amazing view of the school's land.

I inhaled deeply, breathing out through my nostrils. My emerald-green eyes were locked on the Death Eaters and Snatchers just dying to rush through the bridge to the school. The grip on my wand in my left hand tightened. I was just itching for a fight. The Death Eaters took my older sister. She was amongst those who were on the Dark Side.

She hadn't even been in Slytherin when she went to Hogwarts; she had been put into Hufflepuff, the same House and year as Cedric Diggory had been. I had been Sorted into Hogwarts two years after her. It was hard to imagine someone so innocent could turn so dark. I always kept telling myself that she was only on the wrong side because she was Imperiused into being there.

But no matter how much I tried to convince myself, I knew I couldn't fool myself into believing it.

"You okay, Sophia?" a voice asked quietly. I jumped, looking into one of the twin's eyes. It was obvious it was Fred; he didn't have an ear missing like George did. Besides, George was gazing at the shield, probably trying to give us privacy. "You look tense."

"How are you not?" I tried to joke. My gaze turned back to the shield that surrounded the school.

Killing Curses disappeared once coming into contact with the shield. I almost jumped back, as if the curses would hit me. The Death Eaters were so pathetic. Had they not realized from the first wave of spells that they couldn't penetrate the protective enchantments surrounding the school?

"I never thought I'd see the day when this school would have to go to war," I said distantly. "I always thought Hogwarts was the safest place."

"Time changes a lot of things," Fred sighed. He leaned forward against the barrier like I did. He grabbed my hand, interlocking our fingers. I looked at him, resting my head on his shoulder. This would be the only chance we'd have at peace before all hell broke loose, I realized.

"I'm scared," I whispered.

"I am, too. Don't worry. Stick close to me and George, we'll keep you safe."

"I don't doubt it. But I can handle myself, Fred."

"I know you can. I just don't want anything to happen to you."

"If that was the case, then you should've convinced me to stay home, away from all this madness."

"I couldn't, you'd be too stubborn to change your mind." He chuckled.

Fred knew me well. When I fought for something I believed in, I stuck by it, no matter what. No matter how dangerous this was—or was about to be—nothing Fred could say could convince me to abandon Hogwarts. It was like my second home, most of the students and staff I had come to know I considered my extended family.

"You ready for what comes our way?" I asked him.

"Are you?"

"Yes and no." I had never told Fred the truth about my older sister being amongst the Death Eaters and Snatchers that were itching to get across the bridge to the school. I did mention her to him, but all the positive things about her: how we were close, how she always defended me from some of the Slytherin bullies when I attended my first year at Hogwarts. She had been my idol other than our mother.

Now, she was nothing more than a monster, a traitor to our family. I hated to think of her so lowly, but it was the truth.

I jumped back when the blue shield became blasted upon. Compared to before, there were no hundreds of Killing Curses being diminished by the shield. A great, dangerous spell had been used. The mere power of it turned the shield from a protective blue into a devilish orange-red color, the color of fire.

This was it.

Pieces of the shield began to fall apart, as if a window had shattered. My eyes searched the skies, my ears open and listening. You could usually hear Death Eaters Disapparating more than see them.

I wondered if I would get to see my sister. I really hoped not, but chances were I would. The odds always seemed to go into my favor when I wished for something, whether it was good or bad—not that I wished to confront my sister on this night.

Fred shoved me behind him, his eyes still on the skies. From a distance, I could hear roars and smashes. No doubt Voldemort brought dark creatures to help aid him. Death Eaters must not be enough.

A shot of green light aimed right for us. Fred knocked me out of the way just before the spell blasted the wall behind us. George was up and fighting, Fred aiding him. I staggered to my feet to see spell fire.

Even though Fred told me to stay close to him and his twin, I slipped away to aid others. I crossed the rickety bridges, only to have one knocked out from under me. I screamed as I tumbled down onto the concrete floor. My elbows throbbed. I rolled on my back. Black smoke circled me. I heard rattling chains and wood above.

