Chapter 62 – Avada Kedavra (2)
What was happening at that moment was a weird blur for me. I can't recall the reaction of the people around me, and I can only remember my boiling blood, wanting to get rid of a problem. One that was slowly walking out to stand before me. From the corner of my eye, I saw Draco was dragged away by a somewhat disgruntled and angry Bellatrix. Was she disappointed in her nephew? Well... I couldn't care less at that moment. I was watching the befuddled Lucius, whose surprise was slowly replaced with malice and glee. I could see he was thinking it was just perfect... and the thought that now he could hurt my Father in a way that would be way better than just killing him.
When it was time to bow, both of us refused to do it. Good. I wouldn't bend my back before someone this scummy, and I wouldn't have felt good receiving it from him. It would have felt like some kind of mockery. I was looking into his eyes, watching without blinking while my ears were picking up the countdown of Bellatrix. I was surprised he didn't try to cheat, but maybe it was because Lord Voldemort was here. But I was unsurprised that he opened with the killing curse at once.
I remember reading in Salazar's book that everything is about intent when using spells. Besides the movement of the wand, the incantations, the third deciding factor of a spell, was the intention behind it. It had to be clear, and it had to be firm. He wrote about how to block or hit attacks. About why sometimes spells seemingly passed by each other, yet other times they clashed mid-air, canceling each other out. If your intent was focused on harming the other wizard or witch, your spell would most likely pass by or through the one your opponent conjured. While if your intent was to defend against it, there was a high chance your spell would hit it mid-air, resulting in the spells clashing.
I knew my intent full well... it was burning my insides, holding my spine, twisting it, literally hurting me. I wanted to finish Lucius off so all this farce and problem comes to an end, right here, right now. In turn, I knew that whatever spell I would conjure would pass by his. I had to be precise as I only had one shot at this. I waited until Lucius finished the movement, and I could swear I saw the green light appear at the tip of his wand. He was locked in... it was my time to make a move. I nimbly rolled diagonally forward, avoiding the jet of jade light, hearing a rushing sound passing by me, but I didn't flinch.
He was shocked... but he had experience, so he was already making a move to hit me with another spell. My eyes remained focused, looking into his, and I felt the pent-up anger and dark thoughts coalesce in my brain. It hurt... like nothing before, but something happened that I had no explanation for. Lucius suddenly froze while casting his second killing curse. He didn't turn to stone, nothing like that... but he was mentally petrified and stopped moving for a brief second, all that I needed as my mind finished the incantation. With my wand pointing at a surprised Lucius, my own spell came out, glowing green and blasting him in the chest. There was no scream, no exclamation; he simply fell back with the same surprised look on his face.
Did I feel anything? No. Not really... and that is what made it a bit weird. All that rage I felt was gone, like escaping from me with the spell, replaced by nothing but cold, unemotional thoughts. I just killed someone for real; it wasn't planning or fantasizing about it, nor was it something done remotely... done by detaching myself from the act. This time, I did it with my own hands and... I felt nothing.
"YOU-!"
Draco's shout made my blank, uncaring mind return to reality, seeing him rushing towards me.
"Ah... yes. You too..." I thought to myself, and before even thinking about it, I pointed my wand at him, and with another green flash, the son joined his father in the afterlife. This time, I did feel something, and looking around, I think it was the shock of the others standing behind us. I didn't care for most of them, whose faces I was looking for were Quincy, my Father... and that's it. Luckily, they looked more relieved than disgusted... or angry. Then, all the noise returned, like being dragged out of a silent room straight into the middle of London on a busy day. It was hurting my ear right until loud claps silenced everyone.