"I'm so happy to see you!" I exclaimed, running up to Neville and giving him a hug. "Wow. You look--"

"Like hell, I reckon," he teased.

"Well, yeah, pretty much," I said, laughing.

"Well, this is nothing. Seamus looks worse." He turned his head towards Aberforth, who came back into the room while we were talking to Neville. "Hey, Ab, we've got a couple more running through," he said. Then, Neville led us into the tunnel he came through. He had his wand lit up so we could see.

"I don't remember this being on the Marauder's Map," Ron said.

"That's because it never existed until now," Neville explained to us. "The seven secret passageways were sealed off before the start of the year. This is the only way in or out now. The grounds are crawling with Death Eaters and Dementors."

"How bad is Snape as headmaster?" Hermione asked.

"We hardly ever see him. It's the Carrows you need to watch out for," he warned us.

"The Carrows?" I repeated.

"Yeah. Brother and sister. They're in charge of discipline. The Carrows like punishment. Remember Flora and Hestia? The Carrow twins from Slytherin House? Amycus is their dad and Alecto is their aunt."

"Ugh, now there's four of them to deal with," I complained.

The others chuckled at my joke as we were approaching the end of the tunnel. "Let's have a bit of fun, shall we?" Neville said. He opened the door while we were hiding behind him. "Hey! Listen up, you lot! I brought you guys a surprise!"

"Not more of Aberforth's cooking, I hope," I heard Seamus say. "It would be a surprise if we can actually digest it."

Neville moved to the side, revealing us to everyone sitting down on the floor in the Room of Requirement.

"Blimey! It's Harry and Max Potter!" Seamus exclaimed.

All of a sudden, everyone began to clap and cheer for us as we descended down a ladder. Everyone that we practically grew up with came up to us and gave us hugs. Seamus, Dean, Luna, Cho, Lavender, and even people we didn't know started hugging us as well.

"So, what's the plan, you two?" Neville asked us as soon as everyone stopped hugging us.

"Okay, well, there's something we need to find. It's hidden here in the castle and it may help us defeat You-Know-Who," Harry responded.

"Brilliant. What is it?" Neville questioned.

"We don't know," Harry replied.

"Uh, yes, we do know," I intervened. "I told you what it was before we came here, Harry."

"But that's just a theory."

"A theory that is right."

"Well, do you guys know where it is?" Neville interrupted our little argument.

Damn. He got me. "We don't know," I muttered, then I turned to the others. "Okay, well, we know that it has something to do with Ravenclaw."

"Well, there's Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem," Luna spoke up.

"Ha! I told you, Harry!" I said, pointing my finger at him, shooting him a smirk. "I'm a genius."

"But the diadem is lost," Cho told me. "It's been lost for centuries now. There isn't a person alive today who's seen it."

"Well, we need to find it, then," I said.

Suddenly, we heard a rumble and that was when Ginny Weasley walked in.

"Harry," she said when she saw my brother.

Harry stared at her in awe and she stared back.

"Hi there," Ron said to her, but she ignored him. "She hasn't seen me in six months and I don't even get a wave," he whispered to Hermione. "I'm her brother."

"She's got lots of those," Seamus pointed out. "But she only has one Harry."

"Shut up, Seamus," Ron told him, making me laugh.

"What is it, Ginny?" Neville asked her.

"Snape knows. He knows that Harry and Max were spotted in Hogsmeade," she informed us.

"Great. What do we do now?" I asked.

"He wants all of the students to meet in the Great Hall," she said.

"Harry and Max need to sneak in there with the other students," Hermione informed us. "It'll give us time to find the Order."

"We can gather them up while the students are in the Great Hall," Ron added.

"Dean, go get two robes for Harry and Max," Neville ordered. "Come on, everyone, let's get ready to go to the Great Hall."

While the others were getting their robes on and getting in line, Dean gave us two robes and we put them on.

"This is so weird," I told Harry. "I feel like a student again with this robe on."

"It's been so long since we've worn them," he said.

"Damn, I still look good in this robe," I said, looking at a mirror. Harry laughed at me.

Hogwarts had changed so much since we left. I didn't think things would end up like this. Voldemort really did take over the entire Wizarding world. Things were just getting worse while we were gone, and Harry and I had to stop all of it. But we weren't going to go down without a fight.

We got into the line and began walking down to the Great Hall. I was ready to confront Snape about what he did that night on the Astronomy Tower. He killed Dumbledore that night. Not only that, but he practically made Draco leave Hogwarts with him that night as well. For nine months, I wasn't able to see him. I was just grateful that Draco and I weren't letting this war tear us apart. We made it to a year, and I knew that my feelings for him were growing every single day.

Oh my Merlin.

That was when it hit me, and maybe I had known for a while but never said it.

I was in love with Draco Malfoy.

Before I could think any of this through, we arrived at the Great Hall and were separated by what Hogwarts House we were in. I went with the other Gryffindors and stood there, waiting for everyone else to get inside the Great Hall, including Snape.

Finally, he was here. He went up to the front of the Great Hall and stood in the center where he could see everyone.

"Many of you are surely wondering why I have summoned you at this hour," he said. "It has come to my attention that earlier this evening, Harry and Maxine Potter were sighted in Hogsmeade."