The black smoke shot to the ground, exposing my opponent. My insides went cold when I saw her. I should've known that when it came to a fight, I was bound to face off against her. Whoever said it was fair to fight family? Of course, I didn't consider her family anymore.

After all, why should I call a traitor family when all they did was cause damage?

"I should've known you'd come find me," I barked, blowing a strand of black hair out of my eyes. "It just wouldn't be a battle without it."

"I figured tonight would be the perfect time to have a little family reunion, sis," Kalee crooned.

My teeth locked together. Her voice was tainted with venom, something that she never used to have.

My sister was dressed in all black, her brown eyes wild with bloodlust. Her pale hand twitched, ready to blast me into nothing. She half-smiled as she heard moans of pain above us. Kalee used to hate hearing people's pain, but now it seemed she relished it.

It made me sick, knowing that the Dark Side had corrupted my sister so much.

We started circling, Kalee trying to egg me on to make the first move. If there was one thing I knew, it was that I always let my opponent attack first. Kalee caught onto my game, because for a few long moments, neither of us attacked the other.

Kalee didn't have to shout her spell, because it was nothing but the Killing Curse. I spun out of the way of her constant threat of green jets tried to hit me. She growled furiously, throwing more at me at a faster pace. I pressed myself against a column, but it didn't stop my sister from continuing to pound away at my cover with one spell after the next.

My heart pounded with adrenaline, my body jumped in anxiety. Kalee was wild, and there was no way I could run away from this fight. She'd never stop pursuing me until she won our duel.

I hated to think it, but the only way this would end between her and me was if I either disarmed her or actually killed her. Sometimes, the more deadly option was the way to go.

I held my wand to my chest, closing my eyes. Mum, Dad, if I do kill Kalee, know that it was for the better. Sucking in a breath, I jumped out from my hiding spot. Kalee beamed devilishly.

"You decided to stop being a coward, did you?" she taunted. She shot a Stunning Spell at me, I deflected it ferociously. Kalee's eyes widened. My face became stone, my eyes narrowed. "Oooh, no more Miss Nice Girl! Great! Finally, a challenge."

Ugh, if wands and magic didn't exist, I would beat my sister to a pulp. She was so annoying, almost as annoying as Bellatrix Lestrange—and that woman was ridiculous.

With a cry, Kalee launched a stream of spells, alternating between green and red. I dodged the green lights and shot back red lights. One of Kalee's shot me in the chest, a Stunning Spell, knocking me into my previous cover. My back burst into pain, my head smacked the bricks behind it. I fell hard on the ground.

"Even when trying to act like a brave you still don't prove to be much of a challenge!" Kalee snickered, flaunting to me. She put her wand tip under my chin, forcing me to look at her. "I bet Mum and Dad would be disappointed to know how weak you really are."

"They at least still love me," I spat. A dull explosion echoed in the far distance. My head throbbed viciously. "They've shunned you from the family, just like I have."

"I don't need you or them anymore. I'm with my new family now. And they'll be so pleased to hear that I made a kill."

"You'd kill your own sister?"

"Oh, you're not my sister anymore. I'm shunned by the family, remember?"

A loud crack made us both screech. Kalee backed off from me, covering her ears with her hands while I used the wall to regain my footing. A green jacket stood in my way, with the reddest hair I had ever seen—Fred.

I looked above to see a high part of the column smoking. No doubt Fred did that long enough to save my life.

"What are you doing here?" I fretted.

"Saving you, what's it look like?" he retorted.

Swiftly, Fred shoved me back behind the column just as another spell knocked into it. I panted, Fred kept me trapped against the column.

"Shouldn't you be helping your brother?"

"He said he was fine."

"And if I distinctly remember, so did I."

"When I saw you went missing, I thought you'd died. You have no idea how scared I was." He cringed as green light just barely hit us from the side. He and I scooted away from the edge so we wouldn't get nicked by a spell.

