The next thing I saw was Max Castellanos running out from the trees, holding a sword. He was running directly towards the monster rearing up behind me, his eyes closed tightly. He flailed the sword wildly, he wasn't even gripping it properly. He might as well have been going after the snake with a wooden spoon.

I was sure the Basilisk was going to eat him, and I didn't even have time to finish worrying about this before the giant serpent had tripped him up with his tail, had him in a coil, and was dragging him backwards.

The sword fell from Max's hands, but he managed to pull out his wand, and I noticed he couldn't help but open his eyes at that point. He waved his wand at me.

"Obscuro!"

I was blindfolded.

"CATHY! GET THE SWORD!"he yelled.

Being told to grab the sword AFTER being blindfolded wasn't the most efficient battle strategy, but I'd seen where it had fallen, and I fell to my knees, scrabbling around desperately on the ground until I got it.

I could hear Max yelling, it sounded like he had momentarily managed to break free, by hitting the Basilisk with a spell.

The Basilisk was distracted by Max, and clearly very angry at him.

"I willl sssqueeeze you!"he was saying.

"Stop!"I called to him, wielding the sword with the proper grip,"you don't want him, you want me!"

"You wishhh to win my allegianssse, do you not?"the Basilisk said,"tellll the boy to sssstop."

"Max! Stop!"I yelled,"I'm trying to negotiate!"

"Negotiate!?"Max practically shrieked.

"Just stop attacking, and let me talk to him,"I shouted,"leave it to me!"

"You can't hope to reason with a BASILISK, Cathy!"Max yelled at me.

"What must I do to win your allegiance?"I asked.

"You willl alllow me to have the boy,"the Basilisk responded,"you willl not try to killl me while I eat him."

"Certainly not!"I answered.

"Then I shallll killl you bothhh!"the Basilisk roared.

"Max! He wants to eat you! Run!"I warned.

"Well, I don't need to speak Parceltongue to know that!"Max shouted back.

I couldn't see whether or not Max was running. I couldn't see anything. I knew I had to focus on what I could hear, what I could feel. I held the sword in the defensive position Jared had taught me, ready to thrust it forwards with all my strength.

I heard the snake moving along the ground. I knew he was going to go for me, he was going to swoop down and bite me! I felt him rushing towards me. As he did so, I quickly ducked, then thrust the sword upwards.

The blade must have pierced some part of the creature, for he gave a shriek that sliced into my soul! A horrible, warm liquid began seeping out, covering my hands. I could still hear Max sending curses blindly.

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"Max! Stop!"I yelled,"you might hit me!"

I could hear the Basilisk now, making a tremendous noise as he thrashed about, crushing shrubs and bushes, flattening small trees. I was filled with revulsion for what I had done. Had I killed him? It had been either him or us, and he was attacking...

The noises ceased, and it seemed as though the King Serpent was gone, or dead. I dared not remove my blindfold, in case his stare was still fatal, even in death.

"I think it's dead!"Max called,"I think you did it! I think you killed it!"

We stumbled through the trees, away from the scene of the battle. I was still feeling torn apart with sadness for the Basilisk. Yes, I had had no choice, but I couldn't help but feel intense regret that it had to end in such a way. If only there had been a way to win his allegiance that didn't involve sacrificing a friend for his dinner.

When we were far enough away, I removed the blindfold. I saw Max standing in front of me. He still had his eyes closed tightly.

It was getting quite dark now, even though daylight still remained, but the sun had already set. The ritual will have already begun.

"You can open your eyes now,"I said.

We both looked at each other.

"You're covered in blood,"Max observed.

"Where did you get this sword?"I asked.

"I think it's the Sword of Gryffindor,"Max said,"it presents itself in time of need. It presented itself to Lotty, and she gave it to me; but you're the one that ended up using it."

"Where is Lotty?"I asked.

"I don't know,"Max answered,"she went to get help. I'm sure wherever she is, she's alright. She was with Julia and a Hufflepuff girl."

"Max!"I said, suddenly,"I think Silas may have begun the ritual! We have to stop it!"

"Where?"Max asked.

"It's in a cave,"I said,"somewhere near..."

I realised I wasn't sure where to go.

"It's alright, I know the way,"Max said,"I came from the tunnel that goes out from Silas' secret base."

I followed Max. We ran through the trees, as the twilight grew deeper and deeper. We reached the entrance of a cave and entered cautiously. I realised I was still holding the sword. I also realised something else, as I observed the bones of creatures scattered around the ground.

"This isn't the right cave!"I said.

"Are you sure?"Max asked.

"Yes,"I answered,"I spent hours in that cave, and I know this isn't the one. I think this is the cave that the Basilisk lived in."

We quickly made our way back outside. Then I noticed the standing stones. On closer inspection, the enchanted runes on them indicated the direction of the correct cave.

"Come on! This way!"I called to Max.

We ran off until we arrived at a place with a cliff, and there was the entrance to the cave, the proper one. It had the enchanted runes carved above it.

We were about to enter, when there was a sound behind us. We spun around just in time to see Silas. He raised his wand, and before either of us had time to do anything...

"Avada Kedavra!"

There was a jet of green light, and the next thing I knew, Max was lying on the ground. I looked down at him in horror. He lay still, his eyes closed, he could almost have been sleeping.

"Expelliarmus!"

The sword flew from my hands. Silas went to grab it, but it disappeared the moment he touched it.

In those wild moments of utter despair and agonised grief, I realised there was one thing I could do now that could possibly deliver a shred of hope to save Antonius. I could use magic.

I didn't have my wand, but the agony of emotions rushing through me now were enough. I would alert the Aurors hunting me to my location, I would bring them all here.

With a scream of fury and grief, I lit the trees where I stood on fire. The flames rose up quickly, lighting the trees like torches. Silas looked horrified for a moment, then...

"Vocalis Silentium!"he cried.

I tried shouting, but no sound would come. He had silenced me completely. He must have realised the Aurors would be here now, any moment, for he ran towards the cave, cast a spell I didn't hear, and suddenly the cliff collapsed and the entrance was swallowed up completely. Now it looked as though there wasn't even a cave there, and never had been.

Then Silas disapparated. Just as he did so, I heard the swishing sound of broom-flight, and then running footsteps. Soon, I was surrounded by Aurors. I held up my hands miserably as they pointed their wands at me.

I tried to point to the place where the cave had been, but knew they would not understand. They responded by hitting me with several stunning spells at once, and this knocked me unconscious.

Everything was over for me now. Max was dead, and Antonius was dying without hope of being rescued. I had been captured by Aurors who would now believe me to be not only responsible for the murder of Kenneth Brass, but the murder of Max too. Both of them Muggleborns. If Silas wasn't destroyed by the evil force he was attempting to summon, he would use this a propaganda to fuel his war and achieve his aims. Now they were taking me away - to a real trial - and then, to Azkaban.

I was so distraught, I did not notice that Max was no longer lying on the ground. He had vanished completely.