"So... Why's she glaring at me like that?" Ron asked slowly, looking at Lavender.

"Well... You said some things in your sleep." Harry admitted.

"And now you're single." Erica hummed.

"What?" Ron looked at Erica.

"Dont worry, you're okay." Erica hugged him.

"What was so bad that I said?" Ron asked.

"Oh nothing, just another girl's name." Harry shook his head.

Hermione looked at them before she began to eat her cereal.

"But don't you prefer not being constantly kissed? Because I do." Erica crossed her arms.

"My lips were constantly chapped.." He agreed.

"It was a bit... Awkward." Hermione nodded.

Harry looked around, seeing Katie Bell walk back in,"I'll be back."

"He's not about to just go up an ask about her traumatic experience, is he?" Erica asked quietly.

"It's Harry." Parker sighed and grabbed a waffle.

"He's not... The brightest." Ron shook his head,"And that's coming from me."

"Katie? I just... I wanted to know who had given you the package?" Harry sighed as he walked up to her.

"Oh.. I don't really remember much of it.." Katie shook her head, pausing as Draco entered.

Harry watched Katie's gaze travel from him to Draco, in which Draco turned around and quickly left the Hall.

Harry immediately ran after Draco, catching the attention of the Herd.

"Wait- What's going on?" Erica blinked

Parker looked,"I don't know... I'm going after them." She put her waffle down and ran after them.

"Hey, wait for me!" Erica followed after Parker.

They had chased down the boys to the boys bathrooms, near the Slytherin Common rooms, where Draco was hyperventilating over a sink, Harry standing behind him.

"I know what you did to Katie." Harry pointed.

"It wasn't me." Draco turned to him, gripping his wand.

"Yeah right." Harry raised his own wand.

Draco quickly turned around, aiming his wand and went to cast a spell. Harry sent a spell before him, although he missed, hitting the sink.

"They're fighting." Parker began to sprint to the bathrooms.

"No, no fighting." Erica shook her head.

"I can't let them-"

"Sectumsempra!" Harry shouted.

With a single word, Draco fell to the ground, struggling for air as he bled from his chest.

"Draco!" Parker quickly ran in, falling down to his side.

"Harry... What did you do?" Erica turned to him as Snape ran in.

"I.." Harry pulled out Erica's book.

"Snape, you need to help him." Parker looked at him, her hands were over Draco's wounds.

Snape knelt beside Draco, muttering a spell.

"We need to go.." Erica shook her head.

Harry slowly walked backwards before he ran off.

*********************************

The Herd and Ginny were all sat in the Gryffindor Common Room. It was quiet, everyone looking around at each other.

Parker then walked in, she hadn't left Draco's side until now.

"What gave you an idea that what you did was a good idea?" Parker looked at Harry.

"I didn't know that would happen." Harry shook his head.

Erica was holding the book tightly, not looking up at Parker.

"I told you that it was a dangerous spell. And the book wasn't even yours to begin with, it was Erica's."

"It was in my room, in my drawer." Erica mumbled, rocking slightly.

"So you went into her room and stole it." Parker crossed her arms, sitting down on the armchair,"We need to get rid of it. Its doing more harm than good."

"I'll hide it, get rid of it." Erica quickly stood up.

"I'll come with you." Ginny nodded.

"Thanks." Erica nodded as she walked off.

Ginny followed her sister,"Where are we taking it?"

"I-I don't know, I just- I didn't want this to happen."

"I know... I didn't expect Harry to hurt Draco."

"I should've kept it away from him." Erica shook her head,"Never should've taken the book... But Ron-"

"It's okay." Ginny assured her,"Maybe we can take it to the Room of Requirement?"

"Will anyone find it there?" Erica asked.

"No one really uses it anymore since Umbridge destroyed it."

"I don't want anyone to be hurt anymore.."

"Me neither." She sighed as the door appeared, them walking in.

"Stuff looks moved about." Ginny tilted her head.

"People have been here." Erica sighed, looking at the book in her hands.