"Come out and play!" Kalee screeched, happily shooting spells continuously.

"She's barking mad, isn't she?" Fred muttered, staring at the spell fire streaming past us.

"You have no idea," I whispered. "Listen, she's never going to give up until we're dead. No matter what we do, she won't rest. She's relentless."

"And how would you know? Do you know her?"

Yes, I wanted to say. She's my corrupted sister. "No," I lied. "But do you hear her? Wouldn't you think she's persistent?"

"Maybe."

"I say we tag team her and knock her out. There are two of us against one of her."

Fred kissed me quickly, and deeply. I was a bit scared by this kiss. It was like he knew something bad was going to happen, like one of us—or both of us—wouldn't survive this battle. Or there was a chance that the kiss was just in the heat of battle. Crazy things happened during war.

With a determined look in his eye, Fred leapt out into the open. I grabbed his wrist, forcing him to pull me out as well. Kalee merely chuckled to herself, shaking her head. I tilted mine in confusion.

"You honestly think you have a shot against me, even with him?" she drawled.

"Why don't you stop with the monologue and actually fight!" I barked.

Kalee's eyes lit up in anger. With a furious cry, she whipped out spells—alternating red and green colors once again. Fred and I separated, defending ourselves. Kalee was making me dance more than Fred. She kept really trying to make me flee and Fred to waste his energy on constantly parrying spells that shot straight for him.

It was obvious who her first target was. First it'd be Fred, then me. Not if I can stop her.

A Stunning Spell once again hit me in the chest, knocking me onto my back.

"No more fooling around!" she roared. "Avada Kedavra!"

I shut my eyes, waiting for the green light to take away my life.

"NO!"

After a few seconds, I realized I was still breathing. I opened my eyes and screamed, scooting away. In front of me, Fred Weasley had been murdered by my sister. I grabbed at my breaking heart, tears flooding down my face.

Kalee—Kalee killed Fred...

It felt like time had suddenly frozen. He died saving me. I thought I'd never see the day where someone—especially my boyfriend—would take a Killing Curse to spare my life. I had expected my parents to do stuff like that for me should it ever be deemed necessary. I never thought anybody else would.

Time went back to normal, bringing me back to the sounds of the battle: war cries, explosions, grunts and snarls, and someone's cackling—Kalee's.

Speaking of my witch of a sister, I saw her face. She laughed triumphantly; her eyes twinkled with satisfaction and bloodlust. I thought I'd never see the day where my sister looked so sinister, twisted, and corrupt. There was no way I was going to plead for her to join the good side.

I was going to end her life. After all, all is fair in love and war.

I tuned out the noises of the duels around me. I didn't feel like I was in the middle of some big battle, I felt like I got sucked into a personal duel with my sister. Nothing to do with rivalry, all about revenge for me—for avenging Fred, a man who shielded me from the Killing Curse.

I owed that man my life.

I rose shakily to my feet, but Kalee smacked me against the ground with a spell. I was pinned down by magic. She strutted to me, another malicious yet triumphant smirk on her stupid face. I wanted to smack it right off.

"This is just too sweet," she crooned, kneeling down. "First I destroy his life, and now, I'm going to destroy yours."

Kalee was wrong. She had already destroyed my life, by killing Fred. In fact, she had sort of destroyed my life when she had crossed over to the Dark Side. I had lost my idol the day she became a Death Eater.

I laughed at her. Kalee's face contorted into a confused expression.

"You're wrong," I croaked. "You think you're going to destroy my life now? You already have."

Kalee snarled at me. "Poor choice of final words, Soph," she crooned. "I would've expected you to beg for mercy, or for me to come back home."

"There's no point because I know you're too thick-headed to listen to me."

Kalee sneered down at me, rising, her wand pointing right at me. I closed my eyes, remembering Fred's face.

"Avada Kedavra."

From behind my closed eyelids, bright green light flashed.