The sound of murmuring and whispering came upon the Great Hall. When Snape spoke up once again, all of that stopped. "Now, should anyone, student or staff, attempt to aid the Potter twins, they will be punished in a manner consistent with the severity of their transgression. Furthermore, any person found to have knowledge of these events, who fails to come forward, will be treated as equally guilty. Now then, if anyone here has any knowledge of the Potter's movements this evening, I invite them to step forward now."

I looked at Harry and he nodded his head. We walked from where we were standing and went straight to the middle of the room. Everyone gasped and began murmuring again.

"Wow, Snape. I'm kind of surprised by you right now," I said, folding my arms over my chest.

"You see, despite your exhaustive defensive strategies, you still have a bit of a security problem, and it's quite extensive," Harry added.

That was when the Order of the Phoenix walked in the Great Hall.

"How dare you stand where he stood!" Harry shouted.

"Tell them how it happened that night, Snape!" I yelled.

"Tell everyone here how you looked him in the eye, a man who trusted you, and killed him!" Harry shouted again.

"You know, I really wish that my dad and Sirius were here right now. I would've loved to watch them kick your sorry arse again. Remember that, Snape? Remember when you were a student at Hogwarts and you were nothing but a pathetic loser?"

Snape grabbed his wand out and pointed it at us. McGonagall stepped in with her wand in her hand and pushed us out of the way. The students ran to the side of the room and me, Harry, and the rest of the Order had our wands out.

All of a sudden, the two began to duel. McGonagall's hand was shaking, but she was still shooting spells at Snape. It got to the point where Snape finally gave up and practically flew out of the window and broke it.

"Coward!" McGonagall shouted.

Everyone cheered as she lit the Great Hall with her wand. Harry and I took off the robes that we were wearing and threw them on the ground. Before we could cheer with the others, we heard a voice.

"Harry...Maxine..."

"It's him," I whispered, sitting down on the ground, followed by Harry.

"Harry? Maxine?" McGonagall said to us.

Suddenly, we heard two girls screaming. We got up and saw the girls covering their ears. Then, another girl began to scream as well.

"I know that many of you will want to fight. Some of you may even think that to fight is wise. But this is folly. Give me Harry and Maxine Potter. Do this and no one shall be harmed. Give me Harry and Maxine Potter and I shall leave Hogwarts untouched. Give me Harry and Maxine Potter and you will be rewarded. You have one hour."

Everyone got quiet for a moment and looked at us.

"What are you waiting for? Someone grab them!" Pansy Parkinson shouted.

I shot a glare at Pansy. I looked over beside her and saw Blaise Zabini. He winked at me and I grinned at him as all of our friends came to us and surrounded us.

"Students out of the bed! Students out of bed!" I heard a voice coming in the Great Hall.

"Oh, how I missed Filch," I mumbled. Never thought I'd say that.

"They are supposed to be out of bed, you blithering idiot!" McGonagall said to him.

He stared at her. "Oh. Sorry, ma'am."

"As it happens, Mr. Filch, your arrival is most opportune. If you would, I would like you to lead Miss Parkinson and the rest of Slytherin House from the hall."

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

"The dungeons will do."

Everyone cheered again, minus Slytherin House, as Filch gathered the Slytherins and led them out of the Great Hall. As Pansy approached me, I smirked and waved at her.

"Have fun in the dungeons, bitch," I told her.

"Why are you and your brother even here? Don't you get it? You two will be over with soon."

"Who says lightning doesn't strike twice?" I questioned, smirking at her.

"I really hope he kills you," she snapped.

"Well, I hope you die before you even make it to the dungeons," I retorted. "In fact, I might ask Blaise to kill you."

"He wouldn't do that. He's my friend."

"One can only wish they were my friend," Blaise said as he walked up to us. "To be honest, Pansy, I never liked you. I only let you hang around with me just for Draco's sake. You're so bloody annoying."

She glared at Blaise, then at me. She stormed off from us, turning around one last time. I looked at her, giving her one last smirk and my lovely middle finger before she disappeared with the other Slytherins.

"Looks like lightning does strike twice," he stated, chuckling a little. "I'm glad you and your brother are back."

"I'm glad to see that you're still alive. Where's Draco?"

"I have no idea," he replied, giving me a smirk. "You love him, don't you?"

I grinned. "Maybe."

"Ah, young love. So adorable."

I playfully hit his arm. "Shut up. I just figured out that I was in love with him a few minutes ago."

"Slytherins, follow me!" Filch yelled.

"I have to go now," Blaise said. "Be careful."

"You, too, Blaise. Stay safe." I gave him a hug and then ran off to join the others.

Harry found me and we went up to McGonagall.

"I presume you two have a reason for returning. What is it you need?" she asked us.

"Time, Professor. As much as you can get for us," Harry told her.

She nodded her head. "Do what you two have to do. I'll secure the castle. It's good to see you two."

We smiled at her. "It's good to see you, too, Professor," I said.

That was when everyone began to run out of the Great Hall. We heard students in the corridors running and chattering. The entire castle was getting ready for a war.

"Hold down the fort, Neville," Harry said to Neville.

"Hold down the fort?" I repeated, confused when Harry took my hand.

"Come on, Max," my brother said. "We've got a Horcrux to find."

~~~~~~~

A/N: Woaaah, Voldemort is about to attack Hogwarts! This is getting crazy.

OMG, I feel like I'm close to the end of this book, but then I'm not so close. I'm not sure if that makes any sense, lol.

So, comment, vote, b/c this means war! (haha, see what I did there?) ;)

-A