Head held high, we took one step at a time like we've been taught to ever since the beginning of the school year.

Every house was evenly marching towards the Great Hall. I could hear their even footsteps when I couldn't even see them yet.

And while we assembled in the hall, every house standing on its own, I realised how much I loathed Harry's plan. It wasn't even a plan if I was being honest with myself.

It was only when Draco positioned himself next to me, and his hand effortlessly slipped into mine that I calmed down. Lately, his presence had that effect on me.

I took a deep breath, and squeezed his hand tighter for a second; a gesture he returned as if to say "I'm here."

Luna and Wren decided to stay behind, seeing as nobody knew they were back here, and Slytherin's weren't necessarily known to keep their mouth shut about these things.

Especially after what Snape would say to us, I was rather grateful they didn't know she was here.

"Many of you are surely wondering why I have summoned you at this hour," He began his speech, the Carrow's protectively positioned behind him. "It's come to my attention that earlier this evening Harry Potter was sighted in Hogsmeade."

As the words left his mouth, low mumbling between students filled up the hall. Some of them looking around for him, or any of his friends who might know about his whereabouts— some curious pairs of eyes landing on me, even.

Draco's were one of them, an inquiring look in his features as he watched my reaction intently. I didn't flinch at the words, but merely looked up at him with an expression so blank he surely couldn't read it.

That's what I thought, at least.

But when his brows raised slightly in surprise, I wasn't quite sure anymore.

He didn't ask any further question, and I was grateful he simply turned back towards Snape as he straightened his back.

"Now," He continued, effectively cutting the chatter that had broken out short. "Should anyone, student or staff, attempt to aid Mister Potter, they will be punished in a manner consistent with the severity of their actions." I furrowed my brows at his words, knowing he had to say them to keep up the act but wondering when he'd realise he took the act too far.

Would he even realise? Or was he too caught up in his own role that he had melted into it too deeply?

"Furthermore, any person found to have knowledge of these events who fails to come forward will be treated as equally guilty." He made sure to annunciate every word perfectly; only making them sound more threateningly.

The way his eyes roamed the room just to eventually fall on me and stay there almost had my breath hitch in my throat, though I managed to catch it before the sound escaped.

Nobody said a word. For a moment, I was sure we had all collectively forgotten how to breathe with how quiet it was.

"Now then," He said, starting to walk in between the assembled groups of students.

I was almost relieved that Slytherins were standing in the front of the hall because he quickly made his way past us, and his gaze was no longer boring into mine in hopes it would give him a sign of where my brother was.

He'd know soon enough.

"If anyone here has any knowledge of Mister Potter's movements this evening, I invite them to step forward," He said slowly, enforcing a false sense of calmness and security in his words. "Now," He stressed, then, right as he laid eyes on the students of Gryffindor house.

When loud gasps and whispers filled the room, I knew Harry stepped out of the crowd before I even turned around. Wondering how fast his heart was beating when mine was already threatening to jump out of my chest.

"It seems, despite your exhaustive defensive strategies, you still have a bit of a security problem, headmaster," Harry almost mocked him with the words, and right on cue, the rest of the Order of the Phoenix barged through the large doors of the Great Hall. "I'm afraid it's quite extensive."

Snape's face didn't even twitch at his words or the sight. So, Harry continued. "How dare you stand where he stood," He said in a condescending tone, though his voice was full of pain. "Tell them how it happened that night! Tell them how you looked him in the eye— a man who trusted you, and killed him—"

I was quite sure I was the only one who saw the flicker of hurt in Snape's eyes at the memory. How could anyone else see it? They didn't know what I knew.

And I wasn't quite sure what it was that came over me right then. Maybe I felt genuinely bad for Severus Snape.

A man who deliberately chose to be the villain of our story in hopes it would make things right eventually.

A man who was nothing but forced to kill his own friend. Forced by that same friend, at that.

Whatever it was, it made me let go of Draco's hand at once, and not even a split of a second later, I was standing in the middle of them both, wide eyes as I yelled a loud "Harry!" in hopes it would distract him from the fact Snape had drawn his wand.

It didn't, of course. And Harry drew his before McGonagall stepped in and pushed him to the side. It was all happening way too fast, and without a second of hesitation, she cast the first spell. No regard for me still standing in the way.

I never thought McGonagall had a particular problem with me. She treated me fairly and even wished me a good morning whenever see saw me at breakfast.

So, the fact she fired a spell that missed me by mere inches without batting so much as an eye confused me. Did she hate Snape this much? Or was it solely the obvious disdain for the Slytherin house?

And while Harry looked hurt by the fact I'd stand up for Snape, of all people, as soon as he saw me jump out of the way at the last second before I roughly landed on the stone floor, he, too, furrowed his brows in both anger and confusion as his eyes snapped back over to the two Professors duelling.

"What the fuck are you doing?" I heard a familiar voice hiss, Draco kneeling right next to me as he shook his head frantically while checking whether I had any serious injuries.

"I second that," Harry's voice suddenly mumbled, brows still furrowed as he held a hand up for me to grab. Draco shot him a mildly bewildered look before getting back up on his feet as well.

Just in time to see Snape deflect spell after spell, diverting a particular one to hit the Carrows before disappearing into a cloud of thick black that crushed the window before he fled through it at once.