"But who?"

Erica held the book out,"Can you... Hide it for me? I don't want to know where it is."

"Of course." Ginny nodded.

Erica handed over the book and closed her eyes.

Ginny wandered about for a few minutes, finally finding a place for it before finally coming back to Erica,"It's gone."

Erica opened her eyes and hugged her sister, she hadn't wanted any of this to happen.

"Love you, Er.." Ginny sighed and hugged back.

"I'm sorry." Erica shook her head.

"For what?"

"Everything." Erica hugged her tighter,"I just.."

Ginny gently rubbed her back,"I know... I know."

"Everyone's getting hurt... I just want to keep them safe."

"I know you do, you're trying your best."

"But that's not enough.."

"We can only do so much." Ginny shook her head.

"Just promise that you'll stay, I have to look after you."

"I promise I'll stay." Ginny gave a small smile as she pulled away.

Erica rubbed her eyes and looked around the room, her eyes landing on something covered by a cloth.

"What's wrong?" Ginny looked in the direction.

"This wasn't here before, was it?" Erica asked slowly as she pulled the cloth off.

Once uncovered, they were met with a large wardrobe.

"I don't think so unless someone wanted a spare outfit." Ginny joked and opened the doors.

All that was inside was a dead bird.

"Oh... That's not nice." Erica looked down at it.

"There's no windows, how did it get in?" Ginny raised a brow.

"Someone sick probably put it in there." Erica shook her head.

"Poor thing." Ginny sighed.

Erica laid the bird inside a nearby birdcage, shaking her head.

Ginny looked at the wardrobe, "Isn't there meant to be two of these?"

"If there is, there's only one now."

"So... Where's the other one?"

"I wish I could tell you, Ginny."

"We better go." Ginny shook her head.

"Yeah.." Erica nodded as she stood up.

Ginny sighed before the two girls left the room, the wardrobe staying uncovered.

*********************************

Erica was sat in the Gryffindor Common Room, swinging her kegs back and forth.

She hadn't seen Hagrid in a while... Maybe she could go see him, let him know what's happened recently. Yeah, she liked Hagrid. He was always easier to talk to than other students.

So on the way to Hagrid's Hut Erica went... Only on the way, she saw Slughorn walking into a Greenhouse. Erica hummed, following him inside. That's when she saw Slughorn cutting some of the plants.

"Professor?"

"Ah!" Slughorn jumped,"Oh Erica... Hello."

"What are you doing?"

"Professor Sprout allowed me to take some plants." He nodded.

"What exactly are you doing with them?"

"I need them for a potion."

"Oh, okay." Erica smiled, turning around.

"What are you doing out so late?"

"I'm visiting Hagrid."

"At this time?"

"Yes."

"Well... I think I'll come with you."

"Feel free." Erica shrugged as she walked out.

Slughorn followed after her, getting to Hagrid's Hut where he was stood outside.

"Hagrid." Erica hummed before noticing something on the ground.

Hagrid was crying, looking down at some large, black object. Erica then realized what it was... Aragog.

"Oh, I'm sorry.."

"Merlin's beard! How did you ever manage to kill it?" Slughorn held up his hands.

"Kill it? He was my best friend, he was."

"Sorry... I didn't know."

"Its okay.." Hagrid sighed,"Seriously misunderstood creatures, spiders are."

"Would you... Would you let me extract some venom? Their venom... Ot's very uncommonly rare- I'm sorry if it's insensitive."

"I suppose he won't have much use for it now." Hagrid nodded slowly.

"My thoughts exactly." Slughorn sighed.

Slughorn bent down next to Aragog with a vial to collect some venom before he stood beside Hagrid and Erica again.

"Would you like me to say some words?" Slughorn asked.

Hagrid nodded, wiping tears from his eyes.

"He has a family, I trust?" Slughorn looked at the two.

"Lots of kids." Erica told him,"And two wives."

"Oh my." Slughorn nodded slowly,"Farewell.."

