Draco returns for our next meal when the stream of light above gets thinner. It's spring, now, I assume, as I can hear the birds singing every morning.

He sits in the dirt, almost like he's trying to be our equal. Well, it's never going to work.

After all, he took me away from my life. The Death Eaters took Luna away from hers. And Voldemort took Ollivander away from his.

I've practically lost all hope. So has Ollivander. It's Luna who's still holding on, smiling and saying they'll come for us. But with the mirror destroyed and our presence unknown, who will?

"What's going on with the Resistance?" I ask, eyes narrowing at my ex-boyfriend's clenched fists, as Luna and I engage in our daily round of tic-tac-toe. "Are they okay?"

"Have the Nargles gotten to them?" Luna asks airily.

"Is there any good food?" Ollivander asks, voice raspy.

After Voldemort realized that Harry wasn't coming, he'd released our shackles, and I've been regularly working out, helping Ollivander move around, and teaching them both muggle games. We're still not allowed to shower, but we can brush our teeth now, and I've returned to a rigorous exercise regimen.

For some reason, I keep these people close to my heart. They're my heart. Being around each other all day, all the time, has really brought us together.

And sometimes, even Draco used to sit with us, watching, observing.

But he never did anything.

Then, he left for school, finally returning for what I assume is Easter Break, to hand us our breakfast this morning. Now, it's lunch.

"They're fine," Draco grumbles, disgruntled. "They're defacing the walls with graffiti, disrupting class, smuggling food, starting self-defense classes, and even dueling the teachers."

"So they've," I gulped, "went public?"

"Good for them," Ollivander says, eyes gazing through my soul. "Defying his rule."

I've gotten used to soul-piercing stares, though. Luna Lovegood, Garrick Ollivander, and Susan Bones all can somehow read every part of me. It used to bother me, make me feel vulnerable, but I've learned that it's okay to be an open book.

Sometimes, it's great to be known.

"They're doing wonderfully, then," Luna hums, drawing a stick figure in the dirt with her finger. "And what about you, Draco? Are you just watching? Not speaking a word?"

I laugh harshly. "Of course he is."

"That's not the point," Draco snaps. "I've been giving you news, meals, and ━━━"

"We're supposed to feel grateful?" I interject.

"We are your prisoners, Draco," Ollivander continues. "We have never been equal."

"We would be grateful," I mutter sourly, "if you free us and let us ━━━"

Draco clenches his fists.

"How is Susan?" Luna interrupts calmly, glancing quickly at me. "And all the other members?"

Draco stiffens. "They're all fine. Avoiding punishment, if you need to know. I haven't seen Bones, though, although I'm sure she's alright."

I visibly stiffen, and Luna's silvery eyes seem to catch the movement. Is she okay? Is she kidnapped?

"Why?" he practically spits. "Is it because Potter's in love with her?"

I glower at him. "Yes, if you need to know."

Draco blinks. "What?"

"She's finally admitting it," Luna whispers, grinning, "good job, Anne."

"What have I got to lose?" I mutter, picking at the dirt. "My personal hygiene's shit and I'm stuck in a stupid cellar because my ex-boyfriend's a coward and my brother's the Chosen One."

"True," Luna hums.

"I get it. I suck ━━━" Draco turns around, eyes wide. "I need to go."

Luna smiles. "Alright. Have fun."

"I hope he doesn't," I mutter.

Ollivander grunts in agreement.

"It's okay," Luna promises. "The Nargles are telling me that someone's coming."

. . .

They came for us.

Hermione's scream rings from above as my stomach churns; she's being tortured because of her heritage, because of who she is, and because of some dumb sword.

The Trio had gotten captured by snatchers, along with fellow student Dean Thomas and his goblin friend, Griphook. Despite Harry's apparent facial disfiguration, which is worn off by now, they seemed to recognize him.

They shout from above to fetch the goblin, for reasons that Harry quickly tells us: they have a sword that Bellatrix is supposed to have, and it's doomed them all. Only goblins can tell whether the material is real or fake, and Harry begs him to say it's fake.

Draco comes down to take away Griphook, and our eyes meet.

I'm sorry, he seems to say.

You're a coward, I want to say.

And then, our saving grace: Dobby the House Elf. Harry's friend, with powerful magic, more powerful than we'll ever be.

He takes Luna, Ollivander and Dean away when I refuse to part with my brother. I refuse. I cannot be cowardly anymore, unwilling to fight with him.

And so I fight.

I fight with all I can. I fight when we escape, and I fight with Bellatrix, and I fight to make sure we're out of there, that we will never go back. I fight with my impulse to take Draco with us, because he still cowardly refuses to participate, because now he's stuck.

And I fight to save Dobby. I fight to make sure that the knife Bellatrix throws is perfectly caught in my hand.

(Thank you, Emmeline, for teaching me. Thank you, Mary, for believing in me)

And so it is. I'm gone. I'm finally away, teleported by Dobby, landing in a field. No graves to bury, to tears to cry, only tears when Dobby sobs in my chest, thanking me for saving him.

I am not a coward anymore.

Looking at the harsh light in the sky, I watch it pour down on me. I will not rely on anyone else's flames or thorns or biting words. And the sun, oh the sun, feels so good on my skin.

Never again.

"I'm sorry we didn't come sooner," Harry is saying, but it's all ringing to my ears. "My mirror broke, and I didn't know ━━━"

"Ah, they took mine away," I say hazily, still feeling the searing warmth. We're walking now, to what Harry calls Shell Cottage, lagging behind the others, even Dobby, who is now walking with Ron and Hermione. "I'm just glad to be in the sun."

Harry nods. "Yeah, I under ━━━ wait, I forgot to tell you!"

"What is it?" I ask, feeling apprehension building up in my lungs. "Is it bad?"

"No," Harry says, as we reach the door. He knocks. "It's just ━━━ this is Harry Potter!"

"Patronus?" a flowery voice asks: Fleur.

"A stag," Harry responds.

"Butterfly," I add.

The door creaks open, and I gape.

"Susan?"

"Annie?" Susan whispers, almost in disbelief. "Dear Merlin, you're alright!"

She tugs me inside, Harry following. We're both crushed with hugs: Ron and Hermione and Harry are sobbing together, almost turning into distorted laughter.

Susan tucks my hair behind my ear. "You should shower, first. We'll prepare food."

I nod, almost fidgeting. I'm out. I'm alive.

This is real.