I watched the room break out into cheers and applause; meanwhile, my focus was solely on the broken glass of the window he had disappeared through.

When I turned back around, I was met with inquiring looks from both Harry and Draco.

At least Harry I'd have to tell now. Before he lets go of his anger towards the wrong person again.

"I need to talk to you, Harry—" I began, though my sentence was swiftly cut short by his eyes going hazy as he let himself sit on one of the steps slowly.

And then, we could all feel it. The shift in atmosphere, the enchanted ceiling brewing up a storm before a sharp, high pitched scream thudded in my ears.

My brother got up at the sound, walking towards the Gryffindor girl screaming her lungs out in the corner of the hall before another scream pierced through the air.

All of our heads collectively shot in her direction, and he turned on his heel to stumble in the opposite direction, looking like he was close to passing out already.

And then, we all heard it.

"I know that many of you will want to fight." It was unmistakably Voldemort's voice sharply whispering in all of our minds collectively, and the thought alone had the hairs on my neck stand up.

"Some of you may even think that to fight is wise. But this is a folly," He continued. "Give me Harry Potter. Do this, and none shall be harmed. Give me Harry Potter, Give me Harry Potter, and I shall leave Hogwarts untouched. Give me Harry Potter, and you will be rewarded," He kept on repeating the words, my breath hitching the first time he mentioned Harry's name. "You have one hour."

And with that, his voice was gone. Vanished as if it was never there, to begin with.

My eyes frantically searched the room for my brother, though instead of letting me walk to him, Draco held me by the wrist and backed up just like the rest of the students around us were.

My eyes fell on Pansy, and she looked like she was about to say something, but the words got caught in her throat when her eyes met mine just as Filch's loud voice echoed through the corridors.

"Students out of bed! Students in the corridors!" He shouted, and for a moment, McGonagall couldn't help but reach her hand up to her forehead while shaking her head in disbelieve.

"They are supposed to be out of bed, you blithering idiot!" She snapped, surely close to rolling her eyes at the man's stupidity.

"Oh," He breathed out, body deflating in what could be embarrassment. "Sorry, Ma'am."

No longer interest in their conversation, I headed for my brother, not thinking I could wait another second without telling him about what Dumbledore had shown me. Draco right on my heels.

The realisation made me huff in amusement. "Not leaving my side today, are you?" I teased throwing a quick look behind me to take in his appearance.

Wearing his robe with his infamous black suit underneath, his hair that was supposed to be neatly combed back but instead stood up in every possible direction messily. The way he bit back a grin by latching his teeth into his bottom lip lazily, I couldn't help but smile at him as we carelessly pushed through the crowd that had formed around Harry.

"Not a chance," He simply replied, shrugging before diverting his eyes off of me.

"Harry—" My brother immediately turned towards me at the sound of my voice, not pleased by Draco's presence but not necessarily bothered by it, either.

My eyes flickered through the Hall in hopes I'd find a moment of privacy with him when my gaze held on McGonagall a little longer.

Her eyes were narrowed slightly, eyes dragging down my robes before flying back and forth between Draco and me, and inevitably landing on Harry. She took a deep breath before opening her mouth.

"Mister Filch," She called out, making him halt in his tracks and turn around just as he was about to exit the doors. "Your arrival was most opportune, actually," She continued, eyes landing on me for a second time before slowly dragging over to the rest of Slytherin house.

I furrowed my brows at what her action was implying, intently listening to the next words coming out of her mouth.

"If you would, I would like you, please, to lead Miss Potter, Mister Malfoy and the rest of Slytherin house from the hall."

Draco couldn't help but scoff at the words, while my brows knitted together tightly before locking eyes with my brother.

He looked just as confused as I did, and he opened his mouth, about to protest. But Filch was quicker.

"Exactly where is it I'll be leading them to, Ma'am?"

"The Dungeons would do."

When the rest of the houses started clapping; it was the last straw for me, too, and I couldn't hold back from a loud huff full of disbelieve and humour at their blatant prejudice.

"Miss—" Harry said, quickly striding over to the professor with purposeful steps.

She responded with a simple "Potter," before shaking her head, letting him know there was nothing that would change her mind.

"With all due respect, Professor, this is Harry's sister we're talking about," Ron butted in, and I was slightly taken aback by his initiative. "What's the use of putting her... down there?"

"There are certain precautions that need to be taken, Mister Weasley. I understand what you're saying, but see it like this—" My attention was taken off of their conversation when Filch pushed me along with the rest of my house, seeing as Draco and I were the last one's still standing in between the other students.

The last thing I heard from her was a muffled "If she happens not to be a danger to us, at least she'll be safe in the Dungeons in case all hell breaks loose—"

And then we were out of the door. 

A/N: I made this scene ten times more infuriating because that's how I felt watching it. I always rooted for mcgonagall and then she goes and does THAT??? talk about prejudice </3 

So yea, this pretty much just shows that even if pansy wouldn't have said anything that day, mcgongall would've still found a stupid excuse to lock slytherins up in the dungeons lol in my take her reason is just us standing up for snape and then trying to talk to harry as if we'd somehow taint her precious boy klhjgcf

Also, thank u weaslebee ily 

Anyway, I'm going live on my Instagram seselinamae in two hours, and hope to see you all there!! I'm really excited because it's been a hot minutes since we all talked on a live

Hope you enjoyed!!