"Aragog." Hagrid sniffled.

"Farewell Aragog, King of the arachnids. The body will decay but the spirt lingers on and to your human friends... I am sorry for your loss." Slughorn bowed his head.

Erica patted Hagrid's arm softly, she couldn't reach his shoulder. The three of them then went back to Hagrids Hut, Slughorn and Hagrid having a drink.

"I had him from a little egg, y'know? Tiny little thing he was when he hatched, no bigger than a pekingese." Hagrid sighed.

Erica nodded slowly, watching the pair talk as she fiddled with the vial in her pocket.

"That's life, I suppose. You're going along then suddenly... Poof." Slughorn made a small explosion with his hands.

"Poof.." Erica nodded slowly.

"Poof." Hagrid waved his hands.

"I used to have a pet, a fish called Francis." Skughorn nodded slowly,"And when I came downstairs one morning.. Poof."

"Tell me more about Francis." Erica looked over at him.

"It was a student who gave me Francis... It was a spring afternoon and I discovered it on my desk. Just a few inches of clear water, floating on the surface was a flower petal. As I watched, it sunk and transformed into a little fish. The petal was from Lily, Harry's mother."

"Y'know Professor, there's something you can do to help Harry."

Slughorn looked at her,"I'm afraid I can't help you-"

"But you can." Erica stood up, walking over to the pair,"Harry, he's the Chosen One, he's the only one that can stop Voldemort and-"

"Do not say his name." Slughorn pointed.

"I'm not afraid of the name, Professor, none of us are." Erica shook her said,"From what I've heard, you're the only one that can help Harry right now."

Slughorn hesitated before he took a memory from his head and placed it into the vial in Erica's hands,"Do not think bad of me when you see it... You have no idea what he was like, even then."

"Of course, Professor." Erica slowly walked out, completely amazed about how that had worked.

It was getting late, so she'd need to give the memory to Dumbledore tomorrow. But that was fine, it would be safe in her room for a night.

*********************************

The next day Erica had woken up and was already on her way to Dumbledore's Office. She just needed to give him this and then everything would be okay.

Dumbledore was sat in his office, looking out of the balcony.

"Professor?"

"Miss Weasley, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Dumbledore turned to her.

"Oh- Well, I got this last night. A memory from Slughorn." She held out the vial.

"A memory? You beat Harry to it." He nodded.

"I didn't exactly mean to get it."Erica shrugged,"I just went to see Hagrid and it sort of happened."

"Well, thank you." Dumbledore nodded.

"Of course." Erica smiled, carefully handing it over.

"Please, can you send Harry up to me?"

"I can do that." Erica nodded as she skipped out.

Erica then found Harry wandering the halls as she left the office.

"Harry, Dumbledore wants you." Erica hummed.

"Is it because I haven't gotten him Slughorn's memory?" He sighed.

"Oh- No- I did that. He wants to talk about it." Erica shook her head.

"Oh... Alright. Parker, Ron and Hermione are in the Gryffindor Common Room."

"Alright." Erica smiled at him, skipping to the Common Room.

Inside was the remaining of the Herd, talking about Aragog.

"Hi guys." Erica walked up to then, flopping onto a couch.

"Hi Erica, did you hear about Aragog?' Hermione sighed.

"I was at his funeral last night." She nodded.

"Oh?" Parker blinked.

"Its a long story." Erica sighed.

"He's been around for a good amount of years." Ron nodded.

"That's an understatement." Hermione shook her head.

"So whats everyone's plans today?" Parker leaned back, looking out the window.

"I don't have anything in mind." Erica stretched.

"I just want to relax."

"Good luck trying to do that here." Ron chuckled.

Parker hummed and laid back. That's when the group heard pecking at the window nearby.

Parker opened the window,"Hi Stewie."

Stewie chirped and passed Parker a note before quickly flying off.

"Lovely." Parker opened the letter and read it.

"What is it?" Erica asked.

Parker's face turned white,"I... I need to go see Draco."

"Why- What's happened?" Ron blinked.

"Nothing... I-I need you all to stay in here, do not leave."

"Parker, is something wrong?" Hermione asked.

"... Erica? Can you explain to them?" Parker looked at her,"I need to go."

"Of course." She nodded slowly.

Parker quickly handed the letter to Erica and rushed out to meet Draco who was already on his way to the Room of Requirement.

"It's time." Draco sighed.

"Are your friends safe?"

"I told them to stay in the dorm." Draco nodded.

"Me too." Parker sighed,"You let them in then meet me, I'm going to the Astronomy Tower."

"Be careful." Draco pointed.

"I will." Parker made her way to the Astronomy Tower.

Dumbledore was stood, hands clasped as he looked at at the Balcony. Parker slowly walked up the stairs to the Astronomy Tower. She could hear him talking but it stopped so she continued and took out her wand and walked inside.

"Ah, Miss Malfoy. I've been expecting you."

"Who were you talking to?" Parker raised her wand.

"Oh, just myself." Dumbledore shook his head as he turned around.

"Didn't sound like you."

"Is there something you need?" Dumbledore asked her.

"I think you know." Parker looked down.

Dumbledore sighed softly,"Parker, you don't want to do this."

"I have to- They'll hurt Draco." Parker shook her head.

"I wont let them hurt either of you."

"You don't understand... I have to kill you- Or else they'll kill us." Parker whispered.

"Parker, it will all be okay. I promise you." Dumbledore raised his hands.

Parker shook her head, going to lower her wand but there was footsteps running up the stairs, the Death Eaters.

Before she could react, Bellatrix was there behind her,"Good job, Parker... Now do it. Kill him."

Parker looked down before looking at Dumbledore, her hands shaking,"I.."

She couldn't kill him. This had been the Headmaster of Hogwarts for years, he had helped her and the Herd through so much.

"What are you waiting for? Kill him." Bellatrix ordered.

Then Snape came up the stairs, walking next to Parker as he held his wand.

"Severus... Severus, please." Dumbledore looked over to him.

Snape looked at his old friend, looking away as he spoke,"Avada Kedvra!"

Dumbledore then fell backwards off the Astronomy Tower, plummeting to the ground. Dead. Parker stepped back, looking at her mother and the others before she quickly ran off, Harry behind her.

"What the hell was that?" Harry questioned.

"Harry, you don't understand." Parker turned to him.

"There are a lot of things I don't understand right now." Harry shook his head.

"They were going to kill Draco and I... If I didn't... Kill him. But we never- I didn't expect Snape to kill him."

Harry sighed, running his fingers through his hair,"Look, we can't change anything now. Let's just make sure nobody else gets hurt."

"Quickly." Parker sped to the common room, avoiding the Death Eaters who were destroying the castle.

The others were there, clearly panicking while Erica looked out of the window.

"Is everyone okay?" Parker ran in.

"I think so." Ron nodded.

"No one hurt?"

"No, we're alright." Hermione shook her head.

"Dumbledore's dead.." Harry looked at them.

"What?" Ron blinked.

"Snape killed him."

Erica got up from her seat by the window and walked up to Parker, hugging her.

"They were gonna make me do it." Parker hugged back quickly.

"I know." Erica rubbed her back.

"I-I don't know what to do."

"I'll look after you."

Parker leaned into Erica and sighed.

"We all just need to stick together." Erica shook her head,"All of us."

"I... I wouldn't hurt you guys, you know that, right?" Parker looked at them all.

"Of course." Hermione nodded.

"I'm sorry for all of this... Everything."

"Look, its not your fault." Ron assured ber,"All of this? It wasn't you, it was them."

Parker nodded slowly as she looked out the window, seeing the destruction that had already taken place.Erica gently squeezed Parker's hand, looking at the ground.

"What do we do?" Harry sighed.

"We... We'll get through it. We always do." Erica rubbed her eyes.

"Together." Parker nodded.